[ Ai's heart stumbles in her chest. But not unpleasantly.
That's what marriage is supposed to be like, right? It's a way of saying you want to be with someone forever. But the idea of being together had been a little vague in her brain and it's only when Rinne says living together that it solidifies a bit into something tangible. Something she can actually imagine.
Living together means waking up in the morning and having breakfast together. It means talking about your plans when you kiss goodbye at the door then meeting back at the table later to talk about your day. It means - the way Rinne talks about it - being family.
She's only started to understand what that means over the last few years. She'd never had one until she went and made her own, after all. To her, it's a word that means her, Aqua and Ruby - and she's surprised to realize just how easy is it to imagine Rinne slotting into that space, too. She remembers that selfish little daydream she'd had of bringing Ruby and Aqua to meet him, privately playacting like they were on a family outing but now she lets herself sketch out something a little different. Instead of Miyako sending her off to work while she looks after the twins, it's Rinne seeing her off with a smile and a kiss and when Ai steps out of the door she calls back over her shoulder to Aqua and Ruby -
"Be good for your papa, okay?"
Could she really have something that lovely? Does Rinne even want it?
Is she even allowed to ask? ]
... I would. I really, really would. But I-
[ Her throat is tight. She swallows, so she can try and get some of the words loose enough to speak.
Rinne accepts her as she is. He'd promised he would. But even now, the idea of putting her heart into his hands only for it to be crushed, even though she doesn't want to think for a second that he would, not on purpose...
It's terrifying. ]
... Rinne-kun. When you talk about family... I want that too. But it wouldn't just be me and you.
[ Deep breath. She feels dizzy. She feels sick. She's wanted to say this to someone for so, so long so why is it so damn hard? ]
Being with me means... being with Aqua and Ruby, too.
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That's what marriage is supposed to be like, right? It's a way of saying you want to be with someone forever. But the idea of being together had been a little vague in her brain and it's only when Rinne says living together that it solidifies a bit into something tangible. Something she can actually imagine.
Living together means waking up in the morning and having breakfast together. It means talking about your plans when you kiss goodbye at the door then meeting back at the table later to talk about your day. It means - the way Rinne talks about it - being family.
She's only started to understand what that means over the last few years. She'd never had one until she went and made her own, after all. To her, it's a word that means her, Aqua and Ruby - and she's surprised to realize just how easy is it to imagine Rinne slotting into that space, too. She remembers that selfish little daydream she'd had of bringing Ruby and Aqua to meet him, privately playacting like they were on a family outing but now she lets herself sketch out something a little different. Instead of Miyako sending her off to work while she looks after the twins, it's Rinne seeing her off with a smile and a kiss and when Ai steps out of the door she calls back over her shoulder to Aqua and Ruby -
"Be good for your papa, okay?"
Could she really have something that lovely? Does Rinne even want it?
Is she even allowed to ask? ]
... I would. I really, really would. But I-
[ Her throat is tight. She swallows, so she can try and get some of the words loose enough to speak.
Rinne accepts her as she is. He'd promised he would. But even now, the idea of putting her heart into his hands only for it to be crushed, even though she doesn't want to think for a second that he would, not on purpose...
It's terrifying. ]
... Rinne-kun. When you talk about family... I want that too. But it wouldn't just be me and you.
[ Deep breath. She feels dizzy. She feels sick. She's wanted to say this to someone for so, so long so why is it so damn hard? ]
Being with me means... being with Aqua and Ruby, too.