He's warm, so warm he's like walking into a heated home after walking a few blocks in the peak of winter. Tom's safe like a radiator, keeping SJ from getting frostbite. His arms engulf her and her head is pressed against his chest allowing her to hear his heartbeat. Her eyes closed and the two stood in Tom's doorway. His hand came up and rubbed her back with a gentle grace, careful not to put too much pressure on her. She's so delicate against him.

It's an odd sensation for him, to think she's delicate. SJ shows that she's anything but. She lays out guys twice the size of her without even blinking. But, right now, in the moment with only the sound of rain echoing through the apartment, she's fragile like fine lace and Tom would do anything to preserve her. To protect her in every way, from anything he could. He's crazy about her and he doesn't even know why.

SJ picks her up, looking up to him before pressing her forehead against his chest. "C'mon," Tom starts. "Why don't we talk?" Tom asks and SJ looks back to him, nodding just once.

Tom finds a sense of security in the lack of gloss in her eyes and the singular nod. He'd guessed she's willing to talk and maybe that's all she needs, an outsider to listen to her. Sometimes, it's easier to tell people who aren't close to someone things rather than people one is close to. The fear of being judged isn't as present, the fear of being rejected can be better ignored, outsiders tend to have an unbiased opinion. Sometimes, it's just easier to speak and Tom hopes that this is the case.

SJ unwraps her arms from Tom and his soon follow, allowing her to start her walk into his bedroom. Tom's room is tidy, not even an article of clothing on the floor. Just like the kitchen and living room, windows, floor to ceiling, go across the furthest part of his room. Raindrops cascade down the windows reflecting from the city lights outside. A desk sits against the wall beside the windows, a nice place for good light. A decent sized closest is beside the black desk and his bed sits right in the middle and a black dresser matching the desk stands against the wall opposite the windows. His room is just...pleasing.

SJ takes a few steps inside, standing in front of the windows and beside the desk. "Do you normally sleep with your curtains open?" She asks, not looking behind her while Tom shuts the door.

"No," He scoffs with a gentle laugh. "Couldn't sleep." Tom walks up to the side of her, following her gaze. "So..." Tom takes a breath and glances to her. "Are you-"

"I don't wanna talk 'bout it." SJ cuts him off, shaking her head.

He feels safe but safe can be dangerous and SJ already knows she's messing with fire when it comes to him. She knows more of what he's involved with than he does. But, she does find the feeling eating at her, eating at her to just say something and based on the look on his face earlier that day when she called him out about Arthur, Tom is good at keeping secrets. He's good at keeping the ones that matter so SJ could talk to him and deep down she knows that but her walls are set fifteen feet in the air and a mote with raging crocodiles surrounds it. It's safe to stay quiet. The quieter she is, the less likely she'll get hurt, even if it's someone she feels safe with.

"Okay," Tom nods in understanding. "I won't make you." He looks back to her and gives her a timid smile.

He had hope she'd talk to him but not very much. The way he sees it, it's just one step at a time and sometimes it takes time. If he pushes, she won't open up at all so he can respect her boundaries. Asking if she's okay and not making her talk if she doesn't want to, even when his heart is aching throughout his bones for her, that's a part of it. She talks on her own time and Tom'll be there to listen.

"Thanks." SJ returns the smile before looking down to the top of the desk.

Tom's words caught her off guard but in the best way. She's never had someone just be okay with her not talking. Of course, she's had people who simply ask if she's alright and when she says 'always', they drop it. If she says she doesn't want to talk about it, they shrug and move on because at the end of the day, if it's not fucking tragic, people don't care. If it doesn't concern them, they don't care so they always drop it without a second glance. But, Tom, it's different. And SJ knows that because he does understand. To be working with Arthur, he has to understand what it's like to not want to talk about what happened. It's just how it is but nonetheless, she finds herself surprised he just understood and relieved that she isn't going to need to lie or shut down, she can breathe.

White paper with graphite stains and nearly perfectly drawn lines lay on the desk, slightly scattered. There's a desk lap perfectly angled over one of the pieces of paper and a number 2 pencil sits on the right side of the smudged paper. It takes SJ a minute of looking in the dull lighting to figure out exactly what he's been drawing.

