Saving Graces - Septiplier, Part Eight

If it was a miracle to survive breakfast, than Jack was the second incarnation of Christ. He had survived breakfast, lunch, and now even dinner by some miracle of God.

The sun was setting and leaving shadows in its wake. Iron Man 3 was playing on TV, which Mark insisted Jack finally watch. As the movie rolled, Mark quoted various scenes.

“How many times have you seen this, exactly?” Jack laughed. Mark shushed him.

“Unimportant. Watch.”

So Jack watched. And yeah, it was a fine movie, and he felt kind of bad that he wasn’t paying that much attention to it. But really, can you blame him for it when you see his situation?

Mark owned this huge blanket - unfolded, with people stretching it at all corners, it would cover his entire living room. It was horrifically ugly - a sort of Aztec pattern was splayed across the middle in various dark green and blues. The background was muddy brown. But the blanket was very soft and very warm - Jack could vouch for that.

Mark lugged this blanket out from the some closet of old Christmas decoration hell and plopped it down on Jack’s head, stating, “Bring me the remote. We’re watching a movie tonight and I don’t care what it is.”

“Why the blanket, then?” Jack had mused, pushing the wool from his shoulders and back and into a heap on the couch. He grabbed the remote from the coffee table.

“Well, you ding dong, you can’t very well watch a movie without a cozy blanket, now can you?”

“Mark, it’s like, 90 degrees outside.”

Mark had his arms crossed over his chest. “Does it look like I care very much?”

And so they hunted for a movie.

Flash forward to present - Jack and Mark were sharing the blanket. And you would think that that’s no big deal, right? I mean, it was previously stated that the blanket could cover the room. Jack and Mark could sit on opposite couches and still have plenty of Aztec warmth. But apparently, that was no good for Mark.

“No, you’re doing it wrong.”

“There’s a wrong way to watch a movie?” Jack asked, clicking through the channels leisurely.

“Yes, of course there - OH STOP, I love that movie!” he shouted, hurtling over the back of the couch and flopping onto the cushions. He had that blanket in his arms.

“How could I possibly be doing it wrong? We don’t even have a movie on yet, Mark-”

“You’re set up all wrong. Not snuggled in enough.” Mark demonstrated by nestling under the wool. Jack laughed at how ridiculous he looked.

“I dunno how you normally watch movies, but I’m fine like this.” he had his hands crossed behind his head and his feet propped up on the coffee table. His shoes were still on, as well as his jeans and sweatshirt. He noticed Mark had those long pajama pants on with the Markiplier M’s and mustaches on them. His shirt was plain white and looked old.

Mark made an offended noise - or at least, that’s what Jack assumed. He sounded more like a dolphin than anything. “First thing wrong - your outfit. Go change immediately.”

Jack grumbled, but stood up and complied. When he had returned, he sat back down in the same spot he was in beforehand. Mark tutted impatiently.

“No no, you silly -” he huffed and pillowed the blanket, letting it unfurl a bit. He lifted the side of it.

“Come here.”

It's funny. Many small words, small phrases have more power over us than entire monologues can. And those two words - coming from Mark’s mouth, at least, sent Jack’s heart into overdrive. He had to physically close his eyes, just for a second, and keep his mind from wandering down any path that correlated to his and Bob’s conversations.

“Ok.”

Back to present. Mark was slouched down into the cushions - well, more into Jack than the cushions, really. His back was sort of in his lap. His head was tilted back on Jack’s chest. On the coffee table, both of their legs were resting, sort of intertwined. And Jack’s fingers played with the ends of Mark’s hair lightly.

There was an explosion on screen.

Jack hardly noticed.

His head was focused only on the man in his lap. Every thought pointed to the texture of Mark’s hair. His hands moved slowly, lightly, but deliberately. He worked through the tangles and the stuck together bits from pink dye. Every so often, he would brush against his scalp and Mark would only burrow further into the cocoon they had developed. The Aztec pattern was bent and folded over their forms.

The clock struck 10:00.

Whatever conflicts that had been previously going on in the movie were being resolved, apparently. Jack tuned back in for the final fifteen minutes. When it ended, and the commercial breaks started up again, Mark sighed.

“Isn't that movie just the absolute best?” He asked, his voice excited, but low and tired. Jack smiled.

“Yeah. It's the absolute best.”

Mark tiled his head back to look at Jack. Jack’s hand dropped to the side.

Neither of them said anything.

Don't look at his lips. Don't look at his lips.

He looked at Mark’s lips.

And Mark grinned.

Mark ducked his head back down and breathed deeply. “Play with my hair again. That was nice.”

“I didn't really think you were paying attention to it.” Jack said, but he threaded his hands through the glorious floof. Mark chuckled.

Some late night crap was on the TV now. They weren't paying attention. The light coming from the screen was really the only light on in the house. Jack watched the colors change across Mark’s profile.

“Ok. Here's a question.” Mark finally spoke.

“Alright.”

“Why do you like me so much?”

Jack choked. Not physically, but mentally. Every wandering thought, every passing word, everything just froze and zeroed in on the question. Mark shifted slightly.

“Well, what I mean is - you’ve liked me forever. No, okay, I’m phrasing this wrong -” Mark said. He thought for a moment, twisting the blanket in his hands. Jack’s heart was going a million miles a minute. He was sure, with how Mark’s head was pressed to his chest, that he could hear every fleeting beat.

“You’ve always wanted to meet me, do a collaboration with me - that sort of stuff. And of course, before we had really met, I appreciated it and all but - it just confused me. Because you weren’t a fan - not like the kind that flurry in the comments and what not. You were a youtuber. And yeah, you were small, but it was a different kind of admiration that you always gave me. I was just curious - what drew you in?”

Jack swallowed.

“Honestly?”

Mark looked up at Jack again.

“Yeah. Honest answers only during the nighttime chit-chats.”

Jack sighed, but a small smile played at his lips.

“Initially? Your hair.”

Mark cracked up. “You’re joking. My hair used to be that little - shark-fin thing. You couldn’t have possibly been drawn in by my shark fin.”

Jack laughed, too. His hands casually twirled a bit of hair around his finger. “Yup. The glorious floof wasn’t even around yet.” but Jack sighed. “Really, though, you were just so - down to earth. I had never, ever watched a youtuber with that much appreciation and attention to detail for his channel. It inspired me so much - “

“Stop, I’m blushing.”

Jack smacked Mark’s head. He chuckled.

“That was the only thing I cared about when I started my channel.” Mark said. “Being kind. Being sociable. Being human. I didn’t care about numbers, or what my videos were about, I cared that I was being myself.”

It was quiet for another moment.

“Thank you, you know.” Jack said softly.

“For what?”

“Being so accepting.”

“Well, I mean-”

“No, no, not of your fanbase or whatever,” Jack said. “Thank you for being so accepting of me.”

Mark twisted to look at Jack better, but Jack was staring at the back door. He was staring at the stars.

“I didn’t know that people could be this kind. I was lonely. Really lonely. And you, Bob, Wade… that PAX panel? I didn’t think I would ever find friends that fast. Of course Ken and Felix… everyone, so quickly they…” he trailed off. “I’m so lucky. Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything special. It was for my benefit to befriend you. Look at me now - you’re keeping me afloat.” Mark replied.

“Bob and Wade could have done that just fine.”

“Not like this.”

Jack finally met Mark’s eyes at his last statement.

His hand had stopped twirling Mark’s hair.

He’s hopelessly crushing on you…

With every ounce of caution and every speck of love he had, Jack leaned down and kissed him.