#flintwoods

Marcus doesn’t know why he fools himself every year.

All he has to do is politely decline, stay inside for the night and not have to worry about his nerves.

Except he always caves in, regretting his decision all the way to the entrance of the haunted houses.

Yes, houses, because Terence loves being scared to an unfathomable degree.

The first step in is fine, Marcus more disgusted by the body part decorations than scared. 

He spots the screamers before Adrian and Terence do, pulling on his facade of disinterest for the first part of the house.

Until the strobe lights, the hands reaching out from the walls top to bottom, and Marcus finds himself separated from his friends. 

He knows the hands are fake, that nothing will really hurt him, but they’re too close. 

The flashing leads him astray and Marcus backs into a corner, his chest heaving with no way to catch his breath. 

Everyone seems to pass by, focused on the path ahead than a huddled man almost in tears. Marcus can’t even find it in himself to call for help, his hands covering his face from the flashing lights. 

“Hey, let’s get you to the exit,” a voice shouts over the artificial screams and a hand lands on Marcus’ shoulder, causing him to curl away.

Despite the noise around him, Marcus can hear the soothing voice, the gentle guide of hands as he’s brought onto his feet and led into a door close by.

Once in a sparsely lit hallway with no decorations or deceiving music, Marcus’ breath comes out shuddered.

He didn’t mean to grab onto the stranger that helped him and he pulls his hand back only to have it be caught halfway.

“It’s okay. Hang on to me until we get outside okay?”

Nodding, Marcus glances over, attempting to give the blood-drenched actor a smile. 

The gesture is returned before the man jumps into conversation that doesn’t matter and the two come out into the chilled night.

“Marcus!” 

Terence and Adrian run over to Marcus, both hugging him tight.

“We didn’t mean to lose you, we tried to go back but they wouldn’t let us!”

Marcus says nothing, just grateful to have his friends with him again and he pulls away from the hug to thank the actor.

“All in a day’s work,” the actor shrugs, his soft grin a stark contrast to his costume.

He disappears on an unfinished note, but Marcus doesn’t run after him.

As he follows Terence and Adrian through the rest of the fairgrounds, his friends give constant reassurance, occasionally interrupted by Terence’s, “He was cute. You should get his number.”

Marcus rolls his eyes, his usual, aloof self finally coming back. “Oh, yeah, sure. Like that would ever turn into something.”

“Good story to tell your kids when they ask how you met,” Adrian channels and Terence’s grin is proud.

Again, Marcus brushes off his friends as the rest of the evening continues with less scaring and much more fun until they are ready to leave for the night.

Marcus Flint/Oliver Wood: Royal AU (for @mxrcusflint)

There's a certain memory in Marcus' head, which has blurred around the edges; of bloody swords and fallen knights. His right-hand man who dragged him away from the battlefield, and told mundane jokes as though they were on hunting trip. But the time had started to slip from his grip. So Marcus shushed him, and whispered, in the softest tone he ever used in his life, "I can't go on without you."

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Just read @mxrcusflint  Hot off the Press and was inspired!!

SEEKER WEEKLY 2000s: FLINTWOOD

the day we give up our grey for this black/white world; (flintwood war au)