Chapter Text
People hated the rain but he loved it. Mark had always loved the rain, the way it felt against warm skin or how it seemed to bring a sense of purity after every spring shower. The feeling of the cool water on his face always brought him to smile; his eyes closed and face held up to greet the sky.
He loved the rain.
Mark sat in his car, engine off, leaning back with his head looking up towards the sunroof as he watched the rain patter against the glass. A smile played at his lips as he enjoyed the soft sound, the calm rhythm that made a slight sense of sleepy ease wash over him. Other than the sound of the birds outside and the sound of the rain, everything had been quiet until he heard laughter.
Blinking, he frowned. Wait- laughter? Tilting his seat up, he looked around before finding a curious scene before him. What the hell? A man just across the street was hopping back and forth from leg to leg, splashing through the puddles as if he were just like a little kid stomping through the muddy mess. Dirt and water splashed up, spraying the man who just laughed happily as he enjoyed himself, bright green hair stuck to his forehead by the rain and blue hoodie soaked thoroughly. What was even more odd to him than this strangers childlike playing was that he had no umbrella, no car around and a small worn out bag and what looked like a mound of cloth in between the alley way.
Even with all of this, Mark smiled despite himself as he watched the other sprint through the rain. It was odd to do this, but it was slightly wonderful. Seeing yet another adult running and laughing through the rain, enjoying it in his own way just as Mark was. He laughed before looking down at his watch, eyes widening. “Oh shit, I'm late!"
Starting the car, the stranger's attention was drawn towards the noise and he stopped his play as he looked over at Mark and Mark caught his gaze before chewing the inside of his cheek. “Busted.” he muttered to himself, backing out of the parking lot and pulling into the street. Taking one last glance over his shoulder, he looked to see the man giving a wave at Mark’s car before turning back to look at the sky. Holding back a smile, he decided he very much loved the rain.
____
The rain didn’t let up for two more days. And each day, the image of the happy green haired man dancing through the street played in the back of his mind. What was he even doing out there doing that? He understood that nobody was really around besides himself (the parking lot was where he went to think) but if nobody else was really out why was he? Was he okay? Did he live around there? He sat in his car once more, thinking it over as he waited for the red light to turn green. Frowning, he shook his head and sighed.
“What do you think Tim?” he asked, looking down at the small golden retriever puppy. Tim just barked happily, nose pressed against the glass of the car door as if wanting to get out. “Oh no,” Mark chuckled, reaching out and petting the puppy. “Last time I let you out around here I found you fighting homeless cats for leftovers and that wasn’t a fun time for either of us was it.” Tim just barked in response, wagging his tail faster.
Looking up, he saw a green flash which he only assumed to be the light. He nearly sped through the traffic but caught himself just in time to realize the green was hair. It was him again. Tim barked and Mark gawked, okay again. What the hell?
This time the man wasn’t skipping through the rain once more, now he was standing still- in the middle of the road. Not only that, but he was looking up at the sky, fixated in a way Mark knew he himself had been before as well but not like this, not in the road with cars. Pressing his palm against the horn of the steering wheel, he honked several times trying to catch his attention. Rolling down his window, he stuck his head out the window and honked a few more times. “Hey buddy! Buddy, get out of the road!” he yelled. Not a single response.
Frowning, he unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door open after saying ‘Stay,’ to Tim and stepping out. Closing the door, he slowly walked towards the other slowly. “Hey?” he asked softly, straightening his coat collar. “You can’t stay here man, you’re blocking the way.” Walking up behind him, he hesitantly reached out to touch him. “Buddy?”
Slowly the face turned from upward to look to him, and Mark’s brows furrowed as he looked at the man. The first thing he saw was blue eyes just as foggy as the sky today in contrast to the bright green hair. Then he saw the dark circles under his eyes, and the dirt covering his face and bruise on his cheeks. It didn’t even feel like the man could see Mark, making a sick feeling in his stomach. He seemed okay just a few days ago. Risking the reaction, he put his hands on the wet shoulders and shook him. “We got to get out of the road, you hear me man? Come on.” he tugged him gently, the man just staring blankly at him but following the pulls on his arm.
They walked out of the middle of the road, trying to ignore the chorus of shouts and honks from other drivers waiting for the two men that blocked the road to get out. Opening the passenger side of the car, he pushed Tim to the back seat and went to his own side to get in. Waving at the other drivers to try and signal to them they were going, he looked over to the other man still standing in the rain just staring at the seat. Blinking a few times, he looked at Mark then back at the seat and slowly got in and closed the door.
Sighing in relief, he pressed the gas as they unblocked the road, driving down the street to the nearest shopping complex. Glances were stolen as he caught several glimpses of the other, the thin face, the scruff across his cheeks and chin and the fingers that kept tugging at his sleeves. “I’m Mark.” he said, not even getting a response from him. “Listen, I can drop you off at a restaurant if you want, or maybe the hospital or-”
“Jack.”
“What?” He looked up, turning his gaze briefly to the man.
“My name,” the voice was just a little higher than his, the accent undoubtedly Irish. Long way from home. “My name is Jack, and no thank you on the hospital or the restaurant it’s alright to drop me off anywhere.”
Shaking his head, he tisked at the man- Jack he meant, at Jack. “I’m not gonna be an asshole and drop you soaking wet off on the road when I just got you out of one, not unless I know you’ll be fine.”
Opening his mouth then closing it, Jack frowned and just stared down at the floor and gripped his bag strap tighter. “I’m not hungry.” he said, making a smile almost play across Mark’s face.
“I never said you were.” he tried not thinking about two days prior, the happy laughter and the odd dancing man through the streets. How could the man who waved to him so happily this man who sat curled up in himself in his front seat. “We can get food anyways cause I am. And so is Tim, right Tim?” he called over his shoulder, the puppy’s head popping out from the back seat and barking before burying his face under Jack’s arm.
Almost spasming, he looked down at the dog who’s face was hidden under his soaking blue sleeve and how when it wagged it’s tail it’s whole body shook. He liked dogs. Nodding slowly at the offer, he closed his eyes and pulled his legs up. “Thanks for this. You didn’t have to.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. As long as you don’t try and murder me I think we’ll be okay.”
Laughing, Jack smiled a bit. “What if I was? Don’t I just look like a terrifying serial killer? I mean look at these plus one biceps, they could take down anyone.” he joked, and Mark raised a brow smiling.
“What muscles?” he wondered if he actually had any muscles under that oversized hoodie. “You look like a fucking green bean man.”
“Hey!” Jack laughed louder, smiling and looking up for the first time. His smile was crooked, and for a moment his eyes were brighter and Mark almost choked on his breath. “I am the manliest green bean then! Green bean getting food from you pretty boy.”
Fingers gripping the steering wheel, Mark almost did really choke. Oh boy. Who the fuck he just pick up?