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Renjun has been dropping hints. At first they were subtle, just innocent questions.
“How do you think Juna would be around other animals?”
To which Jaemin would reply, “She goes to animal parks frequently and she is friendly with Daegal so I’d say she’s fine.”
And Renjun would hum, satisfied with the answer.
Or, “do you think this building is cat friendly?”
Then it would become less subtle but still in the realm of innocence.
My love, Junnie has sent you a Tiktok
My love, Junnie has sent you a Tiktok
My love, Junnie has sent you a Tiktok
My love, Junnie has sent you a Tiktok
My love, Junnie has sent you a Ti-
“Junnie, all of these are kitten videos.”
“Aren’t they cute?!”
And then eventually it seemed that Renjun was on his last straw.
Jaemin opens his laptop to see adoption paperwork on his keyboard, taped to the fridge, inside the fridge, next to Juna’s food, in Jaemin’s bedside table, stuck to the mirror in the bathroom when the latter gets out of the shower.
And Renjun does this without saying a word. So neither does Jaemin.
Jaemin isn’t stupid - he knows exactly what Renjun is screaming hinting at him. But he also knows that Renjun can use his big boy words and tell him exactly what he wants. So every time he sees another print out of the forms he leaves them alone, exactly where Renjun left them.
Call him sadistic but he likes imagining Renjun’s face turn to frustration when he comes home hopeful, ready to punch the air in celebration only to want to punch something else instead (softly, with love).
Renjun truly seems to be running out of patience when he stands over Jaemin sitting back on the sofa. He uses his higher position as a power move and joins it with a very serious (definitely not adorably squishable) look that means business .
“Sign this,” he sticks the papers in front of Jaemin’s face, so close that Jaemin goes cross-eyed to look at the white sheets he has been seeing for a week already.
Jaemin places his hand softly on the balled up fist holding the papers and lowers it slowly. “What do you demand that I sign, Junnie?” He feigns ignorance.
Renjun closes his eyes, breathing in deeply and releasing the breath after a few counts. He opens his eyes. “Papers. Papers that need signing.”
Jaemin smiles innocently, Renjun’s eye twitches. “But what is the contents of these ‘papers’. I would do many things for you but I am not sure I would sign my soul over to the devil.” He would, Renjun knows that already.
“Adoption papers! Adopt a cat with me!” Renjun cries and regrets it instantly when Jaemin’s grin turns unbearably smug.
“Well why didn’t you say so!” he says, tooth-rotting sweet.
Renjun drops into Jaemin’s lap with a huff and Jaemin exaggerates his groan when Renjun’s body covers his.
They flip through the pages together, Jaemin reading them thoroughly to make sure they aren’t missing anything. When they have read every word Jaemin lowers the stack to his lap - or Renjun’s seeing as the latter is already covering his own.
“I don’t think we should sign these just yet.”
“What?” came Renjun’s shocked reply, “Why not?”
“Because I haven’t even seen this kitten that we’re adopting - what if they like you more? What if we don’t bond?” he whines and Renjun’s sad expression turns into a bright smile. “Then I’ll have three creatures in our home ganging up against me.”
“That’s something you’ll have to deal with in the future.”
“No, no, no, no,” Jaemin shakes his head quickly. “We’re just going to have to visit the centre together so I can bond with them first .”
Renjun groans and tucks his face quickly into Jaemin’s neck but he knows his lover is smiling so wide his cheeks hurt. “Ok.”
They schedule a visit to the adoption centre a few days later, both shaking with excitement but hiding it well enough. Renjun has been going to this centre for months before he decided that he wanted to adopt a kitten, coming by weekly to volunteer his time and donating any supplies they were in need of. So when they step over the threshold he pulls Jaemin quickly in the direction of the shelters, just about giving Jaemin enough time to greet the amused girl on the front desk.
“Renjun!” His name is called when they’re inside before the door is even shut behind them. Jaemin looks around to find the person who called his boyfriend’s name and his eyes land on a girl with long black hair wearing a light pink tunic. If the uniform didn’t tell him that she worked there the name tag definitely did, ‘Seulgi - Centre Manager’.
“Seulgi,” Renjun gasps when he is pulled into a bone crushing hug. He welcomes the hug anyway, his own arms tightly hugging the other's waist and chin dipping into her shoulder.
Eventually, they pull away and Seulgi envelopes Renjun’s hand with her own. “It is so good to see you. I feel like you always visit when I’m not here.”
Renjun looks at her sadly and Jaemin feels a pang in his chest at his boyfriend's glossy eyes. “I never mean to, I promise. My schedule is a bit messy at the moment so I never really know when I can get time to come.”
Seulgi sighs dramatically but shrugs with a smile on her face. It is then that she realises someone is holding onto Renjun’s other hand and she looks Jaemin up and down. “Is this-?”
