"What is it?" Joanne asked, opening the passenger side door for Mark.
"I just...reminiscing." Mark replied, sliding into the car, looking up at Joanne with pleading eyes.
Joanne shut the door and crossed over to the driver's side, climbing in and starting the ignition.
"Remember the good." she retorted, pulling away from the lot and into the street.
Mark slumped back against his seat, closing his eyes.
He was back at the loft, watching as Roger stumbled in the evening after Mimi's death, drunk off his knickers.
"Hey, Marky-Man!" Roger exclaimed, pushing his way over to where Mark sat on the couch, falling hard next to him.
"You're drunk off your ass." Mark stated, not looking up from the book he was reading.
Roger smiled brightly.
"Shouldn't you, ya know, be grieving?" Mark asked, peering over the book at Roger.
Roger laughed.
"No time for that, my Marky! Too much to do!" he replied, cocking his head to the side and continuing to laugh.
Mark
rolled his eyes and set his book down.
"C'mon, we've got to get you into the shower. You reek of cigarette smoke and perfume." he commented, kneeling down in front of Roger, peeling his boots off his feet.
Roger looked down at him.
"You're always there for me." he commented soberly.
Mark smiled up at him as he pulled Roger's socks off.
"Through thick and thin." he retorted, standing and reaching out to Roger, who grasped his offered hand tightly as he was pulled to his feet.
Roger coughed as Mark wrapped his arm around Roger's waist and led him to the bathroom.
"Until the end?" he pleaded through his voice and eyes.
Mark pushed Roger into the bathroom, watching as he drunkenly pulled his shirt over his head.
"That's a long time coming, my friend." he said, shutting the door as Roger went on to remove his pants.
Ten minutes later, Roger appeared back at Mark's side on the couch, clutching at his head.
"My head hurts." he whined.
Mark chuckled.
"Wait until the sun comes up. You'll want to crawl in a hole and die." he teased.
Roger laughed along with him, reaching out and wrapping his right arm around Mark's shoulders, pulling him close.
"Mark, I need you to promise me something." he started.
Mark shook his head, looking to pull away.
"No. Mark. Listen to me. You need to continue to film. You can't let my death hinder your career." Roger finished.
Mark sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Roger, your death is a long time coming. Let's not talk about it now, okay? Just...leave things as are. We'll end on a good note when the time comes." he pleaded.
Roger caressed his arm tenderly.
"Okay. Whatever you want." he offered.
Back in the car, Mark opened his eyes and found that Joanne was pulling into the lot for her and Maureen's apartment.
"A good memory, I hope." Joanne wagered, putting the car into park and pulling out her keys.
Mark smiled.
"He was always telling me that it was up to me how things ended. He told me that whatever I wanted, I deserved. I wonder why he didn't put that attitude towards himself." Mark asked, opening the door and hopping out, finding himself pounced by Maureen Johnson.
She pulled back, but not before placing a brief kiss on his lips.
"How are you, Pookie?" she asked as Joanne came up beside her and joined their hands together.
Mark shrugged.
"Once I get out of this place, I think colors will renew." he replied.
Maureen frowned.
"You're leaving?" she inquired.
Mark nodded, leaning back against Joanne's car.
"I have to, Maureen. I can't stay here. I was isolated enough with Tom's death." he replied, crossing his hands over his chest.
Maureen sighed listlessly.
Joanne squeezed her hand before she could say anything.
"The boxes?" she queried testily.
"Gathered together at the door." Maureen replied, her eyes straying back onto Mark, who averted his.
"Come on, Pookie." Joanne said sarcastically, leading her girlfriend to the door of the building.
Mark reluctantly followed, gracious that their apartment was on the first floor.
Joanne held the door open for him and gently touched his arm as he entered.
"You okay?" she asked, knowing that Maureen would be oblivious to Mark's emotions and wouldn't ask.
Mark shrugged.
"I need to sit. There's so much running through my head...I need to rest." he replied.
Maureen kicked open the door to their apartment and moved to the side to allow Mark to enter.
"You can rest on our bed, if you like. We washed the sheets last night." she offered with a wink.
Mark blushed.
Joanne rolled her eyes.
"The couch is also free." she offered.
Mark headed towards the couch, falling down onto it, sliding out of his coat and throwing it onto the coffee table.
Maureen picked the coat up and wrapped it over her arm.
"Ever heard of a coat hanger, Mark?" she asked hastily.
Joanne growled low in her throat.
"Not one for sympathy, are you, darling?" she asked, grabbing the coat from Maureen's hands and hanging it.
Mark found himself laughing.
"Is there ever a time you two aren't fighting?" he asked.
Joanne and Maureen glanced at each other, quickly looking away, giving Mark his answer.
Mark eyed the boxes and curled up onto the couch.
Joanne appeared two seconds later with a blanket in her arms.
"Take all the time you need, sweetie." she said, laying the blanket over Mark, leaning in and kissing him on the forhead, ruffling his hair before she pulled back, grabbing Maureen and leading her to the kitchen area.
Mark let his eyes slowly shut, allowing his mind to let the memories flow freely into his subconsicous.
"What are you doing, Mark?" Roger's voice drifted over his head.
Mark looked up from his book and smirked.
"I'm swimming the Atlantic, Roger. What does it look like I'm doing?" he teased, sitting up, allowing space for if Roger chose to sit beside him.
"Sorry. I'm out of it." Roger apologized, shuffling on his feet.
Mark narrowed his eyes.
"Are you okay?" he asked, noticing Roger's sweaty forhead.
"I'm...I don't know, Mark. I'm fine. I'm..." Roger stuttered, swaying on his feet.
Mark jumped up on his feet, just in time to catch Roger as he fell forward.
He pulled Roger to the couch and knelt down in front of him.
"Did you take your AZT?" he questioned, his hands resting on Roger's knees.
Roger coughed and rolled his eyes.
"No, Mark. I'm skipping it, calling Death closer and quicker." he replied testily.
Mark sighed.
"Relax, Mark. I took my AZT. I've been taking my AZT." Roger said comfortingly.
After a moment's silence, Mark spoke.
"Do you want to die?" he exclaimed.
Roger scoffed.
"Yes, Mark. I want to leave behind everything that ever meant something to me for my soul to depart to some Hellish dimension." he retorted.
Mark sighed.
"I'm sorry, but...this attitude is getting you nowhere, Roger. Sometimes I wonder if Death would be better for you. You'd at least be with Mimi." he sneered.
Roger gaped at him.
"Is that what this about? Jealousy?" he exclaimed.
Mark blanched.
"No, Roger, it's not." he lied.
Roger smiled, despite it all.
"You'll always be my Marky-Man. Nothing can change that. Not even..." he began.
Mark squeezed his knee in warning.
"Don't say it." he hissed.
Roger
smiled slyly.
"Not even Death."