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There was something so perfect about mundane mornings like these. Early Promethean sun, steaming cups of coffee, no meetings scheduled yet and Timothy. He was the most important factor.
The truth was his life was always at the highest speed possible. After all, what else could have been suitable for the Atlas CEO? Though with so many things on his mind, Rhys truly realized there was nothing better than an easy morning of sorts. Where the facility was mostly quiet and coffee from Lor’s coffee shop was as hot as it possibly could. When his eyes were filled with lazily moving holoscreens and the only thing he had heard was his favorite sound – Timothy’s voice, of course.
Maybe everything else moved at high speed and Rhys liked that. But the more he lived the more he realized he loved the slowness too. Hence he tried to cherish these moments. When there didn’t have to be any words spoken and no pings of messages could have been heard. Sometimes just the look into Timothy’s eyes was enough. A sign he was there always and forever.
This particular morning Rhys typed another email away, hearing Timothy’s words gone by and taking note of each and every one of them. He had offered him the chair so many times, but Timothy always chose to sit on his desk. And Rhys liked that. It was Timothy’s way, after all.
“Agh, it kinda sucks re-learning how to drive after all these years,” Timothy continued his story. “I mean, pfft, do you think anyone cared about anything like this on Elpis?”
“I-I… Nah, you know, I drove through Pandora, so I don’t think so,” Rhys shrugged playfully, taking the coffee cup to his mouth.
“See! It’s a. Wild jungle out there. Concrete one for that matter,” he laughed at his own joke. Oh, how Rhys loved to hear so. “Aaaanyyyways, on Elpis we just didn’t care. I remember one time I basically flipped the car and yeah, I think Athena lost her patience there, even for me.”
“Yikes. That– That-That sounds terrifying.”
“Oh c’mooon, you know how sweet she usually is,” Timothy brushed him off.
Absolutely not terrified of her, Rhys nodded shortly, “Yyyeahh. Ekhm, I mean, you know, my Vault Hunting adventure started with me stealing a car so I guess it’s comparable? Maybe?”
“Aaand was it a nice car?”
“The ugliest car you can ever imagine,” Rhys’ lips were put in a line. “From the worst motherfucker of all time. Well, okay, second– Mmm, nah third worse? Maybe fourth? Fiiifth?”
Timothy propped himself by the hand again and laughed, “Then he couldn’t have been that bad.”
“Oh no, no, no, definitely an asshole,” Rhys brushed it off. “So what about the motorcycle?”
“Weeelll, not to brag or anything but my instructor said I’m doing like a thousand times better than last week,” Timothy’s smug smile was always a pleasure for Rhys to behold. “Which is like graduating from poop kindergarten to piss kindergarten. Win-win!”
“Colossal difference, huh?”
Rhys closed a holoscreen between them to look him more in the eyes. Gorgeous blue and brownish red overwhelmed him fully. Especially when he was feeling so confident. Oh, how much he loved to see him just like this.
“Rhys, you’d be surprised, those are leagues,” he nodded, this time crossing his arms on his chest and closing his eyes. “I thiiinnk I’m getting the hang of this one!”
“Oh, yeah?” Rhys leaned in closer and propped his chin on his hands. Suddenly, his heartbeat started beating faster… Wonder why.
“Oh, yeah.”
As Timothy leaned in just as well, Rhys could help himself but to look at all of the details of his. That leather jacket he made for him, fitting so perfectly, his ruffled graying hair, the shade of just shaved skin (except for the soul patch and the beard at the top of his chin, of course) and most importantly that loving look in his eyes. Feeling his own heartbeat in his ears, Rhys knew how much he needed to make a move. Though Timothy was quicker and closed their distance with a peek on his lips.
Just to capture this moment and never let go. Just to have Timothy by his side forever. Rhys hummed against his lips and whispered, “Care to drive me somewhere, sweetheart?”
“Mmm, where to?” Timothy’s hoarse voice rang in his ears.
