[A/N] So this is Adult AU. But it's kind of an interesting case. The way this one works is that each half of the oneshot takes place in a different reality: one where Tozen is in a relationship with Azumi, and one where he's in a relationship with Ren.  The same general event occurs, but in dramatically different ways. This is a long one, so I hope you enjoy!

Option 1: According to Plan

The bonfire was going perfectly, and Azumi was content. She'd been a bit cold, but Tozen had loaned her a spare sweater. It was big on her, and it made her feel safe. She also was not pleased that the terrain forced her into wearing closed-toe shoes (the worst kind), but he'd promised to massage her feet once they were home to ease the aches, and that was overwhelmingly kind of him. In return, she had taken control of the more forward aspects of the date— covering the two of them in a blanket and wrapping her arm around his shoulder, peppering him with murmured compliments that she could see bring blush to his cheeks, and occasionally initiating small chains of soft kisses in between their conversation. His light stubble tickled, and it was a feeling she still found whimsical.

"Hey, Zu, you ready for s'mores?" he asked as the sun dipped further and further down the horizon.

"Ah! Truly? I did not realize you had packed supplies! How jubilant an occasion! This has me rather chuffed!" she smiled joyously.

"Wow. I didn't realize this would be that big a hit! Normally, Sayuri has the biggest sweet tooth. Same with Nari."

"Though perhaps I am not as enthused by the mere presence of confections as those two, I am pleased merely at the principle of the thing. S'mores are imperative for a quintessential bonfire, don't you think?"

He gave her a wry smirk. "You're right. I'm only gonna have one sweet this week, because marshmallows are literally just pure sugar, but I saved up precisely for this reason. These'll hit the spot! Mmm... I love graham crackers."

"Do you take your marshmallows burnt or golden-brown?"

"Golden."

"Allow me to prepare them, my darling! Unless that would rob you of some fun?"

"No, no. If you want to make my s'mores, be my guest," he shrugged.

"How easygoing of you! It used to be that you refused service if you were not involved." She saw him wince lightly, recalling the times when he would reject people's offers to do him favors for fear of burdening them. "Unless, of course, that was their job."

This addendum lightened the mood back up considerably as she rose from their chair and began toasting the marshmallows. Tozen cackled at the mental image. "Can you imagine? Like, 'OMG noooo, don't cook for me, I can do it!' 'Bro you're literally at a restaurant, sit the fuck down.' Thank God I was never THAT obnoxious."

"You were never obnoxious," she responded breezily, as though it took no thought or effort at all to say something so quietly reassuring.

"Th-Thanks," he half-spoke, half-squeaked. She couldn't help but giggle; she hadn't even attempted to fluster him, but she managed it anyway. As she finished the first step and moved on to assembly, an idea struck her. A vicious plot to make her partner even more flustered. She hummed to herself cheerfully. Mischief wasn't often her forte, but she took to flirting far more easily than she'd expected to. She swooped a smidge of marshmallow fluff onto her finger and then booped him on the nose before he could think. When he noticed, he closed his eyes and laughed in that full-bodied way that she loved. When he once again opened them, he found that she'd leaned in exceptionally close, holding a s'more near his mouth. He felt his entire body heat up and he stared at her, stunned and with stars in his eyes, before hesitantly biting down on it.

He couldn't help but swoon, and this made her heart flutter. As she continued to feed him, he accepted it more readily, feasting on the sugary treat. At one point, he even emboldened enough to take the opportunity and let her steal some fluff on his bottom lip with a kiss. She licked her lips in some strange way that felt simultaneously seductive and yet somehow earnestly delighted with the taste. "Thank you, my treasure."

"What are you thanking me for?" he asked, incredulous and yet so very happy.

"Mmm... I suppose I just feel... overwhelming gratitude over the fact that we get to be with one another. And the fact that you allowed me to be your partner." The endearment that was clearly visible in her features, in the pooling appreciation in her eyes, would've been evident to anybody. It was like a collector admiring their latest find, or an appraiser laying their eyes on the most precious gem they'd ever found.

