Mark

   "Mark calm down!" Pushing a branch ruffly out of my way I ignored the sudden pain of a new cut across my palm and kept walking. My feet crunching the leaves of the forest floor as I frantically searched my surroundings,"I will not calm down." I snapped at the boy following me without turning to look at him,"Junior!" The amount of times I had called his name would have made anyone else give up by now, but I was not about to,"Why don't we just go to where Jb said he would be and think of a plan?" Youngjae's tone was persuasive, though not enough. I felt my shoulders sag with lack of energy. It was a few hours ago that Mingyu had told us Jinyoung hadn't warned the bandits on the street of what was to come. Jb had immediately suggested finding a temporary camp where everyone would be safe, and all three of them agreed until I refused and demanded we go searching for Jinyoung.

   If he hadn't been able to warn them there was a reason, and who knew what that reason was? Jb pointed out that Jinyoung could take care of himself. But what if he can't in whatever place he is. The risks are too high to be ignored and eventually Jb had given up and told me they were heading toward the end of the north lake. I, of course, hadn't known where the hell that was, so Jb forced Youngjae to stay with me during my search. Though the two had shared a quick conversation of what I knew had something to do with convincing me to let the whole thing go. That had really been the only thing Youngjae had tried to do since we started walking.

"You know," Youngjae started with a grunt. I held a laugh at the sound of a branch snapping and a small yelp,"Jb told me Junior is one of his best fighters. It's very unlikely he would let some villager take him down. I've known him since I was nine years old, and Jb knew him for-" Pausing mid-step I closed my eyes and took a deep breath,"Stop mentioning Jb, Youngjae, and think for yourself. Do you really, truly believe-no matter what the situation is- that Junior is okay?" Turning in place I ran my eyes over his face. Youngjae's shoulders were sagging and he had slight bags under his eyes, eyelids dropping. His mouth opened and closed as he looked everywhere but me,"N-no."

   Sighing I gently placed a hand on his shoulder,"Youngjae, while there is still a chance Junior isn't okay, I'll be looking for him." Turning back around I kept walking, Youngjae mumbling behind me,"So I'm guessing he is your boyfriend now?" Youngjae spoke slightly more cheerfully, a skip in his step as he moved to walk beside me. Pressing my lips together tightly in confusion I gazed curiously at him,"I'm not sure I understand the meaning of boyfriend. My mom never cared for love, or cared to teach me much of it." I gave him a small smile,"But if my boyfriend is what you wish to label him as, then you can do so."

Youngjae hummed, slowly falling into silence. The sun slipped through the trees, warming up my skin. We continued for a few minutes before he spoke again,"Well, to me, calling him your boyfriend isn't very important. I just find it easier to tell people things if you label them. People understand labels more than individuals. That's what society does after all, puts people in groups and sticks a sign on them that creates an image. The sign tells everyone what to think about this group, and what this group feels, what this group does. But who are they to tell us what we are, what we feel?" The boy who I thought of as fragile and sensitive when we meet, stood powerfully before me. His eyes blazing with anger, his mouth in a frown of sadness. Youngjae straightened his stance, and I flinched when we locked gazes,"You can call Junior whatever you want Mark, all that matters is that you love him." He shrugged,"Labels won't change that."

   By the end of his speech tears had formed at the corner of his eyes, though the anger was still there,"I've thought about what you said to me, a while ago." We had stopped walking by now,"'Pretending this is what you want thing'. Let's get one thing straight Mark, I never pretended with Jb. But," He paused,"that doesn't make all the things Jb has said, and done to me, right or okay." Gesturing to me Youngjae smiled tightly,"So I've decided, from your words, that maybe Jb isn't right for me. I'm breaking up with him once we get back to the temporary camp."

My eyes widened as I saw the sad look on Youngjae's face,"You don't seem sure this is what you want." I cautiously began walking again, not wanting to stay in one place to long. At this point no one knew who could be walking around in these woods. Youngjae sighed as he took a step forward,"It's not what I want, believe me, it's not even close. But it's what I need. Jb wasn't treating me like his lover, well not recently." I raised an eyebrow mockingly,"You mean Jb was nice once?" Youngjae scoffed, hitting my right shoulder before looking into the trees,"He used to be amazing. Nice, caring, protective of his new family. Man, if you knew what he went through as a kid, you would be protective of everyone who cared about you too. But he was so protective he pushed them away." As if he realized something, Youngjae took a sharp breath,"And he is pushing me away."

