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Chapter Text

Donghyuck had done a lot of stupid things in his life. Like when he was 8 and put his finger in the electrical outlet to see what would happen and almost got fried like a crispy piece of bacon. Or that one time when he was 12 and decided to paint himself blue for Halloween because he wanted to be Sonic. It was fun and all until he realized he’d used industrial-grade paint that took two weeks and a disgruntled mother to scrub it off him. Then there was the time he thought he could clear the entire staircase in one leap, only to end up with a broken arm, two missing teeth, and a new appreciation for gravity. And a disgruntled mother again.

Yes, Donghyuck had perfected the fine art of doing stupid things. But sometimes, life decided to sprinkle a little extra bad luck on top of his impulsive tendencies, like today.

So here he was, yet again, in the same hospital bed he’d occupied just six hours earlier. It was almost impressive how quickly he’d made a full-circle return.

Not that he meant to be back here. He didn’t. Really. But despite holding a degree in Business, which supposedly certified him as a rational adult, Donghyuck remained impulsive, stubborn, and lazy to his core.

Last night, Donghyuck came back home, after a long day of work, had a very delicious dinner, then went to sleep just fine. Or hoping for a night of uninterrupted sleep. "Hoping" being the operative word, because his front neighbor had the worst timing and an unholy penchant for late-night chaos. Who even decides to move furniture at 3 AM? But, Donghyuck managed to sleep just a little bit. 

Five hours later, he woke up in cold sweat with a sharp pain in his stomach, like he’d been stabbed by Chica the Chicken from his Five Nights at Freddy’s nightmares. He made a mental note to quit that game for good. 

Fifteen minutes later, he was bent over his toilet, expelling all his vital organs out. Or at least, it felt more or less like that. 

After ten more agonizing minutes and a rushed call to Renjun, telling his friend that he was either dying or being punished for all his stupid decisions in life, they were on the way to the hospital at the speed of a lightning strike, because Renjun was behind the wheel and he was always very bad at being a calm person. It was a miracle they didn’t get pulled over or crash into a lamppost.

Renjun only began to calm down once Donghyuck was safely laid out on a hospital bed, being poked and prodded by the doctor. And, oh man, what a doctor.

Donghyuck always hated hospitals, they reminded him of death, and—worse—painful needle sticks in the butt. But, if anything, the only good thing about this hospital was Dr. Lee. Definitely Dr. Lee. Short black hair that looked softer than clouds, a smile that could outshine the fluorescent hospital lights, and eyes so warm they could melt the iciest of hearts, Dr. Lee was a sight for sore eyes. Especially for someone with sore everything else.

Donghyuck wasn’t exactly a stranger to this hospital, given his track record of accidental self-sabotage, but this was the first time he’d encountered Dr. Lee. Not that his usual doctor, Dr. Jung, was bad. He was perfectly competent, but Dr. Lee had this softness, this calmness, that made Donghyuck almost forget he was currently fighting off what felt like death.

The doctor’s touch was gentle as he pressed down on Donghyuck’s abdomen, his voice equally soft. “Does this hurt?”

Donghyuck winced but tried to play it cool, flashing a shaky grin. “A little? I think. Or maybe I’m imagining it.”

Dr. Lee’s lips curved into a small, understanding smile. He moved his hand to another spot on Donghyuck’s abdomen, his touch still gentle. “Any pain here?”

Donghyuck shook his head.

“No, not really.”

Dr. Lee was sweet, telling Donghyuck that he was most likely having a food poisoning episode. Which was probably true. Donghyuck knew he didn’t eat something off, and the shrimp he ate last night did not taste bad at all. But he bought that maybe three days ago.

Whatever, he didn't care. He had a gorgeous doctor tending to him, and that was enough.

Dr. Lee glanced at his clipboard, then back at Donghyuck. “Do you have a history of food poisoning, Mr. Lee?”

Donghyuck perked up, summoning every ounce of charm he had left despite the nausea churning in his stomach. “Just Donghyuck is fine.”

The doctor looked up from his clipboard, a small smile playing on his lips.

"Do you have a history of food poisoning, Just Donghyuck?" he repeated, a soft dimple appearing with his teasing smirk.

Donghyuck never thought about marriage, but if he wasn’t in so much pain at that moment, he might have dropped to one knee and proposed to Dr. Lee right then and there.

"I'm a careful eater. I don't even eat raw food, just in case. Maybe the shrimp was off, or something. But it tasted fine.”

Dr. Lee raised an eyebrow, his gaze thoughtful. “Sometimes food can spoil without necessarily tasting bad. Did you have anything else with it? Anything else that could have caused it?"

"Well, no, just the shrimp, a glass of water and a banana."

“Shrimp and banana?” the doctor asked, arching his eyebrow.

“Judging me?”

“Definitely,” Dr. Lee answered slightly playfully, scribbling something on his notepad. 

Donghyuck watched as Dr. Lee moved around the room with effortless grace, preparing a saline drip. The doctor’s hands were precise and gentle, and Donghyuck found himself mesmerized by the way Dr. Lee’s fingers worked, threading the needle with care. The sharp sting barely registered, overshadowed by the soothing presence of the doctor. 

“Any other symptoms I should know about?” Dr. Lee asked, adjusting the flow of the IV.

“Does being incredibly unlucky count?” Donghyuck quipped, earning another soft laugh from Dr. Lee.

“Unfortunately, there’s no cure for bad luck,” Dr. Lee said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “But we’ll get you through this.”

As the IV fluids began to work their magic, Donghyuck started to feel a bit better. The room seemed less spinny, and the nausea was slowly ebbing away. He let out a sigh of relief, feeling a bit more like himself.

"Okay, the results of the blood tests will come in an hour. In the meantime, just stay here. I'll check on you in a bit."

The doctor left with a soft smile, to do whatever doctor-ly things they did in hospitals and Donghyuck turned to face the ceiling. Even in pain, Donghyuck was pretty much baffled. Because what was a face like that doing inside a stupid hospital? That man should be everywhere, anywhere. His face should be printed in all magazines, in advertisements for expensive and chic perfumes on TV, and without a doubt, a Calvin Klein billboard.

And even after when Donghyuck was medicated, released from observation, and sent back home, all he could think about were those pretty brown eyes of the doctor. Same pretty brown eyes that are looking at him right now, in pure concern. 

“You again?” Dr. Lee stood in front of him, eyebrows raised.

“Hi.”

“It’s been 6 hours.”

“I was working. It’s not like I want to be here again, okay?” Donghyuck whined, looking at the doctor with embarrassment. “But it seems like my stomach has other plans.”

Dr. Lee raised an eyebrow. "Did you eat something questionable again?"

"Define 'questionable’.”

“Did you eat the shrimp dish again?” Dr. Lee pinched the bridge of his nose.

Donghyuck bit his lower lip. “Maybe.”

Dr. Lee scoffed, shaking his head.

“I specifically told you that the shrimp dish was possibly what caused your intestinal infection. Why would you eat it again?”

“You said possibly. And the shrimp dish still looked great.”

Dr. Lee stared at him, incredulous. “That’s like saying, ‘I know this milk might be spoiled, but it still looks creamy.’”

“I mean, I paid good money for it. Waste not, want not, right?”

“Your stomach is not supposed to be a garbage disposal, you know that, right?” Dr. Lee rubbed his temples.

“I was in a rush to go to work, okay? What was I supposed to eat? Plain rice?” Donghyuck folded his arms, looking a bit defensive. 

“Yes?” Dr. Lee retorted, arching his eyebrows. 

“It was a moment of weakness, okay? I was hungry again, it was there, and it was calling my name,” Donghyuck defended himself. “On the bright side, you’re a great doctor and great guesser, I should’ve listened to you,” he grinned, attempting to lighten the mood. 

Dr. Lee shook his head, unable to hide a small smile. “Flattery won’t cure food poisoning, Mr. Lee. But it might get you a Jell-O cup.”

“Really? What flavor?” Donghyuck’s eyes lit up. The doctor chuckled softly.

“Let’s get you checked up, again. And medicated, again. So your stomach is drama-free.”

Donghyuck nodded, clutching his stomach. “Ok, Doc. From now on, I’ll only eat food that won’t kill me.”

And he stuck by what he said.

No more food poisoning.

But Donghyuck never said anything about ‘no more hospital visits’.

It was not like he wanted to be visiting the hospital every now and then, but it was like life wanted him to be there. A week later, he was there because of a cat allergy.

His coworker, Hyejin, brought her cat to work and she let Donghyuck pet it. Which he did. Because who was going to turn down an adorable ball of fur?

Unfortunately, his body was not very fond of cats and the next thing he knew, he was sneezing so violently his nostrils hurt and he felt like they were on the verge of detaching from his face. The sneezes were so intense, it seemed like his brain would dislodge and tumble out of his nose. The grand finale came when his chest tightened like an over-wound toy; he had something like an asthma attack and Hyejin cried, desperate to take him to the hospital, but Donghyuck calmed her and attempting a heroic smile between gasps, telling her he was fine to drive himself there. His eyes watered, his nose dripped like a leaky faucet, and his lungs protested with every inhale. But he stubbornly clung to the belief that he was just fine.

Absolutely, positively fine.

If he almost crashed his car, no one needs to know, that's just a tiny detail.

And guess who was working in the hospital again?

Donghyuck didn’t mean to go after Dr. Lee, even though he was hot shit. Donghyuck was not an insane stalker or anything, but when he stepped into the hospital reception, there was Dr. Lee. Leaning against the reception desk, talking to the receptionist with that infuriatingly perfect smile of his.

Donghyuck's heart did a triple somersault, landing somewhere near his throat. Great. Just great. Here he was, looking like a red-nosed reindeer in the middle of allergy Armageddon, while Dr. Lee looked like he’d just stepped out of a medical drama. The doctor’s short black hair was as immaculate as ever, his charming smile effortlessly making the receptionist giggle.

As if on cue, before Donghyuck could think of turning around and running back home, Donghyuck’s nose decided to launch another sneeze attack. He barely managed to pull a tissue from his pocket in time, the sound echoing through the reception area like a tragic trumpet solo. Dr. Lee glanced over, his pretty brown eyes widening in recognition. Donghyuck tried his best to look like a cute, innocent puppy and not a puppy with a terrible case of allergies. 

“Mr. Lee?” Dr. Lee called out, striding over with the grace of a runway model. “Are you alright?”

"Hey there, Doc. I'm peachy, just another day in paradise," Donghyuck managed to croak out, his voice scratchy from all the sneezing. He gave a tight smile to Dr. Lee. "Funny seeing you again."

"Why am I not surprised?" Dr. Lee deadpanned, clearly amused but also concerned. “What happened this time?”

Donghyuck rubbed his itchy nose and sniffled. "It was just a cat. I couldn’t resist petting it. Big mistake, apparently. But who would ever say no to a cute, adorable little ball of fur?"

"Someone who is allergic to cats," Dr. Lee answered, a bit too smugly.

"I am not allergic to cats, Doc, I swear,” Donghyuck said, raising his hands.

"Then, why are you in this state?"

"Bad luck?” Donghyuck shrugged. “I mean, I didn’t know I was allergic. I always petted cats when I was young and I was always fine. How was I supposed to know it was a trap? Can adults develop allergies out of nowhere?”

Dr. Lee raised an eyebrow, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yes, adults can develop allergies later in life. And it seems like you've found that out the hard way."

Donghyuck sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumping. 

"Great, just what I needed. Another reason to visit you."

The doctor chuckled, a soft sound that made Donghyuck's heart skip a beat. "Well, at least you're consistent and in good hands. Let's get you some antihistamines and see if we can get you breathing normally again.”

Donghyuck nodded obediently, following Dr. Lee down the familiar hallway. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered occasionally, casting a slightly eerie glow that made Donghyuck's nerves tingle even more than his sneezing fit. He could barely keep up with Dr. Lee's brisk pace, feeling like a clumsy puppy trotting after its owner.

As they reached the examination room, Dr. Lee gestured for Donghyuck to take a seat on the paper-covered bed. Donghyuck did so, trying not to crinkle the paper too loudly. Dr. Lee pulled on a pair of gloves with a snap that made Donghyuck wince.

“How are you feeling now?” Dr. Lee said, pulling out his stethoscope. 

“Like I’ve been hit by a freight train of sneezes,” Donghyuck replied, wincing as he stifled another sneeze. “But I’m managing.”

“So, any other allergies I should be aware of?” Dr. Lee asked, his tone half-serious, half-teasing.

Donghyuck shook his head. “Not that I know of, but with my luck, who knows?”

Dr. Lee chuckled softly, a sound that made Donghyuck's heart do a little flip. 

“Alright, let's get this sorted out.”

As Dr. Lee prepared a syringe for the antihistamine injection, Donghyuck couldn't help but notice the way the doctor's sleeves were rolled up just enough to reveal toned forearms. He shook his head, trying to focus on something other than his attraction to Dr. Lee.

“This should help with your breathing.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

Dr. Lee shook his head, smiling. “Just doing my job. Now, breathe in and out slowly.”

As the medication began to work its magic, Donghyuck felt his airways start to open up, the tightness in his chest easing. He glanced up at Dr. Lee, who was watching him closely, his pretty brown eyes full of concern.

“Feeling any better now?” Dr. Lee asked, softly, after a few minutes.

Donghyuck nodded, feeling a little bit shy. “Yeah, much better.”

“Good,” Dr. Lee said, his expression softening. “But let’s try to avoid any more hospital visits in such a short time, shall we?”

Donghyuck chuckled. “I’ll do my best.”

As Donghyuck went back home and settled back onto the bed, he made a mental note: no more shrimp, no more cats, and definitely no more stupid decisions. But, well…

Life had a funny way of ignoring his plans. 

One day, he found himself back at the hospital for the third time in a short spawn of a month. He accidentally slammed his fingers in the door and hurt three of his fingers. About three days later after his last visit.

Dr. Lee was already looking exasperated at him. "What did you do now?"

"Hey, Doc! How are you today? I'm doing great, thanks for asking," Donghyuck started, legs dangling from the hospital bed.

Dr. Lee sighed. "What did I say about avoiding being here in such a short period after your last visit?”

"Well..."

"What’s wrong with you now?"

"I kind of broke my fingers," Donghyuck said slowly, showing his fingers wrapped in bandages. “At least it feels like I broke them.”

"How?” Dr. Lee raised an eyebrow. 

Donghyuck shrugged, looking genuinely perplexed himself. "Yeah, I'm not sure how it happened. I was just closing the door.”

"Wait, wait. How exactly did you break them?" Dr. Lee looked a bit bewildered.

"I was just closing the door and…” Donghyuck paused, searching for the right words. “Well, I’m not sure. All I know is that the door closed a bit too early.”

"You mean it slammed in your fingers."

"Yup."

"Unbelievable. How are you even alive?"

"I ask myself that every day, Doc,” Donghyuck gave a sheepish grin. 

Dr. Lee shook his head, clearly struggling to keep a straight face. "Well, let's take a look at those fingers."

As Dr. Lee carefully unwrapped the bandages, Donghyuck couldn't help but admire the way the doctor’s hands moved with such precision and care. Despite the pain throbbing in his fingers, he found comfort in Dr. Lee's presence.

"You really have to be more careful," Dr. Lee said, examining the damage. “At this rate, we’re going to have to reserve a permanent room for you.”

"I know, I know," Donghyuck winced as Dr. Lee pressed gently on one of his swollen fingers. "But life seems to have a way of throwing curveballs at me."

"Maybe you should consider wearing protective gear at all times," Dr. Lee suggested with a chuckle. 

"I'll keep that in mind,” Donghyuck laughed, the sound strained from the pain. “Maybe I'll start a new fashion trend."

Dr. Lee finished examining and re-wrapping Donghyuck's fingers, then looked at him with a mix of concern and amusement. "They are not broken, but take the medications I prescribed and the pain will be gone soon."

"Okay," Donghyuck nodded.

"Might as well put some ice on it."

"Got it."

"Alright, you're good to go. Try to avoid any more disasters for a while, okay?"

"I'll do my best, Doc," Donghyuck said, hopping off the examination table. "Thanks for patching me up."

“You’ve been here so many times, I think you can call me by my first name,” Dr. Lee said. “I’m Mark.”

Donghyuck blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Mark?" He repeated, testing the name on his tongue. It felt oddly intimate, yet strangely fitting.

"Yes, Mark," Dr. Lee—no, Mark—replied with a soft smile. "Let's try to keep our next meeting outside the hospital, though."

Donghyuck chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll do my best. But no promises."

"Somehow, I expect that, Mr. Lee,” Mark shook his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. 

“Just Donghyuck, remember?.”

Mark nodded. “Ok. Take care, then, Just Donghyuck."

As Donghyuck walked out of the hospital, he felt a strange flutter in his chest. The simple act of learning Dr. Lee's first name had shifted something inside him.

Renjun went there to take Donghyuck back home, and as they rode the elevator up to Donghyuck's apartment, Renjun couldn't resist teasing his friend. "You've practically moved into that hospital with all your visits."

Donghyuck sighed, leaning against the elevator wall. 

"It's not like I enjoy it, Renjun. Hospitals give me the creeps."

"But you sure seem to enjoy seeing Dr. Hot Stuff every time you're there,” Renjun grinned mischievously. 

Donghyuck rolled his eyes, feeling his cheeks flush. "He's... well, he's good-looking. Can you blame me for not minding the sight?"

Exiting the elevator onto Donghyuck's floor, Renjun continued the banter. "Next time, just ask for his number to meet him over coffee, not an IV drip."

“Leave me alone,” Donghyuck groaned as they approached his apartment door. He spotted the telltale sign of yet another misdelivered package. "Not again."

"Ghost neighbor?" Renjun asked, eyeing the boxes stacked outside Donghyuck's door.

For the past few months, the apartment across from Donghyuck’s had been occupied by someone who was not only noisy at night, but also someone who was never home to receive their packages. To make matters worse, they consistently used the wrong address, 404-B instead of 404-A, resulting in deliveries piling up outside Donghyuck’s door.

“Seriously, how hard is it to check your address?” Donghyuck muttered, bending down to inspect the labels.

Renjun chuckled. “Looks like you’ve got some new neighbors who need a lesson in mailing etiquette.”

Donghyuck sighed, rubbing his temples. “I should just start charging them a delivery fee.”

“Or you could start your own package redistribution service,” Renjun suggested with a grin.

Donghyuck heaved a sigh as he stacked the misdelivered boxes neatly in front of the apartment across from his. 

“Hope they get the hint this time,” Renjun quipped, leaning against the wall next to Donghyuck’s door.

Donghyuck nodded, shaking his head with a bemused smile. “They must really love online shopping.”

With that task done, Donghyuck turned to his own apartment door and fumbled for his keys. Finally, he managed to unlock the door and pushed it open with a sense of relief mingled with exhaustion from the day’s events.

Stepping inside, Donghyuck kicked off his shoes and let out a long, weary sigh. The familiar scent of his apartment, tinged with a hint of burnt toast from his last cooking mishap, calmed his frazzled nerves. He glanced over at Renjun, who was still chuckling at the absurdity of their evening.

“Let’s hope this is the last time I see the inside of a hospital for a while,” Donghyuck muttered, sinking down onto his couch, trying to ignore the dull throb in his bandaged fingers.

Renjun plopped down beside him. “Yeah, but knowing you… You will probably be drooling over Hot Doc next week, again.”

Donghyuck laughed, though there was a touch of resignation in his voice. 

“True. But maybe I’ll stick to doing boring, safe stuff.”

Renjun raised an eyebrow. “Like knitting?”

“Knitting can be dangerous,” Donghyuck protested half-heartedly, recalling a childhood mishap involving a rogue knitting needle.

Renjun rolled his eyes, but his smile was affectionate. “Just try to keep yourself in one piece, okay? Dr. Lee might start charging you rent if you keep this up.”

"Can you blame me?" Donghyuck shot back. 

“Yes, I can,” Renjun scoffed. “At some point, I will start thinking you’re getting injured just to see him.”

"First of all, rude. I’m not that insane. Second, can you blame me?” Donghyuck repeated, whining. “He's so kind, patient, and have you seen those eyes?"

Renjun chuckled. "Yeah, you’ve mentioned his eyes. And his smile. And his hair. But he’s a doctor, Hyuck, he is supposed to be patient. And kind.”

"And hot?" Donghyuck added.

Renjun shook his head, rolling his eyes. "You're hopeless. Next thing I know, you will try to get yourself hurt to see him again.”

"If you think about it, it's not a bad idea,” Donghyuck feigned like he was thinking. “Not too badly, just enough to need his attention, like, a small cut, or maybe a twisted ankle, or something."

"Hyuck!”

“I’m kidding, you know that,” Donghyuck frowned.

Renjun scoffed. “Whatever, just don't do anything stupid."

Donghyuck sighed. 

He was so not doing anything stupid.

But, of course, when you say you won't do something, fate just loves to laugh at your face and prove you wrong.

So, naturally, he decided he would never hurt himself. No more disasters. He’d keep himself out of trouble if it was the last thing he did.

But of course, the universe seemed to take it as a challenge. 

After 6 days, 4 hours and 30 minutes, he was just there, looking at the ceiling of the hospital again. 

First thing Mark did when he saw Donghyuck across the room was sigh and put his hands on his hips. 

“You know, I see you more often than I see my mother.” 

“Well, then I’m afraid that's a sign you should see your mother a little bit more," Donghyuck shot back.

“What is it this time?” Mark asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe.

Donghyuck shifted uncomfortably on the hospital bed, the crinkling of the sheets adding to his embarrassment. “I was coming back home from grocery shopping, and I slipped.”

Mark stared at him, waiting for more. “And how did that land you back in the hospital?”

Donghyuck rubbed the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at Mark. “Well, I dropped my eggs and slipped on one of them. I hit my head on the back of the car, and then when I tried to stand up too quickly, I tripped over my own feet and landed face-first in the rose bush in front of my building. I'm just here because my friend was worried about my head."

Mark blinked, processing the sheer absurdity of the story. 

“You’re telling me you got taken down by an egg and a rose bush?”

Donghyuck nodded, feeling heat rise to his cheeks again. “Yeah, pretty much.”

Mark burst out laughing, shaking his head. "How does that even happen? Were you wearing a blindfold or something?"

"Nope, just plain old me being unlucky. And clumsy," Donghyuck said, throwing his head back against the pillow.

“More like a talent,” Mark said between chuckles. “I'm sorry, but that's kind of ridiculous."

Donghyuck chuckled. “Ridiculous is kind of my specialty.”

“I’m starting to get that impression," Mark glanced back at him, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Seriously, if there was an Olympic event for accidental self-injury, you’d be a gold medalist.”

“I know. But in my defense, those were some slippery eggs,” Donghyuck pouted. 

Mark shook his head, still chuckling. “You need to start wearing a helmet or something. You’re going to run out of body parts to injure at this rate.”

Donghyuck sighed, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. “Maybe I should just stay inside and wrap myself in bubble wrap.”

“Might not be a bad idea. But for now, let’s get you checked out and make sure you’re okay. Again,” Mark’s voice softened as he moved closer, his eyes scanning Donghyuck’s face. “So, how's your head?"

“Haven't had any complaints,” Donghyuck answered sheepishly.

Mark froze for a second, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“I know you did not just say this lame RuPaul joke to me.”

Donghyuck pressed his lips together, trying to suppress a grin. 

“Sorry, it was stronger than me.”

Mark giggled softly, shaking his head. “I’m being serious, any concussion?" he asked, moving closer to Donghyuck's bed and looking into his eyes with a concerned face, his expression so earnest that Donghyuck felt a flutter in his chest.

Donghyuck swallowed hard, his gaze locked on Mark's.

"Uh, no, just a minor bump, and some scratches. That's all."

"Let me take a look," Mark said softly, tilting Donghyuck's chin up with a tenderness that made Donghyuck's breath catch. Mark’s fingers were warm and gentle as they probed the area around the bump, his touch careful and soothing.

Their faces were inches apart, and Donghyuck could feel the warmth of Mark’s breath on his skin.

Donghyuck winced slightly as Mark's fingers brushed over the tender spot, but the pain was secondary to the butterflies going crazy inside Donghyuck’s stomach. 

"Sorry," Mark murmured, his touch feather-light now.

“It’s fine,” Donghyuck whispered, his voice barely audible, his heart pounding in his chest. 

“Any headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision?” Mark asked, shining a light into Donghyuck’s eyes.

“Nope, just a bruised ego,” Donghyuck replied with a lopsided grin. 

Mark chuckled softly, finishing up his examination. “Well, you seem to be remarkably resilient, Donghyuck. No signs of serious injury this time. But you should stay in observation for a few more minutes. Just in case.”

“Okay, then just leave me to my fate. I’ve practically become a regular here, I know how to handle myself in this bed.”

Mark giggled, a warm sparkle in his eyes as he moved to sit in a chair beside the window. “Actually, I think I’m going to stay. Keep an eye on you for a while, make sure you’re okay.”

Donghyuck raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Don’t you have a nurse for that?”

Mark stretched lazily, a small smile playing on his lips. “Sure, but today’s been quiet. No chaos buzzing around the hospital, so I figured I could give some special attention to our VIP patient.”

Donghyuck’s heart fluttered at Mark’s words, he wished he was embarrassed but he felt a rush of warmth spread through him. He shifted slightly in the hospital bed, suddenly feeling more comfortable under Mark’s watchful gaze. The gentle hum of the hospital room seemed to fade into the background as they shared a moment of silence.

“Well, I guess I can’t argue with that,” Donghyuck finally said, a shy smile tugging at his lips.

Mark nodded, his eyes softening. “Good. Now, just relax. I’ll keep you company for a bit.”

“I must be a special case."

Mark chuckled softly, the sound like a soothing melody in the quiet hospital room. "You could say that. Besides, you’re an entertaining patient."

Donghyuck laughed, feeling a blush creeping up his cheeks. "Entertaining? I'm just a magnet for trouble."

