a wedding

[we_meet_again]

image source

It's Day 272.

It's been a while since Cobalt and Thorn were here last. The snow has melted and the trees have filled in. The branches, no longer plastic, arch overhead as if shielding the temple like a secret. Instead of the eerie hush of winter, this time the air is full of the quiet songs of birds and the droning of cicadas, and the shush of swaying leaves in the summer breeze. There's the far-off trickling of the fountain the feeds the pond; what once was a makeshift winter onsen is now alive with koi and dragonflies.

Comments

[we_meet_again]

Wow... this place looks really different in the summer...

[justfuckingtryit]

It looks completely different.

[we_meet_again]

It's gorgeous...

Coming here again was a great suggestion.

[justfuckingtryit]

...are you going to be okay?

I didn't remember there being so many... you know.

1/2

[we_meet_again]

—Oh, the...


[he smiles at him]

As long as I don't think about them too hard, I think I'll be okay.

[we_meet_again]

I'll just focus completely on you, instead.

[he leans down and kisses Thorn softly]

[justfuckingtryit]

[Kisses him back, just as soft]

[When he pulls back:]

...we can go somewhere else, if you want.

It doesn't have to be here.

[we_meet_again]

I'll let you know if it becomes a problem, but it's honestly really nice being back at the place where we took our first field trip.

This place is gorgeous. And today, it's all ours.

[justfuckingtryit]

...yeah.

I can't believe all this is just out here, and nobody even knows about it.

[we_meet_again]

A secret place, just for us.

[he smiles at him, warm and achingly fond.]


Are you ready?

[justfuckingtryit]

I think so.

[we_meet_again]

Then, I'll go find a place to change my clothes.

Meet you back here in front of the statue?

[justfuckingtryit]

...yeah. Meet you here.

[we_meet_again]

[He turns, and with one last look over his shoulder, he walks off around the corner and out of sight.]

[justfuckingtryit]

[Heads off, as well]

[we_meet_again]

[It doesn't take him long to get changed.

When Thorn returns, he'll find Cobalt waiting for him in front of the daibutsu wearing a white suit.]

[justfuckingtryit]

[Thorn's is mostly gunmetal grey]

[He's also looking Cobalt over pretty thoroughly when he gets back]

...hi.

[we_meet_again]

[He's quiet a moment, taking him in. His eyes are dancing, his heart quite possibly having a heart palpitation or two]

Wow... look at you... ♥

[justfuckingtryit]

It'll have to wait. I'm too busy looking at you.

[we_meet_again]

[teehee ♥]

You're incredibly dashing.

Makes me want to marry you on the spot!

[justfuckingtryit]

Careful, you'll make me think that's a proposal.

[we_meet_again]

Wow, just what I was thinking! Let's get married!

[he takes a step closer and reaches out, palms up, inviting Thorn to take his hands.]

...Ready?

[justfuckingtryit]

[Hesitates just a second before he takes it]

...yeah.

[we_meet_again]

[He’s quiet for a moment, running his thumbs over Thorn’s knuckles and smiling helplessly.

When he speaks, his voice is soft, but unwavering.]

Lumen.

From before I can even remember, you have been the light that brightens my life, warm and strong as the sun. I cherish every day I get to spend with you, or every time I’m lucky enough to hold your hand, or catch a glimpse of your smile.

I used to wonder where I’d go after we escaped here, but now I know it doesn’t matter, because my home is where you are. And the only place I want to be is by your side.

I promise, for today and for the rest of my days, to be there for you through sun and storms. To have your back when you need it, or lend an ear when you need that, too.

I promise to eat all the food you make, and to kick your ass at video games, unless you kick mine first.

And I devote to you my whole heart, because you’re the one who showed me how deeply I could love someone.

Lumen, I love you.

I love you completely, and fully, and forever.

[justfuckingtryit]

[He's quiet for a long couple of beats - bites at his lip, and tips his head down and away, so that the fall of his hair obscures a lot of what his expression's doing]

[At last, he huffs a soft sound that might be a laugh]

...how am I supposed to follow that up?

I'm bad at this. I'm bad at - well, at laying things out like that, the way you do.

I tried to write something, but then I thought about standing here and not being able to say it, even though it was true.

I threw away about nine of them.

But what I can say is that... I'm glad we're here, together.

Wherever we go from here, I'll be glad we're there together, too.

I want to stay with you, for as long as we can, and then past that. You're the best person I've ever known.