Read first kill author later. lol!
PROPOSAL
The Russian landscape of Moscow embraced the perfect balance of bright white light and deep, mysterious shadows as the sun rose over the tops of the high snow-capped mountains. The snow in the streets was steadily becoming a blended mix of thick mud and deep puddles as spring moved into the city like a lost lamb.
Sapphire eyes gazed out the double- paned window then back to his sleeping lover as he re-pocketed the small black velvet box in his hand. Leaving the room, he listened as the other man on the bed, his lover, sifted and sighed in content.
The hallway was dimly lit, but it only took seconds to recover and he could hear the soft clashing sounds of his friends in the downstairs kitchen. All of them already wakened by a certain blonds endlessly annoying dog. He bounded down the stairs and into the room where they all awaited his arrival; five faces turning to greet his all in their own fashion. Two or three managing to hide devious smiles behind their coffee cups.
"Devious is so not the word for you sorry lot of bastards. He quipped darkly helping himself to the freshly- brewed coffee. Noting the look a certain bluenette gave his slate- haired lover, he hid a smile of his own by downing the drink as it was- black and bitter.
"You're more like maniacal interlopers with out-of-this-world temperaments for disaster."
Grinning as though he'd won the something, Tyson replied: "Aw, Tala, we were only trying to help you." The sweetness dripping off the other man's words made him grimace slightly as he sipped his second mug. This time letting the dark, steamy liquid heat his veins and wake him fully.
"Leave your so- called 'help' to the professionals, Tyson." The red head retorted. Moonlight met sapphire as Brian decided, completely out-of-the-blue, to stare down his former captain.
"So, it's for real?"
"Want me to sky-write it for you?"
"Hardy- har- har, Tala," Spencer cut in as he put a plate of toast on the counter for said ex-captain, "we don't need your cynicism this early in the morning- so don't start."
"Then stop asking stupid questions. Of course it's for real." The red head glared at the group. Four overlooking the incident and the fifth hid behind his boyfriend cringing. Tyson and Kai had flown in from Japan with Ian the previous night and showered both Kenny and Tala with gifts and questions.
After a trying evening, the pair and all of the other house's occupants opted out of the poker game they were playing and went to bed.
Suddenly, Spencer gave a barely audible growl and the others minus Tala took their leave from the kitchen and retired into the living room. The blurry blond gave the red head a soft look and motioned for him to come near the stove where he was tidying the mess from breakfast.
"Help me get Kenny's breakfast up to him. Then we start on the décor." Whispered Spencer. Tala nodded wordlessly.
Kenny woke with a start realizing that he was completely alone in the spacious room and that even Dizzy- his trusty laptop- was missing. Around him, the room was spot- cleaned and a breakfast was left on the desk for him to eat.
Suspicious, he glanced down at the tray and read the note attached to a blood red rose:
"My darling, my love; I would like for you to eat then join me. All you need is yourself (I've got that damn big-mouthed computer of yours) and to follow the path of rose petals to my location. Sincerely and forever yours, Tala Ivanov."
Kenny smiled at Tala's joke over Dizzy and sat down to the hearty, healthy breakfast.
Tala paced restlessly in the library of the house. Skeptical looks from his friends were beginning to make the red head extremely nervous. Was he doing the right thing? After all, it had only been four months since his love had been declared.
"Going to actually go through with it?" Tyson mocked playfully as he tried to get the worried man to relax a little.
"Damn straight."
"Not worried about rejection are you?" Ian chimed in now understanding what the Japanese man was doing.
"Your tactics are old and offending, not to mention boring to the point of putting me to sleep," stated Brian as he lounged in Spencer's laps on the love seat. "You can't throw Wolf off balance like that."
Kai nodded in agreement: "Kenny's the only one ever able to do that."
Tala, flustered with the antics of his friends, whacked Kai up side the head with a cushion. "Would the five of you shut up? I'm trying to gather my nerve and not lose it here!" It was then that, when the door to the small library opened a sliver, that the Wolf broke into a cold sweat.
Kenny fought the urge to giggle as he stepped into the now brightly lit hallway of the upper floor and onto a path of rose petals. Tala had out- done himself…. And it seemed he had help in doing so. Dazed and so taken with the red heads surprise twist this early in the morning that he walked in a trance- like way, he slowly went down the stairs.
No Hero greeted the lithe brunette as he stopped to gather his thoughts on the matter on the bottom landing. His mind screamed at him the words that Tala had once or twice spoken to him on occasions such as this.
(Flashback)
Kenny sat in the car and waited, his patience was stretching thin. Whatever his lover had done this time was eating on his nerves steadily and he wouldn't stop worrying over it one bit.
Tala came out of the hotel and opened the car door. He extended a hand as to aide his lithe love, but instead blindfolded the other man so that he would have to follow the red heads voice and trust him with his very life. Confused, Kenny wanted to say something about it.
"I'm to wonder if this was entirely pre-planned or is this some sort of spur- of- the –moment thing you just thought up?"
He could almost feel Tala smirk. "You think way too much, love. Time to throw some of that caution to the wind and be less suppressed as you say to me all the damn time."
(End Flashback)
"Throw caution to the wind, huh?" Kenny said to the empty dining room as he followed the path. "Maybe I should… just this once." That said he reached the end of the path at the library door and started to open it.
Tala straightened and gazed lovingly at the man who stood before him. Breathe in… breathe out. He thought as he practically glided down to one knee in front of all his friends and lover…
Kenny's throat felt dry; his knees like water. Tears began their trek at the corners of his big blue eyes as he watched…
"Kenny Shinoda, I've tried so many times and, in vain, failed to beg of you the most precious thing there is. You have given me a whole new outlook on life and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you. You are my life- line, my love, and the essence of my very existence. Today, I kneel before you among trusted friends and family, to ask of you the only thing you have left to really give. Kenny, my love, will you marry me?" Tala produced the ring he inherited from his mother as he locked eyes with Kenny.
The world, to Kenny, seemed to vanish leaving only the two of them in a place where nothing else mattered. He hardly heard Tyson's sigh of approval as the tears streaked his face. Laughing and crying, he nodded vigorously: "Yes… Yes-yes-yes! Yes, I will!"
Tala's world spun wildly as his mind fought to register the words spoken by his lover. Kenny had said yes to him? Kenny said yes! He rose from the floor with a whoop of joy and scooped up the lithe brunette to kiss him full on the lips.
Kai cleared his throat after a short while. "I've a surprise for you both."
"Oh yeah, like what, Phoenix?" Tala asked suspiciously.
"As we speak here, celebrating a joyous day, I've taken the liberty to draw up and sign papers of adoption in your name." Kenny's tears started fresh again as his long- time friend and self- adopted brother spoke. "The boy's name is Claus, he is two years old and within six days time he will be under the protection and care of his new, loving parents; namely you, Kenny and Tala Ivanov."
Tala choked back his tears of delight. A child was Kai's surprise. A small boy that, in six days' time, would be his son- to raise and love forever between Kenny and himself. Then Kenny just had to ask that age- old question:
"What about his real parents?"
"Unfortunately, Claus is alone in the world. His parents recently passed on. And yet fortunately, I know that he will be given everything he could ever possibly need under the Ivanov name." The day had a twist, but the outcome was better than anyone could have ever anticipated.
Hey now put away your pitchforks. REJOICE! I've updated!
