Archive of Our Own ^beta

Being a sugar baby (pros & cons):

1. Money on a regular basis
2. Part-time (allows leveraging his job & free time)
3. Benefits w his boss (gifts?)
4. Experiential knowledge (not fit for CV tho)
5. Secret relationship? (N/A probably)
6. Lack of a Real Relationship™ (not that Mark had one before)
7. Time control (he’s to his boss’s beck-&-call anyways)
8. Begrudging company Doyoung is nice
9. Feelings(?) 
10. People questioning his morals? (He works in marketing fgs)

Mark says yes to the dress or whatever, takes the offer and texts his boss about it immediately. No time for overthinking or take-backs. This is the start of his climb up the professional-life-stairs. 

***

It’s only eight am, but Mark wants to go home already. God, he loathes Mondays. And the fact that a stash of paperwork is already waiting for him at his desk makes his eyes a tiny bit teary. 

However, Mark didn’t invest so much time, energy and money on his education to not be at the top of capitalism one day. Sure, first he’ll slave away for a couple of years, but he’ll be a millionaire at some point — hopefully. So, he drinks away his complaints in his morning hot chocolate, along with some of his dreams and sleeping-time. The fun of corporate life, yay. 

You know that kind of person who is unbearable before they’re caffeinated? Doyoung is not even close to that; he’s such a morning person. It annoys Mark’s nocturnal ass to no end. He walks into his boss's office trying hard to keep his eyes open and his grimace hidden behind his ipad. 

“Good morning!” Doyoung chirps as he looks up from his screen.

“Morning,” Mark mumbles back; the only good thing about today is the hot chocolate he had, and the cute dog he saw on the train here. He swears he's not a party-pooper, his brain just refuses to work on positivity before ten am. 

“Clear your schedule for Saturday, please. And tell my assistant to get you proper clothes for the occasion,” his boss orders with finality. “Your first out-of-the-job job; we're going golfing.”

If Mark had been fully awake, he would've dropped something. Right now, it takes him at least five seconds to catch up — doesn't mean he catches his big mouth, though. “You hate golfing, boss .”

“Business calls,” he replies, professional as ever. “And golf courses are full of potential clients we must save from falling into the competition's claws. You're coming with me.”

“I'll stick out like a stray kitten,” Mark whines, because Doyoung likes him and lets him — and Mark just wants to sleep for a week to avoid doing the documentation for the communication plan. 

“My stray kitten. With pedigree,” his boss clarifies. And the young analyst complies with a sigh. 

Yay corporate life , will become his new motto, he swears. Thank god for bonuses. 

***

Mark has seriously started to believe that being a night person is a curse. Really. 

Golf isn’t that bad. It’s just expensive and tiring. And they have to get playing before eight am so that they can finish in time for lunch. On the good news, the weather is nice; a little chilly, a little dewy, a lot breathtaking in the view. 

It doesn’t absolutely suck. In fact, Mark is kinda enjoying it — when he looks away from the, uh… negotiations taking place. 

Things Mark never thought he’d learn at the workplace(?):

1. When his boss speaks of “commercial enemies”, he means Mr. Lee Taeyong (real nice guy Mark worked an internship for).
2. Said “commercial enemies” have the hots for e/o, judging by their stares when they pose for a shot/impact/iron whatever tf they’re called in golf. 
3. Their foreplay/flirting negotiation methods are unusual in the market. 
4. Sugar baby!Mark is a strategic move here. Obviously. 

He really needs some lemonade. And vacations. For now, he can only go wait in the shade of an expensive-looking tree, while those two finish with the last hole (lol). 

Oh, but lo and behold, miracles do happen. No, Mark doesn’t get instant, all-paid-for vacations. However, he does get an angel — or the heat of approaching midday gets him , it’s a very possible scenario, too. 

A boy so beautifully blinding that Mark can’t even make a proper list of attributes his eyes linger on. Tanned, long legs and enchanting smile, that’s all he can gather logically at the moment. 

“Hey there, handsome,” Pretty Boy greets him, making Mark’s cheeks grow warm in a second. “Looking for someone?” He quirks a perfectly styled eyebrow at him. 

“I— uh,—“

The boy places a hand on Mark’s bicep, his touch searing. He leans in conspiratorially and whispers with a Cheshire smile: “I can clean, wash, iron, cook, walk pets, do taxes and tell jokes.”

Mark’s heart stutters. 

