but i like you; markhyuck

five

Later in the summer, a month before he steps into middle school, Mark knocks on Donghyuck's window, rain pouring down his back.

"Donghyuck, it's me," he mutters, hair damp and glasses wet.

He doesn't need to wait long before the blinds are lifted, Donghyuck's eyes widening as he fumbles with the latch of his window.

"Mark, what are you doing!?" he cries, trying his best to keep his voice down to a whisper. "Come in! I'll get you a towel!"

He climbs weakly through the open window, shivering at the sudden warmth in the room. His glasses become foggy with the newfound heat, fingers stiff and body shaking as he registers warm arms wrapping a blanket around him and sitting him down on the mattress.

"Here. I got you some clothes," Donghyuck whispers, kneeling on the floor to look at Mark's face. He brushes the wet bangs out of his eyes and takes his glasses off, placing them on the nightstand. "You can change here. I'll turn around."

Mark barely nods his head, but Donghyuck knows to turn around. It takes him a while, hands cold against his bare skin, but in a few minutes, Mark taps Donghyuck's back to indicate that he finished changing, guiding him back to his bed.

They sit in silence, quietly listening to the rain outside. Mark watches as the water from his wet clothes spreads across the wooden floor, meeting with the rain dripping from Donghyuck's windowsill.

"I'm sorry about the mess, Hyuckie," he mumbles, fingers squeezing each other tightly.

Donghyuck lets out a soft laugh, back thumping against the mattress. "It's okay, Markie."

The room remains silent for another few seconds before Donghyuck speaks from behind him. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Mark lies back on the bed, staring up at the empty ceiling. He thinks of the yelling, the shrieking, the crying, and shuts his eyes tightly.

"Mom and Dad fought."

Donghyuck turns to face him, eyes filled with concern. "I'm sorry, Mark."

He chuckles weakly. "It wasn't one of those small fights either, you know? Mom got really mad at Dad over something small because she's been really stressed about work, and Dad took that personally. They were yelling so loudly in Mom's office downstairs that I couldn't sleep, so I just... left."

Donghyuck stays silent, encouraging Mark to continue.

"And... I was just so scared, Hyuckie. I've always known this was coming because they've been getting worked up with each other a lot these past few months, but then it happened and I just, I just couldn't, it was..." Mark hiccups. "It was like they were gonna separate. Forever. A-And I don't want that happening, I can't have that happening, but I can't control anything because I'm only eleven and-"

Warm hands cup his face. Mark sucks in a breath when he feels the familiar bump of Donghyuck's forehead against his.

"Mark, breathe."

Mark lets out his breath.

"Listen, Mark," Donghyuck whispers, his warm eyes gazing into Mark's wet ones, "You're gonna be fine, ok? Even if something bad happens, you're gonna be okay because I'm always gonna be here, just two houses away. You can cry on my shoulder as much as you want because you're my best friend in the whole world, and I'm always gonna listen to you." He smiles weakly. "It's always gonna be us. We're always gonna be together, okay?"

The dam breaks, fresh tears falling down Mark's face as he tucks his head into Donghyuck's shoulder. He doesn't know how long he stays there, arms wrapped around his torso, tears streaming endlessly into the growing dampness on the front of Donghyuck's shirt.

"Thank you, Hyuckie." Mark mumbles.

He hears Donghyuck mutter something back before blacking out.