Moonlight, part 3
Corbeau x GN-Reader Word Count: 1,690 Arceus, you were so nervous and for no good reason either.
Slight timeskip to this part, I had so much fun writing this! The beta gallery loved one scene in particular, and I think y'all will too.
Part 1 - Part 2
Arceus, you were so nervous and for no good reason either.
Everything was going exactly to plan, Corbeau had finished his work right on time, dinner had been everything it needed to be, and the sky was clear with the moon watching dutifully overhead. Perfect for the nighttime stroll you had suggested.
Now the two of you were rounding Centrico Plaza, hand in hand and the ring in your bag.
And you were still nervous.
You hadn’t been nervous at all when you had covertly asked Philippe for Corbeau’s ring size, nor had you been nervous when you and Philippe spent hours deliberating over tea the style and material you’d get the ring made in. You were maybe a bit nervous when you were mentally revising what you were going to say until the early hours of the morning. You were maybe a little more nervous when you picked out your clothes for your date. Maybe even a little more nervous when you checked the ring for the millionth time, marveling in the fact that it was real.
You were definitely nervous when Corbeau came into the room mere milliseconds after you’d tucked the ring away into your bag.
“I’ve been thinking about something.” You pressed into Corbeau’s side, trying your absolute best to hide any hint of nervousness as the two of you walked hand in hand, shoulders practically pressed against one another. You'd rehearsed what you were going to say probably a thousand times now, but it still didn’t make you feel any less nervous.
“And what would that be?” Corbeau chimed, the same unexpected soft and reassuring expression on his face that made you fall for him in the first place. It was the look he reserved only for you, and it never failed to make you melt.
Instead you averted your gaze, as much as you didn’t want to stop looking at him.
“-Just been thinking about when I realized I cared about you.” You answered, “I think I fell pretty hard and fast for you. You surprised me, really.”
“I surprised you?” He almost laughed, “Mon coeur, what is this about?”
“Nothing special.” You quickly lied, “I realized we’ve been together for a few years now… and as for you surprising me. Given how we met I wasn’t expecting you to be so kind, or attentive to others. But you were that and so much more… I’m really lucky to have you.”
“Luck, is it? I don’t think luck had anything to do with my falling for you, mon amour.” Corbeau tucked his free hand into his pocket, “You were and are a good person, a formidable trainer, and fiercely reliable. I trust you entirely, and unflinchingly. Really, my heart was yours the moment you defeated me in our promotion match.”
You could feel your cheeks flush and your ears burn, Corbeau had always been verbally affectionate with you in a way that felt raw and honest, as wrapped up in pretty language as it was. But this… this felt like it was leading to something. You couldn’t place what.
“Maybe luck wasn’t the best word.” You corrected, trying to ever so subtly maneuver the two of you in a particular direction, “What I mean is that you’ve made my life into something I never thought it would be. Not that I never felt undeserving of love, but that you’ve taken up such a space in my life that I can’t remember who I was before I met you, and I can’t fathom the person I’d be if I had never met you.”
You were rambling, and getting close to your destination. And Corbeau was letting you ramble. You couldn’t tell if he was onto your plan, but you continued.
“It’s just… so amazing to me how important you’ve become to me, you’re my partner! We’re in love, I’m in love! My life is better because you are in it! It just got me thinking..” You had a plan, a script, you’d practiced it, “I think I fell in love with you early on, but I didn’t realize it until that night in Galerie de la Lune.”
You were there now, standing exactly where he had stood those years ago. This was your plan.
“Do you remember that night?” The moonlight bathed the two of you in a pale glow. He was just as beautiful now as he was back then, your heart yearned, reminding itself that he was yours.
“Of course I do.” Corbeau stepped towards you, tenderly resting a hand against your face, his fingers tracing your jaw, his thumb brushing along the top of your cheekbone, “How could I forget? I had every confidence in you, and any worry I had was gone the moment you finally arrived.”
“I thought you were the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.” You admitted, not for the first time, “You still are.”
