Intimate (Oneshot book)

Chalk Outline (Markiplier x Reader)

Mark was never the same after the incidents. He could remember a time where everything was fine. He could remember a time when he was happy. Carefree, even. But not anymore. He missed the tranquility of not having to worry about what was directly around the corner. Not having to be in constant fear. It was a feeling he took for granted, quite frankly.
    He felt like he was cursed. Everyone he loved, destined to take that big step from the world of the living, to the world of the dead. That's what he'd felt like for a long time. Even when he had met her. She was just trying to help him. She wanted to be by his side. She wanted nothing else but to help Mark through what was happening. He now felt like he'd taken her for granted as well. He sat there, trembling and twitching as a memory began to flash before his eyes.

    Mark let out a shaky sigh as he gripped his head. His now black hair fell in front of one if his eyes, though little whisps of red were still detectable. His breath was uneven and laboured, his right leg bouncing restlessly.
    "Mark."
    "Mark, look at me."
    "Mark!!"
    Mark's head shot up and he glared at Y/N before analyzing her face. She looked worried, frightened even. His gaze instantly softened and he couldn't bare to look her in the eyes.
    "Mark, listen. I know you're hurting.. I know that his death's been tough on you... But.., Mark, really? You turn to these cancer sticks to cope?" She motioned toward the abundance of cigarette butts littering the table and a still smoking one in an ashtray. The smell of the toxic smoke clung to everything, but more so Mark. He reeked of the smell. "C'mon Mark.. I know you're better than this.. You're hurting, but please don't make it worse by permanently ruining yourself." She sighed as Mark just returned to his previous position. There was a moment of silence before there was rustling. She reached into a nearby cigarette carton and pulled out a cigarette. She then grabbed the lighter that laid next to the ashtray. Mark looked up as he heard her light the cigarette and take a long drag, blowing the smoke to the ceiling.
    "What are you doing?" His voice was raspy, deeper than usual.
    "You wanna smoke these things and slowly off yourself, then I'm doing it, too." She said as she coughed, raising the cigarette again. Mark quickly stood and grabbed her wrist, plucking the cigarette from her hand and snuffing it out in the ashtray.
    "Don't."
    "Are you going to stop then?"
    There was another pause between the two. Mark kept his grip on Y/N's wrist.
    "Mark, you don't need cigarettes to cope. Just.. Talk to me. Let me help." She said as she took a step closer to him, placing her free hand on top of his.
    There was a couple more seconds of silence, Y/N staring at Mark with uneasy eyes.
    "Fine."
    "Thank you. And you'll thank yourself later." She said as she hugged him. He couldn't help but to hug back tightly.

    That was the time when one of his close friends, Tyler, died. He was devastated, but she helped him through it. Mark could feel a tear running down his cheek. He ignored it as he gripped his arms tightly, his nails digging into his skin sharply. Almost enough to pierce through. Almost.
    Mark slowly began to function like his normal self again after, and started back uploading normally to his channel. He even asked Y/N to be his girlfriend.. Everything was okay again.. But it was short lived. Very short lived.
    Not too long later, his brother died in a car crash. He'd just come to LA to spend time with Mark.. Mark was in the car with him when it happened, and managed to survive. And he began to hate himself for it. Mark was beyond torn up on the inside, but once again, Y/N was there to help him. She kept him together. She kept him from doing something brash.
She kept him sane. 
    Another memory began to surface in Mark's head, and it made him want to scream.

    I've been cursed,
    I've been crossed,
    I've been beaten by the ones that get me off.

    The door to Mark's home swung open, and in stomped the man himself. His left arm was in a sling, his elbow being fractured. He'd gotten through the car crash with only minor bumps and bruises. As he stepped over the threshold, he made a motion to slam the door behind him, but a hand stopped it.
    "Mark, please," Her voice called after him.
    He kept walking, throwing his house keys to the side as he went into the kitchen. He yanked open a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels that was unfinished from Y/N's birthday party. He opened it and raised it to his lips. Y/N bounded the corner and gasped. She quickly ran to him and stopped the bottle before he could drink from it.
    "Mark! What the hell?! You know you can't drink!"
    "I don't care." He growled, his voice dark and foreboding. Y/N had never heard Mark use that tone, ever, and was intimidated slightly. He yanked the bottle out of her reach. He knew goddamn well he wasn't supposed to drink. His friends and loved ones were dying left and right, and he didn't care what happened to him at this point. He honestly didn't give a fuck anymore.
    "Well you may not, but I do!! I'm not going to watch you just throw your life away!" She protested.
    "Then turn around." He said to her, his eyes cold and uncaring, voice matching as well. He lifted the bottle to his lips once more and took a heavy swig of the liquid poison, wincing at the taste and how it burned his throat and tongue as he swallowed.
   Y/N looked absolutely appalled. "Mark, I..." She couldn't even find the words to express the whirlwind of emotions she was feeling. She finally, after a minute, settled on: "I can't believe you."
    Mark took another gulp of liquor, trying to tune her out.
    "I would have thought that you of all people, would know that life is precious! Having these..these tragedies happen back to back like this.." She shook her head. "How dare you try and waste your life away!!"   
    Mark's eye twitched as she reached for the bottle again, and he snapped. He dropped the bottle and used his now free hand to push her away from him. She fell back onto the tiled floor, grunting as she made contact. Mark hovered over her, hand raised, until he realised what he was doing. He saw his girlfriend cowering below him, eyes closed as she awaited a slap. But it never came.
    Mark's eyes widened behind his glasses and he gasped. His hand trembled as he covered his mouth, tears welling up in his chocolate brown eyes as he came to his senses. He fell to his knees as the tears began to spill.
    "Y/N, I'm so sorry.." He whispered, his voice catching on his throat. "I'm so sorry.." He embraced her tightly, sobbing softly into her shoulder.
    Y/N furrowed her eyebrows, frowning. She caught a glimpse of his eyes before he hugged her, and tears began to build up in her eyes as well. It was like she could see into the depths of his soul. He was breaking. All of this was too much for him. He was breaking down. He needed her help more than ever. And she was determined to give it to him.
    As he hugged her, she hugged back. "Shhh.. It's okay. I know you didn't mean it." She reassured him, stroking his hair softly.
    "I-I'll never.. I'll never do anything to hurt you ever again." He sobbed.
    There was a pause.
    "I know you won't."