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Jesper woke to the sweetest and most pleasing sound to ever hit his ear. Wylan snored quietly, his breath coming out softly, and Jesper felt it against his bare chest that peaked from his nightshirt where Wylan’s nose was almost touching. There was rain tapping against the window, as per usual in Kerch at this time of year. He used to hate rain, he preferred the orange, spiking heat of the sun that reminded him of his home country, and the days before everything became so chaotic. But everything changed on the first night that Jesper slept next to Wylan.
Wylan had breathed in deeply. ‘Don’t you just love that?’ He’d said quietly, making Jesper jump against him as he’d thought he was asleep.
‘Love what?’
‘The rain’s noise, it’s so relaxing.’
‘I- I guess. I guess so. I didn’t know you liked rain.’ At that point, Jesper had held Wylan closer to him, feeling his eyes droop closed.
‘I don’t. But the sound of it on the window lets me know I’m inside, and safe from it. With you.’
Jesper had only smiled and hummed in response, but he’d known in that moment he’d fallen in love. And had also thought, saints, he’s turned me into a sappy little bastard.
So seven months later, when Wylan stirred and inhaled gently, letting out a normal breath as his eyes began to open gradually, Jesper said, ‘It’s raining, darling.’
And Wylan replied very sleepily, ‘Mm. Tha’s good.’
The sound of his voice and the little groans he made as he settled his head back in place against Jesper’s chest were enough to make his heart wrench again. The two of them were huddled in the center of the bed, legs tangled around each other’s, Wylan’s drawn up a little more. It was the largest bed he’d ever had in his life, he could stretch his whole body across the width of it, but he couldn’t say he didn’t miss his old room at the Slat.
The sounds of cards being turned over, the spin of the Makker’s Wheel, coins being flipped and the feeling of his heart running like a rabbit. They were all things Jesper thought of occasionally of course, especially when he had first moved into the mansion. He’d had a million thoughts in his head per second back then, circling around like a constant pendulum swinging back and forth, but now, he had maybe a hundred thoughts every minute. And half of them were Wylan. He’d assumed it would feel terrible, lying in bed next to his boyfriend with quiet tranquility surrounding them, but he found that Wylan’s soft breaths and the rustling of sheets was more than he needed.
He wanted to stay like this forever, he found. Jesper used to hate routine, the monotony, the repetition. Looking at Wylan now though, made him realize this was what he had been looking for. The whole time, his whole life, he’d been searching for the right routine. And this was it.
Wylan wriggled in his half-asleep state, and Jesper felt his heart smiling. ‘Jes?’ Jesper almost didn’t say anything, unable to open his eyes as he nodded, cheek brushing against Wylan’s hair. ‘Je-es?’
The sing-song voice forced Jesper’s mouth into a grin. He sighed contentedly as the sound of the rain kept going. ‘Mhm?’
Popping his head out from the space where he kept his head buried into Jesper’s chest, Wylan’s act of looking up at him made him open his eyes so he could stare into his boyfriend’s. Jesper felt his heart rate pick up a little as Wylan’s nose brushed against his, leaning closer.
Wylan hummed. ‘Kiss me?’ he asked, just as his eyelashes touched against Jesper’s cheek like butterfly wings.
Jesper made a close mouthed laugh. ‘How can I say no?’ He mumbled before leaning in properly now, catching Wylan’s chin gently with his thumb and forefinger as he kissed him. Nothing was better than the little breath Wylan always let out through his nose when they first kissed in the mornings, making Jesper completely sure that he felt safe and relaxed.
The kiss had ended, but Jesper was too tired to pull away, keeping his lips a millimeter from Wylan’s ready to kiss again.
‘I’ve gotta get up, Jesper,’ Wylan muttered, leaning away to stretch out his limbs. While Jesper loved the sound that Wylan made when he stretched, he reached his arms out automatically.
