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Everything went black. Sheppard's ears rang loudly as he realised he couldn't feel his body. And then he had almost a “matter of fact” realization. Oh yeah. The Genii attack. They had no idea where they got a whole ancient AND most of all fully powered ship. But one thing was clear the second they began to fire. Atlantis didn't stand a chance. At least not with only one ZPM plugged in.
Sheppard's eyes suddenly went wide with both pain and something…strange. He could again feel his body. He could tell he was badly hurt, internal and external bleeding, broken ribs and his right leg. But a feeling of a green, cold hand onto his bare chest through the ripped shirt made it all suddenly so clear. His body twitched and trembled as it was filled by pure ecstasy. Even though he still couldn't hear or see, he could tell his bones were regrowing back into place and his blood gushing wounds were closing up. A process that should be agonizingly painfully yet it was oddly blissful, almost suggestive.
His heart raced as he panted and groaned. His pants tenting too, which would normally be awkward but at the moment the least of his worries. The rush of energy slowly faded as his vision slowly came back. Super blurry as he looked up, but his instinct knew immediately who was kneeling above him. A sense of peaceful calm washed over him, feeling this moment lasted minutes even if it were just a few seconds. The person's long white hair was almost shining in the red sunset, the long leather coat brushing gently against his legs, the hot breath caressing his cheeks.
John exhaled shakily. Distinctly remembering asking himself in that moment. „Am I dying?” But the loud ringing slowly twisted into a familiar voice frantically shouting his name. „Colonel Sheppard! Sheppard! John! Get on your feet, we must leave at once!"
And then, loud as a lightning, his hearing fully came back and so did his hearing. Now an overwhelming mix of sharp light and screeching noises. As he groaned and slowly prepped himself on his elbows he immediately realised. The sharp light was the night sky being filled with explosions and fire and those screeching noises were of the Atlantis towers collapsing onto each other and being blown to pieces. Suddenly he couldn't breathe again.
The control tower, gone…Daidalos slowly sinking into the waters of the planet. Rubble everywhere, fire everywhere…bodies everywhere. The only thing left standing being the Genii ship and a critically damaged Hive. Then he heard, and this time saw it again. „Sheppard!“ Two clawed hands squeezed his shoulders tightly, pulling him onto his feet. But then a more gentle and soft voice echoed through his mind. „You are in great danger. Please. Allow me to help you. There is nothing left for you here. Come with me.”
John blinked a few times and hesitantly gripped the man's arm. „T-Todd? What's…what is…” He felt like he should do something, ANYTHING. But it was as if his own body already gave up even when mostly healed. The wraith swiftly dragged him a few feet away before a huge pillar almost crushed them. The impact partly woke Sheppard up from his trance. „Second. Cull us, now.“ John blinked a few times before leaping out of Todd's arms. „Cu-wait. N-no. W-wait!“ But it was already too late. The last thing he heard before passing out again was the sound of the culling beam and the last bits of Atlantis falling, consumed by the ocean.
…
Shepherd's vision was just a big blur again. But the second he felt something ice cold press against his right pack he jumped into a sitting position. For the first time, instead of reaching for his weapon, he was curled up against a wall, panting and terrified. But then he heard that voice again. Now soothing and soft. „Be calm.“ His vision slowly adjusted, making him realise he was aboard a hive. But not just any room, it looked like Todd's personal quarters.
It looked…suprisingly cozy for a wraith decor. The dim lighting helped his sensitive eyesight, the sweet smell of a few candles by the bed…oh the bed. Huge, round, filled with soft pillows and heavy fluffy covers. And right on the edge, Todd sitting down with a wet tissue, covered with a bit of John's blood. His expression was not cheeky as he'd expected. But genuinely troubled. But his lips twisted with a soft smile that John never saw on a wraith before.
„Please…“ He simply said, raising his hand with the tissue. Surprisingly even for Sheppard, that was enough to make him take a deep exhale and lay back down. Realising he was fully bare as the fluffy blanket brushed against his body hair. He flinched, a bit uncomfortable but knowing he had more important stuff to worry about. He just sighed exhausted and closed his eyes, his voice rough as he spoke. „What…what happened.“
„You have been injured, Colonel. I am simply treating your wounds.” Todd almost whispered, as if worried John's hearing might be still too sensitive. He crawled more towards the center of the bed where the human lay, elegantly folding his legs, as his clawed fingers gently patted the wound onto his right pack. The cool, wet sensation of the tissue was comforting, but not enough to drop the question at hand. He slowly opened his green eyes, glancing up at the wraith, who almost looked like his Guardian angel with those long white hair being illuminated by the dim lights…almost.
