Slopes

t w e n t y

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"Thanks."

It was the first thing Donghyuck said to Mark after getting on the bus. They had been riding in silence for a good 10 minutes, one tired and the other drained.

"For what?" Mark doesn't look at the boy beside him, instead directing his eyes out the window to the night sky; but he could still hear the faint sniffles coming from Donghyuck.

"For you know, making sure I was okay. Albeit a bit loudly at first." Donghyuck glances to the side as he begins to sweat in the memory of their argument from earlier. "Just...thanks."

"Like I said Donghyuck," Mark lets out a breath and leans his head against the window. "You can trust us. You know, teams aren't useless. They were created in the sense that if you can't get up on your own, then you have others who will help you. There's a reason so many sports and activities are team-based; not just to grow character and humbleness, but also to grow trust and relationships. If you can't trust your teammates, then are you even a team? There's no 'I' in 'team'. And there's no 'We' either, but that doesn't really matter in the end. A team is not made up of 4 basic letters, a team is made up of people who trust and help each other...The purpose of a team is that you can't take all the blame for a mistake, but you can't take all the winnings of an accomplishment. There has to be a balance Donghyuck. You have to learn to trust those around you, even if it's hard." Mark stands as the bus comes to a stop and grabs his gym bag.

Donghyuck looks at his lap, his hands clasped into fists on his knees as his tears land on his knuckles. His head dips under the weight of Mark ruffling his hair.

"Just think about that. I'll see you later Kid."

Mark leaves and the bus rumbles on, Donghyuck now crying silently as he thinks over what Mark said.

There has to be a balance Donghyuck. You have to learn to trust those around you, even if it's hard.

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Mark glares daggers into Yuta's side, his eyes burning with pure hatred. "What the fuck are you doing here." His question came out more as a statement but he did not care.

Yuta pouts and side hugs his boyfriend, waving his hand at Mark dismissively. "Markie don't get all riled up, I'm just here to visit my baby! I promised him I would pick him up early for a date." The Japanese man smiles cheekily and coos as Sicheng flushes red.

Mark sighs and squats down, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But did you really have to shout 'Markie~ Look who's here~!' ?" he asks through gritted teeth.

Yuta puts a thumb on his chin in thought. "Well no...But it's much more fun that way."

"I hate you...so much."

"Oh, I know you don't mean that. Anyways, Chengie, let's go get you home to rest up before we head out, okay~?" He draws out the 'ay', only making him sound even more flamboyant. Mark didn't know it was possible. The couple walk into the resort, Sicheng sluggish behind his energetic boyfriend.

Johnny walks up beside the Canadian man, his arms crossed over his chest. "He comes here like once a month to take Sicheng out. Last time was on the day you arrived here in Korea." He chuckles and glances at a fuming Mark.

"That sleez! No wonder he was late to pick me up from the airport, he was on his date with Sicheng hyung and probably forgot all about me!" Mark stands back up and clips himself back onto his board.

Johnny watches him with amused eyes. "That sounds like Yuta alright. Can't believe you're staying with him; small world we live in." He says and pushes Mark down the hill, smiling as he watches the boy race down. The small figure of Donghyuck waiting for him at the bottom slowly coming into view as Mark's snow powder clears. He turns to Doyoung, who was walking towards him after his talk with Taeyong.

"They seem to have gotten closer." The younger man observes, his hand over his eyebrows as he squints his eyes against the sun.

"Maybe that fight did them some good." Johnny says, placing his goggles over his eyes.

Doyoung shrugs. "Maybe, just hope he talks to me again."

Johnny sighs and gives his friend a worried glance. "Is he still not talking to you?"

"I mean...he's talking, but you can tell he's stiff about it." Doyoung frowns. "I really fucked up this time."

"Mmm I don't know. Me and Mark don't agree all the time either."

Doyoung rolls his eyes. "Yeah but at least you're professional about it."

Johnny laughs and shakes his head. "Maybe it seems that way to you, but Mark is extremely stubborn. You know, those two aren't all that different than we like to think."

Doyoung raises a brow. "How so?"

"Well, they're both hot-headed, stubborn, competitive, and emotional. The only real difference is that Mark hides his feelings too well while Donghyuck wears his heart on his sleeve."

Frowning, Doyoung watches the two teens ride the lift back up to the top; Mark dusting the snow off his board and Donghyuck swinging his legs back and forth, watching the mountain below. "I never thought of it that way."

Johnny smiles. "Just look," He points to them. "They don't even have to talk to communicate. They understand each other without needing to say anything. They're a lot closer and understanding than we like to think or give them credit for." Doyoung nods slowly, now also smiling as the two teens walk towards them.

"You two look happy." Donghyuck states, furrowing his brows and looking between his smiley hyungs. "Ok who got married?"

"Why would you think they got married?" Mark gives the boy a confused look.

"Well have you ever seen them smile like that?" Donghyuck asks, walking off.

Mark follows him. "No, but I also don't notice their emotions in a lot of detail."

"See!"

"That doesn't mean one of them got married!"

Doyoung and Johnny both sigh as the voices of Mark and Donghyuck recede.

"You know what they also share in common?"

Johnny looks at his friend. "What?"

"They're both a little dumb."

"..."

"Agreed."

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<hi im back (: lol>