Forbidden Access

"I know but what if something happens to you?" Hal asked. "Where does that leave me? Alaska with fifteen dogs."



And he was right… But Snake would be stubborn about this.



Hal sighed softly. "I know you enjoy it.."



“Yeah, I do.”



"I'm sorry.." Hal said looking down. "Nevermind... I shouldn't have said anything…" he said getting up. He went to one of the windows and watched the snow fall heavily.



It was here Snake started giving that serious thought.



A couple of the dogs went over and started nuzzling Hal's legs. Hal knelt down and pet them, smiling softly.



Snake vanished from sight.



Hal looked around and found Snake gone. "S-Snake?"



No answer. The man would probably be gone for a few hours.



Hal sighed and stood up. He went back and sat on the couch to think.



And effectively it took Snake hours to be there again. “I got caught up.” He said as if he’d just went to any normal walk.



Hal was passed out on the couch with the cracker package resting on his stomach. He breathed slowly as he slept.



This caused Snake to shut up at once as he sneaked up to Hal to take the package and put it aside.



Hal rolled over in his sleep and groaned a little, hugging one of the throw pillows.



Snake sighed and proceeded to gently pick him up.



Hal was limp in Snake's arms as he was picked up. "hmmmn..."



Snake spoke softly as he took him to their room, saying the oddest things on his way too: “… but I had to wonder since at first it sounded so silly, I said it’s either the booze talking or you’re pulling my leg, of course it won’t work…” At this he placed him on a bed, covered with rose petals. Even to this very second Snake could have groaned at how SILLY this seemed to him. ‘They dig that’ someone said, ‘It’s a GREAT idea’ someone said… well that someone had been DRINKING!



Hal snuggled against the pillows. He smelled roses and opened his eyes slowly. "mmmn...Snake..?" he said softly looking around.



One thought came into Snake’s mind as he stepped back, it sort of shushed the rest of the things he’d been worried and pissed about and there was a complete silence in his train of thought except a fleeting little: ‘He looks cute there’.



Hal sat up slowly. "W-What's all this?" he asked picking up one of the petals.



‘He’s going to nag me into cleaning this.’ “I took a few liberties and went MIA to think things over. About what you said, about staying like this. I came to a very logical conclusion that has nothing to do with what I feel for you.”



"What was that?" Hal asked softly. "And what do the petals have to do with it..?"



‘He doesn’t like this… and if one thing goes down the drain the chain is bound to follow… Don’t do it, Snake, don’t…’ He thought as he absently took Hal’s hand. “You have everything to do with how I chose to live the rest of my life.”



Hal smiled softly. "I don't want to control you.." he said. "I j-just want you to be happy.." Of course it was the truth. He hated seeing Snake come back from missions horribly scared and injured.



“I’d be pretty happy if you married me.” Sure it was for some strange reason and he didn’t understand it well but it moved him so for the past few days he’d been going with it, toying with the idea and looking the curious ritual up.



Hal smiled and leaned back against the pillows. "I'd like that too.." he said taking his hand.



Snake was not sure if this is how it went but he simply followed his instinct and leaned, placing a hand behind Hal’s head and pulled him to a kiss.



Hal kissed him back and wrapped his arms around his neck. He nuzzled him softly and smiled. "So that's what the petals were for?"



“No.” He said, pulling a box from his pocket and thumbing it. “That’s what this is for.”



Hal blinked and looked at him. "Y-You got a ring?" he asked softly blushing and smiling.



“Isn’t that how this is done?” He asked, suddenly worried that he got the wrong thing or that, like the petals, Nestor was pulling his leg. He’d truly kill him if that was the case.