Safe place (Markhyuck)

20

As the week progressed Mark became more comfortable and was able to almost put everything behind him. Of course he still has a lingering memory of making a fool of himself but he's slowly beginning to feel ok about it.
He's been stopping by as much as he did before and Haechan is so great full. He really thought he may have blown his friendship and would lose Mark but apparently Mark wasn't lying when he said he was hard to get rid of.

Haechan called his dad and made sure to tell him to stop by whenever he wanted, so he's still making leaps and bounds in his progression.

Today is Thursday and Mark doesn't work at the cafe so they were going to try and take a walk in the evening. Haechan was gearing himself up all day and even takes his anti anxiety meds right before Mark gets there.
He sits on the front porch waiting for Mark to arrive excitedly. When he finally shows up he runs down the steps and jumps in his arms surprising the other.

"Woah, what's got you so happy?" Mark asks smiling at how cute he is.
"I'm excited to take a walk and I missed you." He says quietly making Mark smirk a little.
"I missed you too." His voice is calm but his heart is going into cardiac arrest thinking about Haechan missing him. It's hard to just ignore those feelings and he certainly can't suppress them so he just has to push them down and carry on.

"Are you ready to try or do you have something else in mind first." Haechan shakes his head no with a cute smile on his face.
"I want to start, I think I can do it." Mark smiles and takes his hand gently pulling him along.
"I know you can." Mark crosses through the gate first not letting go of the others hand. He looks around and takes a deep breath. When he gets the first foot through he smiles confidently at Mark then fully steps onto the sidewalk. Mark hugs him tightly and encourages him to take some more steps.

He makes it to the edge of his lawn and starts breathing heavy.
"Everything is good, you are doing so great. Take a deep breath and look around with me." He does just that, he slowly peels open his eyes while breathing deeply. He first looks in Mark's eyes for a sense of comfort then he looks around.
He sees a child on a swing, a woman walking her dog and a man mowing his lawn. Everything is normal, everything is fine.
"Ok, ok I want to go back now." Mark nods and turns, he still hasn't let go of him and doesn't plan to until Haechan does. They slowly walk all the way back to his porch and climb the steps before Haechan lets go and hugs him again. He's trying to fight them but his eyes are leaking like faucets right now.

"Thank you, thank you Mark. Oh my god that was amazing! If it wasn't for you I would still be locked up in there 24/7 but you make me want to get better. Thank you." Mark smiles and brings his thumbs up to wipe Haechan's tears.
"You are amazing, you did that. I was just along for the ride. I'm honored to go on this journey with you though. Thank you for letting me in." He can't break the eye contact, it's too intense but it's pulling him in, making him want to kiss him again but he can't so he pulls back. Haechan finally snaps out of it and pulls away taking Mark's hand so he can pull him into the house.

"I'm having Jeno and Jaemin over for dinner this weekend, would you like to come? We could maybe tell them about us." He pauses and decides he should add more to it for Mark's sake.
"You know, about us knowing each other." He sees the hurt flash across Mark's face knowing he doesn't mean anything more but he's just not quite ready for that yet so it has to be this way.

"I- uh I have a work thing this weekend, like a get away that we are supposed to build team work. We're going to stay at this beach house I guess. Sorry." Haechan swallows hard and nods, he's disappointed but what could he do?
"It sounds like fun, I remember going to the beach with my family. I loved it. Maybe someday I'll get to go." Mark smiles softly.
"You will." They sit down to eat together before Mark has to leave.
"Tell me a fun childhood beach story?" Mark says as they sit cuddled on the couch.
"Once I was with all my cousins and they buried me up to my neck. It was fun until I seen crabs walking toward me. Of course they were really far from me but I freaked out anyway and got out of it so fast. They laughed at me but that's ok, I didn't want my face eaten off." Mark chuckles and mumbles "cute" under his breath.
Mark ends up leaving a little late, he was enjoying himself a bit too much even though it was just cuddling.

When he gets home to see Jeno and Jaemin cuddled on the couch he smiles, they are so in love and he is here for it. He's so proud of Jeno for who he has become and how he treats his man.
"Hey guys, what are you watching?" Jaemin's head rolls off Jeno's shoulder as he smiles, and softly whispers.
"I'm watching The lion king for the tenth time and he passed out as soon as it started." He rolls his eyes and smiles lovingly at him.
Mark sits in the chair and watches the movie a little too.

"So how are you feeling?" Jaemin asks him, referring to his broken heart of course.
"A lot better, I mean I'm still bummed but I'm holding out hope that maybe he just needs time. He's worth the wait though." Jaemin smiles.
"Tell me about him?" Mark smiles softly.
"He's smart, funny, and so cute. He's brave and gentle and we can talk for hours or just sit quietly together. I can't wait to see him when we're not together and when we are I never want to leave him." Jaemin's smile stretches.

"You my friend are in love." Mark groans.
"Don't say that, he rejected me and if I keep thinking that maybe I just like him it won't hurt as bad." Jaemin chuckles.
"You said yourself that he is worth the wait, so hold on and let time run its course." Mark nods.
"I should go to bed, I have a long day tomorrow. Good night and thank you." Jaemin wishes him good night as well and continues to watch his movie.
Mark goes to sleep thinking about Haechan because no matter what the other feels for him he always feels good just being in his presence.