When people see something devastating and heartbreaking, time seems to slow down. Seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours. That's how both you and Harrison feel. You stare and it's only for two seconds but you stare and it feels like an eternity because Tom's face is bright red with tears glistening against the horrendous yellow lights and Arthur's knee is dug into Tom's back with the round lighter pressed up against his shoulder blade. It's a sight that only brings a burning sensation to the back of your eyes and barbed wire coats around your heart. And it's a sight that just sends Harrison into a fit of rage.

Those two seconds of shock are up and Harrison lunges for Arthur, you moving to Tom. With a hard slam, Harrison tackles Arthur off of Tom and right to the ground. His hands grip the dress jacket and he shakes Arthur a few times before his fist comes back and connects with his skin. Everytime Arthur reaches up to try and stop Harrison, to get any form of a grip, Harrison's fist just connects again. Everything is red and Harrison can't even see anything besides Arthur's bloodying face. It's like tunnel vision all the while you're getting Tom.

Your hands glide over Tom's back, checking the burns. Luckily, they are only five new ones but they're bad. They're worse than the others but there's only five. Just five hollowed circular burns tracing around his shoulder blade. You shake your head and swallow the golf ball sized lump in your throat before yanking your hoodie over your head.

"C'mon, gonna get you outa here." You set your hoodie down and grab Tom's arm to help him sit up. "Put this on your arms, it's cold outside." You hand him your hoodie and he doesn't hesitate to only use the use the sleeves, ready to protect himself from the fall air.

You get to your feet and stick out your hands for Tom to grab hold of and help him up. It's exactly what he did for you when you needed him. You didn't call him, you didn't even really want him, not exactly. But, it was Tom who helped you and it's going to be you that's going to help him.

"Harrison!" You yell, Harrison's first freezing mid-air. "Let's go." You lower your voice and pull at Tom's arm to get him to start leaving the room.

Harrison glares down at Arthur, his fist still held in the air and ready to come down. Arthur is just grinning beneath him, teeth coated in a thin layer of blood as if all he did was take a sip of red-colored corn syrup. He's a cocky son of a bitch and he's proud of what he does to other people. Harrison has half a mind to knock him all the way out, maybe even make sure he doesn't wake up at all. Arthur attacked his friend, his best friend, his family.

"Haz." Tom's voice rings through Harrison's ears and Harrison only shuts his eyes for a second.

Harrison's fist clenches harder, but he's not going to hit Arthur again. Tom's up, he's relatively okay. Harrison can back up, he can go now. Let it go.

"Okay." Harrison says, letting go of Arthur and letting his arm drop. He wants to get to his feet but he can't, not yet. He grabs Arthur once more, bringing his face close to his and Harrison's eyes have never been so dark before, rage and venom mixing with the usual vibrant hue. "Touch him again and I'll kill you." Harison's grip tightens before he slams Arthur into the floor.

He lets out a breath and gets to his feet, turning to face you and Tom. The pair of you share a similar expression of impressed and shock. You thought he was cool-headed one of the two but now you're not so sure. Maybe Harrison is the one who can have a temper and Tom just rolls with the punches. Tom on the other hand, he just didn't expect Harrison to attack Arthur. Not after knowing that Arthur will just go around and burn people. But, they're like brothers and people do for family.

"Let's go." Harrison mutters but he doesn't move, just reaches for Tom's bag. He waits for you and Tom to leave first in case Arthur decides to get up and finish a fight Harrison would love.

You just nod and guide Tom out of the room, your hand on his lower back. The walk through the hallway and through the center of the basement until you finally reach the exit. You climb the few stairs and exit the building. The cool air smacks Tom in a rush. He becomes incredibly grateful you loaned him your hoodie to cover his arms for the short walk to the car Mikey and Matty have waiting. You're shivering beside him but your mind is still focused on getting Tom away from the club and away from Arthur.

You reach the car and Mikey and Matty look a little more than worried to say the least. Tom's face is tear-stained, you're without a hoodie, and Harrison keeps looking over his shoulders, fists balled at his sides. The three of you just look like walking disasters.

"What happened?" Matty asks. "Are you okay?" Matty's attention is solely on Tom.

"Yeah." Tom says, looking down to you.

"Can you clean the burns?" You ask bluntly. "I still have the stuff you gave me at the house and Travis is–"

"Okay." Matty cuts you off, knowing you don't have to ramble around him.

"You guys take the car, we took my bike here." Mikey says, jerking his head towards the door and then to Matty.

