Tempus Fugit {Who Killed Markiplier}

~Those Eyes~

The summer soon flew by like I had never seen time fly before. September brought with it a chill in the air. School buses were up and running as kids were beginning to go back to school. Damien was busy with his reelection campaign, so unfortunately he didn't come around much. It was mostly early morning and late night visits. The library kept me busy though, and I had Juile over every so often; as with Celine and the Colonel.

~*~*~

One Sunday, I was surprised to hear a heavy knock at my door. I jumped up, hoping it would be Damien. But when I opened it, I was shocked to find Mark's butler Benjamin standing in front of me. I knit my eyebrows. "Benjamin? What're you-"

"Miss Iris, you've been summoned to Markiplier Manor. I implore you to accept." he interrupted. I crossed my arms and opened my mouth, ready to snarkily reply, but stopped myself. Ben's steely grey eyes were worried and pleading. "Please miss." he said. I exhaled in a heavy huff. "Alright." I begrudgingly accepted, "I'll go."

The tall butler led me to his station wagon he had driven. I climbed in the passenger's seat and we began the half hour drive to Mark's eerie manor. It was painfully silent. I glanced at the mysterious man sitting next to me. His tongue was clenched between his teeth, his normally wide eyes narrowed. He wanted to say something, I could feel it.

"Benjamin?"

"Yes miss?"

"Why does Mark want me at the manor?"

"You are not to be harmed, if that is what you're concerned with."

"That's comforting to say the least, but you didn't answer my question."

He sighed. "Miss, I want you to know that Mark hasn't always been this way. I've worked for him for years. I don't know what changed or why it happened, but I promise he hasn't always had such harsh intentions."

I lowered my head. "I know. He wasn't like this when I met him. He actually-"

"-cared about people?"

I nodded. "I miss that."

Sadness flickered over his stony features. "Me too."

~*~*~

Soon we arrived at the manor. I reached the door and raised my hand to knock, but Ben grabbed my arm. "Miss, please keep in mind that you need you watch what you say. Mark still has a short fuse. I don't want you putting yourself in harms way." he cautioned. I gave him a reassuring nod. He exhaled deeply, then opened the door.

Ben led me to the foyer where my former friend was waiting. "Ah! Iris! You did come! Sit down, let's chat." I tentatively did so. The chef emerged from the kitchen with a small platter of snacks and tea. "Thank you Chef." Mark said hollowly. The Chef merely grunted in response before tottering back to the kitchen.

The ebony haired man picked up a cup and took a long sip from it. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed something peculiar on his middle finger; our University ring. I suppressed a snarl. 'What fucking pandering bullshit are you trying to pull?' I thought angrily.

"Mark why am I here?" I asked bluntly. He set down his cup and at last looked me in the eyes. They were still hollow and emotionless. "I would like to try again to apologise. I realise I was short with you at our last encounter, and I should have been more sincere. It's the new year! You know how the saying goes; New Year, New Me."

I snorted. "So you waited nine months into the new year before coming to this realisation?" His upper lip twitched, but he managed to remain composed and continued on his tangent.

"So, I'm going to reach out to those I wronged; starting with you. Iris, I've known you for quite a long time. Being with you in University made it worthwhile. Having the privilege of being able to call myself your friend was not something I took for granted. I would give anything to have that privilege again. In the course of the time we haven't spoken I've done everything I can to change my behavior, and I swear- I will never threaten to harm you, your sister, or anyone else ever again. Do you believe me?"

I looked up with narrowed eyes, expecting to be met with the same emotionless expression. But instead, what I saw sent a dagger through my chest. His eyes.. They weren't dull and hollow anymore. They were the eyes I knew at University. They were the eyes of a man with ambition for life and a passion for what he loved. The murky brown they had been in our last few encounters was replaced with the beautiful melted chocolate color that I used to know.

It was the fall of 1956. I had just arrived at the University that my sister was already attending. I was a mere sixteen years old, full of nerves and ambition. The prospect of at last going to college and being on my own was both exuberating and terrifying. I had been staying with Ani, an elderly local shopkeeper, so I had hardly any freedom outside the city.

I timidly found my way to the main hall, my gaze locked on my registration paper in my hand. I was so busy muttering locations and nonsense to myself that I didn't notice that I was rapidly approaching another student. We collided, sending books (and myself) flying everywhere. I let out a squeak and dropped to my knees, frantically scraping up loose papers into my arms whilst muttering and string of 'I'm sorry' to the muscular stranger I had ran into.

Suddenly a hand extended in front of me. I slowly glanced up, following the arm up to the face of the man I had collided with. From behind my frazzled bangs I stared at his almost unreal features. Growing stubble, pearly teeth, a mop of wavy black hair.. But what most caught my attention were his eyes. Almond shaped, chocolate orbs glimmering behind a pair of thin glasses. They were ambitious and sure, with glints of smugness and confidence behind them.

"Are you alright?" the handsome stranger asked. I mustered a quick nod and placed my hand in his. "So sorry about that, by the way. I have the worst habit of zoning out when I'm walking." he added with a lopsided grin as he pulled me to my feet. My brain began to convince me this couldn't be real. This whole interaction was something out of a cheesy romance movie, not real life.

"I'm Mark by the way. Mark Fischbach." he said. "Iris." I replied shortly. He chuckled and brought my pale hand to his lips. I flushed a deep shade of red and began to subtly hide behind my hair. "It's an absolute pleasure to meet you Iris. I hope I'll be seeing you around soon, hm?" I smiled, keeping my gaze at our feet. "Of course."

His hand found my chin and he lifted my head up. I stared once more into his alluring eyes. He smirked. "A word to the wise; keep your eyes off the floor. You'll run into less people that way." he winked. I let out a laugh. "I'll keep that in mind." I replied. He gave me one last smile before going on his way, leaving me only with the burning image of his encapsulating eyes.

I felt a lump form in my throat and I looked down at my feet, wiping away hot tears that had configured on my lashes. "Yes," I whispered, "yes I believe you." Out of my peripheral vision I saw him stand. He stopped in front of me and held out his hand. I looked up and nearly started crying again. He was smiling. It was genuine and sweet. I placed a shaking hand in his and he carefully pulled me to my feet. With his other hand he gently wiped the tears off my cheeks. "I'm glad you can forgive me." he said quietly. I nodded and sniffled. He slipped his hand to the back of my head and pulled me into an embrace. "I.. I missed you." I admitted. "I missed you too Iris." he said, placing a lingering kiss on top of my head.

As we embraced, I noticed Benjamin standing behind Mark. He looked.. Nervous. He met my eyes and worriedly bit his lip. I furrowed my eyebrows, silently asking him what was wrong, but he simply exhaled and walked away.

The look he had given me sent a chill down my spine. Why? Why did he seem anxious? Why did he look like he pitied me? With all these questions spinning through my mind, I began to wonder if I had made the right choice.

a/n: oh my darling iris.. you're far too willing to forgive and forget : ))

-🦋