SGA Fic: Out Of Bounds - John/Rodney - NC-17

[icarus]

I'm slipping this scene in, although it actually happens earlier than the stuff with John's costume.

You can get caught up here: Out Of Bounds.

Title: Out Of Bounds
Author: Icarus
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: John/Rodney
Summary: There was no telling what ham-fisted third-rate crackpot Elizabeth would enlist as Melanie's new coach.
A/N: Thank you to my intrepid and playful betas, rabidfan and roaringmice.

Previously in Out Of Bounds: Known more for his jumps than his artistry, figure skater John Sheppard hires ex-skating champion and "artiste" Rodney McKay to be his coach. Their teasing friendship warms into something more. Rodney also coaches Elizabeth Weir's nine-year-old daughter, Melanie. After a run-in with Rodney's "no crying" policy, Elizabeth asked John if he'd be interested in coaching. John said no. Unequivocably. And unfortunately, complained to Rodney.

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Out Of Bounds
by Icarus


Lazy afternoon sun shone in through the upper window and laughter sang out over hollow, cheery Disney music, Robin William's singing "Friend Like Me." Two other coaches were on the ice with their students. One led a cluster of adults who fumbled through their first bunny hops, giggling as they clutched at each other. The other had a slew of no-shows today: only one young skater had turned up for her "group" class of six. Rodney snorted in disgust. He failed to see the appeal of teaching recreational skating. Why teach something people weren't going to use?

He was the only competitive track coach at the Hurwitz's rink. For some reason the other competitive coaches had cleared out once Rodney appeared; probably intimidated by his many accomplishments.

"Are you mad at me?"

Rodney startled out of his reverie. Bright worried eyes looked up at him. Melanie Weir was chewing a strand of her dark hair, her back edges angled together where she paused on the ice.

"What? No! Why would I be mad at you?" He scowled. "Wait, you've been practicing, right? Because I did notice that your edges are a bit mushy today and if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times—"

"No, no, I've been practicing!" she said, wide-eyed.

"Oh." Rodney blinked. "Okay, then why would I be mad?"

"I dunno," she said. "Do you want to see my combination jumps again?"

Rodney smothered a sigh, one hand spread in a half-shrug. He leaned on the edge of the boards. "Sure. Why not." He let his hand drop.

She pushed off into an eager, anxious circle. Gliding, she hesitated, squared up her shoulders, then put her skate down for the first jump, followed immediately by a slower, more awkward toe jump. She skittered on the landing, shooting her arms out as an afterthought, then pumped back over to him.

"How was that?" she said.

"Good. Better." It was nothing less than the truth. Of course, his sense of accomplishment with Melanie had somewhat soured of late.

Those long lashes blinked at him again. "Okay."

There was no telling what ham-fisted third-rate crackpot Elizabeth would enlist as Melanie's new coach. Nathaniel over at Blue View? Worse yet, Emraud Vasseur? It would be a nightmare to be supplanted by him. His jump technique was at least thirty years out of date!

"Mr. McKay?"

Rodney cleared his throat. "So, mmm... how are your mom's new friends?"

"'Scuse me?" Melanie replied in a perfect little imitation of her mother.

"Ah, you know, her new skating friends." He smiled hopefully. "Coaches and stuff?"

"I don't know," Melanie said, clearly baffled.

Rodney looked away across the rink and sighed. "Yes, you're as much out of the loop as I am...."

Melanie changed the subject. "Am I ready for Regionals?"

Rodney wasn't able to hide his cringe, so he didn't try. "Well. Do the best you can. And don't get your hopes up."

"Don't get my hopes up?"

"Don't think of first place as 'winning' per se. See John over there?" Rodney pointed to where John had just blown a jump and was pushing himself back off the ice. "If you think of first place as winning, then he's lost every year."

"Oh."

"What you want to do is improve on your baseline, every year."

"Okay."

They were silent a moment.

It was possible Mrs. Weir might go to the Schmidt Center. She could afford it. Those jackals—their "Olympic-level training team" as the brochures called it—would love to take his training methods apart. Rodney squinted at her anxiously. "You sure your mom hasn't mentioned anyone?" No, no, it couldn't be the Schmidt Center. They wanted only serious contenders. They'd send Melanie packing for a lack of competitive spirit. "No, never mind. Forget I said anything."

Of course, the jackals would be correct. But Rodney couldn't afford to be picky, especially with John soaking up more and more of his time.

"Do you want me to practice my jump sequences again?" Melanie asked.

"Yes." No matter which way he sliced it, losing the Weirs was going to hurt. "You'd better."

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Music: Friend Like Me -- Robin Williams, Aladdin soundtrack (yes, I'm well aware this song is evil in this context)

Comments

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

Now I'm no longer alone. All the moms will be with me in my angst!!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Rodney, in any incarnation, can be appallingly insensitive.

[tzzzz.livejournal.com]

That was really sweet! Sorry, I've been following this for a little while now and haven't been commenting. It's very hypocritical of me when I have my own long ongoing series to worry about people commenting on.

I love this whole thing. I like watching figure skating and I used to skate, but like Melanie, got out of it for lack of competitive drive. I was younger when I quit and not very good, but this whole little scene brought back memories and I just wanted to come out of lurking to let you know.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I like watching figure skating and I used to skate, but like Melanie, got out of it for lack of competitive drive. I was younger when I quit and not very good, but this whole little scene brought back memories and I just wanted to come out of lurking to let you know.

I think Elizabeth's driven enough to keep Melanie at it a little longer, but once she's a teenager? Goodbye skating, oh yeah.

[rellan.livejournal.com]

Oh Rodney. *facepalm*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Hee. I realize John doesn't see it coming, but Rodney doesn't see anything coming.

[mad_maudlin]

Or rather, Rodney sees everything coming--all at once--and evaluates them more on the degree to which they upset him rather than actual statistical likelyhood.

::pets him anyway::

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Rodney sees everything coming--all at once--and evaluates them more on the degree to which they upset him rather than actual statistical likelihood.

Oh, good point. Yes, you're right about that. You're going to write more Rodney for us, right?

[mad_maudlin]

More Rodney? Hmm. Let's see.

I wrote this, but I know you're not in Dr. Who fandom so it's probably not going to make sense.

This is John POV but Rodney's in it. And, I hope, reasonably IC.

This isn't so much Rodney as about Rodney, but I had fun writing Jack instead.

And there's this, which I have been told stands on its own, though personally I think it would help if you've read Alan Moore's Watchmen first.

That enough Rodney for you?

(Most of these have been posted on sga_flashfic already, but I don't know if you've been reading that between school and OoB.)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Heh. I haven't been reading much of anything between school and OoB.