[He squeezes his arms gently around Kaveh's middle. Even without asking he knows the other man is trying not to spiral into anxiety already, expecting to hear something bad, and he's quite sure there is no way he could say what he's going to say next without a massive response on his partner's part.
Which... Well, he's expecting it, even with the warning.]
I want you to marry me. [Alhaitham murmurs, low and soft and just below Kaveh's ear.]
It doesn't have to be here, or soon, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
[ And just like that, Kaveh forgets about the sunrise.
His eyes widen and fill with tears, and he turns in the circle of Alhaitham's arms, staring up at him in shock for a long second or two, his heart pounding against his ribcage.
Alhaitham... wants to marry him. Alhaitham wants to spend the rest of his life with him.
And Kaveh realizes something that deep down he's always know: it doesn't matter if they're in this world or any other. As long as they're together, he's already home. And Alhaitham... Alhaitham feels the same way.
His lips tremble; his tears spill onto his cheeks. ]
Of course there are. He expected that. Someone so emotional and reactive as Kaveh could hardly keep from being like this.
Someone who has spent so long feeling lonely down to the core of his soul; that he would never be quite good enough for anyone or anything and that bad luck seemed to follow him around no matter what he did. That he would always find every dream unattainable because something always got in the way. Someone so helplessly gullible but always so ready to help, no matter the cost to himself, because what did he matter against the weight of everything and everyone else...
He could hardly keep from being like this, in the face of such a question.]
Would I ask if I didn't?
[Honestly. As if flaunting his anticipation he pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and holds it up between them.]
You're the only thing in my life that has always managed to escape logical explanation. And I want you to be in it forever.
[A cornerstone of wild chaos. Kaveh has always been a foil to him, and he's always known it.]
[ Kaveh snifflesโand then laughs when his boyfriend pulls out a handkerchief for him, taking it and using it to dab at the corners of his eyes even as more tears spill. Oh, he's all over the place right now; he wants to laugh and cry more and maybe dance like an idiot on top of this very hill, and heโ
hasn't even answered yet, he realizes, sniffling again even as he leans forward, standing on tiptoe so he can rest his forehead against Alhaitham's. ]
I want you to be in my life forever too.
[ How could he not? Alhaitham has always been the one person who sees him, sometimes even better than he sees himself. Once upon a time, he hated it, but in the years since he's come to be grateful. That someone knows him so well and loves him anyway...
[A soft, warm sound of acknowledgement as he nudges his forehead down against Kaveh's then wraps both arms around him, pulling him in for a kiss. Who needs some dramatic display of romantic intention when all you really need is something like this?
When they part, he bumps his nose gently to the other man's and meets his eyes.]
I don't have a ring yet, and I would say that it was because I wanted to make sure you get exactly the one you'd like, which I do, but also...
[Sigh. He glances over Kaveh's shoulder at the brightening sky.]
This was completely impulsive and I am entirely unprepared.
[ Kaveh smiles, leaning into Alhaitham's embrace, returning his kiss with a contented hum. And he's just about to tell him it's okay, that they can go ring shopping together, when Alhaitham..
...admits that this was impulsive?
Kaveh stares. His jaw drops. He has never known Alhaitham to not have a plan. He's never known him not to have a backup for that plan. He even, sometimes, makes backup plans for his backup plans. To think that he didn't plan this at all...
Fresh tears well up in his eyes as he leans in, captures his mouth in another kiss. ]
I love you. I would marry you even if you already had a ring and it was the ugliest thing in the world.
[Alhaitham smiles a bit, has the good grace to look embarrassed at the scrutiny, then laughs a little at the blatant shock. Had he planned it he's not sure if it would have been too much different than this, but as someone who always has a plan... he knows that Kaveh will understand what that means.]
We'll go looking together. [He says, already strangely looking forward to the idea.]
I love you, too.
[Then, as he wipes a few tears off Kaveh's cheek with a careful sweep of his thumb...]
[ Kaveh leans into Alhaitham's touch, smile on his lips even though the tears continue to slip from his eyes. ]
It's fine. You'll warm it up for me.
[ He tells him this with a soft laugh, hands coming up to cover Alhaitham's with his own. Suddenly, all he can think about his how it might feel with metal here to brush against metal. ]
I'm looking forward to it. Going shopping, finding ringsโI...ah, I'm happy, Haitham. I know you said it doesn't have to be soon but..
I knew you'd get excited quickly. [Alhaitham replies, quiet amusement in his voice.
He's never been an overtly emotional person - it takes a lot to push him to those kinds of expressions. But this... He is happy, even if he's being very calm about it. Despite his demeanour his heart is still beating hard.
Even though he never for a moment thought that Kaveh would say no.]
But we don't have to rush anything. Just enjoy it for now. I'm taking you for breakfast and we have the whole day to spend together.
[ But there's no anger in his voice. He's smilingโand Alhaitham has seen him many times since they got together with genuine content on his face, but perhaps nothing quite like this: the pure, perfect relaxation, the genuine belief in his own joy.
