Chapter Text
Well their day was just going great. A long day of tiring missions separated from each other. Now they were at their last mission of the day together and of course it had to go like this. It was supposed to be simple. Just record the scientist’s plans and get out undetected. When was it ever that easy? Francis just had to trigger a trip wire that set off an entire alarm system.
Now he and Kevin were running from some killer robots through a winding laboratory. Great. The alarm was pitched and hurt their ears and the hallways flashed a red light. The sound of the bots close behind kept them on their heels.
“This place is a goddamn maze. How does anyone get out of here?!” Francis fumed as they ran. His legs were tired and aching from the strain of the day. Kevin just gave an agreeing huff.
“No one gets out of here. Not alive at least.” A staticky voice beamed from the above speaker system. Francis groaned and glanced behind him. He took a glance behind and almost tripped over himself. The scientist wasn’t entirely dramatic. The robots were quick, trailing close behind. Attached were sharpened teeth, saws, and blades.
“I don’t think we’re getting out of this one clean, Kevin.” Francis tried to joke but it fell flat. Kevin made no response. He ran slightly faster, almost as if he was lost in thought.
“Kevin?” Francis called to the man. The man looked to Francis for a moment before taking a breath.
“Francis.” Kevin hesitated for a moment, but gained his composure. “Will you marry me?”
Francis almost froze in place. The words spoken to him drowning out everything around him. Did he just ask.. that? Francis couldn’t even formulate a response, his breath almost knocked out of him.
When he was finally able to respond, he heard a whirring right by his ear. Three outstretched metal arms moved for him. Their hookes latched to his upper right arm and fedora. The hooks tore through his skin as he pulled away in his sprint. He uttered a pained curse. He could tell he was bleeding but couldn’t process the pain through his adrenaline. It took him a moment to realize his hat was torn from his head and sat behind them.
“No!!” He shouted, turning suddenly to make a move for his fedora. Kevin, seeing this, lunged for him and practically had to drag him to start running away again. Francis fought for a moment before giving up and following the man.
“What the hell are you thinking?!” Kevin ridiculed. “That fedora can be replaced anytime! You can’t!”
“I know! It’s about what’s in the hat!” Francis tried to argue but Kevin was having none of it. The past question seemingly forgotten between the two.
Ahead they noticed a green glowing exit sign. It could easily be a trap but they had nowhere else to go. They exchanged a glance with a clear question- ‘go for it?’. Francis gave a small nod and Kevin one in return. With that Kevin sped up his pace to get ahead and almost bossy slammed the door open with his side. The two flew out the door together.
They were falling. Of course it wasn’t a proper exit. Francis felt the rush of cold air as he plummeted toward the bushed ground beneath them. He could tell Kevin was reaching for him but the fall was not long enough for him to do anything about it. After a few seconds the duo crashed into the ground. Francis fell hard with a thud, the air knocked out of his lungs. Kevin landed with a bit more grace, able to aim himself to a proper roll and land. He lost balance for a moment but was able to stabilize himself. They were lucky enough to land in the bushes so their fall was softened.
Francis groaned in pain beside him. Kevin moved quickly to help him up whilst glaring up at the door they fell through. The robots stared for a moment before retreating back into the laboratory. He let out a sigh of relief before turning his attention back to Francis.
“We should probably get moving. I think we’ve stayed our welcome.” He voiced. Francis just gave an affirming noise. The two made their way from the bushes back to their car. Both aching and tired from everything. The walk was mostly silent minus Kevin fretting over the cuts on Francis’s arm for a moment. Francis looked down at his hand bloodied from holding the wound. He had to break the silence.
“Did.. you mean it?” He questioned, almost a whisper. Kevin looked at him, confused, and Francis turned his head away.
“Mean what?” Kevin replied, trying to meet Francis’ eyes.
“The question.” Francis turned to face Kevin. “The one you asked while we were running. Was that an actual proposal? Do you really want to?”
Kevin stopped in his tracks, Francis doing the same. Francis just waited for a response. The look he gave the man was hoping, almost begging. Kevin took his clean hand in his. He lowered himself to one knee, rummaging through his trench coat pocket with his free hand. Francis felt his breath being knocked out of him for a third time. He almost wanted to cry, he was shocked he wasn’t already crying.
Kevin pulled out a small black box from his pocket and looked up at his boyfriend, his gaze so soft it made Francis want to melt. Kevin removed his hand from Francis’ to open the box, revealing a sliver banded engagement ring.
“Francis, I’ve known you for years. I’ve loved you for years. You are the most perfect person I know and I can’t imagine not spending the rest of my life with you. So.. what I’m saying is.. will you marry me?”
With that Francis broke, tears flowing from his eyes. Choked yeses pouring from him as he leaned down to embrace his lover. Kevin lifted Francis into his arms as he stood, tears flowing from his own eyes. Francis held his face and leaned forward. Their lips met in a gentle, loving kiss. The whole world seemed to disappear. The dark night and surrounding evergreen forest drowned out.
Eventually they pulled away from the kiss. Kevin put Francis down as they both laughed and wiped their tears.
“Wow. Now I’m even more upset that I lost my hat.” Francis jested, trying not to choke up again.
“Oh? why’s that?” Kevin grinned. He pulled Francis closer to himself.
“ My ring for you was in there.”
Kevin’s heart skipped a beat and he leaned down to kiss his- fiancé?- on the temple. He took Francis’s not bloodied hand and pulled the ring from the box. He gently placed the ring onto his finger. When he was done Francis leaned forward to rest on his chest, taking a content breath.
“I love you.”