Basically, I'm writing one-shots based on quotes and sayings that remind me of GA and a few other fandoms. It's an exercise to keep my mind writing when I'm not working on my "bigger" stories.
Sticks and stones may break your bones, aimed with angry art. Words can sting like anything, but silence breaks the heart.
The fights were loud and violent, always. It wasn't violence toward each other; it was just general frustration being taken out through violent means. Addison had a thing about throwing breakables and Derek was big on kicking things, because he couldn't do anything to hurt his hands.
From Mark's point of view, it was pure entertainment. Damn, but those two had some wild fights. If the scratch marks on Derek's back were any indication, the makeup was wild as well.
When the fights weren't violent, they were sharp. The two could hurt each other like no one else possibly could with just their words. It was at times frightening, especially when tempers would die down. Derek could often be found with a bottle of scotch at that point while Addison would just cry.
It was only when they stopped fighting that Mark realized just how bad things had gotten. The utter heartbreak on Addison's face day after day when Derek wouldn't even bother letting her know he'd left for work was almost a permanent fixture.
Derek would moan and groan about how Addison never talked to him anymore. He never said a word to her about it, but Mark noticed as communication grew scarce.
Mark became the go-between, and somedays he felt like their marriage rested solely in his hands. He would try to arrange "family" dinners that would inevitably fall apart.
It wasn't until his lips were on Addison's that he realized how immersed in their marriage he really was: somdays, it felt like he, and not Derek, was Addison's husband.
When Derek kicked Mark out their house, Mark reflected on the fact that silence is what did such a number on the Shepherd marriage.