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Camp Half-Blood summer, for most demigods, meant canoeing in the lake and frolicking in the Demeter cabin's fields and high-stake bets on Capture the Flag. For the past six years of his life, it had meant the same for Mark Lee, son of Poseidon, with the added bonus of the summer sun shining down on his best friend just a little brighter.
But one ill-timed realization and a Great War later, Mark's summer had shaped itself to be less of a holiday and more of a quest in itself, one more challenging than any other he'd undertaken before.
His self-imposed quest is how he found himself running away from his best friend under the midday sun after stuttering out an idiotic excuse. Another failed attempt.
"It's hopeless," Mark sighed dramatically, his head in his hands as he lamented, "Completely, totally hopeless." Theatrics ran deep in every demigod's blood, but Mark had always thought himself to be a level-headed person. How the mighty fall, he thought.
Renjun gave him an encouraging pat on the back, a little harsh but well-intentioned nonetheless. "There, there, hyung. You've still got a few weeks left."
Jeno, who was less privy to Mark's internal monologue but knew everything from Renjun, furrowed his brows in confusion. "No offense, hyung, but what's with the deadline anyways? You're both year-rounders."
"That's not the point, Jeno—"
"The point is," Renjun cut in haughtily, "Donghyuck loves the end-of-summer fireworks. It's like, his favorite thing in the world, next to Mark."
At the mention of his name, Mark gave him a pitiful glance. "I want it to be perfect, and after everything that's happened, now might be the right time. And if I don't ask him now, I'll have to wait another year."
"Who has to wait another year?" A voice echoed from behind them, dulcet and familiar and easily Mark's favorite sound in the world.
And Mark Lee, hero of Olympus, froze at the sound.
"I do!" Jeno nodded eagerly, his eyes wide in abject horror as he looked over at Renjun. Mark gave him a grateful smile, knowing how difficult it must be to lie to one of his closest friends.
The son of Athena replied dryly, "Jeno's been itching to go on a quest, the usual."
Donghyuck frowned, his lovely curls windswept as he shook his head. "Absolutely not. Was the world-ending catastrophe not enough for you? Besides, we're going to miss the fireworks if you go on a quest now."
"Right, exactly," Renjun nodded in agreement, though the smirk on his face told a different story. "Can't miss the fireworks, right, hyung?"
Mark's eyes widened as the attention shifted to him, Donghyuck looking up at him expectantly. "Y-Yeah, of course."
"You know, I heard a rumor from the Aphrodite cabin yesterday," Renjun added conspiratorially, "Apparently, if you watch the fireworks together, you're like, together forever."
Mark was pretty sure the rumor didn't actually exist, or if it had, it was simply Jaemin's way of teasing him indirectly. Nevertheless, he didn't need to watch the fireworks to know that he'd spend forever with Donghyuck, come hell or high water. After all, if the past six years were any indication, gods and titans alike have tried and only failed to come between him and his best friend.
Donghyuck, however, simply rolled his eyes. "How romantic. You've been spending too much time with Nana."
"No, it's true! Even Jeno knows."
Jeno frantically nodded his head once more. Mark was seriously beginning to feel bad for him.
"Whatever," Donghyuck said, his voice turning high and teasing, "I always watch them with Mark-hyung anyway. Looks like we'll be together forever, hyung!"
Mark forced himself to smile.
attempt #1
All good things start with a good plan, Renjun liked to say. Mark was usually inclined to agree, having experienced firsthand how the son of Athena's plans saved their lives countless times.
But Mark was no son of Athena, and there was no game plan for winning over Donghyuck's heart, no map he could possibly use as a guide.
And he wasn't moping, per se, but it definitely put a damper on his mood as he stared at the water in the hopes of an answer to his problems. Would the naiads know how to tell a boy you're in love with him?
No, he thought, they'd tell his dad, who would tell Aphrodite, and she'd show up again to tease him all while looking like D—
"Do it when he's in a good mood," Renjun said cryptically, appearing from behind him like a ghost. Mark did not jump at the sound, he was a warrior for gods' sake.
"What?"
"He'll associate your pathetic confession with positive memories. It's like, a psychology thing," the boy explained calmly. Mark hadn't even confessed yet, but it seemed Renjun had little faith in him, if the conversation was any indication.
"If I have to resort to psychology to make him like me, then it wouldn't be fair anyway."
Sure, Mark really really really wanted his feelings to be reciprocated, or at least for Donghyuck to like him some fraction above platonic friendship, but he wasn't about to play any dirty tricks to get there. What he felt for Donghyuck was genuine, Mark knew, and whether or not the boy liked him back, he would always have his best interest at heart. Donghyuck, before anything else, was his best friend, his person.
So, he'd leave the mind games to the Athena cabin, he resolved.
Renjun shrugged apathetically. "Fine, your funeral."
Of course, if Mark decided to try Renjun's suggestion two days later, the younger boy didn't need to know that.
Given his propensity for all things sunny, it wasn't difficult to catch Donghyuck in a good mood. He was a naturally affable person, save for his tendency to poke at sleeping bears (and Doyoung), and the ever-present heart-shaped smile on his face was proof of it. Still, as his best friend, Mark could easily pinpoint when Donghyuck shone just a little brighter.
Donghyuck's happiness, of course, always traced back to the little things. A successful prank on the Ares cabin, with Jeno and Mark as his human shields. A handmade trinket from one of the younger campers he'd healed in the infirmary. A hug, warm and simple, from anyone he loved who loved him back tenfold.
