Work Text:
It’s cool tonight. Seokjin wraps his coat tighter around his shoulders and shivers in the breeze. The wind has really picked up since he stepped out.
Taehyung is walking silently at his side. He has his hands stuffed in his pockets to keep warm so he’s stimming with his face instead, little twitches of his muscles and harsh blinks in an effort to tamp down the excitement. Sure, he’s been on a thousand dates with Seokjin but tonight… tonight is different. He can feel it.
The little leather box is burning a hole in Seokjin’s pocket. In a good way. He’s been thinking about this for days, weeks, months, just waiting for the right time and now, on Christmas eve five years into their relationship and a week before Taehyung’s twenty-fifth birthday, it feels right. But that’s for later, after the takeaway dinner they’ve planned because Taehyung doesn’t do restaurants.
Taehyung reaches and loops his arm through Seokjin’s, shy and a little blushy. Seokjin’s heart feels so weak, fuck.
“You okay, Tae?”
Taehyung doesn’t give a reply, but the light in his eyes says more than a thousand words could. Seokjin grins and takes his hand.
“I’ll go in and get the food and you’re okay waiting out here? You can find a place to sit.”
This time Taehyung’s nods, but he’s not meeting Seokjin’s eyes. Not that he’s expected to at all, though. Seokjin can feel the warmth and happiness emanate from him and that’s worth more than even a split second of eye contact. He doesn’t need that so long as Taehyung is comfortable.
It had taken months of then dating before Taehyung finally came out of his shell. Where he had once been reclusive and quiet he’s now full of life, spinning and bouncing and stimming whenever he gets the chance. Seokjin doesn’t think he’s ever loved someone more in his whole life. In fact, that’s a lie. He knows he hasn’t.
They split up after a soft kiss and Seokjin steps into the restaurant. He orders their usual, a large portion of fries and a side of salad, pays quickly, and leaves again. They’ll go for ice cream later if Taehyung’s up for it.
Taehyung is sitting on the wall on the other side of the promenade, fiddling with the hem of his coat. It’s dark blue, falls down over his hands and makes him look so small, he almost drowns in it. It’s, quite obviously, one of Seokjin’s.
Seokjin approaches him and grins, handing him the food. Taehyung makes a happy trill and opens the box, digging in immediately.
“You hungry?” Seokjin laughs, and Taehyung nods fervently.
It’s really nice in this corner, quieter and darker with only the light of the streetlamp. They eat in the usual silence and when Taehyung’s done he feels rejuvenated, signing to Seokjin with such speed and vigour he struggles to keep up. He laughs and boops Taehyung on the nose.
“You feeling better?”
Taehyung nods fervently and breaks into the most beautiful grin Seokjin’s ever seen. He feels momentarily winded.
‘Can we go for ice cream after?’ Taehyung signs, squinting his eyes into little crescents. Seokjin swallows a mouthful of salad.
“Of course we can. There’s just… something I want to, uh, give you before we go. Is that okay?”
Taehyung nods and returns to fiddling with his sleeves.
Seokjin finishes the salad and puts the empty box in the trash, coming back to stand at Taehyung’s side. He’s standing up now, waiting for Seokjin beneath the streetlight. He looks absolutely stunning, expression open and vulnerable as he gazes at Seokjin. Seokjin’s breath catches in his throat.
“Tae--”
It’s with shaking hands that he reaches into his pocket and draws out the box. He sees Taehyung’s whole body go rigid. Is this a mistake?
“I… wanted to give you this.”
Seokjin cracks the box open and lowers himself to one knee. Tears well in Taehyung’s eyes.
“Will you marry me?”
A couple passers-by stop and smile. Taehyung’s left hand is twisting in lazy circles by his side and he’s frozen stiff, so overcome with emotion he can barely move. He lifts both hands up to his chest and, just as the first tear slips down his cheek, signs ‘yes’.
Seokjin may or may not be crying himself at this point. He takes Taehyung’s hand to slip the ring over his finger and hands him the other one, both matching silver bands encrusted with colourful gems. Taehyung slides the ring over Seokjin’s finger and Seokjin gently takes him into his arms. There’s clapping and a chorus of cheers, but Taehyung blocks them out. He’s crying bodily now, clutching onto Seokjin like a lifeline. He doesn’t think he’s ever been so happy in his entire life.
The crowd disperses after a little while. Taehyung doesn’t let go of Seokjin, who laughs through his tears and holds Taehyung impossibly tighter. Nothing exists beyond them, beyond their little bubble of elation.
Seokjin knows Taehyung’s gonna be completely burnt out after this, isn’t the best at regulating his emotions, but for the moment nothing else is on his mind.
“I take it that’s a yes, baby,” he grins and squeezes Taehyung’s waist. Taehyung sniffles and nods, wiping his tears on Seokjin’s shoulder.
Seokjin leads him back to the car hand-in-hand, and Taehyung’s skipping and flapping and tripping over his own feet in his excitement. Seokjin laughs and skips along with him, until Taehyung tires and his whole body seems to wilt.
‘Tired’, he signs, the light in his eyes going out. Seokjin squeezes his hand and nods.
“That’s okay. We’ll go for ice cream another day, yeah?”
Taehyung knows not to feel guilty about it now. He nods and lets himself be led back to their car, where Seokjin helps him into his seat and takes the driver’s seat. Taehyung had driven there, so Seokjin drives back. It works well.
Taehyung stims lazily all the way home, all languid and slow and relaxed. He stops every once in a while and twists the ring around his finger, absolutely transfixed by how the gems reflect the light.
“Do you like it?” Seokjin asks hesitantly. Taehyung blinks his eyes a little further open and gives the most beautiful, blinding smile Seokjin has ever seen.
‘It’s my favourite,’ he signs, ‘ever. I love you’.