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Nagi’s drunk when he sees the ring.
His entire body feels like it’s treading water, but something tells him to turn his head — something tells him to look through the window — and there it is.
Sitting prettily behind the display window, the ring features entwining gold bands, all studded with diamonds, around a deep purple amethyst in shining the center. It’s flashy but not distasteful, something that will surely fit Mikage Reo’s regal hands. Nagi can already imagine how it would look on his finger when Reo ties his hair up, a bright purple flash like lightning, or how Reo would undoubtedly take any chance to show it off, the way he did with their matching couple rings.
Vaguely, Nagi wonders if he’s getting ahead of himself. Should he show him first…?
“Reo,” he calls softly, but Reo doesn’t hear — he has his arms thrown around Kunigami and Chigiri, head lolling into Chigiri’s windswept hair. The three of them are all stumbling, herded along by the rest of the team — who are just as wasted, really, but they’re making it work, moving along slowly but steadily.
Japan has just won the World Cup — they’ve been non-stop celebrating, and this is the fourth bar that they’re hitting, right across the street from this little jewelry shop. They’re waiting to cross the road now, laughter filling up the sky.
As he looks at his partner, Nagi knows, with every ounce of his being, that he has to have the ring. For it to appear now, right after Nagi’s finally fulfilled his first promise to Reo? It’s serendipitous. It’s perfect.
It found him, the way Reo did. It called out to him, the way Reo did. And Reo likes surprises, likes gifts; this’ll be a good one. Maybe even the best one yet.
If he’s quick, Reo won’t notice he’s slipped away. Nagi rushes into the shop, fumbling to pull out his wallet, trying to remember how to walk and how to speak.
The shopkeeper stares at him, brow furrowing. Breathlessly, Nagi manages to ask for the purple ring in the display.
“A good choice,” the shopkeeper tells him brightly, her demeanor relaxing once she realizes he’s a willing customer, and not a confused, lost giant.
“It’s for him,” Nagi tells her, shy but proud, pointing at the window, where Reo can be glimpsed leaning against a lamppost. Nagi can imagine the sound of his laugh perfectly; Zantetsu’s tripped onto the ground, taking Rin and Shidou down with him, and Reo’s laughing so hard that he’s probably crying.
“Congratulations,” the shopkeeper says politely. She places the ring in a purple velvet box, and slides it across to him. He doesn’t have much time, but Nagi still takes a moment to admire it.
It really is perfect.
He’s already promised Reo the rest of his life, but he’ll do it again, and again, and again — and he’ll start with this, as soon as they’re home.
“What do you mean they lost our luggage,” Chigiri demands. “You’re joking, right?”
They’ve all piled off the plane in varying degrees of sobriety. At the time of its purchase, an early morning flight had sounded fine. After a night of drinking that lasted until an hour before they had to leave for the airport, they were all regretting it, but not quite — they were World Cup winners, after all, so what could bother them now?
Well — that’s what they had thought, until Isagi spoke up.
Isagi fidgets, gesturing towards the overheard speakers. “They just announced it. That was our flight’s number that they mentioned. But they only said it’s delayed! Not lost! Barou and Rin are going to talk to the staff now, so…”
“I have so many hair styling products in there,” Chigiri groans, sinking into a nearby chair. Aryu echoes the sentiment mournfully, his sparkling aura dimming in disappointment.
“The bags are definitely gone, gone,” Kurona mumbles. “They never get them back.”
Nagi feels like he’s in a trance, completely removed from his body. He sits down heavily, nearly missing the chair and landing on the ground, but Reo’s hands gently adjust him.
“Nagi?”
The ring is in his luggage. The ring is in his luggage.
Reo usually handles their shared carry-on bag, and so Nagi had tucked the ring in his check-in, carefully folded under his clothes for protection. It had been no easy feat to do while tipsy, but he had managed. He didn’t dare sneak it into Reo’s bag for fear Reo would find it — Reo’s restless on flights, always rummaging for something to do, while Nagi just passes out asleep.
And now the ring is gone.
Nagi swallows; his throat is dry. His head is pounding, he’s cold, he’s tired, hungry, thirsty — he’s —
Ah, he’s crying.
Like a drop of rain, a tear rolls slowly down his face. It’s followed by a few others, as if they’re still making up their minds, or as if Nagi’s a spout that someone turned halfway and forgot about. Lazy tears for a lazy genius, Reo sometimes jokes, because when Reo cries, really cries, it’s a loud, full-body thing that only settles in Nagi’s embrace. If they’re around others, it’s restrained, silent — unnoticeable.
