It's Always You | MarkHyuck | Currently Updating

#15: Superman.

Chapter Fifteen: "Superman."

Haechan woke up alone again. Back then Mark stayed back in as per his wish but he was busy with his schedules with SuperM now so Haechan could not blame his leader for it. It did make his mornings feel empty though.

He sighed, entering the bathroom to freshen up but throughout the whole process, only one thing was running in his mind - the kiss yesterday. 

Too many questions popped in his head. Why on earth did he kiss Mark? Why did he want to? Where did the urge come from? But he had no answers. The fact that freaked him out however, was that he liked it.

Was it possible he had feelings for Mark?

He immediately shook his head as if he was physically denying such a possibility. There was no way he had romantic feelings for his male friend. It was probably the weirdness that was getting to him. 

Haechan pushed the thoughts out of his head. He had a long break after a long time and he was going to enjoy it with his members.

**

That night, Mark was scrolling through his phone at the dining area when he heard shrieks of laughter from the living room. He looked up to see Haechan and Chenle dying in laughter as they messed with Jisung's game, the poor maknae sighing as he let his hyungs do as they pleased.

Mark's gaze lingered on Haechan's smile, his own appearing at the sight of it. Haechan had a way of cheering others up just by being himself.

His smile however dropped when Haechan tried planting a kiss on Jisung. The maknae had dodged it and it was only meant to be a cheek kiss but it immediately soured Mark's mood. He looked away, got up and headed into the room.

Jaemin who had been silently observing, went up and nudged Haechan's foot who whined unnecessarily loud. "Owww."

"Shut up," Jaemin hushed him before addressing all three of them, "We're going to watch the sunrise tomorrow, remember? Go and sleep. I don't want to drag you out of bed in the morning like a zombie."

"Isn't that usually you?" Chenle raised an eyebrow but they proceeded to their respective rooms anyway.

Haechan entered the room to see Mark already in bed, turned onto his side and facing away from the younger. Surprised because Mark usually waited for him, he shrugged nevertheless and climbed next to him.

"Mark?" he called but received no response.

Deciding he was asleep, Haechan wrapped an arm from behind him but noticed that Mark's posture was too rigid for him to be sleeping. Feeling Mark's arms folded at his chest, Haechan frowned.

"Mark, you're awake," he stated, "Why aren't you replying?"

"I'm tired," came his reply. 

Haechan frowned. Mark had seemed okay just a while ago. "Are you sure? You were fine just now."

"I'm just tired," Mark repeated.

Haechan was not having it. He could sense the unusual tension in Mark's voice. That only happened when he was hiding something. Haechan crossed his leg over Mark's waist, hugging him like a life size teddy bear.

"No, tell me," he spoke against his back. "You're upset."

"I'm not, Haechan," Mark said, sterner this time but it did not scare the younger. They'd spent too much time with each other to be afraid by the other's anger.

Sitting up, Haechan pulled Mark's shoulders until the older turned to lie on his back, Haechan's legs on either side of him as the younger had not shifted from his position. It made Mark tense a little.

"What are you doing?" Mark's voice was deeper, slightly flustered.

"I'm not letting you sleep until you tell me what is going on." 

Haechan's stubbornness did not surprise Mark. If he wanted something, he would make sure he got it. It was admirable but it provided a hassle for Mark at times like these when he did not want to reveal certain thoughts.

"What do you want to know?"

"The real reason you're upset. You're not tired. I know you and you know me. We can't lie to each other," Haechan reminded him.

He was not wrong. They could tell when the other was off or lying. They did not call themselves soulmates just for the sake of it.

"I'm just getting a little stressed, that's all." Mark opted for a partial truth. It was not the reason he was upset at the moment but what he said was definitely true. He had just completed Dream activities and 127 had promoted right before. Gearing up for a third comeback in a row was proving to be tough even for Mark Lee.

Haechan's eyes softened. He could see the level of pressure Mark was in. "The stress is getting to you?"

"Yeah, a little," Mark admitted truthfully.

A moment passed before Haechan gently lay down on top of Mark. Mark's breath hitched but he placed an arm around the younger. 

"I'm here if you want to talk," Haechan said quietly, "You know that, don't you?"

Mark nodded. "I know that."

"Good," Haechan tightened his hold on Mark as though he was trying to prove that he really was there with him. He looked up and their eyes met. "You don't have to be strong in front of me."

Mark opened his mouth to deny it but Haechan's hand shot up, his index finger pressing over Mark's lips which sent a spark for the both of them. Ignoring the light pick up of his own pulse rate, Haechan spoke, "Don't even deny it. You're our dependable pillar and so you think you can't show even a small sign of weakness but that's not true. You feeling stressed and showing it, does not make you weak. You have a life tougher and busier than anyone of us. I don't think any of us can do what you're doing. You're the strongest person I know. You can show me that you're not superman sometimes."

His little speech slowly touched Mark's heart though the last part made a light laugh escape his lips which made Haechan smile. He may seem playful on the outside but he knew just the words to cheer his soulmate up.

"Thank you. I really appreciate that," Mark whispered against Haechan's finger. And then he did something he should not have. He gently kissed the tip of Haechan's finger.

He almost apologised when he realised it a second later but Haechan did not seem to mind. If anything, he looked surprised but smiled nevertheless. He looked back down, making himself comfortable on Mark's chest.

Mark let out a breath. He did not have to apologise after all.

"Good night Markgeollie."

Mark rolled his eyes playfully as he felt Haechan snicker against him. "Good night you brat."

A/N: a little bit of a short chapter. sorry for not updating so long. things ain't breezy. but i hope to be more regular. but we are getting closer to the dating era so tune in :))