Chapter 28- things take a turn for the angsty. Sorry, but trust me- a few angsty chapters later, it'll be happy again. Okey dokey? YOU MUST BEAR WITH ME. I promise, you won't be disappointed by how it ends.


Disclaimer: I don't own RENT. I just make it slashy & angsty.
October 5, 1992, 6pm EST

"Roger, I'm never going to get out of this damn hospital bed, am I?" Mark pouted at Roger. He was very thin, and looked incredibly sick. But he was still the same person, as was obvious by his constant demands for his camera and scarf.

"Marky, you should be resting. You can still get better, and we'll be happy and have muffins and oatmeal every day-" Mark stopped him.

"No, Rog. I'm pretty sure I'm stuck here. Please don't cry Rog, I'm just... I think I probably won't get better."

"Mark, don't you say that! You're going to get better. We just have to keep hoping..." He couldn't help it- he started to cry. "Mark, I'd... I'd die without you..." Mark reached up a hand to touch Roger's hair.

"Roger Davis, you still have sexy hair- even if you haven't washed it in a week. How do you do that? You're sleep-deprived and malnourished and you haven't bathed- yet you're still amazingly sexy." Mark started mumbling, and Roger leaned closer to him. "You have the most amazing gifts Rog- You're musical, loving, adorable... I mean it. Promise me that you won't do anything stupid when I'm gone?"

"I promise. I won't do anything stupid, if I can avoid it."


Mark Cohen died two days later, on October 7, in Roger's arms. His parting words were just a simple "I love you." The funeral was held a few days later, and the surviving bohemians were there. Even Benny showed up, although no one really talked to him. They each said something about Mark, something meaningful. Then it was Roger's turn to speak.

"I met Mark a long time ago, back when he had just dropped out of college. We lived together, and he helped me through some tough times. We stayed friends, throughout it all- girlfriends, drugs, death… Then when Mimi and I broke up, our friends decided that we would make a cute couple. So they all acted like dumb-asses and bought a magic muffin for us, to make us fall in love. We got together, had some good times, some bad… some amazingly passionate sex…" Someone coughed. "And I loved him. I still love him. I just… can't believe he's gone. Mark… if you're up there in heaven, or wherever we go when we die… I hope you can hear me. I'll try not to do anything stupid- but I'm not making any promises."


Edited AN: Angsty!Roger. Sad!Author. -sigh-