Work Text:
“Well Sugar Plum, I think it's the consequences of your actions.” Boothill was staring at his pretty knight who was out of his armor in the One and Only. Said knight seemed to be trying to sink into his chair and get away from the paper in his hand. To be fair, Boothill knows he can’t fault him for saving this planet, but that doesn't mean he can't tease him about it.
Argenti was holding an invitation. It's an invite to a festival the planet was holding in honor of their savior, a certain knight, that saved their planet from ruin at the hands of an ancient monster that was resting deep below the earth.
Argenti didn’t dignify Boothills taunt with a response, instead sinking even deeper into his chair. They were at the table in the One and Only, sitting opposite to each other. Once again destiny allowed the two of them to meet on this planet unplanned.
“Sweet, what should I do?” Argenti asked, placing the invitation on the table. His red hair splayed out behind him on the chair. Boothill stood up and rounded the table to his knight. Argenti clearly hasn’t slept in a bit, probably due to the little monster problem. His hair was slightly tangled, and in Boothill’s opinion, he needed to take a shower. Boothill leaned over his Argenti, before pecking him on the cheek.
“Angel, you can just sleep on it.”
“But Darling-” That sentence ended with a sharp breath from Argenti as Boothill lifted him up in his arms.
“Tomorrow. You clearly need to sleep. Well you need a shower first Honeypot.”Argenti does not dignify that with a response, instead he nuzzles into the arms of the metal man.
~~~~~~~
Argenti didn’t really want to be here. It's a beautiful festival, don’t get him wrong. The reds draped around the buildings, the roses and flowers that were picked laid in vases around the area, and even the now devoured food on the tables surrounding him it all was beautiful. He just wanted to be with a metal man and his ship laying in bed. A simpler beauty than this.
And yes, normally he would love to go around a festival, it's a beautiful thing, but just not today, not when he feels so worn out he might just crumple and wilt like a rose.
And definitely not with what he sees in front of him.
Argenti wouldn’t normally pin himself as the ‘jealous’ type. What is there to be jealous of when beauty is shared, and even then everything has its own beauty, so therefore he's not jealous. And even if he was jealous, it in of itself was a type of beauty in a way. You love someone so much you want them all to yourself. That's beautiful!
Then he watched as another festival goer asked his ranger to a dance.
And the ugly ball inside of him flared again.
He knew he was jealous. He can’t kid himself. And he shouldn’t hold his ranger to himself, he knows that. He doesn't want to be here but his ranger does. So it's only fair if he lets him do as he pleases. Argenti clutched the drink boothill got him tighter in his hand.
“Beloved?”
“Honey?”
Argenti nodded his head towards the circle where the town’s people were starting another dance.
“Sugar, you sure?”
Argenti mustered the best smile he could and grabbed the drink out of Boothill’s hand. Then he nudged his ranger towards the circle. Boothill gave him one last look before he entered the circle, quickly finding a partner for the dance.
Very quickly he found himself regretting the decision, when he saw one of the villagers rapidly grabbed Boothill’s arm for the dance. She swung her hand onto his shoulder and continued the dance.
Argenti very quickly downed both of the drinks in his hands.
The dancers moved in circles around each other as the music of the cello revolved. Argenti could see Boothill changing partners. This partner was wearing a nice blue dress that complemented her beautiful eyes perfectly. Her hair was nicely done and she quickly moved her arms around Boothills waist for a complicated move. The worst part was Boothill had to do the same.
Argenti moved to find another drink, and maybe some more food.
It was a pretty dance, it's just Argenti can’t appreciate it right now.
And she didn’t even switch when it was time to switch. Praise be Idrilla just switch partners, and maybe it would be slightly more bearable for the red headed knight.
Boothill and the girl continued in circles around, lasting through quite a few other partner changes. Each time, she changed the way she would hold onto Boothill. First it was the waist, then it was the arm, then she sneakily made her way around his neck. And oh it made the ugly rose in Argenti’s stomach unfurl deeper.
So he downed another glass,
And made his way into the circle.
He changed partners as quickly as he could, one goal in mind, as the music changed into a faster song. Partner after partner went by, until he found his.
The next time they were supposed to change partners, he rather rudely ‘bumped’ (more like pushed) the girl out of the way.
