His arms pulled away from her, his own wet, frustrated tears running down his face and he snarled in annoyance at them. Jack lifted his hands and wiped at his face roughly, shutting his eyes, shaking his head. “Stop crying. Stop crying. How old am I? Am I a three year old or a thirty year old? God, grow up. Grow up!”
Jack shook his head a few more times, taking deep breaths, but almost choked on one and spluttered.
Roxy suddenly appeared, leaping onto the bed, ignoring Katelynn entirely and whined as she approached Jack, ears down and whimpered louder as she sat on his lap. Jack didn’t touch her, instead kept his hands over his face, trying to get himself together. Trying and failing.
“W-why did you fall in love wi-with a man wh-who can’t do an-anything?” he asked shakily. “I-I can’t protect you at a-all…”
His words stunned her for a moment but the words inside of her heart were true and honest. They had existed in her heart for a long time now.
Bringing her hands up, she touched his cheeks hesitantly, as if afraid he’d reject her, searching for his eyes. “Jack…I fell in love with you because..if it weren’t for you I would be all alone. I love my friends but none of them have been there for me as you have. You worried about me, you DO protect me, you love me so deeply and you didn’t leave me despite what I’ve put you through or my sad past.
“You accept my flaws and still love and to me, that’s pretty amazing. I never thought I’d ever meet someone as wonderful as you.
“Y-You’re..pretty much the only family I have..I have no one but you..and if I lost you..I don’t know what will become of me..”
He groaned faintly, shutting his eyes, and shuddered. Roxy was still in his lap, voicing her concern for him, whimpering gently.
Jack’s eyes opened, red and watery, and looked at Katelynn for a moment before reaching for her hands, covering them with his shaking ones. “I wish I-I could keep you safe all the time. I wish th-that I could do e-everything all your su-super powered friends can, th-that I wasn’t so n-normal like I am. To s-see you safe a-and no longer af-afraid of the people in th-this city who hurt you o-or threaten you… t-to be brave enough t-to confront them a-and beat them f-for hurting you but I know I c-can never….”
He lowered his gaze, the tears still falling.
“I want t-to give you everything b-but I feel as if I-I don’t have anything to g-give you and god look at me, g-going on…!” Jack looked at her, eyes wide. “Y-you were kidnapped you m-must have b-been so scared and here I-I am going on about m-my problems I’m h-horrible and–” he suddenly hugged her, Roxy leaping for freedom before being squashed between them. “Katelynn I’m s-sorry I’m so-so sorry…!!”
Jack Maple 