Chapter Text
NCT 127 were all currently gathered together at their dorms. They’d been granted a free day to rest as they had just finished a concert the night before.
Mark and Donghyuck, so used to having so much energy and exerting it, felt restless on this day off. Which led them up to this point.
All the members were chilling on the 10th floor as they had gathered to eat lunch together before separating to do their own things. Somehow they all decided to stay on the same floor and migrated to different areas of the apartment. Donghyuck, Mark, Johnny and Jaehyun were crowded around the living room TV as they battled each other in a video game. Taeyong joined a little later, opting to just watch.
“Taeeee I want some snacks,” Johnny whined from his spot as they waited for their game to resume after the last round.
Taeyong gave Johnny a side look.
“So go get some.”
Johnny continued to whine. “But it’s too faarrr. I want those snacks you got us earlier this week, the squid one!”
Taeyong lets out a sigh as he starts to stand up. Johnny begins to smirk thinking of his victory when Taeyong suddenly smacks him on his leg.
“Ow!”
“Come on, get up. You’re coming down with me. You’re the one who wants it.”
Opening his mouth to argue, Johnny was shut down by the look in Taeyong’s eyes, threatening harm if Johnny tries.
“Okay, okay. Don’t resume the game without me!” Johny yells as he and Taeyong walk out of the apartment.
“Well, I’m going to check on what Jungwoo’s up to. I’ll be back,” Jaehyun dismisses himself, getting up from the couch as well, leaving Mark and Donghyuck alone in the living room.
They were able to keep quiet for a full 5 seconds before Mark breaks it.
“Do you think they’ll buy the chocolate turtle snack too?”
“I don't know,” Donghyuck mutters as he stares at the TV screen blankly.
They last another 10 seconds before Donghyuck groans out.
“This is booooring. Where are theeeyyy,” as he dramatically flops his whole body down onto Mark who grunts from the additional weight.
“Ya!”
Donghyuck pays him no mind as he pouts at the older. Suddenly, his eyes light up, instantly putting Mark on edge. Sitting up like a hyperactive puppy, Donghyuck excitedly turns to Mark who looks at him warily.
“…what.”
Donghyuck continues to look at him with a big smile on his face.
“Stop staring at me like that, you’re creeping me out.”
Donghyuck reaches out suddenly and grabs onto Mark’s arms tightly, effectively scaring him.
“Wha-“
“Hyung, let’s do a prank!”
“A what?”
“A prank!” Donghyuck starts rambling in excitement. “I saw this tiktok once where these couples did a prank on each other where one of them left without saying anything to the other until they finally noticed!”
“Wait, wha-“
“Come on hyung, let’s plan this quickly before they come back! It’ll be fun!”
Donghyuck hits Mark’s arm a few times in succession. Despite his confusion, Donghyuck’s energy spreads to Mark who readily agrees.
“Okay, okay, let’s do it.” Mark laughs slightly, getting a bit excited. “What should we do?”
“Okay, so…”
Thinking back to it, they probably shouldn’t have tried doing something they both didn’t have time to fully plan out. As always with the both of them, something managed to screw up.
Both Taeyong and Johnny had returned with snacks, which drew the others out to the kitchen area.
Once Donghyuck gave Mark the signal, they moved their plan to action. Donghyuck began to get up and stretch and without a word, headed down to the front door. The other hyungs were too busy in the middle of chatting and eating to notice. Mark, seeing this, also stood up to leave, however he wasn’t as lucky as Donghyuck was.
“Mark!” Jaehyun, who had returned to the living room to play, called out. Mark froze in his spot, not knowing what to do or how to react.
“You up for another round?” Mark lets out a little sigh of relief as he shakes his head at his hyung. Shrugging, Jaehyun turned back to his conversation with Johnny and Taeyong. Wide eyed and heart pounding, Mark knew he had to get out before he blew the plan.
Walking as casually as he could, he kept his face forward and didn't stop until he reached the front door. That’s when he let out a breath as he was out of his hyungs view. Meeting Donghyuck’s eyes, he could see the younger was also excited the prank was going smoothly. They both shoved their shoes on as quickly and quietly as they could and slowly opened the front door, checking so often to hear for their hyungs.
It was like a burst of joy and happiness exploded once they managed to step out of the apartment, running down the stairs with the freedom of a successful prank.
Stepping outside the front doors of the apartment building, they finally stopped to take a breath and bursted out into laughter.
