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The Complete Fic Directory
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- On The Subject Of Angels [Orange]
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On The Subject Of Angels [Orange]
Some people are simply beautiful – their souls glow pure gold – and true beauty has a way of shining through to make its presence felt from someone’s very first ‘Hello’. You might not realise it at first, might not notice it creeping up on you, but you will always benefit from its existence in your life. Mark Owen had long held the belief that his friends were beautiful people and it had to be said that his friends thought equally highly of him. But one thing Mark hadn’t realised was that he hadn’t even begun to understand just how beautiful one of his very best friends truly was.
Mark stifled a fifth successive yawn and pretended he didn’t notice the way his three bandmates studied him, concern etched in the faces. Gary was the first to look away again, not a man to ever consider injuring another man’s pride. Howard too backed down quickly, giving him an understanding smile before turning his gaze to the magazine in his hands. Jason, however, was not so easily deterred. Jason was a man who knew how to stare; his stares could get the truth out of you, make you feel guilty, raise a smile or even offer understanding. Mark had seen Howard and Gary be reduced to jelly by a single look from Jason just as easily as any fan and he knew that it was a only a matter of time before Jason won this battle.
“How much sleep have you had Markie?” Jason questioned him softly, his eyes searching Mark’s face briefly before locking with Mark’s own eyes with fierce intensity. Mark wrinkled his nose and quickly looked away from Jason’s stare.
“Enough,” he dismissed quietly, forcing down another yawn. Gary was looking at him again now and he exchanged a sceptical glance with Howard.
“Look at me,” Jason said gently, tilting his head to try and get Mark’s attention.
“Honestly Jay, I’m fine,” Mark sighed unconvincingly. Jason looked at him steadily, planning his next move, and Mark could feel those blue eyes reading every detail of his face in thought. Then, Mark felt Jason’s hand under his chin as the older man turned his head so their eyes made contact again.
“You’re not fine…how much sleep have you had Markie?” Jason asked after a moment.
“About an hour,” Mark admitted with a timid shrug, trying to look away self-consciously. But Jason kept the gentle pressure of his fingertips at Mark’s chin.
“Go home Markie, we’ll manage without you,” Jason said quietly, finally removing his hand.
“Jay…” Mark began, but Jason cut him off.
“I don’t want to hear it. You’re going home. Get some sleep, spend some time with that brand new baby girl of yours and look after yourself for a day, ok?” Jason ordered. Mark had looked across at the others then and Gary had smiled at him reassuringly.
“Go home mate, Jay’s right. That girl of yours matters a million times more than any radio interview ever could,” he pointed out and Howard nodded.
“Besides, you know Jay’s not gonna let you stay!” he chuckled.
Mark was always very aware of his best friends looking out for him and it was something he was very grateful for when Willow had been born. The three of them had looked after him when his stubborn streak had meant he wasn’t really looking after himself and he supposed that was what had prompted Emma to suggest he ask one of them to be Willow’s godfather.
“If he doesn’t pick one of us soon we’re going to have to set up some sort of challenge…” Gary commented a few days after Mark had mentioned the idea. Howard laughed.
“As long as it’s not running – you’d have unfair advantage there mate!” he’d teased.
“You and Jay just haven’t got the stamina Dougie,” Gary grinned back, thumping one fist against his chest jokingly as Mark rolled his eyes.
“You’re not gonna turn this into a competition you know!” he laughed softly.
“Ohw, not even egg and spoon? I was good at egg and spoon,” Howard pouted playfully.
“I was better at the sack race myself….” Gary put in and Howard and Mark spluttered with laughter.
“Sorry Gaz, but I just can’t imagine it!” Mark chuckled.
“Eh! I was good!” Gary protested, eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Me and Jay’ll pair up for a wheelbarrow race if you want Mark…” Howard suggested as he recovered from his laughter and Mark frowned.
“How would I decide which one of you won though?” he asked.
“Well Jay’s not here so I’d win by default,” Howard replied with a grin.
“Actually, without Jay, you’d be disqualified…so I’d win by default!” Gary said, not missing a beat. Mark shook his head at both of them and continued to stir the sugar into their tea.
“You two have lost it,” he said.
“Where is Jay anyway?” Howard asked as Mark handed him a mug.
“Probably off tying his brother to lamppost somewhere I imagine,” Gary grinned.
“Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about his current best man status…you know Mark, if you really want someone responsible then maybe you should think about asking the only one who hasn’t made a joke about it…and never would,” Howard said thoughtfully.
