Archive of Our Own ^beta

Lee Donghyuck is a name many people have heard around campus.

He isn’t on any sports team or in any clubs, yet he seems to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time. And, well, people talk. They spread rumors about him, mainly about the cuts and bruises that he randomly shows up with. He’s had so many people ask if he’s alright; if he needs help to get away from an abuser, and each time Donghyuck just laughs it off and shakes his head. 

You can’t exactly explain underground fighting to people who are basically strangers. 

Donghyuck pulls his hood up over his head as soon as he gets out of his brother’s car, wiggling his arms into the very worn out backpack straps.

“Dude, that’s just going to make people look harder.” Johnny comments, but doesn’t stop Donghyuck. “You literally have a busted eyebrow and nose. You can’t hide it all.” 

“My concealer says differently.” Donghyuck quips back, rolling his eyes and wincing when it sends a slight shock of pain through his head. Right. Can’t do that for a while. 

Johnny pockets his keys and shuts the car door, looking at Donghyuck with badly concealed fondness. “You did do a good job of hiding the eye this time.” He admits, reaching forward to probably prod at the cut, but Donghyuck ducks away before he can. “Did you at least win?”

Johnny hadn’t asked that when Donghyuck hopped into his car this morning like he usually does, he knows something happened. He calls it his brother-senses or something.

“Yeah.” Donghyuck confirms, adjusting his bag just for something to do to distract himself. “It paid the next few months of rent.” 

He doesn’t feel like he won at all. The money is there in his bank account, but he just feels empty again.

“You know you can talk to me, right?” Johnny adds instead of congratulating him. It’s the right choice. 

Donghyuck mumbles out a ‘yeah, of course’, but they both see through that lie. 

Sitting through his classes turns out to be even more hell than he’d expected. 

It started as soon as he stepped foot into the classroom. His teacher called over to take his hood off and even though Donghyuck wanted to argue that he really shouldn’t, he’s tired. The hood comes down, and the staring begins. 

Donghyuck does his best to ignore it, to just keep staring straight forward and not react. It’s harder than he thought because the bruise on his hip is aching and even though it’s been two days, it still feels like Mark blew out his back. 

Fuck Mark and his stupid teeth and stupid lips and stupid-

Donghyuck snaps his pencil against his notebook and he just stares for a few long seconds before letting out a sigh in defeat. 

It’s going to be a long day.

“You look like shit.” Is the first thing he hears when he steps foot into his and Jaemin’s shared apartment. 

“Thanks.” Donghyuck replies dryly, trying to break down the walls he’d raised over the course of the day. He’s safe here. Jaemin knows who he is and what he does. There’s no judgment. It’s fine to show that the bruises hurt.

“By the way, the others are here.” 

Donghyuck slows down from where he’s untying his boots. “Oh?” He offers, indifferent right now if they’re visiting. 

Jaemin hums in confirmation before disappearing into the doorway of their kitchen again. “Jeno brought a friend he met at the gym a few months ago. They’re in there talking about muscles or whatever.” 

A laugh bubbles up out of him at Jaemin’s clear disinterest in talking about working out. “Is the new muscle head staying over for dinner?” He asks, walking up behind Jaemin and wrapping his arms around him so he can stare over his shoulder. Jaemin makes a sound that Donghyuck guesses is a yes. “I’ll help in a few. I need to change.” Donghyuck lets him go, rubbing at his eyes as he goes back to retrieve his backpack from the doorway. 

He doesn’t bother looking at the guys in the living room, already knowing all of them are here from the loud voices. 

Maybe this is what he needs; a night with his friends to let go of all the leftover tension. 

Donghyuck is in the middle of trying to smear the mess coating his hands when disaster strikes.

Dramatic? Maybe. But well deserved. 

“Hyuckie I swear- If that gets on me I’ll choke you!” It’s Jeno’s fault for interrupting his and Jaemin’s quality roommate time, honestly. 

“Ooo you wanna kiss me so bad.” Donghyuck says between giggles, arm still outstretched to finish his attack on Jeno.

Jeno’s eyes dart to something behind Donghyuck, and he sees Jeno taking an out when there is one. Not going to work, no matter who he involves. “Dude!” Jeno calls, leaning as far back as he can to avoid Donghyuck’s hand, yet still stays upright. “Help me!”

There’s no response from wherever the newcomer is at, and Donghyuck takes that as a win. 

“Jaemin!” 

“This is on you, big guy.” Is all that Jaemin contributes, setting the oven timer from the sound of it.

“Stay still! I want my revenge!” Donghyuck complains, tugging at the one arm he has a hold of when Jeno tries to move them towards the living room. He can’t let that happen. Chenle will make sure he loses. 

“How are you so strong?!” Jeno whines, trying to wiggle out of the grip, but Donghyuck just digs his heels in more. 

“Are you flirting with me?” Donghyuck says in mock surprise, finally getting Jeno off balance enough to swipe the mix across one side of his face. “Ha!” He cheers in victory, skittering back to safety beside Jaemin before Jeno can chase him and tackle him like last time. 

Jaemin hi fives him for his victory.

“Mark, you didn’t even try to help.” Jeno complains once he’s gotten a paper towel and is wiping all the mess off of him. “Who’s side are you on? You can’t take Hyuck’s side yet- Wait- Donghyuck this is Mark Lee, he goes to my gym. Mark, this is my best friend’s roommate and resident demon.”

