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It was time. After months of preparation, it was time for Barney to finally pop the question.
It had been almost three years since Black Mesa narrowly avoided catastrophe with one of their experiments, and only a week less since Barney told Gordon what he meant to him. Almost losing Gordon had proved to him how much he would despise a world without the other in it.
The incident made both of them realize how unsafe and immoral the company truly was, so after many NDAs, both Barney and Gordon moved to Washington, D.C. and left the underground facility behind.
He'd lost most contact with Black Mesa aside from Isaac and Eli, but in the end, it doesn't even matter; they were the only ones he really cared for, anyway.
The two played the role of family more than his ever did, so it was no surprise that they were ecstatic when Barney had told them his plans to propose to Gordon on his 30th.
He had the whole thing planned out; he would bring Gordon home from work, and after he got ready, he would take him out to a nice dinner. After they ate, Barney would bring him to the pond by the park where Gordon liked to feed the fish, and that's when Barney would put to use his months of practice.
It hadn't been long before the two started dating that Gordon began teaching Barney basic sign, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure it out. He could read it just fine, but when it came to doing it himself, he might as well have been doing jazz hands.
However, when Barney had shared the idea of proposing, Isaac suggested doing so in sign; he said something about reward pathways and neurotransmitters or whatever, but since then he had begun practicing.
He started by writing down exactly what he wanted to say, and when he had alone time or when he couldn't sleep, he would practice the movements. It took him three months before he grew confident in his skills, and another two before he got the balls to tell him.
But sitting here now on this park bench, admiring Gordon's gentle smile in the soft glow of a nearby streetlight as he tosses feed into the pond, he's not so sure he has them anymore.
'Do you want to feed them?' Barney looks away as he's caught staring and hopes Gordon can't see his blush.
"Nah, they like you better." Gordon smiles and taps him to get his attention.
'They're fish; I don't think they care where their food comes from.' Barney lets out a small chuckle and turns his head back towards the water as his smile disappears and worry presents itself on his brow.
The shorter of the two jumps slightly at the feeling of another hand on his, and follows it up to see Gordon wearing a similar expression.
'What's wrong?'
"Uh, nothin'..." Gordon gives him a look. "Just... nervous bout' somethin' is all." Barney concedes and grips the more delicate hand in both of his. He looks up to see Gordon offering a reassuring smile, a few loose hairs that fell from his ponytail framing his face in the warm light, and it's at that moment he realizes it's now or never. So he takes a deep breath before standing and getting on one knee before his everything. His palms are sweaty, his hands are shaking, but he begins to sign.
'Ever since that day I first saw you in... Black... Mesa, I special...' Barney silently curses and tries to take a deep breath, but the air enters his lungs shaky with nerves
'I knew you were special, and our has...' Barney lets out a frustrated noise and Gordon moves to hold his hand, but Barney pulls away.
"No, let me do it, I know I can do it... please." Barney tries his best to display how much this means to him, and Gordon seems to understand.
'Breathe. Take your time.'
Barney nods and takes a steadying breath, letting out a nervous laugh. "I'm gonna start over, 'kay?" Gordon chuckles and gives him an encouraging nod.
Barney steels himself and tries again.
'Ever since that day I first saw you in Black Mesa, I knew you were special, and our time together has only solidified that point in my mind. When that experiment went awry, and I had thought I lost you, I had never felt so much grief in my life, and I never want to feel that again without experiencing your love first. The days I wake up to you laying beside me feel like a...' Barney pauses, swallowing harshly as he tries his best to remember the sign.
"Fuck, uh..." he looks up as movement catches his eye to see Gordon pointing to his head with his right hand, and pulling it away while curling it twice. "Right."
'Dream that I...' Barney's movements slow to a stop as he sees a tear run down Gordon's cheek before getting stuck in the crease of his smile.
'That I never want to wake up from.' Gordon finishes after a prolonged moment, snapping Barney out of whatever daze he was in as he swiftly fumbles for the gold band in his back pocket.
He starts to sign, but remembers he has the ring in his hand, so he sets it on the ground first before signing his final words.
'Will you marry me?' Barney swiftly grabs the ring again and holds it up as steadily as his hands will let him as he holds his breath, praying to whatever god might be out there that he gets the answer he wants.
Gordon gives him no time to think before he leans down where Barney is kneeled between his legs and gently holds his head with both hands as he leans down to catch his lips in a tender kiss.
"It would be an honour." Gordon doesn't speak often, but god, when he does, it has quite the effect on Barney. The low, rumbling tones of his voice sends all sense and logic away, and he has to take a moment to steel himself once again before he shakily puts the ring on Gordon.
He stares at the man above him for a good minute before his face twists into that of confusion.
"Wait, how did you know what I was going to say?" Gordon grins.
'I've seen you practicing when you think I'm asleep.' Barney goes beet red in an instant, and Gordon laughs.
'No, no, don't be embarrassed, it's really sweet. Thank you.' Barney nods before starting to stand and wincing when his knees pop in retaliation.
"Oh fuck, gonna feel that tomorrow." he groans with a chuckle as he sits down, tensing when Gordon leans down and lovingly gives both his knees kisses before sitting up straight again and giving Barney a kiss on the cheek and whispers in his ear.
"There you go, all better." Well now Barney has another problem, but he's sure Gordon can help with that, too, once they get home.