Renjun hums in agreement. The pair make eye contact again and they seem to have a discussion that Jaemin is not privy to. After a few seconds of silence while Jaemin waits on the sidelines Seulgi whispers a ‘nice’ under her breath that makes Renjun hit her shoulder lightly, a soft blush on his cheeks.
“Hello, I am Seulgi,” she turns to Jaemin with her bright smile and holds her hand out to shake. “I am the manager here. You must be Jaemin, I have heard a lot about you.”
Jaemin smiles smug and wide, accepting her hand in his. “I am sure you have.”
When Jaemin turns his smile to Renjun, the latter rolls his eyes. “Anyway, we’re here to look at kittens to adopt,” his smile is bright as he says it.
“It’s about time,” Seulgi laughs. “Alright, I’ll go get your access passes.”
Seulgi spins on her heel in the same direction she came through leaving the couple alone to come up with their ‘game plan’ as Renjun puts it.
In the end they quickly agree on going around by themselves first. This is mostly for Jaemin seeing as Renjun is already familiar with many of the cats here. As they spend their time playing with the kittens the plan is to choose their top 3 and compare their choices when they’re back together.
Jaemin has to admit it is difficult . It is way too hard to choose only 3 out of so many but eventually he has two on his list.
It isn’t until he is looking through the last group of pens that something just clicks. “Can I see this one please?” he asks the worker nearby. He looks at the sign above the gate, ‘Suzy. Female. 10 weeks old. On hold.’
She smiles politely and opens the kitten's pen, taking her carefully into her arms and gestures for Jaemin to follow them to the nearby play area.
Jaemin sits down on the rug, surrounded by different cat toys and scratch posts. He picks up a few cat treats from the small compartment attached to the wall, just in case the kitten needs a little convincing. But, despite how quiet and docile she was in the cage and when the worker picked her up, Jaemin doesn’t even need to tempt the ball of fluff before she is already walking over to him and rubbing herself against his jean-clad knee.
Her black fur is soft when he runs his fingers along it and Jaemin smiles softly when loud purrs come loudly from the little girl, instantly calmed by the sound.
He isn’t quite sure how long he stays there for but it must have been longer than he thought when he hears Renjun’s voice call his name. “Jaemin?”
Jaemin looks up just as Renjun stops in the doorway of the playroom. The latter’s eyes widen when he looks down to Jaemin on the floor, lay on his side as he watches Suzy bite and kick at the toy wand he has dangling above her with her white-socked paws.
“So you have met little Suzy,” Renjun says, leaning against the door frame.
Jaemin hums, barely taking his eyes away from her. “I think she likes me.”
He hears Renjun snort out a laugh before he sees him lay down across from him, in the same position with Suzy playing between them. “I don’t see how she could.”
“Well it is a known fact that cats are very good judges of character.”
“Really?” Renjun asks, booping Suzy’s nose. “Who said that?”
“Me, just now,” Jaemin meets Renjun’s eyes. “Were you not listening, honey?”
Renjun's answer comes in the form of an eye roll.
Neither talk for a while as they watch and listen to Suzy play.
“She‘s been put on hold,” Renjun hums. Jaemin continues. “We’re going to need to bribe some people, Junnie. I can’t leave her.”
“You already know how I feel about you bribing people Min. But there really is no need this time.”
Jaemin raises a perfect eyebrow without a word. Smiling softly as he looks down at the girl now biting his boyfriend’s finger instead, Renjun explains, “Suzy was the kitten that I originally wanted us to adopt.”
Jaemin’s eyes widen, “The on hold sign-?”
“I may have asked a favour from the adoption coordinator,” he laughs. “I knew you’d love her as much as I do.” He boops Suzy’s nose, her mouth opening wide and her paws framing her head. Renjun mimics the expression.
He misses Jaemin staring at him, a look he only ever saves for Renjun. “You know me too well,” is what he says. “ I can’t wait to marry you, ” is what he doesn’t say. Not yet.
Once they’ve had their fill of playing with Suzy together (and when Seulgi tells them it’s getting closer to closing time), they head over to one of the desks to fill out their adoption paperwork. When the paperwork is looked over and approved, they’re given a collection date for a few days away.
Only a few days until their small family gets a new addition. Only a few days for Jaemin to complete the plan which he has been planning and thinking of for months. Renjun has been planning this for a month, maybe two, but for even longer Jaemin has been preparing to make their family a little more special.
Truthfully, Jaemin has wanted to ask Renjun to marry him for a while. Call him crazy (as Renjun would) but only 6 months in when they moved in together, Jaemin was already thinking about it. How Renjun would react when he presented the ring. Would he cry or curse or would he be too shocked to speak? Would he want to prolong the engagement or would he want to schedule a date straight away? Would he say yes?
He had asked the last question only once and stupidly in front of the one man who would hold it against him: Donghyuck. Unfortunately, Donghyuck was the only one who he could actually ask it to as he was the only one (in their shared friend group) which he could actually ask it to.
