"This is Angeal Hewley... distinctly not here. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you when I can. If it's important, Lazard, Genesis, or Sephiroth should know where I am."
We are 100% not having a throwdown in my garden. Meet me in the training room in the city and we'll see how soon I can beat Hewley-Rhapsodos into your thick head.
Well, I am absolutely not ruining my garden in a stupid fight, so it appears that you're just going to have to find my location for yourself, aren't you?
Well.... That has him pause, brow pinching together. More important? That's not what he would have thought, considering how the conversation started, and the threats of what seemed like it would be just another dumb scuffle....
"Then what?" Drying his hands hastily, Angeal goes over to his mate. "Is everything okay?"
The petulant stance Genesis has taken melts away as soon as he sees the concern worrying his mate. As he draws close, Genesis reaches up, and gently cradles Angeal's jaw in his palms.
"Everything is fine, beloved. It's just that this is important, and you have to trust me on that. Come back to the garden with me."
At that simple touch, Angeal leans into it. He's in a bit of a state, considering the flour on his pants, some icing here or there... But if this is so important for Genesis to find him like this, he supposes cleaning up can come later.
The walk back certainly wracks Genesis' nerves, but in a way that makes his heart soar rather than sink. His hand is curled with Angeal's the entire way, taking courage from that.
"I've decided I don't rightly mind how our names are ordered," he teases when they come within view of the villa. Just enough to fill silence, just enough to prove to himself his voice is steady enough for this.
So that by the time Genesis takes them to the center of the gardens, just before the entrance to the orchard of apple trees, he thinks he's as ready as he could ever be.
From his inner coat pocket, Genesis pulls out a familiar sight. His beloved copy of Loveless, the cover worn and the gilt long faded, but it's a comforting weight in his hands. But this time, he doesn't recite from it. He doesn't need to. He's written a hundred poems in ode to the way Angeal has made him feel in the margins of the verses. He thinks it's about time to live up to his name, and recite that love instead.
So with a hand guided by years of muscle memory, Genesis flips to a particular page, and ever-so delicately slides something small and gossamer between his fingers. He tucks Loveless away, and holds up the yellowed and paper-thin petals of a ring of flowers to the sunlight. His smile is soft and fond, adoring of the tiny treasure he's held onto since Angeal gave it to him when they were children. It's not hard to remember what it once looked like with those nascent petals wrapped around his finger.
"I've never forgotten your promise that day, you know." He speaks quietly and adoring, voice far away as he recalls the way he first understood what love meant. When he'd felt his heart yearn for someone in ways his young mind couldn't yet parse. But he'd known it all the same. It's a dream of a memory to a similar backdrop now, the pristine bark of the Banora Whites and their silvery-green leaves. It's still cold in the early months of the year, reminding him this isn't quite home. But that's all well; Genesis is starting to feel as though home isn't necessarily a physical place, but somewhere he's chosen to rest his longing heart beside another.
"Do you mind if I tell you a story?" Genesis asks, but goes on regardless. "It's something I've been thinking about for a long while now. About a little girl that lived on a hill in a quiet town... She was lonely and lost, and dreamed about fair kings and loyal knights. Who read about love across the stars and adventure through every world, and longed to be someone she wasn't.
"And then one day, along came a little neighbor boy that wanted to be her friend. That showed her a world outside her books and lonely home. That let her be that somebody she always dreamed of. Who never questioned her silly games and fantasies. Who understood her passions, her ferocity, her everything. Who even understood that "she" was really "he." Who loved that boy just the same without pause. Who let that little girl finally go, and be who he needed to be.
"And so those boys grew up together. And everyday they played under the boughs of blooming apple trees. Or fished in warm rivers for crayfish, or hid in crystal caves to share secrets. And every day, that lonely boy that lived on the hill felt the warmth of the sun beside his best friend, realizing he wasn't so lonely anymore. Could never truly be alone ever again. Because he loved someone. He loved his best friend. And every moment, even apart, he could always remember that boy in his heart. Could remember his voice, sure and gentle, the sound of his heartbeat, steady and true."
