A/N: It was so hectic last week (my birthday and everything) but here is some Mark fic. I got caught up in work so the ideas were not running the past few days.
Pairing/s: Mark Tuan x reader
You were downing shots like it was the last alcohol on Earth.
"Calm down, Y/N⦠Whatās got you so worked up?" Your friend plucked the glass from your hand.
"Nothing." You shrugged, dodging the follow-up questions.
You didnāt want to talk about it. Not yet. Not when you and your boyfriend hadnāt even addressed it yourselves.
Your friend didnāt press further, only sighing. "At least slow down."
You nodded, but the lump in your throat was growing. You felt like crying at any moment. Mark didnāt feel like your boyfriend anymore. Hell, he barely even felt present in your life. Did he even care that you were here? Did he even remember he had a girlfriend?
Mark Tuan, your boyfriend of seven yearsāhad been practically MIA for three weeks. Not literally, of course. He was just⦠caught up in his own world, forgetting that you existed in it.
You understood his life was hectic. Celebrity things. Thatās how it had always been, and for seven years, youād accepted it because you knew what you signed up for. He always made time for you. Never once had he made you feel neglected. Until now.
Would it kill him to send a simple update? A check-in? The bare minimum?
You were tired. And you were starting to wonder if this was even worth it anymore.
"How are you and Mark? I heard his group is going on tour," another friend asked, snapping you out of your thoughts.
You werenāt sure what made you winceāthe sharp burn of vodka or the fact that this was the first time you were hearing about it.
"Weāre good. Yeah, probably. We havenāt talked about it yet," you replied flatly, making it clear you didnāt want to discuss it. But apparently, some people didnāt know how to read the room.
"Oh, he hasnāt told you yet?"
Your other friend elbowed the one who spoke, sensing the tension.
"He mentioned it once," you muttered, brushing it off. But your fingers twitched as you checked your phone again. No messages. Of course.
"Letās go dance, guys!"
Thank God. A distraction.
You let the music consume you, moving like you were in a Charli XCX music video wild, carefree, reckless. If Mark was too busy to care, why should you?
"Holy shit. Look who just walked in."
The four of you stopped dancing, following the direction your friend pointed.
And there he was. Mark. Along with Bambam, Jackson, and Yugyeom.
They were trying to be discreet, caps pulled low, hoodies up but you knew him anywhere. He wore a white cap and a black shirt, looking like they had come straight from the studio.
Your stomach twisted. He had time for this? He couldnāt send a single text, but he could show up here?
Then, as if the past three weeks hadnāt happened, Mark met your gaze and⦠waved.
Like nothing was wrong. Like he wasnāt the reason you were drowning in vodka.
He motioned toward their booth, expecting you to follow, but you were too pissed to even acknowledge him. So instead, you turned away and kept dancing, letting the music swallow your frustration.
Your friends exchanged looks but went along with it.
Later, as you settled back into your couch, tipsy and giggling, the mood shifted when they showed up at your table.
Mark. Bambam. Jackson. Yugyeom.
Markās eyes were locked on you. And he seems to be patiently waiting for you to go back on your table.
"Hi, ladies. Hope you donāt mind us crashing your night out," Jackson said smoothly, ever the social butterfly.
"We really donāt. Sup, Jack?"
Pleasantries were exchanged, and you nodded towards the guys in greeting. But Mark⦠Mark didnāt look away. He seemed to be waiting for a chance to talk to you alone.
Too bad you werenāt in the mood for that.
"Why donāt we all dance?" Bambam suggested, but his lingering glance between you and Mark didnāt go unnoticed.
"Sure. But wonāt people recognize you guys?"
"Nah. Most of them are drunk anyway."
"Iāll be right behind you," you said, staying planted in your seat.
They headed to the dance floor, leaving you and Mark alone.
You poured another shot, staring at the glass as if it held answers.
"Youāre drunk," he murmured.
"Good. So you still remember where that is? Thought you went astray."
Mark sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Iām sorry."
"I mean it. Thereās been a lot going onā"
"Oh, I know. So much that you forgot to come home? Or even text your girlfriend?"
