SGA ficlet: Lifted
Jan. 2nd, 2009 04:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
unadriftThis is a PG-rated tag for Infection with one reference to Brain Storm, written for the Season 5 Tagathon on ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
sga_episodefic.
780 words of one-sided McKay/Sheppard, with mention of McKay/Keller. Needless to say, this is not a happy story. Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
trystings for the beta!
Remember when John said to Woolsey that yes, Todd might go to all sorts of trouble just to kill John, but maybe this was a bit much? And remember the way Rodney glared at John then?
"Do we need to have a talk?" Rodney asked briskly, hovering over John and his coffee and chocolate cake, arms crossed.
John just raised an eyebrow and saved his breath. Inquiring about the nature of the remark was entirely unnecessary. This was Rodney. He would go on anyway, in three, two, one--
"About who is Todd's least favorite?" Rodney clarified. Or rather, he probably intended to clarify. John had gotten kind of used to the twisted pathways Rodney's thoughts were prone to taking, but even previous experience was of no help to John here.
"Killing you?" Rodney muttered dismissively. He pulled up a chair and sat down opposite John. "How did you ever reach the conclusion that Todd might go to any trouble just so he can kill you? Me, now that makes a lot more sense. With my expert knowledge on Wraith technology, the numerous plans I designed and executed that cost countless Wraith lives. Yes, Todd might go to any lengths to kill the MVP on our side. But you?"
If John had been swallowing a sip of coffee just then, he would have choked on it. He stared, disbelieving, long enough for Rodney to take notice.
"What?" Rodney asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
"I don't even know where to start," John said, shaking his head. "You-- Every time I think you can't get any more--" He gestured at Rodney. The expression to adequately put the essence of ill-adjusted Rodney-esque behavior into words hadn't been invented yet. "--you go along and top it," John finished.
"Top what?"
John set his cup down.
"One," he ticked off on his fingers. "The numerous plans you designed? Two: Which you executed all on your own? Would you like to rephrase those statements before I go into detail about all the ways in which they are just wrong? And three: Did you really just lay out for me all the reasons why you deserve the top position on Todd's death list? I suggest you send an application with credentials, since my word doesn't carry much weight with him," John said crossly.
It was Rodney's turn to stare then, wide-eyed and surprised.
Okay, so John usually took Rodney's chronically insane behavior in stride. He even liked and occasionally nursed Rodney's competitive streak, because it was fun to banter and argue with him, to push him further, to drive him to new heights of productivity. Truthfully, it had always been entirely too much fun for John. Plus, more often than not a little prodding had proved to be the key to the success of a mission or, at worst, even their survival.
But there was a line. John had suspected that they were going to encounter it at some point, though he had never been able to even make a guess where that might be.
Tonight, for some reason, Rodney had reached that line and crossed it.
"Some days I can't believe they call you a genius," John continued. When Rodney was actually speechless, the moment had to be seized. "For all that intellect of yours, you sure have a limited understanding of what's going on around you, of what other people contribute to ensure Atlantis' safety."
Rodney's mouth opened, then closed again. His face was flushed, his eyes narrowed, but instead of the sarcastic, snappy retort John expected – the very Rodney thing to do – Rodney looked down at the table, then at John again. "Well. Um. I suppose I should-- Jennifer suggested that I try to act more, er, humble."
"Of course she did," John said, not bothering to keep the sarcasm out of his voice for once. He waited for the pang of jealousy to hit him, like it usually did when Rodney mentioned Keller in her capacity as his new girlfriend.
Only it didn't hit. Not this time.
There was nothing but that familiar frustration with Rodney's selective obliviousness, which had suddenly lost its cutting edge of missed opportunities, of 'should-have's and 'not-meant-to-be's.
The realization was followed by an intense feeling of relief. Five years' worth of self-denial, tentative hope, and deceptive certainty so strong that John had thought he could almost taste it at times--
Lifted. Just like that.
Rodney studied John with a piercing stare, the one that usually meant he was this close to figuring something out. If Rodney did, now, if he chose this moment to finally buy a clue, to get his head out of his ass, to realize-- John was going to have to punch him in the face.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rodney asked instead, almost defensively.
"Nothing," John answered. "Forget it."
For a moment it looked like Rodney wouldn't let it go. But then he just pointed at the abandoned cake on the table. "If you're not going to--"
"Go ahead," John said, aiming an easy smile at Rodney. "I'm finished."
Rodney pulled the plate towards him.
John stood and left, not looking back.
- end -
Now with sequel: Alight
The Pleasure of Your Company (AU for 5x16) // Wrong (tag for 5x18)
sga_episodefic.780 words of one-sided McKay/Sheppard, with mention of McKay/Keller. Needless to say, this is not a happy story. Thanks to
trystings for the beta!Remember when John said to Woolsey that yes, Todd might go to all sorts of trouble just to kill John, but maybe this was a bit much? And remember the way Rodney glared at John then?
"Do we need to have a talk?" Rodney asked briskly, hovering over John and his coffee and chocolate cake, arms crossed.
John just raised an eyebrow and saved his breath. Inquiring about the nature of the remark was entirely unnecessary. This was Rodney. He would go on anyway, in three, two, one--
"About who is Todd's least favorite?" Rodney clarified. Or rather, he probably intended to clarify. John had gotten kind of used to the twisted pathways Rodney's thoughts were prone to taking, but even previous experience was of no help to John here.