‘No no no, darling, you don’t have to go,’ Jesper groaned, successfully pulling Wylan back a bit. His eyes were still very droopy, and Jesper hated seeing Wylan overworked. ‘Remember? You have a meeting at like, seven bells but that’s… that’s ages away. There’s still time to…’
Also, if Wylan got up, that meant Jesper had to as well.
‘Time to what?’ Wylan asked suggestively, turning his head to stare. Jesper couldn’t tell if it was a good glare or a warning glare.
‘Whatever you want, Wy.’ Jesper smiled and looked at him with pleading eyes. He watched as Wylan returned a little grin and began to settle into the sheets again, placing his hand onto Jesper’s chest, weaving his fingers through the gap in his shirt.
‘Ghezen, that’s tempting,’ Wylan whispered. Jesper made a noise of appreciation, kissing Wylan on the top of his head.
The sound of the rain, for a minute, was once again the only sound in the room except for their breathing. I’ve really won. I’m so lucky, Jesper thought, placing a few more kisses where he had done before. This is it.
The pleasure of it did not last, however.
Wylan suddenly sat up, and Jesper’s arms instantly reached out. ‘I really have to work darling, get ready and all that,’ he said, looking back at Jesper’s face. His face must have been disappointed, as Wylan’s lips quirked sympathetically and he placed a hand on Jesper’s cheek, rubbing it with his thumb. ‘I know.’
Jesper didn’t say it but he heard a voice in his head saying, I’m so proud of him. He really was, coming so far after what had happened those many months ago. The first couple of weeks took its toll on Wylan, and he hadn’t even been able to work in the office at all until they had redecorated it. Jesper understood, going along with all his plans to rip the bookshelves out, paint the walls, and put in new carpet. If it kept Wylan happy and feeling safe, then Jesper would do all he could to make that happen. But there were some things Jesper couldn’t do, couldn’t make go away. It took him a while to come to terms with that.
Jesper replied to him with a tilt of his head. ‘Oh, but I love you, my dear.’ Wylan refrained from rolling his eyes, and Jesper saw him hold back a smile. ‘I love our mornings.’
Wylan leaned in again and sleepily put his forehead against Jesper’s, laughing a little. ‘Don’t guilt-trip me, come on,’ he whined, unable to keep from pressing their lips together for just a moment. ‘There will be many more mornings to come.’
Jesper was content with that, and let Wylan go. But soon, and inevitably, he grasped Jesper’s hand in his and pulled him up, Jesper going limp in protest.
‘Don’t think you’re getting away with this, Jes,’ Wylan said, his voice louder now that he had fully woken up. As Jesper sat on the edge of the bed, he stared Wylan up and down, letting his eyes graze over the figure before him, the shape of his waist, the way he stood with his arms crossed, the smirk laden on his face.
Jesper was truly his, wasn’t he? He couldn’t believe how long it took for him to realize how much he had worked his way into his head.
‘Well? Gonna get up sleepy head?’ Wylan asked sweetly, walking towards Jesper again. He looked up at him, mimicking what Wylan had done earlier. ‘Stop looking at me like that,’ Wylan laughed, and Jesper saw the satisfactory pink blush rising to his boyfriend’s face.
‘Like what?’
‘Like you’re planning something,’ Wylan replied.
He paused. ‘Hm. What if I am?’
Jesper watched as Wylan rolled his eyes and likely assumed something wildly different to reality, the blush deepening on his cheeks. ‘You’ll just have to wait, then.’
☆〜（ゝ。∂）
Wylan still wasn’t used to it. He told Jesper he was better, that this house had finally begun to feel like home. For a second, it did. For a second, Wylan thought that painting the walls and taking down the pictures and replacing the furniture would take the child out of him. But his father’s presence still lived on, and it felt like no matter what Wylan tried to do, his fate was sealed. Happiness could not last, his happiness was temporary. Soon, his father would end up being right, that the only thing loveable about him was his usefulness.
He looked deeply at the reflection displayed on the mirror in the bathroom he and Jesper shared. With the sound of Jesper whistling as he got changed in the bedroom, Wylan untensed his shoulder muscles. It was tiring work.
