Cliche Bingo Fic: Do Tell (SGA, John/Rodney, Rated PG)
Title: Do Tell
Author: Sandy
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: John/Rodney
Rated: PG
Spoilers/Setting: Set Post Season 5, and Atlantis is back in the Pegasus Galaxy where she belongs
Word Count: ~1,620
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. I'm just using them for a bit.
Author's Note: Written for cliche_bingo prompt: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
My cliché bingo card.
Summary: Rodney had never thought that John would be a homophobe, so why did he storm out of the party just because two men were dancing together?
Rodney hurried through the corridor hoping to get to the mess hall before all the snacks were gone. He knew that Atlantis didn't have a sentient AI, but sometimes he swore that the city deliberately had malfunctions whenever there was a party planned just so he wouldn't get to the buffet before everything worth eating was gone. Last time, all that had been left were drying hunks of the cheese that smelled like feet and the fish balls that tasted like they'd been rolled in library paste.
Finally reaching his destination, Rodney entered the room, glanced around until he found the food table, and then groaned in despair. The ravening hordes had done it again, stripping the platters bare of all the best stuff. Rodney's mouth twisted in disappointment as he headed over to pick through the unappetizing leftovers. He had just picked up a hunk of feet cheese when a plate filled with a variety of delicious appetizers and tiny sandwiches floated in front of his face. He'd turned to see John holding it out to him, a smug grin on his face.
"God, I love you," Rodney said as he snatched the loaded plate from John's hand. Picking up a savory pastry, he popped it into his mouth and chewed, his eyes closing in ecstasy.
"Glad I could help," John said, his voice reflecting his dry amusement.
Rodney ignored him in favor of a slice of the melon-like fruit they'd recently received from one of their trading partners. It was sweet and juicy and Rodney moaned in delight.
The pile of food had been significantly reduced before Rodney slowed down and realized that John was still standing next to him. Remembering the manners that Jennifer had tried to drill into him before their rather spectacular breakup, he looked guiltily at his friend and held the plate out. "Uh, you want some?" he asked.
"Nah, I had plenty before you got here," John said.
Rodney smiled happily and picked up a tea sandwich to munch on. Now that his immediate hunger was satisfied, he took the time to glance around at the gathering. Teyla, Kanaan, Ronon, and Amelia sat together at a table, and Rodney quickly turned his attention away before he was spotted looking their way. The last thing he wanted was to be invited to join a couple's table and be reminded that he was, once again, single.
Music played from a stereo system set up on a table against one of the walls, and a few people were dancing. Others were gathered in groupings of various sizes and the buzz of voices and laughter filled the room. Rodney's eyes slid disinterestedly over the crowd and, at first, he didn't even take in what he'd seen. When it finally hit him, his eyes swung back and he stared.
Lorne had Dr. Parrish by the hand and was leading him out onto the dance floor. Rodney vaguely remembered that Parrish had worked occasionally with Lorne's team, but Rodney had had no clue that the two men were close. And close they were; even Rodney could tell that as they wrapped their arms around each other and began to sway with the slow tempo of the song currently playing. The look of utter adoration on Parrish's face, and the soft kiss Lorne brushed across his partner's lips left absolutely no doubt as to the depth of the men's affection for each other.
"Did you know about that?" Rodney asked John, elbowing him in the ribs and pointing toward the two men. The ban against gays in the American military had been repealed nearly three months ago, but this was the first time Rodney had seen any of the American military contingent assigned to Atlantis being obvious about where their sexuality lie.
He felt John stiffen beside him, and he glanced at his friend, surprised to see the dark look on Sheppard's face.
"No," John said, his voice a gruff whisper.
Rodney had thought he knew John pretty well, and the last thing he expected from John was homophobia.
"You, um, you don't approve?"
John's face took on an emotionless mask, and he remained silent. Then, without a word to Rodney, he turned and left the mess hall. Rodney stood there in shock for a minute or so, and then rushed after his friend.
It took a while, but Rodney knew the city and its Colonel inside and out, and he at last tracked him down on the east pier. Their pier, Rodney often thought of it. The one where they liked to hang out, drink a couple of beers, and just relax after a rough day.
Rodney walked up and stood beside John. "You want to talk about it?"
