Reading Between the Lines
by Dreamality
Even more drabbles based on Confidence Man.
Disclaimer: Lost and all related characters, settings, plots, etc. belong to J.J. Abrams and ABC. I claim no ownership and make no money from this venture.
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Tortured Soul (Sayid POV)
"I think you've never actually tortured anybody in your life."
"Unfortunately for us both, you're wrong."
Sayid was in his element now, and it pained him more than words could express to recognize it.
As Jack tried once more to reason with him, as he tried once more to let Sawyer do the right thing, Sayid's muscles quivered with anticipation. This was his territory, and as soon as Jack stepped away he stepped in to take over.
Jack knew compassion. As a doctor, that was his expertise. Sayid knew the opposite. He wished it weren't so. He wished he didn't have to be the one to suggest to Jack that they force the answers out of Sawyer.
His hand gripped the handle of the hunting knife. It was not a weapon he was as familiar with, but he had been trained well in his area, his art of communication, and he knew what to do with it. The bamboo stalks were not familiar, either, but similar enough to reeds that he knew what to do with those as well. His dark eyes met Sawyer's light ones, and for a moment he saw weakness there.
Then Sawyer realized Sayid's intentions. Sawyer's gaze hardened. Sayid's was granite. He grasped Sawyer's hands. The bamboo was as effective as the reeds, he discovered as he dug the sharpened points into Sawyer's tender nail beds.
The anguished cries of the breaking man tore through Sayid's resolve. Yes, it was unfortunate for them both, because as much as Sawyer did not be the one in his position, Sayid regretted even more being the man in his position.
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Caress (Sayid POV)
"Where is it?"
Sayid murmurs the words into Sawyer's hair. His mouth is close enough to the scalp to kiss it, to caress it with his lips. The irony that Sayid should think of such a tender act even as he commits these acts of brutality is enough to make him want to laugh, but he doesn't.
He doesn't, because he is a trained military communications officer. This is not the time to laugh. Nor is it the time for thinking of caressing anything on Sawyer with any part on his own person. It is not that Sayid is attracted to Sawyer. Rather he sees in Sawyer the deficiency that makes him a hostile person. It makes Sayid sad to see how tiny an impact love has played in Sawyer's part. He feels sure that if Sawyer just had the experience of loving something other than himself or of caring for someone beyond what he could gain from them, Sawyer would not be in this position.
However, when Sawyer speaks Kate's name and a look comes into his eyes that tells no lies about his feelings for the woman, all sympathy dissolves from Sayid.
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Learning to Love (Sawyer POV)
"You're really gonna let that girl suffocate 'cause you can't bring yourself to give me one little kiss."
Sawyer is calculating, manipulative, and an all-around con man. He knows how to charm them or guilt them into bed, and either way works fine for him. This banter with Kate is no different, besides the fact that he is tied to a tree and bleeding and in pain.
As soon as the words drop from his mouth their impact is seen in Kate's eyes. He watches the internal debate that lasts right up until she's kneeling in front of him, close enough for him to inhale her every exhale. He can see the emotions waging war on each other and the moment one triumphed, Sawyer saw it and barely restrained a smug smile.
Kate was just another woman for him to conquer. Another one to break. It was no different than with Jess or any of the women before her. Sure, Kate didn't have a rich husband for him to profit from, but who needed money on an island? She did have other assets, though, that Sawyer could definitely benefit from.
The gap between Sawyer's mouth and Kate's mouth was bridged gradually. Kate was hesitant, which Sawyer expected. What caught him by surprise was how, once he was actually immersed in the kiss, he wasn't thinking about what he was going to gain from it. It had been so long since he'd kissed a woman just for the sake of kissing her that he didn't know how to react. For a moment he was confused and almost pulled away until he realized just how good it felt. He didn't have to think about his next move or worry about her husband barging in. He didn't have to plan ahead and think about how to go beyond getting in her pants and get into her wallet.
Maybe Sawyer did have something to gain from Kate after all. This, however, had nothing to do with assets, whether financial or physical. It had everything to do with learning what love felt like all over again.
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To Be Continued…