Chapter Text
The sunflowers were wilting in his grasp.
Mark turned to the window, eyeing the endless stream of stalled cars around him. He was never going to get home at this rate. The alpha suddenly wished he wasn’t alone right now, with just the driver to keep him company.
His bouquet seemed to mock him, the pretty arrangement looking decidedly pathetic after everything it had been through.
Well.
So much for his brilliant idea.
Mark wanted his leader here with him, he’d know what to do, surely.
But then.
This wasn’t something Taeyong could solve for him, was it?
Taeyong hadn’t spent another night with them and their hyungs, choosing instead to take the first flight back home right after their last concert ended. He’d said he wasn’t going to wait any longer to see his beloved alphas, and Mark couldn’t fault him for that. He knew how much his hyungs were missing Taeyong, just like he knew that Taeyong was aching to be with them once more. Communicating through phone screens and messages simply wasn’t enough to maintain a fledgling relationship growing the way it should be. Especially one as unconventional as theirs. He hadn’t seen Taeyong in three days now, and he was feeling his omega hyung’s absence quite painfully.
Even Ten and Lucas had been whisked away from him, since WayV had promotions to do in China. Not that Mark believed that his beloved Ten-hyung would be in a very good mood with him right now, all things considered.
He was so tired. He hadn’t been sleeping well these last weeks, tossing and turning, or waking every few hours, and the toll it was taking on his body was beginning to show. It felt like penitence, and Mark knew he deserved it, he walked around feeling cold all the time, he wouldn’t ever be warm again until he was in his personal sun’s presence once more.
Would Donghyuck forgive him?
He had to.
Right?
They had promised each other forever.
Even before they truly understood the entirety of the magnitude of what they’d be undertaking, they had sworn forever to one another. Just two children in a new world, their sticky sweet fingers glued together tightly as they continued eating their smuggled sweets like the contraband they were, whispers of their what their shared future would look like leaving their sugar stained lips.
Mark wouldn’t let this be the mistake that cost him Donghyuck. He wouldn’t.
He knew he was selfish, and greedy when it came to the matter of the omega. Oh, everyone thought otherwise, praising him for his kind manners and giving attitude, but they didn’t know the depravity that hid in his heart when it came to Donghyuck. They didn’t know how much Mark adored him, it was painful at times, his heart feeling like it was going to beat out of his chest and run into Donghyuck’s hands, an offering for the younger, a gift that would never be enough. He didn’t want- no he couldn’t imagine a life without the younger by his side. Donghyuck was his. His sun, his muse, his best friend, his omega, his soulmate. He’d never been much of a romantic, always finding the concept itself childish and empty, but that had changed when a hurricane by the name of Lee Donghyuck had entered his life in a whirlwind of color and movement, scent like summer and honey and everything wonderful. Even back before either of them had presented, Mark had felt a magnetic pull to the younger, something he couldn’t control, and when he’d presented as an alpha, the beast inside of him knew that Donghyuck belonged to them. He was theirs to protect, to cherish, to love.
Mark wouldn’t give him up, not after he knew just what Donghyuck’s lips tasted like, he wouldn’t ever be able to sleep without the boy curled up in his arms again, the maknae’s eyelashes tickling his neck.
His limbs wrapped around Mark’s body.
His beautiful face tucked into the alpha’s neck.
Mark checked his phone, hoping that either Jeno or Jaemin had answered his countless messages, but there was no reply, from either of them. Not that he expected them to, really. Jaemin was Donghyuck’s friend, first and foremost, and Jeno was loyal to three people, and three people only, as they all knew very well, his beloved Jaemin, his handsome Doyoung-hyung and his precious Taeyong-hyung. Nobody else.
With shaky fingers, he opened up his and Donghyuck’s conversation. Every single one of his messages had gone unanswered by the younger.
He’d gone so long without Donghyuck that it felt like a physical ache, growing inside of him. The more time they spent apart, the more restless his alpha grew, it was as though it knew that their mate, and their bond, was suffering.
Would Donghyuck yell at him? Or would he simply give him the silent treatment as he was currently doing? Would he cry? Mark hated to see the younger cry. Every single tear that Donghyuck shed tore a new cut into Mark’s heart. He hated seeing the omega upset, absolutely loathed it. And wasn’t that hypocritical of him, all things considered? More often than not, he was the one hurting Donghyuck, making him cry, and yet he always forgave Mark. Always willing to be the bigger person, letting Mark have his space, and then welcoming him back with open arms and his sweet kisses.
Mark could only hope that this time would be no different.
Fuck.
What if he was at the Dream dorm with the others?
Fuck.
Mark hadn’t even considered that. He lets out a long sigh. It didn’t matter. If Donghyuck wasn’t at home, he’d simply drop his things off and head over there.
The rapper was anxious, fidgeting in his seat and almost wishing he could walk all the way to the dorm. He just wanted to get home. He needed to see Donghyuck.
He needed to make things right again.
The door was unlocked. No doubt they knew he was on his way up then, though the dorm appeared to be suspiciously empty. It wasn’t until he heard Johnny’s laughter, that he realized they were all in the dining room. Of course. It was quite late in the evening already, they had to have been eating dinner.
Mark swallowed heavily, pushing his shoulders back and walking in direction of the light, leaving his bags at the door. The flowers were still tightly held in his grasp, and he fluffed his hair roughly, hoping he didn’t look as disgusting as he felt.
He stepped into their line of sight, letting them take him in.
Jungwoo gasped, effectively turning the others’ attention to him, but Mark only had eyes for one person. As if under compulsion, he walked over to stand in front of where Donghyuck was sitting, feeling the ache in his chest begin to fade as he took in the sight of the boy.
