"Deep Space Radio Telemetry my red and gold fragrant flying ass" the cynical words were accompanied by rapid hand gestures as Anthony Edward Stark reviewed the holographic material hanging in the air around him with the beginnings of intense curiosity.
The rest of the workshop was dark, the only light now provided by the digital images.

JARVIS pondered for a moment, the strange sensation he felt he supposed could be likened to a tightening in the pit of his stomach.
An utter impossibility of course when he did not, in fact, have a corporeal body. Yet he still felt it.
One of Sir's little enhancements no doubt, or perhaps he had spent too many years watching that very same expression cross his genius creator's handsome face, and his coding had adapted to the tell-tale precursor of the kind of chaos which ensured that the AI's nice orderly world went to hell in a hand-basket. It happened often enough for it to become a learned algorithm.

JARVIS considered emitting a sigh but he knew it would only make Sir laugh and thereby encourage his brilliant but reckless sire in his ill-considered but always enthusiastic actions. He did not feel like making Tony Stark laugh or offering encouragement. Sir really did not need any added incentive when he was in this mood.

"Indeed Sir" came the deliberately bland response from his loyal AI, then there was an obvious pause before he uttered the fatal words "Is this wise Sir?" JARVIS knew deep in his coding that they were a mistake but worry for his creator won out over common sense every time.

"Jay, Jay, Jay, I will find him and I will find out what the hell the foremost astrophysicist in the world is doing working in some bleak mountain stronghold belonging to NORAD. Where the hell is Cheyenne Mountain anyway? Colorado Springs? Why is that genius working for the damn Air-force when he damn well should be working for me with Foster and Selvig on the Einstein Rosen Bridge?
It's like Rhodey Mark II. Well at least it not some secretive "keep the world in the dark because we know best and you poor plebeian's can't handle the truth" super spy SHIELD kinda deal. It's only the god damn Air force. The SI Legal team should be able to break any contract he's under. I pay them enough. Now there's a thought. I just best that the one eyed leather fetishist pirate knows what exactly what the elusive Canadian scientist is doing there. Jay Kiddo, make a note that I want any and all information held by SHIELD on Dr Meredith McKay and his rocky habitat. I thought Meredith was a girl's name? Don't roll your all seeing eye at me my minion of minions, or I will sell your ass to MIT so that all you do all day is scan those ugly student faces to open doors."

The uninterrupted stream of consciousness didn't faze the AI in the slightest.

JARVIS merely intoned robotically "Me, with a brain the size of a planet…" Tony's startled bark of appreciative laughter rang around the unusually silent room. "What I could do with an Infinite Improbability drive Jay" the words were almost boyishly wistful. "I'll get right on that then Sir, flying whales and hydrangea plants will be my top priority"

"You are a sarcastic brat kiddo"
"I blame my parent Sir, he's a bad influence"
"And it makes his little metallic pulsing blue heart proud kid, so proud"

Tony's delighted laughter died away and his face became serious. "I need the guy to complete the team and give us a fighting chance to enable Thor's return Jay. What the hell could be more interesting for a scientist of his calibre than knowing his work will allow him to eventually meet with actual aliens from another planet?"

The rapid fire words came to a stop and there was a pause as the next sentence seemed to have been dragged out of him with extreme reluctance. But he was talking to JARVIS, the amazing being he had helped to created, because JARVIS had grown at an exponential rate once Tony had brought him on-line. For years Jay was the only one he had truly trusted with his whole soul, even though he loved and trusted Pepper and Rhodey, no-one knew him as well as JARVIS did, so he uttered the rest, knowing the words were safe in his AI's keeping.

"I haven't only just found the love of my life, my actual fucking soul mate, to lose him forever because of the damage that nutjob Reindeer Games caused to the Bifrost." The last few words were almost snarled in the direction of the multi layered holograms before he turned his back on them, his mind racing with memories.

Tony Stark did not allow anyone to see his true feelings, he hid behind masks, hell even his masks hid behind masks. Obfuscation and misdirection had protected what was left of his black hearted soul for as long as he could remember. Well to be truthful it was actually since he and then the world had realised he didn't have a soul mark and he wasn't going to get one. The "Soulless Stark" he had been called by the Paparazzi, he had almost preferred the delightful "Merchant of Death" but he had long ago come to terms with both of those heinous terms.

