Archive of Our Own ^beta

Saitama squints slightly at the numerous flowers in front of him. His lips are pursed tightly as he fidgets nervously with the few coins inside his Oppai hoodie pocket. Now, he has to admit, he has never thought flowers were that expensive. That's bullshit, he thinks, even though he knows he's wrong. He could go out and pick some flowers himself and it wouldn't cost a thing. Some nice little daisies growing between the pavement and the road could make do, right?
But that isn't romantic now, is it?
He swallows a groan and takes a look around him, considering asking the employee behind the counter for help, but he's pretty sure she'd manage to make him buy the most expensive thing here somehow – that's how Saitama sees sales people, they're really the true villains in this society.
That's easier to think rather than admitting years of living with barely the minimum wage made him paranoid of losing everything and ending up homeless because of one bad decision. He knows quite well that, now that's he's a professional hero, he really doesn't have to worry about that kind of things anymore. But he really can't help himself ; every time he has to spend some money he feels like he's on the verge of falling off the building of Japanese economy and crash against the cold hard ground, where even his superhuman constitution couldn't help him anymore.
Just like every other fear, Saitama has repressed this for years and years. Along with his hair, he lost feelings. Because it was easier, or because he couldn't prevent his depression, he wasn't quite sure. But it doesn't matter. He's okay, now. He's okay.
Saitama takes a deep breath.
That's why he's going to spend money today, and he's not going to try and spare every little penny, not this time. If he had to, he would lose his entire wealth, the money he has and the money he will gain for years to come, just for this one occasion. Oh, and maybe the one following – that is, if Genos says “yes”.
Nervousness comes crawling back under his skin. His collar feels way too tight, and even though he loosens it with a finger, it doesn't stop anxiety from grasping at his throat. It's quite hard to think about anything other than Genos saying “no”. Saitama isn't even sure if it's a legitimate fear anymore or not. He would have liked to go back to fearless him, empty him, but at the same time, he would rather die than lose the love Genos and him shared. Better bare the anxiety, then. It would go well. He needs to hammer it into his head until he can't think otherwise. It would go well, perfect even. Nothing could go wrong.
Except maybe everything?
“Shut up,” he whispers to his own brain, tapping lightly against his temple, trying to eradicate these negative thoughts just like he would destroy any other monster.
The flowers, he has to get back to the flowers. No worry about the price, what matters is how they look. Saitama needs the perfect bouquet. He doesn't know anything about flower language though, so he has to choose depending on the prettiness of the bouquet. Shit, what if Genos knows flower language? He probably does, he knows everything. What if he does and Saitama hands him a bouquet that basically says “fuck you, go to hell, I don't ever wanna see you again”? He can't have that happening, definitely not on such an important day. He's sweating now, for fuck's sake.
Alright, well, he doesn't have much of a choice, does he?
“Uh, hullo,” he calls out weakly to the employee.
She looks up with raised eyebrows and smiles at him almost too sweetly. Saitama is on automatic flight of fight response, but manages to not do anything stupid and instead smile back. Good, okay, yes, that's one social skill, good job.
“How can I help you?”
Fuck, he almost forgot he had to keep on talking.
“Alright, so, uh,” he stammers, fidgeting, feeling like a middle school student talking about his first crush to his mom. “Tonight I'm gonna, uh, I'm gonna, I am going to propose to my boyfriend so like, I'd like, a nice, a nice – a nice ring, yes. No! Fuck! A nice bouquet! I already have the ring! Well it's not a ring because he would incinerate it but it's… anyway. A bouquet. I need a bouquet.”
She listens to him babbling with a still sweet smile on her lips, and Saitama is grateful she didn't cut him short in his train of panicked thoughts. His rambling may be ridiculous, at least now, she knew what he was looking for, so the goal was reached.
“Do you have the… 'ring' with you?” she asks, and Saitama gasps, before nodding quickly.
Why is he reacting so much? Why is he so affected by all this? Because he's in love and he wants to marry this boy. Not sure why he asked in the first place.
He reaches into his pants left pocket and grabs a very small box. Once it's out, he opens it and shows proudly the earring he bought – it's identical to the ring he got for himself, it's simple but it's really pretty, and Saitama, as once as he saw it, knew it was the one.

He couldn't exactly remember when he had bought it. It was a few weeks ago, not a full month, but more than two weeks. In fact, he had spend a few days roaming countless jewelery shops, looking for the perfect match, the one that would make him go “ah! This is Genos and I!” as soon as he laid his eyes on it. But he couldn't find such thing, and was starting to wonder if he could ever find something that looked truly perfect. Not to mention, he couldn't get a simple pair of rings. First of all, Genos' fingers weren't exactly the perfect fit for most rings. And even if he had found something wide enough, Genos would probably incinerate it at the first monster he saw.
Saitama had thought this over, deeply. He still wanted to get something to show openly their union, their love. Maybe there was a little bit of possessiveness there, but, mostly, he knew it would be important to Genos. And Saitama wanted to make Genos happy, more than anything. More than he had ever wanted anything in his entire life. Yes, he would give up on everything he had to make Genos happy, and that, without an ounce of hesitation. He was ready to float in nothingness and lose any sense of who he was for a single smile. That was just how infatuated he was.
Maybe he could wear the ring as a necklace, Saitama thought. It seemed like a solid option: he had never seen Genos blast fire from his collarbone – even though he was pretty sure that was just an upgrade ready to be installed – and there was a significantly lower chance of this part of his body getting destroyed. Although, it wasn't a non-existent chance. It had happened before. And even though Genos promised, and promised, and promised, that he would try his best to not get completely destroyed again, Saitama had no doubt he would let himself die at the first occasion, if it meant saving anyone at all.
The only place he was willing to really protect was his head. That was where his brain was – and doctor Kuseno was talented, but not this talented, so Genos couldn't do without a brain. Sure, his face could get cracked, but he didn't let his skull get any more injured than that. And Saitama was pretty sure that with something so precious as a wedding ring somewhere on his face, Genos would pay even more attention to its well-being. Overall, a very good plan. Genos had a wedding ring, and Genos had one more reason not to get himself destroyed – two birds one cyborg.
The solution came to Saitama just as he laid eyes on it. An earring. Ring shaped, and if it looked identical to Saitama's ring, it would be absolutely perfect – plus, Genos' ears were already pierced. And there it was, right before his eyes. The perfect fit.
