Flower Crowns & Battle Scars

Petrified

(Mark's POV) 

After a week, I was let go from the hospital. Jack and my mom would look after me, and our schoolwork would be brought over by Marzia.
I was on bedrest until I could walk again. The reason I couldn't was because I had a broken ankle, which was surprising. If you didn't already know, I can make my feet face backwards, which is why I found it surprising that my left ankle was broken. 
However... Jack seemed a little on edge lately. I don't know what's wrong with him, but he's not acting like himself. So, I was about to check on him. I shouldn't be using crutches, but I have no choice unless I want him to lose his mind. 
I, slowly but surely, made my way downstairs and saw him cooking. He looked over for a second, looked down, then back at me. He left was he was doing and ran over to me. 

"Mark, ya shouldn't be out of bed!" he gasped. "You could get hurt worse!" 
"I don't care," I responded, surprising him with my answer. "I couldn't go another second without knowing what's wrong." 
"Nothin's wrong, babe."
"Bullshit. You haven't acted yourself since I got landed in the hospital. What's going on?" 
"..." 
"Jack?" 

I saw tears form in his eyes as he just broke down. He hugged onto me and I hugged his head to my chest. I saw my parents about to walk in until they saw us and I made a head movement for them to leave for a minute. They did so. Then, Jack stood up and wiped his eyes. 

"I'm sorry," he sniffled. 
"There's nothing to be sorry for, baby," I reply. "You haven't done anything." 
"I didn't protect ya," he cried softly. "I could've avoid this, had I just done better..." 
"You did the best you could, Jack. I don't blame you for this. If anyone, I blame Jason and Marco themselves. For all of this; scaring you, hurting me. Once I get better, I'm gonna start taking self-defense classes with my brother. Then, we'll kick their asses together. Okay?" 

Jack gave me a small giggle, then he looked up at me. 

"How did I get so lucky tuh' deserve ya?" he asked, wiping his tears away. 
"I dunno," I replied. "But I'm also lucky to have you too..." 
"Now, c'mon. Let's get ya upstairs before yer ma kills me fer keepin' ya down here." 
"They just passed, so they don't care." 
"Oh... Still, I want ya tuh' be comfortable. I'll bring up some lunch in a sec, okay? Then we can watch somethin'; whatever ya want." 
"Vine compilations sound good?" 

He shook his head and smiled, rolling his eyes as well. 

"Why not," he sighed, picking me up. "You and Vine; good grief..." 
"What?" I laughed. "I caught you watching some the other day!" 
"That's different. I don't watch them constantly like you do." 
"Fuck you." 
"But you love me." 

I crossed my arms and made a pout-y face, earning a genuine laugh from the Irishman. 

"I knew I'd get ya with that one," he smiled. 
"Don't flatter yourself," I smirked. 

He laid me gently on the bed and covered me with a few blankets. 

"I'll be right back," he grinned. 

I went to YouTube to pick out some Vine compilations and made it connect to the TV. Then, he came back up after a few minutes. He had made my favorite; chicken and dumplings. 

"Aww," I smiled. "Thank you." 
"Yer mom told me they were yer favorite." 
"Of course she did. What else has she told you?" 
"A lot." 
"Oh no..." 
"Yeah... she told me more than I wanted tuh' know." 
"...Let's just watch the vines." 

As we ate, he snuggled next to me and kissed me lightly on my forehead. We just spent the next two hours or so watching Vines.
I loved having quality time with him like this. It was amazing. And to hear him laugh, oh, how that warmed my heart. I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world. 
Jack is so special to me, and to have seen him scared like that, it hurt. But at least I know now that I have the ability to make him feel better...