But Nagi, of course, is noticed by the one who only ever has eyes for him.
Reo moves to crouch in front of him, shielding him from the others. He cups Nagi’s face, wipes at his tears gently. Nagi keeps his gaze turned downwards, white—hot shame melting him to his spot. In his periphery, Reo is a violet blur.
“Seishiro?” Reo whispers. “Sei, baby, will you look at me? Tell me what’s wrong.”
Nagi shakes his head. How can he? It’s supposed to be a surprise, the best one yet. This doesn’t even feel real, still, but he knows it is.
There’s a chance the ring could be recovered, but Nagi, deep down, has a feeling that Kurona’s right. The bags are gone, gone, gone.
“I’ll buy us everything we lost, my treasure,” Reo says reassuringly. “It’s okay. There’s no need to be upset. They’re just clothes! I have your Switch in my carry-on, so it’s safe. That’s the important thing!”
“No,” Nagi manages. “Not about the money.”
“Ah, is it because some of them were gifts?” Reo frowns. “I can always get you more! Better ones! You need a new suit, anyway — oh! you must be tired, right? Is that it?”
Without waiting for an answer, Reo calls over his shoulder. “Chigiri, can you get water for Nagi? And something to eat? Quickly, please.”
“Got it,” Chigiri says, and with a toss of red hair, he’s off and running.
“That’s not it either,” Nagi says. Seeing Reo so worried only twists his heart further, but now that Reo’s upset too, he has to try to speak. Even if it’s painful. He can’t worry him over this.
“Please tell me,” Reo says. “You usually don’t get so stressed, baby.”
“I…” Nagi could tell Reo the truth, but that would spoil the surprise. Nagi can salvage a surprise proposal, even if he has to postpone it. He can look up the shop that the ring was bought from and get another one, or have another one custom made. He can take Reo on a beautiful vacation, really set the scene.
But after the high he’s just ridden — winning the World Cup, finding what felt like the perfect engagement ring in the perfect moment — this feels like a sign that his luck has run out. Like this is a step he’s no longer permitted to take — this as far as he can go. Now that they’ve achieved their dream, his utility to Reo is no longer necessary.
Another tear slips out. Thinking like this is troublesome, but he can’t seem to stop. As much as he tries to shape words, his thoughts are too jagged for anything to come out, latching onto his throat and closing it shut.
Two more tears, then three; Nagi has never felt so pathetic. Reo’s hands flutter around him like frantic butterflies, searching for the unreachable nectar of an answer.
“Too hard to talk, huh? That’s okay, love, just try and let me know if any of these sound good. I can sing to you, I can hold you,” Reo suggests quietly, smiling tentatively. “I can stroke your hair, or — oh! We can go home, how about that? The others can handle it — I’ll have Ba-ya pick up our bags when they’re found, okay?”
Home. Home with Reo — that sounds good. Nagi can do that. Reo still wants him. He’s still lucky.
A wide grin breaks out on Reo’s face at Nagi’s small nod. “Ah, I finally got it! But I’ll get it faster next time, I promise.”
“Reo knows me best,” Nagi says, and he can finally offer a slight, watery smile. If he could, he would say thank you and I love you, but he isn’t sure he can do so without crying harder.
There’s a part of Nagi that still feels like the slacker that Reo stumbled upon in the stairwell, a part that still feels like the boy who mistakenly hurt the greatest love of his life and nearly lost him. He never wants Reo to doubt him again; they’ve only grown stronger and closer, but there are times where Nagi still worries. Especially after a sleepless, drunken night — especially after losing an engagement ring.
“I do,” Reo says fondly, and then laughs. “Good thing we didn’t smuggle the World Cup in our luggage, right? Imagine explaining that.”
“Eh, it’s just a piece of metal,” Chigiri says, popping up next to them with food, water, and a headpat for Nagi. “Here, Nagi.”
“Piece of metal,” Nagi echoes. Reo takes the water bottle, uncaps it, and holds it up for him. Nagi takes it appreciatively, and gestures for Reo to sit on his lap instead of on the ground.
“Mhm,” Chigiri says. “What it means, though, is that we’re the best, and that’s priceless. So don’t worry too much about missing luggage, we’ll get enough money to replace it, even if it’s annoying — oh, nope, you’re all good then. Shameless lovebirds.”
He pretends to gag as Reo entwines himself all over Nagi, cramming their bodies in their chair, but fondness still seeps from his affected head-shaking.
