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..."

was so soft and nondescript that even with Leonel's current body, he almost

I can't hear you." Leonel said with an even

tears Aina was trying so hard to hold back unleashed

you make me ugly cry

hysterical as she grabbed Leonel's face, not caring as

cup his cheeks and assault

told Leonel all he needed to know. She never cared about the proposal or a

were unnecessary; she hadn't

through Aina's avalanche of kisses, pushing

open through her tears. Even so, everything about her expression spilled over with

love you, Leonel,"

replied, his smile gentle and his gaze maybe

this for a while, each one seemingly trying to memorize the face of the other, the

doing a little wiggle. She laughed and giggled as more tears seemed to come from

that's how you use that word," Leonel

with you. I can use any word however

"Yes, ma'am!"

a distant memory. They intertwined in every way they could, their hands, their tongues,

long while, and

simply felt every inch of one another, basked in every scent, every sensation. They didn't