“I mean, I can’t argue with you. But your antics do make my days a lot more interesting. Like, your medical file is really extensive, since last year, you’ve been here a lot.”

Donghyuck shrugged. "What can I say? I'm always just too distracted."

"I figured," Mark joked. "If you're like this when you're an adult, I can't even imagine what happened to you when you were younger."

"Oh, don't get me started," Donghyuck replied with a wry grin. "I could tell you some interesting stories about 2 or 3 years ago."

Mark leaned forward in his chair, his eyes shining with curiosity. "I'd love to hear them."

“Like, once I ended up here to get my butt stitched because I put a knife in my pocket and forgot it was there. I sat down to eat my lunch, and the knife poked my ass,” Donghyuck said, shaking his head as if reliving the ridiculousness of the moment.

Mark let out a loud, high-pitched laugh that echoed through the hospital room. “Oh man, I remember that.”

Donghyuck frowned, his cheeks turning a shade of pink. “You do? How? You weren’t the doctor who attended to me. That was Dr. Jung.”

“At that time, I was just a resident, not a fully functional doctor, but I was assisting Dr. Jung that day,” Mark said, a nostalgic smirk playing on his lips. “I remember this because you would always end up here injured for the most unthinkable reasons. And I was always wondering, ‘How is this dude even alive?’”

“You remembered me?” Donghyuck asked, his frown deepening with a mix of surprise and embarrassment. “Like, since the first time you examined me?”

“Yeah.”

Donghyuck was baffled. Mark remembered him. That was embarrassing as hell. His cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and he suddenly became intensely aware of every detail in the room: the sterile smell of antiseptic, the hum of fluorescent lights, the scratchy hospital gown clinging to his skin. He wished the bed would swallow him whole, or better yet, that a trapdoor would open beneath him and drop him into a pit filled with pillows and his dignity. The thought of Mark recalling all his past misadventures made him squirm with discomfort.

“By the way,” Mark began, pulling Donghyuck out of his thoughts. “Why did you put a knife in your pocket?”

“I was making a sandwich,” Donghyuck explained, waving his hands around as if reenacting the scene. “I was cutting onions, I think, and the sink was just full of stuff. There was no more space to put the knife, so I put it in my pocket out of reflex. Then, I forgot about it and sat.”

Mark shook his head, laughing harder now. “You are something else. Do you have a guardian angel or something?”

“Maybe, but I think they’re on permanent vacation,” Donghyuck replied.

“Well, at least your stories keep us entertained. Remember the time you decided to walk around wearing your friend’s high heels?”

“You were assisting that day too?”

“Not really, but I overheard you explaining yourself to Dr. Jung while I was stitching another patient next to you.”

Donghyuck buried his face in his hands. “Don’t remind me. It was so embarrassing explaining why I sprained my ankle.”

“That time you thought it would be a good idea to test if superglue could hold your broken glasses together while you were wearing them, that was something else,” Mark added, eyes twinkling with amusement.

“I had superglued my eyelashes shut. That was a rough day,” Donghyuck sighed dramatically. “Seriously, how can you remember all this?”

“Like I said before, your cases are unique. It’s impossible not to remember them,” Mark shrugged.

“Can’t you just pretend you don’t remember me?”

Mark chuckled, and Donghyuck could swear he saw a faint blush creeping up Mark's neck. “Oh, come on. Your antics are legendary around here. We used to have a betting pool on what you’d do next.”

“You guys had a betting pool? Because of me and my injuries?” Donghyuck asked out loud.

“Yes,” Mark answered, holding his laugh. “We still have it, by the way. But, since your new appearances around here are pretty much normal, we are betting less these days.”

Donghyuck groaned. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Not at all. Last year, Dr. Jung bet you’d come in with a bowling ball injury. I bet on something involving firecrackers,” Mark said with a grin.

Donghyuck wished he could just crawl back inside his mom's womb.

“Well, I hope someone made a fortune today,” Donghyuck muttered, trying to hide his face in the pillow.

“Actually, no one guessed ‘slipping on an egg and knocking your head on a car hood’,” Mark said, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “You continue to defy expectations.”

Donghyuck shrugged, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Well, at least my life isn’t boring.”

Mark let out a low chuckle, his gaze never leaving Donghyuck's face. 

Donghyuck could feel his face heating up, and he quickly averted his gaze, trying to hide the goofy grin spreading across his lips. And he couldn’t help but think about how charming Mark looked when he laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners and his smile lighting up his entire face. 

Donghyuck had a really shitty day. Like, really shitty. Too many processes to look at. Too many meetings. Too many complaints from his boss. He got out of work way too late, didn’t have time to go grocery shopping. His car started to sound like the pirate version of Optimus Prime and he had to leave it at the repair shop, meaning he had to walk home. And, damn, what a long walk it was.

And, of course, because Donghyuck is Donghyuck, he had to slip and almost fall on his ass, only to cut his hand on a piece of glass while trying to break his fall. His hand had been bleeding for the past minutes as he trudged home.

He was so exhausted that the idea of going to the hospital didn’t even cross his mind. 

It’s been more than two weeks since the last time he stepped foot in that hospital, and most people would be happy about not having to go to the hospital, but Donghyuck was kind of sad he couldn’t see Mark. 

Every time he thought about Mark, he felt a little pang in his chest. Of course, he developed a crush on the doctor. Stupidity ran through his veins, what else would happen if not this? This crush had crawled inside his spirit in such a humiliating way. Like, why?

He remembered the way Mark’s eyes sparkled when he laughed, the way his touch was always gentle and reassuring. Every interaction with Mark was just a scene of a cheesy romantic comedy, minus the actual romance. With Donghyuck being the hapless protagonist who kept ending up in ridiculous situations just to catch a glimpse of his crush.

He had thought about going to the hospital so many times, conjuring up the most ridiculous ideas just to have an excuse to see Mark. “Maybe I could pretend I have a sudden headache,” he had mused one day, or “What if I said I needed a follow-up on that old sprained ankle?” But at the end of the day, he would fall back into his senses. 

He was just a patient and nothing else. Mark probably didn’t think about him at all when he wasn’t there, certainly not in the way Donghyuck thought about him.

So now, the fact that he has a real excuse to pop by the hospital and see Mark again was not even nice. He didn’t even care that his hand was throbbing like hell. He would slap a band-aid on the cut and call it a day.

His shoulders slumped even more dramatically as he dragged himself into the building, each step feeling like it weighed a hundred pounds. Naturally, the elevator was out of service, because why wouldn’t it be? Just the cherry on top of his shit sundae of a day.

So he trudged up the stairs to the fourth floor, muttering curses under his breath like a gremlin. By the time he made it to his floor, he was practically folded in half, eyes glued to his shoes, fishing around in his pocket for his keys. All he wanted was to crash on his couch, sob into a blanket, and rewatch Death Game until his brain turned to soup.

“Donghyuck?”

His eyes snapped up at the sound of the familiar voice, because no way that was Mark’s voice. Right?

It was Mark.

Mark, in the flesh, standing right there in the hallway like some perfect fever dream. Looking every bit as perfect as ever, with his dark hair slightly tousled and a look of genuine concern etched on his face, of course it was fucking Mark.

He was standing directly in front of the door to the apartment across from Donghyuck’s. Plastic bags in both hands, keys hanging from the lock like he’d been mid-fumble when he spotted him.

Mark looked like sin in a black T-shirt and jeans. Casual. Effortless. Ridiculously good-looking and his eyes were bright and alert. The T-shirt hugged his frame just right, the jeans were slightly faded, and Donghyuck had no idea how clothes that simple could make his brain foggy like that.

If there were awards for spiraling into madness, his face would be immortalized in the Guinness Book with a “World Record for Instantaneous Breakdown Upon Seeing Hot Neighbor Reveal.”

Mark was his ghost neighbor. The one Donghyuck had convinced himself was either a ghost or a vampire or both because no one ever came in or out of that apartment.

“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered under his breath.

“Is that dried blood?” Mark’s eyes widened as he dropped the plastic bags. “What happened?”

Donghyuck stared blankly. “What are you doing here?”

“I live here.”

“You live here?” he repeated dumbly.

“Yes,” Mark said slowly, brows furrowing. “I’ve been living here for six—no, almost seven months.”

Donghyuck’s brain blue-screened.

“But that’s not important,” Mark added, already stepping toward him. “What happened to your hand?”

Donghyuck looked down at his hand like it belonged to someone else. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing,” Mark snapped gently, taking his hand like it was made of porcelain, examining the dried blood and broken skin.

“Yeah,” Donghyuck said, very intelligently, still stuck on I’ve been living here for six, almost seven months like a scratched CD.

Mark looked at him like he was the densest man alive. Which, to be fair, he probably was.

“Come here,” he said, already nudging Donghyuck toward the open door. He picked up the bags, unlocked the apartment fully, and ushered Donghyuck inside.

Donghyuck stepped into the apartment he’d once considered haunted and felt like a full-blown intruder. 

“Stay here. I’ll get the first aid kit,” Mark said, already disappearing down the hall with that same calm, doctorly tone he used in the hospital.

Donghyuck just nodded, still completely dazed. His brain hadn’t caught up to his body yet. He sat there, awkwardly holding his injured hand and scanning the room like it might offer some answers. The apartment was warm, soft, lived-in. Not what he expected from someone whose entire vibe at the hospital screamed “extremely put together and professional.”

There were small touches of personality everywhere like neatly stacked books on a shelf, a poor potted plant looking too thirsty in the corner, warm-toned lamps that gave the space a golden glow. The kitchen melted right into the living room, no walls or dividers, just a cozy kind of openness. And that smell, Donghyuck recognized it instantly. That same gentle, clean scent he always caught when Mark leaned in close at the hospital. Baby lotion. Or something suspiciously similar. It was weirdly comforting. The whole place smelled like a hug.

Mark returned with a white plastic first aid box, sat down next to him, and took Donghyuck’s hand like it was something fragile. His fingers were steady and warm, the kind of gentle that made Donghyuck’s chest burn worse than the cut.

“When did you cut yourself?” Mark asked, frowning as he cleaned around the wound with practiced care.

“Like ten minutes ago? Maybe more,” Donghyuck mumbled. “I walked here from the repair shop.”

“Johnny’s repair shop?” Mark glanced up, one eyebrow raised like that name actually meant something to him.

Donghyuck nodded. “Yeah… you know him?”

Mark hummed, casually pulling out a clean bandage. “Yeah, he’s a friend of Jaehyun.”

“Okay… who’s Jaehyun?”

“Oh, yeah, you don’t know his first name," Mark smiled, eyes crinkling. "Jaehyun is Dr. Jung. Jung Jaehyun.”

Donghyuck’s eyes went wide, the pieces clicking into place. “Oh!”

Mark chuckled softly, securing the bandage with gentle pressure. “Small world, huh?”

“It really is. I mean, you are my ghost neighbor, who would've thought?”

Mark tilted his head, smiling. “Ghost neighbor?”

Donghyuck shrugged, his lips twitching. “I never saw you around. Just heard noises at night. Like footsteps and drawers opening. Creaky floorboards. Ghost shit.”

“You heard that?” Mark’s eyebrows shot up, and for the first time, he looked flustered. 

“You’re so loud at night.”

Mark turned red, actually red. It started at his neck and climbed up to his ears and cheeks, and Donghyuck stared at him in awe, because Mark Lee blushing was a sight for sore eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Mark said through an embarrassed giggle. “Late nights are the only time I get to myself. Being a doctor means I basically live on a vampire schedule.”

Donghyuck smirked, leaning back into the couch. “Yeah, I figured. Ghost or vampire. Either way, thanks for not haunting me. Or, I guess, thanks for haunting me.”

Mark laughed again, still red, still perfect.

And Donghyuck’s heart was so not okay.

“Glad we cleared that up,” Mark said with a soft chuckle, swiping a cotton ball soaked in alcohol across Donghyuck’s hand again. It stung a little. “It’s not a deep cut, but it’ll take a while to heal. Does it hurt?”

Donghyuck rolled his eyes, tossing out a sarcastic, “Why? You gonna kiss it better if it does?”

He was joking. Obviously.

So when Mark actually leaned forward and brushed his lips gently over the center of Donghyuck’s palm, Donghyuck felt as bit tingly.

It wasn’t some wild movie moment. It was just ridiculously tender and, suddenly, the sting of alcohol was the least of his problems.

Mark pulled back, still holding Donghyuck’s hand. “It’ll heal ten times faster now,” he said with a little laugh, like he hadn’t just casually detonated a nuclear bomb inside Donghyuck’s chest.

Donghyuck stared at him, trying so hard to keep his cool, even as his entire body screamed, What is he doing?!

Mark finished bandaging him up, wrapping the gauze neatly, his touch feather-light. “There you go. Good as new.”

Donghyuck felt like a kid again. Not in a sweet, nostalgic way, more like in a dumb elementary school crush kind of way. Like his heart had freckles and scraped knees and couldn’t sit still.

“Uh, thanks,” he muttered.

Mark smiled gently. “Of course. It’s my duty.”

“That’s your duty at work,” Donghyuck said, narrowing his eyes. “Not when you’re at home. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?” Mark gave him a playful smirk. "I can't help it. I'm a doctor, it's in my nature."

“Still,” Donghyuck mumbled, chewing on his bottom lip. He glanced up and Mark was looking at him again, eyes soft and kind and very close. His stomach flipped. He jumped up from the couch like it was on fire. “I should go. You probably want to rest.”

Mark stood up, too. “Wait—did you eat already? I was just about to have dinner. It’d be nice to have some company.” 

Donghyuck hesitated, caught off guard by the invitation. He hadn’t planned on staying longer, but the idea of spending more time with Mark was oddly appealing. “Uh, I haven’t eaten yet. Was gonna cook something.”

“With that right hand of yours, Captain Hook?” Mark raised an eyebrow, eyes flicking to the bandage.

Donghyuck couldn’t help but laugh at the jab. 

“Hey, I’ll have you know I’m ambidextrous.”

“Sure, sure,” Mark teased. “But how about you let me handle dinner tonight?”

Donghyuck nodded reluctantly, secretly relieved to not have to cook with a bandaged hand. “Alright, I suppose I can’t argue with that logic. Can you cook?”

Mark scrunched his face. “I can try.”

“So that’s a no.”

“No,” Mark clarified with a smirk. “That’s an ‘I do know how to survive’ kind of answer.”

“So, you want me to eat your survival food?” Donghyuck retorted playfully.

Mark gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his heart. “Not survival food,” he said, moving to the kitchen and retrieving his forgotten plastic bags from the countertop. “I bought food. From downtown.”

Donghyuck chuckled, watching Mark unpack the bags with curiosity. “Alright, I’m trusting you here. What did you get?”

“Only the finest takeout this side of town,” Mark declared with a flourish, revealing containers of food. “Spicy noodles and dumplings. My go-to comfort food.”

Donghyuck raised an eyebrow. “Spicy noodles and dumplings? You’re really going all out.”

“Hey, I aim to impress,” Mark grinned, setting the containers on the kitchen table. “Come on, sit here.”

Donghyuck took a seat at the table, still not quite believing this was actually happening. 

He had just met his ghost neighbor, who happened to be the doctor he had secretly crushed on for the past weeks. For the first time in his life, it seemed like luck was finally on his side. At least for something.

As Mark moved around the kitchen, pulling out bowls and plates, Donghyuck sat at the table, watching with mild fascination. 

Trying not to stare too hard, and failing, Donghyuck cleared his throat. “So... what’s your doctor thing? Like, what’s your specialty?”

Mark chuckled as he reached up into a cabinet, standing on the tips of his toes. “Emergency medicine,” he called back. “I basically deal with whatever walks, or gets dragged, through the door. From people with tiny cuts like yours to the kind of stuff you only see in dramas.”

"That sounds a little terrifying, honestly.”

Mark grinned over his shoulder. “It is. But it’s kind of addictive. I like that every shift’s different. Keeps me alert. What about you?”

“I work in an office," Donghyuck shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "You know, fluorescent lights, spreadsheets, soul slowly leaving my body. Nothing as exciting as saving lives.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Mark said, placing a plate in front of Donghyuck. “Everyone’s job has its own challenges and rewards. Do you want beer?" he asked opening the fridge, dangling a bottle.

"I could never say no to beer," Donghyuck replied.

"Great," Mark giggled, closing the fridge and walking over to the table, a bottle in each hand.

Donghyuck couldn't help but stare. It was ridiculous how charming Mark was, even in his own apartment, just bringing beers to the table. Maybe Donghyuck should contact the Guinness Book of World Records, because if they tracked heart palpitations per minute, Donghyuck was breaking records right now.

He had a few sips, trying to hide the fact that his palms were sweating and he was nervous as hell, for no reason. To distract himself, he glanced around the apartment again, his eyes landing on a photo above the TV. "Is that your family?"

"Oh, yeah," Mark answered, glancing over at the photo. "That's my mom and dad, and my older brother. He lives in New York now, but he comes home for Christmas and the holidays."

"You look just like him," Donghyuck commented, recalling the resemblance in the picture.

Mark smiled. "Yeah, we get that a lot. You have any siblings?"

“Nope,” Donghyuck said, popping the ‘p.’ “Only child. The one and only.”

"I can't imagine how lonely it must be," Mark replied, his tone sympathetic.

Donghyuck chuckled. "Oh, trust me, I wasn't lonely growing up. I had more friends than I could keep track of."

"Really?"

"My parents are teachers, so our house was basically a public study café. There were always kids over, sometimes like five at once. I was basically raised by a rotating cast of high schoolers," Donghyuck explained, remembering his childhood fondly.

"That sounds like a fun childhood," Mark mused, his expression wistful.

"It was," Donghyuck replied, smiling softly. Mark's gaze was soft, and he seemed relaxed and comfortable, a slight contrast to his professional demeanor in the hospital. “What about you?”

"Pretty average, I guess," Mark answered with a shrug. "I didn’t have a lot of friends, but my family’s close. My brother and I fought all the time growing up, but now we get along."

Donghyuck nodded. “I pegged you as the popular kid in high school. Like, student council president, top of the class, voted ‘most likely to charm your mom.’”

“Why?” Mark asked with a curious smirk.

“I don’t know, you have this chill vibe, like you’re someone easy to connect to.”

Mark smiled. "Okay, fine. I was kind of popular. But not in the annoying, quarterback, center-of-every-party way. More like the guy everybody knows and likes, but who somehow ends up floating between friend groups."

Donghyuck nodded, slurping up a mouthful of noodles before pointing his chopsticks at Mark. “Yeah, I see that. You’re the universally liked type. I was more of the class clumsy clown. Now, I’m just a clumsy adult. Somewhat attractive. The clown in me works from his home office.”

Mark laughed, nearly spilling his beer. “Donghyuck, as much as you are clumsy, you are definitely attractive.”

“You think so?” Donghyuck asked, blushing furiously. He could feel the heat spreading from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.

“I know so,” Mark replied, his eyes twinkling with sincerity and a hint of something more.

Donghyuck felt a rush of warmth at Mark’s words, his heart doing a little flip. He tried to play it cool, but his voice came out softer than he intended.  “Thanks.”

“Oh, speaking of office,” Mark began, munching on his noodles. “You work near the hospital, right? Vertex Dynamics?

Donghyuck was taken aback. “How do you know?”

Mark coughed, looking slightly sheepish. “I saw your badge the time you got food poisoned. Twice.”

“Oh, yeah, I work there."

“Do you want a ride to work tomorrow?” Mark asked, looking at his plate and playing with the rest of his noodles. “ I mean, your car’s still in the shop, right? And your hand isn’t exactly in top form. I drive past your building every morning. Figured it’d make things easier.”

Donghyuck blinked, surprised by the offer.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to inconvenience you. I can just Uber.”

Mark shook his head, a small smile on his lips. “It’s no inconvenience.  I’d actually like the company. Morning traffic sucks, but it sucks less when you’re not alone."

“Well... alright then. I start at 8," Donghyuck said, still processing the unexpected kindness.

“I have an early shift anyway," Mark grinned. "We’ll leave at 7:30, cool?"

“Cool,” Donghyuck agreed, then added with a nervous laugh, “But seriously, are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Mark said, his smile widening. “Besides, I could use the company. It gets pretty boring driving alone.”

Donghyuck tried to play it cool, but he felt like his organs were jumping up and down inside his body. “Alright then, it’s a deal.”

"Also, it’s better than you trying to juggle your coffee and a bandaged hand in an Uber," Mark bit his lower lip, trying to contain a smile.

"Oh, come on," Donghyuck whined. "I don't need a babysitter."

Mark laughed. “Maybe, you do.”

“Those incidents that happened before, were isolated incidents," Donghyuck huffed.

“Sure they were,” Mark teased, still grinning. “I’m just trying to prevent another trip to the ER, honestly.”

The rest of dinner passed in a blur of laughter and easy conversation.

It was the kind of night where time slipped through your fingers. One second they were joking about Donghyuck's childhood injuries, and the next, the table was covered in empty plates and three bottles of beer. The food was delicious, the beer hit just right, and the buzz in Donghyuck’s chest wasn’t just from the alcohol. His nerves, which had been doing backflips earlier, had completely disappeared. In their place was something warm, almost floaty. Mark was even more magnetic outside the hospital, charming in a way that didn’t feel rehearsed. Just natural. It was dangerous how easy he was to talk to. And it was even worse how much harder Donghyuck was crushing now.

After dinner, Donghyuck tried to be a decent guest and help clean up, but Mark was already shooing him out of the kitchen.

“Let me wash at least my plate,” Donghyuck argued, standing in the doorway, half-committed to leaving.

“With that hand? Absolutely not.” Mark raised a brow, crossing his arms. “Go rest. Change out of your CSI crime scene shirt. Doctor’s orders."

Chuckling, Donghyuck stepped into the hallway. “Fine. You win this time, Dr. Lee. But next time, I’m bringing gloves.”

Mark leaned against the doorframe, smiling lazily. “We’ll see.”

Donghyuck paused, his heart tugging as he turned to face him one last time. “Thanks. For dinner. For being so—” he shrugged, suddenly shy, “—nice.”

Mark’s smile softened, a little crooked. “Anytime. See you in the morning?”

“Yeah. 7:30,” Donghyuck nodded, reaching for his keys. He’d just started unlocking his apartment door when he heard Mark call his name again.

“Hey, Donghyuck,” Mark said, voice quieter now. Different.

Donghyuck turned, brows raised, and barely had time to blink before Mark was right there, closing the distance between them with a nervous kind of determination.

Mark kissed him.

Well, sort of. It started as a kiss, except Donghyuck froze. He was pretty sure Mark let out a small, frustrated whine against his lips.

But that sound snapped Donghyuck out of it.

His good hand shot up to grab the front of Mark’s shirt and pull him in, and just like that, it turned into a kiss. A very real one. Mark’s arms wrapped around his waist, firm and possessive, and Donghyuck let out a noise he didn’t even mean to make when Mark’s fingers slid into his hair and tugged.

Mark’s mouth moved like he knew exactly what he was doing. Soft lips, teasing tongue, a rhythm that was equal parts sweet and sinful. Donghyuck wasn’t sure if he was breathing properly, but he also didn’t care. 

Mark tasted like beer and something warm, like honey or cinnamon or maybe just Mark, and Donghyuck was drunk on it. He melted into the kiss when Mark’s hand found his waist and squeezed, and he couldn’t stop the quiet moan that escaped from the back of his throat.

Somehow, it was better than every daydream he’d had about this exact moment. Better than every ‘what if’ he’d played in his head during slow afternoons or sleepless nights. 

When Mark finally pulled back, his lips were red and his eyes were dark, half-lidded with something heavy.

“See you tomorrow,” he whispered, voice low and wrecked, and before Donghyuck could say a single word, Mark disappeared into his apartment, closing the door gently behind him.

And Donghyuck just stood there, alone in the hallway, staring at nothing, heart pounding, lips tingling, soul officially ruined.

"What the—"

Chapter Text

Life was truly strange.

Donghyuck had gone through lots of different situations in his life, most of them not quite delightful ones, but somehow, sitting in the passenger seat of his ghost neighbor’s car (who, by the way, was a hot doctor and his very real crush and the man who’d kissed him breathless in front of his apartment last night) still managed to take the cake.

His heart was thumping so loud in his chest, it was a surprise Mark didn't notice it. Like, calm down, it’s 7:35 in the morning.

They didn't talk about the kiss. 

Mark knocked on Donghyuck's door at 7:30 sharp, looking effortlessly attractive in a dress shirt, like he had stepped out of looking like the cover model for GQ: Hospital Edition. Donghyuck struggled to find the right words to describe him.

And Mark acted like nothing had happened. Absolutely nothing. He was cool, collected, like the kiss was just a friendly high five but with tongues.

So, naturally, Donghyuck matched that energy. Or at least, he tried. 

As they walked towards Mark's car, Donghyuck desperately wanted to bring up the kiss from last night, but every time he thought about opening his mouth, the words tangled themselves into an incoherent mess of spaghetti inside his head. Meanwhile, Mark just drove. Calm. Unbothered. Like last night was totally casual. Just two bros kissing before bed.

Five minutes into the ride, with fifteen more to go, Donghyuck was seriously considering the possibility of inventing a time machine. Not to fix anything, just to skip ahead. Maybe fast-forward to forty years in the future where they’re married, wearing matching Hawaiian shirts, and laughing about how awkward this car ride used to be.

The silence in the car was so heavy it had a personality. Donghyuck was pretty sure if he reached out, he could touch it. Maybe even give it a name. Something pretentious, like Gregory.

Gregory the awkward silence, he thought. Lives in the cup holder. Doesn’t pay rent.

But still, even if he tried, the words wouldn’t come.

Mark had both hands on the wheel, knuckles loose, posture relaxed. He looked calm and relaxed, like he wasn’t affected at all. Meanwhile, Donghyuck was still trying to process everything that had happened. His brain was running laps, tripping over memories of soft lips and a tongue that knew what it was doing.

