Chapter Text
"I'm telling you, it's absolutely awesome."
He laughed out, pursing his plush lips to blow a stray strand of blue-tinted hair out of his vision. "Yeah, yeah, I hear ya, and now drop it. No one wants to hear about your BDSM quirks."
Now he was the one being amusedly smirked at.
"Nah, you got it all wrong, Markimoo."
He smirked back in kind. "Oh, did I? I think I got it just right that you're one dirty little dominatrix." Moving, he hopped off the windowsill while a little bit further down the corridor the door of a public restroom was being opened.
"See, I told you that you got it wrong." His best friend gainsaid, pushing his tall, broad body off the wall he had been leaning against.
Heading down the corridor, Mark was now passing by his fellow Youtuber who continued speaking.
"It's not the feeling of power and dominance I enjoy, right? It's something entirely else."
Lifting a well-shaped eyebrow, Mark glanced his best friend's way in question. Ahead of them, a smaller, slender figure patiently waited for them to come closer.
"It's the trust your partner puts in you. After all, a lot of it is needed to let anyone tie you up in bed."
The uncrowned king of squirrels replied nothing to that, only huffing softly. He supposed Wade was right, somewhere. He didn't feel like arguing that theory either, simply because there was no reason to. Arrived at the person who was still waiting for them, Mark's arm gently slid around a shapely waist, tugging a younger, slightly shorter male closer so that he could press his lips to said man's smooth forehead.
"Did you get that coffee stain out, sweetcheeks?"
A meek smiled curled the lips of a certain Irishman as he nodded, briefly brushing his hand over the wet spot on his pressed-collar shirt where mentioned stain had been, now wiped away by water and paper tissues.
"Mhm." Jack purred, stealing himself a small kiss from his lover while no one was looking. Well, no one aside Wade that was, but he belonged to the tiny circle of those aware of their little secret, so he didn't count.
Leaning back again, the lively Ireland-born chuckled lightly: "Next time, I'll be sure to keep distance from Felix when he laughs while holding a cup of coffee in his clumsy hands."
That memory was by now a week old and the internet-famous couple was currently at Mark's home, having put behind an eventful working day at the current convention and looking forward to spending a relaxing evening. Or rather, night, since they'd just had dinner and were about to hit the hay.
Exiting the bathroom Jack switched off the light there and entered the bedroom plunged into the dim yellow of the bedside lamp. He switched the one at his side of the bed on as well when he sat down on the edge, peeling his watch off his slim wrist. Done, he let himself fall into the covers and rolled onto his side to watch his lover.
A couple for a bit over a year now, he could still never get tired of seeing or having Mark around even more so because they didn't get the opportunity to be together often, living so far apart. Every time he came to visit, he seemed to become a bit more addicted to the older man's warm, affectionate presence. Not that he minded that in any way; to Jack, there could not be a more amazing person to be addicted to in the whole wide world.
"Watcha daydreaming about, eh?"
He blinked, suddenly discovering that handsome face so much closer to his own and smiled a bit of sheepishly, caught in the act of having spaced out.
"Oh, just the usual." He responded smugly, watching Mark grin.
"The usual, hmm?" His lover's voice skillfully accentuated the soft hum in that uniquely insinuating, husky intonation of his naturally deep timbre, causing a pleasant shiver to trickle down Jack's supple spine.
It wasn't too long before the older man leaned in to touch his lover's delectable lips in a kiss that started out simple and delicate but gained intensity bit by wonderful bit. Slipping his tongue into that sweet mouth awarded Mark with a lovely, pleased sigh, and his hand settled on that snug little waist to gently pull the other man closer. Jack's body complied all too readily, scooting nearer, his eyelashes fluttering shut as another honeyed sigh worked itself out of his chest at the feelings that started to arise. Their kiss wasn't broken while he let himself be nudged onto his back with his secret lover now hovering above him. Mark's hand kept wandering to find the hem of the light shirt Jack sported and sneak under the material, caressing his palm along the sinfully soft skin there.
