So just pull the trigger.

8. I'm at your mercy

Misha wasn't sure how to propose the engagement to Joni or what would be the perfect moment to offer him the ring. At least they should be completely alone.

The morning of Joni's birthday began calmly; the day was sunny and moderately warm, -at least compared to the two previous ones. Misha knew Joni was expecting something, he was expecting a present. Misha had told him it was a surprise and he'd give him his present in the evening.

Joni loved gifts; Misha pondered partly amused what kind of pouting fit might occur if he had nothing to give. They had agreed to go out to town to have dinner and enjoy a drink or two with Galina and Pavel. Perhaps by the end of the evening he could offer the ring if the right moment would present itself. Or would it still be better to do it before they went out?

Anna had prepared pancakes for breakfast and knitted woolen socks for Joni; he could use them once the fall would turn the evenings cold, she explained. Joni had been pleased and thankful to receive a gift from her when he hadn't expected one.

Misha suggested they could go for a short walk together, he had taken the ring box in his pants pocket just in case and now it seemed to be all he could focus on. Misha held his hand in his pocket, feeling the small box as though he needed to make sure that it was still there. He felt nervous and odd. Joni walked beside him, clearly in a good mood, smiling and observing the surrounding scenery.

"Now I'm legally old enough to drink in the USA!" Joni suddenly commented, and Misha glanced at his boyfriend with amusement.

"And this is an important fact?" Misha asked and Joni grinned at him.

"I would like to go to New York," the younger man explained and observed his expression. "Couldn't we travel there? In the fall, for example." 

Misha sighed. "Why there?" he asked. For some reason, he wasn't very keen on traveling to the USA. He never had been, but he could guess why Joni wanted to go. "Let me guess, you want to go shopping? We would need at least five suitcases to satisfy your shopping needs."

"Well... You don't go that far only for shopping," Joni denied it, but smiled after. "Of course, it would be equally silly to travel there and do no shopping at all."

"Yes, of course," Misha grinned. "Well, we'll have to see," he said, although he already knew that he'd soon find himself marveling at the Statue of Liberty if Joni wanted to go there so badly. For a while, they walked together in silence, until...

"Let's play war?" Joni suggested randomly with a playful smirk.

"War?" Misha asked in surprise, smiling back at his lover. He loved seeing that smile on Joni's beautiful face, he loved those dimples, loved seeing that happiness that made those golden-brown eyes sparkle.

He simply loved.

"Yes, didn't you play war too sometimes when you were a child?"

"Hm... Yes," Misha admitted. "And now you want to play a game like that? What are we supposed to do? Use sticks as guns?" he asked bemusedly.

"Maybe... And Misha... It doesn't have to be the same game as in our childhood", Joni said cunningly, turning so that he was walking backward, facing him. There was a suggestive look in his brown eyes and Misha certainly became more interested in this game.

On the right side of their walking path, was a rather thick forest where Misha remembered playing in his childhood and on the other side were a couple of farmhouses and fields.

"Then what kind of game could it be?" Misha inquired, tilting his head as he watched his boyfriend. Joni had promised to make up for what had happened a couple of days ago, but there hadn't been a proper time and place so far. Joni glanced around them quickly and when he saw no one, he grinned.