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"What, for me?" Leonard blinked once, dumbfounded.
"Who else would et be for?" Montgomery smiled, still holding out the little black box to him, offering it to him.
"This," Words were once again lost to him, because the doctor was not used to getting presents or gifts, but was used to giving them--always giving them. He had no idea how nice it felt that someone actually thought of him. Still, there was a kind of darkness that took form in doubt at the back of his mind. "-is really sweet, Monty, but you didn't have to do this."
"Ah wanted to," He answered softly, pressing the silky little box into the palm of the doctor's hand and Leonard smiled softly. After a minute of just staring into each other's eyes, Montgomery continued, "Go on, open et."
"Alright," Leonard mumbled and opened the box, and gasped when he saw what was inside. It was a round silver locket on a beautiful matching chain. The little scuffs against the rounded edges showed age and care. "This is beautiful, Mont."
"Et's a family heirloom, given by the men to their lovers," Montgomery smiled, brushing the course hairs on the back of Leonard's hand gently.
"I love it. It's gorgeous."
"Open et," Montgomery grinned playfully and Leonard gave him a curious look before opening the locket up.
Leonard opened it and frowned.
Inside was a picture of himself, smiling. It was probably a stolen photo, one of many in the Scot's collection(but Leonard honestly didn't mind so much). The picture was taken on shore leave, and Leonard was wearing one of those floral dad shirts unbuttoned, and he was wearing abnormally large sunglasses that took up half of his face.
Leonard looked up at Montgomery questioningly. "Monty what...?"
"Because ye're so independent." Montgomery grinned so widely it looked painful.
"What."
"Get it? Independent."
"No."
"In-da-pendant."
"Did you just-"
"Ah did."
"Oh my god." Leonard groaned while Montgomery was sent into a fit of wheezing. At that moment, Len realized he was dating an actual walking dad joke.
Montgomery would spend the rest of the week wishing he hadn't made that joke.
This is the locket design I had in mind for those of you that have trouble imagining things(like me)
(Part 2)
The next year, Leonard gives Montgomery a locket with the same picture of Leonard in it, and when the engineer asks for an explanation, Leonard simply smiles, a shit-eating grin.
And says,
"Because you're not independent."
And then gives him a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving him standing there, confused and slightly red.