Chapter Text
Three steaks and four beers later Johnny looks at him over the rickety fold-out table and holding his gaze he starts to talk to him in that parent-to-child way that has his toes curling in discomfort.
"Mark, Markie. I know it's been tough for you lately, but you don't ever have to worry about losing us. Your mom's decision to leave was hers alone, and it had nothing to do with you. I love you, and I will always be here for you, no matter what happens."
"Yeah well duh, I know you will. But how can I be sure that Ten won't leave? I mean…look at you!"
Surprised Johnny looks down at his novelty apron, the chef's hat he'd brought home from the store flopping with the movement like a deflated mushroom.
"What about me? What does he mean?" he asks, turning to Ten, sulkily.
Smiling knowingly but ignoring him, Ten turns to Mark.
"Mark, I understand how you feel. But I promise you, your dad and I are committed to each other, and we have no plans of changing that. We want to be here for you, and we want to be a family."
Mark looks at Ten with a mix of doubt and hope. He wants to believe him, but he's afraid to be hurt again. Adults are not to be trusted after all.
Johnny adds, "Markie, it's natural to be scared of losing someone you love. But you can't control other people's decisions. What you can do is focus on the present moment and enjoy the time we have together.
"Wow, where did that come from?"
"What? I'm smart! I'm deep?"
"As a kiddie pool", Jaemin snarls. "Anyway, are you done? This Hallmark shit is making my ears hurt"
"Aw, we love you too Jaemin"
"That's not what I-"
"Yes we do" Ten quickly chips in, "So so much!"
"Stop it!"
"Our sweet wittle Jaemin"
"Seriously, if you don't-"
Watching them relentlessly tease his blushing, flustered cousin, Mark thinks about what they said. And maybe, just maybe they're right. Maybe this gang of misfits really is his family. He smiles to himself and then joins in on the teasing, earning him a deadly stare from Jaemin, but he knows he secretly loves the attention. They don't stop until the man with the long beard yells at them to "for the love of christ and all things holy behave like normal people"
"But we're not normal!" Mark holler in response.
"We've been knew" a surly voice comes from the raspberry bushes were the neighbor-lady, still not having forgiven Johnny for the cheese-poo-accident, scowls at them.
Time flew by and suddenly, with a mild panic, Ten realizes they were supposed to have left two days ago. They pack in a state of manic frenzy, and when they're finally done, after running in frantic panic all afternoon, having involved half of the trailer park in the process, the sun is already setting. They stand by their car, surrounded by a crowd of people who had come to say their goodbyes. Some seeming suspiciously happy to see them leave.
Hearing the characteristic chiming of a bicycle bell they look up to see Taeil-man, the mailman, waving at them from his bike, shouting "Don't forget to write!", not having realized they don't have his address. Then he almost crashes into a trash can as he sees Winwin, who runs up to Johnny in the driver's seat, handing him a bag of snacks and drinks for the road. Even Sheriff Jaehyun stood by his police car, looking relieved that it was finally over.
And then there was Haechan, walking out from behind the tanned lady with the coconut-vanilla perfume, holding out a foil hat.
"Here, Mark, I made this for you. It will protect you from alien mind control," he says uncharacteristically shyly.
Taking the hat, gently placing it on his head Mark can feel his cheeks heat up. "Thanks, Haechan. I'm gonna miss you, man."
Rolling his eyes, instantly breaking the mood Haechan snarled. "Don't get too emotional on me now. I'm sure we'll see each other again soon." Then he quickly leaned in, sticking his head through the rolled down window, pressing a quick peck to Mark's cheek.
Blushing furiously, Mark felt grateful for the fading light as the car started rolling, everybody waving as they slowly made their way out of the park.
As they drove out of town, Mark looked out the window, feeling a mix of sadness and excitement. He was sad to leave this place behind, but excited to see what adventures awaited him and his eccentric, cringy, but still mostly okay, family in the future.
And then, as they were passing by a rocky outcropping, a coyote suddenly stood up on its hind legs and waved at them. Mark couldn't help but laugh in surprise.
"Did you see that?" he exclaimed, turning to his dad and Ten.
They both smiled, and his dad said, "Looks like we made a friend."
"Aliens" Jaemin murmured, nodding to himself, and then he started singing.
So tell me what you want, what you really really want…
Sighing Mark looked out over the darkening sky, closing his eyes to remember Haechan's lips against his skin, just missing the strange light swooping over the sky, landing in the desert…