Chapter Text
When she woke the next morning, her head on his chest and an arm strewn over him, she stretched out her limbs and curled her toes. It felt early, but she wasn’t sure it was with the streams of light running under her blinds. Not that it mattered, Mindy supposed, she had the day off and she presumed they wouldn’t be moving very far. She sighed, feeling mellow and warm and lax. It was an oddly solid feeling that sat with her now. One that told her she never really believed all her worries about if Mark would have ever felt the same, one that said she always knew she'd end up here. But, that was hindsight talking and it was always easy to predict the future when it had already passed.
Rubbing at her eyes, she yawned and felt herself sleepy but recharged after her night. Mindy tried not to rustle the covers too much or move too quickly as she dragged fingers through her hair, trying to calm what she could feel was thick waves and not the soft tresses she had styled the night before. Once she had rubbed under her eyes again, removing any sticky spots of mascara that had slipped, and prayed she wasn’t missing anything or had given herself black eyes, she stopped and lay at peace for a moment.
It crossed her mind that she could be in Beth’s shoes soon - worried and unable to be publicly affectionate in case of global fuss. Not that she was that type of person, but she wasn’t averse to holding hands or hanging off his arm like she had been when they left the restaurant last night. She smiled at the thought of how easy it had been to do that, that she done it without thinking. Mark had drawn her in too smoothly for her to realise when the space between them had disappeared over the course of the night.
It came back to her in a quick moment how startled she had been when seeing his scar. She didn’t mean to be so surprised, she hadn’t meant for him to take it the wrong way as if it was an issue. She had just forgotten about it. It had been so long since it had been mentioned or thought of that it all rushed back at once. Moving her left hand from under her chin down past the edge of her sheet, she let her middle finger graze it slowly. Her battle with it last night had been so brief, she never had the chance to linger in the emotion over it, although part of her still wondered why she even would. Mindy was already beyond the debate, she truly took it as a part of him but, it still made her mind run.
Mindy felt Mark wake, the subtle change in his breathing told her as much as his hand raising to rub at his eyes.
“G’morning.” Mindy said quietly, her smile audible as she moved her hand away from his scar.
“Morning,” Mark replied, his voice still groggy as his hand rubbed gently over Mindy’s side. “Is it morning?”
“Dunno.” Mindy shrugged against Mark, the fingers of her left hand drawing mindless patterns over his right shoulder. “Do you want me to find out?” Mindy asked, still tracing scribbles.
“Nope,” Mark replied, “The world can go on without us for a little while, I think.”
Smiling, Mindy lifted her head from his shoulder to find his eyes. “I think they'll manage that.”
Pressing a soft kiss to his lips was almost exhilarating now. The freedom of it, not to have anxiety or morals in her head telling her to stop daydreaming and get back to work. Just to enjoy the fact her mind was nowhere else, she gave him another. Mark’s left hand ran down her back as his right sat lightly at her jaw, keeping the kisses lingering. When they broke, Mark pushed a curl of hair behind her ear.
“Be honest,” He started, leading Mindy to ready herself, “Does it bother you?”
Mindy looked lost for only a moment before she realised he was repeating his question from the night before in reference to the scar. She shook her head immediately.
“No, I swear it doesn’t-”
“It’s just that you had your hand over it when I woke up and just now, too, I just want to make sure-”
“No, I promise it doesn’t bother me, it just makes me think of how much grief it gave you, how much trouble - but then, it kind of pushed us together so, that’s all, it just makes me think.” Mindy trailed off, repeating herself a little but not knowing what else to say. It was the truth, but it wasn’t a long truth.
“As long as you’re sure.” Mark said, a warm hand squeezed at her hip and brought a smile to her eyes.
“I’m sure,” She started but her gaze wandered as she considered testing the water. “Can I ask a question?”
“Yep, but here’s the answer; I put on pants one leg at the time, just like everyone else.”
“That was not my question.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No, this isn’t an interview.”
“Wow, sorry, just got caught up in my head there.”
“Mhm,” Mindy indulged him, knowing he was only kidding her, “So, can I ask something or what?”
“Yeah, shoot.”
“Was it sore?”
Mark snorted and started to laugh and with it being so infectious, Mindy joined in despite her chastising him for doing so. “Don’t laugh, it’s a serious question!”
“Okay, okay,” Mark let out another short giggle before answering, “Yeah, it was, but you know how it happened.”
“Well, not really.”
“‘Course you do,” Mark said, looking down at Mindy who was resting on his shoulder. “S’in all Lewis’ inquiry statements.”
“I know, but that’s not your story.”
“Oh, I see, you just want me to relive it?”
“No, not if-”
“It’s fine, I’m kidding, you know it doesn’t do anything to me now.” Mark’s hand ran over Mindy’s arm, reassuring her. “The sandstorm was so bad, we couldn’t see a hand an front of our faces and I only knew something had gone wrong when I woke up,” Mark continued to run his fingers slowly over Mindy’s arm as she listened. “I don’t even remember seeing the dish come at me.”
