Chapter Text
“I have nothing against Taehyung, I just think Jimin is too nice and this is going to end badly.”
“Cheol-“
“No, I know Taehyung’s been in Jimin’s care for 3 months now, but I can’t help but worry.”
Joshua sighs. “It’s just a picnic, baby. You know how busy Hansol and I have been, we haven’t had a chance to just relax in so long.” He says.
Seungcheol slumps down into the couch, his head falling into the crook of Joshua’s neck. “I just- I miss you, Jeonghan misses you. You have one day off and instead of spending it with us you’re spending it with five people.”
“Eight, actually. Including the two of you.” Joshua says, running a hand through Seungcheol’s hair.
“That’s really not any better.” Seungcheol whines. Joshua hears the pout forming on his face.
Seungcheol swings his legs onto Joshua’s lap, his ears twitching as they pick up the sound of Jeonghan snoring in their room.
“I promise that when we get home we can cuddle in bed and watch your favourite movie.”
“Insidious?” Seungcheol says.
Joshua’s face pales. “No. Pick another one.”
Seungcheol rolls his eyes and he lets his fears be quelled by Joshua’s fingers dragging across his scalp. Joshua has always had this overwhelmingly calm force on him, with his honey voice and soft, fresh scent. Since the day that Joshua brought him home, Seungcheol’s been in love with this feeling. He feels protected and at peace with the world, like nothing could ever hurt him again.
-----
“Who has a brunch picnic at eleven in the morning?” Jeonghan grumbles as Joshua drags him out of their bed. He’s holding his blankets tightly, pulling them along with them. He knows that Joshua’s going to get mad at him later and make him fix their sheets before they leave, but in the moment it seems like a great idea.
“Yes, Jeonghan, Jihoon and Hansol are crazy people for wanting you to be awake before noon.” Joshua says, rolling his eyes as he tries to pry the sheets from Jeonghan’s fists.
“Thank you for seeing it from my perspective.” Jeonghan says. He gives up on trying to get a few more minutes of sleep, shucking the last bit of blanket from his body and Joshua with it.
Joshua yelps in protest. “I just did my hair, you asshole.”
It takes him a minute to untangle himself from the mess of blankets that Jeonghan has thrown him into, and by then Jeonghan is nowhere to be seen. Seungcheol, however, is standing in the doorway of their bathroom, a towel hanging low on his hips.
“Morning,” He grunts, rubbing a hand over his eyes. He looks like the hot shower he just took put him back to sleep instead of waking him up. “Cuddle?”
Joshua rolls his eyes. They’re supposed to be getting ready to leave for Hansol and Jihoon’s picnic, but maybe brunch can wait. It’s kind of hypocritical to get back in bed to cuddle Seungcheol after just yanking Jeonghan out of it, but he can’t resist. He throws himself down onto the bed and holds his arms out in Seungcheol’s direction. As soon as Seungcheol’s body makes contact with his, he can hear Jeonghan’s betrayed gasp from the doorway.
“I can’t believe my boyfriends are cheating on me with each other.”
-----
It takes Jeonghan all of two hours to get ready and they don’t reach their brunch picnic until 11:45. Joshua doesn’t think that Hansol really cares, in all honestly it seems like he’s just glad that they showed up at all.
Soonyoung and Mingyu are already at a the park, having left 20 minutes before in Soonyoung’s car while Seungcheol was holding Joshua captive for kisses and cuddles. Mingyu is relaxing on the giant blanket that Hansol has set up on the ground, even though there’s a heavily decorated picnic table under a pergola two feet to his left. Joshua can’t blame him, though. The sun does feel nice on his skin after being locked inside for the past two weeks with work.
Hansol is pulling him into a hug before Joshua even sees him coming. His mind has been a jumble of thoughts and distractions lately, and people have been having a lot more luck making him jump lately.
“Thank you for coming,” Hansol mutters into his ear, squeezing him tight.
Joshua pulls back with a smile. He can see Seungcheol and Jeonghan in his peripheral vision getting comfy beside Mingyu on the blanket, sun lovers that they are. “Nervous?” Joshua asks.
Hansol scoffs. “Why would I be nervous?” He says, but Hansol has never been good at lying, and Joshua has always been good at reading him anyways.
