Independence Day by Sarah T. (dating challenge)

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

Title: Independence Day
Author: Sarah T.
Rating: PG-13
Notes: Thanks to Livia for a quick once-over.
Summary: Just some summer fireworks.



“Come on, Rodney," John said through the closed office door, calmly, levelly. "You said you'd come."

"I changed my mind."

"You'll like the fireworks."

"Oh, yes. That's just what entrances a great scientific mind: pretty lights in the sky. I don't want to burst your bubble, Sheppard, but they're nothing but some fairly straightforward chemical reactions."

"Rodney."

The door swung open and Rodney glared at him. His hair was wildly thatchy, his t-shirt sported multiple coffee stains, and his cardigan drooped shapelessly at his wrists and waist. John still couldn’t quite get used to seeing him out of uniform. "Did it ever occur to you that some of us still have work to do?"

"It's a national holiday!"

"For Americans,” Rodney said, as though John was an especially dim child.

"Teyla's not an American, either. You can complain to her about it. Look, you promised. You haven’t been out of here since we came back."

"Fine." He sighed melodramatically and reached to close the door behind him. "Fine."

John hesitated. "You might want to--"

"What?" He followed John's glance to his clothes. "What, I'm not presentable enough to go out with the galaxy's most beautiful couple?"

John winced. "The Kynexian ambassador was just being polite. And the SGC sure doesn't look at it that way."

"Take me as I am or not at all. I’m not getting all…gussied up…to sit on some damp grass and breathe in gunpowder residue."

He decided not to push the issue. "Whatever, fine, come on. Teyla's waiting."

*

Memorial Park was buzzing with fireworks-watchers, mostly families. The air was warm and heavy with a humidity that promised rain later, urging them to settle down underneath it. Teyla threaded them deftly through the crowds til she found a spot almost on the edge of the clearing. John spread out a blanket and set down the picnic basket. Rodney dropped with a huff, slapping at imaginary mosquitoes.

"It would have been less crowded at the Academy."

"True," John said neutrally.

He knelt down to pull out the food. Teyla sat cross-legged next to him. There wasn’t room to barbeque, unfortunately, but turkey sandwiches were traditional, too. Rodney gave them a look. "I wish Ronon was here," he muttered.

"He has never been particularly interested in Earth," Teyla said softly. "The surviving Satedans need his leadership."

"What about you? Don't your people need you?"

John and Teyla traded glances and didn't say anything. Rodney grabbed at a bag of chips and plopped down on his back. "Humph."

*

The display was pretty good by Earth standards. John had seen a lot more colorful explosions by this time, but usually while someone was trying to kill him. There was a lot to be said for taking in the lights and noise lying on soft grass with his head in
Teyla's lap, her slim brown thigh in her shorts so close he could graze it with his nose if he turned his head.

"I like to think these are for us this year," he said, smiling up at her during a pause in the fusillade. "A little, anyway."

"What, weren't your medals enough?" she teased.

"He wants a ticker-tape parade," Rodney said. "Not that the military had much to do with beating the Wraith."

Teyla's brow furrowed, but she smiled with a deliberate brightness and said, "Speaking of
celebrations..." She slid John's head to the ground so she could reach back into the picnic basket and extract the small paper-wrapped bottle and three small earthenware cups glazed with a iridescent rust color you couldn't get with Earth plant dyes. John sat up, looking around for cops, but didn't spot any. John accepted one cup of the gleaming liquor from her, brushing his fingers with hers, remembering the first time they'd done this. She then turned and offered the next to Rodney, who almost snatched it from her hand, as if he didn't want to touch her.

The Athosian liquor was strong and subtle on his tongue, the richness of a secret life in another galaxy distilled into an extravagant series of flavors. He knew it was the old vintage, which the Athosians had recovered from the storage caves after the Wraith had gone. There wasn't much of it left. The Athosians had decided to remain on their new planet, and the grains were different there.

Rodney hadn't touched his. He was cradling his cup in both hands and staring down into it. Teyla said, "Our supply may be running low, Rodney, but you should still…"

"Why don't you just say it?" he burst out. "You're going back. Both of you. Aren't you?"

John glanced around quickly, out of habit, but no one had caught it. Teyla nodded, sliding forward on the blanket to him. "Rodney, we--"

"Don't 'Rodney' me!" he snapped as John pulled himself closer, as well. The fireworks started up again, a loud syncopation building towards the climax. All the faces around them were turned up in wonder to the skies. "I understand perfectly well why you're doing it. You don't have to rub it in, that you two managed to find true love and poor stupid Rodney couldn't even keep Katie Brown--"

"Rodney." Teyla took his face in both hands and kissed him. He flailed, spilling the liquor over both of them. John caught his hand, took the cup away, and didn't let go. Rodney's hand jerked in his a few times, then grew quiet.

When Teyla sat back, his eyes were wide. "I—you—is this a date?" he stammered. "Oh, my God, we're on a date! All of us!"

Teyla burst into laughter, but John could see the corners of her eyes were wet. "Yes, Rodney."

"Or, you could call it a proposal," John offered.

"If I had known we were going on a date, I would have dressed better," he said faintly. "I can dress better, you know." He revived a little. "Though you can't really blame me. It's not like I have a lot of experience with dates with two other people. I'm usually lucky to get one."

John actually almost flushed a little. It wasn't like he wasn't extremely aware--in every possible way—how kinky the idea was. It had taken them this long for a reason.

"I know it is not the custom of your people," Teyla began.

"My people? Our people are the only people I give a damn about. And I think they'll all get it."

"Then you'll come with us," John said.

"Give up my job and move to another galaxy with you? Aren't you moving kind of fast? I'm not that kind of girl, Sheppard."

John rolled his eyes.

“No, you’ll definitely need to court me for a while first.” Rodney was already stretching out on his back. "Come on. Let's watch the finale."

"Told you you'd like them," John said, lying down himself with Teyla between them. He put his arm under her head, letting Rodney curl his fingers around his discreetly.

"Just chemical reactions," Rodney muttered.

John didn't argue.

Comments

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

Rodney declares his independence from heterosexuality, monosexuality, and eating Doritos on the couch alone in one fell swoop!