99 Steps

Step 13: Make Everyone Secure

"I can't believe we are doing this." Jack muttered, mainly to himself, as he sketched the layout of the tattoo that the two boys were going to get together.

Mark was getting a small bird with the word 'Always' under it, and Jack was getting the same thing, only with 'Forever'.

"We don't have to, you know. I just thought it would be fun. Maybe we could be someone's 'relationship goals', right?"

"Yeah, have a messed up kid and a dork be your goals." Jack looked up with a smirk. It took the other man a little bit to actually realize what Jack had said, but once he finally got it, he just rolled his eyes.

"It's not very nice to call yourself a dork." Mark said with sass as he walked to the cupboard to get cookies. Jack looked up quickly; one thing that never failed to make his day at least a little better, was cookies. Mark didn't know this, only because they didn't get cookies until now.

"Do you want some milk?" Mark grabbed a cup for the two to share once Jack nodded before continuing to work.

Mark sat down, dipping one of the chocolate chip cookies into the milk and holding it for Jack to take a bit out of.

They ate nearly all the cookies before going down to Jack's room to go to bed. Jack took his shirt off, continuing to look over at the bottle of pills sitting on his desk. Mark wrapped his arms around Jack, his bare chest warm against his cold back.

"You don't need them." He pulled Jack onto the bed, keeping him in his arms. Jack sighed.

"I know I don't need them, I just feel like," he let out a gasp, stopping in the middle of his sentence when Mark placed his lips on the nape of his neck.

"You don't need it."

Jack could feel Mark's breath on his back, and he wished he could drift asleep, but at the same time he felt like he would be spending less time with Mark then. Almost like Jack had to spend a certain amount of time with Mark, and sleeping didn't count.

He stared at the wall, his stomach cramping from hunger, and his eyes watering from yawning so much. Mark let out a grunt, and pushed his body closer to Jack's.

Jack sighed, and tucked his knees into his chest, closing his eyes. He felt a gnawing sensation at the back of his mind, stopping him from being able to fall asleep. Jack rolled over, looking at Mark, keeping his body in the ball-like-form. Jack tried to focus on his facial features, but that was nearly impossible due to the room being so dark.

Jack pushed away, pulling the blankets off and walked to where his radio was. He grabbed his phone, using the screen for light. Music started playing softly, the cheerful sounds betraying the clearly depressing lyrics. Before getting back in bed, Jack absentmindedly pulled off his sweatpants.

"No pants party now?" Mark grumbled sleepily, feeling Jack get back into bed.

"What are you watching me?" He pulled up the blanket, letting the cold basement air attack his stomach.

"Hey!" The blue haired boy's eyes shot open, sitting up. "Maybe I was." Jack rolled his eyes.

"Just warm me up, ya big smelly." Jack pulled himself into Mark's embrace, letting his Irish accent loose. The closer to falling asleep he was, the more Irish he sounded. Mark thought it was cute.

Mark smiled, closing even the tiniest of gaps between the two of them. Jack buried his face in Mark's neck, finally drifting off to sleep.

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Jack woke up, instantly noting that Mark had gone upstairs, probably to make eggs and toast before they went to get their tattoos done. Mark's must have plugged his phone in for him, because it was ringing on the night stand.He picked it up, seeing Mark's name.