𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗱'𝗲̂𝘁𝗿𝗲; mark | jeno | chenle

huit

Mark found himself trailing towards the ever-quiet library down beyond the dim corridor. His classes had been a literal nightmare all day, which meant a lot coming from a man who seemed to live through bad dreams like dual lifestyles. It was the end of the day, thankfully, and most kids who entered the room of endless books were either studying or catching up on sleep due to crap roommates.

The ravenette wasn't really there for either. Sleep usually meant moving on to the hospital - to the possible impression. He didn't enjoy waking up in a new place every day, and so clearing his head while remaining conscious was as good as rest was going to get.

Upon entrance, he was met with the smell of old books, the tickle of dust reaching his nose, the peace and quiet that libraries pulled off so well, and of course, the sight of many shelves stacked high with texts, and students dotted about the place to get work done. If a human could survive in a library for the rest of their life without leaving, Mark wanted to be that man.

He subtly stepped into the first enclosed section of high-rise shelves, looking for a fictional story of sorts to read and calm his nerves. Preferably one that didn't have romance, wasn't set in a bloody hospital and wasn't set in a school. Something.....exciting. Like an adventure sequence full of twists and turns, maybe even magic now that he felt the need.

His index finger glided over the various spines, eyes scanning the titles carefully. Some of them sounded great, like murder mysteries and detective series. He used to love those before being wrapped up in this current impression. Reading was his favourite pastime.

Or was it?

What if being a teacher was influencing his memories and imagination? What if all his life he'd loved watching those television shows wherein a doctor could save a supposedly done-for patient's life? What if he really hated reading in reality, and this was a funny irony?

"Don't think about it...." he mumbled to himself, about to slide a novel out of its confines before one arm snaked expertly around his waist and the other hand came quickly over his mouth. Mark gasped, dropping the book in a blind panic and grabbing at the limbs trapped him. "Mhm! Ngh mhm umh-"

"Shhh, I'm not about to attack you, Silly," the somewhat deep and alluring voice belonging to the captor graced his left ear. Now that Mark thought about it, the smell of the male was familiar and welcome as well.....it was only Jeno. "Are you going to calm down?"

The older nodded against the other's hand, breathing in a sigh of relief when he was allowed real oxygen. "Jesus, Jen. You scared me half to death!"

"Keep it down. We'll be spotted."

"We're in the library. I hope you aren't planning anything nefarious, young man."

"Does sex count as nefarious?"

"Lee Jeno-"

"I'm messing with you," the athlete giggled in a low whisper, caging his secret lover nonetheless and connecting their lips needily. Their mouths melded perfectly this way, always changing positions and looking for the best angle to explore. Their tongues reunited after what felt like a long time, excited every time they did this to dance together. Jeno's hands made their way up to Mark's chest, sliding sensually up along it until he was cupping the older's cheeks and tilting his head for better access.

"Jen..." the ravenette sighed out once he broke away, eyes fluttering shut as the taller started sucking his neck and playing with the buttons of his shirt. "Not here...."

"Mhm, I won't," he responded shortly, licking a stripe along the shorter's jaw and coming to his ear to nip at it. "I've just missed you. You seemed stressed today during class. What's up?"

"Ngh, nothing....I was just distracted." Feeling the younger starting to drag his hands down to touch his lower waist, Mark found it too hard to protest. He hated the human body's natural need to be touched. It was so hard to work with. "Come on, we should find a calm spot to sit. I'll pretend to t-tutor you."

"Mhm, okay," Jeno hummed, pulling away and smiling cutely. "It feels like it's been ages since we've chatted."

"You don't even know the half of it."

They cleaned themselves up a bit before emerging from their hardly private space, though it was really Make who needed to fix his shirt and shake off his daze. The taller merely ran a hand through his slightly tousled hair and was all good to go.

They found a small desk near the window, perching down at it in two out of three chairs, and pulling out a couple of random hardbacks to make it seem as though they weren't socializing, but studying. Mark kept his sights mostly on the page he'd opened, though couldn't help but flick it up to the student here and there out of adoration.

This boy was a constant high in his life, beating back all the lows that dragged him down. His youthful energy and beautiful eye-smile were enough of a reason to wake up each morning, and he loved him for it. Jeno was like a breath of fresh air after walking through a dusty mine for hours.

"You'll burn a hole in my head if you look at me so intensely like that," the cheeky teenager winked, keeping his voice down for obvious reasons. "I'm not complaining though."

"Of course you wouldn't. The amount of times I've felt you undressing me with your eyes while I teach exceeds that of the amount of fingers on my hands. You're such a kid."

"And I love you."

"Psh, you big flirt."

"Ouch."

Mark gleefully smiled at him and subtly locked their ankles under the table, trying not to squish the other boy's cheeks. "I love you too."

They leaned over their books and fake-read them while gushing silly love talk under their breaths. People around them either didn't notice, thought they were weird or simply didn't care. Either way, they were able to spend about an hour and a half in there, sharing subtle finger touches....small 'I love you's'.....supportive praise. It was hard being in love like this, where the whole world wanted to tear them apart.

At least they knew there was nothing but affection between them.

• • •

-lily