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Mark walked into the NCT frat house ready to crash. He couldn’t believe the shit day he had had.
It all started when he woke up late and had to miss breakfast so he could get to his theory of music lecture. A lecture which then ran overtime and he missed his lunch break so he had to run straight to his next class without anything to eat. Then he nearly fell asleep the whole lecture which was on a topic in his final test so Mark had to ask his friend for his notes. And of course, nothing is free so he had to then help Jeno pack up all the sports equipment still on an empty stomach. And now to top it all off Yuta wasn’t on the couch for their daily cuddles.
Mark sighed and walked down the hall, throwing his bag onto his bed. He slipped out of his day clothes and into his comfy clothes. Then he set off down the halls to find Yuta. First stop, the older man’s room. When Mark knocked on the door there was no answer. He pushed the door open to find an empty room. He shook his head and moved to the kitchen instead, closing the door behind him.
Once he got into the Kitchen Mark saw Donghyuck and Taeyong chatting away with Johnny, Lucas and Jaehyun. But no sign of Yuta. He went to turn and leave but Taeyong saw him and ushered him to come over and eat some dinner. The meal was simple but after a long day with no food Mark found it to be very filling. Dinner passed quietly and uneventfully with no one talking much at all. Well, no one except Donghyuck, who was as chatty as ever. Soon enough Mark felt himself dozing off until he heard the fateful words.
“I know, it must be a date. Yuta’s never gotten so dressed up for anything.” Jaehyun said, chuckling at the thought.
“Yah! Jae don’t tease him when he’s not even here to defend himself.” said Taeyong shaking his head. “Besides,” The oldest continued, “It could just be a friend. He didn’t say it was a date.” Mark could feel the frown etching it’s way onto his face.
“Ya know, if it is a date he’ll inevitably tell us all about it when he gets home.” said Johnny, looking disinterested by the topic. No one said anything else on the topic but it was all Mark could think about. He had checked his phone and there were no messages from Yuta about not being home tonight. Why hadn’t Yuta told him? They were best friends right? They told each other everything.
Eventually, the group dispersed, going to their own rooms. Mark followed Donghyuck to his room. The younger one didn't say anything until the door was closed.
“Hyuck, do you think Yuta hyung doesn’t trust me?” Donghyuck rolled his eyes and snorted out a laugh.
“Why? Cause he didn’t tell you he’s going out tonight?” Mark didn’t laugh, instead nodding his head somberly. Donghyuck watched him with curious eyes.
“Are you jealous? Oh my god do you have a crush on Yuta hyung?”
“What? No! Why would you say that Hyuck?” Mark almost yelled, an uncomfortable laugh punctuating the end of his sentence. Donghyuck didn’t believe the boy for a single second but opted to not say anything. Mark would figure it out eventually.
“Relax! I was kidding. I just thought that you two were dating because you always call him oppa not hyung” Donghyuck told the boy, Mark could only nod while rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. It was true he called the older oppa and not hyung most of the time. To disperse the tension both Mark and Donghyuck started to fiddle with their phones. The two of them sat quietly for a couple minutes, Mark scrolling through social media while Donghyuck also did something on his phone. The silence wasn’t for long, as after a brief moment Donghyuck saw a photo posted by Renjun and started to tell Mark all about something the boy had done in their theory of modern art class this morning. Mark wasn’t paying attention but hummed in agreement and every so often said a ‘really’ of varying tones. Donghyuck could tell the boy didn’t really care about what he was saying, but continued to ramble about whatever he wanted to. Up until a message popped up on his screen.
“Sorry to cut our wonderful time together short Mark but Renjunnie wants to facetime and I can’t say no to his perfect face.” Mark was stunned but got up and left anyway. Did Donghyuck have a crush on Renjun? He set off down the hallway on autopilot, however he didn't stop at his own room. Instead he found himself standing before Yuta’s bedroom door. He stood there for a moment before turning around, only to come face to face with Johnny.
“Whatcha doing Markie?” The question in english startled him but Mark shrugged, he honestly wasn’t sure what he was doing. Johnny gestured for the boy to join him in his room and Mark followed. The pair sat at either end of Johnny’s bed, just sharing the space comfortably. Johnny broke the silence.