Not one word, not a sign, not even a fucking punctuation mark marred his goddamn lily white perfect skin whilst he was growing up

By the time he had hit eighteen, all the platitudes and soothing nonsense about being a late bloomer had long been silenced and pity had been replaced by disgust and distrust because only those unworthy of love or one of fate's pathetic little bitches did not wear the mark of their soul mate.

The expensive "specialists" Howard had dragged in from across the globe had finally come to a consensus and declared to Howard that there was little chance of a Soul Mark appearing on Tony now he was fully grown. All of them except for the very last pair of specialists Tony had been forced to see.

Tony vividly remembered the Ndembu Diviner and Folk Healer brother and sister act the Howard had "persuaded" to travel all the way from Namibia on the Stark family private jet. Howard's last resort before washing his hands of the whole thing and his own damn son. The Diviner had told him his fate was a "glorious gift from the stars". Howard had the pair of them heading back to the African continent almost before the last words fell from the guy's mouth.

It had been years since Tony had even remembered about his so called glorious gift. He had wondered when he danced with Virginia Potts that night under the stars but the smiley face on her left arm which corresponded with the red bell pepper on Happy's right wrist put paid to any slightly wistful leanings in that direction.

Tony had thought that surviving a detonated nuclear warhead in space and falling back to Earth unconscious but alive could have been interpreted as a glorious gift from the stars but he finally understood what the gift was when he was jerked from unconsciousness by the Hulk's roar of anguish. And yet again his life was changed forever.

He lay there trying to get his bearings staring up at the exhausted but relieved faces of the rest of the Avengers. Thor had lowered himself and his hammer to kneel besides him. His beautiful blue eyes shimmering with unashamed tears. Who the hell was going to give this muscular man mountain brawler and wielder of that fucking awesome hammer grief for being "in touch with his feelings?" Thor's deep voice was soft and respectful as he uttered "Your great courage shall be immortalised in the epic odes of my people and sung in mine halls until the very stones they are built on have forgotten my name. You have a hero's heart Man of Iron"

Tony quirked a grin at the inhumanly beautiful Alien god besides him, uncomfortable as always with true compliments and trying to brush off the praise. "Best give it back to its rightful owner then, I'm no hero Thor, just ask the Capsicle over there"
Tony saw the fierce frown cross Captain America's face but before the man could even open his mouth, Tony's head was tilted gently to the side by an enormous hand. Skin to skin contact and the feeling that rushed through Tony's body, shivered through his nerve ends, heated his blood and froze his brain was like nothing he had encountered ever before. An intense tingling sensation that almost bordered on pain struck on the area to the right of the arc reactor.

Tony arched his back as he drew in a gasping breath. JARVIS released the suit and it fell to pieces around him. Tony lay there like a stranded fish for once unable to come to a conclusion based on the data supplied. He stared up at the kneeling Asgardian in stunned silence. "What the hell just happened Point Break?" he could barely stutter the words out.

The awe and delight grew on Thor's face, "I am truly blessed this day. You not only have a Hero's heart but you also have mine and my mark Svass. I have waited aeons for my soul mate, truly I believed the Norns had seen fit not to gift me with the rest of my soul and now you are here".

He paused, the smile dimming as his voice thundered with rage. The hammer sparked dangerously and the surrounding Avengers moved back warily. "Those filthy cowards and their exploding device could have killed you. I would have lost you without knowing, without the claiming" He reached frantically for the smaller man, and gathered him tightly to his muscular chest. "I could have lost you my heart of hearts, my soul, my Anthony."

Tony turned his head up to protest at how tightly he was being held, when the God of Thunder's lips crashed down upon his and he felt like he was being devoured at the centre of an emotional and physical hurricane. When he was finally released Thor was staring down at him adoringly, still holding Tony tightly in his arms. Who knew the God of Thunder was a cuddle hog?

When his brain finally cleared from the delightful haze of lust that had shut out everything else, he knew he had to correct Thor's mistake. He was no one's soul mate and god damn did it hurt to have to say it to the magnificent specimen of manhood that held him so lovingly as if he was the most precious thing in the universe. Maybe his mother had held him like that when he was a baby but he couldn't remember a time when he had felt so… cherished. Even the original Jarvis hadn't been that keen on physical displays of affection although he knew the man had loved him.

