Life, the Universe, and Everything

Stars dotted the deep blue sky, little pricks of light against the ocean of darkness. With little light pollution in Torncreek, much of the milky way was visible. Not a single cloud interrupted the display. 

The moon was full, casting a steady glow on the desert dirt. There weren’t many streetlights, so the moonlight was all there was to go by. 

Deep Bureau didn’t mind. 

He exited his store and locked the door behind himself. The lock hadn’t been turned in so long that the key started to stick, and he thought it might jam. It took a few moments of wiggling to get it shut. 

Empty eyes blinked up at the sky, taking in the visible universe. Betelgeuse, Polaris, Sirius, Vega, Altair, Canopus, Arcturus. Just a few of the 100 million trillion pins of light in the galaxy. Between them, even more stars than a human could ever imagine, but he was not human, and so he did not need to imagine. He knew. 

Deep Bureau walked quietly, his feet barely grazing the earth. He kept his pace as brisk as the wind shifting the sand and dirt across the sidewalk. Walter was waiting for him by the lake, probably drowsy since he was running late. So late now, that the world was asleep. In a few hours the sun would rise. 

Guilt rose in his throat as he walked. Walt had asked him out, wanted to make him feel special since they’d both gotten so busy with their lives, and Deep Bureau had once again gotten dreadfully lost in his work. Prior to Walt’s request, he hadn’t left his workshop in six days. In the past that wasn’t unusual, but now the two hated being apart. 

Everything was better when they had each other. 

Everything. 

Deep Bureau spotted Walt on the beach immediately, recognizing his sleeping form by the water. The gentle waves lapped at the sand and stones, far enough away to not disturb him. He’d kept his hair down like Deep Bureau requested, and now strands blew in the wind, twisting around his face as he slept. Deep Bureau stood at the edge of the path, mesmerized. How could one person be so beautiful? If he could breathe, he would be holding his breath. 

Walt stirred slightly as Deep Bureau came up beside him. He didn’t wake, simply turning his head to the side, then moving his hand to cover his eyes. His mouth twitched. Deep Bureau wondered if he was dreaming, if he was deep enough in his slumber that he was thinking of him. 

“Walter,” his voice hung low in the air, hushed like the gentle breeze of the night. It twisted around them, curled through their hair and slipping by their ears. Walt did not move. “I’m sorry I’m late. I love you.”

He sighed, a low, tired sigh from deep within his soul. 

“I got caught up in my work again, as I’m sure you know… I know you said you wanted tonight to be special. I’ll make it up to you, darling. Let me tell you something.”

He paused to look up at the sky. The stars gazed back at him, twinkled in his empty eyes. He blinked twice, then laid beside his boyfriend. 

“I know a great deal about this universe. More than any human could ever understand, no matter how hard they try. But I will still attempt to explain things to you,” he shut his eyes. “Because I know that you love me enough to listen, even when what I speak of is more than all of us. You understand. And I love this about you.

“If you were awake I would tell you to look to the sky. Using Polaris we would look from Ursa Minor to Ursa Major, to the handle of the dipper. I would tell you to turn your gaze to the second star, in which you would see it was really two if you looked hard enough. 

“Mizar and Alcor. Between them, a faint Sidus Ludoviciana. Together, seven stars, for Mizar and Alcor are greater than people first thought. It sounds a bit complicated, but celestial bodies are always complex, as I’m sure you’ve come to learn. But know that they are always together. They compliment each other. They are bound. There is no just Mizar, no just Alcor, but always the two of them, their fire burning for each other. They may be far apart in reality, but in our eyes, in the universe, they will always be by each other’s side. Ursa Major would not be complete without the both of them.”

A crunch of the earth as Walt shifted slightly. A soft grunt as he adjusted. Deep Bureau kept his eyes shut, imagining them looking at the sky together. He raised his hand to point to the constellation, knowing it by memory alone. 

“Mizar and Alcor are in love. I know this because I have met them, and the family they have created, with all their little stars. They have been in love for so many years neither of us could wrap our minds around it, like they were born for each other. Like the universe exploded and it was for them. Everything led them to each other’s arms.

“I… wanted to make this night special for you, too,” his voice dwindled to a whisper. “I love you, human. I am so many things all at once, so many things I cannot ever come to explain to you. But you understand. You know this, you love me regardless. You love my child regardless. For this, I adore you. And I adore your smile, your life, your insight, your stories, your teasing. All of it. We’ve been together a while now, and I know we started things out fast, and maybe this is too fast again, but I want you to feel special tonight, and every night after.”

Deep Bureau shut his eyes a little tighter. 

“I don’t have a ring or anything like that, but I can get you one. If you want,” he continued. “I know you’re asleep, but I hope my words reach you in your dreams, that they can settle in your mind for a while, so that when I am brave enough to say this to your face, you won’t be blindsided.”

A stretch of silence. 

“I want to marry you, my Alcor.” 

“Deep Bureau!” Walt’s little exclamation sent his eyes shooting open. He jolted upright and stared, his gaze immediately meeting the wide eyes of his boyfriend. 

“You’re…” Deep Bureau trailed off. “Awake?! Please, uh, um, yes, disregard what I said, uh.” He shuffled back a bit, his expression melting into confusion. 

Walter beamed at him and threw his arms around him without hesitation, engulfing him in warmth. “No, don’t take it back. Yes. Yes.”

“Yes?” his lips turned into a smile and a frown all at once. The tightness in his chest returned, but not of guilt. 

“Yes, I’ll marry you. A thousand times yes.”