His own blue eyes pierced through him like needles, and for a terrifying second, he could have sworn he was looking at his father. Embarrassingly, he jumped and took a quick step back from the mirror. It didn’t help that the mercher suit he had to wear looked far, far too similar to what his father used to wear every day. The suit he wore when he screamed at Wylan to just read you imbecile. The suit he wore when he’d ignore Wylan for days. The suit he wore when he told Wylan: don’t bother me with that , when he’d sobbed about his mother’s ‘death’.
‘Hey there, Wy,’ Jesper said as he sailed into the bathroom. Wylan steadied himself as he was quickly absorbed back into reality, attempting to bring his soul back to life.
Jesper’s voice, Jesper’s hands laid on top of his shoulders, Jesper kissing his temple as he looked in the mirror. It grounded him.
‘Are you…’ Jesper’s voice abruptly became humourless and alarm bells rang in Wylan’s head. ‘Are you alright? You have that worried look, where your eyebrows do that thing.’
‘What thing?’ Wylan said, trying to stall, fixing his tie in the mirror.
‘You get this cute little divot in the center of your brow, right there,’ Jesper replied, touching the tip of his finger to the dimple, and he was right. ‘Good to know I can still make you blush, too,’ he teased.
Wylan rolled his eyes again, but he smiled anyway. He should thank Jesper for being there, pulling him out of his funk, before it turned into a real panic.
‘We need to focus today, after we… got distracted yesterday, we have a lot to make up for,’ Wylan said, doing up his waistcoat buttons clumsily. He looked inside the cupboard and spotted it before a surge went through his stomach. The pin.
‘Ohh, we did work, darling. Strenuous work,’ Jesper whispered, winking at Wylan in the mirror. But his voice felt muffled, far away, as Wylan stared at the pin. ‘Are you thinking about it? Wy?’
The Van Eck ruby pin sat on the cupboard shelves, staring back at Wylan with a slight glint. Kaz had given it back to him shortly after they had moved out of the Slat. He thought he had wanted it, he thought that maybe he would eventually feel strong enough in himself to put it on and still be his own person. Did he deserve to wear it? Fraud , his brain told him every time he tried. You’re an insult to this family. He had put it on a number of times, but only for a few seconds. His record was thirty. It almost felt like it burned through him, scorching through his collar and to his skin, branding him with shame. He thought it would feel better if Jesper put it on, which he did once, and it helped a bit, but eventually the thoughts became too loud again. One day, he told himself.
Jesper followed Wylan’s gaze. ‘Oh…’ he breathed, making Wylan cringe. He was pathetic, it was just a ruby, just a pin. ‘Want me to help put it on again?’ His face was wonderfully sympathetic, and Wylan could hear how carefully Jesper was choosing his words.
Wylan finally turned away from the mirror and the cupboard to meet Jesper’s eyes. ‘I…’ He broke the gaze and couldn’t help but look over his shoulder. The pin felt like it was watching him, ridiculing him like his father had. ‘I want to wear it, truly . My father would hate it if he knew I was.’ He meant it.
Weakly, he laughed, and Jesper grinned at him proudly. ‘Good,’ Jesper replied, going to reach behind Wylan for it.
Jesper played with it in his fingers a little before beginning to pin it to Wylan’s lapel again. Breath caught in his throat as it all became real, and a million thoughts raced through his head over and over. You’re not ready, you’re turning into your father, you’re ridiculous for thinking you could handle this. But there was one thought that overpowered all the others, shouting over them.
It’s out of your control.
Wylan had been very still as Jesper pinned the ruby to him, but the burning began, his skin erupting in goose flesh. Too much, too much, too much.
‘Jesper—‘ Wylan cried out, squeezing his eyes shut. Jesper had been talking about something, and he wasn’t sure what it was as his mind had wandered far away, but he quickly stopped and brought his hands away from him. ‘Get— get it off me.’ His breathing began to quicken, chest rising and falling.
