#oth au

mark groans, his face burying deeper into the crook between her neck and shoulder. “edwards. get the fuck out,” he says, voice groggy and filled with sleep. 

edwards, or ethan, laughs before saying, “just letting you know we’re ordering breakfast. text me what you and your girl want.” she feels mark’s mouth open, as if to argue with his friend, but the boy has already left, closing the door behind him. 

it takes a minute for mark to catch his bearings, but when he does, he turns to face her. she stares into his brown eyes for a minute, comforter still pulled up to her chin, protecting her exposed skin from the cold air and replacing the warmth from his body heat. after a minute of just staring, she feels a smile break out onto her face. “your girl, huh?” she teases, watching as his cheeks turn a deep shade of red. 

“like you didn’t already know,” he responds, moving just enough so that his forehead rests against hers. her smile widens, and she closes her eyes, basking in their proximity. “you should text your friend our order,” she says, breaking their serenity. “you don’t even know where we order from,” he answers. she shrugs, “how hard is it to make chocolate chip pancakes?” 

he sighs, arms reaching for her as she tries to sit up in the bed. “mark,” she warns, trying to pry his arms away. “can’t we just stay in bed a little longer?” he begs, his face hiding in the divot between her shoulder blades. “your friends are ordering us breakfast. besides, weren’t you just talking about how you wanted me to integrate into your little group?” she says, raising an eyebrow, even though he can’t see it. he groans, letting go of her waist as she stands up from the bed. he can’t help but stare at the marks from last night, watching with a satisfied smirk as she throws on one of his t-shirts. 

“do you still have a pair of my running shorts here?” she asks, walking over to his bureau to look for them. “they should be in the top left drawer, babe. with all your other stuff,” he mumbles, getting up from the bed to put on a pair of gray sweatpants. she scours around in the drawer, eventually finding a pair to slip on. “let me just brush my teeth, then we can go down,” she says, coming to stand next to him. her hand holds onto his bicep as she stands on her tip-toes to plant a quick kiss on his cheek. then, she’s gone. 

“took you long enough. what do you want? we’re waiting for you,” one of the four boys says as the couple walks into the kitchen. she assumes he’s the one that woke them up originally, but she’s not quite sure. “sorry eddy. she had to get dressed,” mark explains, a cheeky grin on his face. her mouth falls open, a look of betrayal and disbelief crossing her face. “me? you’re the one who didn’t want to get out of bed!” she shouts, pointing a finger at him. mark flushes as all the boys laugh at his expense. 

“sorry for wanting to spend some time with my girlfriend. sue me,” he defends, holding up his hands. “please, you spent all night together. i could hear you,” another one of the boys says. he was taller with a head of curly brown hair. she flushes at his statement, arms hugging her torso as she rocks on her heels. “good job hughesy, you made her uncomfortable,” another hockey player, this one shorter than the rest, says as he slaps hughesy on the shoulder. the latter grimaces, before mumbling out an apology.      

“anyways, i’m ethan, mark’s best friend and roommate,” the first guy introduces himself. she smiles at him, watching as the others say their names: mackie, dylan, and luke. by the time they’re done, mark is standing behind her, hands clutching at her waist. “i’m y/n, mark’s girlfriend,” she says, giving them a shy wave. 

“oh we know, he doesn’t shut up about you, tutor girl,” mackie teases. she giggles at his words, poking at mark’s abdomen. “knew you liked me,” she whispers. he shakes his head, a smile on his face from her words. “uh duh! he raves about you. speaking of, i have a paper due in a couple days, could you help me with it?” dylan asks. before she can answer, mark does it for her, “get your own tutor, she’s mine.”

“oh she’s mine, she’s mine. what happened to sharing is caring? or were you absent from preschool that day?” luke sasses, and she snorts at his words. her hand comes up to cover her mouth, trying to muffle the sound, but her shaking shoulders give her away. mark pinches her side, in good nature, and she jerks away from him. “it was funny,” she says, giving him a pointed look. 

“it was not funny,” he replies, pouting like a preschooler. “aw baby don’t be sad, want me to kiss your boo-boo? will that make it better?” she teases, a mischievous look in her eyes. his pout deepens, and his arms cross against his chest. “please.” she sighs, but gets on her toes, arms wrapping around his neck to keep her balance. his hands find her waist, holding her steadily against him. the second their lips connect, gagging echoes throughout the room. 

“get a room please.”

“we don’t need last night part two.”

“... Do you always talk to them like that?” Lukas’ shoulders were square, his arms about as cross as his expression. The space-children Hat and Bow didn’t seem to mind the “Snatcher’s” callous and dismissive tone.. 

Snatcher grimaced at his alternate universe’s expression “Uh, yeah. I know your Hat and Bow are your kids but these two are just brats that need to get me back to normal” 

Lukas’ frown turned into a scowl, making Snatcher feel sheepish. 

“You will learn to regret saying that with such bitterness in your tone” The Victorian stated matter-of-factly “I know that I called Harriet some cruel things while I was in the cellar, but those terms hold endearment know. Perhaps “brats” will become the same for you” 

Now it was Snatcher’s turn to scowl “Just because you got all buddy buddy with them and they call you dad doesn’t mean it’ll happen to me. I don’t want to be their father” 

“Any why is that?” 

“ ... Did you and Vanessa want kids?” 

Lukas paused “... Yes, we did.” 

“... Mine ruined the very idea of it” Snatcher admitted “all that planning for the future for nothing” 

The two men were silent, standing alone in the bridge of the children’s spaceship. 

“... I thought that mine might have done that for me as well” Lukas started 

Snatcher dared to look, seeing a contemplative, tired expression. 

“Three years in a cellar, and then, I watch a woman who I was certain I would have children with drag a child by their hair, and leave them in an attic to freeze to death... despite me getting out and getting her in time, the guilt ate me alive” 

Lukas combed a hand through his hair. 

“.. It never went that far. But she destroyed our kingdom, freezing people to death, their souls never moving on” Snatcher rubbed his face  “I couldn’t save the kingdom, why the hell should actual, breathing children ever be my responsibility?” 

“.. I thought that too... but... “ Lukas pulled the golden ribbon from his ponytail, letting the waves go where they may “ I think the turning point for me was when I realized that... I cannot change the past. What happened with Vanessa? Was terrible, reprehensible... and if my interaction here is any indication, inevitable” 

The two seemed in silent agreement on that, at least “But you and I? We’ve one thing in common” 

“And what is that?” 

“We’ve people that need us” Lukas answered succinctly, working on tying his hair back up. “You and your Subconites, me and mine. The forest that demands our protection in whatever way we may provide it... and, for me at the very least, I have two little girls whose futures I need to protect. And perhaps one day that will be the case for you as well” 

Snatcher let out a deep, groaning sigh 

“How are you so well put together?” The former ghost complained “I can barely keep my shit together and you’re just - mister got-it-all!” 

Lukas stared at him with a bewildered look “... it might be my cadence that has fooled you into thinking that i’m more than just barely functional” Lukas chuckled “Come on, lets check on the girls. Harriet has a tendency to ... start things” 

Snatcher let out a laugh “That’s something else they have in common”