And, as Mark Lee made his way to the training grounds, an afternoon of archery practice, with the midday sun shining down like a picture-perfect backdrop.
The son of Apollo had yet to notice him, eyes trained on the target as he let the arrow fly without a second thought. Bullseye, every single time. If Donghyuck didn't love archery so much, Mark was sure he could go a decade without practice and still hit the target perfectly. Donghyuck sighed softly, and Mark watched as his senses returned, recognizing the presence behind him.
Donghyuck turned to him, his signature smile blinding in all the right ways. "Mark-hyung!"
"Hey." He returned the smile with ease. "Mind if I join?"
"Here?" Donghyuck asked, raising a brow incredulously as he tilted his head towards his bow. It wasn't as if Mark didn't understand the confusion, he rarely ever practiced archery in the years they'd known each other.
Still, he wasn't that bad. Certainly better than Jisung.
He told Donghyuck as much as he stepped closer to the boy.
"Jisung's not a high bar, hyung. A monkey could shoot better than him."
"That's just insulting, Hyuck."
"To the monkey? Sure is," he laughed, the sound of windchimes tinkling in the summer breeze, and Mark really needed to say something soon. His thoughts were getting cheesier with every minute in Donghyuck's presence.
Donghyuck pressed the bow and quiver into Mark's waiting hands and rolled his eyes. "Go on, do your thing. The only time you can shoot a bow is when you've got your eyes closed, gods know why."
"It's not like I need to learn how to properly shoot a bow," he replied instead, "I've got you for that." It was true enough, Mark had been on far too many quests with Donghyuck to ever think otherwise. The son of Apollo was skilled with nearly every weapon in the camp's artillery, but Donghyuck with a bow and arrow was nothing short of unstoppable.
The sun was high in the sky, tinting his son's cheeks rose-pink. "Sweet-talker. What would you do without me?"
Mark could hardly think of anything without Donghyuck by his side. Against his will, the memory of his quest to save Donghyuck from Kronos' army a couple of years ago resurfaced in his mind.
"Well, for one thing, Jisung and I could kick some monster butt, invade an army, save an annoying little—"
"You think you're so funny, Mark Lee," Donghyuck scoffed, a small pout forming as he blew stray strands of grey out of his eyes. Mark had always adored his golden boy with the golden hair, but Donghyuck adapted to the new color with frightening ease, wearing the silver with pride.
"Stop stalling and shoot the damn bow, idiot."
Mark brushed his own silver away with a huff, raising the bow as he squinted at the target.
One, two—
"Any day now, hyung."
Three.
The arrow landed well enough, near-perfect, if you were anyone but Lee Donghyuck. Said boy let out an enthusiastic cheer as though he hadn't called Mark an idiot mere moments ago.
"Not bad," he grinned, eyes shining in delight as he glanced at the target.
"High praise," Mark chuckled as he passed the bow back to him. "But we both know you could do better."
"You're being weirdly nice to me today," Donghyuck commented, raising a brow in suspicion. "Did you do something?"
"What? No!"
"You're a terrible liar, hyung. Did Chenle put you up to something stupid again?"
"No!" Mark shook his head vehemently. Chenle did not need to know about this blunder, though there was no doubt he would hear about Mark's strange behavior from Donghyuck anyway.
"I didn't do anything!"
"Are you sure? Speak now or forever hold your peace and all that," he murmured, already raising his bow in perfect form. The sunlight glinted off the bronze of his cheeks, a little good luck kiss from his maker as he took a steadying breath, nocking the arrow with practiced ease.
Mark thought it over. That was an opening, wasn't it? Donghyuck wanted him to say something.
In as confident a voice as he could muster, he broke the silence.
"Listen, Hyuck, I—"
The arrow flew abruptly, cutting through the wind as Donghyuck let out a soft gasp. Still perfect, but just a little off-kilter, just enough to induce a scowl on Donghyuck's lovely face.
Oh.
Oh no.
Mark Lee had faced many things in his life as a demigod. He'd slain hundreds of monsters, bested gods, and thwarted titans. All to meet his end at the hands of the love of his life, who looked more vengeful than Nemesis herself.
And still, a thousand times more beautiful than Aphrodite. He hoped the goddess couldn't read minds.
"Mark Lee," he said quietly, terrifyingly, "You distracted me."
"Hyuck, I—"
"Do you know how busy I've been this week? I finally get to practice for once, I've been on a streak, for gods' sake! Who knows when I'm doing that again?"
Mark wanted to object, since Donghyuck could easily recover his streak any time he decided to, but years of being his best friend had taught him to choose his battles wisely. He'd rather slay Medusa a hundred times over than endure Donghyuck's wrath.
"What do you have to say for yourself?"
What could Mark say for himself? Sorry for distracting you, Hyuck, I just wanted to tell you I'm in love with you?
He wasn't stupid enough to say that, not when Donghyuck's patience was wearing thin and the furrow in his brow was growing deeper with every second that Mark stayed silent.
"I'll restock the infirmary's bandages for a month." He would've done that anyway, because the Apollo cabin always needed more hands and Donghyuck was grumpy when he was tired from menial labor.
"And?"
"And you can have my dessert for two weeks. And I'll cover for you the next time Taeyong asks where you are."
