Request from AmazingDan11, For some reason I found this tough to write! 45K, Huh? Damn, I just don't even know what to say other than thank you so much <3 

Kinda angst

"Just an act, huh? That all its ever been?"

;

The collab of the century was bound to happen, Seeing as Dan and Phil were in America for their tour, at the same time as Jack and Mark were there for PAX. So, in Phil and Dan's bus, they sat with a few shitty pancake makers and cookie cutters ready to start their pancake making contest. They were competitive and always tried to distract one and other from the challenge, but in the end; It was Phan whom was the better ship when it came too making pancakes. However, it was a close call and Jack just enjoyed hanging out with the pair and Mark. The collab was yet to be announced, careful was to not send the communities into oblivion. Mark was sulking by the end of the video, The Irishman laughing at him and resting his head on Marks shoulder. "We'll get em next time, babe." To which Dan responded, "Game on." And the video ended. They really would need to have a rematch.

;

The weekend was going good but Mark couldnt seem to drift off to sleep and he knew it wasnt just convention excitement. It was because after that video he couldnt stop thinking about Jack. He had called him babe, and they looked like a couple in the video but last thing Mark heard was that Jack had a girl living with him and it was confusing him. Was it just an act? The flirting and teasing for the camera? It made Marks stomach knot at that, that all those glances and teases were put on. But Jack was never one to put something on for the camera. This was frustrating. He needed answers.

He pulled out his phone from beneath his pillow, squinting at the bright light in the darkness and text Jack.

"Are we a thing?" He sent it before giving it a second thought otherwise the raven haired man would drive himself up the wall. He decided to sleep on it, thinking that Jack would be asleep and he wouldnt get an answer until the morning.

And he had but not what he was looking for.

"I don't know, I need to figure things out." Great, he'd been too forward and fucked things up, good job; Fischbach.

He head out to meet Bob, Wade and Jack at the cafe just a few moments from his hotel. Their usual banter flowed but sometimes Mark would miss the joke due to admiring the Irishman and laugh it off. Everything was still swarming in his head.

;

It was the last night of Jacks stay when the video aired. And after it began trending, he got the messages from Signe.

"Whats going on? You seem pretty close to Mark in that video." Jack couldn't blame her for asking questions, he had been flirting with Mark the whole video and he could not deny that. He was foolish to get caught up in a few moments like that Mark was straight and so was he... But he'd led Mark on, saying he'd figure things out but he had no idea how to figure those out or what things needed to be figured out. So he called Signe unaware of the American standing outside his door to tell him they were going out for dinner.

"It was just an act, I swear.-" Came that familiar Irish drole from behind the door which usually spoke heart melting words but what Mark heard were heart crushing words. Deciding to not stand outside the door any longer, he staggered off, like he had been wounded in battle, as quiet as he could/

Breakfast was awkward, words never said lingering in the air as well as Marks rare, unseen anger. It wasn't until Bob and Wade left to pack their things that Mark spoke the words.

"Just an act, huh? That all its ever been to you, Jack?" It was spoken with such venom, the words feeling like a slow poison, sinking right into his heart.

Marks voice broke slightly as he glared into blue eyes, pleading. Tell me I'm wrong. Say I overheard something, please.

"I didn't mean it like that I just-"

"You need to figure things out? Figure out whether to keep playing me or go home to your damn girlfriend? Get your cake and eat it?!" Mark snapped towards the end of his sentence his voice raising. Jack hung his head in shame as he heard a chair, Marks chair, scrapping against the titles on the floor and heavy footprints and a slam of the door in the distance.

Jack didn't do confrontation not like this. So, he left. A napkin with his messy writing on it with; "I'm sorry." And he was, a sour end to the weekend. He had made a choice, to go home to his girlfriend and live the life he was molded into. He couldn't throw that away not now, not after all these years of suppressed feelings and raw denial.

The flight was daunting, empty. He usually got home sick in America, glad to be heading home when he did but this time was different.

;

He had made the wrong choice.

And paid the price, he was foolish thinking he could just go back and play happy families; Perfect, Straight, Innocent, Jack. He wasn't any of those things. His relationship collapsed and he had to tell the fans that it just did not work when really, he just didn't work. All he could think about was Mark. How badly, he had hurt him and he didn't even know, didn't think. He just got so wrapped up in whatever it was and he regretted it. He hadn't spoken to Mark since then, something else he had to explain to the fans; He just said their schedules were too different. What else could he say? "I hurt him because I was an idiot and pretended to be straight also hurting my patient girlfriend!" Jack hated himself, he had to go back to America, to see Mark. To face his mistakes after all these years, no more running. 

;

After Wade's help, he stood outside a wooden door, with the numbers "57" marked on them, they were metal and kind of rusting. 

Exhale, inhale. You can do this.

Jack knocked on the door with a shaky fist, the sound echoing in his ears. It felt like an eternity but also only a few seconds,  until he heard footsteps and the door unlocking. Jack shifted on his feet, wiping his hands on his jeans until he looked up to meet all to familiar chocolate eyes, looking just as shocked as he was.

He looked almost the same as he did all those years ago. Expect missing his glasses and with fading red hair atop his head. He was as pretty as Jack remembered, if not more. Pictures did not do him justice. He stood for a moment, kind of awestruck that he had the courage to come here; knock on his door like it was casual like he hadn't hurt him to the bone like he hadn't ran off and never spoke to him again for what, three years?

"I made the wrong choice." His voice, so smoothing the exact opposite Mark remembered it. Maybe because he heard those words last night; over and over again like some devil on his shoulder whispering it to him.

'It was just an act.' Snapping out his trance, realizing that Jack expected him to say something.

"Come in." Mark breathed, because he didn't know what else to say or do, he always had a speech, a lecture; for whenever Jack decided to show up if he ever did but all his thoughts flew out the window. He was here, in the flesh after three fucking years.

He stood awkwardly in Marks living room as if he didn't expect to get this far. He hadn't.

"How did you find my address?" It came out with less bite than he intended and Mark hated it.

"Wade gave me it." No surprise there, Wade was always the one whom couldn't seem to drop a subject, Jack being one of them.

"Why are you here?" Mark asked, sighing.

"I'm so sorry." And Jack meant every word, Mark could tell the way his voice broke but that bitter part of him didn't want to just run into his arms.

"This just an act too?" Mark muttered, he had grown more stubborn over the years.

"No. I made the wrong choice, Mark. I was stupid and in denial. Because I could not accept who I was and why, you'd ever like me. I was foolish and I am sorry I hurt you." And suddenly, he was sobbing.

All that emotion he had to let go, all back just like Jack was. And he was there, kissing him and mumbling a "I hate you." or "Just showing up here, god dammit" The kisses said everything he wanted too and the tears showed how much emotion, how much pain he'd gone through over the years. Jack looked different, but here; against him, he felt the same.

It would take time, to heal the pair but Jack was back and there was no way he was going anywhere.

Time; It either kills you slowly or heals you as it kills you.