Chapter Text
Ethan sees he has a new package. It's the one he's been looking forward to for weeks. His custom paci. It is red with eef on the handle.
He brings it in and opens it when he gets a text from Mark, "Gonna be there to drop something off in a second." As Ethan shoves it back in the package and tries to find a hiding spot, Mark's car rolls into the driveway. Ethan panics and shoves it next to the rest of his packages. Mark knocks, and Ethan opens the door.
Mark says, "Here, this somehow ended up at my house. I figured you would want it back as soon as I saw it." he gives the book in his hand to Ethan. He continues, "Oh, how about I bring your packages to your table while you put them away?
" Ethan replies, "That's not necessary. Thanks for bringing my book, though." Mark had already picked the stack of stuff up and held it sideways. Then, the pacifier fell to the ground. Fortunately, Mark is too focused and doesn't notice; instead, he brings what is in his hands to the table. While Mark is distracted, Ethan quickly picks up and holds the pacifier behind him.
When Mark turns around, he asks jokingly, "What you got there, some-sorta dirty mag or something?" Ethan turns bright red and holds it even tighter behind him.
Mark asks seriously this time, "Dude, what ya got there? It's fine." Ethan shakes his head. Mark squats and goes to tickle him. Ethan immediately twitches and drops it.
Mark says in victory, "Haha, you flinchy bastard. I got you to drop it. Now, let's see what this is." Mark grabs the pacifier off the floor.
He asks, "What is this for, little dude?" almost like he is talking to a toddler.
Ethan blurts out, "Itsa pacifier."
Mark responds, "I know that but what do you use it for?"
Ethan slowly explains, "I get real wittle and can't do my resp- respon- 'sponsibilities, and that hewps a lot to make me fweel all happy.
Mark asks, "okay, why were you all embarrassed about it? You know I don't care what you do as long as it doesn't hurt anyone."
"I thought you were gonna hate me... or that you wouldn't wanna be my friend no more.", Ethan responds sadly. Mark brings him into a hug and sits on the couch. One of Mark's hands comb through Ethan's hair, and the other rubs circles into his back as he falls asleep.
Ethan wakes up and is startled to see Mark allowing himself to be cuddled like a father awakened by his scared child.
Ethan tries to worm his way out of Mark's arms, but Mark holds tighter and says, "It is much too early for a little man to be up." Ethan wants to protest but knows it will just make him seem like more of a little kid than Mark is already treating him. Then he remembered that he was a bit more awake and what had happened before he fell asleep and started crying. Mark wakes up slightly and combs his fingers through Ethan's hair.
Ethan gets more embarrassed and says there is no need to, but Mark shuts him off with, "I know you are upset. It'sokayy, cuddle into me. It's fine." Ethan hesitantly cuddles back into Mark and falls asleep shortly after. Ethan wakes up a few hours later. He looks at the clock on the wall and sees it is eleven o'clock. Mark wakes up as he tries to get up and looks at his watch. Mark lets go of Ethan and allows him to get up. Ethan uses the bathroom, and Mark starts going through the kitchen to make breakfast.
Ethan finishes up, notices Mark looking through the kitchen, and says, "You are not going to make any kind of food. You took care of me now it is my turn to take care of you."
Mark says, "Thank you, you're such a gentleman." and sits at the island texting Amy as Ethan makes breakfast for them.
Ethan and Mark eat, and Mark asks, "Can I tell Amy about you being a little? I won't tell her unless I feel I must or you say I can, but even if I find it necessary, I will tell you first." Ethan doesn't respond, and his face turns bright red.
He stutters out, "I-um maybe well. Uh, It- It depends. Maybe." Mark nods as he puts away the dishes to allow Ethan to calm down and gather his thoughts.
Ethan confidently says, "Yeah, you can tell her. She should know why you were here and how amazing of a friend you were last night."
Mark asks, Okay, would you prefer me to text her, or would you like to hear her response?" Ethan says he would like to listen to the response, and Mark calls her.