"Azumi..." He took her hand into his, intertwining their fingers. Her eyes widened slightly in curiosity. She set her remaining half a s'more on the paper plate in her lap, suddenly feeling like this needed her undivided attention. He took a deep, shuddering breath, and it made her heart race (though out of panic or anticipation, she could not tell). "I'm so lucky. To wind up with someone as patient, and graceful, and comforting as you... You know romance... kind of scares me, because I worry about things ending poorly, but... you make me feel secure, grounded, like even if the world goes to hell, I'll be okay." He paused, and she opened her mouth as if to speak, but he quickly pressed a finger to her lip and took in yet another lungful of air. She felt herself shiver, though not from the cold. "I wanted to make sure I told you this tonight. I love you, Zu."

The words left her utterly dumbfounded. For a few moments, the only sound that filled the air was the crackling and sputtering of the fire as it roared. She frantically swerved around, trying to figure out what to do with the s'more still in her lap, choosing to set the plate on the ground in desperation so that she could throw herself around him. His usual scent of orange and ginger was overcome with a slight smoky haze. "I am so, so proud of you, my darling. It must have taken you so much effort to say, and this means the world to me. I reciprocate wholeheartedly, of course. I love you."

"I am in love with you," he reiterated breathlessly.

"I am in love with you," she echoed, staying so near to him that her eyelashes were giving him butterfly kisses.

"Did you wait to say it to me until I could say it first?" he whispered. His breath was hot on her cheek.

"I yearned to hold back until you were ready, my beloved, but now the words will not stop flowing off my lips. I love you. You are absolutely beautiful."

And so the words spiraled through the night. It all went so remarkably smoothly that it almost felt unreal. He covertly pinched his thigh, and yet he was already wide awake. Not a dream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Option 2: ...Spontaneously

"Do me a favor, baby?"

"Yeah?"

"Sunscreen help?" Ren looked up at Tozen with doe-like eyes, acting far more innocent than he was. He knew that Tozen could see right through him by the unimpressed expression, but Ren was sure it didn't really matter

"...Yeah, okay, you dork. We're going to the aquarium, it's not like you'll be out in the sun long," Tozen teased, positioning himself behind his boyfriend and grabbing the bottle.

"Would you rather I bring the parasol?" Ren asked chipperly in return.

"I get it. Better safe than sorry and all that."

Ren hastily yanked off his tank top, feeling the butterflies fill up his stomach. Tozen began to rub sunscreen along Ren's shoulders and back, and the warmth radiating from his familiarly slender fingers made Ren close his eyes. Tozen was clearly attempting to be efficient, going quickly and slightly rough. "Hon? I'm really happy we get to do this. With our work schedules and shit, I feel like we rarely get to date like a hot, young couple like us oughta."

"Are you trying to butter me up so I'll make this nicer?"

Ren laughed. "Only partially."

"You're so spoiled." Tozen clicked his tongue in fake disapproval, but complied. The added deliberateness and gentleness felt tantalizing on Ren's sensitive, porcelain-hued skin. The touch that he so frequently craved made him sigh in satisfaction.

Tozen suddenly halted. "Mmm... done already?"

"I just remembered the first time you asked me to do this and now I've decided I'm never leaving the house again."

"Baby, there's no shame in not being ready for it at the time."

"I quite literally locked myself in the bathroom out of panic, Ren."

Ren turned to his favorite tactic. "Y'know... you must be a broom, because you sweep me off my feet." Tozen couldn't stifle the slight chuckle. "Do your legs hurt?"

"Why?" Tozen asked, fully aware that a punchline was coming.

"I assume they must be, since you spend so much time running through my dreams."

"Heh. Thanks. This is cheering me up just like you wanted."

"Now, I'm no organ donor, but I'd gladly give you my heart."

"It's probably about time we head out. Put your shirt back on."

