fateandfortune | Just two vampires, traveling the galaxy... [For Todd the Wraith]

She'd been gone a long time so he'd taken the time to enjoy the luxury of a shower, which he'd have to discuss with his engineers to try and replicate for the hive ship as they were far more conservative of water. And were quicker to get in and out of.

He'd just finished pulling his undershirt back on when the doorbell rang and he answered it.

"I take it by your expression, things went well" he said, stepping aside for her and closing the door. He sat down on the couch, rubbing his hair with a small towel. "So? Elaborate" he said.

He was such a nosy wraith, but she had to admit it was something she quite liked about him. Better to be curious than apathetic, after all. And it did make for fantastic conversation.

"It went amazingly well," she informed him, taking her usual place on the couch and watching him dry his hair. "It was embarrassing at first, for the both of us, but then he just laughed it off. He said he'd been turned down by a lot of women in the past, but I'm officially the best story in that arsenal now."

Humans were very emotional beings, going from one to the next in the blink of an eye. Rogue, while a special human, was no exception, so he had to catch each as they came.

Good to know Sheppard had no hard feelings about it, he knew from personal experience the guy could hold a grudge. Further proof that she'd be welcome here in the event she ever changed her mind or something happened.

He finished rubbing his hair out and got up to hang the towel in the bathroom, returning to the sofa after pulling his coat back on.

"What will it be tonight? Training or reading?" he asked, sitting down beside her as usual. Outside, the rain had intensified, sheets of water blurring everything out, though as it was after sunset there wasn't much to see anyway.

Rogue enjoyed listening to the rain while he was gone, and a small, contented smile was in place when he returned. Overall, the day had really been quite... nice, wonderful even, and she felt calm and at peace with herself.

So there was the answer.

"Training," she announced, tugging off her gloves and setting them aside. "I think I'm a bit more stable than I was last time. We should take advantage of it."

Todd gave single nod and held out his hand, palm down this time so that he didn't slash her own. He stayed with his left though, the feeding organs in his right arm were far more sensitive to the abuse of her ability.

Perhaps tonight she'd be able to get to that place she'd been before, and hold it there longer, cutting it off when she wanted and not thanks to a distraction.

"Ready when you are." he said, relaxed, but ready to pull away should that yank of pain happen again.

Rogue focused on her breathing, keeping it steady and even despite the ever-present ache of her sore ribs. She could do this. She would do it. All she needed to do was concentrate, get back to that same place she'd been before...

As with the last time, her first touch was brief, a tentative brush of skin on skin as she acclimated to that trickle of energy, tracing it back to the center of her ability. She paused for a few moments, her hand hovering over his, and then resumed the touch, raising the mental gate she'd created, slowing that exchange of energy, and then...

Stopping the exchange completely.

Holding onto that concentration, she glanced up at Todd, wanting to make sure he wasn't feeling anything either.

Todd was silent, the fuzzy feeling in his hand returning, and then...

He gave her the hint of a smile to let her know she was doing it.

He felt nothing in her touch save for her warm fingertips. No tingle, no ache, and especially, no pain.

She'd succeeded.

Rogue felt tears stinging her eyes, but still she concentrated, determined to hold onto the feeling of control for as long as possible. She slid her hand more fully against his, her fingers wrapping around the back of his hand to touch his palm.

"I haven't been able to touch someone like this in... a very long time." The sensation would become overwhelming if she let it, so she pushed it aside, only thinking of that particular moment and not what had come before.

"Good..." he praised quietly as she moved onto holding his hand-admittedly a very strange sight out of context-and continued to maintain control.

Even more impressive, she spoke, likely recalling memories of her time before her ability completely changed everything. But still, she held her grip on that metaphorical faucet handle.

"Hold on, as long as possible." he prompted. "Allow nothing else to interfere."

Rogue did just that, and for four glorious minutes she was able to feel his skin against her own. It was only when she felt her control begin to waver that she released his hand and leaned back into the couch.

"I did it," she murmured in disbelief. Glancing over at Todd, she added, "Thank you."

Two minutes...three...four...

And then she began to waver and let go. Far more impressive than the previous time.

He nodded. "Better and better each time." he said

But they were still a long way from it becoming an effortless endeavor, or to make it so that she had to be able to turn her power on for it to work, not turn it off when she was in no danger.

Not bad for the night and they decided to leave it at that than push it further tonight. It was still fairly early though so he had her read a little before sending her off to bed.

It was an amazing day. The best she'd had since Remy died, certainly, and probably long before that. After a stop to get her nightly dose of medication, she'd slept soundly in that elegantly strange borrowed room, dreaming of absolutely nothing. If only every night could be like that.

