a/n: hey guys! i was feeling a little angsty so here's a oneshot after a long break :)
What do people hear when they die? Is it the waves crashing on the shore? Or is it bells chiming in the wind? Or do they hear nothing at all?
The first thing I remember hearing is a voice singing. I'm not sure what song it is but I can feel an overwhelming sense of comfort, as if I'm being wrapped in a warm hug. Home. The voice feels like home.
Then as quickly as it appeared, it vanishes. I look around and all I see is white. I blindly attempt to move forward but no matter how fast or long I run, I don't budge from where I am.
Suddenly, the scene changes and I hear the voice again. Only this time, he's standing in front of me and calling out a name.
"Y/N! Y/N! haha come on stop that tickles hahaha! Y/N! "
Y/N? Who's Y/N? Why does my heart feel heavy hearing that name?
I'm sure he's still laughing, I can hear the mirth in his voice but I still can't see his face. I rub my eyes, yet when I open them he's still faceless as before but now I can see him walking on the beach, dancing in the rain, and nodding his head to the music from his headphones. It's strange.
The more the images, the more I feel like an intruder. As if I'm a stranger watching the highlights of someone else's life on repeat. And yet the sound of his laughter continues, as though he's telling me it's okay to watch.
All of a sudden, there's a loud crash and everything stops.
Silence.
And then I hear the screaming and crying. The sounds of despair cut through the silence and sends chills down my spine. My stomach churns and my ears ring. Then I hear the voice again. Only this time, it isn't laughing.
It's crying.
"Y/N! Y/N! Y/N! Nurse! Doctor! Somebody get the doctor! She's waking up!"
I slowly open my eyes but quickly shut them again. Why is everything so bright? Slowly, I blink my eyes open and look up to see shadows hovering around me.
"Ms. L/N ! Y/N L/N, can you hear me?"
I slowly look up to see a man in a white coat looking at me. He lets out a relieved sigh, as if he's happy to see me. He tells me that I am in the hospital because I was in an accident and have been in a coma for a 3 months.
3 months? I've been asleep for that long? My chest tightens as I register the gravity of the situation and I feel the tears pricking at my eyes. However, before I can succumb to the turmoil stirring within me, two arms wrap around me.
"Y/N I 'm so glad you're okay, I was so scared that you wouldn't wake up. I missed you so much."
The voice is shaky, as though he can't believe I'm here sitting in front of him. He hugs me tight, like he's scared that if he lets go I'll disappear.
After a couple of seconds, he pulls back and I finally get a look at him. His hair is as blue as the ocean. He's gazing at me so softly, and he's smiling, as though I handpicked the stars and put them in the sky. When I peek closer, I can see the unshed tears shining in his eyes.
I can feel his hands on mine, firm and soft. Gently stroking them, as though I'm the most precious person in the universe. Carefully, I pull my hands out from his.
He freezes and shoots me a worried glance.
"Y/N, what's wrong? Is something hurting?"
I look at the boy in front of me and see a complete stranger. With no recognition in my voice, I whisper.
"Who are you?"
Silence. I gaze around the room and see everyone staring back at me with shock. Then a boy with soft brown hair and pink highlights comes forward.
"Y/N, that's Mark, your boyfriend. You've been dating for 4 years."
xoxo
thank you for reading!! please like/reblog if you enjoyed <3
SUMMARY ― It took a week for Natalie to wake-up, causing her loved ones to worry. But as soon as she woke-up, what she wanted had finally come true.
AUTHOR’S NOTE/WARNINGS ― mentioned of stab wounds, blood, mentioned of child-trafficking, slight angst at first but fluff in the end.
previous chapter (chapter 7)
"I'll call you back, Mum.... Yes, yes I will. Okay!.... I will call you instantly when she wakes up, please mother... Bye." Taeyong ended the call with a loud sigh, exiting his office of 127's residence.
A knowing figure was standing until she saw him.
"...Babe?"
As soon as he called her, Yelena ran onto his arms, pulling him to her.
He rested his head on her nape, releasing a shaky sigh.
Taeyong immediately called his long-time girlfriend, a few days after Natalie was safely being put in Kun's aid.
And a day after the surgery to stitch her deep wounds, Kun had to call Taeyong, who decided to inform Mark to come – Mark too, because he deserved to know, right after his confession that day.
"..Everything is fine, Taeil hyung and I fixed her broken nose and we stitched her wounds," Kun informed and Taeyong nodded.
"..So now all we have to do is to wait for her to wake up." Kun added, looking towards the leaders. "Days of expectations?" Taeyong asked, eyes frowning towards the Wayv leader.
Mark could only stand behind Taeyong, he is broken, he just wants Natalie to wake up.
"Two days, again it depends on each individual's body." Kun nods slightly, and Taeyong's eyes fall towards the sleeping Natalie – who was at the other side of the clear glass window.
But Natalie wouldn't open her eyes two days after the surgery, which made Taeyong all bothered and crazy that everyone could see him go insane.
Both Mark and Kun had to calm him down saying that she was fine, her blood and heart rate was all normal.
Taeyong was beyond worried that he called his girlfriend.
"It's been nearly a week, Yelena." Taeyong frowns, "I don't know what to do if she―
"Don't say that! Please, don't say that." Yelena harshly cuts him off at first, "Natalie is a strong girl, Tae. She is your sister, one of the Lees'. I thought you said all Lees' are strong." She tried to calm him down, knowing he needed someone by now.
Taeyong nodded slowly, then hearing a soft sigh and Yelena rubbing his back to comfort him. "Everything is going to be okay,”
"Can you stay with me?" Taeyong pulled her arm slightly, "Sleep-over, until she wakes up"
Yelena smiled slightly, before squeezing his cheek. "As you wish, Mr Lee."
"Thank you," Soobin turned towards the two members of Wayv who let him enter Kun's aiding room.
