LOST: John Locke/Helen
Fandom: LOST
Pairing: John Locke/Helen
Theme Set: Gamma
Title: Forgiven
Rating: PG-13
Cold
The damn heater’s out (it always is) so she tugs at her sweater impatiently, but smirks a little at the man who finally, finally, gives it to poor Francine.
Drink
She introduces herself with a crack about his kidney because she’s too old for games and if he tells her to go to hell at least it was worth it, but when he says it was funny, they stop at a diner.
Candle
In her apartment she lights a candle that smells like vanilla, and while he works up the nerve she kisses him hard in the flickering light.
Gravity
His hands find her waist but it’s hers that pull them together, everything else spinning away as they collide and clothes fall to the floor.
Red
With eyes, then hands, she traces the incision, fingers skimming his roughened skin, then raises her eyes and kisses his lips without saying a word.
Midnight
He watches her sleep and strokes her hair; it’s quiet and beautiful and the most perfect moment he’s ever had.
Fire
Camping was never her favorite thing, but it’s not so bad when she’s in his arms curled up next to the fire.
Strength
When her mother dies he is there, by her side for days on end with a reassuring hand tucked gently around her arm.
Dance
He apologizes for the hundredth time because he’s never really danced though he thought they should; she raises her eyebrows and informs him she guessed as much and it’s fine, but if he’s going to step on her toes, he should try to follow the beat.
Music
Swaying together with feet firmly planted, she lays her head on his shoulder and it isn’t so bad.
Promise
He pockets the key as a wordless vow, slips it in his coat and kisses lips that turn to a hopeful smile.
Temptation
He slips from the bed in the dead of night, and when the key catches in the moonlight, he feels a twinge of guilt, but moves to his car.
View
He knows how to park to watch the house, to see through the tall, imposing gate and scan the windows for figures inside; he’s squinting at shadows when she hits the car.
Search
When she finds him there, his eyes widen in surprise, but disappointment fills her heart because the search had been all too easy.
Overwhelmed
The keys are yanked out of the car and thrown over the fence by her shaking hands; he’s too surprised to do more than stare, torn between the two while gripping metal bars in his hands.
Unknown
It’s a leap of faith, she tells him, and he’s just scared of the road ahead; it’s true he’s not sure but he still takes her hand.
Forgotten
As John climbs in the car he sees her, beautiful, waiting for him in the first rays of sun; the gates and the locks (keys and all) are left behind.
Laugh
She notes his worried expression in the bathroom mirror and laughingly kisses his cheek while telling him not to worry because, “I told you I liked bald guys.”
Sacred
Helen makes him laugh with sarcastic charm, leaving nothing sacred but the one promise he would try and fail to keep.
Breathe
In the silence of the night, she pulls herself close and watches him, always careful not to stir, his chest rising and falling, heart beating close to hers.
Whisper
“I love you,” she sighs, but she only says it when she’s sure he’s asleep; she’s scared he won’t say it back, or that maybe he will and something will change.
Forever
He knows he’ll marry her, decides during a weekend spent high in the mountains where they can see forever through the crystal sky.
Memory
She does crossword puzzles, but only while he’s around because she knows when she needs a medieval word for catapult, he’ll know that it’s trebuchet.
Highway
“John,” she says, her patience wearing thin, “if you don’t get rid of that ridiculous car, I’ll drive it down the highway to somewhere you’ll never find and give the keys to a little old lady who actually fits inside!”
Lock
She’s matter-of-fact with a smirk on her lips and her palm stretched out so he pulls the key from the lock and allows her to drive.
Hurricane
She watches the weather channel religiously and he finds he likes all her quirks.
Talent
She says he has a talent for knowing just when dinner is ready and timing his appearance to coincide; he innocently asks if that isn’t the way it’s supposed to be, but helps with the dishes when the meal is done.
Ring
He bought the ring long before, hid the box and made sure it sparkled, smiles to himself when he thinks of her face and knows exactly what he’ll say.
Formal
“Yes - fella,” he says while smiling to himself at her amused reaction; maybe it’s not formal, but it’s who he is and he’s too happy to care.
Eclipse
He didn’t see her expression change when she first read the name, but she watched joy disappear as soon as he learned; darkness clouded his eyes and he was abandoned again.
Farewells
She hated that man more than John could know; he may have buried his father with a sense of forgiveness, but she laid him to rest with bitter relief.
World
He couldn’t tell her their world was upside down, broken, spinning, and all they built would tumble and change because his father was alive and he was too weak to keep his promise.
Mask
She buries her head on his shoulder because there’s something in his eyes she just doesn’t trust, something she doesn’t want to see.
Lies
He promises it’s over, that she’s all that matters to him; she forces a smile and whispers, “I know,” and hopes it’s the truth.
