#onlynear

I HATE THIS SO MUCH

       “ meditating’s easy once you get used to it ! ”     naturally  --  it’s been part of mark’s daily routine for years, and he’s never had too much trouble tapping into his inner peace. maybe he just wants everyone he knows to experience that, too, and maybe there’s only so much he can do to encourage that. so, meditation.     “ it’s mostly about the breathing. when you get that down, you’ll be fine. ”

       “      only half ?      ”       he’s still learning how to respond to rich’s comments with something other than immediate aid.    if rich wants comfort, he knows mark will provide it  --  there’s no need to respond to every little comment with his desire to be a hero.     still, the desire to help burns in the back of his chest.     “     no, it isn’t so bad.     might as well stick it out for a little bit before making any hasty decisions.      ”

         perhaps todd’s music isn’t the type mark would listen to  --  and todd almost certainly knows this  --  so he can’t speak to the objective possibility of todd meeting his goal.     but to have a goal is admirable, and mark can respect wanting to make a difference.      isn’t that what being human is, anyways ?     the desire to make a difference, and to maybe, maybe be remembered for doing so.     he smiles.     “     if you believe in what you’re saying, and you want other people to believe in it too, then it’s worth saying.     that’s all you need, i think.     ”   

i guess i can use my wharncliffe today

“and i believe you’ll achieve that.”

       “      nightmares ?     those can be terrible.     ”      it isn’t a question, but a search for confirmation that this is something she wants to speak about.     he knows what he would tell her if he were at church, pulled into a conversation by a nervous teenager that he’s known since he was a toddler  ;  and he knows just as well that those musings rarely help those who aren’t so deeply religious that it lines their footsteps  (  nor, oftentimes, those who are  ).       “      will talking about it soothe your mind ?    the angels  --  who were they ?    or what, i imagine ?      ”      

          jake  blinks  a  few  times,  before  he  gently  kisses  the  top  of  her  head.   “  you’re  too  good  to  me,  you  know  that,  al ? ”   he  asks  quietly,  allowing  his  hands  to  wrap  neatly  around  her  waist,  finding  the  dip  in  her  back  that  he  fit  into  nicely.   “  i  just…  i  think  you’re  amazing-  and  i  don’t  know  how  i  got  to  be  such  a  lucky  guy  to  get  someone  as  good  as  you.  ”   he  doesn’t  punctuate  his  thoughts  with  affection,  doesn’t  stopper  his  mouth  with  his  lips  on  skin,  there’s  something  within  him  that  could  do  nothing  but  talk  to  alice  all  night  long.   he  drums  his  fingers  against  her  spine  gently,  before  he  smiles.   “  can’t  believe  you  trust  someone  as  dumb  as  me,  huh ?   should  we  get  a  milkshake  tomorrow  morning  after  the  run ?  ”