Monster

30

"A funeral, huh?"

"A small one" Jaebum grunts, frustrated, hes never had this much trouble tying a tie in his life.

"Don't sound so bitter," Mark turns Jaebum around to fix the tie. "Jackson told me to tell you to hurry up, the only guests can't be late"

"It starts when I say it starts"

"Calm down, Jinyoung's driving, so you and I can drink" Mark gives him a grin.

"I don't even know the guy, this is ridiculous"

"It's important to Jackson"

Jaebum shrugs, so Mark shrugs back. A funeral is the last thing either of them ever thought they'd be attending at this point in their life. Sure they've had tons of people die around them, but they've never attended a funeral. Only executions.

Jinyoung is waiting by the door for them, Jackson and Yugyeom out in the car already. They're all dressed in their nicest suits, stiff ties and polished shoes. Jinyoung smiles at them, opening the door to let them leave the house first. Jaebum gets on the front seat, Mark squeezes in the back, Jinyoung behind the wheel and away they go, making the hour drive into town where the cemetery is.

Jackson has a tray of mini sandwiches on his lap, Yugyeom has a tray of cookies. Nestled between them is a bottle of spiced rum, and four small glasses, for a toast.

The cemetery is well taken care of. The lawn freshly mowed, trees trimmed and watered, it looks peaceful, shrouded in shade and the gentle smell of roses wafting from the many bushes. It's early enough now that the sun isn't too high, or too hot, and their only company is the priest standing lone under an umbrella.

Jinyoung has the trays in hand now, walking a step behind the others. Jackson has taken Yugyeom's arm while Mark has taken the bottle and cups. Jaebum, reluctantly, agreed to carry over the blanket, after it was decided that if Jinyoung had to make two trips, he would leave them there.

The service is as small as Jackson promised it would be, the priest bored and reading from a script typed on crumpled paper. No tears are shed.

When the priest leaves, giving an inappropriately cheerful goodbye, Mark pops open the bottle, taking a few hard gulps before filling the four glasses.

"I'm sorry, Dean. You deserved better than that" Jackson says, sighing heavily. It is kind of his fault that Dean is dead.

"I hope there is an afterlife, and that he gets to see his wife again" Jinyoung says dreamily, blissfully imagining his own afterlife, his boyfriends with him.

"Then, to Dean" Jaebum raises his glass.

"To Dean" The others say in unison bringing up their glasses in cheers. Jinyoung mimes his, not having thought to bring a glass for water.

They stay as the backhoe fills the grave. Jackson places a simple bouquet on top of the plot. They lay out a blanket, stretching out on top of it to enjoy their small picnic.

Together Mark and Jaebum manage to finish off the bottle. It's begun to warm up, mourners and visitors trickling between the graves. There's a slight breeze, ruffling through Jinyoung's hair. He needs a haircut, he's realizing, curling a little bundle of it between his fingers.

"I like it a little longer" Jackson comments, as if reading his mind. He reaches and takes the bundle from Jinyoung, twisting it around his finger. It's as soft as it's ever been.

Jinyoung gives him a smile. Jacksons cheeks are a light pink from the alcohol, eyes a little red, his voice soft. This is affecting him more than he's letting on.