"Yeah, okay. My house." You clarify and Mikey just nods.

You're first to get into the back of the car followed by Tom and then Harrison. Mikey and Matty were already off to where Mikey had parked. You gave the Uber driver the address and you were on your way.

The air is thick between the three of you in the back seat. Tom's leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees and the burning is still prominent. It's throbbing and stinging, consistent and relentless. Everything hurts. You had to come and save his ass and it hurts to have to sit next to you. It hurts that you're the one willing to help him. And it hurts more because Tom still finds himself pissed about you lying and he's pissed at himself for being pissed. You didn't have to come to him, just like he didn't have to go to you, but you did. He's pissed for being pissed at you.

You don't know what to do. You don't know what to say or how to handle it. All you know is that Matty can clean his burns better than he can given their location. Matty actually knows how to clean them and Harrison probably doesn't. But then what? Should you tell him everything about Arthur? Maybe show him your arms? Because he looks so ashamed it's crushing you. There has to be something you can say or do.

The car pulls against the curb and the three of you pile out of the car after a quick thank you. The sound of Mikey's motorcycle comes from down the street and by the time Harrison, Tom, and you are up the stairs, Mikey is pulling against the curb. You lead the boys inside, leaving the door cracked for Mikey and Matty. You flip on a few lights while leading them to the living room.

"You guys can sit. I'm gonna get the kit and stuff." You mutter.

"Y/n." Tom's voice pulls your attention before you leave. "Here." He pulls the hoodie from his arms and you take it from him with a nod. "Thanks." He dodges your eyes and looks to Harrison.

You leave for the stairs, trying to remember exactly where the ointment that Matty had given you was and where your first aid kit is. Matty always just carries one so you don't usually use the one he'd given you. Matty's always a little too prepared sometimes but it does have it's advantages.

"You okay, mate?" Harrison breaks the silence.

"Are you?" Tom asks. "Been awhile since you've been that pissed."

"Fine." Harrison shrugs. "Your back though?"

"It's fine." Tom runs a hand through his messy curls.

"Doesn't look fine and you didn't sound fine." Harrison argues as Mikey and Matty walk in.

"It's fine." Tom says through gritted teeth.

"I'll be the judge of that." Matty interrupts the tension and takes a seat on the couch beside Tom.

Matty grabs Tom's shoulders and moves him so he can get a good look at the burns around his shoulder blade. Matty winces but he's relieved. They could be worse. They aren't great and they're going to scar like a bitch. The dead skin will probably peel and they're going to blister. Tom's going to be in pain there for a bit but it'll be tolerable.

"Here." You walk behind the couch, the first aid kit in hand with the ointment for burns and a wet paper towel.

"So, what happened?" Matty asks, taking the ointment from you.

"Nothing." Tom says and you shake your head at Matty and Mikey.

"Arthur had him pinned to the ground with a lighter to his back. He said somethin' about Tom blowing the first round or something." Harrison tells the group what lead up to Tom being locked in a room with Arthur.

Harrison is so sick of having to hide things and keep secrets. He's fucking done. And telling them this, it's not going to hurt Tom. It's not going to change anything. They already know. You have burns on your arm that prove they know what Arthur does. Telling them what happened, that's just being polite.

"Thanks, mate." Tom says sarcastically, scowling at Harrison.

"He's just relaying what happened." You mutter.

"Oh," Tom lets out a dry chuckle looking to you, astounded by your audacity. "That's real good comin' from you."

"Anyway," Matty says, "It's gonna hurt." He says quickly before lightly dabbing the wet paper towel onto the burns.

Tom's eyes slam shut and his arms extend forward, preventing him from falling. He bites his lip, trying not to yell as the burning increases everytime Matty moves the paper towel. It stings and all he wants to do is yell his head off. Hell, he'd rather the damn metal be pressing into his skin rather than Matty cleaning them right now.

Your stomach turns watching Tom try not to yell and you can't watch it. Maybe it makes you weak and selfish but it's not like Tom wants your help or wants you around anyway. So, maybe it's best if you do the both of you a favor and just excuses yourself for a little bit.

You head for the stairs and Mikey gets up to follow you but Matty stops him. "Just let her be."

"Fine." Mikey sits back in the chair and the room falls silent.

Matty moves as fast as he can to clean the burns and apply the ointment. It really didn't take too long but to Tom, it felt like an eternity. It stung so bad, he couldn't even straighten his back by the time Matty was done. It's just sore and sure the ointment is easing some of the burning but Tom knows it's going to wear off and he'll be in a world of pain soon enough. It's like a never ending cycle of pain. He gets punched in the face, lied to, used, and burned. That seems to be his life for the time being and he's less than thrilled.

