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“So, what do you say?”
Namjoon managed to keep his composure relaxed, despite his heart drumming to the point he thought it might break his ribcage. Or that he might pass out. Both were equally unpleasant. “Hm, Jeongguk?”
The 8-month-old child blinked sullenly from his spot on Namjoon’s lap. He sucked in his bottom lip, a spot of drool on his chin from when he tried to cram his stuffed bunny doll into his mouth. Namjoon tickled Jeongguk’s cheeks and smiled when the baby squealed, turning his head away. Namjoon picked him up until they were eye-level.
“Is it okay if I marry your dad?” Namjoon asked again.
Silence, a blink, and then a glob of spit shot into Namjoon’s face as Jeongguk screeched, chubby cheeks jiggling. Namjoon groaned and wiped his face on Jeongguk’s onesie only to have the baby grab a fistful of his hair and pull.
“Aye, Kookie!” Namjoon held him at arm’s length and questioned why he thought asking an infant for his partner’s hand in marriage was a genius idea. “Whatever. I’m going to take that as a yes.”
Jeongguk kicked his legs, babbling nonsense (probably cursing Namjoon and telling him to stay away from Jin). Namjoon sat him back on his lap and then reached into his pocket to pull out a small, black box. He opened it to reveal a simple, silver ring with a satin finish around the band. Engraved on the inside of the band were the words “We’ll travel to infinity . ”
Namjoon placed the ring in his palm and locked his fingers tight around it. The tiny object felt heavy yet reassuring. “Do you like it? I think Jin will.” The only response he received was Jeongguk clutching Namjoon’s shirt to try to pull himself up.
The idea of marriage wasn’t a sudden revelation for Namjoon. He and Jin had discussed it several times throughout their years together. It was something they both wanted. “Maybe one day we could get married.” Jin had kissed the words onto the back of Namjoon’s neck one night, when Namjoon managed not to set the frying pan on fire while preparing dinner.
Now Namjoon felt it was the right time to ask Jin. He wanted to propose in a way that was somewhat different, possibly odd, but wouldn’t involve putting anyone on the spot in a crowd of people.
“Here’s the deal,” Namjoon began, ruffling Jeongguk’s hair. “I’m going to hide the ring in your diaper and then have Jin change you.” Jeongguk shouted something Namjoon hoped wasn’t code for “I’m gonna poop on it!”
He picked Jeongguk up again and brought him close to his face until their foreheads touched. The smell of pureed strawberries and baby powder filled his nose. “Please, Kookie. Be nice to appa.” Namjoon’s heart swelled larger than his chest when Jeongguk cooed, a gummy smile overtaking the baby’s face. Jeongguk touched Namjoon’s dimples and somehow Namjoon fell in love with him all over again. “Perfect. But first, I’m going to clean you. Just in case.”
A diaper and quick wash later, Namjoon marched down to the music room where Jin sat fiddling on the piano. “Jin. Jeongguk needs to be changed.”
Jin looked at them, his glasses sliding down his nose. “And can’t you change him?”
Namjoon held out Jeongguk who immediately began whining and reaching for Jin. “No, you have to.”
“But why--”
“Seokjin, please.” Both Namjoon and Jeongguk gave the most deadly puppy-dog eyes look ever. Jin wasn’t into torturing himself, so he slipped off his glasses and took the child without protest. Namjoon followed them to the nursery room where Jin placed Jeongguk on the changing table.
“He couldn’t have pooped that badly,” Jin grumbled, peeling off the diaper. “I don’t smell--- oh my …”
Jeongguk clapped his hands, squealing. Meanwhile Namjoon was sweating out his hair dye though he would later say he kept his cool the entire time.
“...Joonie.” Jin breathed in deeply and picked out the ring, still shiny and poop-free. Namjoon quickly got into place on his knees by Jin. He smiled at the rising redness in Jin’s face, the way his mouth hung open as he tried to speak. “Wait--wha--wha--”
“I wanted to try something a bit different,” Namjoon said.
“You put the ring in his diaper…”
“I cleaned him thoroughly and begged him not to poop. Or pee.”
Jin swallowed down a sob and laughed, large tears overflowing his eyes. “I guess you did.”
Namjoon took Jin’s empty hand and held it firmly between both of his. He had his declaration of love all planned out and fine-tuned. He wasn’t going to choke up, but explain how much he adored Jin. That he was grateful to have both him and their son in his life.
Instead Namjoon couldn’t get a word out before Jin’s tears burst and he cried, “Get up here so I can kiss you.”
“Does that mean you want to marry me?”
“I--”
“I’m sorry if it’s still too soon, or if you changed your mind--damn, I should’ve--”
“ Namjoon , I want to marry you, now kiss me .” Jin tried to stop crying as Namjoon brought him into his arms and their lips to each other’s. The kiss was salty from Jin’s tears and sloppy from Namjoon’s laugh of relief. They might have continued trying to kiss properly if it wasn’t for a now agitated Jeongguk yelling.
They pulled away and Jin wiped his eyes on the back of his hands, still smiling. “I can’t believe you did it like this. You’re so weird.” He fixed Jeongguk’s diaper before gathering him into his arms and smothering his face with kisses. “I can’t believe you let Namjoon put a ring in your diaper, Kookie.” Jin held the ring up closer to his face, eyes squinting as he noticed the words inside. His eyes filled up again and he leaned against the changing table, afraid he might pass out.
“Can I put it on you?” Namjoon asked and Jin nodded, too choked up to say anything. Jeongguk smacked Namjoon’s hand the moment he slid the ring onto Jin’s finger. “It fits perfectly, of course.”
Jin folded himself back into Namjoon’s arm, chuckling as their bodies squished Jeongguk between them. “I can’t believe you.”
“I can’t believe you’ve stuck with me this long.” Jin clicked his tongue and lifted his head to kiss Namjoon.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s not like I love you or anything.”
“...That’s sarcasm, right?”
“Just kiss me again.”
(Seconds later, a sour smell interrupted their kiss and Namjoon groaned in despair while Jin sighed. Jeongguk, an innocent baby, smiled brightly.
“I’m glad you proposed when you did.”)