1. Oh my god. 
2. Oh. My. God. 
3. OH MY GOD.

He’s pretty, multi-talented, assertive and makes lists. Mark’s brain basically goes * Squeals! Panics! Dies! *. 

Thankfully, he’s able to reply something half-intelligent: “I’m not one of the rich guys,” he coughs with an awkward chuckle. He adds a small, pathetic, “I’m a mastermind at Excel, though.”

A click of a tongue. “Now, that’s a useful skill,” he praises in a completely inappropriate tone that has Mark’s insides going crazy. “Sugar baby, too?”

“Why would you think that?” His cheeks heat up, a hand coming up to scratch the back of his neck bashfully. 

“No one sane comes to play golf on a Saturday morning willingly,” Pretty Boy huffs. “My boss totally got me here for the unofficial pageant.”

Now that makes Mark laugh. “I’ll let you win if you share your theory about them .”

“ Easy . They’re in love and horny, prideful idiots. Mr. Kim chose Taeyong’s favorite, read you,” he eyes Mark suggestively. “And Taeyong chose Mr. Kim’s most hated, a.k.a me.”

Drop-dead gorgeous and a genius. Great. Mark’s fucked. 

“Wanna set them up?”

***

It’s a combination of stupid ideas that brings them here — obviously, because it started out as a little joke that snowballed into this . In Mark’s defense, it was mostly Doyoung’s fault. 

Look, Mark’s just… concerned about his boss’s wellbeing. Like, with the whole sugar baby thing and Doyoung providing an additional weekly check without doing anything mildly “sugar” with him... It’s worrisome, alright?

You know how bitches be complaining about how end-of-the-month is an awful thing to handle when you’re in anything sales-related? Well, Mark is bitches, and he needs his five hours of sleep. Also, to stand up from his desk, preferably. And a walk would be nice. 

Doyoung needs to get out of the office for any of the above to happen. And Donghyuck did say he should text him if an emergency came up. 

Me

Guided visit. Thursday morning. Lunch together for networking. 

Mr. Lee’s pretty analyst

Objective? SMART format pls

Mark tries to suppress his smile and eye-roll as he texts during his meeting, phone hidden under the table like the mature professional he is. 

Me 

Ideally, they’d jump over the table & profess their undying affection

Mr. Lee’s pretty analyst

Then Taeyong would pull on Mr. Kim’s tie to kiss him — their tongues battling for dominance even when we all know who’s holding the leash here — and drag him to his ridiculously expensive car

Mark scoffs a bit louder than he’d considered, earning a few curious stares. He smiles in hopes to hide the way he scours his brain for every cringey line he’s ever read (don’t judge him, fanfiction is for every age and person. At least he’s upfront about it, Wei Wuxian taught him best).

Me

As they hit the road, one hand on the wheel, they get lost into each other’s chocolate-brown orbs

Mr. Lee’s pretty analyst

The thickness in their pants grows like Pinocchio’s nose when he’s lying, and they do the devil’s tango, as bee to flower

Mark’s knee jerks under the conference table. Loudly (pt.2). He is so getting fired. And yet, laughter bubbles in his chest and threatens to come out of his mouth. He chucks half of his bottle of water down in an attempt to remain professional. 

Me

True poetry

Mr. Lee’s pretty analyst

The Lee in my name comes from Wi-lee-am Shakespeare

Me 

LOL figures

Oh my god. Donghyuck will be his perdition. 10/10 probability. He doesn’t need a study to tell him so. 

Long story short, they text all day long. They break the ice somehow, and stray into one-and-all topics possible. Mark finds that he can actually be shy, as much as Donghyuck can be absolutely shameless. And it’s the most he’s ever smiled on an office day since his first month of employment. 

So, maybe it all started up in stupid, but he isn’t bothered at all by it.  

***

Thursday comes all too slowly for Mark’s taste — taken, he’s a little desperate. 

He’s also kinda nervous. Like, can we all agree that texting and talking require completely different skill-sets? Irl moots outside his college friends are just… weird(?), he guesses(?). Anyway , Mark’s a bit jittery about the whole seeing-each-other again, since he isn’t sure if they’ll get along in person too. Welp. 

However, there’s no method available that would allow him to avoid this situation. Analysts ought to be in the market and all that. 

Luckily for him, his predictions come true: both boys are too preoccupied in not laughing to worry about much else. You see, there’s a fine line between glaring and bedroom eyes; their bosses toe on it like a tightrope. 

