Five Men Who Never Wanted Teyla Emmagen

- What's In A Name? -

The junior officers tease him.

He hasn't yet taken the bait.

There aren't too many people in the city that he can legitimately call his friend - most are either superiors or subordinates, and those that aren't are scientists, which are infinitely worse than either superiors or subordinates. At least the superiors and subordinates are bound by the chain of command and respect; the scientists have no such qualms and Aiden's been the focus of their mirth more times than he cares to count.

Teyla, however, doesn't laugh - at least, not to his face.

Her smile carries amusement and affection, but not attraction, and he's okay with that. It's not the first time he's been attracted to a girl who isn't attracted back. As it is, Aiden likes having someone with whom he can joke (even if she doesn't always get it), and someone who doesn't see him as one of the myriad military faces in the crowd, but as a friend.

And, yeah, he gets a little pleasure out of the fact that she calls him by name, but Sheppard's still 'Major'. It's a testosterone thing. So shoot him.

She comes to him for the required weapons training, stating that the others don't trust her, or don't have time. Should he be offended that she thinks he has the time? Aiden supposes he does - after all, he teaches her how to handle a P-90, a Beretta, a rocket launcher. He watches her lock and load, reaching out to adjust her grip on the weapon where necessary, and she listens and nods. Teyla's a quick learner, much more than a pretty face.

Still, sometimes he wonders what she'd do if he asked her out on a real date. Discuss whatever it is that her people discuss, explain all the bits and pieces of Earth culture that the Major keeps promising but never seems to have time to do, and maybe get to kiss her at the end of the night. He's not sure he'd have enough guts to do anything more than try to land a kiss on her mouth. She's a wicked fighter.

Sometimes he wonders what it would be like to spar against her the way Major Sheppard does: all motion and action and deadly grace. He gathers that it's a trust thing: something about trusting Major Sheppard's instincts to be able to defend himself.

He wishes he was that good - that she considered him good enough to fight against. He's not and not likely to be. He can be philosophical about it.

But Aiden still gloats - privately - about the names thing.

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