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A hand flung wide, raucous applause in his ears, Momo in his place to his right. Overly bright lights blinded him to everything but the stage, and affection blinded him to everything but Momo. The light caught on dark metal wrapped around an expressive finger and so did Yuki's attention. A twin to his own, nestled snug against Momo's middle finger, stark and unmistakable against his skin.
It was a constant, that ring. As constant as Momo's presence in his life, a reassurance formed of black metal and old promises. Even if he took it off, the imprint of its bands remained, his very flesh formed around it, just as Yuki's was his.
Yuki dragged his eyes away, forced his attention to the guests across from them and the audience beyond. Delivered his line, Momo's peal of laughter a delight in his ears. He smiled through whatever followed it, his focus already drifting back to that glittering band of black.
He couldn't look anywhere else. His eyes trailed it like his mouth trailed Momo's, commentary offered automatically and forgotten the second it crossed his tongue. Unusual, for him to be so distracted by something so familiar. He rarely noticed the rings at all anymore; they were a part of them, the dark bands as much a feature of Momo as his sharp teeth and his multi-colored hair. Far more common that he lose his train of thought watching Momo's lips or his eyes than his finger.
But nostalgia lingered in his mind and his heart, near as they were to their anniversary — their real anniversary, not the one for Re:vale's debut but their own private day, marked on their calendars and no one else's. Marked on their skin in double bands of black metal and the shining smooth impression they'd left behind on matching fingers. Even now, the sight of it sent a thrill through him. Their own private secret, better kept than most. Not even Okarin knew the story behind their rings; if he did, surely he'd have claimed they were a risk.
He'd have been right. Yuki didn't care. He loved those rings and all they meant. They were a promise and a comfort. A bold statement of a private claim.
They were as much as they were able to allow themselves.
Snow fell in placid flakes, sticking to his hair and his shoulders. Fat and wet, the kind that melted down your neck and dripped into your clothing — but pretty, swirling through the chill winter air to turn the world into a picture-perfect winter wonderland. If Momo were here, he'd insist on taking pictures beneath the glittering lights that lined the streets.
Yuki shifted the bag in his arms, brushing free the falling snow before it could melt into the paper. At least with this he'd be able to make a nice meal for Momo. The number of variety shows asking for him had tripled in the last few months, which was great for Re:vale and for Momo, but... Yuki missed him. Tonight, at least, he'd be home, and Yuki could treat him.
He wished he could do more. He wished he could take Momo out like the couples that milled about around him, hand in hand and happy smiles spread across eager faces. Wished that they could walk arm in arm in the drifting snow, leaning into each other to share warmth and breath beneath the cloudy skies. Envy snaked through his breast, quiet and warm and subtle.
Yuki let out a breath, letting that feeling slip from him with the mist that clouded in the air before him. For all that he might wish he could take Momo out for a proper dinner or hold him close while they wandered through the snow, he wouldn't change a thing about their lives. His life was filled with music and Momo, and for all the hardship they'd faced and would continue to face, he wouldn't have it any other way. To be able to stand on stage next to Momo and sing with him was a dream. It would be greedy to want for more.
But, well, Yuki was a greedy man.
And Momo deserved more. He deserved to be held and praised and cherished, to be taken out and kissed beneath the winter snows. To have some proof of Yuki's devotion to him.
God knew Momo proved his love with everything he did. Momo had moulded his whole life around Yuki and Re:vale. He'd quit college for him, dyed his hair to match his, let Yuki pierce his ears just to help with his fear and then wore Re:vale's colors in the holes. His devotion was etched in his flesh and his appearance, visible and unmistakable to anyone who saw him. He deserved to have Yuki do that for him too. Yuki wanted to do that for him. To find some way to show his commitment to Momo. To show the world how much he cared, even if their fans wouldn't know what it meant.
He stepped to the side to move around a couple stopped in his path, hands clasped and heads bowed together as they stared into the window of a jewelry store. Silver glittered and shone behind the glass, diamonds and sapphires catching the light and Yuki's attention. If only his plight could be so easily solved.
He hesitated mid-step. Well. A ring like that would surely be recognized, but they were idols. Idols wore all kinds of jewelry all the time, right? And Momo would look really good with a ring around his finger.
