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Consciousness was slow to come to him… he was groggy. Cold… he… gods, he hurt … a soft whimper escaped his throat as he struggled to move and opened his eyes. He heard movement, and then… a warm hand on his arm.
“Vax!” The relief was palpable, but the voice was gentle and loving. A moment later he felt the kiss to his forehead, and was inhaling the soft, comforting scent of cotton blossom, with the slight hints of freesia, sandalwood and citrus.
He managed to turn his head into that familiar scent, seeking it out…
“Hnnmmhh… mmhh… mmhhh…”
“Shhh… It’s alright… I’m here…”
Fingers stroked his hair, and the warm hand clutched his cold fingers. He swallowed, trying to force his eyes open.
“... V-Vex…?”
“I’m right here, brother…” She whispered to him. “Don’t force it. Take your time…”
“W-Whuh…?”
“You’re in the hospital, darling…” She told him. “There… there was an accident… Do you remember?”
… did he?
“Nnnhhh…” He groaned.
“A car crash?” She prompted. “You… you were hurt. Very badly. You needed surgery, and transfusions, but… you’re going to be alright, Vax…”
… car crash…
His heart began to pound… He sucked in a breath, as the memory suddenly came to him. The sudden sight of bright lights in the dark, and the sound of tires screeching on wet pavement, and desperately shouting “ Percy, watch out!” before he was shunted out of his body. All sense of presence was gone, and existence was deafening noise, blinding light or total blackout and nothing in between, no up or down, no right or left, everything was momentum and inertia and he was trapped at its mercy… He saw one last thing… his lover’s black form, silhouetted against a white light, and he screamed his name and tried to reach out to him, before—
Vax gasped and his eyes fluttered open, darting around, frantically.
“P-Percy…” He groaned, now struggling to get up.
“Vax, stop,” Vex’ahlia told him, leaning over him and pressing him back down to the bed with a hand to his shoulder. “Lie still.”
“Where’s Percy?!” Vax demanded, his voice hoarse from disuse, but the desperation coming through loud and clear.
“Percival is fine, Vax,” Vex soothed, leaning into his line of sight, catching his gaze. “Look at me. Brother… Percy is fine. ” She smiled and gave him a reassuring nod.
“... Where is he?” Vax asked her, a plaintive whine in his voice and his brows pinching together in distress. It was clear what he was really asking… if Percy was okay, why wasn’t he here?
Vex swallowed, and lowered her eyes. “Percival is… dealing with a few things.” She told him, softly. “He… wants nothing more than to be here with you, right now, but… your accident had some unexpected consequences, and he has… he felt that since you had me to sit with you, he would serve you better by… doing some… damage control.”
Vax frowned. “What? Sister…” He opened and closed his mouth a few times, not even knowing how to respond to that.
“Just rest,” she told him. “You don’t have to worry about it now.”
“The fuck I won’t! Is Percy in trouble?!”
“No!” She exclaimed. “No, nothing like that! You were hit by a drunk driver; you were the victims, you’ve done nothing wrong.”
He stared at her for a long stretch. She just gave him a thin smile, and stroked his hair again.
“... what aren’t you telling me…?” He murmured. Her hand stilled, and her smile faded. “Sister…” She dropped her eyes. “... Where’s my phone?” That made her go tense. Her eyes snapped up and went wide, and a look of worry and… guilt? Appeared on her face. He lifted his head a bit at that. “Vex?”
“... uh… you don’t–”
“Vex’ahlia,” he growled, sternly.
“Vax, lie down and relax, you need to–”
“Phone.” He demanded. “Now.”
She grimaced. “... brother…” But she turned, leaned over and picked it up from the rolling table nearby. She didn’t give it to him; she clutched it tightly in her fingers. “I… I went into your phone…”
“You what?!” Vax exclaimed, eyes going wide in shock.
“While you were out,” she went on. “I… held it up in front of your face for the facial recognition to unlock shit…”
“ To do what?!” He demanded, angrily.
She swallowed, eyes darting around anxiously as she fidgeted with the thing.