They parted for a deeper gasp of air than they had been allowed to take during the amorous connection of their lips, Jack's plush pair parted a crack to release his first, soft moan in reaction to his lover's calloused fingertips teasing his nipple. He fully expected another lock of lips to charm him but it never came, causing him to re-open his eyes and gaze up at Mark in some sort of sweet puzzlement. Fawn orbs looked back at him with fondness, a barely noticeable grin on those stately features. For a second Mark was gone out of immediate proximity, reaching back to the bedside table and tugging out the upper drawer.
"I have a surprise for you tonight." He spoke quietly into the hush of the bedroom.
Silently but curiously Jack watched the older man pull something out of said drawer before the item was displayed to the Irishman's ice-hued sight. Two pair of handcuffs, silvery rings clinking meekly against each other.
"Care to try it out?"
Jack's reaction was wary, bright pools of sky-blue color uncertainly casting a couple of nervous glances – first to the cuffs, then to the side, back to the cuffs and ultimately somewhere ahead towards the room door. He diligently avoided looking at Mark however, who did nothing but watched him with calm interest. Pearly white teeth peeked out as the younger man softly bit upon the own exquisite lower lip and at last, a very vague nod was his mute reply.
Laughing softy, Mark leaned in some to brush his lover's porcelain-pale cheek with a fleeting kiss. "Are you sure?"
Another nod.
He heard Jack's distinctly shaky intake of a lungful of air as he took one finely crafted wrist and closed the restraining ring around it, and the next breath was paired with a rickety exhale as he lifted that slender arm above the younger man's head, stretching the elegantly shaped limb and ultimately strapping it to the horizontal pole of the bed's headrest. The captive wrist twitched in its new harness, eliciting a very faint chinking sound but also discovering that the bounds were pretty firm.
Tender fingertips feathered over Jack's cheek, down the beautifully defined jaw line and underneath his chin to lift his head up a small bit, allowing Mark to seal his lips in a gentle kiss while the man's hands worked on fastening the other wrist to the headrest of the bed as well. Similar to its twin appendage it jerked in its tied up position, unable to free itself, a soft whimper passing from mouth to mouth as the older man's tongue ravished his lover's sweet mouth.
Releasing those pliant lips again, Mark took a second to look over the defenseless body of an earthly angel displayed before him so invitingly, those wondrous blue eyes hiding timidly beneath a mesh of deeply lowered eyelashes. He felt Jack flinch under the touch of his hand as it settled on the side of the younger man's slim waist, smoothing along it and hooking his fingers into the hem of the shirt to slowly push the thin material up. Sight at a perfectly flat stomach was revealed and for a moment, he watched the gentle fluctuation of it; the unsteady heaving and sinking matching Jack's already mildly distorted breaths. The rhythm of those quickened even more with Mark's affections wandering downwards, a sharp gasp escaping the Irishman at the feel of a kiss placed mere inches away from his navel.
Goosebumps spread along Jack's outstretched arms while lips nipped at the creamy skin of his belly then and there before the other man's tongue eventually slipped into the tiny round hole there. A breath got perpetually stuck in his chest, thrust out shakily again. His wrists jerked meekly against the restraining cuffs, hands curling up into small fists as the slick muscle moved in teasing flicks and circles inside his bellybutton. A whimper fled his chest, eyes screwing shut, that sneaky hand on his side sliding upwards to expose more of his torso to the cool bedroom air. The tentative shivering of his body intensified when Mark began moving higher in track of the rolling up fabric of his shirt, spreading kisses and nibbling at the tender skin etched over the protective rings of Jack's ribcage.