"Great idea! I'm gonna need some fresh air, because you take my breath away~"

After a long drive, they arrived at their destination. "Oh my God, Toz, I'm so excited! I've never gotten to go to a place like this before! The closest thing to it was a big ol' fish tank in the lobby of this hotel I stayed in once."

"It's my first time, too! I'm happy to get to experience this first with you."

As they stepped into the building, it felt ethereal and otherworldly. The water in the giant tanks seemed almost to glow, bathing the area in blue. An awestruck hush came over them instantaneously, and Ren's jaw dropped. "H-Holy shit. I don't think I've ever seen anything this beautiful in real life before. I-I mean, aside from you," Ren corrected quickly.

Tozen said nothing, merely soaking in the entire atmosphere. After several seconds, he piped up. "I want to read everything. Every. Fucking. Description."

"We can spend all day here, as far as I'm concerned."

They walked with purpose, seeking out knowledge as they gazed at creatures far different from themselves. Some were ginormous, bigger than the men admiring them. Some were smaller but vibrant; Ren was quick to draw comparisons to himself at some of the brightest. Tozen read the descriptions aloud, and Ren eagerly complimented his voice and threw several pick-up lines into the mix. ("Are you a Flame Angelfish? Cause you're a holy being and you set my heart on fire." "Are you a rainbow fish? Because you make people jealous with your beauty." "Are you an arowana? Cause you're priceless.")

It was unceasing and gradually more intense. It went from Ren's typical jest-filled compliments to something deeper, needier. The affection that always underlaid his pick-up-lines was bubbling to the surface. ("For me, you're the only fish in the sea." "You're the greatest catch I could've possibly reeled in." "I must be a mullet, because you make me leap for joy.")

"Hey, Ren, I really appreciate all of the sweet things you're saying... but how do you even come up with all of these?" Tozen laughed fondly, linking their hands together. Not for the first time, they'd managed to tear their eyes off the enrapturing fish and instead stared at one another.

"Oh trust me, I have so many more prepared, hot stuff," Ren played along. He leaned in closer to Tozen, which made him flinch in surprise before advancing back to where he was.

"You have them 'prepared?' Don't tell me you wrote a list beforehand," Tozen realized, an incredulous smile parting his lips.

"So what if I did?"

Tozen couldn't help but laugh, pushing Ren away slightly. "I can't fucking believe you! You are so completely ridiculous!"

"You know you love me, babe~"

"Just because I love you, that doesn't make you any less ridi—" Tozen immediately cut himself off and his eyes were so wide that they looked nearly shell-shocked. "Oh myyyyyyyyy God."

Ren immediately picked up on what had caused the sudden shift in atmosphere, and the emotions that flooded within him came out as slight tears. "You... love me?"

"Oh my God, I can't believe I said it by fucking accident!" Tozen groaned, but the words were muffled by his hands.

"I-I know I say it all the time to you, but I never needed— I mean, I knew, or I thought I did, but— you— I— you really do love me back."

"Of course I do! With you, I just can't help it!" he blurted out, covering the rest of his face and hiding away. It was ironic, in Ren's mind. Tozen was trying to cover his beet-red face, but Ren knew that his own must've looked like a fire truck.

Ren moved Tozen's hands away, and they looked at each other adoringly, studying the deep, dark blush staining both their cheeks and the light in their partner's eyes. Ren leaned in and kissed him immediately. It was slow, desperate, whole. "Ren. Ren, we're in public," Tozen whispered fiercely.

"That can be fixed," Ren retorted.

"But— the aquarium—"

"Fuck the aquarium. It's fantastic, but it doesn't hold a candle to you. I know you wanted to read everything, but—"

"Why am I seriously about to agree to this? I used to be so afraid of shit like this, but— you seriously do something to me."

Ren took Tozen's hand, squeezing it. "We can always come back here. But this will always be the first time you said you loved me. We need to celebrate it to the fullest."

And so, they left the aquarium. Their date was about to become a whole lot more spontaneous.