Mark stumbles backward and shaking his head backs and forth. His legs numb and his heart beating faster than he should've let it.

"His death was all my fault!" Jack screams, his body finally breaking. "I kill my dad! I killed him! I killed him! I killed him!" He yells ripping his nails down his arm, leaving red lines. "I killed my only family left," Jack yanks down on his hair. A green tuff comes out of his scalp. "five minutes Mark. I watched for five minutes," his eyes are rabid and Mark keeps backing up until he's pressed against the pickup bed.

"And look at you..." Jack mumbles, his body finally stopping. "Scared of your psycho boyfriend huh? Well Mark guess what? I don't act like I'm worth shit because I'm not. I'm worth even less," Then Jacks knees hit the ground as they give out. Just like his mothers knees when she was sick. Mark rushes over snapping from his trance.

"Did you know that the moment after he died I put the bleach to my lips?" Jacks eyes have calmed now but behind them they're fogged over. Not leaving any Jack left. "I only wish I would've swallowed,"

Letting out a cry Mark wraps Jack in his arms, feeling his limp emotionless body against his. Jacks mind swirls and he can't catch up. He doesn't even feel like he owns his body. He feels like an audience member to his own freak show.
"Darling that wasn't your fault," Mark whispers and Jack shakes his head.

"I could have saved him," he shudders and Mark pulls him back.

"Did you put the bleach to his lips and make him drink?" Jack burrows deep into Marks chest. Might has well have.

"I just let him die,"

"Answer me Jack. Did you make him drink? Did you hand him the bleach bottle?"

"But-"

"Not buts did you make him drink the bleach?"

"No," Jack mumbles and pulling him even closer Mark rubs a hand down his bare back.

"Then it wasn't your fault,"

"I could've saved him,"

"You can't save everyone Jack," and immediately he feels Jack tense. "And I'm not scared of you. I just have a past too,"

"Just a pair of broken boys are we not?" Jack mumbles after a moment. Mark rests his chin on his head.

"For better or for worse?"

"For better or for worse,"

"Where are you taking me?" Jack asks as he sip on his milkshake. The windows open and the wind blowing in.

"To a place of healing," Mark responds and Jack ponders for a moment.

"A church? Cause my aunt kinda ruined that for me," Jack answers sarcastically and Mark simply shakes his head.

"Only five minutes away Jack," he taunts in a sickly sweet voice.

"Didn't answer my question," he demands and Mark rolls his eyes before reaching over and blaring the radio.

"What! Can't hear you very well! Musics kinda loud," he screams, motioning to his ears and Jack laughs. "Give me shelter, or show me heart," Mark sings loudly at Jack as he drives on the road and grinning Jack can't help but sing along.

"Come on love, come on love," He sings back and Mark shakes his head in a smile.

"Watch me fall apart, watch me fall apart," they both sing and Jack collapses laughing as the next line plays.

"And I'll be yours to keep Jackaboy," Mark sings and Jacks laughing so hard he's sure he's gonna bust a gut.

"God I love ya'," He grins and turning into a parking lot Mark flips off the radio. Jack looks up to see a hair salon and tattoo parlor.

"You're kidding," Jack says turning to Mark.

"Nope. I'm getting you a back tattoo of your choice,"

"Tattoos are like thousands of dollars,"
]
"Well then get a small one,"

"I don't even know what to get,"

"A quote?" Mark suggest and looking back at the parlor Jack grins.

"A place of healing this is right?"

"Definitely," Mark responds and Jack points at it.

"Okay we'll since we are both broken as fuck we both need this." Marks ready to start the car at the sound of this but Jack just laughs. "Not a tattoo dummy! I meant get your hair dyed pink. The color your mom hated," Immediately Mark laughs.
]
"Hell yeah!" He grins practically running to the store.

When he opens the door the bell chimes and a women covered in tattoos greets them.

"Well how are you two?" She says with a wide smile, her hair pulled in in a pin up style.