He kept stealing glances at Mark, hoping the guy would crack, show even one sign of being affected. But no. Mark looked like peace incarnate, sunlight catching his cheekbones, all gorgeous. It was rude. Donghyuck wanted Mark's hands around his neck and two of his fingers inside his mouth. Just normal stuff.

He sighed dramatically, letting his head fall back against the headrest. This was going to be the longest ride of his life.

“You can turn on the radio if you want,” Mark said out of nowhere. "Or connect it to your phone."

Donghyuck was still trying to recover from his embarrassing thoughts, but he obliged, mentally slapping away his horny little demons. “Uh—sure.” He reached forward, tapping the screen. He chose the easiest one, radio. Eventually, he landed on a station playing something familiar, Dean’s “Instagram,” slow and moody.

Mark hummed, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

“You like this song?” Donghyuck asked, needing to say anything, before he drowned in his own silence.

“Yeah,” Mark replied easily. “Haven’t heard it in a while.”

They got caught in heavy traffic after turning a corner. Silence settled again, only broken by the honks of cars around them, the occasional hum of the engine and Dean’s “Instagram” playing in the background. The city was alive with activity: a street vendor shouting about his hotdogs, a cyclist weaving through the gridlock, and pedestrians bustling along the sidewalks. Donghyuck drummed his fingers nervously on his knee, sneaking glances at Mark, who seemed focused on the road but with a thoughtful crease in his brow. 

Donghyuck hated how good Mark looked and hated even more how good he smelled. He couldn't decide whether Mark smelled like sweet peaches from heaven or burning souls from hell, but either way, it was a fragrance that made him simultaneously crave a fruit salad and an exorcism.

If it was any other person, Donghyuck would say the silence was suffocating, but it was Mark right by his side. He was anything but suffocating. It was more like a suspenseful game of "who blinks first”. Donghyuck couldn't decide if Mark was a master of keeping his cool or if he had simply forgotten that they had kissed less than 24 hours ago.

He glanced out the window, observing a pigeon waddling on the sidewalk, clearly unbothered by the traffic jam that held them captive.

“So,” Mark finally spoke up, breaking the silence, “Tell me three things you can see.”

Donghyuck blinked, caught off guard by the sudden request. “What?”

“Three things you can see,” Mark repeated calmly, his lips quirking into a slight smirk.

Donghyuck furrowed his brow. "Why?"

“Because we’re stuck in a traffic nightmare,” Mark said, clicking his tongue in faux annoyance. Donghyuck couldn't help but think how he could eat him alive. “Come on, indulge me. Tell me three things you can see.”

“This is so random.”

“It helps pass the time,” Mark shrugged.

Donghyuck blinked, caught completely off guard by the weird little game Mark had just thrown at him. His eyes darted around the chaotic scene outside the windshield.

“Well,” he started slowly, still deciding if he was going to fully commit or bail, “I see... cars, tall buildings, and a billboard that’s making me question all my life choices and whether I need to drop a grand on a phone I’ll probably crack in a week.”

“You’re playing it wrong,” Mark said, turning to face him for a split second. “That’s way too boring. You gotta get specific. Use those muscles brains or whatever.”

Donghyuck let out a laugh, nerves loosening just a little. “Alright, alright. Three things I can see…” He leaned toward the window, scanning the traffic with renewed purpose. “One: a massive billboard with a creepy dentist who looks like he moonlights as a serial killer. Two: some dude on a scooter wearing neon pink shoes, and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen clowns wear less ridiculous footwear. And three…” He paused, then blinked in disbelief. “There’s a dog in the car next to us wearing a literal scarf. I’m not making this up.”

Mark barked out a laugh, twisting to confirm with his own eyes. “No way. Oh my God. That dog looks cooler than me. I feel personally attacked.”

"He probably is," Donghyuck teases. "Your turn, genius.”

Mark glanced around dramatically, pretending he needed time to ponder the fine art of observational comedy. “Alright. First thing: that bus next to us has a terrifying cartoon painted on it and it looks something awful like Seven Deadly Sin. Second: there’s a street vendor selling umbrellas with... are those—” He squinted. “Yep. Rainbow-colored penises printed all over them. That’s bold branding.”

Donghyuck hummed, confused. “Where does one even order those wholesale?”

“Third…” Mark pointed discreetly to a nearby car. “There’s a kid in the backseat making faces at us. He’s been sticking his tongue out at me for like a solid minute now. Honestly? I respect it.”

Donghyuck turned to see the kid in question, who was indeed pulling a disturbingly elastic face against the window. “Wow. That’s commitment.”

“Right?” Mark chuckled. “If he sticks around long enough, I might hire him to prank my interns.”

Donghyuck laughed again, the sound more genuine this time. It didn’t erase the awkwardness from earlier or the kiss they still weren’t talking about, but it did smooth over the sharp edges.

"Now you do the next round," Mark said, his voice casual, like he hadn’t just flipped Donghyuck’s entire brain inside out with that last answer.

“Fine,” Donghyuck muttered, ready to fire off something  weird like a dude eating a corndog too sensually, but then his eyes caught on something new.

Just under Mark’s collar, where the first button of his shirt had come undone, was the edge of a small, colorful tattoo. It was subtle, but the longer Donghyuck looked, the clearer it became: a flower, a vivid blue with some yellow, like it was blooming right at the dip of Mark’s collarbone.

Donghyuck’s brain short-circuited.

“Is that a tulip?” he blurted out, his voice doing that thing where it cracked halfway through the sentence because his body couldn’t decide if it wanted to whisper or scream.

Mark blinked, like he hadn’t expected the sudden change of subject. His hand instinctively rose to touch the spot. “Oh, it’s showing?” he mumbled, fingers brushing against it. “No. That's an Iris Blue.”

Donghyuck stared. His mouth went a little dry. Or maybe too wet. He wasn’t sure anymore. “It’s pretty,” he said, because his brain had melted and now his mouth was operating on whatever leftover settings it could scrape together.

Mark gave a small smile, and Donghyuck would’ve sold his soul to keep that expression alive. A light pink flush crept up his cheeks as he fiddled with his buttons like the shirt suddenly needed to be a turtleneck. “Thanks,” Mark murmured, eyes flicking back to the road even though they hadn’t moved more than a few inches in ten minutes.

“You’re losing focus,” he added, a little teasing lilt in his voice. “Next round.”

Donghyuck blinked, still very much stuck on the tattoo on Mark's collarbone. His internal monologue was just a long string of curse words and whimpering noises. He wanted to press his lips to that tattoo. He wanted to bite it. He wanted to leave a mark right next to it.

“Why are you so obsessed with this game?” he asked instead, grasping at anything to stop himself from making a terrible decision in a car that wasn’t his.

Mark chuckled under his breath, his fingers drumming gently on the steering wheel again. “My brother got me into it,” he said. “He’d do it when I was freaking out or zoning out or just... not doing great. Used to say it helped anchor me. Still does it when he visits. I kinda just picked it up from him.”

Donghyuck tilted his head slightly, intrigued. “You used to get nervous a lot?”

Mark nodded, his jaw tightening just a little. “Yeah. Talking to people used to drain me. Still does, sometimes. A I still get nervous. Just for different reasons now.”

Donghyuck paused for a beat. “Like what?”

Mark didn’t answer right away. He tapped the steering wheel, thoughtful. Then, he said, “Long surgeries. Horror movies that are too quiet for too long. That one boss from Elden Ring, the tall one with wings. And attractive passengers in my car at 7:45 AM on a Friday morning. Stuff like that.”

Donghyuck’s mouth parted just slightly, stunned into silence by Mark’s answer. If he’d been a little more awake, he would’ve fired back with something snarky, maybe something too erotic for this early in the morning. But his brain was still booting up, and all he could manage was a weak little chuckle that came out sounding more like a soft wheeze.

Amused. Endearing. Slightly desperate. That’s how Mark made him feel.

“This game is just a dummy thing,” Mark added, shrugging like it wasn’t currently unearthing Donghyuck’s every emotion like a backhoe. “You don’t have to keep playing if you’re not into it.”

“No, no!” Donghyuck said quickly, a bit too loudly for the inside of a car. He cleared his throat, trying to tone it down. “It’s fun. I was just, you know, curious. Let’s keep going.”

Mark shot him a smug glance out of the corner of his eye, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned back comfortably in his seat. “Your turn.”

“Okay,” Donghyuck said, rolling his shoulders and sitting up straighter like he was preparing for battle. “Three things I can see—”

Mark immediately cut him off with a loud noise, like a TV show buzzer.

“Wrong,” Mark said dramatically.

Donghyuck blinked. “What?”

“It’s your turn to switch it up,” Mark said, like this was common knowledge. “You already asked me what I could see. Now it’s gotta be something else. Three things I can feel. Three memories that pop into my head. Three people I miss. I don’t know. Mix it up.”

Donghyuck stared at him, baffled. “How was I supposed to know that? You didn’t say anything about this part.”

Mark shrugged, completely unapologetic. “I might’ve skipped over it. Oops.”

“Oops?” Donghyuck echoed, arching his brows. "So, what? We're turning this into a full-blown interrogation game?" 

Mark laughed, eyes briefly crinkling at the corners, and Donghyuck had to look away before he did something reckless like lean across the console and kiss that smile right off his face.

“Well, if you say it like that…”

“Alright, three things you smell?"

Mark leaned back, closing his eyes briefly to concentrate. "I smell exhaust fumes, thanks to our lovely traffic buddies. A faint hint of coffee, probably from that cafe over there, and... strangely, a whiff of something sweet, like a fruit cotton candy?"

“Fruit cotton candy? That’s my perfume.”

Mark opened his eyes and looked over at Donghyuck with his stupid pretty brown eyes. “I like it. Reminds me of happy sunny days in the park.”

Traffic eased progressively, their little game kept going until the road was clear enough, the silence came back in the car but it was no longer nerve-wracking, it was comforting. Mark seemed relaxed, humming along to the radio, while Donghyuck was doing everything in his power to keep his composure. He stared out the window, watching the city blur by, his mind racing with a hundred different thoughts.

Finally, they pulled up to the front of Vertex. His prison, his paycheck, his place of employment.

Mark turned to Donghyuck with a small smile playing on his lips. “Well, here we are. Have a good day at work.”

“Thanks,” Donghyuck managed to say, his voice a bit shaky. He hesitated before getting out of the car, feeling like he should say something more. “And, um, thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime,” Mark replied, his smile widening. “Are you getting your car back today?”

Donghyuck scrunched up his face thoughtfully. "Not really. Johnny said maybe tomorrow. Depending on the state of the universe."

"Then, see you later?" Mark asked, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

"At our building? Yes, I think?" Donghyuck replied, slightly puzzled. “I live there.”

Mark let out a small scoff. "No, dummy. I mean I'll drop by and take you home later."

Donghyuck's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh?"

"Yeah," Mark affirmed with a playful smirk. "Just give me your number,” he extended his phone towards Donghyuck.

Donghyuck typed his number, feeling a little bit stupid. 

"See you later, Donghyuck.”

“Yeah, see you,” Donghyuck nodded, finally stepping out of the car. He waved awkwardly as Mark drove away, then took a deep breath and headed into the building.

Two weeks had passed in a blur, like someone had pressed fast-forward on Donghyuck’s life and filled it with car rides, too many stolen glances, and way too many feelings he wasn’t aware until he was. Somehow, without him even realizing when it happened, Mark had fully inserted himself into Donghyuck’s daily routine. What started as a temporary ride to work because his car was in the shop had turned into a full-on domestic carpool situation. Even after Donghyuck’s car had been returned, clean, polished, and fully functional.

Through a series of persuasive texts, Mark had managed to convince Donghyuck that carpooling was a splendid idea, especially since their shifts often coincided, three out of the five days Donghyuck worked. Apparently, saving gas and the planet also came with the side effect of Donghyuck falling headfirst into a confusing mix of heart-racing anticipation and vague existential dread every morning.

Now, Donghyuck had grown alarmingly used to having Mark around. From the citrusy, clean scent he somehow managed to carry with him all the time (even after a night shift), to the way he’d always hand Donghyuck a glass of passionfruit juice like it was part of some sacred morning ritual. No coffee, no “good morning” until that glass was in Donghyuck’s hand.

Also, Donghyuck got used to naming three random things to whatever Mark asked. If they don't do this every day, something is wrong with them.

Donghyuck knew that Mark was a nice person from the moment they first met at the hospital, not just because of his growing crush. His smile seemed to light up the room, and his presence was comforting and peaceful, reminiscent of Donghyuck's childhood days, curled up on the couch in a blanket watching Shin-chan reruns, completely at peace.

He was learning more about Mark, too. Tiny things, in bits and pieces that made his chest feel uncomfortably full. Like how Mark loved old rock songs from bands with names Donghyuck could never remember. Or how he liked trying out new recipes, even though half of them ended in something barely edible and one time, mildly toxic. He collected vintage postcards from Italy because he wanted to live there someday, preferably before his final breath. “Like, retire there and eat olives on a patio with a cat,” he’d said once, totally serious.

It was these little details that made Donghyuck look forward to their daily rides even more. They had fallen into a comfortable rhythm, one that both excited and confounded Donghyuck with its closeness.

And then there was Renjun, who bore witness to Donghyuck's daily musings and occasional outbursts about Mark.

"You are so unhelpful," Donghyuck sighed dramatically, sinking into his office chair with a theatrical flair.

Across from him, Renjun didn’t even look up from his paperwork. He just sighed and muttered, “I don’t know what you want me to say. The guy’s clearly been flirting with you, and you’re sitting here acting like a clueless monkey.”

"He hasn't brought up the kiss once in the past two weeks," Donghyuck lamented. "I don't know what to make of it."

"Maybe he's waiting for you to make a move," Renjun suggested casually, flipping through a stack of papers.

“Why can’t he make a move then?” Donghyuck snapped.

“He did,” Renjun said, finally looking up with a deadpan stare. “He kissed you. That’s a move. A big one. Bold, even. Now it’s your turn, drama queen.”

"Well, if that's the case, we're doomed to stay stuck," Donghyuck grumbled, feeling both frustrated and strangely exhilarated by the uncertainty of where things were headed with Mark.

"Then, I am doomed," Renjun emphasized dramatically, leaning back in his chair. "Because if you don’t get dicked down sometime soon, I’m going to lose my mind from secondhand sexual tension. It’s radiating off you like fumes."

Donghyuck glanced around their shared office space. "We're at work, keep your voice down."

Renjun rolled his eyes. 

"Please. The only people in earshot are corporate zombies, and they’ve been dead inside since 2018," he countered, shooting Donghyuck a knowing look. "It's almost 6 PM, he’s going to pick you up in what? 5 minutes? If you don't get Mark out of your system today, I'm throwing you in a psych ward."

Donghyuck feigned offense. "I thought we were best friends!"

"Best friends give each other tough love when they're being ridiculous. Now go chase that doctor before I lose my mind listening to your Mark dramas every day."

Donghyuck sighed, running a hand through his hair. "What should I do?"

"You should start with taking off that stupid sweater," Renjun said. "Why did you bring that with you? It's hot as fuck."

"I got cold," Donghyuck lied, pulling his sweater tighter around him. "The heater was on, okay? It was chilly."

"It's hot, Hyuck," Renjun said dryly.

Donghyuck blushed, avoiding his friend's gaze. "Shut up."

"Take the damn thing off, seriously," Renjun demanded.

"I'm not wearing a shirt under this," Donghyuck hissed.

"Stupid," Renjun shook his head. "What kind of person wears a sweater over their bare chest at the beginning of summer?"

"I'm not that stupid," Donghyuck said, defending himself. "It’s fashion.”

Renjun rolled his eyes, exasperated. "Whatever. As long as Mark takes this off, I will be fine.”

"I hate you."

"You love me," Renjun grinned, sending a flowing kiss towards Donghyuck who rolled his eyes, a smile on his face.

When Donghyuck’s phone buzzed five minutes later, with a message from Mark warning that he was waiting downstairs, Donghyuck’s heart did its usual acrobatics. He gathered his things and walked out of the office, trying to ignore Renjun making exaggerated kissing noises in the background.

Once Donghyuck stepped out of the elevator and walked out of the building, he saw Mark leaning comfortably in his car’s seat, checking his phone. He looked up as Donghyuck approached, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Hey," Mark greeted, tucking his phone into his pocket, as soon as Donghyuck got inside the car. “How was work?”

“Uh, it was good,” Donghyuck replied, sliding the belt around himself. “Lots of paperwork. The usual boring stuff. How about you? Any dumb injured people showing up at the hospital?” 

Mark chuckled as he started the car. "Oh, you know, the usual suspects. Broken fingers, twisted ankles, and one guy who managed to get a toy car stuck in his ear. Nothing too out of the ordinary."

Donghyuck couldn't help but laugh. "A toy car? How does that even happen?"

"People find ways, you out of all people should know that.”

“It’s been a while since the last time I went to the hospital, okay?” Donghyuck protested.

“And it’s been so boring without you there,” Mark sighed dramatically, clutching his chest for effect. “I miss my VIP patient.”

“You literally see me almost every day,” Donghyuck poked Mark’s shoulder, making the other laugh.

“Still. No one gets injured like you do,” Mark said, stopping at a red light. 

“So, what I’m hearing is that I am special?”

“Maybe. It’s hard to tell,” Mark shook his head with mock seriousness. “Any big plans for tonight?”

Donghyuck shrugged. “Not really. Just… thought I’d relax at home. Maybe order some food.”

Mark’s eyes flicked over to him. “How about we make it a movie night? Or series night? My place?”

Donghyuck’s heart skipped a beat and he felt a warm flush creeping up his neck.

“Are you sure? I mean, you should rest.”

“Are you telling me I look like a zombie or something?” Mark asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No, this is me saying you just got off a 48-hour shift and you need to rest, like a normal human being,” Donghyuck replied, trying to keep his voice steady and struggling to maintain composure as thoughts of being alone with Mark in his apartment began to distract him. 

“So now you’re my doctor?” Mark teased, a hint of amusement in his voice

“Want me to take care of you?” Donghyuck tried, risking a little bit of his dignity.

Mark laughed softly, looking a bit flushed himself. "If you're offering, I'll take it."

Donghyuck felt butterflies in his stomach. “I’m serious, Mark. You really need to sleep. Like, actual sleep. In a bed. With your eyes closed. For hours.”

Mark smiled, that soft, tired kind of smile that made Donghyuck want to wrap him in a blanket burrito and force-feed him soup. “Nonsense. I got a solid five hours if you count all the micro-naps I took between emergencies.”

“That’s not comforting,” Donghyuck muttered, but Mark just gave him that look again.

“I mean it,” Mark said gently. “I’d really like the company tonight.”

Donghyuck bit his lip and made a show of pretending to think it over, even though his entire body had already screamed yes the moment Mark asked.

“I’ll order pizza,” Mark added, like he knew exactly how to break him.

“Okay, you got me,” Donghyuck said, trying to keep the excitement out of his voice. “But we should watch Love, Death and Robots, it has short episodes and you can sleep right after two or three episodes, deal?”

“Deal,” Mark grinned, his eyes lighting up. "Love, Death and Robots it is. I've been meaning to watch that."

Once they got inside their building, Donghyuck made a quick pit stop at his apartment to drop off his bag and put comfy sandals on. Then, he slipped into Mark’s place without knocking. Mark was already tossing his keys into a bowl by the door when he turned around and asked, “Alright, what do you like on your pizza?"

“Everything,” Donghyuck replied without hesitation, taking a seat on his couch.

“Everything?” Mark raised an eyebrow. “Even anchovies?”

Donghyuck made a face. “Okay, maybe not everything. Just the normal stuff. You know, pepperoni, olives, that sort of thing.”

Mark laughed. “Got it. One pizza with the normal stuff, coming right up.”

Donghyuck leaned back and watched him make the call, quietly marveling at how casual all this had become.

“I’ll grab us some drinks while we wait,” Mark said, heading toward the kitchen. “Any preference?”

Donghyuck tilted his head. “Beer?”

Mark gave a little salute. “Say less.”

He returned with two bottles and flopped down on the couch, sitting closer than Donghyuck had anticipated. The proximity made his heart race. 

As they waited for the pizza, they chatted about their favorite movies and TV shows, with Donghyuck animatedly defending his love for rom-coms, while Mark made a case for sci-fi.

“But like, what’s the craziest thing you’ve seen in a movie or show?” Mark asked, once they entered the ‘worst things they’ve ever seen on a big screen’ topic.

Donghyuck thought for a moment, then groaned. “Easy. The entire plot of Sharknado. I mean, come on, sharks in a tornado?It's so aggressively bad that it loops back around to being genius.”

“I’m not sure ‘genius’ is the word I’d use here, we are talking about things we wasted time watching.”

“I didn’t waste my time with Sharknado,” Donghyuck exclaimed, pleased with himself. “It’s cinematic garbage and I love it.”

“I don’t know about that. I still think there are better ways to spend two hours."

"Like what? Watching a bunch of movies about a space dude with daddy issues?" Donghyuck teased.

Mark gasped. "Hey, don’t talk about Luke like that.”

"Who said anything about Star Wars? I was talking about Guardians of the Galaxy,” Donghyuck feigned innocence. 

“Star Wars has lightsabers and epic space battles,” Mark intensely gestured. “What does Sharknado have?"

Donghyuck leaned back, considering the question with exaggerated seriousness. 

"Sharks. Lots of sharks. One day I'll convince you to watch Sharknado.”

The pizza finally showed up about twenty minutes later, the smell hitting them like a warm, cheesy slap to the face. They practically lunged at the box like they hadn’t eaten in days.

"Alright, let’s get this show started," Mark said, balancing a plate in one hand and fumbling for the remote with the other.

As the first episode started, Donghyuck found himself more aware of Mark's presence than the screen. The warmth of Mark's arm next to his, the way Mark's laughter filled the room, everything felt right.

Donghyuck had watched Love, Death and Robots hundreds of times, but seeing it with Mark brought a new level of enjoyment. As Sonnie’s Edge built toward its brutal, twisty climax, Donghyuck could see Mark inching forward on the couch, completely sucked in. When the plot twist hit, Mark gasped, his eyes widening in shock.

“What the fuck?” Mark shouted, completely taken aback.

Donghyuck burst out laughing, unable to contain himself. "Right? It's insane!"

Mark shook his head, still processing what he’d seen. “I did not see that coming. What the hell did we just watch?"

"A masterpiece."

"How many times have you watched this?”

“Enough times to know your reaction was coming too,” Donghyuck teased, nudging Mark’s shoulder. “But it’s still hilarious every time.”

Mark shot Donghyuck an indignant glare. "You could've warned me."

"Where’s the fun in it?"

Mark snorted, taking another bite of his pizza. "You're evil."

As they watched the second episode, Mark's running commentary kept Donghyuck entertained, his eyes darting between the screen and Mark's animated expressions. Each gasp, laugh, and offhand remark made the show feel new and exciting.

When the third episode started, Mark slouched deeper into the couch, looking too comfortable to move. "Hey, can you grab us some more beer?" he asked, his voice taking on a slightly whiny tone. "Pretty please?"

Donghyuck rolled his eyes but couldn't resist a grin. "You owe me."

He made his way to the kitchen, opening the fridge to grab a couple of cold bottles. As he tried to twist off the cap, his Donghyuck senses kicked in, he knew he was about to fuck something up. He felt the cap slip under his fingers, and a sharp pain shot through his thumb.

"Shit!" Donghyuck winced, pulling his hand back to inspect the damage. A thin line of blood welled up where the cap had sliced his skin.

Mark's head whipped around at the sound. "Hey, you okay in there?"

"Yeah, just, uh, had a little accident with the bottle cap,” Donghyuck said, trying to downplay the injury. It was just a tiny cut, he was not dying.

In an instant, Mark was off the couch and by his side, his doctor instincts kicking in. He gently took Donghyuck's hand, examining the cut. 

“Donghyuck, you should’ve opened it with a bottle opener, not your hand.”

“Right, blame the victim,” Donghyuck retorted with a dramatic eye roll.

He expected Mark to say how he was a walking disaster, or how he should be more careful, but no.

But Mark didn’t do any of that.

Nope.

Instead, Mark leaned in and wrapped his lips around Donghyuck’s thumb.

For a full second, Donghyuck’s soul straight-up left his body. His breath caught somewhere between his lungs and his throat, and every nerve ending in his body lit up like a Christmas tree. If his eyes had actually rolled back into his skull, he wouldn’t have been surprised. It felt like they had.

“This is very unsanitary,” Donghyuck murmured, completely out of it. Mark laughed with thumb still in his mouth, then releasing it with a soft pop.

“Sorry,” Mark said. “It’s more practical. I have no idea where my first aid kit is.”

Donghyuck was hypnotized by Mark's shiny wet lips. The only coherent thought inside his mind being how unfair it was that Mark could look so nonchalant after doing something so incredibly hot.

Donghyuck had never felt so aroused. 

And Mark definitely understood what was happening inside Donghyuck's head, because he kept staring right into Donghyuck's eyes. Then his gaze shifted to Donghyuck's mouth.

"We are losing the rest of the episode," Donghyuck murmured, not really giving a fuck about whatever was happening in the TV.

Donghyuck couldn't decide if it was his heart or his lungs, but something in his chest was not working properly, and he couldn't breathe.

He didn't care.

"Yeah," Mark muttered, his gaze was intense, piercing, while taking Donghyuck’s thumb back inside his mouth and Donghyuck couldn't tear his eyes away from his.

Donghyuck could swear he was burning alive.

After Mark was done licking Donghyuck's thumb, he released it with another pop and Donghyuck couldn't help but think how he wanted to put his dick inside his mouth. Just pure pandemonium going on inside his head.

Mark licked his lips and Donghyuck felt a sudden urge to climb on his lap and strangle him.

“Tell me three things you’re feeling now.”

Donghyuck's brain struggled to catch up, the nearness of Mark making coherent thoughts difficult. “I feel my thumb hurt,” he managed to blurt out.

“Okay,” Mark nodded, his gaze never wavering.

“Also,” Donghyuck added quickly, “bottle caps are very dangerous.”

