AU-Verse 4

Working For Scale

by Mystic

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asm/mystic/auvers04.php
Summary: He had gotten himself in some tight situations before, but this was going to be the crown achievement; that is if he lived long enough to tell anyone about it.
Info: Special thanks to: Lorraine for her inspiration in the idea of compiling the mini-au ideas into one series and her beta assistance. Also to Admiral Q O for her timely beta help as well.

Okay, he had gotten himself in some tight situations before, but this was going to be the crown achievement; that is if he lived long enough to tell anyone about it. He pulled his long legs in tight in his little hiding spot as he listened to the screams of the men he foolishly contracted with to seek out and dispense with the creature that dwelled in this cave; his new prison soon to be coffin.

He looked mature to the average human, for elves aged differently than humans, and he, Johnolonshegolis of Sheppard's Hill of the East Elven Nation, (John Sheppard to his human friends) appeared to be in his early thirties. The fact that he was not close to a hundred, when most Elves are considered adults, meant nothing to him or the humans he liked to consort with. They let him try his wings per se and make his own decisions and try his hand at his learned skills as they developed. It didn't matter to him if his parents disapproved, but since they were too...noble, to mingle with humans, he didn't have to worry about them following him; he was seriously regretting that fact right about now.

Hot and cold mist filled the large cavern, the ground still rumbling beneath him as the sound of clashing metal and screams slowly began to dwindle down and he wasn't foolish enough...anymore...to think it was because the dozen knights that had hired him for his stealth and ability to track, had won against the creature. My word, had he realized he was seeking a DRAGON'S lair, he'd have turned the job down so fast, their heads would have spun and their horses would have left dizzy. But the promise of wealth, that which he could have proven to his father once and for all, that he was indeed capable of taking care of himself, regardless of Elven tradition, blinded him in his questions of what his task entailed. So here he was, trapped in a cave with the large blue dragon, a very ticked off large blue dragon, hiding in hopes of finding some way of getting out of this mess alive.

The quiet was more frightful than the sound of men screaming of being either frozen or scolded by the sky-colored dragon's breath, or being tossed around like children by its large tail. John didn't even want to think about its teeth and claws. Slowly, he peeked out from his hiding spot, grateful for the little bit of magic his mother had taught him. It wouldn't last long, but being invisible was his only advantage against such a large and vicious creature. He had heard many tales of dragons, enough to know you didn't go up against one and seriously believed you would live to tell the tale...seeing one this close was reason enough for him to really know why. The cave floor, which held large amounts of gold, silver and other treasures, also now held the scattered remains of the knights that he had accompanied here. He was glad they left the horses outside, though there was a good possibility they have already run off or been eaten. Dragons were known to have large appetites, so he was told.

John scouted the area toward the entrance and was disheartened to notice it had been collapsed. The low level of light that was allowing him to see came from up above. The dragon would simply lift off and fly to come and go. Elven magic could be very powerful, but it required a lot of studying and John liked to be free over burying his head in books and scrolls. He regretted that he never learned a fly spell, for it would sure make his life, as short as the prospect of it currently being, much easier. As it was, he'd have to wait until the dragon either left...hope....hope...or slept in the back of the large cavern.

"Come out! I know you are here, I can smell you, Elf!" the dragon roared.

John blinked, more in shock that the dragon spoke, than it knowing he was about. He never heard of such creatures being able to speak, but then again, he never asked or sought out information on them either. But a dragon that could talk, could think and therefore possibly be reasoned with, John thought. His father being a thief, or collector of rare goods, taught him a few tricks. Throwing his voice to make him sound like he was in another area was one that would come in handy at the moment, and he mentally thanked his father for teaching him this skill that could very well save his life.

"No, I don't think so," John said. "I have no interest in being part of your supper, good dragon."

The dragon snorted white mist from its large nostrils. "Eat you? I am a SKY DRAGON, I do NOT eat mammals much less something as bony and scrawny as Elves. Now...thief, for your lacking presence tells me you are no warrior..."

"Hey! I am very capable of kicking butt and taking names, I just happen to know when and when to not do so. Going up against a dragon is for the blindly brave, moronically stupid, or the suicidal," John replied offended.