And, speaking of that joy... ]
The whole day?
[ His eyes sparkle with warmth. They do spend a lot of time together, of course, but the idea of a whole, interrupted day sounds perfect to him, especially right now. ]
And it's entirely worth it all to see how Kaveh lights up with the thought of it, if he wasn't completely fine with spending the whole day with the man to begin with.]
It does.
[He slips his arms into the jacket still draped around Kaveh's shoulders, hugging him in close.]
And we can do anything you like. Money is no object.
[ Kaveh hums. A whole day... there are so many options open to them. And he knows that Alhaitham said they don't have to rush, but...
Well, he doesn't see it as rushing. He's just excited, and he can't quite help it, leaning back into his boyfriendโhis fiancรฉ with a smile. ]
What if we went ring shopping, and then treated ourselves to a picnic somewhere? We can even stop by the library so that you can read a book after we're done eating.
[ In Sumeru, he would have rejected the offer, seen it as pity. But being away from home for so long, both of them put on the same starting level as one another, has really helped Kaveh to understand it in a way he never did before, to recognize that Alhaitham never meant it the way his insecurity made him take it.
He no longer sees it as pity. Instead, Alhaitham's words are rewarded with a soft press of Kaveh's lips to his. ]
Then let's go.
[ He pauses, and looks toward the mostly-risen sun. ]
...We may need to go somewhere for breakfast first. I doubt anything is open.
There's somewhere near here that does a good breakfast.
[He had at least thought that far ahead. Despite his ever-calm demeanour he can feel that his heart is racing, though he had never considered for a moment that Kaveh might say 'no'.
Lightly, he nudges the other man back towards his bike.]
[ Breakfast it is. Back on Alhaitham's bike, they go to the place he mentions, enjoying a luxurious early morning feed, and plenty of coffee. From there, they head out to the stores, Kaveh's attention laser-focused on anything selling jewelry.
There's a part of him, though, even as they look, that wonders at how feasible it would be for them to design their own rings and have them custom-made...
Maybe that's why he's especially picky, lips pursed as he holds one elegant ring out to his now-fiancรฉ. ]
[He's content to let Kaveh take the lead in this, finding something endearing in how he gets so excited about the prospect of picking out an engagement ring, but he knows the man and already has the idea that nothing they find is really going to satisfy him.]
What do I think? You're the one who's going to be wearing it. [A shrug.] What do you think?
[ Kaveh is quiet for a moment... and then, he sighs. ]
I don't want to be too picky. You'll get bored of me if we ring shop until I find something perfect.
[ Because there is nothing perfect. The only perfect ring is the one he can already picture in his mindโthe pair he can picture in his mind, if Alhaitham would let himโ
But it would surely be so expensive... ]
I don't think this is it, though.
[ Despite how happy the day has made him overall, he might look a little dejected right now. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
indigently) wrote2024-07-02 08:49 pm
no subject
Which... Well, he's expecting it, even with the warning.]
I want you to marry me. [Alhaitham murmurs, low and soft and just below Kaveh's ear.]
It doesn't have to be here, or soon, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
[A pause. He shifts slightly.]
What do you think?
no subject
His eyes widen and fill with tears, and he turns in the circle of Alhaitham's arms, staring up at him in shock for a long second or two, his heart pounding against his ribcage.
Alhaitham... wants to marry him. Alhaitham wants to spend the rest of his life with him.
And Kaveh realizes something that deep down he's always know: it doesn't matter if they're in this world or any other. As long as they're together, he's already home. And Alhaitham... Alhaitham feels the same way.
His lips tremble; his tears spill onto his cheeks. ]
Really? That's.. you really want that?
no subject
Of course there are. He expected that. Someone so emotional and reactive as Kaveh could hardly keep from being like this.
Someone who has spent so long feeling lonely down to the core of his soul; that he would never be quite good enough for anyone or anything and that bad luck seemed to follow him around no matter what he did. That he would always find every dream unattainable because something always got in the way. Someone so helplessly gullible but always so ready to help, no matter the cost to himself, because what did he matter against the weight of everything and everyone else...
He could hardly keep from being like this, in the face of such a question.]
Would I ask if I didn't?
[Honestly. As if flaunting his anticipation he pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and holds it up between them.]
You're the only thing in my life that has always managed to escape logical explanation. And I want you to be in it forever.
[A cornerstone of wild chaos. Kaveh has always been a foil to him, and he's always known it.]
no subject
hasn't even answered yet, he realizes, sniffling again even as he leans forward, standing on tiptoe so he can rest his forehead against Alhaitham's. ]
I want you to be in my life forever too.
[ How could he not? Alhaitham has always been the one person who sees him, sometimes even better than he sees himself. Once upon a time, he hated it, but in the years since he's come to be grateful. That someone knows him so well and loves him anyway...
