Pos/Neg, Chapter Four
Title: Pos/Neg
Author: Donner
Summary: After a mysterious breakup between Angel and Collins, Angel and Mark get together. Issues from disease, to social acceptance, is thrown about as some people question Mark's motives and Angel's judgement skills.
Rating: Now PG-13
Pairing: Angel/Collins, Mark/Angel
Fandom: RENT
Disclaimer: I don't own emotion, or REEEEENT!
Once again, thank you so much for the comments on this little fic. This goes especially to minkhollow, who, still, is not giving up on my inability to write dialogue flowingly. You most certainly own my soul.
As does everyone else here. But let’s not get into that...
Pos/Neg
Chapter Four: Two Straws
Okay, Mark, focus. Even though you two just fell in love and you are in the process of your first food outing together... as a couple... doesn’t make it anything to hyperventilate about. It’s like going out with anyone. It’s like going out with Angel. Any other day.
Angel asked, “What day is it, again?”
“Thursday,” Mark replied.
“Oh I got Life Support tonight.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Could you... if you want... come with me?”
Mark tilted his head back and said, “Of course.”
Angel grinned. “Thank you,” she whispered. She looked to a waitress and ordered for them, exactly what Suzie specified. They quickly got a huge Coke, two straws.
“So,” Angel said as she pulled a straw to her mouth. “What should we do? Should we just tell them or should we play it down for a little while?”
Mark shrugged. It would probably be a shock for a lot of their friends. But Angel was a very public person, and having her resort to hiding would probably not do well for her. “Maybe a day or two. You know... they’ll figure it out. They’re not stupid.”
Angel smiled. “I’m sure Mimi has a feeling. We got that wavelength, you know.”
Mark nodded, taking a sip from the Coke. “Yeah. I do.”
Angel sat straight, trying to find something to talk about. Mark held her hand and swung it around slightly. It was a nice way to remind him that this was all real. Angel and him were really together and at this moment no one could take it away. It felt empowering, really. The skinny loser kid from Scarsdale got the flamboyant guardian of Alphabet City.
Mark contemplated saying what he was going to ask next, but he decided that he didn’t have to worry now. Angel loved him and she wasn’t going to leave him over something silly. “...Angel. Answer me. What happened between you and Collins?”
Angel shrugged. “Fine. It’s not really very mysterious.”
“Those bruises say other.”
Angel rolled her eyes. “Leave me alone about that! It’ll make sense when I finish.”
She sighed, staring are our fingers, which wove in and out of brown and white. “Well. We were having little... tiffs... for the past two months. They started off as nothing. Just Collins being Collins. You know, ‘Where a jacket,’ ‘Don’t go out too long. I don’t want you sick.’ I understood. It just got so... overbearing. He just couldn’t function without worrying I was going to die on him. Do you know how awkward that is when you’re having sex?!”
Mark cringed. “Uhm... I can imagine.”
“Yeah. Not good. Then he told me to quit drumming.”
“...what?”
“You heard correctly. Quit drumming. He got a hold of one of my blood tests and realized I dropped a bit. I was about to leave and he said, ‘Where are you going? You’re not drumming out there.’ I just said, ‘But, Collins, that’s my job.’ He said, ‘You’re getting worse, Angel! I’m not letting you drum.’ ‘Okay,’ I said, ‘So... what? Take a break?’ and he said, ‘No, Angel. I don’t want you out there drumming... ever.’ I couldn’t take it. I screamed at him. He screamed back. We were crying and shit. Then he grabbed me and slammed me on the wall and said, ‘Stop being such a greedy bitch and listen to me!’ and I started to scratch and punch him and shit. I started screaming, ‘You don’t control me!’ and after awhile we began resulting to name-calling. I can’t believe I said some of those things... it... it was so tasteless...”
“...Did you call him a...” Mark started.
“Darling, I called him everything in the book. As did he. I hadn’t heard any of those things since high school. It hurt. He said, ‘I should have known not to try at love. I knew it would hurt me. I knew you would hurt me. Go away.’ and I said, ‘That’s it? I thought you don’t want me to get sick!’ and he walked to the bedroom and locked the door. We slept in different rooms that night. And in the morning... well... it was still locked. He missed work. I ran off and we met up. That’s all.”
“Did you even say goodbye?”
“Uhm... I was still a little pissed, so I took a fabric pen and wrote ‘IT’S OVER!’ on the bedroom door,” Angel said, covering her face. “I can’t believe I did that. He should hate me forever. I just...”
Mark nodded. “So... you guys just couldn’t... control each other.”
“I guess. I hope we can still talk. I still really do like him. He’s a great person and he’s funny. But he’s not ‘the one,’ you know?” She smiled. “I’m glad that it happened in the long run.”
Mark smiled. The waitress put down the greasy, ugly burger on the table. He took a fry and twirled it. After letting it soak in ketchup, he put it in his mouth.
“You won’t do that to me, will you?” Angel asked.
Mark chewed. “No.”
