Mark groaned as his whole world felt like it was spinning. His head ached, and he felt sick. He had the strangest dream, about being saved from a terrible accident by… Roger. The musician's name only caused him to wince in pain again. He sat up with a sigh, whimpering as his eyes shut tight, fighting to feel less nauseous. He put his face in his hands.
"Oh, good! youre awake… I was starting to worry."A familiar, deep voice murmured. He felt a hand touch his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Mark slowly lifted his gaze from his hands, and looked up, his jaw dropping once more at who he saw looming above him.
Roger narrowed his eyes. "Hey, Mark… don't you faint on me again…"
Mark let out a gasp of shock. It wasn't a dream. Roger really had saved him after all! He blinked a few times, and couldn't stop the tears from welling up in his eyes. A smile spread across his face. A wide, genuine smile. He started laughing brightly.
"ROGER!" he screamed, lunging forward, and nearly bringing the taller man down to the floor in a tight, desperate embrace. "Y-you're alive! youre b-back! you came back to me!" he shook Roger with excitement before crushing him in another hug. He nuzzled his best friend lovingly before burying his face in his neck, still holding tight. His voice was muffled into a delighter whisper as his tears began soaking Roger's shirt. "Y-you came back…"
Roger wheezed in surprise at how tight Mark was holding him, but it finally clicked in his head, and he returned the hold just as tight, giggling with happiness.
"...'Course I did…." he whispered, beginning to run his fingers through Mark's hair. "I always do, don't I?"
Mark ignored him, too busy crying and clutching him tightly to answer just yet. He soon pulled away slightly, looking up at Roger with big, tear soaked eyes.
"B-but how?" he murmured. He started looking Roger over before reaching up happily to touch his face, giggling at the familiar feel of stubble. "Wh-why?" He suddenly looked afraid. "W-wait… am… am I dead?"
Roger quickly shook his head. "N-no… Mark, youre not… youre very much alive…"
Mark tilted his head. "I want an explanation. Now. I've been absolutely miserable for five years, Roger!"
Roger sighed. "I know, I know… but… I dont… I dont really have one…" he pulled Mark closer to him, who cuddled closer into his arms with a gentle sigh. "One minute i'm with you, right? then I die… and I wake up in this really great place… it had grass, and… and sunshine, and… it felt so wonderful… so I started to go for it… but then… some guy stopped me."
Mark looked up. "Wh-who?"
Roger shook his head. "I dunno… but… next thing I know, everything is dark… and when I wake up again… i'm on this weird platform somewhere… and I could see you! through a little glass panel… but I couldn't talk to you, or reach out to you… and it was awful…" he held Mark tighter.
"Th-then what happened?" Mark stammered.
"Then… the same guy who put me there… after five years… suddenly shows up again… and I got mad… and I tried to hurt him…" He paused, shivering a little. "He told me I fucked up… that I was nothing but selfish, and rude during my time on earth, and that… I was headed for h-hell… if I didn't shape up…" He blinked. "He said a guy like me didn't… didn't deserve to go to heaven…"
Mark looked up in disbelief. "R-Rog…" he whispered sadly.
"So… so then he says… I got one chance… to do it over… to redeem myself… to prove I belong in heaven, and he'll save me from having to go… there instead…" He whined a little. "I mean, I dont even know what i'm supposed to do! I figured it was to keep you safe, but.. what mistakes have I made? I can't save April from her suicide, or get Mimi off smack… it's… it's too late for them, Mark…" he felt tears well up in his eyes. "And… and it's too late for m-me too…"
He whimpered as Mark brushed away his tears gently with his thumb, looking at him head on.
"R-Roger, don't say that…." he whispered. "We're not gonna let you end up in hell, I promise you that… we're gonna figure out something… like we always do..."
Roger still didn't look convinced. "But what if w-we don't!? Mark, I can't go to hell! I cant! I won't be able to take it! It was horrible… I saw glimpses, Mark… it was so hot… burning… people screaming and begging to die… b-but…" he remembered the being's angry warning. "But you can't kill wh-what's already d-dead…" he felt panic rising up in his chest.
"But we will." Mark said firmly. Roger looked up at him sadly. "Roger, I won't let you be taken there… I'll fight whoever this man is tooth and nail before he gets his hands on you… I'll be by your side no matter what… like always…" he smiled at the rocker gently. "Now that I finally have you back, I'm never losing you again..." Roger smiled a little himself, resting his head against Mark's chest.
"God, I missed you… you little fuck…" Mark giggled.
"I missed you too, asshole…" Mark replied. He hummed happily, beginning to stroke Roger's hair, and smiling to himself as the tall man purred with delight. He always loved his hair being touched. They lay together like that for what seemed like hours, just holding each other, and enjoying the other's presence. After what seemed like forever, they were reunited once more.
"Marrrrrky?" The color drained from Mark's face. Shit. Maureen and Joanne were home. If they saw Roger, they would flip. Especially Maureen. He needed more time to gather his explanation together.
