Sean backed up against the bike, asking in a timid voice. "What are you going to do?" Mark stepped closer, sliding his fingers along Sean's neck to comfort him as he told him warmly. "I don't know... How about you show me how you have fun in the Slums?" Sean huffed sarcastically, blushing as he looked away. Mark's thumb gently turned his head back to look at him as Sean tried to look away. As their eyes met, Sean swallowed. Mark wasn't kidding. Shrugging, he told him honestly. "Well... They host these... Glow parties. They use glow paint and neon lights to light up themselves and their bikes. They drink, fuck, and get high. Not something you do here in Valhalla. And to be honest... I never attended them myself because..." Sean drifted off as his mind drifted to the discarded Pets. Hugging himself, he turned away from Mark to stare down at the bike. Shame and guilt was tearing him up inside. There was so much he regretted doing and not doing. Mark's hands ran up his bare arms to his shoulders. Holding him steady, Mark whispered to him. "That's why you are a great racer." Sean nodded.

Sean tilted his head back against Mark's shoulder, feeling his warm lips brush along his throat. Feeling Mark's kiss to his throat took Sean's breath away. Dropping his arms, Sean reached back to touch Mark's thighs. Tugging on his pants, he coaxed Mark up closer behind him. Mark's arms wrapped around his chest to hold him tightly. Sean shivered in Mark's arms the second his lips found his ear. Mark's lips softly teased up the curve of his ear, going to the tip before opening his mouth and lightly biting his ear. A soft whine left Sean, his fingers digging into Mark's thighs. Goosebumps were springing up along his skin. The sensation made him blush and sensitive everywhere. He wanted more, but Mark suddenly pulled away. Sean staggered a little on his feet. He was lightheaded after that. Using the bike for support, he turned to ask Mark curiously. "Something wrong?" Mark was looking out at the ocean, his cheeks flushed when he shook his head. Sean smirked a little. Had he ever seen Mark blush? It was a good look on him.

Mark covered his face for a second, his blush almost vanishing entirely as he got himself under control. Clearing his throat, Mark told him sweetly. "I'm good. I just... You make it difficult to keep myself under control. Especially, when you act like that..." Sean blinked, trying to think of what he did. Giving a shrug, Sean mumbled out. "What did I do...?" Mark moved back up to him, cupping his face as he purred over his lips in a deep voice. "It's not what you did... It's how you did it. You always try to push me away... But whenever you pull me close, it is like a wave trying to pull me deeper into the blue ocean that is you." Sean blushed, closing his eyes as he tried to shy away. Mark's hands kept him from turning away too far, leaning in to whisper across his cheek. "Sean... Can I keep you?" Sean raised his hands to curl his fingers around Mark's wrists, mumbling out without looking at him. "Mark... You don't want me... I'm damaged... I'm Slum scum..." Mark turned Sean's head, pressing his forehead to his as he whispered in a deep buttery voice. "Sean. Look at me."

Sean forced his eyes open, watching Mark lean back to look him in the eyes. As Sean stared deep into those brown eyes with golden flecks from the fading light in the sky, he found himself holding his breath. He didn't feel good enough for him and that brought tears to his eyes because... even though he didn't want to admit it... He loved him. Mark's thumbs brushed away his tears before they fell, his voice still so deep and buttery when he told him lovingly. "You think that means you don't deserve to be happy? You think I'm perfect beneath the surface? You think I bleed gold and that I am as hard as diamond?" Sean chuckled very softly, mumbling out with a small smile. "No... I've seen you bleed." Mark chuckled, tilting Sean's head back, he brought his lips over his as he whispered to him. "Exactly. Perfection doesn't exist. Trust me. Valhalla looks like a paradise... but we are flawed too. Sean... I didn't know how hollow I was without you." Sean moved his hands to Mark's chest, feeling the soft fabric as he curled his fingers in it to hold him.

Just before Mark pressed his lips to his, he whispered to him so beautifully. "I was so bored with the glittering of gold... You saved me more than I can express. So, stain me with the oil on your hands and I'll smear you in gold. Just tell me you'll be mine...?" Sean accepted Mark's slow passionate kiss. Pulling Mark closer by his shirt. Tears streaked down his cheeks, but Sean ignored them as he wrapped his arms around Mark's neck. Sean had never felt so vulnerable and so safe all at once. When Mark's hands stroked his neck and cheeks, Sean imagined that the body heat he left on his skin was melted gold. Staining and seeping into his skin like a tattoo. Mark made him feel beautiful. When Mark finally pulled back from the kiss to breathe, he whispered in a sudden fearful voice. "I release you, Sean..." Sean's heart leapt and twisted in pain. Stepping back a little, he shakily uttered out. "What...?" Something clicked around Sean's neck and Mark pulled the chain collar off him. Sean gasped as the training ring loosened enough to release him.

