Heat (Yumark)

Chapter One

"Mark stop zoning out. You never know when a customer might walk in," a tall man ordered, causing the young adult to flinch.

"Sorry Boss," Mark replied quietly.

"This is what i get for employing depressed kids," his boss mumbled, shaking his head.

Mark looked down at the cash register in front of him. Were his feelings that easy to point out? Mark had never really thought of it. Of course Jaemin, Lucas, and Haechan knew about his feelings-he never bothered sharing his thoughts, the fear of pushing his only friends away was too great-they were his best friends after all.

Mark looked up from the cash register as a tall, slender man walked in.

"H-how can I h-help you?" he stuttered, taken aback by the stern look on the man's face.

"Just a pack of cigarettes cutie," the man replied, leaning forward slightly.

"O-okay."

Mark grabbed a cigarette pack from the shelves behind the counter. He handed them to the man, receiving the cash for them immediately.

"I didn't even-"

"Didn't have to cutie. I'm a regular here." He eyed Mark up and down. "Though I suppose I've never seen you here before."

Mark took a step back nervously. "I-I'm new h-here."

"Oh? Well I suppose I should be the first to tell you how adorable you are?"

"Please don't."

Mark was confident. He had a moment of confidence. A moment of confidence to stand up for himself unlike all the other times people harassed him. But that moment of confidence was immediately broken when the man slammed his hand on the counter.

The man jumped over the counter and grabbed Mark. "Listen-" he looked down at the name tag on the younger's apron. "Mark. You may not know how things work around these parts; perhaps you're new around here, but just know. I always, always get what I want. And I want-"

The man was interrupted when another man walked up and grabbed him.

"Leave the poor boy alone. It's obvious that you're scaring him," the new man growled, a heavy Japanese accent to his voice.

"Back off Nakamoto. He's just a random kid."

"I don't care Kim. You're on my territory. And you never know what value a kid like him might have."

Mark watched as the two men-Nakamoto and Kim-argued back and forth. He had no idea what the two were talking about. And frankly, he didn't care. He was just grateful the Nakamoto person showed up when he did.

"Are you okay?"

Mark was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a voice. Relief washed over him when he realized it wasn't the Kim guy again.

"Y-yeah. Tha-thank you Mr Na-Nakamoto." Mark cursed at himself for stuttering.

"You can just call me Yuta." Nakamoto, Yuta, smiled.

"Okay, Yuta." Mark forced a smile back. "Oh did you need anything? I mean from the store you know. I mean it's kinda obvious you needed something because it's obvious you didn't show up just to help me out and-"

"Just, this chocolate milk and pack of Pocky."

"Okay!"

"Thanks. Have a good day, Markie."

Mark waved goodbye to Yuta before looking up at the wall clock. Thankfully it was the end of his shift.

He cheered internally as he stripped off his uniform and headed out the door.

'Yuta was kinda nice.' Mark thought to himself. 'He was tall too. He must have been handsome too. Maybe if I wasn't lost in my thoughts so much I would have actually looked at him more.' Mark gasped inaudibly. 'What if I looked stupid?! I know it shouldn't matter but-'

Mark was ripped from his thoughts when he heard a piercing, and very loud, scream coming from the alleyway he was walking by.

He stopped in his tracks as he debated whether to go and see what happened. Before he could convince himself otherwise, he was already walking down the ally, searching for the source of the scream.

He didn't expect to see what he saw.

A young woman, probably in her mid twenties, lying on the ground. Blood gushing from her neck.

Mark fell to his knees, unable to move at the sight of the girl. He looked up from the body when he heard a scoff.

"Tch. You know you're lucky you're cute. You don't have to die. Oh and don't bother running-I'm much, much faster than you."

Mark recognized the voice. It was the same from earlier. The man with the last name Kim.

Tears slowly slid down Mark's cheeks. The Kim man said he wouldn't kill him. But the young adult was terrified of what would happen if he lived. And it was quite obvious to him that he couldn't run. Even if he did, he would most likely end up dead as a result.

He was depressed, but not depressed enough to die.

"Markie my lion, what are you doing here?"

Mark whipped his head around to see Yuta. He was filled with joy and relief until he saw the object in his hand.

A knife.

"My lion." Mark looked to the man as he kneeled in front of him. "Close your eyes and plug your ears."

Mark did as he was told, and when he opened his eyes he noticed the Kim man was gone.

"Y-Yuta did you-?"

"No Markie. He got away. Again" Yuta muttered.

"Again?"

"That doesn't matter right now."

Mark watched as Yuta sat in front of him again. He pulled him into a hug before whispering: "I'm sorry."

Mark was about to question Yuta's apology, but instead felt a pinch in his neck. And all went black.

(A/N: okay so I finally updated! I apologize for taking so long (lol it was only a week). Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! I have this whole story planned out and I can't wait to write it out! I just wish I didn't have like, two essays due this week. T_T Also, I wonder what "Kim" this man happens to be... any guesses? Lol see you next chapter! Btw don't be afraid to point out mistakes. I can be dumb sometimes!)