39

506 20 0
                                    

After Haechan hangs up the phone with his dad, it's time to get dressed. Mark said it's a dressy casual so he's going with a lavender button up and white ripped skinny jeans. He hasn't dressed even this nice for anything in a long time and he's feeling a little emotional about it, in a good way of course. He combs his hair and stares for a long time in the mirror. He can't help the feeling of pride that he gets realizing that he is doing this and he is growing as a person more each day.

He sits and waits while staring at his phone, he's expecting Mark's text any minute and just like clockwork, there it is. He smiles when he sees the little heart he sends just to let him know he is here. He goes to the door and swings it open, revealing Mark standing there with roses and a cute smile. He takes the flowers and kisses Mark deeply.
"You didn't have to." He says when he finally breaks apart from him.
"I know, but you're pretty, and you deserve pretty things." He smiles softly.

"I love you baby." Mark says walking up behind Haechan, hugging his waist while he puts the flowers in water.
"I love you too." He sighs and rolls his head back to kiss Mark's cheek.

After a lot more kisses and some cuddling they leave for dinner. It's about six blocks away which is further than he's ever been but it's a necessary step if he wants to reach his dads office building. It's not really a bad or even busy neighborhood. There is a bar on the corner just a block from the restaurant and a couple of small stores that are closing for the night.

They take their time walking, Mark is just trying to let him absorb his surroundings as he goes. Haechan is surprised by how relaxed he is considering the new neighborhood but figures it's from the amount of growth he has had.
"How are you feeling?" Mark asks as they get to the entrance of the restaurant.
"I'm really good Mark, I love this so much!" Mark hugs him because he can't resist his cuteness and kisses his lips.

"Let's go." They enter and Haechan is hit with more noise than he's used to, it's a little busier than Jungwoo's cafe is when he goes. He pauses just enough to look around and deem it safe enough before he follows Mark and their waitress to their table. They get a nice booth by a window with a view out to the fairly quiet street. He smiles brightly at Mark and reads the menu before ordering a simple pasta dish, Mark does the same.
"This place is perfect Mark, it's busy but not overwhelming, you did amazing." Mark smiles proudly and sighs.
"Good, I spent weeks stalking this place at different times of the day to see when they were not too busy." He can see that this slightly bothers Haechan, he knows he already feels like a burden at times.

"I wanted it to be a perfect date, I would have done this regardless so don't even think any negative thoughts." Haechan smiles and looks away.
"So who do I get to meet next?" Mark chuckles at his excitement. Well there is Doyoung, my boss and his boyfriend the secretary,Taeyong. Also Lucas and Xiaojun from my department. I was wondering if we could try something a little different and maybe meet them as a group? But we can wait and see, I figured we should take a break this week anyway." Haechan nods.
"That sounds good, I've been texting with Shotaro, he's so nice and he has a boy he likes so he was telling me a little about him." Mark smiles fondly.
"I'm so happy for you." He says just before the food comes. The waitress sets it down and they dig in right away, both were starving.

After they eat they sit for a while longer and finally decide to share a piece of chocolate cake.
When they finally walk out into the peaceful night air Haechan can't help himself as he pulls Mark in for a toe curling kiss. They stare lovingly into each other's eyes before Haechan giggles. He grabs Mark's hand and laces their fingers as they start to walk back to his place. They walk hand in hand as they pass the bar on the corner, the street is mostly quiet as they wait at the cross walk. They don't even notice someone coming up behind them until Haechan is pushed to the ground.
"What the fuck?" Mark yells as he rushes to Haechan's side.

"You fucking faggots, get off my street!" Mark doesn't hesitate to walk straight to him and poke him in the chest.
"I don't know what the fuck your problem is but you need to back the fuck down." Mark says as he looks over to Haechan who is sitting with his knees up crying in fear. Mark could only tell you that the only thing giving him any courage whatsoever is the fact that he knows he has to protect Haechan, the man is after all at least a foot taller than Mark. The man frowns and looks over at Haechan like prey and Mark does the only thing he can think of.

"Fuck! Hit me, hit me as much as you want to but don't fucking touch him. Please?" Mark pleads with all that he has to keep him away from destroying Haechan's progress. As if by some miracle the man agrees, almost like he has a shred of humanity but he will get joy from beating Mark and he knows this so he swallows hard and looks pleadingly to Haechan.

"Run. Haechanie, go home and call Jeno." Haechan shakes his head and stares at the ground, he looks up again in time to see Mark take the first punch. He stumbles back as it clicks in Haechan's brain that the man is distracted so he pulls his phone out and calls Jeno just as Mark takes another punch. Haechan is shaking and sobbing and can't form words so Jeno can't understand him so Haechan shakily sends his location and drops his phone as the third punch lands on Mark's poor face.

This one sends him to the ground and Haechan can't take it anymore as he walks quickly up to the man and puts his foot behind him and pushes as hard as he can, causing him to fall on his ass. Just as he is about to try to get up Haechan hits him square in the face sending him back onto the pavement. His being drunk helped in knocking him out.

Haechan is stunned as he looks down to Mark who manages a small smile to let him know he's fine. Haechan looks at his face to see all the cuts and bruises and steps back in fear, soon enough Jeno, Jaemin and Renjun pull up and see the scene laid out before them. There is a collective gasp until Haechan breaks into a sob and calls out for Jeno, of course he runs right over so the other two tend to Mark. Jeno gets in the driver seat but Haechan wouldn't let go so the other three go to the back. Mark is of course in a lot of pain and suffering but all he can think about is Haechan at the moment.

They get to Haechan's and Jeno takes him to his room where he lays down on the bed, Mark tries to be with him but Haechan shrinks away, it hurts more than Mark ever thought possible but he steps out.
"Jeno, c-can you hold me for a minute? I just need a minute." Jeno comes over and sits next to him and holds him softly.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Jeno asks softly. Haechan looks at his hand and can see a little blood on his knuckle.
"This hurts a bit." He says as he can feel himself calming down.
"I'm pretty sure Mark does too, why won't you let him be with you?" Jeno asks carefully.

"I said I just need a minute, that's all. Fuck!" He can feel the panic rising inside him.
"It, he, uh, I can't say it. His face, what happened it made me think of my mother and I didn't know what to do. I was scared, but why did he have to get hurt? Why did this happen tonight? It was so perfect, our date, and then he called us fags and Mark said something to him after he pushed me so he punched him, too many times." He sobs into his hands and Jeno rubs his back.

"Look, there are assholes out there who will say things, do things that are pretty fucked up because they think our lifestyle is a sin but you can't let it hold you back. Please don't let it hold you back Haechan." Haechan nods and cries into his shoulder.
"Now, I know you were hurt and confused and terrified, I get it, but you have a boyfriend who is also hurt and the fact that you can't even look at him probably hurts even more." Haechan gasps, he never thought of it that way, only thought of his own fears.
"I'm sorry, I, will you get him please?" Jeno nods.
"Change into these." He hands him some shorts and walks to the door.
"You get ready for bed and I'll grab him." Haechan does as told and lies down.

Jeno walks out to see only Jaemin and Renjun on the couch.
"Where is Mark?" He asks quickly.
"We tried to clean his wounds but he said he needed air and went out the back door, he was crying and when I told him to stay because Haechan needs him he said, no he doesn't he has Jeno." He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
"Can you guys go be with Haechan while I find him? He shouldn't be alone." They Both agree right away and head into his room. Jeno walks to the back door mumbling curse words under his breath at how fucked up this situation really is.

To be continued...

Safe place (Markhyuck)Where stories live. Discover now