[Deleted]

Tomas sat at the table, his eyes watching Maddie as she worked. He had purposefully not sat in her section, he didn’t want her serving him, that felt too strange to him. Another waitress whizzed passed him and picked up his empty beer bottle before placing another before him. The plate of fries he had ordered were definitely cold by now, it had been an hour. Tomas didn’t eat fries, he rarely consumed anything that was fried, but although he knew he was going to leave a massive tip, he was aware that he looked like a total arsehole if he just sat in a booth and ordered drinks and no food.

Maddie cast a smile in his direction, and he felt his heart skip a beat and he smiled back. His mind flashed back to his morning when she gave him the same smile except, they had been tangled in his sheets. They alternated between which apartment they stayed at but Tomas didn’t care. He hadn’t slept so well in years, his nightmares and panic attacks were becoming a rarity as long as Maddie slept soundly next to him. It felt strange to feel happy. Fear flicked in his chest for a moment. He had never really been this happy, something was bound to ruin it, Tomas was afraid it would be him.

Swallowing the fear, Tomas grabbed the beer and sipped. Grabbing his phone he scrolled through his emails, answering a few and making a phone call, it was getting late but the firms UK offices were still open and Tomas had a business trip there in a few weeks he had to ensure everything was properly organised. His attention had been on work for about twenty minutes when he heard the door of the diner swing open and a rowdy bunch of men staggered in. Tomas felt his spine straighten as he watched four twenty somethings stagger over to a booth in Maddie’s section. All leering at the waitresses as they passed.

He was in his feet and manoeuvring himself over to her section before he could even think twice. He placed his beer on the table behind there’s before heading over to Maddie, she seemed unphased by there presence and Tomas felt fists tighten, how often did trouble come in here and she just had to put up with it. He reached her side and he placed a hand on her lower back, she was readying to serve food to another table. “I think we should leave,” Tomas whispered to her, his eyes flashing over to the table of men. They were sniggering to each other as one pulled a hip flask from his jacket pocket and swigged. “Stay away from them,” he growled out the instruction to Maddie, never taking his eyes of the foursome, he could feel the anticipation of anger building in his chest. If she served them and they laid a finger on her he couldn’t be held responsible for his actions.

Maddison Lancaster

[Maddison Lancaster]

Your insecurities are concealed by your pride
Pretty soon your ego will kill what's left inside

---

If she said life was better than ever lately, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Maddie had smiled more the past month than she could ever remember. Even Mason had made a few comments about how happy she seemed, how well she was doing. It was like everything fell in place at once. Work was going fine, she and Mason were getting along great again, and things with Tomas, well, they were better than she ever could have hoped. Of course, she had anxiety creeping in the back of her mind, wondering when she was going to do what Mason predicted and fuck it all up. But, for now, she was actually happy.

”Girl, you didn’t tell me just how hot he is.” Tina came back into the kitchen after dropping off another beer with Tomas. Maddie had been surprised that he didn’t want to sit in her section, but she guessed he just didn’t want to be a bigger distraction. Or maybe he felt weird, sitting in her section and having her wait on him. Either way, there was no way she was going to keep herself from still going to check on him.

”The best thing you ever did was try to set me up with what’s-his-face mc no-show.” Maddie smirked, remembering when she spotted Tomas at the bar that night. A misunderstanding led to them both finally being honest with each other.

”Right? Now that I’ve seen him, I agree.” Tina laughed and started grabbing plates and loading them on a tray. ”These are for your table, babe.”

”Thanks Tina.” Maddie set down the dirty dishes she’d carried back and quickly washed her hands while Tina finished arranging the plates on the tray for her, then she made her way back out to the dining room, flashing another smile in Tomas’ direction as she moved past his table. She saw a new table come in as she was delivering the food, and she noticed Tomas move closer to the table. She assumed he’d decided to head home and was coming to tell her. By the time he made it over to her, she was grabbing another order for one of her other tables that had just come up.

