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It started accidentally. Barnes and Carter had finished quarantine and were clean on the same day - generally one or both showed up for dinner grimy from some project or reeking from training. Carter was wearing his second-best shirt and would keep wearing it until laundry day. It was cool enough for Zolf to be wearing an actual shirt with sleeves and Barnes was unbuttoned only to his nipple-level rather than his navel. Wilde had tied an obi like a half-shawl, half-cravat, and the rosy silk brought a glow to his face as he filled the small cups.
“To another safe return,” Wilde said, raising his cup to the middle of the table. They all leaned in, tapped their cups, drank.
Zolf had been cooking all week, of course, so they sat around the table for hours, working their way through the food, the bottle, several kinds of dessert, and half of another bottle before they were done. By the end they were full, and a bit sore from laughing, and once again comfortable with each other.
After that they dressed up and sat down for dinner after each quarantine. It was a time to connect with each other, especially anyone who’d been in quarantine. It took Wilde about a half-hour - or a half-bottle - to thaw. Sometimes when the food was gone they played cards, or told stories from before.
Different missions called for different combinations of people, which affected their dinners. The first time Zolf and Barnes were gone at the same time, Carter learned how to prepare sushi, adapting his knife skills with guidance from the inn’s chef. During that same quarantine, Wilde was looking for clothing to use as disguises for upcoming missions and ended up going through all the wardrobes. For that dinner Wilde chose outfits for everyone, and that became part of the routine.
This time, after almost a year in Japan, Carter had been on a solo mission, retrieving a suitcase from a shipping office somewhere on the North Sea. Zolf and Oscar were already seated at the dining table when he slid onto the bench, adjusting the cuffs of his best shirt.
“Did you leave the washing to me then? I go halfway around the world and stew in that cell for a week and that’s my prize. Sure’s a nice shirt though.” He stood up to reach across the table for a roll from the basket. “Where’s Barnes? He didn’t say anything yesterday about missing dinner.”
“I’m here.”
When Carter looked up Barnes was standing in the doorway. His hair was away from his face - only the ridge of braid on one side made it clear it had been pulled back, not cut. The gilt at the shoulders was somewhat tarnished but the brass buttons shone against the deep blue of his Navy coat. He looked at Carter intently, his handsome face serious. Carter froze, and all the color drained from his face as he sat heavily back onto the bench.
“Ja–” he started. His hands clenched into fists on the table. He cleared his throat. “This is, well, a goodbye dinner, then.”
“Welcome… what?”
Wilde and Zolf turned in their seats, and all three stared at Carter as he stared at Barnes, his throat working. Barnes stepped into the room, his expression flickering through confusion to concern. “What do you think is happenin’, Carter? We dressed up for you, for your mission.” He sat next to Carter on the bench, covered one of his fists with his hand. “Hey. Don’t… this is my best kit, that’s all. I’m not goin’ anywhere, just wanted to look nice.” He put his other arm around Carter’s shoulders, pulled him into a hug.
After a moment Carter sat up, wiped his eyes, smiled shakily. “Just startled me, I guess. Haven’t seen that coat in ages.”
“We thought you’d be pleased,” said Wilde, filling the little cups.
“I am now,” said Carter, raising his cup. “Handsome commander come to my welcome back dinner.”‘
“Safe return,” said Zolf, and they tapped the cups together, drank.
Wilde poured again, glanced sidelong at Barnes as he set the cups around.
Carter noticed the look and slid further along the bench, away from Barnes. “I knew it. What’s going on, James?”
Barnes looked to Wilde, who nodded encouragingly, then to Zolf, who shrugged slightly but with a smile.
“Yeh. Well. There is somethin’, Carter. Howard.”
It was Carter’s turn to look confused, but he didn’t interrupt.