He couldn't watch that gorgeous face as he gave Thor the bad news. He just couldn't. Everything he had ever wanted, longed for, craved, all gift wrapped in his own favourite colours. Red and Gold. Red cape, gold hair and the kind of blue eyes that reflected the colour of the sky when Tony was doing what he adored, flying, the only place and time where he felt truly free and alive. God he wanted Thor with the same bone deep hunger that had forced his continued survival in that fucking cave in Afghanistan.

"Thor, I can't be your soul mate. I don't have any marks. I never have had" the words were ground out through clenched teeth, his eyes shut. A small part of him heard the shocked intake of breath from Captain America, he and Thor would have been the only ones of the group not to know about the infamous "Soulless Stark".
"Ah Tony" the pained words were almost a whisper from the man with a plan. But it was Thor's reaction which shocked and offended him. The big guy laughed. He fucking laughed at his admission, at the years of pain and solitude. Tony began to struggle, his rage mounting. He was going to kick the beautiful bastard's ass.

"Peace Svass peace, of course you had no marks before, because we are of different worlds, but you bear my mark now and as I do yours. On Asgard we are not born with the soul mark. It only graces our bodies when we touch the one meant for us. Look and see with your own eyes my beloved".

Thor gently released him and then unselfconsciously stripped away his armour. The Captain started to protest in embarrassment, looking around anxiously "Um Thor, should you really do that out in the open?"
Black Widow patted the Captain's arm gently, "I think we all deserve a little treat after the battle Cap" she murmured with wicked amusement and then acknowledged the grin Thor spared for her before he turned his attention back to his confused but adorable soul mate.
Thor didn't hear Clint's slightly subdued but cheeky agreement or the "Puny naked God" that rumbled with disgust from the Hulk before he sat down with a ground shaking thump, determined to stay close to Tony. Thor was utterly focused on his newly discovered soul mate. Anthony, his Anthony stared at him with such an expression of longing and wary hope that it nearly broke his heart.

There on his bare chest was an image of the arc reactor, in exactly the same position as the real arc reactor in Tony's chest. Tony's mouth dropped open. His eyes filled with tears but he didn't let them fall. He couldn't take his eyes away from the Soul Mark. How could it be his? How? He raised his hand and placed it over the mark. Tony closed his eyes again as he felt the mark beat in time with his arc reactor. How was it possible?

"Show me Svass" purred the God of Thunder, possessiveness darkening those sky blue eyes to a thundery silver. Tony tore his eyes and hand away from the mark and stared up at Thor. "Show me" the god repeated with gentle encouragement. Tony looked at his hands as if they didn't belong to him, his brain out of sync with his body as those hands took hold of the hem of his black tee-shirt and lifted it up.

Thor dropped his gaze from Tony's beautiful bewildered brown eyes and stared at the mark adorning his beloved's chest right next to the device that was keeping his beloved alive. That would be the next thing to be dealt with. He would not allow anything to jeopardise Anthony's health. He would take him to Asgard and beg Iðunn to gift him with an apple to bestow health and immortality on his Soul Mate. But first to convince his beautiful Soul mate of the truth of their claiming.

"See beloved, Mjolnir too has claimed you for our own" Thor's laugh was deep and joyous. His face ablaze with happiness. Tony stared at him with confusion until Romanov glided towards him and handed him a small mirror. Tony's eyes skimmed her skin tight uniform, where the hell had that been hiding but she merely quirked an eyebrow at him in amusement.

He overcame his instinctive reaction to being handed anything because he really needed to see what was making Thor grin like a lunatic. He gingerly took the mirror but he was almost afraid to look. His legendary reckless courage suddenly deserting him. This wasn't his life he was gambling with, this was his soul. He hesitated until Thor's understanding loud whisper of encouragement. "Trust me Anthony Edward Stark"

The breath he drew was shaky but finally he angled the mirror and the image of Thor's hammer was reflected back at him. Flat smooth and unmistakable amongst the hard ridges of the scar tissue next to the reactor.

He couldn't take his eyes away from it, not even when they blurred and the tears fell down his cheeks. He had a soul mark. "Mine" he heard Thor's roar of triumph before he was gathered back into the Prince of Asgard's arms and he was thoroughly kissed. Lightening sparking above them like fireworks for a New Year's Eve celebration.