“Am not.”

“Are too”

“Am not-”

“We’ve met before.” A new voice interrupts their whisper bickering. A voice that, for every logical reason, should not be here. 

“What?!” Jeno blurts out in surprise. “How?”

Donghyuck doesn’t look up from the floor. He doesn’t want to face what’s happening right now. It feels like his small normal life bubble is being burst.

Don’t say fighting. Don’t say fighting. Don’t stay fighting-

“We were paired together in a gen ed class together before I took my break from school. Nothing fancy.” 

Relief floods through Donghyuck at the swift lie. He thanks every god listening that it works and Jeno believes it without a second thought.

“Oh!” Jeno chirps. “So Donghyuck is the guy-”

“Yes. He is.” Mark cuts in, voice hardening. It’s scary to register that Mark has known Jeno long enough to know that you have to give him an answer to make him drop a subject. “The guys sent me in here to check on the food. Not that I’m, like, rushing you guys or anything.”His voice has a nervous undertone to it, one that Donghyuck has never heard before. 

He decides he hates it.

“Give it twenty minutes.” Jaemin is the one who responds, surprisingly. Donghyuck knows he’s going to get interrogated the second they’re alone again. If anyone can see through him, it’s Jaemin.

“Tell them they can chew on their socks.” Donghyuck finally chimes in, tucking himself into Jaemin’s side. “That includes you, Jeno.” He tacks on, finally looking up just to catch the look of offense on Jeno’s face at being grouped in with them.

“See Mark? A demon.”

Donghyuck doesn’t leave Jaemin’s side all dinner, staying tucked against him as if it’s going to shield him from Mark’s burning stare.

It doesn’t. He can feel Mark’s stare burning into him at every chance, and he knows why. The hickeys, the bruises, they’re foolishly not hidden now that he’s home. Every time he raises his arms to drape himself over someone, the bruising on his hip is revealed. He’s already taken off his makeup, too. He’s lucky the others haven’t commented on it. 

“I’m going to get a beer.” Donghyuck says, wiggling out of Jaemin’s hold and swatting him away when he tries to trip him.

Donghyuck shuffles into the kitchen, rubbing a hand over his face. He needs a bit more than just a beer, but it’ll work. “Fuck me…” He grumbles, tugging open the fridge and rummaging around until he finds a few beers tucked away behind the milk, for some reason.

“I’m sorry.” 

He nearly jumps out of his skin at the sudden voice behind him. “Jesus fucking christ-” He hisses out, kicking the fridge closed and spinning to face Mark.

“I didn’t… I didn’t know you were Donghyuck.” Mark looks guilty, but his eyes still are trailing all over Donghyuck’s body. 

“Obviously.” Donghyuck replies, rolling his eyes and moving to find a bottle opener.

“You’re mad. You won’t even look at me.” Mark opens his mouth again, and Donghyuck represses the urge to shove a dishcloth in his mouth. 

“Quit apologizing, you dick.” He grumbles, loudly rummaging around in a drawer. “You didn’t know.”

“Yeah but still-”

“Mark.” He sighs out, turning to look him in the eyes. “I’m not allergic to you. I don’t care if you’re gym buddies with Jeno.”

“Are you sure?” He still looks hesitant, but he takes a step further into the kitchen to go grab a beer for himself, apparently. 

“Deadly.” Donghyuck rolls his eyes, finally finding the bottle opener and shutting the drawer victoriously. “Just don’t make it weird. They know vaguely about me but they don’t know about us, obviously.” 

“Does Jaemin know?” Donghyuck pops the cap off and sets the opener on the counter beside him. If Mark wants it, he’ll have to stop staring at Donghyuck like he’s about to bite him. 

“You’re jealous of my roommate.” Donghyuck says bluntly, taking a swig from the bottle. “Jealous of Jaemin, of all people.” 

“I’m not.” Mark says, and Donghyuck can’t tell if he’s lying or not this time. 

“He knows the most.” He relents, staring down Mark as he reaches for the opener. “You’ve been staring.”

“I have not.”

“Have too.”

“Have not-”

“Jaemin noticed. At least tone it down.” Donghyuck says with a huff, pushing off the counter as Mark cracks his beer open. “And next time, no more bruising my hips.”

He leaves the kitchen without letting Mark reply. 

Mark doesn’t stay away now that he’s wormed his way into Donghyuck’ life. 

So far he’s been acting normal. Both of them have other than the few moments they’re alone.

Donghyuck corners Mark in the kitchen a week later, staring him down for a second before he speaks. 

“Is that all that’s in that little head of yours?” Donghyuck coos, grinning wickedly when he sees Mark’s ears redden. “All you can think about is getting your dick wet?’

Mark’s back hits the counter and Donghyuck knows he’s got him wrapped around his finger again. 

“N-No,” Mark stammers out, but Donghyuck decides that’s not enough. He steps closer until their thighs are nearly touching. The others are in the next room playing their video game loud enough for no one to overhear Donghyuck talking. That doesn’t stop Mark from darting his eyes to the doorway every few seconds. 

