easton-m

[easton-m]

Easton takes a deep breath, then puts on his best, threatening smile. "Fuck it up, and I will fuck you up. Publicly embarrass my sister or my family, and I will tear your life into shreds. I will find every single member of your family, dead or alive, and I will dig up every little dirty secret they keep sacred. I personally will. Make my husband cry, or hurt him, or disappoint him without good reason, and I will eat you alive. She's my sister. She's been my best friend almost all my life. And he's my husband. He's the love of my life. You don't get to fuck that up just because you're pussy-whipped for America's future president. And I don't care how serious it is. Don't. Fuck. It. Up."

Easton breathes out, presses his lips together in a tight line and pushes his hand back into the pocket of his trousers, "How did you like the wedding cake? I thought it was nice."

Everything he said and discussed, it was through Rahi. He was always protecting his relationship and his friendship, and, if he's being honest, in his mind, Easton was simply the trigger for it all. Naturally, he's happy to be here, at their wedding, and he's relieved to see his friend get what he wants and deserves. It doesn't erase everything else.

"Hey, man, congratulations," a lot less formal than a last name. He almost offers his hand to shake Easton's but the other keep talking and it's very clear very quickly that this isn't that kind of interaction. "He looks pretty happy tonight," he nods with a chuckle. The ghost of that very smile stays on his face, if anything because anyone could be watching them right now. And he's gotten pretty good at pretending to feel things he doesn't, and viceversa.

Alan nods. He doesn't really know what's protocol to say now. How very ironic. "Yeah. You will," he accepts in the end. What's the alternative? Everything falling apart just when they're starting to get a taste of the White House?

[easton-m]

"I'm not retiring because I want you to take it slow. I've lived my life to the fullest, with you by my side. I want you to take your chances, and do that, too. I want you to take the leap. God, go to Mars if you'd like. But maybe return someday, yeah?" Easton cups his face in his hands, smiles down at him lovingly. "If you want to take it slow, take it slow. But do it for yourself, and not for me. Got it?"

The football player then grins, softly, "I can't wait to see you up on the stands, wearing my jersey, which has our name on it."

Someone bangs on the door - it's Flora, he can tell. "Easton Emil Madden! Get your ass out of his room right now, or I will personally drag you out! Have you forgot about your goals in life? Your dreams and wishes?" Easton snorts, moves over to the door, but allows himself to give Rahi's ass a gentle slap as he leaves him stand, "See you in a few, gorgeous?"

I want you, too, Easton says, and Rahi only melts further. There's nothing sexual to it — not right now, not with so much love spilling out everywhere. I'm so in love with you.

"I am, too," Rahi confesses. "I wrote something about it in my vows." How I worship you so much I can hardly breathe.

Then, his back is against the wall. Then, the news he hadn't predicted to be broken tonight: I'm retiring. His mouth opens, then closes. He knows the weight of it — to be at the top of your game but watch the clock ticking. How many players kept going past forty?

"...Are you sure?" Rahi asks, because he has to.

Up until this point, their careers had never been a matter of worry — but logistics suddenly seem relevant now. Training season, long game nights, as well as Superbowl weekends.

One last season with your name featured on my jersey. Sweetly, Rahi only corrects: "...Our name."

"I can't wait to raise kids with you," Rahi bows his head, bearing a smile that's all too dreamy. "It's all I've ever wanted." A couple of little ones, they had talked about.

There's a relief that comes with hearing Easton doesn't expect him to replicate his retirement, at least not yet. Still, Rahi offers: "...I can take it slow this year. Be there for you for this last season." He reaches up then, a hand coming up to caress the side of Easton's face. "You know I won't miss a single game."

[easton-m]

"I want you, too." Easton doesn't say it that way - he says the words so soft, so loving, that they sound like something soft to calm him with in a nervous moment, rather than admitting feverish desire. "More.", he adds a moment later, "I'm so in love with you." When Rahi's lips find his chest, his fingers find his fiancé's hair, and Easton finds himself smiling.

