-30th December, 2018-
"How did you break your illusion disc again this month?" Michael asked incomprehensibly as he unscrewed the disk with a screwdriver while Ennard stood beside him with a look of guilt that was obvious even in his animatronic form.
"I don't know, it broke suddenly." Ennard glanced sideways briefly.
Michael sighed, before he stood up and stepped behind Ennard as he dragged his chair, opening the disc insertion case in Ennard's neck after he climbed into the chair. He used his phone's flashlight to shine a light on Ennard's neck and immediately found the source of the problem. "Turns out the illusion disc is the problem," he laughed to himself, Ennard frowned. "This is an old disk that doesn't fit into the mounting brackets on your new system, I'll make a new one for you." Michael patted Ennard on the shoulder briefly before jumping down. "You can go now," he shooed away after that.
The animatronic frowned even more hearing Michael shoo him out of their basement, but he did as Michael said, he quickly left the basement and Michael alone.
The eldest Afton glanced to make sure his lover was really gone, then he smiled faintly and headed to the nearest shelf, pulled out a folder and chose the empty discs he had prepared as backup illusion discs in case something like this happened. He only needed to modify them to match Ennard's installation site, considering they only suited him.
He returned to his desk and pulled up a chair to sit down, placing the disc on the table. Michael paused for a moment, took a deep breath, his chest thumping though not literally ... he had another surprise in store for Ennard.
Michael opened a desk drawer, took out a small box in there that he had kept for a long time.
A golden ring.
-EC-
"I wonder how you came to my house with ... that look." Henry stared at Ennard up and down in confusion—Ennard was in his animatronic form, and even though their houses weren't far apart now considering that Henry had moved to the same town as them, he still didn't understand. "How come?"
"I have my own way," Ennard replied, not in the least intending to say how he walked in daylight in his animatronic form around this neighborhood.
He took a step to look at the photos that were displayed on the walls and hallways of the man's house. They were all photos of Henry with his daughter. There were still a few boxes in Henry's house, seeing as it hadn't been long since Henry moved here and hadn't had time to tidy things up. Ennard stopped walking to look at the frame on the table against the wall, it was a photo of Henry with his ... mentor. Beside it was the young Afton siblings and Henry's daughter.
"You must've known William before, right?"
Henry's words caught his attention, he didn't know since when Henry had teleported beside him. "Not quite," he replied slowly.
"I can sense you're lying." Henry smiled at him.
Ennard was silent for a moment as he looked closely at Henry, then he snorted. "Seems like dying in that fire made you an angel who can detect lies now, huh?"
The light brown-haired man laughed. "I only know when someone is lying." He chuckled briefly, before he went over to his desk in the living room and pulled open a drawer, pulling out a small box before tossing it to Ennard. Ennard caught it perfectly. "Your ring," Henry said with a faint smile. "Congratulations, by the way."
"I haven't even done that yet." Ennard was silent for a moment, his glare fixated at the box in his hand. "Do you think he will accept it?" The sound of laughter from Henry made him turn around, Henry seemed intrigued by his question. "What?"
For a few moments Henry just cackled, he found it funny that a pair of lovers had come to him for help regarding the same thing secretly. "You guys really are a match in heaven," he said afterward, quelling his laughter. He chuckled, approaching Ennard again to smack Ennard's iron arm lightly. "Don't worry, everything will be fine, don't be too nervous."
"Thanks ...."
Henry nodded at him, gave him a brief encouraging glance before leaving him alone in the living room to head upstairs. Ennard watched Henry leave for a moment, before he took a deep breath and headed out the back door to return to his house. As soon as his foot stepped on the backyard, his form changed, not a red-haired man but a blonde one.
At least he's glad he can still change into another form without the disc's help considering he's free now ... well even though he didn't like his soul at all.
He leapt over a waist-deep fence with ease and jogged toward his own house, his house fence was much taller than him, but it was no big deal. He fastened his run, putting strength into his legs and jumping high, he spun in the air until he was just above the railing, then used his hands as support on the log and pushed his body even higher until he gripped the tree trunk before swinging his body so he could slip in and went through the open window on the second floor.
For a moment he stared out the window, then without waiting any longer reverted back to his animatronic form as he heard approaching footsteps.
"Ennard?"
"Yes?" He looked to his left and found Michael coming toward him.
Michael smiled faintly as he rested one hand on his waist. "I've finished it."
Ennard tilted his head. "That fast?"
"Everything feels easy if you know how to do it." Michael waved his hand lightly, as if he was very proud of himself. After a while Michael took his hand and pulled him into their room. "Come on!"
Michael seemed so excited, he didn't know why. He followed Michael from behind after Michael let go of his grip and trotted while smiling broadly. The closer he got to their room, the more nervous he became. Today he was going to do something important, very, very important thing and he didn't want to mess it up at all by being stupid or doing something reckless.
He opened the bedroom door wider so he could go inside after Michael, he saw Michael take the disc on the table and pulled back a chair to stand taller so he could help him input the illusion disc around his neck.
"Done," Michael said after that, patting him on the shoulder briefly before getting off the chair. "Try it now," he added after that while smiling sweetly at him.
Ennard nodded and closed his eyes, concentrating. After that he opened his eyes again, the things around him looked taller now, unlike when he was in his animatronic form earlier. Even Michael looked tall. So, he assumed that the illusion disc was working well. "Thanks," he said afterward.
Michael chuckled and waved his hand again like it was nothing serious. Michael noticed that Ennard was now looking in the mirror of their room, scanning his appearance up and down. The eldest Afton exhaled slowly again and headed for his desk again, he felt nervous but this seemed like the perfect timing. He stared at the papers and books on the table for a while as he turned his back to Ennard, preparing himself as he put his hand in his trouser pocket.
Slowly he pulled the box out, stealthily too. Once again Michael exhaled heavily as he opened the box, then he closed his eyes tightly for a moment. Michael steadied himself, he turned turned around and knelt down as he opened his eyes and spoke. "Ennard—"
His words came to a sudden halt to find Ennard's eyes widening at him with a look of shock, and the exact same position he was in at the moment.
The golden rings were shining.
He was stunned, astonished by what had just happened. His feelings sunk warmly as he looked at how Ennard's eyes were watering, and so were his. They were both amazed, neither spoke a word between them until after a moment they realized they were having the same thoughts and doing it exactly the same time.
His smile starting to form, Michael laughed softly. "You got ahead of me, you sneaky one."
Michael widened his smile seeing how Ennard's tears started flowing out first, as if the man didn't expect this at all. So was he, but Ennard was more surprised than he was, though they were both relieved. Relieved that they were of the same thought, relieved that their worries were now answered and replaced by joy.
He got up from his knees and immediately lunged at Ennard with a tight hug until they both fell to the floor together.
"Yes ...," Michael whispered softly.
Ennard was still stunned, he was still trying to process all of this, his chest was pounding, drowning in the warmth. Michael's hug was tight, he hugged him back tighter, hiding his face in Michael's neck and smiling sincerely. His happiness welled up, his anxiety paid off, he could feel Michael's body starting to tremble and sob. Ennard laughed softly, pressed their lips together for a few moments and whispered again;
"Yes, I will, Michael."