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mushroom-through-the-stargate · 1 year

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Operation : Protect Sheppard

John comes out as aromantic, and his team gathers around him in the most chaotically supportive way. (he's actually aro-ace, but they didn't get that far in the conversation)

aroace!John; coming out; the team loves john (platonically); and john loves them (platonically); and the team Will Fight You if u make john uncomfy

"so, like, you don't like when people make advances or what?" Ronan asked, as eloquent as ever. Teyla shot him a look, but John seemed fine to answer.

"I was actually looking stuff up when I first realized it back on Earth. I think the word is aromantic. I just don't... feel that way about anyone, and I don't want people to feel that way about me." he stuttered a bit, and his delivery was awkward, but his point was made.

AR-1 was taking the jumper home, and there was a thick tension in the air. John was scowling, and Rodney was going on a rant about how John is such a Kirk and he gets all the alien women. Teyla and Ronan could tell this was getting next to John, but they couldn't tell why until he slowed the jumper to a stop and jumped up into Rodney's face.

"I don't like that! I don't like any of it! can't you see how uncomfortable I am when something like that happens? I thought you were my friend, but you complain and backhandedly praise me for something I hate and have no control over!"

John looked furious, panicked, and relieved all at the same time. Rodney's face fell in shock and guilt.

"I'm sorry, John. I didn't mean- I didn't know- I'm just sorry."

"no, it's fine. I shouldn't have yelled at you." John seemed to relent at how upset Rodney was. the other two remained silent, unsure of what they could bring to the conversation.

"yes, you should have. me and my big mouth, I was being a terrible friend and I should have noticed that it made you uncomfortable."

"well, I appreciate that."

"so, like, you don't like when people make advances or what?" Ronan asked, as eloquent as ever. Teyla shot him a look, but John seemed fine to answer.

Rodney was deep in thought. "if you don't want people to feel that way about you either, why don't we set up a plan for when someone does try to hit on you?"

"like what?" John seemed very skeptical.

"you could claim you are already in a relationship, and then call one of us over to help with the lie," Teyla suggested. "as all three of us know that you are aromantic, we would be a safe alternative."

"I'm down," Ronan smiled. "I'd beat up anyone who tried something with my partner."

"of course you would," John made a face at him. "so what, I'd just yell I'M MARRIED and one of you would come running?"

Rodney scoffed. "you wouldn't have to yell, exactly. just subtly turn on your radio and say it normally."

"maybe add another codeword to tell us which one would be best." Teyla suggested.

John had scoffed at the idea, but the more he thought about it the more he realised it could work. he smiled at how much his friends loved him, however misguided that love may be. he sat back down in the driver's seat and the four of them ironed out what they affectionately referred to as "Operation : Protect Sheppard" all the way back to the gate. they silently agreed, however, to not speak of the plan in Atlantis, and let this be a private affair.

it only took two missions for a trial run of the plan to be necessary. a personal record, John thought frustratedly as yet another alien woman advanced upon him.

"what say you if we took this... somewhere more private?" the woman smiled at him, her hand uncomfortably on his shoulder. disguising it as him brushing his unruly hair from his face, John activated his earpiece.

"I say, I'm married." he stumbled. it was such an odd statement in his mouth, but it was the agreed upon codeword.

"Oh? and who is this woman who takes your heart?" she didn't seem to believe him. who would be good in this situation? Teyla would probably handle it tactfully, Ronan already admitted he would come in guns blazing, and Rodney would channel all his annoying aspects into one jealous rage. any of those options would be good right now, as he was already panicking.

"we hear you, John. Teyla's on her way." Rodney's voice crackled through the radio, and John silently thanked him for making the choice for him.

"she's an excellent diplomat, and an ambassador for her people," John stalled. he saw Teyla in the corner of his eye, and he held out a hand to her. "as a matter of fact, here's my darling wife now."

"I am Teyla Sheppard, nice to meet you." Teyla smiled, and extended her hand in greeting. John thought the last name was a nice touch, made it very believable. the woman who was previously flirting with him flashed a smile that was closer to a grimace and walked away. John sighed with relief and placed a load-bearing hand on Teyla's shoulder.

"thanks. you did good." he said, still looking stressed.