“To the stars, of course,” Rhys’ finger drew across Timothy’s chin. Oh, how much he wanted to kiss him again.
And he probably would. Feeling Timothy’s fingers of right hand intertwining with Rhys’ on his left, they pulled closer and closer. With his right hand, Rhys propped himself a little just to meet him properly. The look on his face, oh so beautiful, the smell of coffee in the air, everything aligned…
If it wasn’t for his left wrist ringing. Rhys groaned to himself and looked at his watch. Another holoscreen displayed information about a scheduled meeting with Naoko Katagawa. Mentally, he rolled his eyes, already hearing her remarks in his ears.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” he sighed heavily, closing off the screen. “If it was up to me, or hell, her, we would not have to see each other. Ever.”
“Naaahh, it’s okay I mean – work calls, heh,” Timothy nodded, hopping off the desk. “Besides you know my schedule, I better get going too.”
“Oooh, right,” Rhys snapped his fingers. “Sector 7.”
“Gooot it, boss.”
Then Timothy proceeded to check all of his guns and readjust all of the belts he had on his jacket. In all honesty, Rhys loved to see so. Just him getting ready for the day, even without getting into his impressive Lanceman work outfit. Maybe that was what Rhys loved too. There truly was something about the little things in the morning. A little bit of ordinary that kept him going. Rhys sighed to himself comfortably.
Once Timothy’s trusty Multi-tap pistol got back to its’ pocket size, he turned around to face him again, “Welp, better get going. There’s shit to do and, ah heh… I probably ramble and bore you too much with my stuff, anyways.”
Something about hearing this just felt all kinds of wrong. Like a wave of cold that overwhelmed Rhys right there and then. Upon hearing those words of Timothy’s.
Rhys’ drew closer. All he could say right there and then was, “W-Why would you think that?”
“It’s, em… God, I know, I know you don’t think that but, heh. It-It’s just I often have to catch myself just rambling around and shit and yeah, most people find it. Annoying and shit and I know you don’t but old habits die hard and then compose like a horrible fucko’s plastic mask sooo, heh. Yyyeahh,” after everything he’s said Timothy looked back at him with a bit of shame in his eyes. Rubbing the inside of his elbow, trying to compose himself again.
To which Rhys’ eyes softened, “C’mon, Tim, I love it when you talk like this. I just see you talk more and more and getting more comfortable and I love that I just… Wanna see you this happy always.” He came around to place a hand right on his bicep.
“You say?” Timothy looked at him over the shoulder. The spark in his eyes was undeniable.
“I mean it, Tim. Besides, your voice is so wonderful and melodic… A-And you love stuff you talk about! I would just want to hear you each and every day,” he then took his hand into his own once more.
“That’s a… Relief, heh,” Timothy sighed, this time more comfortably. “Thanks, Rhys. It’s, ehm. Wow, it feels good to hear this.”
“You don’t have to be anyone but yourself cause, uh… You’re beautiful the way you are,” Rhys continued, as Timothy got a step closer. “I-I mean you could talk about the most random stuff and I’d listen cause I love you, Tim–“
Wait.
Oh, dear.
“Waaiitt, hold up, ahah,” Timothy’s eyes got bigger in the second as he stopped. With a smaller voice he said, “What did you just say?”
There was no denying it. No working around it. Rhys had just said it. And as much as his heart was racing fast in his chest, he wouldn’t dare to back down.
“I love you. Tim,” he said, feeling the heat spreading all across his chest. Maybe all over his body too. But he’d be damned he never meant anything more in his life.
In his mind, this moment would’ve looked different. He had practiced it in front of the mirror, imagined it happening in a romantic restaurant, where he could offer Timothy a bouquet of roses and lay his heart on him, the love of his life. But instead they were caught in his office. Looking at each other expectantly. While Rhys was ready to burn right there and then.
But then Timothy smiled at him. The pink tint spread across his cheek as he confirmed those exact words, “I love you too. Rhys.”
