[He's thought it before, again and again, but it doesn't stop. This is new. Something he hasn't had before, from anyone, not in a way that actually feels genuine. He's manipulated people into doing anything for him, into being devoted in horrible ways, but there's none of that here. Whatever he did was out of his own volition, not some ulterior motive to get his way.
The silence that follows is thoughtful, contemplative. His eyes search her features like he'll find something new if he just keeps looking, but no. This is the Jem he knows. The Jem he adores, he thinks. His only reference is Diana when it comes to caring about someone else, and while there's no comparison between the two girls, Jem is very much still within the scope.]
... Yeah. I know.
[His hand moves from her chin to her neck, her shoulder. Brushing her hair back, tucking some of it behind her ear.]
When I thought you were gonna leave me, [A pause, because he's looking for words he hasn't used before.] It hurt. I didn't want to be without you.
['Like' isn't enough, but 'love' is an impossibility for a thing like him.]
no subject
The silence that follows is thoughtful, contemplative. His eyes search her features like he'll find something new if he just keeps looking, but no. This is the Jem he knows. The Jem he adores, he thinks. His only reference is Diana when it comes to caring about someone else, and while there's no comparison between the two girls, Jem is very much still within the scope.]
... Yeah. I know.
[His hand moves from her chin to her neck, her shoulder. Brushing her hair back, tucking some of it behind her ear.]
When I thought you were gonna leave me, [A pause, because he's looking for words he hasn't used before.] It hurt. I didn't want to be without you.
['Like' isn't enough, but 'love' is an impossibility for a thing like him.]
I want you.