John woke up in the middle of the night. He had had a nightmare. He lay in bed for a while before he sighed and carefully sat up in bed so he wouldn't wake the guitarist. John opened a drawer and pulled out fresh underwear and a clean t-shirt, which he put on. In the dark, he then fumbled across the room and found Mark's denim jacket hanging over a chair. He took a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his breast pocket. With these things, he made his way to the small balcony that adjoined Mark's bedroom. While he stood on the balcony and smoked, he looked through the glass door into the room. Mark was still sleeping on the bed. The moon shone into the room and illuminated him. The younger man was lying on his side, the blanket covering his legs. John smiled as he watched him. God, he loved this man. He was really lucky to have found him. Mark rolled onto his back in his sleep. John smiled and turned away. He leaned against the balcony railing and looked out over the streets of London while he smoked and calmed his nerves. He stood there for a while, lighting a second cigarette, when suddenly arms wrapped around his waist. He almost dropped the cigarette, he was so startled. When he looked down and saw the hands on his stomach, he smiled.

"What are you doing out here?" A croaking voice asked sleepily before the owner of the voice cleared his throat.

"What are you doing out here, young man? You're supposed to be sleeping." John giggled, still looking down at the street. Mark nuzzled his face into John's neck.

"If my heating is out of bed, it won't be long before I'm awake." John giggled. "Did you have a nightmare, honey?"

"Mh." John hummed. "But don't worry. I'm fine." John turned around and looked at the younger man. "How are you?" He gently brushed a strand of blonde hair from his face. Mark yawned, making John giggle.

"Tired." The guitarist stroked his eyes. "And sore."

"Sore?"

"My ass hurts." Mark mumbled. John started to laugh. "Not so loud." Mark giggled. "It's three in the morning." John giggled, pressed his cigarette into the ashtray and wrapped his arms around Mark's waist. The smaller man looked up at him.

"I love you." Mark smiled.

"Love you too. Shall we go back to bed?" John smiled and nodded. Mark walked ahead and John couldn't help but grin when he saw that Mark was limping and walking very slowly. Damn, maybe I pushed him a little too hard, John thought, grinning. They both lay back in bed. Mark was almost asleep again. He snuggled up to John's chest and yawned loudly. "How come you're suddenly so relaxed about our relationship?" John asked quietly, stroking Mark's upper arm. "You kiss me, you cuddle me, you tell me you love me." Mark looked up at him, his blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight.

"I...I don't know." Mark bit his lower lip.

"I'm happy, of course." John said quickly. "I was just wondering what changed your mind." Mark sighed quietly.

"I just thought about it. All people are happy with their soul mate. Hell, even my mother was happy with my father, even though he was an asshole. And I thought to myself...why shouldn't I be happy with my soul mate? Is it selfish to think that I deserve it?" John looked at him blankly.

"Selfish? Baby, what makes you think that? It's definitely not. And you deserve to be happy." Mark smiled gently at him.

"I'm tired." He yawned. John smiled.

"Then sleep. I'm here."

"I know." Mark whispered and closed his eyes.

*

Around midday, the two entered the studio. Mary was there too. She had spent the whole evening with David to get to know him better and one thing was clear: it was like love at first sight. David felt like he had known her his whole life.

When Mark entered the studio, it became quiet. He hobbled to the sofa and plopped down on it, biting his lower lip hard. John couldn't help but grin a little.

"What!?" Mark asked irritably when he noticed that everyone was staring at him. "Do I have something on my face!?"

"To be precise, on your neck and chest." Pick laughed. Mark looked at him blankly.

"The leopard look suits you perfectly, brother." David added, laughing. Mark turned his head and looked questioningly up at John, who blushed. "You have lots of love bites on your neck!" David laughed. Mark blushed. "Don't tell me you didn't notice."

"John didn't think it was important enough to tell me." Mark replied a little angrily. When his friends' jokes became too much for him, he simply went into the recording booth and closed the door behind him. He put on his headphones and got to work.

"You really gave him a hard time, old boy." Pick giggled and nudged John with his elbow. The bassist, who was sitting at the mixing desk again, raised his head and looked at him. "He's still limping." John's face turned red. David and Mary were on their way to get lunch for everyone, so they were sitting alone. Pick got a chair and sat next to John. "So? How was he?" John bit his lip.

"Honest answer?"

"Honest answer." Pick nodded and looked at him curiously. John and Pick had always confided all their secrets to each other.

"Fuck, he was phenomenal." John leaned back and closed his eyes, grinning.

"Seriously?"

"Pick, that was the best sex of my damn life."

"Because he's your soul mate, right..."

"He was just...fuck, he was amazing. I can't describe it. He felt incredible. It was completely different from all the other partners I've had at some point and..." John proudly showed Pick his wrist. The drummer's eyes widened.

"Damn, you really belong together."