There were no sweeter words to hear. The declaration of love followed by his name from Timothy sounded like the most beautiful melody. He was ready to fall in his arms, kiss every inch of his face. If it wasn’t for his watch beeping again.
“Aghh… We’ll continue this, right?” Rhys said quickly, seeing the even more annoyed message.
“Yeah, no, totally, I mean pfftt, am I driving? You home today, I mean?” Timothy replied just as frantically, his legs already going forward.
“Haha, I’d love that, sooo we’re set, huh?” with a nervous laugh, he tried to turn off the damn beeping device. Unsuccessfully.
“Suuure thing! And hah, y’know Rhys when day… Rember… Uh, happy day! Byeee!” he waved goodbye, going out of the door. Still looking back to see Rhys and waved once more.
“Bye–! Eh, uhm, see ya, Tim!” he waved just as awkwardly.
Just like that, Rhys was left alone in his office with his face all flushed, his heart ready to leap off of his chest and his beeping watch he was ready to smash.
The tapping of his own fingers against the surface of his desk was starting to get unbearable. Regrettably, he was the only one who could stop it. And he definitely couldn’t.
In all honesty, he should pay attention. Naoko was probably talking about something important, sure but it all sounded like static for him. No no, there was no way he could focus on anything after he had done that. Hence the only thing he could do was to tap his fingers onto his desk and beg Naoko to finish her speeches as soon as she possibly could. If Rhys paid her any more mind, maybe he could tell how annoyed she got and how much she also wanted to end that conversation. Thankfully for them both it happened rather quickly.
Rhys didn’t even pay too much attention to that happening. As his sight went first to the clock. The hour was getting so late he couldn’t even tell. Then he moved onto something much more important. Something he always had near him, especially on his best. The framed photo of Timothy, smiling brightly back at him. He sighed deeply. Something inside his chest swelled again.
He would be there any minute now. No matter how much Rhys wanted to check the paperwork again, his sight couldn’t stop following it to Timothy’s photo. How could he even approach him after that? What would he say? Should he apologize? Should he pretend that it didn’t happen? But how could he, when it was all his heart wanted to tell. But the way he told him, just…
Pressing his lips together, Rhys ran his hand through his heart. He looked at him again. His beautiful, wonderful Timothy. God, he deserved so much more than this.
Another deep breath. Truly, the only remedy right now should be to follow with his work some more. Making a serious face to himself, Rhys sat down again and looked through his ECHOmail. Bunch of production updates, especially regarding their experimental elemental technologies. Some advertising offers, he definitely should forward this to the right department. Sales reports from the team, that was good. Timothy’s photo… Oh, right. He looked again.
Well, and how could he even follow this? For fuck’s sake, he couldn’t even kiss him right there and then! It wasn’t how he wanted this to happen, it wasn't how he dreamed of this. Staring in his mirror for the longest time, repeating the words carefully. Was it because he thought of saying this too often? Then good job, Rhys, you fucked up again! There was that hand again. Tapping away, as his brows furrowed even more so. How many seconds were supposed to be between breaths?
“Heeey, hot stuff. Heh. Care to join me for a ride?”
Oh, of course. He spent so much time thinking about his boyfriend, he didn’t even notice him approaching. Classic Rhys.
“Tim! Sure, sure, of course, I, uh… I know I’m not even gonna do more of the work so–“
“Lemme guess – mind melt?” Timothy smiled at him.
“Ah. You remembered,” Rhys nodded happily, catching his reference to his favorite ECHOshow. “You’re right, I, eh. I need to get out of here.”
To which Timothy exchanged his hand forward, “Your wish is my command, baby.”
The walk to the car through the almost closed Atlas HQ was quieter than he wanted. While usually he and Timothy laughed and talked about how their day went, this time Rhys could barely spare a look at Timothy’s face. Tension between them grew, walking mechanically through the levels of the facility. Even if Rhys wanted to check the rooms, he definitely didn’t have enough focus to do so.
