Archive of Our Own ^beta

The first time, he didn't know what was happening.

It was like a car crash, fast, quick, and it gave him no time to react.

The people around him were screaming, yelling, begging him to back away. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was curious.

This had been happening for a couple years now, and it was almost like a fantasy, a nightmare, sometimes...a dreamscape.

There was never an off and on with it, it was a constant amongst variables, never changes, always stays the same. It interested him to no end, and he was determined to see it through.

He wondered why they'd targeted him specifically, but after awhile, he found he didn't really care.

So there he stood, indifferent and wondrous, in front of a crime scene.

It wasn't that bad, really. Just a few limbs here, a few bone fragments there, pools of blood in heaps and piles, but nothing too major.

Sure it was like a car crash, but it was a car crash.

Well, more like a hit and run. He had been on the sidewalk when it happened, but seeing accidents like this was nothing new to Mark, so he was unphased.

In fact, he'd approached the scene shortly after, even as the crowd formed and people tried to hold him back, he leaned over the mangled body with an eyebrow raised.

This victim...he didn't recognize. He focused hard, captivated by the horror in their eyes, but noone familiar came to mind.

His hand moved on it's own accord to grab something from her coat pocket when a strong grip pulled him back.

"This is a crime scene, son. Step back behind the tape."

"But that coin-"

"Behind the tape. Don't make me have to take you by force."

Mark grunted but stood, brushing off his hands and stomping behind the tape just to cross his arms and stare.

The cops were doing a poor job of identifying the body, so he glanced around for other clues in the meantime.

The trees were unharmed, there were no footsteps or traces of anything abnormal in the air. Nothing that was specific to Mark, anyway.

He could, if he wanted, tell the police who the culprit was. He knew full well who they were, but what good is a face without a name?

He'd seen this type of stuff before, in his everyday life, like a television show.

The man that Mark had fallen in love with didn't care about consequences, as long as Mark was safe.

His hair was light, long, and enough to make him look pure and innocent, but he couldn't be farther from that if he tried.

Everyone else was silent, too terrified to speak in case their words weren't good enough, for fear of being put to execution.

With the devil as their executioner, they'd rather keep their opinions to themselves.

They locked eye, briefly but surely, and he smirks, strutting across the same floor as the devil. He wasn't afraid of anything.

"What took you so long?"

"Is that really your place to ask?"

"It's my place to do whatever the fuck I please."

He scoffs, shoving keys into his chest as he walks past him. "Why don't you just mind your own business?"

"Why don't you do yer own damn dirty work?"

He swings around, glaring at him. "I am doing my dirty work, while you sit here at the office all day playing minesweeper."

"What a great come back, did yer little crush teach you that?"

"Watch it, Seàn."

"No, you watch it Felix, I don't owe you shite anymore, remember? I paid off my debt, why don't you go finish payin' yers?"

"You'll owe me until the day you fucking die."

Jack laughs, still smirking as he leans in closer, nearly nose to nose with his boss. "Then you can come pry yer money from my cold, dead, Irish hands."

Felix pulls him closer, brushing their lips together to make Jack shiver. "You know I don't want your money, Jack. But god...I do crave something a little more...expendable."

"Oh yeah?" He whispers in response, pressing himself closer to Felix and leaning into his ear, gently nibbling to pull a groan from him. "Well yer royally fucked, because my life isn't available."

Felix smiles at Jack as he walks off, black jeans rest at his hips, blue shirt exposing his midsection. If it weren't for Mark, Felix would probably still be in love with him too.

He exited the room with grace, daring anyone else to look him in his eye on his way to the bathrooms. He burst through the door, leaning on the sink as he presses his palm to his stomach.

Blood.

Just a minor scratch, just a small price to pay to keep Mark safe.

He looks at himself in the mirror, the shell of a man who once was great, now cold, dead eyes stare back at him in defeat.

Was this what he wanted to become? A monster? A criminal?

He would much rather be feared than hated, and he would much rather be hated than not known at all.

"Are you pestering my guest, Seàn?" Felix says in a demeaning tone, and Jack has to fight down the urge to blast him right through that wall.

"Nope, jus' gettin' to know him. Seein' what kinda mess you've gotten yerself into now." He beams, and he can see Felix's eye twitching in anger. "But I got better things to do, right? Bye, Maerk." He says, slurring his accent just to see Mark tense and relax. He giggles his way down the halls, satisfied with himself.

Mark moves his attention to the man slinking closer to him, dusty white hair to contrast his crude personality, and his pearly smile to match. "Don't mind him. He's just...some help."

"You must be...him." Mark asks quietly as the man strokes the side of his face, softer blue eyes than the man that came before him. The man chuckles, grinning.

"That's right. You can call me Felix. You are...even more handsome in person."

Mark simply removes the coin from his pocket, holding it out to him. "This belongs to you."

Felix takes the coin from him, eyeing it, and handing it back. "It did, yes. How did you know where to find me?"

Mark looks confused, but ultimately returns the coin to his pocket and smiles. "I come here alot. I just never really knew what was pulling me here."

"Hm. I'm glad we have such a strong...attraction."

"Why did you choose me?"

"Well...look at you. The perfect specimen of man. You'll do wonderfully for me."

Mark squints, glancing around. "I agree."

"Awesome!" Felix squeals, locking his hands with Mark as he drags him down the hallway to his certain fate.