"Yes." John sighed happily and closed his eyes contentedly.

"How...how does he deal with it?" Pick asked quietly and nodded his head in Mark's direction, who ignored them.

"What do you mean?"

"That...that his whole name is on your wrist, but he doesn't have a soul mark." John sighed and bit his lower lip. He raised his head and looked at Mark through the window. The guitarist had stopped recording. He was sitting on a chair, his guitar on his lap, playing. His eyes were closed while his fingers danced over the strings.

"It's not easy for him. When...when my soul mark changed yesterday, he immediately checked to see if his own had come back. He was devastated when his wrist was still empty. I think the...the moment yesterday would have been more special if his soul mark had been there." Pick nodded silently.

"You make him happy, you know that, don't you?" The bassist raised an eyebrow questioningly. "He's changed since you've been with him. And I mean that in a positive way. He looks a little healthier again, probably because you're forcing him to eat, right?" John nodded and giggled. "You're good for him. And he seems happy. When you're by his side...he practically beams." Pick put a hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks, Pick." John said quietly and smiled at him.

"What are friends for?" The drummer giggled.

*

After half an hour, Mark came out of the recording room and went to the bathroom without saying a word. John followed him. He had to go to the bathroom anyway. When the bassist entered the bathroom, Mark was standing at the sink.

"What are you doing?" John asked cheerfully as he walked towards him.

"Nothing." Mark said quickly.

"Don't lie." John giggled, leaning over the younger man. His eyes widened. Mark's right wrist was swollen and red. Where his soul mark should be, the skin was coming off in strips, the way it would only do after a very bad sunburn or a really bad burn. "What happened?" John asked in shock, gently taking Mark's wrist in his.

"I don't know." Mark sighed. "It was itchy this morning and now it looks like this."

"Did you scratch it?" John asked worriedly, gently running his finger over the dead skin. Mark shook his head. "We should put some wound healing cream on it or something." He said worriedly.

"Don't worry, John. Cold water will do the trick." Mark assured him and turned the tap on again to let water run over his wrist. John wrapped his arms around Mark's waist and kissed him on the cheek.

"I love you, you know? I'll always worry about you. Even if you tell me not to." Mark sighed and gently stroked John's forearm with his thumb before looking at John through the mirror. "We look good together, you know?" The bassist giggled as he examined the reflection.

"You think so?" Mark asked quietly, leaning back against John's chest.

"Mh." John hummed and nibbled on Mark's shoulder. "I love you." Mark giggled.

"I love you too."

*

A few days passed and the wound on Mark's wrist didn't get better. It itched, burned and hurt. It was red and swollen and the skin kept coming off before the mark bled. Mark pulled a band over his wrist, like he did on stage, so John wouldn't worry about him. But when blood ran down his fingers, the bassist started.

"What do you have there?" He asked, his eyes wide.

"What do you mean?" Mark replied, dumbfounded. John took his hand and looked at the blood before pushing the band back. Mark gasped.

"What the hell!?" John screamed, his eyes wide. "What have you done!?"

"I haven't done anything!" Mark shouted, trying to stop the bleeding with a tissue.

"Don't lie to me!" John shouted, horrified.

"Why would I have done that!?" Mark shouted, irritated.

"You also let the soul mark bleed out because you were ashamed of it!" John answered angrily. Mark looked at him in shock.

"That's not true at all."

"Yes, it is! And you know it! You were ashamed that my name was on your wrist! I don't know how insane you have to be to let your soul mark bleed out! Twice!"

"Insane!?" Mark screamed in horror.

"It's definitely not normal, Mark!" John shouted. He was suddenly very angry.

"You're calling me insane!?"

"I can't think of many other words to describe it!"

"You have no idea what I went through!" Mark shouted angrily. Tears tingled in his eyes. "Not everyone had a wonderful childhood like the infamous John Illsley!"

"That has nothing to do with it, Mr. Knopfler!" John shouted angrily.

"Yes! It does!" Mark shouted angrily and pushed John away. "You have no idea what I've been through in my life!"

"Then tell me, Mark!"

"I don't have to tell you anything!"

"Oh, now you're being stubborn, aren't you? Too sentimental to talk about it or something!?"

"I was abused, okay!? Is that what you wanted to hear!?" John's eyes shot open in shock. He stared at Mark with eyes as wide as saucers. "My father beat me regularly, I still have scars on my body! I regularly paint them with paint so they don't show! I've spent my whole life just trying to survive! For David! For my soul mate!" Tears now streamed from Mark's eyes. "And now you're telling me I'm insane!?"

"Mark." John said quietly and reached out a hand to him. Mark backed away.

"Leave me alone! I don't need your pity! I thought you were different. That I could start a new life with you. And you call me insane!? How am I supposed to know why my wrist is bleeding!? I didn't cut it!" Mark turned around and stormed out of the room. John looked after him in shock.