“Yeah?” Mindy prompted as Mark stopped to think.
“Yeah, when I woke up the beeping in my helmet was really confusing, I just kept trying to remember where I’d put the alarm so I knew where to fling my arm to turn it off, thinking I was back home or something,” Mark went on, “When I saw the sand, that’s when it came back to me - even when my helmet was still beeping I just thought, ‘why’s it daylight?’”
“I didn’t see the wire when I tried to get up, but I was so strong and cool that I definitely didn’t scream a bit when I felt the aerial tug from the inside.”
Mindy nestled a little closer into Mark knowing that while this story had a happy ending (eventually), the start of it was painful for both of them.
“I waded back to the HAB after i cut the wire and that was when the fun began ‘cause I had to fish out whatever was left in me and stitch myself up - and honestly, I am not good at staple stitches so please don’t ever cut yourself bad because I am the worst - they were all over the place, I put in way too many and after a while they burst anyway.”
“That bad, huh?”
“They would’ve had the same effect if I’d just shot the staples out into the HAB for fun.” Mark said bluntly and Mindy smiled, “I mean, at least then I would’ve had some entertainment.”
“So, I guess that’s why there’s this bit,” Mindy said, rubbing her fingers off the half-moon shaped gouge, “And then these bits.” Lifting her fingers she prodded gently at three minute scarred dimples above, below and to the upwards diagonal left of the main scar. Mark laughed and nodded, his brow raised in confession.
“Yeah, see, s’all proof I’m a shit doctor.”
“Well, I don’t think it’d be easy to operate on yourself,” Mindy said, defending him against himself. “What did Doctor Beck say about it?”
“Well, Beck had a look and then asked how much damage I did to my eyes because I must’ve been blind when using the staple gun.”
“I don’t think that’d be all he said.” Mindy pushed, getting used to Mark’s deflections.
“No, he said it was as best I could’ve done under the circumstances and I told him he needs to stock the HAB with better painkillers ‘cause the one I had didn’t kill anything,” Mark sighed, “But, that’s it, I’m pretty sure it was all caught on the video feeds anyway, I know when they burst it was on the log so if you’re into gore I got just the thing for you.”
“No thanks, I don’t think I’d handle it well.” Mindy didn’t even consider the offer, not that it was real anyway. But, boyfriend, friend, colleague or none of the above, she would never be able to bring herself to watch Mark in pain, bleeding, and stitching himself up while being faced with his own death on Mars as a high possibility for the first time. “Like I said though, I’m just really glad you made it back, scars and all, and it doesn’t bother me - it just has a story attached to it that sometimes it’ll remind me of when I see it.”
“And that’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Well, that’s good to know,” Mark decided as he shuffled beside Mindy, turning to face her rather than letting her lie on his shoulder, “I’ve got a few others I’ll show you later.”
“No, no,” Mindy shook her head, putting her hand over Mark’s lips as he was leaning in to kiss her, “Scar stories now while we’re here.”
“Mm,” Mark’s taste of displeasure at being sidetracked was short lived as he held up his right arm above them, showing her the inside of his elbow. “Fell off my bike in first grade and right into glass,” Letting his arm drop he pointed to a nick under his left ear, “Early days shaving incident,” Lifting his left hand, he extended his pinky to show a small dent in either side of the top of it, “Angry swan, Gorell Park.”
“Angry swan.” Mindy repeated, trying to purse her lips to stop her laughing.
“Really angry swan,” Mark emphasised, “Do you feel sorry for me yet?”
“A little bit, but first - how old were you when you got attacked by the swan?”
“You’re asking as if I’m gonna say I was thirty - I was in third grade, okay?” Mark’s woeful look broke with a smirk that stretched to a grin as Mindy laughed. “Have I built up enough sympathy yet?”
“Yes, you’ve built up enough sympathy.” Mindy conceded as she ran a light hand over his jawline to settle on his cheek, feeling so completely head over heels as she kissed him. His scars fell quickly to the back of her mind as she hooked a leg over his, following the signal from his wandering hand pulling her to do so.
A breathy while later, she caught him eyeing the other side of her room.
“You getting up?” Mindy asked, ready to whine in complaint if he said yes and dared to shift her from somewhere so perfect.
“What, again?” Mark said, enjoying the wincing groan from Mindy who blushed and bumped her forehead off Mark’s chin.
“I'm gonna have to get used to a lot more bad jokes, aren't I?” Mindy thought aloud before settling back down on Mark’s left shoulder and folding her hair behind her ear.
“Yep,” Mark confirmed with confidence, “But no, I'm not getting up and I have a reason for that.” His tone was playful, urging Mindy to ask him what his reason was. resting over his heart
“Okay, so why’re you not getting up, Mark?” Mindy obliged with a smirk, catching the mischief in his eyes as she glanced at him.
