Chapter Text
Mark ran a hand through his dyed hair. He was currently in a Skype call with Bob and Wade. "Everything has to be perfect, y'know?" Mark sighed. "I don't want to ruin any of it." Sean went out with Cry and Felix. After so many years, they were all still friends. It wasn't surprising. People who experience traumatizing things together tend to stick with each other until the end of the line. It had been seven years since the torment with Sam. He survived the stab wound and was currently in prison for arson and murder. Mr. Ash was sentenced to significantly less time than Sam but was still in prison nonetheless.
Mark no longer worked at the pet shop, but he was still friends with Mariza and Suzy. Marzia was visiting family in Italy while Suzy still ran that little pet shop, helping college students earn money. She occasionally joined Arin and their friends on the YouTube channel they started. From what Mark had heard from Sean, Mr. Morrison was still teaching. He was starting a little family of cute critters with Mrs. Morrison. Lindsay had become best friends with Sean. She stopped working at the hospital and began working at a company where she became a voice actress and met her fiancee. Felix and Cry were still dating. Neither of them felt any pressure to get married. They were happy how they were.
"Calm down, Mark," Bob said. "You're overthinking."
Mark sighed. It was true, but he couldn't help it. "I know. We've just been through so much and I want this to override everything else." Every once in a while, Sean would wake up from a nightmare about Sam. Mark just wished he could take it all away. His sunshine deserved nothing but happiness.
"Mark, it'll be great," Wade reassured. "You've been planning this for a while and even told us several times how you want it to go. Sean will still love you no matter what happens."
The front door opened suddenly. Sean laughed and said goodbye to Cry and Felix. "Ah, shit," Mark said in a low voice. "Jack's home. I gotta go. I'll let you know how it goes." Wade gave a thumbs-up while Bob wished him luck. Mark made sure to shut down everything before stepping out of his recording room.
Mark had recently become famous on YouTube. Felix had also started his own channel with Cry. Every so often the three would do co-ops together. Felix was more than pleased when his fans said how much they adored Cry. They even gushed over their cute relationship. Mark started his channel with a co-op with the already famous PewDieCry duo. He was rather modest about his fame. He didn't think he was all that great. Sean joined him about every other video. They only played horror games together -- exactly how they played Vanish nearly a lifetime ago. There weren't that many games in other genres that focused on hearing. Mark always felt guilty about not telling his subscribers that his "roommate" was actually his boyfriend. It made him feel worse that about half of his fan base wanted to go out with him.
Mark smiled when he stepped into the living room. Their new puppy, Gizmo, was yapping in excitement. Sean laughed and let the hyperactive dog lick his face. Chica was sitting beside them. She was no longer the young dog she once was, but she still did her job effectively. "How'd it go?" Mark asked. "Anyone swarm you for living with Markiplier?" Sean snorted. He stood up -- with the help of Chica -- and smiled at Mark. Gizmo's tail was wagging nonstop. It was practically shaking his whole body.
"I'm glad to say that I wasn't attacked by your fan girls," Sean responded with a smirk. "We had fun. I kinda felt like a third wheel sometimes, but, whatever. It would have been better if you joined us." Mark gave Sean a quick peck on the lips. "Did you finish your mysterious work?"
"Of course, I did." Mark moved a faded green hair out of Sean's face. At first, he dyed it just to amuse Mark's subscribers and help Mark reach his goal for charity, but it just kinda stuck. Whenever Mark saw that his hair got too blonde, he said it was time to re-dye it. And that's how it was. "Did you get the goods while you were out?" Sean held up a plastic bag. Mark grinned and took it. "Thanks, sunshine."
Sean scoffed. He always said he hated that nickname, but that was only because it made him blush. "Yeah, yeah." He grumbled and headed toward the couch. "So can I know about your top secret thing, now?"
"You will." Mark walked off to the dining room to put the tortoise's food away. Tiny Tortoise Tim was currently situated on the dining room table until there was a better spot for him. "Just not at this moment."
Sean made an exaggerated groan to show he wasn't pleased with having to wait. Mark rolled his eyes.