“Poor baby. You’ve been hard since we started gaming.” One of his hands slides between them, boldly pressing his palm against Mark’s dick. It isn’t like Donghyuck is innocent here either, he’s wearing his shortest pair of shorts and one of Mark’ shirts. “I could help.” He murmurs, tilting his head to the side as he presses the heel of his palm down harder. Mark lets out a low groan in warning, but Donghyuck ignores it. “Beg.”

It’s silent between them before Mark lets out a huff in bewilderment. “Excuse me?” He says, apparently getting his thoughts back together enough to speak again.

“Beg.” Donghyuck repeats, deadly serious. “Beg for what you want and I’ll give it to you.”

“Absolutely not.” Mark looks at him like he’s crazy. “Our friends are literally right there, dude.”

“So you don’t want me to blow you. Got it.” Donghyuck rolls his eyes. He knows it’s a 50/50 if Mark will give into anything like this. “Too bad. Maybe I should go see if Jeno wants me instead.”

Mark stiffens at the idea planted in his mind and at Donghyuck’s taunting. “Wait, you’re like, serious?” 

“Yeah?” Donghyuck says like it should be obvious. “I’ll get you off if you can be quick.” He doesn’t miss the way Mark’s cock twitches against his hand. “If you beg pretty enough, I’ll let you cum down my throat.”

Mark squeezes his eyes shut, his cock rock hard now. He doesn’t reply immediately, and after a few more moments Donghyuck starts to think he misread the situation. 

“I can’t.” He says, his voice rough.

Donghyuck’s mood drops. Of fucking course he won’t beg for Donghyuck. “For fuck’s sake-“

“I’ll bust in my fucking pants, alright?” Mark interrupts sharply, eyes still closed. “If I think about it enough to beg. I would if I could right now.”

Donghyuck blinks at him with wide eyes. He didn’t expect that. It’s hot as fuck, though. Drawing in a shaky breath, he slides down Mark’s body. His knees hit the tile floor and Donghyuck becomes too aware that they’ve never done this before. He’s never got to give back to Mark. 

He needs that to change. 

“What are you-?!” Mark grits out, and it’s obvious now that he’s holding himself back. 

Cute.

Donghyuck doesn’t waste any time tugging open Mark’s jeans. Mark doesn’t stop him, so he only tosses one look over his shoulder to the doorway before throwing all caution to the wind. He pulls down Mark’s waistband of his underwear and wraps his hand around his cock. It’s crazy how pent up he is, but he hadn’t snuck away all day to get off. He’s been here since they ate lunch and they’re about to order pizza for dinner. 

Donghyuck almost feels bad. Almost.

“It’s fine.” He says, surprising himself at how soft his voice ends up coming out. Clearing his throat, he tries again. “Open your fucking eyes Mark Lee.” He orders, watching as Mark is torn between complying or keeping them shut. “Good boy.”

He usually takes his time giving head. He likes it. Likes how his mouth waters until he drools, likes the way some guys shake when you figure out what they like, and lose of all, he likes the way people respond to seeing him on his knees for the first time.

Mark is no different. 

“Cum whenever, puppy. You’ve earned it.” He murmurs, licking a line up from the base of his cock to the tip before swallowing his cock down. 

He can hear Mark letting out a continuous string of curses under his breath. It feels good to affect Mark this much. 

Donghyuck bobs his head, keeping Mark deep inside of his mouth. He won’t last long, Donghyuck knows his tells and the poor guy is trembling from keeping himself still. 

It hits Donghyuck all at once that he wants to swallow Mark’s cum more than he’s craved for anyone else. 

Fuck.

It takes a few seconds to blink back open his eyes, but it’s worth it to catch Mark’s stare again.

Donghyuck draws in a breath before taking him all the way into his throat, swallowing around him, and that’s what finally breaks Mark’s restraint. 

The other room erupts into chaos, but Donghyuck couldn’t care less, too focused on Mark’s cock kicking once before cum is shot down his throat. 

He can’t help the satisfied noise that leaves him as he drinks it down, making sure Mark doesn’t dare look away from him right now. After a moment Mark finally makes a noise and Donghyuck reluctantly lets him pull out. 

He smacks his lips together and grins wickedly at the way Mark’s dick still twitches at the sight. He knows what he looks like; big glassy eyes and a spit slick mouth. 

Sure, his knees will be a little sore from the hard floor, but it’s a worthy sacrifice to see Mark like this. 

“I’ll see you around, Markie.” He walks away after Mark’s mostly recovered and redressed. Donghyuck made sure not a hair would be out of place. He’s the incriminating one, after all. So he flees to his room under the guise of feeling sick and wanting to turn in early. Cowardly? Maybe. But he can’t go back out and play games when he’s scrambling to touch himself as soon as he closes and locks his door. 

He ends up on his bed, fingering himself and grinding against the sheets until he cums the hardest he has in a while. He would have fucking screamed if he wasn’t biting down on a pillow. 

It isn’t his proudest day, to say the least. 

Donghyuck settles into the couch between Mark and the armrest, happy to not have Jaemin cling onto him and sacrifice Renjun for the task. 

As the movie starts though, Donghyuck realizes his mistake. Mark is the closest to him, but they’re at the far end of everyone. Donghyuck doesn’t have anyone on his other side. 

He doesn’t react as Mark shuffles around, getting comfortable in his spot and laughing at something Jeno, who is on the other side, says. As he settles into his spot, he stretches his arms. 