Nearly a few days had passed, and Soobin was getting better, thanks to the leader of Wayv.
The technology and injections NCT had in-stored were so insane that Soobin himself didn't know most of the drugs had in his body, his body was surprisingly back to normal.
Although his left hand was completely fractured and one of his legs was limping, it wasn't that bad for him.
Speaking of normal, his memories, all of it was back.
Even the events that were years ago had come back, and he started to remember again.
That includes remembering the last words he said to Natalie back in the programme dorm room and the past conversation he made when he reunited with Natalie again.
"You're welcome! You are Natalie's friend! So you are considered our friend too!" Yangyang said with a wide smile.
Soobin can't help but smile sadly, he never had friends – real friends, Natalie was an exception.
"Thanks," Soobin awkwardly smiled and Hendery kind of noticed his awkward self that he nudged onto Yangyang.
"You're being too positive, you are pressuring him!" Hendery apologetically smiled at Soobin as he could only shake his head.
"I had no friends, except for Natalie. She used to be.. until Kingpin happened. Regardless, she is still my friend." Soobin said and there were positive smiles coming from the two Wayv members.
Their feet brought to Natalie's recovery room, and Yangyang was the first one to notice a member in the room.
He could recognize him from the back of his head.
"Mark is in there, hold on." Yangyang knocked on the door, entering the room.
Soobin was watching them from the inside, until he met Mark’s eyes.
The NCT Dream leader was frowning, it looks like Yanyang was convincing him since he finally nodded.
“Soobin, you can come in!” Yangyang called him in, Hendery encouraged the tall boy to enter since he got a green light.
Soobin awkwardly enters the room, but his eyes soon fall towards the platinum haired girl and that’s when his emotions start to get the best of him.
Soobin could already feel his lips trembling.
“I trust you,” Mark said, “...Well I have to, she really cared for you.” Mark gestured towards Natalie, before leaving the tall boy alone in the room.
After knowing he was alone, Soobin finally let out his tears, as he held onto her cold hands.
“...T-thank you, Natalie.” Soobin sobs, “I’m sorry for calling you a brat. I still remember my last words to you and remembering it now, I was a dick.” He confessed with a pout and trembling lips.
“I remember everything now,” Soobin held onto her hand tightly.
“Please wake-up, Nat. Please,” Soobin cried out, putting a strand of her hair behind her ears – his finger brushing through her skin. Even her face feels cold.
Soobin poked her cheek, it was an act of affection between the two of them back when they were so young, back in the programe school.
“Everyone misses you, I miss you”
A day has passed, and it has been exactly a week now.
“Ow! Watch it, Jeno!”
“Sorry, baby!”
“You nearly tripped my crutches!” Sylvia glared towards the boy, and Jeno instantly pouted. “I said I am sorry…”
Sylvia could only sigh, while pulling onto his hand.
Jaemin on the other hand was eyeing Irina who had bandages on both of her arms.
He was kind of worried, actually he looked like he froze as soon as he found his girlfriend’s friends state, the both of them.
He saw a lot of blood that day, compared to other days with the Dream boys for the missions.
Irina had blood spilled on her hands, both of them, both her blood and the blood of Soobin’s brothers.
Apparently, Irina had taken out two chips of the two boys, while Sylvia took out one.
Jaehyun took out another for the two girls.
It was a red, bloody mess. That’s all Jaemin and Jeno could describe.
The two girls finally saw Natalie and their eyes widened.
Sylvia was trying to hurry but she realised her condition that Jeno helped her.
Irina wasn't able to touch her due to her fingers being bandaged as well as her arms.
“..Come on, Nat.” Irina called out, “...It’s been a week.” She continued.
“You missed a lot of stuff, your new launch of skin care, Mark basically keeping himself shut in his room for a few days, Sylvia finding the crutches a pain in the ass knowing she can’t even walk if she didn’t use it, Jaemin cried by the way, what else…?” Irina basically listed out the things that had happened for the week.
“You kind of forget Taeyong hyung losing the bright colour on his face,” Jeno added and Irina nodded. “Oh yeah! As what he said, your brother… he isn’t doing well.” Irina sighed.
“....And you forgot to tell her about the kids,” Sylvia added this time and Irina gestured to her to explain this time.
“Okay, so, the kids that you had found that day. Taeyong, 127 consiglieres, Kun and Mark had a meeting about them,” Sylvia added with a smile, “Taeyong suggested making an orphanage for the kids that has been sold or abandoned.”
“You don’t have to worry about their well being though. Some of the Elinovas girls wanting to pitch in – Aurora, Katerina, Yelena and Adriana donated sets of clothes, like a lot. Yelena mainly pitches in money, more to their funds and needs, you know like food and all.” Sylvia added proudly, like those girls are business women and she is happy for what they contribute.
“So for now, Kun is in-charge of the orphanage, basically like a dean in our school.” Sylvia added, earning nods of confirmation from the other three.
“...I guess that’s it,” Sylvia frowns, while looking at the others who only shrug.
“Oh yeah, I heard Mark confessed to her.” Sylvia turns to Jeno, he turns towards Jaemin who gives him a frown. “..You should ask Mark himself, he was the one who―
A slight groan was heard from Natalie, and their head instantly snapped towards her – seeing her eyes fluttering slightly, as well as her fingers starting to move.
“Jeno! Jaemin! Call the others, now!”
Taeyong and Mark were the first one to run to Wayv’s residence – and for the first time, everyones sees the both of them running full speed, well during missions they ran fast but not the usual full speed.
By the time they came to Kun’s aiding room where Natalie is, the two boys were still there along with Sylvia and Irina.
This was the moment for the two girls to leave. “We’ll be waiting outside, we will probably hang out in Wayv’s living room.” Irina excused herself, holding onto Natalie’s which the girl weakly squeezed her hand.
“Thank you again,” Natalie weakly called out.
