Chapter Text
Cesar has always been told that he is outgoing and talkative. Which makes it no surprise when he invites Mark over to his house within 30 seconds of meeting him. Being five years old made it more understandable despite not getting his mother's approval first.
Thankfully, it was fine and Mark came to his house and they had a blast. At least, Cesar did. Mark did smile and talk a lot but he was always looking around as if searching for something.
Cesar watches as Mark leaves his house and gets into his parent's car after playing the day away. He's unsure if Mark would want to come back because of his behaviour.
It comes as a pleasant surprise when Mark is the one to ask if he could come over to Cesar's house again a few days later. The second time Mark comes over, Cesar notices Mark isn't looking over his shoulder multiple times again. They have as much fun as they did during Mark's first visit and Cesar just chalked it up to Mark being nervous that time.
-
Cesar didn't want to follow Mark under his bed at first. He thought it was a little weird of Mark to do but decided to wriggle in beside him when he couldn't coax Mark back out.
I have a little sister now,” Mark says suddenly.
“Woah, really? Can I see her?” Cesar asks. He's a bit excited because his mother made it clear to him that he'd be an only child. Her reasoning being because his father isn't with them or something.
“No, my parents say she's too little right now.”
“Aw man.” Cesar doesn't hide his disappointment. “Then can I see her later?”
“Yeah I think so.”
At that, Cesar perks up again. He's always wondered what it'd be like to have a sibling. He can be patient for a few more years.
“Why are we under my bed anyway?” Cesar decides to change the subject. His back does ache from the hardwood floor but he refuses to leave until Mark does.
“It's comfortable,” Mark says.
Cesar shoots him a disbelieving look to which Mark ignores. He gives Mark a once-over to see if he's lying. Mark doesn't look uncomfortable but he doesn't look comfortable either. He looks like he always does. Nonchalant but always just the tiniest bit on edge.
“No it isn't,” Cesar bites back.
“You didn't have to follow me down here.”
Cesar suppresses an annoyed noise. He would have been less irritated if Mark had said it condescendingly. But he sounded genuine. Like it wouldn't have bothered him if Cesar wasn't beside him.
So he does the only reasonable thing and attacks Mark with a cushion.
-
Cesar barely hears Mark tell him about the Bible in favor of flipping through the pages in horror.
“But the words are so tiny and it's so long,” Cesar whispers. “Isn't it boring?”
He keeps a mental note on the fact that the name Mark is in the table of contents of the New Testament. It's a bit funny.
“I can teach you a few stories,” Mark offers.
“No, it's boring,” Cesar replies instantly. He can barely pay attention in school, most of his work being done after begging Mark to help him. He's not going to willingly learn something else outside of school.
Mark looks at him for a moment as if considering something. “Then come to church with me.”
“Am I allowed to?” Cesar is a bit surprised at this suggestion. Church is the only thing Mark won't let Cesar drag him out of.
Mark raises his eyebrows. “Of course, we're always happy to have new people.”
“Oh, of course, of course,” Cesar can't hide his amusement. Mark kind of sounds like those people who come knocking on his door to try and convert him to Christianity.
Mark shoots him a sort of disapproving look, probably because of his tone but doesn't say anything.
Later, Cesar will also complain that church is boring. Mark refuses to bring Cesar to church again even after begging and pleading. He tries not to let it show that he's disappointed that he fumbled the chance to spend more time with Mark.
-
Cesar isn't very knowledgeable on little girl activities but he's sure that most of them don't start staring contests on first meetings. It's strange. She's hiding behind Mark, only her head peeking out from behind him yet she's bold enough to stare Cesar down. And there's no way he's backing down, the fact that she's Mark's little sister be damned.
Mark seems to say something but the other two are too zeroed in on each other. Sarah, the name Cesar remembers Mark calling her, suddenly blows a raspberry at Cesar who's slightly taken aback.
“Why did you do that?” he asks, not really expecting an answer.
Sarah giggles and fully retreats behind Mark who turns around to scold her. Unfortunately, this only gives her a chance to start another staring contest with Cesar. He stares back at her with only one thought in his mind. This means war.
He blows a raspberry back at her and her eyes immediately fill with shock. Mark doesn't even try to stop her when she lunges towards Cesar with intention to battle.
