Re: [The Capital Mall: Atticus & Janus]
Janus admired Atticus legs and generally resented the way the man slouched around all the time as if making a point. It was, of course, part of his charm, but it represented a certain intimacy that made Janus want to hoard. He did not analyze the feeling. Instead, he would have died to see Atticus in one of those tweed suits with a bowtie in public, and the rest of it just at home, where frayed bits of clothing could be wrapped up like blankets.
Thoughtlessly, Janus reached up to touch his forehead, where the knit was pulled low against his eyebrows. He smiled at the compliment, a small, thoughtless smile that was unlike his sculpted grins and enticing expressions. "I didn't comb my hair," he said flippantly, like the compliment was no big deal.
The knit hat flexed as Janus' eyebrows went up underneath it. "Small designer versus chain stores," he said. "Formerly mail order. And fit just as well." He eyed Atticus' shoes again. "Oh, if I find something I like," he replied, airily. "If you gave those to me, everyone would get an F or an A. And I would choose based on ink color and how much I liked their name. Come on." He stood up, and moved over next to Atticus' chair as if he could urge him to greater speed just by proximity.