It’s hilarious. 

“Like owner, like exhibition, Mr. Kim,” one of them chides in disappointment. (translation into no nonsensical language: like mother, like child).

“How will you send that over the wall otherwise ? A costly, ineffective market incentive, Mr. Lee?”

“You’re boiling the ocean with your concerns.”

“I like the way you try, makes me remember the old times when core competency wasn’t a must.”

“I would agree with you, but then we’d both be wrong, Mr. Kim.”

“Hopefully the rest of your day will be as pleasant as you, Mr. Lee.”

Really, it’s a feat that Mark can contain his laughter. Especially when they keep addressing each other like they’re in Pride and Prejudice plus the pompous, useless business jargon. 

Mark’s three top discoveries in this market visit:

1. Businessmen are so passive-aggressive in their insults. 
2. Kissing to punching ratio in commercial rivals is around 0.5 (biased sample).
3. Donghyuck looks stunning in his work clothes. 

It’s logical for Mark to start noticing little things about Donghyuck, really. They spend more time with their bosses senseless bickering than with the actual market visit anyway — they’ll probably be back. So, he figures he can use it to flirt too… or try to, at least. 

“So, um… you come here often?” He hears the words leave his mouth as his brain sends * Abort mission!! * signals all over. Earth, swallow me, yadda yadda. 

Hyuck quirks a rather judgemental eyebrow at him. Deserved, honestly. 

“We’re going out for coffee. Right now,” the younger analyst declares. 

“We’re not allowed to leave, though…?”

“That’s why we’re doing it secretly,” Donghyuck explains as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world and Mark is just another dumbass. 

Mark’s eyes widen, heart stuttering for a beat at the simple thought of running away together — not as deep as it sounds, considering they’ll just hide from their bosses, but Mark still likes the idea. 

“I understand Doyoung’s feelings about you,” he comments offhandedly, making Donghyuck take a dramatic hand to his chest in mock offense.  

Then, he simply laughs as he grabs the sleeve of the elder’s jacket, pulling him behind him. 

Oh man. So maybe Mark’s starting to understand all those cheesy, YA movies. He’s royally ducked , as his autocorrect would say. 

Hyuck seems to be one of those people who’s navigation skills are good, therefore Mark follows him on blind faith when he leads them out of the store and through the streets.

They walk in silence (or as much silence as possible in a metropolis at midday). Thing is, at least ten minutes pass like that. 

Mark’s pretty sure they’re lost. 

And Donghyuck is all too stubborn to ask for directions or even inform Mark. It’s kinda annoying, kinda endearing. The older boy is a bit biased here, please understand. 

“Tell me something about you,” the younger breaks the silence. 

Mark gulps. “My favorite color is blue…?”

“Way to be basic, Lee.” He doesn’t know how he knows, but there’s definitely an eye-roll in that tone. 

“What do you wanna know?” He asks in defeat, steps light and a small smile on his lips. 

“Something partner-in-crime-worthy. Habits, allergies, kinks.”

Things Donghyuck is good at:

1. English
2. Sneaking around
3. Navigating (due for review)
4. Flustering Mark to no end

Sheesh. The nerve. 

“I, uh… can’t sleep with the door of my room open…?” He manages to mumble out, somehow. 

“Duh, that’s psycho behavior,” the younger agrees. He hums lowly, taking a second to think. “I’m emotionally allergic to dolphins, those sick, little shits.”

“What? Why?” Mark tilts his head in confusion, but also mild amusement. Donghyuck just shrugs, rocking that Sexy and Mysterious Man Image™.

“Watched an eight hour long documentary. Never been the same,” he dramatically recites into the horizon, sending Mark into a fit of giggles. “ Okay! Describe your Ninja skills in a phrase.”

“Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey would be disappointed in me,” he replies right away. Judging by the delighted huff, it’s the right answer. 

“I’m the equivalent to a Backyardigan secret agent, don’t sweat it too much. It’s not like you told me you don’t like coffee.”

Mark stays quiet. (God. He knew his child-like palate would end up in karma someday).

“Will it make you feel better if I say I tried?”

There’s a really high, borderline inhuman screech. “Pure blasphemy !”

“You don’t like dolphins!”

“You’ll have to watch that documentary with me to find out why. I’m a man of reason.”