And an arm lands right behind Donghyuck on the couch. 

The oldest trick in the book. Donghyuck wishes he would have stuck to Jaemin again tonight. 

Donghyuck still doesn’t acknowledge it. 

The movie begins, and his focus is centered on the tv. He’s not completely paying attention at first, but then dinosaurs come on screen and Donghyuck is hooked. For a while he forgets about school, forgets about Jaemin terrorizing Renjun across the room, and forgets about Mark beside him. 

He really should have known better, but it’s Jurassic World; can you blame him?

In the back of his mind, he thinks he feels the couch moving from Mark’s direction, but he brushes it off. 

Mark’s hand smooths over his shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. Donghyuck’s body betrays him and he relaxes at the touch. Yet Donghyuck has to stop himself from instinctively lashing out when the hand moves to his neck in the blink of an eye. 

“What the fuck are you doing?!” His voice is low enough to not be heard over the movie, but Mark hears him just fine. He just doesn’t respond. 

Donghyuck’s eyes are still on the tv as he feels Mark’s hand cover the side of his neck that the others can’t see. A thumb presses to his pulse point, not threatening, just in search of something. Donghyuck does not know what he’s doing, but he doesn’t like it one bit. 

“Answer me you asshole-”

“They’re all gone.” Is all that Mark offers and he finally looks at him just to throw him a glare. 

Donghyuck doesn’t give that a response. It’ll just feed into Mark’s already beast of possessiveness over Donghyuck.

He ignores Mark for the rest of the night. He won’t even look in his direction when the guys leave. He’s pissed.

Donghyuck is hard in his pants, and it’s Mark’s fucking fault. Why did he have to grab his neck like that? And it was right in front of the others. If Jeno had leaned forward to talk to him, he’d have seen Mark’s fingers. He wasn’t hiding it. 

It’s pathetic how quickly he busts once he closes the bathroom door. 

“So,” Johnny says exactly as he gets into the car. “Jaemin told me-”

“He’s lying!” Donghyuck immediately protests, halfway into the car. One leg is still out of the car, he can still make a run for it. 

“Are you done?” Johnny says in a bored tone, raising an eyebrow. 

Donghyuck stares him down, unblinking. 

“In or out, loser.” He’s running out of patience, it’s clear, so Donghyuck seals his fate and climbs all the way into the passenger seat. “He told me there’s this boy-”

“There isn’t! Jaemin is lying!” Donghyuck argues, pushing his bag into the floorboard. 

“He says you finally are interested in someone again.” The way he says it is delicate, and it makes Donghyuck hesitate as he’s buckling his seatbelt. “I’m happy for you.”

Donghyuck swallows roughly, curling his arms around himself. 

“Is he any good at sports? I want a new practice part-” Donghyuck can’t help the laugh that rips out of him at his brother’s antics. 

It’s fine. Everyone is fine. It’ll be okay.

“Yeah. His name is Mark.”

It’s never a good idea to allow Jaemin to dress him for a party. Donghyuck knows that.

Still, he ends up sitting on his bed, watching Jaemin toss clothes to the floor in search of something his mind has planned out. 

“Minnie, c’mon.” Donghyuck complains, dropping back against the bed and lying there dramatically. “Let’s gooo-”

“Fuck yes- put these on.” Clothes are thrown at him and Donghyuck yelps when his face is covered with them. “We’re getting you laid tonight. You need it.”

Donghyuck doesn’t have the heart to tell him the reality of that situation, so he skitters off to the bathroom to throw everything on.

Jaemin, honestly- he’s a genius. Donghyuck looks like sex on legs in the outfit Jaemin had destroyed his closet for. 

Too bad he’s only interested in getting in one guy’s pants right now. Yet, Donghyuck decides he still needs to get all the tension out of him. 

The plan Donghyuck masterminds is that he’ll go to the party, find the guy that looks the closest to Mark and will mess around with him without feeling bad. 

As soon as he steps into the party, though, he realizes there’s a huge flaw in his foolproof plan. 

Over with their group of friends already drinking is Mark fucking Lee. Mark, who said he wasn’t coming to the party. 

Donghyuck fucking hates his guts sometimes for getting in the way like this. He knows what he’s doing. He isn’t dumb. He just likes to fuck with Donghyuck in the ways that their friends won’t notice. 

So, Donghyuck does what he always does. He takes the drink Jeno hands him, knocks it back in record time, and heads straight for the dance floor. Ignoring Mark’s existence while doing so is just an added bonus. 

Maybe, just maybe, he’ll get Mark to come to him tonight. If he pushes all the buttons he knows he can with a little liquid courage. He knows he can get Mark to chase him instead of the other way around. 

Donghyuck melts into the crowd, finding a space between people before moving to the rhythm. This is what he likes about parties; he can just let go. 

It thankfully isn’t long before a familiar pair of hands wind around him from behind. 

“Finally drink enough to join me?” Donghyuck asks, leaning back against him and blinking prettily. 

Jaemin snorts at the display. “Sure.” He laughs a second later when Donghyuck spins around to face him. 

“Where’s Jeno?” Maybe the alcohol is making him dumb, or maybe it’s just because Jaemin is familiar and safe to him, but he takes the last step between them and slots his body against the other’s. 

