fic: Secrets Kept
Secrets Kept
Pairing: Jack/Boone
Fandom: Lost
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2200
Spoilers: up to Confidence Man (1.08)
Warnings: there might be a swear word in there, hot boys kissing. It's mild.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned LOST, that would be sweeeeet. But of course, I don’t.
Summary: He never thought space and secrets would bring them closer together, but apparently that’s what happened.
“You’re staying at the beach?” Boone jumps. He didn’t hear Jack come up behind him; he should probably work on that. He turns and gives Jack a small smile.
“Yeah, Shannon doesn’t want to go to the caves. The caves freak her out.” Boone responds. Jack softly nods; he stares at the ground for a second, before looking back in Boone’s eyes. Jack gives Boone a tight smile, like something is bothering him.
“That’s good.” That’s good? What is Boone a leper? Boone thinks, but it actually comes out as: “Why is that good? You don’t like me anymore?”
Boone meant to say it with humour and charisma, but instead it comes out a little needy and pathetic, as per usual. Boone tries to be cool, and fails.
But Jack humors him with a small laugh, or maybe he’s laughing at Boone.
“No, I just need someone I can trust to let me know how everyone at the beach is doing,” Jack offers. Boone isn’t sure why he wouldn’t ask Kate, but he’s not going to say anything. Jack trusts him, and he’s not going to wreck that the way he ruins everything else, like trying to save Joanna.
Jack is looking at Boone with an odd look on his face, maybe he is waiting for a reply. Boone decides saying less would be better, instead of rambling and looking like a fool.
“Oh, okay,” Boone replies, and yeah, maybe a few more words should have been said. But Jack pats him on the shoulder, says goodbye and heads for his new home, at the caves.
If Jack actually needed Boone, no doubt Boone would go to the caves. But Boone knows Jack can handle himself, Jack is pretty much one of the only people on this island that can.
Shannon did need Boone (not that she would say it), but now she is getting close to Sayid, and Boone is the odd one out.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Truth is Jack is glad Boone is staying at the beach. Not because he doesn’t want Boone around, but Jack could use the space.
He likes Boone, he does, but that’s the problem.
Boone seems to want to be the hero, throw himself in the way of danger. Luckily, this is one thing Boone fails at and Jack is thankful.
Boone doesn’t know what he is getting into, being the hero, being a leader, isn’t all what it’s cut out to be. It’s lonely, and some people resent the leaders, which just makes it lonelier.
But Jack respects Boone staying behind to be with Shannon, its sweet and shows that he is a great brother. Of course, Jack already knew that. You don’t go digging in Sawyer’s shit, and take a beating from Sawyer, unless it’s worth it.
If they weren’t on this island, things might be different, easier, but they are on the island. And Jack has been somehow appointed the leader.
He doesn’t hate it, he just wishes he could have one day off, where he could sit in the sand all day and relax, without dealing with the others, the black smoke or any other crazy things.
Boone can still have that, and Jack wants to keep it that way. Boone may not be a kid, but on this island, he is not nearly as savvy as Locke or even Kate, and Jack has to watch out for him, keep Boone safe.
Sometimes, well, most of the time, when he sees Locke and Boone going into the woods, he wonders what’s really going on. Because they aren’t bringing back any boar, that’s for sure.
But he knows John Locke is too self-righteous and faithful to do anything with Boone, at least Jack hopes this. More than that, he hopes John isn’t on some suicide mission and John’s faith won’t get Boone killed.
And it might be best if Boone was with him at the caves, but it’s not Jack’s choice.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Jack is usually one of the first ones up, and one of the last to go to sleep. Sleep has never been high on his priority list, even back in Los Angeles.
When he gets up, he immediately reaches for his water bottle. But it’s there’s barely a sip left, and he is very glad there is a fresh source of water a few meters away.
He slowly pulls himself up, and brings the water bottle to the mini-waterfall, and is pretty surprised to see Boone kneeling over the edge, filling his bottle.
“Hey,” Jack greets him; Boone is probably heading out to meet Locke. Boone turns and puts the cap on his bottle. His eyes are bright and he has a smile on, even though it’s pretty early to be perky.
“Oh hi, Jack,” Boone whispers, looking around, and everyone else is still asleep. “Hope I didn’t wake you.”
“Nah, I couldn’t even hear you, I just need some water,” As the words come out of Jack’s mouth, his throat gets dryer and he leans down beside Boone, and fills his water bottle, full to the top.
Boone wipes excess water of the bottle with his shirt, Jack doesn’t mean to but he watches as Boone’s shirt rises, and tan skin is shown. When the shirt falls back, he turns his head away. Jack licks his lips and then takes a long sip from the water bottle. He rests the bottle on the rocky ground while he twists the cap back on.
Boone is watching him, and Jack really wishes for something a lot stronger than water.
It’s quiet, besides a few people snoring, and Jack and Boone are close enough that their knees are touching. Jack could reach out and pull Boone closer, and kiss him, but he won’t.
Boone suddenly stands up, Jack follows suit, because his legs are cramping a little.
“Well, I gotta go, see you later Jack,” Boone grabs his backpack, which was off to the side, and sets the water in it, and swings it onto his shoulder.
“You and Locke going to hunt boar?” Jack asks with a hint of doubt. But Boone just smiles and nods.
“Yeah, it’s been pretty scarce lately, but maybe today’s the day,” Boone explains, and it’s hard to look into his perfect blue eyes and think he is lying. But Jack is almost sure Boone is lying.