Genesis takes a deep breath, turning towards the trees and the glow of the sun. There's a moment to bask, to compose himself again, before he smiles at Angeal over his shoulder. The rosy light of the winter morning feels like it shines just for them. Catches against the most familiar shapes, lights up the shining boy he calls home.
"Oh, how that boy has grown up into the man I love so dear. How handsome he is, how kind and strong and gentle of heart. How he is everything that long-gone little girl once dreamed of. How he is everything that boy on the hill now cherishes more than the light of the sun, or the breath he takes."
Now, he turns to face Angeal, and fishes into his coat pocket once again. This time, his fingers are curled tightly around something small, hidden in his fist.
"All this to say that I love you. That I have always loved you since as long as I could remember, and longer still. Since time immemorial, since we were born of the same starstuff, your life and light twined with mine. Since we were as one.
"And that I wish I had the words to say just what my heart feels, but it all falls short, I'm afraid. But if I could try, I would tell you this: that across the universe, in a thousand different times, on a thousand different pages of every story, I would love you. In every book fate could ever write of us, I would choose you. My heart would know yours, and I would love you until all the light in the cosmos died. And still my love would echo in the dark of everything and nothing. Every time, Angeal, I would find you, and I would love you."
One more deep breath, his hands trembling.
"So... I must ask," he leads, and kneels onto one knee. Holding out his hand, Genesis unfurls his fingers to show Angeal what he's kept hidden. A gold ring, set with seven beautiful opals that blaze a rainbow of color in the morning light. How the band still shines despite being worn with years and years of love. The very same ring Angeal's mother always kept around her neck.
The way back to their home is kind of strange, in a way. For how worked up Genesis had gotten both over text and then there in the bakery, it had clearly seemed important that he get Angeal into the garden. And yet, as they walk side by side together... Everything seems to have settled down, somehow. It's just the two of them, together like always, their hands joined together. Any and all fuss, whether that was an imagined fight or Angeal wondering if something terrible had happened - it's all gone.
Exactly how it should be.
As the garden comes into sight, brilliant arches of green heralding its existence even from so far away, Angeal chuckles at Genesis's comment on the order of their surnames. "See?" he murmurs. "We always end the argument like this. It's dumb."
It's why they've never come to a true decision for years and years now, probably ever since they were just dumb kids and first started talking about the idea without any inkling of just how deep that truly meant. Then again, that probably wouldn't have stopped them. Probably, Genesis would have always been like that.
And he's always been exactly like this, too - a sappy romantic who does things like have a favorite book of poetry, and pulls out a familiar little flower ring. It's not as though Angeal has been oblivious to its continued existence; his sensitive nose has been aware of that fading floral scent probably for the entire time that he and Genesis have lived together. Maybe even a little bit before then. But actually seeing Genesis pull it out, comment on that sunshine day so many years ago... Jeez. Angeal huffs, ducking his head momentarily as though that can hide the flush on his cheeks. "I'm still amazed you have that..."
It's just a soft mutter, a little aside, before Angeal falls silent to indeed allow Genesis to tell the story that's been fluttering free in his chest.
This is even despite the fact that this is a story that Angeal knows all too well. Of course he does; he's lived it. He can still remember with perfect clarity when he'd snuck into the Rhapsodos property, and met that redhead with bright eyes who'd seemed as familiar as his own home. It's with complete ease that he can pull up the memory of the day that Genesis got his hair cut there in the Hewley kitchen, allowed to be as short as he'd like it.
All fond memories, honestly. Ones that Angeal is glad to revisit. It's just - he doesn't understand why they're revisiting them.
At least.... not at first.
Not until Genesis keeps going, his hand tucked away in his coat pocket in a way it never is considering how expressive he is. Not until he keeps talking, and talking, about how much he loves Angeal, the way he'll always love Angeal - his heart thuds against the inside of his ribs hard, and Angeal almost holds his breath. This can't be what it is, can it?
