Fallen Angel

Part 2

The driver pulled up to the curb of the Pax building and they climbed out. The Pax guards kept the small crowd from surrounding them, but they all managed to shake hands with a few fans before being herded inside. Inside the building, their Pax escort gave them each a lanyard, giving them a short briefing of the events to happen. It was pretty much the same thing for every Pax. Tight schedules and rules about interacting with crowds of fans. Mark pretty much had it all done by now, but he worried about Sean. This was only his second time doing this. He couldn't walk him through it like he had the first time. The curse of a Youtube career. Eventually, they try to separate you to get more tickets and control smaller crowds. This year was to be one of those years. 

Bob rested a hand on Mark's shoulder as they passed by a few game booths, heading toward the doors leading backstage. His concern must have shown on his face as he watched Wade and Sean shove each other farther ahead of them. Bob squeezed his shoulder, telling him in a comforting voice. "He's going to be fine. You baby him too much". Mark forced himself to glance at Bob, replying anxiously. "He's still new to this, Bob. I don't want him to get hurt". Bob removed his hand to gesture back toward the entrance, asking curiously. "You want to take him home already? Mark, you can't keep him in a cage. He's an Angel of death for crying out loud. I think he can handle himself". Mark turned his eyes back to see Wade holding a donut far out of Sean's reach, before he answered Bob apprehensively. "You just don't know him like I do. He's... Innocent".

Bob chuckled, nudging Mark with his shoulder, replying playfully. "Innocent? With you around him all the time? That won't last". Mark smirked, watching Sean punch Wade in the gut to get him to bend over. Snatching the donut, Sean made a mad dash backstage with Wade chasing after him. Backstage, they waited patiently for the Pax crew to set up the first signing before their panels. Mark had been chatting with Felix, when their escort leaned into the room to tell them all. "The first signing is starting. You guys can come on out now". Felix and the others started to file out, when Mark spotted Sean still standing at the back of the room. Sean looked lost in thought as he stared down at his hands. Mark approached him slowly, asking casually. "Nervous"?

Sean jerked his head up, dropping his hands as he sweetly answered. "Maybe a little. I'm still not used to people wanting to see me". Mark wrapped an arm around Sean's shoulders, pulling him close as he told him happily. "Just be yourself and you'll be fine". Sean chuckled nervously, glancing toward a mirror as they passed by it for the door. Mark only caught a glimpse of a large dark shadow moving through the mirror in his peripheral vision and stopped cold. Sean kept walking to the door, before he stopped and looked back at him. Mark shook his head, staring at his own reflection. He must have been nervous too. He was jumping at shadows now. Sean stared at him with a warm smile, asking innocently. "Are YOU nervous"? Mark tore his eyes away from the mirror, shaking off his tension as he uttered back coolly. "It's all them damn horror playthroughs that I've been doing lately. They've got me all jumpy".

Sean touched Mark's shoulder as he walked closer, giggling out. "You should give them a rest then. Do something with cute kittens or something". Mark nodded, following Sean out into the large signing room. The fans cheered loudly at the sight of them and they waved to them as they ventured to their seats. Mark was able to distract himself with the first few fans that approached the table. Until a few excited cheers drew his attention farther down the table to Sean. Sean had climbed over the table to hug a woman and Mark gripped his pen tighter. The woman's hands wrapped around his back, sliding up his back tenderly. Mark gritted his teeth, unable to look away. Could Sean feel her hands against his wings? Was he enjoying it? He didn't want anyone to touch Sean like that!

Felix smacked Mark's back, grumbling out playfully loud to Sean. "They told us to say behind the tables, ya irish bitch"! A loud chuckle burst from Felix as Sean flicked him off with a smile. Mark finished signing a picture for a fan as Felix grumbled out. "Now you see what he did? Now I've got to climb over this fucking table! Ugh"! Mark smirked to himself. Sean had too big of a heart to listen to the cold Pax rules. Being an Angel of Death, he was feared... but seeing so many people adore him. It had to make Sean feel good. He couldn't blame Sean for wanting to appreciate those that loved him. He just wished that they didn't have to touch him. He wanted to be the only one allowed to do that. Bob leaned in closer to whisper over his shoulder. "Mark, your jealousy is showing".

Mark flashed Bob a forced smile, stating out innocently. "It is not. I'm perfectly calm". Bob shook his head with a smile, chuckling as he stated out just as innocently. "Oh look, that girl brought him cookies". Mark jerked his head toward the girl, sighing with heavy defeat. Even his fans were supplying him with junk food! Sean slipped a small cookie into his mouth, giving Mark a playful wink. Even Sean was rubbing it in like salt to a wound. The little girl giggled happily at the fact Sean enjoyed them and then beckoned him closer. The moment Sean leaned in, the girl kissed his cheek. Mark bit his tongue, forcing himself to focus on his fans. If he didn't, he was going to go crazy. As the signing finished up, the escort told the remaining fans about the panels. While simultaneously trying to coax all the Youtubers to head backstage again.

Upon exciting the room, Mark heard a photographer backstage tell another nervously. "It has to be the lighting, right? Did it happen to your picture too"? The other photographer looked through his camera, stating out just as nervously. "A bit. Maybe we set it to the wrong filter? Damn...". Mark curiously moved closer to them. He didn't know a lot about photography, but he figured he might know enough. Inching closer, he asked them hesitantly. "What happened"? The closet photographer turned toward him, shrugging as he stated aloud. "We don't have a clue. We were taking shots of everyone during the signing... but every time we took a picture of him... Well, see for yourself". The photographer scooted closer for Mark to look at the picture on his camera and Mark's eyes widened in shock.

In the picture, Sean was sitting on the table posing for the picture, in what should have been a really cute pose. However, spread out behind Sean was a pair of ethereal looking black feathery wings. Above his head, hovered a golden halo.  While Sean's right eye appeared to be glowing with a strange fiery light. Mark's muscles tensed up, but he had no trouble looking just as confused as they were. Was this what happened when you took pictures of angels? Was it like taking pictures of ghosts. Could you see into a dimensional plane that revealed Angels for what they truly are? It was confusing to him though. He didn't recall pictures that he had taken of Sean doing this before. Besides that, Sean's wings were white. Had the fact that they now resembled tattoos on his back, somehow changed the color of them? The other photographer moved closer to show Mark his picture, telling him. "It's not just his. Look at this".

Mark looked over the other man's camera and swallowed down a sudden panic. In this picture, Sean's right eye was black with a bright green iris. Shrugging nonchalantly for their sakes, he told him bluntly. "Wow. Had to of been the filter and the lighting. Those are some interesting shots you got". The photographer huffed softly to himself, answering timidly. "Spooky is more of the word that I'd use". Mark backed away as casually as he could, before rushing to find Sean. He had to find him now, before the solo panels started. He didn't know if Sean could answer any of his questions... but he deserved to know about this. With all the cameras and photos that would be taken of him today... He needed to be made aware of what could be showing up on them.

Entering into a room that was labeled 'Jacksepticeye', Mark slipped in asking Sean immediately. "Sean, I need to ask you something very important about the signing earlier". Mark stopped cold in the center of the room, staring at Sean with a sudden worried expression. Sean was kneeling on the floor, staring down at his wrists that were covered in all kinds of bracelets that he had received from the fans at the signing. When Sean looked up at him, he looked confused and uncertain, asking Mark in a small shaken up voice. "Mark...? Did I go to the signing? I can't remember...". To Be Continued...