Double Plus Good

Two: Miracle of Love

“Since it’s your birthday, I’ve gotten you a special present. C’mon. Sit up.”

Surprised, Kanon sat up and hung his legs over the side of the bed as Rhadamanthys rummaged through the clothing that was piled on the floor. He did not see what was retrieved from the pants, but knew immediately what it was when his lover adopted the tell-tale stance of kneeling on one knee. His heart pounded in his chest and his face flushed as he watched a small, black box appear like magic in Rhadamanthys’ outstretched hand. When the lid opened, Kanon gasped, for inside the box was a gleaming, black ring that shined almost silverfish in the light of the room.

“Kanon,” began Rhadamanthys, his voice trembling just slightly, “will you marry me?”

Kanon could say nothing. Not that this was unexpected, he just did not expect it so soon. With a trembling hand, he reached out and plucked the ring from the box and inspected it. As each glimmer of light caught the metal, it shimmered black, purple, silver, gray and even pink, such unusual colors, which made him believe that the ring was made from Surplice. Something on the inside of the ring caught his eye, words, written in English, an engraving.

“It was made from the wing of my Surplice,” explained Rhadamanthys as he snapped the box closed and deposited it on the ground. “When we returned, I found the remains of my Surplice scattered in the place where we had our final battle.” He smiled fondly. “After it is finally repaired, there will always be a small portion of the uppermost left wing missing.”

Kanon smiled, then read the engraving out loud. “In love. Eternally.” He lost his smile and looked at his blonde. “That’s disgusting, you know.”

Rhadamanthys’ cheeks pinked. “I know.”

Unexpectedly, the blonde head fell into Kanon’s lap. The Gemini flinched before relaxing, then ran his fingers of the soft, sweat-silked hair. A sigh was felt warm against his bare leg. He stared down with love.

“I wish I could stay here with you and never go back,” said Rhadamanthys.

Kanon chuckled. “The others are mistreating you?”

“Mistreat is hardly the word I would use.” There was bitterness in his voice. “The Butterfly said I am a complete idiot for wanting to be with you for the rest of my life. Like that promiscuous fairy has any right to talk about my love life.”

Kanon chuckled again as he absently smoothed down his love’s hair. “Don’t let it get to you. They are just jealous.”

The laugh reverberated against Kanon’s legs. “Probably.” It was silent for a moment, the air still and calm. “I want to go back.”

“Mm?”

“I want to return to that place where it was just us, in that little house that was ours, with no one and nothing to stand between us, to live together, to die together, but always be, together.”

Kanon smiled. “But we can’t. I do not know if we will make it if I try exploding the galaxies. I may end up killing us instead of sending us away.”

“Even if an eternity of death awaited us, I would be happy because I was with you.”

“Stop that or my heart will break.”

“It is the truth.” A kiss fell on the top of Kanon’s thigh.

Kanon opened his hand that was holding the ring and stared at it. Decision made, he tapped Rhadamanthys on the shoulder. “Get up.”

Slowly, the Wyvern rose and looked up at Kanon, each emotion naked in golden eyes. Kanon expected the reaction he received when he held out his hand with the ring between forefinger and thumb: his love’s eyes widened as his jaw dropped. The eyes that had been holding nothing but a calm love now shone with a hint of fear.

“You. . .do not accept?”

Kanon contained his expression to neutrality as he made a non-committal ‘mm’ noise and shook the ring once to indicate it should be taken. There was no denying how sweet Rhadamanthys looked wearing an expression of pure heartbreak, as his trembling had reached out and plucked the ring gently from Kanon’s fingers. Kanon secretly thrilled as those golden eyes glistened, but could not keep up the pretense any longer. With a giant smile, he held out his left hand with spread fingers.

“Put it on me.”

Rhadamanthys’ eyes went from heartache to joy instantly, the flood of relief so evident it made him look like a different person. With a heavy sigh, his head fell forward into Kanon’s lap. “You are cruel,” was mumbled into the skin.

Automatically, Kanon’s hand went to pet the blonde hair. “And you, my great Wyvern, have lost your self-confidence.”

Rhadamanthys lifted his head then, and, with great care, took Kanon’s left hand and slid the ring upon the ring finger. Kanon admired the way the metal gleamed against his pale skin, then said, with a bit of amazement:

“It fits perfectly.”

“Of course it does. I sized your finger years ago. I was going to make you a ring out of wood, but once we returned I knew I had to make it from Surplice.”

Kanon looked at the hands that were still holding his one. “You are not wearing yours,” he pouted.

Slow, as if he had all the time in the universe, Rhadamanthys returned to the pile of clothing and retrieved an exact duplicate of the ring he had given Kanon, just slightly larger, and handed it to the Gemini. Their eyes met, exchanged a wealth of feelings that never needed to be spoken, and then the hand was outstretched. Kanon wasted no time sliding the ring upon his love’s left ring finger. Hands interlocked, the rings gleamed in the light on opposite sides. They were two as one, the way they had been for many years. Today, however, it was official.

“So our wedding anniversary will be the day of my birth?” asked Kanon.

“Easy to remember,” was Rhadamanthys’ response.

Kanon leaned forward and kissed his love on the lips. “Never doubt my love for you.”

Rhadamanthys stood, locked their lips, and pressed Kanon’s head to the pillow. The weight was familiar, wanted, enjoyed and loved. Kanon could not imagine his life without this person, and held him tightly to convey those feelings.

“I love you, Kanon of Gemini,” said with gentle kisses.

Kanon’s entire body responded to the closeness, to the sound of the voice, to the heat, to the motions. If he could, he would, without hesitation, without worry of punishment, send them back to the alternate universe where they first fell in love. All he needed was this man who loved him, and all he wanted was to love this man eternally. Hands caressed a smooth back, the odd feeling of the new jewelry becoming more and more a part of him at each passing second. He could not wait any longer. No matter that they just finished having a most intense lovemaking session, he wanted this man and he wanted him now!

“Consummate our marriage, dear husband.”

Rhadamanthys looked down with an amused smile. “If I am the husband, does that make you the wife?”

Kanon faked irritation. “Of course it does. For one, I have longer hair, and two, I am always the bottom.”

The ‘husband’ chuckled. “Understood.”

“Good. Now fuck me.”