Gruesomely slow,

That's how Jackson would describe the weekend finally arriving.

Why you ask?

Because he had been waiting for Mark's return ever since Thursday- If you don't count the whole of Wednesday evening, that is, where he was practically waiting (hiding in his car) outside the ASEC headquarters building, hoping Mark would walk out. He'd even gone through the trouble of prying Namjoon away from Jin- who had come back two days ago, but because Namjoon was a psychopath, he had them both holed up and boning like bunnies for two days straight- just to wait like the stalker he was outside Mae's school to at least catch a glimpse of Mark. He had no fucking luck. And don't ask how he had to convince Yoongi that he wasn't a kidnapper, just so the other could find out which school Mae attended.

All his efforts proved fruitless as he slumped in his seat, glaring at his desk as he let the lecture fly right over his head. He knew the only reason he was practically losing his mind was because he felt that Mark had all the answers. Answers to what, you ask?

To the death of his mother?

To where Richard was?

To how he could get rid of Michael?

Fuck, he wouldn't be surprised if Mark magically had the answers to cure cancer. That's how frustrated he was.

What irritated him more was that he couldn't just ask the elder for help or answers, oh no.

Mark works for the enemy. Why Jackson doesn't consider Mark an enemy too obfuscated everyone around him, well nearly everyone- Namjoon found it amusing and Yoongi just couldn't care. He would have probably tried to get information from the elder without his knowledge, cause let's face it, he was definitely right when he said that Mark doesn't want to see him again, but he'd have to find the elder first. And oh Lord, he's dealt with corrupt politicians easier than that.

It was like Mark had vanished off the face of the earth, skadoosh- Gone. None of his people were able to pin an actual location of the man. And that sucks big time, because Yoongi is one of the best trackers in the whole of Asia, and he told Jackson (countless times) that the four signals that he had found pointed to random countries- which is impossible. Even when Irene had volunteered to do a search track through Mae, she had returned the next morning extremely confused because Mark wasn't at home.

"One or two?" Namjoon asked turning towards Jackson, the other clearly distracted.

"Where could he be?"

"I get that you're really invested into this, but I'm asking you if you'd like one or two Big Macs." Namjoon said, his eyes nearly rolling out his goddamn ears.

"What? Why are we even here? We were supposed to drive to Mark's house-"

Namjoon would really like to punch his best friend right now. Like really really would like to. But he settled for a deep sign instead. Jackson was under a lot of pressure right now, pressure that he was creating himself, so the least Namjoon could do was bear with it...even though Jackson was getting on his last nerve. Namjoon reminded himself that it'll only get worse until they actually find Mark, then he could punch him.

"Listen, I'm not waiting outside a building for as long as you'd like without eating the time away. You either take the Macs or not. I'm not sharing anything with you."

Namjoon's glare affirmed he was serious.

"Sorry. I'd like two, please." Jackson replied softly.

Jackson knew he had been working his team to death recently. Literally, Yoongi was so exhausted from running quadrantes for the last few days that when Jackson passed by his office, he nearly tripped thinking the other had died on his sofa. He was sleeping thankfully, something he hadn't done in three days- which Hoseok give Jackson a ear full for- but the near heart attack he (Jackson) had was enough to give his team a break.

"I'm not going to question what you plan on doing, but I'd like to know- for the others too- what you plan on doing once we find him?" Namjoon asked after he had placed their order and started to drive towards the pick-up window.

Jackson remained silent. He knew he'd have to focus on what they'd do to Mark after they found him, but putting that on hold for now was somehow more easing on his mind.

Usually when they were in a situation where they had to intercept and handle information personally, often by prying it out of the person they captured, things got very bloody and gruesome. The informant would always deny and refuse the claimed and questions they imposed on him, and Jackson usually got to have his satisfactory relief session. That usually got the people talking fast, other than the few cocky pricks who though they could survive- they didn't last longer after. Jackson's fists were very convincing when he had knuckle spikes ringed around them, or even without them.

Jackson just couldn't bring himself to think about an extraction from Mark in the same manner.

"I've been quite about it for a while, but I can't help but feel like you're going to go easy on him." Namjoon asked bringing Jackson back to the conversation, but his attention was on the window waiting for their order

"I-" Jackson stopped himself from saying anything, because it was true. After the first day they had met, Jackson for some reason couldn't help but want to reach out to Mark. He didn't know why, but after their encounter in the store, the look in Mark's eyes said so much more than what he could fully comprehend. Mark's face may have been stoic but his eyes held so many layers and emotions. Everything mingling with the fact that Mark had gone through the same traumatic event as he did, actually no, Mark was in the massacre, whereas Jackson received the news a few hours later. Jackson couldn't help but sympathize and hope that Mark wasn't a bad person, just born into a bad situation or something like that. It was the way that Mark had laughed that told him that he for sure was nothing like his father, nothing like the monster Jackson had staked out his entire life so far to bring to justice- to avenge the spilled blood of his mother.

"He's different." Came tumbling out of Jackson's mouth softly as he turned to look at Namjoon.

"Okay." The reply seemed nonchalant as he collected their food, thanking the staff before driving out. But it made Jackson smile.

Jackson was glad that Namjoon was who he was. He was glad that Namjoon never disagreed with his intuition. He was glad that Namjoon trusted him to do the right thing, and even when he didn't Namjoon had his back always...unless Jin was involved, of course, but then too he would never undermine Jackson's decisions.

You'd think with the amount they bicker and cat-fought, that they'd be quick to burn each other with a stake. But no, they were different. They had stuck together through everything. They were ride or die. They'd take a bullet for each other, in fact Namjoon already had, and Jackson was grateful that Namjoon wasn't just loyal to his job, but also to Jackson as a person.

-----------------------------------------------------------

[In the words of Saweetie- "That's my best friend, she a real bad bitch
Got her own money, she 'on't need no nig'
On the dance floor, she had two, three drinks
Now she twerkin', she throw it out and come back in
That's my best friend, she a real bad bitch
Drive her own car, she 'on't need no Lyft
In the strip club, know my girl gon' tip
Now she twerkin', she throw it out and come back in"]