billy and steve are idiots in LOVE i feel like in a modern au, they'd plan to propose at the same time, without the other knowing ofc (steve'll probably get robin to record, while billy will get heather to record ldkjgf) i can imagine steve being the first to get the ring out, so when billy walks away, he's like "ah fuck :)" and he doesn't know what to do, but when billy comes back with tears in his eyes and laughing, getting down on his knee too, steve starts crying too
Both Billy and Steve have been planning to propose for a while. They both had everything planned out, they had both gone to pick out the rings, picked out some nice clothes, made reservations, and it was perfect- or so they thought.
“Hey, Bill,” Steve called from his home office he had set up in their small California condo. It was once a bedroom, but they never used it as such since they slept together in their king bed every night.
He had in fact ended up working for his dad- or at least his company. He was a salesman working in the company’s San Diego branch. Most days he got to work from home unless he had to go out on calls which was amazing because he got to spend lots of time with his boyfriend when he wasn’t working in the auto repair shop. He couldn’t say it helped with his concentration thanks to all the enjoyable distractions, but they were working on it.
“What’s up?” Billy asked, peeking his head in to the room with a small smile. His mess of curls were pulled into a small bun at the back of his head, revealing his undercut. He looked different now than he did in high school, happier now. Instead of his signature smirk he used to wear he now wore a warm smile, one that showed joy instead of hate. Steve enjoyed the change, glad that he could be the one to help make it.
“We’re going to dinner tonight, that okay?” Steve took his glasses off for a moment, setting them on his desk. He rubbed his eyes, getting them to adjust after staring at his computer screen for so long.
“Perfect,” Billy said with an even wider smile on his face, bigger than usual. It was because he knew something that Steve didn’t. He was going to propose tonight. He had bought Steve the most perfect ring, it was a simple silver band with a small diamond in the middle. Elegant yet extravagant, definitely Steve’s style. It had definitely cost him half of his life’s savings, but it was all worth it because Steve was his life now, “You takin’ me somewhere fancy, pretty boy?”
“Oh yeah,” Steve started, getting up from his chair and walking over to Billy, “River Oaks,” Steve wrapped his arms around his boyfriends neck, looking at him with nothing but love in his eyes.
“River Oaks you say?” Billy purred, snaking his arms around Steve’s waist, pulling him in closer.
“I do say,” Steve joked, leaning in to press in a soft kiss to Billy’s lips, pulling away soon after.
“Now go, get ready, reservations are at seven,” Steve backed out of Billy’s grip, giving him a playful smack on the ass as a sort of parting gift, chucking at the yelp he received. He was already dressed nice as he had a meeting via his computer earlier that day.
Steve made sure that Billy had gone into their room to change before he rushed to his desk, pulling out a small black, velvet box. But it’s not the box that Steve was focused on as much as what was inside. He pulled open the box to reveal a gold band, much like the one Billy wore on his middle finger, but on the inside was engraved ‘BH+SH’. He was proud of it, proud of how perfect it was, proud of how much he knew Billy would love it.
In the room down the hall Billy was tying his tie, glancing over at the small navy box he had taken out of his bedside drawer. He couldn’t believe this was really happening, that today was really the day. Him and Steve had been dating for around three years now, they had been living together for one of those three years, not they were getting engaged- well that was if Steve said yes. But there’s no way he could say no... right? Now he was getting anxious, looking at himself in the mirror wondering if he could actually do it. He shifted the velvet box around in his hand, heart racing in his chest.
“You ready, baby?” Steve asked, stepping into the doorway.
“Christ!” Billy exclaimed, quickly shoving the ring box into his pocket, throwing a hand over his heart dramatically, “Don’t do that.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to spook ya,” Steve teased with a wide grin, wiggling his shoulders playfully.
“God, I hate you,” Billy joked, rolling his eyes, but he had a small smile on his face.
“No you don’t, come on, Uber’ll be here soon,” Steve held out his hand in invitation.
“You’re buying me dessert for this,” Billy demanded, grabbing Steve’s hand, letting himself be walked out of the room.
Steve watched anxiously as Billy finished his second to last bite of steak. He was bouncing his knee under the table, trying to calm his nerves. He looked over at Robin giving him a thumbs up with her phone ready. Across from her was Heather, who Robin insisted she invited because she didn’t want to eat alone. But Billy was the one who knew that was a lie because he had invited Heather to film him proposing to Steve. But Robin and Heather were the only ones who knew of both the plans, that they were both planning to propose on the same night.
Steve reached into his pocket as he felt his phone buzz, pulling it out to look at the new text.
Robz: ‘You got this, Dingus.’
Dingus: ‘Thanks, so comforting.’
Steve quickly put his phone away as he watched Billy finish his meal.
“Was it good?” He asked with a small nervous smile.
“Yeah, but I might have to take a rain check on that dessert you own me I’m stuffed,” Billy chuckled, putting a hand on his stomach, breathing out a heavy puff of air.
“As long as you don’t unbutton your pants in the middle of the restaurant, I’m totally fine with that,” Steve watched Billy chuckle, the candle on the table making his face look even brighter than normal. He knew it was now or never.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” He asked, taking the ring box out of his pocket, fiddling with it in his lap. Billy looked up at Steve, clearly concerned.
“Yeah, anything,” he said, eyebrows furrowed.
“I just...” Steve looked down at the table taking a small breath, counting down to three before going for it. He stood up before falling down to one knee in front of Billy’s chair, opening the ring box to reveal the gold ring. He watched Billy’s jaw drop, eyebrow shooting off of his forehead.
“Steve...” he whispered, feeling the pressure of everyone around them eye’s on them.
“Billy Hargrove, will you marry me?” Steve asked in confidence eyes gleaming with hope.
“God, I-” Billy rubbed the side of his jaw feeling the stubble under his palm. Steve just stayed there on one knee a bit awkwardly.
Billy didn’t know what to do, should he just say yes and blow off his own plan all together? He felt like the world was spinning.
Finally he stood up, looking down at Steve who looked like his heart was breaking. He felt horrible, he knew that he thought he was about to leave him high and dry right there with everybody watching, but that wasn’t it at all.
Billy bit his lip, tears starting to well up in his eyes as he got down on one knee in front of Steve. He pulled out the box from his own pocket, laughing softly as he cracked it open to reveal the ring he bought for Steve.
“Holy shit,” Steve whispered, tears streaming down his face as he shifted his gaze between Billy and the silver ring.
“Holy shit.” Billy responded, the most fond smile plastered across his face.
Heather and Robin were both video taping from opposite sides of either man, getting two angles for them.
“So, what’s it gonna be boys?” Heather asked hopefully, tearing up herself. She was like Steve, a sucker for sickeningly sweet moments.
Both Billy and Steve looked at each other before Steve held out his hand, just as he had before in their bedroom. The blond took it, standing up along with his boyfriend. They looked at each other again before looking out into the dining room of the large restaurant. Both in unison replying-