The two of them play some sort of convoluted game of cat and mouse while Mark stares at them with defeat in his eyes.
-
Cesar was making his way towards Mark after he spotted him in the distance but got stopped by a group of people sitting at a lunch table when he passed by. There are some familiar faces as some of them are in a few of his classes but they never really got close. Maybe worked on a few group projects together. That he obviously also got Mark to help him with.
“Hey Torres, where are you going in such a rush?” one of the guys at the table asked.
“Oh,” Cesar is slightly surprised that they're talking to him. “I was gonna go-”
“To Mark?” he laughs. “You two are always together y’know, doesn't it get boring?”
No, I go to him when I'm bored. “Do you not have someone you can never get bored with?” Cesar finds himself asking instead.
“I mean yeah, but I find it hard to imagine him being someone like that. Heathcliff is notorious for having a stick shoved up his ass.”
Cesar would have jumped to Mark's defense if he hadn't used that exact phrase to describe Mark before. To his face. Multiple times.
“Well I mean, that is true,” Cesar snorts, unable to hide the fondness in his voice.
The people at the table don't seem very amused though.
Cesar glances in Mark's direction again. He's loitering around the bulletin board. As if sensing Cesar's gaze, Mark makes eye contact with him from across the dining hall. Cesar immediately turns his head back towards the table.
“Um, if that's it then-”
“You two are super different,” it's a girl talking this time. “How have you guys gotten along all this time?”
Cesar stares at her. He needs time to think about this. They've known each other for a long time, a lot longer than many other people here. Maybe they get along because it's something they're used to and not because they want to.
But Cesar looks over to Mark again and feels the urge to rush to his side. There's a lot of want in there. They've passed the point of settling differences a long time ago. In fact, they never had any issues with each other's differences. They'd talk about things the other has no idea about and tell each other to shut up.
“I'm unsure actually,” Cesar says truthfully. “I guess we just clicked since we met at such a young age.”
There's a strange reaction to these words that Cesar doesn't try to think too deeply about.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cesar sees Mark look at his watch. He feels a bit bad for making him wait but then Mark starts heading towards the main entrance.
Cesar panics then immediately tries to play it cool because the others are looking at him weirdly.
“Hey um, sorry I really need to go? Over there. Right now, uh-” Cesar just realizes he cut off the girl who was saying something to him again. He didn't hear any of it. “Good talk. Bye!”
Cesar runs off towards Mark with half a mind of tackling him but decides against it. Instead, he grabs his shoulder. Mark turns to look at him, not even trying to look surprised.
“Mark,” Cesar mentally hits himself for sounding out of breath.
“Oh, hey.”
“Did you eat yet?”
“Nope, you?”
“No.”
They stare at each other for a few moments.
“Do you wanna go to the corner store and buy random shit again?” Mark asks.
Cesar smirks. “Hell yeah.”
Cesar can't help but feel relief as the two of them scurry out of the building. He glances at the clock briefly and realizes lunch is already almost halfway over. Did he really talk to those people for that long? Maybe he should've ran away faster.
-
“You want to skip? The Mark Heathcliff? Wants to skip? You feeling okay?”
Mark looks at him, irritated. “This is the only time I'll ever ask for this so say yes before I change my m-”
Cesar is dragging him out by the collar before he can even finish his sentence. This is a once in a lifetime occurrence and he needs to know what's happening in Mark's head for him to act like this.
It comes as a great disappointment when Mark acts like he's lost at sea and contemplating his life choices after they make it to their usual hiding spot. Cesar tries to ask him questions and when he doesn't yield fruitful results, he resorts to annoying him. Mark, however, stays pondering.
“Whatever,” Cesar says, “Become a philosopher or something.”
Giving up on trying to talk to Mark, Cesar picks up a few sticks and tries to entertain himself. He attempts to make a fort out of them and actually gets pretty far.
“Y’know,” Mark suddenly says and Cesar knocks over his twig structure in surprise, “I'm glad you decide to waste your time here with me and not anyone else.”
Cesar turns towards him with what he hopes to be an upset expression because he got startled into toppling his progress. But Mark is finally talking and he can't help but feel curious.