"Flora is my greatest savior. If there's a problem, she can fix it. She can really do it all." Maybe this is the calm moment he has been looking for. Maybe right now is the time to say the words.

Easton shifts them so that Rahi is against the wall, and now he does open his eyes, with all chances of spotting his wedding attire gone.

"I'm retiring.", Easton mumbles, "Which means, I'm retiring. It doesn't mean I want you to retire, too. I'm doing one last season with your name featured on my jersey. One last season of long game nights and whatnot, and then I'm gonna search for something much more calm. Maybe I'll go back to coaching, one day. But first, I'd like to raise kids with you." He smiles once again - "That's it."

"I was getting dressed," he says in a tone that's meant to evoke innocence. Alas, it lands far from it. "...I just haven't started yet."

Easton's fingers on his stomach, that skin to skin, heartbeats galore. People who claim desire exhausts and fades over time, surely hadn't seen them yet. "I want you right now," Rahi starts, "as much as I did when you showed up in your Porsche." Beat. "Maybe more."

Rahi's hands come to meet Easton's then, lazily feeling the length of his fingers — making use of the heightened sensibility now that his eyes are closed.

"Isn't it funny that her name is Flora and her whole thing is flowers?"

The hands on his waist are dropped — shooting the ball back on Rahi's court. And so he moves closer, parts the edge of Easton's robe only to reveal a bare chest — and place a slow kiss there. "I know," he says. Then, smiling against skin: "Me too."

His turn to pull back, only to look up. "A surprise? What kind of surprise?"

[easton-m]

"Don't even start with that." Easton removes the hands from his eyes, but keeps them closed, then reaches to touch Rahi's outfit, but there is no outfit. "Oh.", he says, fingers gently touching his stomach, the corners of his lips twitching upwards, "I see how it is." The urge to pull him close for a soft kiss, like he usually would, is enormous. It's like getting a taste of the forbidden fruit in - he simply can't.

"Flora will fix this, sorry to say." His arms wrap around Rahi's waist, and he does pull him close as he leans back against the wall, "It's working.", he hums, "I'm here, and sadly, severely addicted to you." With his thumbs rubbing circles over his waist, he sighs, "God, I can't wait to marry you." The football player gives his waist a squeeze, before letting go entirely, and pushing himself further away from the wall.

"I have a surprise for you later," Easton grins.

"What?"

Rahi attempts to keep himself from laughing; staring up at Easton with his eyes closed, in a robe and withholding kisses — by far, the most comical thing he's seen all day.

And yet, it's just another reason why it had been such an easy yes, back when the football player had gotten down on a knee. All of Easton's quirks, comics, and romance — unique to him, and oh, so endearing.

"But I look so kissable right now," he says — grinning wide, and stepping closer. There's a trouble-making edge to it, surely obvious even through blocked vision.

In truth, what Rahi looks like, is himself; hips wrapped in a towel post shower, skin glistening and hair nearly dry.

"It's fine. Someone did, yeah, but I told Flora it's fine — though I have a feeling she doesn't actually believe me." Considering how many bridezillas she's dealt with in a lifetime, Flora is probably picking petals off the ground as they speak. Just in case. "I mean, they did look pretty bad, though."

Rahi reaches to the bedside table, and slides his engagement ring back on. "...Or maybe it was all a ploy to get you here," he jokes. "Who knows."

[easton-m]

@alandietrich | Setting: Rahi's and his wedding

Three full hours after the ceremony, Easton musters up the courage to ditch his conversation partner, to go and approach Alan. It's hard - with Liv and Julian mingling around like nothing's wrong, but his sister is the master of that anyway - she'd be perfectly polished and pristine, even if she knew. It's the most well-kept secret of the century. At least the most well-kept secret Easton keeps.

"Dietrich.", Easton greets him, because Alan feels too personal, and he takes a sip of his drink to soothe the itch in the back of his throat. "I'm not going to apologize.", is what he first says, "I'm just going to say that I understand where you're coming from, and that I'm not going to blame you." Which comes close to an apology, at least in Easton's head. "You're Rahi's best friend. And I just want to see him happy. And he's only happy if you're happy, too." Easton rubs the back of his hand over his forehead, wedding ring glistening, "I'm going to get used to it."