Mark’s lips curved into that maddening smile. “That’s not a feeling,” he teased, voice all honey and heat.

Donghyuck took a deep breath, his pulse racing. “And I feel like you should kiss me.”

Mark’s eyes darkened with something deeper, more primal. He stepped closer, their faces mere inches apart. "That," he whispered, "is definitely a feeling I can work with."

His lips pressed softly against Donghyuck’s, the initial touch gentle and almost tentative. Donghyuck’s breath hitched, and he leaned into the kiss, his fingers curling into Mark’s shirt for support. The kiss deepened, turning more urgent, as if all the tension of the past weeks was melting away in that single moment.

Mark's arms wrapped around Donghyuck, pulling him closer, as if they couldn't be close enough. His hands traced a slow path up Donghyuck's back, his teeth biting Donghyuck's lower lip, eliciting a small moan from him.

Donghyuck felt his lower back being pressed against the countertop while Mark's hand moved to the back of his neck, pulling his hair with enough strength to make him weak in the knee.

Mark's hands slid down to Donghyuck's hips, slowly entering Donghyuck's sweater. When his cold fingers found nothing but Donghyuck's heated skin, Mark groaned against his lips.

"You are fucking beautiful," Mark muttered, his lips trailing down Donghyuck's jawline. “Thought about doing this so many times.”

Donghyuck arched into his touch, gasping, tugging at Mark's shirt. “Why didn’t you?”

Mark trailed kisses along Donghyuck's jaw, down his neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive flesh, and back up again, sucking lightly on his earlobe. Donghyuck closed his eyes, letting out a soft whimper. “I just didn't know how to say it.”

“You literally kissed me, Mark,” Donghyuck whispered, feeling Mark tug him closer, like he owned time and space, like he owned every single particle of existence.

Mark pulled back slightly. "That completely proves my point. I didn’t know how to say it, so I acted stupid and kissed you. Words are overrated. Actions speak louder, don’t they?"

"You're ridiculous," Donghyuck muttered, though he couldn’t stop the butterflies in his stomach from fluttering wildly. "Saying what you want is way harder than launching into a full-on make-out session?”

Mark chuckled against Donghyuck's skin. “Everyone has their strengths. Mine just happens to be impulsive acts of affection.”

Donghyuck couldn't help but let out a snort, his fingers instinctively tangling in Mark's soft hair.

“Well, it’s a good thing you’re cute, because your logic is seriously flawed. But I guess it works.”

"Good to know," Mark replied, his voice low and husky. 

His hands cupped Donghyuck's ass, effortlessly lifting him up and carrying him towards the bedroom; placing him on the edge.

Then, Donghyuck's sweater and jeans were soon long forgotten, along with Mark's clothes on the floor. And he was pretty sure he was having a free trial of what heaven was supposed to be. He didn't know where to focus.

The cool air of the bedroom was replaced by the warm heat of Mark's skin, as their bodies pressed against each other. Donghyuck found it difficult to catch his breath, his entire being pulsating with need and longing. His hands roamed Mark's back, feeling the familiar contours and ridges of his muscles.

In one moment, his eyes were fixed on Mark, who now stood before him, naked and glistening in the dim light, sliding his dick into Donghyuck's tight entrance. That fucking tattoo on full display, Donghyuck wanted to bite all over it. And then his face was pressed on the pillow, the sheets damp with sweat, and his knees spread wide open. Mark's hands were on his hips, holding him in place, leaving bruises and his body was curved over Donghyuck's back, their skin pressed together.

Donghyuck could hear and feel Mark's heavy breathing, feel the heat of his body, smell the scent of sex and sweat. His mouth found the nape of Donghyuck's neck, the spot where it made him shudder with pleasure. Mark continued to push his dick deeper, until his balls were pressed against Donghyuck's ass. He held his hips tightly, keeping him still.

Mark's thrusts were rough and fast, dirty. Donghyuck gasped as he felt Mark's length press against his inner walls, pushing past his clenching muscles, making Donghyuck shudder from the intense feeling. He bit down on his lower lip, and whimpered when Mark's cock brushed his prostate. His dick throbbed between his thighs, leaking precum.

Mark moved his hands, sliding them down Donghyuck's sweat-slicked skin, his fingers digging into his sides. He drew his dick almost completely out of Donghyuck's tight body. 

"Please," Donghyuck cried out as he thrust back onto Mark.

All he could do was moan. He reached down and stroked his dick, pumping it with his hand.

Mark began to thrust faster, harder, his hips slapping against Donghyuck's ass, sliding in and out of his hole. Donghyuck gripped his dick tighter. He felt himself getting closer and closer to orgasm.

Mark continued to slam his dick into him, fucking him hard. Donghyuck couldn't help but cry out. It felt so good, and he knew that he would never forget this feeling. He stroked his dick, trying to match Mark's rhythm.

Mark's hand wrapped around his own, helping him stroke himself. Donghyuck's eyes rolled back as he clawed at the sheets, his hips bucking upward to meet each brutally pleasurable stroke.

"Make me cum," Donghyuck groaned, his whole body shaking. Mark's thrusts became faster, deeper. His breaths were shallow and quick. "Come on."

Mark's fingers bit into his skin, leaving permanent marks for him to remember this moment. Donghyuck's body shook uncontrollably, his orgasm taking him by surprise. He thrust his hips back, the sensation of his dick being milked by Mark's hand and Donghyuck's own hand sent him soaring.

"Can't hold it anymore," Mark groaned, his own orgasm imminent.

Donghyuck's whole world narrowed down to the pleasure coursing through his veins, his body writhing in Mark's grip. Mark's dick pulsed inside of him, felt Donghyuck's release, and it sent him over the edge too.

Donghyuck’s leg gave out, his eyes closing, and they stayed there. Mark laid on top of his back, giving him soft kisses on the shoulders. 

“We could’ve been doing this for the last weeks,” Donghyuck breathed out. “This is infuriating.”

“What is infuriating?” Mark asked back, breathless. “The great sex or our stupidity?” he continued, getting up from Donghyuck.

“Our stupidity? You could’ve acted a little bit sooner,” Donghyuck empathized, laying on his back.

The sight of Mark’s sweaty body was going to burn inside Donghyuck’s mind for ages, beads of sweat dripped down from his tattoo to his chest, highlighting every muscle of his toned body. Donghyuck’s fingertips tingled to trace the lines of his muscles. He just wanted to reach out and touch Mark, but he was just too tired to even move a limb.

“I did act on it,” Mark retorted, his hands gently caressing Donghyuck's ankles as he pushed him closer to the end of the bed. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on Donghyuck's stomach, moving up to his solar plexus, then his collarbone, and the base of his throat.

"Then you acted like nothing happened," Donghyuck murmured, melting under Mark's touch.

“Because I was embarrassed by my impulsive actions. Thought I fucked up our good start,” Mark explained, trailing kisses along Donghyuck's skin until he reached his lips. “Bath?”

“Can’t,” Donghyuck grumbled against Mark’s lips. “You turned off my legs. Blue screen of death style. They will restart in about fifteen minutes, and will be fully functional again in thirty minutes.”

Mark scoffed, his muscles flexing as he wrapped his arms tightly around Donghyuck's waist. With a grunt, he effortlessly lifted Donghyuck from the bed and held him close, causing the younger boy to let out a surprised yelp and cling onto Mark's broad shoulders for stability.

"Mark, you aren't actually that strong," Donghyuck said with a half-hearted protest.

Mark chuckled as he spun them around in a circle, enjoying the weight of Donghyuck in his arms. "I know," he replied playfully.

"But if you keep showing off your strength like this, I might end up in the hospital with a dislocated jaw. Because of how hard I will suck your dick. You don’t want me to do that."

“Actually…”

“Shut up.”

Donghyuck's life had always oscillated between chaotic and monotonous, never quite hitting that sweet spot of normalcy.

His job? A soul-sucking grind that paid just enough to keep the lights on and the fridge stocked. His apartment? Not exactly penthouse material, but cozy enough to call home. His car? Not the nicest one, but hey, it got him from point A to point B. He had a healthy and happy relationship with his parents, but had to make regular phone calls with them because they had retired to a city miles away. His circle of true friends was small enough to count on one hand. And that was it.

Nothing ever happened in a truly surprising kind of way. When life did throw him something new in his life, it was the "oh, I just broke my arm" kind of excitement, not the "winning the lottery" kind.

Then Mark happened. A genuine and massive kind of excitement that was missing in Donghyuck’s life. 

Few days have passed since the first time they slept together and things are different now. Each morning, Donghyuck woke up with his stomach doing somersaults, thinking about Mark. His predictable routine now had a spark; his once dull commute became something he looked forward to, just for those few minutes he got to spend with Mark in the car. His boring job felt less suffocating when he knew he had a message from Mark to look forward to during his breaks.

It all started that night when they first had sex. Donghyuck always had this mindset of, if you want to have sex, lay down, get dicked down and then get out. That simple. No funny business.

But Mark was convincing him the complete opposite and he was just letting it happen.

The first night they had sex, Donghyuck still stood his ground and left after the bath, to sleep in his own bed just like any other day.

Two days later, he was waking up at 6 AM, wrapped by Mark’s arms. 

Mark had to wake up early that day and would have to leave the house at 7 AM, but despite this, he insisted that Donghyuck stay the night. Donghyuck wasn’t even going to work that day, yet the invitation felt more like a necessity than a suggestion.

On this particular morning, as Mark slipped out of bed at the crack of dawn, Donghyuck stirred, half-asleep. "You don't have to get up," Mark whispered, brushing a soft kiss on Donghyuck's shoulder.

"Okay," Donghyuck mumbled, eyes still closed, too sleepy to put his pride first and leave the house before Mark.

Mark moved around the room quietly, getting ready for his day. The smell of his cologne mixed with the lingering scent of his cloth softener filled the room. Donghyuck snuggled deeper into the blankets, feeling the comforting remnants of Mark’s warmth.

"I'm heading off to work," Mark said. He sounded amused.

"Good luck," Donghyuck managed to reply. He was still floating on a cloud of sleepiness.

Donghyuck didn't wake up until hours later, after the sun had risen, and the room was filled with light. It felt like he belonged there.

After that, there was no way Donghyuck was going to stay at Mark’s place again. That’s what he fairly believed.

But it happened again, two other times. It wasn't intentional, really, but it happened, nonetheless. Like today.

Today is Tuesday, one of the days where Mark and Donghyuck don’t go to work together, because Mark’s shift starts a few hours earlier and he will have a 48-hour shift, which means they are only going to see each other on Thursday.

They had crazy good sex the night before, which means crazy good sleep for both of them and Mark waking up late for work. Now, Donghyuck finds himself driving to the hospital before work, with Mark’s phone sitting in the passenger seat, because he forgot the device on top of Donghyuck’s bed.

He pulled up to the hospital, parking in the first available spot. Donghyuck grabbed the phone and made his way to the entrance, dodging a nurse who looked like she was on a mission and a patient who was definitely lost.

“Hi,” he greeted the receptionist who happened to be the same receptionist from when he was having an allergy.

“Hello, it’s you,” she greeted back with a soft smile, her badge displaying the name ‘Park Yoora’. “Having a bad allergy again?”

“Oh, no,” Donghyuck chuckled softly. “I’m looking for Dr. Lee.”

“Is this for medical purposes?”

“No, I just want to give him his phone,” Donghyuck showed the device. “He forgot… with me.”

Yoora raised an eyebrow. “Ah, I see. I believe Dr. Lee should be in one of the On-Call rooms. Just head down the hall and to the left. You will see the name at the door.”

“Can I just come in?” Donghyuck frowned. “Isn’t it like, for employees?”

“It’s going to be quick, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then go. I'm going to trust you."

“Thanks, then,” Donghyuck said, giving her a thumbs up before making his way down the hall.

He navigated the bustling hospital corridors, dodging hurried nurses and doctors. The sterile scent of antiseptic mixed with the faint aroma of cafeteria food lingering in the air. As he approached the on-call room, he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door and pushing it open slightly, peeking through it. Instead of Mark, there was a blond man typing on his phone, lounging on a grey couch with his legs casually propped up.

“Oh, hi,” Donghyuck greeted the blond man.

The man lifted his eyes from his phone, and Donghyuck couldn’t help but wonder what kind of magic happened in Med School for all the doctors in this hospital to be so attractive. 

The guy was like a walking advertisement for hot doctors, blond hair that probably had its own fan club, lips that could launch a thousand ships (or at least a few flirty words), and eyes that twinkled like he knew a secret only he found hilarious.

“Hello,” the man said with a smile that was somewhere between polite and slightly unhinged. Donghyuck was still trying to decide which. “May I help you? This area is for employees only.”

“I know, I’m looking for Dr. Lee.”

“Which Dr. Lee?”

“Mark.”

Suddenly, the disinterest in the man’s face disappeared, and his eyes lit up like those of a cartoon character, brimming with excitement.

“Oh, hello. May I know your name?” the man asked eagerly.

"Donghyuck."

"Oh!" The man exclaimed, clapping his hands with a level of enthusiasm that startled Donghyuck. And, yeah, Donghyuck finally decided that his smile was definitely on the slightly psychotic side. "I'm Jaemin. Nice to meet you, man!"

Donghyuck couldn’t help but chuckle nervously at Jaemin’s sudden burst of enthusiasm. "Nice to meet you too, Jaemin. I guess you know Mark then?"

Jaemin nodded enthusiastically, getting up from the couch and extending his hand. "Oh yeah, I do know him, Mark’s my best friend,” they shook hands.

“Oh... Okay. I just want to give him his phone, he forgot it.”

“Mark is performing surgery right now, so it might take a while. You can leave his phone with me, if you want.”

"Great, thanks," Donghyuck replied, handing over the phone. 

Jaemin eyed Donghyuck with a playful grin. "Aren’t you the clumsy boy?"

Donghyuck raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback. "Clumsy boy?"

“Yeah, you always end up here with a weird case, right?” Jaemin said with funny look on his face.

Donghyuck groaned, remembering all his embarrassing incidents vividly. "When Mark told me about my reputation over here I thought he was lying to me. But damn, it’s worse than I imagined."

“No wonder you’re Mark’s special case,” Jaemin smirked. “Number 1 patient.”

“Just bad timing for Mark. Imagine coming to work and then you see my ass in the air, in need of butt stitches. Just tragic for him.”

Jaemin chuckled. “You’re funny, I get why Mark always had a soft spot for you.”

“Not my fault he was always there to examine me.”

“The perks of exclusivity.”

“No exclusivity,” Donghyuck snorted. “Mark is just unlucky.”

“Have you seen how big this hospital is?” Jaemin raised his brows. “We have 10 to 20 doctors per shift around here. It wasn’t timing, Mark just liked to prioritize you every time.”

Donghyuck felt like getting a punch in his heart. He was about to foam in his own mouth. “What?”

“Oopsie,” Jaemin said sheepishly. “My big mouth attacks again. Well, I’ll make sure to give him the phone,” he continued, smoothly changing the subject with a grin that Donghyuck found both charming and a bit unsettling.

"Yeah, sure," Donghyuck muttered. “I need to go, I have to work. It was nice meeting you.”

"I can say the same thing," Jaemin replied casually, tucking the phone into his pocket. As Donghyuck turned to leave, Jaemin called out, "Hey, you should join us for lunch sometime! We could use some fresh faces."

The rest of the day, Jaemin's words echoed in Donghyuck's mind like a broken record. Special case, exclusivity case, Mark's priority. Donghyuck found himself mentally debating whether to high-five himself or just facepalm into oblivion. Donghyuck shook his head, half-amused and half-annoyed, and worked his ass off until he stopped thinking about it.

During the day, Mark was weirdly radio silent. Not that they text all day, because Mark is busy most of the time, but something was off. And the fact that Donghyuck knew that something was off was even more off because Mark was supposed to be just a crush. Donghyuck shouldn't catch tiny details like this.

Donghyuck left work a little bit earlier, and he and Renjun stopped by to eat hotpot.

“You should ask Mark to go bowling with us next week,” Renjun said. “Jeno and Chenle are dying to meet him.”

“Why would I even do this?” Donghyuck murmured. “You guys will embarrass the fuck out of me, anyways.”

“Mark’s friends want to go out with you, and we want Mark to go out with us too,” Renjun shrugged. “Simple equation.”

“It’s literally just one of his friends. His only friend I know about, and not because he wanted me to know,” Donghyuck retorted, slightly pissed. "Whatever."

“That’s Mark’s best friend,” Renjun corrected. “His opinion weighs tons. And, as your best friend, so does mine.”

Donghyuck sighed, swirling his chopsticks in the broth as he pondered Renjun's suggestion. Hotpot nights with Renjun always seemed to come with unsolicited advice about Mark lately, and tonight was no exception.

"I don’t know,” Donghyuck finally replied, lifting a slice of beef from the simmering pot. "We are just fooling around."

“For almost a month now,” Renjun raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “It wouldn't hurt to invite him. You guys spend practically every waking moment together anyway."

“It happens once a week, sometimes not even that much,” Donghyuck whined, setting down his chopsticks. "You make it sound like we're married or something. Bowling with us feels a bit... I don't know, domestic?"

Renjun chuckled. "You'd look cute in matching shoes, though. Maybe that's the key to his heart. Next thing you know, you'll be picking out curtains together."

Donghyuck rolled his eyes dramatically. "Knowing Mark, he'd probably choose passionfruit themed curtains just to mess with me."

“Pure domestic bliss,” Renjun added, reaching for another slice of beef. "Either way, it should be interesting. Just tell him to drop by if he wants to, it’s not that complicated.”

Donghyuck hummed, reaching for a shrimp.

Around 10 PM, after bidding Renjun goodbye, Donghyuck drove back home under the night sky. The familiar routine of his cozy apartment welcomed him as he took a long, refreshing shower, his voice echoing in the bathroom as he absentmindedly sang along to a toothpaste commercial jingle that had stuck in his mind. Dressed in comfortable sweats, Donghyuck's thoughts drifted to baking, a sudden impulse striking him to make a carrot cake.

In the midst of measuring ingredients and mixing batter, Donghyuck found himself questioning his impromptu decision, already feeling the fatigue creep in. However, once the cake was safely nestled in the oven, he collapsed onto the couch with a sigh of relief, browsing through shows to pass the time while waiting for the cake to bake.

About thirty minutes into a documentary about bees, Donghyuck's attention was drawn away by strange noises emanating from the hallway outside his door. With cautious curiosity, he rose from the couch, padding quietly towards the front door. His initial readiness to confront a potential intruder turned to surprise when he peered through the peephole and spotted Mark fumbling with his own keys across the corridor. Donghyuck swiftly unlocked his door.

"Mark?" Donghyuck called out.

"Yeah?" Mark replied, not turning around, his voice sounding oddly nasal.

Donghyuck hesitated for a moment, his concern deepening as he observed Mark's unusual behavior. "Everything okay?" he asked gently.

"Yeah, just struggling to open my door," Mark replied, his voice strained and distant.

Donghyuck furrowed his brow, trying to make sense of the situation. "Wasn’t your shift supposed to end Thursday?" he questioned, his confusion growing.

Mark remained silent, his shoulders trembling almost imperceptibly. Donghyuck's heart sank as he realized the strange faint noises he’d heard were quiet sobs.

Mark was crying.

Instantly, Donghyuck rushed forward, placing a hand on Mark's shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked softly, his worry palpable.

Mark finally turned to face Donghyuck, tears glistening in his eyes, reflecting the dim light like tiny, shattered stars. Donghyuck felt an almost physical pain in his chest, as if his own heart was fracturing in response to seeing Mark like this. The sight of Mark's usually composed face crumpled in sadness was nearly unbearable. "I did everything I could," he managed to choke out, his voice thick with emotion. “It wasn’t enough.”

In those few seconds, Donghyuck understood.

Mark had lost a patient.

Without a word, Donghyuck reached out and pulled Mark into a tight embrace, offering silent comfort. He didn't press further, knowing Mark would share when he was ready. Instead, he guided Mark inside his apartment and closed the door behind them. Sitting together on the couch, Donghyuck silently offered his presence, arms wrapped around Mark’s body tightly, wishing he could protect Mark even from the air they breathed.

"I'm sorry, Mark," Donghyuck whispered softly.

Mark leaned into Donghyuck's embrace, his shoulders shaking slightly. The weight of the day seemed to press down on him, and Donghyuck could feel the heaviness in the air between them.

After a while, Mark spoke, his voice hoarse. "I never lost a patient before. I thought I could save him. We did everything... Everything,” his words were punctuated by a deep sigh. “This feeling fucking sucks, Hyuck.”

Donghyuck listened, his heart aching for Mark's pain. "I can't imagine how tough this is for you," he said softly. "It's okay to feel like this. You did everything you could."

"I always thought I could save everyone who came through those doors," Mark admitted quietly against Donghyuck’s chest. "Today... it just wasn't enough. God, he had two kids, Hyuck.”

“You don’t have all the answers, Mark," Donghyuck said softly. "You did everything you could. It's not your fault."

Mark shook his head slightly, his voice strained. "I keep replaying it in my head," he admitted quietly. "Wondering if there was something more I could have done.”

"It's not on you," Donghyuck interrupted softly, brushing his hand through Mark's hair. "You're an incredible doctor.”

“It was such a complicated surgery. More than 8 hours at it. We finished the surgery just fine, but yet, 20 minutes later he was… He didn’t make it. I feel like it’s my fault, like I didn’t do enough,” Mark whispered, his voice raw. “I feel like a failure.”

“You can't blame yourself for things that are beyond your control. Sometimes... life just deals us unfair hands."

"It's so frustrating," Mark said. "I couldn’t even concentrate on anything else. Jaehyun told me to come home.”

The room was enveloped in a peaceful silence, broken only by the faint sounds from the television in the background. Donghyuck’s fingers gently ran through Mark’s hair, a soothing rhythm against the backdrop of their shared quiet.

“Mark,” Donghyuck murmured softly after some time. “Tell me three pretty memories from your childhood.”

Mark shifted slightly, his head still resting on Donghyuck's shoulder, as he pondered Donghyuck's request. 

"After my middle school graduation, my mom took me and my brother to this small lake cabin every summer. Dad was traveling overseas because of work, but it was really fun being there just with mom," Mark began, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "We'd spend days swimming, fishing, and just being kids without a care in the world. My brother cut his feet in the lake, I remember starting to want to be a doctor because of that.”

"That sounds amazing. And a bit traumatic with the whole foot-cutting thing."

Mark chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, it was. My brother stepped on a sharp rock or something. He was bleeding, and I remember thinking, 'I need to fix this'. So I grabbed the first aid kit and did my best to patch him up. It was a disaster, of course, but I felt this weird sense of purpose."

"Wow, saving lives even back then," Donghyuck teased, nudging Mark gently. "I guess you were destined for this."

"Maybe," Mark said, smiling. "Or maybe I just didn’t want to let my brother get yelled at by my mom for not listening to her when she told him not to go deeper."

Donghyuck laughed, the sound filling the room and lightening the heavy atmosphere. "That does sound like a good motivation."

"You know what’s even funnier?" Mark continued, his eyes turning a little bit less sad. "My brother was convinced that the lake was full of piranhas after that incident. He refused to go back in the water for the rest of the summer."

Donghyuck's laughter grew louder. "Piranhas? In a lake? That's fantastic."

"Yeah, it took a lot of convincing to get him to swim again the next summer," Mark admitted, joining in the laughter. "Mom had to show him a documentary about where piranhas actually live."

"Poor kid," Donghyuck said, still chuckling. "But at least he had Dr. Mark on duty."

"Yeah, Dr. Mark," Mark echoed, his voice softer now. "Back then, it seemed like all it took to fix things was a bandage and some bravery. I wish it were always that simple."

Donghyuck squeezed Mark’s hand, his earlier amusement giving way to a tender smile. "You do a lot more good than you realize. Even if it’s not always that simple," his fingers continuing to stroke Mark's hair gently.

"Second memory... I remember my dad teaching me how to ride a bike for the first time," Mark continued, his eyes growing distant as he recalled the moment. "He spent hours patiently running alongside me until I finally got the hang of it. I felt like I was flying."

Donghyuck could picture a young Mark, determined and wobbly on two wheels, with his dad right by his side, cheering him on. "That sounds amazing. And a lot less bloody than the lake incident."

Mark laughed, the sound lighter this time. "Yeah, definitely less bloody. But it was just as intense for me. I remember the first time he let go, and I realized I was actually doing it on my own. It was the most exhilarating feeling."

"I bet you were a pro by the end of the day."

"Well, no."

"Did you crash immediately after?" Donghyuck teased, raising an eyebrow.

"Surprisingly, no," Mark chuckled softly. "I managed to keep going for a good ten seconds before hitting a bush. And then I almost ran over our neighbor's cat. But the feeling of finally balancing on my own, the wind rushing past me... it was incredible."

"Flying on two wheels," Donghyuck said with a grin. "I can totally picture it."

"And my dad," Mark continued, a wistful smile on his face, "he was so proud. He kept saying, 'You did it! That's my boy!'. I think he was more excited than I was."

"That sounds happy," Donghyuck remarked softly, a warm feeling spreading through him too, even though he was not even there to know what it felt like. "Sounds like your dad is a pretty great guy."

"He is," Mark agreed. "He is as clumsy as you are, I think you two could be best friends. When I fell off my bike, he tried to teach me how to fix it, and we both ended up with grease all over our faces and no idea how to put the chain back on."

"Maybe I should start a club with him, because he knows how it feels to be judged by your stupid eyes."

Mark laughed, the sound light and genuine.

"And third memory," Mark paused, his voice becoming quieter. "I remember building a blanket fort with my brother in our living room," he continued, a small smile tugging at his lips. "We used all the cushions and blankets we could find, and it became our secret hideout for a whole weekend. Mom would bring us snacks and tell us bedtime stories inside. She’d make these amazing chocolate chip cookies and cut up fruit for us. We’d sit in our fort, eating and listening to her stories. It felt like nothing could ever go wrong in that little space. It made me feel safe. Happy."

