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1. In the Eye of the Beholder by benignmilitancy

   Fandoms: Half-Life  

   • Mature
   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • F/M
   • Work in Progress

   23 Jul 2025

   Tags

   • No Archive Warnings Apply
   • Barney Calhoun/Alyx Vance
   • Alyx Vance
   • Barney Calhoun
   • Angst and Romance
   • Character Study
   • Body Image
   • A series of vignettes structured like a slowburn
   • Work In Progress
   • Psychological Drama
   • Murder
   • References to Depression

   Summary

   For years, Barney's suffered a slow, silent drowning. He concedes ownership of his body and mind to the mask, leaving him with only complicity. The end result is he can't bear being perceived, least of all by himself. The briefest of glances feel like blistering accusations.

   Just when he begins to entertain thoughts of dissent, he meets someone who refuses to look away.

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   30,188

   Chapters:

   14/?

   Comments:

   21

   Kudos:

   46

   Bookmarks:

   6

   Hits:

   914