“Somethin’ I want to say, and I can’t let it wait any longer.” He dug into his pocket, held whatever it was in a loose fist. He reached with the other hand and Carter put his hand in his as if to shake hands. Barnes shook his head and turned their hands until Carter’s hand rested palm up in Barnes’.
Barnes was flushed, but his voice was even and he held Carter’s hand steady, the other hand above it.
“When you went away this time, then with quarantine, I got to thinkin’. I mean, I hope you know after these months together. Even though I don’t say too much, I hope you know.”
Carter leaned forward, the corners of his mouth curling up as Barnes spoke. Oscar was already grinning; Zolf had his arms crossed, looking from Barnes to Carter and back.
“I got you somethin’. I hope you’ll wear it. It would mean a lot to me. The world. It would mean the world to me.”
Barnes opened his hand. What dropped into Carter’s palm was a ring.
“Oh,” Carter said on a soft breath. “Sailor.” He touched the ring with the pointer finger of his other hand, tipped it until the design showed clearly, lotus flowers repeating like the edge of an Egyptian frieze, finely traced into the gold.
“Is this… are you…?”
“Yeh.” Barnes wrapped Carter’s hand in both of his. “I am. If you’ll have me.”
“Yes! Gods, yes, definitely!” Carter burst out. “And I want, too, but I don’t have, not yet anyway…” He trailed off and looked to Oscar, who pointed to his own chest, over his heart.
Carter raised his eyebrows, turned his head to hiss in Wilde’s direction. “Yes, my heart, blah blah blah, but where’s that thing we talked about?” He tipped his head toward Barnes. Oscar tapped his chest again.
“Try your pocket, Carter,” Zolf said, with the same exasperated affection he’d say dumbass.
Carter slid his fingers into the pocket of his shirt, which was only slightly awkward with his other hand still held firm in Barnes’ grasp. Barnes watched Carter patiently, used to his bursts of manic activity.
“Hah!” crowed Carter, holding what he’d fished out of his pocket between two fingers. He grinned at Oscar, then turned to Barnes. “Close your eyes.”
Barnes closed his eyes.
“Put out your hand. James. Please.”
As soon as Barnes turned over his hand Carter pressed something small into the center of his palm. “And you, will you wear this? For me? Surprise. It’s a ring, too.”
Barnes opened his eyes, drew his hand closer to look. The ring was silver, wider than Carter’s, stylized waves picked out in dark curves all the way around. His eyes shone as he closed his hand around the ring, then reached to rub his knuckles against Carter’s jaw.
“Yeh, How, I will.”
He looked over Carter’s shoulder at Wilde, touched his finger to his forehead in salute.
Carter relaxed into his seat, humming happily. He picked up the little cup and drained it. “So Zolf, you’re the cleric, what do we do now? Set a date?”
Barnes and Wilde exchanged a look as Zolf shook his head. “Just stand up, Carter.”
“What, today? Like right now?”
Barnes stood and tugged Carter up. “For all your cleverness, sometimes you’re remarkably stupid, Howard. Why do you think you’re wearin' your best shirt?”
Oscar stood up, lay his hand on Zolf’s shoulder. “Zolf’s wearing a shirt. It’s a special day.”
“Oy,” said Zolf, pushing back from the table. “Let’s go outside. It’s a special day because the cherry trees are bloomin’, that I’ll believe.”
Barnes slung his arm around Carter’s shoulders as they walked through to the courtyard. The big cherry tree was in glorious bloom, covered in light pink flowers and shedding petals that drifted gently down to land on the path, in the fountain, on the surface of the pond.
Oscar walked along on Carter’s other side, squeezed his hand. He and Zolf stood on the path while Barnes and Carter stood under the tree, Carter shifting his weight from foot to foot.
Barnes leaned in, hooked his thumb inside Carter’s collar, his hand heavy and grounding on his shoulder. “Are you sure? Don’t want you feelin’ you didn’t have a choice.”
Carter curled his hand around Barnes’ wrist. “Sailor, there’s nothing I want more. Just nervous I’ll fall apart in the middle.”