Finally, as they left the building, Rhys took notice of how dark the Promethean sky had gotten. The stars and red neon signs illuminating the place together. The city of lights it was, after all. As he took steps through the staircase he had finally noticed the mechanicalness of Timothy’s step. Straightened up back and minimal movement. Definitely unlike him.
“Tim? Are you okay?” he asked, for a second his mind getting off of the thoughts.
“Yyep! Totally, heh, I am a-okay,” Timothy nodded quickly. A bit too quickly for Rhys’ liking. “Seriously, don’t worry about a thing.”
“Hmm. If you say so…”
But there still was something off about him. Still, Rhys knew that if Timothy wanted to tell him, he would. Hence he preferred not to push any of his buttons.
The next step was Timothy’s shiny red car. Without a single word spoken, Timothy took the driver’s seat, while Rhys took the passenger seat. Stiff movements of them both continued. Oh god, how to say it, c’mon Rhys, you know you gotta say something...
“Sooo,” instead Timothy started, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. “Your place orrrr?”
“My place. If you don’t mind.”
“Nope. Cool by me.”
Rhys breathed out, shooting him a soft stare, “Be careful, okay?”
“Always will be. For you,” Timothy smiled as he turned on the engine. “Aaand for the cats. And for me.”
“Now that’s what I wanted to hear!” Rhys snapped his fingers as he let out a soft chuckle.
As good of a start it was, Rhys couldn’t bring himself to talk much else during the ride. The lights of the streets illuminated them both as a tape from Timothy’s player played some of his favorite metal bands. Ambience was killing him. Knowing that with each minute they were closer to reaching the destination of his home. His head once more stormed with thoughts so intricate he couldn’t help but to lose himself in the worst.
Though there was the clear worst out of this situation. Timothy drove so stiffly, almost lifelessly. Was he also affected by his words? The thought that he could make him feel uncomfortable or bad in any case swallowed him whole. Was he moving too fast? Was Timothy just not ready? Was the world suddenly moving too fast?
The thoughts persisted, until they hadn’t arrived back at the side of Rhys’ mansion. As the car stopped, Timothy’s cybernetic hand landed on his shoulder. Finally letting their sights meet again.
“Rhys. My sweetheart. W-What’s wrong?” he asked in a voice warmer than a Borean fireplace during the cold winter day.
“I am so sorry, Tim,” he managed to say, tension between them growing. “I-I really didn’t want to say it like this and I, uh. I am sure I just made you embarrassed for the whole day. I really didn’t want to, Tim.”
Something in Timothy’s eyes shined, “W-Wait, hold up. Rhys, I… Hokay, let’s lay my heart here. Here we go,” he said before clearing his throat again. “I have absolutely 100% meant it when I said it back. I just… Wow. I kinda can’t believe I’ve heard that?”
“What do you mean?”
Timothy looked down a little and then his chest puffed more. With his right hand now turning off the radio, Rhys knew he should be prepared. Or that he was preparing himself. He noticed how Timothy closed his eyes and tried again.
“Is it gonna be like turbo embarrassing when I say I’ve never heard it?” he asked in a small voice.
“No. No, no, Tim, not at all, I–“
“When you’re living my life it's just sorta.. God. I have always heard it coming to bleh, Jack, y’know? It was always him, no matter if rando fans ready to piss themselves cause a doppelganger walked by or… Hookups,” Timothy stopped for a second, nodding his head sadly. “I-I mean it’s embarrassing, it’s me but even when I just hammered this into their heads like “heeey. Not Jack, just good ole me”, they never listened.”
Rhys observed him closely, not saying a word. It was his time to lay it all down. So he simply looked at him, following every move of his.
“It’s, pfft. Kinda sorta unreal y’know what I’m saying? For so long I’ve been a nobody and the moment I step onto Promethea I just, uh… Guess I’ve never thought my life would be like this,” he drew a bigger breath and turned to look through the main window. The moon softly illuminated his face. “God, I… I never thought anyone would love me as much as I would love them.”
