(a tiny missing scene from Beating Hearts, the day the Sheppards arrive in Pegasus.)
::
Welcoming
::
That was quite a thing you did, John whispers late that night when Rodney is just about trying to sleep.
What, he hisses back, because, well, yes, there was this whole gate room incident earlier today, but he also accomplished no less than three mind-blowing breakthroughs in the lab before that, and one with the Puddlejumpers after dinner, so how is he to know which of them John is talking about?
In front of Dave, John murmurs into his neck, and Rodney is glad that their quarters have walls that are sound-proof, because making a statement is completely different to being overheard in bed.
Saved you a lot of trouble, he hums, and feels John's smile against his skin, two palms slowly sliding over his body, one making its way up, one down.
Yeeahh, John agrees, and it's a drawn-out sound, one Rodney only ever hears on the rare occasions when all is right in John Sheppard's world. Surprised me.
I'm good at that, Rodney gasps, losing himself in the touch and hooking a leg over one of John's for better balance. Especially when - ah - when I've had a lot of time to think about it.
Thought about it a lot, John asks when they come up for air, then repeats, Thought about it a lot, softly, and this time, it's not a question.
What, what did you think about, Rodney demands, rolling them until he can gaze down at John, still amazed at how John just lets him do that, just stays utterly relaxed and pliant.
This, John whispers, reaching up a hand, nothing elaborate, just, you, this, and Rodney leans down and kisses him like he had in the gate room, full of three fucking weeks and I missed you, and there's no brother to shock by the exhibition, no audience to interrupt them this time.
::