‘Okay, okay, are you sure?’ Jesper soothed, pausing.
‘Yes, yes , please Jesper I can’t. I can’t do this—‘ Voice getting higher with each word, Wylan felt the humiliating sting of tears again and the burning rose to his face.
‘Hey, it’s alright,’ Jesper said, voice barely above a whisper. ‘It’s not the time, I get it darling.’
He shouldn’t need Jesper to soothe him like this, he didn’t need comfort, he wasn’t weak, he wouldn't let himself be weak again. Oh saints help me, I’m going to have a heart attack. ‘Jesper, I can’t— Please, please…’
Jesper placed the pin into his pocket and put his hands on Wylan’s back, slowly pulling him close to his chest, shushing him as he breathed swiftly through his nose and out his mouth. ‘It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m here.’
Wylan pressed his head against the space between Jesper’s chest and his neck, closing his eyes, willing the burning sensation away. He listened to Jesper’s steady heartbeat, trying to match the rhythm with his breath. It wasn’t until Jesper wiped them away when Wylan realized he had been crying, tears tracing red into his cheeks.
‘I’m sorry,’ Wylan whispered, words turning into hiccups. ‘I thought I could do it. It’s just… I feel too much like him. ’
‘You’re not him, though. You’re Wylan. You’re my gorgeous, amazing boyfriend, who doesn’t need to apologize for how he feels either.’ Jesper stroked the back of his head, voice vibrating against his forehead.
Sighing, Wylan’s muscles settled into their place again. ‘What’s wrong with me? It’s just a pin, it’s so ridiculous,’ Wylan said, his voice slightly raised with panic.
‘No, none of that. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you, darling, don’t say that ever again,’ Jesper said sternly, his voice adamant, but calming in nature. Wylan couldn’t help but smile against him, pressing closer so he could breathe in the scent of gunpowder and smoke that still somehow lingered from the Barrel.
It took another ten minutes of silence before Wylan could bring himself to stop hiccuping, before his breath stopped shuddering through his lungs like a broken engine. The rain tapped still on the windows, and the thumb stroking soft circles on his back kept going. He hummed, and Jesper did the same.
‘It’s going to get better, Wy,’ Jesper said, tightening his hug before letting go so he could look at him.
‘How do you know that?’ Wylan mumbled, picking at his cuticles.
‘Because I love you, and because I won’t rest until you see yourself like I see you. A brilliant, wonderfully—‘
Wylan chuckled and batted Jesper’s arm, sniffing wetly. ‘Okay, okay, I get it. You’re obsessed with me.’ Jesper raised an eyebrow and put his hand in his pocket casually, and for a second, Wylan felt the energy shift in the air, a slight glittering sound ran through Wylan’s head. It cleared his mind, a sweet feeling rising in his chest.
‘And?’ Jesper teased, hand still in his pocket.
‘And I love you too.’
☆〜（ゝ。∂）
It was quite a regular thing for Jesper to wait outside the room when the Merchant Council met. He couldn’t help listening in sometimes, wondering what they were laughing about, lighting up when he heard Wylan’s sweet laugh amongst the older men’s. He really did deserve to be there, and to Jesper, he was the smartest one, and probably the lost level-headed. What Jesper had said that morning was right, all he wanted was for Wylan to see himself the way Jesper saw him. To know how much he cared and wanted him for the rest of his life.
Wylan walked out of the meeting hall with a little grin on his face, and Jesper stood up. Walking over to him, he noticed something was definitely different in the way Wylan stood, shoulders back and head held high. Jesper felt that familiar feeling in his chest that he got whenever Wylan looked like he was happy or confident.
He offered his arm, and Wylan took it. ‘Hey you,’ Jesper said as they walked out of the building. It was still raining slightly, but not heavy enough for it to be a bother. Wylan looked up at Jesper and gave a cheeky smile. His cheeks were dusted with a rosy pink. ‘What- what’s gotten you so happy?’
