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“I think I’m going to propose to Rui.”
Nene almost spits out their milkshake, choking on it instead. “Excuse me?”
“What's with that reaction?!” Tsukasa's expression drops. “Do you think it's that bad an idea?”
They had all gone out to eat at a cafe in celebration of another successful performance and Rui had gotten up to go to the bathroom, so Tsukasa used this opportunity to ask for some input on something he had been debating for a while now. Though it wasn't entirely going as well as he had planned in his head.
“I think it's a great idea!!” Emu replies cheerfully while hitting her partner’s back to help them clear their throat. “You two seem very happy together!”
“Thank you, Emu.” he sighs in relief, “At least someone thinks so!” the blond crosses his arms and pointedly turns away from Nene specifically.
“It's not that I don't, it's just-” They clear their throat once more and pause, gathering their thoughts. “Are you sure?”
His annoyed appearance fades and his expression turns serious as he looks towards the bathrooms.
“I've never been more sure of anything.”
Nene glances over at their pink-haired partner with wide eyes, who's looking back with the same expression plus a wide smile.
They sigh, turning back to the blond, “That's good at least. I’m just surprised it took you this long.”
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean-?!” Tsukasa stands and slams his hands onto the table, making enough noise to cause annoyed reactions from the other customers.
“Tsukasa, calm down, you're causing a disturbance.” They reply, hand covering their mouth as they stifle a giggle.
“Now, now, what were you all talking about while I was gone?”
They all look up to catch Rui smirking in that catlike way of his in an attempt to get an answer out from the table.
“Nothing!” Tsukasa replies before the other two could even open their mouths. He slowly sits back down, “Nothing important. Just Nene teasing, as usual.” he shoots a look across the table that says ‘Don't say a word.’
Nene shoots one back. ‘Of course not, idiot.’
“Leaving me out of the conversation? How hurtful! It's like I don't even exist...” The director rests against his partner’s side with his face set into a pout and a hand lying over his forehead. Even as an adult, Rui still managed to be as dramatic as always.
“Yeah, yeah.” Tsukasa looks down to find his partner's other hand and lace their fingers together, missing the way Nene smiles fondly at the two of them.
‘They’ll be alright.’
The day had arrived and everything was going well so far. Tsukasa had asked Emu and Nene to help him plan everything out and Emu had replied with the idea of a Phoenix Wonderland date. They would spend the entire day at the amusement park; going on rides, having snacks, playing games, then end it all with a ride on the ferris wheel.
It was perfect, he thought. ‘Where it all began.’
They had finally reached the last hours of the day and were waiting in line for the ferris wheel.
Tsukasa checks his pocket for the umpteenth time that day to see if the box was still there and, of course, like the thousand other times he checked, it was there. Now he simply had to calm his nerves down and ask. It was simple. Right?
‘Nope. Not simple at all.’ Tsukasa is still sweating anxiously as he grips the box in his pocket a little tighter. Time was moving a lot faster than usual and it was now their turn to get on the ride. He hands the attendant their tickets and steps to the side to let his partner through. “You first.” he says with an outstretched arm and a shaky smile.
“Such a gentleman,” Rui giggles. “Thank you.”
The beginning of the ride went by quicker than he thought it would, the two talking about seemingly nothing and simply just enjoying the view. The sun was starting to set, painting everything with an orange-pink hue. Most of the rides’ lights were on and it was a sight very pleasing to the eye.
Though nothing matched the way the place looked when it was lit up at night. Well...maybe the way Rui’s eyes sparkled when he finally figured out how to turn his ideas into reality, or when they'd finish practicing and finally get every scene down perfectly. Or when Tsukasa had first asked him out all those years ago.
He looks fondly at his partner and smiles.
“You’re staring.”
“Ah-! Right.”
“What are you thinking about?” his tone lightly laced with worry.
“It’s nothing, don't worry.”
“If you say so,” he smiles softly and shrugs.
The atmosphere is mostly comfortable except for the fact that Tsukasa can feel his heart go a mile a minute. He breaks the silence before he can second guess himself.
“I actually want to thank you.” The director turns to his partner.
“Whatever for?”
