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With a small upward tug of his lips, Hansung Yu precariously balanced his mug of instant coffee in one hand, using the other to unlock the door. They stepped foot into the spacious area, the cafeteria right where they had left it. Bam’s face instantly lit up in a huge grin.
Wandering around leisurely, he looked around in amazement, drinking in their surroundings. Khun chose to watch him instead, his gaze affectionate.
“Wow. How many years has it been, Aguero?”
“Decades, love.”
“Really? Has it been that long?” Bam looked to Aguero in surprise, who laughed in response.
“I guess so. A lot happened, after all.”
“I just can’t believe… everything started here.”
“Nostalgic, isn’t it?”
“We met so many of our friends on this floor…” Bam’s eyes crinkled with a hint of sadness as his expression became bittersweet, remembering the people they had lost in various ways during their ascent up the tower. Aguero, not failing to catch on to his lover’s change in mood, rested a hand on his shoulder consolingly.
“We did. Do you know how mad they’re going to be when they realize we came here without them? Especially Isu.”
Bam smirked knowingly at Aguero. “We both know he’s too busy with his kid to come all the way down to the bottom of the tower. That’s not our fault. Anyway… I wanted to share this moment with you.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, love.”
They shared a fond look before curiosity got the best of Aguero, and he walked over to the windows of the building, peering out into the deep blue sky. Honestly, he hadn’t expected to fall trap to nostalgia, but these deeply old, yet familiar sights overwhelmed him. Aguero thought back to when he had first met Bam, meekly holding the Black March of all things against a giant, scary crocodile they eventually learned to call their leader-- intent to kill nonexistent, and with virtually no knowledge of how to wield a sword.
Somehow, Aguero had always known Bam was special. That he would accomplish great things. He had faith from the very beginning.
“I wonder if that field’s still there…” Aguero mused, glancing back to where Bam stood, gazing at the cafeteria tables longingly. “Bam?”
“Ah, I’m listening, Aguero. I was just…” Bam smiled at him sadly. “Reliving some cherished memories.”
“Ehem.” Hansung Yu stepped into the room, stirring his coffee with a stick and smirking lightly. “The field is still there, I could lead you to it… nothing about this floor has particularly changed since Evankhell departed or returned. Only its purpose.”
The wind blew about the fields, bending stalks of wheat at its will in patterns of ripples. They stepped into a familiar clearing, turning to face each other.
“It was this spot, Bam.”
“Yeah.” Bam eyed the bag in his lover’s hands, laughing softly. “You even brought the bag with you, Aguero-- that’s so like you.”
With a playful smile, Aguero dug into his bag as if on cue, pulling out a golden crown and placing it on Bam’s head. He tucked a stray lock of brown hair behind Bam’s ear in the process, before he leaned back, admiring how good it looked on him with his long ponytail signature to the one and only “Jyu Viole Grace.”
“Now you look like a real king, Slayer Viole.”
“What--? You still had one of these?!” Bam brushed the metallic crown at the top of his head with his fingertips, staring at Aguero incredulously. “This is from the crown game! I thought you dumped them all out back then!”
“Nope! I kept one.”
“... But you didn’t even have the bag for most of the way up-- you only got it back recently--”
“I have my underhanded ways.” Aguero winked. “You already know. I told you in this very spot, didn’t I? -- That I would take you to the top of the tower.”
Bam stared at him, mouth agape. Aguero just laughed at him, enjoying every bit of his reaction.
“You… I can’t believe you.”
Wiping tears from his eyes, he tried to calm his laughter, instead beginning to fish in his bag for another item. The time was right for it, after all. “You think I’m being cheesy now, just wait...”
His eyes glinted mirthfully as his palm landed on a velvet-covered box. Removing it from his bag and cupping it between both of his hands preciously, he raised his gaze to meet Bam’s-- only to find his lover knelt before him, a confident grin playing on his lips.
Aguero stopped in his tracks, eyes wide, already knowing what was coming.
“Bam--” just like that, his thunder had been stolen. Bam lifted a sapphire ring that shone a striking blue like Aguero’s eyes into view, smiling teasingly.
“Did you think you’d beat me to it?”
Aguero held the ring box in one hand, raising his other to cover his mouth, stifling his shock. After taking a moment to recover, he carefully presented his own ring, folding back the top of the box.
“Khun Aguero Agnes-- will you marry me?” Bam asked, his golden eyes reflecting both his happiness and conviction. Aguero, who had told himself countless times before this day that he definitely wouldn’t cry, sniffled as tears pricked the corners of his eyes. Successfully holding them back, he smiled back at Bam with the most loving smile he could muster.
“There’s no one else I would want to spend the rest of my life with.”