Donghyuck hummed, clearly appeased despite the frown on his face, "Accepted. Do that again and I'll be using you for target practice next. And I'll use Jungwoo-hyung's special explosive arrows too."
Crisis averted, Mark sighed to himself.
So much for a good mood.
attempt #2
Renjun had laughed himself into a coughing fit when he heard of Mark's failure as the son of Poseidon wallowed in his mortification and begged him not to tell anyone else. Not that it mattered, because Donghyuck would've ranted to Chenle, who would've tattled to Jisung, who would've reported back to Jaemin. At this point, he should let Renjun tell Jeno just to keep him in the loop.
Still, today was a new day, Mark tried to think positively, A new beginning.
It was also Capture the Flag day, and Mark was lucky enough to be in the same team as the Ares cabin. Unluckily, that meant the Apollo cabin and the Athena cabin were on the same team, and Donghyuck and Renjun were merciless on the field.
As they stood guard at the flagpost, Jeno broke the silence. "Mark-hyung, you just have to get in there and tell him," he said, with all the conviction of someone who'd been caught up to date with Mark's latest blunder. Looks like Renjun kept him in the loop, after all.
"Hyung, if you don't do it, someone else will!"
That caught Mark's attention. "How did you know that?" Mark frowned.
"I just do," Jeno tried for a secretive tone, but ended up smiling anyway. "Nana told me."
Of course he did. His friends were one of camp's worst gossip circles, and the only reason Donghyuck didn't know about Mark's feelings yet was that they all held some semblance of respect (and pity) for him.
It wasn't surprising, that Donghyuck would have an admirer. As far as children of Apollo were concerned, Donghyuck was objectively the best of them. Mark wasn't even being biased.
He was head of the infirmary and the best archer at camp. His voice was more enchanting than any siren Mark had ever met, and he positively glowed under the midday sun, and—
Mark was getting sidetracked. The point was, Donghyuck was one of the more well-known (and well-loved) campers, just like Mark himself.
So when the game ended with a narrow win for the Poseidon-Ares alliance, Mark didn't even bother thinking about Jeno's words.
"He's busy," Mark mumbled. Since it was the last Capture the Flag before the summer ended, Mark had more scratches and bruises than usual and a bleeding gash on his shoulder. Donghyuck disappeared before he could even look for the younger boy, likely already dealing with a long line of injured campers.
"Never too busy for you," Jaemin grinned, sharklike. He'd caught up to him earlier, clearly having been briefed by Jeno. "Five drachma says he'll be the one to patch you up."
Jisung shook his head, then winced at the motion. Mark had seen Renjun hit him with the hilt of his knife earlier. "I'm not playing a losing game, hyung."
As they expected, Donghyuck had already been at work when they got to the infirmary, wrapping bandages around Jaehyun’s left arm and talking his ear off. There was nothing the son of Apollo hated more than stupidity-induced injuries, so getting healed by Donghyuck was usually accompanied by a scolding. Luckily, Mark’s grown immune.
Jaehyun spotted them first, an easygoing smile on his face as he called out to his brother, “Jaemin-ah, you okay?”
Jaemin returned the smile as he gave Mark a pat on the back. “Fine, hyung. I’m just escorting Mark-hyung and Jisungie.”
Donghyuck finally looked up from his work, shooting both of them an unimpressed glance. He patted Jaehyun’s good arm, and the son of Aphrodite vacated the bed, ruffling his brother’s hair as he left. Donghyuck tilted his head towards the empty bed, and Mark wordlessly sat down.
“Five drachma.” “Hyung, I didn’t even agree to that—”
“Chenle,” Donghyuck called softly, and his brother appeared from somewhere behind him, “go deal with Jisungie. I can only put up with so many idiots today.” He glared right at Mark for emphasis, completely missing the way Jisung and Jaemin exchanged knowing looks.
Jisung, to his credit, at least tried to stifle his laugh as he followed after his best friend, no doubt about to let him know how gone Mark was for his brother. Jaemin hadn't even bothered hiding his grin as he trotted off to bother one of his many other siblings who were unfortunate casualties.
Donghyuck shook his head, placing a gentle hand on Mark's shoulder. This part was familiar, and admittedly Mark's favorite, as a healing hymn spilled from his lips like sweet ambrosia.
And sure, Mark probably could have taken a dip in the ocean and healed himself, but no amount of bathing in seawater felt as nice as having Donghyuck's voice wash over him like pure sunlight. The ache from his bruises began to subside, melting at the sound of Donghyuck's siren song.
"Thanks, Hyuck."
The son of Apollo nodded, reaching for the antiseptic and some cotton. "You were too reckless today."
Mark rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Sorry about that."
Donghyuck stayed quiet, a telltale sign that he was focused. Mark, who grew restless at Jeno's words in the back of his mind, broke the silence.
"Hyuck, I need to tell you something. I—"
"Excuse me?" Someone in front of them spoke timidly. It was a boy, likely around Donghyuck's age, and he had a nervous frown on his face as he stared directly at the son of Apollo. In his hands was a bar of white chocolate, and Mark felt dread in the pit of his stomach as he realized what was happening.
Well, at least he'll get some chocolate out of it. Donghyuck's always liked milk chocolate better.
"Yes? Hello," Donghyuck greeted, his demeanor turning bright and breathtaking, "did you forget something?"
"I, um, I just wanted to thank you for healing me." At this, he presented the gift to the other boy, bowing his head slightly. Then, he straightened his posture and spoke in an even tone, "And also, well, I wanted to ask if you were free tomorrow, Donghyuck-ssi? I'd like to treat you to lunch."