She taps the desk with the pads of her fingers. "You design furniture?" She asks as she gets a better look at the work that's laid out.

"You're gonna think it's lame." Tom chortles, walking beside her and looking over his work, slight embarrassment showing on his cheeks.

"Only if you don't do anything with it." SJ retorts with the role of her eyes.

A sense of pride swells in Tom's chest as he runs a hand through his hair and a smile splits his face. "Maybe."

No one has ever said anything close to that. But, then again, Tom doesn't tell very many people about his hobby. Harrison and his family are mainly the only ones who know. It's one of the things he likes to keep to himself.

SJ looks up to him and shakes her head. "Yeah, I get it." She bites her lip before looking back down at his work. Tom's not the only one who keeps his hobby under wraps.

Silence consumes the room as SJ continues to look over what Tom has on his desk. It's all things between desks, chairs, couches, everything anyone can use to furnish a home. And she hopes he does something with it because if he does, he could be extraordinary. More extraordinary than he already is. Everyone becomes so much more when they can express themselves in something they thoroughly enjoy and while Tom might have thought SJ missed the tinting of his cheeks, she didn't. He's proud of his work and he should be. And Tom should show it off to the world, be unstoppable at something he loves. Be him, all of him.

Lightning and thunder rip through the sky, pulling her attention back to the windows. She steps forward a little bit so she can see over the edge where the windows stop. A few cars pass by, nothing out of the ordinary, but her heart starts to speed up.

"Ya know," SJ chuckles to herself. "I don't even like heights."

Tom's brows furrow at the random comment. "Ya? Why d'you keep standing in front of the windows then?" He moves beside her and looks down to her.

SJ looks back to him and her heart jumps to her throat with a sense of anxiety but not necessarily the bad kind. A smirk comes to her mouth as her eyes meet his. "The beauty outweighs the fear."

Tom's brows raise and he matches the smirk. "Anything else outweigh fear?" Tom challenges while his heart starts to race in his chest.

"Stupidity." SJ chortles.

Tom laughs, nodding his head. "Yeah, true." His laugh subsides as his eyes glance from SJ's lips to her eyes. "What else?" His eyes seem to darken with lust, the smile dropping as if knowing exactly what SJ was thinking.

SJ licks her lips and her heart is beating a thousand miles an hour. "Everything." She mutters before closing the small distance between them, cupping his face, and bringing her lips to his.

Tom's hands go right to her hips, fingers digging into her skin as he pulls her flush against him. SJ deepens the kiss as her hands move to his neck, lightly grabbing at the hair of the base of his neck. Tom lets out the softest groan while he pushes her forward so she's just in front of the window but not touching the glass. He reaches over and grabs the string to shut the blinds. With the sound of them closing, SJ can't help but laugh against Tom's lips.

"Like some privacy." Tom mumbles against her, reaching to close the other set of blinds.

"Not complaining." SJ whispers and her voice is drenched with lust.

A smirk crosses her face as she grabs the collar of Tom's shirt and twists the two of them around so his back is towards the window and she can reach the final set of blinds. Tom chuckles before pushing her forward until the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed and the two of them collapse, Tom catching himself with an arm. SJ starts shimmying up the bed, Tom following while their lips barely disconnect. Once her head reaches the pillows, she's quick to start tugging at the hem of Tom's shirt.

He pauses for a second. Only a second but SJ sees it. "You okay?" She asks. "We don't have to."

Tom shakes his head and there's a playful smiling dancing onto his face. "No, it's fine." Tom leans up, straddling her legs and tugs his shirt over his head.

"Christ." SJ mutters, taking in his perfectly toned torso.

She's seen him from a distance but up close, that was another story. Of course, she finds his abs attractive, jaw-dropping even, but there's more to that than just appearance. He had to and still has to work to keep up with them. He has to eat right, hit the gym more than usual, constantly keep himself in check just to maintain the toned muscle. That's sexy.

Tom grips the hem of SJ's hoodie and shirt as she comes up. In a quick movement, he's able to get both articles of clothing from her, leaving her torso bare. She lays back down and Tom gets a look at her stomach and ribs, an up-close look rather than far away like in the basement of the club. Bruises liter her skin just like his but there's a scar right above her hip, not large and definitely old but there. None of it phases him with him being used to seeing injuries, with him knowing bits about SJ. He'd be surprised if she didn't have more than one scar. So, he focuses his attention on breasts and then her collarbones, moving up to her neck and then her face.