Mark had always avoided talking about angels. Whilst being a very soulful man, the wispy women who usually described the concepts of angels and auras tended to trouble Mark slightly. But quietly, he had come to the conclusion that he was actually lucky enough to know an angel. Many people often thought Mark must be an angel and perhaps he was. But Mark was an angel in a ‘look-what-Heaven-misplaced’ kind of a way. Jason was a very different story. Mark decided Jason must be an earth angel, deliberately given over to the world to give it a little bit of gold in the gloom. There was something very grounded about Jason, he could walk down the street and seem somehow anonymous to even the greatest fan. Yet in some way, despite that anonymity, he was still infinitely captivating. Mark remembered that even before they were famous, gazes would linger a little longer on Jason, taking in his earthly smile. The man had a heart of gold and although his halo was a little crooked it was still obvious to anyone who met him that Jason Orange had a beautiful soul. But what really proved to Mark that Jason was an angel was his daughter’s first reaction to him.
“Come here Jay, hold her…she’s already met Gaz and Howard,” Mark beamed proudly, not taking his eyes from the bundle of blankets in his arms. Jason had smiled softly and taken a step closer as Mark carefully shifted Willow into his arms. Willow stirred slowly, wriggling slightly in Jason’s arms and looking up at him with innocent eyes. Jason gave her cheek a soft stroke and the little girl held his gaze. Mark grinned happily at his daughter and Jason, watching as the two of them took a minute to size each other up. And then Willow stretched out her arm, grabbing Jason’s finger in her hand. In that moment, Mark realised just how beautiful his friend truly was and his eyes shone brightly as he saw Willow grab hold of the man with the golden glow, refusing to let go. She’d stayed in Jason’s arms for a good twenty minutes after that, her hand still clasped around his finger. Mark had to wait until Willow fell asleep before she would allow herself to be separated from Jason at all. Between them Howard and Gary had three daughters, but in true Owen style, Willow Rose had made up her mind and she wasn’t going to back down for mere logic. Jason would be her godfather.
Mark had waited until the next time the band were all together to tell them. He was feeling most guilty about telling Gary, because he and Gary were close and normally Gary was the first he would come to for anything and everything. As he prepared to tell them, he was very aware of just how lucky he was; he had three of the most beautiful people in the world just sitting here in his kitchen, all happy and proud to call themselves his best friends. With that thought in mind, he came to the conclusion that neither Gary nor Howard would be hurt that he chose Jason, they’d understand his choice precisely. Especially Howard. Mark couldn’t think of a time in the history of the band when Howard hadn’t trusted Jason above everyone else. It was easy to trust in Jason.
“Lads…” Mark said into his tea and the other three men had turned to look at him expectantly.
“Eh up, I feel an announcement coming on,” Gary remarked, raising his eyebrows at Mark enquiringly and putting down his biscuit. Howard sat up a little in his chair.
“It must be serious if Gaz is putting down his McVities!” he joked. Jason simply chuckled and shook his head, leaning back in his chair unassumingly.
“Jay, would you do me the honour of being Willow’s godfather?” Mark said at last. Jason looked up, surprise evident in his shining eyes. Mark supposed that Jason believed he’d been about to say Gary’s name. But Howard and Gary didn’t seem so surprised and instead they smiled knowingly.
“Good choice mate,” Howard said softly.
“Hold off Doug, he hasn’t said yes yet,” Gary teased, elbowing Jason gently in his side.
Mark remembered that when Jason had first told him his name he’d thought it had to be a stage name. That was because in Mark’s life, people just weren’t called Jason Orange. They were called Jason Smith or Jason Jones. But after that initial introduction, Mark hadn’t noticed Jason’s name again. Orange became normal – he spent all his time in a world where the name didn’t stand out, it was always around, always being used. It was only as Mark found himself falling asleep backstage at some TV show or other, curled up on a tiny greenroom sofa with his head resting against Jason’s chest, that he really began to consider Jason’s name once more. Jason was protecting him tonight – the exhaustion was really beginning to catch up with Mark and appearances weren’t so easy to back out of when you were the band member with lead vocal. Tonight was all so very Jason; Mark had been sheltered by Jason’s arms from the first moment Jason had noticed the tiredness in his face and he’d made every effort in the world to keep Mark in the peace and quiet for as long as physically possible. The flirting and the charm that Jason was so famous for, it was just an extension of the Jason that was now letting Mark sleep on his lap – Jason just wanted to make people smile. That was why girls happily hung off his arm, why Howard trusted him with his life, why Gary always respected his opinions – people want to be around Jason, they’re drawn to Jason. Mark smiled sleepily. Orange; it’s not a name you hear very often. And Jason Orange? He isn’t the sort of man you come across very often. Mark was glad he’d stumbled on him though, especially in that moment.
