Ronon's gruff voice fills the office,
".. got here, didn't see any people. McKay tripped on a root. There was some rocks. We came back. End of mission report."
The major sighs. Hearing Ronon's voice is a trigger for him at this point, immediately setting him into high anxiety mode. So unlike when Todd shows up - Todd calms him and makes him feel better.
Lorne runs through the motions that signal the start of yet another loop - loop #8 now, by his count. He makes sure to do his reports and fulfill his work expectations first and foremost, so he can focus on spending time with Todd instead. The last time (can it be called yesterday?) he took Todd to the mainland to show him how to paint. The wraith was a surprisingly quick learner, though it seems he picks up everything fast. His still life was a great representation of the fruit he set out, and captured the nuances of the late afternoon sun just right. He wished he could keep it. He desperately wants to paint with Todd again, but he's not sure if he could handle seeing all those beautiful works disappear into nothingness.
The time loop reminds Lorne of that old two part movie based on a King book - the Langoliers. He wonders if some sort of crazy monsters come to clean up the excess of the day once the loop restarts. He wonders wildly if one of these days they'll end up coming for him, to chew him up with their gnashing rotating teeth.
Maybe he should try to actually explain what's going on to someone. Maybe he could figure something out himself, instead of sitting here in this empty office spiraling. His eye lands on the scrap of paper where Sheppard drew Todd. It truly is a horrible likeness. He reaches over to grab it, his thumb brushing across the caricature's face, before crumpling the drawing in his hand and tossing it away. He doesn't even realize he's smiling.
Todd Todd Todd
That's all he can think about. Evan was worried, after the gift of life, that his gravitational pull to the wraith was a result of some type of hormones or the enzyme. But the loop reset him, and the feeling persisted. What's more, the feeling was there even before Todd fed off him and gave him the gift of life. That was why he asked for the wraith to show him, because...
Lorne's train of thought gets cut off when his eyes land on the time - 18:54. He's going to be late.
Heart racing, he stands and tries to ruffle his hair into something eye catching before heading down to the gate room.
When Todd arrives, striding in graceful like a panther, Lorne escorts him to the piers.
"Honestly, Todd, I have no idea what to do to pass the time."
The wraith hums noncommittally in response. It isn't very helpful. They walk along in silence for a while, Todd's white hair shimmering in the afternoon sunlight, and Lorne forgets he even asked. Inevitably, they end up on the West Pier again, and it's as deserted as ever, deep shadows stretching between the tall structures.
Somehow, Lorne's heartbeat picks up again, and a glance at the wraith and his flared sensory pits confirms the taller man is well aware of it.
"Major Lorrrne, are you nervous?"
Lorne almost falls down at that, tripping over his own feet. The wraith holds out a hand to help steady him.
" I told you before, call me Evan."
"Perhaps I prefer your last name to your given name, Evannn" the wraith purrs in response. His eyes flicker with what looks like desire, but it is quickly concealed. The major flushes at the declaration, at the way Todd seems to feel around each letter of his name with a caress of his tongue, at the way the wraith's strong arm is still supporting his side. He's sure by now he looks like a bright red tomato.
Is this what they call romance?
Lorne has always been a good looking guy, ever since puberty. He's confident and capable, he's dated his share of girls back in the day, but Todd's no pretty blonde named Ashley with tight jeans and a low cut sweater.
The time loop afforded him the chance to experiment, to try and explore whatever feelings the male wraith stirred within him without having to make a permanent commitment. Evan just never expected that little spark to burn into this uncontrollable wildfire wreaking havoc on the entirety of his being.
He didn't expect Todd to consume every second of his thoughts.
His eyes jerk up to the wraith and he's trapped in that golden gaze, and he knows just how a deer feels when it's hypnotized and trapped in an incoming car's headlights. He awaits the inevitable CRASH that usually follows. If Todd can see or sense or smell his panic, he is ignoring it. The wraith tilts his head. He's close, closer than Evan was expecting. He can smell the wraith's distinct scent of birch and sandalwood.
Suddenly Evan thinks he's drowning, or maybe he just forgot to breathe because his chest feels tight and Todd's face with his half smirk is swimming right in front of him. His lips look soft, and they feel soft when they gently brush against Evan's and he can finally inhale again, so he leans into it, grabbing on to the front of Todd's jacket. The wraith purrs lightly in pleasure and places one large hand in the middle of the major's back for support.