"Well, then that makes you moronically stupid, as you won't come out, you didn't try to fight me, that leaves the one option," the dragon growled.

"Look, to be honest, I didn't know they wanted a dragon. They only hired me to find an entrance into the cavern. I did..." John began.

"Let me guess, you saw all the shiny metal and sparkling stones and lost track of time," the dragon snapped.

"Well, sort of...yes," John confessed. "But I haven't taken anything," John adds quickly, for he recalled that dragons could smell items from their horde miles away. "Look, how about you let me leave and we call it a draw?"

"A draw?" the dragon snarled. "You led those tin cans into my home, where they try to kill me...ME, one of the greatest minds this world will EVER know, and I'm supposed to let you just...walk out?"

"Well, since you put it that way....er....yes?" John said, hoping beyond hope he might live to regret this day. He didn't expect to hear the dragon laugh, and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"I don't think so," the dragon said.

Okay, bad thing. John sighed, thinking hard. "Okay, what if I make it up to you somehow?"

"Make it up to me? Just how do you suggest YOU make it up to me for these HUMANS attempting to kill me, and messing up my home?"

John peeked from his hiding spot and saw the, he could admit it to himself, beautiful sky dragon, sitting on its haunches arms folded over its sky blue scaled chest. "Um, I could bring you more...stuff?" he suggested.

"I have what I need and am quite capable of getting what I need on my own, try again," the dragon said.

John figured that having the dragon at least consider his offer and not tearing his cave apart to find him was a good start. "I'm sure there is something I can offer you in exchange for my life. I just need a moment to think about it," John said, hoping he could come up with something and fast.

"Fine, you think, I'm thirsty," the dragon said and then growled deep in its throat and this captured John's attention. To John's surprise the dragon began to glow a light blue then was surrounded by white mist. When it dissipated there stood a stocky male, human in appearance. The only thing that let John know it was actually the dragon was the bright sky blue eyes. "You have until sunset to come up with something or I'll fill this cavern with a fog so thick you won't be able to move and so cold you'll be frozen to the spot. That or I'll turn up the heat and make it a scolding mist, but I don't care for the smell of burnt flesh," the human-dragon said.

John looked at the man, not quite as tall as he, but with broad shoulders and large hands, and a crooked mouth and smiled. In a strange way he was appealing. Then he smiled more for he had an idea; bizarre but it was something he was sure the dragon didn't have, or so he hoped. "If I come out, will you promise not to harm me, at least until sunset, so we can discuss my living?"

The dragon now human, looked familiar in his gesture of folding his human arms, covered in a sky blue tunic and matching pants, and glared in no particular direction. "I promise so long as you don't try to escape or try to harm me. I don't particularly care for violence, but I will NOT let anyone harm me. Understand?"

"Fair enough," John said, his throat was a bit sore from throwing his voice so much. He then carefully undid his spell and crawled out of his hiding spot, for what he had in mind depended a lot on how this dragon reacted to him in person. He slowly made his way around the large piles of gold and gems to stand about twenty feet from the human form of the dragon. "Hey!"

The dragon tilted his head as if taking in his appearance. "It was probably the hair that led these humans to think you were an idiot. What kind of spell do you use to get your hair that way?"

"Hey, most folks like the hair," John grinned.

"Whatever. Come on, I'm hungry and afterwards, YOU are cleaning up this mess!" he indicated the dead bodies.

"Hey, you're finding use for me already," John smiled.

"It's only getting you lunch, not your life, so don't push it," the dragon snarled, his human crooked mouth curling up slightly.

"By the way my name is Johnolonshegolis of Sheppard's Hill of the East Elven Nation..." seeing the wind eyes turned on him, he grinned. "Most humans and other races, call me John Sheppard. John will do. And you are?"

"You couldn't pronounce my real name," the man said. "But I've adopted a human name when I'm out there TRYING to educate you and the other monkeys."

"Oh...kay," John drawled, not wanting to correct the dragon in that Elves were not primates. "So, what is it?"

"Grand Wizard Rodney McKay, you can call me Grand Wizard," Rodney smirked as he turned and headed back farther in his cave.