Surprise covered Boothill’s face. Clearly he did not expect a red haired knight to make his way into the circle.
Argenti didn’t respond, instead wrapping his own arms around Boothill’s neck, allowing the man to lead them around. To further emphasize his point, he sent a look to the woman with the blue dress.
Argenti felt Boothill’s arms wrap around his waist, placed exactly where they should remain. Argenti stared at the blue dressed girl until she looked back at the duo, her face was clearly angry. Making sure she saw him, he leaned up to press a kiss against Boothill’s Cheek. The pit in his stomach slowly dwindled back down to a feasible amount, knowing she didn’t have a chance.
“Sugar, are you jealous?”
Argenti froze.
“...no.”
“Angel, look at me?”
Argenti hesitantly made eye contact with the metal ranger. He was certain he wasn't making the best face and that there was probably red covering his face. And he was certain that he shouldn’t be doing this, because beauty is meant to be shared, and he shouldn’t be holding Boothill hostage, no matter how much he wanted him all to himself.
A metal hand gently held Argenti’s face, tuning Argenti back into the present.
“You are! Aren't you!”
Argenti eyes met Boothill’s own, and he had to look away. They kept in line with the dancers, moving in circles around the area.
Argenti shyly nodded.
“Aw Cherry Pie!” Argenti could hear the smile in Boothill’s voice. Then he felt Boothill press a sweet kiss to his own lips.
Argenti’s face flushed redder than before.
Boothill made a face, one of concern, at the alcohol he could taste on Argenti’s breath.
“Let’s get out of here Sugar Plum.”
~~~~~~~
“Sugar!” Moonlight shone down upon them. They could faintly hear the music coming from the festival in the distance, as Argenti always had a habit of landing his ship further away than most would
Speaking of the knight, he was trying his best to not look at Boothill. Walking as fast and as far ahead as he could get. Finally the Ranger grabbed his hand, holding him to explain himself.
“I’m sorry.” Argenti said.
Boothill’s face turned in confusion, clearly not expecting that from the knight. Argenti waited for Boothill to say something, but they just sat in silence, Boothill’s hand still in his own. He owed him an explanation, if the mechanical man didn’t get it.
“I bumped in.”
“So?”
Argenti wriggled his way out of Boothill’s hand. The ranger let him go peacefully. Meanwhile Argenti paced back and forth, upset at himself. Normally he wouldn’t be like this, instead he would be apologizing directly, but the Alcohol he had didn’t help it only caused him to want to avoid the topic.
“You were dancing.”
“Yeah.”
“And you were having fun.” Argenti continued.
“Yeah?”
“Then I barged in, disrupting your dance.”
“Because you were jealous.”
Argenti flushed as red as his hair.
“Yeah.” Even to Argenti’s ears, he could hear the dissatisfaction within his voice. He still couldn’t understand how his… No, he shouldn’t say that, the ranger couldn’t understand where he was going.
“What's wrong with you being jealous?”
Argenti looked away.
“Sugar.”
Argenti didn’t want to look at the ranger, but the sweet tone that fell from his lips beckoned him like a man to its siren song.
“Sweetheart.”
Argenti couldn’t look at Boothill, as much as his heart wanted to. Instead he decided to retreat to the One and Only to head inside, and maybe avoid Boothill till the alcohol left his system, so he could maybe save face.
“My Argenti.”
And oh Idrila was spoken so softly, and it was accompanied by a hand around his own arm. Drawing him closer to Boothill. How could Argenti ever hope to run from this beautiful, beautiful, man. He felt himself melt at the words and touch. His ra… Boothill deserved a response even if it would be a muddled confused one.
“It's because I was jealous.”
Boothill paused, letting Argenti continue.
“I was jealous. And every time I saw that woman wrap her hands around you, this ugly rose unwrapped in my stomach.” Argenti turned to walk closer to Boothill. “And I couldn’t stand it! It shouldn’t be her, the ugly ball said, how can it be her, when I’m right here it said.”
Boothill was silent, letting Argenti continue. And so he looked directly at Boothill. And staired right at those beautiful gray eyes that he countlessly lost in. He could feel Boohill’s hand still around his arm, cold but uniquely his. And Argenti loved it. He loved him. He wanted him forever and ever.
