Work Text:
Day 2 / Propose Day
February 8th, 2026
"I need to go, stop calling me." Sho said over the phone before hanging up. He sounded more exasperated each time Hyde kept calling him.
"You should give up." Dante commented calmly without looking up from the papers.
It was common knowledge that the two professors were dating. It got out because of Leo.
Leo somehow always get involved when there was staff drama.
"Well, that was uneventful." Hyde simply said, "I'm bored." He sat back down on the couch while Dante continued writing some mission file. "What are you doing?"
"Vagastrom General Students wants to go on a mission. I asked Haizono about their abilities to better assess which mission they would be best on." Dante explained in this flat tone.
"You're boring, loosen up a bit Dan-Dan." Hyde replied. That earned him a glare from the other man.
"I take my job seriously." Dante responded.
"Hey, it's nighttime anyways, wanna take a walk outside?" The blindfolded man asked.
"Afte-"
"Now? Yes? Okay!" Hyde interrupted Dante and answered for him. He stood up again enthusiacally. He pulled Dante's wheelchair away from whatever surface he was using to keep the papers smooth to write on.
"Could you perhaps give a warning next time before you abruptly wheel me away?" Dante asked. He didn't like it when people just push or pull his wheelchair without a head's up.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. I got excited." Hyde apologized instantly.
"About taking a walk?"
"No, about spending time with you other than during work hours." Hyde responded like the reason was clear.
"Next time say that instead." Dante told him.
"Noted!" Hyde said with a grin.
Dante wheeled himself out of the dimly lit room. Hyde walked out after him.
"Okay, let's go." Hyde said lightheartedly.
He walked off carelessly. Dante just followed from behind.
When Hyde noticed that, he stopped for Dante to catch up. He started pushing the other Professor's wheelchair after asking for permission, "Why were you trailing behind so much? I get that you're quiet but you looked like a lost kitten following someone."
Dante blinked slowly, "Did you just compare me to a cat?"
"Yes, you act like one."
"Excuse me?" Dante said immediately, "I don't act like one."
"You do. I am around you everyday, you're literally my 'girl'friend. You act like a kitty." Hyde stated clearly.
Dante just sighed.
After looping the entire campus two times, Dante wanted to go back inside to finish his work. Hyde said "Absolutely not" and so they just continued circling the entirety of Darkwick grounds.
The main reason Hyde said no was because Dante simply looked ethereal under the moonlight. In the researcher's eyes, Dante was beautiful. Divine even.
Dante noticed him looking, of course. "You're staring again."
"You're real pretty, you know?" Hyde commented softly, "You're way out of my league."
"... I don't see the need of any flattery. Why are you saying that exactly?" Dante asked with his usual deadlanned tone.
Flattery. Dante thought it was just flattery.
Perhaps that showed just how crippled he thought he was.
"God, flattery?" Hyde laughed, "If it was only flattery, I would've left you a long time ago."
"That's reassuring." Dante replied. Simple and short.
Hyde gave him a headpat. A small gesture he did often. So often that Dante started to bat at his hands like a cat when he did it.
Today was different though. No action in response to the headpat. Just silence and acceptance.
Maybe Dante was a bit too tired.
They stopped in the courtyard.
Hyde sat down on the bench while Dante wheeled his wheelchair around so that he was positioned next to the other.
"Are you finally tired?" Dante asked Hyde. His voice was softer than his usual tone of calm and no emotion.
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not." Hyde replied with a smirk on his face. He turned to look at Dante.
"Yes?" Dante said when he noticed Hyde staring once again.
The researcher reached out with his hand. He caressed the other's cheek with love. Hyde was a lovesick fool for this guy.
Dante brought a hand up to hold Hyde's, "May I ask why you love me so much?"
"Because you're perfect." Hyde answered. It was a simple answer. It was simple and straight forward, just like Dante's words. "You're everything I want, if not more, in a partner."
"So under your definitions, I'm perfect?" Dante asked again. Just slightly, you could hear a very small tremor in his voice.
"More than perfect." Hyde corrected. "I don't have words to describe it."
"You" Dante paused, thinking about what to say before continuing, "are a man of words."
"I know. And the answers you give are straightforward." Hyde replied, "We basically contradict each other."
"What are you trying to aim for with this conversation?" Dante finally asked.
The Anomalous Biology Professor got down onto his knees on the pathway. Not on one knee, he would be too tall if he did. He pulled out a small black box from his pockets.
It was Dante's turn to stare at Hyde now. He was most definitely in shock.
"Dante..." Hyde started, his voice was gentle as he pushed the opened ring box into Dante's hands, "Will you marry me?"
Dante was frozen. He definitely didn't expect this. After a while, he did relax. "Get up."
Hyde slowly stood up.
Dante instantly hugged Hyde, wrapping his arms around the other's neck and burying his face in his chest.
"Awhh, you're so shy, Dan-Dan!" Hyde teased. He chuckled after that, pressing a kiss to the top of Dante's head. "Is that a yes?"
"Of course it is," Dante muttered out, "you don't see me doing this everyday..." His voice was quiet and small.
Hyde let out a laugh, "Good! I was gonna die of embarrassment if you declined." He said half-joking, half-genuine.
"Let's go back inside... I'm exhausted." Dante said, changing the subject. He wasn't used to talking about this stuff.
"Alright, alright. Let's go to bed." Hyde replied with the biggest grin known to mankind.