Maybe this had been a better idea in theory. Because now there was a custom-made ring burning a hole in his pocket, and Yuki had to somehow work up the courage to actually give it to Momo. His foot tapped a staccato beat beneath the table, the food on his plate largely uneaten and entirely untasted. Across from him, Momo was chatting away animatedly like normal, but for once Yuki wasn't sure he'd heard a word Momo had said. The tambourine clatter of his thoughts drowned out even Momo's mile-a-minute chatter.
"Yuki?"
Oh. Shit. How long ago had he stopped talking? Momo peered down at him in concern, his face a little bit too close for comfort at the moment. The sort of closeness that Yuki liked to put between them to watch Momo get all flustered and flushed.
He was the one blushing this time, heat spilling out over his face and down his neck. "Momo...." The glass of wine in front of him suddenly looked like a really good idea. He picked it up, swallowed down a mouthful, and when that didn't seem like enough, took another. It wasn't enough to count as liquid courage, but at least if everything went sideways maybe he could blame it on the alcohol. "I have something for you."
Momo tilted his head, curious. Trying to puzzle out what Yuki might mean, most likely. With Yuki, it could be anything, from a favor to ask to a potted succulent to a kiss.
Okay. He could do this. He drew in a steadying breath, pulling his ikemen persona over himself like a mask. The tight band of nervousness around his heart eased with the false confidence, the familiar comfort of the guise making it easy to dip his fingers into his breast pocket and draw out the ring. Maybe he should have kept the box, but that had seemed corny at the time and he didn't want Momo to read too much into it, even if that was exactly what he meant and—
And he was overthinking it again. Another breath to steel himself, and he twisted over his hand, fingers unfurling to present the ring to Momo. It sat plainly on his palm, double bands of dark metal stark against his skin, the weight of the ornamentation along the top unbalancing it a little so that it tipped over somewhat in his hand. Custom made, just for them. "I want you to have this."
Momo's eyes widened, lips parting in... surprise, Yuki thought. Hoped. "Yuki..."
Yuki forged on, ignoring the heat that spread to settle in his ears. "You've done so much for me, Momo. I wanted to do something for you in return." He lifted his free hand, the one he'd been not-so-subtly keeping out of view until he could work up the courage for his grand display. His own ring wrapped around his middle finger, its weight heavy and unfamiliar on his hand — but comforting. "This way, we'll always be together, even if we're apart. And even if no one else knows what they really mean, we'll know. It's like a secret, just for the two of us." Yuki tilted his head, his lips curling in what Momo called the "signature heart-stopping Yuki smile."
It proved just as effective as ever. The pink that flushed over Momo's cheeks was as deep as the boundless pink of his eyes. He reached out, halting and hesitant as he plucked the ring from Yuki's palm. "I haven't done anything all that special, really..."
"Nothing special, of course. Only gave up your dreams to follow mine, worked three jobs so I could work on my music, and devoted yourself to helping me find Banri. I wouldn't even be able to make it out of bed in the morning if it weren't for you." Momo's eyes dropped, unable to withstand the shower of compliments. Instead, he turned the ring over in his fingers, watching the way the it caught the light. "I want to keep singing with you, Momo," Yuki continued. "I want everyone to be able to see what you mean to me. Will you wear the ring for me?"
When Momo looked up, it was with his usual joyous smile stretching his lips. He let out a bright laugh. "How could I ever say no to that? You're as kind as you are handsome, Yuki! Thank you! I love it!"
"I'm glad," Yuki said. Nimble fingers lifted the ring from Momo's grasp, his hand tugged into Yuki's so he could slide the band onto his finger until it rested in the same spot as Yuki's did. A different finger than the couple he'd seen, maybe, but its meaning was no less powerful for it. No less a promise, and no less a claim.
Yuki turned his hand over to weave his fingers with Momo's. The rings clicked together awkwardly, new and unfamiliar between them. They'd get used to it. It was nice to get to see that little piece of Momo on himself. For once, he could match Momo, instead of Momo always matching him.
Momo's eyes lingered on their joined hands and the twinned rings, something unreadable swimming in his eyes. Overwhelmed, perhaps, by the sentiment. Yuki leaned forward, reaching out with his free hand to tip Momo's chin up towards him. Momo's breath ghosted against his lips, warm and moist. "Then how about a kiss, to show your appreciation?"
He didn't wait for an answer before closing the distance between them to capture Momo's lips in a long, lingering kiss. His partner, his beloved, his Momo.
And if there was worry on Momo's face as he leaned in, Yuki didn't notice it. He just held tight to Momo's hand, the rings chiming together as Momo clutched at him in return. A year and a half together already...
Three and a half more to go.