#mark's

you shake your head, blinking your dry eyes a few times in an attempt to keep yourself alert. although you're very much enjoying jisung's story time, you can't control your eyelids that are gradually getting heavier and heavier.

mark notices the small change in your smile - yes, you are still very much in a good mood, but he can tell that you're tired. he shimmies himself a little closer to you, whispering in your ear, "tired?"

you turn to him, your smile a little wider than before. "a little," you admit. mark crosses his legs, tapping gently on his left thigh, "want to rest?" he offers.

nodding your head, you lean into the floor, resting your head against mark's leg. he shifts a little, doing his best to ensure that you're comfortable. "goodnight," he whispers, pressing a soft peck to the side of your head.

you close your eyes, jisung's loud and excited voice still going on about how he saw a dog on the street playing with a bird. you didn't really mind the noise from the reactions and conversation between the guys, since it did serve as white noise for you to fall asleep to.

but then, suddenly, you feel mark's cold hand cupping your ear. you keep your eyes closed, and you don't move.

mark looks down at you, a small smile plastered on his face. he doesn't want his noisy members to disturb your sleep.

a good year into your relationship and yet, the smallest gestures he does still makes the same set of butterflies from a year ago, flutter about in your stomach.

you'd think this is the sweetest he can be, but mark always surpasses your expectations.

you feel and hear the vibration of his phone, indicating an incoming call. mark looks at the caller id, then looks back at you. he needs to answer the call, so with his free hand, he reaches for your limp arm, gently raising it by your wrist. he removes the hand he had cupped over your ear, and places your own palm over your head. you hear his muffled, "hello?"

you try to hold back a giggle, knowing fully well how red and shy he'd get if he knew you are awake through all of this. he ends the call quickly, and once you hear him say, "okay, bye," your hand is removed and replaced by his hand, once again.

unable to hold yourself back anymore, you open your eyes to see him staring down at you, his loving gaze shifting into a questioning one.

St. Mark's Banner: the flag of Venice