Broken Boy (Septiplier [Discontinued]) ↫ m.f + s.m ↬

№ 2 • A Secretly Requited Crush

ᎷᎥᏝᎴ ᏖᏒᎥᎶᎶᏋᏒ ᏇᏗᏒᏁᎥᏁᎶ
This chapter contains subtle references to topics some readers may be sensitive to ♡

A/N ♥
I am obsessedddd with this songgggg omg why ↑

@DarknessofShadows came up with the amazing idea of changing Ken to Felix so that's what imma do xD

Thank you guys so much for the overwhelmingly positive feedback on this book so far! It hasn't even hit 200 reads and I've received so many inboxes and kind comments, it's made me so happy, my writing isn't even good like wyd fam aha ♥
And yous are too sweet but I ain't pretty in the slightest  >▽<

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter ♬

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Sean's POV
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as Mark looked in my direction. I snapped my head away, knowing that if I continued to stare back at him I'd lose myself in his hazel orbs. I could feel his eyes still on me and I involuntarily turned to him again. I silently inhaled, then exhaled slowly, my heart fluttering as I became overwhelmingly self conscious. I hoped his thoughts about me were good.
A lopsided grin settled itself sheepishly over his face and he turned back to his friends, his hand making its way to the back of his neck. Mark's fingers combed messily through his dark tendrils, his muscles bulging prominences as his arms flexed. I sat there silently, still watching him, my heart thumping so hard I swore it must be audible.
Our eyes had met.
He'd smiled at me.
It was only a smile, but it was enough to make my knees shake slightly beneath the cafeteria table.

• • •

Mark's POV
The smoke twisted in its artistic manner, forming curls in the gloom that danced through the air as if fervid to escape the gentle pull of the cigarette; the silver-grey wisps illuminated only by the age-speckled street lights beyond the window, its glass blemished with neglect. The dry smell of burning tobacco permeated the room as the girl removed the burn from between her pink lips, blowing the smoke into the air carefully as if it were the aftermath of a kiss - a kiss aching to steal a life she was struggling to elude.
I stared intently at the cigarette. It dangled carelessly from her grasp, flecks of ash detaching themselves and darting into the breeze. The smoking roll was almost short enough now to burn her and I leaned forward to crush it out. The girl seemed surprised, her fraudulently cheerful expression faltering for a moment, the corners of her mouth fighting to sink downwards and reveal her true self.
But only for a moment.
She leaned into me, goosebumps bounding across her skin as the air grew crisp, and I wrapped an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to warm her.

'Just for tonight.'

She sunk into the warmth of my side, appreciative of the gesture, her eyelashes fluttering delicately as she gazed up at me. Her pale green orbs glimmered in the dim light, but I recognised a hint of something darker - something threatening control - dwelling within them.
Her depression sat behind a mask, her heart praying for a soul to notice.
So I ran my fingers gently over the bruises littering her arms and pulled her in closer, allowing her refuge in safe arms for one night.

• • •

Sean's POV
"Hey, Fe?"
"Yeah?"
"Um... W-What do you think of Mark?"
I was so nervous as I asked the question that every tentative swallow was like a shard of glass clawing its way down my throat. I wasn't even exactly sure of the reason for my apprehension, but the last thing I wanted was to make it obvious. I resisted chewing on my fingernails and instead found myself gnawing at the inside of my cheek.

Felix's POV
"Who? Fischbach?" I asked, eyeing Sean curiously.
Like hail on a glass pane, the drumming of his fingers was as relentless as it was loud.
He only did that when he was nervous...

Sean's POV
I nodded in response. Each click of the frayed edges of my nails on the table echoed the tumultuous thudding of my heartbeat. I tried to no avail to still my frantic hands.
'Fucking hell, calm down Sean, you look like an idiot.'

Felix's POV
"He's a bit of an asshat," I replied, after a moment of contemplation. I studied Sean's face closely. His eyes dropped to his lap, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "What?"
"I was expecting you to say something like that."
"Well, it's true." I scoffed. "He's slept with pretty much every girl on campus desperate enough to survive a one night stand."

Sean's POV
I felt my face fall despite my efforts to remain expressionless.
I knew he was right.
But, for some reason, part of me wanted to believe otherwise.

• • •

Mark & Sean's POV
An image of a boy spontaneously entered my head.

Mark's POV
His bangs were a mess of fluorescent green tendrils, the rest of his hair constantly dancing between a black and brown. I could tell he was proud of it, but it certainly wasn't the best thing about him. The lime hue fell in a soft wave over his forehead and was so striking in colour it was all anyone seemed to comment on.
But I barely noticed it, I realised.
I could drink in his every movement like wine and enjoy feeling tipsy; the only high I could fall victim to from happiness instead of pain.
I saw him as though he had moon dust on his hands and petals at his feet.

Sean's POV
He was strikingly attractive, I couldn't ever deny it. His honey-coloured skin glowing golden in the sunlight, his toned biceps glistening with sweat through the thin fabric of his shirt as he ran laps around the field in PE; his unblemished complexion, chiseled jawline, cocky smile; the baritone of his smooth voice reverberating through your bones whenever he spoke.

Mark's POV
I wanted to wrap him in my arms and never let go.

Sean's POV
I wanted to nuzzle into his chest, feel the thumping of his heart against my cheek, and stay there forever.

Mark's POV
But I was the bad boy, the player, the fake.
The idea that everyone likes.
The guy that everyone hates.

Right?

Sean's POV
But I was the nobody, the nerd, the innocent virgin. I hid beneath oversized sweaters, withdrawn and frail and unpopular.
The polar opposite of outgoing and toned and sociable Mark Fischbach.

And it sucked.

Mark's POV
I uttered a small sigh. The girl craned her head upwards to look at me, her wispy hair fanning in waves over my arm like a cloud of settling dust. She gazed at me, curious, and for some reason I found myself blushing, flustered as I pushed the thoughts of the boy hurriedly out of my head.