Sean reached into his leather pants to remove the loose ring, before looking up at Mark and stammering out. "Mark...? W-what are you...? What are you doing?" Mark took the ring from his hand, refusing to look at him as he told him in a growing emotional voice. "I love you... but I can't keep you... Unless you want me too. So..." Mark sniffled quietly, moving around Sean to point farther ahead along the wall, continuing seriously. "You can take the bike. I removed the tracker. Follow this road around Valhalla to the highway. From there, hit the gas... and don't come back." Mark exhaled, turning away to walk toward the wall overlooking the beach. He had just leaned on it, when Sean rushed over to him, snapping out. "WHAT?! I thought you were going to show me off? That we were going to celebrate my victory? That you were... Mark, I don't understand! Why are you doing this?! I thought... I thought you loved me..." Mark turned slowly to face him, tears running down his cheeks as he told him. "I do. And that's why I'm leaving this choice up to you. You can go. Or you can say." Sean glanced back at the bike, his heart racing to the idea of chasing his freedom.

He walked over to the bike, reaching out to touch the handlebars. The feeling of the handle, causing his heart to twinge with pain. Where would he go? Everything he knew was here. Nate was still here. Shaking his head, he told Mark grimly. "I can't... Nate." Behind him, Mark answered calmly. "Don't worry about him. Mother doesn't want him... I'll be able to get him out too. If that's what he wants." Sean swung his leg over the bike, but he hesitated to turn it on. He couldn't believe himself. This is what he wanted... and he couldn't do it. Forcing himself to turn on the bike, he grabbed the handlebars and revved the engine. Staring at the road ahead, he took a deep shaky breath and released the brake. The bike rushed forward, but his heart appeared to be left behind. The wind rushed past him, but he was numb to the thrill of it. He tried to coax more speed by revving the engine, but at the upcoming turn... his fingers pulled the brake to slow the bike down slowly. Then suddenly his hand jerked and yanked the brake to a full sudden stop.

The stop was so sudden that the back tire rose off the ground and the front tire squealed loudly against the pavement. He leaned back hard to counter the weight on the bike. As the back tire hit the pavement, Sean's heart pulsed and he glanced over his shoulder. Mark was still leaning back against the wall, watching him. Hopping off the bike, Sean let the bike fall to the pavement as he ran back toward Mark as fast as his legs could take him. Sean barely felt the pavement under his feet, tears blurred his vision. He saw Mark rise off the wall, and he ran straight into him. Wrapping his arms around him, he cried against his chest. Mark's hands slid along Sean's arms, prompting Sean to tell him in a rushed broken voice. "I can't go... I... I wanna stay with you." Mark's hands cupped his face, sinking down to his knees. Sean sniffled, staring down at him confused as he held Mark's wrists against his shoulders. Looking up at him with soft eyes, Mark told him warmly. "Then stay."

Sean brushed Mark's bangs away from his face, leaning down to kiss him. His tears falling off his cheeks to mix with Mark's. Their kiss was long and filled with emotion. Sinking to his knees, Sean broke the kiss to bury his face against Mark's neck. He hugged him tightly, feeling himself relax in his arms. After a minute though, he mumbled out against his skin. "I'm sorry about the bike... I think I dropped it..." Mark chuckled, telling him in a warm voice. "Ya. You left it on too." Sean sighed against Mark's shoulder, admitting softly. "I told you that I'm vulnerable... and you pull that shite... I should kick your arse." Mark hugged him close, then carefully pushed him back as he got to his feet tensely. Sean climbed to his feet, following Mark's eyes. Sean gasped at the four Valkyrie guards approaching them. In unison, they announced aloud. "Elite Fischbach, you are in danger. Move aside. The Slum mutt is under arrest." Mark stormed toward them, commanding loud enough for the small crowd of following civilians to hear. "I'm fine. Stand down!"