Donghyuck could picture the scene vividly: two boys, giggling and whispering secrets in their makeshift fortress, the warm glow of a flashlight illuminating their faces. "That sounds comfy."

Mark nodded, his smile growing.

"Yeah, it was. We pretended it was a castle, a spaceship, even a pirate ship. Our imaginations ran wild. And every night, mom would crawl inside with us, telling us stories until we fell asleep."

"Your mom sounds amazing too," Donghyuck said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "No wonder you turned out so great."

"She is amazing," Mark chuckled softly. "And those moments... they were simple, but they meant everything to me. They still do."

Donghyuck smiled. "Those sound like beautiful moments," he said sincerely.

Mark nodded, his gaze distant yet thoughtful.

"They were," he murmured.

Suddenly, Donghyuck gently nudged Mark and rose from the couch. "Wait a minute," he murmured, disappearing into his bedroom. He returned moments later, arms laden with an assortment of blankets and pillows. A total of nine blankets and four pillows, though he realized he should have bought more at some point. With a determined expression, Donghyuck dropped them all out on the living room floor.

He then turned to confused, puffy-eyed Mark. "What are you doing?"

Donghyuck extended a hand, with a warm smile, inviting Mark gently.

"Come on, let's build a fort."

Chapter Text

Donghyuck despises being late for work. It's not because he loves his job, far from it, but because it means less time to do what he needs to do. Which inevitably leads to an angry, anxious boss questioning things like why Ms. Kwon's retirement paperwork isn't completed yet, which leads to a sad and stressed Donghyuck, resulting in a day filled with frustration.

That's precisely why Donghyuck was late for work once and vowed never to repeat the experience. Facing his boss's wrath is not part of his ideal daily routine.

So, every morning, Donghyuck diligently wakes up at 6:30 AM, savors his breakfast slowly and peacefully, takes a meticulous shower, and completes all his necessary grooming rituals to prepare for the day. By 7:30 sharp, he's out the door of his apartment. There is no room for lounging in bed or wasting time, it was a well-oiled machine designed to keep him out of trouble.

But one thing Donghyuck learned about Mark is that he can be very persuasive. As in, annoyingly, irresistibly persuasive.

"I'm going to be so late," Donghyuck panted against Mark's mouth, though his protest was half-hearted at best. “It’s thirty past seven.”

"Yeah, I know," Mark panted right back, below Donghyuck, thoroughly unconcerned.

"So fucking late," Donghyuck whined when he felt Mark's dick reach a part of his body that made his knees weak and his brain turn to mush. "It's all your fault."

"Yeah, I know,” Mark groaned and buried his face on Donghyuck's neck, kissing and sucking hard. Donghyuck could tell the skin would bruise, and his eyes rolled to the back of his head, loving the sick idea of showing up to work with Mark's mark on him. 

They had been in bed for way too long now, when they should've been up and getting ready for work at least thirty minutes ago. But thirty minutes felt like thirty seconds, because Mark was just so good at it, and it was only thanks to Donghyuck’s phone's alarm going off that he was brought back to reality and was reminded that they had jobs to get to.

But then Mark had a hand on Donghyuck's dick, the other wrapped around his chest and the fingers of that one playing with his nipples, and all coherent thoughts had been lost, thrown out the window and replaced by Mark's name on his lips and the words “yes” and “please” and “more”.

Donghyuck felt Mark smile against his skin, and then teeth were scraping along his neck. His hands tightened on the sheets, as he moved up and down, and he knew that there was no way in hell they would be making it to work on time.

Not like he could bring himself to care.

Mark started moving his hips up, thrusting hard and deep, and Donghyuck's entire body quivered.

"Mark," he breathed out, his voice a little higher than usual.

"I'm here," Mark's voice was a low rumble in his ear, and the vibration of it against his skin sent goosebumps down Donghyuck's body. "I'm here."

"Oh my god," Donghyuck moaned, unable to keep his sounds to himself anymore.

"You sound so good, baby."

"This is so unfair," Donghyuck said, throwing his head back and rolling his hips. He felt Mark's hand grip his ass, and soon the angle changed, and it felt like he could see the stars.

"Yeah, just like that," Mark praised him. Donghyuck felt him shift under him and suddenly Mark's lips were on his, his tongue sliding inside Donghyuck's mouth, licking into it as he kept thrusting his hips. "Just like that, baby."

Donghyuck's voice cracked as he tried to ask for something but nothing cohesive came out of his mouth, but Mark still understood what he wanted and his grip on Donghyuck tightened, his nails digging into the skin of his ass.

"Anything you want," Mark said, sounding wrecked, his breath hot on Donghyuck's lips. "Anything."

"Please, make me come," Donghyuck managed to say.

"Of course, baby," Mark said, kissing him again.

The angle was too much, too intense, and Donghyuck couldn't hold back. He was coming, messing all over their stomachs and he could only moan and whine, and beg for more, for Mark to keep going. Mark was right behind him, his thrusts becoming more erratic, his breath harsh and his hands tight on Donghyuck's legs, before finally coming undone with a groan and a kiss to Donghyuck's mouth, biting the younger's bottom lip as he came.

When they were done, Donghyuck laid on top of Mark, face hiding on the crook of Mark’s neck, their chest rising and falling fast, eyes closed. They stayed put for a moment, both catching their breaths and holding onto each other. Donghyuck's heart was still beating fast and his mind was a little clouded.

“You’re going to be late,” Donghyuck groaned, feeling Mark's fingers gently caress his hair in that loving, infuriatingly perfect way that made his insides twist, while his left hand kept drawing gentle imaginary paths on his tights.

"I don't care," Mark's response was muffled as he nuzzled closer, hugging Donghyuck like a human-sized teddy bear. "Don't care."

"We're going to get fired," Donghyuck mumbled, his attempt at sounding stern ruined by the way he melted into Mark's touch.

Mark just chuckled, pressing a kiss to Donghyuck's forehead. "We can always find new jobs."

"Easy for you to say, Mr. Doctor," Donghyuck shot back, though the bite in his words was softened by a playful smile.

"I can teach you some stuff about stitching people and you can work as a clandestine doctor," Mark said, his grin almost audible. 

Donghyuck laughed and lifted his head to look at him, finding Mark looking right back at him with a big smile and an adoring look. "Are you really suggesting I become a mob doctor?"

"I can't help but notice that you're not rejecting the idea."

Donghyuck shrugged, his fingers lazily tracing random patterns on Mark's chest. "Well, if I ever need to be bailed out of jail, I know who to call."

"I'll have the getaway car ready, don’t worry."

"Such a gentleman."

Mark was looking at him with that smile that never failed to make Donghyuck's heart race, the same smile he'd been giving him for weeks now, the one that was so tender, so loving, the one that made Donghyuck feel like the luckiest person alive for seeing it almost everyday.

Mark leaned forward to give him a peck on the lips.

It was supposed to be quick and chaste, but neither of them pulled away, and soon they were kissing properly, slow and soft, their lips moving together.

"Get up. We really shouldn't be any later than we already are," Donghyuck murmured as soon as they pulled away, getting off Mark, feeling cum start to drip down his thighs. Mark sat up, following Donghyuck, his lips pressing another kiss, this one on his cheek, and then again on his temple, and then one more, and then one on his shoulder, and one more. “This is cheating.”

Mark whined and held his hand before he could move to the bathroom. "We can call in sick today."

Donghyuck chuckled, shaking his head. "No, we can't," he countered, though the idea was tempting.

"Cuddling with you in the morning is the best part of my morning. And you’re taking that away from me," Mark protested with indignation, his tousled hair and faint blushed cheeks adding to the charm of his plea.

Donghycuk felt zillions of fireworks exploding inside of his stomach, burning every single one of his gastrointestinal passages. "I'm not taking it away. Duty calls."

Mark groaned dramatically, flopping back against the pillows. 

"But duty is so overrated when compared to cuddling with you," he declared, eyes sparkling with feigned sorrow. "You're so heartless.”

“It’s your fault we are late, because first: you made me sleep late and wake up late, then you used our cuddle time to have a quickie, how is that my fault?”

"I can't help that you're a sexy little thing."

"Mark, you're a grown man, stop making excuses for your horniness."

"I'm just being honest," Mark replied with a shrug. “You have never seen yourself right after waking up, have you?”

Donghyuck rolled his eyes, a blush creeping up his cheeks. 

"You look adorable when you're half-asleep and grumpy. You’re not even remotely aware of how fucking hot you look and how it drives me crazy," Mark continued.

"Stop."

"Nope," Mark said, popping the "p", extending his hand to Donghyuck. “Come back to bed.”

"Mark, we are late,” Donghyuck said, slapping Mark’s hand. “Which means we are also going to get off work late, which also means that we are going to get late for bowling. If that happens, I will let Renjun eat your organs.”

“You’re making me think that Renjun is the scariest person on earth.”

“Because he is. If Renjun actually eats your organs, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Mark chuckled, still trying to pull Donghyuck back into bed. “I will use Jaemin as bait, and we will run. Don’t worry.”

Donghyuck rolled his eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips. “I’m not convinced that’s a solid plan.”

Mark laughed, and the sound was bright, clear and warm. Donghyuck felt it wrap around his whole body, like a hug, and he let himself get distracted, his resolve cracking, because how could he not?

"Come here, pretty," Mark called him, his voice soft and his eyes bright, and Donghyuck's resolve almost completely cracked, and he almost let himself get pulled.

“I’m going to take a shower. You stay there if you want. Renjun’s going to hate you, by the way," Donghyuck told him, getting out of bed and finally making his way to the bathroom. "He hates everyone who's not me."

"You are mean, for no reason," Mark called out, voice high-pitched and whiny. "You're gonna have to pay for that!"

"Oh yeah? And how are you going to do that, huh?"

Donghyuck yelped and ran to the bathroom, barely managing to close the door before Mark was barging in, tackling him in his arms and smothering his face with kisses, both of them giggling like little kids.

When Donghyuck finally left work, it felt like a weight was lifting off his shoulders. The day had been stressful but thankfully uneventful, and his boss hadn't even been in the office to berate him for being late. Just another day in the grind, as always.

He truly hated this job. The constant pressure and stress sometimes felt like a physical ache, gnawing at his well-being. He often wondered why he stayed, but then he remembered Renjun. His friend was the silver lining, his presence made the job slightly more bearable, the only bright spot in the otherwise dreary work environment. 

Said friend who, with narrowed eyes, had warned him that if he and Mark showed up more than 30 minutes late and disrupted their bowling schedule, he was going to be a dead man. And so was Mark.

Determined to avoid Renjun's wrath, Donghyuck rushed to get ready in record time, making sure he looked presentable with a baggy black shirt and ripped jeans. Just as he was finishing tying up his shoes, he received a text from Mark saying, “Can you get me my green shirt? I’m going to shower here then I'll pick you up and change on the way. Don’t wanna go upstairsss.”

Donghyuck quickly typed back, “First of all: lazy ass. Second: I don’t have the keys to your apartment.”

Mark’s reply came almost instantly, “Yes, you do. Look at your keychain ;)”

Donghyuck glanced down at his keychain and, sure enough, there was an unfamiliar key hadn't noticed before nestled among his own.

"Oh my God," he muttered, feeling both amused and slightly exasperated. Mark had slipped him a spare key without him even realizing it. Hookups are not supposed to give spare keys to each other. Right?

He could almost hear Renjun's voice in his head, mocking him for his "domesticity" with Mark.

With a sigh, he grabbed the key and headed to Mark's apartment. "This is getting out of hand," he grumbled to himself as he opened the door. "He's lucky he's hot."

As he stepped inside, he was immediately hit by the familiar scent of Mark's cologne. He moved quickly to the bedroom, flipping through the clothes in the closet. A grin spread across his face when he spotted a Spiderman shirt amidst Mark's more grown-up attire. He chuckled, pulling the shirt out of the way, while reaching for the green shirt Mark wanted.

Just as he was about to turn and leave the room, he heard a noise from the corridor. His heart skipped a beat. "Mark?" he called out, hoping he’d closed the front door and this wasn’t some random burglar. Or a murdered.

Instead, as he stepped into the corridor, fists ready, the person turned to face him. It was Dr. Jung.

"Oh, hey, clumsy boy,” he greeted, his face equally surprised. Donghyuck mentally died of embarrassment at the nickname. His dignity was nonexistent at that hospital.

His hair was longer than the last time Donghyuck saw him and he was as handsome as ever. Med school really had some kind of spell to gather so many pretty people.

“Dr. Jung, hello,” Donghyuck bowed to him, trying to salvage some semblance of formality. “It’s been a while.”

“It really has,” Dr. Jung gave him a bright smile. “Call me Jaehyun, please. I’m off duty right now,” he chuckled.

“Force of habit,” Donghyuck gave him a tight smile. “Sorry.”

“That’s fine, how you’ve been? Less clumsy now?”

Donghyuck scratched the back of his head, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. "I’m working on it, you know. Still a work in progress."

Jaehyun laughed, a deep, pleasant sound that made Donghyuck's embarrassment fade a little. "I see. Well, it's good to see you, Donghyuck."

"Yeah, you too," Donghyuck replied, still a bit flustered. "What are you doing here?”

"Mark said I could crash here while my place is getting fumigated. Didn’t expect to see you though. You have the key to his place now? That's interesting,” Jaehyun raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.

Donghyuck's face heated up. He cleaned his throat. “Just here to grab a shirt for Mark. He’s, uh, running late."

Jaehyun nodded, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom. "Ah, yes. Today is bowling night, right? Mark invited me, but I need to finish my PhD thesis. I wish I could go.”

Donghyuck nodded, suddenly feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, bowling night. Renjun will kill us if we’re late."

Jaehyun chuckled. 

"Renjun, the scary one, right? I’ve heard stories."

Donghyuck’s eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

“Yeah, Mark talks a lot. When it comes to you, he talks twice as much,” Jaehyun chuckled.

Donghyuck felt a warm flush spread across his cheeks, his brain turning into ramen noodles. He cleared his throat, trying to gather his composure.

"Are you happy?" Jaehyun's question hung in the air, catching Donghyuck off guard.

"Huh?" Donghyuck responded, brows furrowing slightly in confusion.

"Are you happy these days?" Jaehyun repeated himself, his tone gentle yet probing. 

Donghyuck paused, considering his answer. "Yeah," he finally replied with a nod. "I mean, work sucks, but other than that, yes, I am happy. Very."

The 'because of Mark' goes unsaid. He knew Jaehyun wasn't oblivious, he likely understood.

"Mark is happy, too," Jaehyun continued, a soft smile playing on his lips. "It's been a while since I saw him swimming in such genuine happiness. I’m glad things are working out for the both of you.”

Donghyuck nodded, feeling a warmth spread through him at Jaehyun's words, much like the feeling of finishing a really difficult level on a video game or finding an extra nugget in your fast-food order. It was a mix of relief and victory. “He’s a good friend to me.”

“Good friend? That's a way of putting it,” Jaehyun smirked. “Anyways, have fun tonight."

“Thanks. It was nice seeing you again,” Donghyuck nodded, awkwardly passing by Jaehyun.

“Ah, Donghyuck,” Jaehyun called out just as Donghyuck was in the middle of the living room, about to leave the apartment.

“Yes?” Donghyuck turned around, heart racing, trying not to look as flustered as he felt.

“Mark doesn’t do hookups,” Jaehyun said, arching his brows. “He doesn’t make copies of his apartment keys and give them to just anybody either. Hope that helps.”

Donghyuck’s mouth fell open slightly, a million thoughts racing through his mind, his face heating up even more. He opened his mouth to respond but found himself at a loss for words. 

Jaehyun just winked and disappeared back into the bathroom, leaving Donghyuck standing there, clutching the green shirt, feeling like he’d just been hit by a train. "Okay, cool. No pressure or anything," he muttered to himself as he finally made his way out of the apartment, his brain a chaotic mix of confusion and giddy excitement.

His phone buzzed with a message from Mark, "I’m parked in front of our building. Got the shirt?"

Donghyuck replied, "Yes, you lazy ass. Jaehyun was there, it was embarrassing."

Mark’s reply was immediate, "Forgot to tell you about it, my baaad. Come downnn."

Before he could even reach the car, Donghyuck spotted Jaemin’s manic smile beaming at him from the backseat. Jaemin waved enthusiastically as Donghyuck slid into the passenger seat.

"Hi, clumsy boy," Jaemin greeted him, his grin impossibly wide. Donghyuck rolled his eyes at the damn nickname.

"Hi, Jaemin. Nice to see you again," Donghyuck replied, turning to look at Jaemin before handing the green shirt to Mark.

"Thank you," Mark smiled, leaning in to peck Donghyuck on the lips. Donghyuck could feel Jaemin's eyes boring into them, his manic smile mere inches away from his face.

"Such a pretty couple," Jaemin said cheerfully. 

"Shut up," Mark giggled, starting to take off the current shirt he was wearing. Donghyuck couldn’t help but salivate a bit as he watched Mark's naked chest come into view. He smirked when he saw the mark of his teeth on Mark’s stomach and the hickey he left right at his tattoo. He was very proud of his work.

"You're welcome," Jaemin teased, eyes darting between the two. "How was the morning sex, by the way? Was it good?” he asked out of nowhere.

Donghyuck choked with his own spit.

"I knew it," Jaemin pointed, excited. "Mark was too happy to be late because of traffic. And he didn't shut up about you, so I guess you must have done your thing today."

Donghyuck looked at Mark, his eyes widened, and was met with a flustered Mark, who was desperately trying to put on his new shirt.

"He exaggerates," Mark muttered, looking straight ahead, his face a dark shade of red.

Donghyuck could have melted on the spot.

"Jaemin, I will kick you out of my car," Mark mumbled, blushing as he finished dressing up. “Stop traumatizing Donghyuck.”

"Don't act like you're embarrassed," Jaemin rolled his eyes. "You're probably the most shameless person I know."

Mark sighed.

"Okay, let's go," Mark turned the key, the engine roaring.

"No, wait, I wanna hear Donghyuck talk. Is Mark as loud in bed as he is when we're having lunch?"

"Oh my God," Mark muttered, shaking his head and laughing despite his embarrassment. He hit the accelerator and hit the road.

"Not very loud, which is a shame," Donghyuck said nonchalantly, looking at Jaemin through the rearview. Mark's mouth opened in a gap. "But, in his defense, he has a lot of other amazing qualities."

Jaemin squealed and clapped his hands.

"See, he's so much better than you," Jaemin said, turning to look at Mark. "I like him. Why can't I date him?"

"Why are you like this?" Mark whined, but Donghyuck didn't miss the smile he was trying to hide.

“I knew we were compatible when we first met," Jaemin nodded in approval. "Don't worry, Hyuckie, I got your back. I'm gonna give Mark a crash course on how to be loud in bed. And you, my dear, will have a new skill for the books."

"You are insane," Mark shook his head, searching for Donghyuck’s hand to hold, while he kept the other one on the wheel. “This is not how you start a conversation with someone you barely know. What happened to decorum?”

"Decorum is so overrated," Jaemin shrugged.

"I agree," Donghyuck said. "Decorum is a waste of time."

"I love him," Jaemin grinned, giving Mark a thumbs-up.

“Oh my god,” Mark scoffed. "I should have left you in the hospital."

"I'm just trying to help. Boost your relationship," Jaemin said innocently. “Hyuck here seems cool.”

"Thank you," Donghyuck smiled, amused by the conversation. He totally didn't hear the relationship thing.

"My pleasure. Now, Mark, about the moaning... "

"Oh my God, stop, I'm trying to drive."

They arrived at the place a mere 15 minutes after their designated time, thanks to a few traffic accidents. Donghyuck had sent a text to Renjun to tell him they were almost there. Renjun had replied with a simple, "Okay. We have ordered food and drinks. Hurry the fuck up."

Now they are sitting at a table, watching as Mark and Jaemin go to pick up their bowling shoes. The smell of fried food and the sound of clattering pins filled the air, mingling with the chatter of people enjoying their night out. Donghyuck fidgeted with his napkin, his mind still reeling from Jaehyun's words.

Donghyuck sat opposite Renjun, Jeno, and Chenle, each of them giving him annoyed glances.

"So," Renjun began, leaning forward with a bemused expression, after Donghyuck told his friends what Jaehyun said. "What's supposed to be the shocker here?"

"Everything?" Donghyuck replied with a shrug.

"Hyuck, I say this with all the love that I have for you in my heart," Jeno sighed, shaking his head. "You are so fucking stupid."

"I agree," Chenle nodded sagely.

"Mark is a literal neon sign flashing ‘I like you, Donghyuck’, and you still manage to miss it every single time," Renjun chimed in. "You close your eyes whenever there's something romantic staring you in the face."

"From now on, when I ask you something, I want you to look me dead in the eyes and lie to me," Donghyuck declared, feigning seriousness. "Like Chenle does."

"Hey," Chenle protested. "I don't lie to you."

"Remember when you encouraged me to cut my hair, and when I came back looking like Coconut Head from Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, you looked at me and said that I looked great?"

"Oh yeah, I remember that. I definitely lied," Chenle admitted with a laugh, earning a chorus of chuckles from the group.

"That was so rude," Donghyuck said between laughs, shaking his head. 

"That was in the past," Chenle argued. "These days I don't lie anymore. So hear me out when I say this: give yourself a chance to have a happy relationship. I've known Mark for like, 5 minutes, and I have this feeling that he is a nice person."

"And handsome," Jeno added.

"Yes, and very handsome," Chenle agreed.

"And smart," Renjun chimed in.

"Also smart," Chenle said. "He's a doc."

"And he clearly likes Hyuck," Jeno raised his index finger.

Donghyuck's cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink as he sighed. 

"I'm just not used to this. People don't usually like me, especially not people who are smart, hot, and kind," Donghyuck admitted. "I'm a fucking disaster. You're supposed to keep telling me how I'm a hopeless case and that nobody will ever love me, and not encourage me to date a man who's out of my league."

"If he was out of your league, you guys wouldn't be fucking like two rabbits almost every day," Renjun pointed out.

"Renjun!" Donghyuck hissed, glancing around to see if anyone was listening.

"What? It's true," Renjun shrugged. “From all this time that you guys have been in this situationship, never once have you said anything about Mark disrespecting you in any kind of way, or treating you like you’re disposable. If anything, he’s been making you really happy. You've never had a situationship that was like that for you before.”

"That's what's scary," Donghyuck muttered. "I can't afford to screw this up. Not with Mark. I don’t know where we are going, but I’m letting him lead the way. And I’m liking it. It feels comfortable."

“So give yourself a chance to be happy," Jeno reasoned. "You're a catch. You are funny and cute. Stop undervaluing yourself."

“I’m used to stress and heartbreak, this is uncharted territory.”

"Yeah," Chenle nodded, taking a sip of his soda. "But if he's as cool as you've said, I'm sure he'll understand and be patient."

"And I think that, despite all the bad luck you've had in the past, you deserve something good, Hyuck," Jeno said, looking straight into Donghyuck's eyes, his voice full of warmth.

"Agreed," Chenle said.

"Me too," Renjun added. “Just don't close yourself to him. Let him in, at least a little bit more.”

"You like him, that’s a fact,” Jeno continued. "Just take a chance and see where it goes."

"I'll think about it," Donghyuck finally conceded, his lips tugging into a smile.

"Okay," Jeno said. "Now, who wants to bet 55,000 won that Chenle is gonna try to make a move on Jaemin?"

"I want to bet 110,000 won," Renjun replied, raising his hand.

"Hello? I'm right here, fuckers," Chenle complained, hitting both of them. 

The conversation died down as Mark and Jaemin returned, each holding a pair of bowling shoes. Mark handed Donghyuck his, giving him a quick, warm smile that made Donghyuck's heart skip a beat. He felt a blush creep up his neck as he quickly looked away, focusing on putting on his shoes. “Look, our shoes match.”

Donghyuck looked down at Mark's red shoes and then back up at Mark. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

"I plead the fifth," Mark grinned, sitting next to Donghyuck, the tip of his ears red.

"He’s so cheesy, it’s embarrassing," Jaemin groaned, rolling his eyes.

Donghyuck tried not to let his smile take over his face as he finished tying his shoes.

"Who's up first?" Renjun asked, getting up from his seat and stretching his arms above his head.

"Me," Donghyuck volunteered.

"Cool," Jaemin said. "Mark, sit and watch your man."

"Oh my god," Donghyuck groaned. 

“Ah, Jaemin, I like you,” Chenle high-fived him.

As it turns out, they all were terrible at bowling. They were having a blast anyway, though.

After a couple of rounds, Donghyuck and Mark were ahead, both being surprisingly good. It didn’t take long for the competitive spirit to spark up, with Donghyuck and Mark trying to one-up each other.

Donghyuck watched in amusement as Mark tried and failed to impress him with his bowling skills. It was endearing.

"Stop distracting me, you're making me lose my concentration," Mark whined as Donghyuck hugged him from behind, resting his chin on Mark's shoulder.

"You're making me lose my focus with all this hotness, so it’s just fair I distract you too," Donghyuck replied, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "You're not allowed to have such a cute ass. That's a health hazard."

"Oh my god," Mark laughed, his cheeks flushing. “Did you catch Jaemin's illness?”

"I'm not kidding. I need to file a complaint with the Ministry of Health," Donghyuck declared, grinning. "Your butt is dangerous. It's going to be the cause of my untimely death."

Mark giggled. "Shut up, you're the one distracting me.”

"You know, if you get a strike, I'll reward you," Donghyuck said in a low voice, lips brushing against the shell of Mark's ear. "And not with just a kiss, this time."

"How about you try it too, then?" Mark turned his head to face Donghyuck, his voice playful.

"Fine," Donghyuck conceded, moving away from Mark, ready to make his throw.  He focused, aiming carefully. Just as he was about to let go, he felt a sharp pinch on his ass.

Donghyuck shrieked, his throw going terribly wrong as the ball veered off to the side, barely hitting any pins. He turned to glare at a laughing Mark. "Cheater!" he exclaimed.