"Christ." Tom mimics, lips gracing hers.

"Gonna do something about it, Pretty Boy?" SJ giggles, fingers running down Tom's sides.

Tom licks his lips with a huff and a smirk. His brows wiggle before he wraps an arm around her and quickly flips them over, a squeak barely escaping SJ's mouth before Tom's hand covers her lips.

"Sh, you'll wake up Haz." Tom chuckles.

SJ can feel a rush of heat go to her center with Tom's mouth on hers and the thought of having to be quiet. There's always something about the thrill of possibly being caught that turns her on.

"I'll try." SJ mumbles against his hand before kissing it.

Tom removed his hand and SJ bent down to press a deep kiss to his lips, pulling his bottom lip between her teeth. A whimper came from Tom as she slowly pulled away. SJ made her way from his jawline to his collarbones pressing pecks and slow open-mouthed kisses. She continued her journey down his stomach and right above the band of his sweatpants that were now straining against his hard member.

SJ tugs his pants and boxer briefs down with the help of Tom lifting his hips. His cock springs up and SJ wastes no time in closing her hand around it, pumping him soft and slow at first but quickly speeding up. Tom groans and a knot starts forming in his stomach.

"God." Tom growls, hands gripping his sheets.

"That's not at all." SJ whispers with a wink before moving her hand and licking a stripe up the underside of his cock.

"Fuck." Tom moans almost a little too loud.

SJ snickers, her chest filling with pride, before guiding him into her mouth. She takes in as far as she can and Tom throws his head back into the pillow, hips involuntarily bucking up to meet her mouth. SJ starts bobbing her head, swirling her tongue around his head while Tom just starts moaning under her. His hands come to her hair, gripping not too hard while he looks down to her.

The sight of her sucking him off is almost enough for him to come right then but he's determined to hold off. Her hair is already a mess between his fingers but she's fucking gorgeous right there.

Tom's cock starts to twitch and he knows he's close and SJ does, too but she doesn't stop, not until Tom tugs at her hair. She releases him with a pop and devilish smirk.

"Fuck, you're amazing." Tom mutters, pulling her up to him.

"Hmm, I know." SJ remarks, her lips meeting his in a hot kiss.

Tom laughs and shakes his head and his heart just beats for her. Of course, his heart is pounding and his chest is heaving, his head is already in a state of bliss but it's more than that. She's sarcastic and confident even in this setting, she's got her sense of humor and self-awareness even though she's got a bruise covering her entire neck from being choked. She's unlike anyone else and Tom's heart just wants her, wants her like this, and wants the three in the morning conversations she'd never tell anyone else.

One of Tom's hands goes back to her hair pulling her mouth to his and keeping her head there while his other hand travels to the waistband of her pajama pants, quickly slipping inside. His fingers trail over her clothed heat and SJ gasps into his mouth, her fingers gripping his shoulders.

"Hmm," Tom hums against her lips, eyes looking up at her. "Already soaked, huh?"

"What're you gonna do about it, Holland?" SJ challenges with a lustful quiver in her voice.

Tom's eyes darken and he doesn't even answer. He flips both over so he's on top. A quick but deep kiss is pressed to SJ's mouth before Tom works on pulling her bottoms off, tossing them to the floor. He hovers over her and his hand slides between her legs. Tom teases her slit but only for a few seconds before his thumb is working rough circles on her clit.

"Ohh," SJ moans quietly, eyes shut as her head spins and the knot in her stomach grows.

A cocky smile comes to Tom's face while he starts placing open-mouthed kisses to her collarbones. He works down her chest and to one of her breasts. He kisses around her nipple before taking it into his mouth and sucking. He looks to her through his lashes and her mouth is slightly parted, chest completely heaving. SJ brings a hand to Tom's hair as he inserts a finger to her center.

"Fuck's sake, Tom. Just fuck me." SJ says and she's almost begging. Tom just hums, speeding up movements and inserting another finger. SJ's breath becomes labored and she sees stars as she can feel her high start to come. "T-tom," SJ moans. "Please."

