New TS fic. Night 'verse

[castalie]

Title: Two Hundred Dollar Worth
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 200
Story Notes: Set in my AU Night 'verse. The Cliff's Notes would be: Blair is a prostitute and Jim isn't a cop. They are together, though. Then again, what universe would that be if they weren't, right?
Story Notes 2: Written for sentinel_thurs's 200th challenge, the prompt being '200 + 200 words'

Thank you to both turps33 and starwatcher307 for the encouragements and help :-)

---

Before Jim, Blair's secret to continuing the routine of getting up in the morning and going outside at night and making himself available - making himself a commodity - was to hide behind the walls he had erected from an early age.

Kids build Lego forts in their rooms to have fun. Blair had built solid walls around him to stay sane.

It’s said that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? It’s the same principle; what doesn’t touch you can’t hurt you.

It was a pretty easy lesson to learn, really. Or so Blair has convinced himself. He learned it fairly young, and he’s damned proud of it.

So that’s the secret that helped him keep going before Jim. It wasn't so bad. Because, hey, at least he still kept going, right?

But after Jim, things aren’t the same.

Now, the secret to continue getting up in the morning and going outside at night and making himself available - a commodity - is to believe.

Believe that he’s worth something. That he’s worth much more than the two hundred dollars crumpled in his fist tonight.

And if that's too difficult? Then the secret is to believe that Jim, at least, believes it.

Comments

[sid]

Oh, I like this. I'm bookmarking the Night 'verse link. :-)

[dreaming-k.livejournal.com]

I haven't read your Night 'verse and am thinking that I should, to understand better.
Why does he still have to 'make himself available', even after meeting Jim? Poor Blair. *pets*
At least Jim does help, in a way, by believing in Blair.

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

I love this 'verse and it made me very happy to see this double drabble set in it.

And you're worth so much more, Blair. You hang onto that, because it's true :;nods::

[maaaaa.livejournal.com]

::twirls::

ohmygodohmygodohmygod!!!

::hyperventilates::

You wrote in the Night verse!!

::sucks air::

I luvs it I do...it that heart-achey way I luv the guys in this verse.

::hugs the stuffing outta Mouse::

[starwatcher]

.
Great story; such a punch in so few words. As you so often do in this series, it's bittersweet, yet still hopeful. That last line just makes my throat go all tight. Well done!
.

[buddhachic.livejournal.com]

Love 'Night Verse' and love this. So much strength.
Thanks!

[laurie-ky.livejournal.com]

Blair is reframing like crazy, finding something positive out of a bad situation. I love this series, it's sad and sweet at the same time. It reminds me of finding a beautiful flower growing in between the cracks of a broken down sidewalk in a slum area.
The social worker in me wants to sign up Blair for a GED class and get him tested, then into school.
Laurie

[t-verano.livejournal.com]

Your Night 'verse is *so* good, so wrenching. I love the dynamics between the guys, and the emotions. And this is so moving. "It wasn't so bad. Because, hey, at least he still kept going, right?" ::heartclench:: That last line is just a killer...

Beautiful.

[klgrem.livejournal.com]

Wow. Great little piece. Thanks for sharing this. :)

[sockich.livejournal.com]

If I think about it really, really hard, would writing bugs bite you more often, d'you think? It's worth a try, anyway. *thinks really, really hard*

This is fantastic, woman. You say so much in so little words and it's such a perfect little look into this universe and...yeah. Much, much love. ♥

[mab-browne.livejournal.com]

Yay! More Night 'verse. ::happy smile::

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

Oh, the Night 'Verse! Your series is one of my absolute favorites. Sweet and tender, but sad and gritty -- perfect in all ways. This is such a nice little addition to it. Blair's trying so hard, but at least he's learned that if he can't keep the good thoughts going, he can count on Jim.

*Hearts* you and your story!

[turps33.livejournal.com]

It's still just as good now.

You really have them down in this verse, the love they have despite the situation they're in. It's a special thing indeed to know someone is there for you when all around things are going to hell.