thegrrrl2002 | Ficlet

thegrrrl2002

I asked for prompts a few weeks back, and I'm still slowly working my way through them. This one is for

pollitt, who asked for John/Rodney, with this as the prompt:

The naked earth is warm with Spring,
And with green grass and bursting trees
Leans to the sun's gaze glorying,
And quivers in the sunny breeze;
And Life is Color and Warm and Light

Verdant

It takes two transporters and a ten minute walk with a life signs detector, but Rodney finally locates John at sea level, in one of the inlets just west of the control tower. "You wanted to see me, Colonel?" Rodney asks, stuffing the detector back into his pocket.

"Yes, Rodney." John squints up at him. He's bathed in sunlight, sitting on the pier, legs dangling over the edge. His pants are rolled up to his knees, exposing the top of his hairy shins as his bare feet kick lazily in the water.

When John doesn't say anything more, Rodney prompts with "And I assume there was a reason for this wild goose chase?"

John frowns thoughtfully. "Did you just call me a goose?"

"Actually, the way you snore," Rodney says, "Does somewhat resemble the honking of a goose. So yes. I am."

Leaning back on his hands, John grins and nods as if proud of the fact.

"So? Do you plan on telling me why you're here? And why I had to hunt through the city to find you? Your directions suck, by the way."

John pats the ground next to him. "Sit."

Rodney rolls his eyes, but goes to John and and is about to seat himself cross-legged on the ground when John holds a hand up, then points to Rodney's shoes. "Oh come on," Rodney complains. "You know I hate being barefoot. It's--it's--hazardous."

John lifts a foot and wiggles it at Rodney, flinging water off of long toes. "See, it's fine." He lowers it back into the water with a loud dunk. "Now take your shoes off."

Rodney huffs out a sigh, but John waits, expectant and implacable. "Fine. You are so, so--" Rodney waves a hand because he's unable to choose: weird, girlish, irresistible, annoying, pretty, all of the above.

He bends down to unlace his shoes. As he kicks them off he catches a glimpse of John beaming a smile at him. He shakes his head. Definitely all of the above. Once his shoes and socks are off he starts to roll up a pants leg, and only jumps a little when John reaches over to help with the other. Warm fingers linger on his calf and Rodney fumbles a little, especially when John strokes a thumb behind his knee.

"Oh, now that's not fair," Rodney says and his voice is soft now.

"What?" John's face is all innocence as he strokes again, as if he's never reduced Rodney to quivering wreck by sneaking down during the night to kiss and lick right at that spot.

Rodney jerks his leg away and sits down heavily, knees pulled to his chest. "Is it cold?" He hopes so, because there's a warm flush rising up from his stomach to his chest and he's pretty sure his cheeks are going to turn pink soon.

"Freezing," John says solemnly.

Rodney touches a toe to the water. It's cool, but nowhere near freezing. He scowls at John and lowers his legs in. John nudges him with a shoulder, grinning crookedly.

It's actually rather pleasant, cool water, warm sunlight on his face. John by his side. The blue sky reflects off the water, sunlight sparkling off the ripples made by the gentle breeze and it's surprisingly quiet. There's only the sound of the water lapping at the edge of the city and John's soft breathing. No low drone of voices, no hum of equipment running, no clattering tools and muttered curses.

Something loosens up between Rodney's shoulder blades, and he leans back on his arms, kicking his feet just to feel the water swirl around them. He looks over at John, and finds that John is watching him with a softness in his eyes that makes him warm all over again.

"Hi, Rodney," John says in a whisper.

"Hi." Rodney smiles. "So, you wanted to see me?"

John nods. "I thought we could, you know, sit together." He kicks a foot out, splashing the water. "Maybe make out for a while."

Rodney pretends to think it over. "Okay."

And when John kisses him it's soft and sweet and tastes just like sunshine.