Donghyuck blinked owlishly, his hands wrapping around the bar as he spoke, "Oh, I see. You don't have to do that." He smiled politely to soften the blow, and the boy seemed to take the hint. As Mark internally sighed in relief, Donghyuck tilted his head towards him, "I'm a bit busy right now, but thank you, really."
"Right." The boy flinched in his embarrassment as he glanced between the two of them. "Then, I'll just, get going. Goodbye, Donghyuck-ssi, Mark-ssi."
As the boy gracelessly shuffled away, Donghyuck murmured under his breath, passing the chocolate to Mark, "On working hours? For gods' sake."
Mark gulped. "Maybe he thought it'd cheer you up."
"I'm plenty cheerful!" Donghyuck protested. "It's just, what I do here is important. I mean, I was clearly in the middle of healing you, was it so hard to wait?"
In Mark's illogical mind, that meant that Donghyuck thought healing him was important. Donghyuck thought he was important. He hadn't even spared the gift a second glance, didn't even make small talk with the boy and dismissed him without a second thought, all to focus on Mark and his insignificant injuries.
On the other hand—
"What was it you were saying earlier?"
"Nevermind."
attempt #3
"I give up," Mark all but wailed into his ocean-themed bedsheets. They were a gift from Donghyuck, who teased him relentlessly the moment he saw them on his bed like he hadn't been the one to gift them in the first place.
Donghyuck. He let out a lovesick sigh.
"That's on you for listening to Jeno, of all people. He's lucky he's cute, otherwise he couldn't charm his way out of a paper bag," Jaemin grumbled, rubbing his back soothingly. How Jaemin got into his cabin, Mark had no idea. Still, it was better than Renjun's unsympathetic cackles and Jeno's guilty puppy-dog eyes.
When Mark finally gathered himself into some semblance of a normal human being, Jaemin was standing at his dresser, fixing his already perfect hair. Aphrodite kids.
"Do something interesting, at least." Jaemin narrowed his eyes. "Throw rocks at his window. Set fire to the front lawn. Shave your head, all that."
"He'd kill me if I did any of those things." Considering Donghyuck would kill him for less, the son of Apollo would probably personally escort him to Tartarus if he threw rocks at Cabin 7's windows.
"Well, maybe not the shaving your head part."
"No, Jaemin," Mark insisted, "go away." He pushed the boy towards the door, barely holding back from using the water in his fountain to spray him like an unruly dog.
"I think you'd look great if you were bald, hyung—"
Mark shut the door on him.
The thing about Aphrodite kids, though, was that they were irritatingly convincing. Much like their mother, they had a talent for getting stuck in your head, like gum on the bottom of your shoe.
Something interesting.
It wasn't as though Mark was going to actually shave his head, no, he wasn't that gullible. Still, he found himself in Cabin 20 later that evening, Ten's devilish smirk meeting his apprehensive gaze in the mirror.
"This is definitely interesting," the son of Hecate murmured. "And all this for my little sunbeam?"
Was there anyone at camp who didn't know about Mark's feelings for Donghyuck? Gods, did Chiron know? Did Mr. D know?
"Hyung, don't—"
"I'm only teasing, Markie. He'll love it."
And so, the next hour passed, Ten pouring all sorts of concoctions on Mark's head as he rehearsed the things he wanted to say.
Donghyuck, I'm in love with you. Too sudden.
Donghyuck, I have feelings for you. Too formal.
Donghyuck, I fell in love with you the moment you told me I drool in my sleep.
He would never believe that.
"All done!" Ten announced, turning the chair around to face the mirror. Where the Hecate cabin procured a barber's chair, Mark had no idea, but he summoned the courage to look up at his reflection.
It was, for lack of a better word, unique. The longer he stared, Mark decided he didn't look all that bad, and it seemed as though Ten agreed, as he pushed him out of the chair with a bright smile.
"Off you go!" he said. "You look handsome, Markie, don't forget that! Confidence is everything!"
By the time he left Cabin 20, the moon was high in the sky and dinner had already passed. There was less than an hour to curfew, and he was about to postpone his spontaneous excursion when he spotted a familiar head of silver walking back to Cabin 7.
"Donghyuck!"
The boy stopped in his tracks under the cabin's lamplight as Mark ran up to him. He turned around, a nagging tone already falling from his lips.
"Hyung, did you eat already? Where were you—"
Donghyuck's mouth fell open, his eyes wide and unblinking as he stared at Mark's hair. In any other circumstance, Mark would've cooed over the adorable expression, but the silence was making him antsy.
"Well?"
"It's different," Donghyuck said, his tone unreadable. He reached up, gentle fingers brushing through Mark's fringe, his eyes softening at the sight of familiar grey streaks. Despite the impulsive decision, Mark was firm in keeping them. Donghyuck always loved how the two of them matched, after all.
"What kind of different?" Mark pressed, eyes closing as he leaned into Donghyuck's touch.
"What brought this on, hyung?"
"Just thought I'd try something new," he replied softly, not wanting to disrupt the moment.
"Mark-hyung," Donghyuck called, equally soft. Mark always loved the way Donghyuck made his name sound like the sweetest melody.
Slowly, he blinked his eyes open, and the sight of Donghyuck, lovely beyond words, knocked the wind out of him.
