I would start a riot

A Proposal or Two ~ September 2015

It had been on the tip of Dec's tongue for a couple of weeks now – the start of a thought, the beginning of a new chapter. Something scary but too tempting to ignore. He'd thought about waiting for the 'right' time, whatever that meant, but in the end, the setting was as unorthodox as ever.

"We could get married," he said one night, realising it really was the first time either of them had brought it up. "Would you want to do that some day?"

Stephen pretended to gasp in surprise. "Are you proposing to me, Declan?" Dec blindly reached his hand back, slapping the first thing he made contact with on the bed behind him and grinning when he hit Stephen's leg. "Oi!"

"Such an idiot," Dec murmured. He closed his eyes as Stephen's breath got closer, a kiss pressed far more gently against the skin behind his ear.

"I would like that very much," the younger man said eventually. Gone was the teasing edge to his voice, softening to leave behind nothing but a raw certainty. Dec reached back again, his hand caught by Stephen's knowingly and slotting into place around his own.

They were quiet for a while and Dec kept waiting for the breathing behind him to even out, bringing an end to a conversation he'd been delaying for some time. Now, he wasn't sure why he ever worried about what Stephen would say.

The reality of a wedding, of being married, wasn't something he'd thought too much about. It was loud and public and would finally stop the ever-dwindling suggestions that they were pretending to be together for publicity. It would bring more attention that neither of them wanted but, Dec hoped, a rivalling, greater sense of contentment.

At the end of the day, it was completely unnecessary and Dec wasn't sure why the idea had suddenly taken root in his head. He wanted to make a statement, maybe. To Stephen, more than anyone else. He'd figured out who he wanted to be around for the rest of his life and this was the easiest way to make it clear to the person in question.

"You know you'd be stuck with me forever?" Stephen asked eventually, choosing to sound amused by Dec's predicament.

"Yeah?" Dec replied, turning his head so he could just about see the other man. "I wouldn't mind that, I suppose." He smiled when Stephen laughed at his nonchalance and then rolled over completely, so they were face to face.

"We really do everything incorrectly," Stephen said, grinning, "I'm pretty sure most people don't propose in bed."

"I'm not proposing!" Dec replied indignantly, still smiling, "I was – suggesting."

He watched Stephen roll his eyes, starting to mutter, "Oh, and those two things are so different," before cutting him off with a kiss.

"I could do it properly though, if that's what you want," Dec said tauntingly once he'd withdrawn again, "Go all out."

He instantly thought about it, secretly glad that Stephen would hate that sort of fuss because he would hate having to plan it. He'd never been fond of the over-the-top gestures that some relationships seemed to thrive on. It was the little things that meant so much more.

"I think I'm okay with this," Stephen retorted predictably. Dec watched him knowingly as he went silent, suddenly distracted.

"Stop planning your own thing!" Dec hit his arm lightly, drawing a full laugh from Stephen. "It was my idea!"

"Not if I beat you to it," Stephen teased in return.

"I'd say no," Dec warned, forcing himself to frown even as his mouth twitched upwards traitorously.

"You wouldn't dare," Stephen replied easily. As if to demonstrate his point, he brushed over Dec's hair with his finger, rubbing small circles over it as Dec felt his legs turn embarrassingly to jelly. Still, after so long, Stephen had the same effect on him.