His brain is absolutely falling apart as he tries to figure out how to deal with this - how he's supposed to deal with the ring he has waiting out of sight, and his own plans, all of that. Shit, could he react fast enough to shove Genesis's hand back down into his pocket before a proposal could happen? No, wait, he'd be an asshole for that, Genesis would be heartbroken over all this romantic build up only to look as though he's been turned down. Could he just interrupt him -?
And then Genesis holds out the ring, and Angeal really does stop breathing.
His mother loved the ring his father got her. Angeal has known that for as long as he's breathed. There might even be memories of when he was little, reaching for it where it hung from her neck on a little chain only to have it patiently pulled away from stubby baby fingers. How many times has he heard the story, told in his mother's fond soft tones? Of how his pa had to save up for so long just to get something in an antique store another town over, which he had to beg and bargain with some coworkers to go on for a work trip? She only wore it on her hand for special occasions. For his parents' anniversary.
How fantastic her and Pa looked, lit by a little bit of candlelight on those special nights, that rainbow near glowing with even that much. It always belonged on her, he thought.
And... it's there, now.
It's right there in front of him, when he never thought he'd see anything of his mother's ever again.
Angeal barely recognizes the fact that his eyes are aching, tears starting to gather there, heavy with more emotion than he knows how to name. "Gen, that's..."
"Usually, a mother might pass her daughter her wedding ring for such an occasion. Unfortunately, Missus Hewley looked after two rambunctious boys... but I think she'd have liked for us to have it anyway." Genesis offers, seeing the way Angeal's entire world seems to come down to the ring Genesis cradles gently in his palm. He knows what Gillian meant to his mate. How much he loved her. How much Gillian loved her son too. He really can't imagine a world where Gillian wouldn't want to see her son happy, to see him married and as loved as he could ever be. It's not with any misplaced confidence either. Gillian practically raised Genesis too. He knows.
There's a flicker of worry that laps at the back of his mind, gnawing on his thoughts. Maybe this was too much though, overstepping his bounds. Does it make him some guilty graverobber, offering his mate something like this? Genesis swallows hard, and tries to follow his conviction. He can't have doubts now. Not after the trials and sufferings of all they've been through. Not after everything. He's thought about this for longer than he can rightly quantify, and it came to him as no small decision. Angeal deserves to have back something of the happiness Gillian gave him, and Genesis knows his mate couldn't do it of his own volition. Genesis will bear that guilt instead.
But he's still left kneeling, still not given his answer. He takes in a deep breath. Steady. The faint shake to his whole body doesn't mean anything, right?
"I... I remember so many of those spring nights. How happy your family... our family, was on those special occasions. Don't we deserve that too, Geal? Years and years of celebrating our love. Please...?"
Genesis voice speaks up again, clears away some of the haze wrapped tight around his mind, and Angeal finally remembers to breathe with a sudden sharp inhale. An answer. Right. He needs to give an answer. Even if - even if there are tears starting to slip down his face. When's the last time he cried?
It doesn't matter. He can't get lost down that rabbit hole right now. Instead, with trembling hands, he finally reaches out, his hands sliding around Genesis's own.
"Yeah," he whispers, voice too choked to sound smooth, to sound - put together. More tears, pouring down now, and Angeal closes his eyes. Closes his hands around Genesis's, a delicate cradle like he can maybe finally keep something safe as he raises it up to his forehead, knees slowly crumpling beneath him. Genesis's knuckles feel so warm, there. "Yeah."
And then a wet, wobbly laugh. "Dammit, Genesis... I thought I'd have more time to finish mine."
It's been so long since he's seen Angeal cry, and before he can really think about it, he's watching the way his mate comes down to level with him. Holding his hand, as gentle as can be. He's always loved those hands, strong enough to fell any foe, gentle enough to hold this delicate promise between them. They'll look perfect adorned by this ring.