The plan was set for later that night. Everyone Mark and Sean knew was helping out. Suzy and Arin were making sure it would be private, Ross and Holly had to help back in the kitchen as part of the deal with the restaurant, Felix and Cry had to take Sean out again, Lindsay came down to help be a distraction, and lastly, Mark called Bob; Wade; and Marzia just to go over the whole scenario one last time.
"Okay," Mark breathed out. He looked at all his friends. They were the best people he had ever known -- especially since they were doing this for him. "Jack's gonna be here any minute." Felix and Cry should be returning from the Morrison's house. The married couple were more eager to help out and were excited about the news.
"Calm down, sweetie," Suzy said. She put a hand on Mark's arm. "Everything's gonna go great."
"And even if it doesn't -- which it won't," Arin added. "Jack's still gonna be with you until the end."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Mark looked at Ross and Holly. They had just gotten married recently. Their fingers were intertwined and they looked absolutely happy with their life. Mark's eyes shifted over to Arin and Suzy. They had been married for as long as Mark knew them. They seemed like complete opposites, but they got along so well. If those four could do it then Mark and Sean could.
Felix rushed out from the inside of the restaurant suddenly. "You guys ready?" He winked at Mark. "Showtime."
Mark thought he was going to throw up. He threw his hands in his coat pockets. His fingers messed with the little box he held. He looked to the group of friends he had come to trust so well. They grinned at him one last time before quietly moving to their spots. Mark took in a shaky breath. He could do this. He had to. This wasn't the scariest thing he's ever done, but it sure felt like it.
Sean's laughter brought Mark to reality. Cry was guiding him through the little gate the outside patio had. He looked up and beamed at Mark. Mark returned it with his own wavering smile. "So can I know where we are now, Cry?" Sean asked. Cry turned to Mark and held a finger up to his lips, signaling that he wasn't going to say anything. It was Mark's time to shine.
Mark breathed and spoke as confidently as he could, "I'm sure you're familiar with this place, Jack." Sean was clearly surprised by Mark's voice, but he wasn't disappointed. He grinned broadly. "You've been here before."
"Have I now?" Sean walked over to Mark's voice. Chica didn't move as fast as she used to, but she was still able to keep up with Sean. "Well, it doesn't look familiar."
Mark laughed. Sean didn't know his smile could get any bigger. After all this time, Mark's laugh was still his favorite thing to hear. "I'm sure it doesn't. But maybe it might smell familiar." Mark held a thumb up to Felix who was waiting by the door. Sean inhaled that amalgam of different foods -- the same smell Fran's Garden held that night so long ago.
"Oh, yeah," Sean sighed. It still smelled like heaven. "Now I remember."
Mark chuckled before gently taking Sean's hand and leading him to a table. He pulled out a chair for Sean. "My prince," Sean joked in an overly girly voice. Mark rolled his eyes and shook his head. He didn't dare say a word. Sean could just tell he annoyed Mark a bit, so he giggled in triumph. "So what's the occasion? Is there a reason for all this secrecy?"
Mark bit his lip. Cry and Felix were standing together by the door. They were urging him to continue. "Uh, y-yeah, a bit." Mark glanced back at Suzy and Arin. They gave him a thumbs-up. He turned back to Sean. "But it's still a surprise."
Sean groaned. "But I wanna know now."
Mark smiled. Sean could act childish a lot. But that didn't make him any less lovable. Him just sitting there, bundled up in his hoodie, with a slight pout on his face. Mark could stare at him forever if he could. But a flash of red hair caught his attention. He looked at Lindsay walking up to the gate. She pointed at it, asking if she should come in. He nodded. She opened the gate as quietly as she could. "Well, I think you might be in luck," Mark said with a smile.
Sean tilted his head to the side a bit, then Lindsay's voice floated into his ears, "It's nice to see you again, Jack." Sean nearly fell off his chair in his hurry to stand up. He threw out his arms for Lindsay to give him a hug. She laughed and fulfilled his request.
Lindsay took a seat next to Sean and chatted with him. Mark took the opportunity to slip away undetected. He motioned for Arin and Suzy to follow him inside with Cry and Felix. "Everything's going great, Mark," Suzy cheered.
Mark gave an unsure smile. She was right, but he was still super nervous. "Y-yeah... but is everyone ready?"