„You have been already, almost fully healed by my gift of life. But it may take-“
„How many?”
„Sheppard-“
„How many?!“
Todd sighed and avoided his gaze as Sheppard raised his voice. Todd dreaded this moment for a few hours now. He knew it would make Sheppard's condition even worse but he needed to know the truth. He slowly slipped the wet tissue off the human's chest. He looked him right in the eyes, just to look less affected by the news than he really was.
„Everyone. The city is gone.” John inhaled shakily and closed his eyes shut. He didn't freak out, he didn't try to argue about it and wasn't trying to blame Todd for any of it.
„And Daidalos? There were-“
„Gone. Only seconds before Atlantis got swallowed up by the ocean.”
„And…Teyla…Rodney…Ro-”
„Sheppard. Please…“
Todd raised his voice, not mad, just firm. He then leaned back in, gently tapping John's chest wound. „Why did you save me? Why…why m-uh.” Sheppard was at a loss for words. But he was still in such a shock that he wouldn't bring himself to cry. He reached up to rub his face with both hands with a painful groan. „”You should have left me there”. I hear you say…isn't it?“ John just exhaled, completely exhausted. „Yeah…”
For a second Todd's expression turned into something that sheppard never saw before. Half frown, half smile. A pain missed with grief, happiness, fear…love. He shifted swiftly and pressed the cool tissue right against John's heart. His golden eyes flickering between Sheppard's own eyes and his hurt chest. „Because I do not wish to see you go. Not now. Not ever..” The last words could mean either in John's head. Todd did just blatantly forget that humans are not importal. Or he just confessed his never dying love for a human. For him.
John wanted to say something but all he had strength for at the moment was to turn his head away and close his eyes. „I…I wanna be alone for a second. Todd wanted to feel disappointed but he knew damn well that his love confession wouldn't be appropriate and certainly wouldn't be John's priority right now. He gently nodded, his long, white main swaying as he climbed off the bed. „Of course. I will go check up on my hiveships repaires for now. But know if you will need anything, you may simply think of it and it will be done.”
…
„Think of it and it will be done.“ The sound of those words echoing through Sheppard's head as he was sitting on the edge of the bed, now at least dressed in his boxers. Holding his gun he found laying next to his neatly folded uniform on Todd's desk.
He was tapping his left foot against the organic floor, staring at the weapon in his hand, loaded. His mind was completely overloaded and blank at the same time. He periodically brushed his fingers against the trigger as he was staring at it. He already fought and he was going to die today. But then Todds gave him the gift of life. Would it be able to heal a bullet to the head too? He thought with a dark hint of amusement. Just a last bit of desperation that kept him from actually raising the gun.
But every second he felt he might just lay back down, a memory of his friends flashed through his head. The constant teasing of each other with Rodney, the boy nights with Ronon, Teyla's warm presence and her baby, he often baby sat…her little baby…God, Torren.
Sheppard let out a sharp inhale and finally raised the gun. The cool tip pressed against his jaw. His heart racing, he felt like a second from throwing up, but he couldn't even do that. No crying…nothing. He didn't even want to anymore. God, now much he wanted the sweet…nothing. He could feel his ears ringing again and his hands trembling. He then thought of all the people he knew, hell even ones just met on his way to a mission in the halls. The marines he often chatted with in the gym, the sweet young girl who always gave him a big smile as she handed him his lunch on the plastic plate.
His head began to spin and his vision went completely blurry. No, he can't take it anymore. He's just not strong enough for this, and he maybe never was. The second he expected the loud “boom” ego thought the room, he instead heard a familiar buzz, his muscles tightening and a quick flash of green light before his eyes. And right before He realised what that actually was he fell back onto the bed. Motionless, but alive.
On the other side of the wraith quarters, standing Todd with his stunner raised and the tip still faintly growing. He panted with his golden eyes wide and his cat-like pupils tightened into thin little strings. He didn't scream John's name as the door opened and he saw the human with the gun ready to go off straight into his brain. He simply acted. And weren't it not for the wraith superior reflexes, He was positive that Sheppard would be now dead.