Amy picks up and asks, "Hey, what's up? You good?"
Mark says, "Yeah, I'm good, and Ethan's good. But, I do have some news about him."
"Oh, is it bad? Is heokayy?" Amy asks.
Mark responds," No, he's fine. He's a little. That's the news." Amy starts laughing and almost doubles over.
Mark asks, "Wait, why are you laughing?"
"That's obvious. That's not new news. I figured that out like a year ago when I visited and saw his sippy-cup collection in the kitchen. I just never said anything cause I didn't wanna embarrass him.", Amy says it like it is the most obvious thing ever.
Ethan starts crying out of pure shock and joy and says, "Thank fucking god. Oh fuck. I fucking love you, dudes. I don't know what I would do if you hated me." Mark hangs up and hugs Ethan as tight as he can. Ethan stops crying and keeps grinning as wide as a Cheshire cat.
Mark asks Ethan, "How would you feel about me helping you when you are little? I know it's a big step but I want to make sure you are safe when you are little."
Ethan says, "I mean. You can. I would like that, but only if you want to. You don't have to feel obligated. I mean like it'sokayy if you decide you don't want to even after saying you will.-"
Mark interrupts him before he can finish and says, "I will never not want to help you. I will always happily take care of you. Hell, I'm pretty sure Amy would gladly take care of you. I promise it is perfectly fine."
Ethan starts to deny it, but Mark continues, "Hell I should call Amy and ask her if she wants to take care of you when you're little, too. I bet she would love to. I know I already love it and I only took care of you for like an hour."
Mark calls Amy back and asks. She says yes, and Ethan continues to protest that they don't have to.
Mark hugs him and tells him, "Dude, both me and Amy are gonna be worried shitless about you if we don't help. It is perfectly a-okay." Ethan mutters under his breath as he moves to the living room, but it is clear he finally accepts their help because he curled up on the couch with his pacifier. Mark sits on the couch, moves the boy to his lap, and kisses him on the head. Ethan wakes up big an hour later.
Mark tells him, "If you start slipping, call me. I will come right over or call Amy if I don't answer the first time. She will come right over anytime, too.Okayy?" Ethan nods and starts to edit a video. Mark and Ethan exchange goodbyes before Mark heads home to Amy.
Mark arrives home and yells, "Oh, honey I'm home!"
Amy yells right back, "Hey, sweet pea! How was last night?" Mark walks over to Amy and kisses her on the lips.
He says, "Last night was perfectly amazing. He was such a little angel."
Amy jokes, "What did y'all bang or something?" and instantly doubles over laughing.
Mark's face turns bright red, and he says, "Why would you joke about that? I am your boyfriend. That would be horrid for me to do. Hell, that would be horrid for me to think about." Amy stops laughing and stares her boyfriend down.
She asks, "Why do you think that? You make jokes about sleeping with your friends all the time. What's so different when it comes to Ethan? Do you like him or something?" Mark stares down at the floor, his face getting redder and redder. He goes to say something, then stops himself. He starts crying as Amy moves to his side.
Mark goes silent, attempting to stop his crying as Amy says, "Mark, it'sokayy if you like him. You don't have to be upset about it."
Mark yells, "No! No, it's notokayy! I don't know!" He starts crying again and continues, "I can't. I can't be some sort of fucking .. I'm not... I don't. Agh, I don't know. I like you, but also I like him. I don't know what to do or what I am anymore."
Amy wraps her arms around him and says, "It'sokayy. You don't have to feel so horrid. I completely understand. People are completely capable of liking two people at once. I have multiple times. It'sokayy."
Mark hugs her back and asks, "You've liked two people at once before?"
Amy says, "I even liked five people once. All at the same time. I never asked any of them out, though. Was too much of a coward." Mark laughs. He realizes that he sat on the floor at some point, so he gets up, and everything goes back to normal for the rest of the night. They both go to bed, and the only difference is that Mark snuggles closer to Amy than usual. As he falls asleep, Mark decides to deal with and sort out these feelings tomorrow morning.