When he started talking, Maddie couldn’t stop her eyes from rolling. Was he worried? She wasn’t sure if he thought she couldn’t handle herself with a group of rowdy guys, or if maybe it was some weird kind of jealousy, but she wasn’t going to let him get away with that crap either way. ”I’ve still got a couple hours on my shift. It’s just a table, Tomas, it’s not like it’s anything out of the norm.” She walked past him to go serve the food she’d just picked up.

”I’ll be right with you guys.” She nodded to the new four-top as she passed by, letting them know she had seen them, and completely disregarding Tomas’ request for her to avoid them. They were customers, and she was going to do her job.

---

@tomas

[Deleted]

Tomas could feel his nails biting into his palm as Maddie brushed him off and walked away, the air around him was practically vibrating as he remained stood, watching her walk away to serve her table. He took slow breaths through his nose, forcing his heartrate to lower as he watched her acknowledge the table of men and carry on with her job. He had been in here before when she worked, he had seen her deal with difficult customers before, even before they were dating. Sure, he hated when anyone was an arsehole towards her, even then. This felt different though, why did this feel different.

Because your mine, his father’s voice ricocheted through his mind as memories rushed before his eyes. Bile rose in Tomas’s throat, and he grabbed the work surface to keep himself steady, hauling deep breaths in through his nose and out of his mouth to stop himself throwing up. His father used to say those words to his mother, his massive hands bruising her pale arms with his vice like grap as his voice, laced with his power of persuasion kept her trapped with him. Why had Tomas thought that way, how could he ever think that Maddie was something he owned. Guilt and shame pounded in his chest with every heartbeat. He needed to go and sit down. Better yet, he needed to go home. Apologise to Maddie and leave before he had a chance to do something just as stupid. Maybe Noah would be up for some combat training, he needed to burn off whatever had just happened. He would not become his father, never.

When the adrenaline finally ebbed enough that he didn’t need to hold himself steady he stood up straight, he looked over at Maddie. She was at the table now, taking the mens orders. Tomas tried to push down to fear and anger as he was their eyes roam over her, he trusted her, just because they looked at her didn’t mean anything, she had chosen him. He took a slow step forward, readying to leave when he saw one of the men reach out and grab her. Tomas saw red.

Maddison Lancaster

[Maddison Lancaster]

Your insecurities are concealed by your pride
Pretty soon your ego will kill what's left inside

---

Once Maddie was done serving food, she made her way over to the new four-top. They were a little rowdier than the usual crowd, but nothing too out of the normal. If she had to guess, she’d say they were college aged. They seemed like they’d all been drinking, but none of them were at the fall over drunk point, yet. She assumed they were there to order food, maybe some coffee, and sober up. It was the time in the evening where a lot of tables came in like that. Some ordered dinner, most were just there for pie and coffee.

”I’m your server, Maddie. What can I get you guys to drink to start off with?” Maddie gave her usual introduction and beaming smile to the group, even though her irritation level with Tomas was sky high she wasn’t going to let his mood ruin the rest of her shift.

The guys started responding, two of them talking at once but Maddie got down both their orders. Apparently they were ready to order their food as well, so she started taking the full order before leaving the table. She was aware of Tomas, she could see him walking from the corner of her eye, but she was ignoring him for the moment. She’d deal with him once she got the order put in the system and brought out their drinks.

”Does the food come with your number, babe?” The guy sitting closest to Maddie reached out and laid his hand on her arm, which Maddie pulled away from him. ”No, it doesn’t. And don’t touch me, or my manager will be taking over your table and I doubt you’ll like him as much.”

Maddie turned and walked away from the table, hearing the other three guys razzing the one who’d grabbed her for being shot down. She rolled her eyes as she began punching buttons on the computer screen to send their order to the kitchen. He wasn’t the first guy who’d ever touched her at work and he wouldn’t be the last. Honestly, she didn’t know what had Tomas so worked up about the table, it wasn’t like he’d ever had an issue with her job before. Maybe it was different for him now that they were seeing each other, but she didn’t see how doing her job would be a problem.