“I… I went into all of your social media accounts–”
“You what?!”
“--to change all of the privacy settings.”
“What?!”
“To keep as much as possible from being visible to the public…”
“ Why?! ”
“But…”
“Vex’ahlia!!!”
She was staring at him, anxiously. “Vax… you and Percy… it’s all over.”
He went silent, and his eyes widened. “... what?”
“... there was a photographer. At the scene of the crash. At the gala. There are photos and video. Of you and Percy. Together at the gala. Percy picking you up on the corner afterwards, with your shirt open...” Vax went pale. “And pictures of the wreck. Before the ambulance got there… And the two of you in the car. And…” She shook her head. “They got a shot where you can clearly see your pants are undone…”
Vax lay back, eyes closed, and swallowed again.
“By the time we knew any of these pictures existed,” Vex whispered, “they were all over the news and internet. And they were already going through your socials, and…”
Vax groaned.
“I put all your accounts on ‘private’, but… they’ve already got so much already, Vax… I’m sorry…”
“What are they saying?!” He cried.
“... we don’t need to talk about any of th–”
“ What are they saying, Vex’ahlia?!”
“... I… I’ve not… really looked.” She admitted. “I… all I know is that… they’re not reporting that Percy is dating you.”
“... I’m his whore ,” Vax concluded. She lowered her eyes, her shoulders sagging.
“Percy’s trying to… deal with it,” she told him.
“He should deny it,” Vax gasped. She looked at him, sharply. “Tell them he was giving me a ride home as a favor, nothing more. And we keep our distance from now on.”
“And what about the next time we go to an event toge–”
“ We don’t, Vex’ahlia!” Vax snapped. “I’ve weaseled my way into my last high society gala. I can’t go back! Even if I could, I can’t get within fifty feet of Percival without causing a scandal!”
“So what?!” She demanded. “You just sneak around in the dark and–”
He laughed, sharply. “Don’t you get it?” He asked her. “... no. No hiding, no sneaking… nothing. It’s done . We say everything was a big misunderstanding, and pretend that we never… were a ‘we’... He’s still ‘Most Eligible Bachelor’ with his pick of anyone he wants!”
“... Vax,” she said, stunned, “he wants you! ”
“Then he’s out of his fucking mind,” Vax spat, turning away. “They’re gonna fucking crucify him for being with me! Don’t try to tell me that they aren’t ripping him to shreds for it already! There’s a reason we kept it under wraps!”
“Vax…”
“I… I need to be alone, Vex…” He gasped.
“Vax, I don’t–”
“Please!”
She sighed. “I’ll… go get a coffee…” And she rose and made her way to the door. “I’m going to let the nurse know you’re awake.”
“... fine.” He mumbled.
He waited for the door to close and then started looking around. He didn’t fail to notice that she had discretely taken his phone with her. Dammit… the remote control was thoroughly out of his reach, too…
Fuck… Fuck!
Well… he could be patient. If she really told the nurse he was awake, they would have someone in to poke and prod soon enough. And he was right. It took less than ten minutes before a nurse came in, giving him a smile and gentle words, welcoming him back to the waking world. She asked questions about how he felt, made notes, checked his vitals, and soon enough, there were orders being put in for pain medication, some food, she had tucked an extra blanket around him… placed the remote control into his hand, and put a note on his file of his request that only his sister was permitted visitation rights…
And as soon as the door closed, he had turned on the television and was searching for the local news.
… four days. The gala had been four days ago.
He watched the weather forecast. The traffic report. The international headlines…
And then the local headline…
His heart skipped a beat when he saw the shaking video of Percy, face bruised, with some tape on a cut over his eye, walking past a horde of cameras and recorders and reports shouting questions at him, from the car at the curb to the doors of the downtown building that his office was in, with Grog trying to fend them off until Percy managed to duck inside…
“Local CEO of Whitestone Enterprises, Percival de Rolo, has hardly been taking it easy since being discharged from the hospital following this horrific wreck on Saturday night,” new anchor Hazel Copperpot reported.