“Right,” Joshua says, eyeing Hansol sceptically. He pats Hansol’s back pocket, where he can feel the outline of a small box. “Nothing to be nervous about at all.”
Seungcheol waves him over, Jeonghan already curled up into Seungcheol’s side. Joshua takes a minute to relish in the warm feeling in his stomach, seeing the two men he loves loving each other so easily. When he sits down, ignoring the feeling of lumpy park soil under his ass, Seungcheol takes the opportunity to cuddle up to him. Seungcheol’s head fits perfectly in the crook of Joshua’s neck, and nothing has ever felt so right or natural.
Seungcheol speaks as he relaxes into Joshua’s side. “I love you, Josh. In case I haven’t said it yet today.”
Joshua smiles, pressing a kiss to the crown of Seungcheol’s head. “I’m fairly certain you have, but I’ll take it. I love you, too. Just in case,” He says.
“Jihoon said he’d grill an extra steak for me,” Jeonghan says into Joshua’s thigh. He’s managed to worm his way onto both of their laps, curling up on Seungcheol’s legs with his head on Joshua’s. His breath is warm on Joshua’s abdomen, almost too warm given their position directly in the sunshine and the warmer-than-normal spring temperature, but Joshua can’t find it in himself to mind.
“This was worth getting up early, then?” Joshua says. Jeonghan smiles, snuggling further into Joshua’s stomach.
Soonyoung joins them on the blanket, followed shortly after by Jimin and Taehyung. Joshua watches Soonyoung pick up Mingyu’s head and deposit it into his lap. Mingyu looks half awake, leaning into the hand carding through his hair with a drowsy smile on his face. Joshua can’t help but feel happy for them. After all he’s seen Soonyoung go through in the past two years, it’s good to see him in love for once. Taehyung looks happier too, less scrawny and less scared of everything than he had at the shelter. Jimin’s arm wraps around his waist, muttering something in Taehyung’s ear that Joshua can’t hear. It’s nice to just sit here with his friends, the family that he’s built from scratch, just relaxing and living in the moment.
“Food is ready,” Jihoon calls out, turning the knob on the gas tank of his portable grill until it gives a click.
“Hoon, wait,” Hansol says. He unties the apron from Jihoon’s waist and sets it down on the picnic table. He drops down onto a knee, and Joshua just barely tunes out Jimin’s excited squeal.
Jeonghan sits up, Seungcheol’s hand around his waist tightens, and Joshua feels tears prickling at the backs of his eyes. Though, they’re nothing compared to the tears that are already falling down Jihoon’s face. Redness is starting to spread over Hansol’s cheeks, and Joshua tries to send some telepathic courage his way.
“Jihoon,” Hansol starts, taking Jihoon’s hand and playing with his fingers. “I know that it’s only been a few years, I know we’re still young. But I also know that I love you with everything in my heart. You’ve supported me and Josh through our career venture, and you’ve supported me in everything that I’ve ever wanted to do since I met you. There is no one on this earth that I’d rather spend the rest of my life with, except maybe Joshua but he’s taken.”
Jihoon gives a watery chuckle. “I love you,” He says, falling to his knees in front of Hansol. Joshua’s glad that Mingyu had the presence of mind to whip out his phone and start filming as soon as Hansol started.
“Marry me?” Hansol asks. He doesn’t get a verbal reply, just some nods and some shocked laughter before he’s sliding the ring on Jihoon’s finger and pulling him in for a kiss.
Joshua turns away, this moment feeling too intimate for him to invade on. Seungcheol presses a kiss to his cheek.
“Why are you crying, baby?” Seungcheol asks.
Joshua shrugs. “I’m happy for them. I wish I could marry you and Jeonghan and make you happy like that.”
“We’re already yours, legally and otherwise. Hansol doesn’t have the paperwork to call Jihoon his, yet, but you have the paperwork for us.” Jeonghan pipes up from his place on Joshua’s lap.
Joshua shakes his head. “That paperwork says I own you. I want us to be equals. I want to be yours the same way that you’re mine. I want us to be bound together forever, not to steal Hansol’s spotlight or anything. I want you to mark me.”
Seungcheol’s eyes almost pop out of his head. “A-are you sure?” He asks. His arm winds tighter around Joshua’s waist.
“Yeah,” Joshua says, bringing his lips to Seungcheol’s. “I’m sure.”