He had wandered to a city farther away from home, lost between shops and streets, between clouds and thoughts. He had ended up in this pretty, although kind of hidden, jewelery shop. The earring itself wasn't really highlighted in any way, but Saitama had spotted it immediately, almost like it had called for him, like it was meant for him. Or, in this case, for Genos. Black and golden, it would go perfectly with Genos' eyes. Imagining him with it was enough to make Saitama's heart beat as hard as it could inside his chest, harder than it had ever beaten during a fight. Genos was the only thing that truly made Saitama feel alive – more than alive, in fact. Sometimes, he made him feel almost unbearably alive, he felt everything so strongly, he was so much in love that he just wanted to cry and weep for days. A love so intense his body alone couldn't contain all of it. That's what he wanted Genos to know. That's what he wanted this earring to mean.
This wedding earring.
Yes, really, it sounded well.

“Sir?”
Saitama snaps back into reality and stares blankly at the employee. It takes him a few seconds to remember what he's doing, but the scent of flowers surrounding him is almost overwhelming, so it really isn't that hard to recall where he is. He clears his throat and hands the earring to the employee, letting her take a good look at it, but pulling away as soon as she tries to touch it. He's not sure why he's so adamant about no one touching it, but he is. She doesn't question it and smiles professionally instead. Saitama isn't sure whether he hates her or likes her.
“Gold and black,” she notes. “It looks really nice. I hope he'll like it.”
“I think he will,” breathes Saitama, his heart pounding in his throat and behind his ears. He's so in love, he'd like to make fun of himself for it, but he can't mock anyone for falling for Genos. It was impossible not to fall in love with him, in his humble opinion.
“I think we ought to go with yellow and red flowers, right? It will look pretty. Red roses, to signify love, romantic and sexual, a deep want of the other...”
“Get to the point, please,” says Saitama, not only because he doesn't want to listen, but also because he's starting to feel himself blushing again.
The employee laughs and gestures for him to follow her. She goes deeper into the shop and starts carefully picking out flowers. Sometimes, Saitama gestures shyly to a flower he likes. The bouquet as a whole would probably look like a mess, but Saitama doesn't care. It will be perfect anyway.
“Red roses, yellow roses, peonies, Stella de Oro Daylily, freesias, 'Molly Sanderson', and a black Iris...” she lists, looking over the bouquet with a satisfied smile. “Yes, this does look quite nice.”
Saitama thinks so too. In fact, his throat is incredibly tight and it's surprisingly hard not to cry. He's getting angry at himself for being so fucking in love and for wanting so fucking much to marry Genos. Breathing is difficult and his lips are smiling stupidly. He wishes he was alone, he wishes the employee didn't look at him like that, like he's being cute or something. God, he's going to explode. He doesn't know if it'll be because of embarrassment, anguish, excitement or love, but it sure is going to happen.
He wipes out his credit card without even listening to the price and pays for the bouquet, now wrapped with a nice little bow. It looks nice, perfect, and Saitama gets lost in the contemplation of the flowers. He expected a mess, but turns out they go with each other perfectly. The bouquet is almost entirely yellow, and it's perfect. It's a warm color, a happy color. It's what Genos makes him feel, and most importantly, that's how he wants to make Genos feel. That's what he wants this proposal to mean. I will do everything in my power to make you happy, forever.
Is he grinning dumbly at the bouquet? Shit. Yes. He is.
“Thank you, have a nice day!” exclaims the employee as Saitama puts his wallet back into his pocket and carefully takes the bouquet.
“You too. Goodbye,” he whispers, unable to look at anything else than the bouquet.
He walks out of the flower shop, not walking exactly straight, holding onto the bouquet like to his dear life. Like it was actually Genos inside his arms, Genos' love, Genos' happiness. That's pretty much what it is, right? Anyways, it's incredibly important, almost more than anything else he has ever held (except for Genos himself). He wants this proposal to be perfect, to be precious, to be… to be a representation of how he feels. He had decided he wanted this to be the best he could do ages ago.

“No, you don't understand, I want this to be perfect,” he said to Mumen Rider.
Mumen had invited them both for tea, and Genos needing to take care of a level demon threat, Saitama had came alone. Naturally, the topic quickly switched to Saitama's plan to propose to Genos very soon. Mumen had always been very involved with their relationship and incredibly supportive. Back then, when Saitama was only starting to realize he was madly in love, Mumen was the one to help him accept it fully. He was always the first to be updated on any new event in their relationship – except, of course, for the more intimate details. Saitama was actually surprised by how eager Mumen was to listen to them talk about their romantic shenanigans. But, hey, he was a friend, Genos and himself were happy around him, so that was all that mattered. Plus, he was glad to have someone with whom he could talk endlessly about Genos.
“Of course you want it to be perfect,” replied Mumen softly.
“And he deserves it,” Saitama went on. “He's always trying his best for me, for everyone, he's always so honest and sincere, and he's so in love with me, and sometimes I, you know, like, I don't, uh, I don't show him enough how much I love him too? I think he's, he's okay with how I act but I still feel, I still feel like, I could do more. He deserves more.”
Mumen nodded his head to show he was still listening, sipping on his tea quietly. He knew Saitama enough to let him talk as long as he needed to. Saitama wasn't one to blabber so much usually (that was more Genos' style), so when he started doing so, that meant he really needed it, and that he wouldn't be done for quite some time. Saitama was really thankful Mumen let him talk. He had started to follow the example and let Genos ramble instead of cutting him short. That made Genos smile. Saitama was always looking for more ways to make him smile.
“He's such an incredible person, and, like, he's always so scared he's unlovable, I wish he could see himself how I see him, I wish he could see himself how everyone else sees him. I really don't understand how he can receive so many fan mail and still… still think that he doesn't deserve all of this. I'm so in love with him and he needs to know, he needs to know in the best way possible,” Saitama said quickly. He remembered to breathe and did so deeply. Mumen was smiling. “I want to propose in a way he'll remember forever. I want it to be so, so special.”
He stopped and sighed heavily, closing his eyelids. Emotions were submerging him. He wasn't used to this yet – to feeling so much words alone couldn't express it.
“Are you gonna cry?” teased Mumen.
“Shut up, I'm not gonna cry,” scoffed Saitama, rubbing his eyes to wipe away his tears. He felt like such a stupid crybaby. Now, now, he shouldn't get so frustrated with himself. That kind of stuff happened – and it was a good thing, right? He was allowed to be emotional. Yes, he was. Even more so before his friend. Mumen would never judge him. He was there for him, he was a friend, and Saitama was allowed to cry.
He didn't, though.
“I really don't know what to do yet,” he admitted with a sigh. “Should I do it in public? I'm scared it'd make me too embarrassed and I'd chicken out. Should I sing something for him? I saw a video on YouTube and--”
“Saitama. You don't need to sing for him,” Mumen interrupted with a little smirk. “What do you two like to do together?”
Saitama had to think at that. Everything, he wanted to answer. They liked to do anything, really, as long as it was together. But that wasn't a specific enough answer, was it? Very romantic, sure, but not exactly what Mumen was looking for. It wouldn't help him with his proposal. Although, he could write it down for his speech or his vows.
