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There was little else that brought Scythe such joy than a peaceful beat of relaxation amidst her crowded day-to-day.
She’d be stupid to ignore how one particular inphernal seemed to fill that need through even the smallest interaction she’d have with them.
So, after a particularly grueling day, she couldn’t quiet a relieved sigh as she found them amidst a dwindling crowd. Grappling Hook waved her down, beckoning her to join them on a lone bench, marking the edge of the entrance to the city they call home.
“Hard day…?” They asked, quietly offering their shoulder for her to lean on. She slumped against them with a groan, not aimed at anything in particular. Grappling Hook couldn’t help but chuckle at how Scythe had wrapped herself around their arm. She took the moment to bask in their warmth, head rubbing against their shoulder for a moment before settling on holding their hand. They both shifted focus for a moment, looking at the setting sun on the horizon.
“Sunset is real pretty, ain’t it?” They asked.
Scythe brought her gaze back onto them in an instant. She wouldn’t dare let herself shift off of Grappling Hook, basking in how their soft stare seemed to reflect the warm hues of scarlet, pink, and purple across the vast sky.
“Sure is.”
Grappling Hook, after a few beats of comfortable silence, turned their head and faced her. Their brow furrowed as they donned a wonderfully nervous smile while meeting her transfixed gaze. “You, uhm…” they began, eyes darting back and forth onto her and their surroundings. “What—what’re ya lookin’ at…? Is there somethin’ on my face…?”
Scythe quickly pressed a peck to their cheek. “There is now~!”
Grappling Hook choked on air, tipping their bandana over their face to collect themselves for a brief moment before grabbing Scythe by her shoulders. “It ain't right—! How ya keep… creepin’ up on me like that…! N—not after I was the one who even… confessed.”
Scythe laughed at them, a lovely, genuine sound that made Grappling Hook feel unfamiliarly giddy and warm all over.
“Can’t a poor lil ‘phernal like myself give some lovin’ to her partner?” She chimed.
Grappling Hook’s smile grew that much more. “S—sounds nice. When ya say it out loud.” They blurted, fiddling with the hem of their bandana. “I… just… wanted to be the brave one, I think. I… I wanted to be th’ main one showin’ ya affection. I wanna show m—my… girlfriend… lovin’, too.” They murmured, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead.
Scythe chuckled. Grappling Hook felt their heart swell, beating hard against their ribs.
“Where do ya think we’ll be in, say… five years’ time? Ten?” Scythe chimed, scooching herself as close as could be to them.
“Mm… I reckon we’d still be here… I dunno how I’d feel ‘bout movin’ out to, say, Crossroads or somethin’...”
Scythe chuckled, pressing a kiss to their cheek before she spoke. “Anywhere is fine by me, so long as you’re right by my side~!”
They hummed, content. “A decade, huh…?” Grappling Hook had a wistful, faraway look in their eyes. “Ya think I’d still be kickin’ then?” They asked, tilting their face to look at her.
Scythe snorted. “Of course ya will. I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself if I let anythin’ ever happen to ya.” She ended her words with a small bite to their cheek, a small gesture to indicate the weight and truth behind her words.
Grappling Hook winced before they cradled their cheek for a moment, yelp turning into a giggle. “D—do ya think we’d… have a place of our own? Maybe venture out to a different part of this region…”
Scythe thought for a moment. “I heard th’ outskirts borderin’ Crossroads are a tad more tolerable than here. Cooler weather ‘n all… I wouldn't mind headin’ on over there.”
She noted how Grappling Hook seemed to hesitate on a follow-up question, a choked sound leaving their lips as though they needed the moment to regain their footing on their words.
Scythe always loved the way their expression would seemingly pause as though frozen in time, undoubtedly reflecting their need to have a moment to gather up their thoughts.
“Ya think we’d have a newspawn…?”
Scythe paused, blinking away her slight shock at the question.
“What's stoppin’ us from havin’ one now?” She asked, nearly chuckling.
“Don't ya think it's a bit… impulsive?”
“Guess you're right.” She conceded, not quite reluctant as she nuzzled herself against the crook of their neck. “Y’know, ya really are just like th’ perfect other half fer me. Always there t’ keep me in check, like a dog herdin’ sheep.”
“I expected ya to know by now that there's nothin’ I love more than bein’ by yer side,” they hummed.
“And I’m sure you’ll be there fer as long as I live. I’m real lucky t’ have ya there.” She said, pressing an array of kisses to their cheek before ending her spree with a soft bite to the meat of it.
Grappling Hook winced once more before sighing, taking Scythe’s face into their palms. Their eyes narrowed onto her as they slowly, softly, hesitantly tried to close the gap between the two of them. Scythe, ever perceptive, swooped in and pressed her lips onto theirs, chuckling into the move. She copied their action and held their face close as they kissed, thumb swiping against their cheek before they both parted for air.
Grappling Hook grumbled, a palm covering their warming face in embarrassment. “It’s so annoyin’...” They began. “I can’t ever get our horns t’ touch.”