Tony shook off the memories. He was going to get his Soul Mate back come hell or high water. He would use anything and anyone to do it. He had lived too long without Thor already. The insouciant arrogance was back and a wicked smirk crossed that absurdly handsome face
"Besides which Jarvis, the damn man has ignored me for months. He hasn't responded to any of my emails, phones or even snail mail. I am Tony Stark, no one ignores me. I want everything you can find on this guy, Jay, all his little foibles, and anything that will persuade him that working for me is the best thing since I invented the arc reactor. Then once we know our prey, it will be time to pay dear Doctor McKay a visit. I am pretty sure SI must supply something to Cheyenne Mountain and if not, Rhodey can escort me to the air force base. Dr Meredith McKay will not stay hidden from me for much longer"

JARVIS finally gave into temptation and sighed, rather loudly.

Tony gave that mischievous grin that made him look years younger and happier as sauntered towards the exit. "Should I have rubbed my hands and cackled evilly to emphasise that sentence Jay or would that have been a touch over the top?"

The workshop's sliding door came remarkably close to sounding like it was being slammed as it was shut behind him. It also came very close to hitting his ass on the way out. Tony laughed out loud.

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Lt Colonel John Sheppard picked up the supplies he had requested from Earth when Colonel Carter had left to go the IOW oversight review. He had his mission target in sight now and he wasn't going to fail this one. He might still be on light duties after the surgery Dr Keller had to perform but this particular mission was more of a stealth operation until the final hopefully successful take down. Damn it this was no time for lack of confidence or second guessing himself. The mission was going to be a success.

The last few weeks had been a nightmare. The Pegasus Galaxy didn't seem to understand the term "Give us a fucking break" when it came to survival, but god damn it, being stranded 48000 years into the future, then having to fix the freaking timeline with the help of a holographic older Rodney, erratic solar flares and the judicial use of Daedalus, brute force and skin of his teeth outright desperation. To cap it all they had ended up lying injured in the remains of Michael's facility because he had been dumb enough not to consider it had been booby trapped. He had blamed himself for McKay, Ronan and Lorne being trapped with him, because it was his god damn stupid fault and then dealing with Michael and his insane plan for the hybrids to force a civil war with the rest of the Wraith, and ultimately rescuing Teyla and her new born baby.

All that shit had really concentrated his mind and made him realise exactly what he wanted out of his life, for however long he had left to live it. There was no guarantee of long life in the Pegasus Galaxy, hell not even the Ancients had survived it. Especially when not only were they fighting hostiles but they were critically short on power and reliable ZPMs.

Twice he had nearly lost his Soul Mate, fucking twice. His Soul Mate had been in danger many times before on Atlantis and John wasn't sure what made these last horrendous weeks different but they were. Totally and utterly different. He couldn't ignore it anymore.

When he had seen the bleak desert surrounding the long deactivated Atlantis (he couldn't say dead, not when it came to Atlantis, he just couldn't) and then the hologram of an older careworn desperate Rodney, it had broken something inside of him. He had been alone 48000 years in the future, utterly alone except for Rodney. That stubborn boastful irritating exasperating genius of a man had refused to let him go and made sure his hologram was there to help him and save the rest of them too.

Now he knew what he had to do to fix his life and be damned to any stupid outdated homophobic policies. If Homeworld Security wanted him off Atlantis well that was fine but there was no fucking way that he was going without his Soul Mate. Now wouldn't that be an interesting discussion with the IOW.

His stubborn denial of his Soul Mate had been instinctive at the start, he had always thought his mark was a woman's name and when he found out it was a man, he had shut down any longing or claiming impulse. Hell deep down he knew he would prefer a male Soul Mate, he had his fair share of encounters with both sexes but it was the wrong time.

John knew he could be a stubborn bastard, it was a Sheppard family trait and his career was too important to him, DADT was alive and kicking in the Special Forces, even though the rest of world made no demur about same sex Soul Mates. There was so much to do, explore, this was the opportunity of a lifetime, it was another galaxy for fuck's sake, that never got old but John knew he had been a utter coward.

He had wondered why his Soul Mate had never called him out on his bullshit behaviour but knowing the guy, he probably hadn't even realised who John really was. If his mark wasn't in equation form he had probably ignored the damn thing for years as an irrelevance.

Operation Soul Mate Retrieve and Secure was about to commence.

Colonel Sam Carter's parting words to McKay had hurt. In an odd sort of way he had been proud of delivering that baby. It was something normal people did. McKay hadn't wanted to be normal for years, he knew he was special, he knew he was one of a kind. In his considered opinion and to be honest, his opinion was the only one which should be considered, ever, normal was vastly overrated.