Donghyuck seemed to find something in his expression, a wicked smile growing on his lips as he leaned closer. "Let's go."
"What?"
"You skipped dinner," he replied matter-of-factly. "So let's have a picnic."
"Hyuck, the harpies—"
"We'll have it in your cabin, then," he waved his hand dismissively as he spoke. "Let me go get some snacks."
Mark quickly grabbed his hand. “No, it’s fine, I’ve still got stock from our last trip.”
Donghyuck shifted so their hands intertwined, and Mark’s weak heart skipped a beat. “Those aren’t expired, are they?”
“Probably not,” Mark replied, letting Donghyuck lead them to his cabin. From the corner of his eye, he could see the little smile on Donghyuck’s face when he noticed the sheets.
He took a bag of chips from Mark’s table, then crashed onto his bed like it was his own. When Mark did the same, he shuffled closer, letting their shoulders bump together as they ate in silence.
“So, how was your day?” Mark asked as earnestly as his sudden shyness would allow him.
It was the right thing to say, because once Donghyuck started, he didn’t stop. Mark nodded at the right moments, made side comments and gave his own anecdotes, and all of it felt so painfully domestic Mark never wanted it to end.
But dreams don’t last forever, and he could feel the way Donghyuck’s exhaustion was beginning to catch up with him. He tossed their empty bags of chips in the trash can and adjusted the pillows behind them, waiting for the younger to finally cave.
"I still can't believe you dyed your hair," Donghyuck said, ending his words with a yawn.
Mark nodded. Sure, Donghyuck hadn't laughed at him, but he hadn't said anything positive either, and Mark was beginning to think Na Jaemin was completely wrong for once in his life.
"Hyuck," he mumbled, "what do you think of it?"
"I think you should've waited 'til morning," the boy replied, clearly still upset over Mark's absence at dinner.
"C'mon," he pressed, "it's not that bad, is it?"
"Silly Mark Lee." Donghyuck shook his head with a sigh. Then, slowly, he let it rest on Mark's shoulder as he spoke in a softer tone, "I think you look good, hyung."
"Yeah?"
"Mhm," he hummed absently. "So handsome. People are going to steal you away from me."
Mark had half a mind to let him know that he had no intention of ever being stolen away from him, but Donghyuck continued his rambling.
"You picked the right color, you know. Sometimes when I see blue things, I think of you," he murmured sleepily, shifting to lean on his chest, "And it's not fair because the sky is blue, so I always think of you."
I think of you when I see the sky, too, Mark wanted to say. When the sun rises, painting the world as golden as Donghyuck makes him feel. When it sets, and the stars come out, bright and brilliant and still only a pale imitation of how Donghyuck shines in his eyes.
He couldn't get the words out, not with the sound of his heartbeat drumming in his ears. Not when Donghyuck was blinking slower and slower, his breath evening out quietly.
"Sleep," he said instead, pressing a featherlight kiss to the crown of his head.
"Okay," Donghyuck mumbled against his thundering heart, "Night, Mark-hyung."
And then he was asleep.
He couldn't find it in himself to regret it.
Then morning came, and with it, the sound of insistent knocking on his door.
"Well, well, well."
Mark regretted everything.
"Smuggling an innocent camper into your cabin? Letting Donghyuck stay the night, without even thinking of how worried his siblings were? I'm disappointed in you, Mark," Johnny said in a serious tone, the shit-eating grin on his face betraying his unbridled glee.
"Johnny-hyung," Donghyuck mumbled, half-asleep, drawing out the hyung in a devastatingly cute way. "It's too early."
"And he's tired," Johnny raised his brow as he interrogated, "Mark, what did you do to him?"
Mark flushed beet-red. "Nothing! We did nothing!"
Johnny rolled his eyes, clearly amused. "Up, up." He gave Donghyuck an affectionate pat on the head, speaking in a softer voice, "You two will be on cleaning duty the whole month."
Mark stumbled closer to the bed, hands reaching out to pull Donghyuck from the comforts of drowsiness as he whispered, "This was your idea."
"Well, hyung, if you didn't want us to get caught, maybe you shouldn't have skipped dinner to dye your hair neon blue," Donghyuck hissed under his breath, looking significantly more awake despite the obvious bedhead.
"You said it looked good!"
"Yes, and it also looks like a huge blaring sign that says 'I'm an idiot', idiot."
"Whispering secretively in front of the counselor? You guys are shameless."
"Hyung!"
attempt #4
"Maybe you should give hyung a gift," Chenle told him, his legs swinging as he waved at Mark from where he was sitting on the branch of a tree. Jisung, thankfully, was nowhere to be found, having been summoned by Chiron to redecorate his cabin.
"What?"
"Everyone likes gifts," the son of Apollo continued, nodding sagely at his own words, "and people always give gifts when they confess. You know, there's this one movie where—"
Mark, unfortunately, tuned him out. Still, the idea had some merit. What could it hurt?
"What sort of gift?" he interrupted Chenle's tirade.
Chenle hummed in thought, "Well, Dad says the best way to a demigod's heart is through a haiku. Apparently that's how he won my mom over."
"Right," Mark nodded. Gods knew he wasn't going to write a haiku, lest Donghyuck laugh in his face over it. He sent a silent apology to Apollo, just in case his crush's father felt offended.
"You don't like that? Hyung likes chocolates, what about that?"
