One Sweet Moment
Author: KevsGrrl
Spoilers: LATP 1,2 & 3
Summery: Just a little "what they where thinking" piece during the last scene of LATP3: The Maltease Crichton
Notes: Many Great thanks to my Beta reader, and her wonderful suggestions for a title!
Category: Romance
Aeryn Sun was frelling terrified. She had, of course, been this afraid before; but only momentarily. Her Peacekeeper-bred response to emotion always pushed the fear aside immediately. But not this time. This time she was going to feel, going to act on emotion. Somewhere she realized that John had noticed her move and was turning towards her, but she couldn't see beyond her outstretched arm, her hand shakily but determinedly holding something out to him. She knew her sheer terror at these unfamiliar emotions was playing across her face, all the while threatening to take her over and send her running. Steadying herself, she began walking towards him, knowing full well that he could read the fear in her eyes.
Idly, she wondered if he had realized exactly what she was offering here.
He did.
When Aeryn didn't respond to his last statement as he had expected her to, he had waited patiently for her to lash out at him. She always had, even if it was to just completely ignore him, her own unacknowledged fears that he would leave her taking over her as usual.
Wondering why she hadn't said anything, John slowly turned around and was surprised to see her standing, one arm stretched out to him and holding something he couldn't quite believe, a look of absolute fear on her beautiful face.
He moved towards her slowly, leaning his arms on the open hatch of the Farscape module, inside which he stood. He knew it wasn't fear of rejection that etched her face, as it would have his; she knew his heart, he would never dare to. Could never dare.
With a suddenness he realized that she was afraid of herself, of what she was feeling. And the emotions flowing through him at the thought were almost to much to process.
When she reached him he gently took the bottle from her, an "are you sure" look almost pouring from him. When she let go he saw her hand clench and relax as she fought with herself. Without hesitation he opened the small bottle and touched the drop of amber liquid easily to his tongue, returned it to the bottle to collect a drop for her, and held it out to her, watching the emotions play across her face.
Time ceased to exist for Aeryn. It moved slowly but not at all; she couldn't remember how she made it to John and at the same time felt as though the years were slipping away under her fingers. She watched him take the bottle from her easily; recognition, acceptance, and something not readily identifiable to her passed in his eyes. Again she found that she had not processed his actions as he now held the drop of amber liquid out to her.
She scanned his face and paused momentarily as fear once again threatened to consume her. She shoved it aside, not to quiet her emotions this time, but to focus on what she was feeling for the man standing in front of her. Holding onto it like a lifeline, she opened her mouth and let him drop the chemical onto her tongue. As he leaned towards her she pushed everything aside but him, pleading that he understood her.
He did
He knew the sacrifice of her own pride that she was making here by letting her emotions run free, allowing herself to become vulnerable. She was opening up her soul to him in this one offer, that by tradition, was casual. On the Royal planet it was done to be done; there was nothing else to do. Here and now the small bottle said so much more. Simplistic and somehow complex in one; the surface question of compatibility was sheltering more intense meanings in it's depths.
And John knew.
He knew what she was offering him, and he knew he would not push this, or her. The fact that she offered him this when she would not even consider it with anyone else, no matter how casual, spoke volumes to John. He leaned in closer to her, watching her push the last remnants of fear aside, and lightly touched his tongue to hers.
Of course he didn't expect anything, the first tentative touch was only to activate the solution. There was a slight pause, and time seemed to stand still as he looked at her, accepting all that she was giving him here and giving nothing but himself in return.
There was no hesitation as they met each other in the kiss, sliding tongues together and activating the chemical which, John had to admit, was not at the top of his priority list as he first tasted and felt things purely Aeryn. The next was a jolt as a heavy, sweet taste flooded his mouth, making him only want to kiss her all the more. As if compromising they pulled away, neither speaking, both unsure of what to say.
Aeryn was shocked into an almost apathetic state as she looked at John, pressing her lips together and savoring the sweet aftertaste in her mouth. Not sure of what to do, what to say, she just turned around somewhat stiffly and let the knowledge sink in; Sweet, like nothing she'd ever tasted before. And although it hadn't been her prime objective, it was a pleasant addition to the relief of finally facing her feelings for this man. Softly letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, she wondered at herself in amazement as the corner's of her mouth tugged into a small smile, and her eyes filled with the tears of an emotion she had rarely had the pleasure of sharing. Joy.
Not wanting to push things, wanting to let him think, absorb (and grudgingly wanting for herself the same), Aeryn slowly made her way to her room for some much needed rest.
Had she turned around she would've seen the same expression of joy and wonder on John's face; and the same tears in his eyes.
And he would be there waiting.
As long as it takes.