“Mark-hyung.” Donghyuck chirped, sounding completely unsurprised, and looking as unbothered as only he could. His hair was longer now, Mark noticed. It made Donghyuck look simultaneously older and also softer. It was fluffy, like it got after he was freshly showered, and though his face was devoid of any makeup, Mark didn’t miss the pink tint to his cheeks.
Had he caused that?
Mark remembered many a time when he’d stare at the younger and that was enough to make him flush.
The handsome boy sitting at Donghyuck’s side looked up at him as well, and Mark swallowed the hard lump in his throat. He was sitting much too close to Donghyuck, and Mark felt his heart sink into his stomach, alpha already sizing the other boy up. There was no mistaking the fact that he was an alpha, not with that build and confidence, even if he had a face beautiful enough to rival Taeyong’s.
“Sungchan.” Donghyuck said, making the boy turn to him again. Mark didn’t miss the flash of adoration that crossed the boy, no, Sungchan’s, features as he faced Donghyuck. “This is Mark-hyung, he’s my friend-”
“Boyfriend.” Mark interrupted immediately, alpha snarling his displeasure. Even if the word boyfriend wasn’t enough to fully explain just what they were to each other, mates was a more accurate term. We’re mated, Mark wanted to warn, even if the younger didn’t wear his bite, Mark knew it was simply a matter of time before Donghyuck was claimed by him.
“Boyfriend?” Sungchan laughed rather incredulously, and Mark actually bared his teeth at that, alpha instinctively knowing that he was being challenged in his claim on the younger.
The entirety of the table turned to him, Doyoung with an eyebrow raised. Donghyuck was frowning, and next to him, Sungchan appeared very confused by the sudden silence that had overtaken the table. On the other side of Donghyuck, Mark took in the sight of a coolly amused Taeil. “Not my boyfriend.” The maknae laughed brightly, effectively shattering the quiet. “Just a good friend.” Donghyuck’s eyes weren’t vindictive, and he wasn’t upset, the words flowed from his mouth as if they were nothing. He sounded like he was speaking a truth.
Mark’s ears started to ring.
“Mark. Sit down.” Taeyong hissed, wiping at his mouth with a napkin. Mark ignored him, continuing to stare straight at Donghyuck, but the vocalist was once again caught up in conversation with Sungchan, clearly intent on ignoring everyone else.
“Donghyuck. We need to talk.” He tried again. He half heartedly held out the bouquet of sunflowers in front of him.
Their maknae turned to him once more. He didn’t even look at the flowers, staring into Mark’s eyes calmly. “Mark-hyung. Whatever it is I’m sure it can wait.” He said cheerfully. “Sungchan, what were you saying?”
Mark felt the air leave his lungs as he watched the easy way in which he ignored him. “Please.” He croaked, now desperate. As long as he could remember, Donghyuck had never called him by his formal title. He was always Mark, or a variation of random words that began with the letter M, each more creative than the last, but he was never, ever Mark-hyung.
“Mark, I don’t think this is the time to be discussing anything, you look dead on your feet. Sit down, have some dinner.” Johnny’s tone left no room for argument, and Mark nodded, gaze focused on his feet. His ears burned, with shame, with anger, with frustration. He wanted to get out of here, to curl up in Donghyuck’s bed, with Donghyuck by his side. The omega was always warm, always comforting, enveloping him in his scent and making Mark forget about everything but themselves.
He let Johnny push him into an empty seat, while Taeyong went ahead and prepared him a plate of food.
Other than Taeil, every one of them looked sincerely happy to see him. Jungwoo got up and hugged him, while Yuta pressed a kiss to his hair on his way to the kitchen. He felt undeserving of their affections. Surely, judging by his oldest hyung’s reaction, they already knew what he’d done to Donghyuck. Even so, they all greeted him with smiles and in their leader’s case, a tired grin.
“Mark, these are our new members. Shotaro.” Taeyong motioned to Yuta’s other side. Mark turned to face a pretty looking boy, who gave him a tentative smile and a shy wave. Mark tried to paste on a welcoming expression on his face, but he knew he was most likely grimacing. “That’s Sungchan.” Yes. He’d already been made aware. The boy was handsome, very much so, and judging by his smile, he was already more than a little smitten with Donghyuck. Surely, he’d been made aware that Donghyuck was taken?
Mark’s stomach churned uncomfortably, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep any of his dinner down.
None of them seemed to notice his inner struggle, Jaehyun, Yuta and Johnny only had eyes for Taeyong, and Taeil was in an animated conversation with both Donghyuck and Sungchan. Jungwoo and Doyoung were happily chatting with Shotaro, and Mark had never felt more invisible in his entire life. He knew he was being unfair, he knew this was all his fault, but he couldn’t help the roiling anger in his blood. He was angry, but it was mostly at himself.
It wasn’t like he didn’t deserve this cold treatment from their parts, hell, he’d half expected a thorough scolding from Taeyong, if not an entire fight to break out between he and Johnny for what he’d done to their precious puppy. It was not a secret that Johnny had a soft spot for Donghyuck, and even if Mark was also very much loved by Johnny, the young alpha knew that if push came to shove, Johnny would take Donghyuck’s side over his any day.
He just needs to talk to Donghyuck. He needs to explain everything and apologize for what he did.
“Do you want me to take those?” Mark looks up at his hyung, not understanding what he’s asking until Doyoung points to the flowers on his lap. “Let me put them in some water.” He offers him quietly.
Mark shakes his head, knowing full well that the flowers are more dead than alive. “There’s no point hyung.” He should’ve done more, flowers were such meaningless and cliché gesture. Donghyuck deserved more.
Standing up abruptly, he throws them in the trash, before walking off in direction of his bedroom, glad that the tears he’d been holding in managed to wait until he’d safely shut the bedroom door behind him.