“What’s up with you today Mark?” Mark didn’t know what to say so he said,
“Nothing Hyung. Why?” at that the older snorted out a laugh before looking Mark dead in the eyes and saying,
“Because you look like a lost puppy. Are you okay?” Mark wasn’t sure what to say. Johnny was pretty spot on. He felt lost without Yuta and didn’t know what to do.
“I… I don’t know Hyung. I had a pretty shit day and I guess…” He trailed off, looking up at the older to see if he was paying attention. Johnny nodded for him to continue and so Mark did. “Normally when I get home Yuta Hyung is there, waiting on the couch for cuddles. I don't know, it just felt like my routine was all wrong today and I was really excited to just crash with Yuta hyung.” Johnny sighed and opened his arms, an offer of cuddles. Mark tossed it up in his head and couldn’t find a reason not to so he crawled into the older male’s hold. It wasn’t the same though. Johnny could tell Mark was uncomfortable, the way he couldn’t sit still was a clear indication.
“You’re not comfy. Why?” Mark thought about the question for a couple seconds before blurting out,
“You smell different to Yuta hyung, not bad, just nothing like him. Hyung always holds my hand, but you don't. And Yuta hyung always tells me about his day in Japanese even though I don't understand him just so my brain gets a break from korean. It’s all different.”
At that Johnny laughed, eyes fixed on Mark. he watched the boy move back towards the other end of the bed with curious eyes.
“Mark? Don’t take this the wrong way but is it possible that you have a crush on Yuta?”
Mark scoffed at that,
“Of course not hyung I just… Well it’s just… We’re friends…” He trailed off. He couldn’t explain what he felt for Yuta. And to think Donghyuck had asked a pretty similar question. Johnny looked at him curiously.
“You’re the second person to ask me that today hyung.” He told Johnny who said nothing, just nodded and waited for the younger to say something else. And say something Mark did.
“Oh god. I like Yuta hyung. Like obviously I like Yuta hyung but I like like Yuta hyung! Like holy shit. What if he hates me? Do you think he’d still wanna be my friend?” Mark looked at the older wide eyed but continued to talk anyway, “Oh shit. I’m in love with Yuta hyung. Like totally in love with him. He’ll never speak to me again. What would my parents say? What if they dont love me anymore? I can’t afford to pay rent without their help. Why didn’t I know this?” Johnny moved to comfort the boy but Mark got up and bolted out of Johnny’s room.
Mark ran into the first room he saw, Yuta’s, and threw himself onto Yuta’s bed. “I can’t believe I like you hyung.” He muttered into the bedsheets, tears welling up in his eyes. He sniffled, trying to prevent himself from crying. “What will happen? Are you gonna hate me hyung?” he felt a tear roll down his cheek and rubbed it away.
‘How long have I been like this? Why is it that I didn't even know it? Is that why it hurts to see you mucking about with the others? Was I jealous?I must be going crazy. And know you’re out on a date. Are you going to forget about me? You’ll eventually replace me with some girl. That’s fine i guess, it was always the way it was going to go. I just hoped it wouldn’t happen like this. Why did I have to fall in love?
Mark eventually let the tears fall, he was finally letting himself feel all the emotions that come with his feelings for his best friend. It didn’t take long for him to be fully sobbing into the older boy’s bedsheets. Curled into a ball Mark sobbed and sobbed until he had tired himself out. From the doorway Johnny watched on as the small boy’s breathing evened out. Next to him he saw Jaehyun wince, feeling sorry for the boy.
“We should leave him to sleep.” Said Taeyong quietly, leading the two boy’s in Yuta’s doorway down the hall towards the living room.
“Should we tell Yuta?” Asked Johnny, phone in hand.
“Tell me what?” Asked Yuta from the doorway. The trio exchanged glances before motioning for Yuta to sit down on the couch.
“It’s about Mark.” Said Johnny, watching the way the Japanese male instantly frowned and looked up at him.
“What about Mark? Is he hurt?” Yuta asked, panic lacing his voice.
“Well no, I guess he is hurting, but not the way you’re thinking. He’s safe.” Taeyong answered, unsurprised that Yuta was so worried. It was enough to calm the Japanese male, at least enough that he sat back into his seat waiting to hear what the trio had to say.
The trio, mostly Johnny, explained the events of the afternoon to Yuta. His frown was replaced by a soft, fond smile.
