Unexpected Encounters

Some Troubles

*third person POV*

Jack and mark ended up having a great first day, walking around LA, seeing some fans, getting coffee and at the end of the day they hung out on Mark's couch, watching t.v. and talking, somewhat exhausted from the big day. Jack was completely content, smiling and zoning out on the TV, but mark on the other hand, was having some troubles.

*Mark's pov*

Not now. Not now please.... I found myself silently begging my brain to keep me big, to not let my tiredness make me slip. It wasn't working too well- I had a bad urge to go into my room and just curl up in a ball, and just let myself slip... but Jack was here. Jack was here and I had to stay big. I can control this.... right? Maybe if I just grabbed my stuffie- no. No-  stop being little. You have to be big now, mark. You cant let Jack know the weird side of your brain..  the one that would scare him off. Maybe I could tell him... but how? Hey Jack, I'm a grown adult and I like pacifiers and drinking from sippy cups. No. I cant just tell him. That wouldn't go down well, not at all. He'd probably tell everyone that I'm crazy. He wouldn't understand... even if I told him. If only it were more normalized. But no. I cant tell him. Oh God have I been whimpering this whole time- no no no please say he hasn't heard it...

*Jack's pov*

I was pretty zoned out, watching the movie until I heard a small whimpering noise. I looked over to see mark, hugging his knees with a distressed look on his face. My heart instantly sank seeing him like this, his whimpers almost sounded.... childlike. Helpless. "Hey mark- you okay over there bud?" I offered a warm smile, hoping that whatever was bothering him wasn't too bad. Maybe I'd made him uncomfortable somehow? He instantly froze up, looking almost... panicked? He nodded stiffly, trying to smile but it was obvious that he most definitely wasn't okay. "Mark something's bothering you- what is it?" He was even more panicked now, and I figured he definitley needed some kind of help. "I-im fine..." His voice sounded soft... not his usual deep, carefree voice. He sounded like a child, caught stealing from a cookie jar.  Instead of pushing him further, I just nodded and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, hoping to reassure him a little. Something in my brain just told me he needed it.

*Mark's POV*

I was shaking a little, so afraid of Jack finding out. When I felt his arm wrap around me, I practically melted into the warm touch. I felt myself leaning against his side a little, he just smiled and watched TV, a sign to me that he was fine with the intimacy. I so badly wanted to curl up in his lap and let him hold me- wait what? Why would I want to have Jack hold me... that's something I'd want from a caregiver, not Jack. I dont have those kinds of feelings towards him- I'm not gay or anything... though the thought of Jack being a caregiver made my heart beat a little faster. Why is my brain reacting like this? I cant stop utterly melting into his side, I just want to lay in his lap and fall asleep with my paci... I need to stop thinking like that! What has gotten into me today...

*Jack's POV*

Mark is practically laying on me, but I dont mind. He seems to need some contact right now, and I'll be happy to help. The poor guy looks really bothered... I just wish I knew why. Something is just telling me to help him- it's probably just beciase hes acting kinda.... childlike... or innocent. I dont know what it is that's different about him, all I know is I want to keep him safe and happy. I rubbed his shoulder gently, reassuringly smiling softly at him. I can feel him shaking a little, so I pulled a blanket over him and kept an arm around his shoulders. He utterly sank into it, looking so small despite him being a large, grown man. He curled in on himself a bit, seeming to lean into every little bit of contact between us. I thought it should be weird... having such a mature, strong man like mark curled up against me, looking so innocent and small... but I didnt process it as odd or weird. I just knew I had to keep him warm and happy. That was the only thing on my mind, as though I couldn't possibly focus on anything else. Eventually mark fell asleep against me, no longer tense or shakey. I was thankful for that, and smiled at the sight of such a strong guy being so innocent and sleepy.