There was this silence again. Punctuating Timothy’s words that rang in Rhys’ ears. Just as his heart pounded in his own ears.
“Timothy… Tim…”
“You know how weird it is? Some odd years ago I would have never thought anyone would even know my name but now you’re sitting there and saying this to me. It’s crazy,” Timothy turned away to look at him again. Taking his hand into his own, pressing them right on his chest. Rhys felt the rush of red spread across his cheeks. “Ooor it’s just plain old silly, heh. You gave me pfft, everything? This planet and the new hand and a new job and hope and future and… You. And all I can really give you in return is just my heart.”
As his left hand pressed against Timothy’s chest, he could feel his heart beating. The biggest heart anyone ever had. Beating just for him. Rhys’ right hand moved to cup Timothy’s cheek.
“Tim. It’s more than enough,” he let his words slip through his tongue again, meaning it more than anything in this world. “You are… More than I could ever ask for. That’s why I just can’t believe I couldn’t give you it all…”
“W-What do you mean?”
Well. Wasn’t that his time to lay it all down.
“When I first met you, I just had no idea what to say to you but, uh… I knew there was something so special about you. A-And you proved it to me every single day and…” Rhys looked away for just a second, drawing closer in the passenger seat. “I meant what I’ve said, Tim. I just imagined it a little bit differently.”
Timothy made a confused face, “Oh?”
“C-Cause you’re so special to me! How could I truly say the… L word I can’t half-ass it. Gah, I’ve… I’ve never said it to anyone either. And I felt like I half assed it just… Just-just blurting it out like this!” As his hands drew away, Rhys couldn’t help but to gesticulate even more so.
“Hooold up. Really? I’m the first?” he asked, another wave of pink overwhelming his freckled features.
Sighing a little, he knew it was time to say it all. He remembered when being asked about his love life Rhys froze every damn time. Mostly cause well. He felt like there wasn’t any. Yet as Timothy’s blue and brownish eyes looked at him, he couldn’t help but to speak through.
“I have… I have never been in love. I-It’s sorta dumb but all others have been just one night stands or complete failures but, uh… Tim. I’ve never said that to anyone before, I swear. B-But with you, it’s… If that’s not what love feels like, I-I don’t know what to call it anymore.”
“Rhys…” was all Timothy could truly say, breathing heavier.
“Which is why it feels so dumb that I said it like this!” His hand moved back just to brush his hair again, “You deserve the world and who am I if I can’t give it to you?”
“Rhys. Do you wanna be in my life?” Timothy cut through to him quickly.
“Always and forever.”
“Theen… You don’t have to worry about a thing, heh. You’re my whole world, Rhys. If I have you, I don’t really need anything else.”
Then the distance the car provided them didn’t matter. In a second, Rhys pulled Timothy closer to him, placing a kiss right on his lips.
Their lips moved against each other so sweetly, so thoroughly. Oh, how much Rhys wanted to hold him, right there and then. Feel his muscles moving as the kiss got deeper, more desperate. He wanted him. He wanted to tell him all the words of affection he held back for so long. Now finally being known. Maybe the first kiss after confession wasn’t as Rhys wanted then. Not with the distance of the driver’s and the shotgun seat. Nor with the gearbox pulling them apart. But it was theirs for the taking. And that was what mattered to him.
Feeling Timothy’s breath right against his lips, with just mere inches between them, Rhys whispered, “I, uh. I’m sorry but I still hate when my plans fail.”
“Your plans?” Timothy quirked his eyebrow.
“You know meee.”
“Pfft, I knooowww,” he drew back to his seat and pressed his hand on his cheek. “Sooo, what were your plans beforehand?”
All of Rhys’ immense thoughts flashed before his eyes, “How far into the future are we talking?”
“All of it,” Timothy shrugged. “If we have the ehm. L word after us then, welp, Rhys. I would love to hear it all.”