[easton-m]

@astrorahi | Setting: Their wedding

"What do you mean, there's been a mistake? What do you mean, you need me to speak to him?" This is worse than Superbowl. Worse than all important events he's ever been to, actually. His family's favorite event manager, Flora - who he's learned to love through various catastrophes she's managed to handle - came to his room five minutes ago, and told him he needed to speak to Rahi. They've got an hour left to prepare, and Easton's still in his robe - his luck, because when he reaches Rahi's room, all he has to do is hold his eyes close.

"I'm not looking at you until the ceremony starts.", Easton explains his blind stumbling and feeling the door with his hand, until he's able to close the door, "I'm also not going to kiss you, got it?" Superstitious much as he is - and his whole family knows. Belle's reason for gifting him a little something blue, a gold necklace tucked into his collar. He breathes out, nervous.

"Are you okay? Flora said something about a wedding guest crashing into the flowers you chose. That they look botched."

[easton-m]

THE MADDEN-KUMAR WEDDING ON AUGUST 4, 2024

Schedules (and stars) align on August 4, and with the promise of getting to sleep in the next day, Easton marries the love of his life, @astrorahi , on a Sunday. A carefully kept surprise is revealed the moment he steps into the light - his mother in law has been happy to help him pick out a nice, more traditional outfit to wear, and he does so with pride, and to honor his husband and family. Easton's speech is written with love, most words dedicated to Rahi himself, and the rest of his family. The wedding ring feels nice on his finger - it's not a Superbowl ring, but something much better.

[easton-m]

"Marry me with paper rings, hm?", Easton muses, fingers traveling around the curve of Rahi's waist, holding him as close as possible. Easton understands it now - the phrasing of wanting to be under someone's skin, because skin to skin just isn't close enough.

Persephone laughs softly. Her son can read it right from her eyes and lips - she finds Rahi endearing, and that makes the flowers in his heart bloom and blossom even more. "Do you wanna know what Easton said about you, when he first met you?" Her eyebrows wiggle, and Easton looks concerned for a moment, but he does let her speak - because he knows Rahi wants to know, and what Rahi wants, he also gets.

"He said, I like that he's just Rahi with me. That he's not Rahi Kumar, the astronaut, but Rahi, the cat-lover. Rahi, who beams up at the mention of stars and space. And he said he loves that he gets to be just Easton with you. Not Easton Madden from the Madden family, not Easton Madden, the quarterback. And that's when I know, that he was either going to marry you, or die from heartbreak. You should have seen him when you were in space. He laid on the ground in the garden and-" "Mom." There's the hint of a faint blush on his cheeks as Easton interrupts her ramble, and quickly switches topics, back to the cat.

"Of course." Persephone winks in Rahi's direction, then in Easton's, and points at the cat. "Belle named her when we first got her. She's old, and a little grumpy." Easton hums, walks closer to the chair, "The astronaut in Toy Story is also called Buzz.", he complains softly, "I'm sorry that you know Aristotle, and I only know how to ball." He's grinning now, as he gives Meredith some head scratches.

"Belle will arrive any minute.", Persephone points out, "We have dinner ready in a few. You could show Rahi your old room, dearest." The woman pats her sons back, and Easton nods softly, then points towards Meredith, "She'll follow."

Rahi blinks, attempting to wash away jealously of girls who Easton had once flirted with — and whom he certainly couldn't even remember the names of now.

Yet as always, comes the sweetening up — with a squeeze to his waist, kisses against his hair, and tempting scenarios. The right recipe to make it all alright. "We should do all three, sometime."

Those girls might have kissed him then, but Rahi's the one wearing his Harvard hoodie now. More than that — also his ring. The one which Easton's mother inspects now, sparing compliments and sharing stories.

"You're kidding," he says to Persephone, of her son's spending. Easton had always seemed so free with it, that Rahi had assumed he had been that way since the start. Then, he can't help but joke: "Just a Porsche."

