Nyx does everything he can not to squirm under that look, finding it similar to when the lawyer was studying his witness on the stand. His own gaze flickers around the restaurant once or twice before he settles for staring at the box.
“Yeah, strippers have feelings. Who knew?”
It comes out more clipped than he wants it to and immediately clears his throat in silent apology before he’s sighing as well, “Regis, I’m not expecting anything, I never have. I like what we have…”
As he speaks, he reaches for his whiskey –he’s going to need it.
“I know you aren’t expecting anything. I assure you I am doing this of my own will.”
Nervousness seeps into his words and he’s trying to keep his voice STILL. “However, I know I am not getting any younger. I must think of the future.”
Regis pushes the box toward Nyx and opens in. Inside is an ornate pen, the box looking like it cost more than their combined meals.
“I could never replace my Aulea. May she rest in peace. But…there is plenty of room for you in my heart. We have…unconventional ways of navigating this even more unconventional relationship of ours.”
Another deep, this time visible, breath before the elder clears his throat.
“Would you enter a civil partnership with me?”
It is that obvious nervousness that keeps the younger man from trying to cut him off or attempt to speak over him, even as the words are making him want to. The urge to attempt to comfort him does come up yet the nudging of the box, which prompts a decent sip of the drink before the glass is set aside almost too heavily, makes him wait.
The sight of the pen both makes him want to cry and laugh, Nyx having guessed many other things, even if the pen itself was certainly a sight. Instead, he takes a deep inhale through his nose and gives an odd but not necessarily grim smile, obviously trying to formulate what to say.
“Gods, Regis, you’re going to give me a heart attack one day.” His voice is tight as he clamps down the odd nerves that always came up during these talks. The ‘squirreliness’ he had been advised not to do in the very beginning –though, he thinks he’s getting better at it.
Nyx clears his throat and levels his voice out before he speaks again, searching the other man’s face as he does, “you know people will talk more about you, right? Are you thinking I’m going to leave?” The tone is far from accusing, rather just confusion and curiosity –this was a whole new thing for him.
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