"I'm pretty sure he's got more chocolate than he'll ever finish in his lifetime." From both his patients and his admirers, Donghyuck had no shortage of sweets, and he usually kept them for the younger campers in the infirmary anyway.
"Wow, Renjun-hyung was right, you're really picky. Hey, what about a diamond? Jisungie got me one for my birthday, apparently that stuff comes out of the ground! Really cool, don't you think?"
"Yup, pretty cool," Mark agreed. And also insanely expensive for anyone who wasn't the prince of the Underworld. It's not like he can pay jewelers in sand dollars.
He could get Donghyuck a pearl, but did Donghyuck even like those things?
What did Donghyuck like?
He couldn't exactly give a jacket in the middle of the summer heat. Donghyuck had outright refused to buy a new book until he finished the ones on his shelves. His bed in the Apollo cabin and his office in the infirmary were already full of teddy bears.
Lost in thought, he turned to see Doyoung in the distance, whistling a tune as he watered the hydrangeas.
Well, there’s an idea.
A few days later, Mark sent a silent prayer to his father as he called out Donghyuck’s name. Dad, protect me from harm.
“Hi, hyung,” Donghyuck greeted, but he seemed to read something suspicious in the older’s expression as he narrowed his eyes immediately. "Mark Lee, what did you do?"
"Hyung," Mark corrected, if only to be contrarian as usual.
"Mark Lee-hyung, what did you do?"
Now or never, Mark.
The son of Poseidon slowly reached out, displaying the vibrant bouquet of sunflowers from behind his back. Donghyuck's eyes widened prettily at the sight of them, just as Mark knew they would.
"So pretty," the boy murmured reverently, his eyes alight with wonder. The sunflowers seemed to grow even more vivid, basking in the light Donghyuck naturally emitted, and Mark didn't know if it was because he was the son of Apollo or if it was simply another endearing thing about Donghyuck.
Mark breathed a sigh of relief, "Hyuck, they're for—"
Suddenly, Donghyuck let out a horrified gasp, "Mark-hyung, did you get these from Doyoungie-hyung's garden?"
"Mark Lee!" A thunderous yell echoed from behind them as a furious Kim Doyoung made his way from the top of the hill, Jung Jaehyun trailing behind him with a panicked expression on his handsome face. "You are in so much trouble—"
"Doyoung, not now," the son of Aphrodite attempted charmspeak, but it seemed as though the other boy hadn't heard him, still engrossed in his righteous fury. Jaehyun mouthed run as he frantically swiped his hand against his throat in a gesture that conveyed the urgency of escaping from an enraged son of Demeter.
Mark had no time to react, as Donghyuck grabbed his hand and led him across the field.
By the time they escaped, Jaehyun presumably having calmed down their assailant, the sunflowers in Mark’s hand were ruffled from the wind.
"I can't believe you dragged me into this," Donghyuck complained, though his lips were twitching in an attempt to hold back his smile.
"I know, I know," Mark soothed him, and without a second thought, handed him the disheveled flowers. "Here. For you."
Donghyuck hummed in sweet satisfaction, caressing the petals elegantly. "Fine, I forgive you. Why'd you get them, anyway?"
Mark shook his head, pointedly avoiding the younger's curious stare. "Just felt like it."
"You, Mr. Golden Boy Mark Lee, just felt like stealing a bunch of flowers and incurring Doyoung-hyung's wrath?"
"Well, when you put it like that, it sounds stupid," Mark mumbled. "I just thought you might like them. You said you did."
Donghyuck's cheeks turned a flattering shade of crimson. "I do like them," he replied softly, hugging the flowers closer to his chest, "but I like my Mark-hyung alive and not being used as strawberry fertilizer a bit more."
Mark felt himself turn the color of the strawberries in Doyoung's field. "I, uh, I got you something else."
At that, Donghyuck narrowed his eyes. "Seriously, did you do something? I won't get mad, just tell me."
"If I did do something, you would absolutely get mad," Mark laughed, "but no, I didn't. Come on, it's in my cabin."
"Need I remind you what happened the last time I went to your cabin?"
The blush on Mark's face returned in full force as he groaned, "Do you want your gift or not?"
Without answering, Donghyuck took his hand and happily skipped away, and Mark was helpless to follow him.
When they got to the cabin, Mark opened one of his drawers and brought out the gift, presenting it to the younger with trembling hands.
If Donghyuck had been happy with the sunflowers, it was nothing compared to the sheer joy on his face when he saw the Xscape vinyl in Mark's hands.
"No way."
"Yes way."
"Mark Lee," he laughed in disbelief as he set down the flowers and pulled Mark into a tight hug. "You're kidding. Oh my gods, whatever it is you did, you're forgiven. In fact, I'm letting you have immunity the next time you wrong me."
"Cool," Mark said breathlessly, letting himself wrap his arms around Donghyuck. It's stupid that Mark didn't realize his feelings for Donghyuck sooner, when the way Mark felt when the boy hugged him was probably comparable to how other people felt trying to breathe underwater.
"Donghyuck, I—"
Donghyuck pulled away, eyes shining as he looked up at him, "Yes?"
"I—" Mark tried, and the words wouldn't leave him. "I wanted to ask if you wanted to play it? Now?"
The boy's expression softened, and he quickly took the vinyl from Mark's hands and set up the record player Mark did not specifically buy so Donghyuck would hang out in his cabin more. So what if he was more of a mixtape guy? It was good to have variety.