Wylan giggled a little and they broke away from the sparse gathering of the council to walk down their street alone. ‘Someone insulted me today.’
‘ Excuse me ? Which one?’ Jesper said quickly as he sprang into action, looking behind them and craning his head.
‘No, no, Jesper it’s okay,’ Wylan laughed, giggling at Jesper’s annoyed face. ‘I stood up to them. I said what came into my head, I didn’t back down.’
A large grin split Jesper’s face. ‘Oh wow, Wylan, I’m…’ They stopped in the center of the path, and Jesper grabbed his hand. ‘I’m proud of you, you know that right? You’ve really, really gotten more confident and…’ Wylan shrugged but his smile didn’t falter, dimples showing so clearly that Jesper couldn’t resist kissing them.
‘You think this was all me?’ Wylan asked, rubbing Jesper’s hand with his thumb. ‘You’re the one who never gave up on me, who tells me I deserve to be in that room, who rubs my shoulders when I’m tense, who kisses me in the mornings—‘
Jesper cut him off with a laugh and swiftly noticed how close they were standing with each other. The breath caught in his throat when Wylan brought a hand to his cheek, wet from the rain.
‘None of this would be possible without you,’ Wylan whispered, a breath away from his lips. Jesper closed the gap for them, not able to resist.
‘Don’t give me all the credit, sweetheart. Besides, I’d do this forever and ever if you asked me too,’ Jesper said on his lips, making Wylan heat against him. When they pulled away, Jesper felt his heart jump, a swirling in his lower stomach starting. ‘So- uh, I was wondering…’
‘Mm, what?’ Wylan mumbled with his eyes closed, forehead leaning against his as they stood in the empty alley.
‘Dinner? With me?’ Jesper wasn’t sure why he was stumbling so hard over his words, feeling jittery as he rubbed his thumb quickly over Wylan’s cheek.
Wylan stood a little higher on his toes and kissed the corner of his mouth. ‘Of course, where?’
Jesper leaned back, the heat of their breath on each other getting almost too much for him. That was when he saw him, when he saw Wylan’s face being lit by the dull light of the full moon, the streetlamp shining down on him, making him look like an angel in a sharp suit. He breathed out a little sigh, and Jesper’s body lit up.
‘Jes?’ Wylan giggled, his smile making his eyes squint. ‘You’re ogling me again, darling. We don’t really have time for that if you got a reservation.’
Jesper scoffed and looked down, suddenly unable to make eye contact. Wylan tried to capture his gaze, mouth slightly open.
‘Are you flustered?’ Wylan asked quietly, making Jesper shake his head as he slightly chuckled. ‘Did I make Jesper Fahey flustered?’ He poked him in the ribs.
‘Alright, alright—‘
‘I did !’ Wylan giggled and the sound graced Jesper’s ear. ‘You’re doing that face again as well.’
‘Hm, what face?’
‘The one where you’re hiding something.’
Jesper’s stomach jumped. ‘Not hiding anything, sweetheart, especially not my love for you.’ He grabbed his hand and tried to pull him away but Wylan stayed put. ‘Come on, we’re getting wet.’
‘You’re changing the subject!’ Wylan said excitedly, still laughing and poking Jesper around. ‘Why are you changing the subject, Jes?’
‘I’m not actually—‘ Jesper couldn’t help but laugh, no matter how much he tried to keep it serious. ‘Stop it, gorgeous, you deserve a nice dinner, that’s all.’ Wylan looked at him with raised eyebrows again. ‘That’s all,’ he lied again.
Wylan’s smile turned from cheeky to genuinely elated, as he slumped weakly, melting into Jesper’s arms. ‘Oh, you’re so…’ Letting out a comforting noise, Wylan leant his head against Jesper’s chest again. ‘You’re so good to me.’
‘I’m good to you, am I?’ Jesper mumbled against Wylan’s head as he pulled him close in the rain, feeling arms wrap around him. ‘I sure hope so.’
