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Valentines Day was always a day that was finicky with Johnny and Simon. Johnny had always wanted to go out of his way for his partner, buy him roses, heart chocolate, and a teddy bear too big to comfortably sit in their bedroom. The whole nine yards cause Simon deserved it all. He deserved the feeling of love and appreciation that he is a beautiful perfect partner… except that he had told Johnny immediately that he didn’t want anything like that. He wasn’t big on big celebrations, just a simple night inside was enough for him, maybe order takeout so they wouldn’t have to cook and it was fine… it felt fine but Johnny still wanted to do more for him. Yes it made Simon happy to stay indoors and eat chinese food but Johnny wanted him beyond happy, he wanted to see the rare occurrence of his eyes crinkling with how big of a smile beneath that mask is showing, to have him be speechless at the gift he prepared and night overall. He wanted things to be perfect for Simon. So he made plans a year in advance and then kept adding to it. He talked with Gaz and found a nice fancy restaurant to reserve a table for, Price helped him by giving them the week off for ‘personal business’, Laswell even chipped in telling Johnny to not blow it… it wasn’t much but made him even more determined to get it all right.
Everything was starting to be set perfectly, the day was coming and Johnny had made sure EVERYTHING was perfect and hidden in places Simon didn’t even know was in their shared flat. He bought a smaller teddy bear than he wanted (otherwise he couldn’t hide it and having a 5ft teddy bear peeking out from its hiding would probably scare Simon half to death.), a nice silver heart locket of a photo of them making a hand heart that Simon got tricked (asked until he gave in) into doing and it looked perfect for him, and finally he had money put aside to go out and buy the biggest bouquet he could find in the morning before Simon woke up. Everything was going according to plan, it was all going smoothly and Johnny felt happy. Happy that he is going to give Simon the most unforgettable Valentine's Day of his life.
Morning comes slowly, the light peeking through the curtains and wakes Simon up first, his internal alarm clock forcing him awake anyways as he looks over and sees his boyfriend fast asleep. Slowly tracing his jaw and rubbing his thumb over the scar on his chin, the same scar that has at least 20 different stories about how he got it, all just made up to make it sound cooler than him eating shit as a teenager. The quiet grumbling as he watches Johnny's eyes open slowly and a lazy grin appears on his face before turning to complete shock and he almost jumped out of the bed causing Simon to be very confused and worried.
“Johnny? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing Si, just… fuck I wanted to be up first to make ya breakfast in bed and surprise ya…”
“Mhmm… well you can still make breakfast. Promise I won’t get up and relax a bit longer.”
That was all Johnny needed to hear before nodding and moving to give him a quick kiss on the check as he disappeared out of the bedroom, leaving Simon to think on today.
He knew Johnny was planning something big, he’s been more distracted the past few weeks than ever before leading up to today. He knew Johnny wanted to make a big show stopping act of his undying love to him, and Simon was nervous about it all. He wasn’t one for restaurants that were foreign or gaudy. Didn’t like the thought of having a huge bouquet take up most of their counter as it slowly wilted away to be discarded, didn’t really enjoy being showered in love and affection in an extremely passionate way. Johnny is a passionate person and he loves that about him, but seeing him stress himself and lose track of time just for today? It left a bad taste in Simon's mouth thinking that maybe… he would try and propose and he wasn’t ready for that. He couldn’t do that yet, but would want Johnny happy cause he deserves to be happy.
It was a torment of thoughts that got blown away as the bedroom door opened to the smell of fresh cooked eggs and bacon and a few pancakes shaped like hearts with strawberry syrup, and a small kiss to his temple.
“Happy Valentine’s Day Si, gonna make this a good one for ya.”
Johnny had told him, but his nerves were still there as he nodded and thanked him for breakfast as they sat in bed and lazed about cuddling together having no hurry or urgency to get anything done… and Simon was glad that maybe that was all he was getting today. No going out, no running around town, no unnecessary staring at the two men, just him and Johnny… alone together in the peace and comfort of their flat and he started to drift asleep again feeling safe with his Johnny.