---

@tomas

[Deleted]

The moment the guys hand landed on Maddie’s arm Tomas saw red, his thoughts of guilt and fear he was turning into his father just disappeared and he felt the blood pounding in his head. It was like all semblance of who he truly was began to drown in a river of hatred and rage. He knew he shouldn’t act like this, he knew Maddie could handle herself but a part of him didn’t want her to have to. Him and Mason had always protected her when they could, surely now that he was with her as more then just a friend that meant he needed to protect her more.

Tomas felt his hand flex and unflex into a fist as Maddie walked away from the situation and started processing the order. Tomas didn’t take his eyes off the table, they were all taunting the guy Maddie who shot down who didn’t even look the slightest bit sorry that for what he had done. He watched as the grabbed looked over at Maddie and the look in his eyes was the last straw, there was a hunger there. He wasn’t going to stop.

Tomas’s stride didn’t falter as he beelined for the table. The guys barely had time to register her presence before he grabbed the man who had laid hands on Maddie by the scruff of his shirt, pulled him with one tug out of his seat, span him round and slammed him down on the empty behind them. The guy yelped as he landed with a crash and Tomas knew he had moment before his buddies were on him. Pulling back his fist he let fly with one swift punch to the mans nose. A sickening crunch and a fountain of blood, Tomas knew his fist would ache later but it was worth it. He Learnt forward, no doubt looking completely demented, “She’s mine” Tomas growled out as he pulled the guy to his feet and shoved him back towards his seat.

The entire diner was silent as Tomas stood tall, his face ice and danger as he straightened his jacket.

[Maddison Lancaster]

Your insecurities are concealed by your pride
Pretty soon your ego will kill what's left inside

---

Once she’d finished getting the order put into the computer, Maddie walked onto the line to start getting the drinks put together for her rowdy table of guys. The more she thought about it, the angrier she felt at Tomas for how he was acting. Did he really think that she couldn’t take care of herself? Did he think she didn’t know how to deal with a table of four that was a bit handsy? It wasn’t like she hadn't ever had someone grab her before.

As she was setting the fourth drink on her tray, she could hear some commotion coming from the dining room. She took in a deep breath, already suspecting what she was going to see before she walked back out of the line.

”Oh, for fuck’s sake..” She set her tray down on the nearest empty table and looked at Tina. ”Cover my section?” Tina gave her a nod, as the manager, Mike, came rushing over. ”I’m handling it, Mike.” Maddie assured him, almost certain that no matter what she did now, she was going to end the night by getting fired now that Tomas had made one of their customers bleed in the middle of the dining room. She was lucky enough that no one had decided to call the cops. At least, not yet.

Maddie made her way over to Tomas, her expression clearly showing anger and frustration with him, with his behavior. ”Outside.” She didn’t give time for him to say anything before she was making quick strides toward the door. He’d caused enough of a scene already, there was no need to continue the show.

When they were both outside, Maddie paced back and forth on the pavement to the side of the building. ”What were you thinking?” She shook her head, her anger still welling up, her eyes stinging with tears that she refused to let fall. She hated that she cried when she was mad, and right now she was madder at him than she could remember being since they were kids. She wasn’t going to cry in front of him, not right now. It wasn’t like he’d never seen her cry when she was mad before, but this would be different. She wouldn’t let him see her cry when he was the reason she was this upset.

”Are you really that jealous? That insecure? Because if it’s not that, what? You don’t trust me? You don’t think I can take care of myself? Because I have news for you, I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. And that’s not the first, and probably won’t be the last time some idiot touches me without permission.” She was still pacing even as she lashed the angry words at him. She paused and glanced inside the building through the windows. She could see her manager, bringing a bag with ice to the table. Tina was straightening up the table that had been knocked askew. The knot in her stomach grew.