“Like, it feels good that you only do this with me and that I'm stealing any potential time you could be spending with someone else.”
Cesar carefully discerns the expression on Mark's face. He’s saying something sappy but it feels kind of off. There's a strange glint in his eyes. It seems almost dangerous. But Cesar doesn't feel unsafe.
“It feels great, actually, when you choose me and when you leave someone else for me. It feels like y-”
Cesar doesn't know when he got up and put his hand on Mark's mouth or why but they're both staring at each other now.
“Wait, stop talking,” Cesar says, much softer than he intended.
Maybe he's afraid of what will happen if he lets Mark keep rambling. He knows that Mark is prone to acting on impulse every now and then that surprises even himself. Cesar doesn't dislike the unpredictability. But he's afraid that he won't be able to stop–won't want to stop–Mark from doing whatever he was about to do.
There's also that strange glint in his eyes that Cesar wants to take a closer look at. He needs to dissect it, pick it apart piece by piece until he can understand why it makes him want to act impulsively too.
Then suddenly Mark is fidgeting and the glint in his eyes is replaced with nervousness. Cesar realizes how close he's gotten to Mark. The only thing really still separating them is his hand. Cesar almost laughs. Mark is still Mark. Shy and with a stick up his ass.
Cesar pulls away from him to get a better look. Mark is visibly flustered and fails miserably at trying to hide it.
It's impressive that Mark is still able to make eye contact with him. He looks a bit confused, as if inadvertently asking Cesar why he did that.
Cesar doesn't pay much attention to it. Only one thing is running through his mind as he looks at Mark.
You're beautiful.
He doesn't have the guts to say it out loud.
-
Cesar snoops every time he gets left alone at Mark's house. Of course, he never finds anything exciting but he still does it anyway. He's in the bathroom, supposedly changing into his prom suit but hasn't even touched the clothes yet.
He can vaguely hear Sarah and Mark talking from down the hallway. They seem to be arguing which is nothing out of the ordinary. Hopefully they distract each other from the fact that Cesar is taking much longer than he needs to change clothes.
In the end, there's not much Cesar can snoop around for in the bathroom. Maybe the cabinets but they're just filled with toilet paper and some towels.
He glances back up to the mirror and stares at himself. Right. He needs to settle this internal debate. Should he ask Mark to prom with him? The thought makes him reel. Maybe he could do it jokingly. Ask him to come along. As a friendly joke thing.
Cesar sighs as he puts his hands on his face. Who is he kidding. He's not oblivious. Who knows how bad the whispers will get if he asks Mark to come with him.
He begrudgingly starts to change. It doesn't take him long at all. Maybe he fought with his bow tie but no one needs to know that.
He looks in the mirror again, this time in his suit. He messes with his hair. Does he look fine? Can he show himself in front of Mark like this? Well, he's definitely looked worse in front of Mark. A lot worse. But he still can't help but feel nervous.
He gets out of the bathroom before he starts shredding the towels and speedwalks to Mark's room.
“...to your grave? He's graduating soon and you have one more year left to go. You won't get another chance like this. Don't tell me you really plan to keep this to yourself for your entire life?”
Cesar freezes. He doesn't want to eavesdrop but he can't help himself and the hallway is always so conveniently dark. He needs to hear Mark's response.
But there's only silence.
“Fine,” Sarah's impatient voice cuts through the tense quietness. “If you're not telling him, then I will.”
“Wait-”
“Tell who what?” Cesar makes himself known by nonchalantly stepping into the doorway.
Sarah pales a bit when she sees him but he's quickly distracted by Mark's crashing fall from behind her.
“Oh shit-” Cesar curses as Sarah shrieks from beside him.
Cesar rushes towards Mark and actually panics a bit when he doesn't get back up but then calms down when he sees his eyes are open. Just a drama queen as usual. Cesar feels fondness bubble in his chest.
“Hey, I get it, I'm just drop dead gorgeous,” Cesar strikes a pose. It probably looks stupid since he's kneeled on the ground. He hears Sarah retreat from the room as Mark curls into a ball.
It's slightly strange behaviour from him but Cesar knows that the situation is not exactly normal either. Still, Mark pulls himself up.