"Nice to meet you, Rodney," John smiled, pleased by the sour look Rodney gave him with the intimate address. He could tell by the light from the cave entrance above that he didn't have too much time. It seemed lunch for dragons was close to an early dinner for Elves. "So, Grand Wizard, huh? You know that name does sound a bit familiar."

"It should, you said you were from the East Elven Nation. About ten years ago, I aided them when a large group of orcs tried to descend upon the valley," Rodney said over his shoulder as he navigated his cavern with practiced ease until he got to a small door that only his human form could enter or exit. He waved his hand and the door opened for him and he entered what appeared to be the inside of a quaint cottage, minus the windows or exit door.

"Yes! That was something. I heard that many of the high council were beside themselves when you supplied them with a plan instead of new spells," John said, eyeing the quaint home like place. He spotted Rodney going to what looked like a typical stove and with a wave of his hand fire sparked from it and started heating a kettle.

"They expected ME to do their job," Rodney snapped. "How are they supposed to learn if everything is done for them? I gave them the perfect solution, but it would be up to them to execute it. As it was, they fumbled it."

"But we won," John said, seeing Rodney pull down two tea mugs from a cabinet. Had he not known that this McKay was a dragon, he could easily forget with such human mundane surroundings.

"Yes and you lost two thirds of your military in the process. Had they LISTENED to what they were told in the beginning it would have been closer to one-eighth. But no scales off my back if they want to throw their people away like that," Rodney said as he moved and poured the tea water into the mugs, the colored water showing he had the tea leaves inside the kettle. He then handed John a mug before moving and reaching into a barrel of water that contained fresh fish...salmon. He pulled two out and tossed them in a pan and into the oven. He then moved and grabbed some berries and placed them and his tea mug on the table and sat down and began to pick at the berries.

John figured he might as well sit, so did so, not too surprised there was only one additional chair in what passed for the kitchen. "Nice place," he smiled.

"Cut the small talk and talk. Once you finish your tea, go clean that mess up. But them by the collapsed stones I'll remove them later," Rodney said with a mouth full of berries.

"Okay...but I'm curious, why do you have this..." he gestured to the cottage setting, "and all that out there? I mean, if you have all that, why...this?"

"I like this," Rodney said defensively. "And though it's none of your business, but I need all THAT..." he pointed out the door to his horde, "because I like to have SEX and female dragons are VERY snooty. They seem to think that having a large horde means good things for their offspring. Where that foolish notion came from I can't begin to tell you. As it is, a portion goes to the hatchling if there is one. You done your tea yet?"

John chuckled, "No, but it's very good Elven spice. I haven't had this good in a long time."

"I like Elven foods, they digest well," Rodney said.

"Do you also like...elves?" John asked, his eyes bright, his smile charming.

"Some. Usually those that don't try to steal from me or lead murderers to my doorstep," Rodney replied, shoving the remaining one third of the berries toward John to eat.

"Well, this is going to sound very....brash, but have you ever had...sex with an elf?" John inquired.

Rodney's eyes went impossibly wide, his sky blue eyes staring at John for his boldness. "What kind of question is that?"

"A good one, if you please. You're in a human male form...a nice looking one by the way, and I just wondered. You said you LIKED sex and since you've indicated the female of YOUR species is...difficult, I wondered if you've tried others," John said, slowly reaching out and picking up a berry and eating is as sensuously as he could and was pleased to notice Rodney watching his mouth.

"Well, I've found females to be difficult regardless of species. It's got to be gender thing," Rodney replied.

"Have you tried...males?" John smirked, letting the heat of desire fill his hazel eyes.

"Um...well...no," Rodney said with a stutter that John found adorable.

"Then perhaps there IS something I can do for you after all," John beamed, arching his eye brows in a playful way.

"Wait, you're saying you'll have SEX with me, if I let you live?" Rodney said, a mix of indignation and surprise.

"Sure, why not? You're cute for a human. Nice large hands," he smiled with a leer in his eyes. "I happen to like human males for my bed partners..."

