Dimensional Descent

[Bonus chapter courtesy of Fire2112 (aka Firemonster) <3 6/6]

Aina felt as though time had come to a stop. She had waited so long to hear these words, and they had come so unexpectedly that they hit her like a speeding truck.

Her golden eyes misted over, and her lips trembled. It was taking everything she had to not start an ugly sort of sobbing fit. She didn't want Leonel to see that.

But the longer she tried not to cry, the more time the silence lingered.

And yet, Leonel just lay there on her lap, a bright smile on his face.

He had thought about waiting for a grand occasion, maybe after he had accomplished some amazing feat or maybe after he had eliminated some powerful enemy.

But when he really thought about it, it felt like that tranquil confidence taking control again. He was confident that Aina would always stay by his side, so why rush? He was confident that he'd be at the center of grand feat after grand feat, so why be in a hurry to choose which one of them to propose in?

His mind could think millions of thoughts a second. The number of venues, variations, methods he had thought of just to ask this seemingly simple question were endless.

He could probably construct the marriage proposal heard around the world if he really wanted to. But he had thought of thousands of ways to do exactly that.

He was too obsessed with showy displays, and when that was matched with obsessing over being in control of every detail of every little thing, it manifested in the worst of ways.

He threw himself into life and death situations he should have had no part in; he confessed to the woman he liked in front of wide stairs in front of as many eyes as possible, and he ignored his best friend's plight and decided on cracked ribs instead of throwing a game that was ultimately meaningless to him.

So this time... he threw all of that out of the window.

"Yes..."

that even with Leonel's current body, he almost couldn't

was that? I can't hear you." Leonel said with an even wider

so hard to hold back unleashed like

god, if you make me ugly cry on my

hysterical as she grabbed Leonel's face, not caring as she mixed in her salty tears

wife cup his cheeks and assault him

know. She never cared about the proposal or a fancy wedding; she just wanted to hear those words come out

her, those ceremonies were unnecessary; she

Aina's avalanche of kisses, pushing

She looked like a mess, her eyes barely able to remain open through her tears. Even so, everything about her expression spilled over with love. She

Leonel," she said

his smile gentle and his gaze maybe more protective

each one seemingly trying to memorize the face of

suddenly said, her hips doing a little wiggle.

you

with you. I can use any word

"Yes, ma'am!"

distant memory. They intertwined in every way they could,

in a long while, and yet

basked in every scent, every sensation. They didn't even want