Cover
He meant to keep her from this, to shield her from the lies he told, then reflects with self-hate that he is his father’s child and destiny isn’t kind.
Run
Something inside her breaks when she realizes he made his choice and she doesn’t want to fight this anymore; if she walked away it would be too easy to turn back, so she runs and won’t let herself look behind.
Hope
Fumbling and desperate, he pulls out the ring and chokes out the words, repeats them silently as she pulls away.
Fall
He stands there alone, left with the feeling that he’s taken the leap of faith and stepped over the edge with his hand in hers, but she was the one that he let fall.
Hero
In the old black and whites, the hero gets the girl and money comes in labeled bags; in the real world it ends when they all drive away.
Fever
It’s burning hot and voices blur when everything starts to spin; with Helen above him and hell below he thinks that this is the end, and days later he’s sorry to learn it wasn’t real.
Silk
She would have worn silk for their wedding, crème colored and flowing with her hair done up and face framed with curls; he knows because it’s what he sees when he closes his eyes and what he dreams when he finally sleeps.
Ice
Let them think it was ice that caused it, a wintertime accident or maybe a driver on a cell; she’s gone and the truth doesn’t matter to him anymore.
Box
“And this, Mr. Locke, is where you’ll control inventory for the Southwest region of the…” but he’s not listening, realizing he can’t tell Helen that the hum of the lights in this cell reminds him of the hospital, and she can’t laughingly say that at least there’s no jello.
Silence
He comes home to an empty apartment where he sips cheap beer and eats a frozen meal alone, the drone of the TV filling his ears until late at night; he can’t stand the silence.
Wait
He talks to Helen alone in his room, chatters on about all the good things (as many as there are) rarely stopping; he doesn’t need to wait for an answer that will never come.
Dream
In the night he feels her hands gripping his back and her tongue on his skin, but when he wakes he’s alone and he feels so small.
Talk
Hidden by shadows and filled with shame, he removes a worn leather wallet from his pants and slips out a credit card late at night; he dials the phone needing to hear a voice - any voice - on the end of the line, but somehow he’s disappointed when it isn’t hers.
Journey
He booked two tickets, but boards the flight by himself with the second stuffed angrily inside his bag.
Wings
As the plane starts to shake, he remembers Helen saying that things without wings should stay on the ground and things without legs should stay in the sea; he wonders which fate is meant for him.
Body
Her laughter rings in his ears and her voice bids him to wake, to feel sand and heat and a blessed shot of shocking pain; all he can think is he must be forgiven.
Pairing: John Locke/Helen
Theme Set: Gamma
Title: Forgiven
Rating: PG-13
Cold
The damn heater’s out (it always is) so she tugs at her sweater impatiently, but smirks a little at the man who finally, finally, gives it to poor Francine.
Drink
She introduces herself with a crack about his kidney because she’s too old for games and if he tells her to go to hell at least it was worth it, but when he says it was funny, they stop at a diner.
Candle
In her apartment she lights a candle that smells like vanilla, and while he works up the nerve she kisses him hard in the flickering light.
Gravity
His hands find her waist but it’s hers that pull them together, everything else spinning away as they collide and clothes fall to the floor.
Red
With eyes, then hands, she traces the incision, fingers skimming his roughened skin, then raises her eyes and kisses his lips without saying a word.
Midnight
He watches her sleep and strokes her hair; it’s quiet and beautiful and the most perfect moment he’s ever had.
Fire
Camping was never her favorite thing, but it’s not so bad when she’s in his arms curled up next to the fire.
Strength
When her mother dies he is there, by her side for days on end with a reassuring hand tucked gently around her arm.
Dance
He apologizes for the hundredth time because he’s never really danced though he thought they should; she raises her eyebrows and informs him she guessed as much and it’s fine, but if he’s going to step on her toes, he should try to follow the beat.
Music
Swaying together with feet firmly planted, she lays her head on his shoulder and it isn’t so bad.
Promise
He pockets the key as a wordless vow, slips it in his coat and kisses lips that turn to a hopeful smile.
Temptation
He slips from the bed in the dead of night, and when the key catches in the moonlight, he feels a twinge of guilt, but moves to his car.
View
He knows how to park to watch the house, to see through the tall, imposing gate and scan the windows for figures inside; he’s squinting at shadows when she hits the car.
Search
When she finds him there, his eyes widen in surprise, but disappointment fills her heart because the search had been all too easy.
Overwhelmed
The keys are yanked out of the car and thrown over the fence by her shaking hands; he’s too surprised to do more than stare, torn between the two while gripping metal bars in his hands.
Unknown
It’s a leap of faith, she tells him, and he’s just scared of the road ahead; it’s true he’s not sure but he still takes her hand.
Forgotten
As John climbs in the car he sees her, beautiful, waiting for him in the first rays of sun; the gates and the locks (keys and all) are left behind.