”Maybe you should just go home.” She finally faced him, no long pacing. Her voice was quieter. She wanted to yell more, to call him an idiot and tell him how he’d probably just successfully gotten her fired. But none of those words would form on her lips. As much as she wanted to yell and lash out at him, she was aware that this was still Tomas, and she didn’t want to let her anger make her say something she couldn’t take back.

---

@tomas
Let me know for changes.

[Deleted]

Tomas let Maddie demand him out of the restaurant without a word he stalked passed her andswung the door open, letting the cool air of the night wash over him. Did he feel crappy about what he had just done? Yes, but was there adrenaline coursing through his veins that made him feel a little bit alive, the way he used to when he got in fights, like before Blackstorm…also yes.

”Are you really that jealous? That insecure? Because if it’s not that, what? You don’t trust me? You don’t think I can take care of myself? Because I have news for you, I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. And that’s not the first, and probably won’t be the last time some idiot touches me without permission.”

Toms listened as Maddie let out her anger, he gritted his teeth. Yes he was jealous. Yes he was probably that insecure but he wasn’t going to admit that and yes ofcourse he trusted her, this wasn’t about trusting her it was about someone else putting there hands on her, putting their hands on what was his…..wait no! STOP THINKING LIKE THAT TOMAS! The sane part of his brain screamed and he felt the adrenaline ebb and he clenched his fist, digging his fingernails into his palm until he was sure he would draw blood. Nausea overwhelmed his body and he took slow, deliberate breaths. “I know you can take care of yourself Maddie,” Tomas gritted out “But you shouldn’t have to!” his words were flecked with frustration at himself and at the guy whose nose he had just broken.

Tomas had his back to the window and glanced behind him, some of the other staff were clearing up the mess he had made. The guy had a bag of ice held to his nose and Tomas felt a little flip of glee in his stomach at the pain he had inflicted. “That guy deserved what he got,” Tomas muttered turning back to Maddie, “Maybe you should just go home.” Tomas snorted at the suggestion and sneered at the idea of leaving Maddie alone now “You have to be joking, there is no way im leaving until that arsehole leaves, even if I have to stand out here all night,” he bit out the words and folded his arms across his chest.

[Maddison Lancaster]

Your insecurities are concealed by your pride
Pretty soon your ego will kill what's left inside

---

Even as they stood outside the building, Maddie could see the signs of his anger. Tomas was balling his hands into fists, gritting his teeth. She didn’t understand why he was being like this. She’d never thought that he would be so possessive. She wasn’t used to dealing with this kind of thing. She didn’t do relationships. Maybe this whole thing had been a mistake, maybe they wouldn’t work out after all. Maybe Mason had been right.

He took deep breaths before speaking. She could see that he was trying to calm himself down. He acknowledged that he knew she was capable of taking care of herself, but insisted that she shouldn’t have to. She saw him look inside the restaurant, at the mess that he’d left behind him. She didn't see any sign of regret, he just turned back to her and said the guy deserved it. It felt like being a teenager all over again.

When she told him to go home, Tomas made a dismissive noise, like it was an absurd suggestion. Then he said he wouldn't go, not until the customer was gone. Her anger at him boiled up again.

"I swear to God, Tomas…" She shook her head at him. The corners of her eyes stung from tears that threatened to spill over as she let her frustration with him build. She wished that she still had her pack of cigarettes in her pocket, she could use the distraction that poisoning her lungs with nicotine would provide, but they were stored away in her bag inside.

"You think I'm the one who's joking? I can't, I just can't with this right now. You need to stop." Her eyes fluttered and she let out a deep breath, still trying to stop herself from crying. "You hit one of my customers. I'm going to be lucky if Mike doesn't fire me on the spot. You can't just wait out here. That can't happen. It's ridiculous that I have to even tell you this."

---

@tomas
Let me know for changes.