Thread by @FRAXlNUS

Izzy knows he's not easy to love. He knows. Which is why every morning there's still a soft wave of relief when he opens his eyes and sees Ed laying in bed next to him. Still there, still real.

What Izzy did to deserve him he still doesn't know.

(#happyedizzyweek - proposals)

Edward is stunning, inside and out. He's the most beautiful man Izzys ever seen. The fire inside him burns brightly in all he does, lights him up like the fucking sun is behind his eyes when he sets his mind to something.

When that something was Izzy? He didn't stand a chance.

They've been together in some capacity for 10 years, but only the last 4 romantically. It doesn't matter. Izzy knows that Edward is it. He hates the phrase 'the one' but he knows that if Edward ever left, there would never be another.

Izzy worries, sometimes. That he'll leave.

He can't see much in himself worth keeping. He's grumpy. He's always dragging Ed back down to the ground when he wants to fly off. He despises going to parties or social events. Worst of all, he /hates/ public displays of affection, which Edward seems hardwired to give.

They fought about it once, early into their romantic relationship. Edward accused him of being embarrassed they were together. Why else would he be so loving at home but pull away from him outside?

It took Izzy days to work up the strength to answer and talk about his feelings.

He told Ed he wasn't ashamed of him at all, that if anything he didn't feel worthy enough to stand next to him. Before Ed could interject Izzy quietly confessed that pda scared him. He didn't like people seeing such a personal side of him, it made him feel exposed and unsafe.

Edward realized two things at the same time: that Izzy wasn't ashamed of him, and that his vulnerability at home required much more of a deep trust than Ed ever realized.

He proceeded to drag Izzy into their bedroom and keep him there for a day and a half.

It happens less and less, but sometimes when Ed is distracted Izzy will see him reach a hand out to him. He always catches himself and pulls away, but Izzy still notices and feels guilty.

Edward wants something, but he's stopping himself for Izzy's sake. How is that fair?

He muses about it all while he gazes at Ed's sleeping form, morning light illuminating him from behind, stray hairs forming a halo.

Not for the first time (this week) Izzy thinks about how he wants to wake up to this every day for the rest of his life. He'd give anything for it.

It feels pathetic, dreaming of marriage like some lovesick young man. He'd accepted that ship sailing away from him when he turned 50. There were no successful marriages in his family, he doesn't even know what one looks like.

Even still, he wants it so badly with Ed it hurts.

He's never brought it up with Edward, and he never will. If he does...his therapist tells him it's ridiculous, but if Izzy is the one to bring it up or propose, there will always be something in the back of his mind telling him that Edward never wanted it. He just went along.

That doesn't stop Izzy from daydreaming of a ring on his finger, the silver proof that Edward is his and he's Edward's.

He's never wanted a wedding (another reason for Edward not to stay, who doesn't want a wedding?) for the same reasons he doesn't like public affection.

Professing his love in front of people? A nightmare.

But at his most disgustingly wistful he imagines Edward getting down on one knee while they're home. Maybe while they're cooking dinner or settling in for the night, it doesn't matter. Just while doing something mundane.

He'll look at Izzy and say "I want to do this with you for the rest of my life" and Izzy will cry because he always does, because he thought (in reality, knows) no one would ever want to love him forever. Then Edward will slip the ring on his finger, and they'll kiss.

He's told that dream to exactly two people, Jim and Lucius when they kidnapped him for drinks a year ago. They got him plastered and the topic of marriage came up, likely because Jim and Olu's wedding had been recent. When they asked questions Izzy's drunken tongue betrayed him.

"That's so sweet, in a weird antisocial kind of way," Lucius said, followed closely by an 'oof' as Jim did something underneath the table.

Even as drunk as he was Izzy felt mortified. Then Jim asked, "what about that do you like, specifically? For absolutely no reason."

Still too gone to be suspicious of their motive, Izzy shrugged and looked down at his glass. He preoccupied himself with wiping patterns in the condensation. "'dunno. Don't like being emotional 'n shit in front of people...wanna enjoy it I guess."

Lucius perked up. "So you just need it to be private?"

"Need-?"

Another 'oof' before Jim cut Izzy off. "He means /want/ it to be private. That's the most important part?" Izzy never thought of it like that, but he mulled it over, and found he didn't hate other options.