His jaw tightened. "Letās talk properly when we get home."
You exhaled sharply, downing the vodka.
Your voice was flat, emotionless. But the weight of those words made Markās eyes widen in panic.
"Whatāno. Letās talk properly first," he rushed out, desperation creeping into his tone.
You let out a bitter laugh. "Donāt you get it? You were gone for three fucking weeks. Barely a reply, barely a call. But you had time to be here?" You gestured around the club, anger bubbling over. "Seriously? Iām starting to wonder if Iām your girlfriend or just some dog waiting for scraps of attention."
"Baby⦠Iām really sorry. Weā"
He bit his lip, stopping himself. Holding something back.
And that only pissed you off more.
You huffed, standing up, crossing your arms. "We need a break, Mark."
"So we can figure out if this is even worth continuing," you added. "That way, you can think and move freelyāwithout having to remember that you have someone waiting for you."
"I'm sorryā¦" Mark exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Me and the boys⦠weāre working on something so we can finally be free."
Your brows furrowed. "What?"
He hesitated, then cursed under his breath. "Damn, I wasnāt supposed to say anything while the case is ongoing, but⦠itās you, baby. This is for you."
Your head spunāmaybe from the alcohol, maybe from his words. Either way, nothing was making sense.
"I donāt understand what you mean," you mumbled.
Mark sighed, his grip tightening on your wrist as if grounding you. "Weāre leaving the company. And JayB is fighting to make sure we keep our rights."
"W-what?! Are you guys insane?" Your voice rose, disbelief cutting through the haze. "You worked for this your whole lives and now youāre justā"
Markās hands found your arms, rubbing soothing circles.
"Babyā¦" His voice softened. "If this job means I canāt spend time with you, then I donāt want it."
"But donāt worry," he added quickly. "Weāre not disbanding. Think of it as⦠leaving the nest. Weāll still come back as a group. But we need this to pursue what we love, on our terms."
Your chest tightened. This was huge. Bigger than your relationship issues, bigger than the past three weeks.
And he had been carrying it all alone.
""Oh my God, Mark! Iām so sorry! You couldāve at least said something!"
Mark chuckled, but you didnāt find it funny. Guilt gnawed at you for assuming the worst, for thinking he had simply stopped caringāwhen, in reality, he and the boys had been fighting for something that could cost them everything they had worked for since they were teenagers.
"I knew youād be here," he admitted. "Thatās why we came."
Your stomach flipped. A mix of emotions swirled inside you. He cared. He cared so much that he was doing all of this for himself, for the group, for you.
"Iām sorry for being MIA," he murmured, his thumb brushing your cheek. "And I promise, Iāll make it up to you. Big time."
Your head dipped slightly, overwhelmed, but Mark gently lifted your chin, forcing your eyes to meet his. Then, he pressed a soft kiss to your forehead before pulling you into his arms.
"Iām sorry for making you feel that way," he whispered against your hair. "It wonāt happen again. Iāll make sure to update you, always."
You let out a shaky breath before burying your face into his chest, arms tightening around him.
"I think we need to go home," you mumbled.
Mark chuckled, the sound vibrating through you.
"I figured." He pulled back slightly, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Letās grab something to eat first, okay?"
You nodded, and after saying goodbye to your friends who exchanged knowing glances but didnāt protest.
You and Mark found yourselves at a gas station at 3 AM, sharing greasy fast food.
Talking. Catching up. Planning the days ahead.
For the first time in weeks, everything felt right again. You let out a soft sigh, the weight that had been lingering on your chest beginning to lift. You missed himāhis laugh, the way his jokes always managed to make you smile, and most of all, just having him around. You could almost hear his voice in your head, teasing you with one of his playful remarks.
"I swear, I have the best jokes in the world. You just wait."
You smiled at the thought, imagining how he'd grin that goofy, endearing grin of his.
Soon, you told yourself. Soon, he'd be by your side again, and this distance between you two would finally fade. You couldnāt wait to have him all to yourself, to wrap up the lingering tension in your relationship and just be together, uninterrupted.
And when that moment came, you knew it would feel like home again.