The Valkyries shook their heads, drawing their swords and unfurling their metal wings. Sean feared for Mark's own safety. Mark raised his hands out to block them, yelling out in a deep voice that demanded respect. "I SAID STAND DOWN! NOW!" The Valkyries flinched, sinking down to a knee as they bowed their heads to him. Sean shivered himself and shared the same surprised look as everyone else. He'd never heard Mark's voice sound so dark and angry. Mark lowered his arms, telling the Valkyries in a calmer tone. "Valkyries, Reprogram Order Eighteen. Relinquish command orders back to Master Elite. All other orders... suspended." The Valkyries blazing white eyes began to flicker with rainbow hues, before their eyes returned to a blazing white. Sheathing their swords and folding their metal wings, they stated in unison. "Order confirmed. Your orders?" Mark glanced up at the wall surrounding Valhalla, stating out firmly. "Take a patrol to Elite Matthew. Keep him and his Pet safe. Arrest anyone that tries to get to him. Continue city protection. Anything else goes through me."

Three of the Valkyries banged fists to their chest and got up to leave. The last one rose to his feet, informing Mark seriously. "Elite Matthias is trying to request access to the program to carry on with his head of security rights. He wants to discover the source of the blackouts in Valhalla." Mark scoffed, telling it bluntly. "Access denied. Lock him out. He's no longer the head of security. I am." Mark touched his hand to the breast plate of the Valkyrie and the Valkyrie made scanning noises. With a ding, the Valkyrie nodded and confirmed respectfully. "Confirmed. Original program restored. Welcome back, Master Elite." Stepping around the Valkyrie, Mark raised his hands and asked the nervous crowd. "What's wrong? That? Pfft, just a test of the new system update." The crowd relaxed a little and Mark gestured to someone in the back, announcing loud and clear. "Hey, Swanson?! Serve a round on me! We're celebrating! My Pet won against Al! Come on?!" The crowd cheered, rushing over to the outdoor bar. Mark extended a hand out for Sean to join him and Sean slowly moved up to take his hand.

Mark told the Valkyrie to get the bike, then walked Sean back toward the outdoor market. Approaching some of the booths, Mark yelled over the cheering crowd to the owners. "Gryphon! Get some party supplies out on the beach! Let's get this place jumping! Let's have some fun! Spread the word! Bills on me!" The Owners threw their fists up in acknowledgment, then scrambled to give stuff out to people to help set up more lights and stuff out onto the beach. Other people around them were either drinking or calling friends on earpieces to get their friends out to the beach. Sean leaned into Mark, asking curiously. "Is this a good idea?" Mark draped an arm over his shoulder, telling him excitedly. "Trust me. It would be unusual if I DIDN'T throw a party after the race. Plus, people will think I set up the blackouts to draw attention to a midnight party. It's my job to entertain and be social. Keeps people calm. Relax. Let's have some fun." Sean's eyes drifted to a bright red skinny lizard man with black strips down his body and long tail.

The lizard man moved out onto the beach, starting to swing what looked like two clear spheres on a chain. People began to surround him and cheer, watching him lash his tail out at the spheres while spinning them around his body, causing them to ignite with bright red fire! Sean rushed to the wall, leaning on it to watch him with wide eyes. The lizard man danced with the flaming spheres, his tail lashing out to ignite tiki lanterns and candles that people head out to him. Arching his back, the lizard snorted smoke and spewed a jet of flame from his mouth. Behind him, Mark cooed over his shoulder. "Fire salamander. You should see them when you get all the colored ones together. Their skin reflects the color of flame they can generate. Fascinating to watch... but don't touch them without gloves." Sean looked over his shoulder, asking curiously. "Why not?" Mark kissed his lips briefly, then answered with a smirk. "Their skin excretes flammable oil. They are fireproof. You are not."

A woman with long elf ears approached them, asking Mark with a hopeful nervousness. "Elite? Can I have a picture?" Mark nodded, giving her a smile and pulling Sean closer to his side. The elf woman giggled, raising a hand to pull her sunglasses down from her hair. Adjusting them, she pressed a button on the side to take a picture. Mark stood still for it and Sean only looked at Mark's chest. She wasn't taking it to see him anyway. Just after the click, Mark tapped his chin and he looked up... right into Mark's kiss. Cameras began to click rapidly from everywhere. Sean heard people gasping, cheering, or giggling. He couldn't focus on them too much. He was lost in the passion of Mark's kiss. When Mark pulled away, he told him in a clear voice. "I love you. And I don't care who knows it anymore... because I'm going to change things. They aren't going to keep us apart anymore." To Be Continued...