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2 Seconds Later

A pilot. The guy was a pilot. He drove a black sport's car. And he had that classic 'rakish' look to him. Suddenly, Rodney was certain that he was never going to be able to watch another Tom Cruise movie without imagining John as the hero.

He was also sure that there was no way that John could be interested in him. Guys like that didn't date astrophysicists. However, they also didn't sleep with astrophysicists, and John had already done that one.

Hmm.

"What's wrong with being a flight instructor?" Rodney's date asked, his wrinkled forehead giving him a cutely confused look.

The side of Rodney's lips quirked up. "You don't even realize it, do you? Let me just say this: I'm willing to bet dinner that your favorite movie is Top Gun."

That familiar, cocky smirk was back in an instant. "Then you'd lose that bet, but since I'm already taking care of this dinner, we'll just have to go out again so I can collect my winnings."

"What!" Rodney jerked back in his seat. "If that's not your favorite movie, then what is?"

"If you want to know that one, we have to have dinner a few more times, as that is clearly a third date question."

"And how exactly is that a third date question?"

"Look, Rodney," John threw his arm over the back of his seat, "if you want to know the intimate details of my life, you're going to have to get closer to me."

Rodney tried to make his expression as dull as possible, making sure to hide how the promise in that sentence excited him. "Only if you give me back my sunglasses."

A serious expression settled on John's face as he leaned forward, clearly trying to prove to Rodney that he was sincere. "Is that what it would take for you to give us a try?"

"No. First, I want to know why you want to keep them so badly."

"They're yours."

The scientist couldn't keep his goofy smile hidden at that revelation, even if he'd wanted to. But after taking a moment to enjoy this new information, he collected himself, "Yes, well…I choose the next restaurant. And we really have to do something about your dog barking in the middle of my shows; I can only imagine how annoying it's going to be when he's sitting right next to us on the couch. Oh, and we're going to have to decide who gets the sunglasses. Since they were originally mine, I think I should have priority, though if you're willing to argue that your possession of them the last few years has given you a substantial claim…"

John interrupted, "I'm sure we'll be able to negotiate a joint custody agreement so that we both get what we want."

"Oh? And what is it that you want?"

"You."

-end-