"..Anything for my bestfriend," She smiled followed by a wink, Jaemin following his girlfriend behind.
“Hey, you,” Sylvia slightly turned towards Natalie with her crutches, “..We will come by time to time, for now have a good rest.” She waved slightly, Natalie watched the four of them leaving.
Natalie’s eyes then moved towards Taeyong and Mark with a weak smile. “Hi.” She softly greeted, seeing Mark’s small smile, turning towards Taeyong.
Taeyong can’t help but look at her in amazement.
He quietly went towards her, and gave her a hug and he might put a bit of pressure on the hug that Natalie winced in pain.
“Sorry, sorry!” Taeyong mumbled and Natalie wanted to sit up but again, she was met with a throbbing pain on her side, causing the two men to go to her side – aiding her to sit up slowly.
Natalie’s eyes met with Mark, and somehow her cheeks turned warmth as soon as his voice echoed through mind.
‘.....I love you so much….’
‘....you’re the first girl I love…...’
The two didn’t realise that both of them were literally staring into each others’ eyes and Taeyong couldn't help but clear his throat, kind of sulky that they forgot that he was there.
Natalie instantly broke eye contact, thanking Mark slightly as he smiled awkwardly.
“You did it, Nat. You took out the chip from Soobin.” Taeyong congratulated and Natalie’s eyes instantly widened. “Soobin.. Soobin!?! What about him?! Is he―
“He is fine," Taeyong cuts her off. "...well his whole left arm was broken according to Kun.. But nonetheless, he is healthy, his memories are back, even the old ones and he is normal.” Taeyong recalled with a slight smile.
“A few days ago, he came here.” Mark added, and Natalie nodded – as long as he is back and he is normal, everything should be fine.
“How is he? But he is Kingpin's… Speaking of Kingpin, did Irina and Sylvia…?” Natalie recalled, frowning deeply as she tried to remember.
“... Irina, plus the help of Mark, erased the information of all the children he abducted. That includes Soobin and his four brothers.” Taeyong gestured to Mark, and Natalie turned towards Mark seeing him smiling slightly.
“....Aside from that, Irina and I kind of altered Soobin’s personal information, as well his other brothers,” Mark said, “..Irina told me about his family history… we just erased Kingpin’s name as his guardian since he is already legal enough to live independently.”
Natalie quickly sighed in relief as she leaned back, her tensed shoulders slumped down comfortably.
“...But that doesn’t mean we caught Kingpin.” Taeyong added, and there was a worried look on her face. “He is… too slippery to kill.”
Sensing Natalie worrying, Mark quickly holds onto her hands to support her – giving her a look that it will be okay.
Although Kingpin was still out there, her eyes started to fill with tears, knowing that everything was over – mainly for Soobin, he didn’t have to suffer again.
Taeyong watches her quietly, probably knowing this is what she wants in the first place.
His phone out of nowhere rang and Taeyong knew who it was, seeing his mother’s name on the screen.
'Mother'
“Well, our birth giver has finally called.” Taeyong showed his phone to Natalie as she could only chuckle while taking his phone, insisting she wants to answer.
“What did she say?”
Natalie passed the phone to him, “...She was crying, kind of nagging afterwards.” Natalie looks at Taeyong with a shrug, earning a ‘told you so’ look from Taeyong.
“...They are going to come tomorrow, wish me luck. Dad is definitely gonna nag at me.” Natalie sighed, rubbing her temple in frustration.
Taeyong surprisingly looks at her, “Dad nags at you too?”
“Yeah..? Why do you look so surprised?”
“All this while I thought Dad favoured you more than me.. That you can get away from anything.” Taeyong confessed and Natalie scoffed.
“I did get away with other things but this,” Natalie paused, “...I don’t know man.. But Tae, I get nagged too. Just like how they nag at you for ridiculous stuff and them having more expectations just because you are the first born…”
Taeyong’s eyes widened slightly towards the platinum haired girl.
He was surprised she knew.
“...They have expectations of me too.” Natalie muttered, really they do.
Their parents wanted their two children to live up the Lee name, which Natalie thinks it’s just.....
She doesn’t even know what to describe. Show off?
Taeyong warmly smiled at her, holding onto her hand. “..I’m glad we… could relate to each other then.”
Natalie returned him a smile, gripping onto his hand.
Taeyong’s eyes then turned towards Mark who was watching siblings interaction – deciding that maybe he should leave his sister and the boy to have some alone time.
“Now that you are awake, I’ll leave you to Mark then,” Taeyong out of nowhere stood up, “I’ll call Yelena since she wants to see you as soon as you are awake so…”
He walked out of the room, leaving the frowning Natalie and a surprised Mark.
“Well, that was all of a sudden, but okay.” Natalie commented, turning towards Mark with a small smile.
“So, how are you?”
“...Well, other than worrying sick for someone, I’m all good.” Mark jokingly answered and Natalie chuckled softly, knowing he meant herself.
Natalie stared at him for a while, seeing him caught the way she looked at him – instead of looking away, Mark decided to return her gaze.
“Mark, I..” Natalie started softly, “..I can’t believe I am saying this,” She muttered slightly, “..when I blacked out, I kind of heard your voice.” She recalled.
“..You said I was the first girl you love,” Natalie said, her eyes locking with his.
Mark watches her for a while, before leaning towards her - one of his arms supporting his body while the other cupping one of her cheeks as he kisses her.
Natalie’s eyes widened for a second, before leaning against him and she kissed him back. She saw how he looked when he kissed her, though his eyes were closed, he still looked beautiful.
Mark let go of her slowly, “I love you, Natalie.”
“I know,” Natalie winks at him, seeing him looking all shy. “...I love you too, Mark.” Natalie held onto his hand as he scooted neared towards her, sitting on her bed.
Mark quietly caressed her hair, “You know, you told me the day we first became friends and you said you hated your hair colour.”
