Mark doesn't know how the hell Roger does it.

Somehow he's managed to get out of the dog house with Mimi completely, and now they're back to screwing like rabbits and making all too much noise for his comfort. He himself on the other hand has been out of the company of the porn star duo as much as he possibly could, because the one time he did see her she shot him a glance that pretty much said that she is going to claw his eyes out if she ever gets him alone, and she probably only didn't because Roger managed to persuade her than they only kissed because they were both drunker than hell. It sure as hell wasn't the truth, and he has a feeling she saw right through it, but it was sweet of him to try.

Honestly, he has been feeling a little bit militant ever since his outburst at Roger. All of his life he has been bottling up every feeling that he's had for the benefit of others. It made sense to him to do it for the longest time, when the life of everyone around him seemed to be falling apart by the seams. At that part of his life it seemed to him like his problems were nothing compared to everyone else's and his opinions didn't really seem valid because he hadn't gone through what they did. Now though, their lives are getting to be able as stable as they ever have been or ever will be, and he is starting to think it's about time that he starts actually standing up for himself. It's something that he's said he was going to do many times before, but he means it this time. He's actually going to do it.

Hopefully.

Strangely enough, he has been finding a bit of solace in the company of Judas, something he never really thought would happen. When he first met Judas, Mark told himself that he disliked him because he was slightly arrogant and loud and had an abrasive sense of humor…talking to him more he realizes that those qualities are what he likes so much about Roger, and he only disliked him because he thought that Judas was taking too much of Roger's attention away from him. Now he's finding it almost impossible to dislike the newest rockstar in his life, because like Roger he is a nice guy under the perverted exterior, and unlike Roger he doesn't seem to have a problem holding up a serious conversation.

"Don't worry too much about it, Mark." Judas says, reaching over and ruffling Mark's short, blonde hair. He has been staying at the loft more and more lately, something Mark doesn't mind nearly as much as he used to. "If it helps at all, she doesn't seem to like me much, either. And I haven't even been fucking the guy." Though that isn't completely true, she has been warming up to him quite a bit in the past few weeks, but he feels it best to not mention that right now.

Mark lets out a small burst of laughter despite his best efforts to remain pouty and unhappy. "It's different, you just met her. Me and her have been through so much together, I don't want her sore with me."

"Well…you did sort of tell Roger that you think that they should break up." The other man points out, laying back on the couch, absentmindedly playing air guitar against his chest. Mark groans softly, remembering just then that he had told Judas pretty much everything over the course of the past few weeks. They had been talking a lot.

"Yeah, well…she doesn't know that." Mark replies, drawing a small bit of laughter from Judas. "Besides, just because I don't think that she should be with Roger doesn't mean that I hate her. I love the girl…I'd just love her a whole lot more of she'd stop fucking my Roger…"

"Aww, they're so cute when they have their crushes. Soon he'll be plotting her horrible, painful death and everything. They grow up so fast." Judas says, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye.

"I went through the death wishes a while ago."

"And Roger didn't even take a picture of it, or get it on camera? Inconsiderate bastard."

"No kidding." Mark murmurs, letting out a short, quick breath making his lips trill like a horse. "And how dare he have sex with his girlfriend, and in his own apartment and everything?" He says, attempting to joke about the situation to make it seem a little less…dramatic maybe? Shitty. Yeah, that's a good word, shitty.

Judas lets out a small sigh, his smile faltering and almost looking weary. It is a rare moment of seriousness from Mark's newest friend. "This is gonna get really ugly, really fast, Mark." He says softly, folding his hands behind his head and looking up at the ceiling.

"It hasn't already? Mimi hates me and Roger has been ignoring me." Mark points out, a whiny quality to his voice that he hates but couldn't seem to shake.

"This is only the beginning, I've seen shit like this before. There's going to be this tense calm for a while, then something will happen to cause the whole damn situation to blow up…unless someone does something to stop it." He says, before looking pointedly at Mark, who suddenly becomes very interested in the dirt beneath his nails.

There is a long time in which neither of them says anything, another one of those loud silences that Mark has begun to dread. Feeling the need to break the silence, he looks back over at Judas. "How is it that someone who has never been in a relationship himself know so much about relationship problems?"

"Because I know all. I am all seeing and all knowing!" Judas says, quickly stepping out of his little serious ditch he had been in and acting like his normal goofy self again. He lets out a loud, booming laugh, like the type the evil geniuses have in the crappy spy movies.

"Schmuck…" Mark mutters, rolling his eyes fondly at him.

Band practices are now Mark's favorite thing.

