Work Text:
The golden glimmer of a ring sits on the man’s fourth finger, a promise ring of his adoration; hand held tightly by the love of his life on the seat to his right. The pure sunrise, unfiltered and of its brightest, scorching form, fills the dim cabin as morning greets the cotton below. There’s a tight clutch around his arm, accompanied by soft breathing, fingers intertwined with a hand inches smaller.
Breakfast would be served shortly. They still have four hours on this flight to go, just in time for an early lunch. He has seen the menu when they took off the night before, it’s supposed to be spicy omelettes, which excited him, because the sides included mushrooms and toast.
The sunrise is a fierce orange, just like the uniform of his lover’s libero jersey back in high school, their glory days long over with the younger’s graduation come and gone like the flutter of a butterfly, a memory of years ago. They didn’t make it to nationals in Yuu’s year, but regardless, he was more than proud because the team fought hard even at the end. So what’s there to regret? Look forward. Move on, open a new chapter, write a new story.
This was supposed to be a work trip, formally. Asahi had told Yuu that to gather inspiration for his freelance job, he was willing to put his sketch pencil down and travel for a bit. But Yuu had found some way to insert himself in Asahi’s plans, not that Asahi was really complaining - travelling the world with the person he loves most seemed absolutely perfect, a way to escape the city, find inspiration for his next highly anticipated collection. His first release with his current agency had been declared a hit with the critics, a mix of modern and the old, a trip to the past, or back to the future, as Yuu exclaimed while he was brainstorming for name ideas for his collection, and Asahi had gasped at the idea.
The ring on his fourth finger catches his eye again, matched with Yuu’s on on his left, Asahi’s fingers slotted between Yuu’s own, the back of Yuu’s hand meeting his front palm.
Again, the plans of a work trip that slowly dissolved into that of a joy trip was simply too tempting to pass up. And working with his agency only part time meant that he was free to take as much time off as he needed since he wasn’t exactly managed fully by them, just an avenue to connect to the designer world. So that was sealed - a world tour.
“Asahi-san?” Yuu’s voice is gentle, his hair soft and lacking any gel, because he had chosen to not put in any for the flight. “You’re up early.”
“I woke up earlier because of some turbulence.” Asahi shifts himself in his seat, turning his body slightly to face Yuu, hugging him closer so the younger could use Asahi’s chest as a pillow. “What woke you up?”
“Must be the excitement of finally seeing the pyramids.” Yuu’s head tilts up, eyes locking with Asahi’s. “Good morning, sunshine.”
Asahi chuckles at the pet name, cheeks rosy pink, the fluttery warmth in his gut raw but pleasant. “Good morning to you too. Did you sleep well?”
“As well as one can when they’re on a plane.” Yuu’s lips curl on one end, and where the seatbelt sits on Asahi’s hip, he can feel Yuu’s hand slip around and squeeze. “You look absolutely- what’s that word to describe glowing but you’ve just woken up?”
“Radiant?” Asahi offers.
“Yeah, that. You look radiant even though it’s like....barely seven.” Yuu grins, and Asahi only blushes more when he sees how smug Yuu gets because the younger’s compliments are always flirty, enough to get him all messed up for good.
It’s silly how morning kisses and ridiculous compliments can slowly flow into their regular, light conversation. How silly it feels so comfortable so quick, how fast Yuu wakes from his sleep and is his regular, hyper self, a ball of energy that Asahi doesn’t mind keeping up with.
“Asahi-san, twenty questions?”
“Sure.” Asahi agrees, waiting to see what they could possibly wring dry of the twenty questions spiel they’ve somehow managed to start ever since they started dating years ago. It’s gone from favourite colour to one thing you stole from your parents’ drawers in a matter of months, and yet Asahi could never be sick of how absolutely ridiculous these questions would get.
Many questions later and lots of laughing (and a half choking fit through a mouthful of warm toast from their breakfast because Yuu had asked a provocative question), it’s Yuu’s turn again, his 19th question.
“If you could be any god or mythological creature, what would you be?” Yuu asks, popping another cube of watermelon in his mouth from his breakfast set.
“That’s such a difficult one to answer.” Asahi responds, peeling a small bit of bread crust. “Don’t you think being the loch ness monster would be kinda funny? There’s so many human made myths about that creature. Like, I would enjoy sticking my head out every now and then, maybe scare a couple of people, then go back down and just….swim. Whatever it does.” Asahi explains, raising a brow. “What do you think?”
“That’s an answer I didn’t expect, but you know what? If that makes you happy.” Yuu shrugs, seeming somewhat impressed by Asahi’s bold answer. “Though I could see you as like...a really strong god.”
Now, Asahi’s interest is piqued. “Tell me more.”
Yuu takes another big bite of his remaining fruit, the gears grinding in his mind. “You remind me of Thor, or Aquaman.”
“Those are two gods I could never live up to, Yuu.”
