Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
A/N: Warning, strong T, non explicit descriptions of adult subjects. Takes place after Continuum. Wouldn't it be nice if those two beautiful idiots had got their poop in a group? Anyway, just a brief foray into our ex-pirate and space-based Indiana Jones' vulnerabilities, along with some very vague references to events in Unending. Very, very vague. If any of this feels familiar, just know that with my recent discovery of SG-1 on Netflix, my inner teenager has come back with a vengence and I have spent the majority of the holidays deep diving all your wonderful stories. Consider this an homage rather than a rip off. Enjoy!
The series of events that lead to this moment were plentiful. If Daniel paused to think about them, he'd probably be occupied with documenting them for days. This was not the time. Not with the heat between them threatening to engulf the room. Not when Vala was perched on his lap, her legs straddled over his own, while her mouth collided with his in a hasty, lust filled fury. His hands struggled to make purchase anywhere on her body while her hips rolled and her back arched. She moaned loudly against his lips, and when she would pull away, her grin was filled with hunger, like she was narrowing in on her prey. He watched as Vala sat back just enough to remove her black shirt, leaving her in a pink, satin camisole. There was little time for him to appreciate the view before she was pouncing on him once more, trying to push him onto his back. He resisted slightly and she took it as a challenge, sucking his lower lip in and biting it lightly between her teeth. She arched against him again, grinding her hips at an angle that had Daniel seeing stars, but despite the intense sensations, a pit was forming in his stomach.
Her hands were grazing his chest, sliding down, then back up, and down again. They travelled beneath his shirt, and it was apparent she wanted it off, now. But the pit in Daniel's stomach grew as her moans and actions became more insistent. It was beginning to take his head right out of the game. Was he absolutely insane? Maybe. Vala's hands were at his belt. Yup, he might be completely 'round the bend, but he knew he couldn't do it. Not like this.
"Wait," he managed to protest between the onslaught of her lips. She was fully prepared to continue despite his interjection, but then he repeated, more firmly, but not unkindly, "wait, please." Daniel captured her hands between his and held them up to his chest.
Vala sat back on her knees, a little exasperated and more than a little confused. "Don't tell me you're having second thoughts?"
Daniel shook his head and kissed the hands he still held in his own. "No, no, nothing like that, believe me."
A cheshire grin spread across Vala's face as she leaned forward. "Great, then let's proceed." Daniel turned his head to avoid her impending kiss and she frowned, letting out a huff as she pulled her hands free. "What is going on, Daniel? This hot and cold business is really beginning to kill the mood here."
The man in question closed his eyes and sighed deeply. When he opened them again, his stare was soft, vulnerable even. "I'm not sure how to say this without possibly blowing this and ruining any chances we might have in the future," he admitted, mournfully.
Taken aback, Vala's shoulder's slumped and her building frustration subsided. "Darling, at this point, I'm not sure you could say anything worse than you have before," she reassured with a teasing smirk.
He let out a single breathy laugh, nodding in resignation. He rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully before continuing. "Listen, all that... the way you..." He still stumbled over his words, but she stayed quiet, allowing him time to find them. "All the moaning, the hair whipping, the way you are reacting? Please, understand, I'm not trying to dissuade you, if, if that is what you need. Do you understand what I'm saying?" A coquettish smile graced her features, but she didn't seem to grasp his meaning, so he did his best to clarify. "If you... like doing all that, then that is great. I want you to enjoy this. I want to... make sure your... needs are met. However, I get the sense... that might not be the case?"
Vala's smiled faltered but didn't drop completely. She waved away the remark. "Nonsense. I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Vala."
"Daniel."
Daniel knew he hit a nerve, and that this could very well be the moment everything could start spinning off into oblivion and there would be no turning back. A heavy silence filled the dimly room, and whatever fire was burning between them moments ago was effectively extinguished. Daniel watched her shift, moving her legs off the bed so she sat straight ahead, ready to run at any second. Daniel moved to sit directly beside her, lacing his fingers between hers, anchoring her in place. "Vala," he spoke softly, "I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what you're thinking, but I like to think that after all we've been through, after all our time together, I can at least take an educated guess. You've spent so much of your life using your... appeal... to get what you need. And I can't help wondering if, perhaps, this whole... seductive production you put on is a way of shielding yourself. Maybe, a tactic to disconnect the action from the emotion. A way of making it all a transaction you could control?" He spared a glance at her but she appeared unimpressed by his analysis.