“Well, first of all, there’s nowhere better to be at all, ever, this is pretty much my peak destination,” Mark reasoned with a lift of his palm from the curve of Mindy’s hip. “Secondly,” raising two fingers from the same hand, “I know that if I get up, you'll be objectifying me.”
“I'll be objectifying you?” Mindy repeated.
“Yeah, you'll be watching my ass the whole time, I know the score here, Minds’, alright.”
“Okay, what if I promised to shut my eyes?”
Mark snorted, the toying still ongoing.
“Like that'll happen, besides I'm not self conscious of it, I just want a good review.”
“Oh,” Mindy expressed, enlightened. “I see,” She giggled at the thought as Mark watched her, an affectionate smile sitting at her lips. “So, like, TripAdvisor - five star service but a little vain.”
“Wow,” Was Mark’s only comment before he laughed, “You're not meant to be funnier than me, that's my thing.”
“Get used to it,” Mindy replied, quickly trying to get back to the point, “if you need to get up, just go, but you'll be coming back.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It better be a promise.”
Sealed with a hotter kiss, Mark brought his arm back from under Mindy and left her in bed with an affectionate kiss to her forehead. When he reached her bathroom he shouted back to her, his voice slightly muffled.
“Well? How was it?”
“Pretty great.” Mindy replied, unable to stop the grin rip across her face as she heard Mark laughing.
Laying on her back, she stared at her ceiling and wondered how many more mornings would start not unlike today, how many more glances will he take of her that she would pretend not to see, and how many would she try to sneak of him before she was caught. Everything was still frightfully new and fresh, even calling herself his girlfriend still came with a bucketful of butterflies and it had been well over a week since those terms had been breached. It was a warm nervousness Mindy had, a summer heat in her heart that she was lifted by every time she felt it squeeze. And something in Mark’s eyes when she caught him looking at her told her he was feeling the same - not that she had to guess, he was transparent and told her anytime it came to mind just how easy he found it to fall for her. Head over heels and straight down a crater, he told her as Mindy couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes while trying not to lose her mind.
She was so blissfully excited for any shared times to come for them she struggled to contain her glee. She caught herself smiling a little more, being more open, more affectionate towards Mark than she'd ever thought she would find herself with anyone, let alone after a couple of weeks. And, of course, more in love with him with every passing minute. Even if it hadn't been verbally stated yet, it felt as solid as an inevitability; it would be said eventually since the emotion of it was churning away already.
Out of curiosity while Mark was away, Mindy stretched over the edge of her bed to get her phone from her jeans pocket to check the time. It wasn't too late, only half eleven in the morning. The only thing that was on her mind was where Avie was, until she checked her phone to find a text from Claire. Since Mindy never told Claire if she was working today or not, Claire slipped in early, saw some ‘carnage’ in her lounge, grabbed Avie and fled. There was an apology in all capitals for interrupting, some blushing emojis and then a p.s to tell Claire everything later on now that there was no point in denying anything. Mindy swore softly under her breath in a vow not to tell Claire anything in fear she could actually embarrass herself into an early grave.
When Mark returned he pointed out towards Mindy’s lounge and kitchen, asking if she wanted anything, but when he realised she wasn't even stealing glances, he asked her if something was wrong instead.
“Not wrong, just… Claire has Avie.”
“Oh, great.” Mark grinned, figuring it was more time for him to use if Mindy wasn't catering to Avie.
“Not really.” Mindy almost whispered, eventually meeting Mark’s eyes. It was then that her panic started to ease, and in an odd twist of emotion, she started to laugh, covering her mouth with a hand as she did. “Claire came in this morning ‘cause I forgot to tell her if I was in or out, so she saw all the clothes everywhere-”
“Oh-”
“Yep.” Mindy’s giggling was past controlling before she straightened herself out and shrugged out a sarcastic ‘oops’ that made them both laugh. “It must be bad if she knew it wasn't just me being messy.”
“I can't even remember-”
“I wasn't really paying attention to where things were going…” Mindy said quietly as she indulged in a technicolor memory as Mark put his head out her bedroom door into her lounge. His sharp intake of breath had her sitting up in alarm. “Is it that bad? Claire called it ‘carnage’ but I thought she was exaggerating.”
“I don't even know how you managed to get my hoodie over the lamp beside your tv, but you did - four shoes, two jackets, my belt, my wallet and phone are on the floor… but so are all the cushions, the table’s moved, the rugs in a heap and I don’t think your sofa was at that angle before...”
“Sounds a mess.” Mindy conceded, wondering what Claire’s face would have looked like in the moment.
“Yeah, not quite a ‘disaster zone’, but it comes to mind…” Mark called through as he kicked some of their clothes into a more contained pile. “Huh, it’s only half eleven,” He stated after picking up his phone from under Mindy’s askew coffee table, and then tossing it onto her sofa with a smirk. “And I’m sure I can think of a better way to spend the time than tidying up.”