Yuu protests through a mouthful of his last slice of pineapple. “You are strong like they are! There’s no way someone should be able to hit through a three man block the way you do!”
If Asahi could blush again, he really would, and he knows he does. Because Yuu effortlessly cheers everyone up around them, and it’s hard to feel down when Yuu is right there. And that, Asahi realizes, is why he loves the younger so damn much.
“Well, I guess I should tell you what I think you would be.” He pretends to think, and he can see the interest in Yuu’s eyes sparkle like rhinestones, the finest of cut gems. “I think of a dragon. A huge one, extremely territorial and protective.”
“Dragons are so cool!” Yuu’s eyes widen, hand tightening around Asahi’s own, gesturing widely, bigger than his own body. “Don’t you think dragons are the best creatures?”
“They are.” Asahi only laughs, unable to take his eyes off Yuu’s glimmering ones, addictive like candy, the sweet haze of adoration, the gentle brush of affection. Love is funny - one year, two, and then suddenly nine has passed and Asahi’s happier than he’s ever been.
They both have one more question each by the time their food trays are cleared and they’re laying back to rest. Asahi can’t really think of anything, so he asks a boring question which makes Yuu grumble cutely about a wasted opportunity of an answer.
“Okay, twentieth question. Your turn to ask, Yuu.”
There’s just a beat of silence, a moment of hesitation he’s never quite seen in Yuu. The libero hasn’t hesitated like this in a long time, not since high school when Yuu was deciding where his first destination would be to go fishing.
“Is something wrong?”
“Hm? No, no- just…” Yuu fumbles for a moment, straightening his legs out. “When we decided to travel together like this, right before the olympics this year, I was surprised that I hadn’t even stopped myself to ask if you would be okay if I came along.” Yuu says under his breath, “Usually I’d wait for you to tell me if you wanted me to be there, like your first show, and then when you went home to visit your parents the first time.”
Asahi took a breath, unsure where this was going. “I’d always want you to come with me. The only time I hesitated was with my parents. You know they didn’t exactly take well to me liking boys at first.”
“Yeah.” Yuu nods, his hand slipping into Asahi’s own, “But when we were packing, planning the tickets...I want to keep doing this with you. Slip into all of your plans, find ways to make you sick of me, keep being in your life in ways you don’t expect.” Yuu laughs, his voice wet to match his slightly reddened nose, “I love you, Asahi. Very much.”
“I do too. But Yuu, you’re scaring me.” Asahi chokes a laugh, teasing very slightly. It definitely made Yuu laugh too, their laughs tuning to match, the octaves accompanied and a harmony of bliss, warm like the sun’s early rays.
“It’s not a breakup, don’t worry. Far from it, actually.”
It feels like a blink of time, a second that passes too fast, and a minute too long that it feels like he’s been frozen, the air still, everything tuned out and only at a frequency that both of them were on. From Yuu’s pocket he took a small, velvet box out, then opens it, revealing a small ring. It’s not fancy - only a band, but he recognizes the symbolism of an olive wreath meeting in the middle; a gift of peace, a love of purity, a solidified relationship.
The heavy breath in his lungs settle as he takes it in, eyes meeting Yuu’s. “Twentieth question - Azumane Asahi, love of my life, the reason I came back to playing volleyball, my equal half. The reason I laugh everyday, why I continue to work hard. Will you marry me?”
Asahi chokes on a sob and a laugh, ugly tears at the corners of his eyes, crinkled with a smile wider than the horizon. Sure it isn’t the best place to propose, but there’s a ring and there’s a promise of the future, a promise where they’ll wake up to each other day after day, kiss goodnight in bed with every night that passes, a new life carefully built upon in the future. There’s nothing more Asahi needs to think about; this is what he wants.
With no shake in his voice and only confidence that he could never want anybody else, Asahi grins, whispering, “A hundred times, yes.”
And that’s how it goes - they’ll embark on their new journey not as boyfriends, but engaged. They’ll take on the world, one city at a time, do things together as if they ever changed simply because they’re engaged now. They’ll kiss under the cover of night in cities, the twinkling stars raining down like fire, a reason to keep fighting, to keep believing in each other. They’ll kiss like they do now, sincerely with each others’ cheeks in their hands, with Yuu’s smaller hands rubbing circles into his cheekbones, and Asahi’s fingers so big but gentle on Yuu.
And they’ll probably forget they’re even engaged, maybe mess it up and accidentally show off his ring to Suga when he does his promised facetimes with the busy elementary school teacher. Maybe they’ll get hounded for answers about his ring, or maybe they’ll get stupid drunk on champagne and wine when they arrive home and celebrate.
But who knows, truly - the adventure hasn’t even begun, Egypt is only the first stop in the ten cities they have chosen to travel to this time, for a total of twelve weeks. Three months of bliss, exploring, maybe getting injured from extreme sports. In sickness and in health, or so the vows say, Asahi is sure he’ll willingly love Yuu like it’s their last; there’s nothing better than knowing Yuu is there too.