“How could he not know I like him too? It’s not like I hide it.” mumbled Yuta, making Johnny laugh.
“I don’t know, but I do know that he’s probably terrified that you’ll find out and hate him. Maybe you should talk to him.” Johnny suggested and with those words Yuta was off the couch and heading down the hall towards his bedroom.
He stood in the doorway watching the small figure on his bed. Yuta’s heart swelling at the thought of always having him on his bed, he wasn’t too proud to admit he loved the boy. He turned on his desk lamp to illuminate the room without waking the younger male. Yuta closed his bedroom door and slipped out of his jeans and shirt opting instead for sweats and no shirt. He left the room and washed his face and brushed his teeth before heading back to his bedroom. Mark hadn’t moved, the small boy was still asleep. Yuta pulled the bed covers back on the side of his bed that Mark wasn’t lying on top of before moving around to the otherside of the bed. Standing right in front of the younger male he could see the tear tracks on his cheeks and the way his eyes were more red and puffy than usual. He sighed and petted the boy’s hair before leaning down and picking him up bridal style. Mark stirred slightly, mumbling out a whiny ‘oppa’ before settling down again. Yuta kissed his forehead before placing him down on the other side of the bed. He crawled into bed and pressed himself up against the smaller male. He pulled the smaller closer to himself and pressed a kiss to Mark’s hair before letting his eyes close, sleep coming to him easily with the boy he loves in his arms.
The next morning Mark awoke in someone’s arms. He squinted his eyes open, coming face to face with Yuta. A very shirtless Yuta. To say Mark panicked would be an understatement. Mark tried to untangle himself from his newly realized love interest. Yuta however was having none of it. His arms held the boy tight against his chest, not letting Mak leave his embrace. Yuta’s eyes fluttered open and locked in on Mark’s face.
“Markie, what are you doing?” Yuta’s deep morning voice seemed to cloak them both and effectively made Mark still his movements.
“Well, I'm getting out of bed?” He questioned, not sure what to say. Yuta shook his head and pulled the boy back down to lay in his arms, head against Yuta’s chest.
“Nope, too early. Besides, we didn’t get our cuddles yesterday so we’ll have to make up for them now.” He said and Mark just relaxed, letting himself be cuddled by the older. The pair stayed like that for quite a while, Mark occasionally letting out a contempt humm when Yuta would rub his back or play with his hair in just the right way. Neither said anything until Mark let out a whiny ‘oppa’ and Yuta was tugging gently on the younger’s hair.
“You’re so cute Markie.” Yuta said through a small giggle and the boy in his arms blushed bright red, Yuta could see the boy’s ears change colour.
“Which reminds me,” The japanese male started hoping to be able to talk to Mark without him running away, “I should’ve texted you last night. My cousin Momo was here in Seoul for a quick visit so I went to see her and her girlfriend.”
Mark smiled against Yuta’s chest . So it wasn’t a date. Wait.
“Her girlfriend?” Mark asked quietly but Yuta still heard him.
“Yeah girlfriend. I guess liking the same gender runs in our family.” The boy chuckled. Mark was confused.
“Runs in the family? What do you mean oppa?” Yuta looked at the boy on his chest, making eye-contact for the first time in quite a while.
“Well she likes girls and I like boys.” He stated matter of factly. Mark just nodded. So Yuta likes boys. Wait, Yuta likes boys? That means he has a chance. Before he could ask the boy if he had a crush on anyone Yuta spoke.
“Last night when I came in I could see you’d been crying. Is everything okay Mark?” Mark couldn’t say anything. Yuta’s tone had been so soft and full of concern that he could feel tears welling up again in his eyes. Yuta was so observant.
“Umm… Well hyung last night I…” He took a deep breath. It’s now or never Mark Lee.
“IrealisedIlikeyouhyunganditmademeworriedbecauseIdidn’tthinkyou’dlikemeback” Yuta looked at the boy, a mixture of concern and admiration at the way the boy had said the whole sentence with no breaths.
“Mark, please, a little slower?” He asked, fingers holding the younger's chin and tilting it so he could see Mark’s face. Mark screwed his eyes shut and took a deep breath before saying.
“Last night I realised I like you hyung, more than friends, and it made me worry that maybe you wouldn’t like me back or want to be my friend anymore.” Mark hadn’t opened his eyes and so uta pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“Of course I don't want to be friends with you Mark.” Mark’s heart sank. “I would love to be your boyfriend though, if you would grant me that honor.”
