Work Text:
It was early.
Shao Peng knew six months was too early to want to get married. He had made several friends at work who had said they thought a year was pushing it.
“You hardly know a person that soon,” one woman bemoaned into his phone at a department dinner. She was a few drinks in, “I wasn't ready yet!”
He pat her shoulder, typing, “Everyone has their own pace.”
And he believed that. Everyone had their own pace, and his and Zi Xiang's just happened to be faster than others. The worry that you don't entirely know someone that soon wasn't even a consideration; he felt like they shared one mind, at times. When Zi Xiang signed to him, it spoke directly to his heart, creating a deeper understanding that most couples could only dream of.
A boring company dinner. A sweetly smiling Zi Xiang. A sign gestured across the room.
I love you.
Zi Xiang cared about Shao Peng's family, which was a requirement for the person he was going to marry he put into place as a child, before he realized how difficult it would be to find love for him.
He was wrong about his inability to love and be loved, but he was right that his future partner was deeply filial.
“Shao Peng,” Zi Xiang waved a slow hand in face to get his attention, signing his name when he had it, “It's your mother's birthday next week, right?”
Shao Peng blinked, enthusiastically signing, “How did you know?”
Grinning, Zi Xiang's hands moved with a boastful flare, “I asked your dad a few months ago. He gave me gift ideas too.”
Tilting his head knowingly, Shao Peng signed, “Practical things?”
“Hm,” Zi Xiang dug his phone out of his pocket, pulling up the product page for a set of intricately detailed hand made porcelain bowls, “Your mom said she broke several of her favorite bowls last month. I remembered which ones they were, and they looked similar. Great choice, right? ...Shao Peng? Jiang Shao Peng-”
He didn't get to say anything else as he was kissed for dear life.
Shao Peng loved him. So much so that he wanted to be married within the year.
How he wanted to go about it was another story. Whenever he was unsure, there was always someone he could trust.
“I know what you're here for, Shao Peng,” his mother patted his knees with a knowing smile.
Eyebrows raised, he signed in surprise, “You do?”
“You think I don't know my son?” she pretended to be offended, immediately dropping the facade to grab his chin between her thumb and index finger and shake his face, “I saw you looking up rings.”
Sheepish, he smiled with hunched shoulders, “I thought I was good at hiding it.”
“Of course you aren’t, you're too in love for that. I bet you want to get married as soon as possible, don't you?”
He nodded, picking at his pant leg for nonexistent lint.
“I was the same way with your father. You're too much like me,” she said fondly, readjusting her position so she could look him deeply in the eyes, signing along with her words, “You're sure about it?”
There was no hesitation in his hands as he replied, “Very sure.”
Leaning back with a pleased expression, she nodded twice, “That's that then. Do you have any plans for the proposal?”
“The nearby park. That's the first place he touched my heart,” he tapped his chest after he was finished, fondness visible on his face, “I want to ask him to marry me there.”
Crossing both her arms and legs, she lifted her head up to think while keeping her mouth visible to Shao Peng, “Maybe I could invite him over here to help me with something and then send him that way?”
He smiled with an open mouth, nodding enthusiastically, “I want to surprise him.”
“Do you have the ring yet?”
Getting his phone from his pocket, he pulled up a picture of the ring he wanted in the jewelry case, “This one. They're adjusting it and I am going to pick it up in two days.
“Shao Peng,” she cooed teasingly, “It's lovely. It suits Zi Xiang very well.”
Preening, he put his phone away, “I want to do it next week.”
“I'll make sure my excuse is flawless,” she made two thumbs up, pressed her knuckles together and tilted them to the side, “You can rely on your Mama!”
Despite his confidence in both his mother and Zi Xiang's love for him, he couldn’t control the tingles in his ribs at the thought of actually asking the question.
However, there was no amount of nerves that would keep him from wanting to spend his life with the man he loves.
“Thank you so much, Zi Xiang,” Mama Jiang said to him with an aggrieved sigh, “Shao Peng is busy with work, and you know how Papa's back is.”
“Of course, Ayi,” he said earnestly, stepping down from the stool he was using to dust the tops of the furniture, “It's no problem at all.”
“Shao Peng doesn't even need the stool,” she chuckled, folding it back up to tuck between the cabinets. He smiled at the simple reminder of his boyfriend and his ridiculous height.
“I might as well throw mine away because he can grab whatever I need,” he joked, politely scooching backwards to give her more room to move around in the kitchen.
Smiling, she asked, “Would you like some tea, Zi Xiang? It'll be good for your body after working so hard all day.”
He bowed his head slightly, “Thank you, Ayi.”
“Ayi, Ayi, Ayi,” she exclaimed, “You can call me ‘Mama’ you know.”
“I-” his breath caught, swallowing thickly. Did she know he wanted to propose to Shao Peng? He hadn't picked out his ring or decided if he was going to give a dowry yet- “I couldn't- I-”
She pat his shoulder placatingly, “It's alright. Just do what you're comfortable with, but you're part of the family now, you know?”
There was no way she could know what those words meant to him. Family used to mean cold shoulders, strict schedules, and desperate bids for attention that resulted in dressing downs rather than any kind of affection. But in the Jiang household, it took on a new meaning, warm and kind and safe and inviting. If he could choose to never leave, he would take that opportunity in a heartbeat.
“Thank you,” he replied earnestly, watching as she reached into her cupboards to grab them the tea.
“How stupid of me,” she moaned, turning back to him with a sour face, “I forgot to buy tea when I went shopping.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting you more.”
“I couldn't keep imposing on you...”
He waved a hand, “It's no trouble at all. You extend me your hospitality all the time.”