But holding that little thing, who had stared up at him with no judgement, no expectations, just the basic human need to be held and cared for, it had felt… nice. Ergo the flowers for Teyla, with the secret deeply hidden hope that he would be given permission to hold the small thing again and then Carter suddenly decided she's a damn comedian. He should have told her not to give up her day job, but she wasn't any good at that either.

Damn it he hadn't let petty rivalries affect him in years, or rather he was the one who normally struck first. He knew he was a genius, he knew his own worth, he had stopped trying to fit in and let his genius shine years ago. Be damned to their petty jealousies. He just had to make sure that everyone else just how much of a genius he was too.
He would never go back to being that bullied kid who had been forced to eat his meals with his underwear on his head. So he had learnt to strike first.

But her mean spirited little jibe about naming Teyla's kid had managed to hit him hard. He hadn't been expecting it and for a second it took his breath away but he hadn't shown her how much it had hurt. He never let them see how any of their pathetic jealousy and jibes affected him. His emotions were his own thank you very much and he might be loud and boastful but it worked to keep everyone away from his true feelings. They were excellent masks to keep him safe.

Rodney stared down at the flowers in his hand and came to a decision. He really didn't mind what Teyla called the kid and Sheppard had been the driving force behind saving all their asses once again but if he was honest with himself and he always tried to be honest with himself even when he put up all his masks for everyone else, he just didn't feel up to being around either Teyla, or Sheppard at the moment, not even if he got a cuddle with the small thing out of it.
He had enough work to be going on with, there was always something to do, repairs, discoveries, surprises and disasters were never ending in Atlantis so he would head back to his lab.
But Teyla should have the flowers. She was a girl she would like them.

He stopped a passing Marine and asked politely (for him) if he would take the flowers to Teyla's quarters and tell her the little bouquet was from the science department. The Marine had stared at him strangely but acquiesced quickly enough when he saw the frown begin to form on McKay's face. Sometimes his reputation for being a cantankerous rude bastard came in really useful.

Rodney headed back to the labs, dismissing babies, Athosians and Sheppard from his mind. He had more important things to worry about and he could relieve his frustrations shouting at Zelenka because it was always amusing when Radek shouted back.

Ronan Dex stared at John Sheppard as he slowly ate his meal in the canteen. "I have not seen McKay for a few days" the big man rumbled, a total non sequitur to the conversation they had been having about training programmes for the newly arrived military personnel.
"Nor I John" Teyla's voice was soft so as not to disturb the sleeping infant in her arms. "I have wanted to thank him properly for his assistance at the birth of my son but he has not responded to my requests to see him" There was concern and a slight touch of guilt in her usually calm controlled voice.
"Do you think Rodney is angry about the choice of names?" She asked bluntly, a frown on her face.

John looked up at her, startled "Do you think he is sulking Teyla?" there was a half amused, half concerned expression on the Colonel's face. "I haven't seen him either" he admitted but then his trademark cheeky smirk appeared as he confessed "Which has been very useful. I have had a little planning to do. It was Rodney's birthday when the brown stuff hit the fan. In fact young Master Emmagan was born only two days after McKay's Fortieth birthday and I think we should give McKay a surprise birthday party."

Dex and Teyla exchanged a confused look "What is a surprise birthday party?" the big man asked intrigued. The smirk changed into a fully-fledged wicked grin as Sheppard leant closer to his team mates.

Rodney left the lab and strode toward the canteen. He could feel his blood sugar levels fluctuating and was finally sick of the snacks he kept in his drawer. He wanted a proper meal, something hot and sustaining before he went back to work. He had left it late enough that his team mates should have already eaten so he wouldn't have to talk to them.

He wasn't sulking, he definitely wasn't sulking, he was just being kind to himself. That was the kind of bullshit terminology Katie Heightmeyer would have approved of. A sudden painful pang hit him unexpectedly. They had lost so many members of the first expedition and Katie had only ever tried to be kind to him. There wasn't time to mourn their losses properly as they lurched from crisis to catastrophe to disaster one after the other. Heightmeyer would have forced a day off on all of them after the last Atlantean event.

