McShep Fic: Catch Me As I Fall - Part 2
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: John/Rodney
Rating: NC17
Word Count: 7441
Warnings: none
Genres: Cross over with Dragonriders of Pern. Angst, Romance, First Time.
Disclaimer I do not own the Dragonriders of Pern or any of the SGA characters. This story was not written for financial gain, it was intended as a gift for a friend.
Summary: A crossover with the Dragonriders of Pernbook by Anne McCaffrey. Rodney's whole life was changed when he became the rider of dragon Laurenth. Now he has to find his place in Benden Weyr and figure out his feelings for handsome dragonrider J'hon.
Read Part 1 here......
Part 2
J'hon disappeared right after the patrol flight and didn't show up that evening for supper with the wing. K'nan heard from one of the girls who worked in the kitchen that J'hon had picked up some food earlier, still dressed in his wherhide flying jacket and pants. R'dney started to wonder if J'hon was deliberately avoiding him, after the conversation before Threadfall. He hoped that the incident hadn't somehow damaged their friendship. R'dney hadn't had many close friends before he came to the Weyr and the thought of loosing J'hon's friendship hurt more than he would have expected. Fortunately for R'dney, Atlantis told Laurenth where J'hon was hiding. Atlantis was worried about his rider, who seemed to be unhappy about something the bronze dragon didn't understand. Atlantis thought that R'dney might be able to work out what was wrong and put it right.
Half an hour later, Laurenth dropped R'dney off by the Ledge opposite the Star Stones where J'hon was sitting, watching the sun set.
“I brought this,” he said, offering a bottle of Benden wine. “It's a peace offering.”
“I didn't know we were arguing.” J'hon turned to look at him, a blank look on his face.
“So why are you avoiding me?” R'dney asked, with his chin raised defiantly.
“I wasn't,” J'hon replied, turning back to stare at the horizon.
“Good, then you won't mind me joining you,” R'dney told him, trying to hide his relief that J'hon hadn't sent him away. There was still a chance they could fix this. He settled down on the ledge next to J'hon and offered him the wine bottle.
“Not really in the mood,” J'hon said, handing the bottle back.
“Fair enough,” R'dney accepted the bottle and took a swig to settle his nerves. “So, is this about what R'non said, yesterday?”
“Don't want to talk about it.” J'hon interrupted.
“Well tough, because I don't intend to lose one of the best friends I ever had over something so stupid,” R'dney snapped with irritation.
J'hon turned to face him, and R'dney nearly caught his breath at the vulnerable look on his face, “Really, one of your best friends?”
“Of course, moron, maybe even the best. You really didn't know that?” R'dney told him, the tension leaking out of his body with relief, as he realized they were going to be okay.
“I guess. It's just, after what R'non said and then you didn't even realize.......” J'hon tapered off in embarrassment, one hand rubbing the back of his neck.
“Am I going to need to ask Laurenth and Atlantis for a translation?” R'dney said, with a grin. “Look, I still need to get my head around the whole thing with the dragons and the mating flight. I'm pretty mad that nobody thought to explain that to me. But as far as you and I are concerned, we're still friends, whatever happens.”
“Even if Atlantis is the one who flies Laurenth?” J'hon asked, hopefully.
“Rather you than someone I barely know. That is, if you want to?” R'dney said shyly, looking away to hide his sudden nervousness.
“Shells, R'dney, you have no idea, do you?” J'hon asked, his voice rough with passion. He reached out and cupped R'dney's face in his hand, turning the other man back to face him. J'hon leaned forward and pressed a feather soft kiss to R'dney's mouth, before pulling back. R'dney froze in wide eyed surprise at the unexpected turn of events.
“I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that,” J'hon apologized, the blank expression back on his face. He stood up and turned to leave.
“Wait!” R'dney called out to him. J'hon turned back to face him, but his eyes didn't meet R'dney's.
“What's the point? You made it perfectly clear how you feel.”
“Shells, no J'hon, you've got it wrong.” R'dney tried to explain, willing the other man to understand. “I'm not even sure I know how I feel right now. The only thing I do know is that I don't want to lose your friendship over this. The other stuff, well I need some time to think about it, please?”
J'hon thought about it for a second, before he slowly relaxed and sat down next to R'dney, carefully leaving an arm's length between them.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to rush things,” he apologized, looking down at his clenched hands. “It's just, I've never been good at talking about feelings.”
“I never would have guessed,” R'dney said, with a grin.
“I guess I figured it would be easier to show you,” J'hon said with a shy smile, looking up at R'dney through surprisingly long eyelashes.