“Because you're mine. All mine.” Argenti could hear Boothill’s slight gasp, and he could see Boothill’s face turn pink. Argenti stared at the wonderful color across his cheeks before reminding himself. “And It’s selfish. Beauty is meant to be shared, so I should be fine with the most beautifulest person I’ve ever met dancing with others. But I wasn’t.”
“Sugar…” Boothill tried to start, but was quickly cut off by Argenti’s own spiral.
“And I’m sorry. I should not hog you all to myself, and I don’t want to be the person that hides your light under a bush because I want you all to myself.” Argenti turned away. “It’s so selfish, and I must apologize to you. Your light is so beautiful and warm and you should share it, you shouldn’t let this selfish ugly rose keep you all to himself. ”
“So I'm sorry.” Argenti anxiously waited for Boothill to speak, worried about the Rangers reaction.
When a bit of time passed, Argenti started to walk into the one and only. Understanding of Boothill’s reaction. It makes sense. Now that Boothill has realized how he has been, surely he would be able to understand the situation.
Until Boothill reached out to grab Argenti’s hand. He wrapped his arm around the knight's waist, and turned Argenti to look at him. The moonlight shone down upon the two. Argenti could see red flushed upon the mechanical man’s face, and he could hear the slow drone of the fans on him.
Boothill dragged him away from the One and Only, starting to sway to the faint music in the distance. Argenti could see a faint smile on Boothill’s face. It was soft, way too soft and not what Argenti expected to see.
“My sweet, sweet, Cherry Pie, that was the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” Argenti could feel himself flush a little at the nickname. They kept to the beat of the music, a slower song that was playing for the couples out there.
“You're the sweetest thing I’ve come to know.” Boothill leaned down to press a kiss to the corner of Argeti’s mouth, running a hand up to rest against the knight's cheek. “First off, you're not an ugly rose.” Argeti moved his thumb to shush Argenti’s words, “And I know you were talking about your jealousy.” Boothill pressed a kiss to Argenti’s nose, keeping them swaying to the music.
“Secondly, I will always be yours. Keep me under that bush. I don’t mind if you're the only one to see my light.” Argenti didn’t know how to respond to that, Boothill continued on after pressing a kiss to Argenti’s forehead.
“Thirdly, Why do you think I took that original glass from you?” Oh yeah he did do that. Originally, another party goer handed Argenti a glass to drink from, and was conversing with him until Boothill walked over and drunk it in one sip. As an apology he handed Argenti his own. “He was too close to you.”
“Sweetheart…”
“And don’t you go saying that that was beautiful of me. Because if that's the case, you're just as beautiful too, with how you swooped in to get me away from that dancer.”
Argenti felt himself flush even deeper than he thought he could before. The music in the distance felt faint to him, and he could feel every part of him that was connected to the man blaze with an invisible heat. Impossible as the man was cold, Argenti assumed it must have been the Alcohol.
Argenti didn’t want to breathe, less he ruined the moment.
“My Angel. My Cherry Pie. My Sugar Plum. My Knight.” Every nickname was punctuated with a kiss in a different location. They stopped swaying to the beat of the music. Nothing else existed to them except for this moment.
“My Argenti, you are mine, as I am yours. I love you. You are my own light that I want to hide under a bush for only me to see. I will always be yours as long as you will always be mine.” Boothill finally kissed Argenti under the moonlight, a silent promise, that each is forever for the other.
“Darling?”
“Yes?”
Argenti grabbed Boothill’s hand that was still wrapped around his cheek, nuzzling into it.
“I love you too. I want you forever.” Argenti started up into Boothill’s eyes.
And there they remained for a bit, staring at one another, another silent understanding shared between them.
“So Sugar Plum, interject yourself whenever you want. You can even sit on my lap when i’m looking for another bounty. I ain’t gonna complain.” And the moment was ruined. But Argenti could help but laugh. The rose that unfurled in his stomach hummed happily. With the knowledge that his ranger was his ranger. Argenti tuned back into the surrounding area.
The music has died out, and it seems like the festival has ended. So he took his love by his hand and led him into the ship, content to get a nights rest with his beloved in his arms.
“Maybe I will.”