"Killing you?" Rodney muttered dismissively. He pulled up a chair and sat down opposite John. "How did you ever reach the conclusion that Todd might go to any trouble just so he can kill you? Me, now that makes a lot more sense. With my expert knowledge on Wraith technology, the numerous plans I designed and executed that cost countless Wraith lives. Yes, Todd might go to any lengths to kill the MVP on our side. But you?"
If John had been swallowing a sip of coffee just then, he would have choked on it. He stared, disbelieving, long enough for Rodney to take notice.
"What?" Rodney asked, sounding genuinely puzzled.
"I don't even know where to start," John said, shaking his head. "You-- Every time I think you can't get any more--" He gestured at Rodney. The expression to adequately put the essence of ill-adjusted Rodney-esque behavior into words hadn't been invented yet. "--you go along and top it," John finished.
"Top what?"
John set his cup down.
"One," he ticked off on his fingers. "The numerous plans you designed? Two: Which you executed all on your own? Would you like to rephrase those statements before I go into detail about all the ways in which they are just wrong? And three: Did you really just lay out for me all the reasons why you deserve the top position on Todd's death list? I suggest you send an application with credentials, since my word doesn't carry much weight with him," John said crossly.
It was Rodney's turn to stare then, wide-eyed and surprised.
Okay, so John usually took Rodney's chronically insane behavior in stride. He even liked and occasionally nursed Rodney's competitive streak, because it was fun to banter and argue with him, to push him further, to drive him to new heights of productivity. Truthfully, it had always been entirely too much fun for John. Plus, more often than not a little prodding had proved to be the key to the success of a mission or, at worst, even their survival.
But there was a line. John had suspected that they were going to encounter it at some point, though he had never been able to even make a guess where that might be.
Tonight, for some reason, Rodney had reached that line and crossed it.
"Some days I can't believe they call you a genius," John continued. When Rodney was actually speechless, the moment had to be seized. "For all that intellect of yours, you sure have a limited understanding of what's going on around you, of what other people contribute to ensure Atlantis' safety."
Rodney's mouth opened, then closed again. His face was flushed, his eyes narrowed, but instead of the sarcastic, snappy retort John expected – the very Rodney thing to do – Rodney looked down at the table, then at John again. "Well. Um. I suppose I should-- Jennifer suggested that I try to act more, er, humble."
"Of course she did," John said, not bothering to keep the sarcasm out of his voice for once. He waited for the pang of jealousy to hit him, like it usually did when Rodney mentioned Keller in her capacity as his new girlfriend.
Only it didn't hit. Not this time.
There was nothing but that familiar frustration with Rodney's selective obliviousness, which had suddenly lost its cutting edge of missed opportunities, of 'should-have's and 'not-meant-to-be's.
The realization was followed by an intense feeling of relief. Five years' worth of self-denial, tentative hope, and deceptive certainty so strong that John had thought he could almost taste it at times--
Lifted. Just like that.
Rodney studied John with a piercing stare, the one that usually meant he was this close to figuring something out. If Rodney did, now, if he chose this moment to finally buy a clue, to get his head out of his ass, to realize-- John was going to have to punch him in the face.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rodney asked instead, almost defensively.
"Nothing," John answered. "Forget it."
For a moment it looked like Rodney wouldn't let it go. But then he just pointed at the abandoned cake on the table. "If you're not going to--"
"Go ahead," John said, aiming an easy smile at Rodney. "I'm finished."
Rodney pulled the plate towards him.
John stood and left, not looking back.
- end -
Now with sequel: Alight
The Pleasure of Your Company (AU for 5x16) // Wrong (tag for 5x18)
no subject
Date: 2009-01-03 07:38 pm (UTC)If the show had any skill in writing romance, I could believe in McKeller, maybe, even if I didn't want to. But as it's presented, I can't see their relationship as at all functional; they might call it love but that's not what real love looks like, and I can't imagine their relationship will last without both of them being miserable in it. If we'd gotten a s6 with getting married or whatever - yeah, that might've wrecked my McShep. But as it stands, John's just got to hang in there a little longer. Or else take a stand and save his friend from himself (and heck, save Keller from him, because I don't think she's going to be any happier in this relationship than Rodney...)
ETA: Also, Rodney jumping in with Keller because he thinks John's not interested - owwww but I could see it. Except then it would just have to end with the two dunderheads figuring it out, because it's just not fair to them otherwise! XP
no subject
Date: 2009-01-03 07:53 pm (UTC)Currently, it's-- Hm. Weird is the best description I can come up with. The bad weird.
Maybe if I stare at your take on McShep long enough, I can adopt it as my own. Because it sounds entirely reasonable.
*stares intently*
PS: Now I'm seriously considering writing that sequel/fix-it. *g*
no subject
Date: 2009-01-03 08:09 pm (UTC)(Basically, the end of this season - either Rodney's gay, or a bit of that brain parasite's still around, screwing with his head. Either way, needs fixing! And I'd love your fix-it so very much - the end of the show's depressing enough, we all need pick-me-ups! *tosses plot-bunny feed your way*)