Work Text:
“Come to my office after work,” Simon had said, hand on Sebastian’s elbow as they stood in the hallway outside Sebastian’s office. “We can travel home together for once.”
Those words still echo around Sebastian’s head; just what did Simon mean? They often finish work at different times and almost always commute home separately, and Sebastian can’t remember the last time they did so by coincidence. But Simon sounded like he was deliberately planning around Sebastian’s schedule. Of course, he loves being with Simon and hates taking the train by himself, but he has to wonder what Simon has planned.
He stops dead in the middle of the hallway, earning a confused glance from Prosecutor Gavin. But he doesn’t pay attention. Sebastian’s heart starts racing, a horrible tension gripping at his chest like someone is crushing his ribs. Is… is it bad news? Does Simon want to go home with him because he thinks Sebastian is cheating on him or something? Or does…
He doesn’t want to finish that thought. Straightening his back, Sebastian heaves in a deep breath and times how long he holds it, trying to follow the breathing advice his therapist gave him. He rubs his gloved hands together again and again, forcing himself to calm down. Why must he always worry?
Once he trusts himself not to freak out, Sebastian continues his walk. When he reaches Simon’s office, he knocks twice on the door.
“Enter!”
Nervous sweat making the insides of his gloves stick to his palms, Sebastian opens the door and enters the office. As always, Taka perches on Simon’s shoulder, whilst Simon packs his laptop and paperwork into his leather satchel.
He turns when Sebastian approaches, and smirks. “Ah, it’s you, Sebastian—” And then the smirk vanishes. “Bleeding hell, are you all right?”
“Huh?” Sebastian says, swallowing hard.
“You look a mess. Have you been panicking over trivial things again?” Simon steps closer, studying Sebastian. “Oh, I see,” he says, and Sebastian wonders why he decided to date someone so knowledgeable about psychology.
“See wh-what?”
Simon sighs and raises a hand. “May I touch your shoulder?”
Sebastian nods, and Simon plants his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder, squeezing firmly but not hard enough to hurt.
“Right, I believe I have worked out what is bothering you,” Simon says. “Have you got yourself worked up about my request? Do you think I asked you to commute home with me because you have done something wrong or I am angry with you?”
Sebastian stares down at the floor, pulling his baton out of his bag. He bends it slightly, rubbing it against the now-damp palm of his hand. “Uh, well… yeah. Sorry.”
“Hmph. For the last time, Sebastian, you do not need to fret. If I was ever angry with you, I wouldn’t be passive aggressive and make you wait all day to find out. But, for the record, I’m not angry with you. All right?”
Sebastian nods. “Yeah.”
“May I hug you?”
He nods again, and Simon wraps his arms around him, pulling Sebastian into a tight embrace.
“I promise you my intentions behind asking this of you were good ones,” Simon says. “I was going to wait until we got home, but… I didn’t realise you were worrying like this. So I might as well tell you know.”
“Tell me what?” Sebastian asks, stumbling slightly when Simon breaks the hug and takes a step backwards.
Simon holds out his hand and Sebastian takes it, neither of them commenting on the sweatiness. And as Simon carefully holds his hand, he –
He drops to one knee and stares up at Sebastian.
“Sebastian Debeste, would you do the honour of marrying me?” Simon says.
All Sebastian can do is stare, his mouth slightly open, as he replays those words over and over in his head. Did Simon really just say that?
“Alas, as I was planning on doing this at home, I left the ring there – oh, and it is on a necklace, Sebastian, as I know you wouldn’t be able to wear a ring with your gloves on. Well, I hope this is satisfactory.” Simon tilts his head. “Sebastian?”
Sebastian blinks slowly. So… he didn’t mishear. Simon really just proposed to him.
“S-Simon?”
“Hmm?”
“Uh, I, uh…” Sebastian stammers over his words, his face flushing.
“Take your time.”
His eyes start to sting.
“Um… I… y-yes,” he mumbles, finally getting the right word out of his mouth. “Yes, I… of course I’ll marry you.”
The stinging in his eyes gets worse, a lump appearing in his throat. As someone who cries a lot, Sebastian knows this feeling well. But… but he rarely feels like this when he’s happy.
Slowly, Simon stands up, still holding his hand. “If you need to cry, then cry.”
Sebastian sniffs, the tears filling his eyes and blurring his vision. “I, I’m not upset. I’m happy.”
Simon smiles, a soft smile he reserves for the people he cares about the most, and squeezes his hand.
Tears spill over, trickling down his cheeks. “Uh, Simon, s-sorry for messing up your plan.”
“It wasn’t important. Now, we should go home and start planning our wedding, eh?”
Sebastian chuckles through his tears. “Yeah, sounds good to me.”