Fic: A Glass Darkly (Lie to Me)

[the_summoning_d]

Title: A Glass Darkly
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Cal Lightman/Jeff Buchanan. In Torres' POV
Warnings: Slash
Disclaimer: I own nothing worth suing me for.
Summary: No-one tells lies better than a person trained to see through them.
Notes: You remember Jeff, right? From 'The Best Policy'? Which reminds me - spoilers for 'The Best Policy' (s01e07) ahead

Comments

[edana_ni_emer]

Oh, this works *wonderfully*. :-D

I've always felt sorry for Jeff, in that ep. Cal too, for that matter. Yeah it was his own fault that he alienated one of the few people he feels he can really trust... but I'm not sure he knew how to *help* it.

And as for Ria never wanting to see Cal doubt himself again? I dunno. It might be good for him.

[the_summoning_d]

I can't watch this ep without tearing up. The last scene they have together absolutely breaks my heart ("There aren't many people I'd do anything for. You were one of them", emphasis on the past tense.)

[edana_ni_emer]

Yeah. :-( I think it's *possible* for them to mend the relationship, but I think Cal would have to actually, y'know, grow up a little first. Or at the very least learn that manipulating people does not make them like you. Quite the opposite really. That it *hurts* people.

He's got a blind spot the size of the moon, where he thinks that if the bad guys are caught, and the white hats save the day, that it's worth all the assholish crap he pulls, and *of course* everyone will forgive him. If they don't, that's *their* issues, not his. He Did The Right Thing, so no sensible person could ever hold a grudge.

Maybe he'll learn better someday. But old habits can die hard.

[the_summoning_d]

Or at the very least learn that manipulating people does not make them like you.

Whoa, that's a radical theory you've got there ;) I don't know. I'm really going to have to rewatch the series, get a better grip on the characters. I'd say that Cal's problem is that the most important thing to him is to get at the truth regardless of a) Whether or not anyone wants him to know the truth, b) Who gets hurt, and c) How much of a wanker he has to be.

I certainly don't think we've seen the last of Jeff in canon.

[havlockvetinari]

THE CHEEK TOUCH. YES. <3 <3 <3

I can't say how hard I squeled when I saw that when the Episode ran. Just DID YOU SEE THAT? *FLAIL* So very cute, and speaking of a great deal of affection between them. (I'm still trying to screencap the moment so I can make a decent icon. So far, my trigger finger, it is to slow)

and n'aw. The end of the Ep. They'll work it out, eventually. Jeff's to Invested and Co-Dependent to not forgive Cal, even if he *should* hold out for more of an apology. He's used to Cal being a dick.

[the_summoning_d]

YES! I was like "did that actually just happen or have the slash goggles finally fused with my brain?". And good luck. There should be a Cal/Jeff icon.

The end of that ep damn near made me cry, especially the past tense when he's talking about trusting Cal. :'( I'd like to think they'll work it out.

[agr8fae]

This is super sweet and yet sad. I haven't had the opportunity to watch that particular episode, so do you happen to know where I could find it?

[the_summoning_d]

Here. It's a bit hit and miss, but one of them's bound to work.

[agr8fae]

Thanks!

[dimac99]

I'm going to throw a cat among the pigeons here and say I read nothing slashy in the original scene or in your fic! Honestly don't see it. I love the fic, and I love Torres' POV on things but in my head, if she saw anything more than friendship, she was wrong. It's the idea that she doesn't want to see her mentor doubt himself that really got me and I can totally understand it. She can disagree with him and he can even be wrong, but he should always be the strong one and it does shake you when you see someone whose entire personality appears to be built on an unshakable foundation of self-belief doubt himself.

[the_summoning_d]

Yeeah, I freely admit my slash goggles may be welded on a little tight. But each to their own and all that. I'm glad the premise of the fic worked for you even if some of the details didn't quite.

[rekindle956]

I really enjoyed this. Thank you!