Riveting to the end. What can I say that I haven't before? The flow and pacing were wonderful, really putting the reader through the wringer near the end if they forgot that Rico is alive in the beginning of the story (the details that slip in the heat of the moment, yeah?). The dynamic between Jean and Rico, between the hardened man of steel (and not much else perceivable to the naked eye) and the girl who knows broken so well that she can know fixed better than anyone else, is fascinating, heart wrenching, and oddly hopeful. Definitely fits well within the vein of the Gunslinger Girl spirit.

Thanks for the read, you continue to press my boundaries of perception and writing,
-CG

I quite enjoyed this story,the characters feel so real. And I love little Fia, such a brave soul - I want to hug her.

I'm not sure what to say. That was overwhelming. Man can you write.

Brilliant as always mate. Loved the exploration of the two characters, and I also particularly enjoyed the way you've humanised Jean somewhat through it, playing up his own doubts ("For /that/ crap advice" has to be one of my favorite lines in it) in what he was doing and proto-Rico's determination to succeed. Each one sort of picking the other up in their own way.

Great stuff.

Your characterizations of Jean and Rico are wonderful, and in a way I can see such an introduction as actually having occurred at some past time in the canon universe (anime universe for me, as I haven't read the manga). In many ways, Jean is far more complex than how he appears in the first season of the anime. The second season highlighted a slightly more caring aspect of his personality in regard to Rico. In that context, your portrayal of Jean makes even more sense. As much as he seems to abuse his poor cyborg and outwardly considers her nothing more than a mere tool, in the end it showed he would not want anyone other than Rico. And, as for Rico, she accepts his harsh treatment of her quite willingly, but maybe not strictly because she's conditioned to do so. After all, she does remember her past. What your story does is to explain why that is and to shed some light on how such a relationship developed in the first place. And it does so in a way that’s both poignant and compelling. All in all I definitely liked reading this story and I thank you for creating it.

...I want to just hug Rico and never let go now. Bastard, stop being so good at this.

Hmm, this is touching and disconcerting all at once. I would have to say it is well done. Very well done to walk that tightrope of making the reader neiteher despise nor like Jean.

tearful masterpiece

Well done