He's lucky. So lucky. ]
I want to marry you too.
no subject
[A soft, warm sound of acknowledgement as he nudges his forehead down against Kaveh's then wraps both arms around him, pulling him in for a kiss. Who needs some dramatic display of romantic intention when all you really need is something like this?
When they part, he bumps his nose gently to the other man's and meets his eyes.]
I don't have a ring yet, and I would say that it was because I wanted to make sure you get exactly the one you'd like, which I do, but also...
[Sigh. He glances over Kaveh's shoulder at the brightening sky.]
This was completely impulsive and I am entirely unprepared.
no subject
...admits that this was impulsive?
Kaveh stares. His jaw drops. He has never known Alhaitham to not have a plan. He's never known him not to have a backup for that plan. He even, sometimes, makes backup plans for his backup plans. To think that he didn't plan this at all...
Fresh tears well up in his eyes as he leans in, captures his mouth in another kiss. ]
I love you. I would marry you even if you already had a ring and it was the ugliest thing in the world.
no subject
We'll go looking together. [He says, already strangely looking forward to the idea.]
I love you, too.
[Then, as he wipes a few tears off Kaveh's cheek with a careful sweep of his thumb...]
Stop crying, your face is going to get cold.
no subject
It's fine. You'll warm it up for me.
[ He tells him this with a soft laugh, hands coming up to cover Alhaitham's with his own. Suddenly, all he can think about his how it might feel with metal here to brush against metal. ]
I'm looking forward to it. Going shopping, finding ringsโI...ah, I'm happy, Haitham. I know you said it doesn't have to be soon but..
no subject
He's never been an overtly emotional person - it takes a lot to push him to those kinds of expressions. But this... He is happy, even if he's being very calm about it. Despite his demeanour his heart is still beating hard.
Even though he never for a moment thought that Kaveh would say no.]
But we don't have to rush anything. Just enjoy it for now. I'm taking you for breakfast and we have the whole day to spend together.
no subject
[ But there's no anger in his voice. He's smilingโand Alhaitham has seen him many times since they got together with genuine content on his face, but perhaps nothing quite like this: the pure, perfect relaxation, the genuine belief in his own joy.
And, speaking of that joy... ]
The whole day?
[ His eyes sparkle with warmth. They do spend a lot of time together, of course, but the idea of a whole, interrupted day sounds perfect to him, especially right now. ]
That sounds like the perfect thing to enjoy.
no subject
And it's entirely worth it all to see how Kaveh lights up with the thought of it, if he wasn't completely fine with spending the whole day with the man to begin with.]
It does.
[He slips his arms into the jacket still draped around Kaveh's shoulders, hugging him in close.]
And we can do anything you like. Money is no object.
no subject
Well, he doesn't see it as rushing. He's just excited, and he can't quite help it, leaning back into his boyfriendโhis fiancรฉ with a smile. ]
What if we went ring shopping, and then treated ourselves to a picnic somewhere? We can even stop by the library so that you can read a book after we're done eating.
no subject
[And they have their transportation ready to go. He plants a kiss to Kaveh's forehead.]
Do you want to go back to change your clothes, or are you warm enough like this?
no subject
(And to think, there was once a time when he used to get annoyed at how the other man had ended up taller than him.) ]
I'm warm enough. But if you want your jacket back then... yeah, we might have to go change my clothes.
no subject
I can just buy you another jacket while we're out.
[That's a quick and easy way of solving the problem, right? He leans down to kiss Kaveh on the nose.]
How does that sound?
no subject
[ In Sumeru, he would have rejected the offer, seen it as pity. But being away from home for so long, both of them put on the same starting level as one another, has really helped Kaveh to understand it in a way he never did before, to recognize that Alhaitham never meant it the way his insecurity made him take it.
He no longer sees it as pity. Instead, Alhaitham's words are rewarded with a soft press of Kaveh's lips to his. ]
Then let's go.
[ He pauses, and looks toward the mostly-risen sun. ]
...We may need to go somewhere for breakfast first. I doubt anything is open.
no subject
There's somewhere near here that does a good breakfast.
[He had at least thought that far ahead. Despite his ever-calm demeanour he can feel that his heart is racing, though he had never considered for a moment that Kaveh might say 'no'.
Lightly, he nudges the other man back towards his bike.]
Let's go.
no subject
There's a part of him, though, even as they look, that wonders at how feasible it would be for them to design their own rings and have them custom-made...
Maybe that's why he's especially picky, lips pursed as he holds one elegant ring out to his now-fiancรฉ. ]
Hmm.. what do you think?
no subject
What do I think? You're the one who's going to be wearing it. [A shrug.] What do you think?
no subject
I don't want to be too picky. You'll get bored of me if we ring shop until I find something perfect.
[ Because there is nothing perfect. The only perfect ring is the one he can already picture in his mindโthe pair he can picture in his mind, if Alhaitham would let himโ
But it would surely be so expensive... ]
I don't think this is it, though.
[ Despite how happy the day has made him overall, he might look a little dejected right now. ]