Northside Social by esteefee

[danceswithgary]

Show: SGA

Rec Category: Sheppard/McKay
Characters: Rodney McKay John Sheppard Ronon Dex Teyla Emmagan
Pairings: Sheppard/McKay
Categories: Alternate Universe, First Time, Humor, Romance, Slash
Warnings: None
Author on LJ: esteefee
Author's Website:
Link: Northside Social

Why This Must Be Read:

This coffee shop romance is sweet and funny with lovely slow sips to love for John and Rodney.



The most recent mail to hit Rodney's inbox had him buzzing toward the front counter with a black scowl on his face. If Kirkson didn't get his crap together and approve Rodney's budget, he would soon feel the fury that was a McKay in the full flower of a towering rage.

He dropped his empty cup on the counter, only to get an apologetic look from the pimply barista.

"Sorry, Dr. McKay," the little weasel said. "You know what I've told you about cutting in line for refills."

"Oh, please." Rodney raised his chin and shoved his mug forward. "I could lose incalculably important ideas waiting for you to accomplish a task that should take mere moments. I can feel myself losing brain function as we speak."

"That explains your loss of proprioception," a wry voice commented in Rodney's ear.

He startled, nearly falling over when he realized he was standing on the man's foot. A hand reached out to steady him, and Rodney stepped away.

"Thanks," he said grudgingly.

"No problem," the man said, his hazel eyes crinkling. "Now give poor Rashid a break. He has to follow the rules, you know?"

"It's a stupid rule," Rodney said. "And of course you'd be on his side. You're next in line."

The man frowned in exasperation. "Tell you what—I'll buy this round, and that way you won't be cutting." He nodded at Rashid, who grabbed Rodney's mug like it was the Holy Grail and filled it before Rodney could get a word out. He dropped it in front of Rodney, and the man gave Rodney a fake smile and waved him away.

Feeling dismissed and even more irritated for some reason, Rodney took his coffee over to fix it up with a bit of sugar. The man had looked like a surfer with his messy hair, his cargo shorts and his white shirt—did he think this was Santa Cruz? What a scruffy, laid-back loser.

Rodney doctored his cup to perfection then took it back to his table, only to find the surfer had commandeered the chair diagonal to his and was reading a paper, coffee and pastry at his elbow.

"Excuse me," Rodney said coldly. "But this table is taken."

The surfer barely flicked his eyes up. "You're only using half of it."

"Well, nonetheless, it's my table."

Surfer looked amused. "I think it probably belongs to the café."

"Then I'm leasing it for the period of my patronage," Rodney said. "So...skedaddle."

The surfer honked out the most atrocious laugh imaginable, his smile overtaking his face and making him look, for want of a better word, handsome. Rodney gaped a little.

Surfer put down his paper and said, "'Skedaddle,' huh? I don't rightly know how, mister."

"Perhaps you can look it up." Rodney could feel a smile tugging at his mouth, and he fought it fiercely. "There must be a dictionary around here somewhere."

"Maybe you can show me." Surfer tilted his head at Rodney, amusement still lingering on his face. "I'm Sheppard. John Sheppard."

"I don't recall asking," Rodney said. A moment later, though, he heard himself saying, "I'm Rodney. Dr. Rodney McKay, PhD, PhD."

"Well, pull up a chair, Doc," Sheppard said.

Comments

[wiley-nilly.livejournal.com]

That is a great story! Good rec for anyone looking for a satisfying AU.

[danceswithgary]

\o/