As they walk around the mansion, new layers of the Madden lore peels back piece by piece. Rahi catches Helena's portrait also, and makes a mental note to ask his fiancé about it at a later time. It's clear they'd been close — even in silence, it's clear.

Certain artwork and trimmings stand out, too. While Rahi hadn't grown up without money — 'comfortable', as they say — he certainly hadn't been raised in an universe like this.

"...I don't think I need to say this," Rahi finds himself adding, "but I'd marry him if he drove a shitty Honda and made a ring out of string."

Yet, Easton's determination behind his achievements isn't something Rahi would ever be able to overlook. Beyond the gold and gems of several Super Bowl rings, is the talent and nerve of the man he's chosen as his very own forever.

"Honestly?" A heartfelt smile. "I love 'a lot all at once'." An astronaut, through and through. He squeezes Persephone's hand, "But in my field, we usually call that 'extraordinary'."

Then—

Rahi laughs, not sure where this is going. "I... have a cat?" Another door opens and, Ah! There it is. The reason for the questioning, bundled up on a chair, practically begging for attention.

Loud and clear, Rahi gets the message, and drops their hands only to greet the furry thing — chin scratches and all. "Hi, Meredith." Like Taylor Swift's cat. All amused, he shakes his head— "Of course it is."

"Ours is Buzz," he informs Persephone, looking up. "Like the astronaut, but Easton used to think it's from Toy Story." Sorry, baby, his gaze says. I love you too.

[easton-m]

"I was all over girls most of those parties.", Easton grins, giving his fiancé's hip a gentle squeeze, "Though I would have been starstruck, had you walked in. Best believe I would have made out with you on some roof. Or in some pool. Or on my roommate's bed, or whatever." Laughing softly, Easton kisses the side of Rahi's head, buries his nose in his hair for a moment.

"Oh.", Persephone exclaims, "That is gorgeous." Shaking her head, the woman twists and turns Rahi's head, inspecting the gem and gold from every angle possible. "You know, Easton never spent his money before he met you. The car, okay. But just a Porsche. The apartment. Fine. I kept telling him, I didn't marry and bang that old idiot for nothing. That he should spend that goddamn money." A stern look in Easton's direction, which she earns a Mom! for. "I'm glad he was just waiting for you to come around. I'm glad he went all out for that ring, or else I would have disowned him. Not that he needs it." Sighing deeply, Easton looks at his mother, before he explains - "My mother was a journalist for the New York Times when she first met my Dad. She claims she married him out of pure spite, with the sole purpose to give his money to charities." Persephone rolls her eyes and pulls on Rahi's hand to steal him away, adding: "To charities, and to my children and their future partners." "That also."

It's a whole nother world - and Easton knows. His fingers briefly trace the nameplate under Helena's latest portrait close to the dining room, and he offers his late sister a soft gaze, before turning his attention back to reality. "Though what I luckily didn't inherit, is my bad taste in men." Persephone pats Easton's shoulders, before squeezing Rahi's hand once again. "I know this is a lot all at once, but I promise I'm nice. I promise I'm trying to be as normal as possible."

Easton looks into Rahi's eyes, thinking - I love you. Then the woman grins, wide - "I heard you love cats." She opens the door to the dining room, and sitting there, curled up on her chair, is the fluffiest, softest looking cat, stretching at the sight of visitors. "This is Meredith." Easton grins. "Like Taylor Swift's cat."

It's ever rare, for nerves to get the best of him. Nerves, as he'd discussed with NASA psychiatrists in the past, mean nothing but fear — and strikingly often, a fear of failure. Since then, he'd been able to rationalize it well enough as to launch off in rockets with no knots in his stomach.

But this is different — stakes far higher than the moon. So he holds Easton's hand tightly once it's offered, fingers entwined as they walk further inside.

"You grew up here?" It's not an insane idea, but then again, it very much is. The place is closer in size to a museum, than a family home.

