Please, Don't Leave Me

Chapter 13

          After what happened the principal sent Marc home and allowed Nathaniel to go with him. He knew that Marc was in no shape to be left alone. The couple walked toward Nathaniel's house in silence, and Nathaniel could feel Marc still trembling. Nathaniel looked at him, his hood up to hide the now bruising cheek. Nathaniel stopped walking and made Marc look up at him gently. He saw fear in Marc's eyes, which made his skin crawl. He moved the side of his hood enough to very gently kiss the fresh bruise then his forehead, trying to show Marc that he was safe. Marc knew he was trying to cheer him up so he just hugged Nathaniel tightly. Nathaniel held him close and rubbed his back; Nathaniel hated seeing Marc this upset. He let go of Marc and intertwined his fingers with Marc's before they began walking again. In a matter of minutes, they were back home, and Nathaniel opened the door. Marc started to go in when Nathaniel stepped in front of him. 

          "N-Nate....?" Marc asked, unsure of what his lover was thinking. Nathaniel smiled lovingly and gently scooped him up bridal style and carrying him inside. Nathaniel kicked the door closed before taking Marc to the couch and gently laying him down. Marc had a flash image of Andrew pinning him to the couch, and he made breathless, wheezing gasps. Nathaniel immediately kneeled beside him. "Marc, Babe.... It's alright... You're safe.... I'm here.... No one will be hurting you ever again.... I promise....." Marc looked at him and seemed to snap out of it. "N-Nate... I-I'm sorry.... I...." Nathaniel quietly told him to hush. "You were treated like a toy... for some sick fuck's personal gain... You have nothing to apologize for.... How about we watch a movie and eat ice cream....? How's that sound...?" he said with a loving smile. Marc smiled shyly and nodded slowly. Nathaniel stood up and kissed Marc softly before going to the kitchen to make them both bowls of ice cream. When he came back, he saw Marc on the floor with his hoodie thrown across the room, and he was holding his head. Nathaniel set the ice cream on the table and ran over to him. "Babe....?" he asked worriedly. Marc looked at him with tears in his eyes before clinging to him. "I had an image of you being hurt.... That's one reason I hid from Andrew.... Mom and Dad never knew I dated him.... But back then when I tried to breakup with him and date someone new.... He'd force me to watch as he tortured them....  as my 'punishment'......" Nathaniel's eyes softened as he held Marc close. "Did he kill them all....?" Marc nodded as he clung to Nathaniel. "Then you need to press charges against him.... If you testify against him, he won't stand a chance.... Marc... Please consider it...." Marc looked down then nodded, agreeing to think it over. 

          Nathaniel then helped him stand back up before leading him back to the couch. Nathaniel went and got the ice cream before coming back and turning on Aladdin. Nathaniel sat next to Marc then pulled him closer by his waist. Marc leaned into Nathaniel while they watched the movie, soon forgetting all about Andrew. Nathaniel smiled and watched the movie with him. By the time the movie ended, Marc had finished his ice cream and fell asleep cuddled up to Nathaniel. Nathaniel kissed the top of his head before taking out his phone and updated his friends on the situation. "Marc is feeling better and safer for now... He's currently asleep on my shoulder so I'm probably going to lay with him in bed instead of this tiny couch. Please let everyone else at school know he's doing better and that if he starts getting in a panic to have me called to whichever class he's in. Thanks, Guys..." he texted before carrying Marc upstairs, doing his best to not wake him up. He was successful as he gently lay him down then cuddled with him, soon falling asleep holding Marc.

          When Nathaniel woke up again, it was sunset, and Marc was still fast asleep. Nathaniel smiled softly and played with Marc's soft hair. He looked over at his phone and found a text from an unknown number saying, "It's me, Chloe. I wanted to apologize. I called in Andrew, but I didn't realize his past with Marc. I only knew he was Marc's ex. Kim told me what you told him. Is he really OK? I tried asking Adrian, but it's like I'm invisible to him, now." Disgusted, Nathaniel left her on "read" before seeing another text from Marinette saying, "Hey Nate.. It's been a few hours since your last update. How is he...?" Nathaniel replied saying that Marc was still sleeping everything off. The second he hit send, Marc started to stir. "Mmmm..... Nate....?" Marc asked as he moved his head to look at Nathaniel. "Hey, Sleeping Beauty.... How'd you sleep...?" Marc shook his head. It wasn't the most restful sleep; he kept having nightmares of Andrew. Nathaniel seemed to catch his mood and started thinking. "I have an idea... Let's try to replace those memories of him with positive memories... Like why don't we go skating...? If you're having fun then you won't have time to dwell on him, ya know..?" Nathaniel suggested. Marc thought for a moment before smiling shyly and nodding. They got their shoes back on, and Nathaniel gave Marc one of his black jackets for him to wear instead of his usual red one. Marc admired himself in the mirror, and Nathaniel hugged him from behind. Marc smiled up at him and kissed him softly. Nathaniel kissed him back lovingly before they left and walked hand-in-hand to the skate rink. 

          When they got there, Nathaniel paid their admission, and they went to get their skates. Marc got a youth six while Nathaniel got a youth eight. They sat beside each other tying them when Marc froze; he just remembered he didn't know how to skate. Nathaniel smiled and kissed his hand. "It's alright, Babe. I'll teach you," he said,earning a shy smile from his adorable lover. Nathaniel helped him stand and used a low wall to guide Marc to the rink itself. Once on the slick floor, Nathaniel told Marc to bend his knees and slide his feet slightly to the side. Marc did as told but never once his hands away from Nathaniel. "You're doing great, Babe!! You're a real natural on these." Marc blushed, not expecting this praise. He then smiled shyly before Nathaniel skated backwards, his hands still holding Marc's. After a couple inches, Nathaniel let go and Marc became wobbly. "Knees bent, arms swinging slightly as a counter balance, eyes on me. You got this, Mon Cherie. Marc's eyes widened then he smiled happily and became much more confident, resulting in his skating to improve greatly. They skated together for hours before they had to sit down. They then sipped on some soda and laughed. Nathaniel looked into Marc's eyes and cupped his good cheek and leaned in. Marc did the same thing as he leaned in and their lips met. Marc felt nothing but love pour from Nathaniel as they kissed and shared a special moment. That was it; he had fallen utterly in love. Was he scared? Not even in the slightest. Nathaniel gave him a sense of strength and confidence, and no one was going to steal that from him ever again. He was going to press charges on Andrew and protect Nathaniel from Andrew's gang. Now where to find a martial arts teacher in Paris...