"You deserved it," Mark teased.

"I was not even doing anything!"

"Yeah, right," Mark shook his head, still laughing.

From the sidelines, Jaemin piped up, "You guys are terribly sweet. It’s disgusting. Stop. Makes me wanna puke."

“I agree,” Chenle chimed in. “We are in public."

Donghyuck stuck his tongue out at them.

"Don't worry," Mark whispered in Donghyuck's ear. "I'll let you pinch my butt later."

"You better," Donghyuck snorted.

Mark just chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to his temple.

The night went on, and they all had a great time. Donghyuck couldn't help but grin whenever Mark would hold his hand or wrap his arms around his waist. He felt so comfortable with him, it was ridiculous.

And then there was Renjun, who was constantly giving him looks that could have melted steel. It was obvious what he was trying to say. Donghyuck didn't really want to think about it right now.

Eventually, after several more rounds of bowling, they got bored, especially after Jeno had thoroughly whooped them. Donghyuck sat slumped in his seat, glaring at the scoreboard.

Chenle, sprawled out dramatically on the couch, rolled his eyes. "I can't believe we let him beat us so badly. This is humiliating."

Jeno, grinning from ear to ear, shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? I'm just that good."

Donghyuck threw a crumpled napkin at him, which Jeno easily dodged. "Shut up, Jeno. This was supposed to be fun, not a massacre."

Chenle suddenly sat up, pointing across the place. "Look, there's a roller rink over there. We should go."

"Are you sure, Chenle?" Donghyuck raised an eyebrow. "Last time you tried to roller skate, you ended up with a sprained ankle."

"That was one time!" Chenle protested, crossing his arms. "Besides, I'm a lot more coordinated now. Come on, it’ll be fun!"

"I have a feeling this is a horrible idea," Jeno shook his head.

"You are right," Renjun agreed. "This is the worst idea in the history of bad ideas."

"Come on, it'll be fun," Chenle insisted, sitting up and giving them a pleading look.

"You can't even stand properly in normal shoes," Jeno argued.

“No problem, I can teach him,” Jaemin arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips.

Donghyuck snickered, nudging Mark. "Is he doing what I think he’s doing?”

Mark chuckled, leaning in closer to Donghyuck. "Maybe.”

"Fine, let's go," Jeno sighed, throwing his hands up in defeat. "But don't blame me when you all end up in the ER."

The roller rink was like stepping into an 80s fever dream. Neon lights flashed everywhere, and a giant disco ball hung from the ceiling, sending glittery dots of light spinning across the room. The walls were covered in posters of old-school bands and iconic movies, giving off serious retro vibes.

As soon as they walked in, they were hit with the sound of classic disco music, synth-heavy beats and funky rhythms that made it impossible not to move. Donghyuck immediately recognized the rhythm of Dynasty's "Adventures In The Land Of Music" as soon as they stepped in.

“Holy crap, this is amazing,” Donghyuck said, his eyes wide with excitement

A neon sign flickered above the entrance, proudly proclaiming “Roller Wonderland” in bright, electric pink letters.

Jeno raised an eyebrow. “Did we just time travel?”

“Totally,” Chenle replied, already bouncing to the beat. “This place is awesome!”

Colorful, rotating spotlights swept across the rink, creating a kaleidoscope effect that made everything look even more fun. The group rented their roller skates and began the arduous task of lacing them up.

“Look,” Donghyuck began as he sat down to lace his skates. “I didn’t want to say this earlier because I wanted to look nice, but maybe, just maybe, I don’t really know how to skate.”

Mark stopped what he was doing and looked up at Donghyuck. "You serious?" Donghyuck only nodded, embarrassed. "It's okay, you can lean on me."

The disco music pulsed louder, and the lights continued their dazzling display as they ventured onto the rink. Jaemin skated up to Chenle, performing a little spin. "Not bad, right?"

Chenle grinned. "You’re decent. But watch this!"

With that, he attempted a fancy maneuver, only to slip and land on his butt. The group burst into laughter, including Chenle himself.

"Yeah, total pro figure skater," Jeno teased, helping him up.

Renjun, who had been cautiously making his way around the rink, shook his head. "This is exactly what I expected."

"Mark, please, I can’t go home tonight with bruised ego and butt," Donghyuck quipped, finally letting go of the railing and taking a shaky step forward. He wobbled at first.

“You’re doing great,” Mark encouraged, holding Donghyuck’s hands.

“I feel like a baby deer on ice,” Donghyuck admitted, gripping Mark’s hand tighter.

Mark chuckled. “Just take it slow. We’ll get the hang of it.”

Donghyuck wobbled slightly, gripping Mark's arm for support. "This feels like a terrible idea," he muttered.

"Just relax," Mark said, steadying him with a firm grip.

"I'm going to fall," Donghyuck replied, clinging tightly to Mark. 

"Not on my watch, baby," Mark retorted.

Donghyuck's legs got shaky again, but it was not because of the skating. Baby . The nickname caught him off guard. He blushed hard.

"See, it's not that hard," Mark continued, oblivious to Donghyuck's inner turmoil. "You're a natural."

"Yeah, right," Donghyuck mumbled, trying to focus on skating.

“You'll be fine. How about we try going faster?” he suggested.

Mark pulled him gently forward, guiding them into a slightly faster glide. Donghyuck squeaked in surprise, his grip on Mark tightening instinctively.

“Relax,” Mark chuckled, his own skating skills keeping them balanced. “You’re doing great. Just trust me.”

Jaemin glided past them effortlessly. "Donghyuck, you look like a grandma who just pooped her pants.”

"Hey," Mark protested.

"I'm just being honest," Jaemin replied with a grin, skating away.

Donghyuck groaned, his grip tightening on Mark's hand. “This is humiliating.”

"Don't mind him, you're doing great," Mark reassured him, pulling him along gently.

"I've got a question," Jaemin called out, circling back around.

"What now, you bully?" Donghyuck groaned, trying not to trip over his own feet.

“Is Chenle by any chance… you know?” Jaemin asked, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

“What? Mentally unstable?” Donghyuck replied. “Absolutely.”

“I’m being serious.”

“So am I,” Donghyuck smiled. "He's been looking at your chest the whole night, Jaemin."

"It's because it's a nice chest," Jaemin argued. "But, I was checking him out too, so we are even. I want him. He makes me laugh, and he has a great butt.”

"What butt?" Donghyuck snorted. 

"Exactly," Jaemin pointed. "It's a shy butt, not everyone can see it, but I do."

Mark snorted. "It's so embarrassing to be associated with you, Jaemin. I can never take you outside."

"Hey, you're the one who told me to come and spend time with you, and now you are complaining," Jaemin huffed.

"That was before I knew you were gonna be this embarrassing."

"Well, I'm here now, and you're not allowed to complain," Jaemin declared with a playful wink, blowing Mark a teasing kiss before effortlessly skating away from them.

"I swear, sometimes I wonder why I even bother,” Mark chuckled, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "Okay, now, I'm going to let you skate on your own," he continued, releasing Donghyuck's hand with a gentle smile.

Donghyuck watched Mark glide away effortlessly, just a few inches far from him. They managed to make their way around the rink without any major incidents. Donghyuck had a few close calls, but Mark was there to keep him steady.

"Okay, now for the real test," Mark announced, grinning. "Let's do a spin."

"Oh no," Donghyuck shook his head. "There is no way in hell I am doing that. I value my spine intact."

"Come on, don't be a wimp," Mark teased, gently tugging at Donghyuck's hand. “It’s simple, I hold you and we spin. Boom.”

“You’re forgetting a very important factor here, anything simple is still very dangerous to me.”

“I'll be the one doing most of the work, don’t worry."

Donghyuck hesitated for a moment, but the gentle pull from Mark's hand and the encouraging glint in his eyes convinced him to give it a shot. "Okay, but if I end up in the hospital..."

“Don’t worry, I will be the one to put a needle in your butt cheeks,” Mark grinned, stepping closer until their bodies almost touched, his hands finding their place in Donghyuck's. 

"I'm not sure that's comforting," Donghyuck replied

With a deep breath and a silent prayer to the skating gods, Donghyuck braced himself. Mark counted down softly, and on three, they were spinning, slowly at first, then picking up speed as Mark expertly guided them around the rink.

Donghyuck couldn't help but laugh nervously, the world a blur of colors and Mark's steady presence. 

Time seemed to slow down, the neon lights casting a soft, ethereal glow around Mark. Donghyuck couldn't help but notice every detail, the way Mark's smile lifted his cheekbones just so, the gentle flutter of his eyelashes like delicate wings, and the way his eyes sparkled with a warmth that felt like a universe contained within.

The sight both calmed his nerves and unsettled his stomach, and Donghyuck was sure that he would have that image carved in his mind for the rest of his life. His stomach did an uncomfortable flip, and his heart stuttered in his chest. It was a familiar feeling, but one he'd never felt while sober.

It was like something out of a cheesy romance movie, where everything goes into slow motion and there’s this sappy love song playing in the background. 

He was so, so fucked.

He was falling for Mark.

Fuck.

As quickly as the realization came, the spell was broken, and they were back on solid ground. Mark looked at him, eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay? You're kinda pale. And sweating."

Donghyuck took a deep breath, his mind still reeling. "I'm good. Just... dizzy."

“Hyuck, you are really pale. Oh my God,” Mark's eyes widened. “I didn’t know spinning was going to cause this one side effect on you.”

“It’s not because of the spinning,” Donghyuck's breath got heavier. “I think my blood pressure is dropping.”

"Shit," Mark muttered. "You are having a panic attack, aren’t you?”

"No, no, I'm fine, just need to sit," Donghyuck said, his voice wavering.

"Let's go, come on, baby, I'll help you," Mark wrapped an arm around his shoulders, guiding him out of the rink and towards the benches.

"No, it's fine, I'm okay," Donghyuck tried, even though he felt like he was about to pass out.

Mark didn't listen, instead he kept walking until they were both seated, the cool night air and the dim lights around them helping calm Donghyuck down.

"Hey, are you okay?" Mark asked, his hand gently caressing Donghyuck's cheek.

"Yeah, yeah, just need a moment," Donghyuck nodded, closing his eyes and resting his head on Mark's shoulder. Then Mark’s voice got more and more distant, a fucking loud buzz in his ear, his senses began to fade. The sounds around him blurred into a distant hum, and before he knew it, everything went black.

Donghyuck slowly regained consciousness, his head throbbing faintly as awareness crept back in. The soft beeping of machines and the antiseptic smell immediately hinted where he was.

Donghyuck blinked his eyes open, the bright lights above him making his head hurt.

"Hey, you're awake," a familiar voice said, and when he looked around, Renjun was looking at him, sitting in a chair nearby, his brow furrowed in worry.

"Where are we?" he croaked, his throat feeling parched.

"Where else could we be? Hospital," Renjun said.

"Fuck," Donghyuck closed his eyes, letting out a groan. "Where's everybody?"

"In the waiting room, only one of us could be here inside the room with you. Chenle and Jaemin are flirting nonstop and Jeno is there third wheeling. Or he's a third on the party, I don't know yet," Renjun sighed. "You gave us a heart attack."

"Sorry," Donghyuck apologized, looking around the room. It was empty, aside from Renjun and him. He would leave the Chenle, Jaemin and Jeno discussion for later, when his head stops hurting. "I ruined the night."

"No, you didn't. We were all exhausted anyway, it's fine," Renjun replied, leaning forward in his chair and giving Donghyuck a small smile. "But if anyone is pissed, that person is Mark. He's mad. Like big mad. He's in full-on doctor mode. Something in your tests didn't sit right with him.”

"Oh no," Donghyuck sat up, suddenly alert. "How long was I out?"

"About an hour or so," Renjun replied casually. 

"Shit," Donghyuck cursed, flopping back on the bed. "Why isn't he here? He must be so mad."

"He's talking with a nurse right now," Renjun replied, crossing his arms. “He was talking in rapid-fire Korean with everyone.”

Donghyuck sighed.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened. One minute I was fine, and the next thing I know, I was waking up here."

"Hyuck, you've been working too hard lately. Maybe this is just your body's way of telling you to slow down."

The sound of footsteps approaching the hospital room door interrupted Donghyuck’s brain mid forming an answer. 

The door swung open, and Mark entered, wearing a white lab coat on top of his green shirt, his expression a mix of relief and anger, something Donghyuck had never seen before. Fuck.

Mark quickly closed the door behind him and approached Donghyuck's bedside, his eyes scanning Donghyuck's face as if searching for any signs of distress.

"You're awake," Mark said softly, his voice a blend of relief and controlled frustration.

Donghyuck nodded, feeling a pang of guilt at the worry he had caused.

Mark sighed deeply, glancing briefly at Renjun. "It's late, Renjun. You should go. I'll keep you updated."

Renjun hesitated, concern etched on his face. "Are you sure?"

Mark nodded firmly. "Yeah, go rest. I've got it from here."

Renjun nodded reluctantly, giving Donghyuck a reassuring smile before quietly exiting the room.

“Are you mad at me?” was the first thing Donghyuck asked.

“Of course I am,” Mark answered. “Did you even eat today? Your blood tests showed your electrolyte levels are way off.”

“Translation in mortal language, please,” Donghyuck quipped with a half-smile.

Mark sighed, trying to keep his tone serious. "You're dehydrated, and your potassium levels are dangerously low."

"Oh... I didn't eat much. I was rushing around all day."

Mark sighed again. “Baby, you can’t just neglect yourself like this. And then you’re all out and about, eating fucking fried food when we were bowling. If I knew better, I’d have just shoved healthy food down your throat.”

“You look so sexy when you're all doctor-mode,” Donghyuck quipped.

"Hyuck," Mark warned, his voice tinged with amusement despite himself.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist," Donghyuck chuckled, biting his lip playfully as Mark leaned closer to the edge of the hospital bed, clearly torn between scolding and laughing. “Don’t be mad at me.”

Mark rolled his eyes, though a small smile played at the corners of his lips. He gently placed a hand on Donghyuck's cheek and leaned in, planting a brief kiss on his lips.

"This is unethical, Dr. Lee," Donghyuck teased, his lips quirking up mischievously. "I'm your patient."

Mark chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'll risk my medical license for you."

Donghyuck laughed, his heart lightening despite the hospital surroundings.

"Oh, lucky me. The lengths you'd go to for a kiss."

Mark shrugged with a mock-serious expression. "What can I say? You're worth the risk."

Donghyuck chuckled, shaking his head. "Smooth talker."

“Don't piss me off, I'm still mad."

“Oh no, I better behave then.”

“I’m serious, Hyuck,” Mark's expression softened, his eyes showing genuine concern. “This was the first time you ended up in the hospital for a normal reason, and it scared me.”

Donghyuck's smile faded as he took in Mark's words, realizing the gravity of the situation. "I didn't mean to worry you, Mark. I should have taken better care of myself."

Mark sighed, reaching out to gently squeeze Donghyuck's hand. 

"I know you're busy and stressed, but you need to prioritize your health too, okay? You survive many dumb situations, I can't lose you over something preventable."

Donghyuck felt his stomach do a triple somersault like it was auditioning for the circus. Funny little tingles shot through his body, making his toes wiggle with an uncontrollable urge to dance the Macarena.

"I promise I'll stop treating my meals like optional extras."

“Good.”

"No more hospital visits for me unless I'm on death's door."

Mark rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in his expression. "Let's aim for less dramatic scenarios, shall we? Like, no more hospital visits for you unless you’re here to just see your boyfriend?”

Donghyuck’s heart literally stopped. Well, not in a literal sense since the hospital monitor was still beeping away, but spiritually, it was a whole dramatic pause moment.

“What?”

“I really didn’t plan to do this here. I was hoping for a more romantic setting, like when we were skating or something, but with you, Lee Donghyuck, I guess this scenario is just too fitting,” Mark giggled nervously, squeezing Donghyuck’s hand gently, his eyes darting down to their intertwined fingers. A soft blush painted his cheeks, the pink hue contrasting adorably against his skin. “I like you, Donghyuck. Like, an unhealthy amount. And if I don't ask this, I feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest. So, um, do you want to be my boyfriend?”

The monitor beeped faster, mirroring Donghyuck's racing heartbeat that seemed to have taken off on its own marathon.

Donghyuck stared at Mark, his mind racing faster than his heart. A million thoughts and emotions flooded through him, all culminating in a rush of overwhelming joy and disbelief. 

“Can you say something instead of staring at me like the King’s Guard?”

“Are you serious right now?” Donghyuck finally managed to blurt out, unable to contain his grin.

Mark nodded earnestly, his eyes sparkling with both amusement and affection. “Completely serious. So, what do you say?”

"Yes," Donghyuck finally managed to whisper. "Yes, Mark, I want that. Asking me this while we are surrounded by beeping machines and antiseptic smells. How could I say no to such a romantic gesture?”

Mark burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking with amusement. “I knew you’d appreciate the ambiance.” 

"But seriously, I’m not really experienced when it comes to relationships. I have dated people, but I need you to be patient with me. I can and, probably will, mess something up eventually. Not intentionally, I swear."

Mark's smile softened as he reached out to hold Donghyuck's hand. “Don't worry about anything. When it comes to you, you have no idea how patient I can be.”

Donghyuck felt a funny sensation in his insides. The butterflies were definitely having a wild party in there.

Mark leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Donghyuck's forehead.

“You should kiss me on the lips,” Donghyuck teased.

Mark chuckled, shaking his head. “You want me to lose my job.”

“Didn’t you say you were willing to risk your medical license for me?”

Mark feigned a thoughtful expression, tapping his chin. “I might have mentioned something along those lines.”

“Well, then show me,” Donghyuck leaned back, a smirk spreading across his face. 

Mark laughed softly, his gaze warm as he looked at Donghyuck. “You’re trouble, you know that?”

“Only the good kind,” Donghyuck shot back, flashing a cheeky grin.

Mark shook his head, unable to suppress a smile. “Alright, fine. But just a quick, quiet one. No one needs to know.”

Donghyuck leaned closer, their faces just inches apart. “Promise,” he whispered, his eyes dancing with amusement. Donghyuck leaned in, Mark met him halfway, their lips met in a quick kiss.

“You need to eat,” Mark whispered against Donghyuck’s lips.

“But I hate hospital food,” Donghyuck whined. “It’s tasteless and boring. Anemic kind of food.”

“I know you hate hospital food, that’s why I’m going to cook for you. Make some soup as soon as we go back home.”

“Oh, nevermind. Bring me the hospital food. I’d rather eat the hospital food.”

Chapter Text

Donghyuck never thought "I miss you so much it hurts" would make sense to him.

He always figured it was an exaggeration, a hyperbole, something only people truly in love could understand. And he'd never been so deeply in love to get what that phrase meant. Sure, he loved and missed his parents to the point of tears sometimes, but that was different. With his previous partners, he fell for some, dated others, but love was never heart-stopping or mind-numbing for him. Missing them was just a fleeting feeling that came and went, never staying in his heart for too long. But that was because he was never deep in his feelings.

Now, he was.

Donghyuck was assigned to represent Vertex Dynamics in a big overseas event in Tokyo, and he had to stay in the city for five days. Now, on the fourth day, he realized he wasn’t good with the concept of distance. 

The first day was great, with new places to visit and different foods to try. The second was alright, dealing with the same boring boss testing his patience. The third was okay, though he was already tired and drained from doing so much alone. If Renjun were with him, maybe he’d feel less heavy. Still, he endured the day.

But the fourth day, today, is already the worst one. 

In all of these 25 years of life, Donghyuck never really experienced the concept of ‘distance’ in a relationship. He did have one forgettable fling with a guy named Wooshik during the last year of university. They started dating when Wooshik was on the verge of moving to Incheon. It was a relationship born out of sheer convenience and a couple of steamy nights, but Donghyuck knew it wasn't built to last. 

In the first week after Wooshik moved out, he cheated on Donghyuck with a girl and then sent a flood of tearful texts apologizing. Donghyuck, however, couldn't muster the energy to care. Wooshik was careless and apathetic about maintaining their relationship and, if being honest, Donghyuck never really gave a fuck. He liked him at best, but that was it. 

Eventually, they broke up by default. They just stopped talking, and neither of them bothered to even end it properly. It was like their relationship had been a group project where both partners just silently agreed to fail.

So, when it came to the concept of being far from a lover, Donghyuck was clueless, because he never experienced it truly. Not with Wooshik, because he didn't love him. Not with Seunghan, because they were middle school classmates who shared more math homework than feelings. Not with Hyunjin, because they worked together in a convenience store and the longest they were apart was when one of them went to the bathroom.

In essence, Donghyuck’s romantic history was a series of short-distance relationships, where distance was measured in bathroom breaks and text message response times. It wasn’t until Mark came along that Donghyuck realized what it meant to truly miss someone, to feel the ache of separation and count down the minutes until he could be wrapped up in Mark's arms again.

Tokyo to Seoul wasn't that far, but to Donghyuck, it might as well have been a journey from Earth to Mars. 

He woke up at 3 in the morning with a heavy heart, repeatedly rereading the text messages he exchanged with Mark the day before.

He rolled up all the way until he stopped at the picture Mark had sent the other morning. "I miss you so much I burned my toast :(", the message read, accompanied by a photo of Mark pouting next to the blackest piece of toast Donghyuck had ever seen. Donghyuck had laughed at the time, responding with, "Don't blame me for your lack of culinary ability. If I was there, you would've burned the toast either way”. Mark’s reply came quickly, "Yes, you are right. I would've burned my toast anyway but, if you were here, I would be happier because my boyfriend would be here to laugh at me because of it :(".

Mark always liked to send those sad face emojis, it wasn't supposed to mean anything, they were supposed to emphasize his drama, and Donghyuck knew that. But it brought tears to his eyes anyway. He remembered reading the message for the first time the day before, chuckling softly and finding it so endearing. But now, in the quiet of his hotel room, he felt an ache in his chest.

Donghyuck figured that Mark was such a clingy boyfriend. Not in a suffocating way, but just the right amount of clingy to make Donghyuck fall harder and deeper for him every day. They had been dating for two weeks now, and Mark was the best thing that had happened in Donghyuck's love life. Or in his life in general. It was kind of scary how he could feel so much for a person. He was a grown man, for god's sake, why was he acting like a hormonal teenager?

It wasn’t like he couldn’t live without Mark, because he was living just fine, and Mark was too. But he didn’t feel as whole. It felt like a piece of him was missing, and the only time he could be complete again was when Mark was holding his hand, lazily kissing his forehead in the morning, smiling at him and calling him pretty while they were watching a stupid series on TV, or just simply looking into his eyes. 

He brought light into Donghyuck’s life, making everything seem brighter and more vibrant. The way Mark would cling to him, resting his head on Donghyuck's shoulder or intertwining their fingers, made him feel cherished and adored, making the world a little less gray. The way Mark would laugh at his jokes, even the bad ones, or how he’d scrunch his nose when he was concentrating, those little things made Donghyuck’s heart so happy.

Donghyuck was never the one to fall too hard in a relationship. He really wasn’t. But with Mark, it seemed like he was freefalling all the time, and it would never stop. If anything, he would always go to the highest point where he could jump, and he would do it all over again. The more he fell, the more he wanted to keep falling.

He remembered the first day in Tokyo, when Mark had made him blush so hard he thought his face would catch fire. They had been texting, as usual, when Mark sent a simple, cheesy message, “I miss your face. It’s my favorite thing to look at. I should walk with eyes closed until you come back.”

Donghyuck had laughed, managing to type back, “Are you trying to make me explode from secondhand embarrassment or something? Not even an old man would hit on me like this.”

Mark had replied with, “Why would an old man hit on you?”. Donghyuck texted back with, “I’m for all ages, that’s why”. Mark had replied with a winking emoji and, “Too bad for them, you’re out of market now. I’ve got the last one and, no, there’s no restocking.”

Donghyuck had blushed so hard that he had to bury his face in his hands, in the middle of the restaurant he was visiting, while the waiter kindly waited for him to finish his order. Since then, it had been a constant cycle of Mark’s relentless sweetness and Donghyuck’s futile attempts to keep his cool. 

He had never been one for grand romantic gestures, but Mark brought out a side of him that he didn’t even know existed. Suddenly, he wanted to live a stupid kind of love that would make everyone disgusted, and now he was the type to plan elaborate dates and to send goodnight texts filled with hearts and kisses.

Donghyuck was helplessly, hopelessly in love, and it was both exhilarating and terrifying.

So, Donghyuck almost cried a little bit while rereading their texts. And he hated himself for being such a sensitive boy, what’s wrong with him? But it's not his fault Mark is so damn sweet. Donghyuck was never the type to cry for something as stupid as his boyfriend being a sweetheart, but here he was, feeling so pathetic for not being with his lover. And he missed Mark's smile, and the way his eyes would disappear and how his cheeks would become pink and how he would cover his mouth. Donghyuck missed his lips too, the soft and sweet touches and the warm feeling of Mark's hand against his skin, his fingernails scratching his scalp.

All he could think about was Mark. About how he was probably sleeping soundly back home at this exact moment, while Donghyuck was wide awake and wanting to catch the first plane to Seoul and go home to cuddle Mark. 

But here Donghyuck was. Scrolling through their texts, seeing all the stupid pictures Mark sent him in the last days, because he promised he would let Donghyuck know everything about his days while they were apart, and Donghyuck said ‘ok’. But now he's regretting it, because he misses Mark so much.

The situation was kind of pathetic to Donghyuck. He used to think love was just something people made up to sell chocolates and flowers, now he was getting his ass beat by his own feelings. How did he end up here?

Being apart from Mark had made him realize just how much he needed him. Not in a desperate way, but in a way that made life more bearable. Meaningful. Mark inserted himself in Donghyuck’s routine in a way that without him everything felt a little off-kilter.

They had been dating for two weeks, and they hadn't even gone on a proper date yet. Mark’s schedule was hectic, and he was almost never home. When his schedule finally normalized, Donghyuck went on this trip to Tokyo. Now, he was here, missing his boyfriend so much it hurt. He got it now. It actually fucking hurt.

