Fic: Team Bonding by Nny [Hallowe'en Challenge]
Title: Team Bonding
Author: Nny
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rating: G
Summary: John can be surprisingly persuasive, when he wants to be.
Author's Note: This'd be my first ficlet in this fandom, so please be gentle. Thanks to soupytwist for very quick beta.
Team Bonding
"No."
"McKay…"
"No, no, no and no, Colonel. You'd think I'd have learned not to expect more from you by now but still you manage to plumb the very depths of appropriate behaviour."
Rodney deliberately ignored Ronon's amused stare, the way that Teyla's lip kept twitching faintly.
"Hey, now." Sheppard had his hands raised, a lopsided smile on his face as he edged closer, and Rodney gestured threateningly, almost losing his grip on the dark plastic. "Hey now, Rodney, it's just a bit of fun, alright? It's Hallowe'en, where's your holiday spirit?"
"Oh yes, fun for you no doubt, but you're not the only one with experience of this sort of thing, unless you've forgotten. Not to mention the fact that imposing a terran system of time management onto Atlantis is arbitrary at best." He turned to point accusingly at Ronon and Teyla. "If you had any idea of precisely what it is he's proposing you'd be backing me up, I hope you know that and don't touch that." Sheppard spread his hands innocently and stepped away from the device.
"Don't you think you're being a little ridiculous?"
Rodney backed up until he had the reassuring bulk of the wall at his back, switching hands so he could dry his sweaty palm on his thigh.
"It's just, you know, something friendly we could all do together. Team bonding. You want to be part of the team, right, Rodney?" Ah, first names now, was it?
"Wheedling doesn't suit you, Colonel." Rodney scowled at him, still keeping one eye on the box on the table as though the contents could leap out and bite him. "I've dealt with people like you all my life, and peer pressure's never been an adequate lever. You're going to have to come up with something far more convincing than that."
"…I'm pretty sure the cat'll survive?"
Teyla's expression was starting to waver a little, now, and Rodney nodded at her encouragingly before answering. It was about time they understood the sort of mind they were dealing with, here.
"That was positively feeble, even for you."
"Okay. Okay, Rodney, you've got me." Sheppard leaned against the wall, the studied casual air belied by the faint tension evident just at the corner of his eyes. "I might have got my hands on something. Before you ask, no, I'm not revealing my sources, but - " he slowly reached down to the pocket in his BDUs and produced a small plastic-wrapped package, shaking it slightly. The faint rattle had the same effect as the smell of fresh coffee, and Rodney took a step or two away from the wall before he managed to collect himself, before he tucked his shaking hands firmly into his armpits.
"Salt or sweet?" And okay, maybe he was overplaying his hand a little because Sheppard had to know no one could be that relaxed at the prospect of microwave popcorn, but Rodney had his dignity. He had some dignity.
...Maybe just about enough not to beg.
"Sweet, of course," and he sounded almost offended, like McKay should know better, which he supposed was true. Sheppard was entirely too good at this to attempt to bribe with second-rate merchandise.
Rodney sighed and gave up.
"Oh, very well, we can watch your blasted Alien. But you're walking me back to my quarters afterward, Colonel." And already he was regretting it - he didn't trust that little smile on Sheppard's lips one bit.
Author: Nny
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rating: G
Summary: John can be surprisingly persuasive, when he wants to be.
Author's Note: This'd be my first ficlet in this fandom, so please be gentle. Thanks to soupytwist for very quick beta.
Team Bonding
"No."
"McKay…"
"No, no, no and no, Colonel. You'd think I'd have learned not to expect more from you by now but still you manage to plumb the very depths of appropriate behaviour."
Rodney deliberately ignored Ronon's amused stare, the way that Teyla's lip kept twitching faintly.
"Hey, now." Sheppard had his hands raised, a lopsided smile on his face as he edged closer, and Rodney gestured threateningly, almost losing his grip on the dark plastic. "Hey now, Rodney, it's just a bit of fun, alright? It's Hallowe'en, where's your holiday spirit?"
"Oh yes, fun for you no doubt, but you're not the only one with experience of this sort of thing, unless you've forgotten. Not to mention the fact that imposing a terran system of time management onto Atlantis is arbitrary at best." He turned to point accusingly at Ronon and Teyla. "If you had any idea of precisely what it is he's proposing you'd be backing me up, I hope you know that and don't touch that." Sheppard spread his hands innocently and stepped away from the device.
"Don't you think you're being a little ridiculous?"
Rodney backed up until he had the reassuring bulk of the wall at his back, switching hands so he could dry his sweaty palm on his thigh.
"It's just, you know, something friendly we could all do together. Team bonding. You want to be part of the team, right, Rodney?" Ah, first names now, was it?
"Wheedling doesn't suit you, Colonel." Rodney scowled at him, still keeping one eye on the box on the table as though the contents could leap out and bite him. "I've dealt with people like you all my life, and peer pressure's never been an adequate lever. You're going to have to come up with something far more convincing than that."
"…I'm pretty sure the cat'll survive?"
Teyla's expression was starting to waver a little, now, and Rodney nodded at her encouragingly before answering. It was about time they understood the sort of mind they were dealing with, here.
"That was positively feeble, even for you."
"Okay. Okay, Rodney, you've got me." Sheppard leaned against the wall, the studied casual air belied by the faint tension evident just at the corner of his eyes. "I might have got my hands on something. Before you ask, no, I'm not revealing my sources, but - " he slowly reached down to the pocket in his BDUs and produced a small plastic-wrapped package, shaking it slightly. The faint rattle had the same effect as the smell of fresh coffee, and Rodney took a step or two away from the wall before he managed to collect himself, before he tucked his shaking hands firmly into his armpits.
"Salt or sweet?" And okay, maybe he was overplaying his hand a little because Sheppard had to know no one could be that relaxed at the prospect of microwave popcorn, but Rodney had his dignity. He had some dignity.
...Maybe just about enough not to beg.
"Sweet, of course," and he sounded almost offended, like McKay should know better, which he supposed was true. Sheppard was entirely too good at this to attempt to bribe with second-rate merchandise.
Rodney sighed and gave up.
"Oh, very well, we can watch your blasted Alien. But you're walking me back to my quarters afterward, Colonel." And already he was regretting it - he didn't trust that little smile on Sheppard's lips one bit.