"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! GO SLOW, MARK!"

"Oh, shit!" Mark was laughing. Jack was covering his hands with his face.

"Sean. Relax. Do you know how many hours I've spent playing shitty driving games? I've been preparing for this moment for my whole life!"

Jack groaned loudly, his eyes squeezed shut.

Jack had described his plans for the rest of the trip to Mark, and they had discussed various methods of accomplishing everything they had to do. In theory, renting a car had seemed like the preferred option. In practice, Jack was convinced they'd never make it out of Dublin alive. He'd never obtained a license, so Mark was in the driver's seat, operating a motor vehicle on the left side of the road for the first time in his life. Mark was unfazed, thoroughly enjoying himself. They stopped at a traffic light, and Jack peeked through his fingers.

"NO! MARK! JESUS! YEH CAN'T TURN YET!"

"What? Oh, fuck, ha!" Mark grinned while Jack glared at him, shaking his head.

"Sean! Seriously! We're fine!"

"Oh, fer the love of God, just get us out of the city," Jack begged.

And Mark did, despite Jack's terrified skepticism. The roads were much easier to navigate once they got outside of Dublin, and the drive was pleasant. They kept each other entertained with singing, ranging from legitimate harmony to complete obnoxiousness.

After about an hour on the road, Jack gave Mark directions to pull off the highway; they needed to grab some supplies for the rest of the day. Mark successfully navigated them to the parking lot, put the car in park, and switched off the engine. He stretched and yawned. Jack watched him, happily.

"Ready to experience retail shopping in Ireland?"

"So ready. Anything I need to know ahead of time?"

"Yeah. It's exactly like retail shopping everywhere else."

Mark chuckled. He reached over to Jack, started playing absently with the hem of his shirt.

"So. You sure you want to do this today? I'm sure we could figure something out if you want to wait a while…"

Jack shook his head. "My lease is up in about a month. The timing is good. I want to make sure I can pack up all the important stuff the way I want to. Plus… I want yeh to see my where I live, y'know, where I've been all this time. This will probably be the last time I ever go back. I need yeh with me."

Mark nodded, picked up one of Jack's hands, interlaced their fingers. "Whatever you need."

Jack gave his hand a squeeze. "So… baseball caps?"

Mark thought for a moment. "I think I might be ready to be done with that. For now, at least. I mean, I know there will be times when we want more privacy, for different reasons. But I don't feel like I need it to be a secret every time we're out in the world together. I don't really want it to be a secret. What do you think?"

Jack was smiling. "I was thinking the same thing."

They were back on the road about an hour later, the trunk and backseat full of the packing supplies they'd purchased. They'd managed to make it through the shopping trip without being approached by anyone, although they did get some sideways looks from people who took notice of their brightly-colored hair. They had some time left before they'd reach Jack's apartment in Athlone, and they were keeping themselves entertained with different versions of the game "Would You Rather."

"Would you rather… wax your whole body, or wear makeup in public for a week?" This was directed at Jack.

"Who's doing the makeup?"

"Me, obviously!"

"Fischbach, this better be hypothetical."

"You don't think I could make you look so pretty?"

"Oh, fuck off, I'm pretty enough without yer help! I'd wear makeup for a week if I could do it myself."

"Where's the fun in that?!"

Jack giggled. "You sound like yeh're planning challenges fer a livestream."

Mark gave Jack a sideways look. "Shhh. Don't tell anyone. I ran out of original ideas, like, two years ago."

Jack laughed, trying to think of a challenge for Mark.

"I know. Would you rather get a secret blowjob during a charity livestream, or during a convention panel?"

"Jesus!"

"Oh, c'mon, you know yeh've thought about both of those things."

"Uhm, yes, by myself, alone, in my own head! Do you want me to crash this car?!"

"Nope, I need yeh alive fer this one."

Mark feigned thoughtfulness for a minute. "I guess it depends on the charity."

Jack giggled. "Oh yeah? Which charity would be most appropriate for a secret blowjob?"