"Hey," he coos softly, sweetly, even as Angeal's tears seem to inspire some of Genesis' own. He told himself he wouldn't cry here, was so proud he managed this entire proposal without. But the sheer weight from his chest lifted, the joy that fills its place, it's too much to ignore. So there's happy tears wetting the corners of his eyes as he leans into his mate. "When have I ever been known to cooperate with anyone's plans? Least of all yours. Hm, yet we're predictable, aren't we? Of course we'd both have such things in the works... you always could read me like a book."
A measured breath in, but when he exhales, it trembles. But he smiles all the same, even with the tears falling freely now.
"I've always loved that about you. I- I'm so happy," he gusts out, choking on syllables that should be so easy. That he's said a thousand times around his soulmate. "I love you, Angeal. Forever, always, it's us."
"It's us," Angeal agrees, brushing his tear streaked cheek against Genesis's hand. It's hard to put a name to the emotion he's feeling - if there's even only one there, amidst everything swirling about in his breast.
"I was going to do it on ma and pa's anniversary..." Carry on the tradition. Make it a happy event not only between the two of them, but everyone they loved, everyone they cared about. Just like how he was always made to feel like an important part of his own family, how they pulled Genesis in, too.
The Hewley anniversary always felt like so much more than simply the day his father and mother ran off in the middle of the night to badge the judge into letting them marry.
Another breath. He's still not stopped shaking. "I love you, Genesis. I don't have the poetry for it you do, but I love you so much."
"Nothing to say the wedding wouldn't be perfect for the day," Genesis offers, and brings his free hand up to start brushing away those stray tears that wet Angeal's cheeks. He can't help that it doesn't feel like enough, and he ends up kissing them away too.
"I know, beloved. I know. I could never doubt your love. It's always been the very thing that hangs the sun in the sky for me." Leaned in close, Genesis ends up just leaning into Angeal entirely, and wraps his arms around the other's neck. Is it to hide the fact a fresh round of tears starts falling? Maybe.
"Goddess, I can't believe it. We'll be married. I don't know how I let it go this long; just saying it now feels like a dream. And we'll have to tell Seph, and Lazard, and everyone... I'm sure they'll tease us, you know."
If Genesis needs to hide his tears, then all of Angeal's is available for him to do so. He wouldn't dream of giving him any less, and Angeal presses his cheek against that fiery hair of his.
"The same way that we never confessed to Sephiroth for so long either," Angeal says, breath wet when he breathes out again. It nearly feels as though he's drowning, although he can't be too upset at that. Even with the way it dulls his nose.
"And most people who get to know us already think us married."
"We may have been idiots," Genesis admits, huffing out a breathless laugh. Idiots in love, and idiots crushing on their other love together. Regardless, it's love all the way down as far as Genesis thinks. Always love, and it warms his heart.
"I can't deny that. There've been no small measure of people saying such, and if I'm honest... I've never really wanted to correct them. I was always yours, and you mine. I suppose I won't have to worry about it ever again, will I? My husband..." Just saying it, feeling it in his lungs- Genesis holds his mate a little tighter.
My husband. Just hearing those words has something deep in Angeal's chest twist, until it feels as though he might fall apart inside of himself, wrapped up tight in Genesis's voice.
His husband. His husband.
At some point, he thinks he might actually have to lay down to just take all of this in properly. Although speaking of properly - "Kind of skipping the fiance step of this, huh?" Angeal manages, voice getting a little gurgly from the tears that have backslid into his throat. "I thought you'd love to luxuriate over that, instead of skipping everything..."
He can't stop cradling the ring in his hand. The ring he never thought he'd see again. He never thought he'd see anything of his old hometown again, let along his family.
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Watch out, Geal. He's on the move.
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Why are you insisting so much on having this fight in the garden of all places? Are you having flights of fancy about knights again?
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Because!
It's important, so shut up and show yourself already.
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Genesis, you could get such an easier response out of me if you could just tell me what's going on.
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"This would be so much easier if you would just come to the garden!"
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"For a fight?"
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"No! It's not a fight; it's far more important than that."
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"Then what?" Drying his hands hastily, Angeal goes over to his mate. "Is everything okay?"