So, how does someone ease their pain? They address it.

"Thanks." Tom says as he turns to Matty.

"Here." He hands Tom the ointment. "I can get y/n more so you should hold onto that. You'll need it."

"Where is y/n?" Tom asks, taking the tube from Matty's hand.

"If she isn't here, it's because she doesn't want to take part in this." Mikey quips and he's instantly granted a nasty scowl from Matty.

"Upstairs, turn right, room at the very end of the hall." Matty explains.

"Did you know?" Tom asks as he stands up. "About her using me?"

He's not even sure why he asked. They're your friends. They're not going to rat you out but there's something in Tom that has to know. He needs to know if he's really the only one that was left in the dark. Is he really the only one that doesn't know what's going on? And if he is, why? Why isn't he good enough or trustworthy enough to know?

"Nope." Mikey denies but Matty isn't having it.

"We told her not to and she didn't. She didn't use you." Matty states.

His loyalty runs deep but he knows the difference between right and wrong. Mikey was far more vocal about how wrong it was for you to go out and use Harrison and/or Tom but Mikey's loyalty runs deeper than his moral opinion. He won't rat you out even when he probably should. Matty will if he feels it's best for the other party and in this situation, it is. Tom has every right to know and Matty isn't going to cover for your fuck ups. Mikey can do that if he wants.

"Right." Tom scoffs. "I'll be back."

Mikey goes to open his mouth, a smart remark to try and deter him but Matty is quick to hit Mikey and shake his head. Tom is good for you whether you want to admit it or not. He is and Matty is going to be the person that's going to make sure you and Tom try to hash it out. Tom isn't going to put up with your bullshit and him ignoring you and still being pissed after you saved his ass, proves that. You need people who won't put up with your bullshit and will call you out. Matty doesn't want to stand in the way of that.

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" Mikey asks once Tom has started up the stairs, eyes narrowed in annoyance.

Matty gets up from his seat. "Yeah, why don't you?" His voice is challenging, he knows the answer but he's waiting for Mikey to admit it.

"She won't tell him anything." Mikey leans back in his chair, his confidence radiating from him.

"Not everything but she'll tell him something," Matty says, hoping he's right. "Something to drink? Water? Pop? Beer?" Matty turns to Harrison.

"Beer would be great, yeah." Harrison sighs. "Thanks." Harrison would actually love something stronger if he's going to have to listen to Mikey and Matty question the state of Tom and you but, Harrison keeps that thought to himself.

"He's going to go up there and y/n's gonna scream her fucking head off. She'll defend herself to preserve her name and you know that." Mikey argues, ignoring Harrison.

"Yeah, they'll start yelling, y/n will feel bad, so she'll jump him, we get to overhear that and then she'll tell him something." Matty rambles as he walks to the kitchen, grabbing two beers and a water. "It's what she did with him already."

Mikey's face scrunches together as Matty enters the living room again, handing him a beer and handing Harrison the other. Matty takes his seat, not gathering why Mikey looked confused.

"Oh, you didn't know?" Matty gives him a yikes face as he takes a drink of his water. "She slept with him and told her about her weird thing with fish." Matty explains further.

"She told him about marine biology?" Mikey asks and the confusion and hardness completely disappear.

"That's what she told me." Matty shrugs. "She told me she went to him that night and he was there for her. They fucked and then she told him about her thing with the ocean and fish."

Mikey's attention turns to Harrison. "That true?"

Harrison is perfectly fine with not being involved in the conversation especially when it concerns other people's sex lives. It's none of his business but now he's being stared at and you did wake him up.

"Uh, well, I can't speak for what they talked about but...." Harrison trails off. "Yeah, they woke me up." Harrison shrugs a shoulder.

Matty holds a triumphant smile, looking back to Mikey. "She likes him more than she's letting on so yeah, Mike, she'll come clean about everything. It might take some time but I've got more faith in her." Matty pulls his feet onto the couch and grabs the remote, turning on the TV and dropping the conversation.

Tom reaches the door of your room and he can see your shadow pacing from the door and he pauses. He's so angry, and frustrated with you. All he wants to do is be there for you and be your shoulder for whatever you need and it's just hard. It's hard when he doesn't trust you and you don't trust him. What do people have when they don't have trust?