Mark's path led him to a pinkish nipple amidst the ivory plain of that firm chest, the velvety bud captured between his lips and gently sucked on before teeth closed a careful grip around it and gave it a playful tug. The shock of sensation made the body beneath him quiver, a suppressed moan pushing out of Jack's throat, and with the tantalizing process repeated his breathing grew heavier and more irregular. A quick, deeper gulp of air was all he managed to do during what time Mark's full lips needed to switch attention from one erect nipple to its neglected mate, Jack's finely cambered spine jerking a small inch up off the bed as that plush pair reached its goal. He drew up his right leg, stemming its bare sole into the mattress and his bent knee inclined inward towards the left leg, shielding his crotch from view and touch. Another staggered moan in reaction to the parting flick of Mark's tongue against his sensitive nipple, the older man's mouth soon upon his own in a kiss which was slow and thoughtful of his hastened breathing.
Fawn eyes were astute in gazing upon his lover's gorgeous, pale face; Mark didn't like the tensed expression he saw there, the tightly shut eyes, the faint folds of anxiety along the smooth forehead. The younger man tried hard to hide it, but the distress of his statuesque figure was obvious to expert eyes which knew him too well to not notice. The tremble of his shapely body wasn't that of arousal or excitement, nor were the sounds he was making those of pleasure – Mark knew those charming melodies very well, and it was not what that unique voice had produced throughout this intercourse today.
His hand brushed lower, over the taut abdomen, coming to lie atop Jack's bared thigh, sliding along it to its inner side. A helpless whimper sounded and he released those soft lips so that they could draw the heavy breaths the other man needed, feeling faint resistance as he tried to nudge those slender legs apart. Kissing the pliant surface of his lover's hot-glowing cheek in an attempt to coax the anxious little creature back to calm, his hand was firm in prying one of those supple thigh away from its defensive position.
Jack's arms strained, pulling at the cuffs abruptly but unable to escape them, another whimper shooing into space, distinctly desperate. Mark's hand was gentle inching lower, over the black boxer shorts his lover sported, feeling for the arousal the material hid. However the erection was barely perceptible, the fair length in his palm soft and limp.
The younger man's lithe body was shaking mildly all over, a row of teeth buried deeply into the lower lip to enclose behind the plush pair any sound that might threaten to escape him. His eyes remained clenched shut, even as his lover's hand withdrew from his crotch again to cup his cheek instead, a thumb caressing the elegant elevation of his cheekbone. The appendage disappeared then to sift its digits through soft hair, a quiet voice speaking up at his ear after a loving kiss had been pressed just beneath his earlobe.
"Do you want me to untie you?"
A hard swallow moved Jack's larynx and he nodded weakly, another rickety exhale making it past his luxurious lips. Seconds later, with the appropriate petite key used, the rings around his wrists sprung open, permitting him to lower his arms that ached from having maintained such rigorous tension. The instant he was free to move again, Jack was swift in rolling out from underneath his lover, now lying on his side, his hand seizing grip on the blanket to pull it over his meekly trembling body. He curled up and stilled in a try to recompose, without having opened his eyes even for a moment, face buried in between cushion and coverlet to leave just the green-tinted mop of hair and a tiny bit of shoulder peeking out.
Faced with his lover's strained back, Mark reached out a hand to touch the graceful slope of same shoulder which jerked dismissively, repulsive of the contact. His eyes narrowed a little in both care and concern and his lips barely noticeably twitched a chaste, understanding smile. Jack was probably embarrassed, but Mark himself didn't think much to it. It was perfectly okay; bondage games weren't everyone's thing. They had tried, it hadn't worked, it was something that would stay just between the two of them and no one else had to ever know about it. To be honest he liked those delicate hands clawing and clutching at him during sex anyway, rather than having them tied up and immobile. Even without tricks and toys their lovemaking was always diversified and blissful enough, every single time throughout the past year of their affectionate relationship.
Thus he granted his given angel what space Jack needed for tonight, only tucking him in more properly by pulling the blanket over the other man's bendy back as well. Then he switched off the light and settled comfortably on his side of the bed, making do with the bedspread to cover himself up since his lover had clamped such a possessive grip on the huge blanket in order to hide thoroughly in the heap of it.
