Head Down

◤forty nine◢

"It's getting late—"

"Don't leave!" Donghyuck immediately interjects, eyes widening when he looks at Mark. He looks desperate, and it's everything Mark never wants to see on Donghyuck ever again. "I mean—" He corrects, clearing his throat and neutralizing his expression a bit. "If you want to, you can." Mark can tell Donghyuck doesn't actually want him to leave, but he admires the younger for still thinking about him, even when he knows that Donghyuck wants to be held more than anything right now.

"Tell you what," Mark starts off softly, stepping closer to the younger and taking both hands in his own. "Why don't you come back with me, and we can have our first sleepover, hm? Does that sound nice?"

At Mark's proposition, Donghyuck's eyes widen again and he's blinking owlishly up at the older boy, who's patiently waiting for his response with a gentle smile on his face.

Donghyuck didn't think Mark Lee could get any more perfect, but here he is, once again rendering Donghyuck speechless with the way he shows his love.

"Can I?" Donghyuck whispers shyly, double checking to make sure Mark isn't asking out of pity. He knows that today was a shit show for both of them, for everyone involved really, and as emotionally exhausted as Donghyuck is, he doesn't want Mark to offer his home if it were just out of sympathy. Donghyuck is strong, he knows that, and Mark reminds him of that frequently. He lives by that knowledge, and he didn't need the pity from anyone, much less his own boyfriend.

"Yeah! Wouldn't it be fun? A sleepover," Mark nods, and the raw excitement visible on his face is what tells Donghyuck that it's simple, Mark's proposition had come from somewhere pure: he just wants to spend more time with Donghyuck.

"A sleepover," the younger repeats, nodding slowly as a confirmation. "I like the sound of that."

"I like the sound of you," Mark winks back, earning a giggle and a gag from Donghyuck. Mark likes to know his effects are that versatile.

"Can you give me a few minutes to pack some things? I'll be quick," Donghyuck says, and Mark nods with that dumb smile still stuck on his face. Donghyuck pecks his lips quick before running up the stairs to gather his things.

Mark waits patiently in the foyer, quiet until he hears footsteps. He turns towards the sound, and sees Jaemin and Jeno.

"Hey," he greets, not sure how to act after the the day's events. "Donghyuck is gonna come home with me." He looks at Jeno as he says this, as if letting the other know.

"Hm," Jeno nods, smiling softly at Mark. He looks exhausted, if the latter is being honest, and paler than he normally is. Mark can only assume he had a cry fest, and he couldn't blame him. "Nana's staying here with me."

Mark turns to look at Jaemin at that, and the sight of Jaemin's red rimmed eyes sends a pang to his chest for the both of them. Despite the wreck they look, Mark applauds Jeno and Jaemin for also being one of the strongest people he knows.

"That's good," he nods, and he means it, tries to convey it wholeheartedly with his soft tone. "It can only go up from here, Jeno, I promise."

Mark doesn't know how much value his words hold to Jeno, how much his promises mean to the latter. They never got along, and when they were just starting to everything fell to pieces again. He doesn't know where he stands with Jeno, but he can't deny that he hasn't grown a little soft for the boy standing in front of him, holding onto Jaemin's hand.

When Mark thinks about it, in a way, Jeno reminds him of Donghyuck. It could be their shared childhood, their intertwined life story or the shitty situation they both found themselves in, but he doesn't think too much about that. He just recognizes that beneath it all, Jeno is just like everyone else; trying his best.

After all these months, Mark finally sees what Jaemin had seen before anyone else.

"Thanks," Jeno ends up saying, smiling tiredly at the older boy. From his peripheral, he can see Jaemin also send him a small smile.

Donghyuck comes padding down the stairs not too long after, a little bit of a bounce in his step. Mark prides himself in being the reason why.

Donghyuck grabs onto his hand immediately after putting on his shoes, and he looks like he couldn't be more eager to leave the house. Mark thinks it's a bit sad, but he doesn't dwell on it for too long. Tonight, he'll do everything in his power to make Donghyuck feel loved.

Mark was about to announce their leave, but he feels Donghyuck's fingers slip from his own. He turns to see what's going on, and smiles a little when he sees Donghyuck engulf Jeno in a hug.

"I love you Jeno," Donghyuck sighs, squeezing Jeno tight. Jeno hugs back equally as tight. "Everything will be okay."

Jeno nods, grateful for the assurance Donghyuck gives him. The latter doesn't need to know, but validation and assurance from Donghyuck meant a lot to him. More than he'd like to admit, if he's being honest.

"I love you too Hyuck," he mumbles.

Donghyuck pulls away, not without leaving a wet smack onto Jeno's cheek, with the older boy feigning annoyance as he wipes at the spot aggressively.

"See you soon," Donghyuck waves, practically dragging Mark out the front door. Mark waves goodbye over his shoulder too, and they're now enveloped in the cool darkness of the night sky.

"Don't tell me," Donghyuck snorts, turning to Mark with an amused look. "You rode your bike here?" He asks, picking up the bike from where Mark has left is carelessly.

"It was the fastest way here," the older justifies, thankful for the dark sky, so that Donghyuck couldn't see the flush crawling onto his cheeks.

"You couldn't have been cool like Jaemin? He rode his skateboard."

"I am cool!" Mark counters, hating himself for how defensive he's getting.

Donghyuck simply hums.

"Yeah, whatever you say hyung. Climb on."

Mark watches as Donghyuck gets onto the bike seat, meaning he wanted Mark to climb onto the back.

He hesitates.

"Are you sure—"

"Are you telling me you've never wanted to try this? It's in every drama," Donghyuck whines, riding a bit closer to Mark. "Come on, get on Minhyungie. You can be the damsel girl who's pining over the rich CEO who doesn't understand love. This is the first date!"

And if Donghyuck wanted to be the rich CEO who's riding a bike, ironically, of all things, then he'll gladly let the younger have that.

Whipped, Jaemin would say.

In love, Mark would correct.