icarus: Snape by mysterious artist (Default)
icarusancalion ([personal profile] icarus) wrote2006-02-26 06:39 pm
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SGA FIC: Out Of Bounds - John/Rodney - part four of that skating fic

Part four of that Rodney/John skating AU. Now with more body contact.



Part one is here

Out Of Bounds
by Icarus



John's one-bedroom apartment was on the ground floor of a building that used to be a hotel, complete with lobby, paneled walls and an old-fashioned elevator that didn't work. Rodney didn't need to look at the room numbers to find him: there was only one person who'd be playing Credence Clearwater Revival that thumping loud at two o'clock in the afternoon.

Rodney wondered if John knew 'Mustang Sally' was a favorite with strippers the world over.

John's door was unlocked. The floors were uneven worn wood, and John had a canoe mounted to the wall, while a ten-speed and a pair of sneakers blocked the hallway. Aside from an unmade futon in the corner there was no furniture, just work-out equipment.

Broad windows let in gray light where John was silhouetted, doing a handstand.

"Okay, okay, enough fooling around," Rodney clapped twice and John dropped to the floor.

"Just having a little fun." He grinned.

"Work outs aren't fun. They're a necessary evil to keep yourself from breaking something in competition."

John snorted. "With that attitude no wonder you're a little tubby."

"I'm in terrific shape for a man my age." Rodney tossed his coat on John's bed and kicked off his shoes. "I'm assuming you've already done your stretches?"

He set his water bottle next to him on the floor and pulled his sweatshirt over his head. It followed his coat.

"Well…if you count handstands…" John equivocated in a mild amused voice.

"On the floor." Rodney already had his heel drawn in to his crotch, the other leg stretched along the floor, feeling the slow pull as he pressed his chest towards his knee. John slid effortlessly into the splits.

"Don't do that," Rodney winced.

"Relax, Rodney."

"No, I mean it! How did you manage to avoid learning any discipline at all?" Rodney snapped.

"I'm disciplined."

"You could easily pull a groin muscle if you do that without warming up first, and let me tell you, it hurts!"

"I've been doing handstands."

"You could set us back for weeks." John sighed at him. "I'll make you practice through any injuries you sustain as your just desserts." It was an idle threat; Rodney would do no such thing. "And don't forget to breathe."

"I always breathe," John snarled, but he let out a long exhalation as he bent over his knee, touching his forehead to the floor.

"Picture it going into your muscles wherever you're tight, melting that spot like butter," Rodney murmured.

"What are you, the Guru now?" John eyed him.

"It's a rolphing technique," Rodney purred. "I love stretches. I could practically fall asleep like this."

"Okay." John rolled, pushing himself up from the floor and bobbed his chin to the music. He made his way to the weight bench. "I'll spot you. Two sets of ten and then the leg lifts?"

Rodney stood and bounced on the soles of his feet. He shook out his fingers. "I don't lift weights," he said primly.

"How can you get any strength with the jumps if you don't…" John paused, a light dawning in his eyes.

"This isn't about me, this is about you!" Rodney snapped, suddenly irritable. "Now up. I need a leg extension from you, as pretty as a ballerina. C'mon, c'mon, we don't have all day."

John complied, lips tightly locked but he gave Rodney a meaningful look that spoke volumes. Rodney ignored the intense guilt-inducing stare.

At Rodney's direction John did a waltz step, then the Lutz. "Now watch me carefully." Then Rodney did the same. John frowned in confusion. "So?"

"Get my timing down perfectly. Cross-step, cross-step, then one – two – three!" Rodney landed. "Now together."

After several tries John still stumbled, slightly behind Rodney, who looked him over critically. "You're really not much of a dancer."

John's shoulders slumped. "Give it a chance, will you? You take such teenie steps."

"I was trying to make it easy for you."

"Well stop, you're making it harder!"

"Here." Rodney huffed a sigh and tucked an arm around John's waist. "Now don't be shy." He smirked.

John rolled his eyes. They repeated the cross-steps pressed hip to warm hip, this time working out a happy medium in their strides. John watched his feet carefully, tongue between his teeth in concentration.

Rodney chucked him under the chin, shaking his head earnestly. "Don't look at my feet. Trust me when I say you'll never get it that way."

