NCT One-Shots

No Longer|DoMark

Platonic Doyoung x Mark ft. mention of romantic Doyoung x Yuta x Donghyuck 

Mark is doing the whole supportive best friend thing wrong. And worstly, he's doing the entire potential feelings for your best friend thing backwards. 

He hadn't thought anything of it when Donghyuck texted their groupchat saying that him and Yuta were checking out a guy, not when they described Doyoung, and he then, confirmed that it was Doyoung. He told all three people involved to go for it, no thoughts in his mind besides wanting them to be happy. Because he knows they could be. He knows Doyoung would thrive with all Donghyuck's possessiveness and clinginess, Yuta's blatant favoritism and the fact he loved to kiss people's cheeks. Donghyuck and Yuta wouldn't leave any room for doubt. Yuta would, quite literally, announce to the world that he likes him. Doyoung would soak it all up and return it in exactly the ways they need.

The way he does to Mark. The way he used to do much bigger.

Mark always missed that time, misses the way other people looked at them like they were the most obnoxious couple. Not because he liked Doyoung but because he felt loved. He still does but he knows it's different, has felt it since even before Doyoung told him that he was acting different and why.

Yet, with time, the little sting went away and he found it easy to take in all Doyoung's new feelings. He happily endured rants from Yuta and Donghyuck about Doyoung and he was always happy to give advice. He trusted Doyoung with them. 

Way better than he trusts himself with him.

He thought he could hide these new, complicated feelings. He convinced himself he was overthinking when the atmosphere between him and Doyoung got a little awkward at times. He tried to ignore the way Doyoung would stare at him, tried not to think about the seconds it takes for Doyoung to admit something to him, like he loves him or he's missed him. 

Mark is a fool to think his friends won't notice.

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Doyoung brings it up first. Indirectly, because that's him.

"Why do you keep looking at me? Like now, when we see each other, you just look at me for a few seconds and I don't know why."

Mark gulps. He can't tell Doyoung the truth. He knows better than to open up that can of worms with him. He attempts a casual shrug. "I don't know, I just...you're my best friend so I look at you."

Doyoung is looking at Mark like he's ridiculous and Mark agrees. Silence settles between them, Doyoung clearly thinking of how to proceed. And then, like Mark knows he would, he starts surveying Mark, a thought written across his face. Mark has an idea as to what it is. He knows Doyoung would think it, if only just to give himself as many reasons as possible.

"You keep looking at me because I'm your best friend?"

"You used to do it to me." As soon as the words are out of his mouth, Mark wants to take them back. He knows he's gone into forbidden territory. 

The look on Doyoung's face just confirms it. He's still looking at Mark like he's trying to read him but Mark can also see the other emotions on his face. The discomfort and annoyance he's trying to mask.

"At one point, it was for a different reason."

Mark nods. "I know."

Doyoung wants to say more but Mark isn't surprised that he doesn't. He isn't surprised by the subject change or the way Doyoung doesn't bring it up again. In fact, he stays away from everything serious. Some may call it a flaw but right now, Mark really appreciates the way Doyoung chooses his battles because he'd have no defense if the conversation kept going.