Tom knocks softly and he watches the shadow under the door come towards him. The doorknob squeaks as it turns. You open it and your eyes widen with the sight of him. You're surprised to see him despite knowing he was right downstairs. You just assumed with his annoyance with you, he wouldn't bother coming upstairs. Not to your room but there he is, black basketball shorts and no shirt with messy hair and yellow and pale blue bruises decorating his body.

"Hey?" You let him in and close the door behind him.

Tom walks into your room and looks around, noticing the posters with marine life, random facts printed onto the pictures, similar to the ones seen in science classrooms. Your room is remarkably neat, the complete opposite of your life outside of this room.

"What the fuck?" Tom turns to face you and your jaw just drops.

"What the fuck? That's what you have to say?" You cross your arms, brows pulled together.

"Fuckin' with my best mate to get to me, yeah that's what I've to say." Tom mutters and his jaw clenches.

"You really wanna do this? Now?"

Tom gestures his hands out, knowing if he doesn't get it all out now, he won't. He'll cave and talk to you but he won't let out everything he's thinking. He won't snap on you or call you out for your shitty thinking. He'll just nod and go along with it so while his back is in pain and he's pissed off about everything tonight, he's going to hash it out with you.

"Okay." You say. "Yeah, and I didn't though?"

"But you were going to, were you not?" Tom's voice raises.

"But I didn't!" You yell. "That's the point! I didn't!"

"But you thought about it! You were actually goin' out with him and that's when you change your fuckin' mind!"

"And I didn't do it! I didn't do it! Alright?" You yell louder than him, taking a step towards him.

"You lied to me!"

"I didn't lie to you!" You scream. "I just didn't tell you! There's a difference!"

Tom looks to the ceiling in frustration. "That's your excuse?"

"It's not an excuse!"

"Why didn't you just tell me?"

"Because of this! I knew you'd be pissed!"

"Then what was your fuckin' point? Huh? Why did you fuckin' bother? How do I know you're not working with Arthur? All this is some fuckin' show to throw me off?"

"I'm not working with him and fuck you for thinking I am! You know what I'm trying to do? Get your ass out of the mess you created. I don't know what the fuck you did to get in with Arthur but I'm trying to save your ungrateful ass."

"I'm ungrateful? You're shitting me, right? Look at you!" Tom's voice booms against the walls. "I fuckin' help you and–"

"And what?" You cut him off. "I fuckin' thanked you. I came and saved your ass tonight. I am saving your ass and you know why? Because. That's the fuckin' reason. I don't have another one. Not anymore because you're in-fucking-sufferable!"

Tom heaves and you're right. You did come and help tonight. You didn't have to and if you were working with Arthur, it would have been in your best interest to just let Arthur continue. But, you didn't. You came to help him, you didn't pull Harrison off of Arthur when you could have. You aren't working with Arthur and Tom is just paranoid, albeit, rightfully so. You're just screaming your head off at him and Tom deserves it as you deserve him yelling at you for not telling him anything. But, it's just keeping the anger flowing through Tom's veins, for the moment.

"Why don't you just fuckin' tell me what the hell is going on? If you told me, I'd have somethin' to go on!"

"Because!"

"Why?" Tom asks and he's letting his anger slip, just enough for his voice to crack like a plea. "Just tell me you're not fuckin' with me and what the fuck is going on!"

"I'm not fuckin' with you! Okay?" You scream and the crack in his voice gets you to crack, just enough. "I give a flying fuck about you and I'm not fucking with you, alright?" You catch yourself and you switch right back. "So, you owe me a fucking thank you."

A switch flips with your words, you stepping forward, almost chest-to-chest with him. Tom moves forward, pushing you against the wall but not hard, just enough to pin her to the wall with his hands on either side of your head. You admit you care for him, in a yelling match, but admitted it nonetheless. You cracked and sprang right back with the thank you remark and Tom curses himself because it's intoxicating.

"Thank you?" Tom's voice is low and rough.

Your heart jumps to your throat with his close proximity and taunting question. "Thank me, yeah. You heard me."

Tom's lips crash into yours in a rush. "Thank you." He mutters into your mouth.

Your hands go to his unruly hair and tug lightly. "Fuck you, Holland."

Tom pulls away, moving his hands to your cheeks and he thinks maybe you want to stop but the corner of your mouth twitches up and you push into him. Your lips mold into his. The anger Tom felt towards you completely melts away and his hands move from your cheeks to your thighs, picking you up. A squeal falls from your lips while your legs wrap around his waist.