A satisfied grin is on Tom's face as he removes his hand and mouth to look at her. There's a few beads of sweat on her forehead and her eyes are completely consumed with lust and need. Tom kisses her cheek and reaches into his nightstand for a condom. He tears it open and carefully rolls it onto himself but before he can make a move, SJ moves her hands to his shoulders and rolls them over, allowing her to be on top.

SJ looks down to him and it should be simple. She's had sex plenty of times. It's nothing new but she's smart enough to know that Tom's going to be different. He's going to be different because he's dangerous and he cares. Caring gets people hurt and Tom is going to get himself hurt while hurting other people.

Tom is like gasoline. He can be lethal if mistreated but also incredibly useful when treated right, when treated with respect and SJ is like a match. She's helpful in all sorts of situations. Some serious, others not so much. But she's very useful and just like matches, she's taken for granted until she's gone or all used up. And what happens when gasoline and matches meet? Devastation. SJ and Tom, they're going to be a forest fire.

With her own lust and want clouding her thoughts, SJ smiles down to Tom and lines his member up with her core, sinking down on him. SJ's hands are planted on his chest and Tom's are her hips, the two not moving and allowing her to adjust for a moment. And once she is, she starts riding him.

Minutes pass and SJ's bouncing is becoming weaker and sloppy, her moans are growing louder with Tom's until he pulls her down to his chest.

"Sh, we're gonna wake Harrison." Tom whispers into her ear but his voice is airy yet thick.

"Got it." SJ mutters against his neck. "Quiet." She says.

Tom plants his feet on the bed and starts thrusting into her. The new angle sends a new and satisfying sensation all through SJ's body. She has to bite down on Tom's shoulder to conceal her moans. The coil in her stomach is already ready to snap and she can feel Tom growing closer. He's burying his face in her shoulder, trying to swallow his own grunts and moans while his thrusts are becoming messy.

"Close." SJ moans as her head starts spinning.

"Fuck." Tom moans lowly as he hits his high and with the stuttering of his hips against SJ's, she follows right after.

SJ heaves with Tom as his arms wrap around her. He kisses her shoulder, soothing the skin he'd bitten down on. SJ sits up and she can't help but smile at the boy beneath her. His hair is sticking to his sweaty forehead and there's a blush creeping onto his face. A thin layer of sweat covers his torso and there's something beautiful about him in that moment. Or maybe it's just the post-sex talking but nonetheless, SJ smiles and nods, kissing him quickly before getting off of him.

"That was-"

"Yeah." SJ cuts him off.

"Wow." Tom says in a breath, turning his head to look at her.

"Mhm," She hums, cheeks aching from smiling. "Well," She bites her lip. "I'ma go to the bathroom." She lightly pats his chest before getting up.

SJ quickly finds her clothes and tosses them on before heading to the bathroom. Tom takes care of the condom before putting his clothes back on and taking a breather. He's in a state of lust and disbelief and a little bit of confusion. He went from hugging SJ because she was upset to having sex and he doesn't even know how it happened. He doesn't know what the next day is going to bring because he never knows what SJ is thinking. So, instead of letting himself worry about what the morning will bring, he lets himself have the night.

When SJ returns, Tom takes his turn with the bathroom. SJ looks around his room and while she'd love to be tired and ready to sleep, she's not. So, she pulls out her phone from her hoodie pocket and goes to the window. She pulls open the blinds and takes a seat in front of one, leaning her side against the glass before putting in her earbuds, a near permanent accessory to her phone. Music plays and SJ finds herself in a state of contentment and for once, she isn't worrying about the morning. The morning is the morning's problem, not now.

Tom comes back to the room and he smiles as he sees SJ. Warmth spreads through his chest at the sight of her head against the window as she watches the few cars pass by, rain still pelting the window. He follows her lead and opens the other blinds, taking a seat in front of her and mimicking her position. He catches her attention and she takes out her earbuds.

"What're you listenin' to?" Tom asks.

"Local band." SJ slides her phone to him so he can look at the band's name.

"I'll check them out, then."

"You should." SJ nods with confidence before looking back outside.