Natalie sighed, “...Yeah, I still hate it. I wanted to dye it brown or black but my parents didn’t allow it.”
“But you look pretty with platinum blonde though, I have never seen you with dark colours but I’m sure you still look pretty too.” Mark complimented and Natalie slightly pouted.
“You always say that. ‘Pretty’ is your favourite word.”
Mark smirked, “That’s because it’s you. That’s my favourite word for you, pretty.”
Natalie scoffed at him slightly, he sounded like he was flirting.
“So,” Mark called, leaning against her, seeing her smile starting to get wide as he stopped inches away from her face.
Mark glances from her eyes then to her lips, before making it way back.
He was holding himself back from giving her more kisses, already feeling how plump her lips are.
“Natalie, will you be my girlfriend?”
Natalie frowns, and Mark’s expression falls slowly.
‘Don’t tell me she is going to reject me.’
“What kind of question is that?” Natalie pecked a quick kiss on his lips, completely caught Mark off guard.
“Of course I will be your girlfriend, Mark.”
Due to her huge stab wounds, Kun told Taeyong that Natalie needed more time to heal – hence she had to stay more in Kun’s aiding room.
Mark volunteered to take care of Natalie, and he never fails to show up everyday – although he has missions to handle, but thanks to the Dreamies who told Mark that they are confident to continue without the leader.
Mark supported her whenever she wanted to try to walk, he was being really patient whenever Natalie couldn’t get to stand up properly.
“...Why can’t my legs function!? It’s just my kidney area getting stabbed a few times, it doesn’t even directly link to my legs!” Natalie shouted in annoyance, particularly towards her pair of legs while Mark was holding her closely to prevent her from falling.
“..Nat, calm down.”
“I can’t calm down! I want to walk! I want to continue my normal routine and join you guys! I can’t go on a date with you sooner if I stayed in bed longer!”
Mark’s expression softens, definitely not able to hide his smile although his girlfriend is fuming in frustration.
“We still can go on a date, babe.” Mark said simply, and Natalie turned towards Mark with a deep frown.
“I actually consider this session as a date, actually me visiting you everyday is a date for me.” He said seriously, and Natalie looks at him with a slightly wide eye – then looking away from him as she sighs.
“I’m sorry. I just feel.. frustrated.” Natalie muttered before smiling at him. “..But.. since you said this is a date, do you want to cuddle with me after this walking session?” She winked and Mark let out a shocking scoff followed by a wide smile.
“Hey! I’m supposed to be the one to lead you in this relationship! I’m the guy here!”
Mark whines and Natalie suddenly grabs his arm, somehow pulling him rather roughly – his face stops right in front of hers, smirking at him.
“Who said guys have to be the one to lead, baby?”
Mark had a smile slowly forming on his lips, eyes moving to her lips before moving to her eyes, he really couldn’t resist himself from just kissing her roughly but he knew Natalie was still injured.
So he just softly kissed her on the lips, then tracing her lips with his fingers – he has a thing for how her lips feel like, it was soft and plump.
Clearly the two were having their own moment, like their faces are inches away from each other – Mark holding her close to him, and Natalie having the heart eyes for him that they clearly didn’t notice a few people basically creeping on them.
“Okay, I had enough of basically watching my little—
Lucas slightly pushed Taeyong who was blocking the way. “Ayyy, Mark! Get her!”
“Wooo! My new power couple now!” Hendery cheered, earning a chuckle from Yangyang.
Kun and Winwin gave Mark a knowing look – more like a look where they knew she would like him back, followed by the rest of Wayv members who could only openly smirked at the couple – specifically Ten.
And then came Haechan entering the room with a hamper, “Wow, finally loser. I’m sick of being the ‘yes’ man and in the end you are back to square one.” then came along with Jeno and Jaemin bringing more hampers.
Renjun came to the couple, giving them a soft side hug – the couple didn’t even move, it was as if they were still frozen to what had happened.
“Congrats, Mork.” Chenle pats the leader’s shoulder, followed by Jisung smirking towards the couple while pointing towards the both of them.
When Mark thought that was all of them, then came 127 members with more gifts such as Johnny entering with balloons that had Natalie’s initials, Taeil bringing a teddy bear and Jaehyun looked like he brought cupcakes.
Yuta came in, shooting finger hearts to the stunned couple then giving Mark a proud nod.
Finally Doyoung and Jungwoo entered, smiling towards the couple before Doyoung noticed Natalie and Mark’s expression.
The whole squad was in Kun’s aiding area.
“...Did.. we disturbed your moment?” Doyoung teased and Mark blinked slightly before turning towards Natalie who gave him a slight smile.
They turned towards him with a sarcastic smile.
“Yes.”
next chapter would be the end of this series sadly. :(
previous chapter (chapter 7) ⇋ last chapter (end of series)
[ Hero for Heart : Natalie’s Series, Base On Her Sorrowed Past ]
hey!! could you make a mark×she/her reader when during a discussion he yells at her and right after he remembers the trauma she has about "people yelling at her" sorry everytime i ask for something sad but i really like this kind of stories 😫😫 tysm don't need to do if you don't feel comfy <3
-this is an interesting concept, thanks for sending it in! (tw!! to those that have PTSD, panic attacks, specifically towards verbal abuse!)
You were over at the 127 dorm when you and Mark were yelling your heads off at each other. It started with passive aggressive mumbles from Mark that you realized you had enough. All the members coward in their respective rooms as you two were arguing in the living room.
“I just don’t understand why you can’t do the dishes or your own laundry, you’re a fucking adult, Mark.”
“I told you I’m busy so I don’t have time for it.”
“Yeah, yeah, the same bullshit excuse.”
“Bullshit excuse? What do you do around here y/n? All you do is lay around on your ass and don’t do any work!”
“I do my work! You just never see it, or bother to care to see it!”