"Fuck you, too." Tom mutters, smirking and nipping at your neck but minding the bruise that's still decorating your skin.

Your eyes close and you whisper in his ear. "Fuck me then."

You don't have to say anything else for Tom to oblige. He brings you to the bed and strips you of your shirt. There are more bruises than the other night but you're just as perfect as ever. He kisses around your stomach and over your sports bra before his mouth reaches yours once more. Your knees hug either side of his hips and he's so warm.

He pisses you off and he makes a solid argument and he is addicting. It's infuriating but there's something about him standing up for himself and calling you out that just turns you on. It makes you fall that much harder for him. It makes you want him in every aspect. No one does that with you besides Mikey and Matty but they're your best friends, that's expected. Tom is different and he's so warm.

Tom's hands glide down your side and push your sports bra up, revealing your breasts. A breath escapes your throat from the cool air touching the newly exposed skin. One of Tom's arms hold him up while his other and kneads your breast, open-mouthed and sloppy kisses being pressed against your cheek to your neck. Your eyes flutter closed and the coil starts to build in your stomach with the heat between your legs. You reach your hand up and pull at the elastic of Tom's shorts, pulling them just enough to snake your hand inside and inside his boxer briefs, grabbing his hardened length. Tom's head falls into the crook of your neck with every pump of your fist.

His mouth is hot against your skin, dangerously hot but all the more inviting. His kisses trail down to your nipple and you never want the warmth to leave. Your heart is pounding loud in your ears and it's like it's just singing for him. It's singing for him as he pulls your shorts and underwear down, tossing them across the room somewhere. Tom pushes your legs aside and he kisses up your thighs and you're already seeing stars. His lips are like little surges of electricity causing sparks up and down your spine in the best way. Tom's mouth reaches your folds and his tongue darts out, teasing your folds.

One of your hands come to his hair, pulling a little harder than intended. "Tom." You moan and in his lustful state, Tom doesn't care what it would take if he got to hear his name fall from your lips like that all the damn time because it is the sexiest thing he's ever heard.

"What was that?" His voice is husky and it makes you squirm beneath him. Your eyes meet his and they're so dark and there's a teasing grin across his face. He could get anything he wanted from you if he keeps it up. You're wrapped around his finger and he doesn't even know it.

"Tom." Your eyes widen with the needy whimper and Tom chuckles, loving the ego boost.

Tom doesn't tease any longer, his tongue works your heat, eager and needy. He alternates between flattening his tongue and working in zig-zag formations, all just as fast and his pace just increases with your high pitch moans. One hand tugging his head closer to you and your hips buck up to his face. Tom's arm goes across your hips to keep you on the bed and you whimper under him, the coil in your stomach begging to be snapped.

"Please," You beg, looking down to him and he pulls away just long enough to ask a question.

"Please what?" He's taunting you and all it does is make you want him more.

"Ma-ohh," You're cut off when Tom's mouth attaches to your clit, sucking softly. "Make me come." You rush as your legs start to close around his head. You're so close but Tom isn't. His cock twitches with your begging beneath him and he's not ready to let you finish just yet.

"Condom?" Tom asks, releasing your swollen bud and kissing up your waist and stomach, sucking on a spot near your side.

You release your sweaty hand from his matted curls and reach to the nightstand beside the bed, pulling the drawer open and just grabbing the box. "You're a fuckin' tease."

"I could stop." Tom taunts, sitting up on his knees after tugging his clothes off. He grabs a little square package from the box.

You suck on your teeth, never wanting him to stop. You watch him roll the latex over his throbbing cock and you just want him to come back to you. And you aren't mad that you're willing to admit it.

You push up and let your hands hook around his neck, pulling down with you. Your lips attach to his, hungry and needy for attention. "Don't stop." You mutter into his mouth and there's a rush of relief and adrenaline that comes over Tom.

"Hands and knees, darlin'." His voice is dark and you nearly whimper at the sound alone.

Tom sits up and you move to your hands and knees. He lines himself up with your soaking entrance and his tip brushes against you a few times before Tom slowly pushes in. He's so slow the anticipation is almost agonizing. Tom bottoms out and leans down, pressing kisses down your back and a shiver runs down your spine. You clench around him and a gruntled swear falls from Tom's lips.