Tom sucks in a breath and he looks at the time on her phone, reading after two in the morning. "Tell me somethin'." Tom says, brows drawn together in curiosity.

"Like what?" SJ chuckles, looking back to him.

Tom shrugs. "I dunno." He laughs. "Just something you wouldn't tell anyone else."

SJ raises one brow in speculation. "Mm, not happenin', Pretty Boy."

Tom looks to the window and figures he'll share. Maybe if he shares, she'll share something, too. He's not tired and she doesn't seem to be. He wants to know her. If it takes him a thousand tries and a pick-ax to get past whatever walls she has, he'll do it.

"Haven't talked to my family in two years." Tom's voice goes sad and he keeps his stare at the window just watching the rain.

"Why not?" SJ asks, looking to him.

Tom shakes his head, sad eyes looking to her. "Disowned me."

"What'd you do?"

The corner of Tom's mouth tugs up as he shakes his head slowly. "Nope."

SJ snickers, running her tongue across her front teeth. "Okay," She says in understanding. "I, um, I don't, yeah, I don't talk to my parents either."

"Why not?"

"It's hard to talk to people who aren't around, ya know?" SJ replies and she looks back to the window, her chest aching and a lump forming in her throat.

Tom can see her chew her cheek from his seat so he drops it. He didn't expect that. He doesn't know what he expected, but it wasn't to hear that she doesn't talk to her parents either and because they aren't around. At least with Tom's family, it's on him. He fucked up. They want nothing to do with him over his fuck ups. SJ, her parents not being around, that's not on her or Travis.

"Alright," Tom breaks the silence that formed. "Something happier?"

SJ sighs and looks to him with adornment. "I'm only telling you this because it's late and you're not gonna say anything because I know you design furniture." Tom rolls his eyes but gestures a hand for her to continue. "I like marine biology." She says quietly and Tom just shakes his head in confusion. "Everyone has a dream career, ya know? No limitations, nothing. Just, if you can anything in the world, that's it. Maine biology, I'd be a marine biologist."

Tom smiles ear to ear listening to her talk. "Why?"

She shrugs a shoulder with wide, gentle eyes. "We know more about fuckin' space than we do about what the hell is on our own planet. How fuckin' insane is that? Wild, right?" SJ's words grow faster and more enthused as she keeps talking. "They always say that animals like the Megalodon are extinct. Okay, but how do they know? Sure, is it likely? Nah, but it's possible. We weren't alive when it was in existence, or so we think. But, maybe that's it. It could live at the bottom of the ocean, as deep as the bottom of the Mariana's Trench. We just don't know and they're constantly discovering new species, some they thought were extinct like the giant squid. So, who's to say that these supposed extinct animals from the prehistoric era aren't extinct after all and just hiding in the depth of the ocean we can't reach with ease?" SJ finally finishes and Tom's heart could beat out of his chest for her.

He feels like he's managed to fall even more for her. Listening to someone talk about something they're passionate about, really, really passionate about, there's nothing like that. It's raw and beautiful. Their eyes light up and their voice goes higher in pitch with the excitement and their joy just radiates off of them like the sun rays in the middle of the summer. SJ's rambling about something she loves with everything in her and Tom gets to witness it, gets to hear it and he would do anything in the world to be able to hear her talk about it for the rest of his life. He doens't understand it and he's never found interest in marine biology but if SJ is going to talk about it, hell, Tom will listen with his entire being and full attention.

"What?" SJ asks after a moment of silence between the two of them. "You asked."

Tom bites his lip before letting out a beautiful laugh SJ would hate to admit she'd love to hear every day. "You're a nerd."

SJ extends her leg and kicks him lightly. "Look who's talking." She scowls.

"I'm kidding, darling." Tom continues to laugh. "Didn't expect it."

"I'm full of surprises." SJ holds her head up.

"You gonna lemme see those surprises?"

SJ smirks. "Guess you'll have to wait and see."

Tom nods once before looking back to the window. "C'mon," He looks back to her and jerks his head towards his bed. "Should get some sleep."

"Would it be ridiculous if I called off work tomorrow?" SJ asks but her voice already says it's rhetorical.