“You’re one of a kind Orange,” he mumbled before finally drifting off to sleep.
Mark stifled a fifth successive yawn and pretended he didn’t notice the way his three bandmates studied him, concern etched in the faces. Gary was the first to look away again, not a man to ever consider injuring another man’s pride. Howard too backed down quickly, giving him an understanding smile before turning his gaze to the magazine in his hands. Jason, however, was not so easily deterred. Jason was a man who knew how to stare; his stares could get the truth out of you, make you feel guilty, raise a smile or even offer understanding. Mark had seen Howard and Gary be reduced to jelly by a single look from Jason just as easily as any fan and he knew that it was a only a matter of time before Jason won this battle.
“How much sleep have you had Markie?” Jason questioned him softly, his eyes searching Mark’s face briefly before locking with Mark’s own eyes with fierce intensity. Mark wrinkled his nose and quickly looked away from Jason’s stare.
“Enough,” he dismissed quietly, forcing down another yawn. Gary was looking at him again now and he exchanged a sceptical glance with Howard.
“Look at me,” Jason said gently, tilting his head to try and get Mark’s attention.
“Honestly Jay, I’m fine,” Mark sighed unconvincingly. Jason looked at him steadily, planning his next move, and Mark could feel those blue eyes reading every detail of his face in thought. Then, Mark felt Jason’s hand under his chin as the older man turned his head so their eyes made contact again.
“You’re not fine…how much sleep have you had Markie?” Jason asked after a moment.
“About an hour,” Mark admitted with a timid shrug, trying to look away self-consciously. But Jason kept the gentle pressure of his fingertips at Mark’s chin.
“Go home Markie, we’ll manage without you,” Jason said quietly, finally removing his hand.
“Jay…” Mark began, but Jason cut him off.
“I don’t want to hear it. You’re going home. Get some sleep, spend some time with that brand new baby girl of yours and look after yourself for a day, ok?” Jason ordered. Mark had looked across at the others then and Gary had smiled at him reassuringly.
“Go home mate, Jay’s right. That girl of yours matters a million times more than any radio interview ever could,” he pointed out and Howard nodded.
“Besides, you know Jay’s not gonna let you stay!” he chuckled.
Mark was always very aware of his best friends looking out for him and it was something he was very grateful for when Willow had been born. The three of them had looked after him when his stubborn streak had meant he wasn’t really looking after himself and he supposed that was what had prompted Emma to suggest he ask one of them to be Willow’s godfather.
“If he doesn’t pick one of us soon we’re going to have to set up some sort of challenge…” Gary commented a few days after Mark had mentioned the idea. Howard laughed.
“As long as it’s not running – you’d have unfair advantage there mate!” he’d teased.
“You and Jay just haven’t got the stamina Dougie,” Gary grinned back, thumping one fist against his chest jokingly as Mark rolled his eyes.
“You’re not gonna turn this into a competition you know!” he laughed softly.
“Ohw, not even egg and spoon? I was good at egg and spoon,” Howard pouted playfully.
“I was better at the sack race myself….” Gary put in and Howard and Mark spluttered with laughter.
“Sorry Gaz, but I just can’t imagine it!” Mark chuckled.
“Eh! I was good!” Gary protested, eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Me and Jay’ll pair up for a wheelbarrow race if you want Mark…” Howard suggested as he recovered from his laughter and Mark frowned.
“How would I decide which one of you won though?” he asked.
“Well Jay’s not here so I’d win by default,” Howard replied with a grin.
“Actually, without Jay, you’d be disqualified…so I’d win by default!” Gary said, not missing a beat. Mark shook his head at both of them and continued to stir the sugar into their tea.
“You two have lost it,” he said.
“Where is Jay anyway?” Howard asked as Mark handed him a mug.
“Probably off tying his brother to lamppost somewhere I imagine,” Gary grinned.
“Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about his current best man status…you know Mark, if you really want someone responsible then maybe you should think about asking the only one who hasn’t made a joke about it…and never would,” Howard said thoughtfully.
