Chapter Text
“I do not need those,” Mark hissed quietly — as if William, Celine, or Damien, convening downstairs, could’ve heard him either way.
“What?” you asked, looking up from where you’d been setting out a diaper to change him into — genuinely confused for a second. Of course he needed them — if you wanted to get there before midnight, anyway; it was a full day of driving as it stood. But, your brain caught up quickly — of course he didn’t want to wear his diapers when William or Celine could notice. Even as long as they’d known, Mark was still awfully shy about it. “Darling, we might not be able to stop when you need to go,” you tried to explain gently. You’d learned the hard way that he would outright refuse to pee on the side of the road, even when he was actively having an accident in his pants, and with a drive this long, there would certainly be some stretches without anywhere to stop with services.
Mark scoffed. “I’m not the only one who will need a rest stop.”
“…No, darling, but you’re the one who will need them the most.” Both the most often and the most urgently — he didn’t tend to get as much warning as the rest of you.
“That’s ridiculous! No, I won’t!” He was blushing — with crossed-arms and tense posture screaming ‘I’m going to be stubborn about this.’
You stifled a sigh, but in the moment you took to compose yourself, a fantastic idea had come together. The other problem was the fact that, even when you could find a bathroom for him, a half-dozen extra stops would add at least an hour to the drive… and nobody wanted that. Mark was always so embarrassed to have an accident, but it was undoubtedly more convenient for the rest of you to just change his diaper when you had to stop.
“Okay, maybe I’m wrong,” you said generously. “But will you please wear them on the way out? For me; so I don’t have to worry about you. If you really want to convince me you don’t need diapers for car trips like this, just don’t ask for rest stops.”
Mark, alarmed, opened his mouth to interrupt and protest, but you didn’t let him, continuing, “If you can just wait and go each time someone else needs to stop for something without having ‘emergencies’ or accidents, I’ll know you really don’t need the diapers. That’s all they’re for.” You kept your tone very collaborative, presenting this as a logical and fair compromise; as though he had a chance in hell of making it even remotely dry. He just couldn’t hold as much, or for as long, as most people — hence the diapers.
“That’s—” Mark started, but seemed to realize you’d put him in a corner. Either your suggestion wasn’t fair, which would mean admitting he couldn’t control himself well enough to handle the drive without special stops just for him, or it was fair, and he had no reason not to agree to show you he could keep his diaper dry so he wouldn’t have to have this argument next time. “That’s ridiculous,” he said again, but this time mumbling, less convinced.
You held your tongue, resisting the urge to try to convince him further in case you ended up undermining your own argument in the process.
Just then, though, William bellowed up the stairs, asking what the devil was taking so long. (Someone was running well behind schedule… not to name any names. In his defense, you weren’t a morning person, either, and had been a bit sluggish, as well — just not “we were supposed to leave 30 minutes ago” sluggish. But, Ben had packed his suitcases last night, so now that he was finally out of the shower, you just had to get him dressed and you could be on your way.)
Mark jumped at the sound of his friend’s voice, and you suspected the nervous glance he shot to the diaper on the bed betrayed his real feelings about his prospects under your conditions. But, he reschooled his expression quickly back into the exasperation he’d been projecting. “Fine, fine; if only to show you it isn’t necessary,” he grumbled, climbing onto the bed for you.
You smiled and relaxed, glad he had acquiesced. You did feel a little bad about setting him up for an accident — probably multiple accidents — but… he was safe, among people who loved him. This was for the best.
You moved quickly, but powdered him thoroughly, given that he may have to wait a while for a change. The diaper you’d chosen wasn’t too thick — you wanted him to feel confident it was hidden under his clothes. You’d even made sure to get one of his slick new diaper covers — the kind that hides the waterproofing between fabric layers — rather than the much more crinkly plastic pants he normally wore at night. Still, you made sure his diaper was thick enough you could be confident he wouldn’t soak through between rest stops. Once he was pinned in securely, you let him up. “There — now let’s hurry before they drag us out by the ankles.”
“Thank you,” Mark mumbled as he sat up, looking your work over — so perhaps your thoughtful choices weren’t lost on him. You kissed his head.
“You’re welcome. I love you.”
Mark dressed quickly — if only because, no really, William’s next move may be to come up and try knocking down the door — and you were off. Ben had already loaded the car and pressed a large, steaming mug of coffee into Mark’s hands and one into yours — something everyone else had already enjoyed while you and Mark finished getting ready.
The car was a more recent purchase of Mark’s; an upgrade that could fit the family more comfortably for trips like this and turned heads while it was at it with luxury upholstery and a flawless shiny black paint job. Mark loved it — although it lived at William and Celine’s most of the time, given the limited garage space at your home in the heart of town.
Ben had volunteered to drive the first stretch — it would likely be himself and William alternating most of the way. (Mark partook in the occasional joyride but preferred to leave the functional driving to Ben.)
You’d already declared your intent to cozy up in the back row with a mind to snooze a bit once you’d finished your coffee but before the caffeine had actually kicked in. Damien then claimed the spot beside you — better for his leg, with more room to stretch it out if it got stiff, and the opportunity to cuddle up to you after a long workweek limited to the professional interactions of the office.
As Celine was being gallantly helped into the front passenger seat by William, that left Mark with a middle seat — and by the irritated look on his face, he was not particularly happy about that. They were comfortable enough, but as they folded down when not in use, they were the smallest seats, and did have the least legroom. That made them, you might add, an even worse fit for William — but it wasn’t a truly tight squeeze.
Between the diapers and the lack of coffee, though, Mark was feeling irritable. Before he could fuss, you leaned forward towards the open door to promise quietly, “Come and sit, Mark — I’ll switch with you later.”
He turned his dispirited glare to you as William, who’d come back around the car, patted Mark on the back heartily. “What are you still waiting for? Let’s go!”
This did not seem to help Mark’s mood, but he climbed into the car, grumbling only under his breath something about how it should’ve gone without saying he’d get to pick his own seat in his own car — which William surely must’ve overheard but seemed to write it off as early morning grumpiness, as you had. The coffee would help.
So, off you went.
