Head Down

◤nine◢

The next time Mark sees Jeno, his bruises and cuts are all cleaned up. There isn't any evidence of the pale boy getting into any brawl, and Mark supposes it's for better and not for the worse. He wouldn't want Jaemin receiving any more glares than he already has been for the past few days.

Word spread quickly that Jeno had been completely jacked, and as much as Donghyuck didn't like the rumours going around, that didn't glue people's mouths shut. It also didn't take long for people to figure out that Mark wasn't the one who beat up the school's one and only moon, especially because Jaemin came to school the day after the whole showdown with a bandage on his cheek and the bruises on his body dark.

The whole ordeal didn't help with the prejudice and judgement Mark and Jaemin received, if anything it only encouraged it. City boy this and city boy that, there is always something someone wants to say which will belittle the two friends. The both of them act like they pay no mind to it, but Mark isn't a fool and he can see that Jaemin's spirits get dampened day by day. It's sad to watch, especially because he feels useless because he can't do anything to make the torment stop. Mark did know that there is one thing he can do to try and ease everyone off of Jaemin, but he'd be damned if he asked Donghyuck for a favour in this lifetime.

Donghyuck is obviously the school's most prized possession: only son of the principal, only positivity within a mile radius, known to be the only person who keeps Jeno sane. Mark doesn't know the significance of the last statement, but he's known for it around school so perhaps it is of significant importance.

Either way, Mark wouldn't be caught dead asking Donghyuck for a favour. He'll figure out a different way to make Jaemin happier.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"What on Earth did you do?"

Smiling bright and wide, Mark walks a few steps closer to Jaemin. The latter is obviously in shock, simply opening and closing his mouth without knowing what to say. Mark finds it cute and comical, how Jaemin is at a loss of words. It isn't something... That drastic, is it?

"What? Don't like it?" He asks, exaggerated pout on his lips. He wants to get a reaction out of Jaemin. If there is one thing second to how much hate Jaemin gets because of his... Relationship with Jeno, it's the colour of his hair. Mark doesn't know why he's always attacked for it, from what he's seen, the people at school aren't against things like that, contrary to his original belief. Because if they were able to stand Donghyuck and Jeno, who were clearly both boys and clearly something more than platonic, then Mark doesn't know why Jaemin is always under rapid fire for his choices. But maybe this will help ease the heat off of his friend for now, or for long enough for everyone to forget about it. The latter, hopefully.

"It's the colour of the wine I drink when my parents aren't home," Jaemin mumbles, hands coming up to comb through the elder's hair. Jaemin seems like he's in a bit of a trance, unable to look away from Mark's purple-red hair. It looks stunning on the elder, there's no argument about it, but in the back of Jaemin's mind, he thinks about the treatment he's bound to receive at school. He bites his lip in worry as he lowers his hands and looks into Mark's sparkling eyes. "They're not gonna like it." He sighs defeatedly, almost as if he's finally let everyone around him get to him.

Mark knows that Jaemin isn't like that, is more resilient. If he's grown up any way like Mark has, Jaemin is more than just a pretty face and sharp moves.

"I don't care what they think," Mark answers sternly, keeping his firm face on Jaemin and Jaemin alone. He takes a step closer, just one singular step, not knowing if he's crossed the threshold, the imaginary line, the boundary that keeps their friendship being just a friendship. There isn't a lot that Mark and Jaemin know about each other, what in the few weeks they've been spending together. But Mark would be damned if he let himself lie to himself and say that he wasn't the least bit attracted to the beauty which is Na Jaemin. Why would he ever deny himself the luxury of staring at a human piece of art? Why would he ever torture himself by locking away his blooming feelings for the younger? Mark has zero clue about how Jaemin feels about him, if there's even an ounce of reciprocation or if Jaemin even cares about the threshold, the imaginary line, the boundary. But for now, he'll deal with things on his own. "Do you like it?"

"Of course!" Jaemin immediately replies, almost seeming scandalized, as if he's insulted by Mark even thinking that he didn't like the new look. "I think you look fantastic! And now we both can be the only flavour in this tasteless town!" Jaemin cheers, smiling from ear to ear, having it reach his eyes. Jaemin always made that joke, that everyone here was bland and boring, that they were all the same, monotone even. He says that he and Mark are the only spices in the brew, the only flavour in the mix. Mark wouldn't argue, so far there hasn't a single thing as eye catching and jaw dropping as Jaemin in this town.

Well, except for Donghyuck of course, but the more Mark thinks about it, the more he realizes that Donghyuck just seems to be an exception to almost every rule and belief. He brushes those thoughts away though, not wanting to think about the person who stresses him out the most in the world this early in the morning. Instead, he focuses on what Jaemin has said about liking his hair and being the flavour in town. He seemed so bright when he said those words, and Mark hopes that his plan of raising the younger's spirits really did work. He doesn't know how much more of a sulky Jaemin he can take.

"Then that's the only thing that matters, isn't it?" He asks, already knowing the answer.

He doesn't get a reply back, Jaemin seems a bit bashful if anything, but Mark is okay with that. Instead, Jaemin does what he does best and laces their fingers together. Mark sends a small smile at the younger, but Jaemin doesn't see since he begins leading them to school, rambling on about how Mark's hair reminded him of his first time raiding the wine cellar.

But Mark doesn't mind.

He could be happy like this, holding Jaemin's hand on a sunny day, staring at him for forever.