Donghyuck clung to the pillow, which had clearly signed up for the role of his emotional support buddy rather than its usual head-resting duties. He was angry.

Angry because of the distance, angry because of this fucking job that seemed determined to drain every ounce of joy from him, angry at the fact that he was missing out on all the stupid coupley things he and Mark never had time for, angry because he felt so damn helpless and didn’t know what to do with himself. He didn't know what to do with his emotions. 

The pillow was squishy and soft, but it was just a fluff-filled rectangle that wasn’t equipped to handle Donghyuck’s existential angst. So he typed a message to Mark, "Missing you so much. Just wanna go back home”, hit send and tossed his phone aside. He sighed heavily, closing his eyes and expecting to magically fall asleep. But instead of drifting off, his phone began to vibrate vigorously on the nightstand. Mark was calling him.

"Why are you awake?" Donghyuck asked instead of saying hi. "You should be sleeping."

“Hello to you too, baby," Mark laughed and Donghyuck felt warm. He could hear the rustle of noise in the background and the faint sound of a door closing.

"Why are you still awake, Mark?"

"Why are you still awake, baby?" Mark retorted. "You should be the one resting by now, I'm on a 48-hour shift, and will be leaving later today."

"Then you should be taking a nap, at least," Donghyuck whined.

“I was going to,” Mark said, his voice softening. “But I got a message from someone who's supposed to be asleep, but clearly isn’t," Mark said.

"I just didn't feel very good," Donghyuck mumbled. “Didn't mean to bother you."

"No, baby, don't say that,” Mark’s tone turned tender. “It’s not a bother. You’re never a bother. I'm missing you too. A lot. Now tell me what’s bothering you, so I can find a way to fix it."

Donghyuck sighed, hugging the pillow tighter. "I feel kind of crazy, you know? One moment, I'm just a normal man, living my normal boring life, and then you come into my life and make me this big softie. Like, seriously, you should go to jail for doing this to me.”

"For what, exactly?" Mark laughed.

"For making me so whipped," Donghyuck complained.

"I’d say it’s a badge of honor, not a crime. And that’s your fault, isn’t it? You’re the one who decided to reciprocate my feelings, babe," Mark reminded him.

Donghyuck huffed dramatically into the phone. “I’m a victim here. You should go to jail."

“And what’s the charge? Being irresistibly charming?”

“Absolutely.”

Mark's laughs were beautiful, and Donghyuck loved that sound. "I'll gladly go to jail for that."

Donghyuck smiled and stayed silent for a bit. "How are you?"

"Good, I'm good. Like I texted you earlier, the hospital is not that busy. Which is good because, well, it indicates fewer accidents and fewer people nearly dying. Which means a quieter shift. But it's also bad because a quieter shift means I have more time for myself, and I use all that time thinking about you."

"Woah, you're so cheesy," Donghyuck said, and then giggled.

"Well, that is not cheesy. That's just the truth."

Donghyuck was blushing again, he didn't have any doubt. He was thankful that Mark was not in front of him, because that would be embarrassing. "Okay, stop. We're not even face to face, and you're still embarrassing me. I’m supposed to be the smooth one in this relationship. You should go to fucking jail.”

Mark gave one of his stupid giggles and Donghyuck wanted to slap himself because God, his boyfriend was so cute. He didn't know what he had done in his past life to deserve Mark. "I think you’re plenty smooth, babe. But I’m glad to know I have this effect on you. Makes me feel powerful.”

“Oh, shut up,” Donghyuck said. “You’re the only one who can make me blush just by breathing. It’s dumb and I hate it.”

“Is that so?” Mark teased. “I’ll have to test that theory when you get back.”

Donghyuck felt his face heat up even more. “Shut up. Immediately.”

“Okay, but for real, what's wrong, huh?" Mark’s voice was gentle but insistent.

"What makes you think something is wrong?" Donghyuck was trying to act dumb.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you sent me a text saying you're missing me and just told me you’re not feeling good? I'm not a detective, but it's kinda obvious, isn't it?"

Donghyuck sighed, the frustration melting away at the sound of Mark’s voice. “I miss you. That’s it,” he admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Mark was quiet for a moment, as if he was carefully choosing his next words, then he whispered, "Are you sure? Isn't it because of your job? Is your boss bothering you again?" he asked softly, concern evident in his voice.

Donghyuck let out a mirthless chuckle. “When is he not bothering me?”

“Baby,” Mark said, his tone turning serious but still tender.

“Yeah,” Donghyuck admitted, his voice growing softer and softer. “I'm tired and drained. But missing you is what really got me. I just realized that things are kind of way too stressful when I’m far from you and it sucks. Did I tell you that you should go to jail for making me feel like this?"

"I can't believe the boy I like misses me."

Donghyuck rolled his eyes, and then remembered Mark couldn't see him. "I’m hanging up."

“No, you’re not,” Mark countered. “What can I do to help you? Do you want me to tell you a story? Sing a lullaby? Anything you want, babe."

Donghyuck chuckled softly, feeling a warmth spread through him at Mark’s concern. "A lullaby would be nice, but please spare me from your singing talents."

Mark gasped dramatically. "Hey now, my singing can be quite soothing!"

"Maybe in your dreams," Donghyuck teased back, his smile evident in his voice.

Mark laughed, the sound making Donghyuck’s heart flutter. "Okay, no singing. Then what?”

"Just talk. Tell me anything. I don’t know, tell me a TV series you're watching, or anything. I don't know, I just miss hearing your stupid voice."

"My stupid voice, uh?"

"Yes, your voice. Don't act all smug."

"Let me see... I've been watching this new TV show called 'Doctor Slump’ and it's amazing,” Mark said, clearly excited.

"Renjun did mention this show to me, said something about how this would be us if we met in high school," Donghyuck remembered.

“So, according to Renjun, we would be two failed doctors with lots of problems?”

"I know nothing about the show, okay?”

"Oh, that's fine, I'm happy to tell you the entire plot, babe,” Mark giggled, excited. "Think about it, we are high school rivals then—bam!—we are two doctors. I'm a nationally famous plastic surgeon, and you are working in abusive shifts at a university hospital, waiting for a promotion. Then, I get involved in a scandal where I lose a patient on the operating table, and you’re diagnosed with burnout and resign after a near-fatal accident.”

Donghyuck snorted. “First of all, why would I be the one stuck in an abusive workplace while you’re all famous and shiny? Second, the idea of me being a doctor is just laughable. It's offensive even to think about it. And third, something about plot sounds all too familiar. Burnout’s practically knocking on my door, asking for a cup of sugar.”

“And I did lose a patient too.”

Donghyuck’s tone shifted, becoming more serious. “Mark, don’t touch on this topic. It’s still too fresh for you to talk about it like this.”

“Then you stop joking about your mental health,” Mark scolded. 

“Fair enough, serotonin police.”

“I’m your boyfriend, not just a serotonin police officer. I’m your full-time serotonin booster. Address me accordingly.”

Donghyuck giggled softly, feeling the comforting pull of sleep finally tugging at his consciousness. 

"You're ridiculous, have some shame," he murmured, his voice softening with affection. “The only thing about this TV show that could be canon about us is that we would definitely be enemies. I was too much when I was young, you would hate me.”

“You don’t know that,” Mark protested, and Donghyuck could picture his stupid pouty face, lips slightly jutting out and eyes narrowed in playful defiance.

“Yes, I do. Don’t argue with me.”

Mark scoffed good-naturedly. “Fine. But look, the couple on Doctor Slump is really cute, so I guess that could be us.”

Donghyuck hummed, closing his eyes and imagining Mark's face. “I guess I need to watch the show to give my two cents. I’m going to force you to rewatch it with me.”

“You don’t need to force me to do anything with you, I will do it voluntarily,” Mark replied, his voice full of fondness.

Donghyuck chuckled softly.It was ridiculous how all this could make his heart do somersaults. Here he was, a grown man, giggling into his pillow like a teenager with his first crush. God, I’m hopeless, he thought to himself, unable to wipe the grin off his face. “How many times will you make me say that you are cheesy?”

“A lot. Seek new words to insult me.”

“You’re a sap. Have some self-respect.”

“Guilty as charged. But seriously, when you get back, we’re having a Doctor Slump marathon. Popcorn, blankets, and lots of cuddles. Anything else?”

“Just you,” Donghyuck said, his voice tender. “That’s all I really need.”

There was a brief pause before Mark responded, his voice equally soft. “You’re making it hard for me to stay cool here, you know that? That’s ultimate cheesy.”

“Good,” Donghyuck replied with a grin. “Now you know how I feel all the time.”

Mark laughed softly. “Touché. You’ve got me there.”

“Just you wait until I’m back. I’m going to find a way to out-cheese you so hard.”

“Over my dead body, Just Donghyuck.”

“Okay, Dr. Lee,” Donghyuck teased, “I will prove you wrong.”

“Please, don’t call me Dr. Lee,” Mark said, his tone suddenly hushed and almost embarrassed.

“Why?” Donghyuck asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It makes me horny,” Mark confessed with a surprising amount of seriousness.

Donghyuck burst into laughter, nearly toppling off his bed in the process. “What? Do you get horny with all your patients?”

“Only one. A very particular one.”

“That’s interesting. Let’s talk about this.”

“No.”

“We will address this one way or another, Mark Lee.”

“Anyways,” Mark shifted the topic with a chuckle, “the TV show…”

Donghyuck smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring my best critique game. We’ll see if this couple really matches up to us.”

There was a comfortable silence for a moment, both of them just basking in the warmth of each other’s presence, even if it was just over the phone.

“Babe,” Mark said softly, breaking the silence.

“Yeah?”

“I miss you,” Mark said quietly.

“I miss you too.”

“And, just so you know, I’m planning on staying at least 24 hours cuddling with you when you get back.”

Donghyuck couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s sweet, but we will need to stay away from each other at some point.”

“Nope. Cuddles are non-negotiable.”

“And what about food?”

“Food is overrated. We will starve together if we must.”

“Okay, but if we starve, then we will die.”

“24-hour cuddle. No complaints.”

Donghyuck was exhausted. Finally, the trip was over but he was back home at 2 am. He got out of the plane like a sleep-deprived zombie, dragging his luggage behind him with all the enthusiasm of a snail on a caffeine crash. His brain felt like it had been replaced with a soggy sponge, and his head throbbed in a rhythmic pattern that would probably make a metronome jealous. 

His trip had been okay, overall, punctuated by occasional decent meals and a lot of time spent pretending to be interested in things he was too tired to care about. But, all in all, he was glad to be back home, where he belonged. 

As soon as his foot touched the familiar ground of South Korea, it was like the universe had hit the “reset” button on his stress levels. It was as if all the baggage he’d been carrying—emotional, mental, and literal—had magically evaporated into thin air with the familiar scent of home, mixed with a whiff of overpriced airport coffee. 

And as he shuffled toward the arrival area, he spotted  Mark, with his black hair and an irresistible, beaming smile that could probably light up a dark room. Donghyuck’s heart did a little happy dance, and for a moment, he felt as if he was a fairy gliding effortlessly through the air, leaving a trail of glittering joy in his wake.

He approached with a sleepy but genuine grin, feeling as though all his exhaustion had been momentarily forgotten in the presence of the one person who made everything better. Mark’s smile widened as he stepped forward to greet him, and Donghyuck felt an overwhelming surge of relief and happiness wash over him. 

Mark reached out, pulling Donghyuck into a warm, tight hug. Donghyuck leaned into it and let out a contented sigh, the kind of sigh that escapes when you finally get home after a long busy day, only to find that someone has made you your favorite dish for dinner and there’s no more laundry to fold.

His eyes fluttered closed for a moment, savoring the sensation of finally being back in the right place, right in Mark’s arms. Donghyuck tightened his grip, burying his face in the crook of Mark's neck, inhaling the scent of his cologne. A blend of cedar and citrus, with that one fabric softener that seemed to whisper, “Welcome home.”

Donghyuk chuckled softly to himself, thinking about how absurdly dramatic he must look. Like a lovesick koala clinging to its favorite eucalyptus tree. But in this moment, he didn’t care.

When Mark finally pulled back, his eyes were bright and a smile was plastered on his face.

"Hi," Mark said, his smile wide and beautiful.

"Hey," Donghyuck greeted back. "Did you miss me?"

"Not at all. It was very peaceful and quiet.”

“Same thing in Tokyo, I didn’t think about you at all.”

“Nice,” Mark smiled and cupped Donghyuck's face in his hands, leaning in to press a chaste kiss on his nose, and then pressing their foreheads together.

Donghyuck closed his eyes, relishing the feeling of Mark's hands on his cheeks, his fingertips warm and gentle against his skin. He leaned into the touch, sighing softly as Mark's thumbs traced small circles along his cheekbones. Mark leaned in slowly, capturing Donghyuck's lips in a gentle, unhurried kiss. It was brief, but tender, and Donghyuck couldn't help but melt a little bit.

When they broke apart, Donghyuck opened his eyes and was met with Mark's loving gaze. He couldn't help but lean in for another kiss. This time, it was deeper, longer, and a little more intense. Mark's hands traveled down to his waist, pulling him closer, and Donghyuck wrapped his arms around his neck. 

Mark pulled him into another tight hug, burying his face in Donghyuck's shoulder and nuzzling his neck. "Welcome home, babe.”

“Thanks,” Donghyuck breathed out.

“What took you so long? I was starting to think you’d fallen asleep at the gate,” Mark said softly, rubbing Donghyuck’s back in soothing circles.

Donghyuck let out a tired laugh. “I was almost about to,” he admitted, resting his head against Mark’s shoulder. “I feel like I’ve been running on autopilot for the past twenty-four hours.”

“Well, you made it home,” Mark chuckled softly, running his fingers through Donghyuck's hair and giving him a gentle kiss on the top of his head. "You must be exhausted."

"So much. And my neck hurts from the flight, and I’m hungry because it’s fucking 2 am and I was so sleepy I didn’t eat, and I really need to get out of these jeans," Donghyuck said, listing off all the reasons he felt awful. “This fucking company needs to pay for putting me in such an early plane.”

"I'll take care of you," Mark promised.

“You better, I was promised a 24-hour cuddle.”

"I've got you. Now let's get home, alright?"

"Yes, please. Take me home, I'll let you cuddle the shit out of me."

Mark laughed and kissed his forehead, taking his hand and lacing their fingers together. "Deal."

As they made their way toward the parking lot, hand in hand, Donghyuck shivered from head to toe. “Woah, since when is it so cold?”

Mark glanced over at him. "Since you decided to show up at 2 am in jeans and a t-shirt, genius."

Donghyuck rolled his eyes. 

"Well, excuse me for not packing a parka for my flight home."

Mark raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Donghyuck retorted, feigning annoyance.

"It's like 10 degrees, Donghyuck. You should’ve looked at the weather forecast," Mark explained.

"When I left, it was normal here. And the weather in Japan was so nice I didn't bother buying a jacket, because I thought it would still be normal over here. It was just a five-day trip, what’s the probability of such an extreme change of weather?"

“99,9%, because we are in November.”

"Stop being an ass, I'm not the meteorologist," Donghyuck groaned.

"I'm not an ass. I'm just saying it's pretty obvious, it's literally winter. It's supposed to be cold."

"I know, but that doesn't mean I was going to buy a fucking parka just for the sake of not freezing to death in a 2 hour flight. It's not even that cold."

Mark sighed, shaking his head. "Fine, then I guess you can cross this parking lot just fine without a jacket."

"Are you crazy? No, give me your jacket, I'm freezing."

Mark laughed, shrugging off his puffer black jacket and handing it over to Donghyuck.

“Yeah, yeah. Let's just get home before I turn into an ice sculpture."

Mark wrapped his arm around Donghyuck's shoulders again, pulling him close as they continued their trek to the car. "Anything for you, my human popsicle."

"Why do I like you again?"

"Because I'm sexy.”

"Fair enough," Donghyuck conceded. "But, you have to know that you're an idiot."

As they made their way to the car, Donghyuck kept shivering dramatically, clutching Mark's jacket tighter around himself. "Hurry up, Mark! I'm going to freeze to death out here," he whined, his teeth chattering for added effect.

Mark rolled his eyes, though a fond smile played on his lips. "Calm down, drama queen. We're almost there."

"Almost there is not there, Mark," Donghyuck retorted, hopping from foot to foot. "My fingers are going to fall off. Do you want that on your conscience?"

"Oh, the horror," Mark said dryly, finally reaching the car. He opened the trunk and started loading Donghyuck's bags inside, taking his sweet time. 

“How can you not be cold? Are you a superhero or something? Am I dating Human Torch?”

Mark wheezed. “I lived in Canada, this is just normal daily weather for me,” he shut the trunk and turned to face Donghyuck, who was now huddled into a tight ball, only his eyes peeking out from under the oversized jacket. "Alright, get in the car, you big baby," he said, unlocking the doors.

Donghyuck practically dove into the passenger seat, immediately cranking up the heat. "Finally," he sighed with exaggerated relief, stretching his hands toward the vents. "Sweet, sweet warmth."

Mark slid into the driver’s seat, glancing over at Donghyuck. "Feel better now?"

"Marginally," Donghyuck replied, still basking in the warm air blowing from the vents. "But I expect hot chocolate when we get home. And maybe a hot bath. And definitely some more of your body heat."

"Demanding, aren't we?" Mark teased, starting the car and pulling out of the parking lot.

"Only because you spoil me," Donghyuck shot back, grinning and extending his hand to intertwine his cold fingers with Mark’s. "Now, step on it, chauffeur. My extremities depend on you."

Mark laughed, shaking his head as he drove. He brought Donghyuck’s hand closer to his mouth and kissed its knuckles. "Your wish is my command, Your Majesty. Home, hot chocolate, and a hot bath, coming right up."

"And don't forget the 24-hour cuddle," Donghyuck reminded him, finally feeling the warmth seep back into his bones.

"How could I forget?"

For the rest of the ride back, Donghyuck and Mark chatted about every tiny detail of their days that they didn’t exchange through texts, which was not a lot since they were texting and FaceTiming as much as possible.  Donghyuck told him about the exotic vending machine he found in Japan that sold everything from canned bread to neck ties.

Mark recounted his hectic shifts and a particularly stubborn 18-year-old patient who refused to collaborate with him. “Oh, also, Jaemin and Chenle are officially a thing now,” he switched topics suddenly.

“What?” Donghyuck asked with wide eyes. “When? How? Why didn’t Chenle say anything to me?”

“Because it happened like 1 hour ago, while you were on the plane. Jaemin texted me exactly thirty two messages about how Chenle showed up at the hospital and just kissed him. Jeno was there to give moral support. Or to be a voyeur. I don’t know. Jaemin’s description was not very clear.”

It was almost 3 am when they arrived at Donghyuck's apartment. It was a lot warmer than the hotel room in Japan. The smell of home, the warmth of his sheets, the familiarity of everything, was almost overwhelming. The first thing Donghyuck did was flop down on the couch, burying his face in a cushion.

“God, I missed this couch more than anything," he sighed, his voice muffled by the pillow.

Mark laughed, settling next to him and stroking his hair.

"More than me?"

"You're a close second," Donghyuck said, cracking an eye open to look at Mark.

"Oh, thank you. I feel so special."

"You're welcome."

Mark ran his fingers through Donghyuck's hair, smoothing the strands of hair gently.

"Hey," he said, his voice gentle.

"Hey," Donghyuck responded, leaning into his touch.

"Are you still hungry?"

“A little bit,” Donghyuck groaned. “Last time I ate was around 7 pm last night, then I took a nap before going to the airport.”

“Okay, so… I cooked something for you,” Mark said slowly, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

“Oh God.”

“Spare the judgment for now.”

“Sorry,” Donghyuck whispered, trying to suppress a laugh.

"So, as I was saying, I cooked something for you. Without burning my kitchen. I’ll be right back," Mark got up from the couch and hurried to his apartment, leaving Donghyuck to ponder what culinary disaster awaited him.

Donghyuck sat there, his mind racing with images of charred toast and blackened pots. But soon enough, Mark returned, carrying a small red cake. He set it down on the coffee table in front of the couch with a proud grin.

The cake was an adorable disaster. It had “Welcome Home” scrawled across it in what could generously be described as writing, and a little chubby heart that looked more like a squished tomato. Donghyuck had to do his hardest to not let his eyes water. It was such a fucking simple gesture, but exactly because of that it made Donghyuck's heart pang. Mark is an actual disaster in anything he does inside the kitchen. He probably took more hours than necessary to do this cake because he didn’t want to fuck it up.

And, oh boy, did he fuck it up a little bit. But fuck, that was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for him.

Mark made this for him. It was the most precious thing for Donghyuck.

He was brought out of his thoughts by Mark clearing his throat.

“This is something,” Donghyuck said, his voice wavering between laughter and genuine emotion. “Art is a very wide subject. I loved the heartmato.”

Mark giggled. “It’s a hybrid. Now, do you dare to taste it?”

“Do I have a choice?” Donghyuck teased, picking up a fork. 

“Look, Gordon Ramsay, take in consideration that I made this after a 48-hour shift, okay?”

"You did this after your shift?"

"Yeah, I know I'm not a professional baker," Mark mumbled. "But you talked about how your grandma used to bake cakes for you when you did great on something, and you did great in Tokyo. You endured five days with your boss calling day and night to piss you off. I thought it would be a nice gesture, y'know? And I really wanted to make something for you."

Donghyuck’s vision started to get a bit blurry, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. He mentioned this once to Mark, while they were talking about Donghyuck almost breaking down the set of his elementary school play. But here Mark was, turning that fleeting comment into something so heartfelt and tangible.  

It was way more than just the cake. It was the effort, the fact that Mark had listened and remembered, it hit Donghyuck harder than he expected. Mark's gesture struck a chord deep within Donghyuck, a chord that resonated with memories of his grandmother, of simpler times, of feeling cherished and valued. Something that he didn’t truly feel in a long time.

Mark, still rambling about the trials of baking, was completely unaware of the emotional chaos he’d stirred up. Donghyuck tried to blink away the tears, focusing on Mark's animated gestures and passionate storytelling. 

"But like, it was a hard task," Mark continued, oblivious to Donghyuck's emotional state. "I thought baking a cake was easy, but damn, man, I almost lost my mind because you have to mix so many things. I think making the PowerPuff Girls is way easier than baking a cake because—"

He kept blabbering about the hard task of cooking, and Donghyuck was just out of it, Mark's voice becoming a faraway sound inside his mind. All he could think about was how much genuine happiness this simple act brought to his soul.

“I swear, I almost summoned a demon with the way I was mixing the batter. And don't even get me started on the icing. It's like trying to put toothpaste back into the tube. I watched three tutorials and still managed to screw it up—Wait, are you crying? Oh my god, is it that bad?”

Donghyuck shook his head, knowing that if he opened his mouth he was going to straight up cry.

“If you start crying, I’m throwing the whole cake away,” Mark warned, but his voice was tender.

“Don’t you dare touch my fucking cake,” Donghyuck warned, he could barely get the words out without his voice trembling.

Mark chuckled. “Well, go on then. Try it.”

"Thank you," Donghyuck replied, not even bothering to hide the way his voice trembled.

"You're welcome," Mark shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. Donghyuck picked up a fork, eyeing the cake. "It's made with love and possibly a bit of eggshell, but mostly love."

The icing was too sugary and the cake was a little dry. Yet, it was perfect.

“Hey, this is actually good.”

“I’m so awesome,” Mark declared triumphantly, as if he’d just won a gold medal in cake-making. “But seriously, be honest.”

“How honest?” Donghyuck asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Very,” Mark insisted, his eyes twinkling with playful seriousness.

“Alright, let’s see. Too much sugar, but still, delicious,” Donghyuck said, savoring the sweetness despite the minor flaws.

“From 1 to 10?” Mark asked eagerly, practically bouncing on his feet.

“9,” Donghyuck replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

“I’m the greatest cook ever, hell yeah!” Mark shouted, pumping his fist in the air like he’d just conquered the culinary world. “I’m practically a gourmet chef now.”

“Let’s calm down, shall we?”

“Don’t ruin my vibe,” Mark protested, then opened his mouth in a comically exaggerated ‘ah,’ ready for Donghyuck to feed him cake. White chocolate smeared across his lips, making him look absurdly cute and slightly ridiculous.

Donghyuck chuckled softly.

"What?” Mark asked, frowning as he blinked up at Donghyuck.

How could Donghyuck put into words how much this meant to him? He wanted to tell Mark that this simple, messy cake was one of the best things anyone had ever done for him. He wanted to be able to tell Mark how important this gesture was to him. How important Mark was to him. But he didn’t even have the words to say it; words felt inadequate. All Donghyuck could do was hope that his gaze conveyed what he felt, what he wanted Mark to know.

“Come here,” Donghyuck said softly, tugging on the hem of Mark’s shirt. He leaned in and pressed a tender kiss against Mark’s lips, his tongue darting out to lick at his lips.

The kiss was sweet. Both figuratively and literally.

“Is that a good sign?"

"What do you think?"

"That you're a very picky man, and you lied to me to make me feel happy and the cake is an abomination?"

"Exactly."

"Wow, thanks."

"Anytime."

Donghyuck laughed and went back for another kiss.

And then one more.

And another one.

Then he sighed contentedly and rested his head on Mark's shoulders.

The journey had been long, but finally, he was home. And he was not even talking about his apartment.

Donghyuck felt like he was in heaven.

His body was sore anywhere and everywhere. He had woken up a while ago, but Mark had made it his mission to stretch every precious second of morning into a marathon of astronomical great sex.

His brain was foggy and his throat felt raw from screaming, and Mark's lips were still glued to his own.

They were both panting into each other's mouths, not even kissing anymore, just breathing the same air and letting the waves of their orgasms roll over them, bodies plastered together and legs tangled.

It was like Mark was trying to defy the laws of science, creating a bubble where the outside world simply didn’t exist.

