“Why won’t you just HATE ME?!” Jax yells at the top of his lungs, his voice ringing throughout the circus tent and echoing his words back to the two of you as you stand before him, hands extended as you reach out to him.

Sure Jax could be a jerk. But you’ve seen past his façade many times and know what he’s really like. You’ve seen a broken, hurt man who keeps people at an arms length so he won’t get hurt again.

And he knows this.

For the past day, he’s been trying to push you away, keep things from you, stick things that you’re afraid of in your room. Say rude things through Caine’s adventures. But knowing better, you stuck beside him, forgiving and smiling.

So now he stands here, shaking angrily, tears pricking the corners of his eyes as he so desperately tries not to get attached again.