Not sure if you're still taking requests but could I have ScotEng with Scotland proposing to England?
(Sure! Iâm always taking requests. Iâm sorry it took me so long but icouldnât decide between two proposals so i kinda had to write both. Iâll postthe sencond one later today!)
Scotland woke one September morning tangled in thin sheets and with thewarmth of Englandâs breath on his throat. Curtains still drawn, the worldoutside was just beginning to lighten with the soft light of morning.
Rather than leaving the bed in favour of an early start he shifted,bringing Arthur closer to his chest and securing an arm tighter around hiswaist, hand coming to rest near his hip where Arthurâs shirt had ridden up toexpose warm skin. There was no need to rush, but he began to trace patternsthere, small circles and longer sweeps of his thumb back and forth over a palescar, until Arthur began to shift, his breathing breaking its pattern as heburied his face further into the crook of Alasdairâs neck.Â
âArthur,â Alasdairâs voice was rough with sleep and low. âArthur.âÂ
Arthurâs muffled reply was lost to him but not the slugish press of lipsto the underside of his jaw. Alasdair felt a smile tug at his lips and didnâtthink to stop it.
âGood morning to you,â and a scoff from Arthur.
Alasdairâs response was a wider smile and a kiss to Englandâs temple.
âNae. Itâs not,â he yawned and rolled over to pin Arthur underneath him.âItâs long coming.â
Arthur raised an eyebrow underneath him.
âWhatever are you on about,â he followed Alasdairâs lead, smiling and raising a hand totangle in Scotlandâs hair. âIs it?â
Scotland looked deep into Englandâs eyes, leaned into the hand in hishair.
âAye,â he pecked Englandâs nose good-naturedly. âIt is.â
âCome on,â he threw the covers off and jumped out of bed, followed byEnglandâs half-hearted groan.
Not too long after they were heading outside to the light drizzle of theHighlands in the early morning, armed with sturdy boots and thick flannels. Theonly times when Scotland could be arsed to wake before England were days likethese, when there was nowhere to go and no one to meet, the skies overcast butthe day clear. Theyâd walk for miles, more often than not, silently matchingeach otherâs pace until mid morning caught them heading back to Scotlandâscabin for some breakfast and then fall back into bed.
Arthur was the first to step out into the pleasant cold and had to do adouble take when he caught Scotland strapping a backpack on after shutting thedoor.
Alasdair caught his stare and shrugged, looking away.
âJust a few things. Youâll see,â he ruffled his hair.
It took Arthur miles to recognise the path Scotland had carefully ledhim to.
But centuries could pass and heâd still recognise the holed standingstone before them.
He barely registered the warmth of Alasdairâs hand pressed to his lowerback, leading him towards the stones. But then the hand was gone and so wasAlasdair whoâd gone to stand behind the stone, as red as the brightest shade ofhis hair in the sun.
It took Arthur another moment tonotice the same hand waiting for his through the hole in the stone.
Alastair rested his forehead against the cold, weathered surface andclosed his eyes, attempting to time the deafening beats of his heart to hisbreathing. The drizzle had turned into heavier rain and he felt chilled.
He waited (half expected Arthur to walk away steps quick and heavy), butsuddenly there was a hand in his, tentative, but warm and solid, and Alasdairâsheart threatened to burst.
He felt the sting of tears threaten to blur his vision and tightened hisgrip on Arthurâs hand.
âThabharfainn fuil mo chroĂ duit.â
Arthurâs brittle laugh was beautiful from behind the stone.
One very traditional celtic proposal for our boys. According to local folklore, lovers would clasp hands through the holed standing stones to vow their love; some of them taking part of this custom to swear their wedding vows in secret, others as a promise to the other.
âI would give the blood of my heart to you.â