“Weeelll, heh,” as the tension finally let go of Rhys, his features became way dreamier. Everything for the taking. Of course. “I would invite you to a fancy restaurant… I’d probably make you inconspicuously wear that fancy black shirt you got some time.”
“Mmyep. Master of modesty.”
“Come on,” he rolled his eyes, laughing a little. “I myself would wear something nice, like uhm… Like that dressing vest or corset that you like so much.”
“Pfft, what can I say. Your chest looks really smokin’ in this. Sorry,” Timothy clicked his tongue.
“We’d have a private room and you’d take me dancing on the nearby dancefloor. Of course, I would have practiced my dance skills before. Probably with a rose in my teeth, of course,” nodded Rhys, seeing Timothy’s even more so amused face. “I would take that rose and give it to you. Look into your eyes and. Tell you. Right away.”
He took Timothy’s hands into his own. Pulling him as close as they possibly could in that car.
With a soft smile, Timothy asked, “Wwhat happens then?”
“You’ll say it back.”
“Yes,” he took their intertwined hands together and pressed a kiss right on them. “Every time, yes.”
“Theeen, I dunno. I take you to my place and we have a wonderful night together,” Rhys continued, feeling Timothy’s satisfied sight, eyeing him up and down. “Aaand when I’m cuddled to your gorgeous chest I ask ‘Tim… Do you wanna move in with me?’”
He blinked several times, “Do I?”
Oh, with so many important things happening, Rhys knew it was now or never. There shouldn’t be anything missing between them, nothing unspoken. Rhys was sure of it.
“Timothy Lawrence,” he asked with the utmost importance in his voice. “Do you wanna move in with me?”
Though the initial wave of surprise went away, there was still something in Timothy’s eyes. A spark that was so undeniably his. Oh, how much he wanted to see it for the rest of his days.
“Of course,” Timothy agreed. “Hell yes, I… Oh, man, Rhys… Only if you take my cats too.”
“You know that I love them!”
“Aaand that we’ll adopt more in the future. I mean, c’mon, 3 in ideal world is a chump change,” Timothy closed his eyes smugly, only to open them Just for that second to judge Rhys’ expression. “I mean I don’t want any kids buuuut at least 6 cats.”
Just some time ago, Rhys would’ve never guessed that he would welcome this many cats into his home. Right now he couldn’t think of anything more exciting for them.
“Well, I don’t want any kids either and deal. 6 cats,” Rhys nodded happily.
“At least.”
“Yes, yes,” he laughed. “And then… You and I. And our 6 cats, of course. Living happily ever after.”
So he pulled as close as he could. Pressing his head right against Timothy’s shoulder. While he felt his cheek squished right on his head. All cuddled together with their arms interlocking.
“That’s… Everything I could ever ask for,” Timothy whispered against him.
The lights in the car started to dim significantly. Still before them were the vast Promethean skies, darker than Rhys thought. But why would it matter when their hearts burned so bright. Pressed so close to each other, wishing for the perfect future of theirs. Rhys spared a look at Timothy’s left hand. There were enough things for today to raise this subject. But one day for sure.
Though the world before them was so dark suddenly, the sparks lit up before their eyes. All confused, Rhys raised his head. What could it be then–
“Holy shit, look,” even more so, Timothy almost jumped in his seat. “Fireflies?”
“Holy shit. Yeah.”
“Wait, wait, wait. I gotta see ‘em,” saying so, he opened the doors and quickly went outside. Who would Rhys be not to do just the same?
As they stormed away from the car, Rhys couldn’t believe his eyes. The path to his mansion was filled with more fireflies than were countable. Even in the dead of the night with barely anything lighting it, they appeared. Showing them the way. Rhys took several steps, taking Timothy’s hand into his. Looking in awe at it all.
