𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗱'𝗲̂𝘁𝗿𝗲; mark | jeno | chenle

session finale

"You seem more active today," Dr. Kim commented as he watched Mark slowly wander around the office in an amused manner. "Perhaps you're in a better mood than usual?"

"Doctor, is there a such thing as an 'investigative mood'?"

"Probably. It seems like something detectives would be in, doesn't it?"

"Mhm, I feel like one of those," the younger smiled weakly, possibly because the movement of his lips curving to create an expression he wasn't used to felt foreign. "You see, this week I've been experiencing an extreme pensiveness. I can't get out of my own head..." he stopped pacing for a moment to narrow his eyes against the sun blocking the doctor's face. "But it isn't the same distress I feel when in an impression."

"Would you be disappointed if I said I didn't understand?"

"Not at all," the ravenette hummed, starting to trail towards the wall adorned with many framed photos he hadn't examined before. "I don't understand me the majority of the time, so I've never expected someone who's never been in my brain to understand."

"Lonely."

"Realistic, more like."

Dr. Kim hummed in response, once again taking note of the words shared, the emotions that were settling, and the progress being made. This had been the chattiest the adult had been in a while, so this was definitely considered a victory. "What are you so fascinated by over there? See someone interesting?"

"Quite," Mark furrowed his brows, a sense of freedom suddenly washing over him. Once upon a time, he'd have felt terrified - threatened, even - to see such a familiar face in this place...a place that didn't smell of disinfectant. "You see, I've been thinking so much lately...I believe I've solved my own problem."

"Your dreams?"

"This person in the picture," he tapped the glass right above a beautiful brunette boy, doe eyes sparkling, hair slightly wavy, and skin as sun-kissed as he remembered. "Who is he?"

The older got up from behind his desk to take a look, the sun no longer blocking out his visuals, though Mark didn't bother to look at him. He was far too preoccupied with this revelation. Dr. Kim leaned in and peered at the memory upon his wall, smiling gently. "That, my friend, is an old patient of mine from about ten years ago. He's pretty, isn't he?"

"He is."

"Mhm, he was struggling to get over PTSD - abuse, to be more specific. Lee Donghyuck was such a beautiful soul, you see."

"Donghyuck...." Mark repeated gently, eyes shimmering with a new found glee once he had now placed one of the remaining pieces of the puzzle into the larger picture. "Has this photo been here all along?"

"Mhm. I never take it down. I never take any of my patients from this wall, since they deserve recognition for fighting their battles, don't they?"

"They do...." the younger chuckled. So I never created Donghyuck...I had seen him without even realizing it, and stole his face. "And you," he eventually turned to look at the therapist...and for some reason, he wasn't surprised by the face he could finally define. "Do you think there's hope for me, Jungwoo?"

"First name basis all of a sudden," the silver-haired male scoffed playfully and returned to his desk just to pull that damned mirror out again. "There is always hope, Mark. Once you're able to see what I see in you, that's how I know you're ready."

The ravenette confidently stood before the reflective glass and tried to crack that very smile he used to wear for Jeno. For Chenle. It was a curious one, but a genuine one. He knew what it was he needed to see, and what it was he wanted to see.

"I see..." he hummed, "A shopkeeper."

"Yeah?"

"For sweets. Lots of sweets that always make people excited to come inside. I guess I'd have a partner wouldn't I? Someone real who knows exactly what I'm thinking and feeling."

"And this would be your-"

"Raison d'être," Mark smirked, looking up from the glass and finally feeling like he'd beaten the challenge. "Do you think I could do it?"

"It sounds like an amazing future," Jungwoo winked. "No more teaching for you."

"Thank God," he chuckled alongside him, taking his usual seat before the desk and pulling it in closer for the first time since he'd started coming to these sessions.

The older took one more moment to scribble some notes down onto that patient form...then dropped the pen. He simply let it fall as it had no use anymore. "I think you're good to go."

"What, really?"

"Really. Want to take a picture? To remember?"

Mark's fingers curled against the arms of the seat, his gaze shifting to the wall hopefully and a thought crossing his mind. "Can I hang beside Donghyuck?"

"Of course."