Outside Work We... •[TNN One-shots]•

Scars •|| MARJOREECE ||•

Prompt: Marjorie hides scars from Reece.

[TW: !! SLIGHT MENTIONS OF SH !!]
(READ WITH CAUTION!!!)

Marjorie stood in front of the mirror in their bedroom, clutching the edge of her towel as she stared at her reflection. Her hair dripped water onto the floor from her recent shower, but she barely noticed. Her eyes were fixed on the faint scars that ran along her forearms—small, pale lines that told stories she hadn’t spoken of in years.

She took a deep breath and pulled on a long-sleeved shirt, carefully ensuring the fabric covered every inch of her arms. It had become second nature by now, even in the safety of her home with Reece.

“Gorgeous? Are you okay in there?” Reece’s voice floated through the door, his usual tone of concern evident.

“I’m fine, my darling,” she called back, her voice steady. She quickly dried her hair with a towel before stepping out of the bathroom.

Reece was sitting on the bed, waiting for her. He looked up with his usual warm smile, the one that never failed to make her heart flutter. “Took you long enough. I was about to send a search party.”

Marjorie chuckled and shook her head. “You’re ridiculous.” She walked over to sit beside him, her hands instinctively tugging at her sleeves to ensure they stayed in place.

Reece tilted his head, watching her carefully. “You’ve been doing that a lot lately,” he said softly.

“Doing what?” she asked, her voice light, though her heart skipped a beat.

“Pulling at your sleeves,” he said, reaching out to gently take her hand. “You don’t have to hide anything from me, Marjorie. You know that, right?”

Marjorie froze, her gaze dropping to their joined hands. Her instinct was to brush it off, to change the subject or make a joke, but something in Reece’s tone made her pause.

“Reece, it’s not... it’s nothing,” she said, though her voice wavered slightly.

“It’s not nothing if it’s making you feel like you need to hide,” he said gently. His thumb brushed over her knuckles, a grounding touch. “If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay. But if you do, I’m here. Always.”

Marjorie swallowed hard, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She had spent so many years hiding this part of herself, afraid of judgment or pity. But Reece wasn’t just anyone. He was her husband, her partner, her safe place.

“I... I used to hurt myself,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “When I was a teenager. Things were... hard, and I didn’t know how else to deal with it.”

Reece’s hand tightened around hers, but he didn’t interrupt. He just listened, his eyes soft and full of understanding.

“I haven’t done it in years,” she continued, her voice trembling. “But the scars... they’re still there. And I guess a part of me was afraid of what you’d think if you saw them.”

Reece cupped her face with his free hand, his blue eyes meeting hers. “Marjorie, I love you. All of you. Your past, your present, everything. Scars don’t scare me. They’re just reminders of how strong you are—of what you’ve overcome.”

Marjorie felt tears welling up in her eyes, and she leaned into his touch. “You really mean that?”

“With every fiber of my being,” Reece said, his voice steady and full of conviction. “You don’t have to hide from me, Marjorie. Not ever.”

A single tear slipped down her cheek, and Reece gently wiped it away. “You’re amazing, you know that?” she said, her voice breaking into a soft laugh.

He grinned. “Well, I have to be to keep up with you.”

Marjorie laughed again, the tension in her chest easing. She pulled up her sleeves, revealing the faint lines on her arms. Reece didn’t flinch or look away. He just traced a finger over one of the scars, his touch as gentle as ever.

“You’re incredible, Marjorie,” he said softly. “And I’m so proud of you.”

For the first time in a long time, Marjorie felt like she could truly breathe. She leaned into Reece’s embrace, letting his warmth and love surround her.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you too, gorgeous,” he replied, holding her close.