Laugh
She notes his worried expression in the bathroom mirror and laughingly kisses his cheek while telling him not to worry because, “I told you I liked bald guys.”
Sacred
Helen makes him laugh with sarcastic charm, leaving nothing sacred but the one promise he would try and fail to keep.
Breathe
In the silence of the night, she pulls herself close and watches him, always careful not to stir, his chest rising and falling, heart beating close to hers.
Whisper
“I love you,” she sighs, but she only says it when she’s sure he’s asleep; she’s scared he won’t say it back, or that maybe he will and something will change.
Forever
He knows he’ll marry her, decides during a weekend spent high in the mountains where they can see forever through the crystal sky.
Memory
She does crossword puzzles, but only while he’s around because she knows when she needs a medieval word for catapult, he’ll know that it’s trebuchet.
Highway
“John,” she says, her patience wearing thin, “if you don’t get rid of that ridiculous car, I’ll drive it down the highway to somewhere you’ll never find and give the keys to a little old lady who actually fits inside!”
Lock
She’s matter-of-fact with a smirk on her lips and her palm stretched out so he pulls the key from the lock and allows her to drive.
Hurricane
She watches the weather channel religiously and he finds he likes all her quirks.
Talent
She says he has a talent for knowing just when dinner is ready and timing his appearance to coincide; he innocently asks if that isn’t the way it’s supposed to be, but helps with the dishes when the meal is done.
Ring
He bought the ring long before, hid the box and made sure it sparkled, smiles to himself when he thinks of her face and knows exactly what he’ll say.
Formal
“Yes - fella,” he says while smiling to himself at her amused reaction; maybe it’s not formal, but it’s who he is and he’s too happy to care.
Eclipse
He didn’t see her expression change when she first read the name, but she watched joy disappear as soon as he learned; darkness clouded his eyes and he was abandoned again.
Farewells
She hated that man more than John could know; he may have buried his father with a sense of forgiveness, but she laid him to rest with bitter relief.
World
He couldn’t tell her their world was upside down, broken, spinning, and all they built would tumble and change because his father was alive and he was too weak to keep his promise.
Mask
She buries her head on his shoulder because there’s something in his eyes she just doesn’t trust, something she doesn’t want to see.
Lies
He promises it’s over, that she’s all that matters to him; she forces a smile and whispers, “I know,” and hopes it’s the truth.
Cover
He meant to keep her from this, to shield her from the lies he told, then reflects with self-hate that he is his father’s child and destiny isn’t kind.
Run
Something inside her breaks when she realizes he made his choice and she doesn’t want to fight this anymore; if she walked away it would be too easy to turn back, so she runs and won’t let herself look behind.
Hope
Fumbling and desperate, he pulls out the ring and chokes out the words, repeats them silently as she pulls away.
Fall
He stands there alone, left with the feeling that he’s taken the leap of faith and stepped over the edge with his hand in hers, but she was the one that he let fall.
Hero
In the old black and whites, the hero gets the girl and money comes in labeled bags; in the real world it ends when they all drive away.
Fever
It’s burning hot and voices blur when everything starts to spin; with Helen above him and hell below he thinks that this is the end, and days later he’s sorry to learn it wasn’t real.
Silk
She would have worn silk for their wedding, crème colored and flowing with her hair done up and face framed with curls; he knows because it’s what he sees when he closes his eyes and what he dreams when he finally sleeps.
Ice
Let them think it was ice that caused it, a wintertime accident or maybe a driver on a cell; she’s gone and the truth doesn’t matter to him anymore.
Box
“And this, Mr. Locke, is where you’ll control inventory for the Southwest region of the…” but he’s not listening, realizing he can’t tell Helen that the hum of the lights in this cell reminds him of the hospital, and she can’t laughingly say that at least there’s no jello.
Silence
He comes home to an empty apartment where he sips cheap beer and eats a frozen meal alone, the drone of the TV filling his ears until late at night; he can’t stand the silence.
Wait
He talks to Helen alone in his room, chatters on about all the good things (as many as there are) rarely stopping; he doesn’t need to wait for an answer that will never come.
Dream
In the night he feels her hands gripping his back and her tongue on his skin, but when he wakes he’s alone and he feels so small.
Talk
Hidden by shadows and filled with shame, he removes a worn leather wallet from his pants and slips out a credit card late at night; he dials the phone needing to hear a voice - any voice - on the end of the line, but somehow he’s disappointed when it isn’t hers.
Journey
He booked two tickets, but boards the flight by himself with the second stuffed angrily inside his bag.
Wings
As the plane starts to shake, he remembers Helen saying that things without wings should stay on the ground and things without legs should stay in the sea; he wonders which fate is meant for him.
Body
Her laughter rings in his ears and her voice bids him to wake, to feel sand and heat and a blessed shot of shocking pain; all he can think is he must be forgiven.