Suddenly, Wylan let out a snort of laughter and wriggled. ‘Are you happy to see me or something?’ Keeping his arms tightly around Jesper, he looked up at him with suggestable eyes.
‘Wha-what?’ Jesper stuttered, laughing nervously. ‘I’m not that sensitive—‘
‘Something’s in your pocket…’ Wylan fumbled around, reaching, and Jesper panicked, squirming out of the hug.
‘No, it’s just— it’s fine—‘
‘Yes there is, there is—‘ Wylan reached into Jesper’s trouser pocket.
‘ Wylan— ‘
He pulled out the box lined with velvet and Wylan’s eyes went from gleeful and curious, to confused, then wider and wider. The laughter between them stopped as Wylan slowly looked up at Jesper, mouth hanging open the tiniest bit.
‘Jesper…’ Wylan breathed, flipping the box over in his hands.
‘Wy— darling, I can explain,’ Jesper said as he walked forward. Wylan put his fingers around the lip and began to open. ‘Don’t!’
The box opened with a little click sound. Wylan blinked rapidly as he looked down and up and then down again. Quivering lips contorted into a smile, eyes glittering with the ghosts of tears. ‘I— Jesper… I ruined it. I’m so sorry.’
Jesper couldn’t help but let out a laugh, finding that he too felt the tears coming to the forefront of his eyes. ‘No. You didn’t ruin anything.’
‘The ring…’ Jesper knew what Wylan was talking about as ‘Is it— you know?’ Jesper hesitated before he nodded, and Wylan’s face broke a little. He’d made a huge mistake, hadn’t he? But it was split by a shaky grin. It lit up his face as he walked forward.
‘If you don’t feel comfortable with that, then I can get you another one,’ Jesper quickly amended, looking down at Wylan who looked up at him with such adoration that Jesper could feel it in his bones.
‘The pin… you frabrikated it into a ring. For me.’
Jesper relaxed under Wylan’s eyes and smile. ‘Yeah, well obviously,’ he sighed, breath catching again when he felt a cool, slightly wet hand on his cheek again. ‘For you. It’s all for you.’
It really was, and seeing how Wylan was that morning, breathing quickly and violently, it did a number on Jesper. He had been planning to propose all week, and that was the nail in the coffin. He needed Wylan to know just how much he wanted him, how he had left the Barrel behind for good, and that now all he could do for the rest of his life was be devoted to him.
Wylan let out an exhale, biting his lip before any tears could escape. ‘You sweet, amazing man.’
Jesper shook his head, and saints, he could barely speak. ‘ Your sweet amazing man, Wy.’
Wylan laughed, the sound of it like a broken record, before kissing Jesper on the lips over and over, wrapping his arms around Jesper’s neck. The feeling in Jesper’s heart swelled and swelled, until
his hands were on Wylan’s face, rubbing slow circles before stroking to his jaw. Just as Wylan had deepened the kiss enough, Jesper realized he hadn’t even gotten to the best part.
When he pulled away, Wylan tried to lean back into it, but Jesper’s hand on his with the ring box clasped in it made him hesitate.
Jesper laughed a little. ‘Hm, I guess I should ask, then?’
‘Ask—‘ Wylan started, looking back into Jesper’s eyes as his hand went weak enough so that the ringbox could be grabbed again.
Jesper opened it back up. ‘Will you marry me, Wylan?’
A large pause.
‘That was what it was for?!’ Wylan said shrilly, his face beaming like the sun, blue eyes wide and even more wet.
Jesper’s stomach dropped. ‘Oh- Oh, saints Wylan. I’m sorr—‘
Wylan interrupted again, dimples showing even deeper than usual, making Jesper want to kiss them over and over. ‘Yes! Ghezen, yes!’ Jesper could feel Wylan shaking, and soon realized he was too. They stared at each other for a second, grins widening until they couldn’t get any larger.
‘You’re serious?’
‘Of course I’m serious you idiot!’ He shouted happily.
