The Gideon Trilogy/Heartwarming

The Time Quake

 * Several exchanges between Gideon and the Tar Man incited no few fangirl heart attacks in myself:

"Each time the Tar Man overtook the cart or waited while Gideon drove past, he would taunt him with some barbed comment for the pleasure of provoking a reaction . Gideon barely managed to keep his temper, and the Tar Man could see him brace himself each time he drew near. At this point the Tar Man would change his tactics, opening his mouth to say something and closing it as soon as he saw Gideon glance up at him, jaw clenched in irritation. Then the Tar Man would smile good-humoredly, or even whistle, which would exasperate Gideon to the point of fury."

And...

"“Were you guilty of the crime they hanged you for?” The Tar Man wheeled around, startled and outraged at the question. “What does that matter now? And would you believe my reply?” “Yes,” said Gideon. “I would believe you.” “” "Is that why she did not go to Tyburn?” "Why do you ask me? I cannot pretend to know her mind! All I know is that when the noose was placed around my neck, I was alone, and I had received no word from her.”"

And...

"“I thought you had got the scar in some fearsome fight!” “Like the rest of the world…” With a shrug of his shoulders the Tar Man moved on. “! Wait!” Of all the names he had gone by over the years—the Tar Man, Blueskin, Vega Riaza, and worse—none had ever pricked him like the name he had been given at his christening. It came to him that the last person to address him by his own name was the hangman as he placed the noose around his neck when he was fourteen years old. In most ways had died that day. The Tar Man found himself overwhelmed, and although he stopped, he did not turn to face Gideon but instead inclined his head a little."

And so many, many more.