sga_flashfic | "Sum" by billietallent

billietallent.livejournal.com posting in

Title: Sum
Author:

billietallent
Pairing: McKay/Sheppard
Rating: PG
Word Count: 718
Summary: Rodney has many bizarre quirks, some endearing, some not so much.
Notes: Unbeta'd, as usual, and I'm sick. I hope it's as coherent as I think it is:)

Rodney has many bizarre quirks, some endearing, some not so much. John knew this the night he cut Rodney off mid-babble, pushed him up against a wall in his quarters, and kissed him hard. (It’d been pretty obvious that Rodney was aiming for the same thing, but he was taking too long to get there.) In fact, John was looking forward to learning about more of these quirks that sleeping with the man, having a relationship with him, would doubtlessly provide. He especially wanted to know about the more personal ones. He imagined those would be pretty damn interesting.

He isn’t disappointed.

Rodney likes to touch. That isn’t a shock, but the multitude of ways he finds to do it are....interesting. And the sheer fact that he can’t seem to stop touching, can’t ever seem to get enough, makes John feel more wanted than he’s ever felt before. He learns that when they’re curled up in bed together, with Rodney pressed against his back, one strong arm around his waist, it still isn’t enough. Rodney likes to trail his fingers, sometimes just the nails, up and down the inside of John’s forearm, from wrist to elbow. He says it’s relaxing, although sometimes it makes him hard.

John doesn’t mind. He finds it kind of relaxing, too, though it almost always makes him hard.

Rodney likes to be touched, too. John learns that stroking a hand down Rodney’s back, hard, makes Rodney lose his train of thought. Scratching lightly makes him stop talking, and sucking on the points of his shoulder blades makes him shudder violently. John doesn’t get that one until the night Rodney does it to him. Then he gets it, and they both have to endure Carson’s amused looks when he sees the matching hickeys during routine examination.

John thinks that Rodney is the weirdest and most creative person he’s ever slept with. It’s not that surprising, really. John’s always thought that Rodney was special.

Rodney refuses to let John sneak back to his room in the middle of the night. He knows they have to be careful, but he says he hates waking up alone. John laughs and reminds him that he did it before they started sleeping together. Rodney rolls his eyes, and mutters, “That doesn’t mean I liked it. I do a lot of things I don’t like, and this one I have some control over.” He smiles pleadingly, and it’s John’s turn to roll his eyes. But he stays.

Sometimes John gets a weird feeling. Like he’s back in school, and should be taking notes. Like he should be memorizing all of these little quirks, storing them away. Like someday there’s going to be a pop quiz and he’ll have to add them all together, like a math equation, and come up with the right answer.

Rodney likes to talk dirty, but only in the dark. John appreciates the dirty talk. A lot. Once, he had asked about the light, but Rodney had stammered and finally admitted that if he could see John’s face, see the effect he was having, he would be too distracted. John leaves the light off.

Most of the time, Rodney doesn’t like to share the shower. He says it’s too small. The few times that John wheedles his way in, Rodney spends the whole time grumbling quietly, even as he shampoos John’s hair. John grins like a loon, and gives Rodney a hand job for his troubles. The one time Rodney pulls him in of his own accord, John just stands quietly, his arms around Rodney, while Rodney hugs him tight and says wetly, “That was so stupid. You almost died. Don’t ever do it again.” They both know he can’t promise that, so John says nothing. But he knows he’ll try.

John is half-asleep the night Rodney’s fingertips halt on his wrist and he whispers, “I love you, John.”

John can feel the tension in Rodney’s body as he holds his breath. He whispers back, “I love you too, Rodney.”He feels the tension drain back out of the body behind him. Rodney curls closer, pressing a kiss to the base of John’s neck, and resumes stroking John’s arm. John smiles to himself. Oh, yeah, no notes needed. He’s passed this test with flying colours.

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: The Pimps - Rocket Science

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

etben.livejournal.com

d'awwww...

I particularly like the idea of Rodney as a touchy person, in the 'physical contact craving so strong he doesn't even have conscious control over it anymore, and they out themselves, not because of passionate kisses after near-death experiences, or because of being found in bed together immediately pre-near-death-experience, but because they sit in briefings, or at meals, or in the lab, and Rodney, seriously, can't stop touching John, doesn't even realize he's doing it until he notices everyone staring, and he's totally about to yank his hand away in horrified, what will this do to our (and by ours I mean yours, John) careers? way, but John, he just blushes a bit and smiles at everyone and, really, given the soul-sucking bugs, what does it matter? and everything is happy and good' way.

...which is a supremely incoherent way of saying, yes. this made me happy. thank you for writing it!

From:

duestar.livejournal.com

Etban, have you written your response as a story? I would love to read it expanded into dialogue and description. I can seriously see and feel it. Happy sigh!