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Montgomery had never seen Leonard so excited to show him something before. He'd never seen such light in Leonard's eyes when he asked him to spend his shore leave with him.
Montgomery had no objections of course, he loved making Leonard happy and indulging him when he could. It was also exciting to see a piece of Leonard that most hadn't.
Leonard's family home was nice estate in the southern countryside, guarded by long yellow grass that bent in the wind. It was still hot and humid as hell, but the sun was now setting and spilling its last colors across the horizon. It was perhaps the most beautiful sunset Montgomery had ever seen.
And yet, it paled in comparison to Leonard, sitting next to him on the steps of the house. The house had a wrap-around porch and now they were sitting on the wide steps. They'd unpacked and Leonard had given him the house tour and now they were here.
The house was a big old country house with wide spaces and typical rooms, but something about the curves of the walls, the scuffs of wood showed life and a love of the house. Montgomery could see the house when it was full of life, children's laughter, and the thumping of little feet down the hall. He saw pictures of his beloved hanging up on the wall and his little sisters smiling and Montgomery could almost imagine a world where Leonard was untouched by the darkness of the world and his smile could light up a whole town.
There was no hurt in his eyes, no pain. He was just full of hope and dreams. Montgomery had tried his best to salvage any parts of Leonard like that, any hope of the world, especially after what his ex did, leaving him broken and trapped in darkness. It was better now, Leonard smiled much more and especially around him. He walked with more meaning in his step and more purpose as to his destination. Montgomery was only glad to have any part of him, that Leonard felt comfortable enough to be himself around him.
That's all Montgomery wanted. Was for Leonard to be happy and safe, comfortable always.
He had already gone through enough pain and hardships, most of which Montgomery still had to uncover, and now it was time to give him a break.
Montgomery was so glad they had two weeks of shore leave to spend together just in this house, just them. Leonard had already told him about the fun things they could do while they were here, something about a "Peach Fest"? He was just excited to spend some time with his lover away from work and the ship.
So here they were, out on the porch with cold beers in hand, snuggled close even though it was hot.
"Lovely sunset, isn't it," Montgomery whispered against Leonard's hair, which made the other chuckle.
"Beautiful, but not why we're out here."
Montgomery gave Leonard a look when their eyes met. Leonard only smirked at him.
"Just wait."
They waited.
The sky was now a deep purple and blue, with the very last of the sunlight staining the sky dark pinks.
And sure enough, if he hadn't been there to witness it, he wouldn't believe it was real.
Little specs came from the grass, they glowed and flickered in the dark blue night. They looked like fallen stars in that they glowed. And there were thousands of them shimmering along the long grass and in the trees. Absolutely beautiful.
"What are they?" Montgomery whispered, too shocked to speak properly.
Leonard chuckled softly. "They're lightning bugs. All over Georgia and this whole continent."
"Really? That's...amazing," The Scot said breathlessly. His eyes couldn't leave the hundreds of little speckles of light that shimmered all across the sky and in the fields all around them. It was like stars that floated around them, like bits of stardust dancing around them. It didn't feel real, it felt like magic.
Leonard stood up and reach his hands up, cupping around one of the speckles of light before sitting down again. Montgomery leaned in curiously.
"Do you want to hold one?" Leonard smiled softly.
Montgomery nodded eagerly and opened his hands, waiting to accept the little bug.
Leonard opened his hands over Montgomery's and out of them came a tiny little bug that glowed like a heartbeat.
"Wow," Montgomery murmured, eyes wide as he smiled. He couldn't help but giggle when the bug moved along his palm and up his arm. It tickled.
Eventually, the little creature of light flew away with the rest of his friends and Montgomery looked at his lover with unending gratitude.
"Thank ye for showing me this."
Leonard smiled into Montgomery's neck. "I thought you'd like it."
"Ah do."
He liked a lot of things, but especially he liked Leonard.
The ring in his pocket showed just how much.