When the opening notes of Love Never Felt So Good began to play, Donghyuck grabbed Mark's hand.
"C'mon, hyung, let's dance!"
And maybe he didn't get to confess today, but Donghyuck was twirling around in his room like he belonged there, and Mark thought that was more than enough.
attempt #5
Mark stared blankly at his hands, hands that had held Donghyuck and spun him around just a few days ago. Unfortunately, despite Donghyuck's infallibly bright mood as of late, he had no time to enjoy it. The fireworks were tomorrow, and he'd yet to tell Donghyuck his feelings.
"There, there." Jisung pat him on the head, and Mark tried not to feel patronised. It was a difficult thing, but the quest to confess his feelings to Donghyuck had long taught him to swallow his pride. Between dying his hair blue and enduring Doyoung's hour-long lecture, Mark wasn't sure he had much pride left anyway.
"'I'm running out of ideas, Jisung-ah."
Jisung simply nodded, his face scrunched up in thought. "Have you tried, just, choosing something you're comfortable with, hyung?"
"What?"
"Something that's more your environment," Jisung continued. "Maybe it'll make it easier for you to get the words out."
"Jisung."
The boy tilted his head, like he hadn't just saved Mark from a lifetime of heartbreak. Jisung could be oblivious sometimes, if not most of the time, but he had his moments, and Mark had the feeling that this was one of them.
"That might just work."
He didn't have time to go down to the beach, not when Donghyuck was still swamped with paperwork at the infirmary, but surely a canoe ride wouldn't hurt?
At least, he thought as much before he saw the pout on the son of Apollo's face when he found him in the infirmary office. He wasn't as busy as Mark thought he'd be, having set aside a stack of files as he carefully considered Mark's suggestion.
"Mark-hyung," he sighed, and Mark had no choice but to backtrack immediately. Damn it, I should've been a son of Demeter and took him to the field instead.
"It's alright, Hyuck, if you really don't feel like it—"
Donghyuck groaned, standing up from his seat as he made his way towards Mark, "I hate when you make that face. Fine, you big baby, let's go."
"Donghyuck, I'm not going to force you."
Mark found it endearing, really, that Donghyuck seemed apprehensive to water when he spent most of his childhood by the sea. It was a worthy endeavour to convince him, because he always ended up enjoying himself anyway, but Mark didn't want to push him right now when he was stressed.
"C'mon already," he whined, mouth forming a little pout, "a little water isn't going to kill me."
No, of course not. Mark would never let that happen.
When they found themselves in the canoe, Donghyuck's fingers playing with the water idly, Mark had realized the flaw in his plan. It didn't matter if they were on the lake, or the beach, or even a hundred miles out to sea.
Mark was always going to feel nervous about this. How could he not, when Donghyuck sat there, oblivious to everything Mark wanted to say to him?
I can do this, he told himself, I have to do this.
"Hyuck, I—"
Except Mark didn't get the words out at all, because in the next moment, he found himself underwater. The lake was cool and refreshing around him, and he really couldn't find it in himself to be too upset until—
Donghyuck screeched, and the rest of the sound drowned along with him.
Mark opened his eyes and reached for him, an air bubble forming around them as Donghyuck wrapped his arms around his neck. The son of Apollo blinked a few times, lashes dark from the water clinging to them. He pushed himself closer, head nestled against Mark's heart as he steadied his breathing, and Mark hoped he couldn't hear the way his heart was beating faster than Hermes' wings.
"You said it was just a boat ride, hyung," Donghyuck whispered accusingly, "you said—"
"I'm sorry," Mark hushed, except he wasn't really that sorry. He had Donghyuck in his arms, after all.
"You're the worst," Donghyuck muttered, leaning into his chest. "It's cold."
It really wasn't, considering the summer heat, but Mark wasn't about to stop Donghyuck from burying himself into his neck. Still, he had enough thought to bring them back to the surface, so he tightened the arm around Donghyuck's waist and swam upwards.
And just before he reached the surface, he swore he could see one of the naiads wink at him. Figures.
Once their heads were above the water, Donghyuck took a deep breath without letting go of him. "Well, Mark-hyung? Now what?"
And well, they were already in the water, weren't they?
"Wanna go to the beach?"
"Doesn't seem like I have much of a choice," Donghyuck grumbled. Instead of letting go, Donghyuck shifted around Mark until his chest was pressed to the older's back. "Go, I wanna get back before it gets dark."
Mark raised an eyebrow, both in amusement and wonder. "You want me to swim us there?"
"What do you think, son of Poseidon?"
And for the rest of the afternoon, Mark could think of nothing else but the weight of Donghyuck against him and the sound of his laughter in the sea breeze.
attempt #6 (?)
Of course, it all came crashing down one day later.
Mark was, to put it simply, inconsolable. Even Renjun hadn't made fun of him, giving him a solemn pat on the back for his efforts. He let himself wallow the entire afternoon, hoping to get it out of his system before Donghyuck noticed that night.
When evening came, he felt more resigned, and if not for Donghyuck he would've skipped the ceremony entirely. The son of Apollo made sure he wouldn't, dragging him by the hand to their seats as Chiron droned on and on about this year's achievements.
Naturally, surviving the war was one of them. Honoring their fallen was another, and Mark squeezed Donghyuck's hand as his late brother's name fell from Chiron's lips.
The somber mood eventually lightened with the announcement of the fireworks, preceded by performances from some of the campers. Mark and Donghyuck had performed a song a few times before, but with the stress of their participation in the war, it was no surprise that they both decided to stay behind this year.