"was the last name too far?" Teyla asked. "I couldn't exactly ask first, and I didn't want her digging too deep into the lie-"

"no, no. it was a good touch."

that mission went well, much better than Ronan's turn. a rather pushy woman made John's discomfort scale crank all the way up to eleven, and he pulled out the big guns.

literally.

"I'm sure you're very lovely, but I'm married." John uttered the codeword, making sure his radio was on. he put emphasis on every word to make it clear who he wanted. "he's quite the big guy, you wouldn't want to mess with him."

"really? you want Ronan?" Rodney clarified, his voice dripping with disbelief.

"yup, my husband has certainly defeated his fair share of wraith. who knows what he'd do to someone trying to take his man?" John continued, getting more anxious the closer this woman crawled.

"alright, you do you. Ronan's on his way."

several long seconds later, John heard the thundering boom of heavy, running footsteps, and he knew that he was saved. a large arm scooped him away and held him close. Ronan's gun waved suspiciously over John's shoulder, and a very concerning smile was across the larger man's face.

"hi. I'm Ronan." he smiled, glancing at the gun. "this is John. he's mine."

John chuckled nervously, and the woman made a face at the two men.

"if he's taken, why was he so expressive with me?" the woman countered.

"he's a nice guy. he likes being nice."

"I was just being nice. I didn't mean to lead you on." John added. the woman rolled her eyes and walked away. so far, the plan was 100% successful.

"was the gun necessary?" John asked as Ronan holstered said gun and shrugged.

"yeah."

John gave him a look, and the two of them walked away to finish the mission they were there for.

now, as you would expect from getting comfortable using a system, there were a few false alarms. one such false alarm was on an infiltration mission, where John was sent into a party that had the possibility of Genii spies. as he surveyed the room from the bar, a woman seemed to seek him out and sat next to him.

"hi." she started.

"hi." John replied. he couldn't be rude, could he?

"I'm Linda."

"John Sheppard."

an awkward silence. how did Rodney ever make the mistake of believing he was good with people?

"it's quite busy here." Linda stated. oh dear.

"it is."

"a lot of people. where do they even find all these people?" she laughed.

"that is a good question."

"are you here with anyone?"

here it comes. "are you?" he deflected. he didn't want to have to call someone in if she was just making conversation.

"I asked first." she smirked.

alright, better safe than sorry. good thing that the radio was always on, so he didn't have to worry about activating it. "I'm married."

Linda's face twisted in confusion. "do you think I'm hitting on you?"

"you're not?"

"heavens, no! I'm just being nice!" Linda laughed again.

"oh, I guess it was a false alarm." John chuckled, putting a strange emphasis on the last two words hoping that Rodney would hear him and stay where he is.

"you don't have to worry about me," Linda started again. there was an odd familiarity about what she was saying. "I don't do that."

"what, flirt with married men?" John joked.

"flirt with anyone."

that's what's familiar about what she was saying.

"me, too!" John exclaimed excitedly. right as he was about to explain, Rodney ran up to them.

"stay away from my man!" he panted, having obviously ran the whole way there. John smiled at his friend, and turned to Linda.

"this is Rodney. as I was about to say before he heroically came to my aide, he's my friend who pretends to be my husband when I'm in uncomfortable situations. you must not have gotten the false alarm, sorry you had to run all the way over here."

Rodney looked very lost as Linda gasped.

"that's why you randomly said you were married?"

"it was our safe word." John nodded.

"is anyone going to fill me in?" Rodney kept looking between them, getting more confused and frustrated by the second.

"Linda here is in the same boat I am," John said carefully. "we were just... being nice to each other. I got a little nervous, but turns out I had nothing to worry about."

"Oh. thats good, I guess." Rodney mumbled.

"would you like to join us?" John asked, picking up on his friends awkwardness. Rodney nodded, and the three of them sat and chatted for a while. of course, John had to hop up when his target arrived. they were there on a job, after all.

#stargate #stargate atlantis #stargate atlantis fic #sga fanfic #mushroom fic #aroace!john sheppard #john sheppard #teyla emmagan #rodney mckay #ronan dex #platonic ar1 love #aroace #most of the tags up top come from stick #bc idk how to do that lol

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