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𖤣𖥧. ᯓ๑ï ⚘. ⸙ 𖤣𖥧 Joel 𖤣𖥧. ᯓ๑ï ⚘. ⸙ 𖤣𖥧
It was obviously raining when they opened the bakery. Because of course it was, the universe always blummin had to be against them. Couldn’t even let them play an April fools prank on their loved ones without trying to mess up their ideas. And they always seemed to want to ruin Joel’s plans.
It was almost his and Lizzie’s fifth anniversary – and stars, that was a sobering thought. He needed to get it together before today. It had already been a few years since they’d destroyed the city and rebuilt it from the ground up as well. There was now a functioning system of parliament, and their borders had reopened to trade with previously hostile neighbouring nations.
Altogether, it was going extraordinarily well, for their rag-tag crew of ex-heroes and ex-villains who had been on the same side all along. Him Grian and Jimmy had so much in common, and not just because Jimmy was Grian’s cousin.
So, when the city had been settled enough, Grian’s idea for an Aprils fool joke had been too good to resist. Please, opening a bakery as a joke for his wife – how was he supposed to not do that? And there was an added bonus to what Grian had suggested, something Joel had been planning for a while.
With a couple of months of work – it was quite the project for what was originally supposed to be just a prank, and they were only going to be open for one day. Hopefully customers would enjoy – and the rest of the food was going to be donated. While the heroes and the villies had made significant progress with the poverty found specifically on the streets of the southern city, there was still much to do.
With one final check, Grian grinned at them as they turned on the lights to open up their bakery.
“Let’s get this show on the road.” He declared, bowing dramatically as Joel and Jimmy went outside to greet the first customers of their grand opening. Their was already a small gaggle outside, likely people interested in who would dare compete with his girlfriends bakery, the best in the city.
“Welcome in!” Jimmy grinned. He was examined by their first customers, but their faces were not known across the city. That was one benefit of always wearing masks when they had fought in the past.
Chatter soon filled their small store, and they were doing quite well. Money clinked as it was exchanged for goods over the counter, and Joel was smiling politely at everyone, some of whom looked at him twice like he was a familiar face.
Their relative peace was soon interrupted when his favourite pink haired fairy walked in, looking so angry steam was basically coming out of her ears. No one messed with Lizzie, and Joel couldn’t help but find her attractive even as she stomped towards the counter.
“Excuse me-” She began to yell at Jimmy who was grabbing a loaf of bread before quickly pausing in confusion when he turned around. Jimmy shot her a nervous smile, and her panic gave Jimmy and Grian enough time to join him.
“April Fools!” They yelled, sending another flurry of emotion across Lizzie’s face. She couldn’t seem to decide whether she was happy, confused, shocked, annoyed or staring at Joel in love.
Well, maybe he was still being a little hopeful about the last one, but he really hoped so. The other customers had fled the shop at the sight of Lizzie, which gave them the perfect opportunity for the real cause behind todays prank.
“Really guys? Why are you like this?” Lizzie sighed, slapping her head in mock disappointment. While Jimmy and Grian giggled however, Joel stepped forward for the most important part of today’s plans for him.
“Lizzie…” He began, taking a deep breath to gather his thoughts. “I have loved you since we first met, and it’s never wavered. Even as we clashed I couldn’t get the thought of you out of my head, and you had the unimaginable grace to forgive me.” Joel produced a white box, and Lizzie began to tear up, his girlfriend already having seen where this is going.
He got down on one knee and opened it carefully, revealing the pink diamond within, held be a delicate swirling silver band.
“Will you make me the luckiest man alive, and do me the honour of marrying me?” He asked and Lizzie rushed forward, Jimmy and Grian wiping fake and not-so-fake tears from their eyes.
“Yes, Joel, Yes. A million times, yes.” Lizzie almost sobbed, and as he carefully slipped the ring onto her finger, Joel dipped her into a kiss. He couldn’t believe the luck that had brought him together with Lizzie, but he never wanted to let her go.
“I love you.” He whispered reverently to the goddess of his life.
“I love you too.” She replied, placing another kiss on his lips.