Jaemin’s eyebrows shoot up. Donghyuck doesn’t know which he’s reacting to, but it’s not that important when Jaemin finally starts moving to the beat with him. “Back over there.” He says simply, reaching up to fix Donghyuck’s hair that’s already a mess from him running his fingers through it on the way here. “He’s trying to interrogate Mark about why he’s all huffy.” 

A laugh bubbles out of Donghyuck before he can really understand what that implies. Jaemin knows there’s something between the two of them, then. “His loss.” Donghyuck grins, finally looping his arms over Jaemin’s shoulders. “Want to cause trouble?”

“Always.” Jaemin laughs, ducking his face into Donghyuck’s neck. 

He welcomes it easily, grinning wildly. Leave it to Jaemin to plan to cause trouble before he could. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well, Mark is already upset.” Jaemin murmurs against his skin and it tickles enough to make him giggle. “He also wasn’t too happy when I told them I was coming over to dance with you.” He adds in, drifting his hands over Donghyuck’s hips to settle inside his back pockets. “Cute that he thinks I’m a threat to whatever you two have going on.”

Donghyuck just laughs because he does not know what they are.

“Toss your head back and look over. They’re behind me.” Jaemin suggests, and Donghyuck could kiss his brain right now. He’s proving to be a genius yet again. 

Without saying anything, he throws his head back with a fake groan that dissolves into a laugh at the way Jaemin’s breath is still making him ticklish. Mark isn’t too far away and Donghyuck meets his eyes easily, not giving any reaction to catching him looking. He looks as mad as Donghyuck knew he would be. 

Score.

“One to ten. How mad is he?”

“Eleven.” Donghyuck breathes out, watching Mark’s eyes flicker to his lips. 

“Well, let’s get your boy up to a twenty.” Jaemin laughs, drawing out a goofy grin from Donghyuck. God, he loves his best friend so much. “How long will that take?”

“At this rate?” Donghyuck hums, staring down Mark shamelessly. He licks his lips and watches as Mark’s expression twitches. “Maybe a few songs. We can have fun in the meantime.” 

And they do. Donghyuck moves his body in the ways he knows people will stare at, but he never looks away from Mark for too long. He preens under Mark’s attention, getting progressively braver as the seconds pass. Jaemin’s hands glide over him, but he barely feels them compared to the weight of Mark’s stare on him. 

“Uh oh.” Jaemin murmurs into his ear, starring over Donghyuck’s shoulder with an accomplished glint in his eyes. “Here comes your boy.” He lets go of Donghyuck preemptively and he barely has a handful of seconds before he’s snatched back by his bicep. 

“Hey!” Donghyuck snaps, but he doesn’t get time to react before he’s being drug through the crowd in record time. “Fuck- Stop it!” He hisses, ready to swing on Mark for grabbing him this hard before he’s pushed backwards into a room. 

Donghyuck has no idea who’s room this is or if they can even be in here, but he doesn’t have time to consider it before he’s being caged in against the door by a furious Mark Lee.

Please don’t let this backfire.

“Mark.” Donghyuck warns, pushing his palms against his chest so he can’t come any closer than he already is. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what, Hyuk?” Mark bites out, narrowing his eyes at him. 

“You’re jealous and you’re drunk. Don’t do something you’ll regret.” Donghyuck rushes out, knowing Mark is the type to interrupt when he disagrees, and oh boy, is he not liking what Donghyuck is saying. 

Mark lets out a low rumble of a laugh that sends a shiver through Donghyuck. “You really don’t get it at all.” He mutters under his breath before leaning in and pressing his lips to Donghyuck’s.

Despite what he’s been saying, he doesn’t fight Mark once their lips crash together. His fingers tangle into Mark’s hoodie when his head knocks back against the bedroom door. He’s had much more serious blows to the head. He’ll survive. 

Mark pulls back for a second to check with Donghyuck that he’s alright; that he isn’t taking advantage of him. 

“What are you looking at me for-” Donghyuck bites out, lips already tingling, but gets cut off by Mark dragging him into something deeper, more drawn out. 

How Mark is kissing him is new. He’s never done it before. Every interaction between them has always been rushed and angry. Now, Mark is kissing him as if Donghyuck isn’t the distraction that he knows he is.

Shame creeps up his spine at the fact that he’s melting into it. 

Mark’s body comes closer until he’s pressing him against the door. Finally, Donghyuck gives in and smooths his hands up Mark’s chest until he’s wrapping his arms over his shoulders. He’s a weak, weak man. 

He can’t help the shiver that runs through him when Mark sucks his bottom lip into his mouth. He can’t stop the way he bites into Mark’s as soon as his lips are fully pressed against his again.

He isn’t expecting the light laugh that Mark lets out against his lips, but he swallows it down anyway. 

“Come home with me.” It isn’t a question, but he isn’t ordering Donghyuck around either. If Donghyuck didn’t know better, he’d say he’s pleading. 

He has to break the kiss to digest those words, trying to break his mind out of its Mark induced fog. “What?” He asks dumbly, staring at Mark with kiss bitten lips and hazy eyes.

“Let me take you home.” 

His words make little sense in Donghyuck’s mind, but he trusts Mark enough to nod and escape through the party with him.

Donghyuck wakes up to sunlight shining in his eyes.

