Let me be...

The light in your darkness

He was regretful.

But that wasn't going to keep him isolated.

Mark has been buried in loneliness since that last night with his angel, and Luke is starting to notice.

Thus, the red-haired man decides to prove his friend wrong and actually do something with his life.

He soon gets ready to work, feeling fortunate of entering the shop before the storm starts pouring.

Bryce greets him with the usual smile as he places some boxes on the floor near the farthest aisle. "Are you ready? I bet you won't have to hit the computer this time for it to work." He adds with a chuckle.

Mark smiles without noticing, mentally thanking his companion for that small laugh he caused.

"I hope so." He mutters, kneeling down and taking a game from inside the box. "For Honor." He reads out loud, looking carefully at every detail in the cover.

"Yeah, Luke and Ohm have been asking for that game for ages." The blond says with a giggle, fixing his hair and putting a couple of games on the shelves. "It's really good, have you heard of it?"

Mark was a huge fan of video games before his life crashed down.

He hasn't really enjoyed any games since the dark days at college started.

The titles, he can still recognize them, but he doesn't get excited to play them anymore.

"Y-Yeah... I don't really feel like playing it though."

"Really?" The taller asks with surprise, standing up. "It's fun, dude."

"I guess so."

Bryce frowns before checking his phone, an idea popping up in his mind after seeing the picture of him and Ohm on the lock screen.

"Hey, a friend invited me to play it today, actually. Would you like to play with us?" He offers with excitement, rocking back and forth while waiting for an answer.

Mark sighs. "Is that Ohm you're referring as a friend? Because I wouldn't like to be a third wheel."

Bryce's face turns a bright shade of red as he coughs and looks away. "Wh-Why would you be a third wheel?"

The American's smile widens as he gets up. "I might be dumb with the register, but I'm not that stupid."

Bryce laughs fondly, his cheeks still burning. However, the thoughts that comment has triggered makes him show a side of him that only a few people know: he's worried, sad, terrified.

"Don't tell anyone." He mutters, letting fear take the light in his eyes away unintentionally.

Mark frowns deeply but gives a reassuring smile before hugging his friend tightly. "I won't." It's all he says, which is actually enough for the taller.

They smile to each other, but the moment is soon interrupted by a costumer.

Through all the evening, nonetheless, Mark can't get that reaction out of his mind.

Was it really this scary to be openly gay?

Dark's job was always made under the water. Only so little people know, and this gives him the comfort to continue fearless.

He wonders though, if Luke has said something about Mark. He hasn't revealed anything about his sexuality, what makes him wonder if that part of him will have to stay hidden later on the road.

Work keeps their minds busy, fortunately. And they end up exhausted due to a couple of kids with a careless mother who couldn't decide which game to buy.

It's getting late and Bryce starts feeling a little anxious after getting a call.

Mark can easily tell this since his companion has been staring at the clock behind the counter for the last solid minute.

He clears his throat and sits on the chair next to the younger.

"Is everything ok?" He asks softly, doubtful of resting his hand on the other's shoulder.

"No." Bryce mutters. "I t-think Ohm lost his job. I-I need to go with him." He desperately adds, keeping in mind that there's still plenty of time for the store to close.

"I'll stay here, don't worry about it." The American says reassuringly.

"You don't have to, I could-"

"I want to do this. If Ohm worries you the most at this moment, do something to address it. I'll be fine here, I promise."

Bryce gives him a soft smile, "Thank you so much." He mutters with happiness, not wasting more time before taking his stuff and leaving.

It would be hard for anyone seeing the tall, pale man walk away with a frown when he would always get there with a colorful aura around him.

However, there's not enough time for sorrow to make the storm in Mark's mind worse.

Just as the skinny blond exits the place, his figure is replaced with a shorter one.

The Irish swallows as he steps in, doubt starting to kick in when he notices there are only two people in the building.

His plan had to be successful. Otherwise, he'd be doomed to suffer for a little longer.

He takes a deep breath, which makes his heart beat slower.

Mark, on the other hand, is terrified.

His hands are a shaking mess that he tries to hide by shoving them in the pockets of his jeans.

The American wishes he still had time to take his words back and tell Bryce to stay for a little longer instead, not knowing that the visit would happen anyways.

Corey has been thinking about this since the moment he was left brokenhearted at the hotel. He finally decided to meet the chocolate-eyed man today and he isn't going to give up on it so easily.

In the end, against their imagination, the fear, panic and anxiety consume in the fire created when their eyes meet.

However, that feeling can't be compared to any other they've shared before.

It's unique, warm, calm.

"Hi sir, are you looking for a specific game or console?" Mark repeats his usual greetings, sounding a little more cheerful this time.

"Not really." Corey lets out with a sigh, combing his blond hair back with his skinny fingers. "I saw you from afar and just wondered if you'd like to go for a coffee." He blurs out faster than normal, feeling the excitement in every nerve of his body. "My name is Corey, by the way." He adds, lowering his sight after not getting an immediate response.

The tan man in front of him chuckles slightly, his heart already melted by the new person he's met today.

"I'm Mark; and a coffee sounds just fine for me."