Work Text:
They're sitting in the dorm all tired out from the day talking lightly about their plans for the week.
Mark's sitting on his bed like a normal person, while his two not-so-normal best friends cuddle in the bed next to his. They aren't subtle: taking turns between who sends long glances while the other speaks too absorbed in their words to notice.
Trying hard not to scream at them about how oblivious they are, an idea sparks into Mark's head. "Hey Tony." He turns to his short friend when no one has anything more to add to the conversation. "You free tomorrow around sunset?"
"Uhh, sure? I've got no classes and I can probably find some time from studying."
Ah shit, it's exam season. It almost slipped Mark's mind, but now he's worried about pulling this off at such a stress-full and time consuming period. Oh, whatever. "Colin, how about you?"
"Hm? Oh yeah, my classes are all finished up by noon."
"Great. Well, I've got a shift at the hospital, but since you two are free why don't you hang out together? Take a break from studying."
The boys in question look at each other confused and then at Mark. "What are you our secretary?" Tony says.
"More like a mother." His other friend adds.
Well, too deep in now. "Oh come on guys. When was the last time you two actually hung out alone? And a couple minutes before sleep or while eating don't count."
"I mean, last week we-" Colin attempts to defend them.
"Shifts don't count either."
"Alright, fine. We could use a break." Tony agrees.
"Great so it's settled then." Mark sighs happily.
"You sound more happy about us going out, than we are." A suspision is raised.
"I'm just.. glad my good friends are getting along.. that's all." He deflects.
"You realize we've been friends with each other way longer than with you right? If anything the question would be wether we get along with you." Tony argues.
"Oh, who are you guys kidding. We know you're still recovering after the incident." Mark snaps a bit.
They both cringe at that. It's a topic everyone attempts to avoid. The room tenses.
"I just think.. that if you guys really are over it, you should be fine and willing to spend some one-on-one time with each other."
And that wasn't a complete lie either. While Mark's initial thought was to set them up on a secret date, he does genuinely believe they have not gotten over what happened completely. He's scared their friendship is still walking on eggshells and they never even talk about it, so he can't possibly help in any other way. Is it a bit rude to butt into other people's friendships and relationships? Yes, but these are his closest friends and they used to have what seemed like the ideal friendship. Plus, if they didn't want him getting involved, they shouldn't have made him get in between them and their "secret" (everyone but them knows) pining.
And yeah, Toby and Colin do have some issues that aren't resolved from the incident. But it's not what anyone thinks it is. They've talked through the actual events many times. But on a much more personal level, both of them made some realizations about how they feel about eachother during that time of seperation a year ago. Realizations that have never been talked about, not even to each other, not even to Mark, at least not in detail. For all he knows the pining is as recent as a couple months. However, both Colin and Toby have been bearing this secret since the worst period of their friendship.