Lucas Harris

He stalked into the house, feeling on edge for some reason he didn't fully understand. Something was off. Someone was not doing well. And with the way his heart was jackhammering in his chest, it had to be one of the children. Rumour being hurt or sad or scared... that caused a pit of emptiness in his lower abdomen. Ian usually caused some strange feeling in his spine, like a tingle in his very core, but sometimes it caused this increase of breath and heart all at once. He didn't want to think about what it had to be, if he focused. He wouldn't focus. He would walk the house from room to room, and then he would call his family one by one.

It was easy enough to ascertain that the living room was clear. As was the dining room. The kitchen was pristine as always. Everything was in place, the way he and Rumour both liked it. A nod and he walked into the master bedroom. It was in perfect order, other than the broken mirror that was being replaced in the morning. That was the norm for their room. Always something that needed fixed after their last fight or their last fuck. Another small nod, and he walked into Ian's room. Not nearly so clean and tidy, but easy enough to see that nothing was wrong in it. And now his heart was really pounding. It frustrated him and infuriated him in some deep way. He should have control over his body the way he did over his emotions and mind. But in this, he didn't.

He closed Ian's door on the way out and turned to Taryn's room. There was a moment, almost a full minute in fact, that he couldn't draw another breath. Something was more-than-wrong. Something was... He stepped to the doorway, turning the knob that resisted. That was even worse. They didn't lock doors against one another in their home. He didn't even take the time to go get the key. Not with the way his heart was trying to beat out of his chest. Not with the small sound he heard from inside the locked room. He kicked the door, once, and it flew open. The motion turned into a full step into the room and the picture that came into view was enough to freeze him.

He took long, slow steps to her side, leaning down beside her and pressing his hands over her wrists, the deep wounds there making him ache. "Why, baby?" he said, his voice soft. He was never this gentle, not really... only with his family, and only when they needed it.

"Take down my portrait," she said, her voice slurred from the loss of blood. "Just let me die."

"You know I can't do that, Taryn. Nor will I." He scooped her into his arms, cradling her gently. "Tell me why you did this."

"I want to die," she said, trying to push away from him, her movements weak and slow. She couldn't even really fight him, and that fact pained him even more. She'd always been his strong baby girl, almost vicious at times, and she was beyond weak now.

"I'm not letting you die," he said tightly, holding her tightly. "Nothing is worth giving up over."

"I hate everything," she whispered, "I hate everyone. I hate you, and Momma, and Ian, and New York and Germany and... I hate me. More than anything in the world, I hate myself." She gestured to a note on the floor. "They told me to leave. I am no longer welcome."

He picked up the note, frowning at the seal of her dancing school at the top of the page and reading over the words quickly. "No longer willing or able to assist you", "your increasingly erratic behavior", "suggest you obtain therapy and return to dancing when you are more able to control yourself". He made a small "pah" sound and tossed it back to the floor. "Fuck them," he said, shaking his head. "They're not worth your time."

He felt her tears before he heard her first sob and it was only the knowledge that as long as her portrait hung that she couldn't die that kept him from already being in the car. The sob was the last straw though. Erratic behavior or no from her, lack of control or not... she was his baby girl, and she was hurting in every way a child could, it seemed. She could beg and plead all she liked, but he would save her anyway. His heart couldn't stand any other option. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and stood, almost grateful when she lost consciousness. Her face relaxed, and for a few moments she was his little girl again. He would do anything to keep her that way.

He would clean up the blood before Rumour and Ian could see, and he would consider this whole incident their secret.

What Makes You Jealous?

I am sitting with my right side facing the crowd, face turned toward the stage. On the platform stands the woman who's had my heart for years. She is singing one of our songs... and it's always during our songs that it happens.

Some man will start cat-calling, and she'll look toward him. In that one second, the jealous rage starts to fill me. She's MINE, dammit, and I refuse to share her with anyone.

Usually, she's good about turning away, catching my eye and throwing a wink so I know she knows where my mind is at. But sometimes her gaze stays on the man for a few seconds too long and I stand, striding up on the stage. It's happened often enough that the roadies know better than to try to stop me. It only took three broken noses and a broken jaw for them to learn.

"Shit, there goes Lucas," one of them will say as I stand, and I can hear the management calling Rumour on her ear piece. But by the time she can react, I'm there, standing beside her on the stage.

Most times we can play it off, because usually once her eyes lock on mine, I forget that I was pissed three seconds before, but there are the times I've flat picked her up carrying her off the stage and pushing her against the wall backstage to stake my claim. Those are the days I can't calm until she's saying over and over again that she's mine. Only mine, always mine.

I'd look into anger management, but we wouldn't go through so much furniture. Where's the fun in that?


And a bunch of 10 things prompts, also from justprompts.

Ten things you like about your significant other.

1. The way she smiles that secret little smile that says I've done something VERY right (or very wrong, as the case may be)
2. The way I can't get away with any-damn-thing with her.
3. Her voice, especially when she says my name.
4. Her courage.
5. Her body. (I'm a guy. You KNEW this had to be on the list somewhere.)
6. Her ability to never take shit from anyone.
7. The way we fight... and make up.
8. The way she can be vulnerable with me.
9. Her ability to forgive.
10. The way she still makes my heart seize in my chest.

Ten things you dislike about your significant other.

1. The
2. Way
3. I
4. Can't
5. Get
6. Away
7. With
8. Any-damn-thing
9. With
10. Her.

Ten reasons to get up in the morning.

1. A very early morning flight
2. I never meant to fall asleep in the first place
3. Shopping in New York
4. Breakfast in Germany
5. "The kids will be here soon..."
6. Being jumped on by a bouncy wife
7. "Cocktails are ready, baby"
8. There's a kitchen table to break
9. We have PLANS
10. Family drama, as per usual.

Ten reasons to stay in bed.

1. My wife's ass pressed tight against my cock
2. One more chapter of a really good novel
3. Being pressed close under two blankets
4. "Do you KNOW how cold it is out there?"
5. Grandbabies curled up on my chest
6. A bunch of kisses
7. Being sick, though it hardly ever happens
8. The world's a mess
9. Cuddling isn't just for pussies
10. Sex. Need I say more?

For justprompts

1. Alcohol
2. A new bed
3. A new kitchen table (AGAIN)
4. A new coffee table (This will be number 3 since we came back to NYC)
5. A car for Taryn (she'll need one after the baby)
6. A punching bag (No, really. I need one.)
7. A house (for Taryn, eventually. What, we're good at buying the kids houses)
8. Turkey
9. Laptops for several of the family members
10. Potatoes. (It's THANKSGIVING)

Ten little white lies you've told

1. "I'll never hurt you, Fallon."
2. "I just happened to be walking by."
3. "My name is Lucas Harris."
4. "Bryson Harris was my grandfather."
5. "It's nice to meet you, Fallon... Danny."
6. "He did not KICK MY ASS, he took me by surprise."
7. "No, really, I enjoy spending time with your parents."
8. "Nope, still hate her. Don't really want to spend time around her and your Papa Danny either."
9. "No, I'm not angry."
10. "I'm fine, Taryn."