“Good,” Angel said. Mid-swallow, Mark felt Angel’s lips on his own. He nearly choked, but kept his composure. She pulled back, eyes wide. “Oh God! Swallow, Mark!”
Mark punched himself as he willed the fry down his throat. “I’m okay... I’m okay...”
Angel breathed a sigh of relief. “If you died on me, I would have freaked out. They’d have to stick a few horse tranquilizers in me or something.”
Mark laughed. “Yeah... and I got the camera. Which means it’d be all on film. Wouldn’t that be great?”
******************************************************
“Mimi, you’re crazy,” Roger grumbled, “For the last time, Mark’s not gay. He doesn’t ‘switch teams.’ He’s...”
“Roger, open your mind!” Mimi argued.
“How about no?” Roger snarled.
The door opened. Maureen and Joanne.
“Hey!” Mimi yelled, “Did you hear?”
“Hear what?” Maureen asked.
“Angel and Mark...” Mimi started.
“...they’re not!” Roger yelled.
After that, the conversation went straight to hell.
“They’re not what?!”
“Is Angel okay?”
“Are Collins and Angel back together?!”
“Mark and Angel are...”
“Shut up, Mimi!”
“What?”
“They’re...”
“Here!” Roger yelled, “They’re coming into the complex!”
Everyone sat down, looking at the door. It creaked open. A very confused Angel and Mark entered.
“Hello!” everyone chorused.
“...uhm... hi,” Mark said, “Why are you looking at us like that?”
“My, my, don’t you two look awful close!” Maureen teased.
Mark realized that Angel’s hand was laying on his hip. So much for keeping things quiet.
“Tell the studio audience,” Mimi said, “Are you two ‘a thing?’”
Angel looked at Mark and shrugged. “I told ya Mimi was sharp on these things.” She turned to everyone. “Yep. We’re together.”
“Yay!” the girls cheered. They bounced around, happy to see Angel’s rather quick recovery. Roger shook his head. He didn’t support this one bit.
As Angel was pulled away, Roger walked over to Mark. He scowled as he shook his head even more.
“What?” Mark asked.
“You’re such an idiot,” Roger snapped, “You’re supposed to be the one that’s going to survive us all... you’re the sane one. Why are you allowing to get yourself into her drama?”
“Roger,” Mark said, “You need to learn to shut the fuck up and leave me alone.”
Roger’s eyes widened. It was funny how quickly the tables could turn on the two of them over a relationship.
********************************************************
The next chapter is going to be interesting. Angel and Mark will not only go to Life Support, but they’ll meet up with Collins and maybe push their relationship too far. Please review, loves! It keeps me going :3
-Donna
Author: Donner
Summary: After a mysterious breakup between Angel and Collins, Angel and Mark get together. Issues from disease, to social acceptance, is thrown about as some people question Mark's motives and Angel's judgement skills.
Rating: Now PG-13
Pairing: Angel/Collins, Mark/Angel
Fandom: RENT
Disclaimer: I don't own emotion, or REEEEENT!
Once again, thank you so much for the comments on this little fic. This goes especially to minkhollow, who, still, is not giving up on my inability to write dialogue flowingly. You most certainly own my soul.
As does everyone else here. But let’s not get into that...
Pos/Neg
Chapter Four: Two Straws
Okay, Mark, focus. Even though you two just fell in love and you are in the process of your first food outing together... as a couple... doesn’t make it anything to hyperventilate about. It’s like going out with anyone. It’s like going out with Angel. Any other day.
Angel asked, “What day is it, again?”
“Thursday,” Mark replied.
“Oh I got Life Support tonight.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Could you... if you want... come with me?”
Mark tilted his head back and said, “Of course.”
Angel grinned. “Thank you,” she whispered. She looked to a waitress and ordered for them, exactly what Suzie specified. They quickly got a huge Coke, two straws.
“So,” Angel said as she pulled a straw to her mouth. “What should we do? Should we just tell them or should we play it down for a little while?”
Mark shrugged. It would probably be a shock for a lot of their friends. But Angel was a very public person, and having her resort to hiding would probably not do well for her. “Maybe a day or two. You know... they’ll figure it out. They’re not stupid.”
Angel smiled. “I’m sure Mimi has a feeling. We got that wavelength, you know.”
Mark nodded, taking a sip from the Coke. “Yeah. I do.”
Angel sat straight, trying to find something to talk about. Mark held her hand and swung it around slightly. It was a nice way to remind him that this was all real. Angel and him were really together and at this moment no one could take it away. It felt empowering, really. The skinny loser kid from Scarsdale got the flamboyant guardian of Alphabet City.
Mark contemplated saying what he was going to ask next, but he decided that he didn’t have to worry now. Angel loved him and she wasn’t going to leave him over something silly. “...Angel. Answer me. What happened between you and Collins?”
Angel shrugged. “Fine. It’s not really very mysterious.”
“Those bruises say other.”
Angel rolled her eyes. “Leave me alone about that! It’ll make sense when I finish.”
