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JJ watched as Pope made his way up to the podium, a small smile on his face. His boyfriend--valedictorian. He was definitely cheering the loudest when he walked up.
Pope smiled, waiting for the applause to die down. He met JJ’s gaze across the sea of students and held it as he spoke into the mic.
What had been a stupid mistake on an island in the middle of the ocean, turned out to be the best damn decision he’d ever made. Pope was the best decision he ever made. He always would be.
He had no doubts in his mind that Pope was the one. His. The Sarah to his John B, if you will. His stomach filled with butterflies as he toyed with the ring in his pocket.
He didn’t want to make a huge scene with it. He really didn’t want to propose in front of everyone, down on one knee. He just wanted it to be something the two of them shared. It wasn’t for the rest of the world to see.
It was for them.
Pope was his soulmate, the reason he got up each day and busted his ass off. So they could get a nice place near Pope’s school together and JJ would work while Pope focused on school and they’d get a dog. A black lab. And--
Everyone clapped. JJ blinked, the speech was over and he’d missed all of it. Lost in his own fantasies.
Maladaptive Daydreaming, Pope called it. A part of his ADHD, apparently.
Regardless of zoning for the whole speech, he still cheered and clapped for Pope as loud as he could manage.
He was so proud of him and everything he accomplished. Even after all the hell they'd been through, he managed to graduate top of his class, get into his dream school.
His story compelled a few scholarships to give him a full ride. It was all so perfect.
Some older Kook couple had taken in JJ and John B when they'd returned. They were sweet, took good care of them and had offered to pay for JJ’s school.
Film school. Or an apartment with Pope.
He'd choose the Pope any day. He could always do school online if he really wanted to. That would always come second to the love of his life.
They all exited slowly and surely, John B finding him first. He wrapped his arm around JJ’s shoulder, diploma clutched in hand.
JJ knew John B was fully planning on proposing to Sarah today. He'd gone with him to pick out a ring. It was just a good time to propose, it seemed.
A good opening to the next chapter of their lives.
Most would say they were too young, but that doesn't feel true. They've all been through hell and back again. There was no one else that could compare to Pope.
Age didn't matter, JJ knew no one else could ever compare to his Pope now or in the next thirty years. Pope was all he needed.
Sarah came running towards them, jumping into John B’s arms. He let go of JJ to spin his girl around and give her a big kiss. JJ smiled as Kie and Pope followed behind her, talking to each other with smiles on their faces.
Then Pope’s eyes caught JJ’s.
It always felt like the world was starting and ending when he was near. JJ’s breath caught in his throat as the boy approached him, smile on his face.
JJ held open his arms and Pope came rushing into them. JJ held on tight like he’d slip away if he let go.
Pope pulled back slightly, only to lean down and kiss him.
“How was my speech? Did I do okay?” Pope asked when he pulled away, leaving a minty taste in JJ’s mouth.
He smiled and nodded. “You did amazing, Pope. When do you not do amazing?”
John B grinned, patting Pope on the back. “He’s right, man. You always do great.”
Pope smiled, keeping an arm wrapped around JJ as his friends congratulated him. It was no secret that the pair's love language was touch. They were constantly all over each other-- holding hands, small kisses shared in passing, knees pressed together.
They never seemed to be not touching each other.
As Pope talked with the others, JJ didn’t listen. He just watched Pope, propping his head on his shoulder. He reached up to gently caress his boyfriend’s cheek, unable to help himself. Pope leaned into the touch, eyes flickering to JJ as he listened to Sarah talking about their plans for the night.
JJ smiled. God, he was perfect.
“--for the Kegger. JJ? JJ, are you listening?” John B asked, waving at JJ.
JJ turned his attention to John B, dropping his hand from Pope’s face. He blushed, shaking his head no.
“What did you say?” he asked his friend.
“I was asking if you were helping to set up for the Kegger tonight,” he explained.
“Oh, Pope and I have plans before,” JJ said.
“We do?” Pope asked, eyebrows raised.
“Yeah,” he said quietly, turning to look at him. “It’s a surprise.”
Pope gave him a confused look but he did his best to not give anything away. He just grinned, pulling him into his side. He was going to like this surprise a lot.
“Speaking of, I need to borrow the boat, JB,” JJ said, turning to look back at his friend.
“Okay…” John B said slowly, eyebrows raised. “Don’t...do anything.”
“Gross,” JJ scrunched up his nose. “As if you two--”
“Okay, shhh,” Pope said, shushing his boyfriend before he could accuse John B and Sarah of having sex out on the boat.
