Work Text:
Kate stood there arms crossed and a scowl placed on her face as she watched Mallory hand skates to a man who was clearly trying to flirt with her and whether it be Mallory being oblivious and or just doing her job, in Kate's eyes she looked like she was flirting back. Kate shook her head knowing she was being ridiculous and that Mallory was just doing her job and being nice, as being the supervisor Mallory was held to a higher standard above the rest of the employees, but Kate couldn't help getting jealous over her girlfriend smile at a man when that smile was usually reserved just for her. It reminded her of her scum of an ex that lied to her about not liking Jeanette, only for him to go and kids her, suddenly Kate's heart drops to her stomach as she hears her terrible intrusive thoughts come back;
You're not good enough for her
You're to damaged
She's getting tired of you
Kate tries to cover her ears and closing her eyes shut tight as if that would make the voices go away, before Kate could stop the tears coming to her eyes she sees Mallory walking over to her ignoring the concerned look on her girlfriend's face and as much as Kate didn't want to say it, Kate took her hands off her ears and put them straight down her sides angry and it slipped.
"I thought you were here to work not flirt with men all night giving them skates right in front of me as if I'm not here, since when are you all nice and chummy?" Kate snarled at her girlfriend. Shocked at the sudden mood change as Mallory came over because she was concerned at Kate's stance Mallory stepped a bit back in shock holding up her hands in surrender. "Uhm if I want to keep my job I'm sure my boss would prefer me to be nice to the customers." Mallory tried to joke not understanding where her girlfriend's mood was coming from.
Kate, as much as she wanted to stop knowing her girlfriend doesn't like to be yelled at nor does she like confrontation couldn't help but what slipped out, "If you were getting tired of me that's all you had to say you don't have to get at other people right in front of me." Kate yelled at causing Mallory to flinch and her eyes darken as Mallory flet scared, and Kate knew it and her heart broke even more realizing what she was doing. Before Mallory could get another word out Kate just growled out in frustration and threw her hands up and stormed right past Mallory shoulder checking her on the way out. Kate flew past the line of people trying to get in and they were all staring at her as tears were running down her face. Only if her mother could see her now she'd get on Kate about not looking perfect in public and not making face. Kate could care less how she looked, she hurt her girlfriend and knew it and the guilt started to set in making her chest feel like it was closing and she couldn't breathe. She didn't understand what this feeling was all this anger she had towards Mallory and that stupid moronic guy smiling at her girlfriend.
Mallory back at the rink on the other hand shook out of her shocked state and confusion when she saw a fight starting to happen between two boys. She sighed in frustration because she wanted to run after her girlfriend so bad not understanding what her problem was but she had a job to do till midnight and it was only eight. Luckily and to Mallory's distain her employee's saw the fight between her and Kate and stayed out of Mallory's way after. Mallory didn't get it, Kate wanted to come with Mallory to work not wanting to stay at her parents that night as she still didn't really get along with either of them and she always tells Mallory that she feels safe with Mallory. As hard as Mallory tried she tried to stay in her customer service mode but all she wanted to do was snap at people, she was hurt and triggered, she couldn't stand being yelled at. Kate knew that and yet she still did it to Mallory while she was at work. Did she do something wrong? She just didn't understand.
Kate kept walking until she ran into the park, the same park that Scott Jones picked her up from when she got to drunk one night. That was the first time Kate had ever drank, she had been so hurt that night and she feels that same way again. Kate walks over and slumps on the swing, except this time in jeans and a flannel rather than a stupid dress her mother always made her wear. The one thing she loved about Mallory was Mallory let her be who she wanted to be, not the perfect daughter, not the picture perfect girlfriend, not the popular perfect student, but just Kate. Kate was still trying to figure out who she was and Mallory was so patient with her about it, tears started streaming down Kate's face again as the guilt set in her chest again she hurt Mallory so much when Mallory has been nothing but a perfect and amazing girlfriend. And Kate got mad at her, and for what? She still didn't understand this anger inside of her when she sees in her head Mallory smiling and laughing with that man. Kate threw her head in her hands and started crying because all she wanted was Mallory. But she screwed it up, Mallory will never want her again.