His stomach clenched as the screen flashed the picture of the twisted wreck of Percy’s porsche…
“While the story started as yet another drunk driving incident, when the intoxicated driver rear-ended de Rolo into the path of a third vehicle, the story has blown into a scandal of much larger proportions, involving Whitestone Enterprises CFO, Vex’ahlia Vessar, and her twin brother.”
A video was shown, from just a few nights ago, of Vax and his sister at the gala, laughing and talking with Percy and Gilmore and Keyleth and Allura… Most of the video was grayed out, preserving a circle, to highlight the twins.
“Children of Syngorian Ambassador, Syldor Vessar–” fuck, they had to bring him into this?! “--Miss Vessar has been the CFO for Whitestone Enterprises for two years now, and while her academic track record has certainly made her one of the most sought-after minds in every corner of the financial sector, landing this particular position certainly raised a lot of questions.”
“You’re not wrong,” Hazel’s partner, Loquatius, laughed, “given that the position is not one usually given to someone as young and inexperienced. De Rolo certainly didn’t have any lack of candidates seeking the position. There were more than a few rumors flying around that she had slept her way into the position, but no one could produce any evidence to back up the rumors, and, well…” He laughed again, shrugging and waving a hand. “She’s certainly proven to all the naysayers that she’s got what it takes! But, uh… this certainly has put a new spin on things, Hazel.”
“Yes, it has,” Hazel nodded. “Photos from the crash, and video taken just prior, indicate that perhaps sexual favors were exchanged, not involving Miss Vessar, but Mister. ”
The video appeared, and Vax expelled his breath as though he had been punched in the gut, as he watched Percy’s Porsche pull over, and he, himself, appeared from around the corner. He had taken off his coat and tie, and had them tucked under his arm. He’d let his hair down, and unbuttoned his shirt halfway and was being a sassy little shit, teasing Percy as he sauntered up to his car, running his fingers up the hood of the Porsche before tugging his shirt open and biting his lip, suggestively, and leaning in the window. And then he was laughing and getting into the car, and could vaguely be seen pulling Percy in for a kiss by the tie around his neck before Percy pulled away.
… that was no favor from a friend… Percy couldn’t just claim that. Not with that video! Shit… Vax groaned, closing his eyes.
Loquatius hummed, nodding, “videos and images are more than just suggestive. They’re pretty incriminating.”
They were… they really were. Vax stared at the ceiling. He was drunk. That’s what he would say. He was drunk, he was being an ass. Percy never consented to being kissed. He told him off, told him not to touch him again, told him he would take him home, because he was a good guy and wanted to make sure Vax got home safely, but demanded Vax keep his hands to himself…
Loquatius was still talking. “Going through footage and images from past events, and doing interviews, it certainly seems that Miss Vessar’s twin brother, Vax’ildan, has long been attending these events, and is often seen socializing with Mr. de Rolo at these events, though we don’t have any other occasions demonstrating them leaving together, it does beg the question, Hazel: did he trade sexual favors to get his sister her position?”
“What?!” Vax gasped, eyes widening.
“He certainly has a colorful lifestyle,” Hazel nodded, and the screen was overtaken by…
“Oh gods,” Vax breathed. He felt nauseous. It was a video that someone had taken, unseen, from inside his place of work… Video was prohibited, but someone had managed it. The music was loud, the lighting was bad, but he could still easily be identified, lightly springing up and pulling himself higher on the pole at the end of the stage, flipping up, hooking his leg around it and then coiling and sliding around it in a controlled descent until he was on his chest and elbows on the stage, back arched up against the pole, showing off the damned thong he was wearing, one knee hooked around it, and the other leg extended up, his ankle hooked to anchor himself, and he had his chin propped in his hands and was grinning suggestively at the group that were right in front of him, screaming and laughing and tucking bills into his waistline…
“Unlike his sister,” Hazel continued, “he’s not pursued any higher education. He has a criminal record, his work history is spotty… It looks like he’s done work as a waiter, bartending, and most recently, his place of employment has been with an establishment that is, to put it bluntly, not exactly family friendly.”
