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The snow coats the ground in a blanket of white as Leon makes his way through the park, hands shoved into his pockets as Leon grips the velvet box in his right pocket. The harsh pricks on his cheeks somehow keep Leon grounded as the crunching of snow fills his ears.
Maybe this is a mistake? She's not the type of woman to settle down... Leon shakes his head at the thought, trying to expel it from his mind.
Leon knows he can't let himself give up on this. Can't give up on his future with her.
"Leon?" Ada's voice pulls Leon from his thoughts, "Earth to Leon."
Leon perks up as he glances around. His hand tightening around the ring box as he locks eyes with Ada. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Crossing her arms, Ada raises a brow but doesn't push the issue, "Alright then."
Leon clears his throat as his left hand comes up to scratch the back of his neck, "Thanks for meeting me, by the way."
Leon can already tell there's a slight flush to his cheeks.
Damn this woman. Leon thinks to himself affectionately, She still has the power to make me feel like some 21-year-old rookie.
"It sounded important, although I don't understand why you had to drag my ass out into the freezing cold." There's a hint of teasing in Ada's voice as she looks Leon up and down, "Careful rookie, you look like you're about to combust."
I feel like it, Leon lets out a nervous laugh, "Well, I guess it's just been one of those weeks."
"It's Monday."
"I know."
Ada can't help but laugh, her smile sending Leon's heart racing.
If Leon could get Ada to smile like that every day, he'd be the richest man alive.
"Okay, but seriously, what was so important you needed to talk to me in the park at—" Ada checks her watch, "ten at night."
"Right, um, I just..." Leon feels his courage slip, the words dying on his tongue. "Follow me."
"Leon—"
"Please." Leon pleads as he reaches for Ada's hand and bats his eyelashes.
"Fine." Ada caves at Leon's puppy dog eyes. She can't help herself when he gives that kicked puppy look.
Intertwining their fingers, Leon leads Ada deeper into the park. The stars dazzling overhead like diamonds and the moon reflecting on the white snow.
"Ada I love you. You know that, right?" Leon turns to face Ada expectantly, his voice soft as if the only two people in the world are them.
"Of course I know that." Ada's thumb brushes over Leon's knuckle in a soothing way, "And I love you too."
Leon nods as he leads Ada to a park bench. He quickly brushes the bench off so she isn't sitting on snow.
Ada lets Leon guide her to sit down, but she can't stop the confused look from appearing on her face. "Must be really bad if I have to sit down."
"Not bad; well, it might be bad, depending on how you react." Leon lets out a short, humorless laugh as he averts his eyes for a second. "Look, Ada. I love you."
"and I love you." Ada speaks in a slow manner as her brows furrow, attempting to put the pieces together.
"It's about the only thing we agree on is that we love each other." Leon begins as he tightens his grip on the ring box, "And I want to show you just how much you mean to me. I know you and I are complicated at best."
"We're a little more than complicated." Ada points out with a slight smile as the pieces fall into place. "Leon, you don't have to—"
"I want to." Leon cuts Ada off before taking in a shaky breath, "You're right; we are more than complicated, but we get each other. You're the only person who sees me for who I am, and I'm grateful for it."
Leon doesn't hesitate as he gets down on one knee, his blue eyes looking up at Ada with devotion, "Ada Wong, will you marry me?" He pulls out the velvet box and opens it to reveal a ring.
He never thought of Ada as a diamonds girl. The moon catches on the silver ring encrusted with ruby and melanite.
"Leon…" Ada begins as she looks at the man she's loved—the only man she can say she's ever loved, "I'm with you because I choose to be. I don't need to be bound to you by law to still love and want to be with you."
Leon feels a lump in his throat as he takes in her words.
It's not a no yet, Leon reminds himself.
"But, I know doing this is also a choice." Ada takes Leon's face in her hands as she continues, "Yes, I'll marry you."
Leon damn near drops the ring from excitement and adrenaline. Putting the ring on her finger, Leon leans up to kiss Ada. His hand finding the back of her head as he lets the ring box fall into the snow and puts his other hand on the bench to brace himself.
Ada tastes like Cherry Chapstick and black coffee. In other words, she tastes like home, Leon's home.
As the two pull away, Leon looks like a child on Christmas. His eyes bright and his smile wide, "Yes? Really, yes?"
Ada nods as her heart swells because of his joy, "It's really a yes. Commitment like this—it's new and scary, but you're worth every new and scary thing in my life."
Leon pulls Ada into another kiss, then another, and then another.
Finally Ada has to put her hand on Leon's shoulder and hold him back slightly, "Down, rookie. We can do more of that at home."
Leon lets out a laugh before putting his hand on Ada's knee. "Sorry, I just... fuck, I'm so happy you said yes."
"So am I." Ada leans over to kiss Leon on the forehead, "So am I."