…
After Sheppard woke up, he was laying back on the bed, alive. He'd almost say "unfortunately alive” before realised that the soft, warmth wrapped around him wasn't a blanket. Todd's strong, green arms wrapped tightly around him. Spooning him, his thigh pressed comfortably in between John's legs, Todd's heavy, leather coat thrown over them like a blanket. After those agonizing hours, Sheppard finally broke down. His tears streaming down his cheeks, and dripping down onto Todd's wide shoulders. But the alien didn't mind at all.
Holding him tightly. The cool of his glossy, hairless skin mixed with the warmth of his coat over them, making John feel surprisingly safe and cozy. His fingers faintly tracing the swirly tattoos along the wraiths back and arms. He didn't ugly cry since he was a child. It should feel embarrassing, pathetic. But it felt so good. As if something heavy deep inside of his soul finally let go. He didn't even care the man giving him such a comfort was a wraith.
It didn't even cross his mind that Todd could so easily manipulate him if he wanted. But what would he even gain from this? His people were all dead. Atlantis gone. Without all of that, sheppard was nothing. Nothing valuable to Todd. That's at least what he thought.
After about an hour of John balling in Todd's arms, he was now just brushing his fingers through Todd's white mane, watching Todd's back muscles flex every time he inhaled. He felt butterflies in his stomach, his thighs tingling where Todd's were touching them with his own. It was super inappropriate for him to feel this way, after Todd just saved his life from having his brain blown out of his head. But it wouldn't be the first time he'd feel this way towards him.
The day he let Todd go, thinking he wouldn't survive the “bug planet”. When Todd was saying his thanks with a soft smile on his lips and then leaving Sheppard standing there before the gate. He could feel it too. His whole body tingling and his chest heating up.
He exhaled shakily, knowing what the feeling was but not having the energy to do anything crazy about it. He brushed his cheek against Todd's, his chin rested onto his shoulder. Listening to that soothing alien purring.
After that, Todd gently pulled back and got off the bed to prepare something for John. The humans' pretty, green eyes watching his every move. Todd's claws satisfyingly tapped against the china teapod as he poured some kind of hot, pink alien tea into two pretty mugs. It smelled so sweet, so soothing. Todd then carefully, with the mugs in hand, climbed back in the bed, handing him one of them.
„Here. It will help calm your system down. It also helps humans fall asleep.” Hearing Todd's deep voice after an hour of silence made John shiver. His lips pressed against the porcelain as he took an experimental sip. The first time today actually smiling. Even if for a second. But the wraith immediately noticed and smiled as well.
„Do you wish for me to stay the night? Or do you prefer to be alone again?” The question made John think of two things again. One. The fact that Todd would practically give up his own quarters for his comfort. And the second. The “again” implied he really didn't want to leave sheppard alone again. He was afraid he might try to hurt himself again. Sheppard didn't have that on his mind anymore but…he wasn't sure if that wouldn't change if his "support animal” wraith would leave.
He hesitated for a second before setting the tea aside and nuzzling against Todd's glossy, muscled chest. „No. Don't go.” Todd nodded and lay back down so Sheppard would feel comfortable. „Very well then.”
…
Not much happened the next day. But Sheppard was very grateful that Todd let his second in command take over for him. At least for a few days. Sheppard needed care. Not really a medical one, his wounds were fine. But someone had to bring him food and water every few hours. And Todd knew and frankly didn't want any other wraith near ”his” human.
Sheppard was now chin deep in a flower scented bath, the bubbles tickling his skin. Todd kneeling by the tub, using all these fancy alien oils on his hair. His claws feeling surprisingly really good brushing through his messy hair. At this point, any shame he might feel while wraith bathed him was out the window already. He was just glad he wasn't alone. And that he could consider himself safe. Maybe on a hiveship, but on Todd's hiveship and in his personal quarters.
But it wasn't like he was excited at the idea of Todd bathing him at first. But he was also too depressed to even get out of the bed without being forced to. So having a big man pamper him like a prince sounded…nice.
After Todd scrubbed every last dried off blood off John, he led him back into the bedroom. Not even dressing him. But sheppard couldn't care less that he'd see his junk. And maybe he even enjoyed it a bit. He felt all cozy and warm, Todd's presence making him think of anything else then Atlantis. He took a sip of that sweet alien tea and lay back onto the bed. Fully naked, no blanket over him, with a big bad wraith hovering over him with a datapad.
