The Age of The Masrui

“Astrid came in trying to lecture me. Told her to do one so she slapped me… I hit her back.” Archer admitted, swallowing thickly and hanging his head. “Asher lost his shit and started decking me.”

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“Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on her son?”

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Tobias nodded. “If it makes you feel better we can arrange it.”

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“So stubborn.”

"Fuck you." Asher hissed.

Marlowe grimaced, squeezing Altair's hand and leaning up to whisper; "Go in and see Archer. Let me speak to Ash."

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Scarlett hesitated before perching herself down on the bed beside him, keeping a hold of his hand but wrapping her free arm around his shoulders to bring him against her. "Just sounds like a silly fight. Don't worry."

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Tesni nodded.

Altair hesitated before nodding and heading inside.

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“I didn’t even think it was just a reflex reaction. She hit me and went to do it again so I smacked her back… it was just a reflex… Ive never hit a woman before.” Archer swallowed guiltily as he leaned against her.

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“We’ll keep them safe at all costs. From anyone who tries to take them from us”

"That moral is a load of shit, you were defending yourself Archer. You are allowed to defend yourself." She whispered, leaning her head against his gently.

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Tesni nodded, lifting her hand up to cover a yawn.

“Sleep now princess…”

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“Ash asked what kind of man it made me and he’s right… she’s my sister…”

"And she assaulted you." Scarlett snorted, tightening her arm around his shoulder. "Come on now, this isnt the olden days. She started it, you defended yourself - you've not done anything wrong here. Don't be so rough on yourself."

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"Only if you do...,"

“I feel ashamed. I can’t help it.”

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Tobias nodded. “Do you still have the sleeping pills that you offered me the other night? I feel… better about taking them whilst we’re in your parents house, with their security around.”

Tesni nodded, reaching to the side of the bed and pulling the packet out of her bag. "If we need security at ours for you to be able to sleep, we can arrange that Tobi."

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"Your being silly." Scarlett sighed, resting her chin on top of his head gently and staring across at the wall. "Is.. liking me anything more than physically really that horrifying to you?"

“I saw what happened to Asher when he had his heart broken by Lexi. It’s been years and he’s still a shell of himself. She’s destroyed him. And he was one of the strongest, smartest, kindest people I ever knew, Red. And she obliterated him. It’s terrifying to watch, it makes me feel sick to think that that could ever happen to me, losing myself like that… Ash would’ve died for her, would’ve pulled the moon to the earth if she’d asked and she crushed him like he was nothing even though she apparently loved him? It’s horrific.”

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“I just don’t feel able to protect you if I’m knocked out under these. Feel like I can’t do my job properly, protecting my family.”

"I'll get security for awhile, until you can sleep without them. Whatever... whatever helps." She whispered, passing him the box before settling beneath the covers.

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"It doesn't mean that something like that is going to happen to you though."

“It’s emotional too though Tes… what if you wake in the middle of the night after a bad dream or anything else like that? Or the kids need me? If we’re at home you’re alone. Here I know at least you can go to your mom if you can’t wake me up, or if you need help with the kids you’ve got support.”

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“But it might… and that thought honestly terrifies me Red.”

"It hurts me that I'm just something go fuck to you but, there we are then. It is what it is, isn't it? I shouldn't of came here." She mumbled, moving away.

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"I'm not a wilting flower, Tobi. I can look after myself."

“I’d be… I’d be happier taking the tablets to sleep if we were here. You worry about me and I worry about you. That… that goes for accepting the therapist too. Because I don’t know what else they’ll unlock. What doors they’ll burst down. And what if I snap again and I don’t mean to and there’s nobody else there to support you?”

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“Don’t you see that I’m scared because I know that you have that power?” Archer swallowed thickly. “I don’t know what happened but that night… it opened the floodgates of shit I didn’t even realise I’d been holding back, trying not to feel.”

"What night?" Scarlett asked, voice raising in pitch as she grew more frustrated by her own confusion. "You're not making any sense, you need to tell me straight."

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"You - you want us to move in with my parents?"

“That night where I stayed over! Where we just laid in bed together!” Archer hissed, putting his hands to his head. “I’ve got a fucking concussion and my head feels like a jackhammer so I’m sorry I don’t make sense!”

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“I haven’t seen a therapist yet because I’m worried what will happen when I do. If I’ll snap like I did before Tesni. And I’m worried about what will happen if you’ve no support if that happens. And if I’m on sleeping pills you’ll need more protection… so I think it would be something to consider…”

"I uh... consider, yeah. Give me a day to think about it?"

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"And what exactly did it make you feel?!"

“I liked it! Okay! I liked it! I liked holding you! I liked not being kicked out! I liked sleeping with you!”

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“Of course.” Tobias kissed the top of her head as he took the tablets of the packers and swallowed them. “I just want you safe, princess.”

Scarlett made a small noise of frustration, and not knowing what else to do took his face in her hands so she could lean in and kiss him deeply.

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"I know Tobi, I know. Let's just sleep now, OK? We need sleep." She whispered sadly.

Tobias nodded, curling into her. “You’re my life Tesni, okay? You and the kids. If anything happened to you it would break me. You’ve become the centre of my world.”

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“Careful, that hurts.” Archer laughed softly, moving to take her hands away from his face and lacing his fingers through them so he was still touching her as he kissed her back gently. “Unlike the panda eyes you get from the makeup, this doesn’t just look bad, feels bad too.” He teased

Tesni wrapped her arms around him when he was comfortable, kissing the top of his head before replying gently, "You're everything to me, too. It's been so hard watching you hurting, I feel so useless right now."

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"You're lucky you are handsome on the inside to then, aren't you?"

“Never say that princess, never. You’re not useless.”

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“Ah, cheesy.” Archer laughed. “Got my ass handed to me by my brother who hits like a girl - respectfully… what a travesty. Cost me my dignity, my straight nose and my luscious locks.”

"I can't help you."

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Scarlett laughed quietly, "Better it look like you've been hit by a bus them you be dead, Arch. I need to disappear now anyway, let your family have at you. I have work in an hour."

“Thanks for coming…”

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“You help. This helps. I need this, need you Tesni. Love you.”

"Call me when you are out."

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"I love you too, Tobias. I'm always going to be here for you."

“I will… see ya later, Red.”

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“I’m not leaving you either.”