“ Obviously .” It’s his turn to roll his eyes, even if that can’t stop the fondness lodging in his chest. (Did he just get asked out on a date? Watching a documentary is almost like Netflix and chill, right? His brain is too close to melting point, he can’t deal with this).

“Redeem yourself: you an ass man?” He asks. It takes one look at Mark’s red ears to have Donghyuck howling, a smug comment rolling off his tongue immediately. “Good choices, Mark Lee. Good choices.”

Mark highlights point #4 on his previous list, reminds himself that Hyuck is thankfully not able to see the utter mess he just made of Mark’s head (cue that one SpongeBob meme).

On and on they go. Mindless bickering, mindless laughter, mindless walking. And it has Mark smiling like an idiot all the way to nowhere — because they get so lost, that they don’t even get coffee. 

***

Mark has come to the conclusion that rainy mornings are only a true pleasure when you’re in your bed. Burrito-wrapped in a blanket. Holding a cup of hot chocolate. 

However, god seems to hate his guts, as He chooses a completely different scene — in which Mark is soaking wet. At least his backpack made it safely. 

He walks into the building and up the elevator, chin high in an attempt to hold together the last shreds of his dignity. It works until he gets laughed at by the prettiest boy he’s ever met. 

Heaven’s reward system is weird, if you ask him. Three-star review, honestly. 

(The corners of his lips betray him, though, the fuckers. And he resigns himself to smiling back through the shivers shaking him from the core).

Mark’s middle finger comes up in auto-pilot. He gets laughed at harder. Then, he gets a towel wrapped around his shoulders.

“And you thought gentlemanship was dead,” Hyuck brags with that smug turn of his mouth and his playful eyes. He grabs the older boy by the elbow and pulls him into his office. 

“Pretty sure that word is fake,” he replies teasingly. 

“Think out of the box, I spoke it into creation,” the younger snickers. 

Proof everything looks like its owner:  

1. Hyuck’s space is covered in black & white. 
2. Clean =/= ordered. 
3. Every little thing on his desk (picture frames, post-its, color pens & hair dye?) makes it seem warm. 

Things Donghyuck has convinced Mark of:

1. Their bosses are in love.
2. Dolphins are a menace.
3. Duality shit is real (when it comes to Hyuck).
4. Donghyuck could successfully bullshit his way through life w a smile (& you’d be thankful). 

“How’s it going?” Mark asks, jacket and tie off, hands running through his hair in a (failed) attempt to dry it. 

He feels someone’s gaze shamelessly running over him. His ears heat up as he raises an eyebrow at the younger analyst. 

“I see the sugar baby in the office potential,” Hyuck comments whimsically. 

“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that,” he replies, trying to keep his cool, because he’s very cool, obviously. 

“Don’t get the engine running if you ain’t gonna drive, babe,” he says all too inappropriately for Mark's weak heart to handle. 

He chokes on air, just a little . “Perv.” 

The other boy clicks his tongue. “You know, sucking it up for the money so I can save up for my dreams. You?”

“Same,” he shrugs. He unzips his backpack, hands in the corresponding contracts to the younger. Hyuck takes them in stride, but won’t stop squinting at Mark. 

“When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a space cowboy, with a Flynn Rider kinda gig,” he says. A chuckle escapes Mark, and he rolls his eyes. “A little foolish, really.”

“I like fools,” the words escape him, and he does his best to cover it with his dumbassery, “and I wanted to become a lion,” he confesses quickly, hand to the back of his neck in embarrassment. 

“You’re so cute , I’m gonna die !” Hyuck squeals in a way that makes the older boy’s cheeks heat up. A fit of giggles erupts, and minutes pass before they catch their breaths. “So, how’s it going, Mark Lee? For real.”

That makes him smile yet again. Hyuck seems to be aiming for his heart, it seems. 

Truth is, he’s good as far as he’s aware. Sure, nowadays Mark dreams about a rent-free heaven where he can pay for his own place and buy something pretty for his dad on his birthday and Christmas, where he can go out with his friends and stop worrying about the littlest things, where he “settles down” with someone special and they are happy… but right now, he’s having a nice time too. 

“Not living my childhood dream, thank god…” he chuckles. “Grown up, I guess, surprisingly happy. Life’s not quite like you imagine when you’re a kid. Still fun, though.”

“ Duh , you got to meet me,” Hyuck brags. And Mark’s stupidly pale skin lights up in pink all the way to his ears. 

“What’s your new dream, Flynn Rider?” Mark teases with a lighthearted smile. 