“Simply being there for me, having my back, being someone I can trust with my life knowing you would never purposefully risk it.”
This catches Rui off guard but he covers it up with a fond smile. “Well of course. Anything for the person who did the same for me and helped me experience true freedom.” Tsukasa returns the expression with one of his own. It was nice to think he thought the same way.
Tsukasa, realizing the mood was probably the best it could get, shakes out his nerves. He’s got this. ‘Now has to be good, right?’
“Rui, will you-?”
“I think I caught a glimpse of Emu and Nene coming in a bit after us,” Rui smiled at the mention of his fellow troupe mates.
“Ah. That's- nice.” Tsukasa smiles back but it’s shaky and forced, unable to hold back the anxiety running through his body.
Staring back out through the ferris wheel windows, comfortable silence envelops them once more.
This time, the purple haired director breaks the silence with a giggle. “Speak of the devil,” he waves out to someone and Tsukasa stands to walk over to him.
Outside, he sees a familiar head of bright pink hair jumping up and down while her green haired counterpart tries to calm her down with an arm hooked around the other’s. They look up and wave back softly.
“Did you know they would be here?” Rui looks over at the blond.
“Nope.” he half-lies, trying not to catch his eyes. Rui had always been able to see through Tsukasa’s lies. He hoped today would be the only exception. Besides, he wasn't completely lying...he knew they'd be here, yes, but he thought they'd be watching from afar, not right outside.
With a hum from the director they return to their original seats. Still watching the passerby through the window, he speaks up once more. “Is everything alright? You seem nervous.” he turns to the blond once more with a worried look.
Tsukasa turns rigid. Was he finally caught? Christ, he really couldn't afford to mess this up. Everything was riding on this. Trying to hide everything as best as possible, he puts on a forced confident front.
“Everything is alright! Don't worry about me! I'm- fine!” This wasn't his normal bravado and he could tell Rui clearly didn't buy it either by the way his frown deepened slightly. But as fast as it came, it disappeared just as quickly.
“Ah, then alright.” His eyes were clouded and he almost sounded...hurt? No, he had to fix this. He had to ask now.
“Actually,” Rui perks up. “I have something I want to ask you.” He slips his hand into his pocket and opens the small velvet box.
“Oh? Well, I’m all ears.”
Tsukasa's thoughts raced as he stared at the love of his life, who watched back with the softest expression hes ever seen. The blond felt like he was going to melt.
Sweaty, shaky fingers gripped the metal in his pocket as he slowly, anxiously, pulled it out.
“Rui,” the shakiness in his voice caused his partner’s brows to furrow in concern. Yet as soon as his eyes caught the reflection of the sun against gold, they shot all the way up and his eyes were blown wide.
“Will you marry me?”
Silence.
Well, almost. The only sounds audible were the clunking of the ferris wheel going for one last round and the shaky exhales coming from Tsukasa who internally begged for a response. He shut his eyes tightly and tried to control his breathing but to no avail. The anxiety was becoming too much.
‘Please just say somethi-’
“Yes.”
The star’s eyes shoot back up at his partner to be met with teary eyes and a smile so bright it could rival the sun.
“Over and over, a million times. Yes.”
Shakily, Tsukasa makes his way over to his partner and places the ring on a finger of his already outstretched hand. Rui laces their fingers together when he's done and pulls the blond closer to him. Rui cups his partner’s face and presses their lips together with as much love and fondness as he could muster. Tsukasa returns the kiss and wraps his arms around the other's neck, pulling him closer. ‘Of course he’d say yes. Why did I ever think otherwise?’
Pulling back for air, the blond rests his forehead against his partner- fiancée’s. Rui laughs breathlessly and Tsukasa thinks about how he wants to hear the sound every day for the rest of his life.
“So that's what this was all about?” Rui says in an amused tone as he meets his partner’s eyes. “All the ‘it’s nothing’ and ‘don’t worry about it’? I thought you didn't want to talk to me.”
“No, no of course not! I’m sorry I made you think that way. I was anxious , I didn't know if you'd say yes.” the blond replies. “But I know now...obviously.” he gestures to their current situation with his shoulders causing Rui to giggle and pull the other into another kiss.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”