    Youngjae quickly grabbed my arm,"Mark, we have to go to the temporary camp." Furrowing my eyebrows I shook his hand off,"I thought we went over this-" Youngjae frantically shook his head,"No! Mark you don't get it, this is way more important than you think. You don't know Jb like I do, something is happening and I need to figure it out before he finishes it." Giving me no time for argument he held onto my shirt and pulled me the way we had come. I stumbled as he raced through the trees. No, Jinyoung, we haven't found him yet. I can't leave now, I can't give up,"Youngjae...we can't leave him." I tried to pull free of his grip, but it was practically iron.

"Mark you have to trust me on this! We need to find Jb before he starts some sort of- of, I can't say." The lack of sleep was starting to effect me as Youngjae continued pulling me. It was a few minutes later that the sound of rushing water entered my senses. We had reached the river. Relief and worry filled me at the sight of the stream of blue water flowing among the deep green forest. My throat was suddenly dry,"Keep going Mark, we are almost there." What could be so troubling that he is in such a rush? Stumbling after him I noticed a dim red light in the distance,"Uh, what is that?" Youngjae pulled harder on my hand,"That's the camp. They have the torches up, idiots." Now having let go of my arm I raced after him. The closer we got, the brighter the torches. It wasn't long before we started hearing voices. Shouts and muttering among a crowd. We were now so close we could see the figures of the bandits that had survived the attack. Almost all of them were screaming at a certain figure standing on a tree trunk. Jb. I could now hear the screams as Youngjae began running faster.

"They must pay!"

"They murdered our family!"

"When will they die for what they've done?"

"Jb you have to do something!"

   I felt Youngjae tap my shoulder as I watched Jb try to quiet everyone down. Only then did I realize he had stopped running to join me. I ignored him but the tapping kept getting more aggressive. Maybe this is my way of pouting for not getting what I want,"Uh, Mark?" Shrugging his shoulder off I heard someone yell "you're our leader aren't you?". Youngjae continued his tapping. The action irritated me to the point of turning towards the male to yell at him. As I went to ask what the hell was so important I noticed he wasn't looking at me but away from me. I curiously followed his gaze, landing on a figure sitting at the edge of the crowd, not seeming interested in the argument.

   My breath hitched. The figures black hair came into focus as he swayed back and forth anxiously. Hand fidgety by his said,"Oh my god-" Stepping forward I paused,"Junior?" Jinyoung didn't turn at my call, the crowd too loud. Not waiting any longer I quickly raced to his side, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. Jinyoung instinctually pushed my hand off, going to push it back until it snapped before locking eyes with me,"Yi en?"  We both let out a breath of relief, and I felt myself smile as, instead of breaking my hand, he clutched onto it,"Where did you go? What happened?" The light in his eyes died as I scanned his body for any new bruises and cuts. There were a few on his arms,"I- I was taken by villagers after I walked away from you."

   My eyes widened, he wasn't okay I was right,"Then how are you here?" I watched Jinyoung gulp, nervously? His hand that was wrapped around mine squeezed tighter,"I fought my way out." Confused, I moved closer to him,"Fought?" Searching his eyes for some type of answer or emotion I watched as he closed them,"I..I killed them to get away." Taken aback by the sudden confess I stepped back when he tried to move forward, seeking comfort. Guilt immediately filled me when he stepped back himself and stumbled over his words while trying to explain,"I am sorry. I didn't- I didn't want to, but I told you I'd warn those people and I couldn't. And, now they are all dead because I got captured. I killed the villagers to save bandits but I failed so it was for nothing and I'm sorry."

   Shaking my head I quickly closed the gap between us, holding him tightly against me,"It's okay, and it was not your fault you got taken. Everyone knows if you could have saved them you would. I mean who could have known villagers knew we had sent spies?" I felt him nod at the crook of my neck. A tap at my shoulder made us separate. Youngjae smiled sheepishly,"Sorry to interrupt but Jb called for a meeting. It's important."

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Yay she updated on Sunday finally(though where I am it's 11:43 so I'm technically cheating)