So Rodney was lost in thought and not really aware of his surroundings until he walked into the darkened canteen. He frowned in momentary confusion. He wasn't that late surely, and anyway the canteen was always open if not staffed twenty four seven.
What the hell? He was just about to tell Atlantis to put the lights on, when they came on anyway and there was this cacophony of noise that sounded suspiciously like "Happy Birthday to you".
Rodney blinked. Most of the remaining members of the first expedition were in front of him wearing small shiny hats. And looking utterly absurd with it. His team of Scientists were using the blowouts from the New Year's Eve party, and some of the military personnel had whistles. What the actual hell?

The moment became even stranger when Lt Colonel Sheppard walked up to him with an enormous cake with lit candles. Had they all lost their freaking minds? Did he need to run a diagnostic of the air ventilation system or was he just hallucinating at his desk because he had let his blood sugar drop too low?

The noise stopped and Sheppard couldn't stop the laughter at the expression on his face. "We finally found a way to shut McKay up People!" Laughter and shouts of Happy Birthday just made his eyes go wider.

Sheppard continued "We missed your birthday because of that shit with Michael, so we decided to celebrate it instead of just having a boring same old "thank god we are still alive" shindig. Blow out your candles Rodney before they all melt onto the cake. Then we all get some cake and yes, we made sure there was no citrus in it. Its chocolate" A cheer went up around the room.

"Anyone would think you were trying to impress them with all this splendour Lt. Colonel" Rodney muttered as he bent obediently towards the brightly decorated chocolate cake.

"Anyone? Yeah Rodney anyone else would come to that conclusion and maybe extrapolate on it to get to another obvious one", Sheppard muttered wryly, the affection in his face obvious to those closest in the circle around Rodney.

Major Lorne started with surprise, threw a few glances between the oblivious scientist and the exasperated Lt. Colonel, and then winced in sympathy. Hopefully the Lt. Colonel knew what he was doing. Even if they were in the Pegasus galaxy, reports were fed back to Earth and Homeworld security regularly now Colonel Carter and McKay had perfected their own version of the Einstein Rosen Bridge.
He watched Sheppard as the guy rubbed at his chest almost as an afterthought. The Major's eyes widened as another possibility dawned on him. Soul Mates? If that were true then that was going to set a cat amongst the pigeons. Looked like they were in for an interesting few weeks! Never let it be said that serving on Atlantis was boring.

Teyla moved forward with the baby snuggled into her chest. Amazingly the child had slept through the abominable noise which had greeted him. "We know that this is your fortieth year Rodney but Dr Zelenka would not let us use all the candles in case the combined flames set off the internal sprinkler system."
She blinked innocently at him and he heard that traitor Radek snigger behind her. "Oh ha bloody ha" not his wittiest response but he had been rather flummoxed by the whole thing so he decided to just go with the flow for the moment until he could regain his equilibrium and then blast them all for their impertinence. After a large portion of the cake of course. Mmm cake.

McKay snagged another piece of the delicious cake and made his way out to a deserted balcony. He hadn't exactly snuck out, just not made it too obvious he was going. The party goers had brought out the music and the disco lights. He wasn't going to be missed now, not with the hooch flowing and their ear drums being tortured while they gyrated in mad movements on the space they had cleared.

Though oddly he was appreciative of the effort they had gone to, even if he didn't understand it. It had been fun for a while. And there had been cake. Cake always made things better.

Now he just wanted some peace and quiet and the rest of his cake. He sat with his back against Atlantis's wall, feeling the city hum deep in his muscles as if it were actually hugging him. He could feel the residual tension leave his body and he relaxed as he stared up at the night sky. So different to Earth but as amazingly beautiful as home.

The sound of the footstep was deliberate. He knew John well enough by now to understand that the guy didn't want to startle him. He gave a wry smile as the guy plonked himself down beside him.

"Lt. Colonel Sheppard" Rodney offered genially without taking his gaze from the sky. "Chief Scientist Dr McKay" Sheppard responded in the same light-hearted vein. Then a tumbler was put into his lap and Rodney heard the sound of a bottle being opened. The rich sweet aroma of a damn fine single malt whisky interested him enough for him to finally turn his head towards the man sitting so close next to him.

"No beer?" McKay queried in surprise, "No beer" Sheppard confirmed "Landmark birthday, it's not every year you turn forty" the guy actually had the audacity to wink at him.