After several successful tries, Rodney started varying the rhythm, forcing John to improvise. John chuckled, "Let me lead sometime." And Rodney grinned.

He clapped his hands together. "Okay then, let's try this one more time. With the Lutz."

They separated. They did the three cross-steps, then stepped up into the jump: one – two – three! John landed on a dime, dead even with Rodney. At least as far as Rodney could tell. And he even held the pose without slumping out of it. They breathed a long minute.

"Well," Rodney said, mouth pulled into a smug smile as he let his foot drop. "I'd say we made tolerable progress today."

"I'd say that was pretty damned good," John nodded slowly. He laced his fingers together and stretched. "I can do my cardio later. Wanna stay for dinner?" he offered, padding in his stocking feet over to a small sink and a cupboard. "We're having… either leftover pad thai or – ooo! – macaroni and cheese." John waggled his eyebrows.

"Much as the menu sounds enticing," Rodney slumped to the floor, legs outstretched like a two-year-old's, "I have a five o'clock lesson to give. Someone who isn't actually behind on paying me."

"Shit. Rodney—"

"Oh no, don't worry about it," Rodney swiped the air lazily and leaned on an elbow with a sigh. "It's nice to coach someone who doesn't need me to tie their skates."

"No. Rodney," John gave him a funny look. "It's five thirty."

"Already?!"

Rodney swore colorfully, scrambling up to grab his clothes. He hopped up and down as he put on his shoes.

"How did this happen?"

"You need me to call? I can call for you, make up some kind of an excuse… you were shot, run over by a bus…."

"They're at the rink so I can't reach them. I can't believe this!" He flung John's door open and suddenly stopped and spun around, pointing at John. "Tomorrow. Four am. Music, and the boombox. Don't forget this time!"

Rodney was already running down the hall when John called after him, "Do you want a three am wake up call?"

Rodney's answer to that generous offer really wasn't very nice. But John simply grinned and started heating water for macaroni and cheese, the dinner of champions, and cranked up the music.


The next part is right here, folks.


This story is just not the same without the music. So I'll be adding the link shortly. ;)
Here's Mustang Sally by Creedence Clearwater Revival:
http://s9.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2C5AEW0GKM8XR17NJ2LC1LA2VU
ext_975: photo of a woof (Default)

[identity profile] springwoof.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
this is fun! is there more?

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yes! Have you read the first three parts? There's also more on its way. *snickers*

Icarus
ext_975: photo of a woof (Default)

[identity profile] springwoof.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
Yes! Really liked the first 3 parts. It's kind of involving and just draws you in. It's a neat AU. I just didn't realize it was *also* a WIP. sigh.

::waits patiently for more::

wags, springwoof

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
Well it's four parts and I started it three days ago, so I think you're in good hands, WIP-wise.

How did you find this story anyhow?

Icarus
ext_975: photo of a woof (Default)

[identity profile] springwoof.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
ooh, sorry, should have mentioned. I think the SGA Newsletter picked it up & I followed the link from there.

Have you posted a notice of the fic to one of the communities? You should!

wags, springwoof

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
I am now officially awed by the efficiency of the SGA fandom.

I usually wait for fics to be beta'd and whatnot before I post official notices, but given this one is so Olympic inspired, I probably should.

Icarus
amalthia: (Default)

[personal profile] amalthia 2006-02-27 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
you're killing me with all these short snippets. I'm also loving this ice skating concept more than I probably should. :) Thanks for sharing and I hope you decide to write more. :)

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
The next part's already in the works. I know what you mean! I can't believe I'm enjoying this skating stuff so much.

Icarus

[identity profile] paradise-city.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so digging this fic. And I'm really digging flexible!John as well--that's too funny an image. :)

And just FYI, that's Jonny Lang's cover of Mustang Sally, and the original was Wilson Pickett's, not Creedence's.

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, John really made Rodney cringe. Any guy would, that's one reason John likes to do it.

Oh, I know Credence Clearwater didn't do the original, I just wanted to credit the performer. *nods*

Icarus

[identity profile] chaps1870.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
I'm really enjoying this story. Love that the tone of the characters has remained the same. Looking forward to more.

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you, I appreciate it. I admit, this AU is just pure self indulgence.