"Nothing with puppies. I would feel so guilty."

"But think of how much money we'd raise!"

"Hey- I thought you said secret blowjob. Livestreams aren't for porn, Sean."

"Oh, right." Jack laughed. "So, convention panel, then? They have those curtain things on the tables, no one would even see!"

"People would see my face!"

"Guess yeh'll just have to practice keeping it straight."

Mark chuckled. "Fine. Convention panel." He glanced over at Jack. "So… public places? Is this a fantasy of yours?"

Jack thought about it. "I don't really know if it was before. Maybe a little. I think it might be more like… well, we can't really be as… physical… in public. I got… impatient. I know I lost it a little last night." He was quiet for a moment. "That's not really all of it though. It's just… you. I can't fucking stand it sometimes. I just need to-" He clenched and unclenched his fists, looking for the words.

"Fuck with me?" Mark smiled.

Jack nodded. "That's a pretty accurate way of describing it." He rubbed his hand through his hair, somewhat nervously.

"Sean. It's ok. I love it." Mark's voice was low.

Jack thought of Mark, pinning his arms over his head, holding him against a door. "Me too. I mean, I loved what yeh did this morning." He leaned over the center console, put one hand on Mark's chest, put his lips close to Mark's ear, and spoke quietly.

"I love-"

He kissed Mark's neck-

"how sweet-"

He kissed Mark's ear-

"yeh can be."

Mark was smiling a lopsided smile, shaking his head, trying to keep his eyes on the road.

"But I also love-"

Jack moved his hand down to Mark's waist-

"getting a little bit-"

He gave one of Mark's belt loops a firm yank-

"rough."

"Fuck. Uhm. Sean." Jack was kissing the back of his neck. "Jesus. I can't… SEAN."

Jack straightened up. "Oops." He giggled.

"Sean. I would pull this fucking car over if it wasn't broad daylight." Mark licked his lips. "But since that's not an option…"

Jack kissed his cheek and retreated back to his own seat. "Sorry. See what I mean? Can't fucking help myself."

Mark was breathing deeply. "How far is your place?"

Jack looked out the window for a landmark. "About fifteen minutes."

Mark took a steadying breath. "Ok. We can make it, right?"

"Right."

They barely did. After what seemed like forever, Mark pulled into Jack's driveway and parked. Jack was still disengaging from his seatbelt when Mark opened his door and pulled him bodily from the car. Jack had the presence of mind to grab for his backpack, searching for his keys as Mark practically dragged him up to the house by the arm.

Jack was giggling, trying to keep up with Mark. "Ok! Ok! Listen, if yeh let me go fer a second I can find my keys…"

Mark released him when they got to the doorway. He watched silently while Jack dug his keys out of the backpack, his hands balled up into fists. Jack finally unlocked the door and swung it open. He pushed Mark inside, and followed, closing and locking the door behind them.

They stared at each other for a moment. Mark was still silent, watching Jack intently, clenching and unclenching his fingers. Jack dropped the backpack and the keys on the floor. He opened his mouth to speak, but Mark was already on him, holding him against the door, pinning his arms at his sides. Mark kissed him hard, his tongue deep inside Jack's mouth, his fingers tight around Jack's wrists. Jack pushed back against Mark's hands, testing the pressure. Mark didn't budge. He was so strong. I'm strong, too.

Jack leaned into Mark, pushing off of the door behind him, and pried his arms free. He put his hands on Mark's chest and pushed him backwards – not hard, exactly – just firmly enough to put some space between them. He grabbed at the hem of Mark's long-sleeved shirt and forced it upward, tracing his palms along the skin of Mark's sides and arms as he pulled it off. The shirt fell to the floor. Jack examined Mark, blue eyes raking over bare skin.

Mark grinned and made a grab for Jack's shirt, but Jack pushed him backwards again. He started to remove his own shirt, slowly, making Mark wait, daring him to watch. Mark restrained himself, examining Jack's pale skin as it was slowly revealed. Jack tossed the shirt aside.