Another video was being shown now, this one actually shot by one of his co-workers, and clearly taken from his Facebook… It was a short clip of Vax standing on the bar in his black leather knee high boots and thong, and the pseudo-pants he wore over it when he was on the floor; a pair of thin, flowy, sheer, sparkling black pants. There was a line of shot glasses along the edge of the bar and Vax had a bottle of Silver Patron in each hand, and people at the bar were shouting and chanting “ Shot! Shot! Shot! Shot!” Vax was grinning down at them, then spun the bottles in his hands, flung one up over his head, tossed the other behind his back, caught them in the opposite hands, spun them again, and then overturned them and began to pour the tequila into the line of shot glasses, slowly sliding down into the splits as he went, spreading his hands out and moving the bottles out to the sides to splash the liquor into the glasses all the way down to the very end of the line before righting the bottles and sitting up as the crowd cheered and moved in, seizing the glasses and raising them, before taking their shots, as Vax looked over their heads at the camera and grinned, raising the nearly empty bottles in a little salute before the recording ended. It had only lasted seventeen seconds…
“Well… it’s a strip club, Hazel,” Loquatius, laughed.
Vax groaned, rubbing his face. “It’s a Burlesque & Cabaret!”
A picture was shown, a selfie he had taken of himself, sandwiched between Mollymauk and Dorian, hair and makeup done, sweating and grinning, clearly at work together… they had a performance that they did together, and this was taken just after finishing it… Another picture of himself, again between Dorian and Molly, lying on the stage, and lying on top of them, also in full hair and makeup and sweating from performing, and cleavage on full display, were Opal and Morrigan, and on top of them , having leapt on top to complete the pyramid for shits and giggles, squashing them and making them all laugh, was Dariax. They were all laughing.
… all the others’ faces had been blurred out, but…
“We have spoken with someone,” Loquatius said, “who talked to us under the condition of anonymity, that de Rolo did visit Mr. Vessar’s place of work before his sister was hired, and was later seen at Whitestone Enterprises, meeting with de Rolo in his office. Miss Vessar got the position shortly afterwards.” A picture appeared, a couple of years old, of a mortified looking Percival sitting at the club, with Vax standing over him, straddling his chair, smirking down at him with a hand on his shoulder, and then another of him, posing behind Percy, arms folded on the back of his chair, his chin on his shoulder and grinning at the phone… Percy looked like a deer in headlights.
… Vax had never seen that picture before. But he remembered that night. It was the night he and Percy met… and he had no idea that the cute little corporate suit that had been bullied into the club by the other corporate suits for his 21st birthday, that he was giving a lapdance to after one of the suits had slipped him a fat tip, was his sister’s prospective boss!!!
Gods, that had been awful. Some of those jerks still looked down on Vex because of him. They looked down on Percy because he still hired Vex, despite what her brother did for a living. They sure as hell looked down on Vax. He had gone to the office twice to see his sister… the way they looked at him…? Twice was enough.
“--prostituting himself for favors?” He blinked and looked up at the screen. Had he just heard Loquatius right?!
“Oh, without a doubt,” a voice said, with a distortion effect over it, to preserve the person’s identity. “During the final interview process two years back, he actually came with his sister when she came to meet with upper management. Multiple witnesses were there when Percival de Rolo asked to speak with him alone. And saw them go into his private office. This was only a day or two after those pictures were taken. And a week or two before Vex’ahlia was offered the position. I highly doubt that’s a coincidence. He’s slept with CEO Shaun Gilmore of Gilmore’s Glorious Goods, Llc., Producer Scanlan Shorthalt of Scanlan Shorthalt Music Llc. Recording Studios, Taryon Darrinton of DarringtonPress Llc. Publishing Company… There may have even been something with the son of Draconia’s Prime Minister, Kruvanis Stormwind, the Air Ashari’s Voice of the Tempest… I’ve even heard of some darker stuff… letting one of the more… suspect ArchFey strangle him… My impression is, he’s up for anything, if the price is right.”
Vax couldn’t hear anymore. They were talking, but he couldn’t hear a damn thing… his pulse was pounding in his ears.