Icarus

[identity profile] tigs.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Here via the newsletter. I saved the first three parts last night to read this morning and then I thought, gee, I wonder if there's a new part up, and there was!

I'm really enjoying this story. It is very engrossing--I want more right now!--and I really want to see where you're going with it. So much fun!

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, this is such fun. I can't wait to finish the next part and post it. Should be done shortly.

Icarus

[identity profile] stentoriansista.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Woo for more reading in fadoms where I have no connection to canon! This is making me eversopleased; I tried to save the latest installment until I had gotten some work done this morning, but clearly, I have no self-control. Yay for this, and if there's more to come I'm all over it. :)

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Plenty more. I'm just finishing the next installment and it's being posted shortly. If all goes according to play there should be about five more parts.

Icarus

[identity profile] dar-jeeling.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm having so much fun reading this! Admittedly, I have not even the slightest clue about skating, but the way you described Rodney doing his thing (part 3) was very engaging. And oh, I'm sorry for him.

Looking forward to more :)

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
More's on its way shortly.

I love that you could see Rodney skating in the last part. It's not easy to describe something that's so purely physical.

And oh, I'm sorry for him.

Yeah, though John's caught on that Rodney arrogantly eschewed the weight training he would have needed to land those more difficult jumps.

Icarus

[identity profile] raveninthewind.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Am having fun reading this.

Posted something related here:
http://raveninthewind.livejournal.com/415505.html

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh good! That makes me happy to hear that.

That link. Guh.

Icarus
fairestcat: Dreadful the cat (Default)

[personal profile] fairestcat 2006-02-27 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm just loving following this, looking forward to seeing where it goes from here!

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! This is a deliberate cliche-fic, utterly silly. I've the next part pretty much written (it's going up in the next hour or so), and there should be about five parts after that.

Icarus

[identity profile] bibliokat.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so loving this! I too have discovered my insane love for SGA Olympics AUs. Can't wait to see what you write next!

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-02-27 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Biblio! Welcome to the bizarre world of Olympics AUs. Your timing's great -- I just posted the next part five seconds ago.

Icarus

[identity profile] nataliadarimini.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Mmm. The dinner of champions indeed. I'm listening to the Bare Naked Ladies right now, so I'm already in the Kraft Dinner...uh...*zone.*

Also? If we substitute art supplies for the exercise equipment, John and I have similar taste in decorating.

And John's behind on his payments? Aw. What's he doing for money anyway?

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
John has the kind of apartment I always wanted. What I really have is, um, Rodney's place.

Icarus

[identity profile] neery.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Already commented on another part, but I wanted to add that I've downloaded Mustang Sally.

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Great song, and I can see John lifting weights to it.

Icarus

[identity profile] mecurtin.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I really like this, even though I have to do some "editing" on JF's body to add a skater's thighs & butt. Peter Grodin, on the other hand, is already there . . . but I digress. Thanks for the music, it really helps.

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
It's too funny. I figured everyone would have a problem with Rodney as a skater, but the most common issue is with John. I wonder if that's because I've worked to show Rodney skating but haven't done the same with John.

Joe's kinda skinny, but so was Scott Hamilton in 1980. They can't all be Brian Boitano. ;)

Icarus

[identity profile] mecurtin.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
You're right, Hamilton always did have pretty skinny thighs for a skater (http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/photocredit/achievers/ham0-003). (warning: link includes fashion of the 80s. *shudder*) Yeah, I can see JF as a skater of this type.

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Yaaaaaaaah! My eyes, my eyes!

LOL. The other night the skating commentators were saying catty things about Weir's swan costume and then showed a picture of Scott's outfit. Hamilton had this to say for himself: "Well... it worked for me at the time." I love Hamilton.

Agreed on the thighs. It's a rare person who looks better after years of chemotherapy.

Icarus
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[identity profile] sandalstrap.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 06:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, Rodney loves stretches! And the purring! I know exactly what he means.

Oh, it's all so lovely. Who knew that secretly John and Rodney needed to be skaters? Well, aside from you. :) I just love that it's still so very 'them' - on ice! Hee.

[identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com 2006-03-01 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Rodney likes relaxing things like gliding across the ice, curling up with a pint of ice cream, basking in the glow of victory. Not all of these go together well.

There are a surprising number of people who tell me they'd been wishing for a skating AU.

Icarus