“Yeah, well you've got my attention,” R'dney admitted, smiling back.
“So, does that mean we're good?” J'hon asked hopefully.
“Yes J'hon, we're good. Now why don't we call Laurenth and Atlantis for a lift back to the Weyr? I think I'd like to finish my wine somewhere warm.”
*******************************************************
The following morning, J'hon was waiting for R'dney at breakfast and greeted him with a tentative smile. R'dney was relieved that he had managed to mend their friendship, although they still had things they would need to sort out soon. He chatted with his team about patrol routines and Threadfall schedules, which reminded him that he had been planning to speak to R'dek. He had checked up a couple of times on Parrish, so he knew that the brown dragon and his rider were both feeling a lot better. There was a good chance R'dek would have felt able to leave his weyrmate to spend some time on his favorite research project.
R'dek had a theory that they could use the records from previous Threadfalls to work out a timetable to predict more accurately when each Threadfall would occur. If he succeeded it would be a huge saving in resources for the Weyr. Unfortunately, the records were mostly filled with boring details of the day to day running of the weyr, which made it harder to find anything useful. When R'dney had first arrived at Benden, R'dek had discovered that he was Harper Hall trained and requested his assistance. Like all apprentice Harpers, R'dney had been taught to read and write, a skill that was rare amongst the general population of Pern. He had spent many hours helping R'dek collect the data for his new timetable and had become good friends with the other rider.
R'dney found R'dek in the archive room, sitting at a large wooden table, working his way through a pile of records. He noticed that R'dek's hair was particularly wild today, suggesting that he had been running his hands through it in frustration. Past experience had taught R'dney that R'dek was less likely to be annoyed by an interruption if it was accompanied by a mug of steaming hot klah. He placed his offering to the guardian of the records down on the table, before sitting down on the nearest chair and sipping his own drink. After a moment R'dek noticed he was there and looked up from his work.
“Ah, R'dney, I see you have brought me klah. It's good to see you, my friend.”
“Is there any work for me to do here today?” R'dney asked him.
“Of course, I can always find employment for someone who can read and write. Start over there please.” R'dek indicated a pile of records close to where R'dney was sitting.
After a couple of hours, R'dek must have noticed that R'dney seemed more distracted than normal, because he suggested they take a break. He fetched them both fresh klah and sat facing his friend.
“So, are you going to tell me why you are distracted this morning R'dney?” the green rider asked.
“Can I ask you a question about dragon mating flights?” R'dney began, blushing slightly with embarrassment. “Well, not actually mating flights themselves, but how they affect the riders. Back in the Hall, I always thought I'd meet a nice girl, get married and have children. I never thought about being intimate with a guy, it was just something the guards up at the Hold made jokes about. I'd do anything for Laurenth, but I'm not sure if I can do this.”
“Do you regret becoming my rider?” Laurenth asked him, sounding upset
“Of course not, you're the best thing that ever happened to me.” R'dney reassured his dragon.
“Then there is no point in worrying about what might have been.” The dragon told him.
“Talking to Laurenth?” R'dek asked.
“She told me not to worry about things I can't change,” R'dney explained.
“She's a very sensible young dragon,” R'dek agreed. “I'm sorry I never thought to discuss this with you before, R'dney. For those of us who were born in the weyr this is just a normal part of life, something we take for granted. I didn't realize how difficult it might be for you to adjust to our ways.”
“So explain it to me now.” R'dney prompted him. “What is it like when your dragon rises to mate?”
R'dek paused for a moment to consider the best way to explain.
“Your mind will merge with your dragon, as if you are a single person and you will be swept away by her passion” R'dek said, a soft smile on his face. “It feels better than anything you can imagine, especially if you share that moment with a rider you care for.”
R'dney had to admit that R'dek's explanation was reassuring and even enticing.
“Like you and E'van?” he asked, curiously.
“I see you have become more observant, R'dney,” R'dek told his friend with a grin. “So, I'm guessing you have more questions?”
“When don't I have questions,” R'dney laughed. “I was wondering, does a green dragon get to decide who she mates with?”
“Of course she does,” R'dek reassured him. “A green dragon is smaller, faster and more agile than any of the male dragons. If you are cunning there are many ways to influence the outcome of a mating flight. The brown and bronze riders hate to admit it, but they are the ones that have to fight to win our approval, if they want a chance for their dragon to mate.”
“But what if Laurenth chooses differently from me, what happens then?” Rodney asked thoughtfully.
“I like Atlantis, you like J'hon,” Laurenth said, as if that was the end of the matter.
