Title: Silence
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Character/Pairing: Sheppard, Teyla – Sheppard/Teyla
Prompt: Silence
Rating: PG-15
Notes: "This Mortal Coil" tag for sacred20
Summary: They've seen too much and not done enough.
The silence is startling in its brutality; poignant, resonant, profound. He can feel his heart pound in his chest, can feel the thrum of blood as it sweeps through his veins on waves of adrenaline. He can feel wetness glide past his temple, can taste the irony taste of blood on his lips and he sees her, soundless, on the other side of the clearing watching him as he watches her.
Soundless, eerie silence shakes him and he blinks slowly, hoping that when he opens his eyes there will be something, someone besides them.
Back in Atlantis, their silence continues. The words they need to speak are done with quiet voices, almost mournful and they all separate with silent nods. They've seen too much and done too little and the guilt weighs heavily on them.
When she comes to him that night, there are no words, no sounds, just breathy silence and voiceless caresses. Even the wind seems to dim its volume for them. Her breath washes over his chest as he moves above her, slowly, rhythmically and he brushes his lips against hers as they climax.
Later, he draws circles on her hips and she brushes her fingers through his hair. They don't speak, don't kiss, just stare and touch and feel.
They've seen too much and not done enough.
They rise at dawn to start it all over again.