Chapter Text
The humidity of the night fills the air of their neon-lit garage, tucked behind a ramen shop. As the crew preps for an underground race, Mark leans against his signature matte black Skyline, with his helmet in hand, while Donghyuck wipes grease from his fingers with a rag.
“You sure you tightened the struts this time?” Mark teases, voice low and lazy like he already knows the answer. Donghyuck doesn’t even glance up from the engine bay as he answers. “You sure you know how to use a clutch this time?”
Mark grins, and they hear Yuta snort, from across the garage. “God, just kiss already and save us all the secondhand tension.”
“Hyung—!” Donghyuck huffs, cheeks visibly pink despite the motor oil that's smudged across his face. He throws the rag towards a smirking Yuta and a cackling Johnny, and misses. Mark chuckles, tucking his helmet under one arm and pushing off the car.
“Anyways,” he says, stepping closer, “you done fussing over my baby?”
Donghyuck finally looks at him, eyes a little too soft for all the sarcasm he spits. “Your ‘baby’ would’ve blown a gasket two races ago if it weren’t for me, Lee.”
Mark tilts his head, gaze lingering just a second too long. “Good thing I’ve got you, then.”
And just like that, Donghyuck looks away. Because yeah - he knows Mark’s one of the best. Taught by Taeyong, undefeated in the circuit, a blur of confidence and control behind the wheel. But none of that stops his stomach from twisting every time he sees Mark pull up to the line. And despite his efforts to mask his worry, Mark notices. Of course he does. He always has.
“You nervous for me, Hyuck?” he asks, smirking. Donghyuck scoffs, but his voice wavers. “No. Don’t flatter yourself.”
Mark leans in, so close that Donghyuck can smell the leather of his jacket and the faint scent of engine oil clinging to him. “It’s cute, though,” he murmurs. “How you pretend not to care.”
Donghyuck freezes, before he scoffs again—less convincing this time—and turns back to the car.
“Just win,” he mutters. “So I don’t have to rebuild your dumb car again.”
Mark’s laugh echoes through the garage as he heads out. “No promises, babe.”
Donghyuck mutters a string of curses under his breath.
But when they’re at the race sight, and Mark’s car roars to life, ready to dominate the night, Hyuck can’t help but watch on with his hands clenched, and heart racing right along with him.