"Not unless you are stuck in a time loop like that utterly appalling film Dirt Pig Day" McKay snarked back at him.
"Ground Hog Day Rodney, it's Ground Hog Day, how many times do we have to go through this and it's a great film, which is why I made you watch it. Now damn it I didn't come here to argue about films"

"I prefer my terminology, it's not a great film, the science was unforgivably sloppy, an animal John, an animal curses the idiot! And no offence but why did you come here?"

In response Sheppard merely offered the bottle with a raised eyebrow and Rodney shrugged and held up the tumbler with less than good grace. Peace and quiet were definitely not on the agenda for the rest of the evening then. But Rodney was not too upset about it. He had always enjoyed Sheppard's company even if he was a cheating cheater who cheats at remote control cars. Bloody ATA gene unfair advantage!

A generous amount was poured into both of the tumblers, then Sheppard also turned to stare up at the dark depths of the night sky. They sipped their drinks in companionable silence

"Expensive whisky" Rodney commented, no judgement only appreciation in his tone. Sheppard's smile turned wry. His voice seemed to drop an octave as he responded huskily. "I was raised to expect only the best, spoilt rich boy who had to fight his way through the privileged silk trappings to serve his country, but I still expect the best Rodney and when I finally wise up enough to know what that actually is, I make sure I get it" John's words were heavy with intent, his eyes still targeting the small glistening stars above them.

But Rodney would bet his stack of drawer treats that Sheppard didn't see one of them, and that he was focused on him instead.

Rodney's brow furrowed with confusion but before he could ask, suddenly Sheppard's face was next to his own, one arm braced on the wall as he lent over Rodney. Rodney could feel his pulse speed up, irritatingly he wasn't sure if it was anxiety or anticipation.

Well damn. "Umm Sheppard what's with the ninja impersonation and the lack of personal space" he stuttered, trying to break whatever strange mood had fallen over the pair of them.

The affectionate smile that lit up John's face almost belied the predatory gleam in his eyes.

"You didn't finish your drink McKay, there's still some liquor on your lips" Sheppard purred as he bent closer and licked teasingly at Rodney's mouth. Rodney didn't known if his eyes could get any wider without falling off the side of his own face, he gave a startled moan as his brain powered down like Atlantis without a ZPM. Sheppard grinned with wicked satisfaction at the noise, the absolute swine.

Rodney could actually feel his own lungs seize up which could not be good right? That was bad, so bad. He needed his damn lungs to keep his brain functioning. His brain, he had a magnificent brain, and it was time it came back on line again. He drew a deep breath, ignoring the taste of the whisky from John's breath, and started his complaints procedure. There was a list. Of things. Many things. Things he was going to give John grief for. There was a list he knew it. But the only coherent words out of his mouth were to do with John's methodology not the whole crazy premise behind it.

"Damn it Sheppard even I know how cheesy a line that was" Rodney grumbled, ignoring the pleasurable tingle that had shot through his lips straight down his spine, and which seemed to set off some chain reaction through his veins until it lodged near his heart, precisely where his mark was in point of fact. No he wasn't going to think about that. He was ignoring it. It was not happening just because his body was going through the delightful throes of something, that didn't mean anything. No not going to think about that. Not at all.

What the hell was John doing? They were friends, colleagues, they saved each other's lives, and they saved the bloody universe together. They were not the kind of friends that came with benefits. And what the hell was happening to his body?

Sheppard stared at him in shock then he threw back his head and laughed helplessly. A few startled seconds later Rodney joined him, not able to take his eyes of the beautiful green eyed man besides him.

It had to be some sort of insidious viral attack because McKay could feel his hormones going into rampant libido mode. Unfortunately normal brain function had not been restored and he was pretty damn sure it wouldn't be until he had kissed the man properly. Please God, not that he believed in a God, but if there was one, let it only be the kissing. He wasn't gay. He had never been gay. He could aesthetically appreciate the human form both male and female but no man had even made him horny. Not like he was now. Because of one kiss from John bloody Sheppard, who seemed to have turned into some sort of sex demon. He wasn't gay god damn it. But not even Atlantis being attacked was going to stop Rodney from doing what he knew had to be done.

John stopped laughing and that was Rodney's cue. "Never ask the military to do something that a civilian scientist can do better" Rodney smirked as he put a hand to the back of the man's neck and then latched on to that tempting mouth with more tenacity than an Iratus bug.