Mark had always avoided talking about angels. Whilst being a very soulful man, the wispy women who usually described the concepts of angels and auras tended to trouble Mark slightly. But quietly, he had come to the conclusion that he was actually lucky enough to know an angel. Many people often thought Mark must be an angel and perhaps he was. But Mark was an angel in a ‘look-what-Heaven-misplaced’ kind of a way. Jason was a very different story. Mark decided Jason must be an earth angel, deliberately given over to the world to give it a little bit of gold in the gloom. There was something very grounded about Jason, he could walk down the street and seem somehow anonymous to even the greatest fan. Yet in some way, despite that anonymity, he was still infinitely captivating. Mark remembered that even before they were famous, gazes would linger a little longer on Jason, taking in his earthly smile. The man had a heart of gold and although his halo was a little crooked it was still obvious to anyone who met him that Jason Orange had a beautiful soul. But what really proved to Mark that Jason was an angel was his daughter’s first reaction to him.
“Come here Jay, hold her…she’s already met Gaz and Howard,” Mark beamed proudly, not taking his eyes from the bundle of blankets in his arms. Jason had smiled softly and taken a step closer as Mark carefully shifted Willow into his arms. Willow stirred slowly, wriggling slightly in Jason’s arms and looking up at him with innocent eyes. Jason gave her cheek a soft stroke and the little girl held his gaze. Mark grinned happily at his daughter and Jason, watching as the two of them took a minute to size each other up. And then Willow stretched out her arm, grabbing Jason’s finger in her hand. In that moment, Mark realised just how beautiful his friend truly was and his eyes shone brightly as he saw Willow grab hold of the man with the golden glow, refusing to let go. She’d stayed in Jason’s arms for a good twenty minutes after that, her hand still clasped around his finger. Mark had to wait until Willow fell asleep before she would allow herself to be separated from Jason at all. Between them Howard and Gary had three daughters, but in true Owen style, Willow Rose had made up her mind and she wasn’t going to back down for mere logic. Jason would be her godfather.
Mark had waited until the next time the band were all together to tell them. He was feeling most guilty about telling Gary, because he and Gary were close and normally Gary was the first he would come to for anything and everything. As he prepared to tell them, he was very aware of just how lucky he was; he had three of the most beautiful people in the world just sitting here in his kitchen, all happy and proud to call themselves his best friends. With that thought in mind, he came to the conclusion that neither Gary nor Howard would be hurt that he chose Jason, they’d understand his choice precisely. Especially Howard. Mark couldn’t think of a time in the history of the band when Howard hadn’t trusted Jason above everyone else. It was easy to trust in Jason.
“Lads…” Mark said into his tea and the other three men had turned to look at him expectantly.
“Eh up, I feel an announcement coming on,” Gary remarked, raising his eyebrows at Mark enquiringly and putting down his biscuit. Howard sat up a little in his chair.
“It must be serious if Gaz is putting down his McVities!” he joked. Jason simply chuckled and shook his head, leaning back in his chair unassumingly.
“Jay, would you do me the honour of being Willow’s godfather?” Mark said at last. Jason looked up, surprise evident in his shining eyes. Mark supposed that Jason believed he’d been about to say Gary’s name. But Howard and Gary didn’t seem so surprised and instead they smiled knowingly.
“Good choice mate,” Howard said softly.
“Hold off Doug, he hasn’t said yes yet,” Gary teased, elbowing Jason gently in his side.
Mark remembered that when Jason had first told him his name he’d thought it had to be a stage name. That was because in Mark’s life, people just weren’t called Jason Orange. They were called Jason Smith or Jason Jones. But after that initial introduction, Mark hadn’t noticed Jason’s name again. Orange became normal – he spent all his time in a world where the name didn’t stand out, it was always around, always being used. It was only as Mark found himself falling asleep backstage at some TV show or other, curled up on a tiny greenroom sofa with his head resting against Jason’s chest, that he really began to consider Jason’s name once more. Jason was protecting him tonight – the exhaustion was really beginning to catch up with Mark and appearances weren’t so easy to back out of when you were the band member with lead vocal. Tonight was all so very Jason; Mark had been sheltered by Jason’s arms from the first moment Jason had noticed the tiredness in his face and he’d made every effort in the world to keep Mark in the peace and quiet for as long as physically possible. The flirting and the charm that Jason was so famous for, it was just an extension of the Jason that was now letting Mark sleep on his lap – Jason just wanted to make people smile. That was why girls happily hung off his arm, why Howard trusted him with his life, why Gary always respected his opinions – people want to be around Jason, they’re drawn to Jason. Mark smiled sleepily. Orange; it’s not a name you hear very often. And Jason Orange? He isn’t the sort of man you come across very often. Mark was glad he’d stumbled on him though, especially in that moment.
“You’re one of a kind Orange,” he mumbled before finally drifting off to sleep.