“From the look on your face, I would guess that Laurenth just answered your question,” R'dek said with a grin. “I take it you do have a choice?”
“Um. Maybe?” Rodney reluctantly admitted, hoping R'dek wouldn't ask him anything else. He still wasn't sure how he felt about John and the kiss.
“I think that we have both had enough questions for one day,” R'dek said with a smile. “If you need to ask anything else, you know where to find me, but for now why don't we continue with our research?”
“Of course,” R'dney agreed, relieved that R'dek seemed to understand his reluctance to talk about his feelings for J'hon. He turned back to the pile of records he was working on.
*******************************************************
After his conversation with R'dek, R'dney felt a lot better, but he realized he still had a lot of things he needed to sort out in his head. He didn't regret Impressing Laurenth and becoming a dragonrider, but it had made his life more complicated. J'hon was behaving as if the conversation on the fire heights had never happened, but Rodney had caught the occasional wistful look in his direction from the bronze rider. It was certainly flattering to know that the handsome bronze rider, who could have had any woman in the Weyr and probably several of the men, had chosen him to fall for.
Late at night, when Laurenth was fast asleep, R'dney lay awake in his bed and thought about the kiss, how soft and gentle it felt. He couldn't help wondering what it would have been like to kiss J'hon back. Would it feel good to wrap an arm round J'hon's waist, pulling him in close, while the other hand threaded through his soft hair? What would it be like to press up against him, naked bodies touching skin to skin. At this point R'dney's imagination drew a blank as he realized he still didn't know what sex between two men involved. Maybe he'd need to have another talk with R'dek, if he could get over the embarrassment. R'dney was going to have to figure this out soon, because Laurenth was maturing fast, her hide turning from the bluer green of babyhood to a rich green gold.
Maybe they could touch each other the way he touched himself, or perhaps there might even be blow jobs involved? R'dney liked the idea of getting one, but what would it be like to give one? He found himself getting hard at the thought of J'hon on his knees, warm wet mouth wrapped around R'dney's cock, those beautiful hazel eyes looking up at R'dney through long, dark lashes. Giving in to arousal, he reached down and stroked his cock until he felt the pleasure curling up his spine and his balls clenched, before he came harder than he had done in a long time.
*******************************************************
R'dney was getting used to being woken up early by Laurenth, but a few days after the conversation with R'dek he woke up to find his dragon gone from their quarters, a thin slice of the early morning sunlight kissing his cheek through the open door of his room. He felt too hot, almost feverish and ravenously hungry. Wondering what could be wrong with him, he reached out with his mind for Laurenth, who informed him that she was heading down to the feeding grounds. R'dney realized that it wasn't him that was hungry, it was Laurenth, who was ready to mate. He felt a sudden rush of panic as he realized that he couldn't put off facing his feelings for J'hon anymore.
R'dney scrambled out of bed and looked for something to wear. He grabbed a loose blue tunic with no decoration that was long enough for decency and pulled it over his head, then grabbed a pair of brown pants. Pulse racing, he rushed out of his quarters to Laurenth's ledge and came to a halt when he realized that he couldn't leave without his dragon. Sitting down on the ledge with a sigh he reached out with his mind to Laurenth.
Much to R'dney's surprise, he was suddenly looking out over the feeding grounds, seeing thorough his dragon's eyes. Laurenth screamed out a challenge to the other dragons, as she singled out a large wherry and fell on it, tearing out its throat. R'dney was sure there was something he was supposed to remember now, something about making sure Laurenth didn't eat too much? The young women who rode the golden queen dragons were taught not to let their dragons overfeed, because a long mating flight would result in more and healthier eggs. R'dney was sure that didn't matter for green dragons as they didn't lay eggs. Of course the longer the flight, the less likely it would be that one of the blue or brown dragons would catch Laurenth, instead of Atlantis.
It occurred to R'dney that he had a choice; he could let Laurenth carry him along for the ride, or he could take control and do what he could to influence the outcome of the mating flight. Making up his mind, R'dney commanded his dragon to stop feeding on the wherry. She struggled with him at first, but eventually gave in to his demands. Laurenth caught three more wherries, but R'dney instructed her to only drink the animal's blood, not feast on the flesh. Once the young dragon was sated, she spread her wings and took off from the ground with an unexpected burst of speed, calling out a challenge to her waiting suitors. A group of ten or eleven of blue and brown dragons followed her. R'dney searched for Atlantis amongst them, a wave of relief washing over him as he spotted the bronze, closely followed by brown Sateda flying towards them.
“They will not catch me,” Laurenth told him, defiantly.
“Not even Atlantis?” R'dney asked her.
