Colors (Crankiplier)

Chapter 9 :

"And that's about all I know." I nodded while reviewing everything that he'd said.

If what he said was true, then Mark had just given us the keys to our victory.

I looked up at Mark and he was already staring at me, almost as if he was expecting something from me.

"What." I snapped.

"Do you believe me now?" I rolled my eyes. "Of course not." Mark frowned.

"You can't expect me to believe you after you left me for three years after calling me a boy and then going on to become the fucking leader of the division that has made us lose so many soldiers -so many lives!- including our Chief's and her partner's that we lost while capturing you! And don't pull the 'I'm doing what I think is right' card on me. The government took so many rights from us already, they can't- no. We can't let them take our identities away from us!" I was yelling by the end.

And what was even more infuriating was that Mark was looking at me in awe. He didn't even look scared. Or angry. Or even guilty for God's sake!

He looked amazed.

"Do you not even have anything to say!" I snapped at him and Mark seemed to snap out of his thoughts.

He started walking to me and I got ready to fight him. But, to my surprise, he didn't fight me. He didn't even attack me.

He simply put his arms around me and hugged me.

At first, I couldn't move, being shocked by his antics.

But as soon as I recovered, I started struggling away from him.

"Ethan. Stop. Please..." His deep voice stopped me.

God I had missed this.

I put my arms around him and started crying. Just bawling my eyes out.

This was Mark.

My Mark.

I had missed this so much.

"I'm sorry Ethan. I'm sorry I left you. I'm sorry I called you a boy. I know you're not. And as for my place as the ACH's leader, I can't be sorry since I really had no choice, but I still am. And please, just listen to what happened to me since we last saw each other." I closed my eyes and continued sobbing on Mark's shoulder. Mark was rubbing my back.

His hugs really were the best.

-+-

I looked at Mark who was sitting in front of me.

"I'm listening." I told Mark, urging him on.

"Ok. So. Let me start from the beginning. After leaving you I dyed my hair back to its brown color and continued my studies for about a year. Then the government started killing colored-haired people. And since everyone at our old school knew that I had red hair before, they denounced me in some desperate attempt to get some money. And so the police came knocking at my door at night, trying to catch me in my sleep. I wasn't sleeping, however, since I've become insomniac ever since you left. And I obviously didn't have my red hair.  But I wasn't able to prove that I was born with red hair so they took me in anyways. They really were just nitpicking. And so I ended up staying in prison for a little less than half a year. It was horrible there. They even shaved my head." Mark shivered a bit and I felt bad for him.

"They then created the ACH and I was given two possibilities. It was either being killed or joining their ranks. So I joined them. It might've been a coward move, but I just wanted out." I shook my head but Mark didn't see it. He was looking down.

"So I became a soldier of the ACH. One thing led to another and I had become the leader and was too deep in to leave. And I couldn't have anyway. They would've killed me on sight."

"Why did you struggle so much before telling us everything then." Mark looked up at me when I started speaking before looking down. "I guess all this ACH bullshit had gone to my head after all. I don't really know either." Mark shrugged.

This was his excuse?

"I believe you. And I understand that you didn't have a choice. But I don't understand what went through your mind that pushed you to endure so much torture for something that you didn't believe in and even hated if I understand correctly." Mark sighed.

"I thought I deserved it."

"What?"

"I thought I deserved to feel all this pain to pay for all the lives that I took. I was even disappointed when it wasn't you torturing me. I would've preferred it. I felt horrible seeing you again. I wanted to die. And I 100% understand your anger. I honestly don't know how you've been so nice to me considering everything." I ran a hand through my hair.

"I still have feelings for you." Mark looked up in shock. I avoided his eyes.

I didn't want to see what emotions laid behind them. Mark stayed silent for a while.

"You're crazy, blue."  I looked up as he said the nickname that used to cause me so much pain. He was smiling at me. He also had tears falling down his face.

Why was he crying? He wiped his tears.

"Thank you Ethan. Thank you for listening to me. I hope that you'll forgive me one day." I nodded at him and smiled a bit.

Little did he know, I already had pretty much forgave him.