And it's as though the walls are begging to prove a point then, as they soon begin to feature portraits of all children — including Easton, twenty years younger, smiling in countless photographs in his Harvard football uniform. Rahi gets closer to one out of many, smiling warmly at what he sees. "...I would have definitely kissed you at a college party or something."

It's their sweetest what if. Both astronaut and football star had attended the same place, only a couple years apart. Another invisible string, tying them together across time.

Like a sounding alarm, his name is then shouted, and an embrace offered — which makes Rahi wonder if Easton had felt his heart this full when his own mother had done the same back at Holi. He only lets go of his fiancé's hand to offer both arms to Persephone, hugging her just as tight.

Laughing, Rahi takes a step back and presents his left hand forward — which Persephone quickly takes to inspect within her own.

"He did so good. He's a lot better at this kind of stuff than I am," he confesses, and it's true — Rahi hadn't ever worn jewelry before Easton came into his life, and now every gold piece traces back to him. Ring, bracelet, the chain with his initial around his neck. "I mean, I'm pretty sure I know where he got his good taste from."

[easton-m]

@astrorahi | Setting: His mother's place | Local Time: 15:45

When Easton parks his Porsche in the driveway, little pebbles crunch under his wheels. The house - it can't quite be called a house, given it's bigger than that, is colored in gorgeous beiges, surrounded by greens of nicely arranged rows of flowers in the garden. Easton holds the door open for Rahi like always, smiling at his fiancé softly. "I can't wait for you to see the place I grew up in.", Easton mentions while closing the door and holding his hand out for the other man to take.

"I can't wait for you to finally meet my sister." At least one of them - Belle. She's the one he's the closest to, and always has been, just like he's always been close to Liv. Their full sister, Helena, had died a while ago - and ever since then, they'd only grown closer. "My Mom will love you, I promise, she's very exci-"

Someone interrupts him, shouting from the front entrance, arms spread, in her nicest (and as Easton knows, favorite) dress. "Rahi Kumar!", Persephone exclaims, rushing down the steps to greet Rahi at the bottom of them, completely disregarding her son for a moment, "I can't believe Easton has waited so long to finally bring you here. That should be considered a crime." Her hug is warm, but tight - she's much more expressive with her emotions than Easton is. "You look gorgeous, dear. Please. Let me see the ring. I must know if he's chosen a nice one." A stern look in Easton's direction, that turns into another soft laugh.

[easton-m]

"Nice to meet you, Liz. Hi Lilou, Hi Beau." Easton crouches down and offers two high fives - one hand for each twin. "You can call me Easton, love.", the quarterback smiles, slowly straightening back up. "No formalities needed. Also, is that a Salut I hear?", Easton wiggles his eyebrows - then switches to speaking french. "Are you two excited to see a real football stadium?", he asks. "No worries about being shy. I can get really shy, too. Especially if I'm in a place I don't know." Rahi though, Rahi makes it easier.

"Oh, don't worry." Easton laughs softly, "No pressure. I've got all day, and there were multiple tickets thrown out there - You didn't steal anyone's chance for the experience." Easton looks around, trying to figure what to do first. "We could check out the cabins. I could show you all the really cool hidden places. Does that sound nice?", the football player asks, "And I can teach you some about football, too," he offers Eliza, "If you'd like. No pressure."

⏤ She didn't go to Harvard, so she has no idea what it looks like. But she turned her head towards the voice behind her. Before she could discreetly google Easton Madden to see his face to know who exactly she was going to meet, the man near her already introduced himself, and it was him. The Aussie had no idea who this man was until her father won the ticket, and had no idea what he looked like until he introduced himself seconds ago. But bringing her toddler to watch the game, was something she wanted. Only for experience. ❛ Hi, my name is Elizabeth Beaufort but you may call me Liz if you want and these are my twins Lilou and Beau. ❜ She rose slightly each of her hands holding each of the twins introducing them to Easton.

❛ This whole experience is for them. Say hi to Easton guys. ❜ The twins both get behind Liz, hiding from him timidly, but both greet him by saying 'salut' at the same time. ❛ They are a bit shy at first, Mr. Madden, but they'll loosen up. ❜ She explained. ❛ Less you expect, you'll enjoy with your own kids. ❜ Liz told him.