Scythe tilted her head slightly. “Yer horns are a weak spot fer ya, aren't they?” She asked, not quite expecting a response. A sweet lilt enveloped her voice before she gently wrapped a palm around one of their horn’s base and softly scratched at the spot where it rested against their head.
Grappling Hook’s eyes fluttered shut as they leaned into her touch, utterly smitten. “Feels nice…”
They couldn’t ignore how disgustingly pleasant they felt within her hold, like they were fully at peace within her hands as the Inpherno itself seemingly paused just for them both. An increasingly loud part of them screamed to try and get some distance between them both— to have their gear out and ready just in case anything went awry.
Scythe’s hands shifted onto their cheeks, and she took the moment to properly cup their face in her hands, as though she was holding the world itself in her palms. Grappling Hook, giddy at being at her mercy, shut their eyes with a murmured groan leaving their lips.
Their heart thrummed far too quickly for their poor body to handle, mind racing to calm themselves down yet itching to do something— anything to keep them safe from the possibility of Scythe switching up and dropping them down in an instant.
And yet, the only thing bringing them back into reality, sending bouts of relief through their body, was Scythe herself. They grimaced at the immense energy pooling at their palms from the flurry of emotions they’d experienced in the span of one fleeting moment.
When they let their eyes open, Scythe’s gaze comfortably bore into Grappling Hook’s very being. Her beautiful eyes glowed with a degree of tenderness and love that Grappling Hook had never seen before, much less experienced firsthand. It was as though her gaze lit a fire deep within them, all-encompassing and aching to take more and more of whatever she’d give them.
“Funny that ya brought up yer horns,” Scythe chimed, as if suddenly remembering something important. “I had some downtime earlier, and, well…”
Her hands reached behind her back, seemingly slipping into her pockets and pulling something out of thin air. “I got ya somethin’!”
Two golden rings, glinting against what little sunlight remained, laid within Scythe’s palms.
“I… figured that havin’ somethin’ to honor… us… would be nice.” She spoke. How unlike her, Grappling Hook thought. Odd seeing her stumble for words.
“It… This is wonderful, Scythe.” Grappling Hook gasped, taking the rings from her. Scythe wasn't sure she’d ever heard such fondness in an inphernal’s voice before. “They're both fer me…?”
“I couldn't find anythin’ fittin’ my horns. Ain’t that just a tragedy!” She said, chuckling at the end of her remark. “Though, I figured ya wouldn't mind helpin’ lil ol’ me out ‘n paintin’ my horns a bit gold t’ match. Right, darlin’?”
“Well,” they chuckled. “It’ll be the very first we do in the mornin’. That okay with ya, sweetheart?”
Scythe felt her cheeks warm as her grin grew impossibly more delighted. “Sure is~! I’ll be holdin’ ya to that, y’know.”
Grappling Hook held up one of the rings high against the sky, trying to figure out how to open its clasp.
“Give it here. I’ll slip ‘em onto ya.”
This time, their mind was wonderfully quiet as she handled their horns with all the love and care in the world once more. They took a quick breath in before they spoke up.
“Is this… a proposal…?” Grappling Hook whispered, noting how Scythe’s hand faltered for a split-second moment.
“It… hm.” Scythe began, snapping the final ring’s clasp shut. “I… ain’t exactly an expert on marriage of all things. But, who knows…! I think gettin’ wed would be… real nice. Bein’ together… I think… I could handle livin’ a lil longer, if you’re always right there with me.”
Grappling Hook hummed. “I… I’d love nothin’ more. Would be nice to do it here, then. Honorin’ our spawnpoint…”
A beat passed as Grappling Hook shifted from side to side, getting used to the new weight on their horns. The bright, soft smile on their face as they basked in their gift made Scythe drunk with pride. Grappling Hook wrapped their arms around her neck as they finally mustered up the strength to pull her into a kiss. Scythe laughed against their lips before Grappling Hook parted for air with an audible pant that turned into a wonderful laugh. Their hand found its way onto her cheek, thumb rubbing against it as a small, warm gesture.
“It—uhm!” They began, embarrassment enveloping them as they retracted their palm off of her. “It’s gettin’ late out… reckon we should be headin’ back home.”
Scythe nodded, holding their hand wrapped tight against her own as she got off of the bench. “Could I… sleep in yer bed tonight?”
“...With me…?”
She couldn’t contain a small laugh from leaving her lips. “Well, duh!”
The cute smile Grappling Hook gave her was enough of a response. As the sun bowed down for the moon to take hold, they both headed home, hand in hand.
While Scythe got comfortable against her lover’s sleeping body, she couldn't help but think up a small prayer to whatever deity would hear her. If her prayer was answered, the Inpherno would’ve paused its constant vivacity, and let her bask in the soft moment for just a little bit longer.
Scythe wasn't expecting for the only warmth which dared to embrace her to be a byproduct of someone else's outburst. As warmth undoubtedly lapped up her skin with smoke clinging tight against her throat and vision, the only thoughts flowing through her mind were mere yearnings for the gentle comfort of her lover’s embrace just once more.