Instinctively, he ducks his head to burrow deeper into his pillow, but it smells different. Half-awake, Donghyuck raises his head to check and-

No.

No, no, no- This can’t be happening.

Mark shifts underneath him, and Donghyuck feels like he could cry. 

Why is he here? Why is Mark in the same bed as him? Weren’t they at the frat party last night? How did he get from there to here? 

Donghyuck decides that, as always, his best option is to run.

He doesn’t expect Mark’s arms to tighten dangerously around his waist. He can’t move much at all and Donghyuck feels like his heart could beat out his chest. Donghyuck swallows roughly and tries again, his breath nearly stopping when Mark’s eyes blink open. 

“Go back to sleep, baby.” 

Donghyuck feels his walls he’s built up to keep Mark away crumble down. He opens his mouth to argue, but how Mark is looking at him is tearing away every argument he can form in his half awake mind.

“Mark?” He says in a small voice, earning a sleepy squeeze from the arms trapping him.

“I’ve got you, Hyuk.” Mark mumbles and shuts his eyes again, drawing a deep breath. 

Donghyuck feels like his heart is shaking around in his chest. He doesn’t know why he’s here, or how this even happened, but his head hurts and Mark’s arms feel like home right now.

He closes his eyes again, holding onto Mark’s hoodie like his life is on the line.

The next time Donghyuck wakes up it’s to someone running their fingers through his hair.

“Quit it, Minnie.” He grumbles out, not in the mood for Jaemin’s affection to come crashing onto him right now. He’s sleepy and his headaches.

“Minnie?” A voice Donghyuck wasn’t expecting is the one that replies, though. 

“Why are you in my bed, asshole?” Donghyuck hisses out, rubbing at his eyes until he gets them open for longer than a second.

“Why are you calling me ‘Minnie’?” Mark shoots back, making Donghyuck’s brain kick into action. 

“Let me go.” He tries to squirm out of Mark’s hold, but it’s no use. The one arm he has locked around him isn’t releasing him soon, and Mark is stronger than he is. “Fucking let me-”

“Wait- are you and Jaemin together?” 

Donghyuck’s head shoots up, staring at Mark with wide eyes. The question lacks its usual undertone of possessiveness. He’s genuinely asking this time. He’s nervous. 

Donghyuck hates it. 

“No.” He rushes out, the fight leaving him momentarily. “He’s my roommate- .” 

“I can back off if you are-”

“We’re not!” Donghyuck snaps at him without meaning to. “He just wakes me up like that- he always has. The only one I’m even close to dating is you.”

Mark visibly blanks.

Donghyuck’s mouth snaps shut. 

He tries as hard as he can to escape from Mark this time. He can’t stay facing him after blurting that out- he’ll die. Donghyuck gets the arm loose from his waist and rolls off of him, but after that the actual fight begins. Mark’s brain must have come back online because he snatches Donghyuck’s arm as he’s scrambling to get off the bed and tugs him back down. His fight-or-flight kicks into high gear now that Mark is actively trying to stop him from leaving. His feet hit the floor as soon as he gets free again and Donghyuck books it to the closed bedroom door. 

Unfortunately, Mark catches up as he’s finally getting the door open. 

“Get the fuck off me- Let me go!” Donghyuck spits out, hitting against Mark’s arms as they loop around him and lift him off the floor. “Mark, I swear to god- Don’t fucking touch me! Let me leave!” 

“No.” Mark grunts, dragging him back into the room despite Donghyuck’s insistent thrashing around to get away. “For once, just fucking talk to me!” 

“I don’t want to! You’re being mean!” Is it childish? Yes. But Donghyuck doesn’t care. He wants out of here asap.  

“I’m not letting you run away this time. Not after last night.” He says, not leaving any room in his voice for a shred of an argument. “You’ve been mine since I got my hands on you. And no matter how much of a fight you put up, I can see that you belong to me as much as I do to you.” 

Donghyuck doesn’t know what to say to that. He doesn’t think he’s ever been genuinely speechless before. He doesn’t know what to do with himself. He doesn’t like it. 

“If I’m wrong, you can rip into me. But I don’t think you will.” Mark speaks again, his voice softer.

It’s silent between them for a few long moments. 

Donghyuck swallows and doesn’t miss how Mark’s eyes track the movement. “What do you want from me, Mark?” He asks a little too honestly; a little too vulnerable to his liking. 

“I just want to be yours.” Mark says, voice just barely above a whisper. 

“No, you don’t.” Donghyuck bites out, finally ripping himself out of Mark’s hold. “You can’t.”

“Is it that hard to believe?” Mark’s voice raises to match his tone, making Donghyuck instinctively spin to face him. “Is it? That someone could love you?”

“Yes.” There’s no hesitation, no pause to Donghyuck’s answer. No sign of insecurity.

Mark is looking him in the eye as if he’s an idiot. 

“Donghyuck.” He looks pained, and Donghyuck really wants to leave before he starts crying or something. “I’m not asking you to love me. I just-... I want you to know I do.”

Donghyuck feels the tears well up in his eyes. So much for leaving before it could happen.

He’s lying. He has to be. Everyone who says they love him are just trying to get something-

“Please don’t cry, baby.” Mark breathes out, reaching out and resting against his cheek. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same-”

“Shut up!” Donghyuck grits out, hitting Mark’s chest a few times until his hands are caught in the other’s. “I fucking hate you- Why are you so nice to me?!”

