Markiplier x Reader | The Promised Land

Chapter 29: One of Us [End]

The question hit you harder than ice water poured down your back. You weren't expecting that, especially not after how many close calls you had while you were with him. You thought for sure he would've been relieved to have finally brought you here to be safe and move on with his life. Despite what he said about loving you.

You knew that sounded foolish. You both loved each other, and the question shouldn't have surprised you so much. Deep down you knew the question would've been asked sooner or later, but you hadn't prepared yourself to answer so soon. You remained silent, and Mark looked worried, as if he had asked at the wrong time.

He looked away. You looked away yourself, and stared at the door absentmindedly. Did you want to join? Did you constantly want to be put into the danger that you could die at any given moment? Did you feel confident enough to wear the golden ring pin on your [f/c] jacket? Would you have the patience to work diligently with the group? Or stay here in Oasis for the rest of your life, hiding in the shadows in peace and harmony like you had originally planned? Or just pack up altogether and leave to travel again, passing through LA?

Was anywhere really safe anymore? The world had changed. It was broken... you were broken, everyone seemed broken. You felt like shattered glass that someone tried to glue back together, but you were just a pile of pieces stuck together. A sigh escaped your lips and you closed your eyes.

You tried to predict how things would go if you decided one or the other by putting yourself in potential scenarios.

If you joined, you would probably spend the rest of your life with Mark, the man you love and now trust with your life. No doubt become partners with him both in the group and as your lover, but you would forever be in danger of losing one another. So much would need to be done, and you would have to try and climb the ranks with Mark, Felix, and Sean watching your every move. You would eventually be able to get revenge on everything Diablos had done to you and Mark, and you would feel satisfied to be a part of overthrowing the Skull Breakers once and for all, and making LA a better place.

If you didn't join, you would remain in Oasis as a regular citizen, forever being guarded by the Light Ring. The only downside was that you would only see Mark on occasion. Would he even agree to continue to be your lover if you denied his request to join? What would you do if you remained cooped up forever, unable to see the outside again? Would you want to grow old living in a safe, comfortable home away from it all?

What if you left entirely? Moving on to the next city, leaving with nothing but the clothes on your back and your pet by your side? Did you want to risk your life to just... start all over again and return to a lone wolf's life?

Or did you feel a strange hunger for adventure, the want to travel again, just like old times but this time... you wouldn't be alone? To be with someone closer than friendship?

You opened your eyes and blinked a few times, readjusting them to the brightly lit room. You stretched slightly and you studied the door harder than ever.

Mark was watching you now, because when you turned to look at him, he was looking at you with curiosity, worry, and that strange "something else" you couldn't pick up on. He knew you were thinking hard on the offer, but he waited patiently and quietly. He looked back to the ceiling when he saw you look at him, and you turned to stare back at the door, studying every little detail on it.

Straightening up, you realized what the best decision would be. You turned back to face him, and you gently grabbed his bandaged hand with your own, "Mark... I... I think I've made up my mind."

Mark's eyes perked up, hope glistening in his eyes, "That didn't take long."

You giggled and examined his hand, "I... I would love to join the Light Ring, but I would love it even better if you were with me-"

"Always," Mark said, pulling you into a hug, "I promise to remain by your side until the end of our days, and hold you and take care of you, and-"

"And I will do the same for you, Mark." you said, leaning back. You stared into his eyes for a long moment, your face growing red, he was slightly blushing too. You both had started leaning in towards each other, but you turned away, unable to think.

*     *     *

It had been several weeks since you left the hospital wing with Mark. He showed you where you could stay, and he showed you where he stayed. Everything seemed perfect, and you remember the initiation ceremony like it had just happened yesterday.

Mark had explained previously that the Light Ring's initiation is different for everyone, and that Felix would choose the best member, usually the initiate's Angel to fulfill it. You were surprised when you found yourself standing alone with [P/n] outside on a windy day, just outside an entrance to the sewer system to get back to Oasis.

You were told to walk until you reached an old fountain, and so you did. The fountain was small and humble, no water poured from it, but it was surprisingly peaceful. You sat down on the edge of it, looking around the small plaza.

Then out of seemingly nowhere, you spotted Mark walk around the corner of a building. His arm was still in a cast, but his limp was completely gone and he never looked more alive. He had a small scar on his cheek, the same scar from when he protected you with his life in that old building in Glendale. You could see the sewn up patches in his jacket. Yours didn't look any better. Your jacket was unbuttoned and it showed a shirt underneath that was lower cut, revealing the large scar across your collarbone.

Mark was smiling, "Thought you'd never show up."

You shook your head, smiling, "Oh shut up, Felix didn't even let me out until just a few moments ago." You paused, then, "Now, what do you have for this... initiation?"

Mark sat down next to you, "I have this..." his scarred hand grabbed your own scarred hand, "I hereby proclaim that I, Mark Fischbach will be your mentor, and someday, your partner, your shield, and your gun. Please stand [Y/n]."

You stood up with him, and you stared deep into his eyes. You two had been through so much, and now... you two were about to go through so much more...

"I have one final task for you, before you become an official member of the Light Ring." Mark said happily, blinking slowly, gently watching you.

You both leaned in, closing your eyes. He wrapped you in a tight hug, and you wrapped your own arms around him, and kissed.

The End