Upon his options… ❛ Can be a little bit of the three of them? I'll be honest with you, please don't take it personally… The original owner of this ticket was my father, I don't know anything about American football, he gave me and just wanted to bring them to have a different activity. ❜ Her cheeks blushed after the confession, to be honest, she knew her façade of knowing football would drop anytime soon anyway, so she decided to rip off the bandaid.

[easton-m]

Easton's grin grows wider and wider by the second. Rahi's family - or rather his parents, feel more familiar than his own ever did (though excluded from that are his mother, and sisters. Two of them, at least). The squeeze of Rahi's hand is firm as he drops the news, and then Easton is pulled into a suffocating hug. His family, or so he remembers, doesn't do hugs. It's hands on shoulders, handshakes, confirming nods. What Mayra does - it's so full of love, and it almost makes his eyes draw tears. More so. The way she tries to hide her knowledge is endearingly sweet, and Easton knows he made the right decision.

"That you have to ask Rahi.", Easton answers her question, "But from my side, yes. Thank you for keeping it a secret." Then, he almost finds himself offering a handshake in return; but he lets it be, offers a warm smile instead.

His hand is on Rahi's lower back now, fingers on his waist, and when he catches his now fiancé's gaze, his smile doesn't waver the slightest. "I love you.", he murmurs before kissing Rahi's forehead, "So much."; right before the chatter gets too loud, but his eyes add 'Forever', and the squeeze of his hand the 'and always'.

One more whispered I love you, before taking Easton's hand and walking inside. As soon as they do, more tan just a few pairs of eyes fall on them.

But it's different, this time. Nothing like the countless cameras of the Super Bowl, or a legion of fans watching their moves from afar. Aunties he sees only at weddings; uncles he had never found affinity to; cousins he was closer to when he was younger, than they are now. Sister. Parents.

One look at his mother, and he can see — she's nearly bursting at the seams. Then comes the usual greeting, the usual nearly-suffocating hug. When Mayra pulls back, she has the nerve to ask, "Oh, and who is this?" All the while, nearly checking with Easton whether she's doing a good enough acting job.

(Of course they already have inside jokes. Why wouldn't they?)

"Mom."

"I'm just curious, you never intr—"

"Mom. I know you guys met." Finally, she stops to listen. Through the silent beat, it's Rahi's turn to blush a little. Words aren't his forte the same way numbers are, so he squeezes Easton's hand, for that boost of support. "We, uh — Easton proposed to me today. It was really romantic." Beat, and he can't fight his smile growing wide. "We're engaged."

"Ah! Oh my God! Oh my God." Into an — extremely tight — hug, she embraces the both of them. With the ease that she pulls Easton in, Rahi's convinced his mother had been a linebacker in a past life. "Oh, I am so happy. So, so happy."

His mother's excitement is palpable, and it all feels even more real now than it did ten minutes ago. She looks up at Easton and asks, "...Can I tell everyone now?" Once more — bursting at the seams.

(How she was even able to keep a secret for that long, Rahi will never know.)

Whatever the case, he's also gazing up at Easton now. An earnest look on his face, admiring him. Admiring his mother's admiration of him.

It's loud around them. The music, the chatter. Children run around chased by their mothers, multi-colored paint in their hands, staining everything in sight. Congrats, babe, Rahi communicates through an amused blink of the eye. This is what you're marrying into.

[easton-m]

Easton is not sure if Rahi has written mine all over his thigh only in his mind, or if it's actually happened - or if he should get it tattooed. The quarterback has never considered tattoos, grown up in a state of mind where they're considered dirt instead of art. And he'd spent a lot of his youth feeling dirty enough, anyway; but - Easton hadn't taken Rahi into consideration then, and the way the man had washed the feeling right out of his soul from the moment their eyes met.

His mind still goes back to their day, and night at the planetarium, spent stargazing, and then reaching, grasping for more stars later; and though they've moved fast back then, Easton feels like his hips are now pushing forward faster, and harder.