Johnny on the other hand started to worry. It had been a few hours of cuddling and relaxing, Simon falling asleep and it was past noon at this point. He needed to get out and buy the bouquet of roses as fresh as possible but was trapped in Simon's loving embrace. Sighing in defeat it was fine, it was gonna be ok. He still had the other two gifts. It's fine. Dinner is going to go smoothly for them and the night will end perfectly like he had been planning… until he looked out the window and saw dark clouds outside and he froze up before reaching for his phone, opening up the weather app and seeing it’s going to be a downpour for the rest of the day… and he started screaming internally. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This was supposed to be a big day, a big great fantastic day that was supposed to blow Simon out of the water, make him feel so loved and appreciated by Johnny now what!? They couldn’t go out and try to rush around with everyone else, probably rushing to get home to avoid the downpour, plus he didn’t trust Simon to drive… safely in this situation.
He let out a defeated sigh and it stirred Simon awake slightly as a hand got pressed to his neck and got brought closer to Simon.
“What’s wrong Johnny.”
“Everything is fine Mo ghràdh…”
“Hmmmm no it isn’t… talk to me Johnny…”
A sigh escaped the man's lips and buried his face into Simon's neck. Taking a few moments to just… exist with him, relax a bit, relish in his scent and let out another deep sigh before talking.
“Just wanted this day to be perfect, Si… had dinner reservations and now the rainstorm is coming so we can’t do it, didn’t get to buy you a big bouquet, just… I had this all planned out and it just all fell apart and I just… I wanna show you how much I love you and I thought this would be perfect. I’m sorry…”
He can’t help himself from tearing up in front of him, all his planning he did just gone in an instant because he forgot to check the weather. He felt so stupid for one small mistake, it’s all ruined. What the hell was he supposed to do now??? All his worries faded slightly feeling Simon hold him tighter and whisper into his ear,
”Johnny… Johnny Johnny Johnny… It’s alright. You know I don’t need you to go out of your way to show you love me, everyday we wake up together is proof of it. The way you make breakfast for me in the mornings I oversleep, how you make sure I’m doing alright when we're out and about, just being you makes me feel loved everyday. Just because we can’t go out doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the day.”
Johnny just nods into him, he does go out of his way everyday making sure Simon is safe and happy. That he isn’t gonna have a breakdown, that he is taking his meds, doing everything he can to help him be a civilian for this break after his years of trauma and their years in the military. He loves him. He just wants to do MORE than what he’s done and-
“Speak to me Johnny… you’re in your head again…”
“Sorry… just. I know ya like spending time here, alone together but I just wanna be able to do more for you. You deserve the world Si… I just wanna be able to give it to you. I want the world to see you, see how happy you are now saying ‘Fuck You!’ to the world.”
“I get that love, but we tell the world to go fuck itself on a daily basis by being together. Let’s just enjoy the night in, and I promise I’ll make it up to you one day and we can go out to eat at a nice restaurant. Ok?”
Johnny nodded, feeling a lot calmer now. Simon was right. They can still enjoy the evening and night together. Simon’s way, the way he likes to spend the loving moments, that way Johnny can still make him happy, and knowing they will be going out one day at a nice restaurant. It was enough for them, and he lost that in favor of being big and showstopping.
Simon had asked Johnny to gather their blankets and pillows and follow him, placing them all on their couch making a little love nest for them to relax in as Johnny was looking for a movie to put on, hearing Ghost doing something in the kitchen before he can suddenly smell a familiar scent… macaroni and cheese? What?
“Si? Whatcha making in there?”
“Just something to help you love.”