They thought he was a prostitute . They were… on television , showing the whole world that… he was a prostitute, selling his body to get his sister her job?! That Percy was just using him?! It was all about what he could get… it was all the lies that the arrogant wealthy pricks whispered behind his back at their fancy parties… and they were saying that they were all true.
Percy should be investigated. Gilmore should. All these people should be investigated. Vax should be arrested and investigated… Vex should lose her job . People who were passed up were filing complaints and appealing the decision…
Vax didn’t even realize he was sobbing until his sister’s arms were around him, and she was holding him, and rocking him and shushing him…
He was given a sedative…
He stared up at his sister as it took hold, and she wiped away his tears. “... What have I done?” He cried.
“Nothing, brother,” she told him, fighting back her own tears. “Absolutely nothing.”
They wouldn’t let him watch television now.. Vex let him have his phone, but told him to stay off of social media… He did as she advised. He didn’t want to see what they were saying about him.
Twice, someone came to tell him that Mr. de Rolo was wanting to visit. Vax refused to see him. He asked Vex after the second time, if she had told Percy what he had told her; it’s over.
“Yes, brother,” she scowled. “Believe me, I will never forgive you for making me break up with your boyfriend for you!” And she stormed from the room.
Percy had texted him, saying that the news and media was not something that couldn’t be handled. Vax deleted the text, and blocked his number. Cassandra messaged, telling him that Percy was not going to let the gossip-hungry media slander Vax like they were, and he certainly wasn’t going to let them tear them apart. Vax blocked Cassandra. Gilmore texted him that they all had thicker skin than this. And facing this together was the best approach.
In tears, Vax sent a message to Gustav, the owner of the Fletching & Moondrop Lounge Burlesque & Cabaret, giving notice of his resignation, and then set his phone to block everyone, but Vex’ahlia.
It was twelve days after the accident when he was finally discharged. Vex had been… distant and distracted… She had been on her phone a lot, texting. He assumed it was because she was distraught by everything going on, added onto by his telling her of his intention to leave town as soon as possible. He wanted to get as far from her, and from Percy, and everything else that his life had become, as he possibly could.
He needed to start over… a new place. A new life. Become a new person… She argued with him that they had never been apart. He had never been on his own before! He argued back that he had to go somewhere, where he wouldn’t be able to ruin the lives of everyone else around him…
“Brother,” Vex said softly, as they waited for the nurse to bring the wheelchair. “You should know… the press has been waiting for you to be released…”
He sighed and looked down. “I expected as much.” He admitted.
She nodded. The nurse was there shortly after, and Vex touched his shoulder. “I’ll go get the car,” she sighed, turning and leaving. Vax was silent, wincing as he struggled into the wheelchair with the nurse’s assistance. He stared at his lap as he was wheeled through the corridor to the elevator, not wanting to see if anyone was staring at him… He would have preferred to stay in the elevator forever, but it opened far too soon…
The hospital lobby was humming softly with people milling about, but they kept looking towards the front doors… Vax swallowed. As they approached the doors, the nurse slowed.
“Thank you,” Vex stated. “I’ll take him from here.” And then she lifted her phone to her face, saying, “we’re coming out now.” Before hanging up and pocketing it.
Vax blinked. “... Vex?” He looked up, turning back to look behind him as the nurse stepped away as his sister began to push the chair forward. “You– why aren’t you in the car?! Why are you–”
“I’m sorry, Vax,” she told him. “But I’m not letting you throw away your whole life and everyone in it because you think that it’s your fault that the news is reporting a steaming pile of bullshit!”
“Vex’ahlia?!” Vax exclaimed in alarm, now looking forward, fearfully, to see just what level of betrayal his sister had committed against him…
And his heart nearly stopped in his chest…
It was the utmost betrayal…
…
The press was there. And they were swarming like sharks in a feeding frenzy… Because as she was pushing him out the doors, three black Chevy Tahoes were pulling up, one pulling forward, and two staying back. And between them, pulling to a stop directly in front of the doors at the curb, was a familiar blue BMW SUV.
