Been giving this some serious thought.

I must admit, I think I like h/c. Whether this is because of some kind of American thing, some kind of feminine lit thing, or a Mary Sue thing, I can't say. It's just that I like various aspects of stories where one character is finally convinced to let down at least some of the infamous, emotional guard.

As such, I see the stories as being about the characters either admitting feelings (sorry about the f word), especially trust and concern, they may have for another character or characters. That is, a hurt character may be forced by circumstances to trust and rely on another character in a way that normally wouldn't happen - and that this trust is seen as justified and remains (to some extent) a new part of the relationship, an emotional safe zone that didn't exist before.

To me, a story where one of the characters uses this 'safe zone' to hurt the other, even in a limited way, would undercut what had made it a safe zone, returning the relationship to the usual, 'This is my side of the line, this is your side of the line. Don't mix them up,' dynamics we have all come to know and love. Except with a bigger no man's land between the lines.

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