Where We Live (5/? Stargate Atlantis)
Apr. 26th, 2008 01:26 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thefroggTitle: Where We Live (5/?)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thefrogg
Beta:ohpuppies, blue_oceandeep
Rating: PG13-ish
Disclaimer: Everyone but Webber belongs to other people. Damnit.
Summary: Lorne's team has long been responsible for Todd's security. When they take Todd out to investigate an abandoned Wraith base, their changing attitudes towards the captive Wraith sparks a series of events no one in Atlantis is ready for.
Lorne found it kind of awkward, trying to be the big spoon for someone a foot taller than he was, but somehow, he managed. The simple fact that Todd was trusting him like this made it harder, hammered home just how important this was, the simple truth that Lorne could tell Todd to do anything right now, and Todd would do it without question.
Still stroking Todd's proto-wings, where they wrapped around his flanks, Lorne wondered idly if this was anything like what Sheppard had with Ronon. But Ronon was human, and Todd wasn't; even the scent of him drove that home, dust, ozone, and oil all covering what must be Todd, rich soil, deep forest and a touch of pine at the height of summer.
The shudders took forever to still, and even when they finally did, Todd's muscles jumped and twitched under Lorne's fingers, and his ribcage hitched in stuttering breaths.
Lorne just wrapped himself tighter against his back, thumbs skimming down the bony ridges where they tapered to fine points. "Easy, easy, I'm not going anywhere." The words didn't matter, just the cadence, the presence, soothing and constant; Lorne was nonetheless careful to avoid phrases like it's okay and everything's going to be all right. They weren't, and wouldn't be for a long time. All he could do was try and reassure Todd that he wasn't alone anymore, that he did have someone to protect him from the callous cruelty he'd been subject to.
The light had changed, most of the bedroom flooded with sun, by the time Todd became deadweight in Lorne's arms, breath slow and even in sleep. Lorne lay there and made sure for several long minutes before carefully extracting himself, stilling every time Todd stirred.
Keeping Todd in sight, he backed out of the closet, into the now nearly bare bedroom and activated his comm. "Colonel Carter?"
"Major Lorne. Did you want to tell me what's going on?"
Lorne sighed. "Not particularly."
"Lorne, I just got off the horn with the SGC keeping your ass out of a sling."
"For doing what? Taking care of Todd?" Lorne snapped back. "You made him my responsibility, and you and Colonel Sheppard and everyone else in this city have been treating him like a whipping boy for everything the Wraith have done. Would you rather tell the SGC that the only ally we have among the Wraith killed himself because you didn't care enough to keep him sane? He's already had one breakdown, and passed out asleep on his closet floor."
There was a guilty silence before Carter answered. "He can't be that bad, he wasn't--"
"He was, and he is, and we haven't been doing him any favors," he hissed into the mouthpiece. "Hell, half of this is our fault - yours, and Colonel Sheppard's, and..."
"So what do you expect me to do about it? I can't exactly just make an announcement, 'Hey, you don't have to be afraid of Todd anymore.'" Sam's voice was dry, full of subdued anger and resignation.
"With all due respect, sir, people follow the example that you and the rest of the command staff set."
"I've already told Colonel Sheppard and Ronon to back off. What more do you want from me?"
"What you would give to any other ally in any galaxy. Sir." Lorne sounded tired even to his own ears. "And while you're at it, keep Colonel Sheppard off my back while I try and piece what's left of Todd's psyche back together."
"Shouldn't you leave that to the psychologist?"
"He's a non-human alien, sir, the only people who have half a clue how he thinks are me and my team. And that's only because we've made the effort to find out." Carter squawked in his ear, but he ignored it to turn back to the too-still body on the floor. "I'm not handing him over to someone who can only do more damage. I have to go, Todd's waking up," he said, deactivating his comm. It was a blatant lie, but he couldn't afford to lose his temper.
Twilight spread its wings across the sea before Todd stirred, drawing Lorne's attention away from his datapad. Dazed yellow eyes opened slowly, searching.
"Hey," Lorne said softly, not wanting to startle the Wraith. "Feel any better?" The question wasn't quite necessary; he could feel Todd's sluggishness, the nervousness and vulnerability he wouldn't admit to under torture. "Seems like you needed that," he added.