It was quiet and peaceful in the darkness of the bedroom throughout the night, and Mark awoke hours later to the jingle of his phone's alarm. He grumbled softly and reached out a blind hand for the ringing culprit, pressing the button that made the metallic attendant shut up. Rubbing at his left eye with the back of his hand he suppressed a yawn and ultimately opened his fawn orbs to sleepily gaze into the mild morning light that flooded the room. He needed some more seconds to come to a proper, awake state of mind, flipping over onto his back and gazing up towards the white ceiling. Only then did he notice that the item he was covered with wasn't any longer the bedspread, but the warm blanket he usually shared with his lover.
Mark glanced to the side, discovering Jack's familiar presence missing beside him but pricking up his ears and listening closely told him of the younger man's whereabouts very quickly – the gentle rush of running water in the bathroom signaled that he had gotten up before Mark himself. The taller grown Youtuber swung his legs off the downy mattress, moving quietly around the bedroom and executing habitual, necessary little tasks: making the bed, checking that both their cell phones were charged as well as putting out clothes for the two of them. He knew Jack trusted his choice of attire, much like Mark did when it was the other man's turn to pick it. They both knew their pattern to a good, uncomplicated start of their day, and the choice of who did what simply depended on who of them would be the first to get up and take the morning shower. Usually it was Jack because Mark was a little sleepyhead and loved to lounge an extra minute or few in the softness of the covers, and today was no exception.
The purring of the hairdryer elapsing indicated that Jack was done with his morning rituals, and with the soft noise of a turned key the bathroom door was opened. Mentioned man appeared clad in a bathrobe, the fluffy, white material covering his otherwise naked body down to just below the knees. The emerald-tipped strands were already meticulously styled up, faint, velvety smell of care products and shampoo emanating from the lovely figure in front of which Mark came to stand. Those pretty eyes avoided looking into his own but it was no hindrance to his actions. Gingerly curling his arm around Jack's waist he tugged the man up against him without experiencing any resistance, leaning in and angling his head to press his lips to that soft cheek smelling of cleanness and soap. He felt the younger man press up closer, a small smile brightening those marvelous features as he tilted his head upwards a bit in order to let pliant surfaces meet up in a proper good morning kiss this time. Jack kept his eyes shut as they parted, perceived Mark's lips nipping at his dainty pair one more time and ultimately brushing his forehead before the taller man relinquished his hold and passed him by on the way to the bathroom. He sighed softly and stood amidst the room alone now, almost as though lost in thought until he heard the swish of water.
At the bed where his clothes were already neatly laid out for him to put on, he slipped out of his robe and into underwear, socks, pants and a fashionable shirt, stuffing his cell phone away into the back pocket of his pants. After wristwatch and a couple of accessories came to adorn his body as well, he was on his way out of the bedroom and to the kitchen, so by the time Mark was finished showering and dressing the smell of freshly made coffee and toast was happily sneaking towards every corner of the apartment.
He entered the kitchen only to find his lover near the opened window of the room, the expression on those filigree features distant and very absentminded. The clear, sapphire-hued eyes stared off into the morning scenery of the city displayed to their unseeing gaze, hands resting each on the opposite upper arm in a vaguely self-hugging manner. Mark stood in the doorframe for a couple of seconds, one strong shoulder leaned against same frame, his own arms loosely crossed over his chest as he watched the other man in the silence and serenity around them.
Jack didn't appear to have noticed him, also not as he set his feet in motion again, approaching the working plate on which the coffee machine throned. He filled two cups with the steaming, black liquid and walked over to the artful human statue by the window. The back of his hand chastely touched to that slender shoulder, startling the musing man who that shoulder belonged to. Jack turned around, smiling faintly and nodding in thanks after accepting the cup from his lover. Mark's eyes narrowed just a bit in scrutiny, the beautiful countenance he observed turned away swiftly again to escape direct eye contact. Looked like this morning wouldn't be filled with cheerful chatter and mindless fooling around, which was okay, but not common. Jack was usually pretty talkative and bubbly in the mornings, or in general; so not today it seemed.