“Shopping. Punching monsters. Cuddling,” he said more hesitantly. “Taking walks. Watching the sunset. Talking. You know. Stuff.”
He had the feeling Mumen was about to say something sarcastic, so he shot him a death glare before he could say anything. Mumen didn't say anything, but he was smiling lightly, and Saitama wasn't sure whether he was making fun of him (Saitama was probably being paranoid) or genuinely happy about the whole situation. Probably both.
“You know you don't have to do anything big, right?”
Saitama looked up, slightly confused.
“But I just said...”
“I know, I know,” interrupted Mumen, gesturing vaguely. “But you can do something big for him, but not, like, buy a plane. You could cook his favorite dish. Buy him flowers. Maybe go to the restaurant. Plan a nice, romantic, simple evening. Go down on one knee. Tell him how much you love him until he's sobbing.”
Mumen laid back on his chair and shot him a grin.
“And then, you propose.”
Saitama thought Mumen might actually be a genius.

The trip back home, bouquet in arms, isn't eventful. Saitama catches a few glances and smiles his way, and every time, he can't help but flush slightly. But his own awkwardness doesn't matter much – he's happy, in some way, he's happy that anyone can know he's in love. The earring in his pocket feels incredibly heavy, while Saitama's entire body is supernaturally light. He could spread wings and fly, if it wasn't for the earring in his pocket, a reminder that not everything could go right. It's dumb, isn't it? Genos had fallen in love with him almost immediately. He knows that, he's heard it many times. Every morning when he wakes up “Hello Saitama, I love you” is the first thing he hears. Every night when he falls asleep “Good night Saitama, I love you” is the last thing he hears. And Genos keeps on telling him thorough the whole day, and every single time, Saitama smiles and tells him he loves him too.
When he tells Genos that he loves him (and it doesn't happen as much as it should, he realizes), it's fascinating to watch his reaction. His whole face lights up, a grin stretches his perfect face, and sometimes, he even shivers. There is no doubt whatsoever that Genos is as deeply in love with him as Saitama is. Why is he so scared that he would say no, then? There is no way in Earth he wouldn't want to marry him. Saitama thought the matter through over and over, and he couldn't find a single reason why Genos would say “no” to him. And yet, he can't scratch off the feeling of uneasiness that rots inside his guts. It's so powerful, in fact, that Saitama is almost scared that it'll prevent him from actually getting down on one knee and proposing. But he's too in love for that.
Their home is empty – just as Saitama thought. Genos had to go on a mission in the morning, and Saitama isn't expecting him back for another hour or two. He hopes he's not gonna get back in a fucked up state, or worse, have to go to Kuseno, and therefore not returning. But Genos sent him a few messages during the day to inform him everything's okay, so far at least. It's not supposed to be a dangerous mission, Genos hasn't even taken his battle arms with him. Saitama is pretty confident. Everything would probably go right.
He puts the bouquet in water and looks at it for a few seconds, smiling at himself. It's such a nice gesture, he thinks. And it's so pretty. His anxiousness is slowly shifting into excitement. He finds himself daydreaming about Genos in his arms, saying how much he wants to marry him. About grabbing his phone and telling all of their friends, telling the entire world if he can. Standing on the top of the rooftops and screaming his glee, his love, because he wants every single person in the world to know that Genos is his, that they're in love, that they're going to get married. Him, Saitama, “Caped Baldy”, is going to marry Genos.
“I'm so fucking lucky,” he breathes.
Alright. Okay. He has the ring. He has the bouquet. Now, to the cooking.
He had decided to go for a very private, intimate proposal. They would spend the entire evening at home, cozy and safe. At the end of the day, that just felt more like… them. Sure, a date in a fancy restaurant would be nice, but Saitama thought they'd appreciate it more if it was right here, just the two of us. It's also romantic, isn't it? In another kind of way, but still precious and special. He's listening to Mumen's advices and has planned to cook Genos' favorite dish and dessert. Of course, it has to be perfect – Saitama is decent enough at cooking, and he has time so he can make sure it tastes exactly right. The earring is still in his pocket, he knows there's no way he could lose it, but he really doesn't want to put it somewhere else. He needs it close. He needs to feel it pressed against his thigh: they're going to get married. They're going to get married.
Even though he wants to do everything with care and precision, he finds himself daydreaming again while he's getting ready for cooking. It's really hard, in that kind of situation, not to let one's mind wonder. Happy thoughts are bubbling in his head, in his chest, in his stomach, flying around like butterflies, coming out his mouth and invading the whole house. He feels incredibly warm, in the nicest sort of way, and he hears himself humming before he realizes he's doing it. He can't really remember a time he's been this happy, except maybe when Genos and he shared their first kiss. And a few more experiences he shared with Genos after that.
He's so in love. Fucking hell.
He has been waiting for this day for months. That's why he can't stop daydreaming. He can barely believe it's finally the day, the day he's going to propose. For fuck's sake, he had decided to ask Genos to marry him months ago, and tonight, tonight he's going to actually do it. For real. For fucking real!

It's hard to pinpoint a point in his life where he thought, for the first time, that he wanted to marry Genos. He's not sure when or how he first started thinking about it. It came very naturally to him – he liked Genos, he was in love with Genos, he wanted to spend his life with Genos. The obvious conclusion of this train of thought was, of course, to marry him. Then he started daydreaming about actually doing it. It wasn't often, at first, or big, just the warmth in his chest when he thought about Genos being his husband, or imagining both of them in a suit, or the ghost feeling of a ring around his finger. As time went on, and as he kept falling more and more in love with Genos every day, thinking about the wedding was becoming an incredibly common thing. He never really told Genos about this. They told each other they wanted to spend their life with one another, sure, but they never said the word wedding out loud. Maybe that was why Saitama was so scared. He didn't know if Genos actually wanted to marry anyone.
Although he couldn't remember when he started to want to marry Genos, he could say precisely when he actually thought to himself “I'm gonna propose, and I'll do it soon”, and then started to actually plan the proposal. It wasn't very special, in itself, but to Saitama it was probably one of the most important thing he's every lived.
He was coming back from a shopping trip, quite happy with the deals he had gotten. He had two plastic bags full of goods and was even excited to have able to buy shrimps: he loved those, but them being quite expensive, he didn't buy any most of the time. He couldn't wait to share some with Genos. And he couldn't wait to see him – Genos came shopping with him most of the time, so when he didn't, like this time, Saitama always felt a bit… empty. Like there was something missing. To be honest, every time Genos wasn't with him, his mood dropped, at least a bit. Or to be more precise: his feelings… kind of… went away. It wasn't as strong as it was back then, before he knew Genos, but it was still an uncomfortable emptiness inside his chest and inside his mind. He was still grateful he wasn't struggling with heavy depression anymore, though.