Rahi keeps chanting God, and Easton thinks not quite, he's more guilty as sin - and what he'd rather hear, is his boyfriend chanting his name instead. So Easton works for it, soft kiss pressed to Rahi's shoulder as he slows down for a moment to not break yet, before he falls back into his original pace. His hand detangles out of the other man's hair, travels down his body and finds his length instead, thumb rubbing over his tip as he himself groans into his tan skin, and in that moment, Easton considers himself a man possessed, instead of just guilty as sin.

"You were fucking made for me.", he groans out, "And God, you're perfect."

What beautiful, unforgettable months they've so far lived. Those of getting to know one another — from favorite planets to music taste, to family plans and kissing patterns.

While Rahi might have more experience, what good is experience for, if its been honed by all the wrong people? People he forgets, regrets — rejects?

The first time they'd touched... it was like a reset button. The privilege of starting over.

And when he gave himself to Easton, he'd done it fully. Made himself present, through every step. Navigating his body the first few times asking, Is this okay?

Then eventually a series of, Do you want tos, and Have you evers. Whispering honeyed thoughts of, We can trys. If it doesn't feel good, we'll stop. It's okay. It's all okay.

More than okay, especially now as Easton enters him, and Rahi moans. Lustful, loving, low. "God. Baby."

He could exist like this forever — with Easton tight inside him, body weight pressing against his back. And he does think he's doing a good job, taking him the way he is, mouth parted and spine with a slight arch. Even with his head yanked back, he can't quite find his eye. "God, I love that..." And you, too. "We fit..." Another moan. "We fit so good. You feel so good."

[easton-m]

You're the strongest man I know, compared to You're the smallest man who ever lived, all his life. It's crazy what Rahi can do to his heart with a few simple words, and now it's Easton who finds himself close to tears, close to asking for them to just run off and be alone somewhere. But this, this is just as good - being with Rahi and his? their? family, for a night, and many more. "You say that as if you haven't seen me crying over Julia Roberts movies while wine drunk.", Easton jokes to get out of this horribly sappy feeling he can't quite handle right now - but deep down, and in general he knows that Rahi considers that strong, if even not the strongest. The emotion he's been so afraid to show for a good chunk of his life, has now found someone who appreciates it.

Easton grins, then, eyes reading fuck it, we ball.

Then he opens the door of his car, walks around and opens the door for Rahi, grin becoming more and more nervous, "I still feel like a vampire dressed in all white, Babes.", Easton mutters before pressing a kiss to his forehead as soon as he gets out, offering a hand for him to hold, "I love you."

Shyly, he laughs, "...I didn't not do that."

An alien is almost a kind description, given the stories he's heard of William. While Rahi and his father-in-law could grow to be cordial, they would never be friends. All that pain he'd put Easton through... it wouldn't be ignored, nor could it be forgotten.

Rahi nods, "Yeah, I guess I expected that." Rich families aren't exactly known for their staunch liberalism. He squeezes Easton's neck just slightly, as the conversation turns. "It wasn't stupid. There was no way you could have known."

God, that urge. The urge to turn back time and fight every demon which sneaks into Easton's old stories even now. As the car comes to a park, Rahi leans in to place a softhearted kiss to his shoulder, lowly — yet firmly — whispering: "You're the strongest man I know."

Back to reality then, he nods, "Okay." Beat. "Ready?"

[easton-m]

Easton furrows his eyebrows, trying to grasp what his fiancé just said; "Did you just call my Dad an alien?", he laughs, then, "That's new." And fitting.

"Trust me.", Easton confirms, "There's more people in my family that don't get it, than people that do." Including his father, and some of his siblings. Belle and Helena though, they had always gotten it. He thinks of Helena, then - she would have loved this, would have loved Rahi. But so does Belle. It's okay. "When I came out, I was even afraid to tell Liv, you know.", he admits, "Which feels stupid, looking back. I spent all my life hiding, just because I was afraid of loosing my family, and in the process, I almost lost myself. But I'm happy now, which is all that matters. And I'm not afraid to face those who don't understand, if they want I will try to explain, and if they don't want to understand, then that's okay."

