When Jason woke up the next morning, the first thing that went through his rotting mind was to check on Destiny and make sure she was okay, especially after the grueling day before. The only thing he had forgotten was how short that trip would take, given that she was right up against him with her face pressed against his large chest.

Jason let out a heavy yawn, causing her face to rise along with his body. Jason never thought he could sleep so heavenly. He hadn't had a full, relaxing sleep like that since he was a child. Was this how couples felt every morning when they woke up after holding their lovers? If this was what being in love was all about, Jason had absolutely no problem with it. It felt amazing.

Jason felt like just spending the whole day watching her sleep. It felt so right, having her there against him, her soft breathing warming up his chest from the inside out. He felt like he deserved this. All his life he had never had someone this close to him in a physical sense, so his mother could be excluded. Why should bad teenagers who create sin when they're under the impression that they're creating love deserve something as otherworldly as this? They didn't. But HE did. He deserved it more than anyone. Well, except for Destiny of course. She deserved it too, especially after the neglect she went through when she was in her home. The thought made Jason's skin crawl. How could anyone not recognize this beautiful little girl lying in front of him?

Jason tried to shake the idea off his mind as he watched Destiny sleeping. Her cheeks were still flushed, but she looked completely relaxed. Even her face looked peaceful now. Jason's eye lit up slightly at the sight. She was relaxing more around him now. She must be becoming more comfortable around him. Jason couldn't stop from smiling behind his mask. He was getting further even after what happened last night!

Last night…last night was one of the most confusing nights of his life. He just couldn't understand the emotions – these feelings…coursing through his body when he touched her skin. It was just so soft...so warm…it was like he was touching something completely forbidden. He wanted to keep touching it, but he knew he shouldn't be. And yet, the feelings that were encouraging him were also shutting out his more, shall you say, 'gentleman'-ly side. He knew he would regret it later, but he didn't care. It just felt so nice.

The fact that he could never do it again caused his more primal side to go utterly berserk inside him as his eye caught her tiny button-nose crinkle up and cause her body to press more against his. Destiny was his girl. She was his own, his one and only. He was the only thing on this planet that was allowed to look at her, touch her…make her happy. How dare he be restricted from something that belonged to him? The very thought set his teeth on edge.

'She's mine…all mine…'

Jason sighed, his large hand flexing over her waist. The feeling of his fingers grazing her shirt sent a thick, warm sensation through his body, a feeling that was different from the more possessive urges he had. He didn't fully understand this feeling either. It caused him to have the inexplicable urge to just keep her little figure gathered up in his arms and just keep her as close as he possibly could, and yet not in the possessive sense. More in a…loving sense.

Jason's eye softened at the sight of her little fists gathered up against his sides of his chest. He felt like he was comforting her, soothing her…making her happy just by holding her like this. Even if she didn't return the feelings that he was experiencing, he at least knew he could make her happy…

Jason had no idea how far his mask was off his face until he felt a gentle breeze brush over the darkened, disfigured skin.

He tried not to flinch at his own actions while his heart thumped so hard he could have sworn he could see Destiny's face thumping along with the beats. What in the world was he doing? Why was he suddenly taking off his mask? He knew if Destiny even saw a glimpse of his wretched appearance, she would high-tail it out of his sight for good. So why would he take the chance? Why would he risk everything just to satisfy the sudden urge he just had to kiss her little forehead? When did he even GET that urge? He was just watching her sleep…

…And he saw plenty of men do the same thing…watch their girls sleeping against them, then they slowly leant down and pursed their lips together slightly, just enough to look decently silly-looking, then press their lips against the very center of their forehead.

…He wanted to try that. Now.

Jason slowly slid off the rest of the mask from his head. His lips were crooked and cracked in places, hardly a pair of lips someone would want their foreheads to be kissed with, but…perhaps, just maybe…maybe…he could give it a try?

But before Jason could even try to pucker his lips just enough to look decently silly-looking, Destiny's brown eyes were in clear view, watching HIM.

Watching him without his mask on.

Watching him look like the freak of nature he was.

