Mark watched Sean dress, leaning back against the doorframe. Sean finished dressing, before stumbling into him. Mark kept him from falling over, helping him stand upright. Smirking, he gave Sean the coffee. Loving how Sean's eyes practically sparkled as he held it. Sean held the coffee close, inhaling the steam deeply. Coaxing him down the hallway to the dining table, he told him with a chuckle. "Take a seat and drink that. I'm going to make sure that we have everything." Sean started to sit down on one of the chairs and hissed through his teeth. Mark frozen to the spot, feeling guilty as he asked him softly. "Are you alright?" Sean leaned forward to rest his elbows on the table, sleepily groaning out. "Ya... Just really sore." Mark swallowed, slipping into a seat next to him. Sean popped the lid off his coffee cup, his eyes shifting to look at him. Mark shifted on the seat uncomfortably, mumbling out grimly. "Will you be ok? I can call Stacy and tell her-" Sean raised a hand to stop him, stating out in a tired voice. "I'm fine. I won't be sitting much there anyway."

Mark hugged the back of his chair, mumbling out. "I tried to warn you that the water wouldn't help..." Sean sipped his coffee, rolling his eyes playfully before telling him sweetly. "Relax. I asked for it. I just won't be doing that again for a bit..." Mark smirked only slightly. Avoiding Sean's eyes, he told him casually. "I'll pick something up for next time and get you something to help... with now." Sean laid his head down on his outstretched arms, purring out teasingly. "Aww, are you going to kiss it and make it better?" Mark snorted, reaching out to ruffle Sean's green bangs as he stated out. "Drink your coffee." Mark climbed to his feet, going over his check list again. He even walked out to the car to account for all their bags. A few reporters took pictures of him as he worked, but he ignored them. He couldn't focus on them right now. Heading back into the house, he finally beckoned Sean out. Sean swiped his 'Boss' sunglasses off the hallway counter as he past it. Slipping them on to block out the morning sun.

Mark waited by his side as Sean locked up the house. The reporters were now jumping out from all over to get words from Sean. Sean waved them off, heading directly to the car. Mark helped fend some of the reporters off to keep Sean from being surrounded by them. Once he was in the car, they surrounded the car to take pictures of him. Mark shoved his way into the car, turning it on as they tried to ask him questions through the glass. Sean slumped down in his seat with a wince, huddling up with his coffee. Mark revived the engine to scare some of the reporters away. The ones that didn't scare so easy jumped away when he jerked the car forward. However, a few stayed on the sides to tap the glass and beg for a private interview. Mark had enough and pulled out, hearing one or two screams as he ran over their feet. Beside him, Sean mumbled out. "I don't miss them..." Mark chuckled to himself. The reporters were the worst part of any sport. Traffic was slightly heavy today, but Mark eventually got him to the rink.

Mark pulled up on the curb overlooking the large line waiting to get into the building. The crowd was calm, until Sean stepped out of the car. Then the women in the crowd began to scream. Some fell out of line to rush them, causing Sean to hide behind Mark. Mark kept a few fans back as they praised him and wanted pictures. Sean smiled and tried to be nice, but the crowd was starting to scare him. The rink doors opened, and security moved out to part the crowd for them. Stacy drew everyone's attention by yelling out. "Please stay in line if you want to see him! We want to get to as many people as we can today! Have your cameras ready and items out for signing!" Mark waited for security to clear out a path up to the rink doors, before gesturing Sean up through. Sean sipped his coffee, trying to make a quick getaway into the building... When a kid ran out to intercept him. The mother shouted for her kid to come back and security tried to retrieve the kid, but Sean stopped them.

Taking a knee before the boy, the young boy blushed and introduced himself. Sean grinned, shaking the boy's hand. Mark discreetly warned Sean about the example he was setting for the others. If he spent too much time with this kid and someone missed out on seeing him... it could be disastrous. Sean ignored him. He was focused completely on the boy. Mark tried to give Sean his time to bond with the kid, but eventually had to pry him away. Sean reluctantly let Mark pull him away, guiding him into the building. Once he was inside, Mark stashed him in the booth that had been set up for him. Sean refused to sit, but Mark did. Mark loved watching Sean interact with his fans. He was great with kids and so welcoming to everyone. As jealous as he felt about certain people touching him, he couldn't help letting Sean be himself. Stacy trudged over to sit on Mark's lap, groaning into his shoulder as she muttered out in exhausted. "Ugh... Why did I do this to myself? I'm so tired and the day just started!"

Mark sat back in his chair, replying lightly. "Cause we both know why you're doing it." Stacy lifted her head to look at Sean high fiving a little girl, retorting innocently. "Ya. He loves the attention. Always has." Mark smirked to himself. Stacy soon hopped off him after too long to help her dad sell some merchandise to people in line. The hours seemed to go by, and the fans just kept coming. Mark started checking his watch on and off. They had to start leaving for Dublin soon. They needed to check into their hotel and confirm their arrival for the Nationals. Yet, Sean kept stalling. He didn't want to leave before everyone got a chance to see him. So, Mark kept delaying. It was almost dinnertime, before the last fan finally finished up. Mark was starving and he knew Sean had to be tired. All they had eaten were donuts that Stacy ran out to get them at lunch. It was enough to keep Sean's energy up for a time, but that energy was running low now. Mark just couldn't wait to get going. Stacy told them that she'd see them in Dublin and without anymore distractions... Mark took Sean back to the car.