“Says you, princess.” Reo sticks out his tongue. “I’ll transfer you money for the food. Go see your hero, I’m taking my precious treasure home.”
“Thanks, Chigiri,” Nagi calls from around his armfuls of Reo. Chigiri laughs, and bids them goodbye.
Even without the ring, Nagi can still show Reo how much he means to him — so he holds him a little tighter, inhaling softly, and murmurs, “Hey, Reo. Will you marry me?”
“Of course I can carry you, baby,” Reo says. He hums, brushing back Nagi’s hair. “Ready to go?”
“No, Reo. Marry,” Nagi says. Reo’s eyes widen, and a pretty shade of red is starting to suffuse up his neck. Nagi waits, breathless — he thinks, hopes, that Reo will say yes, that his beloved will be willing to wait for a ring to seal the deal — that all that matters now is reaffirming their promise anew.
It’s always been this for them — being together until the very, very end, in every single way.
“I don’t think I’m hearing you right, Sei,” Reo says faintly. “Say that one more time?”
Nagi gently moves Reo off of his lap, and now it’s his turn to kneel on the floor. It’s cold; he can feel it through the thin fabric of his trackpants, but Reo’s hands are warm.
“Oh,” Reo gulps. “Oh.” He turns his gaze upwards; his blush has reached his cheeks. “I’m gonna cry, fuck.”
Ah, he’s surprised. And he’s happy. Nagi’s halfway there, even without the ring.
“Can I still ask again?” Nagi murmurs. He drinks in every curve and line of Reo’s face, waiting for the moment that Reo says yes, waiting for the face that he’ll make.
Reo nods.
Nagi takes Reo’s purple hair tie off his wrist, winds it around Reo’s ring finger. When he looks back up, Reo isn’t hiding from him — his tears are falling freely, a heavenly rainstorm from a rust-colored cloud — but smiling, waiting.
“Will you marry me, Reo?” Nagi asks, and Reo nods frantically, laughing and crying and he’s perfect, always perfect, and Nagi can almost forget that there isn’t a ring, because in front of his beloved, nothing else matters.
“I’m going to kill you,” Reo says, “but after I marry you. Come here.”
He pulls Nagi up into his earnest embrace, kissing him soundly, and it’s ridiculous how light Reo can make him feel. As if this world can’t touch him, as if he weighs nothing at all — all there is to do is move in Reo’s orbit. Reo’s saltwater kisses are cleansing, in a way, washing Nagi’s insecurity away, and Nagi thumbs at Reo’s wet cheeks, smiling softly as Reo beams back at him.
“Sorry, boss,” Nagi says quietly. “I had a ring, but… I’m going to get you another one. I just couldn’t wait.”
“Oh,” Reo says. “Fuck, Sei, don’t tell me—”
Nagi nods regretfully, and Reo’s protagonist mode switch immediately flips: he yanks out his phone, — oh — the little purple band on his finger does look nice — and starts planning. “We’ll turn this airport inside out until we find it — let me see what I can do, give me a moment—”
“Reo,” Nagi interrupts. Reo falters.
“Yeah?”
“I love you,” Nagi says, and Reo laughs, bright and relieved, and leans in to kiss him again. It’s chaste but firm, a tactile reassurance, and Nagi’s happy, so happy, that his words have finally returned. He’s centered on Reo again, the way he always wants to be.
“I love you too, my treasure,” Reo says. “I can’t wait to marry you — even if it feels like we’ve been married all this time, right?”
“We have been,” Nagi hums, nuzzling against Reo. “But Reo deserves a big fancy wedding, and a big fancy ring... and, um… I’ll redo my proposal…”
Perhaps he’d gotten too caught up — it had made sense in the moment, to promise himself like this to Reo, but —
“You’re perfect, Seishiro.” Reo cradles his face gently, bright-eyed and beaming softly. “I’ve told you that you don’t need to change endless times, and I mean it. Just the fact you want to do this for me—”
“For us,” Nagi adds, because he needs Reo to know. This is about the both of them, together. Reo laughs.
“For us, yes. I couldn’t be happier with you, Sei, and the life we have. Even before the World Cup, you were a dream come true. You are, you always are, everything I want, everything I dream about and — Nagi Seishiro, will you marry me?”
Reo grins, playful and cheeky. “Sorry, I need to even our score. So humor me, my treasure, and tell me — will you renew your partnership with me? Until the end?”
There’s nothing else for Nagi to say but yes, boss.