A/N: Right, this fic is adapted from Lost the Island RPG, where I play Kate, because it's such a fun thread that I decided everyone should read it (not least because Sawyer writes so damn well!) So...I can't take all the credit for this - much as I'd like to - because only about half of it was written by me. Ben and Jane are two original characters who are involved in this mini-fic, just so y'all know. The thread is still a WIP, and about four chapters' worth are already written. If you enjoy it, let me know and I'll post more! As always, reviews are a vital part of encouraging me to continue writing hint hint.
Kate dumped her bag by the computer as she sat down, wondering who she'd be sharing her shift with. She didn't really believe that anything would actually happen if the button didn't get pressed, but she didn't fancy taking her chances with it. Besides, Locke had trusted her with a duty, and it wasn't often she was trusted with anything. She wasn't going to screw this up.
Sawyer strolled into the hatch, tossing his backpack at the couch and moved into the computer room, where Kate had set herself up already.
'Well, lookee here. The two outcasts of the island serving time together. Savin' the world. That's got some big time irony goin' on. How is it that we never had a shift before now? I figure someone's been messin' with the schedule.' He smirked at her and moved over to look at the (mostly) blank screen. 'Lucky it don't take a rocket scientist to type in some random numbers and push a button, huh?'
Kate rolled her eyes as Sawyer sauntered into the hatch, his smirk firmly in place as he noticed her.
'Sawyer, if you don't want to be here, just say so. I'm sure I could find someone equally exasperating to fill your shift.'
Ben walked into the room on cue; he'd been eavesdropping on the last part of the conversation.
'I'll fill in for him,' Ben gave Sawyer a glare, knowing full well Sawyer hated him.
'No. Thanks for askin' Benjy. I think I got it covered,' he told him in a fake friendly voice. Damn it; trust that Ben guy to be stickin' his nose into things.
He moved into the living room and grabbed the only other swivel chair and brought it back into the computer room, turning it around so the back faced the front before straddling it.
'As for you Freckles...you find me exasperatin'? Well, I must be doin' somethin' right then. Maybe next time I'll pull your braids and push you in the mud.' Just like boys did when they were young and didn't know how to show a girl they liked them.
Ben walked into the pantry and came out with two chocolate bars, gave Kate one, and pointedly opened the other for himself.
'I'd have gotten you one, Sawyer, but I figured dogs don't like chocolate.' He left the room, his footsteps echoing across the floor.
Sawyer glared at Ben's retreating back, 'Excuse me? What's your problem? I'm a dog now? We got Vincent fillin' that role in the camp, case you didn't notice. You got some issue with me why don't you just spit it out, boy? And while you're at it, you could work on your insults. Oops I forgot, I stole your wit and charm, and now you want it back. My bad.' He wasn't gonna take this lyin' down.
Kate's eyes followed Ben out of the room, before turning to Sawyer.
'Okay, now even I'll admit that that was a bit harsh. And as for finding you exasperating, Sawyer...you know damn well that your aim in life is to irritate people. Don't sound so surprised when it actually works.'
The edge was taken off her words with a smile, both on her mouth and in her eyes, as she leaned back in her chair.
Sawyer's gaze flicked back to Kate's. This was not how this shift was supposed to go. He'd been looking forward to spending some time with her. Without having to have an excuse, neither. Now this clown was being all in his face with some vague grudge. Well at least he'd gone into the other room.
'That ain't my only goal, Freckles. But it's one that keeps my mind sharp. Long as I know I can get under your skin. Life's worth livin'.' He smiled back, with only a hint of smirk, only half joking.
Kate could sense Sawyer's frustration at Ben's presence; it was practically radiating off him, and she was willing to bet that it would show up on a radar scan of the hatch. She was annoyed as well; she hated always having to give a reason when she just wanted some alone time with Sawyer. She could really do with setting up one of those net traps, come to think of it; she knew that Sawyer would have no objection.
Mentally shaking thoughts of Sawyer and compromising positions out of her head, she looked back at him.
'Well, we've got about,' she glanced up at the timer, 'ninety-seven minutes to kill. Any suggestions?'
'I know what I've been dyin' to do...' Sawyer gave her a heated look, and then started stripping off his shirt. First he tugged the ends out, then unbuttoned a few of the top buttons, finally tugging the whole thing over his head in one smooth motion. He ran a few fingers through his unruly hair to tame it again.
He stood up and stretched lazily, totally comfortable with being shirtless in front of a gal. And then he gave Kate his most wicked smirk yet.
'...Take a shower.' He could just imagine what had been goin' on in her head before he'd told her the reason for strippin' off.
'Back in five,' he sauntered towards the living room where his pack was. But he turned back to her. 'Unless...you'd care to join me?' He was joking, knowing what her answer'd be, but couldn't resist saying it anyway.
All coherent thought fled Kate as she watched Sawyer unbutton and slip off his shirt. She had no idea how much conscious effort it took not to eye him up and down, and lick her lips in appreciation of his toned body.
As he mentioned a shower, she realised how hot and flushed she was, and how she could really do with one.
Regaining control of her voicebox, she managed to speak, 'Maybe later, Sawyer,' she teased back, knowing that she now needed the alone time to recover her thoughts, before he came back.
"See. Just enough to keep me on this mortal coil. You're learnin', sweetcheeks." His grin widened and he moved into the living room.
He mostly ignored Ben as he moved to rummage into his pack and get out one of the few towels he had in his possession, and a bag full of toiletries he'd hoarded. On second thoughts, he'd better take the whole damn pack in case Ben thought to get nosy and take some for himself.
He headed off to where the shower was, keen to clean up some and make himself more presentable. Weird how a hot shower suddenly became such a luxury that he almost felt giddy at the notion of steaming hot water running over his sweat-grimed skin instead of cold.
'Course he'd also be thinking about Kate and dreaming of the day when she made good on her 'maybe later'.