Mine - Vance Hopper (The Black Phone)

- Crumbling barriers -

"Mari." He whispers, his lip quivering lightly.

Marilyn had never seen him like this, not one time. Never in her whole life had she witnessed Vance Hopper in such a broken state. It was as if everything in the world had shifted and she was some how in some completely different universe. A universe where Vance Hopper was willing to show his vulnerable side.

"What happened?"

The girls voice was alot softer than the first time she asked. From erratic and worrisome to a gentle and patient tone, her facial features still showing the obvious signs of a worried state.

Vance doesn't bother to keep his walls built up, infront of her at least. But he didn't feel like protecting himself from her, protecting his heart from her. Realization for his feelings had clouded over him long ago, and now he's beginning to act on them.

Normally at a time like this, the boy would run away from his home and to a park on the other side of town. He's spend the night there and just think.

Think about life, his life. Think about how shitty it really is. Honestly, Vance has had thoughts of completely leaving the town all together. But he never had the balls to do it.

He couldn't stomach the fact of leaving behind what he had. It wasn't completely perfect, but she was. She made his living hell a beautiful heaven. Sure, he may not have seen it before but that doesn't matter to him anymore because he can see it now.

"My dad." The blonde mutters, clenching his jaw at the thought of his own father.

Marilyn's eyebrows furrow, gulping lightly. His father. He did this. His own father did this to him. He beat his son bruised and bloody.

Not bothering to ask questions, Marilyn takes the boys hand in her own and pulls him towards the bed, sitting him down on the edge.

"I'll be right back." She whispers, looking at him for confirmation to go.

Vance nods at her, staring at her face foe a second before she walks away.

Marilyn walks out of her bedroom, slowly closing the door behind her. She's careful not to make too much sound incase her father wakes from his slumber. Marilyn knows he deserves every wink of sleep he gets as she knows that he spent most of his hours searching for her and her brother.

Heading towards the bathroom, Marilyn goes to the same drawer she used to when a certain boy who wore a bandanna used to come to her house after his own fights.

She pulls out the first aid kit before grabbing a cloth and wetting it. Then she quickly makes her way back to her bedroom.

Vance looks up at the sudden sound of the door opening, his face staying the same as it has been the whole time he was there.

His gaze shifts down towards the first aid kit in her hands before quickly shaking his head.

"No. I don't need you to clean me up."

Marilyn also shakes her head, ignoring the boys words. She walks over to him and sits on his left, placing the first aid kit onto the mattress behind them and opening it up.

"Marilyn, I said I don't nee—"

"Shut up. I'm doing this whether you like it or not." She says and the boy closes his mouth, rolling his eyes.