“... Vex’ahlia…!” Vax whined, his eyes going wide as he watched the familiar man putting the car in park and getting out of the vehicle and walk around the front, ignoring the flashing cameras.
Percy removed his prescription sunglasses and tucked them into the front pocket of his trademark long blue coat, and slid on his normal glasses, walking up towards them, eyes on Vax. Car doors could be heard opening and closing, but Vax wasn’t paying any attention as Gilmore and Scanlan and Keyleth and Tary all appeared from one car, with no idea that Pike was stepping out of the hospital behind him. That his co-workers had emerged from the other cars; Molly and Dorian, and Morrigan, Opal, Fearne, Dariax, and their security personnel, Orym and Fy’ra Rai…
Vax only saw Percy.
“... Why are you here,” he gasped. “I… I didn’t want to see you.”
“Did you really think that I would tolerate you sending your sister to break up with me, and to tell me that you’re planning to leave town and never see me or speak to me again?” Percy demanded to know, looking hurt.
Vax bowed his head, squeezing his eyes shut. “I was always afraid that this could happen.”
“And we decided it was worth it,” Percy reminded him.
“We decided the risk was worth taking for ourself. I never thought about if I was okay about the risk to you . Or my sister. And everyone else in my life. I was selfish. It’s nothing for you. You’re… you . I risked nothing! You’re a big step up for me! But you? With me? I’m dragging you into the gutter, Percival. And… you don’t deserve that.”
“You do no such thing,” Percy told him, kneeling down before him and taking his hands. “Yesterday… I held a press conference.” Vax went still. “And I let them ask me whatever they wanted. And they were all with me.” Vax slowly looked up… and his eyes widened when he saw Gilmore and Keyleth and Tary and Scanlan. “Molly spoke for your job.”
“ Burlesque! Not stripping!” Molly shouted. Percy’s lips twitched.
“And I told them exactly what happened. How we met. The day after. The harassment and discrimination you faced. The attempts at extortion. And, in trying to protect you and your sister… how I… fell in love with you.” Percy smiled, and Vax winced and looked away.
“Darling,” Percy murmured, reaching up and cupping his cheek. “They can only win, if you let them. I don’t plan to. In fact… I plan to deal them the defeating blow. Right here, right now.”
Vax slowly turned and looked at him.
“When we first met… you mortified me.” Percy admitted and people began to laugh. “The second time we met, I was mortified for you. And I would not let people treat you and your sister badly, simply because of what you did to earn a living. And I am still sorry that you and Vex’ahlia had to deal with that. But while we dealt with that… I got to know you. You didn’t sell yourself to me, you didn’t proposition me, you didn’t,” he turned and shot a few looks at the press around them, “suck me off, or nail me…” Several of them looked away, awkwardly, and Percy looked back up at Vax. “... You charmed me. You made me laugh. You showed me how to relax, and have fun… not like that… ” He rolled his eyes to the heavens. “And… you showed me how happy I could be. And if you think I’m going to let you walk out of my life because of gossip and lies… well… you should know me better by now, Vax’ildan.”
He took a deep breath. “But just in case you, and the world, need a bit more convincing…” He dropped his hand from Vax’s face and slipped it into his pocket. “Vax… I don’t give a damn if it’s cabaret, burlesque, stripping, bartending… As long as it makes you happy, I’m happy. I just want to be able to come home, and see you smile. And hold you. And tell you that I love you. And if you want to keep dancing, fine. You do it. In whatever state of dress and makeup and glitter you want. If you want to stop… fine. But that is your choice. You sure as hell won’t hear me telling you what to do. It’s your life. But… there is something that I will ask you to do…”
“... what?” Vax asked, quietly, struggling to hold back his tears. Percy smiled at that, and drew his hand from his pocket and lifted the little box.
Vax froze, and Vex gasped, sharply, startled. The cameras started flashing.
The box opened.
A ring…
It was a fucking ring!!!
