If Zane had asked Ty to marry him pre-T&G, would Ty have said yes?
His body would be all in.
His heart would be all in.
His very soul would be all in.
Yet, his mind would have squeaked no. You have to tell him. He needs to know.
Ty would have been so afraid of loosing Zane even when Zane is so close to truly being his. Ty has always been afraid. Zane coming to his senses and leaving. But if they were married, Ty would have the man his body, heart, and soul wants. The man who, at that moment, is on his knees for him. Asking him to marry him. But which Ty is Zane asking? Ty has always been honest about himself to Zane. Honest about who he is and how much he loves Zane. But Ty also know he is keeping a part of him away from Zane. A part he has been told not to tell Zane. A part that is protecting Zane. He needs to protect Zane. With no Zane there is no happiness.
But, there is Zane on his knees. Asking Ty to marry him, and Ty so deeply wants to say yes. It is there. Say yes. If he doesn't say yes soon, Zane will be so hurt. So vulnerably hurt. Possible irreconcilably. He can't say yes, but he need to tell Zane something, and that taints it. That shades the moment in greys and not the blinding brightness of love. Ty needs to say yes because he loves Zane. Oh, how he loves him, but Zane needs to know. If it came out afterwards, he would not forgive.
So, Ty would have said no, he can't marry him yet. Then Ty would have to tell Zane everything as to why. Insist that Zane know why he has to say no. Tell him the assignment. Tell Zane what he has done for him. For them. And Zane would have spiraled, and Ty would have been crushed. It would have been worse than T&G because Zane would hear that "no", that pause, in the back of his head forever. Ty telling him no, he can't take the ring yet.
I am glad Zane did not ask Ty. I am glad Ty answered his phone. I am glad Ty knows Zane has been wanting to ask him. I want them to be at Deuce's wedding cuddling in a corner, murmuring about their day someday. They need to build to this together instead of springing it on the other. I want them to start considering it and testing the idea in their mouth like wine aged to perfection.