“Because I love you.” Mark states, but a smile creeps onto his lips when he realizes Donghyuck isn’t going to outright reject him. “I’ve loved you for a while.”

There’s a moment of silence as Donghyuck shuts his eyes tight, trying to process the fact that Mark might be truthful about loving him. He wouldn’t lie, Mark can’t lie to Donghyuck. He’s seen it. 

“What do you want from me, Mark?” He repeats, his voice wobbly in a way that Mark hasn’t heard before. They’re on unstable footing and Donghyuck isn’t sure how to handle it. He’s never had to handle something like this.

Mark doesn’t immediately answer. Instead, he tugs Donghyuck closer and wraps him up into a bear hug that’s met with no resistance. “I just want for you to be safe and happy. That’s all, Haechannie.”

“Donghyuck.” He corrects without thinking, slowly relaxing into Mark’s touch. 

“Right.” Mark says with a gentle laugh, accepting Donghyuck’s weight as he leans into him. 

He buries his face into Mark’s shoulder, mumbling out something that’s lost with the way he’s pressed against him. It takes a few more seconds before Mark nudges him and gets him to say it clearly. “I’m already like that with you.”

“You are?” Mark asks as if Donghyuck hasn’t been broken apart and put back together by him countless times. 

“You idiot.” Donghyuck grumbles, reaching his hands up to wind around Mark in return. “Even Jeno noticed. Everyone noticed except you.”

A laugh bubbles out of Mark and Donghyuck can’t help the grin that tugs at his lips. “You don’t have to love me. I can wait.” He says, and his own brand of honesty shines through in his words. Donghyuck doesn’t doubt for a second he’d wait for him.

The only problem is that he doesn’t have to. 

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Donghyuck shoots back, but it lacks the usual bite. Instead, there’s evidence of his smile lingering in his voice. He knows because of the way Mark squeezes him for a second. “Ack- Trying to kill me after confessing your undying love for me-” Donghyuck doesn’t get anymore out before Mark is picking him up again, this time one arm sweeping under his knees. “Hey! You ass, warn me.” Donghyuck hisses out, not having any time to retaliate before he’s thrown back on the bed. He isn’t too proud of the squeak he lets out when he lands on the bed.

“I’m trying to be romantic.” Mark complains, chasing him into bed again and gathering a squirming Donghyuck into his arms. 

“Yeah well- You- Quit it.” His words get stuck somewhere between his brain and lips when he turns to look at Mark again. He really should have noticed it sooner; Mark looks in love.

“Quit it?!” Mark parrots with a bright laugh, tucking his face into Donghyuck’s neck. 

“I obviously love you.” Donghyuck says, playfully rolling his eyes. “I literally fed you the last of my ice cream when you came over the last time-”

“Dude, what? That was the last of it?!” 

“Yes, yes Mark. Keep up.” Mark pinches his inner thigh and Donghyuck’s leg jerks. He kicks Mark’s shin in retaliation. “You’re mine .” 

He doesn’t miss the shiver that runs through Mark’s body even as he shifts his weight to hide it.

“Oh?” He murmurs, a wicked grin pulling at his lips. “You liked that.”

Mark grumbles something against his neck, probably a protest against Donghyuck finding this out because god forbid he gets any upper hand on what Mark is into.

“Does Markie like that?” He can’t help old habits, as a teasing lilt creeps into his voice. He isn’t mocking him, but he certainly is trying to draw out a reaction. “Being mine?”

“Stop being mean.” Mark whines out, and Donghyuck is stunned for a second because he’s never heard Mark’s voice drop into an actual whine. 

“Hm, I don’t think I will.” Donghyuck murmurs, shifting to fit his body against Mark’s and slipping his thigh between Mark’s. “Do you get off on being the only one that’s allowed to fuck me?”

Mark’s breath pauses for a second, and Donghyuck takes that as a huge yes.

His thigh presses up against Mark’s crotch, and he can feel his cock hardening. Score. 

“Donghyuck.” Mark warns, his grip tightening. 

He knows he probably shouldn’t. They’ve just now drug those confessions out of each other. It’s still new and scary, but Donghyuck has always been a whore for Mark.

“Shouldn’t we like, christen our relationship?” Donghyuck suggests, grinning when Mark snorts against his collarbone. 

“That’s not a thing.” Mark murmurs, amusement clear in his voice. He isn’t protesting, though. Donghyuck considers that a win.

“Are you against it?” Donghyuck accuses, pressing his thigh harder and reveling in the noise it draws out of Mark. “Should I find someone else?” It’s an easy go-to. He’s used that line countless times, but this time he makes sure Mark still knows he wouldn’t. Mark snickers against his skin, dragging his lips up to Donghyuck’s neck. It’s the green light he was waiting for. “I know a few people that’d jump at the chance to fuck me, you know.”

“Yeah?” Mark taunts, one of his hands trailing down. Donghyuck jolts when Mark grabs a handful of his ass without warning. 

“Bitch.” He snaps, digging his nails into Mark’s back in retaliation. 

