I'll Fight Hell to Hold You

Movie Night Breakdown And Discoveries

Right after the movie started, Paul felt his hand being squeezed. Turning to look at Tommy he saw how pale his husband was. "Tom, baby?" 

"Paul, I can't watch movies! I have to be up cleaning or doing something!" "I can't be wasting my time or you'll beat me!" Tommy cried as he jumped up.

"What the hell?!" replied Paul as he tried to grab Tommy. "Sit down, baby. It's movie time." "I don't want you to do anything but relax and enjoy the movie." He had to physically grab Tommy to keep him running to the kitchen. 

Sitting him back  on the couch, he took Tommy's hands in his. "Look at me. You aren't going to be abused ever again. Sit with me, just for awhile. Then if you feel the need to clean we will do it together." He stroked Tommy's wrists, noticing with a frown fresh cuts and bandages. "Tom? How old are these?" "When and where? Why?"

Tommy looked away from Paul. He didn't want to tell his husband. "I-I-I-can't." "I-I-I'm sorry."

Paul thought he already knew the why but he wanted to know the when so he could tie therapy to it. Is it because of the hospital stay?"

"I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!" yelled Tommy. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Paul refused to let go of Tommy until he calmed down. He gently sat on him until the rage had passed. "Please baby, just relax."

Tommy curled up in the corner of the couch but let Paul continue to hold his hand. He felt Paul running his hand up and down his leg to try and soothe him.

Eventually Tommy drifted off to sleep and couldn't feel Paul undressing him. He had started cutting higher up his arms and was now even cutting his thighs and shins. 

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Paul had undressed his husband down to his boxer briefs and was now staring at the scattered scars and cuts he saw. Sucking in his breath, he swore. "Damn! Damn! Damn! Why baby? Why?"

Covering Tommy back up with a light blanket he managed to carry him upstairs and put him to bed. Sitting beside him, he stroked his hair and face.

He quietly documented all the cuts and scars by taking pictures. Turning Tommy over to his back he did the same. After snapping pictures of both sides, he slid Tommy's briefs down to see if there were cuts on his hips. 

Pulling the briefs back up, he re-covered Tommy and dimmed the lights. Paul slid into bed beside Tommy and took him in his arms. Kissing him on the cheek, he laid Tommy's head on his shoulder and drifted off to sleep.