When Kerr lifted him during the kiss, Ben wrapped his legs around him. He clung to him, enjoying their closeness. When he felt Kerr bending slightly, he unwrapped himself from him and set his feet down on the floor, appreciating that it looked like a floor rather than open space. His vampiric vision could see the glass tiles but it still hadn't been enough to make him feel safe. Recognising this sensation of vulnerability would reconnect him with others and make him a better District Leader. He was immortal but many species weren't. His body healed and recovered but many species didn't. In spite of his eyes he could still blend in as himself while many of them couldn't. The Overlook could be a place where supernaturals were themselves.
"I have," he said, but he'd seen the Overlook without Kerr's vision because Kerr was dead. He'd wandered through it, not really knowing what he was looking at. When Kerr had come back, this place was the furthest thing on his mind.
He didn't remember the grotto much. He only vaguely remembered the natural cliff walls and was impressed by the engineering of it. He supposed he hadn't thought about it much the first time around.
The room itself was enchanting. He'd forgotten all about it but was reminded again when he stepped into it. He was surprised he'd forgotten; perhaps he'd pushed it out of his mind because he couldn't share his wonder with his sire, the man who'd organised it to be built. Now he could appreciate it all over again, without the sharp edges of bitterness and sadness. There was only awe.
He sat and looked out at the view with a smile when Kerr shifted and caught his attention. The box was placed into his hands and he was aware it could've held a ring. Funny, he wasn't as opposed to the idea of being proposed to in this place on this night. At Kerr's words he knew it didn't contain a ring and he didn't feel one way or the other about it. Curious, he opened the box to see the lapel pin and expelled a small word at it. "Huh."
Left hand holding the box, the fingers of his right hand drifted over the jewel-encrusted beetle, feeling the cuts of the gems and the smooth, cool quality of the metal thorax and legs. He looked up from it to Kerr and appreciated the fact this man was his partner all over again. He'd been taking Kerr for granted, expecting him to just be there for him. While that much was true, that he could count on him, Kerr was so much more.
"Thank you," he said, closing the box so he could set it down beside him. In one smooth movement Ben straddled Kerr on the pew and was upon his lap looking down at him. He lowered his head and kissed him slowly and deeply, savouring the kiss, this moment, this place. His eyelids fluttered closed and the world became just the two of them.