"You know, we really should stop doing this so much," the major whispers when they break for air.
"Whatever do you mean, Evan"
Ah that's right. He doesn't remember the other times we ended up kissing.
"Oh uh.. I just mean we shouldn't be sneaking off to the empty parts of Atlantis like derelicts."
"As your guest, I will come wherever you please. This is by far my most enjoyable trip to Atlantis yet."
Their intimate position only makes Todd's words sound even more suggestive to the major, and he has to work to restrain himself from rising to the occasion. Todd's expression remains passive but a dilation of his pupils betrays that he did notice Lorne's aroused state. He did not seem to mind.
When the major makes no attempts to move, either out of the territory he had just designated as the place they shouldn't be, or out of Todd's embrace, the wraith capitalizes on the moment and leans in again. Evan quickly finds himself up against a wall, the wraith leaning over him protectively and trailing his hot wet tongue down the column of the major's neck.
It was sinful. It felt too good. He thought he would melt away.
His hands curl into the shoulders of Todd's jacket, looking for a physical tether so he doesn't float away. When Todd's mouth is back up to his, he moans into the kiss, opening himself up to the wraith's invasion. Todd rumbles his approval and it reverberates through Evan's core.
Todd unzips the major's jacket and slips it off him before the shorter man even realizes what's happening. He feels hands under his shirt, caressing and rubbing and electrifying him. He can feel the feeding slit too, closed now but still hovering over his skin, and the memory of the gift of life brings new fire to his loins. Evan tries to shift to alleviate some of the discomfort, but he's effectively trapped and ends up just rubbing himself against Todd's muscular thigh like some horny teenager. If his face wasn't red before, it definitely is now. Todd growls, breaking away from the assault on his mouth and attacking his neck instead, nipping at it with his pointy teeth. He rolls his hips towards the majors, drawing out some sound that's a mixture of a groan and a moan. Evan feels feverish. He thinks blindly that this will be how he dies, from over-excitement making out with a wraith, when he feels Todd's large warm hand drift down and palm him through his BDUs.
He almost comes right then and there.
If it wasn't for Todd keeping him propped up against some back alley wall in a dark and empty corner of the west pier of Atlantis, he would have fallen, because his legs fell like butter melted in the microwave.
"Evan, you can tell me to cease, if you desire it, and I will do so immediately," the wraith whispers hotly against his neck, sending goosebumps down his entire body.
"uhh what? No don't.. don't stop..."
Lorne's voice sounds strained to his own ears, almost like he's not himself.
"Do you prefer to go somewhere more private, perhaps?"
Even though he knows this area should be empty most of the day, the major fills with shame when he imagines if someone had come across them. Shame and something else he can't name, which fills his face with blood again.
"Uh yeah... uhm we can go to my place. It will be private."
Todd backs off the wall and releases Evan, who almost crumples to the ground like a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man with no air. He catches his breath for a bit and tries to get the tent in his pants to subside. It's bad enough his lips are pink and swollen from making out, if he walks the halls with a hard on, it's bound to raise a few eyebrows.
Once Evan is more calm, and he puts his jacket back on, he strides purposefully in the direction of his private quarters. Todd follows behind diligently - Lorne can hear his jacket flapping in the wind.
They luckily didn't run into anyone else. Lorne has gotten really good at sneaking around Atlantis during all these loops, dragging Todd to his room covertly so many times. This time was by far the hardest, his mind racing with possibilities of what will happen when they get to their destination, the wild fantasies making him breathless and overheated.
Once they are safely in Lorne's quarters and the door shuts, the air is tense. Todd stands by the door, waiting for the major to make the first move.
Lorne runs his hand through his hair. His head is overrun with thoughts but at the same time totally blanking. He feels like he should say something like Please sit down or Make yourself at home or Take me, I'm yours. Instead he stares at the wraith. It's a battle of wills. Lorne breaks first.
"Would you like a drink or something?"
He breaks the terse eye contact and makes his way to the back of his quarters, towards the fridge, feeling a bit like a coward. He feels Todd shift behind him, but the wraith doesn't answer. He grabs them both a Pepsi. When he turns around, Todd is still standing near the door, but he's shed his jacket and draped it over the back of the couch. The skin tight long sleeved shirt the wraith had under his jacket somehow makes his lean body seem even more predatory, full of restrained power.