"Evan." The name came rough and metallic; Lorne set aside his datapad and poured a glass of water from the pitcher he'd had ready. Todd hauled himself awkwardly into a sitting position and accepted with a nod, draining it with a few swallows.
"You seem to need a lot of water these days."
Todd shrugged, setting the glass down and turning to face Lorne. "It is...an aftereffect of..." His shoulders hitched.
"Long-term deprivation," Lorne guessed, and was rewarded with a jerky nod. "Take your time recovering. You're the only one who'd have any idea how it's supposed to go."
Just like that, Todd started shaking again, looking wildly at anything but Lorne.
"Hey, hey, easy. Take it easy." Lorne went up on his knees, reaching out with the very human urge to comfort.
Todd caught his wrist, bringing Lorne's hand to his cheek and rubbing against it like a cat. His breath was warm on Lorne's skin.
Happy to let Todd have his way, Lorne remained silent, wondering if this was more of Todd's need for contact, or some kind of Hive bonding behavior. Probably the latter, some kind of pheremonal marking, he decided, feeling the rhythmic slide-scrape-slide of Todd's cheek.
Apparently finished, Todd let go, tilting his head back against the closet wall; the brown set of leathers caught in his hair, only to be ignored.
"Would you like the other one?" Lorne asked softly.
Todd's eyes shot open in startlement.
Lorne held out his unrubbed hand, watching Todd follow the motion. "I don't know what you need from me," he said finally. "You're going to have to help me figure it out."
Gaze flickering uncertainly between Lorne's face and proffered hand, Todd swallowed hard.
Lorne held still, content to wait; it would take time for Todd to learn to ask for things, and to be certain of what was being offered. Lorne's arm was aching with fatigue before Todd met him halfway, cupping Lorne's hand in his and rubbing small circles in his palm with a gloved thumb. The touch was hypnotic, and Lorne felt his breathing deepen, matching Todd's near inaudible hum.
Lorne's comm chirped, breaking their fragile peace. Todd paused for a bare moment, then dropped his hand and lurched gracelessly to his feet. Once standing, he grabbed the leathers before ducking out of the closet, and into the spreading darkness of his bedroom.
The shower turned on, white noise that failed to mask the walls slamming down over the fear/anxiety/self-consciousness in the back of Lorne's mind.
Author:
thefroggBeta:
ohpuppies, blue_oceandeepRating: PG13-ish
Disclaimer: Everyone but Webber belongs to other people. Damnit.
Summary: Lorne's team has long been responsible for Todd's security. When they take Todd out to investigate an abandoned Wraith base, their changing attitudes towards the captive Wraith sparks a series of events no one in Atlantis is ready for.
Lorne found it kind of awkward, trying to be the big spoon for someone a foot taller than he was, but somehow, he managed. The simple fact that Todd was trusting him like this made it harder, hammered home just how important this was, the simple truth that Lorne could tell Todd to do anything right now, and Todd would do it without question.
Still stroking Todd's proto-wings, where they wrapped around his flanks, Lorne wondered idly if this was anything like what Sheppard had with Ronon. But Ronon was human, and Todd wasn't; even the scent of him drove that home, dust, ozone, and oil all covering what must be Todd, rich soil, deep forest and a touch of pine at the height of summer.
The shudders took forever to still, and even when they finally did, Todd's muscles jumped and twitched under Lorne's fingers, and his ribcage hitched in stuttering breaths.
Lorne just wrapped himself tighter against his back, thumbs skimming down the bony ridges where they tapered to fine points. "Easy, easy, I'm not going anywhere." The words didn't matter, just the cadence, the presence, soothing and constant; Lorne was nonetheless careful to avoid phrases like it's okay and everything's going to be all right. They weren't, and wouldn't be for a long time. All he could do was try and reassure Todd that he wasn't alone anymore, that he did have someone to protect him from the callous cruelty he'd been subject to.
The light had changed, most of the bedroom flooded with sun, by the time Todd became deadweight in Lorne's arms, breath slow and even in sleep. Lorne lay there and made sure for several long minutes before carefully extracting himself, stilling every time Todd stirred.
Keeping Todd in sight, he backed out of the closet, into the now nearly bare bedroom and activated his comm. "Colonel Carter?"
"Major Lorne. Did you want to tell me what's going on?"
Lorne sighed. "Not particularly."