"They're just about done," Felix answered. "So you better start wrapping up your Trojan horse over there."
Mark nodded. He glanced through the glass door. Sean looked so happy to be with Lindsay. Hopefully Mark could do that. "Hey," Arin put a hand on his shoulder. "It's gonna be okay. Everyone's nervous when they propose -- even when they know the answer. We all know Jack is gonna say yes. You've been through a lot more than most people have and you've both stuck with each other. I just know -- we all do -- that you two are gonna be together for a long time."
Mark smiled. "Thanks." He took a deep breath before stepping through the door. Everyone else went back to the kitchen to help out.
Lindsay noticed him and raised a brow. He nodded and she practically squealed with excitement. She excused herself from Sean. "Good luck," she whispered as she passed Mark. By now, Mark felt he didn't need it.
Mark had barely sat down before Sean started going off on how great it was to see Lindsay again. Mark just listened, didn't say a word. He was too focused on Sean. He really was a ray of sunshine. Mark made sure to make little noises to show that he was listening, though. Anything to keep Sean's face in that bright, happy state. But a knock on the glass door caught both of their attention. To Sean, it was an odd occurrence, but to Mark; it was his clock ticking by. Their friends stood there holding varying amounts of things -- mostly food. Cry, being the dork he is, waved very eagerly while balancing a tray with the other hand. Mark rolled his eyes and motioned for them to come.
Sean perked up when he smelled the food. It was everything Sean could ever want to smell. Did he manage to get to heaven? But where could all these smells be coming from? "Your dinner is served," Felix said in an unnecessary French accent. Sean looked both amazed and confused, while Mark rolled his eyes for about the billionth time that day. Felix and Cry set down some plates in front of Mark and Sean.
Arin and Suzy set down some cake and freshly baked cookies on another table. The cookies immediately caught Sean's attention. He could already taste them, but he felt he should wait. Holly set down a glass for the two while Ross filled them with drinks. It had a strong strawberry scent.
The faux waiters stepped off to the side, looking as excited and happy as children on the last day of school. Up next was Danny, Barry, Kevin, and Lindsay. Mark gave them two thumbs-up. Danny returned it. Mark knew they were nervous, but he also knew that they would do a great job. Barry, Kevin, and Lindsay had to learn to play instruments that they had never touched before in their life, while Danny took the easy route and stuck to singing. Lindsay held a violin under her chin, Kevin was behind a cello, and Barry had an acoustic guitar resting on his leg. They all exchanged a look and Danny nodded at Lindsay. She took a deep breath before dragging the bow along a string.
"Mark?" Sean asked slowly. "What's... going on here?"
Mark's hands were shaking as he gripped the little box tightly. He looked up at Sean. His sunshine was adorably confused. The soft glow of the setting sun caused his skin to be a pale orange. "Uh," Mark didn't know how he should say it. The things he had planned to say completely vanished from his mind. "You..." No, that wasn't right. He glanced at his friends. They were waiting for him. Cry signed, 'you got this, buddy' and that caused Mark to smile. "So, uh, you know what happened the first time we came here?"
Sean beamed. Mark's heart skipped a beat. "Of course, I remember," Sean said, ecstatic.
"Right." Mark took out the little box "Well you're about to remember it for another reason." Sean tilted his head to the side like Gizmo does when Mark scolds him for bothering Chica. Mark grabbed Sean's hand and put the little box in his palm. He got down on one knee -- not even caring that Sean couldn't see him do it; Sean didn't deserve any less because he was blind. "Sean McLoughlin, we've been through so much together. I never thought some stranger I bumped into on the sidewalk would become my closest friend. And I certainly didn't think I would get this far with him. So... h-how would you like to be more than just my boyfriend?" He paused. "Jack -- will you marry me?" He opened the lid.
Holly and Felix let out a squeal. Suzy covered her mouth as if she was about to cry. Lindsay bit her lip to keep from screaming and messing up the music. Everyone else looked like proud, eager parents.
"I..." Sean was speechless. He felt his eyes beginning to water as he ran his fingers over the ring. After all this time, after so much torment... Mark was asking a question that seemed impossible. But there was only one answer to it. "Yes! Of course I will, you doof!"
Everyone cheered as they kissed.