Mallory finally closes the rink and locks the doors and she turns around to walk home, she sighs and finally let's her shoulders slump, she felt so defeated. Mallory kicks the ground angry about the fact her bike chain just had to break this week so Mallory was stuck walking the three mile track home. Kate never walked back into the rink to talk to her so she figured Kate went back home. Of course there's that little anxiety Mallory has about Kate missing again, she knows Kate ran away the first time due to a fight with her parents, would she do the same with Mallory? Martin was gone so Mallory felt safe knowing at least Kate wasn't going to be locked in a basement again. But still, Mallory was worried and confused of what set off her girlfriend in the first place, because Mallory was being nice? That was an odd one to hear, Jeanette dumps her due to Mallory being to rude and bossy and Kate gets mad because she's to nice, Mallory could laugh at that irony she just can't win, maybe her drunk mother was right there was something wrong with her. When Mallory gets closer to the park that she has to cross every day she glares into the night because she swore she saw something or someone when she sees a flash of blonde on the swing. When Mallory gets closer she sees the blonde whip her head around fast and before Mallory could react to who it is or what it was she was she felt herself being pushed backwards and her arms in the air as she feels two arms wrap around her hard, as Mallory gasps for air. Before Mallory could speak Kate did, "Mal I'm so so sorry, please forgive me and please don't leave me I'm so sorry for how I treated you." Mallory in shock finally realizing it's her girlfriend and trying to process what Kate was saying wraps her arms around her girlfriend as well as Kate continues to cry, "Mal I'm sorry I yelled at you and hurt you please don't be mad. I love you so much." Kate wails out rubbing her face back and forth into Mallory's stinky work shirt, Mallory holds Kate and looks down to see how upset Kate is, knowing after being alone locked up for months Mallory knows Kate being touched or held was her favorite things and one of the ways to calm her down as Mallory goes to sit on the ground and bringing Kate to sit on top of her as Mallory wraps her arms around Kate with tears in her eyes kissing Kate's cheek trying to calm her, "I'm not mad but I don't understand weren't you mad at me being to nice or something? I don't get it." Mallory says softly still scared of Kate yelling at her again still not knowing what set her off the first time. Kate shakes her head and puts her hand on Mallorys cheek looking at her in the eyes as Mallory sees that Kate's eyes were bloodshot and her eyes poofy meaning Kate has been crying for hours. Mallory guesses since she left the Rink around eight.
"I'm not mad at you, I-i don't know what I'm feeling I was fine until I saw you laughing and smiling at that guy that same smile that's only reserved for me and I just got so angry." Kate explains genuinely confused of her feelings but Mallory smiles, Mallory smiles because she knows that feeling all to well.
"Kate Wallis, were you jealous?" Mallory smirks as Kate looks at her in shock pulling a little away from Mallory to see her face, "Jealous?" Kate asks as Mallory laughs at Kate's confused face, squeezing Kate's sides a little affectionately, "Yes baby, jealous that I was talking to another person. The green eyed monster as some would call it." Mallory states as Kate scrunches her eyebrows in confusion trying to think, "I mean I guess I could've been I mean I've never felt jealous before." Kate stated looking down playing with her hands feeling embarrassed. But Mallory grabs Kate's chin to lift it back up. "Hey I know all about jealousy and how ugly it can get. Remember how much I used to hate you?" Kate looks up at Mallory in sadness knowing how much guilt Mallory still holds for that, "Mal I said it was okay Remember?" But Mallory shakes her head, "I hated you because you had every thing I had, you were seen, loved, and were admired. Every thing I never got or had the pleasure of feeling, until I met you anyway."
Mallory says sadly as Kate remembers the first time she found out what that "heavy stuff" Mallory was talking about when they had first met.