"Rodney," John said, the warning to drop it evident in his tone of voice.
"I mean I know you pretty well. At least I thought I did, and I never thought of you as intolerant."
John glared at him. "I'm not."
Rodney nodded. "So what was that about?" John turned back to gazing out at the ocean and ignored Rodney's question.
"So, if it isn't bigotry," Rodney mused, refusing to let it drop, this puzzle too intriguing to let go of, "why did you storm out of the mess hall?" John kept silent, and a sudden thought had Rodney's eyes opening wide, a thought that for some reason made Rodney's stomach twist up in a knot.
"Oh, I... You, you have a thing for Lorne?"
John's head whipped around, and he said, "For god's sake, Rodney. No."
"Oh, good." He was silent for a moment, and then, "So, it's Parrish?"
John sighed. "No."
"But you were upset about something," Rodney said, feeling relief at John's words but still curious and worried over John's reaction.
"Rodney, let it go."
Rodney opened his mouth, but John looked at him and something in his eyes made Rodney close it again. They stood silently together, both looking out onto the moonlit ocean. It wasn't easy for Rodney to stay quiet and still, and before long he began to fidget, moving from foot to foot, rubbing his hands together, crossing and uncrossing his arms, but even with all his fidgeting, he remained silent. It was the hardest thing he'd ever done.
Just when Rodney thought he would vibrate right off the pier, John said, in a voice low and raspy, "I was jealous, all right? But I wasn't jealous of who they had, I was jealous of what they had."
Rodney turned to him, trying to puzzle out what John meant, and then, remembering the look on the two men's faces, Rodney said, "Love?" And then his eyes widened, "Gay love?"
John shrugged.
That shocked Rodney, because of all the men on Atlantis, he'd never have guessed that John Sheppard was gay. Which meant that he was wasn't. Because if John were gay, Rodney would have known.
"You can't be gay," Rodney said, voicing his thoughts. "What about all the women who fling themselves at you? And I've never seen you flirt with any men."
John barked a harsh laugh. "Christ, Rodney," he said, and then to Rodney's utter shock, he turned, captured Rodney's face in his big, rough, warm hands, leaned in and kissed him. Rodney's eyes widened as the kiss deepened.
John's eyes were closed, and his lips were surprisingly soft as they pressed against Rodney's mouth. Rodney stood stock still, unresponsive under John's lips, trying desperately to process exactly what was happening. John was kissing him! John, who was jealous of two men's open affection for each other, was kissing him.
John pulled back and stared at Rodney, then swallowed and said in a husky whisper, "Sorry." While Rodney stood there befuddled, John turned away and walked back to the door, disappearing inside.
Rodney slowly raised his hand and touched his still tingling lips. Sheppard had kissed him. Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, his best friend and colleague, the guy who had to beat women off with the butt end of his P90, had just kissed him, a man. John Sheppard, who had just maybe revealed that he was gay - and if he were, could have his pick of any number of good-looking men on Atlantis - had kissed him, Rodney McKay.
A smile began to spread over Rodney's face, and he snapped his fingers as all the pieces came together, then he turned and hurried up the pier, through the door, and into the transporter. He entered Sheppard's quarters without bothering to knock, and marched over to the bed where Sheppard was lying, fully dressed, with his arm flung over his eyes.
John moved his arm just in time for Rodney to grab his face, lean down, and give him a big, sloppy, enthusiastic kiss. When he drew back, Sheppard's eyes were huge in his face, and he gasped, "Rodney, what?"
"Yes, you moron," Rodney said through his grin, and then he leaned down for another kiss.
When he drew back again, Sheppard licked his lips, then looked into Rodney's eyes and said, "Yes?"
"Yes!" Rodney said, feeling more than a little giddy. "Jesus, Sheppard, why the hell didn't you tell me we were more than just friends?"
Sheppard searched his face, and then he wrapped his hand around the back of Rodney's neck and pulled him into another kiss. Sliding his lips up along Rodney's jaw, he got to Rodney's ear and whispered, "Hey, Rodney, guess what? We're more than just friends."
Rodney snorted, and dropped down onto the bed shoving John over to give him room. "Yes, thank you for the update, Colonel Late-Breaking-News. Can we get back to the kissing now?"
