@nuttybing oops this one is old.
15. "Please marry me."
*****
Tadashi stood quietly off to the side of the room. He had gotten good at canceling out the noise but some days it was impossible not to hear it; hear the way Ainosuke’s aunts pestered him to do better, to get a wife.
"Married by thirty," they warned.
Marriage. Ainosuke was going to be married off. It was inevitable as of right now. They would marry him off to a rich woman. Hopefully she was nice. Hopefully she was kind, and hopefully Ainosuke would be kind to her. He wondered if she would allow them to—
Tadashi didn't dare think about it. He didn't dare consider the possibility that she might allow them to continue their arrangement. It put far too much hope in him. It was already pathetic enough that he even hoped that he could be Ainosuke’s side piece or mistress of sorts.
"You are dismissed."
That, along with the sound of Ainosuke turning to leave, was what he heard next, and Tadashi obediently followed him out. Instead of going back to his office, though, they made an early turn.
"Mister Ainosuke?"
"Just a smoke break," Ainosuke said. Tadashi knew that anyone who wasn't a servant could smoke in the manor. The staff had to clean the walls and roof more often due to it, well not Tadashi. Tadashi was a secretary now. When Aiichiro had appointed him as such he had told Tadashi that it was a blessing that 'A stupid garden boy like you could make it even this far! You're smart and obedient though. Keep that up and maybe my son 'll do somethin' with you!' Drunk. He had been drunk. Although he hadn't been wrong.
They walked around the pool they used to skate in and into the garden, winding around hedges until Ainosuke stopped and began to pull out a cigarette. He had it halfway out of the case before he pushed it back and snapped it shut. Instead reaching over to grab Tadashi by the tie and pull him close and into a surprisingly gentle kiss that betrayed the action that initially brought him so close.
Tadashi kissed him back and closed his eyes. Usually their kisses started with Tadashi being pinned against the desk, or the car pulling over, or Ainosuke texting him late at night when his aunts were passed out due to too much wine. This kiss was followed by gentle touches. Ainosuke letting go of his tie and combing his fingers through Tadashi’s hair. Ainosuke gently cupping his cheek. Ainosuke moving his hands to his sides under his suit jacket. Tadashi left his hands on Ainosuke’s shoulders, but would squeeze in appreciation sometimes.
"Tadashi?" Ainosuke eventually pulled away. Just barely. They could feel each other's breaths being swallowed by the other. There was a plea in his voice. A plea that could mean anything. Maybe Ainosuke just wanted to forget about everything and he wanted Tadashi to he the one to take him there, or maybe... just maybe...
"Please marry me," Tadashi whispered. The way everything froze he thought for a split second that Ainosuke might not have heard him. Then he was pulling away.
"What did you say?" Ainosuke asked. He looked conflicted. Maybe he wanted Tadashi to say it again or maybe he wanted them to pretend it never happened.
"Please marry me. Marry me and leave this place."
"But what about—"
"Ainosuke? Please. This is what I want. You always seem to want to know what I want or what I'm thinking and heaven only knows why, but I want this. I mean— you don't even have to marry me. I just want you to be happy and to leave with me and—" a kiss was pressed to his lips once more. A brief one that cut him off but helped him with not feeling so overwhelmed. He had started back pedaling.
"Okay," Ainosuke whispered.
"Okay?" Tadashi looked up at him and couldn't get a read on his face.
"Okay."
Tadashi could only wonder if he was agreeing to run away or agreeing to marry him.
