The obsession that led to love.

Letting the feelings speak.

This afternoon was calm.
Calm enough for Peter to go down stairs. If he wasn't living this life now, he couldn't believe what he saw.
There, in the big sofa, five of the most wanted criminals, six with him, were having a resting time.
Adam was napping, his feet perched on the back of the sofa, an arm behind Larry's back.
Larry was reading, resting his feet on the coffee table not far from there.
Amanda was listening to music, eyes closed.
He sighed, approaching as he searched for the last two.

Not far away, legs spread on a doll, Mark used a screw diver on its arm.
Jigsaw was here too, overlooking Mark. Behind the man, a hand on his nape, he showed him where to use the stool.
Suddenly, Amanda turned to look at him.
''Hi, you can come with us, there's plenty of space here.''
So Peter approached, eyes still locked on Mark and John.
Mark watched him too, through his eyelashes.
His jaw clenched when Peter sat next to Amanda.
''what are you listening to ?"
He heard Mark grow impatient.
Amanda smiled a little, showing Peter her tapes.
Peter only nodded, sitting more comfortably.

''Mark, please, pay attention.''
A sound of agreement echoed in the silent room.
Larry closed his book on his fingers, watching at Mark.
''don't hurt yourself with that, Mark.''
Hoffman's face distorded in jealousy watching Amanda talk to Peter, leaning through him to show whatever she wanted to show.
The screw diver slipped again.
''Mark...''
The man turned to look at Jigsaw.
''I know.''
Then, he turned his face to his work again, bitting his lower lip.

''Does it have a name ?"
Peter asked after Amanda closed her eyes on the music again.
Jigsaw tapped the place next to Mark, asking Peter to move to look directly at the doll.
Peter obeyed, sitting on the sofa, next to an angry red Mark.
''His name is Billy.''
John learned him, passing a delicate hand on Hoffman's shoulder to try and calm him.
It didn't work.
Mark was screwing like a mad man.
''And Mark always takes good care of him, right ?"
The hand on his shoulder moved a little, hoping for an answer to come.
A simple ''hmhm'' went out Mark's mouth.

Peter watched him with funny eyes.
Then, took advantage of John's hand leaving Mark to go wake Adam, to bent over the angry looking man.
''Want to follow me outside ?"
Hoffman watched him with dark eyes, but put Billy next to him slowly, delicately.
And followed Peter.
And raged.
''why are you doing that ? Why do you sit near her ?"
Peter watched him while they were walking through the little garden.
''Why does John touch you like that ?"
Mark closed his mouth.
''Yeah. Close your filthy mouth before you tell me lies.''
The shorter man seemed out of breath. He angrily closed his fists.
Yet, he still followed Peter.

''I don't know what you think about that but-"
Peter scratched his temple.
''oh i think it's strange, a big man like you, rejecting contacts with everyone. Except him.''
Mark stopped, and Peter too.
''And you.''
The tall man watched him, head tilted.
''And me, but still you were doing that sort of things with him before me. Am i wrong ?"
Silence echoed.
Peter approached, bending his neck to look directly at Mark's eyes.
''Am. I. Wrong. Mark ?"
Hoffman shook his head.
No, he wasn't.
Peter sighed and began to walk again.

''I... I don't reject contact.''
Finally, he turns to look at Mark.
''I... I...''
Mark's hands grabbed his shirt, shaking.
Strahm approached slowly, not knowing what was happening to him.
''I... Don't...''
The fingers pulled the grey shirt strongly. His breathing uneaven.
Peter was lost.
''I don't know... How to...''
Mark's face is red, his eyes shined, holding tears.
Peter nearly ran to him.
''Hey...''
He took Mark's face in his hands, strocking the cheeks.
''What's happening ?"
Mark suddenly let go of everything he was holding, after he took a hard breath.

''I don't know how to take it ! I don't know what people want from me !"
Peter took the shaking body in his arms. He was truly shocked.
''He's only trying to help me feel, goddamn !"
Peter slowly rocked the body, trying to calm Mark and himself from the surprising crisis.
''Are you affraid of not feeling a thing anymore ?"
Peter's voice was so soft, Mark could possibly fall asleep listening to it.
He sniffed, trying to focus on Peter's heartbeats.
Trying to find words.
''I...uh... Didn't feel much things since... Angelina's death...''
Peter brushed his hair back.
Of course, Mark's sister.
He must've been traumatized, who wouldn't ? He saw her, he saw the crime scene. Everything.

''John... Helped me... Feel.''
Peter nodded against Mark's head, clearly lost.
''Because you crushed my life and... And i wanted to feel things with you... No matter what could've happen.''
Again, he nodded.
Mark backed off his embrace, looking at his feet.
''Mark...''
Peter tried to catch his eyes but Mark only turned his face for him to fail.
''I'm ashamed.''
Mark's voice cracked with Peter's heart.
''no'' Peter whispered.
The other man scrubed his face franckly.
''i'll go, don't follow me.''

Mark turned his back, walking fast through the house, and Peter did as told.
He stayed here, catching his breath.
Larry went out to take Mark by the shoulders, followed by John who just stayed here.
Watching at Peter.
Mark went inside with the doctor.
John only waited for Peter to come talk to him.
He did.
''It's not what you thought, it is ?"
Strahm lowered his face.
''Mark's only human after all. But remember, Peter, he truly wants it to work.''

John finally turned his back, going inside.
''Yeah.''