The next morning had her up bright and early, grabbing a cup of coffee and then wandering out onto a balcony to enjoy the calm that had settled after the previous day's storm. The sky was clear, the smell of the ocean crisp, and she felt wonderfully alive and full of possibility.

Todd's usual routine took over for the day. First breakfast with the newly inoculated, followed by staying by the sides of the new group as they endured the side effects. A break to get some air and occupy himself until he had to check up on them again. Today, he went to the "gym", watching Teyla spar with Sheppard.

"Ow hey!" Sheppard yelped as Teyla knocked him flat on the mat.

"What was your mistake colonel?" she said in her "mom" voice

Sheppard pulled a face, "Legs." he groaned.

"Good." she smiled and helped him up.

Todd chuckled to himself. Teyla was not one to underestimate.

"How about you try?" Sheppard suggested, rubbing his lower back.

Todd looked to Teyla, "Do you mind?"

The Athosian regarded him a moment before nodding. Sheppard handed his sticks to the commander and got out of the way.

Rogue had spent the past few hours dodging Rodney, who was on a mission to conquer a new list of questions that were beginning to get even more thoroughly scientific and, as a result, personal. As such, when she asked a passerby if they'd seen Colonel Sheppard and was informed he was probably in the gym with Teyla, she'd made a beeline for the sanctuary.

It was surprising to see Todd about to begin a bout with Teyla as she slid quietly into the room, making her way over to stand next to Sheppard.

"My money's on Todd," she said quietly, receiving a raised eyebrow in response.

"No way," he countered, watching the two at the center of the room.

Rogue shrugged slightly. "Teyla's good, no doubt, but Todd's got a lot of experience. He's kicked my ass enough times, my money will always be on him."

"If you say so" Sheppard shrugged.

The pair faced off, hardly moving, and then Todd attacked first. The thwack of their sticks on one another filled the room, neither backing down and both quick in attacks and defense.

And then it was over. Teyla dropped the six foot four wraith to his knees, one stick held against his throat, the other between his shoulder blades.

Sheppard smiled at Rogue, "Told ya."

Teyla moved away, letting Todd get up again. Hardly a breather, they fought again. Teyla held nothing back, fighting as though it were real and with everything she had. As a result, she beat the wraith again, and again. Todd seemed unperturbed and fought back despite loss after loss.

Teyla had been amazing when they'd had their own sparring match, but this was incredible. Rogue was grinning by the third round, trying to commit the Athosian's actions to memory so she might try to replicate them later when her injury was finally healed. What awful luck to have gotten hurt so early on in their visit, she hadn't had nearly enough time to learn from the woman.

"I stand corrected," Rogue commented to Sheppard partway through the show. "Too bad I'm fresh out of cash."

Sheppard chuckled and looked at Rogue from the corner of his eye. "Likely story," he teased her.

However, even a human's stamina was short lived compared to a wraith's, even one such as Teyla, and she started taking hits and going on the defensive. Soon, it was over, Todd pinned her to the ground, feeding hand hovering a few inches above her chest, stick against her throat.

Sheppard was glad Ronon hadn't been here for this spar otherwise he'd likely have shoved the sparring sticks right through the wraith for ending it like that. But the colonel kept calm and didn't stop it.

Todd didn't hold Teyla in the position for long. He withdrew and let her up. "I think that'll be it for today."

"Agreed, I killed you several times already." Teyla said, out of breath and sweating, but smiling a little.

Todd nodded, "Indeed so." he knew if it'd been a real fight, she would have won without question.

Rogue was incredibly familiar with that final position, having been on the receiving end of it far too many times. But she had enough sense to be glad that Sheppard didn't react to it. She didn't have that same worry with Teyla.

"That was incredible," Rogue announced as the other woman came over to them. "Next time I'm in Atlantis, we have to spar again. There's so much I could learn from you."

She was assuming there would be a next time. Hoping.

Teyla inclined her head with a smile. "I look forward to it, Rogue."

Sheppard looked at Rogue at that, perhaps, Todd thought, he hoped to see Rogue again too.

A bit ironic. Rogue was spat out form her world, where she was hated and feared by all but those closest to her. Now, she was wanted by all.

Todd realized he'd not taken up talking to Woolsey about food supplies and so went to see about that.

Woolsey had gotten over his fear of being the same room with the wraith that had threatened to feed upon him once...but still remained cautious.

Eventually, after nearly an hour of talking and calculations, they found that what they had on Atlantis would not suffice to last long on board the hive ship. So after instructing Todd to steer clear of the Gate room-they wanted to keep the gate coordinates a secret still-he talked with those at Stargate Command about making a grocery delivery. Waiting on the Dadaelus to fly to earth and back would take too long and it couldn't carry enough for both the wraith and those on board and Atlantis all in one go.

