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Joseph somehow managed to make everything into a competition.
Whether it be playing a game, paying the bill, planning dates, or anything else, really, Caesar could count on Joseph to turn it into some kind of contest.
Caesar didn’t have it in him to think of Joseph’s antics as anything less than endearing. Which is good, surely, since they’ve been dating for a little over three years at this point.
Luckily enough for them both, Caesar thrived when he was challenged, and loved Joseph’s bullheadedness and spontaneity much more than it irked him. Which brings them to tonight -- Joseph’s friend, Smokey, decided to throw an impromptu, tiny shindig on an otherwise quiet Saturday evening. The kickback is small; just the three of them, plus Susie Q. Pizza had been eaten, and Joseph declared a Super Smash tournament afterwards.
“Whoever wins,” Joseph smirked mischievously, “gets to ask anyone one question, and that person has to answer honestly.” Joseph sat himself on the loveseat in front of the tv, Caesar quick to sit next to him. Joseph flung an arm around Caesar’s shoulders, making himself comfortable as he kicked a leg up on the coffee table.
Caesar just laughed as Smokey and Susie sigh in exasperation. “Why is it that every time I invite you over, there has to be a Smash tournament?” Smokey pouted, but set up his tv to connect to the Switch regardless. He passed out the controllers to his friends with little fanfare.
“Jeeze, Jojo. You better not ask us anything weird if you win.” Susie winked as Joseph laughed.
“I would never, Suz! And what do you mean ‘if’ I win? We all know I always do, and tonight I’ll kick all your asses for sure.” Joseph flexed, earning a smack from Caesar.
“Relax, buddy. It seems like your memory is failing you. I definitely win more often than you. You chose a lame main.”
A scandalised gasp, and a heartbroken Joseph draped himself over Caesar’s lap. “You’re really out here, disrespecting Little Mac like that! Unbelievable. Your ugly frog will bring you nothing but ruin. And your memory is terrible, anyway.” Caesar just flicked him on the forehead before leaning down for a quick peck.
Susie laughed over him as she helped Smokey pull over a couple of chairs to put next to the couch. “Yeah, Caes. Isabelle is gonna wreck you for sure.” Caesar notices the sly look that she shoots Joseph as they all chose their characters. “You better be ready to lose today.”
“Whatever, guys. We all know Toon Link is the only main worth having.” Smokey stuck his tongue out at the two lovebirds as he waited for everyone to choose their fighters.
With everyone queued up and ready to play, Smokey started the tournament. Greninja hadn’t failed Caesar thus far, so he’s fairly confident in his ability to beat out the competition. Like always, the little tournament incited by Joseph brought butterflies to his stomach, and his palms started to sweat. For whatever reason, he’s feeling particularly bold tonight. The nervousness in his gut actually helped him focus on the game, but he couldn’t help sideways glances at Joseph. He’s cute, with his eyebrows furled and his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. He looked like he really wants to win, but Caesar wasn’t going to allow him that satisfaction.
First one to strike out is Smokey, followed quickly by Susie. Caesar doesn’t have proof, but it seems like Smokey and Suz aren’t trying as hard to win as much as they usually do. It’s not often, but they do occasionally beat out both Joseph and himself. While he was concentrating on the game, he missed the giddy look that passed between his two friends.
Joseph was so close to winning, when he sent his character careening off the edge in a self destruct, ending the game. He sits there, slack mouthed, and Caesar jumped up in his victory cheer, laughing at his sheer luck. Joseph sits there, a bit more disappointed than usual, but Caesar can’t help but gloat.
“What was it that you said earlier? You were going to win for sure?” Caesar smirks, poking Joseph’s cheek in a lazy attempt to clear his pout. Sparing a look at Suz and Smokey, he’s surprised to see that even they are doing a poor job of covering their disappointment.
“You got me, Caesarino. I really thought I had it there.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Well, what do you want to ask? I’m sure we’re all on the edge of our seats.”
Caesar rolled back on his heels, shoving his hands in his back pockets in thought. His right hand hits a box he cannot believe he forgot was there, and he feels his brain short circuit. He’d been carrying the damn thing for weeks, and he acts entirely on impulse as his fingers dragged across the velvet.
‘What the hell,’ Caesar thought to himself. ‘We’re all friends here.’
He pulled the box out, opening it so that Joseph can see what’s inside.
“Wanna get married?”
The room is dead silent before Smokey and Susie start to cackle. Loudly.
“Oh my God, Caesar!” Susie had to gasp for air in between laughing fits. “What the hell is wrong with you!”
Smokey was nearly choking from laughter. “I thought you were supposed to be the romantic one, but here you are, just as hare brained as this idiot!”
Joseph’s brain finally caught up to the question and he leapt up to encircle Caesar in a crushing, inescapable bear hug. He’s laughing so hard that he’s shaking Caesar along with him. Caesar felt like he should mortified. He cannot believe what came over him, and he felt like his heart was going to leap out of his throat, but he can’t help but laugh along with his friends. He’s thrilled, and cannot find it in himself to be embarrassed.
At some point, Susie and Smokey stopped their cackling long enough to procure some champagne and four flutes, and Caesar couldn’t help but think they’d somehow had this planned all along.
Joseph recovered after what felt like an exceptionally long minute, pulling away and taking a small, velvet box from his own back pocket. “Great minds really do think alike, don’t they, Caesar?”
Caesar, to his credit, at least has the good sense to say yes before breaking down in another laughing fit. “I love you so much, Jojo.”
Joseph dipped Caesar down in a low kiss as Smokey and Susie hollered congratulations to them. He raised Caesar back up, planting kisses on his forehead and the tip of his nose.
“I love you more.”