Under Pressure - Septiplier

Chapter Sixty Seven

Mark doesn't talk to Jack for a week. Every single day, Jack comes into the classroom with his lunch and sits down. Once he sits down, Mark turns to face away from Jack, staring out the window with a pointed glare, jaw set. Until Sean either gives Mark an excellent reason for this or apologizes, Mark will not stand for this. Mark understands Jack is scared. But, there is absolutely no indication that his family will physically harm him if he comes out. Frankly, Mark thinks Jack coming to live with him would probably be better anyway. Mark knows Jack can barely get any work done at his apartment, crammed onto a couch in the living room, with four little siblings to watch in the later hours after his own job because his parents are busy with work.

Jack spends the entire week watching Mark as he eats, mind running with internal arguments over this. He knows what he did last Friday was cruel. The guilt burns in his stomach, roiling and curdling with shame that he would leave Mark stranded as people swamped them, chattering loudly and surrounding the boys.

It's Sunday again, and Jack is still deciding. It's been a full week, and this issue is beginning to drag on. Jack keeps arguing that he needs to get over this and face his fears. Sean keeps arguing that his family won't take it well. He looks up from his seat at the kitchen table, watching his mom bustle about the kitchen, cooking Sunday dinner. She's singing one of the hymns from Church, which only furthers Sean's worries. His dad is in the living room, playing a board game with the younger siblings, and he can hear the exclamations and giggles from here.

Jack loves Mark.

Sean loves his family.

Jack is scared of his family.

Sean is not scared of Mark.

The teenager pushes back his seat and stands, rushing to his bag in the living room. He tugs on his shoes and jacket, pulling on some old gloves as well.

"Going out!" he shouts, running from the apartment as his parents call after him with confused questions. Jack jogs down the stairs, jumping the last few and breaking out into the street before sprinting off. He doesn't know why it took him so long to realize that. The decision is so unerringly simple when he thinks of it like that. The boy makes a quick stop, buying something from a familiar spot, as well as using the restroom to change into his skinny jeans before running on. He eventually reaches Mark's house, his breath puffing out in rapid bursts of condensation in the cold air as he rings the doorbell. Jack waits a moment before the door swings open, revealing Mark's mother.

"Hi, umm, is Mark home?" he pants, a broad grin on his face. She looks him over for a moment.

"Sorry, does he... know you?" She asks, obviously concerned. Jack laughs softly and nods.

"Yess, sorry, sorry. My name is Sean, I also go by Jack. I'm his boyfriend," Sean answers with a smile. Her eyes widen, thin eyebrows comically rising before she processes the information and breaks into a grin.

"Oh! It's wonderful to meet you, Sean! I didn't know Mark had a boyfriend! Honestly, this boy! He never talks to me!" she tuts, opening the door wider. "Come in, come in! He's upstairs in his room, the last door on the left," she waves Jack in, closing the door behind the boy.

"I'll grab some snacks for you boys, you need more meat on your bones, and Mark is always working out so much! He needs more food!" she says, and Jack blushes, smiling lightly.

"Oh, I was just, I was actually going to invite him over to my place for dinner," he stumbles a bit, off-put by such a positive reaction from Mark's mother. He never expected such a sweet, exciting vibe from a parent after coming out as gay. She smiles and aw's quietly.

"Well, I'll have to return the favor next week! Yes, yes, I'll get you a little something, though," she says, gently guiding him towards the stairs before bustling into the kitchen. Jack blushes and bounds up the steps, going to the last door and knocking. He hears a groan of irritance from inside, so he decides it's safe to enter. Jack slams open the door.

"Wanna go feed the ducks and have dinner at my place?" he asks, almost shouting. Mark screeches, bolting back from where he's watching YouTube at his desk.

"The hell are you doing here?"

"Let's come out as flaming homosexuals! Quick! We've got to go feed the ducks before they fly south!" Jack exclaims, tossing the bag of burger buns towards Mark, who catches them with a growing grin on his face.

"Fag, sure as hell took you long enough," he teases, standing and going over to his closet. Jack only just now realizes he's not wearing anything but a pair of boxer briefs, and his face flushes. Sean hurriedly turns his head away, letting Mark get dressed in peace.

"Hey! There were good points on both sides! You're just so impossible to resist that my choice became immeasurable clear," Jack snarks back, rocking back and forth on his heels and toes. He squeaks as the bag of bread hits the side of his face, scrabbling to catch it before turning to glare at Mark, who at least has pants on now.

"Oi! Fuck off!" he exclaims, and Mark just grins. The teenager turns and pulls on a sweater and jacket, tugging on some shoes before grabbing his phone and wallet. He walks over to Jack and presses a kiss to his lips.

"I practiced talking all week," he hummed in a low voice that rumbles in his chest. Jack blushes and smiles.

"You keep one-upping me," he lightly whines, leaning forward to kiss Mark again. The feeling of his lips against his brings warm, familiar contentment to Jack's chest that he didn't realize he'd been missing the past week. It only further reaffirms that he did well. This was the right choice to make. They separate and head downstairs, where Mark's mom is shoving a tin of homemade cookies into Jack's hands. Mark giggles as she dotes over them for a few minutes before they finally escape her loving remarks, slipping out the door into the nipping cold again. Jack shoves the tin into his bag and takes Mark's hand, smiling at him before they continue out through the city, towards a moment of bravery.

They stop and feed the ducks, giggling and teasing each other about the silly little tradition they'd built. There are significantly fewer birds there, but the stragglers remain, profiting off their plethora of carbohydrates and fattening up further. The park is empty on the cold afternoon, and the wind brushes over the pond, sending up small, rippling waves that send the waterfowl bobbing and rocking with each miniature surge of water. They kiss again, much more fervently, and for far longer. When they finally pull apart, Jack smirks at Mark's flushed face and reddened lips.

"Just trying to keep you warm, baby."