“Spoil my friends and sisters, take my mom to her favorite band’s concert, get a Harley, see the world. The usual,” he shrugs. 

He’s trying to kill Mark with his soft boy aura, Mark’s sure. “Sounds great to me.”

“I’m full of promising ideas, I’ve been telling you.”

You know how sometimes you randomly meet someone who rocks your world and you just click? And they have you spiraling down a ridiculous crush for weeks that has you believing in angelic grace until they say something that makes you realize, wow, I don’t really know them ?

Well, in Mark’s humble opinion, it’s a strange feeling. 

“Got a story to tell, Hyuck?” He asks with a little smile. 

Donghyuck snorts, shakes his head at him like he’s the dumbest person on Earth (and maybe he is). “Okay, it sounds like a joke, but it’s an anecdote,” he begins. 

Mark’s heart goes crazy in his chest as he starts to know more of this wonderful, save-your-love-and-buy-me-diamonds boy he’s mesmerized by. 

***

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, Mark makes dozens of lists. 

Compliments Donghyuck would like to hear (although he already knows):

1. You’re a genius. 
2. You’re a menace (endearment). 
3. You’re such a dude (derogatory)
4. You’re covered in stars. 
5. Your smile is contagious.
6. Your voice is sexy. 
7. Your skin is pretty. 
8. Your brain is amazing. 
9. Your jokes are the best. 
10. You did a great job. 
11. You light up the room. 

Actions Donghyuck doesn’t notice (Mark does):

1. Doing this writing-down-motion w his hand when he’s arguing. 
2. Biting his nails when he’s thinking hard. 
3. Cocking his head to the side when things aren’t done his way. 
4. Poking his tongue at his cheek when he’s annoyed.
5. Playing w the back of his hair when it grows a tad bit longer than what he’s used to.
6. Pushing up his frames w two fingers when he’s not in the mood for contacts. 
7. Walking on the balls of his feet like he’s MJ when he always. 

Reasons why Mark definitely doesn’t love like Donghyuck all that much:

1. He copies Mark’s gestures & teases him so much. 
2. He’s Plan-maker Supreme to the point of obsession. 
3. He’s crazy (yet practical). 
4. He’s a… driven multi-tasker.
5. Irrational love for leather bags. 
6. He’s a messy eater. 
7. He’s always late (like Mark, but whatever).
8. Hate&love for bread&coffee, respectively. 
9. He’s always singing or humming & shaking his little, perky butt like a duckling. 
10. He’s pretty & kind & awesome. 
11. Mark’s too whipped for this shit. 

You could say Mark is in over his head and call it quits with the lists. Except Mark isn’t quite ready to accept that, as of now. Busy hours, emotional avoidance, too little headspace and all that. 

Because, sure, there’s that. But there are also all those conversations where the younger boy has made his goals really clear. 

He remembers pretty well: Friday night out with the guys — out as in, on the terrace at the office, trying to ignore their screaming bosses (again) inside. Yeah, the need for some chill pills is real. 

Of course, watching the stars with your coworker/rival is nothing short of romantic. And Mark is a weak man for pretty smiles and pretty moles and pretty eyes, we know that. But it all comes down to the one reason why they both accepted this whole proposition in the first place. 

Gazing thoughtfully into the night sky, Hyuck murmurs: “You look at me, all bright and happy… But deep down, I’m in need of a million dollars.”

A chuckle leaves Mark's lips. “Aren’t we all?”

The younger analyst clicks his tongue.  A tremor shakes Mark's body (he blames it on the cold and old age). And Donghyuck simply laughs at him, claps a hand to his shoulder. 

“I'd ask you out for coffee but, in terms of money, we have no money,” he says in a Despicable Me imitation that'd make Gru proud. 

“Office machine it is... You really are something else,” he catches himself saying.  

“I’d rather plan than hope. Much more realistic,” the younger shrugs his shoulders, walking back inside. 

That's when reality (ironically) bitch-slaps Mark right across his high cheekbones. Hyuck is like coffee. Feelings dissolved like sugar on bitter liquid. All business and productivity. Mark, on the other hand… He’s different from Donghyuck, stickier: he didn't sell himself into the chance of being a sugar baby, he just happened to be there when it occurred. And he said yes. Hyuck did, too.