Their conversation moved on after that, but Izzy still feels embarrassed by his confession to this day. Even if in some backwards world Ed /did/ ask to marry him, Izzy could never begrudge him wanting some large, grand proposal. He knows how Ed loves to plan. He'd deal with it.

Izzy shakes off the thought as he steps into the shower to start his day. No bother musing over the finer details of impossibilities. Besides, apparently Ed has plans for them today, and by the sounds of it Izzy will need all the energy he can get.

---

(#happyedizzyweek - proposals finale)

Contrary to his morning assumptions, Izzy’s day up until this moment has actually been incredibly pleasant.

It started with exiting the shower to the smell of coffee and a proper English breakfast, complete with the veggies Ed always made fun of him for enjoying.

Izzy asked what the occasion was but Ed just said he had a craving, then shoved a piece of toast into Izzy's mouth.

Once breakfast was finished he was ushered into their bedroom to change.

("What's gotten into you?" Izzy laughed as Edward nuzzled him like an overeager puppy. Ed's mouth found the tattoo on Izzy's neck in leu of an answer and it was another hour before they got out the door.)

The first place Edward took them to was Roach's cafe. Excessive coffee was a bad habit for both of them, but Edward never felt right without some kind of drink in his hand at all times, and Izzy got headaches if he tried to stop drinking it (not that he had ever genuinely tried).

The place smelled incredible and Izzy was privately delighted when a fresh batch of his favorite chive scones was revealed to be the reason. Edward bought both of their coffees (hot black for Izzy, iced vanilla mocha with three sugars for Ed) and a scone each.

"I can pay for my own coffee, Edward."

"Nahhh come on Iz, you know that giant commission check just cleared. Lemme spoil ya a little."

Izzy was still idly griping about budgeting as they walked out the door, completely missing the enthusiastic thumbs up Roach sent Ed.

Next took their coffees and casually walked down to the harbor to look at the ships in dock.

Both Ed and Izzy loved the ocean, but Izzy was just as fascinated by the intricate rope work that went into traditional sailboats.

The stroll along the waterfront was calm and pleasant. They sipped their drinks and, as usual, Izzy offered Ed the last bite of his scone after Ed inhaled his own and found himself still hungry. Where he put it all Izzy had no fucking idea.

They spent a few hours looking at the ships and enjoying the warm weather. They grabbed some ice cream and actual food when Edward’s stomach started to rumble.

(“Ice cream IS food!”

“Say that to the headaches we’ll both get in an hour, Edward. We’re getting hot dogs too.”)

Izzy assumed they were heading home after that, but Edward corralled him into the aquarium.

Well, “corralled” was a strong word. Edward knew it didn’t take much to get Izzy into an aquarium.

He was partial to them over museums or zoos, and this aquarium had Izzy’s favorite exhibit, a shark habitat that wrapped around half a large room.

Edward hung close as they walked around, and it seemed like every time Izzy looked to him their eyes met.

He wanted to say something, maybe make a smart remark about having something on his face, but Edward’s eyes were so fucking adoring all Izzy could do was look away and hope the room was dark enough to hide his flush.

They had arrived at the aquarium only an hour before close, so soon enough an announcement rang out requesting guests head to the lobby and gift shop.

They weren’t even one room closer to that target when Edward suddenly declared he had to piss and dashed into the restroom.

So now here Izzy is, leaning against the wall and checking the time on his phone. It’s been five minutes and all the other visitors have made their way to the front.

A chipper employee with a dolphin name tag walks up to him. “Excuse me sir, the aquarium is closing for the day.”

Izzy offers as much of a placating smile as he can. “I’m just waiting for someone in the restroom.”

He’s tempted to give the door a hard kick to get Ed to hurry up but figures the employee wouldn’t appreciate such treatment of their facilities.

The smile never leaves the employee’s face, like they barely listened to the answer. “That’s fine! Just please make your way to the front when you’re done.”

After they walk away Izzy /does/ move to give the door a kick, but he misses when Ed throws it opens it at the same time.

He sticks his head out, looks left and right.

“Coast clear?”

“Coast cle- Edward, what?" but Izzy doesn’t get another word out before Ed is taking his hand and dragging him the opposite direction of the exit, towards the small rope barrier now blocking off the shark exhibit.

Edward looks back and shoots Izzy a wink before sliding around the divider.

“Edward,” Izzy hisses, “Edward!”

But Ed is already around the corner and out of sight. With one last look back to make sure no one saw them Izzy scoots past the barrier and follows.

Ed comes to a stop in the middle of the room.

