Hearthlock

It looks like it's 5am.

The biodome was still in its night cycle, slowly brightening every few minutes to imitate a day on earth. there's a soft breeze that feels like a gentle caress. it's the perfect temperature for Ryland's sweater that's wrapped around your shoulders.

You're sitting on the beach with him. His leg presses against yours, body heat bleeding into your skin. A mug of tea sits in your hands. it's spiced and goes down easy, feeling like a soothing balm in the chilly weather.

Ryland has his own cup, held haphazardly as he looks out at the water with squinted eyes. You can only see the side of his face—the delicate slope of his nose, angle of his jaw, and the way his throat works each swallow. Even in the dim light he's the most breathtaking person you'd ever seen.

This had become a ritual for the two of you. Each morning, you'd wake up early to be in each other's company. Some days you'd sit on the beach, play Scrabble, or discuss the silly things the Pebbles said during class. It was a slice of normality you'd clung to. Having quiet moments with Ryland before the day chaos set in.

You take a deep breath in, letting the salty air infiltrate your lungs. The Eridians had finally gotten the temperature perfect. It was warm but not too warm, and the perfect amount of cool to feel refreshing.

Ryland lazily wraps his arm around your waist, pulling you closer to him. He's solid muscle but touches tender. Gentle in each motion. His head dips down to press a kiss against your temple, sighing against your skin.

The scent of soap and mint twirls around you like a comforting embrace. It's a smell that's always lingered around Ryland. You were sure if you could only smell this for the rest of your life, you'd be happy. He smelled like home.

"Missed you last night." You mumble, letting your head rest on his shoulder.

"I know." His sleep-frayed voice comes out low and deep. "Sorry, sunshine. Rocky was asking me so many questions last night—and then Adrian chimed in and.."

A soft laugh bubbles in your throat. Leave it up to the two of the biggest chatterboxes to keep your chatterbox boyfriend chattering for hours.

"What were they asking you about?"

Ryland sighs, pausing for a moment. His voice comes out sheepishly. "They were on the laptop. Rocky found out about marriage and Adrian wanted to know when we would—"

"No way." You murmur, big grin stretching across your face. You crane your neck to look up at him from your place on his shoulder.

Ryland looks down, breath fanning across your face softly. "Way. She was all like, why grace and mate no marry, question?"

That sounded exactly like Adrian. You could hear her sassy tone in your head, even envision her putting one of her limbs against her carapace like she was cocking her hip.

"What'd you say?" You ask him, voice softening.

Ryland gazes at your sparkling eyes. They're the eyes he looked into each morning and night, knowing he'd never be able to live without them. There's a second where he doesn't want to admit what he said. It brought a light blush to dust his cheeks, making him swallow before speaking.

"I..uh, said I hadn't asked you yet."

Yet.

That meant something entirely different from I haven't asked. He said he hadn't asked yet. Meaning the thought of it had been in his mind—and that he intended to act upon it. The breath is your lungs gets stolen. It catches in your throat, frozen there like a lump.

He wanted to marry you.

It didn't matter when—what mattered was that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you. Warmth unfurls through your limbs like wildfire.

The mug of tea gets discarded in the sand. Your hand comes up to cup the side of his face and bring him in for a gentle kiss.

His lips brush against yours. He smiles into the kiss, pressing tenderly against yours. It's loving. It's the kind of kiss that's light in pressure but heavy in words.

When you pull back, you're looking at him like he'd hung the stars in the sky.

"I'd say yes if you did." You whisper.

Ryland's eyes widen. there's a second where he thinks he didn't hear you correctly. But he had. You said you'd agree to getting married to him. His heart skips a beat in his chest.

The tips of his ears turn pink. "Yeah?"

You grin at the bashful tone of his voice. "Yeah, I would."

He lets your words sink into his skin.

They unlock a feeling of adoration in his chest. He'd thought about asking you to marry him since they touched down on Erid. It was in the back of his mind, speaking to him like the green goblin mask. But he's always pushed it away. It was unethical. The Eridians had no idea how to throw a wedding—well, they didn't until last night.

But now they do.

And gosh, he wanted to marry you.

"Marry me." He says quietly, raising a hand to cup your cheek. "Make me the happiest man on Erid and be the women I wake up to and fall asleep to."

His thumb runs over your cheekbone, a bittersweet smile curving the corners of his mouth up.

Tears spring to your eyes.

They prickle at your lashes, just collecting, never doing you the service of dripping down your cheek.

"Yes." You breathe. "I'll marry you."

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