Mary Kate & Jared @ Morium (GJ) - Bruises & FearMary Kate: Mary Kate drove over to Jared's house, smoking one cigarette after another, the fact that he was hiding bruises from Shan had her scared of what she was going to see. But she knew she had to go, she couldn't not be there. As she stopped the car she took one last drag and flicked the cigarette away as she got out of the car. She made her way to the door, lip between her teeth as she unlocked the door. She closed and locked it behind her, dropping her bag at the door and kicking off her shoes. She took a breath as she made her way through the house. She didn't know her way around well, but the master bedroom wasn't hard to find. She tapped her fingers at the door as she pushed it open, taking in a deep breath as her stomach became a pit.
Jared: Jared was laying on his bed with Ra, their little puppy, his thin fingers running over it's stomach and lightly scratching to keep the puppy content. Blue eyes concentrated on the animal next to him but he heard the front door and could hear MK when she reached the door. He set up a little with covers wrapped around him but nothing to hide the bruise on his neck. His long shirt hide the ones on his wrists but the bandage wrapped around his left hand was very evident, "Hey," he spoke softly.
Mary Kate: Her eyes went to his first, blue on blue as she stepped inside the bedroom. She wet her lips as she started to bite at the bottom again. "Hey." She says just as quietly as she moves in. Her eyes slowly move down to his neck, where they go wide. She blinked hard to try to hide her feelings on it, the anger inside towards Tomo and the pain she immediately felt for Jared. She moved to the side of the bed, sitting next to him slowly, not sure how bad he was hurt, even being open he tended to keep things to himself, not wanting to be a 'whiney bitch' as he so eloquently put it.
Jared: He smiled weakly although he noticed how she was acting, "I'm not broken," he whispered as he tried to mentally prepare himself for a hug. He wanted to hug her but it was still difficult to touch people or be touched. He shifted a little but let her know it was okay by holding out his hand for hers. The movement made his sleeve move up just enough to let the bruise on his wrist show slightly. Letting out a sigh he kept his eyes on her, taking in her much smaller frame, but not mentioning it just yet. "I've been so tired since that night but luckily not too bad in the sick department."
Mary Kate: She slid in a little, arm around his shoulder, not wanting to touch his neck, fearing it could still be tender and hurt. As she pulled back she could see his wrist, the markings against his pale skin, she couldn't help but hold her breath for a minute. "Well...suppose that's a plus...” She replied softly to his comment about not being as sick. She used most of her energy to control herself, her emotions and not let it all get to her. Seeing him like that made her ache.
Jared: He had always been good at reading her even when she didn't want him too just as she to him. He leaned over and kissed her cheek gently, taking her free hand and placing it to his neck so she could feel. She was the only one he'd let do that since he knew how much she cared and how close they had been, "It doesn't hurt now but on the inside sometimes it hurts when I talk too much. I've been really quiet to regain my strength."
Mary Kate: Her fingertips barely brushed over his skin, his hand on hers was the only thing keeping it from shaking. She exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding as she pulled her hand away. Her hand slowly moved down his arm, pushing up his sleeve. "Why..." She started, but he'd know that she'd want to know why Tomo did it; she didn't have to finish her question.
Jared: His eyes went down to the newly exposed skin as he listened to her start the question. It was a hard topic to discuss and he knew it would only make her hatred for Tomo deepen but she had every right to know. She was like a sister to him and just as he had to gather the strength to let Shan see him the first time he had to do the same with her, "He was mad about me cheating and generally when he gets upset he walks away but instead of letting him go like I normally do I kept pushing him to talk to me, to be reasonable, and he snapped. Normally he would never ever touch me no matter how angry we get but we got in a fight, he pushed me but not too hard and I hate when people do that. I pushed him against his car and then that's when we really got into it," he slightly frowned, "He's going to anger management and I to therapy... we're really working on this and you know I wouldn't put up with it unless I saw something strong with in him."
Mary Kate: She swallowed hard; she wouldn't give into the anger that was filling her immediately, not here. Her eyes would show it, she knew, but she wouldn't let the words come out. He didn't need that; she'd given him enough stress today. She didn't care what Jared had done, the hand shaped bruises around his neck could never be justified. "Is there more?" She asked, slightly scared to hear the answer.