Yet, we all know Mark. Grab some dumbass here, some feelings there and a sprinkle of good intentions, wrap them up in dense bubble-wrap and you’ve got a whole package of Helplessly Romantic Mark Lee ready to go. Romantic and not-rich-enough-to-be-a-sugar-daddy, important detail. 

So Mark keeps on with his silly, controllable, harmless lists, and his mouth shut. 

***

Right, so, uhm… the whole tale about getting over-stressed about senseless things? Yeah, it’s totally real. 

They were okay, really. Just powering through the week’s paperwork like every Friday. Then they realized how quiet the office was. 

You see, the problem with Taeyong and Doyoung being without supervision is that they’re highly vulnerable to mutual murder (double murder?). If Mark were 5% less panicked, maybe he’d google it. 

“It’s okay, we’ve got this,” Hyuck keeps saying as they sweep the floor, looking for their bosses. 

You know that moment in every horror movie where they do a jump-scare with a something dumb and unrelated? Like a falling broom or a cat or the wind? Well, it scares the shit out of Mark and apparently out of Donghyuck too, considering the Scream Queen-worthy shriek he lets out. 

We got this was a tad bit overestimated. 

“Wow,” the word escapes Mark’s lips, filling the silence. He then, proceeds to giggle hysterically (the sleep-deprivation and very recent mini heart attack are showing). 

Things Mark has never seen Donghyuck do (& wants to):

1. Dance fr (he looks like he can handle himself on the floor).
2. Sing on a stage (not just the car or the office’s kitchen).
3. Wake up from a nap.
4. Get happy drunk.
5. Blush (already did, it looks beautiful on him).

The younger boy scratches the back of his head, bashful for once. “Yeah, uhm. Pretend I didn’t panic there… doesn’t fit my professional flirty sugar baby image.”

Mark snorts. 

That’s when they see them, from the window. Doyoung and Taeyong talking and laughing like people who haven’t threatened each other to death. Mark would say “who would’ve thought?” But they all saw it coming, honestly. 

Clearly, there’s bickering, but there are also these looks that could hold the whole world. 

(Is secretly rooting for your bosses whom you’re supervising from a distance considered hardcore creeping? He really hopes not). 

Maybe it’s just tonight, Mark’s not counting on consistency when it comes to their bosses. And yet, it still stings in his chest. It feels a lot like longing — a lot like knowing something else is about to end. 

Not to be surprised. Mark’s always known he wants something pretty and comfortable and thrilling. He simply hadn’t thought he’d want it right now. Or that he’d have such a specific smile showing up in his mind when he thinks about it. 

“What now?” He asks, seeing as their assistance is not required. 

“ Ugh , I don’t wanna do crap,” Hyuck answers in his usual fashion. “Think you can put coffee on an IV drip? Serious question.”

Mark can only shake his head in resignation, try to hide his smile, and update his lists carefully.

***

“We should stop this, Mark.”

“What?!”

“It’s not you, you’ve been great!”

“Is this about the bedroom? You don’t even touch me!”

Doyoung rolls his eyes so hard, Mark worries they’ll get stuck on the back of his head. He huffs out a little laugh, containing it for long enough for this performance to be iconic (Mexican soap opera has taught him so much over the years…).

Cards down, it’s Doyoung’s fault for interrupting Mark’s efficient online-survey-answering for money (only 35 dollars for 2,000 points?! Who the fuck do they think they are?! He doesn’t have enough time for their shit * big sigh *). 

“I don’t mean to offend you, Mark,” his boss clarifies, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration which does make the analyst feel a little bit bad, he’ll admit. “I’ve found the root of our comercial problems with Mr. Lee, that’s all.”

Mark’s mouth falls so wide open, he’s more worried about landing planes than stray flies.  

The three thoughts his neurons can hold (at the moment):

1. ...Did Doyoung figure it out?
2. Holy shit, he figured it out!!
3. God exists & Doyoung finally figured it out!!!

The romantic analyst's urge to text his partner in crime about recent developments hits him, and his thumbs tremble in excitement to text away the good news and maybe even welcome a promotion. 

“That’s great, boss! You should tell him,” he cheers him on. 

Doyoung frowns. “I don’t think it’d be appropriate to tell Mr. Lee about my feelings for his analyst, given the current negotiations.”

Most brains would short-circuit; Mark’s brain proceeds to set itself on fire Sponge Bob Style. 

“ What ?!”

