Why?
Two boyfriend's take a walk up a hill.
"You know I love you, right?"
"Yes?" Michael's tail was torn between shaking in anticipation and freezing to his leg. He'd been like that the entire hike up the hill. It all just felt off. All Zach said when he'd proposed the midnight climb was that it would be nice to see the stars, but he'd brought his bag and when Michael asked what was in it all he'd received was a non-committal 'supplies' in response. That would normally be fine --great even if Zach had winked afterward, or if the lube hadn't still been in their bedside table.
But he hadn't. He'd looked away and every part of him from his ruffled fur to the anxious weight of his scent told him that the main point of this hike wasn't going to use that sort of supplies. So, where was this going?
"And you love me too, right?"
Michael nodded in response. If only he were a fox like Zach; maybe then he would know what was about to happen. If he were any canine he could probably smell what 'supplies' were hidden in his bag, but his short, mustelid nose was busy trying to sort out Zach's scent. He was happy, but a little scared? No, that wasn't it. That couldn't be it.He was clearly nervous. His paws fidgeted with his tail that stuck close to his legs.
"Right, so I need you to do me a favor."
Favor? What in the Mother's name could he be planning? It couldn't be... could it? Would he ask tonight? But if it were that, why did he need a favor? Of course he would say yes. He could never call saying yes to that a favor.
"I'm going to ask you a question," Michael couldn't stop his tail from wagging if he wanted to then. Every hair on his body seemed to vibrate with excitement. He was! Great Mother! He was going to ask tonight! "and I need you to promise you'll ask 'why' afterward. Can you do that?"
Michael was already nodding before Zach could close his muzzle.
"Why?" His voice cracked with excitement, but he didn't care.
"Because you love me, silly," Zach's eyes shone in the starlight. There was no way he didn't know the answer already. "But that wasn't it."
"Zach," Michael tried, and failed, to hide the excitement from his voice. "What are you going to ask?"
"Will you marry me?"
Of course! "Ye--"
"You promised!" Zach shouted, interrupting him, but there was no trace of annoyance at him for having broken his promise. His tail shook free of his paws and danced in the air and all traces of anxiety left his scent. And really, how could Zach have expected him to keep his promise after a question like that?
Michael took a deep breath, "Why?"
"Because three years ago my laundry machine decided to eat my comforter. Because when I went to get a new one some rabbit overcompensating for a little sheath with a giant truck ran a red light. Because three years ago a ridiculously cute weasel spent the last night drinking with his pager off so his chief resident made him take her ambulance shift. Because the entire universe conspired together--"
"Yes," Michael couldn't wait any longer. He dove forward, silencing his beautiful fox, and circled his arms around him. He pressed his muzzle against Zach's and breathed in the warm vulpine.
"And because," Zach gasped, extricating himself from their embrace. "Because after months, months, of talking about this moment. Because after all that time holding each other and talking about how we'd want this to be some romantic story that's stupid to everyone who isn't us, you couldn't wait two minutes to say yes."