"Not half bad," Jack answers as he holds Marks hand. Laughing she leans forward.

"What are you here for?"

"He needs his hair dyed hot pink and I need a tattoo,"

"Both eighteen?" Flashing his ID she tells them to wait over there why she gets the artists who 'just happens to be free'.

"Howdy boys," He says walking over. A long scraggly beard surround this perfect smile.

"I can take you," The women says as she points at Mark and he looks at Jack who nods.

"Its okay. I'll just surprise you," Laughing Mark walks off with the women.

"I'm Marcus," he says holding out a hand as he swings his leg over a chair.

"Jack," he answers back.

"Well Jack what are you looking for and anything I should know?" Suddenly Jacks heart sinks. Can you even tattoo on scars?

"C- can you tattoo on scars?" Jack whispers and nodding Marcus motions to Jack.

"Can I see them?" He asks and Jacks heart stops. If he wanted to get a tattoo how did he think he'd accomplish it without showing his back? Nodding slowly, Jack fingers the edge of his shirt.

"Yeah they're on my back," Jack says and looking over to Mark he sees him flashing a nod. Feeling more confident he stands and pulls off his shirt to reveal the gnarly scars running down his back.

"Oh Jesus," Marcus whispers because correcting himself. "I'm sorry," he stumbles out and clearing his throat he gets down to business. "Are any of these at least a year old?" Thinking Jack nods.

"If I look in a mirror I think I can identify those," he responds and Marcus nods again.

"Ok perfect... well you can put your shirt back on and we can talk about what you want," Jack nods and pulls back on his shirt. Proud he was even able to strip it in the first place.

"I was thinking a short phrase only five words," Jack says immediately and Marcus nods grabbing a book from the side desk.

"Well we'll need a font so why don't you explore these and I can go back to get everything set up," Jack smiles and Marcus is off without a second thought.

Flipping through the pages Jack tries to imagine the font he wants but mostly he knows what he wants. Typewriter. Simple but there, official, like a seal of approval. Sticking down the book he hopes it doesn't hurt. Some of the skin is tender from years of bruising but overall, he can't wait. Even the idea of this is something his stomach lolls in excitement about.

"Ready?" Marcus asks and Jack nods. Now or never.

Mark flashes a thumbs up on his way past.

"We all have scars darling"

Thick. Inky black letters that now stand out against the scars. Forcing you to look at it. Forcing you to read it and Jack couldn't stop staring at it. It was everything he never knew he needed.

"Can I come out now?" Mark whines from behind a curtain and Jack calls him in still looking. But the moment Mark comes in they both stop and stare at each other. Marks hair a new daring hot pink that looks nothing less than spectacular.

"Dam-," Jack began to say as he stared but Mark had a more spectacular reaction. Running forward he engulfs Jack into a hug.

"You are so beautiful," he whispers and Jack squeezes him extra tight. Not feeling the eyes of Marcus and the hairdresser, Marion. Pulling back Marks grinning from ear to ear. "I told you that Jack," he says and staring at Jack he keeps on smiling. "Can I kiss you?" Mark whispers and laughing Jack pulls him in.

"Of course pretty boy,". He says as they kiss. Lips sweet and Jack feels Mark grin against his mouth as they move.
"I love you more than the world,"

"Never lose me?" Jack asks raising his eyebrows playfully.

"Never not ever," Mark responds happily as he pulls him in again.

IMPORTANT A/N
Hey whats up? This is important because we have reached a milestone and I have decided to do something special. Well maybe that sorta depends on you guys. I've decided to do a question and answer kinda thing so I'll wait till' Thursday or Friday and gather the questions (If I even have enough, I bet I won't tho!) Then I'll answer them after or make it its own chapter depending on how many I get. I figured this would be a fun interactive way to have you guys get to know me. So ask any kind of question you desire. Writing, for fun, just about anything you want! Submit two! Submit one or submit zero its all cool either way. I just figured this would be kind cool for the 5K milestone. So ask away and as always thanks for reading and keep going
-RewReader-