She sighed, staring are our fingers, which wove in and out of brown and white. “Well. We were having little... tiffs... for the past two months. They started off as nothing. Just Collins being Collins. You know, ‘Where a jacket,’ ‘Don’t go out too long. I don’t want you sick.’ I understood. It just got so... overbearing. He just couldn’t function without worrying I was going to die on him. Do you know how awkward that is when you’re having sex?!”
Mark cringed. “Uhm... I can imagine.”
“Yeah. Not good. Then he told me to quit drumming.”
“...what?”
“You heard correctly. Quit drumming. He got a hold of one of my blood tests and realized I dropped a bit. I was about to leave and he said, ‘Where are you going? You’re not drumming out there.’ I just said, ‘But, Collins, that’s my job.’ He said, ‘You’re getting worse, Angel! I’m not letting you drum.’ ‘Okay,’ I said, ‘So... what? Take a break?’ and he said, ‘No, Angel. I don’t want you out there drumming... ever.’ I couldn’t take it. I screamed at him. He screamed back. We were crying and shit. Then he grabbed me and slammed me on the wall and said, ‘Stop being such a greedy bitch and listen to me!’ and I started to scratch and punch him and shit. I started screaming, ‘You don’t control me!’ and after awhile we began resulting to name-calling. I can’t believe I said some of those things... it... it was so tasteless...”
“...Did you call him a...” Mark started.
“Darling, I called him everything in the book. As did he. I hadn’t heard any of those things since high school. It hurt. He said, ‘I should have known not to try at love. I knew it would hurt me. I knew you would hurt me. Go away.’ and I said, ‘That’s it? I thought you don’t want me to get sick!’ and he walked to the bedroom and locked the door. We slept in different rooms that night. And in the morning... well... it was still locked. He missed work. I ran off and we met up. That’s all.”
“Did you even say goodbye?”
“Uhm... I was still a little pissed, so I took a fabric pen and wrote ‘IT’S OVER!’ on the bedroom door,” Angel said, covering her face. “I can’t believe I did that. He should hate me forever. I just...”
Mark nodded. “So... you guys just couldn’t... control each other.”
“I guess. I hope we can still talk. I still really do like him. He’s a great person and he’s funny. But he’s not ‘the one,’ you know?” She smiled. “I’m glad that it happened in the long run.”
Mark smiled. The waitress put down the greasy, ugly burger on the table. He took a fry and twirled it. After letting it soak in ketchup, he put it in his mouth.
“You won’t do that to me, will you?” Angel asked.
Mark chewed. “No.”
“Good,” Angel said. Mid-swallow, Mark felt Angel’s lips on his own. He nearly choked, but kept his composure. She pulled back, eyes wide. “Oh God! Swallow, Mark!”
Mark punched himself as he willed the fry down his throat. “I’m okay... I’m okay...”
Angel breathed a sigh of relief. “If you died on me, I would have freaked out. They’d have to stick a few horse tranquilizers in me or something.”
Mark laughed. “Yeah... and I got the camera. Which means it’d be all on film. Wouldn’t that be great?”
******************************************************
“Mimi, you’re crazy,” Roger grumbled, “For the last time, Mark’s not gay. He doesn’t ‘switch teams.’ He’s...”
“Roger, open your mind!” Mimi argued.
“How about no?” Roger snarled.
The door opened. Maureen and Joanne.
“Hey!” Mimi yelled, “Did you hear?”
“Hear what?” Maureen asked.
“Angel and Mark...” Mimi started.
“...they’re not!” Roger yelled.
After that, the conversation went straight to hell.
“They’re not what?!”
“Is Angel okay?”
“Are Collins and Angel back together?!”
“Mark and Angel are...”
“Shut up, Mimi!”
“What?”
“They’re...”
“Here!” Roger yelled, “They’re coming into the complex!”
Everyone sat down, looking at the door. It creaked open. A very confused Angel and Mark entered.
“Hello!” everyone chorused.
“...uhm... hi,” Mark said, “Why are you looking at us like that?”
“My, my, don’t you two look awful close!” Maureen teased.
Mark realized that Angel’s hand was laying on his hip. So much for keeping things quiet.
“Tell the studio audience,” Mimi said, “Are you two ‘a thing?’”
Angel looked at Mark and shrugged. “I told ya Mimi was sharp on these things.” She turned to everyone. “Yep. We’re together.”
“Yay!” the girls cheered. They bounced around, happy to see Angel’s rather quick recovery. Roger shook his head. He didn’t support this one bit.
As Angel was pulled away, Roger walked over to Mark. He scowled as he shook his head even more.
“What?” Mark asked.
“You’re such an idiot,” Roger snapped, “You’re supposed to be the one that’s going to survive us all... you’re the sane one. Why are you allowing to get yourself into her drama?”
“Roger,” Mark said, “You need to learn to shut the fuck up and leave me alone.”
Roger’s eyes widened. It was funny how quickly the tables could turn on the two of them over a relationship.
********************************************************
The next chapter is going to be interesting. Angel and Mark will not only go to Life Support, but they’ll meet up with Collins and maybe push their relationship too far. Please review, loves! It keeps me going :3
-Donna