Markiplier x Reader | The Promised Land

Chapter 20: Asking Isn't a Weakness

Mark stared in silence at the remains of the building. A sigh escaped Sean's lips as he silently nodded to Tabs and Imane to keep watch outside the fallen building. Mark grimaced. If he predicted what Sean was doing, it was going to be rough for Mark to keep up in his condition. He shouldn't have been so stupid as to let Diablos do what he did to him. He cursed under his breath.

"What was that Mark?" [Y/n] asked in a soft voice to him, they must've heard him curse.

Agitated, Mark replied with a quick, "nothing" and let himself get wrapped up in his thoughts again. The building before them was nothing but a large pile of rubble from the outside. The fall was new, because the last time he had been in Haven was just about two weeks ago. He had been with Sean during that time. He suddenly had a sinking feeling about everyone inside. Surely they had gotten away?

As the group clambered over the rubble, Danny stuck close to Mark's and [Y/n]'s side. Sean looked around for a while before Mark heard him say, "huzzah!" under his breath. He must've found an opening to get inside.

"Is it hollow?" Mark asked.

Sean nodded, "And it looks like most of the lobby is still intact too."

Mark felt slight relief, that meant the entrance could still be there and people surely would've gotten out. Ethan only made that theory stronger, otherwise how would he have gotten out?

Sure enough, Sean climbed inside, squeezing through the rubble with his thin frame. Mark would have a little bit of a tougher time, due to his broader shoulders. He really didn't want to go in there anyways, but what choice did he have? He had a duty to make sure this part of the Light Ring was okay...

Agitation nagged in the corners of his mind once again as Danny, Barney, and Rob went through. Now it was just him and [Y/n]. He was supposed to be protecting them, not the other way around! It was all wrong! Clenching his jaw, he yanked free from [Y/n]'s grasp, hearing them gasp in surprise as he forced all thoughts down as he got himself through the hole.

Trying to ignore his stupid leg, stupid arm, and stupid thoughts, he stumbled through shortly followed by [Y/n] who tried to grab his arm saying, "Mark! Don't do that! You need to rest-"

Mark jerked away and forced himself to walk normally to go lean on a wall, "Don't touch me right now, I'm fine. I don't need your help."

Where did this sudden anger come from? He didn't know nor did he care. He seethed at his leg and his arm and waited silently as Sean looked around once more. Trying to get a bearing of his surroundings, Sean did a little spin and headed to where the stairs were supposed to be, but there was nothing but more rubble.

[Y/n] hung close to Danny and Ethan, looking offended and concerned. Did they have to be so damn sensitive in a time like this? What was with them? Grumbling, Mark busied himself by examining the dust floating in the air. Sean shuffled some things around before he went, "Found it, the latch is busted but I think I can still get it open."

Mark waited and watched. He didn't want to move, his leg was really bugging him. It didn't hurt too much, it just felt weird and unusually weak, Fuck... he thought, how the hell am I supposed to be able to get down the ladder? 

Then another voice popped into his head, "Suck it up you big pansy, you're a man. Men aren't supposed to worry about little things like that. You should be strong! A little smack to the knee and a broken arm shouldn't stop you!"

Deep down he knew the voice was wrong, but his pride and stubbornness got the best of him. He needed to be strong not only for himself, but for everyone else. He wasn't about to let himself slow the whole group down.

Sean popped the trapdoor entrance to Haven with a crowbar, and then stashed it in his backpack. He looked up and nodded to Rob and Barney to stay up here to guard the entrance inside the building. They were to close the hatch once everyone got through and claimed that if they heard anything remotely go wrong, they would come down immediately for backup.

*     *     *

Needless to say it was like utter hell trying to get down the ladder without falling. With his broken arm and his knee, his good arm and leg were sore by the time he got down. It felt like he had just ran a marathon. 

Mark tried to hide the fact he was breathing hard when he got down and he huffed and leaned up against the wall. He felt a gentle hand touch his shoulder and he jerked away once again, "I said don't touch me! I'm fucking fine!-"

He turned around with fierce anger in his eyes only to see Sean staring at him with a disappointed expression. Mark felt taken aback and his rage subside immediately, shame quickly replacing it. However, instead of apologizing, he turned away before Sean could say anything and forced himself to begin walking.

Before the group stood a long, deserted, dimly lit, grungy hallway with metal walls. It looked as if the place had been through a war, which it probably had. There was blood, dirt, and grime on the walls. Surprisingly, there were no dead bodies, but there was rotting flesh. The group could smell that much, it made Mark gag.

"Smells like death in here," Danny said in a deep baritone voice, "Keep your guard up everyone."

The walk down the hall was slow. At least to Mark it was. His vision swam and his arm and leg were screaming more with each step he took. He fell back behind the group and quietly stopped and sat down, leaning up against the wall. Chica sat down beside him, placing her head on his good knee. He felt bad, he had almost forgotten she had come back to him, as quiet as she was. He hugged her tightly and pet her.

Danny stopped a ways ahead and turned. He didn't approach, he just watched.

Mark needed to be alone, and Danny must've known that. Danny knew how he worked and Mark appreciated it. He looked at the other wall across from him and then closed his eyes. He tilted his head back and rested it on the wall, and could hear the hushed voices of the group further ahead echoing through the metal.

After what felt like hours, Mark opened his eyes to see Danny sitting across from him, watching with his grey eyes. Neither of them spoke, but they both began to get up in unison. When Mark had difficulty, Danny didn't even ask when he grabbed Mark by the jacket and yanked him upright. Mark didn't respond, and they both began to catch up to the group. Danny also forced Mark's good arm over his shoulder to silently help him down the hall.

"Asking for help isn't a weakness, Mark. I hope you know that." Danny said in a low, soft voice, "It shows your actually stronger for accepting the fact you can't do everything alone." After a long pause, he continued, ""I knew you were stubborn... "But I didn't realize you were this stubborn."