Rodney jumped to his feet and for a moment, John believed he made a huge mistake. Then Rodney took the bowl of berries and tea mug from John. "Go clean up," he snapped and went about straightening up the kitchen, ignoring John all together.

John figured this wasn't a flat 'no', and so he got up to do as requested, hoping to either think of something else or that Rodney would accept his offer. By the looks of the man it would be no hardship to John. He could easily imagine being in between those muscular thighs or feeling the power behind them if Rodney would....he shook his head. He had to focus on his task at hand. He was also glad he hadn't eaten so much, for his job was a lot more difficult than he first thought. He was just glad he chose not to sleep with any of these men, for that really would have made things awkward.

When he was done he entered the kitchen and spotted a wash bowl, a pitcher of heated water and soap. Next to it were some towels and a change of cloths, fine black silk top and pants, with just a trace of sliver lining the hem and sleeves. John smirked for surely Rodney wasn't going to waste such fine cloth on a dead elf, right? He looked and didn't see him, and figured he had gone father into the cottage like cave or had left when John was not paying attention. John didn't want to push his luck too much, so went into the corner and stripped of his stained clothes and washed himself thoroughly, then dried himself and dressed.

The smell of fish filled the air and John moved and carefully opened the oven. The fish were baking, but they looked so plain sitting in the pan like that. His mother insisted that he knew how to cook as well as other things needed to care for oneself. She said she had a feeling John wouldn't marry a women any time soon....she was right about that! John looked around the kitchen area and found vegetables and fruit and spices he was familiar with and set about fixing a seasoning and glaze and then applied it to the fish. He then went about making some side dishes; enough for two just in case.

"What are you doing?" Rodney asked sometime later when he entered the kitchen and saw the table set up for two people to dine.

"Ah...fixing dinner?" John said, trying to sound relaxed and calm.

Rodney sniffed. "What did you do? I had fish cooking."

"You still do. I just...glazed it..."

"Glaze I'm sensitive to certain foods!" Rodney snapped.

"Well, I figured you wouldn't have anything in YOUR kitchen that was bad for you," John snapped right back.

"Well, one can't be sure and that's a big assumption on your part. Who even said you were invited?" Rodney asked as he slumped into the chair he had occupied earlier.

"Well, I really didn't think you'd have me wash up and change into these very nice clothes to shred them or freeze them or what not," John said over his shoulder as he turned to stir one of his pots.

"Another assumption," Rodney muttered.

John laughed. "Here taste this," he said offering the wooden spoon out for Rodney to taste.

"What is it?" Rodney inquired as he got up and smelled the offering.

"What does it taste like?" John asked.

Rodney tasted the offering with a tiny nibble, then his eyes beamed, "Elven potatoes!"

"Been a while I see," John grinned, pleased that Rodney liked his cooking. "My mother's recipe."

"She's a good cook then," Rodney nodded with approval, going to see what else was cooking. He reached to sample what looked like spice pudding only to get his hand smacked. "Hey!"

"That's dessert," John huffed.

"You do know whose hand you just smacked right?" Rodney growled, his eyes giving off a pout instead of the glare he probably meant to give.

"Yes, my over anxious dinner companion's," John smiled. He then reached out and took Rodney's hand and kissed where he had smacked it. "There all better."

Rodney glared as he took his hand back. "I'm hungry!"

"Good, dinner will be done in a minute. Go wash up," John ordered.

"You know, for someone whose life is literally in my hands, you're awfully pushy," Rodney growled as he went to get washed up.

John couldn't help but chuckle, for Rodney was quite the character. He then went about serving dinner and placed the last bit out when Rodney returned. "Well, hope you don't mind, but if this is going to be my last night in this world, I'm having dinner too," he said as he took a seat having served himself as well.

"Fine, fine," Rodney said as he sat and began to eat.

John stopped in mid chew as the sounds Rodney was making were almost obscene. He couldn't help but associate them with something a man would normally do when engaged in sex. "You like?"

"Not bad," Rodney said as he nodded and ate more.

John smiled and continued his own meal. It was pretty good if he did say himself. He wasn't even halfway done when Rodney leaned back finished everything but dessert, which wasn't served yet. "You want dessert now?" he asked, not minding having not finished his own dinner, for he was pleased to see Rodney enjoy the meal.