“Yeah, I’m sure being a custom painter on Etsy is WAYYY more work than what I’m doing. Your job compared to mine is basically useless! You get to dance around and paint with pretty colors!” Mark shouted at the top of his lungs.
That statement hurt you to the core. Suddenly you felt your throat burn and your chest felt hot. Your eyes started to well up with tears. Mark said the one thing you never wanted to hear again. You wanted to pursue art as a career but your parents never wanted to support you in that endeavor. They would constantly tell you how it’s not a real job and that it won’t make you any money. You tried to impress your parents all the time with your work, but they always brushed it off or threw it in the trash. They didn’t even help you pay for art school, which burned you to the core as you cries bouts of nights in student debt. Ever since you went off to art school, you haven’t talked to your parents since, because you know they would never understand. In the moment, your mind flashed back to the last argument you had with your parents.
“y/n! Don’t you dare go to art school! It’s a waste of money and time!”
“You’ll do nothing there and learn about stupid colors!”
“You can’t get a job in painting drawings, its idiotic, y/n,”
“I don’t care if you were fucking Picasso, you’ll never be successful.”
“You are a useless daughter to me, y/n.”
“It’s such a shame when I have to tell people at work that you are going to art school, do you know how much of an embarrassment you are?”
Those thoughts flooded your head as you collapsed on the floor crying. You couldn’t breathe. You felt your whole body shaking, the room was spinning. You could barely hear Mark’s voice. Mark knew what was happening and immediately ran to hold you.
“Breathe, baby, breathe. In for four...and out...”
Mark calm you down a bit but you still were crying.
“Fuck, y/n...I’m sorry for what I said, I know it was triggering and I’m sorry. You know I love and support anything you do. You are a superstar in my eyes regardless. I didn’t mean it, I was caught up in the moment, but that’s no excuse for triggering you like that. I’m sorry.”
“I-i-it’s o-okay...”
You kissed Mark’s cheek and reassurance.
Mark just held you two as you sat in silence. Eventually Haechan peered out of his room.
“You guys done yet?”
“Y-Yeah.” You replied.
“Good because I want y/n to paint something for me.” Haechan spoke.
Haechan held up a photo of Mark in one of your dresses he wore for fun.
You giggled.
“I though I told you to never show her that photo!” Mark yelled about to snatch his phone.
Haechan blew a raspberry at his face and ran away.
“You little shit!” Mark shouted running after him.
i'm dumb, i ended up accidentally deleting this ask instead of posting it!
thankfully tho, i save all of these in my notes so, here you go anonie! sorry this took quite long ;(
with his fingers tangled in your hair, ta!mark thrusts into your mouth, throwing his head back in pleasure. his tip hits the back of your throat and tears well in your eyes as you struggle to take all of what he gives you, like a good girl. the intensity of his thrusts has your throat convulsing around his length and this has him groaning louder.
"yea, baby, just like that," his dick twitches inside your mouth. you bob your head up and down with a new found speed, ready to swallow every last drop of his cum, knowing full well that he is close.
you hum around him, occasionally playing with his balls as he holds your face with both his hands and bucks his hips harder, faster. "you're desperate aren't you?" he groans, his thrusts getting increasingly uneven, a telltale sign that he is near; you, therefore, are suprised when he pulls out all of sudden.
but the initial shock doesn't last long and your soaking panties only get wetter when he pumps his cock a few times, running a finger along that one prominent vein before messily cumming all over your face. spurts of white decorate your cheeks and chin, a few tiny flecks manage to land on even your eyelashes.
mark smirks at the beautiful sight of you on your knees with his cum all over your face, looking fucked out as ever. he collects some of it from your cheeks and places his fingers on your lip which you readily accept.
"you worked hard for your grades now, didn't you?" he smirks as you nod and look up to him with innocent eyes. "get up then, let's give you your reward."
-> Synopsis: a round of UNO with your best friend Mark takes an unexpected turn.
-> Words: around 500
“Do you have red?” You gently placed your card on the stack, the red number 5 card covering the blue one, your friend Mark had placed just before.
You made sure to reveal the most evil smile you could, knowing Mark probably didn’t have any red cards. Both of you only held two cards in your hands and you hoped your assumption was right. You were eager to win.
Mark looked at you with big eyes, the round glasses he wore only making him look more innocent.
“No, but I have a crush on you, I think.”
“I’m talking about UNO, you- wait, what?” Your mouth fell slightly open, as you stared at Mark, who sat across from you on the bed.
His words were so unexpected, both of you just kept staring at each other in silence. How could he say this so nonchalantly?
“Oh, y-you like me?” You mumbled, your voice coming out in an unnatural high pitch.
Mark let out a chuckle, a typical thing he did when he was embarrassed and you considered for a second that maybe he was just joking.
“No”, he reached his hand out to grab yours, squeezing it gently. Oh, so he didn’t like you?
You weren’t sitting far from each other and it only occurred to you now how fast your heart was beating and how good Mark’s warm hand felt on yours.
“I don’t just like you, you know. I straight up love you”, Mark confessed, a soft smile playing on his lips.
You looked between his hand on yours and his eyes, confused and shocked and- “I love you too, Mark”, you blurted out, surprising yourself.
And it was true.
You and Mark had been friends for so long, you didn’t quiet remember the moment you realized how much you actually enjoyed being with him.
He made you feel so safe and every giggle that left his mouth was like music to your ears. You could spend hours just listening to his rants and talking to him about the most odd things.
He was always there for you. Held you when you couldn’t sleep after watching a scary movie and let you cry on his shoulder whenever you were feeli down. Mark was your safe place.
And you were his. You would be there for him when he felt like the whole world was against him. And it was also you that managed to make him smile, even on his saddest days.
Mark smiled at you, leaning forward ever so slowly until his lips captured yours in a soft kiss. His lips felt like velvet and your heart fluttered, even after he pulled away again.
