Title: Irrational
Pairings: John/Elizabeth UST, minor Ronon/Teyla
AN: My first SGA fic, even though I've been lurking in the fandom for ages. Written for the 15minuteficlets LJ community (word #170). Reviews are much loved.
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His lips slant downwards, his gut twists. John Sheppard clenches his hands and reminds himself that Ronon is his friend (and is very possibly infatuated with Teyla). The fact that the big man could very definitely beat him in a one on one fight is beside the point.
That Elizabeth is currently beaming at him, green eyes sparkling with laughter, is also beside the point.
It should be beside the point, anyway. He has no claim on her (so, really, the sudden urge to grab her and make her understand that she is his is completely nonsensical).
He watches them through heavy lidded eyes and nods absently at Cadman. She's laughing now and he very much wants to know exactly what Ronon is saying to her. Elizabeth hasn't laughed much lately, and it shames him to realize that he's upset because he's not the one making her laugh (is he really that shallow?).
Turning away quickly, he veers off his path, heading towards Rodney's lab. Annoying the scientist is always fun – and hey, it might even take his thoughts off Elizabeth and Ronon. ElizabethandRonon. ElizabethRonon.
The sneer is instinctive, and John knows he's being irrational. Ronon is his friend, and so is Elizabeth (only a friend, no matter how much he wishes that she was more). Entering the lab, he forces a smile on his face. McKay doesn't look up, doesn't acknowledge his presence. John is fine with that – if Rodney looks up, he'll notice something (if only because he makes a habit of being observant at the worst of times).
And John doesn't want to admit to the knot in his stomach, or the burn in his chest.
Keeping an eye on Rodney, John took a seat in the lab, forcing his hands to unclench. He breathes, and thinks of the fact that he knows that Ronon and Teyla have something. The burn eases somewhat, but then the radio in his ear clicks and Elizabeth's voice echoes through his mind.
The unbidden thought that maybe Elizabeth didn't know about Ronon and Teyla (or maybe she liked him anyway) comes to him as he is walking back to the control room. When he arrives, he continues on to the balcony, waiting silently. She turns around, and for a second he thinks he sees something flash in her eyes. Only for a second, and then it's gone, and hey, maybe he imagined it anyway.
"Is something wrong?" She is succinct. He muses idly on the diversion from their normal banter, before it occurs to him that he should probably respond.
"No." His voice is low, and even he can tell that he sounds different. She arches an eyebrow, and the burn picks up.
This is Elizabeth, and he really shouldn't be feeling like this. She smirks at him, and he takes a moment to wonder at the glee on her face before she speaks and he stops thinking.
"Ronon and Teyla are so together." He blinks at the non-sequitur that isn't and the knot unravels.
"Hmm." His answer is non committal, but he is breathing easier, and she's still smiling at him, and that hint of something between them is still there as well.
There's still time.