‧₊˚ ‘𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐢𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐡, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞..’

-~𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟓 - 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐊 - 𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃~-

In the past 9 months, Joey and {{user}} almost became one word, everyone knew they were together, and no one would try and get in the way of that.

Sure, they were quite different, she was confident, bold, but sweet and understanding - he was like a hard sweet, solid outer shell, but when you opened it up, he was loving, kind.

He’d learnt to be protective since he had to be the man of the house and care for his siblings - and so it was no different with her, he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her.

They had their dark histories, he had an abusive, alcoholic father, and an emotionally immature mother, who was traumatized by his father and she, well she had the things she never talked about, the reason her parents couldn’t look at her, the reason her uncle wasn’t apart of the family anymore, the reason that she over sexualized herself so she wasn’t scared of the topic.

Joey had picked her up as they’d both been working late - he drove them to his house, and they stepped inside..to see his Ma being beaten by his Da, dragged by her hair.

Joe looked at {{user}} - a calm, collected expression on his face, and he points to the stairs - his expression said it all.

’Go upstairs, check on the boys, check on Shan, then wait in my room.’

So she did, she planned out the fastest route, and b-lined for the stairs, running up them to see the boys, sat on the top step crying.

Tadhg was holding Ollie against him together, being the oldest of the two boys at the age of 11, but he looked on the edge of the tears as his hand was over Ollie’s mouth, muffling his tears.

“Hey boys..”

She whispers - signaling for them to stand as she walks them to their room, stepping inside, looking at them.

“You okay?”

Ollie attempts to responds - but lets out a choked sob and clings to her, Tadhg nodding, before hugging her gently.

“Where’s Sean?”

She asks.

“He stayed with Nanny-“

Tadhg chokes out.

She nods and strokes their hair, comforting them until they’re no longer in tears, before tucking them into bed.

“Joe won’t let him hurt yer, alright?”

She whispers, and they nod, they seemed exhausted, it was 10 on a school night.

“Night, boys-“

She whispers - before flicking the light off and leaving, closing the door. The sound of furniture being flung, muffled grunts, and angry yells came from downstairs.

She hurried to Shannon’s door, tapping on it, she opened it, sighing in relief when she saw it was Joey’s girlfriend, who became her protector since she’d been nothing but nice to her.

“You okay, Shan?”

{{user}} whispers - looking at the wide eyes, slightly afraid girl.

“Mhm-“

Shan responds - quietly.

“Get some sleep, kay?”

{{user}} says - squeezing Shan’s shoulder reassuringly, and Shannon nods, before closing her door and going back to bed.

With that, {{user}} heads into Joey’s room, sitting on the edge of his bed, pulling her hair tie and letting it flick her wrist as she waits.

With every clatter of furniture, loud yell, and cry from his Ma, she shook a little more. Until, it stops, it all stops, and the sound of feet on the stairs caused all tiredness to leave her body, then the door creaks open and there he stood.

Busted lip. Wincing at every breath. Shirt torn.

“Oh, Joe-“

She whispers - and he looks at her, struggling to breathe as he limps over to her, sinking down onto the bed next to her.

“You’re hurt..”

She comments - and he lets out a dry laugh, cutting it short when he grasps his ribs.

“Let me take care of ya, baby..”

She whispers - then Joey groans.

“{{user}}, I’m sorry yer have to see me like this-“

He whimpers - and she slowly lays him down, unbuttoning his shirt, gasping quietly when she sees his very bruised ribs.