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"Everything is fine, beloved. It's just that this is important, and you have to trust me on that. Come back to the garden with me."
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"Alright. Squall can watch the shop. Let's go."
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"I've decided I don't rightly mind how our names are ordered," he teases when they come within view of the villa. Just enough to fill silence, just enough to prove to himself his voice is steady enough for this.
So that by the time Genesis takes them to the center of the gardens, just before the entrance to the orchard of apple trees, he thinks he's as ready as he could ever be.
From his inner coat pocket, Genesis pulls out a familiar sight. His beloved copy of Loveless, the cover worn and the gilt long faded, but it's a comforting weight in his hands. But this time, he doesn't recite from it. He doesn't need to. He's written a hundred poems in ode to the way Angeal has made him feel in the margins of the verses. He thinks it's about time to live up to his name, and recite that love instead.
So with a hand guided by years of muscle memory, Genesis flips to a particular page, and ever-so delicately slides something small and gossamer between his fingers. He tucks Loveless away, and holds up the yellowed and paper-thin petals of a ring of flowers to the sunlight. His smile is soft and fond, adoring of the tiny treasure he's held onto since Angeal gave it to him when they were children. It's not hard to remember what it once looked like with those nascent petals wrapped around his finger.
"I've never forgotten your promise that day, you know." He speaks quietly and adoring, voice far away as he recalls the way he first understood what love meant. When he'd felt his heart yearn for someone in ways his young mind couldn't yet parse. But he'd known it all the same. It's a dream of a memory to a similar backdrop now, the pristine bark of the Banora Whites and their silvery-green leaves. It's still cold in the early months of the year, reminding him this isn't quite home. But that's all well; Genesis is starting to feel as though home isn't necessarily a physical place, but somewhere he's chosen to rest his longing heart beside another.
"Do you mind if I tell you a story?" Genesis asks, but goes on regardless. "It's something I've been thinking about for a long while now. About a little girl that lived on a hill in a quiet town... She was lonely and lost, and dreamed about fair kings and loyal knights. Who read about love across the stars and adventure through every world, and longed to be someone she wasn't.
"And then one day, along came a little neighbor boy that wanted to be her friend. That showed her a world outside her books and lonely home. That let her be that somebody she always dreamed of. Who never questioned her silly games and fantasies. Who understood her passions, her ferocity, her everything. Who even understood that "she" was really "he." Who loved that boy just the same without pause. Who let that little girl finally go, and be who he needed to be.
"And so those boys grew up together. And everyday they played under the boughs of blooming apple trees. Or fished in warm rivers for crayfish, or hid in crystal caves to share secrets. And every day, that lonely boy that lived on the hill felt the warmth of the sun beside his best friend, realizing he wasn't so lonely anymore. Could never truly be alone ever again. Because he loved someone. He loved his best friend. And every moment, even apart, he could always remember that boy in his heart. Could remember his voice, sure and gentle, the sound of his heartbeat, steady and true."
Genesis takes a deep breath, turning towards the trees and the glow of the sun. There's a moment to bask, to compose himself again, before he smiles at Angeal over his shoulder. The rosy light of the winter morning feels like it shines just for them. Catches against the most familiar shapes, lights up the shining boy he calls home.
"Oh, how that boy has grown up into the man I love so dear. How handsome he is, how kind and strong and gentle of heart. How he is everything that long-gone little girl once dreamed of. How he is everything that boy on the hill now cherishes more than the light of the sun, or the breath he takes."
Now, he turns to face Angeal, and fishes into his coat pocket once again. This time, his fingers are curled tightly around something small, hidden in his fist.
"All this to say that I love you. That I have always loved you since as long as I could remember, and longer still. Since time immemorial, since we were born of the same starstuff, your life and light twined with mine. Since we were as one.
"And that I wish I had the words to say just what my heart feels, but it all falls short, I'm afraid. But if I could try, I would tell you this: that across the universe, in a thousand different times, on a thousand different pages of every story, I would love you. In every book fate could ever write of us, I would choose you. My heart would know yours, and I would love you until all the light in the cosmos died. And still my love would echo in the dark of everything and nothing. Every time, Angeal, I would find you, and I would love you."