It’s tranquil, silent but for the faint hum of the mechanics. Waves of light from the tanks illuminate Edward’s face and streak across the ground, casting the room in a soft blue glow. Ed grins and excitedly beckons Izzy forward.

Izzy, god help him, can’t help but be charmed into coming over.

Surely there’s no harm in an extra moment or two, the employee he saw didn’t seem in any rush for them to leave.

As soon as he’s within arms reach Edward takes Izzy’s hand and pulls him close to his chest.

Izzy lets out a surprised little ‘oof’ as they collide.

“Sorry about that,” Edward says, absolutely not sorry at all. He curls his other arm around Izzy’s waist to pull him close.

“I still have no idea what’s gotten into you today.”

“Mmm,” Edward hums contemplatively. It rumbles through his chest. “You did, I think.”

Izzy tilts his head. “Me?”

“Yeah, Iz.” Edward’s voice is soft, his gaze adoring. “You. Not just today, though. Every day.”

Izzy chuckles nervously, his natural response to flattery.

He knows his cheeks and ears are bright red and looks down to hide it.

Edward reaches up with the hand not around Izzy’s waist and tilts his chin back up. “I mean it. I love you, Israel.”

The conviction in it takes Izzy’s breath away. “Edward-“

“And look, I tried looking up what to say. It was all ‘you turned my life upside down’ but you didn’t do that, Iz. You found me and you turned it right-side up. I feel like every day I find something new to love about you, and I want to keep doing that for the rest of my life.”

Izzy’s brain is short-circuiting. Edward’s words. The day they’ve had together. Now he’s reaching into his pocket, oh fuck, there’s no way, this can’t actually-

Izzy’s thoughts flatline when Edward’s knee lowers to the floor.

Edward meets Izzy’s eyes and actually looks nervous, as if he wasn’t making every one of Izzy’s fantasies a reality in that exact moment.

“Izzy, will you marry me?”

Izzy can feel the tears running down his face. Edward only gets a split second of concern that he’s miscalculated before Izzy says “yes” in as close as his rasping voice can get to a whisper.

Edward’s responding smile lights his world. “Yes?” He repeats breathlessly.

“Yes, Ed, yes!” Izzy laughs through tears. “Now get up, christ, your knee-“

Edward launches himself up and nearly topples them both to the ground, his iron-tight grip around Izzy their only saving grace. Izzy buries his face into Ed’s neck and gasps.

He feels like he’s going to fucking explode. It’s a tornado of emotions- shock, elation, disbelief, and love so strong and overflowing the only thing he can get his body to do about it is hug Ed tighter.

Ed reaches for Izzy’s left hand and pulls back enough to bring it up between them. Both of their hands are shaking as Ed slips the ring on Izzy’s finger.

It’s all so much at once. Izzy looks up.

Edward’s face is wet and his grin is a mile wide and he’s /here/ and he’s /his/ so Izzy reaches forward and kisses him.

And he kisses him, and kisses him, and kisses him.

Each time he feels the weight of the ring on his finger it knocks the breath from him and he just /has/ to lean in again, to capture Edward’s mouth with his.

Izzy was so used to leaning into their kisses as if it would be the last he may get, but now he knows he’ll never be without them, and /fuck/ if that knowledge doesn’t make him even more ravenous.

Edward finally pulls away, breathing heavy. He pecks Izzy once, twice three times on the mouth. “We should head out of here, I think.”

Izzy laughs bright and loud. “Oh, you think?”

Ed is already leading them back around the barrier and to the exit. There are no less than five employees gathered at the front desk who all look in their direction as they pass. Ed sends them an enthusiastic thumbs up and the employee who spoke to Izzy earlier giddily claps.

Edward must have asked if he could do this ahead of time. Izzy feels another wave of love crash over him with the realization of just how much Edward planned of their day to make sure it was everything Izzy never dared to dream.

Because Edward Teach wants to marry him.

/Edward/ wants to /marry/ him.

The knowledge almost has Izzy throwing himself at Ed once again, but he manages to resist as they clamber into their car.

He can until they get home

Now he knows, they’ve got all the time in the world.

(If anyone is wondering, the wedding shakes out as them getting married in a private ceremony (w/ an officiant only) immediately followed by a “Celebration of Marriage” aka super decked out reception with literally everyone they know. It’s perfect for both of them.)

Thanks for reading, and Happy #EdIzzy week!

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