Black Thunder (Markson AU)

Chapter 4: Afraid of You

Jackson and Mark made the walk to Jackson's apartment in silence. Mark was looking at his feet the entire walk back, not making a sound or looking up, his face settled into a cold, serious gaze. Jackson didn't think much of Mark's silence- he had gotten the message that Mark was the quiet type. But something inside of him stirred up his suspicion. He would ask about it later.

"Mark, over here," Jackson sighed, stopping in front of the apartment building. He watched as Mark looked up from the ground and rushed over to his side. Together they walked up to Jackson's apartment and threw the door open. Mark went in first and set down the bags of McDonald's on the table as Jackson closed the door and went off into his room for a little while. After he had set the bags down, Mark sat down on the couch and held his hand out. The sight of his middle finger empty stirred up his feelings of anxiety. He missed the band of silver that encircled his finger. He made up his mind that he would have to go back. He would have to find it again.

It wasn't long until Jackson soon came out of his room and joined Mark in the living room. Noticing the food on the table, Jackson peered into the several wrinkled bags of McDonald's. "Hm...let's see what we have here." He reached in and pulled out several warm burgers and some drinks and set them all out on the table. He noticed that there were many more than he was planning there would be. The table was almost full. Jackson looked up at Mark with a confused look. "Why did you get so many, Mark?"

Suddenly it hit Mark. "Oh, I forgot to tell you," he said, looking up, "I got some stuff for Ten and Jinyoung, but I forgot to give it to them." He stood up immediately and held his hands out. "I can take it to them now."

Jackson was stunned as his words. "Are you crazy?" Jackson asked him, furrowing his eyebrows. "We just got back. I'm hungry. I'm sure you're hungry, too. We could go back down after we eat."

Mark shook his head at once. "No, no, I'll take it to them now. I'm sure they're starving." If he insists on coming with me...

"No." Jackson dead panned. He slitted his eyes and pointed to the chair opposite from him. "Sit down and eat with me."

Mark was taken aback at Jackson's stubbornness. He relented, much to Jackson's pleasure. Pressing his lips together in silent fury, he sat down and began unwrapping a burger.

Jackson felt that something was off with him, but he didn't want to press the matter. "How did you like working at the noodle shop today, Mark?"

Mark took a moment or two to respond. "I liked it," he said finally, taking a bite out of his burger. He chewed on it for a little bit thoughtfully. "Ten and Jinyoung are nice. Mr. Kim is, too."

"I'm surprised he's paying you, to be honest."

"So am I."

Jackson shoved two fries into his mouth at the mouth at the same time. "So, you think you'd wanna work there? And make some money of your own?"

Mark looked up, surprised. "You'd let me work there?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know..." Mark's voice suddenly got quiet. He looked down at the floor and bit his lip. "I thought you didn't want me to invade your 'private life.'" The emphasis on the words "private life" make Jackson's stomach lurch a little.

Jackson gulped. Dammit, I didn't mean it that way! "What? No."

Mark cocked an eyebrow, still not looking up. "Are you sure?" His voice was doubtful.

"Of course!"

He looked at Jackson suspiciously, but he believed him. "Well, in that case..." Mark thought about it for a moment, sipping his soda. "I guess I can start working. I'd hate to have Ten working all by himself."