Mysterious, knowing expression on her lips, she nodded, “You know what brand we drink, don't you?”
“Yes,” he could picture the box and its leaves vividly in his head, having now shared many evenings here. He didn't forget things about people he cared about.
“Then I'll have to rely on you- Ah!” she snapped her fingers, “There's some construction on the main road. I suggest you cut through the park.”
He didn’t remember seeing any, but he'd trust her judgement; she knew the area much better, after all.
“How much should I buy,” he pondered to himself as he reached the mouth of the park, “If I get a lot she won't need to buy more for a while, but I wonder if the taste will get fresh if it sits too long...”
Looking upwards, there was a familiar figure in the distance. There was no way he'd ever mistake that silhouette in a thousand years. His leisurely walking pace became a jog, laser focused in Shao Peng's direction.
He waved his hand to hopefully catch his boyfriend's attention, which wasn't hard as he seemed to be eagerly looking around.
“Zi Xiang!” he sighed enthusiastically, grabbing a stack of... large card stock paper beside him? He gestured for Zi Xiang to sit on a familiar bench.
Oh.
This is where he apologized, wasn't it? He was already in love with Shao Peng then, if he thought about it. Curious but compliant, he sat down and looked up at Shao Peng for his next move. Nervously, the man began to shuffle his papers, check what was on them, and turn them around to face Zi Xiang.
What was on the first one was his name, written with thick inky brush strokes in a beautiful script. Flipping that to the back of the pile, the next one read I love you very much.
Smiling nervously, he signed the same thing back at Shao Peng.
I always remember the day you showed me your artwork here.
“I was pretty pathetic,” Zi Xiang joked, but Shao Peng shook his head sternly.
You made my heart flutter. I wanted to help you in any way I could.
“I- You, you were helping me just by staying by my side,” he uttered, voice heavy with emotion. He meant it, without any hint of exaggeration.
We've known each other for less than a year.
Had it been so little time? It had felt like a pleasant eternity already.
But I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
When he got to the last paper, he handed the stack to Zi Xiang, who took it with shaking hands. He was-
He couldn’t be-
This was-
Shao Peng got down on one knee, still so close to Zi Xiang's eye level because of his height. From his pocket Shao Peng fished out exactly what Zi Xiang thought he was, causing a thousand butterflies to release into Zi Xiang's stomach.
Like Jessica, from a young age he had pictured marriage as something you did out of obligation. Of course, he had always wanted more from it. He'd look at wedding magazines and advertisements and picture himself as the smiling groom (even the bride at points), living that happy fantasy life. There were even times he'd fall asleep in his little closet with one in his arms after reading it with the small sliver of light coming in between the crack of the doors.
As he grew up, he thought those dreams would stay only dreams.
But now, in front of him, the love of his life was on one knee, holding out an ornate silver engagement ring. Its delicate curves and elegant engraving were a perfect pair to the ring he already wore, because no detail went unnoticed to Shao Peng’s sharp assessment.
Tears threatened his eyes.
Placing the small box on Zi Xiang's lap, Shao Peng signed, with endless feeling in his motions and expression, “Will you marry me?”
Words, whether signed or spoken, alluded Zi Xiang, who instead unsteadily put the ring on his finger, pocketed the box, and leapt forward to embrace Shao Peng, card stock scattering everywhere as the tall man just barely caught him. He wrapped his arms around his neck tightly, desperately nodding into his shoulder. Catching onto his meaning, Shao Peng stood up with some difficulty, hoisting him up so his feet were off the ground as they hugged.
Both of them were smiling like mad and crying just as much; Zi Xiang knew he was doing both, and he could feel the same for Shao Peng against his cheek. Eventually, they had to break the embrace, but not before a lingering, tearful, giggling kiss.
Shao Peng's quiet laughter tasted sweeter than any dessert.
Slightly more composed, Zi Xiang wiped helplessly at his snotty nose with the back of his wrist, prompting Shao Peng to provide a handkerchief. Taking it, he dabbed at the corner of his eyes before cleaning under his nostrils. Folding in such a way it could be used again, he handed it to Shao Peng who did the same.
“Of course I'll marry you,” he said, hands in perfect time with his lips, “I'd marry you a million times.”
Shao Peng responded with another kiss, tender and passionate all at once. When they parted, Zi Xiang laughed quietly, “We should clean up.”
Nodding, Shao Peng paused, mesmerized by the ring Zi Xiang now wore. He picked up his hand and kissed it adoringly.
Zi Xiang was the luckiest man alive.
“It went well,” his mother said proudly when the two men came in with held hands, "I knew the plan was flawless.”
Shao Peng gave her an enthusiastic thumbs up, turning to see Zi Xiang's mouth agape, signing, “That's why I was called over here today?”
“Sorry for lying,” Shao Peng knew his mother well and could tell from her expression that there was no regret at all, “But it worked out, didn't it?”
Zi Xiang nodded adorably, holding his hand out to examine the ring with fascination for not the first or last time that day, “It did.”
“What worked out?” his father emerged from the kitchen, holding a plate of chopped melon. His gaze snapped to Zi Xiang's ring, and Shao Peng barely caught the platter before it fell.
Looking back to his mother, she proudly announced, “Say hello to your son-in-law.”
“Why does no one tell me anything!?” his father bellowed, frowning as his mother laughed heartily. Shao Peng couldn't help but giggle, and turned to see Zi Xiang do the same, quickly overcome with glee and burying his face in Shao Peng's shoulder.
There was nothing more he wanted in this world than silly days like this with Zi Xiang, for the rest of his life and beyond.•