“Maybe, but first he must prove himself worthy,” she replied smugly.
R'dney felt something soft touch his arm, pulling his mind back from Laurenth to the ledge where he was sitting. It was J'hon, who was crouched down next to him, resting one hand on R'dney's arm. R'non was standing nearby and several other riders had gathered in a half circle around R'dney.
“You're here,” R'dney said, smiling. He was rewarded by a shy, answering smile on J'hon's face.
“Focus on Laurenth, you need to stay with her,” J'hon warned him.
R’dney closed his eyes and opened his mind, his thoughts and feelings merging with those of Laurenth. He could see that she was now several miles south of the Weyr, flying over the snow capped mountains of the Benden range. She was young, fast and agile and R'dney could feel her elation in every sweep of her powerful wings. Laurenth taunted and flirted with her suitors, darting and diving in all directions until many of them tired and struggled to keep up. Eventually, only two male dragons remained, brown Sateda and bronze Atlantis.
R’dney’s attention was pulled back to the ledge as he felt J’hon’s grip tighten on his arm. J'hon was talking to him in a soft voice, trying to persuade him to stand. R'non had also moved closer and was holding out a hand to help R'dney up.
“Come on buddy, let's move this to somewhere more comfortable,” J'hon said, tentatively.
J'hon looked so hot, with his messy hair and long lashed hazel eyes, pupils blown with passion. R'dney felt a wave of arousal wash over him at the sight of J'hon licking those soft, full lips. He let J'hon and R'non pull him up and guide him away from the ledge, towards his sleeping quarters. R'non reached out to place a guiding hand on R'dney's shoulder, but J'hon glared at him, placing his own hand on the small of R'dney's back, possessively. R'dney leaned back into J'hon's touch, trusting the man to keep him safe, as he reached out with his mind for Laurenth.
With a sudden burst of speed Atlantis pushed ahead until his head was level with Laurenth's tail. Laurenth wasn't ready to be caught yet, so she banked to her left, causing the less agile bronze to overshoot. Laurenth looked back and called out a challenge, daring him to catch her up. Sateda saw his advantage, as Laurenth's sudden turn had brought her closer to the brown dragon. He caught up with Laurenth at the same time as Atlantis, so they were arranged on either side of the young green dragon.
R'dney experienced a sudden moment of clarity, when all the tangled thoughts and emotions of the past few weeks finally slotted into place. He wanted J'hon, with all his heart and soul and he was done with waiting and thinking things through. Sensing his thoughts, Laurenth showed her wholehearted approval by twisting slightly towards Atlantis, until their wingtips touched. Pressing his advantage, the bronze reached out to tangle his neck with hers. The two dragons spiraled down towards the ground in a heart stopping plummet that Atlantis broke just in time.
Back in his own quarters, R'dney stumbled forward, right into J'hon's waiting arms. J'hon caught him and reeled him in for a passionate kiss. This time R'dney didn't hold back, he opened up to J'hon and let his lover devour him. J'hon tasted of bitter klah, sweet honey and a warm spicy flavor that was pure J'hon. At some point they had both undressed and R'dney reveled in the feel of J'hon's bare skin against his own. He wanted to touch, kiss, lick every inch of it, to find all the sensitive places that drove J'hon wild, but he could already feel the dragon fueled passion pushing him towards his climax. R'dney let J'hon push him down onto the bed, instinctively spreading his legs so that J'hon could settle between them. When J'hon's hard cock rubbed up against his own he gasped and arched his back.
“Shells, J'hon, I'm not going to last long,” he said, his voice broken with passion. “Want you so much.”
“Me too,” J'hon groaned, sounding as lost as R'dney felt.
As R'dney surrendered himself to J'hon, he felt a final wave of passion from Laurenth as she joined with Atlantis. J'hon and R'dney reached their climax together and collapsed in exhaustion, sticky and stated.
When R'dney finally came back to himself, he was lying with his head pillowed on J'hon's chest and his lover was gently stroking his back and shoulders. J'hon had a slightly anxious expression on his face.
“Okay?” J'hon asked him.
“Never better,” R'dney smiled up at him. He felt sated and relaxed, although he would probably feel a little sore later when the endorphins finally wore off. “I made up my mind, this is what I want, you and me.”
“Me too.” J'hon replied with a goofy grin on his face. He leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on R'dney's mouth. “Now let's bring them back home.”
They reached back out to the minds of their weary dragons and asked them to come back to the Weyr.
In future, Atlantis always spent the night on Laurenth's ledge, necks and wings entwined, while J'hon and R'dney slept curled up together in R'dney's bed.