it's a sour marriage.

butterflies. cigarettes. cartoon eyes. diamond minds. he is afraid of you. in loving him, you hold a knife at his throat. in loving you, he tells you exactly where to cut. we are two against the world yet he still does not trust your hand in his. this is new and he is terrified.

tears soaked cheeks caved by his palms. tear burnt eyes blazing against his. he is horrified. feared to let people in for the damage they could do and the damage they could find. michael don't want to be found. he don't want to be seen. but you did. you have his soul. his flesh. his bones.

his heart ripped from the contamination called body along everything else the second you disappeared. all stripped from him. leaving nothing but a pool of blood of resentment. hate. bitterness. rage. longing. and found out that you had bled the blood you owe, bearing a child. his child. our child. that you kept hidden.

gripping you tight, his forehead resting against the crown of thorns that adorn you. "why are you doing this to me? hm?" he clenched his teeth. your breath so close, howling against his skin. his eyes crucified you. shadows flashing in them. his eyebrows curling. his shoulders sagging. his marrow was turning to ice, shivering him violently.

"i know you would be fine without me. i know you would survive— but why did you have to lie to me like this? betray me like this?" his tone roughened. his voice fell to a whisper. his lips grazed yours. "i love you."