One more deep breath, his hands trembling.
"So... I must ask," he leads, and kneels onto one knee. Holding out his hand, Genesis unfurls his fingers to show Angeal what he's kept hidden. A gold ring, set with seven beautiful opals that blaze a rainbow of color in the morning light. How the band still shines despite being worn with years and years of love. The very same ring Angeal's mother always kept around her neck.
"Would you marry me?"
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Exactly how it should be.
As the garden comes into sight, brilliant arches of green heralding its existence even from so far away, Angeal chuckles at Genesis's comment on the order of their surnames. "See?" he murmurs. "We always end the argument like this. It's dumb."
It's why they've never come to a true decision for years and years now, probably ever since they were just dumb kids and first started talking about the idea without any inkling of just how deep that truly meant. Then again, that probably wouldn't have stopped them. Probably, Genesis would have always been like that.
And he's always been exactly like this, too - a sappy romantic who does things like have a favorite book of poetry, and pulls out a familiar little flower ring. It's not as though Angeal has been oblivious to its continued existence; his sensitive nose has been aware of that fading floral scent probably for the entire time that he and Genesis have lived together. Maybe even a little bit before then. But actually seeing Genesis pull it out, comment on that sunshine day so many years ago... Jeez. Angeal huffs, ducking his head momentarily as though that can hide the flush on his cheeks. "I'm still amazed you have that..."
It's just a soft mutter, a little aside, before Angeal falls silent to indeed allow Genesis to tell the story that's been fluttering free in his chest.
This is even despite the fact that this is a story that Angeal knows all too well. Of course he does; he's lived it. He can still remember with perfect clarity when he'd snuck into the Rhapsodos property, and met that redhead with bright eyes who'd seemed as familiar as his own home. It's with complete ease that he can pull up the memory of the day that Genesis got his hair cut there in the Hewley kitchen, allowed to be as short as he'd like it.
All fond memories, honestly. Ones that Angeal is glad to revisit. It's just - he doesn't understand why they're revisiting them.
At least.... not at first.
Not until Genesis keeps going, his hand tucked away in his coat pocket in a way it never is considering how expressive he is. Not until he keeps talking, and talking, about how much he loves Angeal, the way he'll always love Angeal - his heart thuds against the inside of his ribs hard, and Angeal almost holds his breath. This can't be what it is, can it?
His brain is absolutely falling apart as he tries to figure out how to deal with this - how he's supposed to deal with the ring he has waiting out of sight, and his own plans, all of that. Shit, could he react fast enough to shove Genesis's hand back down into his pocket before a proposal could happen? No, wait, he'd be an asshole for that, Genesis would be heartbroken over all this romantic build up only to look as though he's been turned down. Could he just interrupt him -?
And then Genesis holds out the ring, and Angeal really does stop breathing.
His mother loved the ring his father got her. Angeal has known that for as long as he's breathed. There might even be memories of when he was little, reaching for it where it hung from her neck on a little chain only to have it patiently pulled away from stubby baby fingers. How many times has he heard the story, told in his mother's fond soft tones? Of how his pa had to save up for so long just to get something in an antique store another town over, which he had to beg and bargain with some coworkers to go on for a work trip? She only wore it on her hand for special occasions. For his parents' anniversary.
How fantastic her and Pa looked, lit by a little bit of candlelight on those special nights, that rainbow near glowing with even that much. It always belonged on her, he thought.
And... it's there, now.
It's right there in front of him, when he never thought he'd see anything of his mother's ever again.
Angeal barely recognizes the fact that his eyes are aching, tears starting to gather there, heavy with more emotion than he knows how to name. "Gen, that's..."
