sometimes the dust settles
Title: sometimes the dust settles
Fandom: LOST
Characters: Esau and Jacob
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 331
Summary: Even Jacob and Esau have to be human once in a while. (written for lostfichallenge , prompt - regret)
He finds him sprawled on the floor of the cave, fists entangled in his hair, praying or mourning or suffocating, by the sound of it. "Jacob?"
The blond head snaps up, gasping sobs falling silent. Jacob scrapes a dusty sleeve across his face, and a muddy line smears down his chin. "What are you doing here?"
Esau rubs a hand over the back of his neck, mouth opening and closing, swallowing, before he can manage to say, "I wanted to help."
Jacob ignores the offered hand and drags himself off the ground. Esau watches on as he picks up the body. But the defiant glare falters, the elbows twitch, and Esau flinches as the dead man tumbles. Jacob curses.
Esau approaches and blue eyes blink, pale eyelashes flutter nervously as he slides his fingers over Jacob's shoulder. "Please. Let me help."
Jacob exhales slowly, his back rising and falling heavily under Esau's palm. He nods.
Together they lay the man to rest. His head trembles in Jacob's hands as he slips it gently onto the stone. When the task is finished, they sit at the cave entrance, shoulders pressed together. Their quiet breathing echoes through the darkness.
Esau chews on his lip as he peers at Jacob. He can't even remember what it was like before, before the fighting, but still he can't stand those eyes, faded blue that stares emptily into the distance, scratching its way into whatever's left of a monster's heart. He sighs. "I'm sorry, Jacob."
Jacob laughs, a soft, wet, muffled sort of sound. "The one thing that's my fault and you're sorry?"
Any other day Esau would have struck him across the face, but today he says, "Yes."
Jacob closes his eyes and leans his head on Esau's shoulder. "I wish..."
There are too many things to wish for, things they can never fix no matter how many centuries they spend running around scheming and blaming. He presses his forehead against Jacob's damp hair.
"Me too."
Fandom: LOST
Characters: Esau and Jacob
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 331
Summary: Even Jacob and Esau have to be human once in a while. (written for lostfichallenge , prompt - regret)
He finds him sprawled on the floor of the cave, fists entangled in his hair, praying or mourning or suffocating, by the sound of it. "Jacob?"
The blond head snaps up, gasping sobs falling silent. Jacob scrapes a dusty sleeve across his face, and a muddy line smears down his chin. "What are you doing here?"
Esau rubs a hand over the back of his neck, mouth opening and closing, swallowing, before he can manage to say, "I wanted to help."
Jacob ignores the offered hand and drags himself off the ground. Esau watches on as he picks up the body. But the defiant glare falters, the elbows twitch, and Esau flinches as the dead man tumbles. Jacob curses.
Esau approaches and blue eyes blink, pale eyelashes flutter nervously as he slides his fingers over Jacob's shoulder. "Please. Let me help."
Jacob exhales slowly, his back rising and falling heavily under Esau's palm. He nods.
Together they lay the man to rest. His head trembles in Jacob's hands as he slips it gently onto the stone. When the task is finished, they sit at the cave entrance, shoulders pressed together. Their quiet breathing echoes through the darkness.
Esau chews on his lip as he peers at Jacob. He can't even remember what it was like before, before the fighting, but still he can't stand those eyes, faded blue that stares emptily into the distance, scratching its way into whatever's left of a monster's heart. He sighs. "I'm sorry, Jacob."
Jacob laughs, a soft, wet, muffled sort of sound. "The one thing that's my fault and you're sorry?"
Any other day Esau would have struck him across the face, but today he says, "Yes."
Jacob closes his eyes and leans his head on Esau's shoulder. "I wish..."
There are too many things to wish for, things they can never fix no matter how many centuries they spend running around scheming and blaming. He presses his forehead against Jacob's damp hair.
"Me too."