JJ just winked on John B who rolled his eyes. “See you at the boneyard tonight.”
“Yeah, yeah, see ya,” John B said, giving the pair a nudge.
JJ slipped his hand into Pope’s and guided him out toward his bike. He shed his graduation gown, shoving it into the backpack he kept by his bike. Pope passed his over to put inside and then slung the backpack over his shoulder.
JJ slipped the helmet on Pope’s head, strapping it on. He slipped his own helmet on and flipped up the kick stand.
Pope’s arms wrapped around JJ’s waist and JJ felt the butterflies in his stomach again. God, he was so helplessly in love with Pope Heyward.
JJ drove them back to the chateau. The couple that fostered JJ and John B had started helping John B pay to keep it until he could afford to himself. The chateau meant too much to John B to let go of.
So, the HMS Pouge was out on the dock just waiting for them. JJ and Pope together pushed off the dock and JJ took the wheel, driving them away from the chateau. Eventually he just let the boat drift, sitting next to Pope.
“I have a gift for you,” JJ said, looking over at him.
Pope turned to look at him, tilting his head.
JJ reached into his pocket and held up the silver ring. It matched the one on his left hand. Pope raised an eyebrow.
“A ring?”
“A ring,” JJ said.
Pope reached for it but JJ pulled it away.
“You have to answer a question first,” JJ said, twirling the ring around on his finger.
Pope’s eyes flickered between the ring and JJ. “A-A question.”
“Yeah, a question, Pope,” JJ said.
He sat up straight, clearing his throat.
“Pope Heyward. Will you do me the honor of being my husband?” he asks, holding out the ring in front of him.
For a moment, the world stilled. The birds stopped chirping and the air stopped blowing. Pope met JJ’s eyes. The world hasn't stopped, it was just that all consuming love JJ felt for his boyfriend.
Pope opened his mouth and closed it. He looked at the ring, and then he laughed. It’s such a happy sound.
Pope’s face morphed into a smile. He laughs, lowering his eyes. He nods. “Yeah, JJ. Yes. God, yeah,” he laughs, taking the ring from him and leaning over to kiss him deeply.
JJ cupped his face, pulling him close. This time the kiss was salty from Pope’s tears. Happy tears.
The world ended as he pulled back and met JJ’s eyes. The breath felt like it was sucked from his lungs. He was dying and then that single look from Pope revived him, giving him life. Pope was his life.
“I love you, J,” Pope said, slipping on the ring.
“I love you too,” JJ said quietly. “I should tell you...I don’t want a wedding.”
He held out his hand next to Pope, studying the matching rings. He grinned at the sight. He could feel Pope’s eyes on him.
“Hm?”
“Let’s elope. Go to Yucatan and elope,” JJ said. “We can leave tomorrow and be back before the fourth.”
“JJ, what? Yucatan--” Pope started.
“I bought the tickets already. I’ve been saving up for months. I already told your dad, he said it was okay if we went. To celebrate graduation. Let’s go get married in Mexico,” JJ says.
“Are you serious right now?” Pope said breathlessly.
JJ nodded. “I’m dead fucking serious.”
“Yucatan. Married. Without any of our friends and family--”
“I don’t want them all to be there. Our marriage is about you and me, not them. I don’t give a fuck if they’re there or not,” JJ said. “I really don’t care. I want this to be about you and me. Just us, babe.”
JJ studied his face, waiting for his reaction. He didn’t falter, didn’t stand down. He didn’t care about anyone else but his boy. That’s all that mattered with marriage.
He knew Sarah and John B would have a big fancy wedding, everyone they’d ever met would be invited. JJ didn’t want that, and not just because he didn’t have the trust fund Sarah did. He didn’t feel the need to show off Pope to the world.
All that mattered was he showed Pope how much he loved him. Not if everyone else saw it. What better way to do that than by eloping in Yucatan to celebrate their graduation.
Pope nodded. “Okay. Okay,” he said softly. “Okay. Let’s do it. Let’s fucking go to Yucatan.”
JJ grinned, lunging forward to hug his fiance. He showered him in kisses resulting in him being wrestled off Pope.
And if they both ended up laying half naked on the floor of the HMS Pouge, John B never had to know. And he never would.
And if his friends didn’t notice Pope’s ring, neither of them said anything. It didn’t bother the couple in the slightest. JJ’s love for Pope wasn’t their business, it was a sacred thing between the two of them. All that mattered was their love for each other.
All that mattered was that JJ had Pope, the love of his life, for forever.