The first thing he spotted was his house. And then, he spotted the enormous monster right behind it.
“If it breaks my house, I'm gonna beat its ass,” he grunts.
The monster is a weird kind of worm, with long, sharp teeth and no lips. Its mouth seemed to be some kind of giant munching hole. Not a pretty sight to see, Saitama was absolutely grossed out and would rather like not to have to touch this thing. Especially since he wasn't in his hero suit. He didn't really want to get himself dirty. The monster looked slimy, and it had hundreds of legs, and it was truly starting to make Saitama feel a little sick. He would have been fine if it was small and he could have crushed it with his foot, but, no, he had to be three stories building tall.
Then, he saw Genos.
“Genos!” he screamed happily. Genos turned his head towards him. He was on the roof of another building, fighting with the monster. Saitama was rather pleased to see he didn't have a single scratch on him, at least, not one that he could see, he was pretty far away, after all. He waved at his boyfriend, and Genos waved back, before having to jump to avoid the monster's gross mouth. “Do you need help??”
“I'm fine, thank you, my love,” Genos screamed back, jumping gracefully from building to building.
When they had started dating, Saitama had asked Genos to drop the “master”, because, Saitama could be a lewd man, but he really didn't want his boyfriend to call him “master” all day every day. Genos was more than happy to oblige, and asked if he could call him pet names instead. Saitama had felt his mouth go dry and had simply nodded his head. Since then, Genos had started to call him “my love”, but also “sweetheart”, and “my darling”. Saitama thought it'd feel weird, but actually, he loved it. In return, he called Genos “babe”, and “hon”, and sometimes, “love”. It was nice, really. Nothing much, but still, it felt special. Sure, it was kind of strange, to have a big, heavy cyborg calling you such sweet things all the while beating up some monster, but that was just how they were, and Saitama wouldn't change a thing.
He watched as Genos took a deep breath before jumping on the monster and punching it violently. The creature shrieked in pain, its voice so high-pitched Saitama thought his ears were going to bleed out. He covered them with his hands and hoped that Genos would kill this thing quickly. It was always impressive to watch Genos fight. Saitama didn't know how he could always look so perfect, maybe that was because he was a cyborg, or maybe that was just how he was. Pretty face, pretty hair, handsome frown, Saitama liked to look at him. Genos fired with his hand and Saitama 'ooh'ed, carefully putting down the grocery bags before clapping as loudly as he could. He thought he'd seen Genos smiling, but he was jumping around so fast he couldn't be quite sure.
The weird long tail/bottom part of the creature suddenly came at Genos, and Saitama jerked, but Genos had spotted it before he did, and soon, it was nothing but a pile of ashes. A few seconds later, the whole monster had became a dirty stain on the floor. Genos landed next to Saitama, breathing a bit heavily, hair in front of his eyes, still shaking with adrenaline. Saitama grinned at him and gave his a kiss on the cheek before picking up his bags and gesturing with his chin towards the house.
“Let's go in and get you cleaned up now, alright?”
Genos nodded without saying anything. Saitama could immediately tell he didn't feel alright, but he didn't want to press the matter any further while they were still outside, and while Genos was still covered in gross worm blood.
He put the bags down on the kitchen table then turned towards Genos, his hands on his hips, looking him up and down. Genos shivered under his gaze, and Saitama couldn't help a small smile. He walked closer and took his face in his hands very carefully, not really caring about the gross blood anymore. They didn't say anything for a while, lost in each other eyes, but Saitama could already feel Genos relaxing gradually, and that was what really mattered, for now. He leaned in slightly and their lips met gently. He wanted to embrace Genos fully, but he was still very dirty and gross, so this wasn't happening right now.
“Clean up and then we'll see about that,” said Saitama when Genos slipped a hand on his chest. Genos whined quietly but Saitama bit his lip and pushed him towards the bathroom. With a sigh, Genos backed away and took of his shirt while he stepped into the bathroom. “And take a shower, alright?” added Saitama, just in case Genos thought washing his clothes would be enough.
A satisfied smile stretched his lips when he heard the sound of the water being turned on. Good, Genos was getting cleaned up. Saitama took the time to take care of the groceries, stocking them neatly in cupboards and in the fridge. He didn't like doing chores very much, but having a messy apartment didn't help his mental health, plus, he couldn't let Genos do everything around the house. As cute as Genos looked in his pink apron, Saitama still had to help.
Genos didn't take long in the shower and came out wearing only boxers. He walked straight into Saitama's arms, burying his face into his neck and breathing deeply. Saitama wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed the top of his head softly, more than happy to hold him. To be honest, cuddling with Genos was one of his favorite activity, he could do it for hours on end. Sadly, Genos was slightly too restless for that, but Saitama didn't really mind. He also liked holding him while Genos did paperwork. That made it more fun for both of them. Plus Saitama felt like he almost helped with said paperwork. He helped emotionally, didn't he?
“Are you alright?” he asked when Genos breathed deeply once again, a bit shakily. Saitama wasn't concerned, but if Genos wasn't feeling good, Saitama would do anything to turn his frown upside down.
“Mmh,” came the answer.
So that was a no. Saitama stroked his boyfriend's hair, as always amazed by how soft it felt. It wasn't real hair, that much was sure, but Saitama honestly thought it was even better. Genos used shampoo on it anyway, and it smelled good. It was the perfect hair, really.
“Were you scared?” guessed Saitama.
A groan, then a sigh, then a “mmhmm”. So he had been scared. Saitama held him a little tighter and placed once again a soft kiss on his head. As he looked for something to say, Genos talked before he could:
“I don't know why, sometimes during fights, I get really scared. But it never lasts long, because I know you're there. As soon as I heard your voice, everything felt alright again. I know you keep me safe. When you are there, my love, I feel invincible, vulnerable to you only.”
Genos backed away and their eyes met once again. Saitama was quiet, trying to manage the emotions overwhelming him – he still didn't know what to do with those. He wished he could be as serene as Genos in that kind of situation.
“So, I'm fine,” said Genos, and smiled ever so slightly. “When you're here, my love, I'm always fine. And as long as you're by my side, I will be alright.”
He took Saitama's hands into his own and squeezed them tightly. Saitama stared at him, speechless, and then, because he couldn't say anything, he kissed him like the world was going to end. He kissed him until they were out of breath, until they forgot their own names. It felt so warm, Saitama felt in an ocean of joy and love, and he wouldn't mind drowning. He wouldn't mind drowning in Genos' arms.
And as long as you're by my side, I will be alright.
That was what made it clear. He wanted to marry Genos, he really wanted to marry Genos, he wanted to make their love officially forever, in a way? He wanted to swear before the law, before the world, that he would protect Genos and love him until death did them apart – and even then, he would probably keep on loving him in death. He'd come back as a ghost to love Genos forever, and also to scare people. He always thought being ghost sounded like fun.
