all the things we've done.

i. hell's mark.

content warning: profanities.

i. hell's mark

"hey, you can't ride it! i was here first!"

"but i saw it first, so back off!"

mark and helmuth glared at each other, the former having his fists clenched as he stared up at the ginger. this wasn't fair, he wanted to go down the slide first, and helmuth just came barging in out of nowhere!

they've been bickering back and forth for minutes, and it was a miracle no one heard them yet. even in the midst of other children, their voices were getting too loud for it to be happy screaming.

when helmuth turned to ignore mark and go down the slide, the blond gasped before stomping his foot, the way a child does when he throws a tantrum.

"get off!"

that was mark's loudest yell, helmuth whipping around to stare at him with wide eyes, the other kids turning around to look at them. the blond boy was sniffling, a tear rolling down his cheek.

mark's caretaker rushed forward, trying to calm him down and stroke his hair. bless her soul, the lady was kind enough not to scold either of them for their petty argument.

"what's going on here, boys?" she asks, mark wiping his tears and pointing at helmuth, scowling at the older boy. he scowls back, huffing as he crossed his arms and looked away.

"i wanted to ride it first." mark said sulkily, trying to hide the fact that he cried by furiously wiping his eyes. he didn't want to get taunted further.

"how about you two ride it together? look, there's enough space for another person!" she says, smiling at mark. "the slide is more fun when you go with a friend."

helmuth nods reluctantly, but mark shook his head quickly, eyes still narrowed at the ginger. "i hate him." he hisses.

that caused anger to flare in helmuth, scowling even deeper. "well, i wouldn't want to go with you anyways!" he screams, before turning his back on mark, feet planted firmly on the metal plating.

mark's caretaker shushes him before he could say anything else, reprimanding him for saying something so rude to someone he barely knew.

"alright, how about we go find another ride first and wait for him to finish? it won't take long. come on, let's go mark." the caretaker says, leading mark away from the slide, who gives a small nod, pouting. when he turns away, he couldn't help but still feel disappointed. how dare he!

at the last second before mark went out of sight, they both turned their head to glare at each other, helmuth taking it as a chance to stick his tongue out at mark.

"marie, he's making fun of me!"

xxx

"what are you drawing?" helmuth asks, resting his head on mark's shoulder to get a look at the blond's latest masterpiece, which looked like a mere bunch of lines at the moment. the action startled him, almost crossing his sketch with the pen, turning his head to frown at helmuth, who simply smiles at him.

"definitely not your annoying ass." he grunts, shrugging his shoulder to get helmuth's head off, trying to concentrate on his task at hand. the answer earned him a snort, the ginger moving away only to sit down in front of the couch. "oh, please. you love my ass." he didn't miss the way mark's cheeks flushed, looking scandalized before he throws the box of tissues at him, which helmuth expertly dodges.

"fuck off, i'm trying to work."

"oh, now you're cussing at me? i preferred you when you were just a little brat." he retorts, grinning widely when the blond sends him an irritated look. "don't you fucking dare-" "and there we go again! christ, calm down a little alfson." he was having too much fun teasing his boyfriend, who was fuming and was pressing his pencil down so hard, he wondered why it hadn't broke yet. he goes on when mark doesn't say anything, finger tracing random patterns on the athlete's arm.

"but really. if it hadn't been for your spoiled attitude, we wouldn't have met."

mark was silent, deciding not to ruin the moment with a protest. his eyes drifted from the sketchbook to look at helmuth, and he cursed himself for the way his heart skipped a beat from the affection seen clearly in his eyes. he could feel his face heating up again, directing his gaze away because he couldn't take the raw emotions he sees in helmuth, and maybe in his self as well.

"...yeah, i guess." he says lamely, now drawing random things on his book, his mind wandering to thoughts of how close they became after the fated encounter in the playground, also trying to ignore helmuth's hand that travelled southwards to squeeze his shorts-covered thigh affectionately. he regretted glancing over at the ginger, because the smile he had on his face was enough to make mark's lips quirk up as well.

they sat together in silence for a few moments, helmuth watching mark draw a group photo of them with the rest of their friends in the apartment, who are conveniently gone at the moment, giving the two some privacy. it felt good just having the other's presence around, they were close enough that they don't need words to feel comfortable together.

"you know, i've always wondered why you were so hell bent on riding that slide. tell me, did you jerk off on it?"

"i fucking hate you."

"i love you too."

fin.

helmuth de l'enfer: bloodyartist_

mark alfson: insecureathlete