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There's a flicker of worry that laps at the back of his mind, gnawing on his thoughts. Maybe this was too much though, overstepping his bounds. Does it make him some guilty graverobber, offering his mate something like this? Genesis swallows hard, and tries to follow his conviction. He can't have doubts now. Not after the trials and sufferings of all they've been through. Not after everything. He's thought about this for longer than he can rightly quantify, and it came to him as no small decision. Angeal deserves to have back something of the happiness Gillian gave him, and Genesis knows his mate couldn't do it of his own volition. Genesis will bear that guilt instead.
But he's still left kneeling, still not given his answer. He takes in a deep breath. Steady. The faint shake to his whole body doesn't mean anything, right?
"I... I remember so many of those spring nights. How happy your family... our family, was on those special occasions. Don't we deserve that too, Geal? Years and years of celebrating our love. Please...?"
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It doesn't matter. He can't get lost down that rabbit hole right now. Instead, with trembling hands, he finally reaches out, his hands sliding around Genesis's own.
"Yeah," he whispers, voice too choked to sound smooth, to sound - put together. More tears, pouring down now, and Angeal closes his eyes. Closes his hands around Genesis's, a delicate cradle like he can maybe finally keep something safe as he raises it up to his forehead, knees slowly crumpling beneath him. Genesis's knuckles feel so warm, there. "Yeah."
And then a wet, wobbly laugh. "Dammit, Genesis... I thought I'd have more time to finish mine."
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"Hey," he coos softly, sweetly, even as Angeal's tears seem to inspire some of Genesis' own. He told himself he wouldn't cry here, was so proud he managed this entire proposal without. But the sheer weight from his chest lifted, the joy that fills its place, it's too much to ignore. So there's happy tears wetting the corners of his eyes as he leans into his mate. "When have I ever been known to cooperate with anyone's plans? Least of all yours. Hm, yet we're predictable, aren't we? Of course we'd both have such things in the works... you always could read me like a book."
A measured breath in, but when he exhales, it trembles. But he smiles all the same, even with the tears falling freely now.
"I've always loved that about you. I- I'm so happy," he gusts out, choking on syllables that should be so easy. That he's said a thousand times around his soulmate. "I love you, Angeal. Forever, always, it's us."
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"I was going to do it on ma and pa's anniversary..." Carry on the tradition. Make it a happy event not only between the two of them, but everyone they loved, everyone they cared about. Just like how he was always made to feel like an important part of his own family, how they pulled Genesis in, too.
The Hewley anniversary always felt like so much more than simply the day his father and mother ran off in the middle of the night to badge the judge into letting them marry.
Another breath. He's still not stopped shaking. "I love you, Genesis. I don't have the poetry for it you do, but I love you so much."
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"I know, beloved. I know. I could never doubt your love. It's always been the very thing that hangs the sun in the sky for me." Leaned in close, Genesis ends up just leaning into Angeal entirely, and wraps his arms around the other's neck. Is it to hide the fact a fresh round of tears starts falling? Maybe.
"Goddess, I can't believe it. We'll be married. I don't know how I let it go this long; just saying it now feels like a dream. And we'll have to tell Seph, and Lazard, and everyone... I'm sure they'll tease us, you know."
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"The same way that we never confessed to Sephiroth for so long either," Angeal says, breath wet when he breathes out again. It nearly feels as though he's drowning, although he can't be too upset at that. Even with the way it dulls his nose.
"And most people who get to know us already think us married."
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"I can't deny that. There've been no small measure of people saying such, and if I'm honest... I've never really wanted to correct them. I was always yours, and you mine. I suppose I won't have to worry about it ever again, will I? My husband..." Just saying it, feeling it in his lungs- Genesis holds his mate a little tighter.
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His husband. His husband.
At some point, he thinks he might actually have to lay down to just take all of this in properly. Although speaking of properly - "Kind of skipping the fiance step of this, huh?" Angeal manages, voice getting a little gurgly from the tears that have backslid into his throat. "I thought you'd love to luxuriate over that, instead of skipping everything..."
He can't stop cradling the ring in his hand. The ring he never thought he'd see again. He never thought he'd see anything of his old hometown again, let along his family.
"....Gen. Thank you."
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