"Not just yet," Rodney said, patting his stomach.

"I was concerned you'd still be hungry. After all, large dragon, large appetite," John smiled.

"If I were in dragon form, you'd be correct. But things taste different in that form and I've also gotten use to this form over the years. Also makes it easier to collect food. After all in dragon form, it would take several barrels of fish to fill me and I don't feel like diving for them today," Rodney replied, looking sated from his meal.

"Well, I'm glad I could be of service."

"Yes, speaking of service, I've thought about your offer," Rodney said looking nervous.

"And?" John encouraged.

"Ten years," Rodney said flatly.

"What?" John asked, not following.

"Ten years of service...to me, and then you'd be free to go about your life," Rodney replied.

"Ten...YEARS? I figured a night or two...five tops, but ten years?" John gasped.

"Well, though the...um...sex...would be....um...it's not necessary. You cook, clean and help me out. In exchange you get not only your life, but I'll even give you a dowry to help you out, and of course you'd benefit from my knowledge, which in truth you should be paying ME for," Rodney replied.

"Ten..." John felt shocked by this revelation. "Can I ah...think about it?"

"You have an hour, then it's sunset. I'd hate to harm you after you've been so...nice, but I'm a dragon of my word and it wouldn't do for word to get out I went back on it. And before you even try it, it would get out. Besides, you're an elf, what's ten years to you?"

"But ten years in this cave..." John looked around and was feeling enclosed.

Rodney snorted, "I said you'd be my helper. That means you go with me when I go. If it's a short distance my magic will take us, if too far or magic can not penetrate that area we'd fly..."

"Fly? You mean up in the sky?" John asked, his heart speeding up in excitement at the idea.

"I'm a SKY dragon of course up in the sky. Where else would I fly; the ocean? Though I can swim, that's not the point," Rodney huffed.

"What...ah, what makes you so sure I wouldn't try to run off?" John asked, for if he's out in the world, it was possible to escape.

"Two things," Rodney said. "One, you would give your word. Second, since you are a thief to a degree, to be assured, know that I could find you where ever you went and I'd hunt you down and...well, let's say you wouldn't like what I'd do. You'd plead for death. I might even hand you over to the red dragons...they like to PLAY with their victims and they DO eat mammals."

"Okay, I ah...get it," John said, as he nodded. He then sat back and thought about his situation. Ten years, learning at the side of a Grand Wizard or death? Ten years with Rodney traveling the land...flying or death? Ten years... "What about sex?"

Rodney looked flustered. "I said I wouldn't make you..." he began.

John reached out and caressed the back of Rodney's hand. "But what if I WANT to?" he purred.

"Um...well...I wouldn't be...ah...opposed to the idea. I just ah...never thought or I should say I've never..." Rodney stuttered then clamped his mouth shut.

John beamed; he liked the idea of being the first to this long-lived and sexy being. "Well, I have some practice I'm sure I can teach you," he purred as he got up from his chair and moved around the table and straddled Rodney's lap. He was pleased to feel that Rodney was human in all the right ways. "Lesson one," he said and leaned in and kissed Rodney slow and sensual.

John may have been with men before, but he'd never met anyone that could kiss like Rodney. It was sensual, hot, intimate, all encompassing and John felt he couldn't get enough of his mouth. If not for the need for air, he wouldn't stop. "Wow," he panted.

Rodney beamed with pride at melting the elf in his lap with but a kiss. "Well, I have been around for a while," he bragged.

"Does this place have a real bed?" John asked, more than ready to get this show started.

"Does this mean you're accepting the deal?" Rodney asked, licking his lips in hope.

"If you make me feel this way with just a kiss, I'm not sure I'll survive ten years, but I'm sure as heck willing to find out," he grinned.

John was leaning in for another kiss when there was a popping noise that startled him. He looked around as did Rodney and there on the table was a glowing scroll. "What the..."

"Not now," Rodney growled and grabbed the scroll and opened it. "I swear the dragon council would be lost without me," he snarled. He then looked at John longingly. "I'm afraid this will have to wait. I have to go see the council."