“How long do you think until they notice?” Donghyuck lets out between wheezes.
“Hopefully long enough! Let’s go!” And in that moment of excitement, they were no longer two idols, stressed for success and perfection, but rather two teenagers, playfully grasping onto their childhood years as they ran towards the park.
It certainly didn’t last too long however. Right when they hit the Han river, which was a 20 minute walk from their dorms, Mark’s phone started ringing. Taeyong’s face pops on the screen.
“Aw man! That was too fast! We didn’t even get to have any fun,” Donghyuck whined, pouting. Mark rolled his eyes at that.
“You don’t know if that’s what he’s calling for,” Mark reminded him, about to pick up.
“Wait! Don’t pick it up!” Donghyuck shouted, startling Mark.
“What? Why not?”
“I don’t know! To keep the prank going?” Donghyuck tries to reason, which to Mark, makes no sense. Before they could argue more on it, Taeyong’s face disappears as they take too long to pick up. Not long after the call dies, the phone starts to ring once again with Taeyong’s face flashing on the screen.
Mark goes to pick it up when Donghyuck snatches the phone out of Mark’s hand.
“Donghyuck!”
“No hyung! Come on, we haven’t had any fun yet! Pleaseee?” Donghyuck pulls the puppy dog look on him. Mark wavers for a second, however when the phone stops ringing and starts again, this time with Johnny’s face on the screen, Mark hardens his resolve.
“No Hyuck. Give me back my phone.” Donghyuck deflates at the seriousness in his tone, and reluctantly hands over his phone, muttering “party kill” under his breath. Mark reminds himself that he’s the hyung right now as he goes to pick up his phone.
“Hi hyung,” Mark greets once he accepts the call.
“Mark Lee, where did you go? Why didn’t you pick up Taeyong’s phone call?” Johnny immediately scolds.
“Sorry hyung, Donghyuck and I stepped out for a bit,” Mark apologizes, feeling guilty from Johnny’s worried tone.
“You guys left? The building? Why didn’t you tell anyone? You know you shouldn’t be going out there by yourselves, at least not without one of us or a manager. What were you thinking?!” Mark’s mood continues to plummet as he stands listening to Johnny’s lecture over the phone. Donghyuck, who was sulking earlier, notices the change in his hyung and looks on curiously.
“Sorry hyung, I should’ve know—” Mark starts to apologize once more before he gets interrupted.
“Yes, you should’ve known better Mark. I’m disappointed in you.” And that’s the comment that jabs Mark in his gut. “Get back here right now. I can’t believe you did that. Wait until you hear from Taeyong and managernim. Thinking you could sneak out like that. You’re not a teenager anymore, Mark.”
“…yes hyung,” Mark replies back quietly, blinking back tears that unexpectedly welled up in his eyes. The phone abruptly ends at that, which leaves Mark to stare blankly into space for a moment before slowly dropping his hand down, taking in the remarks.
“...Mark?” Donghyuck cautiously approaches as he can tell something’s wrong with Mark’s expression. Mark’s face scrunches up for a moment as he does his best to process his emotions from having been scolded by a hyung he looks up to for an action he didn’t solely partake in himself.
Looking over at Donghyuck, it would’ve been easy to let out his anger on him. Make him take partial blame over the shame and embarrassment he felt from the lecture over the phone and no doubt the same one waiting for him at home. But one look at Donghyuck’s face and he’s brought back to the same situation as before, when he took charge and had to act like the hyung. Because he is the hyung. And a leader, nonetheless. Donghyuck’s leader. He’s no longer the teenager he wished to be in front of his dongsaeng.
And with that reminder, the negative emotions he felt that were threatening to unleash at the younger were reigned in. He had to take it, he had to. Because he was the hyung. He had to take responsibility.
So, he musters up his pride, and starts walking back to the dorms.
“Come on, they’re expecting us.”
“Wa- wait hyung! Hyung!” Donghyuck is thrown off by Mark’s attitude and grabs onto his sleeve to stop him. Mark’s emotions, though doing his best to reign it in, is unleashed for a moment as his instinct takes over and he rips his arm roughly out of Donghyuck’s grip, starling the younger from the reaction.
“Stop it Donghyuck! Let’s go before we’re in deeper trouble than we already are.” And with that, Mark continues to walk back towards their dorms with Donghyuck looking stupidly at his retreating back.