"Oh, hell yeah," John said, his eyes shining with happiness.
The End
Author: Sandy
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: John/Rodney
Rated: PG
Spoilers/Setting: Set Post Season 5, and Atlantis is back in the Pegasus Galaxy where she belongs
Word Count: ~1,620
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. I'm just using them for a bit.
Author's Note: Written for cliche_bingo prompt: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
My cliché bingo card.
Summary: Rodney had never thought that John would be a homophobe, so why did he storm out of the party just because two men were dancing together?
Rodney hurried through the corridor hoping to get to the mess hall before all the snacks were gone. He knew that Atlantis didn't have a sentient AI, but sometimes he swore that the city deliberately had malfunctions whenever there was a party planned just so he wouldn't get to the buffet before everything worth eating was gone. Last time, all that had been left were drying hunks of the cheese that smelled like feet and the fish balls that tasted like they'd been rolled in library paste.
Finally reaching his destination, Rodney entered the room, glanced around until he found the food table, and then groaned in despair. The ravening hordes had done it again, stripping the platters bare of all the best stuff. Rodney's mouth twisted in disappointment as he headed over to pick through the unappetizing leftovers. He had just picked up a hunk of feet cheese when a plate filled with a variety of delicious appetizers and tiny sandwiches floated in front of his face. He'd turned to see John holding it out to him, a smug grin on his face.
"God, I love you," Rodney said as he snatched the loaded plate from John's hand. Picking up a savory pastry, he popped it into his mouth and chewed, his eyes closing in ecstasy.
"Glad I could help," John said, his voice reflecting his dry amusement.
Rodney ignored him in favor of a slice of the melon-like fruit they'd recently received from one of their trading partners. It was sweet and juicy and Rodney moaned in delight.
The pile of food had been significantly reduced before Rodney slowed down and realized that John was still standing next to him. Remembering the manners that Jennifer had tried to drill into him before their rather spectacular breakup, he looked guiltily at his friend and held the plate out. "Uh, you want some?" he asked.
"Nah, I had plenty before you got here," John said.
Rodney smiled happily and picked up a tea sandwich to munch on. Now that his immediate hunger was satisfied, he took the time to glance around at the gathering. Teyla, Kanaan, Ronon, and Amelia sat together at a table, and Rodney quickly turned his attention away before he was spotted looking their way. The last thing he wanted was to be invited to join a couple's table and be reminded that he was, once again, single.
Music played from a stereo system set up on a table against one of the walls, and a few people were dancing. Others were gathered in groupings of various sizes and the buzz of voices and laughter filled the room. Rodney's eyes slid disinterestedly over the crowd and, at first, he didn't even take in what he'd seen. When it finally hit him, his eyes swung back and he stared.
Lorne had Dr. Parrish by the hand and was leading him out onto the dance floor. Rodney vaguely remembered that Parrish had worked occasionally with Lorne's team, but Rodney had had no clue that the two men were close. And close they were; even Rodney could tell that as they wrapped their arms around each other and began to sway with the slow tempo of the song currently playing. The look of utter adoration on Parrish's face, and the soft kiss Lorne brushed across his partner's lips left absolutely no doubt as to the depth of the men's affection for each other.
"Did you know about that?" Rodney asked John, elbowing him in the ribs and pointing toward the two men. The ban against gays in the American military had been repealed nearly three months ago, but this was the first time Rodney had seen any of the American military contingent assigned to Atlantis being obvious about where their sexuality lie.
He felt John stiffen beside him, and he glanced at his friend, surprised to see the dark look on Sheppard's face.
"No," John said, his voice a gruff whisper.
Rodney had thought he knew John pretty well, and the last thing he expected from John was homophobia.
"You, um, you don't approve?"
John's face took on an emotionless mask, and he remained silent. Then, without a word to Rodney, he turned and left the mess hall. Rodney stood there in shock for a minute or so, and then rushed after his friend.
It took a while, but Rodney knew the city and its Colonel inside and out, and he at last tracked him down on the east pier. Their pier, Rodney often thought of it. The one where they liked to hang out, drink a couple of beers, and just relax after a rough day.
Rodney walked up and stood beside John. "You want to talk about it?"
"Rodney," John said, the warning to drop it evident in his tone of voice.