But anyway. He needed to propose to Genos. He wanted to do it right here and then, he almost did, but he thought he needed it to make it special, to make it perfect, so he didn't. Not yet. Soon, he promised. Soon.

So here he is.
He looks at the mess he made in the kitchen and sighs. Alright, he has to clean all that up before Genos comes home. At least, he's very proud of what he's done. He can't say it doesn't look absolutely delicious. It's almost hard to not start eating it right now. He grabs a sponge and some cleaning product and gets to work once again. The place has to be spotless, he wants everything to be perfect. Just like Genos is the perfect boyfriend, the perfect person, soon the perfect fiancé. He wants to give him everything he deserves. Saitama sighs deeply. A few years ago, he would have made fun of anyone so ridiculously in love with someone else. And yet here he is. Being very gay for his boyfriend.
Things couldn't possibly be any better, to be honest.
Once the kitchen is cleaned up, he quickly gets out his dirty clothes and opens his closet, munching on his lower lip. He mostly has comfy clothes, nothing fancy, especially since he kind of hates how he looks. He's glad Genos is there to comfort him about his appearance and make sure he has nice clothes. But Genos isn't there right now, so Saitama has to decide by himself what to wear for this very special evening. He considers asking Fubuki for fashion advice (or worse, Amai Mask), but shakes his head quickly. He can do this alone, he knows he can.
He takes out nice pants, a nice shirt, and puts it on. His reflection stares back blankly at him in the mirror as he straightens his shirt nervously. He doesn't think he looks great, or different in any way, but he doesn't look bad, so that's a start. After a moment of hesitation, he unbuttons the collar, winces, buttons it back up, grunts, unbuttons it again a little more. Oh well. He'll keep it like that. Genos said to him more than once that he found him breathtakingly pretty any way. Plus he can't be overdressed, because Genos is going to be in his regular clothes, so it'd be weird.
Just as he decided to stay in this outfit, he hears the door being opened. He jumps at once and closes the closet door, turning to face the entrance.
Genos walks in. He looks just like his normal self, although his hair is a little ruffled. Saitama feels breathless. He forgets constantly how beautiful Genos is until he sees him again. He's already been thinking about how much he loves him, but now this is just getting ridiculous. He loves him so fucking much, every part of his being wants to be Genos', and Genos' only. He smiles at him, but it feels almost fake, because there's no way his face can actually show how happy he is to see him.
“Welcome back home, hon,” he says, barely loud enough for Genos to hear.
Their gazes meet and Genos smiles back at him, which is almost too much for Saitama's heart. Genos walks quickly towards him and kisses him sweetly, taking him in his arms and holding him close to his chest. Saitama is more than happy to reciprocate, passing a hand through Genos' perfect hair and whispering he loves him between two kisses.
“I love you too, sweetheart. How was your day?” Genos asks.
“Good,” Saitama replies, biting on his lower lip. He can't wait to show him what he spent his day doing. He kisses him one more time, before backing away slightly. “What about you?”
“It's been alright,” says Genos with a shrug of his shoulders. “Nothing too exciting happened. Investigation and interviewing people, mostly. I feel like I'm doing police work. But it's okay. And--”
Genos shuts up suddenly when he sees the bouquet on the table. Saitama grins proudly when Genos' eyes widen and his mouth hangs open. He takes a few steps, to look at the flower better, and caresses one with the tip of his fingers. It's fascinating, to watch Genos, a literal war machine, be so delicate. He stares at the bouquet, quiet, taking in the view, and Saitama knows him enough to see he's deeply touched by the gesture.
“Are these...” he starts.
“For you, yes,” says Saitama before Genos can even finish the question. “Of course they are.”
Genos stays silent at that, stroking a petal with one finger, gaze soft. Saitama takes a deep breath, surprised by a violent beat of his heart. This is so much, he thinks. This is not enough, though.
“Why?” asks Genos, so quiet Saitama is not sure he heard correctly.
“Why?” he repeats, a bit taken aback by the question. “Because I love you. You deserve it. Do I need another reason?”
It's because I'm going to propose to you tonight, he thinks. But he doesn't want to spill the beans yet. Gently, he presses a hand on the bottom of Genos' back and kisses his cheek lightly.
“Why don't you go take a shower?” he says. “Then, once you're out, we're gonna eat dinner.”
“You made dinner?”
“Mmhmm. You know what? Take a bath. Relax.”
“Come with me, my love.”
Saitama spares a glance at the food inside the oven. It would take some time to cook… Yeah, sure, he could take a bath. He turns towards Genos and gives him a nod and a smile.
To be honest, worrying about Genos saying no has made Saitama very tense, and he's very much content to be able to take a hot, relaxing bath. He takes off his clothes in the matter of a few seconds, before the tub is full. Genos chuckles very softly, which is rare and precious enough to be noted, and takes off his own clothes. He stretches – as much as he can with his fullmetal body – and happily lets Saitama embrace him once again.
“You're affectionate, today,” he notes.
Saitama grumbles as a reply and kisses the back of his neck a few times. He lets go and slips into the bath with a contented sigh. Genos looks at him with a small smile and says softly:
“Fa.”
“Oh my god,” laughs Saitama, bending his knees so Genos can join him in the tub. “Are you going to bring this up every time?”
“Yes,” answers Genos with a smirk as he's sitting down in the bath in front of his boyfriend.
“Well, faaaa.”
“That was a sol, my love.”
Saitama shuts him up with a kiss. He takes his face into his hands softly and strokes his cheeks, losing himself into the kiss fully. Genos' lips are so soft, and always taste so sweet, Saitama likes to kiss him for hours and hours. He loves feeling Genos' strong arms wrap around his neck and their bodies getting so close they could almost melt against one another. It truly feels, sometimes, like he's melting in Genos' embrace, in Genos' kiss, and he really doesn't mind.
They take their time getting washed. They stay close to one another, sometimes sharing little kisses, soft and quiet, like a secret, or an inside joke them only can understand. Hands get lost, breathes mix, and Saitama has to force himself to get out of the bath when he hears the oven bipping. He wraps a towel around his waist and kisses Genos one last time before running into the kitchen.
He's very proud of what he's done, honestly. The food looks and smells absolutely delicious, he finds himself drooling at the sight. He quickly gets a hold of himself, though, and puts down bowls and chopsticks on the table. He makes sure everything is prepared, then comes back into the bathroom to dress up again. Genos is drying his hair carefully, and smiles at him when he sees him walk in. Saitama's heart skips a beat. Genos' smile is so incredibly luminous, like a small sun in the middle of his apartment. He can't help but kiss him again before stepping out the bathroom once again.
