in which there's an important question to be asked

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hyperactive conversation and excited squeals bubble down to hushed whispers, every pair of eyes in the crowd of hundreds - no, thousands - focused on the man who sat smiling on stage.

mark feels almost at home where he sits; on an old leather couch in the centre of staging at yet another convention he'd been asked to attend. he won't complain though, because he enjoys these situations.

but he can't do them alone.

which is why he's straightening up, and clearing his throat in order to gain back attention from any wandering minds that may have drifted off during their small break from talking.

"we're almost done here guys. half an hour left. flew by fast. have you enjoyed yourselves?"

there's an uproar of applause and yells and the odd whistle, and marks smiling.

because he's happy where he is.

he's happy with sitting alone on stage, and talking, and pleasing people around him and making other people excited and content and happy.

he'd happy with what hes doing, and he's thankful that he's been given this platform to do it.

"it's been...great. i enjoy standing here, and talking to you guys and making sure you all feel somewhat of a connection. and i'm standing here alone, but i didn't plan this by myself."

before mark knows it, he's trailing off in thought, planning what to say next.

he's nervous.

and he's wringing out his hands, and fidgeting with the loose thread on his shirtsleeve and he's looking into the crowd, only to be met with a thousand different faces and stories and smiles and looks, and he's grinning because he's nervous.

"god, i don't think this would even be half as great as it is if i'd have done it alone.

you guys maybe don't understand how much planning and preparation it takes to bring these panels to life. there's so many people involved, like the sound technicians and the people who rent out the venues and-"

and he's rambling, just like always.

"-and i think you guys understand the point i'm trying to make. what i'm saying is that, there's a lot of people involved in this process and id like to thank every single one of them. they've done more than enough to assist in getting me where i am, and what i need and how everything will be executed. so let's give a round of applause to the crew, who work constantly to make sure things run smoothly."

there's another chorus of clapping, and whistling and thankful yells before marks quieting the crowd.

"alright, alright, that's great. thank you."

marks eyes are latching onto a familiar smile as he rises from his seat. and he's locking eyes and grinning as the boy on the side of the stage mouths four words.

'i'm proud of you.'

and that's all mark needs to move forward in his panel, and to snap back into reality for a few moments.

"i couldn't do this alone. i have...one of the best support systems in the whole world, and we share such a close knit bond. honestly, i could never have asked for such a loving, caring person to help me through every downhill moment, and to live every happy memory with.

and of course you guys have absolutely no clue who i'm talking about. you must be so confused."

marks getting a little choked up, but he's not the only one.

on the side of the stage, there's a boy grinning happily and sipping on coffee as he listens mark ramble on, and on about how thankful he is for having all of these people in his life.

he's so blinded by marks dopey grin, that he can hardly comprehend what comes next.

"i'd like to bring to the panel, someone you've never met before. someone who, without them, i wouldn't be where i am. and someone who's personality was not built to be kept behind the scenes.

so please, welcome to stage, the only man on earth who's shorter than i am, jack!"

and before he can protest, the irishman is being wired up to a mic and has a hand in his shoulder, guiding him closer and closer to the side of the stage and he's confused.

the moment he sets foot on those wooden planks, he's like a deer in headlights.

stiff, eyes wide, and he doesn't know what he's doing or why mark has suddenly pulled him into the eye of thousands of applauding people.

but then he actually sees mark.

and he's loosening up, and walking closer and beginning to smile.

because whenever he connects with those hot chocolate eyes, and hears that soft and encouraging voice and sees that angelic smile that screams 'i am happy', he's relaxing.

mark makes jack feel at home, no matter where they are.

"say hello to the people, jack."

there's an arm being wrapped around the shorter males body, marks strong hand resting gently on jack's waist, and squeezing as if to say it's okay and nothing will hurt you.

jack brings the microphone to his lips.

"hello people."

and marks chuckling, because he's never known shy jack.

he's always known boisterous, loud and hyperactive jack; the boy who rarely shuts up and who spends so many hours just laughing and yelling and being marks 'little ball of energy'.

"everyone, i'd like you to meet jack, my absolutely wonderful other half, who usually isn't this quiet, but is always this cute."

"oh shut up."

"it's the truth, love."

somewhere in the crowd, there's a girl letting out happy sigh that drags on, and there's a boy who's grinning and clapping and there's a chain of smiles and laughs and 'awe's that only make mark happier.

because there's no one in the crowd who's yelling angrily, or who's throwing fits or who's shaking their head disapprovingly.

"i've wanted to do this for so long. because this man shares so many of his passions with me, that i only feel it's right i do the same with him."

"could have warned me, yknow. i'd actually have prepared this part."

"where's the fun in that?"

for minutes, they simply talk and recall memories and tell tales of past events that lead to mark having difficulty containing his laughter, and jack being forced to calm him down.

"jack, i have to go run and grab some water real quick, mind entertaining the crowd? tell them about how we got together, i'll be two minutes."

marks surprisingly good at lying, and is thankful that jack ignore the half full water bottle that sits idly beside the sofa.

with a nod of jack's head, mark kisses him on the cheek and wanders off stage.

"so, marks asked me kindly to tell you about how we got together. and it's not the most romantic of things, but it really does make me smile.

we went to target, four and a half years ago, to buy silly string and water balloons for a video mark was planning to record. he drove, i rode shotgun and we ventured around target doing everything we could to distract one another."

there's a small ruckus from the crowd, that is shushed silently by mark who's creeping on stage silently behind his boyfriend with a finger to his lips.

jack has no clue what's going on, and continues his story.

"there's very little to this, so i'll cut to the chase and say that we get to the car, throw everything in the back seat and start to click our seat belts in when mark turns to be, with the biggest smile and says-"

jack's cut off by a voice behind him.

"those weren't the only aisles i want to see you walk down."

and it's such a dumb sentence now that jack hears it from marks mouth again.

but somehow, it's nostalgic, and brings back happy memories and jack's turning to the side to find his boyfriend.

and he's crying.

because marks leaning in to grasp his hand, and his boyfriend has tears in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks and he's laughing and-

"i must look like a right idiot right now. but i want you to know that i was not lying when i said those words. i was not foolish, or stupid, and i wasn't just saying it as a way to flatter you. i was serious.

and i'm still serious."

"don't you dare. mark, don't you dare."

nerves suddenly drown mark, as he watched jack shake his head and move back to pull his hands hands from his boyfriends to cover his mouth as the elder gets closer to the ground.

the crowd are whispering, and watching, and shaking with anticipation as mark gets on one knee, and holds a velvet black box in his hands.

"sean william mcloughlin, i'd like to know if you'd do me the honours of making things official.

will you marry me?"

there's a soft applause, and a series of yells but they're drowned out by the harsh thud that is marks body hitting the ground. and they're drowned out by jack's gentle sobs and marks chuckles and the soft 'you're such a dork, of course' that's barely picked up by the mic.

they're fixing their clothes as they stand, and sniffling as mark slides the ring onto jack's finger, and they're kissing as hundred of cameras go off.

and the panel ends moments later.

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i'm not very proud of this but i like the concept.
-a