Chapter Text
It was desperation that drove him to it. He and Jamil had been travelling the world for a year since they graduated, but Kalim’s parents had begun to press him to come back home and talk about the women they wanted him to meet.
“Don’t you think it’s time you start thinking about a family? When I was your age, your mother and I were already discussing baby names!” His father had said the last time they’d talked.
Kalim had hemmed and hawed about not being ready, but his father hadn’t been deterred. Kalim knew it was only a matter of time before his parents insisted Kalim return home. And Kalim didn’t want to.
The past two years he and Jamil had been dating had been the happiest he’d ever been. Things had been rough for a while after Jamil had overblotted, but during their senior year, they’d grown close in a way Kalim now understood they’d never been before. Jamil was honest with Kalim… or at least more honest than he had been. There were still times Kalim couldn’t tell what Jamil was thinking, but even if Jamil didn’t want to talk, he rarely bothered to hide his feelings behind obsequious smiles and servile words.
He no longer tasted Kalim’s food for poison, though he still insisted on Kalim only eating food Jamil or Kalim had prepared. Another change. Jamil had (very reluctantly) allowed Kalim to cook for him sometimes. They were basic dishes. Kalim knew he’d never be as skilled as Jamil. But it was important to Kalim that they be as equal as possible, so three nights a week, Jamil let Kalim cook for him.
It was good. They were happy. And Kalim didn’t want it to end. Yet, it would if they went home. His parents would never allow him to marry a servant. They weren’t so cruel as to allow him no choice in his spouse, but they would at least expect him to marry someone of the same social status. Had Kalim been born into another family, he and Jamil may have been able to bribe a priest or government official to marry them anyway, but the Asims were related to the royal family. No one in the Scalding Sands would take the risk. So, Kalim would inevitably have to marry another, and Jamil would need to decide whether he wanted to remain by Kalim’s side.
He wouldn’t, of that Kalim was sure. It wasn’t that Jamil didn’t love him, but to endure a lifetime of watching his lover with another, never being able to be publicly acknowledged as more than a beloved servant… that would rankle. There was no amount of freedom Kalim could grant Jamil that would make others look on Jamil with the respect the man deserved. Jamil would leave.
Even now, Jamil was clearly unsettled by the thought of it. Not that Kalim spoke of it often, but he couldn’t hide it. Kalim had promised himself he’d treat Jamil like an equal, and lying about what his parents were pressuring him to do would have violated Jamil’s trust. Kalim could see Jamil’s irritation whenever one of them hung up the phone with their families. It was in the way his jaw clenched when the mention of home came up in conversation. The way there were nights where Jamil lay awake next to him, not making idle conversation the way they usually did when one couldn’t sleep, just staring at the ceiling with a guarded look on his face.
Kalim knew that he had to act soon or lose Jamil forever. So, he decided they would need to get married.
Only, that was easier said than done. The wedding needed to be swift and conducted quietly. Any rumor leading up to it, and Kalim’s parents would send someone to stop it immediately. A stray social media post by an oblivious friend could ruin everything.
But how to arrange a wedding without giving any sign? Simple. It would need to seem spontaneous. Maybe even an accident.
“I was thinking that we should go somewhere new soon. Maybe next week or the week after that?” Kalim suggested one night over dinner. “We haven’t been out of the city recently.”
They were currently living in a flat in Maquillaville. There was no shortage of sights and activities here, but nothing that would suit Kalim’s purposes.
“Oh?” Jamil sounded ambivalent about the idea. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well... you know, I was talking with Cater, and he mentioned that he had a great time in Hedonville. Maybe we could try that?”
“Hedonville?”
Everyone knew about Hedonville. It was a city devoted to pleasure of every type. Casinos lured in those wanted to win a quick thaumark. Night clubs filled with dancers appeared on every other street. Bars, restaurants, spas, stores, museums, theaters... everything a person could want was there. Kalim had even heard Azul had set up a branch of the Mostro Lounge there and that it was doing quite well. But more importantly, there were places that would capitalize on inebriated tourists who thought the person they’d just met in a bar was the one they wanted to spend their life with.
It was all very seedy, and it wasn’t at all the kind of wedding Jamil deserved. But if they wanted to avoid detection, it was just what they needed. Kalim promised himself he’d make it up to Jamil. If...when everything was sealed, he’d throw a ceremony with all of their friends. Their families... well, they’d need to see how the news was received.
But first, Kalim would need to convince Jamil to take the trip, and once there, to marry him. His lover could be a tad overprotective. They never traveled without Jamil researching local crime rates. When they went out to eat, it was only to thoroughly vetted restaurants. Every time they went to a theater or on a tour of some historic monument, Kalim could see Jamil’s eyes periodically scanning their surroundings for possible dangers. It would take work to make Jamil-
“I suppose that would be fun.” Jamil replied slowly. His gaze drifted away and took on a pensive quality. Kalim could already tell that his lover’s mind was running over the possible safety risks and how they might be mitigated. He was about to interject with some of the less risky activities they could do, but then a soft smile touched Jamil’s lips, and his eyes met Kalim’s again. “I’ve always been curious about it. Yes, let’s go.”
“Really?” Kalim beamed at him. He’d expected at least some resistance. This made things so much easier. “This will be amazing! How about we leave on the 15th? I’ll book the hotel tonight! We can stay at the Levesque! It’s right down the street from the Mostro Lounge if we want to stop by, and if you don’t, we could just go some place else. And then there’s this...”
Kalim prattled on and on about all the things he’d looked up to persuade Jamil to go, but inside, he was already thinking of all the things he had left to do before they could finally tie the knot.
.....
The day came up fast, and even though Kalim had planned it this way, it still made him nervous. He’d had everything prepared. He’d booked the Penthouse suite and had it stocked with alcohol, some to work up the nerve to go through with this and the rest either for celebration or consolation depending on how Jamil reacted.
They’d agreed to stay in the hotel the first night, and Kalim had made dinner for them. A simple pasta in cream sauce with some bread and salad. Kalim had pictured this moment over and over again in mind, but that didn’t stop his heart from pounding. It was only when they were almost done dinner and he’d downed several glasses of wine for courage that he spoke.
“Uh...so... Jamil. You know I love you, right?”
Jamil narrowed his eyes. “Of course. I love you, too...”
“And you know my parents want me to get married.” Damnit! This wasn’t coming out right! Kalim hadn’t meant to bring that up. Jamil frowned and opened his mouth to reply, but Kalim hurried on. “But I don’t want to! Marry! I mean I do, but not to anyone else. I...”
Jamil was beginning to look irritated, the way he often looked when he no longer wanted to continue a conversation, and Kalim knew he needed to turn this around. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the box with the ring in it. He held it out for Jamil to see, only remembering to open the box at the last moment. The ring was custom made. It was an intricate gold ring with the head of a viper, the eyes of red diamond.
“I mean... what I mean to say is...will you marry me?”
Silence. Jamil no longer looked unhappy. In fact, his face looked blank as he gazed at the ring, which was even worse. Kalim couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Nor was Jamil answering.
“J-Jamil?”
Jamil exhaled in a huff, closing his eyes briefly. He brought one hand up to his forehead. Of all the reactions Kalim had imagined, it wasn’t this. Nor had he imagined Jamil giving a short laugh.
“Jamil... look, if you don’t like the ring... or if you don’t-”
“That’s not it.” Jamil shook his head. He reached toward his own pocket and pulled something out and-
“Oh!” It was a different golden ring with a white diamond in the middle.
“It’s just... it looks like we had the same idea.”