I want to marry Genos so much, he thinks.
When Genos walks out the bathroom, he's dressed in clean, casual clothes. He's noticed Saitama's outfit – obviously – but probably hasn't guessed why he had put on a shirt for once. Genos could be very oblivious sometimes. Saitama thinks it's pretty cute, although kind of frustrating sometimes.
“Why did you put on a shirt?” asks Genos.
Speaking about the devil.
“Wanted to look nice for you,” answers Saitama, which is true. It's only part of the truth, but it isn't a lie.
Genos' pupils dilate slightly, it's very noticeable because of how golden his eyes are. Funny, Saitama thinks. Even though almost everything in him is mechanical, he still have such humane, uncontrollable reactions. He wonders if it's part of the engineering or if his brain does it unconsciously. He'll ask Kuseno next time he sees him. Either way, it's cute.
“Don't,” he says when Genos tries to reach for his notebook. “Are you sure you want to keep this going when we've together for almost three years?”
It's not the first time he's said this, and it's probably not the last, to his despair.
“I am,” says Genos, like he says every time. “It's not because we're together that--”
“--you can't keep on searching for the secret of my strength, I know,” sighs Saitama, but he has a small smile on his lips.
He's really not annoyed by that kind of behavior anymore. He's learned to love it, just like he fell in love with every other aspect of Genos. Everything about him is just so… endearing, even this. It's insanely cute. Of course it is. Genos could be cleaning the toilet, and he'd still look cute while doing it. Really, Saitama is so lucky to be able to have him all for himself. Sure, the wrath of his fangirls is not fun to deal with, but it's really nothing compared to the infinite amount of joy and love Genos gives him.
“This looks absolutely delicious, my love,” says Genos as he sits down.
Saitama is very glad to see his eyes shining. Yes, babe, I've made your favorite dishes. Aren't I the best boyfriend ever?
According to Genos' glance when he looks up, he does think Saitama is the best boyfriend ever. They lean across the table and kiss again, and then, finally, dig in.
It's as delicious as it looks, there's no way getting around it. Saitama is more than proud of what he's done – he's already pretty good at cooking, everyone told him so at some point or another, but this is just next level. He would pay for this, and not just a few pennies. Genos seems just as taken as he is with the food, and congratulates him until Saitama can feel his face heating up. He brushes the compliments away, but really, he thinks they're very well deserved.
He listens (almost all the way through) while Genos tells him about his day. Saitama is genuinely interested to hear all about it, about how Genos feels, but it's really hard for him to listen for twenty minutes straight. He still manages to follow, and even asks some questions and do a few comments. Genos seems very pleased, and that's all that matters. He hasn't had a particularly exciting day, but it was okay, and Saitama is about to turn it into the best day ever anyway. He can still feel the earring box in his pocket, but can't help but touch it a few times during the dinner, just to make sure it's still there. Like it could be anywhere else. As far as he knows, the box doesn't have small box legs, so it can't run off anywhere. And as far as he knows, there's nobody here to steal it while he's eating dinner with his boyfriend. Especially since said boyfriend has some kind of threat sensor or something. Saitama still has no clue how this shit works.
“Thank you again for the meal, my love,” says Genos once he's done telling his day, pushing away slightly the empty bowl with a contented smile.
Saitama smiles, very much happy that Genos liked it, and quickly finish his own bowl before jumping up straight and opening the fridge with a big smile on his face. Genos stares at him, confused, and Saitama winks before carefully taking out the cake he's prepared. It's a strawberry shortcake, and, to be blunt, it looks absolutely mouthwatering. Genos' face lights up once again and Saitama can't help a proud snicker. That's right babe, take this all in, I made this for you and you only.
He puts the cake down on the table more carefully than he's ever done anything before and stares at it, grinning, before looking up at Genos, who's still speechless. Very good, exactly what Saitama wanted. Is this completely unexpected? Yes. Does it look delicious? Yes. Is it Genos' favorite cake? Yes. Are they gonna get engaged? Yes. Are they gonna fuck tonight? Very likely.
“Is this… this is also for me?”
“It is,” says Saitama smoothly, sitting down again once he's gotten plates and a knife. “You happy?”
Genos nods his head with all his might. Saitama chuckles. What a cute boy, he's so glad he can make him so happy he becomes lost for words, which is quite unusual for Genos, who always has too much to say. Saitama slices a piece for him, and places it carefully on his plate, before handing it to him. Genos takes it as if it was the most precious, fragile thing in the world, and keeps looking at it with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open. Saitama slices a piece for himself and grabs his spoon, raising a brow.
“You know you can eat now, right?”
“Yes. I do. Yes. Thank you so much, Saitama, I...”
“Eat, you'll thank me later,” Saitama smiles.
The best is yet to come. He spares a glance at the clock, just in case, but everything is going smoothly for now. Just as he wanted, this is going perfect. Saitama is ready to call himself the best boyfriend ever, best soon to be fiancé ever, best future husband ever. They'll have to find a good tailor. Genos' arms weren't exactly the easiest to fit in a suit – and there was no way he'd tear off the sleeves of his suit on their wedding. Not on his watch.
Genos does as he's told and takes a bite of the cake, his eyes widening in amazement. He hums and looks up at Saitama, apparently completely blown away by the taste. He does an actual moan, which takes Saitama by surprise, and is frankly completely unfair because he's already very in love right now and he doesn't want to be turned on on top of that. He'd like to keep this kind of stuff for later, thank you very much. But he is very proud, that much can be said.
“Saitama, this is… delicious,” breathes Genos, and Saitama humbly shrugs, even though he's very much congratulating himself internally.
He himself takes a big bite of the cake and closes his eyes, sighing softly by his nose. It is very fucking good, probably one of the best cake he's ever tasted. He takes time to marvel at the taste, before opening his eyes again, to see Genos smiling like a little kid. Saitama feels a tug at his heart – a good kind of tug. A very good kind of tug. He wants to marry him so much. It's painful, he thinks, how much he loves him. Is it supposed to be this way, or is it just because he's not used to feeling that much anymore? Or at all? He's never fell so bad for someone before, even previous to his training. In fact, Genos redefined completely what “love” meant to Saitama. He understands, now, what's it like to want to give his entire being to someone.
Genos is looking at the bouquet again while he's eating, glancing at Saitama from time to time. He has a very expressionless face, but having lived with him for years now, Saitama has become very good at understanding every little twitch of his lips and every frown of his eyebrows. Clearly, Genos is deeply touched, so deeply it wouldn't take much to make him cry. Saitama's heart is inside his throat once again. He's probably gonna make Genos cry tonight. But it's gonna be happy tears. The best kind of tears there is. He's almost impatient to finish his piece of cake, now, but it's no use hurrying up. He has a schedule to follow. He glances at the clock again. They still have a few minutes.
