Curwen Oneshots

Two Rings

(Modern Day, They're Not Spies)

"We're going to be late, love!" Owen was tapping his foot in the hallway of their apartment as he fiddled with a ring box, waiting for Curt to finish with his hair.
"I'm nearly done!" Curt was frantically rummaging through the drawer beside his bed. He and Owen each had one; it was their place that was completely off limits to the other person, making it the perfect place to hide an engagement ring.
"Got it!" Curt whispered to himself as the black velvet box fell into the palm of his hand. He shoved it in his pocket and looked at himself in the mirror. He took in a breath and sighed.
"Curt!"
"Coming!" He ran out of the room to see Owen standing with the door open, "Let's go."
"I hope the traffic isn't bad."
"Don't worry so much." He slipped his arm through Owen's after locking the door. The two walked down the stairs and drove to the restaurant to. The ride was a little quieter than they were used to, but both were too wrapped up in their thoughts to realise.

"Wow, this place looks really nice." Owen was still trembling a little as he took in his surroundings.
"There's a reason I came here for my birthday three years in a row as a kid."
"I just assumed that was because you love Italian food."
"I can love Italian food and appreciate the interior of the place that is providing it."
Owen laughed shakily.
"Hey, are you okay?' Curt asked, trying not to let the panic shine through in his voice. He's figured it out. He saw the ring somehow. Oh god, this is going to be a disaster.
"I'm okay, love." He knows I'm nervous, I knew there was no way I could surprise him. I should've known taking him to his favourite restaurant "for no reason" would be suspicious.
"Good." His eyebrows lowered as he looked down at the shiny wooden floor, panicking Owen. He knew that was a telltale sign that Curt was worrying about something.
A waiter took them to a quiet table in the back of the restaurant, much to their relief. Neither one wanted to be proposing in the middle of a busy restaurant.
"What are you going to order?" Curt looked up at Owen, who didn't respond. "Owen?"
"Huh? Oh, I think I'm going to get the lasagne."
"How you can go to an Italian restaurant and not order a pizza is beyond me."
The two grinned, momentarily forgetting how nervous they were.

As they were eating their main courses, Owen kept his nerves to his foot tapping the floor incessantly and Curt to his heart racing every time he thought about Owen, which was frequently since they were siting less than a metre from one another.
On top of the nerves that naturally came with asking someone to marry you, they had the added stress of being absolutely sure the other had found out. Owen couldn't quite look Curt in the eye, but Curt didn't even notice because he couldn't look Owen in the eye either.
"Would you like to order dessert?" The waiter with tight, brown curls scraped into a ponytail asked them.
"Yes, can we have a brownie and an ice cream sundae?" Owen smiled and thanked the waiter. An ice cream sundae. Typical Curt.
She nodded and sped away, before reappearing a few minutes later. Curt had gone to the bathroom to mentally prepare, leaving his sundae unattended to. This was Owen's chance. He swiftly removed the ring from its black leather box and placed the silver-banded diamond ring on the plate just in front of the taller bowl filled with ice cream. He knew it was a cliché, but that's how he knew Curt would love it. If by some miracle he actually hadn't suspected. He could feel his heart in his throat as Curt approached the table.
Curt was gripping the ring box in his hand as the butterflies in his stomach tried to stop him walking to the table. Owen had already seen him coming, so it would be pointless anyway. He didn't even notice the desserts had arrived when he sat back in his seat.
"Uh ... Owen, can I ask you something?" This was really happening.
"Anything, love." He must have seen the ring by now.
"So..." Curt cleared his throat.
Owen panicked, convinced this was Curt's way of letting him down gently. Well, as gently as you can decline a marriage proposal.
"We've been together a while now. And I love spending time with you. You make me feel a million times happier than I could have ever imagined a person making me and I never ... I never want to be without you again."
Owen just stared at him, completely unsure of what to do or say. Also completely unsure of what Curt was saying and doing.
"I guess what I'm trying to ask is..." Curt hastily got down on one knee, revealing the ring box which clicked as it opened, "Will  you marry me?"
A single tear fell on Owen's cheek as the entire restaurant turned to face them. He smiled, "Look at your plate, love."
Curt almost fell over. That was not the predicted response. But then the ring on his plate caught the light. He slid back into his chair, placing the ring box on the table and picking up the ring on his plate, "Owen- What-"
"I was just going to ask you the same question."
Curt just stared at the ring he was holding with both hands, "Well, go on then."
"Curt, I've never met anybody like you." They we're both completely unaware of the myriad of eyes on them. They wouldn't have cared anyway. "You know how to make me laugh, but you also know exactly how to help me when I need you to. You're so childish, in the best way. Also you're adorable." He got down on one knee and took the ring from Curt's hand, "Will you marry me?"
Curt grinned, tears streaming down his face, "I asked you first."
"Of course I'll marry you, love." Owen stood up, taking Curt's hand and prompting him to follow.
"Then I guess I've got something for you." He picked up the box and slid the ring onto Owen's finger.
"Curt..." Tears exploded from Owen's eyes as he slid Curt's ring on. He buried his face in Curt's shoulder as applause broke out. Curt, who was also crying, stroked his hair.
When they finally released each other, they sat back down to eat their desserts.
"Did we really just plan our proposals for the same night?" Curt admired his ring.
"We did. I was convinced you had figured it out when you asked me if I was okay."
"So was I. That's why I asked."
"I guess we were just too wrapped up in our own plans to figure out one another's."
"I guess."
They ended up sharing both desserts, the now lukewarm brownie and half melted ice cream. And it was perfect.