|
|
|
|
Title: Dark Charlie’s head rolled on the log he was using as a head rest as he yawned and stretched in the sand. “Nah, I’m good.” He jerked his leg back again when his pants got too warm from the fire, but otherwise he obviously intended to remain where he was, dozing again. “Afraid of the dark?” Sawyer snorted. “With good reason,” Boone shot back, eyes scanning the tree line. Shannon rolled her eyes at both of them as she shifted off the log and pressed against Charlie, her head resting on his shoulder. Charlie blinked at her with sleepy eyes before nodding off again. "Or you can embrace it. Let it protect you from what you don't want to see," Sayid murmured, more to himself than the others. He tore his eyes away from Charlie and stared into the fire. “That’s an interesting way of putting it,” Kate replied just as softly, her head tilted at him curiously. Sawyer clapped his hands loudly to shake the sand loose and Sayid didn’t see Charlie, he wasn’t looking, but he felt Charlie jump as he was startled awake again. “Well, enjoy the slumber party kids.” The rest of the group muttered unpleasantly under their breath until Sawyer’s jaunty whistling faded out to black. Charlie and Shannon continued to doze in and out as the others talked softly around them and one by one they finally dispersed from the fire to their makeshift beds. When the only other ones remaining were Kate and Sayid, she put her stick down and stood arching her back. “You should get some sleep if you plan on hiking that far in tomorrow,” she said, nudging the map they’d drawn in the sand. “You need the rest.” Sayid nodded, rigidly avoiding any glances toward the other two curled together on the other side of the fire. “You too. Sleep well.” Kate watched him disappear into the darkness before shuffling around the fire and accidentally kicking Charlie in the shin on purpose. His head jerked up and he blinked rapidly as he glanced around. She felt a twinge of remorse and leaned over to squeeze his shoulder. “Sorry.” “’S alright.” He tugged his arm out from under Shannon as he rubbed his eyes. “Wha—where…” “Bed,” Kate replied, the tightness in her chest easing as he struggled to his feet. *** Sayid was exhausted and wearily kicked off his shoes and dingy shorts inside the little shelter. He burrowed down into the groove already made by their weight in the pile of foam core and leaves, flicking his arm out to fan the thin blanket along his legs. He was nodding off before it fluttered over him and he blinked at the glaring sun. He shielded his eyes as best he could and watched Charlie flop down beside Claire, his head on her thigh and ear to her belly and she laughed at something he said. Shannon laughed too, rolling on top of Charlie and pinning him down while Claire pulled out a bottle of polish she'd foraged from someone's luggage and painted his nails metallic blue. Sayid saw the top of Charlie’s white gold head buried among tan thighs and arms and his fingers itched to rake through it. Pull him free and— Charlie moaned against his neck when Sayid tugged too hard. Sayid’s eyes opened and he felt more than saw a form crouched over him. Fingers still tangled in Charlie’s hair, his other hand swept over Charlie’s hip to confirm he was naked, skin still warm from the fire but starting to shiver. “Warm me up again?” Charlie whispered, his voice cracking a little desperately when he added, “please?” Sayid pushed him back a little and lifted the edge of the blanket for Charlie to slide under, rolling them over so he was completely covered by Sayid’s larger body. Charlie’s lean frame writhed underneath him, eager hands and hot mouth promising so much in return. Sayid buried his head in Charlie’s shoulder, afraid even the pitch black night couldn’t hide the abject relief written all over his face.
Fin |