Donghyuck could not formulate a coherent thought if his life depended on it. 

"That was," Mark breathed. "Fucking fantastic."

"You can say that," Donghyuck replied, voice hoarse. “What time is it? You fucked me so good I’ve lost all sense of space and time.”

Mark snorted. "It's probably past midday, babe."

Donghyuck sighed contentedly. He felt his eyes slowly flutter closed.

"I feel like I could go for a nap, honestly," he mumbled, feeling the familiar lull of sleep beckoning him again.

"Same," Mark replied.

Donghyuck felt a hand wrap itself around his waist.

"We should probably get up soon," Donghyuck said, half-heartedly.

Mark hummed against his shoulder. "Yeah, we probably should.”

"Like, not now, though," Donghyuck added.

"Obviously. Nap time."

They fell asleep in a matter of seconds.

The next time Donghyuck woke up, he was alone in the bed. The curtains had been drawn, and the light from the window was streaming through. He glanced at the clock and found it was 1:34 pm. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, stretching. He was still naked, and the bed was a mess, the sheets twisted and the pillows all over the place.

Donghyuck felt something soft slide against his belly.

Mark was standing there, next to the bed, smiling softly.

He had showered, his hair was still wet, and he had on a pair of boxers. He had a shirt draped over his shoulder.

He had brought a towel and was using it to wipe the remnants of come and sweat and saliva from Donghyuck's body.

"Hello, sleepy head."

Donghyuck smiled drowsily.

"I ordered food, take a shower and join me?"

Donghyuck nodded lazily, stretching his limbs.

Mark handed him a pair of boxers. Donghyuck got out of the bed, wincing at the feeling of his aching muscles, and let his arms circle around Mark’s shoulders and kissed him chastely, sighing into the kiss.

Mark pulled away.

"Go wash up. I'll be in the kitchen," he said, giving him one last peck on the forehead before making his way out of the bedroom.

Donghyuck showered quickly, and as he was drying himself with a fluffy white towel he saw a bruise forming on his collarbone. He couldn't help but grin to himself. It was probably not healthy to feel so happy about being marked like this.

He put on the boxers and made his way to the kitchen, finding Mark sitting on a stool with a bowl of pasta.

He looked up and grinned when he saw him.

"Food is on the counter," he said, taking a mouthful of his food.

Donghyuck's stomach grumbled.

He made his way to the counter, grabbed a bowl and served himself a generous amount of spaghetti and sauce. He hummed appreciatively after taking the first bite. "This is good."

"I know, right?" Mark replied, smiling. "I can't cook, but I'm really good at ordering takeout."

Donghyuck rolled his eyes affectionately and chuckled, sitting down on the stool next to him. He ate his pasta, stealing glances at Mark every once in a while.

Mark, who was currently busy looking at him, smiling softly.

“What?” Donghyuck asked, his voice tinged with self-consciousness as he fidgeted under Mark’s gaze.

“We have places to go today,” Mark said with a casual nonchalance, as though Donghyuck was already fully briefed on the day’s itinerary.

“We do?” Donghyuck’s eyes widened in surprise, and he nearly choked on his food, his fork pausing mid-air.

Mark hummed affirmatively, his smile widening just a touch. “Yep, we’re going on a date.”

Donghyuck stared at him, dumbfounded, his cheeks flushed. He almost choked on his food, looking at Mark, who had a small smile playing on his lips.

“A date?” he repeated. “And I’m just hearing about this now?”

Mark chuckled. “Yep. I thought it would be a nice surprise. I’ve planned a little something special for us.”

Donghyuck narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

He wanted to ask him more, but he figured that whatever it was that Mark had planned, he wouldn't budge and tell him. He knew how stubborn Mark could be, and the only way to get anything was to just wait.

So he did.

They spent the rest of the afternoon together, lazing about, doing nothing in particular, until it was time to start getting ready.

Mark had instructed Donghyuck to wear something nice and warm. Donghyuck complied, grabbing his coat.

The day had been pretty warm, despite the chill of winter slowly setting in.

"Are we going to need gloves?" he called, from the bedroom, as he was putting on his coat.

"Probably,” Mark's voice came from the living room. “It’s cold outside, remember?”

"Where are we going, anyway?"

"I'm not telling you."

Donghyuck pouted. "I want to know where my boyfriend is taking me."

Mark’s voice drifted in from the living room, filled with amusement. 

“You’ll find out soon enough. But yes, it’s definitely cold. You might even want to add a scarf to that outfit.”

Donghyuck emerged from the bedroom, now bundled in a beige coat. “A scarf? Should I just bring my whole winter wardrobe while I’m at it?”

Mark looked up from the sofa, a playful grin spreading across his face. 

“The second part of our date is a bit of a hike up there, but the view is worth the chill.”

“Second part of the date?”

“Yup, I told you, we are going places today. Places with s in the end.”

They headed outside, the cold air hitting them. The streets were busy, but the chill made the sidewalks less crowded than usual. They hopped in the car, and throughout the entire time, Donghyuck tried to make Mark talk where we were going. 

"Are we going to an escape room?"

"Nope."

"Is it a museum?"

"Looks fancy just like one, but no."

"An art gallery?"

"No, but good guess."

"A book store?"

"Not a store."

"A library?"

"No, it's fancier than a library."

"Then I'm clueless."

"Good," Mark smirked. "That was the plan."

Donghyuck crossed his arms and leaned back against his seat.

"This isn't fair."

Mark looked over and smiled.

The city lights danced in Mark’s eyes as Donghyuck tried to decipher their secret destination. Finally, Mark parked the car and turned to Donghyuck with a knowing smile. Turns out, their destination was Sebitseom Island, more specifically a fancy restaurant called MOOD SEOUL. 

“Mark,” Donghyuck turned to him as they were in front of the place.

“Yes?”

“This is a fancy restaurant,” Donghyuck protested, his voice tinged with mild panic. “I’m definitely not dressed accordingly.”

Mark laughed, taking in Donghyuck’s outfit—jeans, a white shirt, his beige coat and sneakers—against the backdrop of the restaurant’s polished ambiance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not exactly in a tuxedo myself. I’ve got jeans and a dress shirt, nothing too fancy. You look pretty and warm. Casual chic, okay? Trust me, it’s not as formal as you think.”

The sleek, modern design and stunning view of the Han River made it clear that this was no ordinary dinner spot like Mark wanted Donghyuck to believe, but his anxiety melted away under the warm lights of the restaurant and the nice sound of the live artist playing at the center of the restaurant.

Mark led Donghyuck to their table, which was strategically placed to offer a perfect view of the Han River’s shimmering lights. As the two of them sat down and took in their surroundings, they were suddenly very aware of the romantic ambiance. The place was filled with couples, soft music was playing, the waiters were smiling too much, and the whole vibe was very romantic.

Donghyuck looked over at Mark, who appeared slightly flustered, fidgeting with the menu.

“I hope you like this place,” Mark said, glancing up from the menu, obviously a bit nervous. “I haven’t eaten here yet, so I’m kind of excited. I just wanted to have a cliché dinner with you, while looking at the Han River.”

"I like the ambiance, and the food smells delicious already. Also, there’s live music. So far, so good. I really like it."

Mark’s nerves seemed to ease as he smiled at Donghyuck’s enthusiasm. “I’m glad you do. I was worried you’d think I was trying too hard.”

Donghyuck reached across the table and gave Mark’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Trying too hard? No way. This is perfect.”

"You sure?" Mark looked up, his eyes lighting up.

"Yes, I am. We’re dating already, remember? No need to be nervous.”

“It’s been a while since I had an actual date, I don’t want to fuck up the plans I made.”

"You won't. It's been a while since I've had a date too. And trust me, this is one hell of a date, so far. I’d love it if you could spoil part two of this date,” Donghyuck batted his lashes dramatically.

Mark feigned confusion, his hand over his heart. “Wow, suddenly I don’t understand Korean. Are you speaking in code?”

“Oh, come on,” Donghyuck whined.

The rest of the dinner was a delightful mix of delicious food and light-hearted fun moments. The highlight of the evening came when the restaurant's live singer took things up a notch and practically turned the whole place into a mini concert hall.

In the middle of a soulful ballad, the singer  leaped off the stage and started making his way through the tables. He was belting out notes like he was auditioning for a Broadway show, and he handed the mic to random diners, urging them to join in.

When the singer reached their table, he handed the mic to Donghyuck. The moment he started singing, he completely stole the spotlight. His voice, though not professional, had a raw charm that had everyone’s attention. The singer, clearly impressed, dramatically pushed a nearby chair over to their table and sat down next to Mark, making exaggerated faces of surprise and enjoyment as if Donghyuck’s impromptu performance was the highlight of his career.

Mark had heard Donghyuck sing countless times, usually from the bathroom, because Donghyuck couldn't help but turn shampooing his hair into a full-on concert. Mark even teased him, telling him that he should come with a warning label like, ‘May spontaneously break into song during daily hygiene routines.’

So it wasn’t a surprise when Donghyuck looked at Mark and he was just there, smiling proudly at him and nodding his head. After Donghyuck wrapped up his performance, the singer applauded with exaggerated enthusiasm, standing up to give Donghyuck a theatrical bow. Mark joined him and clapped just as enthusiastic, along with the rest of the restaurant.

After paying the bill, the two of them decided to walk around the island for a bit. The temperature had dropped, but Donghyuck felt warm with the way Mark had taken his hand into his, pulling him closer and wrapping his arm around his shoulders. Then, they made their way back to the car.

When they finally reached the car, Mark opened the door for Donghyuck with a cheeky grin on his face. "Ladies first," he said, bowing dramatically.

Donghyuck laughed as he slipped into the passenger seat, feeling like he was part of a whimsical movie scene. Mark climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine, the car rumbling to life with a gentle purr.

“Our next destination is not far,” Mark said.

After a few minutes, Donghyuck recognized the path. The familiar buildings and shops they passed by, along with the increasing elevation, made his heart race with excitement. “Are we going to the Namsan Tower?” he asked, eyes lighting up with anticipation.

He hadn't ever been there, but he always thought about it. He had heard so much about it and he saw it so often in dramas and movies. Even though Donghyuck could visit the place with his friends, deep down, Donghyuck was a lover. He wanted the cliche romanticism of the place, the love locks. 

"I told you, I'm not telling you." 

"So, we are going to a path that leads to Namsan Tower, but we are not going to the Namsan Tower?" 

"I can't hear you."

"But I already know."

"Nope, don't understand Korean."

"Mark,” Donghyuck mewled, drawing out his name in a whiny tone.

"Yes, babe?" Mark responded sweetly.

"We are going to the tower, right?"

"Still not sure I know what you're saying."

"I swear to god, Mark."

Mark rolled his eyes. "Fine, yes. Crybaby."

Donghyuck felt like an elementary school student whose parents promised a trip to Disneyland. 

Mark reached out and took Donghyuck’s hand as they reached the place and got out of the car, going to the cable car that led up to the tower.

They hopped into the cable car and, as they ascended, Donghyuck marveled at the city lights below, their glow shimmering like a sea of stars. Mark wrapped his arm around him and Donghyuck leaned into his warmth, feeling both excited and content.

"Look at that view," Donghyuck said, his breath fogging up the glass. "It's like we're floating above a galaxy."

"Yeah, it’s pretty amazing," Mark agreed, tightening his grip around Donghyuck's shoulders.

Arriving at the top, they were greeted by the panoramic view of Seoul’s twinkling lights. The cold was biting, but the view was breathtaking. 

Donghyuck bounced on the balls of his feet. "I feel like I'm in a drama, Mark. Are we gonna do the whole love lock thing? Because I already have the perfect spot picked out in my head."

"Of course, we are. I came prepared," Mark chuckled, pulling a small lock from his pocket. "But first, what about Bungeoppang?" he asked, pointing to a nearby food stall.

Donghyuck’s eyes lit up at the mention of the warm, fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean paste. "Oh my god, yes! I need something warm to counteract the hypothermia."

“What hypothermia?” Mark giggled.

"The hypothermia I’m currently experiencing because there’s no way this is normal," Donghyuck replied, shivering dramatically for effect.

Mark laughed, throwing his head back. He then took Donghyuck's hands in his own, rubbing them briskly. "Told you to bring gloves."

"Shut up," Donghyuck shot back, but he couldn't help the smile tugging at his lips.

They made their way to the stall, the smell of freshly baked Bungeoppang wafting through the cold air. The vendor handed them two piping hot pastries, and Donghyuck took a bite and sighed in contentment. 

They wandered around, looking for the ideal location to place their lock. Donghyuck was practically vibrating with excitement, pointing out various places and dismissing them just as quickly. "No, not here. Too many locks. We need somewhere special."

Mark, ever the patient one, followed Donghyuck’s lead with a smile on his face. "You’re like a kid in a candy store," he observed.

"Shush, this is important," Donghyuck said, finally stopping in front of a less crowded section, a railing overlooking the city. "Here. This is the spot."

Mark handed him the lock and a marker. "Go ahead, write something cheesy. You told me you would out-cheesy me."

He watched as Donghyuck carefully wrote "Mark + Donghyuck: Forever and a Day" with an exaggerated heart and a winking face, his tongue poking out in concentration. "There. You'll be thinking about this moment when you're old and gray.”

Mark snorted. "Forever and a day? Really? You sound like an Emart card."

Donghyuck stuck his tongue out. 

"Jealous much? Now put it on the railing before I start quoting Shakespeare."

They secured the lock in place, and Donghyuck took a step back to admire his handiwork. Mark wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close.

They stood there for a moment, taking in the view. At that moment, the cold seemed to fade away. "You know," Donghyuck said softly, "Don't tell anyone, but I always wanted to do this with someone special. Thank you for making it happen."

Mark leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Donghyuck’s cheek. “And I’m the cheesy one, huh?”

Donghyuck laughed, nudging Mark with his shoulder. “This is all your fault,” he said, poking Mark’s waist. “I’m not like this. I was normal before you.”

Mark mimicked Donghyuck’s words in a high-pitched tone. He then wiggled his Bungeoppang in front of Donghyuck’s face, as if telling him to take a bite and, even though Donghyuck was already holding his own pastry, he leaned in and took a bite of Mark’s one.

Mark watched with a delighted grin, and as Donghyuck chewed, he leaned in and gave Donghyuck a soft, affectionate kiss on the nose. “So pretty,” he murmured.

This exact moment felt like the epitome of everything Donghyuck had ever wanted in a relationship. Here he was, at the top of Namsan Tower, sharing sweet pastries and sweeter moments with someone who made even the coldest nights feel warm. 

Donghyuck never thought he would be living in a literal cheesy-ass movie, with cheesy-ass scenes like this. It was embarrassingly amazing. He couldn't stop the ridiculous smile that spread across his face.

“This feels like something out of a rom-com,” Donghyuck said, trying to sound casual but failing to hide the joy in his voice.

“Well, you deserve the full cliché experience. And I’m glad I can be your co-star," Mark whispered, pressing another soft kiss to his temple.

The city lights below twinkled like stars, but they couldn’t hold a candle to the warmth and brightness he felt from Mark. This was the stuff of the dramas Donghyuck watched, of fairytales he heard about, and here he was, living it. Donghyuck had always rolled his eyes at the overly sappy moments in movies, but now, standing there with Mark, he got it. He understood why people loved those scenes.

“Oh!” Mark exclaimed out of nowhere, chewing with his mouth open, looking up at the sky. Donghyuck would never let him go. “Look! First snow!" His eyes were wide with excitement, and he pointed upward like a kid seeing Santa for the first time.

His hair was tousled with a sprinkle of snowflakes dotting his dark locks like confetti, his cheeks flushed from the cold, all wide-eyed and beaming. Donghyuck could only stare. How could a man like this be real?

“Make a wish, make a wish,” Mark urged Donghyuck.

“Um…” Donghyuck blinked, trying to think of something other than how head-over-heels he was for the man in front of him. The soft snowflakes landing on Mark’s lashes, the warmth of his smile, it was all so perfect that it was hard to focus on anything else.

“Too slow, I’m going to make my wish first.”

“Okay.”

“Leave your job. That’s my wish.”

Donghyuck’s brows furrowed in confusion. Maybe he didn’t hear that right. “What?”

“Leave your job,” Mark repeated, his face serious, the kind of seriousness that only came out when he was deep in doctor-mode. “It’s not healthy for you. It’s draining you and taking away your happiness. Even your fucking health is suffering. You’re always so tired, working way too much,” he sighed deeply, his breath forming a cloud of fog in the cold air. “Your boss is a fucking cunt, and I hate him for making you go through this. It’s hurting you, and it’s hurting me too because you keep working yourself to death, and I can’t do shit. So, please, just leave.”

Donghyuck opened and closed his mouth a few times, at a loss for words. Mark’s words were hitting too close to home. He knew Mark was right, his job was consuming him, but accepting that didn’t make it any easier to walk away. It wasn’t just about quitting. There were bills, responsibilities, and the fear of the unknown.

"Mark, I can't just walk away from a job like that," Donghyuck said, finally finding his voice. "I can't just quit. I have bills to pay."

Mark shook his head. “I’m not saying you should quit right this minute. I’m not crazy. I’ve got a friend at GRK Entertainment, a director. They’ve got job openings right now, and I thought of you. You could work there in a ton of roles. You could be a singer, a dancer, or stick with business and finance. You could even handle spreadsheets and all that fucking Excel nonsense. I don’t know. The point is, you have options.”

Donghyuck paused, trying to wrap his mind around the offer. This wasn’t just a spontaneous suggestion, it was a well-thought-out plan, one that Mark had clearly been mulling over for a while. 

"Mark… You’re methodical, you would never say that to me out of nowhere. I know that. When did you think about all this?”

“Right after you fainted at the roller rink,” Mark shrugged, acting as if it was nothing, as if he hadn't just made a plan to help Donghyuck change his whole fucking life. “As soon as we left the hospital and you crashed in my bed, I thought, ‘I need to do something’, then I called him. The next day I went to meet Hyunsik, the director at GRK, and we talked about it.”

"And you've kept it all this time? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I thought about it for a while. I didn't want to push you into it," Mark answered honestly.

Donghyuck couldn’t help but smile.

“I can’t let Renjun alone in there, Mark,” he whispered sadly. “It’s a lot.”

“Don’t you think I thought about that too?” Mark retorted gently. “I got it all covered, I promise. Just tell me you’ll think about it, and I’ll be happy with that,” he bit into the last piece of his Bungeoppang, and blinked his stupid pretty eyes at Donghyuck. “God, that was really good.”

Donghyuck felt a knot in his chest loosen, his emotions bubbling up as he scoffed, trying to mask his vulnerability. Tears started to pool in his eyes again, and he could hardly believe the man standing in front of him was real. This wasn’t supposed to happen, not in his wildest dreams. How could someone be so genuinely caring, and so fucking infuriating all at once? 

So Donghyuck laughed. It was a genuine, hearty laugh, the kind that made his whole body shake. He threw his head back, letting his pastry fall from his hand and letting the snowflakes land on his face, their cold touch mingling with the warmth in his chest.

When he opened his eyes again, he found Mark staring at him with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Donghyuck placed both of his cold hands gently on Mark’s cheeks.

Fuck it.

“I love you,” Donghyuck said without care. Mark’s eyes widened, his pupils dilating as he froze mid-chew. Looking so fucking stupid, so adorably lost. “I fucking love you, Mark Lee. I don’t even know how to explain these fucking feelings you make me feel. It makes me tingle everywhere, every fucking where, from the top of my nose to my fucking ugly toes. And I’ve never had the chance to be romantic before, because I was never truly in love like this before. I liked some, fell for others, but nothing ever felt like this. You just grabbed me by my throat on a random fucking Tuesday and, ever since then, I just keep having more and more feelings for you. Do you know how fucking scary that is? I went to the hospital to save my ass from food poisoning, and then I get out of there with a crush and a burning desire to kiss the fucking doctor. Like, what even is my life?"

Donghyuck’s voice softened, cracking slightly as he continued, “You feel like home, Mark. You’re like my first paycheck, like the first day I got the keys to my apartment, like the first time I learned how to wash white clothes without making them yellow. You’re something new and good, bringing me so much joy.”

He paused, swallowing hard as tears threatened to spill. “I don’t want to ever be away from you, and that fucking terrifies me, but it also makes me so damn happy. Because you're the most amazing person I've ever met, and I can't believe someone like you could like someone like me. Fuck, I don’t even think I’m worthy of you. But I’m glad you are fucking tasteless and decided that somehow I am someone nice enough to date, because it makes me feel so damn lucky.”

Donghyuck took a deep breath, his voice trembling. “I’m sure I will never find someone like you and I don’t want to either. Because I love you, and you’re the only doctor allowed to stitch my butt from now on.”

It took a few second for Mark to close his mouth and swallow the food, trying not to choke on it while they both started laughing. Then Mark, grinning like an idiot, started to suffocate Donghyuck with kisses all over his face.

“Your toes are not ugly, by the way. I like them,” Mark murmured, after some time.

Donghyuck giggled, shaking his head. “Fucking weirdo.”

Mark, still grinning, leaned closer. 

“Ask me to tell you three secrets.”

“That’s not how the game works,” Donghyuck raised an eyebrow. 

“It is now,” Mark insisted with a cheeky smile.

“Cheater,” Donghyuck accused playfully.

“Ask me, Lee Donghyuck.”

“Alright. Tell me three secrets, Mark Lee.”

“One, I once had a crush on a fictional character. Yes, it was Orochimaru from Naruto.”

“Orochimaru? Really?”

“Don’t ask me questions, I still question myself about this," Mark sighed. "Two, I broke my mother’s favorite vase when I was a kid. To avoid getting in trouble, I pretended to faint and spent an entire hour frozen on top of a hospital bed while I heard her crying. I still feel guilty about it.”

Donghyuck snorted. “That’s horrible... And worthy of an Emmy nomination.”

“And three, two years ago, back when I was 24 and a few months in my residency, I heard stories about one man that would always come to the hospital with a stupid case of hurting himself, somehow, and it would always make me laugh. And I thought, wow, one day I do want to be the one to see this man with my own eyes and hear his stupid case with my own ears. Then one day, two months later, he came in with a sprained ankle from trying to dance in high heels. I was stitching someone up, trying not to laugh, when I turned around and saw the most beautiful person I’d ever seen. He was whining to Jaehyun, and I just kept staring, until Jaemin slapped me on the back of the head and told me to pay attention to the patient I was actually supposed to be working on. Then, he was gone with his mother and I spent the rest of the day thinking about this boy.”

“I didn’t see him again until a month later, when he came in needing stitches for his butt. I was assisting Jaehyun and hearing him complaining about his bad luck and vowing never to come back. I couldn’t help but feel this warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart. I remember telling Jaemin that the ‘clumsy boy’ was cute. Naturally, Jaemin and his big cheater mouth spread the word, and everyone started calling me ‘lover boy’. And every time this clumsy boy would show up, they would tell me about it. From then on, once I became a doctor, it became this unspoken rule in the hospital that I should be the one to handle his visits.”

Mark’s voice softened as he continued, “Then I moved into a new apartment and, lo and behold, clumsy boy was my neighbor. We finally met, and I ended up kissing him. And I’m his boyfriend now, and he just told me he loves me. And life is fucking awesome and I am the luckiest guy ever, because here I am, with the clumsy boy I fell for two years ago, while the first snow is falling down on us, and I will kiss him right now and we’re going to be together forever because the first snow tradition will not fail me. I’m not allowing it to.”

Donghyuck felt like an earthquake was happening inside his stomach. Mark liked him way before Donghyuck even knew who the fuck was Dr. Lee. 

What the fuck?

This was like discovering that his favorite plot twist in a drama had actually happened to him. His heart was pounding like it was trying to break free from his chest, and his mind was racing.

"Wait, you liked me before I even knew who you were?" Donghyuck blurted out, eyes wide.

Mark nodded, looking entirely too smug for Donghyuck's liking. "Yup. Love at first... injury? I guess."

Donghyuck laughed, a sound that came out half-choked because he was on the verge of happy tears.

"That’s how you’re phrasing it?"

"Well, it’s true," Mark shrugged. "You did manage to sprain your ankle and then need butt stitches. You have a great butt. How could I not fall for that? I knew from that moment that I wanted to be the one to patch you up, every single time.”

With a smile that matched the sparkle in his eyes, Mark leaned in, closing the gap between them. The snowflakes drifted down around them, making it look like they were in a scene straight out of a sappy holiday special. Mark’s kiss was so ridiculously sweet and over-the-top, Donghyuck couldn’t help but laugh into the kiss.

He's so fucking lucky.

“I can’t believe you thought you could beat me on my own game of cheesiness,” Mark said, once they finally pulled apart. He bit his lower lip in that infuriatingly adorable way that made Donghyuck want to roll his eyes and kiss him again. “You might be good, but I’m the reigning champion of sappy moments. I’ve got a whole arsenal of cheesy lines and romantic clichés stored up. I mean, I planned this whole thing.”

Donghyuck chuckled, shaking his head. “I had to up my game just to keep up with your level of sappiness, and you still won. Damn, I should have known you’d come prepared.”

“Thank you, thank you,” Mark pretended to take a bow, still grinning. “I’d like to thank my parents, the first snow, and, of course, my incredibly clumsy boyfriend.”

Mark was fool.

Literally just a dumb man.

Donghyuck kissed him again because of that.

He would make sure to keep that man behind seven doors and keep all the keys to himself, just so no one else could steal him away.

“Now, can we go home?” Donghyuck whined, rubbing his hands together for warmth. “I’m freezing, like, literally. My fingers are turning into ice cubes, I’m using you as a human heater tonight. Let me put my hands inside your pants, skin-to-skin contact is necessary."

Mark giggled, his breath visible in the cold air, and gave Donghyuck another cold peck on the lips. “Okay, let’s go home. And to finish our night, how about we watch Sharknado?”

Donghyuck gasped loudly and dramatically, clutching his chest as if he’d been struck by lightning.

“Best. Fucking. Night. Ever.”