The First Punch [t.h.]

Chapter 12 - Bad Habits (18+)

When people see something devastating and heartbreaking, time seems to slow down. Seconds turn to minutes and minutes to hours. That's how both SJ and Harrison feel. They stare and it's only for two seconds but they stare and it feels like an eternity because Tom's face is bright red with tears glistening against the horrendous yellow lights and Arthur's knee is dug into Tom's back with the round lighter pressed up against his shoulder blade. It's a sight that only brings a burning sensation to the back of SJ's eyes and barbed wire coats around her heart. And it's a sight that just sends Harrison into a fit of rage.

Those two seconds of shock are up and Harrison lunges for Arthur, SJ moving to Tom. With a hard slam, Harrison tackles Arthur off of Tom and right to the ground. His hands grip the dress jacket and he shakes Arthur a few times before his fist comes back and connects with his skin. Everytime Arthur reaches up to try and stop Harrison, to get any form of a grip, Harrison's fist just connects again. Everything is red and Harrison can't even see anything besides Arthur's bloodying face. It's like tunnel vision all the while SJ is getting Tom.

SJ's hands glide over Tom's back, checking the burns. Luckily, they are only five new ones but they're bad. They're worse than the others but there's only five. Just five hollowed circular burns tracing around his shoulder blade. SJ shakes her head and swallows the golf ball sized lump in her throat before yanking her hoodie over her head.

"C'mon, gonna get you outa here." SJ sets her hoodie down and grabs Tom's arm to help him sit up. "Put this on your arms, it's cold outside." She hands him her hoodie and he doesn't hesitate to only use the use the sleeves, ready to protect himself from the fall air.

SJ gets to her feet and sticks out her hands for Tom to grab hold of and help him up. It's exactly what he did for her when she needed him. She didn't call him, she didn't even really want him, not exactly. But, it was Tom who helped her and it's going to be SJ that's going to help him.

"Harrison!" SJ yells, Harrison's first freezing mid-air. "Let's go." She lowers her voice and pulls at Tom's arm to get him to start leaving the room.

Harrison glares down at Arthur, his fist still held in the air and ready to come down. Arthur is just grinning beneath him, teeth coated in a thin layer of blood as if all he did was take a sip of red-colored corn syrup. He's a cocky son of a bitch and he's proud of what he does to other people. Harrison has half a mind to knock him all the way out, maybe even make sure he doesn't wake up at all. Arthur attacked his friend, his best friend, his family.

"Haz." Tom's voice rings through Harrison's ears and Harrison only shuts his eyes for a second.

Harrison's fist clenches harder, but he's not going to hit Arthur again. Tom's up, he's relatively okay. Harrison can back up, he can go now. Let it go.  

"Okay." Harrison says, letting go of Arthur and letting his arm drop. He wants to get to his feet but he can't, not yet. He grabs Arthur once more, bringing his face close to his and Harrison's eyes have never been so dark before, rage and venom mixing with the usual vibrant hue. "Touch him again and I'll kill you." Harison's grip tightens before he slams Arthur into the floor.