Hey this is a bit of a heads up but I just wanna say that I know Mark is 27 and Jack is 26 but it's an AU so a lot of the information won't be exactly "Spot on." And Mark IS in college for this one soooo.... :P Just a warning <3

Also! Long chapter! Yay! :3333333

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"God I thought I was going to spend the whole night signing those papers, my hand hurts." Jack flickering his eyes onto me, seemed to be worried an idea popped into his head and he grinned at me, stopping me in my tracks to talk.

"I can hold it for you! Give you a bandaid? Mussage? M-M....Massage? Mama! Meemee! MAMAMEME MARKI-MOO!" Each suggestion struck with a romantic pose, I gleamed my eyes greedily up and down, finally getting a good chance to see his body type. No longer being blocked by muzzles or chains or handcuffs or strap jackets, I softened my eyes to see it in full view.

His body shape was tiny, but he looked like he could be tall. Eyeing the tips of his head, I realized I was actually taller than somebody for once. Oh my god this is a miracle, thank the lord almighty-Oh...Oh he's screaming....

My hand outstretching naturally on it's own, I slipped my hand into his and raised the other onto Jack's jawline so I could turn him towards me and his smile immediately fell from the voice I used.

"Jack."

"Sorry. I just..... I'm so happy to be out. Thank you." Something tugging deep inside of me, I glanced over at Jack to see his eyes filled to the brim with thanks and warmth as they glowed with a gentle aura. He was calm.

Not realizing Jack intertwined our fingers accepting my hand, he scooched himself closer and closer until his hips bumped into mine lightly with every other step we took. I didn't mind it, and by the awed look on Jack as he stared at street lamps I'm assuming he didn't even realize.

Jack's pace slowing down I followed, keeping our hands locked he squeezed the palm of my hand tightly as he gazed at all the posters on the street lamp and the style of it itself. It was black and had curls and patterns all across it with a square lantern on the top like the 1800's.

"I haven't been out here in forever." Jack breathed out. Jack raising his opposite hand that wasn't being cuddled by me, he stroked the smooth, black paint and rubbed his hand up and down looking at in wonder and a streak of sadness tinged his eyes.

"When was the last time you were out?" This earning a depressing smile from Jack, he whipped his head towards me causing his hair to bounce and fall back on his head perfectly. That depressing grin matching the grief filled eyes and the bags exhaustion under his eyes.

"Ten years."

"What?! How old are you?! You aren't some creepily old guy whose immortal and just wanted the Perfect booty to set you free...Are you?" Jack's lips twitching upwards into a patient smile, shaking his head lightly and letting out a breath of a laugh.

"No...No I'm not." Lifting my hand and brushing my fingers against the side of his face, stroking it over and over again marvelling over how smooth it was, I managed to cup his face in my one hand and gazed at the calm, sad blue eyes looking back at me.

"So in all seriousness?" I spoke up. Careful to use my tone, Jack's face seemed to pale a small bit as a memory tossed right through his mind and he cringed away almost like he was trying not to remember something.

The silence tickling the air as my stomach rose into my throat awaiting the answer, I could feel my heart trying to crawl out of my mouth and bolt down the street into the darkness to hope he wasn't too older or younger than me.

"17." Breathing out in relief, I shot him a smile which quickly turned into a frown as realization thudded the back of my head and I stepped away looking carefully into those damaged rain cloud eyes. There always seemed to be something new to them every time if I looked carefully enough. Another detail I never saw before. A circle of yellow.

"..........You were tossed into an asylum at seven?"

"Well, not exactly....I was only tossed into there two years ago and whatnot. Put through court, jail, homes, solitary confinement..." Jack cringing away at the last thing he said, I raised a hand and placed it down on his shoulder, doing the same with the other causing our hands to leave one another making me feel cold. Brushing it aside, I decided it was better to put it back on his face as I stroked his cheek.

"I'm sorry."

"Why? It's not your fault. You had nothing to do with it." Jack chuckled. Booping my nose, Jack started to laugh a little louder tilting his head back, but when he looked back at me Jack's face fell into one that read 'Oh. You're being serious.' And he stopped laughing.

