The Socially Awkward Network Ch. 1
Title: The Socially Awkward Network Ch. 1
Author: tafidadarling
Fandom: The Social Network which belongs to Columbia Pictures.
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Mark/Eduardo, Chris, Dustin
Rating: FRT
Summary: It's time for Mark to reciporcate. (Slightly AU. You'll see.)
Notes: I couldn't help myself. I've been working so hard on NaNo this week, but I had to write some fanfic or I was going to go CRAZY. I mean, enjoy my first attempt at TSN fic.
Cross posted to mark_eduardo and socialnetwrkfic.
Eduardo watched as Mark typed away, his wpm must have been at least 90, and Chris and Dustin were arguing over their conclusions to some homework problem. Now was as good a time as any.
See, Eduardo always took pride in being honest. People trust those who are honest, and relationships are built on trust. It was a logical conclusion in his mind. However, he was still finding it difficult to tell his friends. Eduardo had friends back in high school, but none that he felt this close too. He figured it was best to just say it and get it over with.
"Guys, I'm gay."
There. Now the ball was in their court.
Mark was silent, lines of code illuminated his motionless expression. Chris and Dustin laughed.
"Dude, we kinda knew," Dustin said.
"Yeah, only a gay guy would dress that nicely to go to breakfast after being out all night," Chris added. The two broke out in another fit of laughter.
"Thanks for telling us, though."
"Totally. We are 100% on your side."
Then they went back to their bickering. Eduardo counted five minutes before he couldn't take Mark ignoring him any longer.
"Mark, are you okay with this?"
Mark spun around in his chair, staring at Eduardo intensely as if he just realized he was there.
"You say something Wardo?"
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It soon become evident that Mark was not going to acknowledge Eduardo coming out, but nothing changed between them. Eduardo took it in stride. Granted, Mark was socially awkward and probably didn't know how to respond. Eduardo could live with that. Perhaps he just needed some time to see that nothing was going to be different, and nothing was. Even if Eduardo wanted it to.
It was such a cliche, but he had fallen for a painfully straight guy. Mark may not know how to communicate face-to-face, but he had had a girlfriend when Eduardo met him and the others. They had broken up since then, almost immediately afterward, and Mark offered no explanation why, and Eduardo wasn't one to push in a personal matter such as that.
So maybe there was a little pining. A dash of unrequited love. Eduardo settled for being Mark's friend because he loved him too much even if he was an insensitive bastard. Like right now.
Dustin and Chris were at a study group meeting, so Mark invited Eduardo over for pizza and beer. 'You know,' he had said. 'We'll just hang out.' However, there he was writing code on his laptop when Eduardo walked in. He motioned to the half eaten pizza and a six pack with one beer missing.
"I thought we were, you know, hanging out," Eduardo said with a huff.
"Hold on. I'm almost done," Mark replied hurriedly. "Watch TV or something for a second."
"Alright, alright." Eduardo grabbed a slice of the pizza and sat down on the other side of the couch. He ate quietly and watched Mark's face contort as he concentrated on the task at hand. 'God, he looks so cute when he gets like that,' Eduardo thought and then physically shook his head to chase the thought away.
"So, what's it like?" Mark asked without looking up from the keyboard.
"What's what like?" Eduardo countered as he grabbed one of the beers.
"Being with a guy."
"I don't see how that is any of your business Mark," Eduardo said after he choke on his drink and suavely, may he add, covered it up. "I don't ask you what it's like being with a girl."
"Probably because I'm not the perfect specimen of a heterosexual male."
"You could try talking to a girl. You're not completely an emotionless robot," Eduardo said with a laugh. Oh, great. He only had one beer and he was giddy. He started eating another piece of the pie and decided to forgo another beer.
"No, I am not. So why did I feel nothing with Tina?"
"Who was that?"
"My girlfriend when we met," Mark clarified. He reached for the bottle Eduardo had left on the table. To do so, he had to reach over his leg, and Eduardo prayed Mark couldn't tell that it sent shivers through him.
"Oh yes, that Tina. What happened there?"
"I broke up with her. I thought I had met someone else." Mark paused, contemplating if he should continue. The one who never seemed to be phased by anything, Eduardo noticed he was nervous. Coding was the only thing holding him together. "It's difficult, though."
"Hey, I'm sure it'll work out. Just talk to her." It hurt Eduardo to say, but he had to.
"Wardo, stop it. I waited for you to make the first move. I thought when you came out to us, it was you working up to it, but it's been over a week."
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Eduardo stuttered.
"It was you, okay?" Mark finally looked up from his laptop. He reached out as if to comfort Eduardo, but then he retracted it. "When I met you, I began to question... things. This is really hard. Can you at least say something?"
"Stop messing with me Mark," Eduardo said and made to get up off the couch. This time Mark did touch him. He grabbed his wrist forcing him to stay.
"I'm not. You said it yourself. I'm not emotionless. I have feelings for you. It's confusing because for once I have this thing that isn't as straight forward as code. I can't even put it into words."
Eduardo thought he might have forgotten how to breathe. He watched Mark for that mischievous glint he would get in his eyes, but all he saw was sincerity. "Then just show me instead."
Mark hesitated at first, but his lips found Eduardo's. It was wet and sloppy, so Eduardo took over th lead. He realized Mark was still grasping his arm and he was leaning down to meet him. He had to remedy this.
Eduardo climbed into Mark's lap, cupped his jaw with his free hand. He felt Mark sigh contently between the fevered kisses, and he finally let his death grip on Eduardo's wrist go. He took the opportunity to run his hands along Mark's sides, eliciting a moan from the other man.
"Is it still difficult?" Eduardo asked as they broke apart.
"No, I think it's all pretty clear now."