Who: Finn and Riley What: "Will you..." When: Morning, Saturday 8th June, 2019 Where: Near The Lighthouse Rating: Low Status: Complete
I fall in love all over, every time I look at you.
Today was the day.
It had been years coming and Finn just hoped that it would go as he had planned. He had organized pretty much everything, the only things he couldn’t control were the weather and any outside forces that might draw their attention away from one another. After a simple breakfast and a bit of idle chatter Finn had told Riley to get dressed as they were going out to for the morning, he had gotten someone else to take care of the library duties and Riley didn’t have any classes which was ideal.
Once they were dressed and ready they walked together from their home into town and the Facility, excusing himself Finn ducked into the library saying he just ‘had to check on something’ but really he had to get something that he had stored in his desk, something that he didn’t want Riley finding. With this item now in his pocket Finn went back out to find his boyfriend and taking his hand walked along one of the paths towards the lighthouse.
Suspecting nothing different about the day Riley went through the motions the way he normally would: bright eyed and bushy tailed. The morning was good. A bit of breakfast, some talk and laughter before the request to get dressed and go out was brought up. He knew Finn probably had a shift at the library, thank goodness for volunteers. His own classes were out for the summer and any teaching after was summer school or education for adults.
After dressing and putting on his shoes, Riley left with Finn and headed toward town.
He laughed when they ended up at the library, finding it uncanny considering Finn had taken the day off. But he didn’t protest or argue. Simply he wandered off to find some to chat with in the meantime.
Before too long they were gone again, heading toward the lighthouse. The area was heavily restricted but the view of the water was exquisite. Fingers were clasped around his boyfriends. He inhaled the aroma of the saltwater on the breeze. “What a nice day.”
Although the island was small enough that the salty scent of the sea was always in the air there was something about actually seeing the ocean, hearing the waves that had an instant calming effect on Finn, his parents used to joke that more salt water flowed through his veins than blood. He was a Pisces in all ways.
While the area and the lighthouse itself was restricted there was a decent amount of area around it on this headland that offered great views of the ocean below and it was one of Finn’s favorite places on the island.
“It’s a lovely day, weather’s perfect and I’ve got the most amazing guy on the island by my side. Can’t really ask for more than that.” Well he could but that moment would come, for now they could just enjoy the beautiful view.
A laugh would come, a soft, joyous noise. “Really? Cause I was gonna say the same thing about you.” Fingers would squeeze fingers as their eyes fell upon the water. Riley never asked anybody about their abilities even though it was out in plain sight on their cards for the world to see, but upon learning what Finn could do he’d become alight with awe and wonder.
Seeing his boyfriend in such a state of bliss and peace was so calming. They needed to come here more often, and once they were able to leave the island he would get them a house on the water if only to see that expression on Finn’s face all the time.
Softly he exhaled a sigh of contentment, laying his head against Finn’s arm. Eyes closed as he took in the sounds of the water crashing together, the song of the gulls overhead.
Finn knew that if they ever left the island they would definitely have to find a place somewhere near the ocean or a large river, nowso more than before he needed the water in his life. He was glad that Riley was understanding and he knew that what he was about to say, what he was going to do was the right decision, he had found his soulmate.
After a few moments of quiet Finn inhaled deeply, he had gone over the words so many times in his head but he still wasn’t sure how this was going to go. “Riley…” He gave his boyfriend’s hand a squeeze and began to move him around so they were face to face.
With all of the people in the world living and co-existing he found it a miracle that someone could ever find the one, single person who completed them in a lifetime of growth and development. There was no other person for Riley. If something ever happened to Finn and they were taken from each other he would mourn, be nothing more than a shell of himself, and he doubted he would ever foray into the world of dating again. He didn’t want anyone else in his life in any capacity that wasn’t this man.
Hearing his name he lifted his head from Finn’s arm, eyes fluttering open. Lifting his head to better look at the taller man he smiled with radiance, curious and interested. “Mhm?”
Finn knew how lucky he was, there were only a few hundred people on the island now and there was a lot less when they both arrived, if he had been religious he would say it was a miracle that he and Riley had found one another but maybe fate had just smiled on them both.
When Riley’s head lifted Finn moved slightly, taking both of his boyfriend’s hands in his. So many speeches had gone through his head, so many ways he could lead into this, the butterflies really were doing loops in his chest right now. All of those thoughts didn’t seem right in this moment so he might as well just get down to the point.
Taking a deep breath his eyes continued to look at Riley’s as he moved down onto one knee. “Will you marry me?”
For some reason he became a bit nervous. Unsure as to why his stomach began to flip and goosebumps spread across his bare forearms, creeping up to his chest and down to his legs. Hands slipped into Finn’s and his expression tamed, evening out a bit. Why was he feeling nervous? Was his boyfriend about to leave him? It didn’t feel like that but then again he’d been dumped in a few nice places before. Finn had never given him a reason to doubt and he didn’t want to start feeling that now.
Eyebrows arching, he watched Finn. The way his lover pondered over what was on his mind. Riley stood there patiently as the other man worked through the thought hoping whatever it was would be positive and good. Maybe Finn had figured a way off of this rock, maybe he —
And then the world was moving in slow motion. Riley’s mouth felt dry, and he was rendered speechless for once in his life as Finn took a knee. His heart was hammering against his rib cage. Disbelief and wonder hit him like a freight train but not in a way he would describe as bad.
“Shut the front door,” Riley whispered, his smile blossoming again, “Of course I will!” He had not been expecting that and damn if his eyes weren’t streaming with moisture. Sniffling, a hand would be tugged gently from Finn’s only to wipe away the tears falling down his face. He was so happy.
An exhale came as Riley said yes, that was probably the most nerve wracking moment he had ever experienced but the answer was what he had hoped for.
