Neal presses his lips into a tight line for a moment, focus still fixed on Raylan’s chest. He’s not upset with the cowboy, at least.
“He…” Why. Why? Other than the fact that he’s jealous and doesn’t trust anyone easily? “We didn’t exactly get off on the best foot. And when Lestat hurt Malcolm and Will wanted to kill him, the things he said and the way he said them—”
He cuts himself off and the pinched expression returns for a moment. “He…”
He talked about Neal’s emotions in front of Malcolm, the same way Malcolm has done in front of others, but it wasn’t invited. Or maybe it just wasn’t expected.
None of it amounts to enough for his feelings to be as potent as they are.
Neal’s focus sinks a little lower still, so he doesn’t have to catch Raylan’s expression even out of the corner of his eyes. “Malcolm only ever tried to hurt me once. And it worked. And he did it for Will. He…”
Neal closes his eyes, resignation making his throat tight. “He picked Will. If I ever let Will into a position where we could… fight, or. Be upset with each other. He’ll pick Will. And I don’t think I can take him talking to me like that again. I can’t take knowing he’s willing to do that.”
no subject
“He…” Why. Why? Other than the fact that he’s jealous and doesn’t trust anyone easily? “We didn’t exactly get off on the best foot. And when Lestat hurt Malcolm and Will wanted to kill him, the things he said and the way he said them—”
He cuts himself off and the pinched expression returns for a moment. “He…”
He talked about Neal’s emotions in front of Malcolm, the same way Malcolm has done in front of others, but it wasn’t invited. Or maybe it just wasn’t expected.
None of it amounts to enough for his feelings to be as potent as they are.
Neal’s focus sinks a little lower still, so he doesn’t have to catch Raylan’s expression even out of the corner of his eyes. “Malcolm only ever tried to hurt me once. And it worked. And he did it for Will. He…”
Neal closes his eyes, resignation making his throat tight. “He picked Will. If I ever let Will into a position where we could… fight, or. Be upset with each other. He’ll pick Will. And I don’t think I can take him talking to me like that again. I can’t take knowing he’s willing to do that.”