Work Text:
Mark was already having a hard enough day. It was only his third day of work when a Karen had strutted her way in to tell him how "offensive" the store was. Mark did prepare himself for this type of thing before he started working at a Hot Topic.
As he was sighing his most depressing sigh he could manage, a familiar head of golden brown hair walked through the door.
"Mark!" Ben said excitedly while waving his arms at the tired worker.
"Hey, Ben," Mark replied while he finished checking out some customers he was working with at the cashier counter.
"How's work going?" Ben asked smiling and leaning up against the checkout counter where Mark was standing.
Mark had forgotten how pretty his childhood friend was. His big brown eyes filled with curiosity, his freckles running across his dark tan skin like stars in a clear night sky, and his hair golden brown looking so soft and fluffy. He didn't realize that he was staring until Ben clapped his hands in front of Marks face.
"Earth to Mark? You there, bro?" Ben said waving his hand back and forth in front of Marks face with a concerned look.
"Oh, uh, yeah! I'm just tired," Mark replied trying his best not to go into a blushing fit. He realized me made a mistake as soon as those words left his mouth. Ben had a annoyed mother look on his face.
"...How many hours of sleep did you get last night?" Ben questioned. He always asked him this because Mark struggles with insomnia and doesn't get much sleep.
"Do I have to answer that?" Mark asked with a nervous smile cracking through his face. Again, he made a mistake after he said that. Ben grabbed Mark's shirt and made them face to face. " I'm not gonna say it again. How many hours of sleep did you get last night? "
"... Like 2..." Mark barely whispered. " Before you yell at me, can I at least check out these people waiting to pay? "