“S’alright. I’ve got you.”
They turned and faced the others. Barnes took Carter’s hand and nodded.
Zolf tapped the end of his glaive on the ground and there was the familiar hiss and crackle of its magical fire. “Sorry for the dramatics,” he said. “It’s a symbol, like. Positive energy and all that.”
It seemed as if his voice resonated around them, from the glaive or just the force of his attention.
“Will you protect each other? From foes, and needless hardship, and from fear?”
“We will,” they said together, softly, then again louder at Zolf’s raised eyebrow.
“I’ve got your back,” said Carter.
“I know,” said Barnes.
Oscar had his hand on Zolf’s shoulder again.
“Will you care for each other?” He didn’t have his magic, but he certainly still had his voice.
“Sustain the body, nurture the heart, in times of pleasure and in times of pain?”
“We will,” they said together.
“I just want you to be happy,” said Barnes.
“I know,” said Carter.
“Will you trust each other?” said Zolf, looking even more intense. “Don’t lie, even if there seems like a good reason,” he said, glaring at Carter. He shifted his focus to Barnes. “Don’t pretend you don’t ever need anythin' or anyone.”
“We, I mean, I will. Or won’t, whichever it is to say yes,” said Carter. “I never had anyone to really trust before. Or that trusted me. You do, James, you really do, and I want to live up to that.”
“I do, How,” said Barnes. “And I’ll try.”
“Where’s the rings?” asked Zolf. “Put ’em on.”
“Wait!” Oscar almost shouted, giving Zolf a dirty look. “Have you no romance? Campbell would be appalled.” He turned back toward the tree, where Carter was surreptitiously sliding the ring off his finger.
“Put the rings on each other. This is supposed to be a moment.” He watched, then turned back to Zolf. “Go ahead.”
“We took the liberty of doin’ a little somethin’ with the rings,” said Zolf, stepping forward. “I’ll show you, hold 'em out.”
They held out their left hands, Carter flexing his fingers, Barnes looking back and forth from his hand to Carter’s. Zolf put his hands over theirs and muttered something, took his hands away.
“Huh,” Barnes said, at the same time Carter and Wilde both said, “Oooh.” Carter’s ring showed the dark pattern of waves, while the line of bell-shaped flowers covered Barnes’. As they looked, the patterns faded out and changed back.
“Any time you’re apart, the patterns will swap. Further than here to about that tree,” Zolf pointed to the other side of the courtyard. “That’s all, no other effect, just s’posed to remind you that the other’n’s out there, you're connected.”
Zolf stepped back. His ears were pink, and Oscar squeezed his shoulder.
“You have made your promises and wear each other’s rings. I serve as witness, and by my magic you are joined.”
They stood there for a moment, looking at Zolf and then at each other.
“That’s all?” said Carter.
“Done,” nodded Zolf.
“That’s enough,” said Barnes. “Thank you, Zolf, Oscar.” He looked into Carter’s face, his expression serious and soft. “Connected,” he said.
“Yeah,” Carter answered, looking again at the ring on his finger, then twining his fingers into Barnes’.
He looked back and forth from Barnes to Oscar and Zolf. “Even though you kind of tricked me, this was the best surprise. Oscar, Zolf, thank you, and this calls for a drink. Another drink. And food.” He started walking toward the inn, tugging Barnes along, talking to the others over his shoulder. “Hey, Zolf, even though it was just me in quarantine this time, is there still a ton of food? What about desserts? Extra desserts at least?” He turned back to Barnes, grinning. “Hey, what d’ya know, you can’t smack me when we’re holding hands!”
Oscar bumped his arm against Zolf’s shoulder as they walked along the path.
“That was nice,” he said.
“Turned out a’ight. The rings are really good.”
“They’re really happy. Campbell would approve.”
“Hmmph,” Zolf said, and bumped him back.