Genos stares at his now empty plates for a few seconds. He takes a deep breath and looks up at Saitama, who's smiling softly at him. Their hands reach under the table and meet, squeezing one another tightly. Saitama is still eating, so Genos takes the opportunity to speak:
“I couldn't thank you enough, my love. What you've done today for me is… it means a lot. Really. Lately, I've been… kinda insecure about your love for me. You've seemed kind of distant, you haven't been here as much...”
Oh shit. He's been distracted by the proposal. Shit. Saitama wants to immediately tell Genos how much he loves him, but his mouth is still full, and Genos isn't done yet (of course he isn't, Genos is never done talking).
“But this, this means you do truly love me. I'm so, I'm, you're so very important to me, Saitama, you have no idea how much you mean to me. Before I met you, the only thing that filled the emptiness in me was my desire to revenge. But you've changed everything. You've been a storm in my life, ravaging me and leaving me, strangely, all fixed up. I never could thank you enough and truly tell how much I love you. I want to make you happy, I want to wipe away every tear, to kiss away every pain, to protect you and make you safe… Even though you don't need me, you're the one keeping me safe, really,” he adds with a chuckle. “You are an incredible man, Saitama. Truly. You're kind, and handsome, and powerful, and smart, and gentle, and patient, and you always surprise me and find ways to make me fall a little more in love with you everyday. You're a great cook, an even better boyfriend, I would give everything I have to be able to spend the rest of my life with you...”
Wait, shit, Genos is totally stealing his speech! Saitama is supposed to be the one saying that kind of stuff tonight, he is the one who's going to propose, for fuck's sake! He swallows an entire bite, coughs a bit, then places firmly a hand on Genos' mouth, who shuts up at once. Saitama coughs inside his elbow a bit, takes a big gulp of water, then puts away his hand and kisses Genos' lip instead. He holds him close, grasping at his shirt, trying to make him understand how much he loves him, how much what he just said affected him, and most importantly, trying to shut him the fuck up because Saitama wants to say the same things to him and it just won't be as meaningful is Genos does it first! As far as Saitama knows, Genos is not the one pulling out a ring tonight and getting down on one knee. Or at least, he hopes so. That would be an awkward situation for sure.
“Let's go on the balcony, okay?” Saitama whispers on Genos' lips.
Genos nods but pulls him in for another kiss. Saitama happily obliges. They kiss for a minute or two, breathlessly, heads light and heart pounding, before Saitama breaks the kiss and takes his hand, getting up on slightly shaky legs. He leads him to the balcony, taking a deep breath of the fresh air of the night.
There's no artificial lights in their city anymore, so the stars are very visible. It's an incredibly beautiful sight to witness. Tonight, they can even make out the Milky Way. Saitama, breath still kinda heavy, leans against the balcony, and Genos does the same. Even if most buildings are partially destroyed, leaving the city with a weird almost post-apocalyptic aesthetic, it's very peaceful. Genos steps slightly closer to Saitama, and Saitama wraps an arm around his waist, pulling him closer still, until they're leaning against one another. Saitama quickly checks his phone while Genos is still taking in the view.
Okay, five more minutes. He doesn't need much more.
“Genos,” he says.
Genos turns to look at him and Saitama is suddenly at lost for words. Genos is handsome, he's breathtakingly, life changing kind of handsome. He could be an actual god. His face only partially lighted up, he honestly looks ethereal, and probably deadly. Saitama's sure of it now: when he dies, it's gonna be because of Genos' beauty. There's probably nothing else that can kill him anyway. He wants to say something, he knows he has so much to say, but it all gets stuck in his throat. How can he say anything that's at least a little bit equivalent to how he feels? He doesn't deserve Genos, he knows it. Genos is perfect, he's beautiful, he's brave, kind, intelligent and… he's just perfect in every sense of the world. Saitama feels like an utter fool for ever wanting to marry this man. And yes, egoistically, he's not going to back away. He's going to do it, he's going to propose, because, despise the fact he clearly doesn't deserve him, Genos is in love with him, he actually loves him, for real, and Saitama knows many people would be ready to do anything for that. And Saitama doesn't even have to make an effort. But he will. He will make an effort, he did make an effort, to make Genos happy. To make him as happy as one can possibly be.
“Yes, my love?”
Words are stuck in his throat, so he takes Genos hands. He strokes them with his thumb, incredibly softly. He knows he could break them anytime, but all he wants to do is kiss them, caress them, love them. He brings them to his face and kiss the knuckles lightly, barely brushing his lips against the metal. It's hot, probably because Genos' system has been heating up, like it always does when he gets overwhelmed. Saitama is glad. He's also overwhelmed.
His nose is slightly prickly, he really hopes he's not going to burst into tears before he manages to say anything. That really would be a ridiculous sight to see, wouldn't it be?
“I just… I just want to say a few things to you, Genos. I know I haven't been the best boyfriend.” Genos opens his mouth to disagree, but Saitama holds up a hand, silently asking him to stay quiet. Genos obeys. “But you need to know, I think, that I would die for you. I'm not exaggerating, and I know you really don't want that, and I know I'll probably never need to, but I want you to know that if I had to, I would. I wouldn't hesitate a second. Because your life is the most valuable thing on Earth. You are the most precious, incredible being, and I can't believe how lucky I am to have even met you. And how lucky I am to be in a relationship with you! You! Have you ever took a look at yourself? For real? Have you ever seen how fucking beautiful you are? Your hair, your eyes, the shape of your jaw, of your nose, your cheeks, your lips, your chin, your neck, your arms, your fucking everything. Yes, I know you're a cyborg, yes, I know your body isn't natural. But it's yours. And that's what truly makes it attractive. Because it's you, Genos, and you, and believe me, are the most attractive person on this entire planet. Not only because of your body, or your voice – which is very pretty by the way – but because of who you are as a whole. You know what I mean? Your… your whole personality. Shit, I'm really not good at this, am I?”
He scratches the back of his neck, laughing a bit nervously. Words are pouring out his mouth, but he feels like he's becoming blind and deaf at the same time. He's so fucking nervous, nothing feels real anymore. And yet, when he looks up at Genos and sees a single oil drop rolling down his cheek, everything's suddenly too real. And Saitama is so glad. He's so glad this is real.
“You know that one time with the sea king? Yeah. I wasn't there but… I got told you sacrificed yourself for a little girl. It was very likely you'd survive, I know, but you still… I don't think you thought it through? You just… did? And I dunno, it's just, it's one of the things I really like about you. Like, I still can't fully realize that I'm able, right now, to hold the hands of such an amazing person. He kind of makes me want to cry,” he sniffs, rubbing his eyes just in case. “And you make me so happy, every day. You probably don't realize but… fuck, I'm so happy with you it hurt. In the best kind of way obviously! I, I, I want to wake up everyday with you next to me, and, I, your smile is so precious, and it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside every time, and when we laugh together, and when you say that you love me, it's just, it's so much, I don't really know how to handle all these feelings because it's so fucking powerful and I'm, you make me feel in ways I couldn't even conceive before meeting you, so...”