“As preoccupying as it is to say, the reason why perfect, smart, kind Mr. Lee enraged me so much is because I envy Donghyuck’s reactions to him. How he makes him smile with those awfully endearing jokes, makes him blush under his unwavering stare and firm directions, makes him laugh when he holds him close in those surprisingly strong arms of his…” Doyoung explains dreamily. “It only makes sense.”

Mark thinks he might be having a stroke.  

“You’re breaking up with me… over Donghyuck ?”

His boss sighs like it’s Mark here who’s blind. “If it’s no issue to you, I require a list of basic things to know about Donghyuck now, please.”

The younger boy can only open and close his mouth like a dumb, gaping fish before a quirked eyebrow threatens him into speaking — a little too much, a little too sincerely, if you ask him. 

“He’s my age. His favorite color is black,” he starts quietly, dejectedly. “He’s allergic to the sun, and scared of each and every bug. He hates mediocrity and loves to dance, but he won’t do it if you ask him because he’s stubborn like that. He enjoys motorcycles, roller-coasters, greasy food and death-traps in general. He never gets tired of teasing but is such a Gemini about being teased back. He—“

A hand in the air stops his blabbering. He’s handed a check with too many zeros written on it, the amount equivalent to three months of his out-of-the-job job. 

“That’ll be enough for now. Thanks, Mark,” Doyoung dismisses him with his CEO-worthy smile. And the boy just bows his head and exits the room, white paper crippled between his fingers. 

He can’t believe someone used the “Buy yourself something pretty, kid,” strategy on him. There’s no respect anymore, sheesh. You can’t trust anyone, it seems. 

Mark doesn't let Doyoung’s words get to him. He doesn't dwell on the unending list of suitors Donghyuck must have massed up. He absolutely does not.  

***

Hyuck the prettiest analyst

Need your professional opinion on SB/SD business 

Me

Boohoo Just got fired

(Does he sound stingy over texts? Maybe. Does he care all that much? Nah). 

Three dots appear and disappear on his screen, now that makes him nervous. If Donghyuck doesn't want to hang out with him anymore, Mark will drop to the ground and bawl his eyes out, dignity be damned.

Hyuck the prettiest analyst

Oh

Budget problems?

Me

Dumbassery, mostly

Hyuck the prettiest analyst

I like good stories

Take me lingerie shopping n tell me about it?

If Mark had been drinking his hot chocolate at the moment, he'd have pushed it out of his nose like that girl in The Incredibles. Luckily, god has mercy on his poor nasal channel — this time, you never know.

He tries not to feel too panicked gay about lingerie shopping without being an asshole (does that make sense? It makes sense to Mark, but he honestly doesn't know, brain fry and all).

Me

Got no sugaring potential here, be warned

Hyuck the prettiest analyst

I need an accessory so that I don’t look like the boy-toy in the rel 

Me

…

Hyuck the prettiest analyst

I'll treat you to lunch?

Me

Deal

That, my friends, is how you discreetly ask your crush out on a date according to Mark Lee, Mr. Healthy Relationships and holy patron of Swag. Total score. 

***

Hanging out with a hot guy while shopping for tiny, lacy underthings can be a curse or a blessing. Mark still hasn't decided if he's in heaven or hell. You can guess how that's going. 

Interestingly, to say the least. 

It's really not that bad, though. Cliche thing to say, but Mark truly does treasure every moment by Donghyuck's side. Hanging out with him through late paperwork, silly errands and the eventual ice cream has been sort of magical. Although this one outing feels a little different. More final — and they both know it. 

Not that it's a bad feeling. Just like that feeling you get when you're watching the last few episodes of your favorite show and you know it's coming to an end. You want to know what happens but you don't want it to stop there. And yet, there's relief when it's all said and done. 

Mark needs to stop his binge-watching tendencies, they have him thinking way too deep into nothing. Donghyuck getting an amazing job offer at another firm, for example. 

“You'd be a fool not to take it, Hyuck,” Mark tells him over lunch, eyes focused on his plate. A small chuckle makes him look up.

“I thought you liked fools,” he replies with that smug smirk of his. 

And because Mark has been working up courage and steel-ing his nerves in order to be able to flirt (and because he is not above begging), he says, “I do.” He's kinda proud at how he barely blushes, too.

That confidence turns into mushy, gooey things when the younger boy does a cute V sign with his hand as he winks in Mark's direction. “Told you so,” he singsongs. Cue a very pink-cheeked Mark.

He huffs in an attempt to regain ground, only to mumble a weak, “Why do you talk so much…?”

