A Bucket of Awkward (Septiplier AU)

The Game

I felt my knees turn into jelly when he touched me. Thank god I was already sitting down or I'm sure that I would have fallen to the ground. My face was on fire at this point and Hell, I may have been actually dying.

"Oh wow," he choked as his dark eyes glanced down at our hands. "Guess it's my turn to go red in the face. I should have asked first...before you practically holding your hand. I'm...usually not this touchy feely, I promise."

My hand felt frozen without his warmth on top of it as he pulled away so fast. Even embarrassed he looked gorgeous. How the fuck was that even possible.

"It's just something about you," he continued, now looking at his own plate again and fiddling with what was left of his meal. "It's like I've known you for so long already, if that makes any sense."

"I'm taking it that's a good thing?" My voice broke halfway through and I was now actually considering getting up and locking myself in the bathroom to hide from my own embarrassment.

"It's definitely a good thing!" He flinched at his own words and how fast he spewed them out, "It's a good indicator for a good friendship? I guess? Fuck, I'm so sorry."

He pushed his plate away and laid his forehead on the table, wrapping his arms around his head to hide himself as he groaned. It was quiet for a moment between us, but the more and more I looked at him in a constant headbutt the funnier it got. Until I finally began to snicker.

"Please don't tell me that it looks like I have my head up my own ass," he mumbled loudly. "Because you can't be that observant or cruel."

That was enough to send out a spasm of giggles that had both of us laughing did the next few minutes. He sat back up wiping his eyes from the tears falling from them, and my sides were aching like crazy. Then we both seemed to inhale and exhale at the same time. It was the first time I had laughed that much I such a long time.

"You're kind of incredible," I said softly, and this time I didn't care that he heard me.

"Thanks. You're kind of incredible too."

***

"Okay, you have to give me a little slack, I told you I haven't played this in a while so if I'm total ass you're not allowed to tease me." The semi serious look on Mark's face was actually rather adorable, his eyes narrowed at me and lips puckered, making his face twist up a bit.

"Alright alright, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt." I handed him the second pool stick while I chalked mine up, looking over all the balls to make sure they were in the right spots. "Though if you somehow shoot one of the balls across the room or smash your finger with it I'm probably going to laugh regardless."

I saw him crack a smile out of the corner of my eye, he leaned carefully against the pool table, obviously trying not to put too much weight on it.

"I can't blame you there, I'd probably be laughing too."

He leaned over the table and the curves of his ass came into much better focus. The image of earlier that day when he was asleep floated through my memory. It was too much to believe that someone could be that..everything.

Yet here he was, like I downloaded him from my laptop into my house. And better than he was leaning - leaning - against my pool table.

"Ready to get spanked?" he chuckled, looking over at me.

"Oh, you have no idea..."

The left eyebrow quirked back at me.

"...what you're doing thinking that I can be beat." I finished, internally cursing my libido.

He smiled up at me, and I could have sworn be but his bottom lip for the smallest of moments. No, that had to be my imagination.

Come on, Jack. Get your head in the game!

I moved over towards the thinner side of the table, where the eight ball was waiting for me- okay, that sounded a bit weird.

I shook it off and leaned over the side, lining up my shot; I could see Mark staring at me, he was somewhat blurry but I could still tell he was staring intently at me. His chin resting on his hand as he waited for me to finally hit the stupid ball.

I did. And thankfully I wasn't too far off center, I hit the side of the first ball and shoved it back into the others, the impact spreading them out around the table. Luckily none of the balls fell into the holes, so I didn't have to worry about knocking the wrong one in.

"Nice shot!"

"Thanks!"

He turned to find out the best angle to start from. I could tell that he did have at least an understanding of the game. His dark eyes were looking at what I would have considered good attempts. I tried my best to stay out of his way as he maneuvered. Then finally he settled on a fairly safe shot in the corner pocket. With a smooth lift the ball hit and he was smiling at his score.

"Not bad," I mused, running my fingers over my chin thoughtfully. "You may actually make me sweat a little."

He smirked.

"That's great. I enjoy watching other people sweat."