(Untitled)

[lt_col_sheppard]

John lies across the bed in his own room--the one he still keeps to maintain regs--the one he is forced to sleep in when someone of some importance is on Atlants--and is likely homophobic. The one he almost never sees, because they're so alone out here--there's almost never anyone to impress--no one to fool. Before the last few days, he would

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[engineer_radek]

*is lost in thought now, staring unseeing at the sea, when he hear/feels a whisper/echo. Radek blinks as he straightens. It is the feeling he's come to associate with Atlantis trying to get his attention. He is still uncertain how she can even do this much since he doesn't have the gene but she can and does so now.

Then he hears it. The faint whisper of cloth most others might not catch, but he does thanks to his training. He doesn't tense because that would give away that he is aware. Instead, he continues to stare out into the sea as he tries to figure out who is watching him. Then he smells it, that distinctive scent of Aqua Vela that only one person in the entire city would have the gall to wear*

*without turning* Hello, John. *pats the railing beside him* Come. Stop lurking in shadows.

[lt_col_sheppard]

*John watches Radek, smiling--the way his wild hair tumbles in the sea breeze--the graceful slump of his shoulders, his strong, pale hands flashing together in the moonlight. It brings out a voyeuristic tingle in him that he's hardly ever really entertained. He nearly jumps when Radek speaks seemingly out of the blue--his words softly accented, beautiful in the cool silence.*

'I'm not lurking so much as standing watch, you know....Airmen don't lurk.'

*he slowly approaches the rail, copying Radek's pose, his forearms draped across it. Their shoulders press warmly together and John leans in. Small talk seems the best way to start--feeling Radek out, hoping whatever's bothering him will just emerge.*

'She brought me here...I told you she knows about you. You watch--it'll get so bad that neither of us can sneeze without her telling the other.'

[engineer_radek]

*chuckles softly* Of course they don't, how foolish of me. *pauses then says, his amused grin obvious in his tone despite the fact John can't see him at the moment* Stop looming, then.

*snorts then nods* I would not doubt it. *lightly caresses the railing* She is a marvel. I do not believe we have even scratched the surface of what she is capable of, despite the ZPM. *sighs softly* I almost wish that the time ship had survived so that we could go back and see her in her prime. *sighs heavily* Of course we did get to see the time ship, so that is something.

*Radek is no fool, however, and he has an idea of why Atlantis would bring John to him. He absently fingered the box in his pocket as he considered how to word his question* John. *carefully doesn't look at John, but continues to stare out into the sea and the stars beyond* You were in the American Black Ops, correct?

[lt_col_sheppard]

*John runs his fingers over the rail as Radek does, the sight of his lover's hands caressing the cool metal somehow intimate.*

'She was something to behold, I'm sure, Radek--can you imagine her at full power? She does so much already that we thought was impossible....'

*John turns to Radek at the soft sound of his name, frowning at his sudden turn from wistful to morose.*

You were in the American Black Ops, correct?

John whips his gaze toward the sea, his shoulders tensing, a motion bordering on flinching away. He's grateful for the darkness--so Radek can't see the pinched look on his face.

'....yeah,..yeah I was, Radek. It's one of the reasons I was essentially an air taxi in Antarctica. It was easier to be away from civilzation after that...'

*he ducks his dark head, shaking tenrils of hair from his forehead*

'...any particular reason why you ask?'

[engineer_radek]

((*kicks LJ* I had THE most awesome reply done this afternoon but then LJ ate it. So. I gotta rewrite it. That's why it ain't up yet. *kicks LJ some more* I'll try and have it up before morning. I'm trying to remember everything I had written.))

[engineer_radek]

((FINALLY! Sorry for delay!))