Because he knows, that if he had been 90 and raised like them, he would have found it hard to understand, too.

The softness of Rahi's touch and seeing him wipe his eyes in the corners of his view makes him smile softly as he roles up into the spot he was supposed to park in, and Easton softly grins at Rahi. "I'll let you break the news, Babe. I'll just be there standing and smiling."

"Baby, I'm literally trained on how to talk to aliens," Rahi laughs. First joke about one's father-in-law — it's practically a rite of passage. More serious, now: "...If it goes well, it goes well. If it doesn't, we know we tried."

A half-roll of Rahi's eyes then, giving further into the joke. As if the subject hadn't made an appearance on their very first date, during talks of the future.

Slowly, the future approaches. The only way they want it, is with each other. The sky is blue, and so is Neptune. A case study for stating the obvious.

"You don't have to," Rahi assures him, back inside the car. "But, yeah, they love dramatics." Back when his sister got engaged, he'd had to clear his schedule for a week. "There's a couple of them that don't... like, get it." Explanation not needed. "They're older, and— in their ways, I guess. But almost everyone is cool." Everyone that matters, anyway.

Rahi had gone over this day a thousand times in his head, and now, some recalibration is needed. Swaps out the word in his head: from boyfriend, to fiancé.

He wipes his eyes once more, just to be sure. God, Easton had done a fucking number on him. Reaching over, he caresses the side of Easton's face as he drives. 'Rest of their lives' sounds good.

Really, really good.

[easton-m]

With his hands folded behind his back, Easton slowly approaches, and comes to a halt behind her seat just as she comments on the size of the stadium. "Compared to Harvard's, it's enormous.", he nods, before offering a hand for her to shake. "My name is Easton Madden, but I'm sure you know, given you tried to win a hang-out with me." While other players often avoided meeting fans, Easton couldn't help but love it.

"And you brought someone along!", he grins, wide, looking at her twins, "I grew up with many younger siblings. And my fiancé and I can't really wait to have kids on our own, either." Easton's confident enough to speak on it, because he's sure.

"So, were you looking forward to a tour? Or some playing, or just hanging out? I'm down for anything, I'm all yours for a few hours."

⏤ Claude Beaufort won a drawing in which he received tickets to watch a game of any NFL team at a stadium and spend time with one notorious athlete during the game. He gave it to her daughter, Elizabeth as a gift for her and his grandchildren since it'd be a fun activity to do with them. Her father gave her instructions, he gave her the ticket and she prepared a backpack for what her toddlers might need. Elizabeth doesn't understand anything about football, and to be honest, she has no idea who is the Easton guy that she'd meet there in the stadium. Once she got ready, she dressed up her twins and headed towards the stadium.

Once arriving there, she snapped cute pictures of the twins, close to the entrance, and asked a stranger to take a picture of her with them, thanking them and then she entered at the entrance gave the ticket, and explained that she'd meet with a player named Easton. Elizabeth asked what he looked like to the worker of the cashier, and the woman laughed at Liz. ❛ You're so funny, blondie! ❜ The cashier told, her shaking her head, cackling at her, when she was being utterly serious.

Either way, she made her way toward her seats holding the twins' tiny hands, as a gentle worker helped her to locate the seat. And was told the player would join her soon. She accommodated on her seat, and her twins, both sat on her lap, a bit impressed by the size of the stadium. It was so big. ❛ Wow! That's really big! I thought it was a bit smaller! ❜ She says to none in specific, maybe for her twins but they were playing with each other and not paying attention to her words.

// @easton-m

[easton-m]

EASTON MADDEN AT THE MET GALA 2024

Easton shows up dressed to impress; wearing a cord jacket in earthy tones covered in flowers, which fall off as he keeps walking. What's left is orange cremons; his companies (and fiancées) favorite flower, sticking to his back, shoulder and chest. Paired with matching earrings (yes, he has his ears pierced). Beneath the blazer Easton hides a mostly sheer shirt, and linked to his arm is, of course: @astrorahi