Tom shakes his head. "It's two-thirty in the fuckin' morning, I'm not going to work tomorrow." Tom scoffs as he gets to his feet.

SJ laughs quietly while Tom reaches down to help her up. "Good because I need a day."

"Yeah," Tom says and his smile falls just slightly.

The two make their way to Tom's bed after closing the blinds once more and crawl it at either side. They both roll on their sides, facing each other and it's comfortable for the two of them. Falling asleep with people can be awkward and even intimidating because everyone is most vulnerable while they sleep, but SJ and Tom don't feel any of that. They feel peaceful today, safe and secure. Somehow two dangerous people have managed to feel safe with each other.

SJ moves closer to Tom, feeling the heat from his bare chest radiate to her. Tom's eyes glance to the bruise around her neck and his fingers come up to rub over it. SJ's eyes close and she lets him look at it and touch it, waiting for him to say something. His fingers are calloused against her smooth skin but they're delicate and careful not to place any pressure making sure to not cause her any pain. It's just weird to him that someone would do this to her. She's snarky and she's got a mouth but to choke someone, to choke someone so hard that it leaves a bruise this vibrant, it pisses him off and makes him want to just take care of her.

"Really, you alright?" Tom asks and SJ can almost swear his accent is thicker.

"Always." She mutters, eyes still closed.

"You can tell me." Tom mumbles, the hand from her neck comes to her waist and pulls her closer to him.

She opens her eyes and looks up to him. "I'm fine, Pretty Boy, just tired and you are, too." SJ nuzzles her head into his chest, allowing his warmth to comfort her.

"Okay." Tom says, allowing the conversation to end, not wanting to push her. He presses a soft kiss to the top of her head before closing his eyes and allowing sleep to take him.

-----

The rest of the night went by and Tom slept with his arms wrapped around SJ. She laid against him in perfect content. It was the best sleep she's had in years. It was the best sleep she's had despite the two of them both waking up to blaring alarms around six. They'd given each other groggy laughs before calling their jobs and calling in for a sick day. By six thirty, they were back to sleep, this time, SJ's back to Tom's chest as he held her close.

It wasn't until eleven that SJ was stirring awake. Tom's arm was still wrapped her and she smiled softly to herself, warmth flooding her chest. He said he was going to make it really hard for her not to like him and he's right because he's impossible not to like. He's impossible not to fall far.

SJ turns just to see him rolled over on his stomach. She bites back a quiet laugh because even though he felt he had reposition, he still had to be touching her, his arm around her. And SJ has one thought.

He's so perfect.

But, as she goes to place a kiss on his shoulder, the bliss of the night before and the morning sun fades. Her heart throbs and her stomach turns while her mouth runs dry and a lump comes to her throat.

"No," She whispers sorrowfully to herself looking at Tom's back.

A few burns decorate different spots of his back around the bruises. They're nasty. Blistered and red, inflamed and not looking to be cleaned well. Most of them look to be like they're in the same state of healing as if they were done at the same time. SJ thinks back to the times she's watched Tom fight, trying to remember if she noticed anything. She was never too close to him but she swears they weren't there before.

The night before replays and she didn't claw his back and he didn't seem to be in any pain when he was on his back. But, then she remembers him hesitating to take off his shirt. Maybe it's a coincidence that he kept his back away from her or maybe he did it intentionally, the only thing she does know is that Tom has circular burns on his back and she wants to help him.

Her chin quivers and tears sting the back of her eyes. He doesn't deserve it and she'd do anything to be wrong. When she'd told Tom she knew what Arthur had done to him, she hoped she was wrong. She hoped that all Arthur did was threaten him, maybe show him something, but no. He really, really did get to him.

SJ pulls herself together and gets out of bed, leaving Tom to sleep. She exits the bedroom quietly and goes into the kitchen where she's greeted by Harrison making himself toast. Her eyes widen, not expecting him to be home. A strike of fear hits her as she wonders why he's home. He should be at the office, at work, with Arthur.

"Mornin'." Harrison chortles as he catches a glimpse of her.

"Morning." SJ says, voice still groggy with sleep.

"You okay?" Harrison asks, brows furrowing when he gets a better look at her.

"Yeah, always. Why're you home?" SJ shrugs it off and takes a seat at the counter.

