he’d been thinking about this moment for a while now, close to when he became a regular of some sorts in the powell household. how he came to the decision to finally do it. he’s in their cabin now, looking for a particular item, a velvet black box, smaller than his palm. lucky for him to think ahead on purchasing the item, he wouldn’t have been able to do it on the road to the harbor, nearly bled out to death. he puts the box in his jacket’s inside pocket, all secrets and mystery, before returning back to the deck.
simone had been there for him. when he was paralyzed, when he was trying to deal with both living without legs and helping clint save bed-stuy. even in that short period of time, her support has been… overwhelming, to say the least. and there are only few people in the world who can even deserve that compliment from him. that said something about her.
it takes him a couple of minutes since his disappearance to return back to the deck, with a slight smile and a mystery. “ i’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout somethin’, simone. ” a pause, for him to find the right words. “ ‘specially since th’clown shot me, how y’became so important in my life. how y’supported me, an’ clint, through tough times. thing is, i’d like t’pay back, support ya th’way you supported me. ” his hand goes into the jacket’s pocket, taking the small box into his palms. he would kneel down, to make the event more fancy, if he could.
“ i ——- simone powell. ” his voice is a little tense, but that’s the adrenaline kicking in, as he slowly opens the box, revealing a simple yet beautiful ring.
“ will ya marry me ? ”
She sets her drink aside when she hears him coming back, turns to face him - a habit born of knowing her kids will take any occasion to do trouble, and that having a back turned is definitely the biggest opportunity of them all.
Simone’s not entirely sure what to expect - this whole situation is already so far beyond the realm of her expectations and understanding that she’s mostly started accepting everything without questioning it. A trip to the Caribbeans in a private yacht ? Why not.
And then he starts talking and there’s something warm building in her chest, pressing against her ribs, making her heart feel about three sizes too large. She wants to say that he’s important to her too, that she doesn’t know what she’d do without him now -- her hero in shining armor, sometimes lacking a little poetry, but she wouldn’t change him for the world.
The box comes out and the ring is beautiful, and shining in the sunset light and all the words she’d been preparing just vanish. They disappear from her mind, leaving her with her mouth open and nothing coming out but a soft gasp.
There’s tears pearling in her eyes, but she doesn’t wipe them away, too transfixed by the ring, by his gaze, the stillness of the moment as he waits for her response. Her response.
She smiles, a bit tremulously -- overwhelmed.
