Title: Hot Child
Author: Lazuli
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Lost is owned by that glorious bastard, J.J. Abrams. Love you, sugarplum.
Summary: A mercilessly hot day on the island inspires Shannon Rutherford to "take a day off". Swims, laziness, and hanging around the men of the island seem like a perfect way to pass the time. More importantly, she wants to know why Sayid has been avoiding her…
Chapter One
"….on the Beach"
"You know, if you keep smashing that coconut like it's a bloody chocolate Easter bunny, you're going to get the milk everywhere." Charlie said, lying on the beach with his eyes closed. Shannon just glared at him, and kept pounding away.
She HATED days like this.
Usually, the survivors would be hard at work moving debris around, creating shelter, or collecting food. It seemed like a routine, but it was accepted dutifully by everyone who felt bored or helpless enough to pitch in. Chances of rescue were getting slimmer each passing day, and it seemed necessary to all that basic needs had to be satiated. Shannon half-expected to see Jack or Kate run around a corner of trees, barking orders and balking at the apparent laziness that the sight before them would have held. However, the constant reminder that they were stuck on a tropical island had never been so strong as today. The sun was absolutely merciless, and it was a unanimous decision that everyone seek shelter under the large palm fronds in the jungle.
"Sticks." It was just a one-word sentence, yet she could hear the underlying message beneath it. Stop or else. Shannon gave up, heaving a woe begotten sigh, and flopped on her back next to Sawyer.
"I'm so freaking thirsty," she complained, shielding her eyes from the sun that peeked through the leaves of the trees, "and all you idiots ran out of water." Charlie lifted his head and rolled his eyes. Sawyer merely chuckled.
The three of them had been stationed in that particular spot for about four hours. While mostly everyone else had chosen to head towards the direction of the cave, the tired Shannon had dropped on the ground and firmly stated that she wasn't going anywhere until the damn sun went away. Charlie knew that his presence at the caves would be a distraction to Claire, so he had agreed to stay with her. Sawyer stayed because, as usual, Jack was pissing him off. And vice versa. So the trio had lounged about the shady part of the beach for the better half of the morning, intercut by Shannon bickering with Sawyer, and Charlie just snorting in amusement once in awhile.
"Why in the blue hell," Sawyer muttered, "didn't I get on a plane that was headed for the Mediterranean," Shannon peeked out from under her arm.
"Think about it," he continued, his eyes closed, "instead of being stuck on this piece of trash, we could have been up to our necks in pasta. Or in Italian wine. Or in dancin' ladies."
"Or in frescoes," Charlie sarcastically added.
"Or in Gucci," Shannon moaned sadly. Sawyer rolled on his side and looked at her.
"You fixin' to tell me that you'd prefer wearing a heap of dead cow skin over some of the finest culinary masterpieces in the world? Girl, I knew there was something off about you."
"I'm not up with the "dancing ladies", either, asshole." He laughed and rose to his feet, looking down at her with a classic smirk on his face.
"Well, since I've been denied that pleasure, darlin', you'll suffice." Shannon looked at him in disgust, and very politely, threw him the finger. Sawyer hooted, and grabbed her hand.
"I think I know one dirty girl who deserves to get her evil soul cleaned!" he shouted, and hauled a shrieking Shannon up. Holding her wrists while she squirmed and giggled, he kicked Charlie softly in the side, who looked absolutely affronted before realizing what the Southerner had in mind. A cheeky grin spread across his face and he leapt up to help. The two of them grabbed the twisting girl and hauled her off towards the ocean.
"DO IT, AND I'LL KILL YOU!" She screamed, laughing and fighting at the same time, "NO! SAWYER, let me GO! Charlie, Claire will dismember you!"
"What Claire don't know don't hurt her, love." Charlie announced apologetically, a twinkle in his eye, "Sorry, Shan. The man's a bastard, but he's a right good one."
"Hold your nose, Sticks!" Sawyer bellowed, and the two of them dunked her into the blue sea. She came up a moment later, sputtering with anger. The men stood at the edge of the shore, laughing and pointing. It only infuriated her more, and she dove towards them, pulling her unsuspecting tormentors into the water, making sure they both tripped and fell headfirst. As they came back up, she was ready with a huge splash, with earned them both even more water in their faces.
The three of them splashed around, unaware of their audience.
"Well, that's new," Michael commented, an eyebrow raised, "Sawyer getting along with other human beings?" Hurley picked up Shannon's coconut and bounced it on his knee.
"Don't think to much into it, dude. He's probably going to hoard them too." Michael laughed and turned back towards the jungle, where Kate, Jack, and Sayid emerged from, batting away branches and leaves.
"Next order of business," Jack said angrily, pulling leaves out of his shirt, and obligingly, out of Kate's hair, "…is making a damn path."
Kate flipped her hair over and ran her fingers through it several times, "You suggested it, Jack. Tell me when and where and I'm showing up." She flipped it back over and looked out to the sea, where a squeal had caught her by surprise, "Who is that?"
"Sawyer, Shannon, and Charlie have decided that the term 'work' need not apply to them," Michael responded dryly, picking up a couple branches to add to the kindling pile under his arm. Jack swore silently, looking more like a befuddled parent than group leader. He walked with Sayid to the edge of the shade, and looked out towards the three laughing people.
"And when your skin starts to peel off from all the third-degree sunburns you'll get, don't come crying to me," he yelled out. The splashing stopped as Shannon yelled truce.
"Face it, Jack," she yelled back, hands on her hips, living up to her "Princess" nickname, "Sun Hot. Water Cold. You're a doctor, you can figure it out." She then fell forward, cursing Charlie on the way down, "I said Truce, moron!" Jack sighed and turned to Sayid, ready to complain to one of the only other men he knew would act like an adult. However, he stopped short when he saw the expression on Sayid's face. Instead of the aggravated look that he expected to see, Sayid's mouth was twisted up into a wistful smile, his eyes focused on the scene below.
"Sayid!" Shannon yelled when she regained her balance, "Come play with me!" The water rippled around her bikini clad legs, and the sun added a golden tint to her mostly bare upper body, dripping with water. She looked, Jack admitted to himself, sensational. He diverted his gaze to the man beside him when he heard Sayid draw in a quick breath. The smile had disappeared, and in it's place, an intense and smoldering stare directed towards the laughing blonde. Jack looked at him, confused, and as soon as Sayid noticed he was under scrutiny, turned around and walked off, silently disappearing into the foliage behind him.
In the sea, Shannon frowned. He'd been doing that a lot lately, avoiding her when she said hello, or not coming to sit by her fire like he normally did. She would have chalked it off as irritation over their situation, but it just didn't….seem like him. They had held the promise of a great friendship, and she wasn't one who was used to men blowing her off. Shaking hair out of her head, she resolved to talk to him about it after.
After she gave Sawyer and Charlie a taste of their own medicine.
Author Notes:
So, it has started. My first "Lost" fanfic. If Sawyer and Charlie seem a little OOC, well, the heat's done stranger things to people. And for those whose head's exploded at the thought of a shirtless and wet Dom and Josh, chocolate and offers of firstborns may be included with reviews. Will update soon!