“´Cuz my voice is great, and you think so too.”

“I won't visit you at your new job,” the elder whines. Donghyuck laughs with his head thrown back, and Mark thinks it might be the time to bring his big guns out and sweep him off his feet. “I know a lot of things are changing for you, but I hope we can keep seeing each other, because I'd love it if we could keep it up, you know, uh… woo, is it hot in here?” Mark´s ears are on fire, his brain is too, probably. “I… anyways, dude, could we uh, maybe, I don't know. It's uh, sorry, sorry, I just — you're looking at me like I've grown a second head and it's making me a little worried? Nervous? I don't know, I'm still gonna say it, though. I, no, wait—”

Donghyuck slaps a hand against the elders mouth, effectively shutting him up. His eyes are crinkled at the corners with the width of his smile, and Mark is also effectively confused. 

“You should take me out on a date after my first day. Pick me up at my new office?”

Mark nods rather aggressively . That makes Donghyuck smile even wider, if that’s possible. 

“Ugh, I was so ready to say it,” Mark groans, the pink on his face starting to look a lot more like red. 

“Don't take it personally, I'm irresistible like that,” Hyuck brags. 

“Tell me about it,” he sighs, the corners of his lips turning upwards at the younger's happy expression. “Thanks about that, by the way, I could hear the stupid leaving my mouth but I coulnt stop it,” he laughs bashfully. 

“Glad to help, dude .”

Face-palming is not enough to convince Mark that he's the one who signed his own invitation to Lee Donghyuck's very personal heaven hell.

“I'm still not one of the rich guys.”

“Long-term goals, Mark Lee. Ever heard of survey answering for money? ´Cuz its our way to richness.”

What can Mark say? It feels a lot like fate.

***

Things to know about Lee Donghyuck & Mark Lee as an established couple:

1. They're cute.
2. They're stubborn.
3. They're unstoppable.
4. They get into inexistent trouble (don't ask how).

“Doyoung & Taeyong; The Reencounter” wasn't supposed to happen this way.

“How are we gonna pull this off?” Mark asks in a quiet voice as he looks over to the table where their (still) bosses are meeting. 

“With confidence!!” Donghyuck whisper-yells, binoculars in hand. 

The original plan was to have the lovebirds show themselves at this super fancy restaurant with no clue that the other was gonna be there too. Then, they'd dine like civilized people and realize (* ding ding ding!! *) they've been in love all along!

As far as Mark's tired-from-looking-at-a-screen-for-too-long eyes can tell, there's more fighting than the appropriate amount for a civilized dinner. He prays Saint David Tutera and Randy Fenoli might help them. 

“Did Mr. Lee just open the champagne on Doyoung?!”

“Forget confidence, we're screwed,” Donghyuck moans, binoculars thrown somewhere behind their backs. 

They can hear muffled screaming, broken glass and what sounds a lot like a shrieking staff. Mark chooses to close his eyes and ignore the situation in hopes that it might disappear into thin air or that Earth will finally swallow him for this one.

“Don't lose hope,” he jokes. “I wasn't looking for you, and you still found me.”

The younger's gaze meets his. “You ever get tired of sounding like a miracle-pill add?” he huffs. 

“Sometimes.”

Giggles turn into soft stares, and Mark still can't believe he gets to kiss Hyuck like this. Sweet, teasingly, for himself. If Mark had the words to describe it, he'd make a list — and probably get too distracted to ever finish it.

What can he say? The only important list in his head goes around the lines of How to love Hyuck in ways he's never been loved before, by reason he's never been told about & not fall deeper for him trying . It's a long list he could usually recite off the top of his head, but he can't remember one single item on it at the moment (The Lee Donghyuck effect, he thinks).

The one thing that manages to pull them apart is the sound of clapping(?).

Hyuck rushes or the binoculars incredibly fast (the power of gossip love). 

There's food sprawled all over the floor, waitresses and waiters looking baffled and scandalized, and onlookers with their phones out; Doyoung and Taeyong in the center of it all, on the messy ground, making out in a rather 18+ way.

Donghyuck squeals and high analysts happy-dance around the roof they've been waiting at. They hug and kiss some more, completely swear off the Boss Cupid business. 

Mark isn't sure if they've been blessed or cursed by the sight. Welp. He'll have to stick back to corporate life anyway, he guesses. 

(He’s more than happy to comply this time, though).