Alligator Eyes

Chapter 16

The next morning, Mark wakes up early and goes down to the baths. No one else is awake yet, probably too drunk to be awake, and the sky is still dark.

He is happy to be bathing alone, it's a chance to gather his thoughts. He hadn't expected much from Jinyoung in their goodbye, but what he got was still pitiful. He hopes it will be easy to forget.

He closes his eyes and relaxes into the hot waters, trying to still his mind. He only lit a few candles so the room is mostly dark. He could fall asleep like this, feeling a peace he hasn't felt in so long, even with his internal debate. He hears something rip into the waters, but doesn't open his eyes, knowing it's another person. He thinks it must be Uteh, he never drinks at festivals and so it's reasonable that he would be up.

"You shouldn't sleep in the bath" He is surprised to hear Jinyoung's voice but he doesn't open his eyes, not exactly ready to face him.

"I'm not sleeping, just relaxing"

"Ah, I see" Jinyoung doesn't say anything else for a while, so Mark opens his eyes, looking across the short pool at him. He's completely naked, hugging his knees awkwardly close to him so he doesn't touch Mark's legs which are taking up a good amount of the small space.

"You can relax" Mark moves his legs to give him more room, but no matter what, if Jinyoung unfolds his legs they will be touching.

Jinyoung thanks him, stretching out his legs just a little. The water is not so clear that they can see each other in any detail but not so opaque that anything is truly hidden. Jinyoung is looking away from him now, into the flames of the nearest candle.

"About last night..." He starts, clearing his throat. "I wanted to talk, but I didn't know how to start..."

"Talk about what?" Even as he asks it, Mark knows.

"When I said I liked you, it was kind of overshadowed by getting your family here, and you didn't really respond—"

"I like you too," Mark interrupts and Jinyoung's face lights up for a second. "But, I—I don't think it would work"

"Oh, no, yeah, you're probably right, but..." Jinyoung unfolds himself, sliding his leg against Mark and the change in his attitude is so sudden that Mark almost doesn't believe it was real. "I see no reason why we can't try"

"Jinyoung..."

"I'm not asking for much, I know it would never work, but just let me have right now, for a minute... I just want you"

Mark has no way to respond to that, he wants Jinyoung so badly that it hurts. So he doesn't say anything, instead he crosses the small pool and presses his lips against Jinyoung's as he slides onto his lap.

Jinyoung grabs him immediately, pulling him even closer by his waist. His arousal is obvious from the moment their skin touches and it flows through Mark, making him groan.

Jinyoung runs his hand lightly over Mark's thigh, feeling along the ridges of scar tissue

"Does it still hurt?"

"Only occasionally"

Jinyoung lifts him out of the water and licks over his scar, up to the curve of his hips and over. Mark curls around him, shocked again by how strong Jinyoung is.

As he sucks him off, he oils his fingers and slides one into Mark.

"Jinyoung, I—it's cold up here"

"Give me another minute, I don't want the oil to dissipate" Jinyoung works another finger into him and then another, stretching him until Mark is begging to be put back in the water. When he does finally slide Mark back into the water, he doesn't take his fingers out, kissing him from navel, up his abdomen to his chest and up his neck until Mark is almost completely in the water and then he takes his mouth.