Mark: After finally comforting his family enough to where they could relax enough to get some sleep, Mark found himself staying awake for the remainder of the night. All he could think about was the pain he was sure he would feel when he packed his things and headed for Portland with Everett. It was horrible, after he had already told Everett with sincerity and confidence that he wanted to go, and yet... he found himself doubting. He feared he'd be miserable when he got up there, not being able to walk down the street to visit his mother and little brother. And that was what had compelled that early morning phone call to Everett, and the dreadful drive to the park where he had agreed to meet him at. He smiled gently and took the blonde's hand as it was offered to him, his thumb brushing over Everett's knuckles reassuringly. "I'm fine. I just wanted to talk." And he hoped that didn't sound as doom-impending as it was, although the way he avoided meeting Everett's eye as he joined him at the bench was certainly a dead give-away for exactly what Mark was wanting to discuss.
Everett: He grinned continuously at his boyfriend until he heard the words that he just wanted to talk. His grin faltered, but he somehow managed to keep it. The last time he had heard those words they were coming from his own mouth as he was telling a girl that he just wanted to be friends. Was that what was going on here? Everett couldn't help but square his shoulders defensively, praying that whatever came out of Mark's mouth next that it wouldn't send him into an episode of fury, but as the seconds clicked away with Mark not meeting his eyes, Everett's smile slowly died until he was frowning, concern on his face. "What is it, Mark? Ya can tell me." He left out the last thing he wanted to say - spit it out.
Mark: There was a moment of contemplation for Mark. He was almost scared to tell Everett, although he had no reason to fear him. The last man he had been honest about his feelings with had exploded on him, screamed in his face and left him shaking for the rest of the night. But that wasn't Everett, Everett was the best man Mark had ever known and surely, surely he would understand... "Last night, I was thinking about how I'm the only one left to support my family. All I've got left is my mother and my little brother. Someone needs to look after them, Ev," as he confessed this, he finally met Everett's eyes. His own were wide and displayed how he felt--sad, conflicted--as they searched Everett's own. "I... can't go to Portland with you. Not when I have to take care of my family, not when there's no one else who can." His hand fell onto Everett's on the bench in hopes that his lover wouldn't be too upset with him, although Mark knew that he had every right to be.
Everett: His words didn't really register with Everett - he just sat there like an idiot, blankly staring at Mark before he wiggled his hand away. The first thing he noticed before he himself spoke was that his breath caught and he felt his heartrate increase. Every bit of him that was feral was furious - completely furious. "W-what?" He managed to squeak out, a tiny growl following the pity and despair in his voice. Everett couldn't help himself - he jumped up from his seat and just... stared at Mark. His inner wolf was growling at him - Mark was /his human/, he should do something about it. He should take him to Portland kicking and screaming - but he couldn't do that to Mark. He couldn't. Instead, tears began to pool under his eyes and he took a deep breath, trying to calm his wolf. "B-but you /promised/?" He didn't actually promise, but Everett was so angry and confused and upset that he didn't know what to think or feel at that moment.
Mark: Needless to say, Mark's heart was pounding as Everett jerked to his feet. He was terrified of the possibility that Everett would no longer want to be with him, now that Mark had essentially chosen his family over him. But was that so bad? Surely Everett understood... but his words rang with truth that Mark couldn't deny. He had gotten Everett so excited by agreeing to go with him to Portland, and now mere days before they would take their leave, Mark had changed his mind entirely. "P-please," he sputtered. "Don't be upset with me, Ev. You know how much I care about you. But I don't know what to do. I can't just leave my family. I love them and they mean the world to me." Mark knew that nothing he said could make this any better, but that didn't stop him from trying.
Everett: Blinking at the other man, Everett barked out a humourless laugh. "And ya don't love me? I don't mean tha world ta /ya/? Hah, I - I -" Everett paused and put his hands on his hips, turning around in exasperation. When he turned to face Mark again the tears that pooled in his eyes had fallen. Brows furrowed, he nearly yelled, "I guess I was wrong about our relationship, then, huh?" Some part of him felt horrible for yelling at Mark, but his wolf was becoming more and more dominant - he just hoped Mark would figure that out and not be too... hurt at him. "God, Mark! Wha, was this a game ta ya? Ya got hurt by some asshole and now yer tryin' ta hurt me?" In a small voice, he added, "'cause it worked."
Mark: Mark's eyes widened at Everett's words, completely dumbfounded as he stared up at the elder. He felt helpless and so very confused--he didn't know what to do to make both his family and Everett happy, and it was breaking him. He pulled to his feet and reached out, placing his hands on Everett's chest as his lover turned to face him again. Now his own eyes were full of tears as he shook his head. "N-no, you weren't wrong! I w-want to be with you, Everett, please... please listen to me. Please believe me." He pulled back, fingers running through his own hair as stress wracked his body, hands shaking in the process. "I don't want to hurt you, Ev. I want us to work. Can't it? We can still see each other, it--... the distance isn't far..." Mark was pleading with Everett now, trying to console himself where they were in public but mostly failing at the thought of Everett leaving him.
Everett: His wolf was shocked that Mark had the audacity to touch him, but Everett's fury was slowly turning to hurt, his wolf fading into a distance murmur. Everett felt his shoulders slump as he looked down at Mark, wanting to crush away his tears but too upset to act on the thought. "W-why?" He mumbled weakly - "We, we made a solution ta this, we thought about it, ya can't just... ya can't change yer mind on me, ya can't do that.." He took Mark's hands in his own and gently lowered them, looking into his lover 's eyes, "Please. Please come with me."
Mark: Mark's eyes widened at Everett's words, completely dumbfounded as he stared up at the elder. He felt helpless and so very confused--he didn't know what to do to make both his family and Everett happy, and it was breaking him. He pulled to his feet and reached out, placing his hands on Everett's chest as his lover turned to face him again. Now his own eyes were full of tears as he shook his head. "N-no, you weren't wrong! I w-want to be with you, Everett, please... please listen to me. Please believe me." He pulled back, fingers running through his own hair as stress wracked his body, hands shaking in the process. "I don't want to hurt you, Ev. I want us to work. Can't it? We can still see each other, it--... the distance isn't far..." Mark was pleading with Everett now, trying to console himself where they were in public but mostly failing at the thought of Everett leaving him.
Mark: Everett's approach to this had changed, and Mark sufficiently felt like the worst boyfriend on the planet. This was real, their whole relationship was real and he was willing to sacrifice it because he simply couldn't let go of home. He wanted to go so badly, and at the same time, he found himself biting back that confession. His head shook slowly has his hands were taken, feeling weaker and weaker as Everett pleaded with him. "I can't," he admitted, voice tiny. He blinked and the tears finally rolled down his cheeks, though they were silent as could be. "I can't, Everett. I'm so, so sorry." As he pulled his hands out of Everett's, it felt like his heart had shattered. It felt like he had just ended everything with Everett, although he was praying that somehow Everett could forgive him.
Everett: "Then.. I..." Never before had he felt so... betrayed, and it was silly - they had only been together for a short amount of time, Everett couldn't expect him to drop everything to be with him, but for some reason he had thought he'd be enough. "I - I can't talk ta ya right now, Mark. I'm sorry, I gotta go." Without waiting for a reply, he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked away. Funny - last night he'd been so sure of everything. It only takes one small moment before everything crumbles around you and falls to pieces.