Jared: He shook his head saying no, "I know it's bad and I understand completely why Shannon is as upset as is but I can handle this. He snapped that night and if I thought he'd do it again I would leave. But I promise you this if he touches me or cheats on me again, I'm leaving," he really meant that since Tomo was on his last chance.
Mary Kate: She nods a little and holds out her pinky. "Swear it." She said simply, her tiny thin finger clad with chipped red polish extended towards him.
Jared: He linked his similar pinky finger, with chipped black polish, with her own and added on, "As long as you swear you'll come to me about your health," he hadn't overlooked the fact that they both were thinner.
Mary Kate: She nodded a bit. "You know if I need to talk about it I come to you...I came to you before." She replies softly. "Are there more bruises?" She asked the question she actually meant before when she wanted to know if there was more.
Jared: "Not from him," he said so she wouldn't assume that Tomo did any more harm to him, "The rest were from being reckless during the last couple shows of the tour, promise." He moved closer to her, not really cuddling but needing to be close to someone.
Mary Kate: She shifted slightly moving in close to him. "I'm sorry he hurt you..." She tells him softly, reaching down and taking his hand, slipping her fingers between his. She looked down at their hands and realized how much alike they looked; thin, boney, a slight wrinkle to the skin from the weight loss, chipped nail polish...both had the look of used hands worn down.
Jared: "He's terribly sorry too and beating himself up more than anyone else could," he got comfortable with her next to him, closing his eyes which was one sure sign of trust while rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. His skin was very soft but equally pale and a slight chill to them. He was always cold, always wrapped up or wearing layers of clothing, "Things have to get better MK, they just gotta."
Mary Kate: "I doubt he could ever beat himself up more than someone else could." She mumbled the words, eyes watching his thumb on her hand. She swallowed hard, trying not to let it all get to her. She slowly looked up at him. "I really hope they do..." Her lip found its way between her teeth as she watched his face, eyes closed, her own trailed down to his neck again, closing her own this time. Not out of trust, but because it hurt her to look at those marks. She couldn't promise him things would get better, she'd never make a promise she wasn't sure she could keep. She was scared for him, more scared than she had been when he was sick. Trying not to think about her own past and problems and just focusing on him for the time.
Jared: He knew she was going to worry about him more so he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her small frame close to him like they use to before all the mess began. His dark hair falling into his face as he concentrated on the feeling of someone else next to him and Ra creeping his way between their bodies, curling up in a ball but resting his paw on MK to accept her too. Both were like puppies, needing the right amount of attention and love that they were being denied at the moment.
Mary Kate: She leaned in as he wrapped his arm around her, tilting her chin up and kissing his cheek softly. She rested her head against his shoulder as her head reached down to pet the puppy that made its way between them. "I love you Bubbie." She whispered softly. "I need you to be ok...ok?" She was trying so hard to be less emotional that she would usually be, but it was sneaking past her walls and starting to slip out.
Jared: He rubbed her back gently, returning the kiss but keeping his eyes closed, "I'll be okay, you know I'm one tough ginger snap." He nudged her a little hoping he'd get a little laugh or at least a slight curl of her lips.
Mary Kate: She nodded a little, smiling but mostly for his benefit. "I am..." She swallowed once more. "I am glad that you told me, and that you trust me enough to let me see you."
Jared: "Relax baby," he rested his hand on the small of her back but not in an inappropriate manner. She was the only one outside of Tomo that he called 'baby' or would get this much affection. He kissed her cheek once again, "I love you so much and I hate that you have to see me like this."
Mary Kate: Her eyes welled a little bit as he held her a bit more. "I'm trying to relax...I really am, I just...I hate this. I hate that someone could hurt you like this." She tells him softly. "I love you too, you're part of me, you understand me and it hurts my heart to know someone you love would do this." She tells him honestly. "I'm sorry..." She shakes her head a little. "I shouldn't do this; I know you don't need it."
