The machinery of heaven by torch (flambeau) [Explicit]

[danceswithgary]

Show: SGA

Rec Category: Sheppard/McKay
Characters: Rodney McKay John Sheppard
Pairings: Sheppard/McKay
Categories: Drama First Time Humor Slash
Warnings: None
Author on LJ: flambeau
Author's Website:
Link: The machinery of heaven

Why This Must Be Read:

On a trading mission, the team gets caught up in local politics and John gets more than a peek inside Rodney's head.



"We will gift it to you," the king said, stroking his beard, "if you succeed in realigning the machinery of heaven, and bring the fire of the stars back to my people."

"Yes, yes, of course," McKay said before John could stretch a leg out far enough to kick him. Sitting on a giant gold-embroidered pillow with his knees up around his ears was really interfering with his team-leader authority. "And then you'll give us the ZPM?"

"You will have great renown among us," the king said. "Your name will be written with those of the engineers of heaven if you succeed." He lifted a finger, and one of the bulky bodyguard types in the see-through shirts came up with another silver plate of flaky pastries and fruit carved to look like flowers. "My people will strew flowers for you to walk on."

McKay didn't look very comfortable on his pillow, either, but he was tenacious, John had to give him that. "And then you'll give us the ZPM."

The king smiled. "It is good to meet a humble man who does not strive for fame and riches," he said.

John still couldn't reach to kick McKay, but he could reach to kick Ford, so he did, and Ford closed his mouth again. Teyla didn't need kicking, of course; she said everything with a slight, diplomatic curve of her lips. "Dr. McKay knows that the ZPM is important to us," John said. "And I take it the machinery of heaven is important to you?"

The king nodded. "It will be a fair exchange. We will host you for the duration of the work. Dr. McKay, would you like a yashina from among my people, or will one of your companions serve you in that role?"

"A what?" McKay said.

Teyla leaned forward. "We are unfamiliar with your customs. Perhaps you could explain."

"There are dangers in working with the machinery of heaven." The king bit into a red fruit that looked like a rose. "An engineer must have a yashina, who will know what he does and what he needs."

McKay didn't look convinced. "If none of your people have been able to fix this machinery, I don't think having one of them for an assistant is going to be of any particular use to me."

John wondered if he could kick Ford and get him to kick Teyla and get Teyla to kick McKay. Maybe there was a Diplomacy for Scientists class he could send McKay to, a bit like Physics for Poets.

"The engineer must have a yashina." The king ate the rest of the fruit. "That is the law and the rule."

"One of us can do it," John said. "Right? We're used to working with Dr. McKay. There's no need to put your people to any trouble." McKay narrowed his eyes at John suspiciously. John raised an eyebrow back at him. "When do we start?"

"I have already sent for the sacred link." The king smiled at John. "Will you be yashina, then? It is an honorable position."

John had enough practice now that he didn't even need to look before he kicked Ford. "You think maybe you could explain a bit more to us about this, uh, yashina, what that is?"

"Yes, of course. The yashina is responsible for the life of the engineer. A true engineer of heaven is often removed from worldy matters, and the yashina is his connection to the life of the body."

"Mm hm." John picked up a piece of yellow fruit that was probably meant to look like some kind of orchid. Either that or the king's kitchen staff had a very suspect sense of humor.

"The yashina will be by the engineer's side while he works and guard him while he sleeps, unfailing in his presence, and will share in the glory of a work completed."

"Sounds like Kavanagh," McKay muttered. "Impossible to get rid of, and always wants more than his share of the credit."

The king looked up as someone approached, a woman this time, also in a see-through shirt. She carried a velvet cushion, and on it lay two silvery bracelets. John tried to keep his eyes on the velvet.

"These are the sacred links." The king picked up one of the bracelets and handed it to McKay. "Put this on."

McKay snapped the bracelet around his wrist and shrugged. "It's not uncomfortable."

The king looked at Sheppard, Ford, and Teyla in turn. "Which of you will be bound as yashina?"

"I'm already responsible for his life, I guess," John said slowly.

"And for the rest of the negotiations," Ford pointed out. They looked at each other, and Ford nodded. "I'll do it."

McKay frowned. "No offense, but you're not going to be of any use to me whatsoever. At least the major can do some rudimentary math."

"Tough." Ford took the second bracelet as the king held it out. "You'll just have to cope." He put the bracelet on.

The king frowned even worse than McKay. "I do not think—"

"Augh," Ford said, scrabbling to get the bracelet off. He held it gingerly between two fingers and stared at McKay. "Is that what it's like inside your head all the time? No offense right back at you, Dr. McKay, but no way."

"I do not think you are meant to be yashina," the king said. "This is not a duty to be undertaken lightly."

John looked at Ford, who was scratching at his wrist. "You were really in his head?"

Ford nodded. "Well, not his head exactly. More like I had two bodies, and one of them was really wired and cranky and," he shrugged, "going really fast, somehow."

John looked at McKay, who was sitting perfectly still. The cranky part was starting to show, though.

"I will do it," Teyla said. She picked the bracelet out of Ford's hand and put it on. After a moment, she raised an eyebrow. "Dr. McKay, you should eat something." She took a pastry from the silver plate. "Here."

"Huh." McKay accepted the pastry and looked at Teyla, and raised an eyebrow in his turn. "That's actually kind of soothing. I mean, you are."

Teyla smiled an almost invisible smile. "Thank you."

"She is yashina," the king said. "It is done. You will bring great honor to yourselves and your people, and great glory to my city."

"Well, great," John said, in the kind of voice that makes people think you're slapping them heartily on the back even when you're not. He had a lot of practice with that voice. "Better get started on the machinery of heaven, then."

The king nodded. "He shall labor all day, and at night, he will sleep safe in the arms of whichever of my wives that he desires." The king beamed. "Or all of them."

McKay dropped the pastry.

Comments

[popkin16]

I love this fic! It has such a unique feel, and it's wonderfully plotted. Just reading the snippet makes me want to reread it.

[danceswithgary]

\o/