Yes.
When Riley dropped his hand to wipe at his face Finn reached into his pocket and withdrew the ring that he had made - a copper piano wire that had been hammered flat and soldered to form a circle. Biting down on his bottom lip he slipped it onto Riley’s left ring finger, it fitted perfectly which was what he was worried about since all he had to work with was the sneaky measurement from a piece of string that he had done one night when his boyfriend was asleep.
“I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Five years ago, today, I met you and have been the best five years, all things considering.” He said as he stood back up. “It might have just taken me a bit to get the nerve up.”
Like a little baby he was near sobbing. It was the perfect day he’d had in a long time and everything they've been through, the good and the bad carried upon their shoulders, had been worth it. Riley felt like he could brave anything with Finn at his side forever. His fiancé, his husband. Even thinking the word had him on another plane of happiness. Almost bubbling over and so eager to tell Tess, Riley managed to contain himself.
The ring fit on his finger perfectly. He took the hand and looked at the circle of metal in awe of its uniqueness. Sunlight shimmered in the metal. He had never seen anything as beautiful in his life. “I love it,” He squeaked, sniffling again.
And then he was throwing his arms around his fiancé, pulling Finn down to his level for a heated kiss. “I love you. I love you so much, I can’t wait to be your husband.” He wished his mama could be there, God rest her soul. She would have been so proud of him.
It wasn’t the gold and diamonds that Riley deserved but it was unique and heartfelt which was all that really mattered, he could have proposed with a cheese ring or a piece of string and he hoped the answer would have been the same. But they had met when Finn was playing the piano in one of the buildings in the Facility, so a repurposed piano wire was fitting.
His arms looped around Riley as they kissed, holding on firmly to his boyfriend - nay his fiancé and all the time smiling. “I love you too. God I was so nervous… I wasn’t sure if you were going to like it, or if you were going to say yes. I played every scenario you can think of over in my head, all I hoped was that you said ‘yes’.”
He would have been happy wearing a bread bag tie for a ring, it was the thought behind it that mattered. Nothing in the world meant more to him than those words and whatever came of it would be dealt with side by side. The ring was so thoughtful and endearing, he wouldn’t take anything else as a substitute even if it was gold and diamonds.
“You didn’t think I would say yes?” He inquired, leaning back slowly. A tilt of his head, he looked up at Finn like the man had gone plumb crazy. “How could I ever refuse an offer like that? I love you. Spending the rest of my life with you is like a dream come true.”
It wasn’t like he’d never thought about proposing, what that might entail. But Finn had beaten him to it.
“I would always say yes. A million times over. You’re my soulmate, Finn. I’d chase the stars for you.”
“There was part of me that did worry you might say no.” Finn admitted, it was always something in the back of his mind. “It’s stupid of me I know, but sometimes I wonder what you see in me, wonder why you love me so much. But no matter what, I’ll always be here for you. I don’t want life without you in it.”
He looked down at Riley, that look of confusion making him smile, everything about Riley made him smile.
“And I would move oceans for you… don’t think that I wouldn’t do it.” He probably could do it too if he put his mind to it. “Want to stay here for a bit longer, or head back into town and show off your new bling?”
His expression evened at that confession. Eyebrows lifted. “I love every part of you. Saying no would’ve been the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. And I’ve done some dumb stuff in my life. You’re such a good person, so talented and so cool.” Riley laughed softly, “Way cooler than me. I never thought I’d get the hot blonde but now here I am.” It was a tease but also the truth.
“I wanna stay here another minute, enjoy the view. And then I wanna go home and christen all of the furniture again.” That double wink would be given, the one he was known for, suggestively.
Finn knew what kind of dumb things that Riley had done in the past, there weren’t many secrets between them and they had many nights laughing at one each other’s stupidity over the years, there was no doubt that they would continue doing it for many more years to come. “Be careful what you wish for, because now you’ve got me, now and forever.” A kiss was pressed to the top of Riley’s curly hair.
He chuckled at that double wink, hands sliding down and giving that firm buttocks a squeeze. “Where do you suggest we start? I think the couch is a good place to start.” Getting intimate with his boyfriend was definitely one of his favorite non-work related pastimes.
He would have wished for that time and time again, over and over for eternity. “Good. Now I can really start living.” The words came in a murmur, his eyes closed briefly and he basked in the closeness. The ring was light on his finger but he could still feel it there and a wave of emotion came over him again that was fought back. Instead he grinned like a fool, opened his eyes and looked up at the other man.
Flexing his butt playfully into Finn’s hands Riley nodded, “Couch it is. Then maybe the table, the shower..” He listed a few placed, laughing all over again.
This was the starting point in a new stage of their lives, in his own views they were already married and had been for a few years now, this was just making things official, a piece of paper to tell the world how much they loved each other. He loved these moments of quiet, just holding one another and listening to the sounds of the waves way down below.
“Kitchen bench and then finally the bed.” Finn added, he doubted they’d make it to all of them but it was always fun to plan. Smiling he leaned over, pressing their lips together in a long and lingering kiss.
Eyes closed. Riley lifted his arms and wrapped the limbs around Finn’s neck as they kissed. Lips moved tenderly. This day would settle into his mind until the end of his days and forever would he tell those who would listen about how much they loved each other.
Finally the kiss was severed. He pulled back only enough to take a breath, inhaling the sweet, salty air.
It was a day to remember and Finn was glad that the weather was perfect and that they were allowed to be near the lighthouse so he could propose in one of his favorite places. Maybe when they got back to their place they’d get a photo together to celebrate.
He smiled when their lips parted, forehead resting against Riley’s. “C’mon, let’s go home. We’ve got furniture to defile.”