That’s all Johnny got for an answer but he knew what he was making. Mac n Cheese with bacon bits in it. It was his well known comfort food he made himself growing up and just stuck as he got older. When Simon first found out about it he thought he was gonna laugh at him, but instead he asked Johnny to show him how to make it so he could help when Johnny is down or having a breakdown. It was sweet, and he couldn’t help but grin as he finally found a good movie for the occasion.
He got everything set up as Simon walked out with two bowls, one bigger than the other being handed to Soap as they nestled together and watched ‘My Bloody Valentine.’ It was something Johnny was NOT expecting and got invested in while shoveling his food in his mouth while Simon leaned back and chuckled at just how invested he got in the dumb film he thought to himself. Watching him react so heavily as people died as if he didn’t shoot people dead for his job was amusing, rubbing his hand on the man's back causing him to jump in surprise from the touch and it was just… nice. It felt calm. Easy. Just like Simon wanted today to be, but there was still the worry of the gifts. Johnny said he had them and he was still terrified at the possibility of being proposed.
With the movie rolling credits and the two men laying down and cuddling to each other, Johnny decided now was the best time for the gifts as he excused himself and went to grab them. Returning not a moment later holding a big teddy bear and handing it to Simon happily and then pulling out… a jewelry box. Not very big… and Simon feels like his worst fears is coming true and panics slightly holding the bear as that fear is quickly stomped out as Johnny shows him him a locket… and inside was that stupid picture they had him take with Johnny and the heart hands and he couldn’t feel happier to be wrong, taking the locket with a happy heart.
“It’s… beautiful Johnny… I was so worried…”
“Hmm? About what Mo ghràdh?”
“I just…” The more Simon thought about it the dumber and dumber it sounded and he couldn’t help but laugh at himself.
“I thought you were gonna propose to me love.”
Now it was Johnny’s turn to look at him like he was crazy.
“Did you really..?”
“I did.”
He almost couldn’t believe Simon fully thought he was gonna propose to him. What could’ve possibly made the other man even think for a second he would do that..? Then it dawns on himself how short and quick he was about Valentines this year. The need for perfection. The need for it all to go correctly… ok yeah he can see it now.
“Sorry Si I-”
“It’s fine. You still have to open my gift.”
Simon brought out a gift box that was just underneath the couch. It wasn’t big in height but ok length. He graciously took the box opening it to find a new knife… he took it out and carefully observed it. It had their call signs engraved into it, Soap n Ghost on one side, the other having soaps little cartoon soap and cartoon ghost he tends to doodle. It was even modeled like one of Ghosts favorite knives but in it’s own different twist just slightly. It was… perfect.
“I know I can’t always be on the field protecting you. So instead I bought you this, to always have a part of me with you to watch your back and maybe save ya one day.”
Johnny couldn’t help but just tear up and hug him, burying his face into his shoulder and muffling an ‘I love it’ as the rain outside finally started to hit. 5pm, which would’ve been two hours before their reservation but it didn't matter anymore, he just wanted to be with Simon and thought of the most cheesy thing he could do as he quickly brought his phone out and quickly searched for any love song he could find before going to set it on the table, looking over to Simon and smiling hitting play on “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys and held his hand out.
Simon gladly took his hand as they slowly danced to the music and pouring rain in the living room, being careful of the table and moving around it in slow easy steps, holding the other close, eyes closed and taking in the moment, before Simon had an idea that was sure to woo his Johnny as he put his hands on his hips and slowly moved around him, raising one of his hands to slide up Johnnys side to his arm and interlacing the fingers and extending their arms out, making a pose that earns an honest smile from Johnny as he can’t help but shine brightly at Simons bold move.
“I love you Si.”
“Love you too Johnny.”
A simple exchange as they continued their dance until the song ended and started a different song, and another and another. Dancing for hours until they collapsed onto their makeshift bed sofa intertwining their limbs and panting softly at the exhaustion taking over them. Snuggling closely together with a light kiss as they shared one last thing before they drift off to sleep together.
“Happy Valentine's Day Johnny.”
“Happy Valentine's Day Simon.”