He grips your hips and starts thrusting into you, at first slow but it doesn't last long before his thrusts are fast and hard, him bottoming out every time. Your higher pitched moans fill his ears and it's beautiful in the most forbidden way, his head clouding and eyes closing. Tom's low moans come deep from his throat and neither of you can be bothered to stay quiet, not tonight when there's so much unsaid and pent-up annoyance and frustration. You just throw caution to the wind and ride out your highs together, loud and blissful.

You fall onto the bed, a sheer layer of sweat covering your body while you catch your breath. Tom falls beside you, taking a second to gather his breath before removing the condom and tying it off, tossing it in the small garbage can you directed him to.

Tom tosses you your clothes while dressing himself and lays back on his side once you're both dressed. His body aches all over but not an ounce of regret finds itself streaming through his veins. The aches are worth it and by the blissful and soft smile on your face, he can only assume you're feeling the same way.

Your eyes are closed and your breathing has returned to normal. Your hair is a matted mess, some strands covering your face. Bruises still decorate your glowing skin and Tom's heart just flutters. There's no more anger and there's no animosity. No frustration or vendetta. He's over it. The only thing he's focused on now is how incredibly peaceful you look facing him and how vulnerable you look. It's a moment of peace in the chaos of your lives, in the forest fire.

Tom reaches for the strands of hair and pushes them behind your ear. Your eyes flutter open and they're the prettiest shade of y/e/c he's ever seen. Thre's something your eyes that pulls him, something he's never quite seem before with the color. But, maybe that's because he's never paid attention. He's never felt like he needed to pay attention or even cared much to pay attention, but now he is and it's like he's seeing another galaxy with blotches of different hues within your iris. Your eyes remind him of venus and he's never loved y/e/c eyes so much.

"You're beautiful." His voice is just above a whisper and your cheeks heat up.

"Stop." A smile is splitting your face as you look away from him, shyness coming through.

"Nah, I mean it." Tom's hand cups your cheek and glides it to your shoulder and to your waist, pulling you close to him.

You look up to him and he has his flaws. Clearly. But, he's perfect to you. In this messed up world, in the universe that has fucked you over more times than you can count, it let you know him and he's perfectly flawed and you'd be damned if that four letter word wasn't taunting the back of your mind already. And you'd be damned if you'd ever say it.

You press a kiss to his shoulder and he presses a gentle kiss to your head. "Stay tonight." You mumble against his skin.

Tom's arm flexes and pulls you closer to him. "Gimme your phone." You look up, quirked brow, showing your wonder. "Text Harrison."

"Right." You nod nonchalantly before your eyes widen. "OH. They're downstairs."

Tom's grip on you loosens as his laugh fills the room. "Yeah, they are."

"Oops." You chuckle, turning in Tom's grip to get your phone from the nightstand.

"Oh well." Tom's laugh continues as you unlock your phone and hand it to him.

"Harrison can stay if he wants. Travis won't be home until late tomorrow." You explain. "Mikey and Matty will likely stay anyway."

"Alright." Tom types away with the hand that was wrapped around you. "Who's Travis?" Tom asks and whenever someone would ask about Travis, someone you show interest in, there's always a jealous undertone but there's no jealousy in Tom's words, just curiosity. It's refreshing.

"My brother." You answer while Tom sends the message.

Your answer catches Tom by surprise. You didn't hesitate to answer. You gave him a detail about your life. You gave him something. There's a little glimmer of hope that you're really going to open up. He won't get his hopes up but maybe you'll tell him more.

"You live with your brother?" Tom rests the phone behind you before resting his arm around your waist again.

"Yeah, kinda." You sigh. "I swap between Mikey and Matty and here. Travis, he, uh," You sigh, your hand coming up to his arm and your fingers trace his veins. "He helped raise me so sometimes I just need to get away from him."

Tom's thumb brushes under your shirt and rubs your smooth skin gently. "Understandable."

You sigh and you don't want to talk about your family. If you talk about family, your mom will come up and you'll have a mental breakdown from pure fury. You'll completely lose your shit. If you talk about family, you'll talk about your dad and that'll just lead to a mess for too many reasons to count. And if you talk about family, details about Travis will come up and you don't want to talk about it. So, you let Tom in about something else.

Your fingers stop tracing his veins and you extend it from your side, showing him your inner bicep, opposite the side of the burns on your other arm. Tom's eyes meet the scarred skin, a burned scar in the shape of what looks to be some type of crest. It's round with two crisp detailed bucks. His brows furrow as he takes your arm in hand and leans in, looking closer.

"The bloody hell happened?" Tom asks.

You swallow thickly, ready to give him some answers. "That's Arthur's family crest."