So tomorrow Command would send them what they needed via the gate. Todd had included more than just food however, but seeds for planting too. Acquiring them in the Pegasus Galaxy was a real chore and if they weren't going to be self-sufficient and not need to rely on Command or Atlantis to provide, a boost would certainly help.

Woolsey told Todd that he'd have his groceries before they finished the inoculations.

This meant...

"I'm in your debt." Todd said.

"Yes, so it seems." Woolsey said. What do you ask of a Wraith who's already on your side, but has nothing to provide? "I'll have to consider what you can do or give to us in return."

The commander nodded and left to find Rogue.

Teyla left shortly after Todd to clean up and look in on Torren, so Sheppard and Rogue decided to pass a little time with a stroll through the city. Sheppard pointed out where some of the more daring adventures had occurred during his years in Pegasus, while Rogue laughed and recounted some of her own experiences with the X-Men.

It might not have been the best idea to tell Sheppard that she was essentially part of a superhero team back on her Earth. She could have sworn she saw that look in his eyes intensify, and that wasn't good for anyone.

She was about to steer the conversation in another direction when the universe decided to laugh at her. At the same moment Sheppard was radioed that he was needed in another part of the city, Rodney rounded the corner, his expression brightening at the sight of her.

Sheppard had the nerve to look a little sheepish as he quickly backed away from her. "Sorry, duty calls," he told her before jogging off and leaving her to her fate.

By the time Todd would happen upon them, she'd already answered eighteen progressively nosy questions and she'd come up with six ways she could make Rodney's falling off the nearby balcony look like an accident. She was working on number seven when McKay finally took things a step too far.

"Rodney, my sex life is none of your business!" She shouldn't have been shocked by his question, but she was. Had it been Todd or even Dr. Beckett, she would have been just fine, but Rodney? Hell no.

"I'm only asking for purely scientific reasons," he countered, barely grasping why she was having a problem with this question when she'd so readily answered the others. "If you were to become impregnated, would the child have the same abilities as you, or would they have a simple immunity? The means of conception--"

"Rodney!" This time her voice was practically made of steel. She was beginning to become genuinely angry with the scientist, and cracked ribs or not, she had absolutely no problem giving him his own injury to get him out of her hair.

Edited 2015-12-11 03:12 (UTC)

Todd immediately interrupted before Rogue could do something they'd all regret.

"Your questions end here, doctor." he said, stepping between them. "Cease your constant prattling and go do something useful, or go offer to fish with doctor Beckett. Last I heard you regretted not taking that trip with him on the day he died."

McKay's mouth dropped open. "Now listen here-"

The commander hissed at him. "No. Leave Rogue be, you questioned her for long enough, now you're just becoming obnoxious."

McKay, obviously hurt by Todd turning what had obviously been a secret he'd at some point wittingly or not revealed to the wraith on himself, folded his arms and adopted his smug attitude. "You can't hurt me."

"Oh, I think I can." Todd growled.

"Y-You wouldn't."

The look the wraith gave him plainly said he wasn't joking around, and, after another moment and a glance to Rogue, the doctor left the pair alone.

She breathed a rather loud sigh of relief once Rodney was out of earshot, tense muscles relaxing and leaving her feeling completely worn out and empty.

"Thank you," she told Todd, giving him a look that expressed just how grateful she really was. "You might have just saved a life, you know."

She needed a drink. Did they have alcohol on Atlantis? They really should with McKay in the city full-time.

Todd looked to her and chuckled, "You should have lied and described something disgusting. He might be a doctor but he's quite the squeamish sort." he advised "Or threaten him with a lemon. He's allergic to citrus apparently."

He picked up where Sheppard left off with their walk, heading down to an early dinner. He wasn't hungry but the spar had left him a little thirsty, maybe some water or tea if possible.

Citrus? Really. Interesting. She filed that very useful bit of information away for future reference. But really, a watergun full of lemon juice wouldn't be taking things too far, would it?

"He just caught me off guard with it, is all," Rogue explained as they walked, beginning to feel a little frustrated for letting him get to her in the first place. "I'd mentioned Remy before and apparently he took that as permission to ask whatever the hell he wanted about our life together. I was fine with some of it, but this..." She shook her head with a sigh.

"You have the right to draw the line at whatever questions you like" he said "And as its McKay, I'd say he's gotten enough answers" he stated

if they were going to make any progress during tonight's training, she had to be calm, so he decided to try and take her mind off McKay by telling her that he'd ordered them groceries.

"I was sure to include coffee and chocolate on that list." he said

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