I can love a block of wood (septiplier nutcracker AU)

Chapter 16

Mark watched the group go with a worried look on his face as Amy came up to his side then watched them walk away with him.

"You're worried."

"Felix could be out there waiting for them..."

"You care about him."

"I care about all of them."

"You care specifically about him, or you wouldn't have given him your sword." Mark was silent for a moment with a grim expression until the group turned and waved goodbye to them. He forced a smile and saluted them all playfully. He was surprised when Jack smiled honestly and returned the gesture. His face fell when they all sat down and no longer paid attention to him. "Your Highness."

"Can you send someone to follow them? I don't want any chances taken..." Amy sighed softly but motioned Sam and William over.

"Follow them and make sure they are safe." They both nodded and went off. It was a comical duo. A tall man with brown hair and a little boy in a bright green and blue uniform, but mark couldn't laugh at it. He was too worried about them getting hurt he couldn't.

On the trip down, Rose kept talking quietly with her friends so Jack had a chance to lean back and relax. However, that didn't last long.

"Sir." Jack looked at Christa. "What do you think of Mark?" Rose tried to shush her but Jack knew she secretly wanted to know too.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, do you think he is handsome?" Lorlie asked behind her fingertips. Jack decided to amuse them.

"Sure." They gasped happily and giggled. "What?"

"Ok, another question."

"Oh boy."

"Did you like dancing with him?" He thought for a moment.

"I had fun."

"So you liked it?" He gave them a look and it made them giggle and whisper more.

"Rose, don't you start conspiring against me." Rose tried not to laugh by covering her mouth with her hands.

"What else do you think about Mark?" Christa asked. All three girls watched him as he thought for a while. He had no idea why he was amusing them like this. They probably are going to try and get them together and that isn't exactly a welcomed notion, but they were 3 girls wanting to gossip and use their imagination.

"He's strong. He cares for others more than himself. He's forgiving and funny and wants the best for everyone."

"And?"

"What else do you want?"

"Do you like him?"

"Sure. I guess he's cool."

"He didn't understand. he is a potato." Rose told them, making Jack scoff. "jack, do you have any sort of feelings for him other than friends?" This stunned him. How was he going to answer that without giving them ideas?

"Rose, what are you up too?" he narrowed his eyes at her as he crossed his arms.

"We're just asking some questions. We are three curious little girls wanting to know if you have a crush on the prince."

"No. I don't have a crush on the prince." The girls looked at him and then at each other.

"For now." Rose sat back but before Jack could say anything Lorlie spoke up.

"The prince might have a crush on you though. He would never leave himself defenseless like he has." Jack looked at the sword laying in his lap silently as he listened.

"What, does he not let others borrow his sword?"

"No. That was a gift from his brother before he got sick."

"He cherishes that thing." Lorlie added quietly. They were no longer paying attention to him and instead they were talking about the prince and the signs that he liked Jack. He was grateful for the change of attention but now he was curious and wanted to listen in.

"He also wouldn't just ask someone to not call him Mark in a certain way. He would just say 'don't call me Mark again'. He likes to let people know he cares enough to not be professional at all."

"So Jack could call him Mark in any way and he would be ok?"

"Possibly. We don't actually know. We had only overheard him before they started to check on everyone."

"He also won't let anyone make him feel bad for the bad patch up."

"That I can see. I think Jack's hands must have been shaking at the time. He had been really out of it and if something happened to Mark he would have tried a patch up and he is incredible at fixing things."

"Jack also broke the spell that was on him so there is no way Mark DOESN'T love him." They started to get quieter, making it so that he couldn't hear them, so he let his thoughts wander. He fiddled with a sword handle and sighed silently. He wasn't sure how well he was dealing with this really. He could be handling this better than expected, or he could be handling this really bad and everyone could be just pitying him. He didn't have time to dwell on that because the sleigh came to a stop and they all got out.

"Alright my sweeties. and jack." He chuckled a bit. "Let's go buy the prince a costume." They started walking, jack smiling a bit now. They were going towards a mouse hole that Jack hadn't even known was there. He paused for a moment before going through and turned around. Mark was watching them go and he decided he couldn't stay mad at him. He waved goodbye with a smile and Mark returned it. He turned and left, definitely not hearing Mark say quietly

"Stay safe..."