I don't own YA.

A/N: 30 Day OTP Challenge - Day 26 - Getting Married. This prompt got... five entries out of me orz Mostly preparations woo


Best Men

Even though it wasn't any rush-hour, and it was located off any main road, the small restaurant was still crowded, buzzing with noise and business. Patrons came and went, and the waiters dashed back and forth, but it all mattered very little to the two young men seated in one of the more secluded booths.
Their plates were empty, their drinks - refilled, and they were laughing like what they were, which was two old friends who hadn't seen each other, face to face, in far too long.

"I can't believe you turned the Statue of Liberty into jello!"

"Hey, I was under a lot of pressure! I had to improvise!"

"But jello?"

"Ugh, stop it. I restored it, and they still complain about ants…"

Their names were Elijah Bradely and William Kaplan, two young men in their early twenties. To most, they were simply Eli and Billy, but to a handful - Patriot and Wiccan, two young, costumed vigilantes who had earned the right to be called "Avengers". The two had been through a lot together, and that was why they set up to meet, taking advantage of the fact Eli was visiting his grandparents in the Bronx, thus sparing Billy a magical trip to Scottsdale.
Their shared history made Eli be the only person Billy could ask this specific favor from - and it was such a favor it had to be asked in person.
Granted, it also needed the right timing.

"Haha, kind of makes me wish I was there to see it." Eli admitted and leaned back, his arm resting on the backrest.
Billy on his part simply snorted.

"They showed it on TV, didn't they?"

"They did, but we both know it's not the same as actually being there."

"Yeah, you can't be blamed for it, what fun."

"You are to blame for it, Billy!"

"Phe, don't bother me with the details." Billy huffed and rested his chin in his hand, elbow on the table.
Eli smiled somewhat fondly at his friend.

"Speaking of details-" The super-soldier hummed and met Billy's curious look with a rather concerned one. "How are the preparations going? It's only a couple of weeks away, right?"

Billy fell silent at that, and looked down at the leather bracelet adorning his right wrist, one of a matching set that was proof of his engagement to one Teddy Altman.
Eli allowed him this moment of bashfulness before he leaned a bit forward.

"I meant, the wed-"

"I know what you meant." Billy growled and rolled his eyes, though he was grinning just as much as Eli was. Only that unlike Eli, Billy was blushing a bright shade of red.
The next moment, though, Billy recalled what they were discussing, and he rested both elbows on the table and buried both hands in his hair in a position that clearly displayed helplessness.
"Oh God, Eli, don't ever get married. It's endless! So much to think of, to take care of, backup plans for backup plans-"

"Sounds like you're having fun."

"We haven't argued like this since we compared the Lord of the Rings movies to the books."

"I remember that." Eli said with a wince. Ah, those were the days, he thought as he looked at Billy again to find him - again - toying with the bracelet he made with his powers all those years back.
"I guess you guys are finally getting rings, too, huh." He said with a snicker next, and was somewhat relieved to see Billy laughed lightly, too.

"Yeah… like the lesser people."

"Oh spare me." Eli snorted and helped himself to another sip from his drink.

The silence that fell after that felt rather comfortable, and still lingered the context from the last words that were exchanged. These two conditions were the perfect set-up for that favor Billy wanted to ask for, and finally he let himself ask for it - in his own special way.

"Speaking of rings-" He started, trying his best unconcerned voice. It fooled neither, but Eli went along with it just the same.
"We need, you know, in a wedding… we need people to hold the rings for us before we exchange them." Billy finally said and gave Eli a meaningful look.
The guy stared back blankly.

"That you do." Eli replied, and then added in response to the helpless look Billy gave him-
"I'm going to play it hard to get, and make you say it."

"Oh, for the love of-" Billy muttered and palmed his face, but Eli knew he was smiling - they both were.

To be honest, Eli was flattered beyond words by what he knew was to come next. That didn't mean he was going to make it easy on the guy.
Thankfully, Billy got his act together and managed to look Eli in the eye.

"Eli, would you be my best man?"

"There, now was that so hard to do?"

"I'll zap you, Bradely!"

Despite the words, they both held tightly onto the other's hand, and smiled widely enough to split their faces in two.

"Like I'd ever turn that offer down. It would be an honor, man."

Billy simply nodded at that before he reached to press his fists over his eyes.

"Oh, God, Eli, I'm getting married!"

Eli laughed at that outburst. "I hate to break it to you, but you two have been more married than most couples I know since the day you met!"
The playful air faded the next moment, though, and he offered Billy an uncertain smile.
"So I'm guessing Tommy's the other best-man. Think he's going to agree?"

