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Challenge # 11 ( Bravery)
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sentinel_thurs
Title: Starting Over
Author: Terri
Category: Gen
Word Count: 530
Based around Sentoo 2
If anyone had ever said the bravest thing that Blair Sandburg would do was walk through his own front door, he would have laughed in their face. The loft was home; a place to escape the realities of the world. It represented safety and warmth, friendship and love. From the first time Jim had shown him his tiny room he knew he had a place he belonged. Jim let him decorate his room as he liked, and soon it was filled with precious mementos. Pictures and cushions. Expensive artefacts and tacky souvenirs of his many travels. Over time his belongings had spread, a photo on the shelf, CDs on the entertainment unit, masks on the stark walls. Blair’s belongings mixed with Jim’s, a mismatched jumble that somehow worked.
The loft was permanent and safe. Blair knew he could leave his room in the morning, secure in the knowledge that his stuff would be there when he came back. No worrying about rats of the vermin or human variety.
Blair loved the loft. If he had a bad day he could collapse on his bed and escape in a book. Or vent his frustrations by chopping vegetables for dinner, listening for Jim’s return home. He marked blue books bathed in the heat of the fire, and watched TV on the comfortable couch, feet pushed under one of his cushions. It was his home, the place he could relax and be Blair. Not Mr Sandburg the TA or the geeky observer. He didn’t have to prove himself in any way, could feel himself relax as the front door closed.
Which is why the betrayal cut so deep when Blair opened that door, seeing nothing but a bare loft, with all his precious belongings stuffed into boxes. The loft had been violated, and not even by a stranger. Jim had destroyed his home, and Blair could feel every bit of security he’d ever held smashed within minutes.
It hurt in a way Blair could never explain as his chest ached and tears threatened, but he had to walk away. Wondering what he’d done this time to lose yet another home. Even when the reasons were explained and the situation fixed Blair could still relive that moment in precise detail. Jim’s stony face, the boxes, the pain in his chest, the tear that leaked despite his best efforts as he walked away, hold-all filled with an assortment of clothes held in one shaking hand.
The scar may have scabbed over, but underneath the wound was deep, and Blair could feel it throb as he stood outside the loft door once more. It used to be his home, a place he felt safe, but now all he could remember was bare walls and boxes.
Blair wanted to go in, but he was scared. Scared to know if it could ever be the same. He’d been called brave many times, but as Blair hesitantly pushed open the door he knew bravery was starting over, recreating his home. He didn’t feel brave, but as Jim pulled open the door, sweeping him into a hug, he knew he’d go on, even if underneath the wound never stopped itching.
sentinel_thursTitle: Starting Over
Author: Terri
Category: Gen
Word Count: 530
Based around Sentoo 2
If anyone had ever said the bravest thing that Blair Sandburg would do was walk through his own front door, he would have laughed in their face. The loft was home; a place to escape the realities of the world. It represented safety and warmth, friendship and love. From the first time Jim had shown him his tiny room he knew he had a place he belonged. Jim let him decorate his room as he liked, and soon it was filled with precious mementos. Pictures and cushions. Expensive artefacts and tacky souvenirs of his many travels. Over time his belongings had spread, a photo on the shelf, CDs on the entertainment unit, masks on the stark walls. Blair’s belongings mixed with Jim’s, a mismatched jumble that somehow worked.
The loft was permanent and safe. Blair knew he could leave his room in the morning, secure in the knowledge that his stuff would be there when he came back. No worrying about rats of the vermin or human variety.
Blair loved the loft. If he had a bad day he could collapse on his bed and escape in a book. Or vent his frustrations by chopping vegetables for dinner, listening for Jim’s return home. He marked blue books bathed in the heat of the fire, and watched TV on the comfortable couch, feet pushed under one of his cushions. It was his home, the place he could relax and be Blair. Not Mr Sandburg the TA or the geeky observer. He didn’t have to prove himself in any way, could feel himself relax as the front door closed.
Which is why the betrayal cut so deep when Blair opened that door, seeing nothing but a bare loft, with all his precious belongings stuffed into boxes. The loft had been violated, and not even by a stranger. Jim had destroyed his home, and Blair could feel every bit of security he’d ever held smashed within minutes.
It hurt in a way Blair could never explain as his chest ached and tears threatened, but he had to walk away. Wondering what he’d done this time to lose yet another home. Even when the reasons were explained and the situation fixed Blair could still relive that moment in precise detail. Jim’s stony face, the boxes, the pain in his chest, the tear that leaked despite his best efforts as he walked away, hold-all filled with an assortment of clothes held in one shaking hand.
The scar may have scabbed over, but underneath the wound was deep, and Blair could feel it throb as he stood outside the loft door once more. It used to be his home, a place he felt safe, but now all he could remember was bare walls and boxes.
Blair wanted to go in, but he was scared. Scared to know if it could ever be the same. He’d been called brave many times, but as Blair hesitantly pushed open the door he knew bravery was starting over, recreating his home. He didn’t feel brave, but as Jim pulled open the door, sweeping him into a hug, he knew he’d go on, even if underneath the wound never stopped itching.
whoah Part 2
lol, Terri, you _suck_, you took away his peace of mind! And you're _HAPPY_ about it! *snicker* Man, Terri, you mentioned how I know your stuff, and I guess I do, the MX anyway, but I never saw this... ..this dark!joy you have... ..evil woman! ;)
It's funny, I have something of a dark!kink myself, maybe that distracted me, so I didn't pick up on yours until after the fact... ..but mine are always "partners striving through the dark & emerging in triumohant love", rather than one inflicting it on the other...
Oh well, from what I've seen, your pairs pretty much work it out in the end, so my inner romantic is satisfied... ..I just hate change, so scenes like this, where "it can never be the same" make me flinch, even if they work out in the end.
Now, don't go wigging or anything, this was just my two cents' worth, analyzing my own reactions with interest. If you wanna react happy/cheerful to darker fics, that's your prerogative! *hugs*
Re: whoah Part 2
So you think that I have a dark!joy, well I actually can't argue against that, because I do like darkfic, and if that makes me an evil woman, so be it *g*
But I do write sap as well, so I'm not all about the dark stuff. It's just I like to put my characters through the wringer before they get to their happy ending. I think maybe I've just had a glut of stories with the characters hating on one another, which isn't really representative of what I usually write.
The thing is with The Sentinel, this was based on an episode where things did change. Jim did throw Blair from his home in canon, so I just ran with it.
I wouldn't wig out at your comments anyway. I love hearing what you have to say. You make me lol and examine my own writing and that's great.
*hugs you back*
no subject
The last line is great! It make me realize that his wound started long before Jim tossed him out of the loft. You hint at it when he walks away, wondering what he'd done *this* time. *sniff*
The end is warm. I picture Jim inside, listening to Blair's anguish and taking action. So Jim.
*sniff* :)
no subject
Thank you.
I was picturing Jim on the other side of the door too, wondering what to do to make things right.
I'm so glad that you liked the story.