At some point between all of the drama and dick jokes, Judas and Roger got around to actually begin to practice. Normally when Judas was over and he was playing it would be a whole lot of messing around, nothing really complicated, just joking and downright goofy. When he is there for practice, his playing is all business and it turned out that he was damn good. Mark wouldn't say that he is as good as Roger…then again, he really doesn't think anyone is as good as Roger.

It isn't just the endless stream of music and frat boy humor that he enjoys about the practices though, because he can get that on a regular basis with just Roger there, it's the fact that when they are in the zone there always seems to be something for him to focus his thoughts on, and he is always looking for new ways to escape feeling his emotions for just a little longer.

Another part of the reason, a possibly bigger part of the reason he enjoys band practice so much is the fact that he doesn't have to be constantly on the look out. Ever since the incident at the club he has been avoiding Mimi like the plague, and doing a damn good job at it. Still, being good at avoiding someone who lives a floor below him gets Mark a little world weary, so the fact that Mimi said that she would leave the boys alone while they are playing makes that the best part of his week.

Then…of course...there's getting to listen to Roger's voice….He doesn't think he could ever get bored of his music simply because he loves Roger's voice, and him and Judas have such a good blend together. He is slumped in the chair next to the couch, chin propped up on his hand as he stares off into space, a slightly dreamy smile on his face as he enjoyed the simple pleasure of good music.

Unfortunately, he isn't able to enjoy their playing uninterrupted today, as half way through the practice there is a knock on the door. Though they stop playing, Mark offers to get up and go to answer the door. The person he sees when he slides open the large door is…well, it's not who he expects it to be at all.

"Mimi…" Mark says, his voice barely audible and his blue eyes wide behind his glasses.

Both Roger and Judas hear and see who it is, Roger standing up without really thinking and Judas wincing at what could potentially happen with Mark and Mimi in the same room.

"Um…Roger." Mark turns his head and calls, though before Roger can respond Mimi cuts him off.

"No, I'm here to talk to you Mark." She says with a stern look on her face, the fierce gaze making Mark cower a little bit.

"The fire escape is right over there, sweetness." Judas calls over to Mark. "I think you can make it out the window if you run really fast."

"Judas." Mimi scolds.

"I said nothing." Judas says, holding up both hands in an 'I'm innocent' pose, just looking back down at his guitar.

"That's what I thought." She says, though for a split second it seems like there is a ghost of a smile on her lips. It's almost too small to see and it's gone as soon as it gets there. She looks back at Mark, all business again. "We need to talk Mark, now. Before you can run away again."

There is a long silence in which Mark attempts to come up with a reason why he can't talk. He has somewhere to go, he's tired, his vocal chords have spontaneously eroded…something. He glances back at the two guitarists, almost frantically, looking for some support.

Before he can open his mouth to say something to them, he just lets out a sigh, shaking his head at himself. This continuous running from the inevitable has really gone on long enough, he might as well just get it over with now. "Don't wait for me, guys…keep playing…" He says softly, walking out into the hallway with Mimi. He hears the opening riff of Roger's newest song as he closes the door, the sound muffled through the wall but still audible.

"Just a feeling, everything's alright. Love is creeping in so tight…" Roger's gritty yet beautiful voice rang through the wall of the apartment as Mimi paced a little bit, as if preparing herself for this difficult conversation that's about to happen.

"I can't just pretend that I didn't see what happened at the club." Mimi finally said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"We were drunk, it happens. I-" Mark tries to explain but is cut off by Mimi's angry voice.

"It's not just that, stop lying to me Mark. You've both changed, Roger has been so distant lately and I know it's because of you."

"And I believe I've found the one, the only sweet embrace that sets me free…"

Mark's eyes blink in confusion behind his glasses. He's been distant? He has heard them having sex from the floor above them and through the walls in the loft. "But…you two made up, I heard it." He says with a weak laugh.

"It's not the same…it doesn't feel as good, he's not into it like he used to be." She says softly, burying her face in her hands.

"Just a feeling, burning up for you. Just a feeling, I can't lie to you…"

"Are you saying…I don't…" Mark says, completely baffled by this.

"I'm saying he's slipping away from me because of you, and you're making it worse!" Mimi pretty much explodes.

"Just a feeling, I'd be lost without you…"

Mark opens his mouth to try and protest, but he finds himself unable to do so. His problem is that he is making it worse and he knows this. Not only that…he's not at all upset at himself for making things worse, he's rather happy about it. Not because he has malice towards Mimi but he just knows that he would be better for Roger than her. He just knows it.

His thoughts must have been showing on his face while he struggled for words, because Mimi lets out a frustrated groan. "You know what? Fuck you, Mark. Go both can go to hell for all that I care." She shouted before storming off down the hall and quickly down the stairs.

"Just a feeling, I'm in love with you."