*Radek finally gave into the urge and took out the box in his pocket. It was sterling silver with an etching of a woman on it. She was dressed in a medeival dress and held a scythe while snow flakes surrounded her. Opening the box revealed a row of brown-wrapped cigarettes, the smell of cloves almost over-powering. Taking one out, he lit it using the matches attached to the lid then took a deep drag. All of this is done with the air of long-practice* Mmmm...better. *puts the cigarette case away and just enjoys his cig for a few minutes*

*finally, as he taps away the ash, he starts* I was not always a scientist. In my country, unless you are lucky enough to be accepted into university, you must join the military. Is compulsionary. And even if you are accepted into university, you must first serve at least three years. I served almost seven. Do you know why? Because I was good at what I did. I was so good that the military did not want to give me up to the university

[lt_col_sheppard]

John watches Radek's nimble fingers skate over the tarnished lid of the box, his touch gentle, somehow reverent. He'd seen the small silver case under their shared bed, along with several other, larger bundles he'd never thought to ask about, but had pondered in an idle way while lying awake for several nights. The moonlight (can he even call it the moon in this new galaxy?) flashes over it's silvery surface, and he can see the outline of a woman--somehow familiar. He realizes after a second glance that the figure is the same one etched onto the soft, pliant skin of Radek's back. A figure he'd traced and retraced over many sleepless nights--or languid sessions of touch and taste in their large bed

[engineer_radek]

*snorts softly* He is part of it, true, but only small part.

*closes his eyes as John's fingers brush his arm. He can feel every millimeter John's finger touches and it burns, like fire on his arm. He is almost disappointed when John pulls back, but understands when John begins his tale*

*he tilts his head just enough to get a clear look at John from the corner of his eye when John mentions the cutting. Of course he'd noticed the marks on John's thighs and lower abdomen--he did sleep with the man, after all--but he had thought they were battle scars. To learn that his love had hurt enough...it made him want to hold John, but he couldn't seem to make his arms move

[lt_col_sheppard]

John can feel the heavy lassitude in Radek's body, and he turns him, leaning back against the cold rail, pillowing his lover against his body. He knows the pain--he can feel Radek's brushing against his, two soul-deep aches nestling close together in the darkness. He knows the routine, the way things heal, and how the most broken of men wait until the wound is nearly gone before they rip it open again. He remembers that cycle. And he knows he had it easy--a little blood, a little puke--a black eye and a few nightmares and he was done

[engineer_radek]

*smiles wanly* Yes. Yes, you are.

*reaches up and lays a hand on John's cheek* You are more than enough, milacku.

*slides his hand back into John's hair as they kiss, his other going up to wrap around John's shoulders. He was so lucky to have someone who understood. He prayed nothing ever happened that took John from him because if that happened, no one would survive the resulting bloodbath. Morena would come out to play and she would not leave anyone untouched*

[lt_col_sheppard]

John let Radek pull him down into another kiss, savoring the new, intense flavor in his mouth. Smoke and ash and the sweetness of cloves. His hands gripped Radek's hips hard, pulled him close enough to smother them both-and tried to show him with lips and tongue how much he did understand..and how sorry he was they shared this burden. He had a little sliver of fear of Radek now--the kind he'd kept in the back of his mind for himself--the fear that one day the training he'd been given would come back. That one day the box he'd put those days and nights in would break open--and his lovers would pa the price.

'..s'cold out here..come back to bed with me? Carson's sleeping, and I know he'd like us in there with him...'

[engineer_radek]

Mmmmm...*arches into John, clutching John's hair like a lifeline* Yes...*sighs softly as they part and smiles up at John* Yes. Let us go to Carson.

So...*looks down shyly* I take it you will not allow me to move out? *though he already knows the answer, he needs to hear it. To know for sure that his lovers aren't bothered by the nightmares. He really didn't want to move out*

[engineer_radek]

((*smirks as she pokes you* I'm Radek, hun. *giggles*))

*looks at John worriedly when he mentions his own dreams. His training must have really slipped if he didn't wake when John was in distress beside him* If you ever need me, wake me, milacku. I would not mind.

*leans into John as they step inside and grins* Oh yes, it is puzzling.

[lt_col_sheppard]

John tips Radek's chin up again, his fingers firm under his lover's jaw. Dark emotion swelled in him, making his heart clench painfully. Damn the bastards that broke him this way--made him have nightmares..made him ashamed and afraid.

I'm never letting you sleep away from me again if I can help it, Radek--never. When you have nightmares, we can sit up and compare--you three sleep so soundly when you finally *DO* sleep, that you never seem to hear me when I wake up from mine-which is every damn night. It doesn't bother me....

He wraps an arm around Radek and leads him inside

anyway, have you heard Rodney when he has one of his "Killer lemons" dreams? I can't believe the entire city doesn't wake up!