"You're really pale." Harrison states. "Did something happen? And Arthur called and told me not to come in."

SJ stares at him and she's good at lying but she doesn't try and hide it. She just stares at him and bites the inside of her cheek. Harrison's heart plummets and he's terrified of what happened. SJ and Tom did wake him up the night before and from what he knows, they were perfectly fine but by the look of pure sorrow on SJ's face, that must not be the case.

"Okay, what happened?" Harrison asks, allowing worry to consume his voice.

SJ shakes her head and widens her eyes slightly. "I-I," SJ stutters, trying to find the right words. "You and me, right?" SJ whispers just in case Tom wakes up.

"What?" Harrison asks.

"It's just you and me, right? You haven't told him shit, right? And you're not gonna?"

"Yeah, of course. What the hell is going on?"

"Do you know about Tom's back?" SJ keeps her words low and quiet.

Harrison shakes his head. "What's wrong with his back?"

SJ scratches the side of her head, dodging Harrison's eyes. "He has burns."

"Burns?" An instant lump comes to Harrison's throat. "W-what do you mean burns?"

"Like, someone took a lit fucking cigar to his bare back and held it there until it went out, burns."

Harrison stares at SJ in a state of shock. He's pissed, beyond pissed, even. Without even having confirmation, Harrison knows it's Arthur but why? What purpose does he have to burn Tom? And why the hell wouldn't Tom just tell him? Harrison is tired of Arthur and he's tired of secrets. He wants his friend back and he wants his life back. He wants Arthur taken down.

"Okay, tell me what you're thinking." Harrison says as he comes around the counter and takes a seat beside SJ.

"Arthur likes to burn people, it's his thing. Some people strangle people," SJ points to her neck. "Others, burn them."

"But why?" Harrison presses. "Why'd he do it? How do you know it's a cigar?"

SJ bites the inside of her cheek as she looks away from Harrison. In order to fill him in, she has to tell him things. She needs to trust him and tell him everything she knows with this. Just this. So, she pulls at the sleeve of her hoodie until she gets her arm out and shows Harrison the inside of her bicep. A string of white scars in not so perfect circles shows against her skin. Harrison takes her arm and looks at the scars, scars that are definitely from burns.

"Arthur has a thing with burning people who fuck him over or don't do what he wants." SJ says, taking her arm back and putting the hoodie back on fully.

Harrison sighs, running a hand through his hair a few times. "I'm sorry." He says.

"I'm over it." SJ states. "Fuck what he did to me. I don't fucking care. The point is that he's burning Tom, now."

Harrison groans as it hits him. Tom's been weird since Monday. Saturday, Arthur apparently cornered Tom, Sunday they didn't work, but Monday they did. Harrison doesn't keep track of Tom but he remembers Monday because Tom had his break with Arthur. Harrison just thought it was because he had that date with SJ and he put it in the back of his head but now he's kicking himself for doing it. He should have checked on Tom more, pushed him to tell him why he was acting off. Now he knows. Arthur showed him what will happen if he talks to SJ.

"It's because he talked to you." Harrison mutters through a sigh.

"Saturday."

"Yeah," Harrison nods. "Tom told me last night after we got you that Arthur told him to stay away from you. Monday, he had lunch with Arthur." Harrison admits. "I didn't...I don't know." Guilt takes over Harrison's voice.

"It's okay." SJ rests a hand on his shoulder. "Um, I-I don't know what to do, Harrison." SJ admits.

"You said you'd have a plan." Harrison almost whisper yells.

"I will." SJ reassures. "But I don't right now. I'm good at, uh, the...I'm a one night stand, okay? So, I just...ya know? Avoid him until-"

"No," Harrison cuts her off. "If Arthur sees you're avoiding him, he'll know and won't that be bad?"

SJ rubs her face with her hands. "Yeah, you're right." SJ nods and she shrugs. "Okay, we go on like we have been. Tom isn't stupid so he'll avoid me outside of this apartment. You gotta watch him though and make sure he's okay. Those burns are going to get infected if he doesn't clean them properly."

Harrison nods a few times. "Do you think he'll keep burning him?"

SJ's heart weighs heavy not wanting to tell Harrison. "It's just the start."