Trust Your Instincts

-50- Look At Me

A/N Hey I know I don't often do these at the start of chapters but I wanna say how grateful I am to those of you who have actually managed to withstand 50 chapters of my mediocrely constructed story! I love you all so much and I hope you enjoy this chapter! :D

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 Mark woke up early, groggy from the slight headache he had due to the alcohol he had consumed the night before. His face was buried in wet fabric, as he lifted it up to see that it was a shirt, which clung to Jack's slender figure, his chest rising and falling peacefully as he slept, unaware that Mark was awake.

 Mark smiled at his boyfriend, snoring softly as his hands rested on Mark's back. He felt good for a short period of time, before he was pulled further into consciousness, and he felt a rush of memories crash through his mind. It explained the dampness of Jack's plain white undershirt, Mark deciphering that they were his tears, as repeats of what had happened the night before played in his head.

 It wasn't a nightmare, it was completely real. Mark remembered Minx, he remembered the feeling of her teeth as they sunk into the flesh of his forearm, and he remembered Jack's screams of protest as he was held back by the two sidekicks, thrashing as the three looked ahead at Mark's initiation. Tyler was smiling maliciously, as was expected, but the other one wasn't, Mark wanted to say his name was Ethan? He looked somewhat uncomfortable about the whole ordeal.

 He remembered laying in the street, sobbing alongside Jack for what felt like hours, and then the same back at Jack's apartment, before he finally fell asleep, Jack rocking him in his arms.

 Mark felt the tears return, cautiously lifting his arms, pulling the sleeves of his flannel up to his elbow to inspect the wound. Surprisingly, it had healed much faster than he had expected, but the outline remained, a scar to remind him of what he was now. 

 He lay his head back on Jack's chest, trying his best to subdue the rapid huffing of his chest that had come with the new wave of sobs. It was no use though, Jack was stirring in his sleep, and soon after, he was awake.

 Jack looked down at his boyfriend, who was sobbing quietly into his chest, not trying to be silent anymore now that he was aware that Jack had awoken. He jumped straight into boyfriend mode, sitting up and bringing Mark with him as he tightened his loose grip around him. He dug his face into the crook of Mark's neck, hoping it would come across as a sign of empathy.

 "Remember what I told you last night Mark." Jack whispered soothingly, "You'll get through this, and I'll be with you every step of the way." He kissed Mark on the forehead, calming his loud sobs but not halting them altogether.

 Eventually Mark calmed down, his hyperventilation ceasing and his breathing rate returning to a normal level as he removed his face from Jack's chest, marvelling guiltily at the wetness of it.

 "I have a plan." Jack stated, peeling Mark's arms from his waist as he stood to go brush his teeth and freshen up. Mark watched on in confusion as Jack continued to ready himself, changing his clothes and putting on a pair of shoes once he had dried himself off from the shower. 

 "Well?" Jack asked, chuckling that Mark hadn't even cared to get out of bed while he was showering. "Are you coming?" 

 Mark smiled falsely and got to his feet, heading to take a shower. Maybe the warm water would wash away the effects of the events last night. 

 Jack sat in one of his armchairs, waiting for Mark to be ready to go. On the outside he was calm, he was staying strong. On the inside, however, he was freaking out. He felt guilty, he was the one who denied the offer to be in Minx's pack, and so he was the reason that Mark was bitten in the first place.