Romancing the Darkness (Septiplier/Danti AU)

Chapter 2

By the time Sean arrived home, Mark was awake and heading out towards his car. He wasn't home much, and the fact that they shared this house as a means to continue their research rather than out of love only seemed to exacerbate Sean's condition. Sean could already hear the voices whispering, telling him that Mark only tolerated him for a roof over his head and a place to bury his cock on the off chance that they actually made love. In the back of his mind, he knew it wasn't true. Mark loved him very much, he just didn't show it very often. What Sean didn't know was that Mark was battling some pretty nasty demons of his own. He suffered from bouts of insomnia as well as some pretty severe control issues, often masking how he felt with long hours of work so he wouldn't have to face the fact that there was something wrong with him.

Sean has only seen him at his worst on one occasion, and the memory of it still plagues him to this day. He'd been awake for four days straight, staring at the wall and spouting nonsense about things no one could understand. When Sean approached him to ask if he'd come home to rest, Mark became agitated and hostile, lashing out about how he was in control of his life and basically told Sean to go fuck himself. Sean claims he doesn't recall the incident, but Mark knows he does. He'd never lay a finger on Sean or try to hurt him, but that day he came so close to snapping that it scared the ever-living shit out of him. He's tried to remedy things since then with medication to help him sleep, afraid that Sean will leave him if another episode happens. They've been scientific partners for almost three years, and a couple for one, but Mark isn't taking any chances. He can't afford to lose Sean.

Their eyes met for the fleetest of moments, with both of them wanting to say something meaningful to the other, but having no idea where to begin or end. The normal pleasantries tasted plastic in their mouths, and anything stronger was too painful to rip open.

"I'll be at the lab if you need me," Mark finally managed.

Jack gave the slightest nod of his head before continuing into the house. He could feel the weight of Mark wanting to say more, and his feet were conflicted at what speed to move.

"How was your visit with Dr. Patrick?"

The tone was one of an almost forced casualness that made Jack want to cry. These were the times more than all others that had him wanting to scream that he was barely hanging onto what was left of his sanity. That they needed more time together, to hold each other instead of the edges of dusty books.

"Fine," he replied. "Just talked, like usual."

"That was it? You just talked?" Mark asked incredulously, the slightest air of annoyance in his voice.

"Well, yeah, Mark. That's what a Psychiatrist does. They talk to their patients."

"I really wish you wouldn't lie straight to my face. It's insulting, Sean."

"I'm not ly-"

"I'll see you later tonight. Don't wait up." Mark snapped, cutting Sean off as he climbed into his car and slammed the door shut. Sean was left standing in the driveway, staring at the tail lights of Mark's car as he disappeared down the road.

These visits have been going on for the better part of two and a half years, and Sean has never once divulged what actually went on in that office. He's seen the empty pill bottles with the label torn off, noticing that each one contained a different type of pill. Sean claims it's for his anxiety, but Mark knew better than to believe it. Sean does a good job of hiding things from him, and he can't even begin to try and help when the second he brings it up a fight breaks out. Sean obviously doesn't want to talk about what's bothering him, but the lack of answers is beginning to drive Mark crazy. He has to know what's going on, needs to control it like he controls everything else in his life, but Sean won't open up.

He's only a couple blocks away from the house when it starts to happen again. First, his vision begins to blur and his right hand begins to shake. Mark has no idea where these tremors are coming from but he kept them to himself. If Sean can have secrets, then fuck it, so can he. As quickly as he can he pulls over to the side of the road and takes deep and steady breaths. Whatever this only lasts for a minute or two at the most. But once he's at the lab there was that bottle of brandy there to take the edge off of his nerves as well. Then he'll work until his muscles ached and the thoughts of Sean's lies were worn away with new study results.

Maybe tonight after the liquor relaxed him, and Sean had time to have a nice quiet dinner they could spend some time together. They could act like something more than just strangers sleeping on the same cold mattress. It was nice to picture, reflecting back to a time when love overpowered their vices. But things were different now because they let it all fall apart.

Mark stared at the brightly lit computer screen, becoming frustrated when the data showed him the same damn results he'd received over and over again. He knows he's close. Even though the results show that the synthetic gene used in their formula caused a few undesirable traits to heighten, the positive aspects vastly overpowered any negative consequences that might occur. The higher-ups believe that the formula isn't ready for human trials, and want to take the research data that Mark and Sean have been pouring themselves into back to basics. But Mark knows that to be a mistake. He just needs to find someone to test it on.