"Oh, um...okay," John said, feeling disappointed at not being able to be with Rodney right now. But Rodney was probably very busy if he posed as a Grand Wizard, not to mention whatever else dragons did. He slid from Rodney's lap. "Well, then I ah...hang here."

Rodney licked his lips. "Well, it might be a few days as I have to fly there so...um...want to come with me?"

"Fly and meet other dragons?" John asked, partially scared and excited at the same time.

"Yes. We'd have to pack some things for you as it does get cold up there, though my magic can keep you warm somewhat. Plus you'd need food and other clothing...and..."

"Won't the other dragons...um...I don't know eat me or something?" John asked.

"No! First off, you're under MY protection and second, I'm an elder of my clan and I'm also a powerful mage, I'm allowed a familiar should I want one!" Rodney snapped, offended on behalf of his kind.

"Familiar?" John asked, arching a brow.

"Well, if humans and elves can have felines and birds and other small creatures, why can't I have an elf? You are small compared to me...the real me," Rodney corrected seeing John eye his human form. "Plus, it's not like you don't get anything out of it. You get protected. You get an inside view of dragon kind and access to our knowledge." Rodney didn't say there could be other benefits, as he hadn't actually made John his familiar. But should this turn out good, he'd officially offer it. The expanded life and perpetual youth during his expanded life would probably be appealing to the sexy elf. "If you're going we need to get going," Rodney said moving off to gather what looked like an empty backpack. "Here."

"What should I put in it?" John asked.

"It's a magic bag of holding. Just name the item you want and if it's in there it'll appear. There is a month's worth of rations in there. Water, juice, wine and other items to help you along, such as clothes and blankets and a fur or two," Rodney explained

"Fur?"

Rodney sighed. "One never knows what one needs, now let's go," he said and with a wave of his hand, the fire in the stove was out and the light in the room was gone. He then walked out and after John departed he closed and magically locked the door. "I'll go over there. Once I've changed back to my true form, I'll help you up. I've only given a person a ride once or twice, and they informed me that hugging around my neck and holding onto the thicker scales was the most secure. Also, I'd put that bag at your side so you can keep one hand on me at all times...just in case."

"Just in case of what?" John asked as he watched Rodney move out into the vast cavern and chanted something and changed back into the huge sky blue dragon.

"In case you fall," Rodney snapped as he shifted down and held out a claw for John to climb on too.

John hesitated for a moment for this was the last thing he'd pictured happening this morning when he'd left from home. But life was strange and he wanted adventure, what better than traveling with a dragon that liked you and you liked as well? He moved onto the large claw and balanced himself as it rose upward. He then shifted onto the back of Rodney's neck and found the nitch Rodney was referring to. He then slung the backpack like a satchel then held on tightly. "Okay!"

Suddenly he was rising up, up, and then he was outside and the stars greeted him as did the chill in the air, but John was too excited to care abut such trivial things. He was flying! He looked around and saw the land below bathed in moonlight and fell in love with it there and then. "This is great!" he shouted.

"Put a fur on, you're shaking," Rodney growled, his voice filtering back as he traveled what almost seemed effortlessly through the night sky.

John called up a fur and carefully wrapped it around him and was glad to see it had ties, so he could secure it and still maintain a hold. He also noticed Rodney's scales turned a dark blue to match the night sky...no wonder no one ever saw his kind...perfect camouflage. "I guess this is the beginning!" he shouted.

"The beginning of what?" Rodney asked.

"A beautiful friendship?" John smiled.

Rodney snorted and a cloudy mist came from his nostrils, the air around John warmed in the process. "It's the beginning of something alright. Hang tight!" Rodney said and with one large flap of his large wings, he soared higher into the night sky.

The stars were like jewels in the heavens and though John grieved the loss of the men who had died in their foolish attempt to steal Rodney's treasure or perhaps simply seeking a name for themselves, John was glad he'd accepted this path. He knew with each mile he flew with Rodney he wasn't going to be anywhere else but by his side...ten years or 310 years. He'd found his place and he couldn't be happier. He also could feel that Rodney was glad for his presence as well...yep, it was the beginning for something alright...something beautiful!

THE END