Mark's arm settled easily around the shorter man's curvy shoulders to bring his lover up against him another time, and the slinky body came closer willingly, the Irishman visibly more peaceful having snuggled up to his partner's side now. Both palms firmly around the warm glass body of the cup, he lifted it to his appealing lips, taking his first small sip from the caffeinated liquid. Mark followed the example, however not before pressing an affectionate kiss to that temple concealed by brunette silk of diligently groomed hair. Jack didn't glance at him, but the corner of his pretty mouth twitched upwards just a little bit.
They didn't speak on their way to the convention premises, and they didn't share a word during their busy work there either, going about managing their own booths and their own onflood of fans, giving out hugs, autographs and good mood. No one was aware of the fact though, that the two of them shared nothing more but a few mute, gentle, loving glances throughout the day, or maybe it was exactly because of that. They were always somewhere near or around each another, much like everyone was used to see them, a brief hug here, a fleeting joke there, nothing appeared out of place in the middle of all the bustle occurring around them. Quite likely nothing was, at least as far as Mark was concerned. Jack was an inscrutable, marvelous little enigma with his mood being quite unpredictable at times. He could guess what might preoccupy his lover so, but he didn't pry and didn't push. Should Jack need him for a talk, he'd ask for it and as long as he didn't, Mark supported him the way he could do best - by simply being there.
Lunch break was joyfully welcomed by all of them, Wade and Mark himself leaving the backstage break room to get some drinks from a nearby vending machine while Bob, Felix and Jack stayed inside, conversing on light topics and discussing random things until the Ireland-born hopped off the windowsill he'd claimed for a seating surface.
"I'll be right back." He informed his fellow Youtubers, exiting the room with his aim being the restroom. His business there didn't take long and stepping out again, his attention was captured by familiar voices sounding from around the corner of the corridor.
"So, did you try it?" The sly, blithe timbre was definitely Wade's and curiously, Jack made his way towards that corner to greet his friends and have their company on his way back.
"Tried what?" The second voice, deeper in its soft baritone, unwittingly conjured a smile onto his rosy lips.
The chinking of coins, followed by a chuckle. "Oh you know what I mean. Did you and Jackaboy have some bondage fun last night?"
Just before making his turn, the young Ireland-born froze on the spot, placing his hand onto the wall as if to keep his feet from mechanically proceeding in their way. Mark meanwhile, laughed out softly, watching his best friend pressing down a two-digits combination on the vending machine to get the desired soda.
"I honestly don't see how that would be any of your business."
Wade clicked his tongue, wickedly glimmering eyes switching focus from the falling can to the man next to him. "I'm your best friend. I have to know things like that." He stated matter-of-factly, pouting at the disbelieving grin Mark shot him. "And besides, it would do my ego some good if you acknowledged the fact that I've been right."
Mark's brows furrowed into an expression between doubt and amusement, folding strong arms over his firm chest. "Right about what?"
"That it's a good feeling to have your partner trusting you as much as to let you tie them up. And! That enjoying it is not a weird quirk of mine, as you've so rudely stated."
Mark only huffed and patted his friend's shoulder somewhat compassionately, still grinning which got Wade to grimace at him and slap his hand away.
"So, was it fun?" He repeated his nosy inquiry, giving off a soft snicker then. "Or didn't he let you?"
That caused Mark to roll his eyes at the other man dismissively, moving to proceed in his way. Fishing his can of soda out of the vending machine's muzzle, Wade hurried after him. "Aw, come on. It was awesome, wasn't it? Admit it; I've been right!" His complaining and probing went unanswered, also as they turned around the corner.
The corridor leading past the restrooms and to their backstage room was perfectly empty.
Before the two of them re-entered, Mark turned to face his friend, a serious but serene smile on his lips. "You know when I enjoy trust the most?" he asked, having Wade looking back at him a little bit perplexed. He then shook his head, and Mark's fawn eyes reflected a tiny, precious sparkle of something incomprehensible and sacred, calm voice quieter with the words he pronounced with outmost care.