“Careful, mon coeur, flattery will get you everywhere.” His thumb rested on your lips, his fingers curling beneath your chin as he lightly traced his thumb down and tilted your face towards him, “-But only because it’s from you.”
“Beau..” his name slipped past your lips with an air of near reverence, barely above a whisper. Your heart hammered against your chest, your hands shook.
He whispered your name, softly, pressing the gentlest of kisses to your lips as if willingly committing the gravest of sins.
“You said that you were the lucky one. Non, the lucky one was me.” And he meant it, you knew he did. His eyes never left yours as he sank to his knees, his hands clasping yours and bringing them to his face, brushing his lips against your knuckles, “To be loved by you, despite the life I’ve led… There has been no greater treasure, no kinder reward.”
Your heart leapt into your throat as you desperately tried to find words to reply with. You had a script, you’d written it yourself, you’d practiced it so many countless times… and you couldn’t remember a word of it now. How could you? When he was on his knees before you? His hands holding yours so tenderly, his gaze soft and so painfully reverent, his heart bare before you in a way that you knew was only ever meant for you?
“Corbeau.” You managed after a hard swallow, your face burning, “would you..?”
The words barely came out, a strained whisper covered by Corbeau’s next words:
“Marry me.”
It was a whisper, a plea, and yet still, a proclamation loud enough to silence the world.
Your knees buckled and you tried to keep standing, tears burned your eyes and were on the cusp of spilling. You blinked. Taking a breath.
“I was about to ask you that.” You couldn’t stop the quivering smile you had, nor the way that your voice shook with excitement and nervousness all in one. Corbeau looked perplexed for a moment, then his eyes widened, his jaw went slack, a rare look of surprise gifted the moment as you quickly fell to your knees, leveling your eyes with his.
You pulled out the box the ring was in, opening it. The ring itself was a rather simple band of polished steel, but what was enticing about it were the distinct patterns that rippled and flowed serenely throughout the metal. It reminded you of him the moment you saw it, of the carefully curated rock garden in his office and the poison drip accents of his suit. You had thought it perfect in the moment, but now anxiety washed over you as you presented the ring to him. What if he didn’t like it? What if it wasn’t elaborate enough? You could have gone with a fancier design, more expensive materials, a jewel, maybe even-
“Ask me.” Corbeau nearly begged, swallowing hard and repeating the demand, “Ask me to marry you.”
“Corbeau,” you steadied yourself, voice quivering, “Will you marry me?”
He kissed you, having held himself back long enough. His hands tangled in your hair, his breath hot and heavy as he kissed you over and over, deeply, passionately. Peppering your skin with his answer between each kiss.
“Yes.” A kiss, “Yes.” Another kiss. He finally pulled away, resting his forehead against yours, his eyes closed, his breathing shaking with excitement.
“Yes, I will marry you.”
Your hands shook wildly as you tried to slide the ring onto his finger. With his own hands shaking too, Corbeau guided you. The ring fit him perfectly, and Corbeau admired it silently, tracing the tiny ridges across the surface before pulling you to his chest. His heart raced and laughter bubbled from him, surprised at the turn of events.
You found yourself joining him, relief washing over you, your legs feeling like jelly.
You caught your breath as your shared laughter died down. Your head felt light, the tips of your fingers tingled, and your heart felt so full that it felt as if it would burst at any given moment. There was a wild smile on your face, elation coursed through you as you locked eyes with Corbeau again.
He had steadied himself, his composure returning with cracks of elation that were practically bursting at the seams.
There was a small velvet box in his hands, and he tenderly called your name.
“I already know your answer, but I still want to hear you say it. Marry me?”
Bonus scene:
Philippe watched you wave goodbye as you left Corbeau’s office with a skip in your step, noting the glint of a ring on your hand. He made a glance towards Corbeau at his desk, unable to hide his satisfied smile at seeing the ring he helped you pick out on the boss’s hand.
Philippe settled his shoulders and pretended to ignore the fact that Corbeau was humming with a love-struck smile on his face. Philippe had placed the most reliable grunts on getting a congratulatory cake from one of the best bakeries in Lumiose, like hell were they going to let the boss not have the biggest celebration of his engagement.