He remembers he needs to breathe and does so, rubbing his eyes once again. He's starting to feel tears in his eyes, and that's not good, because if he's sobbing, he won't be able to finish his speech. Which he really needs to do.
“What I mean to say is, is that I love you. I'm in love with you. I am so… so deeply in love with you. I have been for so long now, and I keep falling in love with you more and more, and you know, I'm just, I'm just a guy who's playing superhero, but for you, I'd become anything. I'd do anything. I want to protect you, I want to make you happy, just like you make me happy. You deserve the world, Genos. I love you so much.”
As he finishes his sentence, there's a loud bang in the sky. Genos jumps and turns, his eyes growing wide and agape. In his eyes, Saitama can see the reflection of the very first firework. He smiles. Right on time.
Following the first bang, another, then another, and soon, the sky is filled with astonishingly gorgeous fireworks. But Saitama can't bring himself to turn his head to look at them. He's too focused on Genos' face, on the big tears rolling down his cheeks, on your thunderstruck he looks. His lips slowly turn upwards, forming a shaky smile, and Saitama realizes his whole body is shaking. He laughs, and squeezes his hands a little tighter still.
“These...”
“These are for you, yes.”
“How did you...”
Saitama wants to answer, but the bangs of the fireworks cover the sound of his voice, so instead he smiles and lets Genos watch the private show Saitama planned just for him. It really was the most difficult thing to prepare, he got help from about anyone he was friend with. King and Mumen, especially, helped him a lot. It cost a lot of money, sure, but Saitama didn't even blink at that. He had way enough to do this for Genos. He deserved so much more, but Saitama would soon vow to keep on giving him everything he could forever.
The fireworks end with a great finale Saitama watches through Genos' eyes. It's full of colors that fill in the entire sky, and for a few seconds, he can almost see Genos clear as day. Then the lights slowly disappear, the smoke fades away into the starry sky, and Genos' head turn to him again. Saitama swallows.
This is it.
Alright.
He gets down on one knee.
Before he can say anything, Genos brings his hands to his mouth and sobs loudly. Saitama smiles and reaches inside his pocket. He takes out the little box, opens it, and raises it up slightly so Genos can see.
“Genos. Will you marry me?”
“Mwhatf???” comes the answer.
Saitama laughs, and feels a tear on his cheek. Ah, shit. He doesn't bother to wipe it away though. Genos' own tears are staining his shirt, leaving black stains that will probably be impossible to clean up. Not that Saitama minds, really.
“Will you marry me?” he says again. “Uh, please?”
He doesn't exactly get a proper answer, but Genos dropping to his knees and smashing his lips against Saitama's is well enough. They hug each other tightly, so close they could almost crush one another, but they're careful not to, and they kiss, and they cry, and Saitama has oil all over his cheeks but he doesn't give single flying fuck. The kiss is sloppy, their hands are going everywhere and anywhere, it's really not their best embrace, but it's still the best they've ever had. Saitama is so happy. Saitama is so proud. Just like he wanted, it's perfect. Not as perfect as Genos is, but almost.
“So we're engaged,” says Saitama between two kisses. “Right? Just want to make sure.”
“Yes oh my god of course we are,” grunts Genos before kissing him again. “Holy shit.”
Saitama kisses him deeply until he's out of air. He loves being like this. Genos makes him pant, which is something no monster has been able to do before. Love is really the only thing that has managed to defeat Saitama.
“Wait. You need to try this on,” he says, gesturing to the earring he still has in his hand.
“Yes! Of course. Yes.”
Genos backs away slightly so Saitama can put it on. Carefully, Saitama takes Genos' current earring and puts on this one instead. He truly made the best choice. It goes incredibly well with his eyes. It makes his knees go weak. It makes him want to marry even more, and he didn't think that was even possible.
“How do I look?” asks Genos.
“Like a mess,” Saitama answers truthfully. “And like my perfect, handsome, happy fiancé,” he adds proudly.
They laugh, Saitama isn't sure why, but they laugh, they laugh until they forget how to breathe. Then they kiss again. It's still surreal, to think that they are now engaged. That they're going to get married. Saitama has so much happiness bubbling inside him he really wants to scream. To scream it all out, until there's only what he can manage left. But life doesn't work this way, and truly, he doesn't mind the joy overflowing him. He's fine with that. He's fine with love.
“I need to tell everyone,” he says, taking his phone out. He already has dozens of messages asking him how it went. “Mumen is gonna be delighted.”
“I have oil everywhere,” says Genos quietly, rubbing his cheeks, which really doesn't do any good. “You also have oil everywhere. I'm sorry.”
“I couldn't give less of a shit,” admits Saitama, quickly replying to all their friends to announce they were officially engaged.
Genos has a shaky laugh and gets up, his legs not really responding at first. Once again, Saitama is amazed by how well his body reacts accordingly to his reaction. He would have thought Genos would be very stiff in any situation, but no, he was just as clumsy as any other human was, and he could shake, shiver, fall and accidentally hurt himself.
He follows his boyfriend – wait no – fiancé inside and watches him wipe his cheeks with some water, which really barely does any good. They'd have to get the cleaning product out. But really, Saitama doesn't want to take care of that right now. Instead, he walks up to Genos and grabs him by the waist, kissing him once again. His face is still wet and their hands are shaking. It's perfect, Saitama thinks. It's perfect because Genos said yes. It's perfect because he's with Genos.
Oh fuck, he's going to spend his entire life with him.
“I'm so happy, Genos. You have no idea.”
“You have no idea how much I feel happy,” Genos replies, almost challenging. “Oh! We're gonna get married!” he exclaims, as though he only just realized it.
“Yes,” Saitama says. “We are. That's the whole point of the proposal.”
“We're gonna write our vows!” Genos screams out.
He lets go of Saitama and immediately reaches for his notebook. He opens it, grabs a pen, and starts scribbling furiously, almost ripping up the paper because of how eager he is. Saitama watches him with a smirk, crossing his arms and raising his eyebrows.
“You know we still have plenty of time, right? We haven't even decided a date yet.”
“But I have so much ideas!”
Saitama is probably going to have to listen to two hour long vows at their wedding. He doesn't mind. He'll ask for a chair in advance, though.
“If you say the word 'master' at any point, I'm divorcing you,” he warns, putting the now empty jewelry box on the kitchen table.
Grumpily, Genos scratches out everything he just wrote.