Billy smiled rather confidently.
"That's why Ted's asking him."

"You thought of everything." Eli praised before he called over a waitress.
"Refill?"

Billy nodded, only to slump forward again, hands covering his face.
"I'm getting married-"

Eli could do little but smile in exasperation and pat Billy's head.

"There, there, Billy. There, there."

Teddy let out a sigh. He had spent the past fifteen minutes trying to concentrate on the game, but it seemed Tommy could play basketball and talk super-fast at the same time. It made actually listening to be nigh impossible.

"-But when the china-doll parade made it to Wall-Street-"

"I saw that movie." Teddy replied to the obvious accusation that he wasn't paying attention, just before he let the ball fly, and scored another three points.

Tommy looked at the basket for a long moment before he frowned at Teddy.
"Now can I please use my powers?"

Teddy snorted. The speedster was a sore loser whenever it came to physical activities he wasn't allowed to use his super-speed in. Teddy could appreciate it as that was the way Tommy was, but still - rules were rules. No super-speed on the court.
"Sure, if I can use my wings."

Tommy growled in protest and resigned himself to his fate. He never said he'd do so silently, though.
"Oooh, look at me, I'm on the basketball team and I can fly~!" He mimicked, only to frown at the look Teddy gave him.
"…no no no, no changing into me for a more accurate imitation, Altman - or is thatFuture-Mr-Kaplan?"

Teddy's next shot missed; Tommy made a gagging sound, despite the fact his taunt was a great success.
"Ugh, love-birds to the bitter end."

"I regret nothing." Teddy concluded and fetched the ball.

Tommy was expecting a pass, but all Teddy did was dribble. He seemed to have something on his mind, and Tommy really couldn't blame him. Wedding in a couple of weeks, after all.
"Speaking of which-" Tommy said as he sped past Teddy and snatched the ball in the blink of an eye.

"Wings, Shepherd-" Teddy warned, but Tommy ignored him, and instead threw the ball.
It hit the board and flew aside, where Teddy easily caught it.

"Where is the current Mr. Kaplan?" The speedster finished and practically clung to Teddy in an attempt to steal the ball again - this time in human speed.

"He's meeting Eli."

"Oh?"

"Yeah-"
Teddy performed a feint, one Tommy fell for, and then he jumped, throwing the ball and scoring two points more.
"Asking him to be his best-man."

The statement was made in a neutral tone of voice. Teddy let it sink in while he fetched the ball again. He wasn't surprised Tommy seemed a bit off-put by the concept, and actually foresaw something like this.
"Hey-" He called, and threw the ball on the floor. Thankfully, Tommy wasn't too far out of it, and he managed to catch the ball when it bounced back.
"What's with the long face?"

"Oh, you know-" Tommy hummed in the same carefree voice Teddy used before he threw the ball back to the blond. "Just that my twin brother from another mother asked someone else to be his best man. But I'm ok with it."

He really wasn't, and Teddy knew as much. They all long since came to ignore Tommy's "I don't have feelings and I don't hold hands" bravado.

"I mean, I don't have feelings."

"So you keep saying." Teddy replied and tried to balance the ball on the back of his hand. It worked for several minutes.
"Sorry, we took your word for it."

"Pfft." Tommy huffed as he once again received the ball.
"Finally, you're taking me seriously." He growled and dashed forward, aiming to dunk.
Teddy both blocked him and caught the rebound.

"If not, I wouldn't have wanted you to be mine." Teddy snickered, only to laugh out loud when the statement was enough to make Tommy stop, and have the ball bounce past him. He dashed after it and was back the next moment, ball in hand and eyes wide.

"…come again?"

Teddy shook his head, an amused smile on his lips. He scrunched his nose then before putting his hands on his hips.
"I said - you're not Billy's best-man, because you're mine. Deal with it."

The moment of pregnant silence could've taken a lot longer, but like most things, Tommy was quick about getting over the shock from the news, the happiness at being given the position, and recovering back to his usual self. There was gentleness to his smile then, Teddy noted, and Tommy had a flattered air to him.

"Heh… well played."

Teddy smiled back, only to frown when Tommy looked at him questioningly.
"What?"

"Are we… ya know, supposed to hug or something?"

Teddy quirked a brow.
"Do you want us to? Because-"

Tommy held a hand up and scrunched his nose.
"Dude, stop. Sweat."

Teddy snorted.
"And here I thought it's because you don't hold hands."

"Wha-" Tommy managed before Teddy snatched the ball from him and showed him how to properly dunk.