So instead, the two of them were in the further rows of the amphitheatre, a spot Mark had privately claimed as their own since the first time Donghyuck had taken him there because he wanted the best view of the fireworks.
Donghyuck was leaning his head on Mark's shoulder, watching Johnny's stand-up act and laughing at the right moments, and Mark could feel the sound against his side.
Despite his mood, Mark broke the silence.
"So," he began softly, "you had fun this year?"
He turned his head to gauge Donghyuck's reaction and found himself lost in the boy he called home.
Donghyuck shifted, raising his head to look up at Mark, and the next moment that passed was something Mark was sure not even the Fates could have predicted.
Donghyuck leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
"Best summer ever," he said with a heart-shaped smile, like he hadn't just broken Mark entirely.
A few seconds passed, or maybe a century, Mark wasn't sure. Was this a dream? Was this some prank from their friends? Was this a cruel trick of the gods?
Or was this Donghyuck, ever intelligent Donghyuck, three steps ahead like he always was?
"H-How?" Mark stuttered as Donghyuck rested his head back on his shoulder. "How long have you known?"
"You weren't exactly subtle, hyung."
Sure, Mark knew that he was as obvious as a neon sign, but still, he'd hoped Donghyuck wouldn't notice, that he'd at least have the courage to tell him himself.
Mark couldn't help himself. "I'm sorry. I should've told you sooner."
"Why tell me what I already know?" Donghyuck asked, like it was the most obvious thing on the planet. "So you love me. Does it matter that you didn't say it? It doesn't matter to me, Mark-hyung."
"But I—I wanted to do all these things for you and—"
"And? You did them anyway," Donghyuck lifted his head, brown eyes meeting Mark's own. "If it's such a big deal, Mark-hyung, I'll let you say it now. Right now, or you won't get to say it again."
And really, the only thing that could've gotten Mark to say it, across all his friends' ridiculous ideas and his silly attempts, was Donghyuck himself. Donghyuck could ask for the moon and Mark would gift him the entire galaxy and wrap it in stars.
But right now, all Donghyuck was asking for was something Mark had been waiting to give him.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, like he was about to go into the worst battle of his life. When he opened them, Donghyuck was still there, smiling.
"I love you, Donghyuck. I'm in love with you, and I probably have been since the day we met—"
"Now that's just an exaggeration," Donghyuck commented.
"Hush, let me finish, okay? You asked me to, so I'm going to tell you all the crazy, ridiculous things I did this summer so I could work up the nerve to ask you out," Mark admitted quietly, "And it didn't even work, so all of that was for nothing—"
Donghyuck's smile fell into a thin line. "It wasn't for nothing, hyung. Everything you did this summer, every time you found me and did something stupid to make me smile? I fell in love with you even more, which I thought was just crazy because I've been head over heels for so, so long."
Mark froze.
Of course, there was a part of him that had always hoped Donghyuck might like him back, or at least agree to give him a chance.
Never in his dreams did he think the other boy would love him back. How could he? Mark had spent all of six years watching him, knowing him, loving him. How could he love Mark, fall head over heels, without Mark ever noticing? How could Mark let something so precious slip through the cracks?
Maybe I was too busy loving him back, he thought.
"You hear me, Mark Lee? I'm in love with you too. So don't tell me it was nothing. It's not your fault you didn't have to lift a finger for me to love you."
Mark couldn't stop the laugh bubbling out of him if he tried. Donghyuck's frown deepened at the sound.
"Hyung—"
"No, it's just," Mark took a breath, still laughing, "I can't believe you. Of course you'd hijack my confession like this."
"I wouldn't have to if you didn't say stupid things," Donghyuck argued. "Are you going to stop doing all those things now that you've said what you wanted to say?"
Mark's reply was immediate. "No. I've always wanted to do those things for you. I was just scared before."
"And are you scared now?"
"Why should I be?" Mark asked, finally finding his footing after nearly a month of missed chances. "You love me. You, Lee Donghyuck, are in love with me. Gods, pinch me right now." He rested his head atop Donghyuck's own, breathing in the scent of flowers in the summer breeze.
"A pinch, really? You're not gonna ask for something else?"
"What should I ask for?" Mark replied, like he didn't know exactly what to ask for. He shoved his hand into the pocket of his jeans, fingers trembling from the need to hold Donghyuck.
Donghyuck scoffed. "A kiss, obviously."
"If you'll give it to me," he said coolly. His insides were a butterfly garden at this point.
Instead of a reply, Donghyuck shifted, and Mark craned his neck to look at him. Gods above, fireworks and flowers and the sun and all the stars had nothing on Lee Donghyuck.
The last he saw was a heart-shaped smile, before his eyes slipped closed as he leaned in and kissed him. Donghyuck's lips were soft, and he tasted like the campfire smores, and as Mark's hand reached up to cradle his cheek, he giggled and pulled away. He didn't get far, though, not when Mark kissed him again, and again, and again, the sounds of fireworks and summer fading into the background.
When Donghyuck finally pulled away properly, he was still smiling, eyes full of love, and all of it was for Mark.
Mark's nose brushed against Donghyuck's, mirroring his smile as he murmured, "You missed the fireworks."
"Next year," Donghyuck replied breathlessly, "we'll watch it next year."
"Yeah? And the year after that?"
"And every year after that."