Kate was spending the night at Mallory's for the first time to upset to go home and so Mallory reluctantly let her stay with her since Mallory thought her mom wasn't going to be home that night. But alas Mallory's life was never that perfect. Mallory and Kate were laying in bed with Kate laying on top of Mallory as Mallory had her one arm wrapped around Kate. When Mallory heard the familiar sound of the door slamming open and shuffling of drunken footsteps coming through the door. Kate sprung up in action hearing the noise as Mallory jumped as well. Before Kate could speak Mallory cussed under her breathe as she gently pushed Kate off of her and on the other side of the bed and put the blanket over her. Mallory left her room and closed her door. Kate got up from bed as she opened Mallorys room door open a little bit to look down the hall into the living room. Mallory had walked over to her mom to try and help her walk, "Come on mom it's time for bed." But before Mallroy could even touch her, her mom weakly waved her hand out trying to push Mallory away but Mallory ignored her and tried reaching for her again, "mom come on, let's go." Before Mallory could fully reach down Mallorys mom slapped Mallory across the face pretty hard not having control of her strength being in a drunken state and Kate gasped softly, pulling away from the door to be unseen but still wanted to watch Mallory. "Don't touch me stupid child, leave me alone." Mallory's mom hissed as Mallory stood there holding her cheek as she was trying to figure if she should still try or not. Mallory decided to leave her mom be when her mom made it to the couch and crashed right on it. Mallory turned to go back to her room as Kate closed the door and got into bed closing her eyes. When Mallory comes in she sits on the edge of the bed quietly. Kate opens her eyes watching Mallory as she finally sees Mallory's shoulders move indicating she was crying silently. Kate quickly gets up and wraps her arms around Mallory as Mallory cries for a few minutes. But Kate gets her to turn around. Mallory looks down feeling shamed and not wanting Kate to see her like this. But Kate lightly puts her hand on Mallory's cheek and kisses her on the other cheek. But Kate doesnt stop there she kisses Mallory's nose, and her forehead, and her eyes. Mallory freezes not really knowing what to do never really getting affection like this before. Kate kisses her chin and then her bad cheek lightly, Kate then kisses her down her neck, as Mallory starts to silently cry feeling so loved. Kate kisses all the way down her shoulders then back up Mallory's neck, then finally Kate kisses her on the lips as Kate uses her hands to wipe away Mallorys tears. Kate finally pulls back as Mallory goes to hug Kate. Kate holds on to her tight as Mallory starts to cry again and Kate rubs her back letting Mallory cry. Finally after some time Mallory finally pulls back. "Now you know the heavy stuff." Mallory jokes a bit as Kate sadly smiles. Kate then looks over at the end of the bed and grabs her Jean jacket. As she digs into the pocket and picks out her old sticky green ring pop Mallory gave her months ago for her birthday. Mallory looks down at Kate's hands, "You still have that? Its so old and gross and sticky." Kate smiles up at Mallory as she grabs Mallory's hand as she puts the ring pop on Mallory, "Yes but its the best gift I've ever gotten. And it's from someone who is worth every thing and isn't stupid. I see you Mallory Higgins. And I love you to death." At that Mallory smiles as the girls lean in to kiss. Kate pulls back smiling, "now come back to bed with me I miss your warm cuddles." At that Mallory smiles and tackles Kate into bed as they both giggle with each other.
"I see you Mallory Higgins." Kate says snapping Mallory out of her memories as Mallory looks over at her. Mallory smiles at Kate relieved that she's not mad anymore but still wonders why someone as perfect as Kate Wallis was jealous of some lame dude at the rink. "Kate, what happened at the rink what got you so worked up?" Mallorys asks as Kate embarrassed by her own intrusive thoughts looks away and uses her arms to hold herself an indication Mallory knows that Kate does when she's uncomfortable, "It's stupid." Kate whispers as Mallory squeezes Kate. "If it hurts you it's not stupid." Mallory says as Kate looks over at her in question raising her eyebrow, "Sylvia?" Kate smiles softly as Mallory giggles and looks down bashful, "Yes, but still what's wrong?" Kate sighs and looks away from Mallory still feeling ashamed from earlier, "when you were talking to that guy all these terrible thoughts were running through my head like you didn't love me anymore or you were growing tired of me cause I was broken or something, and I just couldn't handle it so I snapped at you when I shouldn't have. I couldn't handle that sad hurt look in your eyes for what I did so I left." Kate stated wanting to cry again knowing how much she hurt Mallory but Mallory whispers, "Kate?" Kate looks over at Mallory as Mallory leans in to kiss her. Kate feeling loved and overwhelmed that Mallory still loved her kissed her back hard, they kissed for awhile before Mallory finally pulled back holding Kate's face in her hand.
"I will not stop loving you because of what happened to you, you're the strongest most beautiful person I know. Not because you're picture perfect but because you Kate Wallis are yourself." Mallory states as Mallory turns to grab something from her pocket. She pulls out Kate's old gross green ring pop that Kate gave to her that night that Kate saw the real Mallory. Kate giggles with tears in her eyes as she feels so overwhelmed in happiness, "you still have that?" Kate copies Mallory. Mallory smiles and says, "Of course it was given to me by someone very special to me." Mallory grabs Kate's hand and slides it on Kate as Kate laughs and kisses Mallory.