Mark kept smiling at you, also unable to believe what had just happened. You watched him for a moment and it felt so perfect, just you, Mark and your undying love for each other.
Mark moved his free hand, that still held on to his two UNO cards and your eyes followed his movement as he placed down one of them.
“UNO”, Mark whispered and your smile dropped for a second, before your eyes moved to meet his again.
sypnosis: you meet a stranger in the park, who helps you prepare for your interview with renowned author, mark lee.
word count: 2.1k
genre: fluff, strangers to friends!au, author!mark x reporter!reader
a/n: i impulsively wrote this in the wee hours of the morning because i can't stop thinking about mark lee and his poems! btw, this is my first time posting an au on this platform, but i do have ongoing twitter fics (written in eng/fil)!
I had just finished my late night shift at the office and was on my way home from work. Being a field reporter is not an easy job. I have to work my butt off to always stay up to date on the latest news and make sure to grab even the rarest exclusives.
I have to travel to basically anywhere, just to gather the most accurate information for the daily primetime news. And even if work is done for the day, I would usually go overtime to make sure no single detail is left out for tomorrow’s reports.
My workplace isn’t that far from home, or what I call home now. Moving into my elder sister’s old apartment was not a hassle. It was actually quite a blessing since I always used to stay over whenever we visited the city. I really thank the heavens that her place was near my workplace. Imagine the struggle of moving in and out from scratch. Actually, I wouldn’t even dare to imagine.
I would usually ride my bike to and from the office, but since I was running a bit late earlier in the morning, I decided to take the bus. Convenience at its finest. But it’s late now. A fifteen minute walk back home won’t hurt, right? Besides, I needed a breather. A walk in the nearby park would suffice.
It’s midnight and of course, the park is empty. Although Seoul is alive 24/7, I really like how some areas still have that laid-back vibe. I walk to the swings and place my bag on the ground. I do wish someone would push me right now. I just wanna be free from all the hectic stuff I’ve been doing lately.
But no, the quick rest I thought of didn’t stop me from going over tomorrow’s duties. I scan my little, brown notepad and check the work I have yet to accomplish. I mostly finished them before I got off work, but there is one more that I needed to do for tomorrow: interview Mr. Mark Lee, the author of the best-selling Late Night Scribbles.
It’s a collection of poems and prose he’s written over the course of five years during his travels to different cities as a renowned travel writer. His travel reviews and recommendations were something I always looked forward to reading. Maybe someday I could go on a stress-free holiday trip thanks to his advice.
I have read his book. For someone who’s trained into more technical writing like me, I could still clearly resonate with most of the poems he’s written. Not too shallow, not too deep. Though you do need to have a sense of literature in order to understand more of his deeper works. He isn’t famous for nothing.
What appalled me though is that he never showed his face to anyone, not even once. Some say he’s actually the main rapper of the world-renowned boy group NCT, since they bear the same name. I think otherwise. Well, it could be, though. Rappers do make their own lines and tell their own stories.
But I don’t think that Mark Lee would be the same person I’d be interviewing tomorrow. It’s weird because I won’t be actually meeting him face to face. He said he’d rather converse through email. Works for me since I don’t have to travel tomorrow. Thank God.
Well, let me tell you a secret. The reason I don’t think author Mark Lee is singer Mark Lee is because singer Mark Lee is actually my childhood best friend. Crazy, huh? I used to live in Vancouver when I was young until my family and I moved back to Korea during my teen years.
I don’t think he remembers me, though. But I do remember him. Our moms were practically best friends. I couldn’t say the same to us, only if he still actually remembers me.
I stretch my arms up high and bend it side to side. God, I need a massage asap. I was about to pick up my bag when a basketball rolled over and hit the tip of my loafers. A man dressed in black waves from the court, signaling to toss the ball to his direction.
I would toss it if I could but I walk over instead. Blame my poor strength and reflexes. And I obviously do not want to embarrass myself. A rough day’s a rough day. I don’t want an addition.
“Uhm, are you looking for this?” I ask the guy, tossing the ball mid-air.
“Yes, thank you…” he pauses. “uh…”
“Oh, it’s (y/n).” I introduced myself, “And you are?”
“Minhyung.”
“Well, you’re welcome, Minhyung. Good luck with your basketball practice!” I gave him a nod before finally turning back to go home.
“Wait!” he calls out. “Do you maybe wanna have a cup of coffee? There’s a nearby convenience store still open. I figured you might need it.”
Was it that obvious? I can’t imagine how stressed I look right now! He has probably seen the dark circles under my eyes. Gross.
I finally turn around and give him a smile, “You know, maybe I do need it. Let’s go?”
This man and I walk to the nearby convenience store just a few meters away from the court. It’s midnight and not many people are here. Well, just exactly like how I want it. The park can actually become full, even until 10 pm. But I guess these people also need some shut-eye. I’m actually surprised this man right here still has some energy left.
I wait outside and sit at the nearest gazebo while he buys instant coffee for the both of us. He arrives with three in hand. Does he like coffee that much?
“You’re really gonna drink two?” I ask him curiously.
“It’s actually for you,” he says as he hands me one of the cups. “I feel like you’re going to be staying up late tonight.”
Well, he’s right. I am gonna be staying up late. I still need to prepare questions for tomorrow’s, or later, rather, interview. I really won’t be getting some sleep tonight. I also need to do research on him too.
“Well, I do have an interview for tomorrow. I still need to prepare as it’s a very important one.”
“With whom, may I ask?”
“Mark Lee, the author. Not the singer.”
“Oh,” he lets out a soft sigh that can be heard, even through his mask. Is he offended that I don’t think author Mark Lee and singer Mark Lee are the same?
“Why do you sound so disappointed?”
“Uh, nothing. I just remembered the book he recently released. Have you read it?”
“Late Night Scribbles?”
“Yes, that!” he answered enthusiastically. Wow, I guess I found a fan right here. He might actually help me with my interview later. I need to grab this chance.