"I know, but I want to say I'm sorry because maybe I should have been there sooner." Something seemed to shatter on Jack's face. I couldn't tell what it was, I had no idea why the expression on his face made me feel like lunging onto him and wrapping him and I up in a million blankets with him on my lap wrapping my arms around him, but I couldn't shake it off.

".........Ye wouldn't have wanted to see me any sooner Marki... Trust me." Jack's accent thickening from the worry, his lips flew downwards into a deep frown as he watched me nod slowly. Silence for most of the way, I stiffened a small bit as I felt something envelop my right hand.

Peeking down, I saw none other than Jack's hand intertwined with mine and when I looked back up he had a smile on his face.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As soon as I unlocked the door Jack slammed into it and dashed into the house. Squealing louder than I ever heard him squeal he bolted in and out of rooms peeking into the Kitchen. Laughing and trailing along not having any limits for him knowing he was just having a reaction everyone would have after not seeing a home in...Well...A decade..... Holy shit he had it rough.

Losing focus and my track on Jack, I looked up from the floor to see he completely disappeared. Oh shit...I already lost him. Bad best friend. Bad best friend! Narrowing my eyes as I called out his name repeatedly, worry trickled into me when I heard no answer.

Tensing to hear a shaky breath come from my bedroom, I rushed into the room but halted in my tracks to see Jack staring at the bed, not moving a muscle or saying a word.

"Jack?" Jack seeming to stiffen at this, he didn't turn around. He just kept on staring but he acknowledged my presence by humming, his voice cracking a bit when he did. Taking a few steps towards him, I wrapped my arms around Jack and pulled him closer.

Jack not hugging back, I felt slight worry increase my heartbeat as he continued not to react to anything. Jack just stared at the bed. Not knowing what else to do, I whipped Jack around and brushed the hair out of his face.

Jack's face blank, something curdled inside of me when I saw streaks on his face glistened. Snapping my attention up to his eyes, my emotions shattered into a mess to see tears rolling steadily down Jack's face.

"Jack..." I breathed out. Stroking his face with the back of my hand and wiping away tears with my thumb, Jack remained with that same look on his face. Picking the boy up, I gasped to feel how light he actually was.

"Jack, how much do you even weigh?" I joked. Trying to hide the concern with humour, Jack didn't even crack a grin. No matter how bad the joke he usually cackles like he's a Jester. After a good five minutes more of silence and trying to make conversation, this was really getting on my nerves.

"Can you at least answer one of the questions? What are you staring at?" I pleaded. Jack's lips pursed, the one movement I've seen the whole time he was in here I couldn't help it anymore. Slamming my hands down onto his shoulders and hurdling him towards me, I shook him back and forth screeching in his face.

"ANSWER ME!" Jack's eyes closing for a few moments more than usual, when he opened them I saw some green resting beside the ring of yellow. More tears pouring down his face as he trembled inside of my grasp, he tore his gaze away obviously not wanting to look at me.

".........A bed....."

Guilt latching onto strings and tugging painfully at my heart, I engulfed Jack in a hug muttering countless apologies all in which he hummed back to. Jack's arms weakly wrapping around my shoulders, he hopped gently and laced his legs together on my back.

"I'm tired Marki....." Jack murmured. Jack's head thumping onto my chest, heat stung my face as I caressed his head, playing softly with his green hair. Oh, how I loved his green hair.

"I know Jackaboy.. I know."

Jack latching onto me like he did back at the asylum, I took a few steps making sure he wouldn't fall before I lied down cautiously onto the bed. The lights already off when I left the house to go to the asylum.

I gently rolled Jack onto the opposite side of me. Hugging Jack from his back and trying to engulf him and keep us close as much as possible, I heaved the blankets up to our necks and heard Jack mumble a "thank you" before his breathing evened.

"My poor Jackaboy...." Resting my chin on his head and wrapping my arms around his chest, he flipped himself so his face was looking at mine and a gentle, tired smile tugged at his lips before they fell and I heard the last thing before my world blurred and my eyes closed allowing sleep to settle in.

"My caring Markimoo."