"Rog… you have to hide…" He whispered in panic as he heard Maureen coming for the stairs. "Closet. Now." he yanked him up from the bed, and quickly shoved him in. Roger was about to protest, but any sound he made was muffled as Mark slammed the door just in time as Maureen poked her head up.
"Hey baby…" she murmured with a smile. "Sleep well?"
Mark nodded quickly. "Mhmm! you?"
She grinned. "I slept nicely, thanks." she moved towards him. She saw his closet and suddenly bounced with excitement. "Oh! let me pick out your outfit for today! I'll make you look so handsome!" Mark felt his heart drop as she reached for the door knob. He quickly threw himself in her way, laughing nervously.
"Mo, come on, now… I can dress myself." Maureen smirked.
"Pookie, you never let me have any fun! now, move! I wanna pick out your outfit!" she insisted, trying to move him aside. He wouldn't budge.
"Maureen, you really shouldn't open that…"
"What are you hiding?"
"N-nothing! can't a guy have some privacy? g-geez…"
"AHA! you ARE hiding something!"
"Am not!"
"Then let me see."
Mark sighed with desperation. There was no getting out of it, now. Maureen wouldn't stop until she got a look of what was inside. Mark figured it was now or never. The sooner he revealed Roger, the better things would turn out. Defeated, he stepped aside. He winced as she yanked the door open.
Roger tumbled out with a loud grunt. He rubbed his head, blinking up at Maureen with a glare.
Her ear splitting scream bounced around the small space, causing Mark to cover his ears. She stumbled back away from Roger until she hit the wall. Joanne was with them at once, yelling and asking if Maureen was alright. However, when she saw Roger on the ground, she screamed too.
"Y-you're dead!" Maureen cried, holding onto Joanne in fear. "You… what are you doing here!? How are you here!?" Roger got to his feet with a groan, brushing himself off.
"Are you a ghost!? are you angry with us!?" Joanne yelped, pulling Maureen closer. Mark laughed a little. Both women shot him a confused look.
"I'm not a ghost… I'm very much alive…" Roger answered, looking up at them. "I'm not angry with anyone… I'm here… to make things right." when he was met with even more confused stares, he launched into the same story he had told Mark. By the end of it, they were listening in interest.
"Oh, Roggy…." Maureen murmured, tears running down her face. She suddenly ran forward, crushing the tall man in a hug. He sighed a little, returning it. "We've missed you so much…" he gave a small smile.
"I missed you guys too…" he whispered, stroking Maureen's hair affectionately. She pulled away slightly, and smiled at him, stretching up, and kissing his cheek. A little blush creeped onto his face. She ruffled his hair playfully before stepping back.
"We're gonna help you redeem yourself, Roger…" Joanne whispered, moving forward to hug the rocker herself. "Whatever it takes… we're here for you… every step of the way… we won't let you be sent to that awful place." Roger smiled.
"Thank you guys…. so much…" his smile didn't last long. "But…. what am I supposed to do? I mean, I saved Mark's life! wouldn't that be enough?"
Mark blinked in confusion. "Maybe you're my guardian? maybe it's your job…"
Roger shook his head. "No, no, no! The guy told me I had to right my wrongs… but.. I don't know what my wrongs even are!"
Joanne tilted her head. "He did say you were selfish, and rude… maybe you need to show him that those things aren't true."
"But, how!?" Roger cried, desperate. "I… what am I supposed to do? feed orphans? rescue kittens from burning buildings? I don't exactly have an instruction booklet here…"
"We could do good deeds!" Maureen chirped, running to his side. "Tomorrow, you can come with me to tent city to give out blankets to the homeless. You can help me protest the unfair treatment of the less fortunate! We can send a message! the man who put you here will see that, won't he?"
Roger sighed. "I dont know if that's what he meant, though… maybe I'm supposed to start crying and begging to be forgiven for my mistakes…"
"You can't be forgiven yet, Roger." Joanne replied. "You dont even know what you've done." Roger looked down.
"Lets give everything a try at least once… that way, we can narrow down what works, and what doesn't… okay?" Mark murmured, resting a comforting hand on Roger's shoulder. Roger nodded.
"So, then! protesting with me it is." Maureen said with excitement. Joanne looked up.
"Then, maybe the day after that, you can come with me to defend clients who were falsely accused." Maureen nodded quickly.
"Then me and you can walk the city with some food, give it to people who need it most." Mark added, patting Roger's back. Roger nodded.
"It's all we can do until I get some sort of sign…" he leaned against Mark.
"It's gonna be okay, Roggy… you'll see." Roger smiled at him.
"Thank god for optimists…" Mark giggled a little in response.
"I'm ready to fix things." Roger murmured to himself as Mark walked towards the kitchen to make him his coffee. "I will make everything right." he looked towards the window, hoping the man could hear him now. "No matter what."
Gotta love those fluffy reunions 3 hope you enjoyed! -Kris