He remembered the meetings regarding the slogans and writings. Then hung posters and billboards all around the Promethea. His beautiful Meridian – city of lights. Of course, he always believed so. Meridian never slept and with the vastness of the neon lights, he knew there was something always shining. And he wanted his dear Promethea to act just the same. To guide those who sought shelter.
Timothy walked away in wonder taking notice of it all. As Rhys could help but to wonder. On Promethea the sun set two times a day, giving them two nights. One most people were used to, appeared in the dead of the night like this. With the skyscrapers touching the sky and the asteroids and stars filling it every day. The satellites too, shining in the sky. The lights everyone needed.
It wasn’t too uncommon to see fireflies around Promethea. Yet he could hardly remember the last time he saw this many. Uncountable amount of shining bugs, some lighting up synchronized. Tiny specs of light, all around them. Rhys squeezed Timothy’s hand tighter. He was also from a place that never slept but this… This was beyond anything they had ever seen.
Turning around, Timothy looked at him again. In a second one of the fireflies landed on his nose and illuminated his face before he blew it away again. Rhys laughed softly and then he knew. He knew it all.
With his hands moving to Timothy’s shoulders, he whispered, “It’s not exactly the scenario I described but, uh… Can I go o–!”
Rhys wanted to tell him more but suddenly he felt the trip down his legs. With a muffled yelp, he braced himself for the fall. But it didn’t come. Instead Timothy captured him in his hands and looked at the source of the fall.
“What the–?!” Rhys wanted to yell but then he heard that squeak he knew and despised way too much. His expression dropped. Of course, the beautiful night of theirs had to be ruined by a fucking ratch.
Thankfully, in a second Timothy pulled out his hidden pistol and blew its brains out. Without a moment of hesitation. The pathetic pest screamed before he fired another bullet. Just in case.
“You were saying?” he asked innocently.
“Oh god, that was so hot, it’s so unfair,” Rhys almost whined. “I promise one day I will be the one carrying you.”
“Heh,” Timothy pressed his nose against his. “Can’t wait. But yeah, you wanted to say something?”
As he looked up to Timothy, standing up again, Rhys saw his beautiful features against the night. His face lit up by the fireflies swaying, showing up his gorgeous freckles. Ones that looked just like the stars in the sky and shined brighter than the fireflies. His arching scar that was his, just his and no one else’s, one he now took pride of. His blue and brownish red eyes, the beard at the tip of his chin, his hair moving slowly with the evening breeze. Words couldn’t describe his beauty. But by god they tried.
“Tim… I don’t know how to start it, so, uhm… Lemme just say it out. You’re the light of my life. You’re… Everything. I could have ever asked for. I saw your huge heart and how you are just you and you’re perfect. Cause you’re yourself. I don’t care what everyone says or whatever the hell happened in the past. You made me happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life and… And I never want this to end. I love you, Timothy Lawrence.”
The breath got stuck in Timothy’s throat, Rhys could tell. As his eyes glistened now with a bit of tears he tried to hold back. Hands firmly pressed by Rhys’ side, oh so close to him. Words he wanted to say but just couldn’t say exactly. Rhys’ hands softly moved across his shoulders.
“Not bad for the second time, huh?” Rhys broke the silence between them first.
“Nope. Not at all,” with a shakier breath, Timothy laughed. Bracing himself, he tried again, “Rhys… God. You changed my life, y’know? Ever since I came here I just thought I’d never have anything. But you let me just see how different life could be and… You’re beautiful and you’re smart and you always have a plan you follow to the t, heh. And I never really thought I’d have someone like you in my life. Someone who would just be so wonderfully confident but such a hopeless romantic. Ah… You showed me life could be so much more than all the crap that’s been happening. I love you, Rhys Strongfork.”
And with his heart trembling as much as it possibly could, Rhys once more pulled Timothy to a kiss. This time nothing between them.