In a moment of idiocy and desperation, Jaemin had confided in Donghyuck his plans, or what little of a plan he had at the time. He would’ve asked Jeno seeing as he is the more bearable of Renjun’s childhood friends, but Donghyuck is known to keep secrets well whereas Jeno would crumble under the pressure as he had times before.
They were an unlikely team. But looking past all the jibes and mutual teasing that originally made Jaemin want to crush Donghyuck like a bug a few years ago, they became close. Maybe it is because of his odd friendship with Donghyuck that Donghyuck turned into the best choice and that they can be unabashedly honest with each other. So, when Jaemin had asked the question on a vulnerable afternoon, Donghyuck was quick to hit him upside the head. Because even if Renjun had called him crazy, he would go along with everyone of Jaemin’s crazy schemes.
And now it is the moment Jaemin has been waiting for.
It was a small plan but one that felt perfect to Jaemin. He enlisted the help of the people at the shelter who were happy to help. Jaemin left Renjun with Seulgi who was keeping him busy talking about first-day jitters and how to help the cat (and the parent) through it without too much stress. He walked over to the worker in the corner who holds Suzy in her arms and takes her in his own. He lifts her up to eye-level, his eyes catching the bling hanging from her yellow collar and smiles. Perfect . He kisses the kitten's soft head and hugs her to his chest.
He spins back around and walks over to Renjun. “Junnie,” he calls his name and his lover turns to him quickly, eyes shining brighter when he sees Suzy snuggling into Jaemin’s chest.
“Is she ready to go?”
“Not quite.”
Jaemin doesn’t give Renjun a moment to question his answer before he is lowering himself onto one knee.
“Junnie,” Jaemin begins. “I love you. All I have known for a long time is that I am completely in love with you. Ever since you served me that first time in the bar I have known I wanted you in my life and that feeling has kept growing stronger and stronger until it brought us to this moment.”
It slowly clicks for Renjun. The adoption centre employees standing across the walls, so many that he questions how he had missed them before. Donghyuck is amongst them, a wide smile hurting his cheeks and his phone in hand pointed directly at them. And then, as if his boyfriend on one knee wasn’t enough, the final giveaway was Suzy and the ring shining on her collar.
“Renjun-”
“Shut up,” he blurts, eyes wide. “Jaemin, shut up. Oh my god. Jaemin get up. What the fuck, Jaemin. Do not fucking prank me right now I swear to go-”
Jaemin’s laugh cuts off his spiel of nonsense. “I’m being serious. I know it’s rare but you have to believe me that at this moment I have never been more serious in my life.”
“Really?” Renjun asks softly, so soft it’s merely a whisper.
“Really.” Jaemin replies just as softly as he takes Renjun’s hand in his and holds Suzy securely in the other. “Can I ask the question now?”
Renjun sniffles, throwing his head back to keep the tears at bay. His voice cracks as he answers. “Please.”
“Huang Renjun, will you marry me?”
The room fills with cheers and loud clapping as Renjun tugs Jaemin up with all the force he can muster, nodding his head quickly before burying it in Jaemin’s neck and wrapping his arms tightly around him.
Jaemin cannot help the gleeful laugh that falls from his lips as he undoubtedly hugs him back, quickly handing Suzy to Seulgi who accepts her with a bright smile.
Jaemin kisses Renjun’s wet cheek, his temple and his forehead - anywhere that he can reach while Renjun continues to hide himself in his neck. It is only when Renjun sobs loudly that Jaemin pulls him back.
“Junnie,” Jaemin says happily. “You’re crying.”
“No, I’m not,” he says through his sniffles, eyes glistening with more unshed tears.
“Really?”
“Yes!” he feigns annoyance. “And if you tell anyone they will not believe you.”
“I have video evidence,” Donghyuck suddenly pipes up, making Renjun groan.
“I do not know how Mark and Jeno put up with you.”
“True love, probably.”
They’re interrupted by a meow and their attention quickly turns to Suzy who is restless in Seulgi’s arms. Renjun takes her into his own quickly while Jaemin finally thinks to remove the collar from her neck. The ring falls into his palm and he puts the collar in his back pocket.
“May I?” he holds his hand out for Renjun’s. He takes care in placing the ring on his finger, it sliding on smooth and slow. When the ring is sitting pretty and perfect on Renjun’s finger Jaemin looks back up to him.
He smiles softly when he only sees half of Renjun’s face - the other half buried in Suzy’s fur. “Renjun,” he says softly. He cups the man's cheek when he looks back at him.
He moves closer until their lips are a mere inches away. “I love you, my Renjunie.”
Renjun’s affirmation of love is swept up in their kiss. Jaemin kisses Renjun softly and the latter retaliates eagerly, wet cheeks and nose not stopping either of them. Nothing can and will keep Jaemin from kissing his fiancé.