One of the things I enjoy most about this, about the way you draw these characters, is how each might devalue his own merit in his eyes while seeing the true worth of the other. Then the gentle shock of having that worth brought to light, recognized and cherished by one so admired. I love that. It's one of my favorite things. Which explains why these two passages just struck me so deeply:
•••
“I know,” Jim whispered. His hand came up to cup the nape of Jamie’s neck, and he rested his forehead against Jamie’s briefly. “I know. I saw.”
“You…you saw?” Sudden shame, as cold and sharp as splintered ice, stabbed its way into Jamie’s chest.
“Yes. I watched. And there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. Nothing. And I saw you as well, Jamie. My God, how brave you are.”
“Brave – Christ almighty, Jim.” Jamie gave a hollow laugh.
•••
Jamie admired him more than any man he’d ever met. Had, in point of fact, admired him until his heart ached and it strained the outermost reaches of Jamie’s ability to maintain a cool, friendly distance – not always easy given Jim’s frank sweetness. Now he wished he’d been more demonstrative, that Jim knew how great was Jamie’s esteem for him.
Tentatively, Jamie touched Jim’s cheek, and then gave in to impulse and kissed it with the utmost gentleness.
•••
Looking forward to more. Oh, how lovely these characters are, how beautifully they hurt.
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Date: 2012-06-04 07:33 pm (UTC)•••
“I know,” Jim whispered. His hand came up to cup the nape of Jamie’s neck, and he rested his forehead against Jamie’s briefly. “I know. I saw.”
“You…you saw?” Sudden shame, as cold and sharp as splintered ice, stabbed its way into Jamie’s chest.
“Yes. I watched. And there wasn’t a thing I could do about it. Nothing. And I saw you as well, Jamie. My God, how brave you are.”
“Brave – Christ almighty, Jim.” Jamie gave a hollow laugh.
•••
Jamie admired him more than any man he’d ever met. Had, in point of fact, admired him until his heart ached and it strained the outermost reaches of Jamie’s ability to maintain a cool, friendly distance – not always easy given Jim’s frank sweetness. Now he wished he’d been more demonstrative, that Jim knew how great was Jamie’s esteem for him.
Tentatively, Jamie touched Jim’s cheek, and then gave in to impulse and kissed it with the utmost gentleness.
•••
Looking forward to more. Oh, how lovely these characters are, how beautifully they hurt.