He stood up on his tippy toes, hoping that their small height difference of theirs wouldn’t be too bothersome. But it truly didn’t. Not when Timothy held him closely in his arms. Not when Timothy’s lips caressed his own, deepening their embrace. As the stars and the fireflies shone between them, Rhys didn’t care about anything else. Just this man, one who held him in his arms. One that was the love of his life. One he knew he would love till the rest of his days.
Every single thought that came in his mind of loneliness and fear disappeared within seconds. It didn’t matter what the past brought them. All that mattered was that Timothy was in his arms. That he loved him. They lingered on the kiss, unable to let go. But when they finally had to, Rhys whispered more declarations of love right against his lips.
Never once in his life, he hadn’t thought that he would deserve a lover as perfect as Timothy was. Now it was all true. As they kissed each other over and over again and pressed other words of love.
Rhys looked into his eyes again, seeing all the stars and fireflies come by, “So! Would you care for this wonderful night spent with me?”
And Timothy laughed, stealing another kiss from him, “Obviously.” He said as they went inside the mansion, soon truly theirs, whispering the word love more times than they could count.
Maybe the first one wasn’t perfect. But they had all the time in the world.
“One, two, three, up!”
“Holy shit!” Timothy laughed, letting his arms fall on Rhys neck. “Oookay, what’s your secret? Have you been bench pressing, baby?”
“What? That’s just my willpower, nothing else,” Rhys said smugly.
“With you and your stubbornness? Yyyeah, I can believe that,” he could help but to grin away.
“But yeah, I can’t exactly do it for that much longer, so let’s get it over with, alright?”
“Mmmhm. Lead the way.”
So Timothy landed comfortably. Yes, just as he suspected, for the last couple of months, Rhys had been practicing as much as he could. Bench pressing, trying all kinds of weights just to be able to carry more than his hands usually could. All for him, of course.
That was why now, he proudly went forward. Carrying Timothy in his arms, as he made the way to their house. Honestly with so much happening that day, Rhys truly felt like he could do it all. The most wonderful day of his whole life it was.
“Y’know, I’ve been wondering,” Rhys said, immersed in his dumbest thoughts. “I know it’s technically called bridal carry but shouldn’t it be uh groom carry now?”
“Welp, ‘ve heard it’s also a princess carry. If you wanna.”
“Oh, so you’re my princess?” Rhys grinned.
“I-I mean, of course. Always and forever, Rhys,” Timothy responded proudly. Before saying anything else he stopped to wonder. “Holy shit, look. Fireflies, again.”
“Holy shit. Just like when I promised you I’ll carry you,” he couldn’t believe seeing them again at night.
“See? It was meant to be, baby.”
Rhys laughed along but in all honesty he just couldn’t help but not to feel amazed. A hot summer night, just like Promethea was used to. The sky filled with stars, fireflies in the air. Timothy in his arms. Just like all those years ago.
With a confident step, Rhys finally made it all the way there. Carrying Timothy across their threshold, just as he promised. Though his hands just about then felt like falling away. In a second, Timothy hopped off of his arms and looked at him again.
“We did it,” he whispered, fixing the loose strands of Rhys’ hair.
“We did it,” Rhys echoed. “Do you remember what else happened that night?”
“Pfft, Rhys, how could I forget?” Timothy went forward, fingers of his left and Rhys’ right hands now intertwining. “Youuu. You told me that you loved me. For the first-second time.”
“I didn’t keep the score, so I have no idea how many times it’s been but, uh…” he took his left hand and brushed his cheek, just as he did so many times. “I love you, Timothy Lawrence. More than anything in this world.”
He pressed his cheek right onto his hand, pressing a kiss against his golden wedding band, “And I love you, Rhys Lawrence. Till the rest of my days.”
No matter how many times and how many years it’s been, those words always made Rhys’ heart tremble. Just as the first time and first day they’ve said it. It all came true. It was all theirs. This time it was Timothy who pulled him closer, placing a kiss right on his lips. And he kissed back, letting their embrace deepen.
Who cared about keeping the score. All Rhys wanted was to tell those three simple words to his husband over and over again.