"Really, darling?" she huffed. "You're really going to try that one again?"
He eyed her suspiciously. "Was I really so off in the first place?"
Her mouth twisted in a scowl but she otherwise remained silent.
His mouth twisted and he pondered the possibility that he had, once again, missed the mark. Adopting a lighter tone he continued. "Or, maybe we have just built this up so much in our heads over time, what with with all the banter and tension over the years, that you assume you need to put your money where your mouth is?" He gave her a smirk but she remained unreceptive. Seeing his attempt had failed, his shoulders slumped. Time for the next theory. "Um, listen. If you think you need to do all that for my benefit..." He trailed off, noticing as her her posture visibly stiffened. Oh no, he thought, maybe this is it after all. His face flushed. Well, that is more than a little embarrassing, he berated internally. He chuckled coldly. "Yeah, that makes sense."
"Daniel-"
He shook his head. "No, it's okay. Look, you don't need to do all this for my sake. My ego isn't that big. I know I'm not exactly the most-"
She forcefully yanked her hand away. "Damn it, Daniel, will you just shut up?" He was startled by her outburst. He blinked dumbly while she twisted to face him. "It's my turn now, so I'll thank you to listen." His eyes widened, and he gave her a stiff, solitary nod. "Okay, great." It was her who took his hand in hers once more, staring intently at their laced fingers. "You were... right... the first time. And a little bit with the second time." She bit her lip and raised her eyes to meet his. The stormy grey was intensified by the tears that she was desperately trying to blink back. She cleared her throat. "I did use sex as a way to get what I wanted. I did use the, "production" as you called it, as a way of disconnecting from the whole thing. Don't get me wrong, I love sex. A lot." This gave them both pause, a brief snicker exchanged between them. Vala cleared her throat again, growing serious once more. "But, after Qetesh, after all I've been through... even with a kind and gentle man, like Tomin, I have always needed to stay in charge."
A few months ago, hearing the words 'you were right' from her would have been a victory. Now, however, Daniel just felt a deep melancholy on her behalf. Her survivalist skills were unparallelled, but at what cost? Yes, she was strong, independent, brilliant, so beautiful it was almost uncanny, but it had all come at the expense of her ability to truly connect with others. He had been watching appreciatively as her years at the SGC dismantled those walls. But, to his chagrin, this was one wall that stood firm. And why shouldn't it? To be so intimate, so exposed, even with someone trusted, was foreign to the survivalist. It was not how they carried on. It was too dangerously close to weakness. Too easily exploited.
"My instincts might have taken over a little too much," she smiled bitterly. "This has been a long time coming, and I thought that maybe you were expecting-"
"God, Vala, no. If I'm being honest, I was terrified that I-"
"Good grief, Daniel! You might be the only person in the entire universe who has no idea how desirable you are!"
Colour rose up from his neck to engulf his entire face, even his ears. He was grateful she probably couldn't see it. "Well," he scoffed, "you'll have to forgive me if I don't really trust that statement. I spent half my life as a giant geek, and in recent years, with the exception of Sha're, most of the women who've called me attractive are usually out to manipulate, capture, or kill me."
An apologetic grin stretched across Vala's lips. Her eyes softened and she brought her free hand up to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. "I may have been trying to manipulate you on the Prometheus, but I was never lying about you being attractive. You are the most beautiful, sexy, intelligent man I have ever laid eyes on. You are kind, noble, and humble to a fault. It can be rather intimidating, if I'm being honest. I would have thought my behaviour over the years had made that obvious, but now, I think, perhaps not." It was his turn to consider their joined hands. "You really did think I was messing with you all this time," she stated, no question implied, but a note of sadness in her tone. "I'm sorry, my love."
His head snapped up at the sincerity of her tone. His free hand found her cheek, his thumb gently grazing her lower lip. "I'm sorry, too. I've been an ass. For so long."
"I don't think either of us made it easy."
"No," he agreed solemnly. "But, in a strange way, I'm glad. It has been a privilege to watch you change and grow. And you have challenged me ways no one else ever has. It's been as thrilling as it has been exasperating."
Vala hummed in appreciation. "I agree." She moved back to sit beside him. Her head came to rest on his shoulder and his arm instinctively encircled her waist, pulling her closer.
"Can I ask you something?" He felt her nod against his shoulder. "I meant it, earlier, when I said I want you to enjoy, you know..."