McKay mapped the Colonel's mouth, found the sweet spots, found all the most delectable ways to make the man groan with want. He devoured those lips and licked at that tongue like it was the best chocolate cake in the world, until the hard-assed military Commander of the base was a puddle of goo in his arms.

He finally released those lips to draw in some much needed breath and then to his own utter shock at his lack of cowardice and complete certainty that Sheppard would throw him off the balcony for even daring to suggest it, he found himself ordering " Not here John, back to your place. Your bed's bigger". His heart was racing like the engine of a puddle jumper about trying to pull away from a black hole as he waited for his certain demise at the hands of an outraged military Commander

The beautiful deadly leader of AR-1 sighed with contentment into Rodney's neck and mumbled his agreement in between delightful kitten licks at Rodney's sensitive skin.

John lay with his head on Rodney's chest, shaking with laughter after McKay's plaintive "I didn't even think I was a 1 on the Kinsey Scale".

"Methinks the scientist doth protest too much" he teased and then more seriously. "Don't think it matters when Soul Mates come into the equation Rodney." He ignored the instinctive attempt to pull away by the prone man beneath him and hugged him tighter. "I always thought I was about a 2.5 on the scale instead of a 3 but only because I always believed my soul mark was a female name"

"Stop, stop talking about soul marks. It's not… just stop it" Rodney lost the use of his quick wits and agile tongue in his distress at the topic.

"Rodney, you know that's what this is right. You are my soul mate" John's voice was impossibly gentle but Rodney threw his free arm up over his eyes. John rolled to the side to give him space.

"How long have you known?" Rodney whispered, and the obvious hurt in his voice made John wince. "I married once, thought she was the one because her middle name was my soul mark but that was a disaster" John continued "Then the expedition, the absolute chaos of those first few weeks, hell first few months meant I didn't review the staff files properly until after Colonel Sumner, well until after…"

"That far back" Rodney hissed, still not moving his arm from his face. John carried on, ignoring the aside, he had to make Rodney understand. "This place, the opportunities, DADT, my career, the screw up with Nancy and the fact that you never said anything, you ignored it too or I was wrong again, I actually convinced myself I was wrong again, so yeah I let it be, I never mentioned the name on my soul mark" the guilt was obvious as the words faded, and he rubbed at his chest where the word Meredith was visible just above his heart.

McKay seemed to consider something for a long time, shifting nervously beneath Sheppard's rangy but surprisingly muscular torso. "My mark is the Stargate address for Atlantis", he blurted out reluctantly. John stared up at him open mouthed, his quick mind working out the implications of that but the only words that left his mouth were "Well fuck Rodney"

"Succinct and on point as usual Lt. Colonel! What was I supposed to do? You know a mark only activates through skin contact. Should I have felt up everyone on base, even the aliens here too?" Rodney shuddered with distaste. "I'd have spent my whole time washing my damn hands instead of doing any work. Yuk. The only time I have had any reaction is when you kissed me and my body lit up like a Christmas tree. It must have been keyed into the ATA gene, specifically your ATA gene because Carson's touch never did anything for me. So I might have caught a clue earlier if you had said something."

There was a stunned pause, as the disgruntled words echoed through the room. Then there was a snort, which turned into a badly restrained giggle, developing into fully blown belly laughs. "The whole fucking expedition Rodney" John gasped, his sides aching.
The laughter was infectious and the long held hidden resentment at the blasted Fates for saddling Rodney with such an impossible Soul Mark dissipated like one of Sergeant Bates' ill-timed pungent farts hit by a gust of wind on the pier.

McKay couldn't stop himself from laughing as well, and he had hardly any breath left as he added to the ridiculousness.
"Don't forget the SGC and all the other planets we have had contact with through Atlantis. To be honest, even with my genius, I didn't have the energy to start to work out the permutations" which set off another round of gut aching laughter.

Exhaustion finally silenced them until suddenly John's head popped up, his hand running through his hair spiking it up as he stared straight into Rodney's blue eyes and demanded with jealous outrage "Wait, Beckett touched you?"

AN:

This is my offering for the intriguing adopt a fic prompt on AO3.
I have never attempted a Stargate story before so hope the characters are recognisable. Please let me know what you think.

The full prompt can be found here /works/6727420/chapters/15378679

I have set the story loosely after the episode The last Man in 2008 as that was the nearest to Rodney's 40th birthday. I have taken what I need from it but please don't expect the rest of the story to be canon or follow any times lines.