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Jack turned to find the Doctor’s eyes fixed on him. “What?” He asked bluntly.
The Doctor had a soft smile on his face, full of adoration. “Mmm?”
“You’re staring,” Jack said, turning on his side in the soft grass and folding his arms beneath his head. “We’re supposed to be watching the sunrise. What is it?"
The Doctor kept that soft smile, and seemed to consider. “I want to show you something,” he finally said, reaching out with both hands. “Do you mind?”
The other man blinked, sort of startled, but shifted forwards. “No, not at all.”
Gentle fingertips cradled the crown of his head, warm palms brushing his cheeks. “Tell me if it’s too much,” the Doctor warned.
“Of course,” Jack breathed, and closed his eyes gently. The presence of the Doctor gently touched at the edge of his consciousness, and although they didn’t have much practice, he let it in.
A vision spread out behind his eyelids, making him gasp softly. He saw himself; himself, laying on his back on the grass, but from the perspective of the other. The Doctor had been staring at him, and when Jack paid attention, he could follow the train of thought, the things the Doctor admired. The way the soft light reflected off tousled dark hair, the expression of complete contentment, the outfit he lounged so comfortably in. Little things, like the curve of his eyebrow, or the crookedness of his smile, the gentle rise and fall of his chest with each breath.
A sob built in Jack’s chest. Not only because of the physical admiration, but because of what he felt layered across his own chest; the love of the Doctor, the love he’d felt, simply looking. It squeezed so nicely, like a firm hug, but so much deeper, heavy and solid and warm. Feeling the Doctor’s love for him, layered over his own personal love for the Doctor, made tears squeeze out of his eyes, made his breath shake as it left him.
“Jack?” The Doctor’s voice said gently, from the real world. “Is this okay?”
Jack nodded into the hands, losing himself just for a moment. In the way the Doctor, his Doctor, looked at him. Feeling such a deep and complicated emotion from another person, from such an ancient being, was just on this side of overwhelming. It was only bearable because Jack hoped the Doctor could feel his love, too, even if he didn’t know how to share it in this way, not so profoundly.
“You’re crying,” the Doctor whispered.
Jack exhaled shakily, but smiled widely as he cracked his eyes open. He could still see himself, feel the love strapped to his chest on another layer of reality, but lifted his eyes to the one in front of him now. “You love me,” he breathed.
“Well, of course. Did I not make that obvious?” A flash of worry went across the Doctor’s face, and his hand began to drift.
Jack’s hand shot up to catch it, holding it there. “No, you did, you did,” he assured, his voice was watery as his eyes. He sniffled, which surely was very attractive. “I just… it’s just different to… feel it like this. In-In a good way.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure.” Jack smiled, and turned his head slightly to kiss the heel of the Doctor’s hand. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” he murmured, and wiped happy tears gently into the sun-kissed grass.