"Lorne, I just got off the horn with the SGC keeping your ass out of a sling."
"For doing what? Taking care of Todd?" Lorne snapped back. "You made him my responsibility, and you and Colonel Sheppard and everyone else in this city have been treating him like a whipping boy for everything the Wraith have done. Would you rather tell the SGC that the only ally we have among the Wraith killed himself because you didn't care enough to keep him sane? He's already had one breakdown, and passed out asleep on his closet floor."
There was a guilty silence before Carter answered. "He can't be that bad, he wasn't--"
"He was, and he is, and we haven't been doing him any favors," he hissed into the mouthpiece. "Hell, half of this is our fault - yours, and Colonel Sheppard's, and..."
"So what do you expect me to do about it? I can't exactly just make an announcement, 'Hey, you don't have to be afraid of Todd anymore.'" Sam's voice was dry, full of subdued anger and resignation.
"With all due respect, sir, people follow the example that you and the rest of the command staff set."
"I've already told Colonel Sheppard and Ronon to back off. What more do you want from me?"
"What you would give to any other ally in any galaxy. Sir." Lorne sounded tired even to his own ears. "And while you're at it, keep Colonel Sheppard off my back while I try and piece what's left of Todd's psyche back together."
"Shouldn't you leave that to the psychologist?"
"He's a non-human alien, sir, the only people who have half a clue how he thinks are me and my team. And that's only because we've made the effort to find out." Carter squawked in his ear, but he ignored it to turn back to the too-still body on the floor. "I'm not handing him over to someone who can only do more damage. I have to go, Todd's waking up," he said, deactivating his comm. It was a blatant lie, but he couldn't afford to lose his temper.
Twilight spread its wings across the sea before Todd stirred, drawing Lorne's attention away from his datapad. Dazed yellow eyes opened slowly, searching.
"Hey," Lorne said softly, not wanting to startle the Wraith. "Feel any better?" The question wasn't quite necessary; he could feel Todd's sluggishness, the nervousness and vulnerability he wouldn't admit to under torture. "Seems like you needed that," he added.
"Evan." The name came rough and metallic; Lorne set aside his datapad and poured a glass of water from the pitcher he'd had ready. Todd hauled himself awkwardly into a sitting position and accepted with a nod, draining it with a few swallows.
"You seem to need a lot of water these days."
Todd shrugged, setting the glass down and turning to face Lorne. "It is...an aftereffect of..." His shoulders hitched.
"Long-term deprivation," Lorne guessed, and was rewarded with a jerky nod. "Take your time recovering. You're the only one who'd have any idea how it's supposed to go."
Just like that, Todd started shaking again, looking wildly at anything but Lorne.
"Hey, hey, easy. Take it easy." Lorne went up on his knees, reaching out with the very human urge to comfort.
Todd caught his wrist, bringing Lorne's hand to his cheek and rubbing against it like a cat. His breath was warm on Lorne's skin.
Happy to let Todd have his way, Lorne remained silent, wondering if this was more of Todd's need for contact, or some kind of Hive bonding behavior. Probably the latter, some kind of pheremonal marking, he decided, feeling the rhythmic slide-scrape-slide of Todd's cheek.
Apparently finished, Todd let go, tilting his head back against the closet wall; the brown set of leathers caught in his hair, only to be ignored.
"Would you like the other one?" Lorne asked softly.
Todd's eyes shot open in startlement.
Lorne held out his unrubbed hand, watching Todd follow the motion. "I don't know what you need from me," he said finally. "You're going to have to help me figure it out."
Gaze flickering uncertainly between Lorne's face and proffered hand, Todd swallowed hard.
Lorne held still, content to wait; it would take time for Todd to learn to ask for things, and to be certain of what was being offered. Lorne's arm was aching with fatigue before Todd met him halfway, cupping Lorne's hand in his and rubbing small circles in his palm with a gloved thumb. The touch was hypnotic, and Lorne felt his breathing deepen, matching Todd's near inaudible hum.
Lorne's comm chirped, breaking their fragile peace. Todd paused for a bare moment, then dropped his hand and lurched gracelessly to his feet. Once standing, he grabbed the leathers before ducking out of the closet, and into the spreading darkness of his bedroom.
The shower turned on, white noise that failed to mask the walls slamming down over the fear/anxiety/self-consciousness in the back of Lorne's mind.