“Do you mind helping me? I’m actually going to interview him about it tomorrow.” I gave him the widest smile, hoping he’d say yes. I normally wouldn’t do this to strangers, especially at night. But I really just need to get this over with.
“Well, as someone who’s a fan of his works. I’d like to give it a try and interpret it,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee. “Just imagine I’m Mark Lee. Shoot your questions.”
“Hmm, I can’t be answering personal questions since you’re not Mark Lee.” I scratch my head. Damn, I can’t think of anything. My brain is not working right now! “But if you were Mark Lee, what would you want to be asked?”
“If I were Mark Lee? Well, rather than asking what my inspiration was behind the works I’ve made, I’d rather be asked on how I tried to convey my thoughts and feelings to this piece of work,” he explained, staring at the night sky.
I followed the direction of his gaze, and he’s looking at Orion, one of the brightest constellations out there. I gaze at it too while waiting for him to continue explaining.
“But isn’t it basically the same as drawing inspiration from something?” I ask profoundly.
“Not really. You can draw inspiration from anything. And you can come up with different outputs based on one inspiration. What’s important is how you’re able to connect the context of what you’re writing to the feelings you want to draw out,” he continues.
“With a single inspiration, I can come up with two completely different works based on how it’s written. The idea may be the same but the context is not.”
“Hmm, care to explain a little further?” I ask politely.
“We can use Black Socks as an example.”
Black socks are underrated
The way they connect the bottom sleeves of
my black sweatpants to my black sneakers
is just perfect
Pleasure from perfect alignment
That also goes for the ability to be parallel
with my thoughts and actions
I try to live out what’s in my mind, and keep
it consistent even when forgotten like a
working habit
A moment to think twice about what
seemed unimportant
Black socks have been making my day
these days and I knew I had to return the
favor by acknowledging them
I throw you in the bin only so that you can
be renewed again
“Black socks, literally an ordinary object that is tossed to the bin right after use. But what caught my eye is his appreciation for this mundane thing.”
“Through his words, you can tell black socks gave him comfort. He used a simple subject to convey his inner thoughts of how every little thing we don’t really recognize can actually be part of our routine, our life,” he said, looking me in the eye seriously.
“He found comfort in the most ordinary things no ordinary person would take notice of.”
Minhyung stands up and stretches his arms. He then continues, “It’s actually cool he shared this piece with us. If I were him, I’d go on and ramble how black socks could ruin my laundry.”
We both chuckle at the thought. It’s true. I hate how some of my black socks actually ruin my laundry. I dread the thought.
“It’s only a matter of perception, (y/n). Sometimes, you have to open your eyes and see, not look. Listen, not hear. Savor, not taste. Feel, not touch.”
“You know, you could actually be Mark Lee himself,” I tease him, “You do know your literature.”
I know he smiled at my remark. I can see his cheekbones rise from the edges of his mask.
“Sometimes, you just have to ask the right questions in order to get the answers you want,” he said teasingly. “You can’t get what you want if you don’t know what you want.”
For a stranger, he’s indeed a good talker. I actually learned so much from our talk tonight.
“Thanks for tonight, Minhyung. I really learned a lot.” I thank him before gulping down the last cup of coffee he bought me. “And thanks for the coffee, by the way! I now have energy to prepare for my interview later.”
“No problem. I’m just glad that I was able to help.”
I stood up from my seat and we both started walking away from the park.
“It’s 1 am. How are you gonna get home, (y/n)?” Minhyung asks worriedly. Yeah, it is pretty late. It’s a good thing I just live near.
“My apartment’s just two blocks away. I can manage,” I say with a smile, a genuine one at that. “How about you?”
“I’ll just grab a cab. Do you mind if I walk you home?” I don’t know why but I felt flustered for a moment. Surprisingly though, I just nodded my head, giving him permission to accompany me home.
We both arrive at the entrance of my apartment building and we say our last goodbyes.
“For a stranger, you really do know how to make people comfy,” I say, crossing my arms and giving him a stare, brows furrowed to tease him.
“Well, that’s just how I am,” he says while giving me a wink. Okay, now he’s flirting. Someone stop him, please. Just kidding.
“By the way, you haven’t taken your mask off the entire time except when drinking coffee. I couldn’t get a good glimpse at you since it was dark,” I explain. It’s true. Add the fact that I’m barely keeping myself awake the whole time. “I might’ve actually thought you’re an idol of some sort. Perhaps, maybe you are Mark Lee.”
“What?” he asks, puzzled and clearly taken aback. “Why’d you think so?”
That's how you remembered him. Your sweet, beautiful Mark — he was blue.
The morning that he moved in next to your house, the sky blew up in a glittering azure and the sunlight fell softly on the grass beneath his feet. You watched as Mark stretched and jogged over to help his brother pick up the luggage. You heard his laughter and you heard his voice. He didn't feel like a stranger to you, somehow. You saw how the sunrays highlighted his high cheekbones, and fell softly on his neck as he walked to and from the house. Why did he feel so familiar?
The evening that came after a few weeks he came around to your house with his family. You didn't meet his eyes. After days of watching him from your window, he felt unreal, untouchable. You still saw him around though. At the convenience store just down the road, at the ice cream parlor you went to after school, laughing at something his brother said. But he was here — standing beside you, playing absently with the turquoise bands on his wrist as he listened to you talk about the neighborhood. His eyes followed your lips as you spoke, interjecting where he could and smiling back at you.
Each day of your first summer with Mark was a flurry of rushed hellos, small smiles and waving across the fence at each other. Sometimes he hung around after the sun had set on his basketball game and made a shy comment about the bluebells you planted at the corner of your little garden. They were coming to full bloom now, and he really liked them — if the way he listened to you talking about them so attentively was any consolation. Sometimes he asked you if you'd like to walk around the block to stretch your legs after he saw you curled up on your balcony reading a book. Sometimes he tossed his basketball over at you from his garden when you laughed at him for missing a shot.
