Tim briefly considered pointing out that even back home he was pretty separated from the team in the office. At least when it came to his private life and his personal thoughts on various subjects.
"I'm a sniper, Handsome. If the focus is on me I'm doing something wrong," the words might sound like levity, but there was a genuine message in them. Tim didn't just fall in behind Raylan because the older man walked faster. He also fell in behind Rachel, Art and hell even Nelson. It afforded him the view he needed to keep everybody's backs covered. But it was more than that and with a sigh he closed his eyes. It was his turn to press his face against Raylan's throat, breath soft and warm against cool skin.
"You know what it is to grow up as a punching bag," he said quietly. "We both learned that being a 'focus' for anything was bad and showin' weakness to that kind of bully was asking for more pain." They had both been raised in that toxic soup. Helen had helped Raylan, the Army had helped Tim but it was still hardwired in their natures.
"I've spent four years making sure I never overstepped my bounds," he admitted softly. "You taking me down off the shelf when you have a spare moment ... it's more than I ever let myself hope for," he struggled through the words, felt like a broken record when he admitted. "I am almost paralyzed with fear that I'm going to ask too much."
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"I'm a sniper, Handsome. If the focus is on me I'm doing something wrong," the words might sound like levity, but there was a genuine message in them. Tim didn't just fall in behind Raylan because the older man walked faster. He also fell in behind Rachel, Art and hell even Nelson. It afforded him the view he needed to keep everybody's backs covered. But it was more than that and with a sigh he closed his eyes. It was his turn to press his face against Raylan's throat, breath soft and warm against cool skin.
"You know what it is to grow up as a punching bag," he said quietly. "We both learned that being a 'focus' for anything was bad and showin' weakness to that kind of bully was asking for more pain." They had both been raised in that toxic soup. Helen had helped Raylan, the Army had helped Tim but it was still hardwired in their natures.
"I've spent four years making sure I never overstepped my bounds," he admitted softly. "You taking me down off the shelf when you have a spare moment ... it's more than I ever let myself hope for," he struggled through the words, felt like a broken record when he admitted. "I am almost paralyzed with fear that I'm going to ask too much."