Jared: He tried to sooth her, "No...no it's okay sweetheart," his eyes were soft, gentle, and caring as he looked at her. He forgot all about his bruises and concentrated on her, "I'm being humbled and cut back down to size and I understand that now. To beat an extreme you need another extreme and I'd rather it be him than anyone else."
Mary Kate: She shakes her head. "No, it shouldn't be anyone, Bubbie. No one should ever touch you like-like, no one should be touched like that by someone who claims to love them, it's not right." She looked up into his eyes, hers moistened and starting to grow red. "There is no excuse, no reason." She takes in a quick breath, trying to shut herself up, biting her lip.
Jared: It seemed as if the more she became affected by the topic he was too but he instead of stopping her or growing upset he listened, held her closer, and rubbed her back slowly, "It wasn't right and I know that but I'll deal."
Mary Kate: She sniffled a bit, sinuses burning slightly. She rubbed at the puppy’s soft fur to try to distract herself, but as she did his hand moved against her back. She nuzzled against him slightly, just needing to be close to him. Partially hating herself for starting to cry, why was it she seemed to cry every time she was with him.
Jared: "I know baby, I know," he fought the urge to join her in crying but instead he wrapped both arms around her, pulling up the cover and holding her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and kept her close. Another sigh escaping his lips as he thought about all she had said to him that day.
Mary Kate: She slid her hand away from the dog and slid it over his stomach, slightly curled against him. She took in a deep breath, trying to compose herself as she opened her eyes and looked up at him. "It just...scares me." She tells him in barely a whisper.
Jared: "I know, scares me too at times but I'll be okay," he tried to make her really believe that since he did. He had faith in him even though not many of his friends did. He loved him and knew if they worked at this it'll be better.
Mary Kate: She locked her eyes on his. "What if..." Her voice cracked once more. "What if he didn't stop, Bubbie? What if it went too far?" She asked the questions that were running through her head.
Jared: He bit his lower lip hard, a tear threatening this time, "I thought he wasn't going to stop..."
Mary Kate: Big tears rolled down her cheeks now, she couldn't stop them. "He could have..." She stops hardly able to even think the rest of the sentence never the less say it out loud. "I may be really selfish right now...but I need you. I need you so much and if he hadn't stopped..." Her bottom lip quivered as she spoke. "And you wonder why people hate him?" Her brow furrowed a bit, not understanding him being able to question that. "Baby, how can they not when he would do this to you." She wipes quickly at her face, smearing the wetness and a bit of the black from her makeup across her face.
Jared: "You, Shan and Ville are the only ones that know," he whispered with a frown since he knew she was right. "I can't explain it but I am not leaving him over this."
Mary Kate: She closed her eyes tight; she knew before she came he wouldn't leave. Nodding slightly. "What if he doesn't stop next time, baby? What if you don't have time to leave if he touches you again?" She opens her eyes to look at him. "I know I shouldn't say this and I know you don't want to hear it, but I have to, I have to try to make you see....and I'm sorry for getting in the middle, I know I shouldn't...but I love you so much, I don't want you to get hurt again."
Jared: "I know but when I love... I really love," he stated simply.
Mary Kate: She wiped at her face once more. "Love yourself, then."
Jared: "I'll try," he smiled a little while helping her gently wipe away tears, "Take a nap with me? I'm really tired," he confessed, so exhausted from the tour, being sick, and that night he was fighting off another nap.
Mary Kate: She sniffled a little more, looking to the clock. "When is he coming back?"
Jared: "Very late, he's with his parents," he reassured her.
Mary Kate: She nods a little and smiles past her bitten down on lip. "Ok..." She pulls back enough so that they can both lie down on the bed. She lifts the puppy from between them, laying him on Jared's other side so she could be close to him. She needed to be close to him right now, everything seemed so messed up lately and as rare as the moments seem to come she needed to be close to him, and really felt he needed to be close to her too.
Jared: He wrapped his arm around her, keeping her close protectively as always but made sure Ra remained near as well. The little puppy was so spoiled by Tomo that he rarely parted from either one of his owners. Jared closed his eyes and it didn't take long for him to go to sleep since his body really was that tired.