Mark couldn’t believe what he was hearing,
“Really? Hyung, you want to be my boyfriend?” Mark asked wide eyed, looking at Yuta. The older nodded and chuckled,
“Yeah Mark, I want to be your boyfriend. Honestly, I thought I was making it really obvious by always cuddling you and kissing your cheek.” Mark stared up at the older, mouth hanging open. Yuta continued,
“Like really Mark, we are very gay. Like, so gay. You call me oppa and I call you my baby and honey. Do any of your straight friends do that to each other?” Mark had to admit that when Yuta said it like that it did make them seem very, well less than straight. Gay, it made them very gay. Yuta laughed at the face Mark had pulled and the younger one whined for him to ‘stop making fun of me oppa’ which only made the older laugh harder. So Mark did what any reasonable person would do. He leaned in and kissed Yuta on the lips. Yuta stopped laughing and returned the kiss, hand on the back of Mark’s head keeping him close. The pair kissed deeply, letting the emotions they both felt be expressed physically. Mark was practically vibrating with how happy it made him.
“HYUNGS! Mark and Yuta are making out and it’s gross!” Donghyuck yelling from the doorway startled the pair, causing them to pull apart. Soon Jaehyun, Johnny, Taeyong and Lucas were gathered in the doorway next to the youngest, looking at the pair cuddled up in Yuta’s bed. Mark blushed bright red and hid his face in the crook of Yuta’s neck while the older just shot the rest of the boys the biggest grin.
“Hyuckie, this isn't news.” Said an exasperated Taeyong, who tugged at Jaehyun and Johnny’s hands. “Now that you’ve done yelling about nothing I’m going back to bed.” He said, moving to leave.
“Wait!” yelled Lucas unintentionally. “You two are gay as well? I thought it was only me.” the chinese male said, looking visibly shocked and confused. Johnny and Jaehyun both looked at the boy in pure shock. Lucas was also gay? Taeyong however just rubbed a hand over his face and turned to Lucas.
“Yes sweetie, Yuta and Mark are gay. So are Jaehyun, Johnny hyung and I. And if I‘m not wrong I’m pretty sure hyuckie’s gay too.” At that Donghyuck started sputtering,
“Hyungggg. You weren’t supposed to tell anyone. I wanted it to be a surprise when I brought Renjun over. You’re no fun.” At that Taeyong just nodded his head and rolled his eyes before turning around and walking back towards his bedroom, Johnny and Jaehyun in tow.
Eventually Lucas and Donghyuck also left the pair alone. Mark finally raised his head from where he was hiding and smiled at Yuta.
“Oppa, do you think the hyungs care?” Yuta just laughed and shook his head,
“No Markie, I don't think they care at all.” he said, leaning in to press a kiss against the younger’s forehead.
Six weeks later Mark had a pretty shit day. He woke up late and didn’t think to check the weather so here he was in freezing weather with only jeans and a t-shirt on. To make it worse it had rained the whole day and he didn't bring an umbrella. When he got home he kicked off his drenched shoes and pulled off his dripping wet socks. He made his way to the laundry and stripped down, grabbing a towel to cover himself for the walk to the bathroom. As he passed the living room he noticed Yuta wasn’t on the couch. He frowned and made his way to the bathroom. He showered quickly to warm himself and moved to his room, getting dressed in his favorite sweats and Yuta’s hoodie he stole the other day. When he made his way out to the living room there he was. Yuta was on the couch, blanket ready and an array of Mark’s favourite snacks were laying on the coffee table. He walked over and plopped himself down in his boyfriend’s lap, hugging him close. Yuta just started to pat his hair with one hand as the other rubbed circles on Mark's hand that was intertwined with it. Yuta started talking, the japanese words not meaning a whole lot to Mark, but the voice soothing away his worries. He felt Yuta move to lay down and pull the blanket over them, too tired to open his eyes and see what was happening. Yuta spoke for a little while before pressing a kiss to Mark’s hairline and muttering out, in korean, “Close your eyes my love, I’ll wake you up for dinner. You had a long day, rest now.” Mark snuggled closer and let his body relax, the most comfortable when in Yuta’s arms. Damn he was lucky to get his couch cuddles.