"I mean I know you pretty well. At least I thought I did, and I never thought of you as intolerant."
John glared at him. "I'm not."
Rodney nodded. "So what was that about?" John turned back to gazing out at the ocean and ignored Rodney's question.
"So, if it isn't bigotry," Rodney mused, refusing to let it drop, this puzzle too intriguing to let go of, "why did you storm out of the mess hall?" John kept silent, and a sudden thought had Rodney's eyes opening wide, a thought that for some reason made Rodney's stomach twist up in a knot.
"Oh, I... You, you have a thing for Lorne?"
John's head whipped around, and he said, "For god's sake, Rodney. No."
"Oh, good." He was silent for a moment, and then, "So, it's Parrish?"
John sighed. "No."
"But you were upset about something," Rodney said, feeling relief at John's words but still curious and worried over John's reaction.
"Rodney, let it go."
Rodney opened his mouth, but John looked at him and something in his eyes made Rodney close it again. They stood silently together, both looking out onto the moonlit ocean. It wasn't easy for Rodney to stay quiet and still, and before long he began to fidget, moving from foot to foot, rubbing his hands together, crossing and uncrossing his arms, but even with all his fidgeting, he remained silent. It was the hardest thing he'd ever done.
Just when Rodney thought he would vibrate right off the pier, John said, in a voice low and raspy, "I was jealous, all right? But I wasn't jealous of who they had, I was jealous of what they had."
Rodney turned to him, trying to puzzle out what John meant, and then, remembering the look on the two men's faces, Rodney said, "Love?" And then his eyes widened, "Gay love?"
John shrugged.
That shocked Rodney, because of all the men on Atlantis, he'd never have guessed that John Sheppard was gay. Which meant that he was wasn't. Because if John were gay, Rodney would have known.
"You can't be gay," Rodney said, voicing his thoughts. "What about all the women who fling themselves at you? And I've never seen you flirt with any men."
John barked a harsh laugh. "Christ, Rodney," he said, and then to Rodney's utter shock, he turned, captured Rodney's face in his big, rough, warm hands, leaned in and kissed him. Rodney's eyes widened as the kiss deepened.
John's eyes were closed, and his lips were surprisingly soft as they pressed against Rodney's mouth. Rodney stood stock still, unresponsive under John's lips, trying desperately to process exactly what was happening. John was kissing him! John, who was jealous of two men's open affection for each other, was kissing him.
John pulled back and stared at Rodney, then swallowed and said in a husky whisper, "Sorry." While Rodney stood there befuddled, John turned away and walked back to the door, disappearing inside.
Rodney slowly raised his hand and touched his still tingling lips. Sheppard had kissed him. Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard, his best friend and colleague, the guy who had to beat women off with the butt end of his P90, had just kissed him, a man. John Sheppard, who had just maybe revealed that he was gay - and if he were, could have his pick of any number of good-looking men on Atlantis - had kissed him, Rodney McKay.
A smile began to spread over Rodney's face, and he snapped his fingers as all the pieces came together, then he turned and hurried up the pier, through the door, and into the transporter. He entered Sheppard's quarters without bothering to knock, and marched over to the bed where Sheppard was lying, fully dressed, with his arm flung over his eyes.
John moved his arm just in time for Rodney to grab his face, lean down, and give him a big, sloppy, enthusiastic kiss. When he drew back, Sheppard's eyes were huge in his face, and he gasped, "Rodney, what?"
"Yes, you moron," Rodney said through his grin, and then he leaned down for another kiss.
When he drew back again, Sheppard licked his lips, then looked into Rodney's eyes and said, "Yes?"
"Yes!" Rodney said, feeling more than a little giddy. "Jesus, Sheppard, why the hell didn't you tell me we were more than just friends?"
Sheppard searched his face, and then he wrapped his hand around the back of Rodney's neck and pulled him into another kiss. Sliding his lips up along Rodney's jaw, he got to Rodney's ear and whispered, "Hey, Rodney, guess what? We're more than just friends."
Rodney snorted, and dropped down onto the bed shoving John over to give him room. "Yes, thank you for the update, Colonel Late-Breaking-News. Can we get back to the kissing now?"
"Oh, hell yeah," John said, his eyes shining with happiness.
The End