Jesper couldn’t help but laugh as he felt a small tear trail down his cheek. ‘Darling—‘
‘I’m gonna be Hendriks-Fahey!’ Wylan shouted into the night, bobbing up and down.
Jesper couldn’t help but wipe the small tears that had escaped Wylan’s eyes as well, lingering his hand there so he could pull his face towards him. ‘Me too.’
Wylan chuckled again. ‘I’m sorry I called you an idiot I was just—‘
The kiss that followed was fuelled by more than love, in that moment, they were more than just romantic, they were each other’s worlds, shattering universes together, and before Wylan pulled away, Jesper took the ring out the box and grasped the hand that was working it’s way round his waist. They both stared at Wylan’s hand when the ring with a smaller version of the ruby and the golden pin reshaped into a loop was placed slowly onto his finger. Wylan played with it a little, sniffing wetly.
‘It’s so, so…’ Voice shaking, Wylan looked up as if he were trying to keep the tears in his eyes. ‘This is the… best thing that anyone has ever done for me.’
‘I am your fiancé now, darling.’
‘Yeah,’ Wylan laughed, teeth showing in his smile. ‘Thankyou. I never thought this would happen for me.’
Jesper stared on at him, as it sunk in that they were going to get married. ‘We’re gonna have a wedding and be together forever, this is it, you’re stuck with me.’ Wylan giggled and shook his head. ‘The old Jesper would have probably ran, because nothing lasted forever for him.’ Wylan looked up at him expectantly. ‘But you’re my eternity. You’re my future, my past and my present.’
‘You’re gonna make me…’ Wylan said, voice cracking. ‘I mean, I am crying. You’re so cheesy, y’know. You big sap.’
‘Hey, you did that to me, Wy,’ Jesper replied, rubbing his thumb over the palm of Wylan’s hand that was still presented to him. In the moment of silence that came afterwards, they had nothing else to do but beam at the other, Jesper bringing Wylan’s hand up to kiss his knuckles a number of times, his heart bursting.
‘Ooh,’ Wylan mumbled, spinning the ring round his finger. ‘It’s a little tight—‘
Jesper clasped Wylan’s finger, and focused his energy on the material of the ring, the gold ring, the molecules and the energy between them. Somewhere between the thrumming of energy, as Jesper closed his eyes to focus even more, he could feel Wylan’s heart beating, and his own, and the ring, his heart and Wylan’s heart, became one. The tiniest glimmering sound rang through the night, as the magic of what he’d done ran down Wylan’s finger, loosening the metal so it fit. He felt his fiancé shiver.
Wylan swallowed and looked up through his eyebrows, mouth hanging slightly open. ‘Don’t you see how beautifully blessed you are now?’
Jesper sniffed and tried to roll his eyes, but he found he didn’t want to deny any longer. If his grisha abilities could make something like this, could make Wylan this happy, how could it ever be a curse? ‘All I know is that you think I’m blessed. Which is enough.’ Wylan stood on his toes and kissed his cheek, making it instantly heat. ‘Besides, you’re the most precious thing to me, Wy. If it makes you like this, then it makes me happy too.’
Wylan snorted, wiping the corner of his eye. ‘Yeah, you are a sap.’
‘A sap I think you’d like to see in the morning, so I suggest you choose your words wisely,’ Jesper said flirtatiously before leaning in to kiss him slowly.
Wylan smiled on his lips, smug as anything. ‘Now we can skip that dinner, huh?’
Jesper leaned his head back with a bark of laughter and felt the raindrops falling on his face. He realized he had completely forgotten it was raining, looking back at Wylan, whose curls had gotten all wet and drippy.
Before Jesper could realize what he looked like staring at him, Wylan curled his lips into a mischievous smile. ‘Wha-at?’
‘Love you,’ he whispered.
‘Love you more than you love me,’ Wylan mumbled, smirking.
‘No way.’
‘Yes way.’
It went like that all the way home.