"Sex," she offered.
"Yeah, that."
She smiled widely to herself. "What were you going to ask?"
"Can you try to trust the process? Trust me? I'm not promising fireworks, or that it will even be all that great the first time. But if you let me, I want to try to make you happy."
"Humble to fault," she reiterated with a breathy laugh. "Yes, darling, I will try."
He exhaled deeply. "Thank you."
This time the silence that filled the room was a comfortable one. They sat with her head on his shoulder and his atop hers for several minutes, content in each other's company and at peace with their conversation. It was Vala who finally broke the silence. "I'm tired," she admitted.
"God, me too."
She looked up at him innocently. "Would it be so terrible if we just slept together, but didn't, you know, sleep together?"
He smiled softly. "I think that is a great idea."
Their jackets and boots were thankfully already on the floor. They didn't bother to shed the rest of their clothes. Instead, the couple shuffled back until they were laying on the bed properly, beneath the covers. Daniel rolled onto his side as usual, while Vala shifted until her back was to his chest and her head rested on his outstretched arm. His other arm came around her middle, landing on the neutral territory of her torso. She sighed contentedly, taking his hand in hers and tucking them both under her chin. Sleep came quickly thereafter.
In the early hours of the morning, their initial activity resumed, this time with urgency but not with haste. They exchanged words of encouragement, thoughtful prompts when necessary, but mostly they allowed the process to unfold naturally. Daniel discovered that Vala, the real Vala, was a quiet lover. She elicited the occasional groan from him, and she in turn would release soft gasps or low moans from time to time. None of the previous bravado existed in this moment. To his delight, she was unafraid to lend assistance to his efforts, but in such a way as to make him feel incredibly wanted. This was an act of making love, with two generous and grateful participants. When her end came, a remarkable feat for him he felt, she was almost completely silent, her breath catching in his ear. As it began to subside, her exhale was heavy and she panted softly. A few moments later, he followed, compelled to try to stay as quiet as she, but with less success. With his head nuzzled against her neck, she giggled softly as her fingers stroked his hair. So, she was a giggler, his foggy mind recognised. He found it cute and rather endearing. Especially since, he imagined, he might be one of the very few, if only person, to know this about her.
"That was-" he managed to get out.
"Yeah," she agreed, still slightly breathless herself. "You really sell yourself short." He could hear the grin in her tone. A few beats later, her hand stilled in his hair. "Thank you," she whispered. The quake in her voice gave him pause.
He raised his head, barely able to see her in the dim light of the reading lamp across the room. The reflection of tears in her eyes were obvious enough though. He smiled gently before capturing her lips in a soft kiss. He drew back, stroking her cheek. "Thank you for being, well, you."
Her pleased smile glowed despite the darkened room. "Trust me, it was my pleasure," she responded, her voice heavy with innuendo. Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. There it was. "Now, my love, can you please get off so I can use the bathroom. There will be lots of time for cuddles after."
Daniel scrambled to extricate himself. "Of course, absolutely. Sorry about that."
Vala sat up, swung her legs over the side of the bed and stretched languidly, giving Daniel a clear view of her silhouette. It was all he could do not to release a low groan of longing. "I won't be long," she said over her shoulder before leaning down to grab his discarded t-shirt and boxers from the floor. She dressed silently, then tip-toed to the door. It was a completely unnecessary gesture, entirely for his amusement. She cracked the door, peaking out into the abandoned hall of the SGC living quarters. Vala turned back, giving him a thumbs up and slid out into the hallway, closing the door soundlessly behind her.
Daniel went about his own business in the meantime. Leaning back on his bed, he squinted at the clock on the bedside table. She'd been gone for several minutes now, and a small, dark, deeply insecure part of himself mocked him with the idea that she might not actually return. Just as those thoughts threatened to occupy permanent space in his head, the door cracked open, and she carefully slipped back inside. "Sorry. It turns out Sam was also on base tonight."
All traced of insecurity instantly evaporated and Daniel groaned, throwing an arm across his eyes. "She knows."
"She knows."
He heard the rustling of clothes while she quickly disrobed. He felt the bed sink slightly as she took her place back at his side. He let out a deep sigh. "I guess it could be worse. It could have been Mitchell."
Vala laughed lightly, snuggling closer to him. "Right? That would have really thrown him."
There you are. Please no flames, I'm sensitive and I'd like to stay that way.
