(Seán's P.O.V.)

Thirty years ago our world was turned into one of survival of the fittest. It was a war of the two best, trying to overpower the other side. Many just named the sides "light" and "dark", which I guess is fair. I mean, "light" wears a lot of light colors, while "dark" wears a lot of dark colors. But it doesn't symbolize what we are. "Light" and "dark". They're simply shades of colors, an adjective, but not the right kind of adjective.

Both sides believe in different things. Both sides are just plainly different. I'm from what you would call the "light" side. My name is Jack, that's what everyone knows me as. Jack. The one with the glowing heart, cool visor, and good with guns. The two sides fight, mainly in arenas where there are medics to help someone if they get badly hurt. Sometimes though...

Sometimes we aren't that lucky. Or sometimes there's an injury that's just to bad for a support character to take care of. It's difficult. It's risky. It's my life. Being in the arena, fighting, becoming a household name on my side of the city. Many parents would never let their kids do this. I didn't have parents to tell me not too. And I don't regret it one bit. Mainly cause, because I do this... I met him.

Some would say I was stupid to take the bullet. Some would say that I should have let it hit him and let him die. But because of my stupidity I'm laying here with blood trickling down the side of my mouth, a bullet in what is now the cracked, glowing circle in the middle of my chest keeping my heart going. Everything is wonky, I can't focus on one sight, sound, anything. Only my thoughts.

Everyone says the same thing. He's heartless. Cold. Physically unable to feel human emotions. He was made to kill, raised to hurt. The perfect assassin. But as he sits here, with his hand under my head and speaking words I cannot hear, I know it isn't true. I smile softly at him, finally understanding what he's saying.

He's apologizing over and over, regret in his eyes. Regret and sadness. In my mind I chuckle. The heartless assassin Markiplier, sad because the enemy is dying. The enemy. He's the enemy too. I saved the enemy, I took the bullet for an enemy. If I live through this my supervisor is gonna be pissed. But I don't care. He's not dead. Mark isn't dead. 

And with all those thoughts in mind, his voice in my head and the feeling of his hand on my chest, I let the darkness consume me and everything to fade out.

***

Beeping. That's what I wake up too. Soft, rhythmic beeping. I recognize it, but from what? What's the beeping? I will myself to open my eyes, but I don't. I can't. Not yet. I'm to tired. In my head I whine softly, trying once again to open my eyes. I do, but slowly. Once my eyes are fully opened I realize where I am and what's going on.

The beeping is from a heart monitor, and I'm in the hospital. It's very clear. White walls, white ceiling, white floor, white everywhere. I'm on my side, which makes sense. If I was in a "dark" hospital, they'd probably just leave me to die. It's dark in the room though. I turn to see that the blinds are closed, slivers of light peeking out from underneath and in between.

I look down at my chest, staring at the stabilizer (or the previously mentioned green circle). It's perfectly round, seamless, and glowing a soft green. The cracks are gone, just disappeared. Amazing. And good. I can't live without this thing. My heart would stop, and I'd drop dead in an instant. Then I look up. 

My eyes widen in shock at what I see. Or who I see, is more accurate. There, standing in the corner with his arms crossed and looking at the ground, is Mark. Why is he here? Did he bring me here? If so, why did he wait? If he's as bad as everyone says, he wouldn't be here. He would have let me die. But he is here, and he didn't let me die. I smile softly. 

"I don't believe them." I say quietly. Mark snaps his head up and looks at me, eyes narrowed.

"What?" He asks, his voice deep and smooth. Like dark chocolate. Like his eyes. I snap out of it and my smile grows.

"I don't believe what people say about you." I say, my voice somewhat hoarse. He scoffs, turning and looking out the window. He's still in his battle gear. Does he not have a change of clothes? Did he not leave to change? He waited...

"You should believe them." He says then, surprising me. My smile is replaced with shock as I shake my head slowly.

"Why do you say that?" I ask, my voice getting better with every sentence spoken. Still looking out the window Mark answers.

"Because I've killed without a second thought. I've hurt people - innocent people. Among other things." He says the last part quietly and I frown. 

"What other things?" I ask, genuinely curious. But I'm normally curious, so yeah. Nothing new there. Heh... Mark looks at the ground and shakes his head.

"Nothing." He says, refusing to answer. I narrow my eyes, huffing quietly. I want to know.

"Please tell me." I say and he shakes his head, still refusing. "It can't be that bad! I mean, nothing worse than you've done before. Not that I'm trying to make that sound worse! Just, I mean, you can tell me and it'll be fine! Like, it can't be th-"

"I was sent there to kill you!" He shouts. I freeze, staring at him with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth. Oh... That's not what I was expecting. He sighs, putting his head in his hands. "I was told that if I saw you to immediately kill you. No one else. Just you." 

My expression softens after a minute into a small smile and calm eyes. "But you didn't." I whisper. He snaps his head up, looking at me. 

"What?" He asks. I sit up a bit more, confident in my words.

"You didn't kill me. In fact, you saved me. You brought me here, and you stayed to make sure I was alright." I say, smiling still. He shakes his head, looking out the window again.

"You got it all wrong." He says. I chuckle. 

"Oh really? How?" I ask, knowing that I don't. There's no response. Instead he just looks down at the floor, almost looking ashamed. I sigh, still staring at him. I can't not stare at him. "Listen. You're really talented. And yeah, you've made some mistakes. But everyone does. You won't get killed because of it."

"You've never been to my side. You've never seen the dark. They will kill me for disobeying orders. Not just disobeying, but doing the complete opposite." He kind of snaps, though I can tell he's trying not too. "You just don't understand." He calms down and I shake my head.

"No, I don't understand. And I probably never will. But I don't care because you saved me, and for that..." I inhale deeply. I can't believe I'm doing this. "I'm inviting you to join my side." 

He stares at me with wide eyes. "Wait, wait, what?" He asks, completely baffled. I shrug.

"Join the light. To me it's obvious you only fight for the dark because you born too. So, save your life and join the light. We'll gladly take you." I say, smiling slightly. He shakes his head, chuckling.

"Dear lord Jack you have a death wish." He whispers. 

"Seán." I say and he looks at me with confusion. 

"Seán?" He asks, obviously very confused. I nod.

"My real name. Seán McLoughlin." I answer. He nods, showing he understands.

"Well, Seán, you still have a death wish. Fighting beside me isn't the best idea." He says, looking at the ground once more. I roll my eyes and I turn, looking at the table beside me. My grappling hook is here for some reason. I smirk and I grab it, shooting it at Mark. It wraps around him, causing his eyes to go wide.

Then I pull the cord, making him come over towards me. He stares at me with wide eyes as the hook unwraps itself. I put the grappling hook back, grabbing his wrist. I shake my head slightly, leaning up and kissing him softly, quickly. When I pull back his shock is even more apparent. I smile, my cheeks a bright red, matching his hair.

"I don't care Mark. I've loved you ever since I first saw you fight. And now I love you even more." I say, keeping a grip on his wrist. At first, I'm terrified of his reaction. But then... He smiles. It's the first time I've ever seen him smile and it's absolutely gorgeous. 

"I love you too. Ever since I first landed my eyes on you." And he leans in for another kiss, one that lasts longer. I smile into the kiss, happy that I'm finally able to have him. Mark. The heartless, cold assassin without human emotions. The one that would kill in an instant. The one that was sent to kill me. The one everyone says negative things about. Heh...

I don't believe them.

A/N: (A wild Red appears and quietly whispers "Happy New Year" before disappearing with the words "I lied about not posting before 2017" hovering over her head)