"When I no longer need to see any proof to it at all." When it was so firm and solid, you simply didn't need it proven any longer. The trust to start; the trust to stop. The trust to understand and be understood, with or without words. The trust to love and be loved, with and without flaws and perfections. The trust to support and be supported, whenever, wherever in whichever cause and for whatever reason. Trust to live for... and trust to be lived for.
Wade sighed, shaking his head in mild amusement. "You two are such bastards. And I do envy you for having each other." Words said good-heartedly and sincerely, and just as good-hearted and sincere was the proud grin that stretched Mark's lips in response.
Of course he was proud to call Jack his, even though only a selected number of people knew about them just yet. Of course he thought himself the luckiest man alive to have him. And of course he knew that his lover's feelings reflected his own flawlessly. It was the very why they were together for over a year now, and still so hopelessly in love. It was why the moment he re-entered the room with a smugly smiling Wade in tow, his eyes immediately sought out that beloved, lithe figure, spotting it at the desk where it stood next to, bent forward some, one hand imprinting calligraphically brilliant characters down onto a piece of paper. Jack had the most beautiful handwriting he'd ever seen, or maybe he was simply overly biased by now.
"And you're sure you okay?" Bob's concerned voice directed at the Irishman caused Mark to frown. Jack looked up at the other man briefly, smiling wearily and nodding his clever head. Upon closer inspection that dear presence did seem somewhat oppressed, those clear, blue eyes mirroring a vulnerable expression which bothered Mark quite a lot.
"Something happened?" Wade asked what lay on the tip of his best friend's tongue, Bob shrugging in reply.
"He just looked really pale seconds ago. So I worried." Bob observed the Irishman once again but Jack wasn't looking at him anymore, very concentrated on whatever it was he was writing.
"Well, maybe he's just tired." Closing the window with an effortless motion of wrist, Felix turned to face his friends and colleagues. "To be honest, I wouldn't mind going home sometime soon as well. The day's been long." With an easy sweep of hand he brushed some pony fringes out of his vision so that the secretive sight of his dark eyes was no longer obscured.
"Yeah. Let's finish up and have ourselves some well-deserved weekend!" Wade clapped his large hands in eagerness to make the final spurt and flutter off into said, long-awaited weekend.
Leaving their fellow entertainers to their conversation, Mark made his way towards his busy-seeming lover who straightened out the moment he felt the barely taller man come to stand behind him. One of Mark's well-trained arms gently slipped around the front of that snug little waist while the other limb made it around the younger man's torso, cautiously tugging him towards his own figure, pressing Jack close to his chest softly but securely. He felt that shapely body relax against him mere seconds later, eyes closed the younger man tilted his head back to rest it on the smooth edge of his lover's faithful shoulder. Mark's arms squeezed him more tightly, compressing out of him a quiet, content sigh, his handsome features looking perfectly peaceful now as his entire existence absorbed the warmth and safety that had him in its safeguarding grasp.
Lowering his head Mark nuzzled the crook of that perfectly curved neck, kissing it on a random spot and keeping his face hidden there to inhale a couple of deep breaths bringing with them that delightful, personal scent. He perceived almost all of Jack's supple figure vibrate with the profound, liberating breath the other man heaved before inclining his head to rest his cheek against his lover's temple, wiggling lightly to try and sink even deeper into the comforting embrace. They stayed in that intimate, trusted position for some long minutes, wordless, but absolutely satisfied with just themselves.
Watching with a fond grin, Wade nudged Bob into the side, nodding the way of the two lovebirds who seemed to be completely wrapped up in a world of their own. Bob chuckled lowly and shook his head, silently mouthing the words 'aww, how adorable' which earned him some quiet snickers from his fellow Youtubers. They couldn't know what volumes of thoughts and feelings were being shared by the pair across them, because to everyone else it just looked a loving, affectionate embrace. Surely, it was. But at the same time, it was so much more than just that.
