"Rennnnn...! Come on already, it feels like we've been driving for an hour! Can at least take off the blindfold on the way there?"
"Not a chance," Ren says from the driver's seat. The silver sedan rolls down a familiar side street. "We're here anyway."
"It hasn't started snowing yet, has it? The forecast this morning said we'd have a white Christmas!" Ann looks around despite the black blindfold over her eyes. "Ugh, I can't see anything. You are way too fond of this driving people to surprises blindfolded thing, you know that?"
"Would you say it's criminal?"
Ann turns to give Ren a wry smile. "You're loving this,"
"Almost as much as you," Ren replies as he steps out of the car. He walks around to the passenger side door and takes Ann's hand, guiding her to her feet. His eyes rove over the lovely dress she chose for their Christmas Eve date, white and red without looking Santa dress-like. His own black and red outfit match in the strangest way, making them a sight as he leads them around the block.
"Is there anyone on this street?" Ann asks while holding Ren's arm tightly. "I probably look like a fool, or worse!"
"You look stunning, and no, it's particularly dead tonight." Ren leads the two up to a door. With a jangle of keys the door opens and a bell chimes.
Ann reaches up for the blindfold on her face, but Ren takes her wrist softly before she can move it. "Really? We're already here!"
"Almost there, promise."
"You're lucky I love you, Ren..." Ann huffs, but the amusement on her face is obvious to the seasoned Phantom Thief beside her. He guides her like a dancer his partner up a flight of stairs and into the center of a room. He slips behind Ann and reaches up for the blindfold.
"I present you..." The blindfold drops as he trails off. Before Ann is the very familiar attic of LeBlanc, of all places. Not much has changed since Ren moved out a few months ago into their new apartment. It's less homey up here without all the things they gathered (his and hers) over the years, more like when Ren first came to the city during high school.
"Leblanc? Really?" Ann looks back at Ren over her shoulder. "I know you're stilling finishing up those college courses, but I know we aren't this broke."
Ren smiles, he can't help it. It's always 'we' with Ann, never him or her. He loves that about her. They've been together since the summer trip back in high school, and ever since she was always his other half. Be it fighting Gods trying to claim control over humanity, corrupt adults, or anything else years of Thievery has thrown at them, Ann was always right by his side.
"No, we aren't," he says softly. He guides her towards the stripped-down bed, opening the window as she sits to face it.
"Then...?"
"Do you remember... Christmas Eve?" Ren says while still looking out the window.
"We've spent a few Christmas Eve's up here Ren," Ann says with a slight giggle. "You'll have to be more specific."
"The first one. After fighting Yaldabaoth."
"Hmm..." Ann crosses her ankles one over the other. A sly grin forms on her face as she looks back up at Ren. "You mean the first night we spent together, alone?"
"That did happen, yes." Ren smiles wryly out the window. He turns on his heel, leaning against the windowsill and taking in Ann's face. "But that's not it."
"Then...?" Ann tilts her head slightly in confusion.
"You had said... That you weren't used to being so content. That... Sometimes, you were so happy that it didn't feel real, like it was too good to be true."
Ann looks on, worry crossing her expression. Ren continues on as the forecasted snow begins to fall behind him.
"As early as Kamoshida, you've had my back. Not just when we're fighting for our lives either, whenever things got too stressful for me you were there with a laugh, a quiet touch, or a warm embrace. While everyone in the Thieves is family to me now, you were... are... Always so much more. I truly think you know me better than I know myself."
Ann's hands come to her mouth while her eyes water a bit. Ren reaches for his bangs awkwardly. It's an old and familiar gesture, one he rarely does now and it brings Ann back to that first night they spent in this room on Christmas Eve.
"What I'm... trying to say, is that I'm not just content, not anymore. I can't imagine life without you in it anymore. I feel that same way you once did, like the joy I feel every morning waking up to another day with you couldn't possibly be real because it makes me happier than any person on earth has any right to be. So."
Ren reaches into his pocket. Without a creak of hardwood, he sinks to one knee, presenting the box before Ann. He reaches up, and opens it to reveal a ring, inset with two subtle yet pronounced Diamonds that seem to melt together.
"I want to be with you the rest of my life, Ann Takamaki, if you would do me that honor."
Ann's eyes flick only once to the ring before her face flushes like a rose. Tears come to her eyes and Ren can't see her mouth with her hand over her face. She gasps once, then another time. It's only a second or two delay but it feels like an eternity to Ren.
Ann nods. It's a quick, definitive nod, and then her hand moves from her face and the joyful smile on her features would be forever burned into Ren's memory. Ren feels his own face flushing and the smiling forming on his own face before Ann dives forward, bringing them both to the dusty floor.
Words still don't come to her as she's occupied crying and laughing all at once. Ren's arms wrap around her immediately, holding her close to his chest. Ren's own eyes water, knowing he's gotten everything he will ever need in this life in this very moment.
Finally, Ann pulls her head from Ren's chest to look into his eyes through her own watery ones. "Y, yes Ren. I absolutely-" She blinks and frantically looks around. "Where is it?"
"...Pfft," Ren can't help but snort as Ann's head moves on a swivel. She looks back at him appalled for just a moment before breaking into a laugh herself. The two sit there laughing like mad fools on the floor of LeBlanc's apartment, all while snow falls on them from the open window.
Ren manages to stop laughing long enough to spot the ring just behind Ann. He leans forward, pressing a soft kiss to her lips as he does, grabbing the box as he leans back. He presents it to her once again, watching tears flow to her eyes once again. She reaches forward gingerly lifting the ring from the box. Ren sets it down, taking her left hand. Ren's other hand takes the ring from hers, and he holds it just before her finger. He pauses, looking up at Ann.
She nods. Ren slides the ring onto her finger. Ann chokes back another joyful sob as she lifts her hand closer to her face. Ren watches quietly, his cheeks actually sore from the smile he can't seem to break, not that he'd ever want to, watching this moment. After a moment, Ann's hand comes down to rest on Ren's chest. Ren's own hand moves over her own.
"You've made my every dream a reality tonight Ren. I... Honestly, I'm still speechless, but I just need to say... I love you, Ren." Ann leans forward slowly, Ren rising to meet her. Their lips meet as the snow falls around them. Despite the growing storm, the cold doesn't bother them. The passion the two share for one another warms them completely, from the bottoms of their hearts.
I checked Twitter to find out that today was the first day of a ShuuAnn week and I really couldn't help myself at that point. This has been totally improvised, once again based on the Christmas Scene from Royal. I love them so much, and can't wait to write more about the happy lives they deserve~3
The prompt for this day of the ShuuAnn week is Proposal!