Lost and Found [Markhyuck]

09~ Retrouvailles

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⋞ French: Retrouvailles- the happiness of meeting someone
that is very dear to you after a long time.
Direct English Translation: Reunion. ⋟
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"I'm not ready I'm not ready I'm not-" Haechan panicked, only to be cut off, "Relax! You not only look like a literal god in that outfit, but Mark is just as nervous, at the worst you'll have a minute or two of awkward silence before it all comes back and you're best friends again." Evelynn snickered as she watched Haechan fiddle with his hair, glaring down its new shade like it was the root of all evil.

"But-" He began, "No buts! It's too late, you're here and we're going to see him, An is already out there with him and Mark's bodyguards scouted for cameras beforehand so we'll have all the privacy we want... for a little while." Kana stated, pushing Haechan out of the room and out into the pub with Evelynn following closely behind. "He has BODYGUARDS. Plural?! Like more than one?!?" Haechan wheezed as he stumbled out of the room and right into the wall in front of him.

"Yes plural. 6 to be exact." What Haechan thought was a wall chuckled, causing Haechan to whip his head up and connect eyes with the black haired boy in front of him. Quickly Haechan scrambled back from the boy, a strangled sound of surprise slipping from his mouth as he took in Mark's expensive clothing and spotted a few of the bodyguards standing behind him.

"Heck you really are famous! Like I knew you'd be famous when I saw you singing that one time but like it's so much different seeing it then stating it-" the flustered boy rambled on, stopping sheepishly when Kana laughed. "Yes Haechan, that's usually how it works. Now while you two continue being awkward and flustered blobs, Ev, An, and I are going to go look around our old workplace and get some drinks. Call if you need anything."

"Wait you're leaving me here! With him?!" Haechan gasped, his mouth open in shock and his finger pointing towards Mark. "Yes. You two do normal human bonding stuff." An laughed, already walking away. "You planned this all along!" Haechan cried in sudden realization, his hand shifting to point accusingly at the three friends. "We did." Evelynn hummed, the three high-fiving and laughing as they left.

"Wow, being with me is *that* bad is it?" Mark joked causing Haechan to whip around to face him, his head already shaking so fast Mark feared the boy's head may actually fly off. "No no no- just... I don't know." Haechan trailed off, glancing towards the guards with suspicion. "They're not going to like.... kill me for saying the wrong thing are they?" Haechan questioned, moving towards one of the bodyguards, but jumping back with a squeak of surprise when she nodded her head and ran two of her fingers across her neck in a slicing motion.

"She's joking don't worry." Mark laughed as the other boy wearily stared down the now smiling bodyguard. "To be honest as much as I like their company, it gets kind of stifling having them around." Mark whispered to the boy, careful to not let the bodyguards hear. "I can only imagine." Haechan hummed in response.

"So how is it? Being famous and all?" He asked, curiosity finally getting the better of him. "Fun. Stressful. It's not easy, there are few people you can trust and a lot of people that follow you around, for example stalkers, paparazzi, etc. It's still worth it though, to be able to perform for a living." Mark sighed, and Haechan's heart broke a bit for the lonely boy.

"So... what do you do now?" Mark asked, turning his attention to the younger. "Oh? I followed my family to South Korea where I now own a daycare with my friend Niya. Not the singer life I dreamed of, but still really fun." Haechan rattled off, reaching down to rub the small tattoo on his wrist, a habit he formed when thinking deeply about something.

"A moon huh? What happened to getting a tattoo of the sun?" Mark asked, pointing to the tattoo. "It seems that you beat me to it, and besides, I didn't want to forget the best friend that could've been... if only I hadn't lost him all those years ago." Haechan said, dramatically placing his hand over his heart.

"Well, I'm here now. Shall we make up for lost time?" Mark suggested, "When I give the signal, run. Don't look back,  just book it like your life depends on it. If I don't make it out alive know it was fun while it lasted." Haechan whispered the familiar quote in Mark's ear, but this time Mark reached out, interlocking their hands and quickly opening his mouth to explain when Haechan gave him a surprised look.

"Can't loose you this time." He shrugged, causing Haechan to chuckle. "Run." Haechan suddenly announced, his face becoming serious before he took off, dragging a giggling Mark behind him as the bodyguards sprang into action, yelling for the two to stop.

The two boys bolted from the room, grinning as they ran through rooms and past Evelynn, An, and Kana, offering the three confused friends a wave as they passed. Finally the two boys reached the front doors of the pub, pushing the doors open and immediately covering their eyes with their free hands as blinding lights attacked their eyes.

"Mark! Haechan! Look this way!"
"Smile!"
"Mark! Can I get your autograph?!"
"Mark! Are you two dating?"

A crowd of fans and paparazzi all began shouting at once, making Haechan's head spin. "Stay back please." Mark begged as the crowd surged forward in hopes of getting better pictures of the two. "Oh hell no, I'm not dealing with this again." Haechan wailed, flashbacks from the crowd in South Korea flooding his memory.

"To freedommmm!" The boy screeched, pointing towards the sky heroically before dragging Mark down the sidewalk, running around corners, jumping fences, and crossing streets until they finally lost the screaming crowd and found themselves on a street filled with different shops and bustling people.

Not one person showing any interest in the two boys holding hands and tiredly laughing, drenched in sweat and exhausted but feeling happier and more free than they had in years. One living the dream both boys chased when they were young, the other bruised but not beaten and now living a comfortable life, maybe not the one he wanted, but still good nonetheless.

"So now what?" Mark managed to huff between sucking in breaths of fresh air. "I don't know... what do you want to do?" An equally as tired Haechan asked, still managing to smile at the other boy while trying to regain his breath. "Sometimes just wandering leads to the best of things?" Mark suggested, eyes glinting with mischief as he quoted the words that Haechan once spoke.

"Wandering it is." Haechan laughed, holding the boys hand a bit tighter as he chose a direction and began walking, "Off on our next adventure!" Haechan loudly announced as he lead the two strutting down the street, earning a few surprised glances from the people passing by. "Let's not loose each other this time though." Mark smiled, shoving Haechan lightly as the two walked.

"No. We're never loosing each other ever again." Haechan agreed, "We'll stay together forever." He softly promised, the words barely reaching Mark's ears but causing the boy to grin like a kid on Christmas morning nonetheless. 'Forever... I can live with that.' Mark thought, his smile widening as he watched the boy who protectively held his hand.

-end-
-April 08, 2020-