They finished up their business quickly and successfully, parting with warm words of goodbye spoken to each other. By the time Mark and Jack made it home, still in utter silence, dusk was already beginning to float down onto the city, blanketing it with dimness and shadows and beseeching man and beast to begin settling for rest and respite. Having entered the apartment, each of them went about the own business first, Mark off to the bathroom and Jack disappearing into the bedroom where he slipped out of his workday clothes and into a more comfortable attire of loose sleeper pants and a wide, cozy, long-sleeved shirt. The bathroom was unoccupied again by the time he finished changing, and on his way there he allowed Mark to catch him by the front of his waist for a fleeting hug and a gentle kiss.
Inside the bathroom Jack came to stand in front of the mirror hanging over the sink to stare intensely at his own reflection for a long minute or few. One delicate hand came up to sloppily cover his beautiful countenance, a sorrowful sigh exhaled into the palm pressed against nose and mouth. His bright, blue eyes clenched shut for a second, he shook his head harshly once, bending over the sink then and repeatedly splashing handfuls of cold water into his face. Straightened into a stand again, a deep exhale shuddered out of his chest. Skin rubbed dry with a convenient towel, he stared at himself within the glassed margins of the mirror once again, as though protracting time and anxiously reluctant of leaving this bathroom. Nevertheless it was what he ultimately did, making his way to the living room from where he heard the sound of the working TV.
He discovered Mark on the couch and as the older man looked to the doorway and noticed him, Jack's lips managed a smile which was returned with an affectionate one. One arm stretched out invitingly, Mark beckoned for his lover to shrink the distance between them and join him upon the softness of the couch. The Ireland-born complied readily, soon atop the piece of furniture with his legs on it as well, snuggling up to the stronger body already there. He didn't seem interested in paying any attention to whatever the screen was showing, burying his face away against Mark's chest instead and stilling completely while the other man's steadfast hand began to caringly sift through the velvet wisps of his soft hair adorned with a top layer of green, sometimes slipping lower to fondle the nape of Jack's neck and soothingly caress along his finely shaped back.
How much time had passed no one bothered to note, the pictures and people flickering across the screen being the only disturbance of the hush lingering in the living room. The first word to be spoken between them, after over 24 hours of complete silence, was that of apology.
"I'm sorry." Jack whispered softly into the material of the simple, grey shirt which covered Mark's torso.
The older man frowned slightly, leaning back a little bit and glancing down in concern and bewilderment alike. "What for, sweetcheeks?" He questioned just as softly, bemused.
"For yesterday..." That usually so zestful voice wavered almost into inaudibility before Jack's head snapped up to abruptly focus sight on his lover's face. "It's not- It's not like I don't trust you or anything." He added hastily, too hastily perhaps since his words didn't seem willing to find into a proper sentence. "I just... I'm..."
Stopping the other man's obvious struggle for words of explanation, Mark gingerly placed his thumb over those pretty lips, curling the other four digits beneath that excellently shaped chin. "Nonsense." He hushed gently. "Jack, it's okay."
Those eyes, widened, stared at him with despairing disbelief. Apparently, it didn't seem okay to the younger man at all.
"Really, love, it's all good." He therefore assured another time, brushing his thumb over the delicate elevation of that cheek. "It's okay you didn't like it, there's nothing to it. I'm not mad or anything, and it's got nothing to do with trust either. There's simply things you like and things you don't." It was the same deal as it was with food, or colors, or many things and topics more. Some you enjoyed, some you didn't. "There's not necessarily a reason for it, just as there's no reason to feel bad about it."
He watched sorrow cross that beautiful face and although that voice was much quieter than the buzzing of TV, Mark heard it far clearer than the nonsensical babbling coming from the screen.
"But I do feel bad about it."
Almost on reflex, with the mild tension spreading within his muscles, his body straightened out a little as his fawn eyes reflected attention and concern, causing Jack's slender figure to recline into a more upright position as well.
"Well... can you explain why?" He posed his question softly, but his gaze was astute holding his lover's agitation-filled own.
Jack heaved a deep breath, releasing it in an equally deep sigh again. "I... can try."