A thin band of dark, silvery-almost-black tungsten, sandblasted to give it a weathered appearance, but also making it sparkle, it had an inlaid band of some kind of stone that was flakes of blacks and whites and grays and silvers and…
Vax looked at Percy, trying to find his breath to ask, but… he didn’t need to. Percy was smiling, anxiously, hopefully …
“... Vax’ildan… will you get me off of that gods’ forsaken ‘Most Eligible Bachelor’s’ list, and marry me?”
Vax gaped at him, and his brain blew a fuse.
It was a yes or no question! That was all he had to say! Yes, or no!
Did he say yes? He… did not.
Did he say no? Alas… that was also not what came from his mouth…
Instead, he blinked, and then blurted, stupidly– petulantly, “... but I like you on that list! Those portraits they get of you for those articles doing that smolder are fucking hot!!!”
… Percy blinked, then deadpanned. Vex groaned, and face palmed. And from behind Percy, Mollymauk called “Aye, I’ll drink t’ that!” as Gilmore threw his head back, and laughed. Percy sighed and bowed his head, shaking it for a moment, before lifting one hand the rubbing it over his face, pushing his glasses up, before straightening them again and looking back up at Vax with a sad, worried little smile.
“... I do love you dearly, Vax’ildan,” he told him. “But… is that a no, then…?”
Vax blinked. “... to what?”
Percy blinked, then raised his eyebrows. Vax stared at him… and then his gaze dropped to the little ring that was still sitting in the box, even as his sister hissed, “oh my fucking gods, Vax!!!”
Vax went very, very still…
“... wait… you’re serious…” He breathed, the realization of the situation, of the question, of the proposal, just dawning upon him. “Percival… you’re serious!”
“Of course I am!” Percy exclaimed, laughing incredulously. “You think I would get down on one knee and whip out a ring in front of a bunch of paparazzi and reporters on a lark?” Vax gaped. “Now that I have your poor little head wrapped around the situation, I’ll ask you again, in slightly simpler terms: Vax’ildan, my love, will you marry me?”
Vax stared at him. He didn’t even realize there were tears in his eyes until he felt one run down one cheek, then down the other. He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them and staring into anxious blue eyes.
He nodded.
“... yes.” He couldn’t help his smile as he saw Percy light up before him, bright as the sun. “Yes, I will.”
And then Percy was fumbling with the box, decided fuck it, and tossed the thing, and was sliding the ring onto Vax’s left hand. Then he tilted his head up, threaded his fingers through Vax’s hair, and kissed him.
“Can’t wait to make their wedding the scandal of the decade!” Molly cheered.
Percy drew back slightly. “Hmmm… he is so not invited…” He hummed, before kissing Vax again.
Vax laughed, softly. “Are you kidding? That’s my Best Man, right there!”
Percy drew back and gave Vax a look. “... We’ll talk.” Was all he said, then stood. And then, ignoring Vex, Tary, and Gilmore all gasping and shouting at him to stop that, he was still healing himself, he slid an arm under Vax’s knees and shoulders, and lifted him from the wheelchair, kissing him again, before he turned and walked towards his car.
“Um… I can walk,” Vax told him, blushing. “They just require people be wheeled out. Liability or some shit…”
“I know,” Percy smiled, as Tary opened the passenger door for him. “But I like it better like this. And it’s a good photo op for all the jerks. They can kiss my ass. You’re not my damned escort… you’re my fiancé. And now they all know it.” And he kissed him again before easing him down onto the seat of the car. “I love you… and they can all go to hell.”
“... I don’t think you’ve ever been as hot as you’ve been just now…” Vax told him, his voice low and rough.
Percy grinned, pulling away. “Don’t tempt me. Pretty sure you’re on restrictions.” And he chuckled at the look of dismay that took over Vax’s face, and closed the door. He ignored the press yelling at him as he walked around the car, but grinned at their friends as he passed, before sliding into driver’s seat. They were all dispersing back to their own rides now, to get the hell out of here before the jackals descended onto them next…
Percy buckled his seatbelt, made sure that Vax was safely buckled in, then leaned over, and kissed him again.
“... I love you,” Vax sighed.
“I love you too,” Percy smiled. “Let’s go home.”
And the car pulled away.