Start Spreading the News

by Raisintorte

"Come on Rodney! We are going to be late. Just put the f-ing shirt on and let's go!" John picked up the t-shirt Rodney had just tossed on the floor and shoved it back at him.

Rodney took the shirt and held it between his thumb and pointer finger. "You have got to be kidding me! I am not wearing this . . . thing!" Rodney sneered at the shirt with distaste and dropped it on the floor.

"Do we really have to go over this again? It is Atlantis's first gay pride parade since the end of DADT, and the military and scientific head of the expedition, we have to be there. Wearing appropriate attire." John pointed to himself, trying to emphasize the fact he was wearing the exact, same, ridiculous, shirt.

"This is insane! Why are we even having this parade again?"

"It's unifying! ‘When we celebrate our individualities as a group and become closer.'" Rodney rolled his eyes as John was talking. "Fine! Okay, it's a dumb idea, but Elizabeth wants it to happen, and what the lady wants, the lady gets. And as the most prominently gay couple on Atlantis she kinda expects us to set an example."

"Yes, and I do believe we are the most prominently gay couple because of you. I mean whose idea was it to come out to everyone in the Gateroom? Not mine!"

"I was drugged!"

"Right." Rodney crossed his arms over his chest and glared at John.

"You cannot still be upset with me about this! I was high on the Pegasus version of magic mushrooms. It was the drugs, not me!. Oh, that's good, Rodney. Roll your eyes at me. Fine! You're right, I outed us on purpose. I wanted to be the Big Gay Colonel in charge of Atlantis!" John threw his hands flamboyantly in the air and mock pranced around the room.

"You know what McKay? We are done fighting. You are going to put on your pretty pink gay pride shirt, and you are going to buck up. Then you are going to get your delectable little tushy out of this room and we are going to march in that parade! Why? Because it's what we do!" John walked over to Rodney, picking the shirt up again along the way, and pulled it down over Rodney's head.

"Ow! Stop it, don't bruise the merchandise! I'll put the stupid shirt on. Who designed these things anyway?" Rodney finished pulling the shirt on, looking down at the ridiculous design of a Pegasus with glittery wings flying proud in front of a triangle.

John smirked. "Who do you think?"

"I'm going to kill Lorne."

"You can kill him later! Let's go big boy. Time to make our official debut as the King and Queen of Atlantis." John slapped Rodney on the ass as he walked by him.

Rodney jumped a bit and scowled. "Wouldn't we technically be Queen and Queen?"

"Nope. Only one of us here is a Queen, and it's not me." John leered at Rodney and waved his hand over the sensor to open the door.

He grabbed Rodney's hand and dragged him out the door into the hallway.

"Seriously John, are we really going to prance around the halls of a 10,000 year old city chanting we're here, we're queer?"

"Yes, we are. And you are going to enjoy it!"

"When did you become Mr. Gay Pride? Even after the infamous Gateroom outing, you were all about keeping our relationship on the down low. Now you're suddenly ready to go declare your sexuality loud and proud?" Rodney stopped in the middle of the hall and gave John a questioning look.

"Yup! Now shut up and let's go." John bounced on the balls of his feet and headed down the hall, dragging Rodney along with him.

When he reached the last doorway before the Gateroom John waved his hand over the sensor and pushed Rodney through first. Rodney looked like he was about to turn around and yell at John when there was a loud shout.

"Surprise!"

Rodney jumped back into the hallway. John peered over his shoulder and saw almost the entire population of Atlantis was gathered in the Gateroom. There was a big sign hung over the Stargate that read "Congratulations Dr. McKay!"

Elizabeth walked up to John and Rodney, struggling in vain to keep a straight face as she stared at Rodney's shirt (John had taken his off while Rodney was distracted by the shouting). "Congratulations Rodney! We just received word through the Stargate that you've been awarded the Nobel Prize!"

"What? Really? It's about time . . . and oh my god," Rodney whirled around to face John and started poking him, "You let me come to what is likely to be my only prize celebration wearing this shirt? John Sheppard I will never forgive you for this. Never. Years from now when we are back on Earth and I'm interviewed about how I learned about my award, I am NOT going to tell people I was wearing matching pink gay pride shirt with my boyfriend! We are doing this over! Do you hear me?" It was then Rodney realized that John had taken off his pink pride shirt and his face started turning an unnatural shade of red. "That's it buster! You are dead. Do you hear me? Dead!"

Rodney started flailing his arms at John and John stopped him by wrapping his arms around Rodney. Rodney faltered for a moment when John pulled him in close and then stopped completely when John dropped a kiss on his forehead. "You did it Rodney! How about we celebrate now and you kill me later?"

Rodney wrapped his arms around John and squeezed. "Fine! But don't think this is over. Not by a long shot." Rodney gave John one more squeeze and headed into the crowd to celebrate.

John stood back and watched him disappear into the crowd of well wishers.

Lorne walked over and clapped John on the back and smirked. "Didn't think you would actually go through with it, Sir."

"Well, I did! Now I do believe the terms of the bet were you giving Dr. Beckett and Dr. McKay the rest of their flying lessons, and go with them when they want to practice. Yup, I think whatever ‘punishment' McKay deals out cannot be worse than flying with Dr. Beckett! Enjoy!"

And with that John waded into the crowd to help Rodney celebrate.