#and id love to lay my head down and rest. otherwise ill die at work

[dragons-and-yellow-roses]

I'm too tired to enjoy being awake, but too awake to sleep. The most miserable state of being.

[scumbagsblog]

For a prompt, how about Mark and Jack in a giant snuggle pile after a hard day of either stress or just a bad day. I hope this is alright, I've never done this before.

Is this okay? I think it’s cute, so I hope you do too. :)

           Mark finishedup his last recording of the day and shut off his camera, leaning back in hischair with a heavy sigh. There was still so much work to be done—thumbnails to create,projects to follow up on, people to email—and he was already exhausted. Heglanced out of the window to see that the sun was sinking lower and lower intothe horizon. He really hoped he wouldn’t have to pull an all-nighter.

           His phone buzzedloudly on his desktop, making him jump, but he grinned widely when he saw thecaller ID.

           “Hey babe,what’s up?”

           “Are youdone recordin’ for the day?”

           “Yeah. Justfinished, actually.” Mark twirled in his chair and stood up, stretching hisback. “What about you? Any work left to be done?”

           “Maybe, Ihaven’t checked yet. I need you to come over.”

           “Why? Issomething wrong?” Not feeling too concerned yet, Mark exited his recording roomand padded into the kitchen, looting for a quick snack before getting back towork.

           “Because I’mtired and cranky and I want to lay down with you,” Jack pouted like a grumpykid. Mark laughed aloud.

           “Aww, youpoor thing. Look, I’d love to, but I’ve still got some stuff to finish up.”

           “Pleeeeeeeease? You can always do ittomorrow!”

           Mark leanedagainst the counter top and considered it for a moment. He’d much rather be athis boyfriend’s house with Netflix and a warm blanket, but the responsible adultin him was telling him otherwise.

           “If I putit off until tomorrow, I’ll be even further behind.”

           “What if Itold you I have a terminal illness that only you can cure?”

           Marklaughed again and started glancing around for his keys. “Oh yeah? What illnessis that?”

           “Fuck if Iknow. Loneliness? Mark-deficiency? I’ll definitelydie if you’re not over here in half an hour.” He could hear the smile inJack’s voice and couldn’t help smiling back.

           “Fine, you win. I’m on my way. But you’dbetter make me some food. I haven’t eaten since noon.”

           “Don’tworry about it, I’ve got a great dish. It’s a recipe that’s been handed downfor generations.”

           “Oh yeah?What would that be?” Mark found his keys and wallet and strode out the door,hopping down the front steps and enjoying the warm evening that surrounded him.

           “A bakedpotato. Traditional Irish cuisine. You’re gonna love it, trust me.”

           “Oh, JesusChrist, why do I even talk to you?”

           “Becauseyou love me like crazy. Now shut up and eat the food I offer you.”

* * *

           Jack wasn’tjoking about the potato. He had it steaming on a paper plate (complete withsour cream and cheese, because he was just that big a sweetheart) right as Markwalked through the door, his hair thrown back and unruly by the Californiawind. Jack couldn’t have stilled his beating heart if he’d tried.

           “Thank God you’re here. Today was terrible,” heexclaimed, all but running to greet him with a hug. Mark laughed and squeezedhim close for a few seconds before walking towards the hot food.

           “Why was itterrible?” he asked, shoving a forkful into his mouth. “Do I need to beatanybody up?”

           “No, shutup. A lot of my recordin’ shit wouldn’t work, and it set me back a few hours.That’s why I called you. Eat and come lay down with me, I’m fuckin’ exhausted.”

           Jack sat inthe kitchen with his boyfriend and waited for him to finish his food, laughingat his jokes and talking more about the bullshit that had happened to him thatday. When Mark finally took his last bite, he wasted no time in grabbing hisarm and pulling him into the living room, flopping down on the couch andpulling him down on top of him.

           “Jesus,Jack, wait!” Mark cried, pushing himself up so that he didn’t hit his head onthe armrest. “Be patient, I’m coming.”

           “Lay down, dammit,” he joked, laughingthrough his words. “I waited long enough.”

           Obligingly,Mark laid alongside him and pulled Jack’s shoulders into his chest, resting hischin on top of his head. Jack entwined their feet together and grabbed ablanket off of the floor, tossing it over them messily.

           “Finally.” Jack closed his eyes andnestled in closer to the spooning position, bending his arm back a little sothat he could hold Mark’s hand. “When’re you gonna move in here finally?”

           Marklaughed a little, knowing it was mostly a joke. “You know why. You’re not evenpermanently here yet. Doesn’t your lease expire in, like, a month?”

           Jacknodded, even as the reminder made his heart heavy. He’d only signed onto aleasing contract for half a year, just to give L.A. living a try and see if itwas really worth it. So far, it had been in that he’d been able to take on alot more work-related opportunities, including being in more collaborationswith Mark and the Grumps and being able to attend more conventions. Unexpectedly,though, he’d gotten a lot closer to his international friends—Mark included,who he’d started dating about four months ago and was now the highlight ofevery day they got to spend together when they both had time.

           “Yeah, itis, but I think I’m gonna get it extended once it does,” Jack told him. He’dtalked about it before, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to Mark, but he’donly just decided to definitely do it. “Comin’ down here has made work a loteasier, and besides, it means I get to stay close to you.”

           “You wouldn’tbe upset about leaving Ireland?” Mark asked quietly, his fingertips buried inJack’s hair and making him grin. “I mean, that is your home.”

           “Yeah, butL.A. is amazing. And besides, you feel way more like home than anythin’ inIreland.” It was absolutely true, and Jack had thought so for a long time. Hejust really hoped Mark felt the same.

           “Then…I’mhappy for you. I’m glad you’re gonna stay.” Mark squeezed his hand tightly andsaid, much more quietly, “If you’re serious, then maybe we actually can talkabout living together.”

           Jackstomached a gasp. He could feel his heart beginning to race, and he took a deepbreath to calm himself. Now wasn’t the time to be talking about that. There wasstill a lot of shit to be worked out before he could think about moving in withthe guy that he’d only been dating four months.

           But still,he was his best friend, wasn’t he? He’d known Mark for far longer than they’dbeen an item. What was the worst that could happen? If Mark lived here, nightslike these would be far more frequent. The idea brought a smile to Jack’s face.

           “But we cantalk more about that later,” Mark said decisively, and Jack breathed a smallsigh of relief. He felt Mark sit up behind him, and he rolled over indignantlyas he watched him run his fingers through his hair, trying to push the locksout of his eyes. Jack’s face softened into a smile.

           “Dye it redagain, dammit,” he teased, scooting into a sitting position of his own. “Iliked it. It was edgy.”

           “It was apain in the ass,” Mark shot back, reaching over and pulling Jack down into hislap. Jack laid back on his legs with a smile. “You should know. Aren’t you sickof getting green dye all over your shower?”

           “Yeah, butI look punk rock. You just look like a dweeb.”

           “You looklike a fucking shamrock, Jack, let’s just be real.”

           Laughing,Jack raised his arm and took a little swipe at Mark’s face. He caught his wristeasily and kissed his palm, and Jack covered his face with his arm so that Markwouldn’t see him blush.