Destiny caught sight of Jason without his mask. Finally. Fear struck through her immediately. Surely his face was NOT something she expected. Surely she knew that it must have been something bad enough to cause him to hide it and never let her see it, but she never thought it'd look this bad. The skin on his face was scarred and tinged a dark grey like his hands. The entire right side of his face looked as if it had been shoved into an oven, melted and drooping downward. She could only see the whites in his right eye, the very little of his right eye she could see. His lips were broken in some places and crooked to look like a squiggle on his face with jagged teeth wedged in between. All in all, Jason looked like a monster right out of a horror movie.

She fought back the urge to scream and run away, even if the urge was rising alarmingly high. All she did was cup her mouth with her hands. She knew that doing either would not help the situation. It would only get Jason angry, which was the last thing on earth she wanted. She knew that if she didn't relax right then and there, she would possibly be a goner. But even through Destiny was making an effort not to panic, Jason didn't seem to take it very well. His entire body had gone completely stiff against hers, just watching her in shock. In a split second, he had torn away from her and rose from the bed, turning from her and fumbling with his mask in order to get it back on. Destiny could detect his ears going dark red. Of course he would be embarrassed. He didn't want her to see his face anyway…

…But why did he have it off? Did he sleep without it on or something? Destiny never really saw him asleep before, so that even caused her to wonder weeks prior if he even slept at all. But this was proof enough, him holding her last night, but she didn't have time to go weak-kneed and dreamy about it, as much as she wanted to.

She needed to help Jason.

"J-Jason?" *She called out to him softly and causing him to flinch in the process. He still had his back to her, and he seemed to be breathing heavily. But in what? In fear? In anger? Destiny hesitantly slid out of the large bed, carefully weaved through the broken furniture and debris strewn across the room, and stood to face his back. Slowly, she reached out to tug on his jacket.

"J-Jason?"

He quickly yanked himself away and stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut hard enough to make the room shake. Destiny gasped and trembled on the spot, watching him leave.

"J-Jason…" She quickly scooped up Lacey, who was lying on hop of a broken-up chair next to the bed, and walked out of her room, making her way through the hallways and into Jason's room. She saw as he sat on the bed, almost taking up all the space on it. His head was cast downward, as if almost ashamed with himself. Destiny felt an overwhelming urge to hug him, but pushed it aside. She walked up to him slowly, cautiously, holding Lacey in her arms. She hesitated, but stepped in-between his giant legs so that she was as close as she could get. Jason looked up her, head unmoving. He had nowhere to run now.

"J-Jason…u-um…" she casted her eyes downward as well, feeling her face redden considerably more. "L-Lacey…sh-she…"

Jason grunted, starting to shift away from her.

"N-no! P-please wait!" Destiny pleaded. Jason looked at her quickly, looking almost chocked at her outburst. "Sh-she wants to thank you f-for f-forgiving me!" Jason stared on, frowning slightly in confusion. She slowly set down Lacey on one of his legs, and swallowed softly, her heart throbbing as she slowly lifted her hands up to feel his hard, smooth mask. Jason quickly flinched and wrenched his head away, turning it to the side. Destiny gasped and pulled away quickly, fear striking her again. Was he really doing this? Was she really going to risk her life to show Jason that she accepted him?

Jason slowly glanced at her, his ears going dark red once more. He was trembling slightly now. He was scared.

The urge to hug him again was coming back, but instead she channeled it into hesitantly grabbing his mask and turning his head back toward hers. She gazed into his eye shyly, her face turning red as she slowly lifted his mask off his face, the hidden, grotesque truth in view once more. Jason's entire body was tensed, his eye unreadable.

Destiny slowly lifted Lacey into her arms again, held her face with her hands, and gently pressed her face against Jason's.

Jason stared at her in shock, flinching away from the gesture slightly. Destiny let a small smile spread through her lips.

"S-see? Sh-she's th-thanking you…"

'You know...he really doesn't look all that bad…'

Jason's skin turned a dark red color, staring at her as if she had pulled out an axe and asked Jason if she could kill someone herself.

'…You know, for a monster.'

END CHAPTAH!

"All in all, Jason looked like a monster right out of a horror movie."

Hah…yes.

I know I haven't been updating weekly, and I'm really sorry for that. I don't think I can really get into the rhythm of it. And I'm sorry if this chapter seems short. Just remember that I didn't lose sight of this FF, because I LOVE writing it.

I want to thank everyone who's reviewed! It really means a lot to me that you've taken time to respond to my work! It inspires me to keep writing! Thank you very much!

Please review!

-NikoRu Rene