Black and Blue | Markmin

𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚢-𝚝𝚠𝚘.

Jaemin's bathtub was the place to be. It was one of those combined shower and bathtub's, baths rarely taken because - as Jaemin had been rambling one night about finances - it took up too much water and cost too much as oppose to a quick five minute shower. Much to Mark's dismay.

But luckily the bathtub in question was not being used for a bath at the moment, but rather had become the place for Mark and Jaemin to discuss life problems and figure out solutions. So, sitting shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, and knee to knee (with their knees hooked over the edge of the tub), Mark and Jaemin had their hands intertwined and were mulling over their problems.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Mark muttered for the last time, hearing Jaemin utter a frustrated sigh. He knew the answer, seeing as Jaemin had said it dozens of times by this point. But he still wanted to hear it again.

"Yes, Mark, I'm perfectly fine," Jaemin sighed, and Mark didn't have to turn his head to the side to know the lovingly annoyed look Jaemin was giving him. The pink-haired boy's hand was tightly clasped in Mark's, and the older couldn't help but to rub his thumb soothingly over the back of the boy's hand. He wasn't sure who he was trying to soothe though.

"I don't think we'll have any problems from him anymore," Mark finalized the end of their conversation that had begun close to ten minutes prior, "He's too much of a coward to do anything, especially with no evidence."

"Yeah," Jaemin agreed just to agree, exhaustion seeping through his tone and Mark didn't blame him. So much and already on their first day back to school. "I didn't see Donghyuck or Jeno today. I had math class with Donghyuck, but he wasn't there."

Mark didn't say anything, something in his gut telling him that Jaemin wasn't done talking. That Mark needed to stay quiet and shut up. That his soulmate needed to rant and let all of his stresses and worries out.

"I already made up with Donghyuck you know? So I shouldn't be worried that he would turn me in, and I should be worried instead why he didn't text me or tell me he wasn't going to be at school," Jaemin started his rant nervously, "But I'm selfish, I'm going to be selfish at least, and I'm worried about myself — about us — and I still haven't heard a word from Jeno. What if he turns us in? After years of our friendship, over something like love?"

Mark's thumb continued its soothing pattern over the back of Jaemin's hand, his soulmate's head dropping to rest on his shoulder.

"I just never thought...," Jaemin trailed off, his hand squeezing Mark's tightly, "...I held everything in for so long. Everything was my own secret that I felt like I had to guard, that I felt I had to lock up in my heart and never let anyone see. I didn't have the intention to hurt anyone besides myself, but I guess I kind of just figured out that hurting myself is also hurting the people close to me."

"It's so scary now that my actions could lead to one of my best friends leaving me for forever, especially when I care about him so much. I feel so crappy that I'm figuring this out after I met you," Jaemin sighed, a dry laugh falling from between his lips, "I wish we met sooner. So that I could have loved myself like the way you love me. So that I could have felt as safe as I do now when I really needed it."

Mark swallowed thickly, willing himself not to get too emotional while his heart crumbled into pieces only to be put back together by Jaemin's unwavering love for him. How could he have been so lucky to have found someone as selfless and loving as Jaemin?

"If I could have met you sooner in this life," Mark started, blinking away the tears that were beginning to form in his eyes (when had he become such a sap?), "I would have wrapped you in a warm blanket and sheltered you from all the bad in this life. I would have given you hundreds of kisses, because you deserve all the love that you receive and more, and I would buy you so many coffees because I know how much you like them."