Mark made a grab for the button on Jack's jeans, but Jack pushed his hands away, then hooked his fingers through Mark's belt loops and advanced on him, forcing Mark to walk backwards. Jack grazed his teeth over Mark's shoulder as they moved, moving his mouth up Mark's neck, and finally licking slowly at Mark's jawline. Mark let out a low, quiet moan.

Jack undid Mark's button and zipper as they moved into the living room. He steered Mark towards the couch, then pushed him down into a sitting position. He pulled Mark's jeans and boxers the rest of the way off. Then he stood over Mark, slowly unbuttoning and removing his own jeans and boxers. He was enjoying the control, enjoying the fact that he could force Mark to wait for him. Mark was grinning, breathing heavily.

Jack lingered for a moment, then climbed onto Mark's lap, straddling him on the couch. He held Mark's arms down and went straight for his throat, kissing roughly at first and then nipping at the sensitive skin, moving up toward Mark's mouth. He found Mark's lower lip, bit down, and pulled, earning himself another low moan from Mark. He pressed Mark's hands firmly into the couch cushions as he moved to Mark's neck, licking and nipping down to his shoulder, rocking his hips on top of Mark.

"Jesus Christ." Mark couldn't stand it. He tried to pry his arms up from the couch. Jack held him more tightly. Fuck, he's strong. He tried again. Jack pulled back to look in Mark's eyes, keeping his face close, and tightened his grip even more, smiling an open-mouthed smile.

Mark throbbed. Jack felt it. Mark lost it. He wrenched his arms away from Jack's grasp and grabbed Jack around the waist. He stood up, picking Jack up with him as he moved. Jack struggled, trying to press Mark back onto the couch. They wrestled for a moment, each of them trying to gain the upper hand, and Mark finally won out. He tightened his grip around Jack's waist and turned them both, using his body weight to force Jack downward until he was laying down on the couch, with Mark straddling him.

"Nice try, Sean," Mark's voice was so low.

"If I'd really tried, yeh'd be on yer back, Fischbach." Mark loved the edge in Jack's voice.

"Is that right?"

Jack nodded. Mark was bracing his hands on the couch, hovering over him. Jack pressed his hands against Mark's chest, grinned, and pushed Mark backward as hard as he could. Mark let out a surprised "Oh!" He straightened up just enough for Jack to lift himself up, swing into a kneeling position, and tackle Mark backwards onto the couch.

"Jesus!" Mark was laughing.

"Told yeh." Jack held Mark's arms against the couch. "Behave yerself now."

Mark obeyed. Jack slowly released his arms, taking his time to make sure Mark would remain still. Then he ran his left hand through Mark's hair, gripping firmly, tilting Mark's head backward. He ran his right hand down Mark's chest to wrap his fingers around Mark's erection.

Mark throbbed. Mark groaned.

Jack covered his mouth with a deep kiss, stroking firmly at Mark's cock, grinding his hips and his own erection against Mark. Jack worked at Mark for a long moment, and finally felt Mark's fingers wrap around him in response. They stroked at each other, kissing deeply, moaning against each other's lips. Jack pressed against Mark, rocking his hips in a steady rhythm.

They moaned. They tensed. They came.

Jack continued to kiss Mark's lips, but the fight had gone out of him. He kissed Mark sweetly, moving from his mouth to his eyelids and forehead. He stroked at Mark's hair. He looked in Mark's eyes.

Mark was smiling. His expression had softened. He held Jack's face in one hand, brushed his thumb against Jack's cheek.

"Was that ok?" Jack sounded hesitant.

"Oh. Sean. Yeah, it was incredible, for real. Are you ok?"

Jack nodded. "Just making sure. It was… new, y'know?"

"New is good. I like all of the new things."

Jack was relieved. "Just let me know if it ever goes too far."

Mark shook his head. "It won't. I get it. I'm right there with you. I know you're not trying to hurt me. You're just doing it because-"

"Because I want you. Because yeh're mine."

Mark nodded. "And I want you to. Because I am. Yours."