Selfish *Markson AU*

Chapter One

Chapter 1

*4 weeks later*

"Leave him." Jinyoung looks across the cafe table at his best friend, Mark, who wouldn't look him in the eyes. If Mark looked up, Jinyoung would be able to see the fresh bruises from the night before, even though Mark was positive he already knew.

"I can't, it's not that simple." It was true. No matter how much pain Jackson has inflicted on Mark, he could never leave him. It was like some force was holding them together, never being able to separate.

"What happened this time?" Jinyoung reaches over the table and tilts mark's face up to see the damage, but he flinches away and adjusts his hat so no one else can see.

"I don't know, he came home mad about something and I was in the way I guess." Mark remembers Jackson, busting through the door and instantly reaching for something to break, which happened to be him.

He is instantly pulled back to reality as Jaebum sits down beside Jinyoung with their coffee. They look at each other and smile, lost in their own world. Looking away to give them privacy, Mark thinks of Jackson and how his smile could light up the night sky. Mark loves Jackson the most when he's happy and smiling, bright as the sun. But the sun can burn, the bruises on mark's face proved that.

"You could always stay with us, we could keep him away." Jaebum suggests, but even he knew Mark wouldn't accept the offer. Mark slowly shakes his head and stands up to leave.

"I should get going, thanks for the coffee." Mark starts to walk away, leaving the untouched coffee on the table, but Jinyoung grabs his wrist as he walks by. "Think about it, okay?"

"Yeah, I will." Mark smiles at his closest friend and walks out of the cafe. As he walks down the sidewalk his phone starts to ring. It's Jackson. Mark takes a deep breath and answers.

"Hey what's up?"

"Oh nothing much, just on my last break. How about you." Jackson sounded calm and happy so Mark relaxed a little.

"I went to the cafe down the street with Jinyoung and Jaebum. I needed a break from work." Mark worked at home, translating Korean writing into English documents for a company that was starting to expand over seas. They needed someone who was fluent in both languages and since Mark was from the USA he was the perfect candidate.

"Oh. Well I'm glad you got out of the house at least." Jackson sounded a little on edge so Mark changed the subject.

"What do you want for supper? It's your turn to cook."

"How about I pick up some pizza on the way home and we can watch movies?" Jackson suggests, already calm and relaxed again.

"That sounds wonderful!"

"Okay I'll see you when I get home." Jackson laughs and Mark says his goodbyes before hanging up. He continues to walk home, speeding up a little as it was starting to get dark out.
As soon as he walks into their house he plugs his phone in, leaving it on the counter before heading back into his office.

*2 hours later*

Jackson arrives home from his office job late, like he usually does. He walks in the house, one hand holding a pizza box, the other holding his keys and phone. He pushes the door closed with his foot, sets his phone by mark's and puts the pizza on the table.

"Mark I'm home!" He shouts, and Mark's reply comes from his office.

"I'll be there in a minute." Not wanting to disturb him, Jackson decides to check his phone, but accidentally grabs Mark's.

*one new message*

Jinyoung: have you thought about leaving him yet?

Anger hits Jackson hard and he can't control it. Throwing Mark's phone and smacking his hands on the counter he tries to get a grip on himself but he's too far gone.

Mark is leaving me? Not if I stop him.

"MARK!"

Mark looks up from his computer and he can hear Jackson stomping towards him. He could tell that Jackson was mad and he knew what that meant. Mark gets out of his chair and makes a run for the door, hoping he could lock Jackson out. Just as he reaches the door he hears a crash and all of the sudden all he sees is the ceiling. He was too late.