Valentine's Day, What a Stupid Idea
Complete!
“Oh, come on!” Rodney groaned as he set down his screw driver and glowered at the stubborn device.
“What’s wrong?” John asked, walking over to him. They were in Rodney’s lab. Sheppard watched as McKay tinkered with the unknown Ancient piece of technology, looking not so different than a high tech microwave to John.
“Can’t get this damn thing open.” Rodney went back to his laptop, reading over the Ancient manual he’d extracted from the machine.
“Anything I can do to help?” John offered, knowing full well he had no idea what the thing even was.
“Hmm, what?” Rodney turned to catch a glance of hazel eyes, “Oh, that’s nice and all but no. Think I’ll try something else…”
John nodded, “So…Weir’s planned a Valentine’s Day party tonight after dinner. You going with anyone?”
Rodney huffed, “No, you?”
John shook his head, “Nope, don’t have anyone I wanted to ask…”
“Ya know,” Rodney glared ahead as he picked up the screwdriver again, “I think Valentine’s day is highly overrated. I mean an entire day for forced and expected affection isn’t my idea of a good time. Love isn’t something you can just conjure up. It’s a really stupid idea if you ask me and I can’t believe someone as sensible as Elizabeth is getting caught up in it.”
“Hmm, yeah, that’s true.” John nodded in thoughtful agreement, having never really thought of it that way.
“Ow, shit!” Rodney dropped the screwdriver again.
“You’re bleeding!” John’s mouth parted in worry as Rodney pulled his hand into himself, his index finger sliced through, blood spilling out. His eyes darted between the bloodied finger and John’s face, glancing with worry and embarrassment.
John quickly retrieved the first aid kit. He took Rodney’s hand and applied the disinfectant. Rodney looked at him gratefully as John held the gauze down to stop the bleeding. Without letting go of Rodney’s hand, John expertly opened a band aid one handed and wrapped it around the injured index finger. He pressed it gently to seal it and held it, rubbing ever so slightly in sympathy.
“Haven’t eaten in awhile. Guess my blood sugar’s a little low. My hands won’t stop shaking. Makes it hard to work,” Rodney confessed as he held up his other hand. It shook and he pulled it into his chest in embarrassment.
John motioned for Rodney to give him his hand. Rodney carefully complied, stretching his shaking hand out to him. John held them both to steady them. His hands felt warm against Rodney’s and he wanted this to continue, afraid John would let go. He could feel his hands calm. John smiled at him warmly, his hazel eyes filled with worry and affection, “You’ve been working too hard. Let me take you to grab some dinner.”
“Dinner?” Rodney’s blue eyes lit up in eagerness, “Oh, yeah, sounds good. Can’t work like this anyway. I’ll pick this up tomorrow.”
They stared at each other for half a minute more. John didn’t let go of Rodney’s hands. Rodney didn’t pull away.
Continued in AO3
By Wholesome Vampire 🖤
Art credit to @luluxa for "Pause". (I loved this artwork so much, decided to write a fanfiction about it!)