It’s pretty early for a confrontation, but Jack is sick of being lied to, and not knowing why he is being lied to.
“What are you guys really doing? Cause I know Locke, if he wanted to get boar, we would be eating boar.” Jack states, Boone seems to waver for a moment, but he collects himself.
“We can’t find any boar, we have been looking, but-“
“Enough. Stop lying and just tell me what you guys are doing out there.” Jack demands, and a lesser man might have caved, or maybe Jack only thinks he is that intimidating. But Boone just takes a step closer, so that their faces are inches apart.
“Why do you have to know? What John and I are doing has absolutely nothing to do with you.” Boone blurts out. Jack shakes his head in anger. A few people are starting to roll around, and a couple are waking up, so Boone takes a step back.
“So, I was right. You aren’t hunting.” It’s not a question, but Boone answers it anyways.
“Yeah, you’re right. Congrats. Later, Jack,” Boone turns without another word and walks off into the jungle.
Jack doesn’t really know what to think, except when they get back, he is going to have a talk with John Locke.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Jack sees them, walking from the woods, it’s pretty dark, but he sees them alright.
Locke and Boone stop at the edge and Boone rests his hand on John’s shoulder, and says something to the effect of ‘see you later’. And Boone glances at Jack, hardens his gaze before quickly looking away and walking back to the beach.
Locke walks over to any empty spot on the ground, takes out a water bottle, and dumps a little on his hands. He puts the bottle down and rubs the water over his hands to get the dirt off.
Jack stalks over to where Locke is sitting and takes a seat across from him. Locke glimpses at Jack.
“Something I can help you with, Jack?” Locke asks exhaustion evident in his voice.
“Boone told me.” Jack states, hoping to trap Locke into saying what they are really doing out there.
“Told you what?” But Locke doesn’t. It must be something really secretive, and the only thing Jack can come up with is a secret affair of some sort. The thought of it drives him insane.
“You’re not hunting boar out there.”
“Oh?” It seems that’s all Locke is doing to say, he is being very elusive, and that just makes Jack’s suspicions stronger.
“If I find out you and Boone are having sex, I will-“
“What? Jack, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?” The shock in John’s voice is sincere, and there’s even disgust in his tone. Maybe Jack is wrong, but then what are they doing?
“Then what is it? Just tell me.” Jack wants to yell, but other people are near and some are even sleeping, so he turns the volume down a few notches.
“Jack, we’re not hunting boar, and we certainly aren’t doing...that. It’s not a big deal; it has nothing to do with you. You have you secrets, now let us have ours.” He’s not asking, and Jack’s not complaining.
For once, being wrong was a good thing. He should really find Boone and apologize for thinking that. Maybe he can catch up with him.
“Alright, John. I can’t say I am happy about it, but for now, you can have your secrets. I’ll talk to you later.” Jack stands and heads in the direction Boone went.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
By the time Jack reaches Boone, he is back at the beach. He goes to the shelter he remembers as Boone’s. Thank god, Boone is in there alone, and he doesn’t have to say this with Shannon around.
He feels a little awkward, so he knocks on one of the wooden poles holding the tent up.
“What?” Boone snaps. His eyes are closed, and he finally opens them when Jack stands beside him. “Oh, sorry, thought you were Shannon trying to annoy me. What’s up Jack?”
Jack kneels beside Boone, and takes a mental breath.
“Yeah, hey, I’m sorry about earlier. I thought- well, I’m sorry.” Jack watches Boone waiting for a reaction, but Boone’s eyes are blank. Then he says a small ‘oh’ and obviously remembers their last encounter.
“No man, it’s okay. I was just grumpy, I’m not an early riser, and it’s tough to get used to.” Boone casually replies, and Jack thinks that’s it. Maybe he won’t have to say what he was thinking, and get embarrassed, leading to a confession of certain feelings and a rejection.
“Wait, what did you think? I’m curious.” Boone questions, and Jack laughs.
“This is going to sound ridiculous, but I thought you and Locke were, you know, doing it or something.” Boone laughs out loud, and Jack kind of wants to bury his head in the sand. Boone must notice.
“Sorry, it’s just I can’t believe it worked.”
“What worked?”
“I was trying to make you think that, get you angry, and see if you would, well, get jealous.” Boone lays it out there, and it’s weird, because Jack was expecting to make the first move, or say it first.
“Am I freaking you out? You can leave. I didn’t expect you to feel the same. Um, dude, say something. Please.” Boone is tapping his fingers on his thighs, Jack reaches out a hand to stop him. Then he lets go, and runs a hand down Boone’s cheek. Boone’s eyes are shining, either with unshed tears or just widened in surprise. It doesn’t really matter.
He presses his lips to Boone’s and it’s a little awkward, Jack’s never really done this with a guy before. Just as he starts to pull away, Boone wraps his arms around Jack’s back, bringing them closer together, and making Jack straddle Boone.
And now he can feel the difference, Boone putting his whole body into the kiss and their tongues fighting for dominance.
There’s a cough, and Boone quickly pushes Jack of himself. Jack looks, and Shannon is standing there, looking quite impressed.
“Wow, never thought you would have the guts, Boone, I’ll leave you two alone.” Shannon turns on her heels and walks off. Jack clears his throat.
“Is she going to tell anyone?” Not that it would be that bad, but if Sawyer were to find out, Jack would never hear the end of it.
“No, she won’t. I have something much worse on her and if she were to tell anyone, her life would get a little worse. Everyone has secrets, and I think this thing with you is the best one. ”
Jack laughs, and realizes John was right, secrets can be good.