Safe place (Markhyuck)

13

When Jeno sees Mark walk in extra happy he smirks and clears his throat, letting the other know he's sitting in the dark.
"Jesus Christ. Why are you waiting up dad? Did I miss curfew?" Jeno chuckles and stands, handing Mark a beer.
"Shut up and drink." Mark laughs loudly prompting Jeno to shush him so he doesn't wake Jaemin.
"Sorry, what's up?" He whispers. Jeno shrugs and beckons him to the balcony.
"We just haven't talked in forever, you're always busy with work or friends." Mark leans on the railing breathing in the cool night air.
"Sorry, yeah I've been a little busy. So how are your classes going? I'm fucking tired of this two job bullshit myself and I just started." Jeno hums.

"Yeah, it sucks. My classes are good but my course load is not as big as Jaemin. He's so stressed lately, I want to do something nice for him but I don't know what to do. Like, I feel like a date might be too much work. He already has a lot to do at the moment with mid terms and everything." Mark looks off in the distance and enjoys the breeze.

"Just do something easy." Jeno frowns, thinking he maybe asked the wrong person.
"Massages, hot, candle lit baths with a glass of wine and a good book or just the two of you, making love. When I'm not here of course." Jeno laughs and slaps his arm.
"Cook for him, or in your case order food for him." Jeno stares thoughtfully at Mark.
"I feel like you've done these before?" Jeno questions earning a slight frown from the other.
"No but when I get a boyfriend I'll know how to treat him." He says confidently. Jeno furrows his brow and smirks suspiciously.

"I thought you were bi, how do you know it won't be a woman?" Mark smiles softly.
"Just a feeling." Jeno smirks again.
"So you've either found someone you really like or you've decided you are gay, which is it?"  Mark shakes his head and turns to go back inside.
"Good night Jeno." He says smiling widely thinking of the face Jeno was probably making at the moment.
"Hey that's not fair!" He whisper shouts, chasing him inside.
"Good night Jeno."'Mark repeats. Jeno tackles him to the couch and holds him down just like he did when they were kids.
"Get the fuck off man." Jeno laughs and hops off.
"Are you going to tell me who he is?" He questions curiously.
"If there was someone I would." Mark just shrugs and stands leaving Jeno with no choice but to believe him. He turns and pats Jeno on the shoulder.
"I have this work retreat thing this weekend you should plan some things and spend the whole time pampering Jaemin. I'm leaving Friday morning and won't be back until Sunday night some time." Jeno smiles forgetting about their previous conversation.
"That's perfect, you're the best. Thank you Mark." Mark just smiles and nods before going into his room to finally sleep.
He sighs and puts his head back. He feels bad that he can't be honest with Jeno but technically he doesn't have anyone, he's just seriously crushing on his cousins best friend.

Mark: Hey, are you up?

He waits for only a minute before Haechan replies.

Haechan: what's up? Is everything ok?

Mark: I just don't know if maybe I should tell Jeno about us?

Haechan: us? You mean that we know each other?

Mark: well yeah, I feel like I'm lying to him and he's my cousin and your best friend and I don't want to hurt him.

Haechan: do you think he would try to keep us apart?

Mark: I'm sure he'd be a little mad at first but I don't think he would do that.

Haechan sobs uncontrollably and dials Mark's number.
"Haechan are you ok?" He can hear him crying.
"What's wrong? Don't scare me, please talk." Haechan gets it under control enough to get his words out.
"I'm scared, I know I shouldn't be. He's my friend, he wouldn't hurt me on purpose but what if he talks you out of seeing me to protect me or some shit and I never see you again? I can't just come and find you, I have to trust that you will come back and I'm probably being dramatic but i can't lose you yet. I just got you." He lets out some more tears and wipes his face, his breathing leveling out some.

"Haechanie, you will not lose me that easy. You may not realize this but I need you probably just as much as you need me. You have become a special part of my life already and I'm not going to just let that go because someone thinks I should. Look I won't say anything yet. We can talk more this weekend, ok?" Haechan nods then chuckles at himself before answering.

"I'm sorry for freaking out, fuck. Now you've seen just how crazy I can be." Mark chuckles.
"Being afraid isn't crazy, let's just talk this weekend." He listens to Haechan taking deep breaths on the other side of the phone and smiles softly to himself.
"Good night, Haechanie. I'll call you tomorrow, ok?" He says gently.
"Good night Mark." They finally hang up and Mark sits and thinks about his predicament. He knows that Haechan has mountains to climb with his phobias and if he's doing even the slightest bit to help that then he should keep it a secret for Haechan's peace of mind. It's not like he's doing it out of spite or anything so Jeno should understand.

He stands and changes into some shorts and a sweat shirt before crawling into bed. He decides to wait and come up with a solution this weekend, for now he will lie in bed and think about his new favorite person. His mind wanders to the cute faces he makes when he intently listens to a song or when he gives his undivided attention when he speaks nonsense about Marvel, or anything else.
He knows deep in his heart that he is fond, he just doesn't realize how much yet.