The road to Dublin was peaceful. With lush open green fields as far as the eye could see and on occasion the coziest little towns. The heavy rain that rolled in made the place smell so sweet. Sean sang along with the radio as he braced his feet on the dash to rub his sore legs. When they finally arrived in the busy bustling city of Dublin, Sean dropped his legs to look out the window. He didn't want to miss getting a look at the huge ice rink. Mark drove to the little motel nearby. Nationals only paid for a simple basic room since most of the attendants were ages sixteen and under. Leaving Sean in the motel to relax, Mark got to work. He signed Sean in and made sure he knew when he needed to be there. Since Sean had made it to the Grand Prix, he was considered a high ranked skater. However, having been out due to injury... That meant he was guaranteed a slot in Nationals to start over. If he lost Nationals... his season was over. Mark had faith in Sean. Most of the older kids he'd be competing against were still learning.

Half these kids would barely get to Regionals, before older skaters would knock them off the charts anyway. It was rare to see any young skaters, unless older skaters retired. Mark got his passes, making his way out when a mother clipped his shoulder. The woman shot him a stern look, before sneering out to him in front of her friend. "Oh, look who it is. Great. Wonder what kid got bumped to make room for the has been..." Her friend snorted at him, bitterly snipping out. "If you ask me, they shouldn't allow men of their age to compete in this bracket. It's meant for kids." Mark rolled his eyes, stating back with a fake smile. "Don't worry. We won't be here long. We're just passing through. You wanna bitch? Talk to the ISU." Turning on his heel, he heard the woman snap out. "Oh, I will! My son has more talent in his little finger, than you have in your tiny dick!" Mark burst out laughing as he passed through the doors.

Mark had forgotten how crazy some of these competitive parents were. Strolling up to the ice, he studied some of the competition. Half the boys he saw were still in high school and had potential... but each had something they were trying to work on. One boy couldn't do a sit spin to save his ass. While others were stumbling or shaky on their jumps. They were raw talent and he could only hope that Sean had enough experience to collect more points than them. Mark cringed watching how much pressure the parents and coaches were putting on these kids. He could tell by the faces on some of the boys that the pressure would break them before tomorrow. He felt bad for them. A young man whizzed past Mark, circling back to ask sternly. "Scouting out the competition, old man?" Mark removed a sour candy from his pocket, slipping it into his mouth, before muttering out. "Nothing gets by you, kid." The young man slid up to him, eyeing him over before stating out. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Mark looked over the young man, taking in the look of him. The young man had to be reaching seventeen or eighteen. Clearing his throat, he pointed to a few kids practicing on the ice, informing him. "They'll be a tough act to follow." The young man looked, then scuffed shortly as he said dryly. "Not a chance. Robert's parents are going through a divorce. He's emotionally unstable. It will be easy to psych him out. While Kyle... Well, Let's just say that he has no stamina. He'll start good... but by the second half of his routine, he'll try too hard and collapse. Asthma is a bitch." Mark nodded, locking his eyes on this young man. He knew this kid's type. He was trying to make himself seem like he wasn't a threat. While at the same time, trying to learn about his own competition. Mark extended a hand, professionally asking him. "Thanks for the tip. What's your name?" The young man took Mark's hand, giving him a smug smile as he answered proudly. "I'm Tony. But everyone just calls me Twister."

Mark raised an eyebrow, asking mildly curious. "Why is that?" Tony winked at Mark, starting to push away from the wall backwards. Mark kept his eyes on him and learned why quickly. Tony zipped around the rink, before jumping into a breathing Quintuple axel jump! That jump was almost impossible to preform, and Tony nailed it like a professional. Mark cracked the sour ball in half with his teeth. If he nailed that in his routine... Sean might actually have to fight for his gold. Tony gave him a smug bow, moving to the wall after as his coach laid into him for revealing such a jump. Everyone on the ice was now rattled. Even Mark was tense. He was glad Sean hadn't seen that. That jump would make professionals anxious. On the other hand though... Tony was arrogant. Showing off a jump like that at Nationals. It put a target on his back. It set such a high bar for himself that he had more chances to fuck it up. Leaving the rink, Mark took a deep breath to calm himself. Tony was their only threat. Even if they came in at silver, they'd still go to Regionals.

He wasn't going to push Sean. Most of the kids couldn't do axel jumps yet. They could win this without major jumps. It all depended on how Tony preformed tomorrow. Mark made a stop at a drug store to pick up a few things before heading back to the motel. Inside, Sean was bent over his bed watching TV. Mark locked the door, asking with a blush. "Jack, honey... What are you doing?" Sean blushed, mumbling out. "I'm... I just... Don't make this weird, please? I'm in pain." Mark removed a jar from his bag, tossing the other stuff on the bed. Sean pressed his hip to the side of the bed, asking nervously. "What are you doing?" Mark showed him the little jar of cream, telling him nicely. "Here. It will help." Sean adjusted, allowing Mark to slide his pajama bottoms down his pale ass. Sean cleared his throat awkwardly, stammering out. "So... So, we're good for tomorrow?" Mark coated his fingers in the soothing cream, answering him casually. "Yep. All signed in and ready to go. We've got to be there by eight am."

Mark smeared the cream over Sean's swollen asshole, telling him seriously. "I scouted the competition. I only see one major threat. The rest of the kids are still in need of a lot of work. You shouldn't have to worry." Sean's hand stroked the back of Mark's leg, shakily saying. "I'm not worried. I can do this... I can do this, right?" Mark chuckled, rubbing Sean's back with his free hand as he told him. "Yes, you can. I have faith in you." To Be Continued...