*flails* oh my god this is wonderful! I love how they're not enemies anymore but they're still working out this thing between them. I love this line so much: he remembers going around for days feeling like a hot brand had been laid upon his mouth and not knowing why, only that his every interaction with James had been laden with something explosive and indefinable after that. Because that's exactly what I imagined would happen after that kiss--Liam not remembering exactly what happened to him, but having the impression that something has changed.

I think I'm shipping James/Liam to the exclusion of almost everything else. Oh man, me too. XD

their relationship is like a microcosm of the reconciliation that must take place throughout the ship That is such a brilliant way of putting it. As the kind of leaders of their respective groups, their interactions set a tone for their groups' interactions.