Evan swallows thickly and walks the drinks towards the couch, handing one can to the wraith and sitting down on the couch, with a gesture for Todd to join him. The cool aluminum can in his hand helps to calm the overexcited human a bit, and when Todd sits next to him, he's able to smile at him, dazzle him with his dimples, without turning into a mushy mess on the floor. Todd looks at him curiously - his eyes seem to be asking So what's the play here, cause it's your turn to take the lead.
Evan, somewhere in the back of his mind, understood the wraiths hesitation. Todd was, by all accounts, a big, scary, dangerous predator from another galaxy. His slim long fingers ended in long pointed black nails, the texture of those barnacles growing on ships. His thin lips concealed rows of dangerously pointed clear teeth - how he hasn't been nicked yet during all their kissing was a testament to Todd's restraint and carefulness. Either way, Todd could have hurt or killed him a million ways (Lorne knew he would not) so it was only understandable that he would want the major to initiate. Their first kiss had been like that too, when he had asked if Todd wished it had been Sheppard there instead of him, and the response was "No, only Evan Lorrrne" in his lilting purring voice, and he couldn't hold back.
The major sips his Pepsi and sets it on his tiny coffee table before turning to face Todd. As he brings his hand up to cup the wraith's cheek, he feels himself smiling lopsidedly and wonders if someone had laced his sodas with alcohol. Oh well.
He leans in, placing his right hand on Todd's chest for support, and kisses him.
Todd readily returns the kiss, nipping gently at Lorne's bottom lip. Evan clutches Todd's shirt in his hand, feeling the hard ridges of his body under the thin material. It occurs to him suddenly that if he himself had been a wraith, the gesture of his hand in the middle of Todd's chest could be considered an attack. The only attack he's interested in, however, is making his way into the wraith's mouth, and he slowly conquers the territory, trying to carefully navigate around the teeth. His hands are growing restless and begin to desperately pull at the hem of Todd's shirt, slipping underneath, and his skin is the softest thing he has ever felt, like touching warm silk. Lorne runs his hands over Todd's back, mapping out the ridges of his spine with tentative and curious fingers. His mouth departs to taste along Todd's neck and collar bones. Not one to be outdone, the wraith keeps his hands busy unzipping the major's jacket and touching what feels like everything.
Soon Todd is laying stretched out on the couch, hands on the major's hips, and Evan has somehow ended up straddling him. He can feel just what kind of effect he's having on the wraith and it makes him cocky so he rolls his hips lightly, watching the way Todd's yellow eyes flash with every second of friction.
But then, panic.
Lorne realizes where this is leading, and he's never done this before, and the realization washes over him like a waterfall. The panic is sudden and intense, it wipes away every other thought, and Todd, quickly noticing the change in mood, sits up and gathers the major in his arms.
"Let me help you feel good, Evan.." Todd whispers against his cheek and places hot open mouth kisses trailing down to as far as he can reach. He shifts on the couch so that he's leaning against the back of it, and Evan ends up sitting on his lap sideways, clutching to him, eyes still full of panic, but he nods and that's all Todd needs before his hands remove all thoughts from Evan's mind.
Once Evan's breathing calms down, he waits for the shame to settle in, his face burning, but it doesn't come. He's surprised to find himself content. He smiles lazily at Todd and presses a chaste kiss to his cheek before scrambling off to get himself cleaned up.
Todd is still sitting on the couch when he returns, looking unperturbed.
"So uhh, what about you?" Lorne asks guiltily, rubbing the back of his neck. Todd just flashes him a smile.
"Don't worry about me Evan."
"But.. I want to make you feel good too"
"Seeing you that way was enough," Todd replies resolutely, sensor pits flaring, and Lorne blushes under his gaze. His eyes dart around the room, searching for ideas on what to say in response to that, but instead they land on the microwave, and it's late, later than thought it should be. He crosses his tiny living room and sidles up next to Todd, snuggling under his arm, reaching up to him..
A.N: Cliffhanger! But also there's a mild sex scene in here which i removed, if you're into that sort of stuff, the full version of the chapter is on AO3 under the same title