I signed up to write Teyla/Rodney at the LiveJournal community "letter love", i.e. writing one fic using this pairing for each letter of the alphabet. This is the first one - P for Perseverance. Please assume an established (but secret) relationship.
"Again."
Rodney throws his hands into the air and sighs loudly. "As much as I love your Laurence Fishburne impression Teyla, we both know that this isn't working. Look, I know how to use a gun now, isn't that enough?"
Teyla's lips meet in a tight line as she resists the urge to roll her eyes at him. "As myself, Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Weir have explained, many times, there have been and there will be many situations in which you find yourself without a weapon. Basic knowledge of how to defend oneself in these situations can be invaluable."
"But that's what I have you for."
This time she can't fight the temptation, and Rodney sighs when he sees her eyes roll in exasperation, aware of how arduous a task this is for her. "Look, I know I'm being stubborn and difficult about this, some might even say childish. But try and see this from my point of view. I'm a scientist. I took this job so that I could find new technology which we could use to fight hostile aliens. I didn't expect to be fighting the hostile aliens myself."
"And I didn't expect to leave the world that was my home and live amongst people who are not my own. Such is life, Rodney."
His eyes close as he sighs in defeat. She waits until his arms leave his chest before she adopts her defensive stance once more. He surprises her by attacking more swiftly and surely than before, a new determination fuelling both his physical and mental stamina. She struggles to anticipate his actions, his fists perforating her defences with surprising ease. When she believes that she finally has the measure of his upper body movement, his foot wraps around her ankle to send her crashing to the mat. His arms drop as he stares in shock at her sprawled form, and she can't resist digging her own feet into his calves to bring him tumbling to the ground.
She groans as he lands heavily on top of her, their eyes mere inches apart. His laughter comes out in short sharp huffs as he tries to control his breathing. "I did it! I beat you." She can't help but smile at his child-like delight, a sight usually reserved for breakthroughs of a scientific nature. Before she can reply, the door hisses open. Their visitor comes to a halt as soon as he spots the tangled bodies on the floor, his features betraying his amusement at the scene.
"Is there something I should know about the two of you?"
Rodney looks up with a gleeful smile. "I won! I beat her."
His head turns back in time to see the narrowing of her eyes a split second before he is thrown to one side. Teyla pushes herself up from the floor and turns on her heel. "Rodney is showing signs of improvement, Colonel. I would however recommend that we schedule several more lessons in the near future." Without a second glance at either man, she leaves the room.
It isn't until there is a knock on her door later that night when she realises that she hasn't congratulated Rodney on his efforts. The door slides open to reveal him leaning against the frame, with the same triumphant smile on his face. "So, do I get a reward for my perseverance?"