“You’re such a brat.” Mark mutters under his breath, yanking Donghyuck’s hips flush to his own and then grinding. Donghyuck isn’t that proud of the noise that leaves his lips at the feeling of being trapped between Mark’s hand and his hips. “Not today. I’ll fuck you next time when I have more time to tear you apart.” 

And that is how Donghyuck ends up under Mark minutes later. He’s forgotten how cruel Mark can be when he wants to.

“Look at you, baby.” He coos at Donghyuck, who’s trying to not lose his mind over Mark edging him. “You’re doing so well.”

Donghyuck wants to spit at him. He won’t, but god is it tempting when Mark rips away his touch for the second time. His back arches off the bed as his body threatens to tip over the edge yet again. A rough whine tears from his throat and he screws his eyes shut tight. 

Mark watches as he shakes from the denial but still doesn’t cum. “You’re so good for me.” He praises, reaching up to brush Donghyuck’s sweaty hair out of his face. “I love you.”

It takes a second, but Donghyuck blinks back open his eyes to look at Mark. He doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to being reminded that Mark loves him.

He jolts when the hand is back around his cock earlier than he’d expected. He’s not cooled down yet- Mark isn’t playing fair-

“It’s okay, let go. I won’t stop you this time.” His gentle voice curls around Donghyuck’s rib cage and tightens around his heart. The tension melts out of him at the promise. It doesn’t take long for Mark to get him back to a squirming, teary mess again. 

“Kiss,” He says, his voice wobbly. “Kiss- kiss me, please.” Mark immediately dips down, slotting his lips against Donghyuck’s and drinking down the noises he’s making. He’s babbling against Mark’s mouth, throwing out continuous pleas.

Donghyuck’s back arches off the bed moments later, pressing him into Mark as the tension finally snaps. A wall of pleasure slams into him, blacking him out for a moment as he finally gets release. Mark swallows down the whines that are punched out of him and keeps his hand moving until Donghyuck is jerking away from oversensitivity. 

One last kiss is pressed to his lips before Mark sits up, admiring Donghyuck laid out underneath him. “You’re gorgeous.” He says and Donghyuck doesn’t think he was supposed to hear it, but he does. 

Mark drags two fingers through the mess on Donghyuck’s abdomen and pops them into his mouth like it’s nothing. 

Donghyuck whines at the way his cock twitches at the sight. He can’t go another round right now, but god does that make him want to. “What… What about you?” Donghyuck questions weakly, still trying to catch his breath. 

“Oh.” Mark breathes out, shaking his head. “I’m good.” 

“Wait- Mark.” Donghyuck protests, trying to push himself up to get to him, but Mark roughly pushes him back down. He lets out an offended noise. 

“I already finished- My underwear is kinda wet, so I want to go get a washcloth and clean us both up.” Mark rushes out, a dark flush blooming across his cheekbones. “I’m just kind of scared to let go of you because you usually left immediately after I get up-”

“Hey, Mark.” He sighs, reaching up and tangling a hand into Mark’s hair to tug him back down. “I’ll be here when you come back, I promise.” Mark hesitates for a split second and Donghyuck steps in again. “Go.” 

Mark finally moves and leaves from where he’s been caging in Donghyuck. The way he keeps glancing back at him is kind of cute. “Okay. Yeah. I’ll be right back, dude.” He nearly trips over Donghyuck’s shirt he’d tossed onto the floor, making him snort in amusement from the bed. 

He’s only gone into the bathroom for a few seconds before he’s scrambling back out and back to the bed. Donghyuck grins at the way Mark immediately relaxes as soon as he can touch Donghyuck again. It’s a new feeling, staying behind in the afterglow with Mark, but he doesn’t mind. It’s nice. 

He hates it took him this long to let himself have it, though.

A week later, it finally surfaces.

“I’m going to choke you if you touch my food again.” Donghyuck hisses across the table, eyes narrowed.

“Woah, calm down-” Jeno tries, but he’s elbowed in the ribs by Jaemin.

“Yeah?” Mark laughs, already reaching for another fry. “I’d like to see you try, dude.”

Donghyuck lunges towards him, fully ready to fight this out, but he’s yanked back down into his seat by Chenle. The hand holding the back of his shirt doesn’t let go for another minute to make sure he doesn’t retry.

“Stop flirting. It’s gross.” Chenle complains, rolling his eyes.

“Right in front of my food.” Renjun adds, and Donghyuck finally cracks a smile. “Just go on a date already.”

“Wait- What?!” Jeno exclaims, staring at the two of them like they’re insane. 

“They’re already dating. Keep up.” Jaemin murmurs through a mouthful of food and Donghyuck finally lets a laugh escape him. 

“No fucking way.” Renjun argues, staring at Donghyuck in betrayal. “Seriously?! You two?”

“Obviously.” Donghyuck’s grinning like a maniac. He pops another fry into his mouth and eyes Mark when he sees him moving around again. His hand gets smacked away this time when he reaches for Donghyuck’s plate again. 

“Perfect for each other.” Jaemin drawls, rolling his eyes. 

All hell finally breaks loose as the others finally realize they’re not lying. 

Donghyuck let them do their thing, turning instead to look at Mark who’s already staring. He mouths ‘I’ll choke you’ again for good measure, but all Mark does is grin at him.

Maybe they’re not perfect, but Donghyuck can’t help but feel like he was made to love him.