ruto & max
Ruto was fading fast. She didn't notice when the other team was disqualified. She didn't even notice that celebratory music was playing, or that people had started cheering (to various degrees! After all, quite a few people, particularly participants, had been up for more than 24 hours at this point. If the Spectators were smart, they would have gone home to get some sleep before coming back to witness the winner.
And then suddenly Max was crying, and Ruto shook herself awake, moved her hands down to her shoulders.
"Are you okay? Are-- what?"
"Ruto, I love you even at your sweatiest and most tired, I love you at your meanest and your sweetest, I love you but I'm starting to get loopy here," a small giggle as she wobbly got down on one knee. "Would you marry me?"
Right. Despite their little talk, Ruto found herself caught off guard. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she, too, wobbled to the floor, sinking to both knees as she started sobbing. She could have executed it a little more gracefully if she weren't exhausted and delusional. She leaned forward, but unable to keep herself up, fell right into Max, who also fell to the ground. They laid there, curled up with one another, until Max said: