Chapter Text
They lay in the heather field, staring up at the glimmering stars. It was peaceful, just the two of them and the creatures deep in the underbrush. They weren’t sure how long it’d been since they’d left his parents' house, enjoying the solace of the Scottish highlands. Johnny carefully moved over, nuzzling against his partner’s side with contentment.
“I’m glad we met.” He whispered into the night air. He felt Simon’s heart racing gently under his chest and sat up to peer down at him. “You okay?”
Simon said nothing as he stared at the stars above. Johnny huffed a soft laugh, rolling his eyes. “You know you can talk to me. It’s not like we haven’t been together for almost two years.”
Simon carefully sat up with him, smiling tenderly at his lover. Johnny mirrored the expression, though it was slightly confused. Before he knew it, a gentle hand held his face affectionately. A thumb swiped along his cheekbone as another hand trailed to place some of the heather behind his ear.
“I love you,” Simon spoke reverently, his gaze so soft that Johnny wanted to dive into it.
Johnny leaned forward and kissed him, a smile on his cheeks. He leaned their foreheads together, heaving a content sigh before finally standing up. “We should be getting home; everyone’s probably asleep by now.”
He was just about to leave when he heard his partner softly clear his throat behind him. Johnny turned in confusion, his brows furrowed. Simon was down on one knee, that same reverent expression on his face. A cool breeze moved through the field of heather, though it did little to cool the burning heat in his face. Tears lit up in his eyes as he stared at his love.
“Simon… what-”
The man carefully grabbed a ring box from his pocket, opening the velveted case to reveal a beautiful steel ring with some metal carvings.
“I never thought I would get out of the military. I always believed I would live and die by it… But I learned that I wasn’t living. You showed me that, Johnny. You made me want to be more than I ever could be. You make me a better man; you complete me… Five years ago, I told you I liked you alive, but I think I’d like you much better by my side forever.”
The man held out the ring to him, flashing the engraving inside the ring, ‘I like you alive.’
Johnny couldn’t hold back the tears that were beginning to flow down his face steadily and threw himself at the other man. He felt himself trembling in the other’s grasp as Simon held onto him tightly. “You bastard, of course, I’ll marry you.”
The ring slid perfectly onto his finger, and Johnny laughed at the sensation. “Hold on. Is this where our dog tags went?”
Simon shrugs gently, a teasing smirk on his face.
Johnny grabbed the other man and rushed them to the house to celebrate with his family and show off the ring. Before he knew it, he was scooped up into Simon’s arms, barking laughter escaping the larger man at the baffled squawking of his fiance. They spun around in the heather field momentarily before sharing another tender kiss, their smiles too bright and causing teeth to clash.
When they reached the house, their hair was messy from their hands running through it, and their cheeks were permanently flushed. The lights were already on, and the family sat on the porch watching their approach. Johnny squinted, counting five more than usual.
“Did he say yes?” A familiar voice called out. The man was leaning against the railing with a teasing smirk.
“Wait… Gaz?” He called out in confusion; it was impossible. The remaining members of the group should still be in Urzikstan. Lo and behold, the very man he thought it was rushed down from the porch and tackled the man into the grass.
“Gaz!” He shouted, holding the man in a tight hug as they remained on the floor, chuckling from above. Price had also walked down from the porch, with a soft smile as he clapped Simon on the back. Laswell trailed not far behind and offered a gentle nod of congratulations.
“Proud to see how far you both have come.”
The rest of the group left the porch to join the small gathering. Soap and Gaz got off each other, the sergeant moving to ruffle the other man’s mohawk despite his protests.
“Oi, where’s the love for your hermanos?”
Soap looked up, finally noticing Alejandro grinning brightly, his arm wrapped around a chuckling Rudy. They all gathered into a group hug, muttering greetings and swiftly catching up. The rest of the night was spent over champagne and chatter until eyelids drooped. Johnny found himself unable to stop fiddling with the ring on his finger.
—
His mother gently settled the sprig of heather into his lapel, misty eyes looking back into his. “My wee yins all grown up.”
Johnny groaned, hiding his teary eyes, “Ma, not now.”
She gently dabbed at her tears, sniffling softly. “I know, I know. Just feels like it was only yesterday you were enlisting.”
The pair walked into the chapel, Johnny taking his spot at the altar and looking at all the guests. His nan’s photo sat proudly in a chair at the front, a bouquet of heather beside the portrait. He wished the woman could have been here to see it in person, but deep down, he knew she was watching.
His old teammates stood beside him, Gaz whispering jokes into his ear to distract him from the overwhelming feeling in his chest. Music began to play, and the doors to the chapel opened once more, and the rest of the wedding party entered. Simon had even managed to track down his old friend, Roach, who gave him a cheeky salute as he found his place on Simon’s side of the altar.
The music swelled and indicated the other groom was entering.
He first saw Price step out of the darkness, an arm outstretched for Simon. The man hesitated momentarily before taking his arm and stepping into the light.
White Heather adored his head like a halo; they had foregone their dress suits from the military. This was a wedding for Johnny and Simon, not Ghost and Soap. Instead, Simon wore a white suit to mimic a traditional wedding dress. He even found skull cufflinks to pay homage to the image he once portrayed. Neither man could hold back the gentle tears that slipped down their faces.
The two men met at the altar, scarred hands meeting in a delicate embrace.
This is living.