A/N: this contains a bit of domestic violence.
Love
Sometimes he blames it on the job they share. They're together because they have to be, and for either one to back out now would cause more of a mess than it's worth and that's why they're still here. Why he begs Red to stay every time they fight, which is every day, from the moment his partner wakes up, disgusted with himself and heads for the door, like he's doing right now.
It doesn't explain why his chest caves in every time he hears the words "I'm leaving you" or why his partner's insults still sting so painfully. He knows Red is all talk in the end, but Purple can't seem to control the panic and fury that chokes him in those moments – until he realizes he's choking Red and his anger turns inward.
'You swore you'd stop' He reminds himself, when his train of thought is interrupted by Red slamming him into the wall, delivering a solid fist to the face it's well-acquainted with. On bad days, there's a knee to the stomach or repeated blows to his ribs before Red's kissing him, hard and bruising as Purple helps his partner wrap his legs around his waist, reversing their position so Red's back is against the wall for support.
Lips and fingertips have long since been replaced with teeth and claws, growling and snarling where they used to sigh and smile.
"I hate you," Red seethes, almost hissing, clenching his jaw.
Purple's acquired a taste for his partner's bitterness. In a perverse way, he's even grown to like it. "I know." He replies with a grin he doesn't even know he's wearing, moving the way he knows will make Red's hips jerk.
Then there's that moment when Red unconsciously makes one of the gasping noises or happy sighs like he used to, Purple really smiles because he's done something to make his partner happy and for just a second, his mind flashes back to the way things were. He can hear Red in his mind, moaning and breathing hard, saying 'I love you, I love you, I love you' over and over again.
"I hate you, I hate you, I fucking hate you so much!"
Purple buries his head in Red's shoulder, "I'm sorry, Red. I'm sorry."
"It's too late for 'sorry' you stupid fuck!"
The violet-eyed Irken starts to cry as Red demands him to thrust harder and faster. "I'm so sorry, Red…"
"Say it again!"
"I'm sorry, Baby."
"Again!"
Purple sobs until Red's hand grips his antennas hard and yanks his head back, forcefully cupping the violet-eyed Irken's chin with the other.
"Look me in the eyes and say it. Look at me, and then tell me you're sorry!"
"I'm sorry, Red, I'm so, so sorry… never again, Baby, I promise. I love you, I really do, and I'll change. I'm just so scared of losing you. I'll do anything, I want to deserve you…" It's a lie, and they both know it.
"Oh, Pur… just look at us. We already deserve each other."
A/N: So I've been listening to the latest Eminem CD (because I'm so far removed from popular culture I didn't know it existed) quite a bit, and one thing that really surprised me (besides the radical change in content, for the most part) was "The Way You Lie" featuring Rhianna. One of the last things I ever expected to hear was a completely serious song about domestic violence. The idea got lodged in my brain so I drabbled on it. Sad drabble is sad. It was also pretty hard to write.