Safe place (Markhyuck)

40

When Jeno gets out the back door he doesn't have to go far before he sees Mark sitting on the ground, leaning on the house with a six pack of beer.
"Hey." Jeno says quietly.
"Hey. How is my boyfriend?" Mark asks a little bitter. Jeno sighs and sits next to him, taking a beer himself.
"Mark please, don't be mad at him. He was confused and scared and your face made him think of his mother." This makes Mark sigh.

"Im not mad, but It hurts when the person you love, the person you took a beating for doesn't want to see you. I was going to leave. I grabbed this beer and was going to walk all the way home but I couldn't do it." He shakes his head and takes a big gulp of beer.
"I couldn't leave him like this no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I told myself that he chose you to be by his side and not me." He chuckles bitterly.
"I'm pretty fucking selfish aren't I? Haechan is traumatized and assaulted and here I am upset that he didn't want me to comfort him." He slams down the empty can and opens another, Jeno has yet to say anything.

"So I've been sitting here telling myself to man up and go back in and just wait, but I can't. This night was supposed to be perfect, it was only our second date. Why did this have to happen? Fuck!" Jeno pulls him in for a hug when he starts to cry, he lets him have his shoulder for as long as it takes before he finally speaks his thoughts.

"Can you tell me what happened? Haechan couldn't really paint a clear picture." He nods and drinks more beer.
"We were about to cross the street when out of nowhere Haechan was pushed to the ground and I tried to get him to back off but he looked at Haechan again and I wasn't going to let this asshole hurt him so I told him that if he left Haechan alone I would let him hit me as much as he wanted, and at some point Haechan got this, courage and he tripped him and punched him, it was amazing." He said the last part full of pride.

"He probably didn't even realize he had that in him." He smiles thoughtfully.
"Damn. You really did take a beating for him but you should have let my boys clean it up for you, you look like shit." Mark chuckles.
"Thanks. So really though, how is he?" Jeno pats his shoulder.
"He feels bad that he acted the way he did and wants to talk to you." Mark looks down, tapping his beer can.
"I suppose we should go in then?" He asks slowly, Jeno just stands and takes his hand and helps pick up the cans.

The house is quiet as Mark walks in, he swallows hard, he doesn't want to scare Haechan so he knocks softly. He doesn't get a response, so he opens the door only to see Haechan spooning Renjun and Jaemin spooning him, all of them fast asleep. He stands and watches for a while and him and Jeno both coo at how cute they all are.
He backs out to let them sleep, him and Jeno are going to sleep in the guest room but Jeno makes him sit still so he can help clean his wounds.
They lay in bed talking for around an hour about this and that before exhaustion starts to settle in, Mark falls first with Jeno only minutes behind.

At around four AM, Haechan wakes to see who he is cuddling with and starts to panic.
"You said he wouldn't leave, why didn't he come back?" He's still very emotional and this isn't helping. Jaemin wakes up and calmly touches his back.
"Sweetie, he is in the guest room with Jeno. They are sleeping in there, it's ok. You can go to him if you want?" Jaemin kind of asks and Haechan quickly nods and crawls out of bed. Jaemin quickly snuggles into Renjun so he doesn't wake up too.

When Haechan opens the door he gasps, quietly looking at Mark's face in the moonlight. He walks over and crawls right on top of him burying his face in his neck. He cries, he tries to keep it quiet but he can't control it. Jeno and Mark wake up and Mark is quick to hold Haechan in his arms to comfort him. Any emotions of hurt he was feeling before, left him as he is only thinking of his Haechanie. Jeno quietly leaves and Mark just holds him.

When he finally calms down enough he tries to speak but it only comes out in a whisper.
"I'm sorry." Is all he can manage at the moment.
"Shh, baby, no. You don't have to be sorry, I'm sorry. I was supposed to protect you from that kind of stuff and I couldn't stop it, I'm sorry." Haechan kisses his cheek.
"What did you say to him? Why did he hit you?" Mark chuckles.
"I don't even remember, I think it was just to leave or something." Haechan hums and kisses his lips again.

"I'm really sorry that I pushed you away. I love you so much and I hope you will forgive me?" Mark softly kisses his lips and lingers there for a moment.
"There is nothing to forgive Haechanie. It hurt, I'm not going to lie, but you did what you had to do to cope and I'm just happy you are here with me now."Haechan snuggles in to him again.
"I thought maybe you left, I didn't want you to leave upset." He pouts and Mark is so soft for this sweet person clinging to him that he can only smile softly to him.

"You know I could never leave you like that, no matter how many people are in line to comfort you before me, I would never leave you when you are hurting and scared. I love you too much." Haechan pouts again and wiggles so he's laying beside Mark instead, still clinging.
"Will you hold me while I sleep? Jaemin did but it just isn't the same." Mark can't help the face splitting grin as he leans down and kisses him again. Haechan turns as Mark holds him tightly.
"Goodnight baby, I love you." Mark whispers and Haechan of course says it back.
"I love you too."

It wasn't until noon that Haechan woke again, Mark was still holding him, still sleeping as well. He rolls over and kisses him to wake him up.
"Wake up sleepy head." He ruffles Mark's hair making him smile cutely in his sleep. Haechan examines the awful bruises and cuts on his face and gently kisses them making Mark hum in appreciation.
"I am so sorry this happened to you, you were much prettier before."

Mark chuckles and attacks the other with tickles. Haechan's eyes sparkle and it makes the other fall harder. It seems that it doesn't matter what he does, he makes him fall in love more everyday.
"We should get up and eat or something." Haechan says as he stands. He holds his hands out for Mark who takes them and quickly kisses him as he stands face to face with him. Haechan hugs him again.
"I think maybe someone made breakfast already." Mark says as he sniffs the air. They walk out to find the other three sitting at the table eating bacon. Renjun notices them first and jumps up to hug Haechan.

"Are you ok?" He asks softly, Haechan nods and hugs back.
Jeno and Jaemin both hug him too.
"You know guys, Mark is the one that got hurt, maybe hug him too." They all gasp and run over to attack him in a group hug making Haechan giggle as he squeals and tries to get away.
After they were all seated Haechan clears his throat.
"I know you guys are probably wondering if this ruined me, but don't want to ask?" Mark starts to try to protest but he shuts him down.
"I'm determined to get over this illness of mine and even if this sets me back a little or a lot I would appreciate it if you wouldn't give up on me." Mark smiles proudly and they all agree to keep moving forward. Mark knows he still has some important things to discuss with him about this incident but for now he's happy to see him smile and laugh with friends.