When Mark walked home with you after the first day of class, you noticed the way the little blue bears on his keychain made little tinkling sounds against his bag's zipper. He turned pink when you asked him about it and muttered something about it being a gift from a childhood friend. You smiled and asked about this friend, and he sighed out loud. He was a bit of an annoyance, Mark said, but there was no replacing him. His name is Donghyuck, he said. He used to be Mark's neighbor before he moved here. Mark reached out for your gate before you could, and pushed it forward. You raised a eyebrow at him in question, and he just shrugged. I'm walking you to your door, he said simply.
Mark's skateboard was blue, you commented. He looked at you strangely, and smiled when you shook your head. There was a glint in his eyes that you didn't quiet understand, but he ruffled your hair and asked if you would like him to have another color. No, you said. He was more blue than you could have described. You were practically drowning in it now. His laughter when you said something, his mother's blueberry muffins that he brought for you to eat on the way to school — you were reeling in his color. Your breath hitched in your throat.
You didn't know blue had a taste. You didn't know it tasted like lemonade at mid-afternoon. You didn't know it felt like Mark's lips against your own. You didn't know it sounded like his little nervous giggle. It felt like comfort, it felt like home, it felt like the last day of school, it felt like music festivals and the crash of the waves on the shore. His fingers on your skin felt like fire and it felt like ice. There was no explaining it, but Mark Lee was overwhelming you in his color. You were gasping for breath in this ocean, but when your eyes met his, you knew you would die for this. You knew you would suffocate in his blue but if it meant feeling him again, if it meant closing your eyes and taking the bullet for him, you would do it, you would do it in a heartbeat.
Autumn always came with its seeping colorlessness. Mark was taller now, and his aura more mature, but his eyes were still wide and innocent. He complained about college and he complained about how far you were, but he still drove four hours every weekend to see you in his blue Civic. He sat on the end of your bed and played games as you stretched out and read your books, passing stray agreements to Mark's accusations against Donghyuck and his friends. Days like these passed in a haze of soft baby blue and teal, ice-cream and homemade food. Mark whined about going back every Sunday, and as much as you wanted to agree — you stood at the window as you waved him goodbye.
But the day Mark asked you to marry him, the sky had drowned in melancholy red and the sunset painted the grass beneath his feet all shades of orange. You watched as his eyes glittered brighter than the ring he held in his palm, and you watched as his smile preceded your little "yes", because he knew — that you were his red for as long as he could remember, his world was drenched in every shade of red from the second he set his eyes on you, every emotion you ignited in him was always, always, red and today — even before you said yes, he knew, for the sky had bloomed purple behind you, and he knew.
you sighed as you looked at the boy sprawled out on the couch. this wasn't the first time you woke up to mark sleeping in the living room. he had broken up with his girlfriend (or well now ex-girlfriend) a few weeks ago and let's just say he hasn't been taking it so well as he's always going out and drinking with the other boys; which is something he didn't usually do.
it'd be a lie if you said it didn't hurt you to see your roommate who is also your bestfriend like this. you knew how much he loved her and that's what hurt you the most because you knew that he wouldn't love you as much as he loved her.
"if only i could turn back time for you," you said softly as you sat down on the floor and placed the wet face towel onto his forehead while staring at his sleeping form, "or if only i could've been the one you loved instead."
as you moved some of his hair away from his forehead you were surprised when a hand wrapped around your wrist, stopping your actions. your eyes widened when you looked down to see mark staring at you.
"i'm sorry," he apologized as he took the towel off his forehead before sitting up.
"for what?" you asked, not sure what he meant by that.
"i'm sorry for being such a bother lately. i know it must've been hard for you to have to take care of me every time."
"you say that like i haven't already been taking care of your ass since we were little," you scoffed as he just let out a small laugh.
"i know right," he said as he started staring at you again and you couldn't help but feel your heart beating faster.
"what?" you asked as you weren't sure why he was looking at you but it was starting to make you uncomfortable.
"i've been so busy sulking i didn't notice you cut your hair," he said as he leaned forward to push a piece of hair behind your ear, "it looks good on you."
before you said anything, he interrupted leaning in closer as he connected your lips. the action put you into a state of shock that when he didn’t feel you kissing him back, he instantly pulled away before looking down at the coffee table next to you.
“i’m sorry,” he said quietly as he didn’t dare look at you.
“for what?” was all you could get out as you were still shocked by what he had just done.
“to be honest, i’ve been thinking about it for a while and...” mark said as he tried to find the words to say, “i realized that i might actually love you more than just a friend so i thought maybe if i kissed you and you kissed me back then that would mean that maybe you felt the same way. i don’t know that sounded a lot better when i was drunk.” he let out a small laugh as he continued to go on about what he had been thinking about lately.
you interrupted, “mark.”
“yes?” he asked as he instantly shut up.
“stop.”
“i’m sorry. yeah, i know that was probably a bad idea.”
“yeah, it was,” you said as his head started to hang lower before his head shot up at your next comment, “you could’ve just talked to me first. i would’ve told you that i love you more than just a friend too.”
“really?” he asked as he was really surprised to hear you say that. though he did realize that maybe it was because he’s always been really oblivious about everything around him that he must have not noticed your signals.
“yeah,” you said as you looked away, nervous that maybe he had changed his mind once he heard your confession.
before you said anything else, mark brought his hand behind your neck as he connected your lips once again. this time you actually kissed him back.
“so, would you like to go on a date with me?” mark asked as you both pulled away and you nodded your head.
“but i think you should get over your hangover first.”
“honestly right now i’m not sure if i feel dizzy because of my hangover or you,” he said as you just hit his arm as he laughed before obeying your request and laid back down on the couch as you went into the kitchen to make him some soup.
