Chapter Text
February tenth, 1992 5:53 P.M. EST. Mark sat in the chair in the living room staring at the letter in his hands. It was from his secret admirer. Typed out in the same way as all the other. But this one was different. It tore away the illusion that the letters were the only thing that Mark would know of them. It was the final one.
Dear Mark,
I can't wait any longer. I have to reveal who I am to you. There's nothing more to it. I love you too much to keep you in the dark anymore. I need to know if you can love me back.
Meet me at the Life Café at 7:00 P.M. on February 14th. Valentine's Day. No better day than that, is there? I'll be waiting at the table in the back, right hand corner of the café. So you know it's me, I'll have a blue orchid flower with me.
I love you, Mark Cohen.
Love,
Your Secret Admirer.
Roger was up on the roof trying to get inspired while Mark read the letter over and over again. He folded it and put it into the envelope. He stood and walked automatically to his room, placing the letter into the drawer with the others. He sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at the floor between his sneakers.
Was he ready for this? Was he really ready to move on from loving Roger? He didn't know. He wasn't sure. But the sweet words in the letters told him that he had a chance at love with someone. He sighed and smiled softly. Yeah...he could do this.
~~~MR~~~
February fourteenth, 1992 4:23 P.M. EST. Roger shrugged on his jacket and looked over at Mark. He smirked.
"I'm gonna go out and see if I can get a gig," He said, moving to ruffle Mark's hair. "Don't stress so much, Marky. It'll be fine." Mark had told Roger that he'd be meeting his secret admirer today, but not the place, time, or that the person would have a blue orchid with them. Mark laughed softly, nervousness coloring the sound.
"I'll try," He said. "Later, Rog." Roger waved as he left the loft. He'd brought his guitar with him to keep up appearances about going to get a gig. He dropped the guitar off at Collins' apartment before heading to a flower shop to pick out the orchid he'd bring with him to the Life Café. He was just as nervous as Mark, if not more so.
Mark changed into his best sweater and corduroys, threw on his jacket and wound his scarf around his neck tightly. He grabbed his bag and placed his camera inside before pulling it over his shoulder. He sighed and checked the time. 5:56 P.M. He had time.
He walked to the Life Café, taking the long way and stopping to film a few couples. It dawned on him that he and his secret admirer just might be one of these lovey-dovey couples in the near future. He shut off his camera and placed it back into his bag. He found himself standing at the door of the Life Café at 6:58 P.M. Just in time.
Nervously he pushed open the door and looked around. He took a deep breath and walked towards the back, making his way around the tables. He stopped short of the back right hand table and frowned slightly. What?
"Roger?" He said in surprise as he saw his roommate sitting there. Roger grinned.
"Hey Marky," He said standing. There was a pale blue orchid between the fingers of his left hand. Mark's eyes widened. No. This couldn't be right... Roger was his secret admirer?! How-? What-? He couldn't think properly. Maybe his brain had shut down. Roger shifted, looking nervous. "I-...I guess I owe you an explanation, don't I?" Mark nodded.
Roger motioned for Mark to sit down and the filmmaker obeyed silently. He pulled his camera from his bag and clutched it like a life line, trying to calm down. Roger sat down and placed the orchid between them, folding his arms against the table and leaning against them.
"Like I said in my letters, I've been in love with you for a while," Roger started, searching Mark's face, gauging his reaction. "I was never able to admit it to myself, though. Mimi...before she died, she told me to stop being a chicken shit and tell you. She'd known that I loved you even when I wasn't able to admit it. It was so blatantly obvious, apparently." He laughed and ran a hand through his hair. "I knew I couldn't say it out loud just yet. So, I talked to Collins to try and figure out a way to tell you. We came up with the idea of the letters. It helped a lot. We had it all planned out. Five letters. The last one giving a meeting place and time. We had the date picked out too. Valentine's Day. So...there it is. Well?"
He waited. Watching Mark as the filmmaker remained quiet. So quiet. It scared Roger. He chewed on his bottom lip and looked away. He couldn't stand the silence between them. It was unbearable. The noises around them grew louder and louder until Roger felt like he might drown in them.
"Jesus, Mark. Say something," He pleaded, looking up at him again. Mark's eyes had become wet with unshed tears and he laughed softly, wiping at his eyes. Roger's eyes widened and he stood, moving quickly around the table to pull Mark up and hug him tightly. Mark held him just as tightly.
"You idiot!" Mark bit, but it held no venom. Just affection. Roger laughed softly.
"Yeah, I know," He said, gently rubbing circles into Mark's back. "So...what do you say?"
"Jesus, Rog...I love you so much," Mark murmured against Roger's shoulder, his arms tightening around the rocker. "I can't believe this is happening! I though for sure you didn't love me. That we'd never be anything more than just friends."
"Well, I just proved you wrong, Marky," Roger said, pulling back and tilting Mark's chin up. He gently wiped the tears from Mark's eyes before leaning down and pressing his lips to the filmmaker's. Mark made a soft sound and melted into the kiss as he returned it. "I love you, Marky. " He murmured against his lips when the kiss ended.
"I love you too, Roger," Mark replied with a wide smile. Roger reached towards the table and picked up the orchid, tucking it behind Mark's ear.
"And happy Valentine's Day," He said with a smirk. Mark laughed and kissed him again. This was definitely the best day of his life.
~~~MR~~~
February fifteenth, 1992 7:21 A.M. EST. Roger Davis looked down at the blond filmmaker curled up against his chest with a soft smile. How the hell he'd gotten by without telling Mark he loved him for so long he had no idea. But he knew he wasn't about to let him go. Not ever. His arms tightened around Mark and he sighed.
The sun rose over Alphabet City, peaking in on the couple in the loft, curled up in bed together. They may have been starving, cold, and broke, but they were happier than they'd ever been. And that's all that mattered.