He promised he'd stay to provide company. But he also had to go through a few reports that his second had written down for him. „Is it alright if i?” John just simply nodded. But before Todd could sit down, Sheppard rested back against his elbows. „Hey uh…could you maybe…take that off?” He asked awkwardly but not embarrassed. The commander glanced down at his leather coat before smirking softly. That was the cheeky, little bastard Sheppard knew. „If you wish.”
It didn't take long for Todd to be shirtless again, licking off his boots too, only his tight leather pants hugging his legs, crotch and behind tightly. This felt so domestic to John. And he loved it. He nuzzled to Todd's chest, again using it like a stress toy. Todd rested his chin against the top of John's head as he began going through the datapad notes.
Todd wasn't used to such casual gestures of affection as a wraith. For them, it was usually simply being presentable for your queen, acting as he price, a toy, not as a mate. And even with other males, it was still mostly mating when in heat and nothing much more. But he really enjoyed this. Such simple gestures from Sheppard's side made his heart race even if his face gave off „theres nothing i haven't done yet after 10 thousand years of experience".
His breath hitched as he suddenly felt something warm against his crotch. He peaked with a corner of his eyes down past the datapad. Watching Sheppard's fingers tracing his half hard length through his leather pants. He blinked a few times, before going back to reading. Maybe this wasn't a mating call, but it certainly felt like it.
He didn't mind the touches at all, but the fact that he was taking care of Sheppard, making him feel safe after such a traumatic experiance…well he was worried he might be taking advantage of him. That this would be wrong. That is why he didn't react, but didn't push him away either. The last thing the colonel needed would be rejection.
But as he felt John's fingers undoing his belt with surprising skill he had to do something. He set the datapad aside and gengmy gripped his wrist.
„Sheppard…”
„Yeah?”
„You are not in the clearest state of mind at the moment.”
„Clear enough for this.”
„I do not wish to take-”
„Advantige of me when I'm vulnerable?"
„Indeed.”
Todd's breath hitched again as the human fully crawled into his lap, face to face. Of course, still fully bare. He wrapped his arms around Todd's wide shoulders.
„I just need to think about anything else then…”
„That is not a very healthy way of-”
„What are you, my therapist ?“
„No. But I do care of-”
„Just fuck me Todd. Please…That's what I need right now. Not a pep talk.”
Todd took a deep breath, his golden eyes all over John's green ones. He wrapped his arms around sheppard as well, rubbing his glossy cheek against his rough jaw stubble. „Mmh. If that is what you really…need.” John couldn't help but to hum back, flexing his hips against Todd's. „Yeah…it is.” His heart racing in his chest, his toes curling in excitement. „Very well then. If you wish…I will mate you my sweet.”
…
They both groaned as the colonel undid Todd's belt, pulling those leather pants down, making the heavy, alien manhood spring out and slap against his human entrance. The wraith was purring both excited and trying to make it as soothing as possible for his lover. He held John tightly against his chest as he reached to his nightstand to grab a small glass bottle. He pulled out the cork and let a generous amount of liquid coat his fingers.
It didn't take long for both of them to moan. Sweet purring sounds of bliss and wet sloppy noise echoing through todds quarters. Todd was sitting in the center of the bed, holding his human lover tightly against him, kissing along his neck and shoulders. John's hips rolling deliciously in the alien lap, his own uncut manhood leaking in between them.
Colonel softly whimpering sweet things into Todd's ear. „You feel so good.” or even teasing him to make this more domestic. „Big, bad wraith with a big dick.” Making both of them chuckle out of breath.
Todd's hips thrusting upwards, telling John to relax more and making himself do the most work. „You deserve to be pampered, Shepparrrrrd.” He whispered, after all those years saying all those things he always wanted. „You are so very clever, so very handsome…I do not deserve you”. Followed by his human brushing but smirking amused. „You saved my life baby. And not just today. You're the only guy in Pegasus I need.”
It didn't take long for both of their climaxes to hit at the same time. John's nails digging into Todd's shoulders as Todd's nails gently clawed at John's back. Having butterflies in his stomach as a wave of hot human seed painted his abs. His own release filling John's insides. The tiny barbs at his underside massaging the human's prostate with every pulse and the round knot at the base locking them together for at least 10 minutes.
As John began to look more and more sleepy, Todd reached for his datapad and lay on his back, still locked with John. He patted his messy hair with his free hand as a soothing but strange wraith ambient started playing. It was both a bit unnerving and incredibly calming.
„You are going to be okay my sweet. I am here for you. Always Shepparrrrrd.”