“Yeah,” he says, “I'm sure you'll get a lot of attention wearing this.” Mark takes a few seconds to give Cesar a once over and suddenly he feels self conscious.
“Hah, even from the guys?” Cesar hates how he lets a bit of nervousness slip into his voice.
“You'll be able to pull it off,” Mark responds.
Not a bad answer. But not the one he was looking for. Cesar laughs and it's so obviously strained that he cringes.
“Well I think I should go now,” Cesar stands up. “Don't wanna be late.”
“Yeah,” Mark stands up as well. “You can't miss this.”
“Uh huh.”
“Mhm… Oh I'll, uh, walk you to the door.”
“Oh thanks.”
Cesar thinks he sees Sarah on the way but he barely registers her presence.
They reach the front door and Mark opens it for Cesar.
“Well um, have fun, Cesar,” Mark says.
“Yeah, I will, thanks for letting me come over.”
“Yeah, anytime.”
The air outside is cool but it doesn't refresh him like it usually does. Cesar knows if he doesn't ask now, he won't get another opportunity like this. He lingers at the doorstep. Mark watches him like there's nothing weird about his behaviour. About their behaviour.
“Bye,” Cesar says.
“Seeya,” Mark responds.
Cesar walks to his car. He doesn't hear the door close behind him.
He hates himself.
-
Cesar is pretty sure many people tried talking to him. Many girls. Yet he sits by himself at a table while messing with his cuffs. He hasn't even eaten anything.
“Hey there, Cesar,” a girl comes to sit beside him. It takes him a while to realize she's the same girl from the group that tried talking to him in the dining hall a while back.
“Oh hi,” Cesar responds. Usually he'd be a bit drier but she's a familiar face so he'll let it slide.
“What are you so mopey about?” she asks.
“I just don't have friends,” Cesar responds not very untruthfully. Like hell he'd tell her the main reason though. She laughs.
“Is Mark your only friend?”
Cesar makes a disgruntled noise that's probably lost to the loud atmosphere but the look on his face tells her everything.
“He's your only friend because you spend all your time with him. It's like you two are dating or something.”
Cesar flinches which makes the girl flinch too.
“Wait, don't tell me you two are actually-”
“No! No, we…aren't,” Cesar has to look away from her.
She raises her eyebrows at him, then scoffs. It's doomed.
“Well since you prefer his company over anyone else's, you might as well just ask him to marry you.”
Cesar coughs so hard he almost chokes. He tries to sputter out some bullshit, wondering how someone would normally respond to that. But it makes him think. How long are the two of them planning on dancing around each other? As they get older, it's going to be harder to spend time with each other. Especially with how Cesar is graduating very soon. They won't have school as an excuse to see each other everyday anymore. Unless they find another one.
Cesar slams the table as he gets up from it. The girl beside him jumps.
“You're right,” Cesar says, feeling a little deranged. “I should go for it.”
He turns to leave. This must be how Mark felt that day they skipped.
“You're going to ask him to marry you?” she yells at him in disbelief. Maybe because it's loud and Cesar had already made some distance but probably mostly because of shock.
It turns a lot of heads and once they see Cesar, it's going to be a no brainer on who she's talking about.
“What? No, not so soon,” was all Cesar would respond with before he runs out into the night.
Talking to Mark isn't the only reason why he left early, he didn't want to be there anymore anyway. He might as well not have gone there at all in hindsight. But at least it made him sure of something. He wasn't having fun without him.
It's late. The sky is an inky black and the darkness presses into him in all directions. The chilly air rustles his hair and as he makes his way forward in charged strides. It almost feels cold. And it should be alarming, the cold and dark together. But it's nearly welcoming to Cesar.
Maybe because of the adrenaline of what he's going to do.
Or the anticipation of overcoming a huge hurdle.
Or the fact that the hallway in Mark's house made him like the darkness.
So it comes as no surprise when he doesn't realize the shadows are watching him. Stalking him. Following his every move as he walks across the parking lot. The moon is covered by clouds and the lights from the building behind him are only pinpricks.
Walking into the darkness only makes him vulnerable, the perfect prey. No one will be able to hear anything if he is the only one outside.
He doesn't even make it to his car before he is consumed.