Um. For any that saw that super weird thing I did earlier this week... I'm sorry. I'm an idiot. LOL. Enjoy the last chapter.
The day had finally come.
Sebastian felt another wave of secondhand nervousness as he redid his tie for the third time in the past ten minutes.
Everyone around him was rushing about, Claude going around checking and then rechecking that everyone was ready. As his slightly taller long term friend made his way over, making an expression full of disdain Sebastian had never felt the weight of their friendship as much as he did then. He almost wanted to hug him.
He refrained, of course.
"Sebastian can you please, stop messing with your damn tie and help me?"
Heaven must have fallen into ruin and Hell must have frozen over.
Claude Faustus, his long term and closest friend, was asking Sebastian for help.
And also, at the same time, this same closest, long term, best friend, was getting married today.
Both of these facts hit Sebastian like a wave of scalding hot water and he was stunned into silence.
A silence that annoyed the already aggravated Claude even further.
"Sebastian!" He snapped. "If you're not going to be helpful get out of the way!" Sebastian glanced over towards the mirror he was standing in front of and then the rest of the relatively large room behind him dubiously.
"How am I 'in the way' exactly?" He asked.
Claude looked exasperated. "If you're not helping, you are in the way." Sebastian rolled his eyes. It was obvious even to him that Claude was getting on his case only because he was nervous himself and felt the need to be in control of something. Claude didn't like not having control.
"What do you want me to do then? I don't know if you noticed but you're kinda of already doing everything." Sebastian snapped.
Claude narrowed his eyes. "Something. Anything. You're my best man aren't you?" And once again that was thrown in his face. He sighed frustratedly as Claude marched away yelling loudly enough to be mistaken by a drill sergeant at one of Hannah's friends. The small man and the equally small men next to him that completed the full triplet trio were close friends with Hannah and had unfortunately been dealt the brunt of Claude's wrath.
"Being a bit of a bridezilla isn't he?" Ciel asked, coming to stand beside Sebastian.
Sebastian scoffed, fighting the urge to run a hand through his hair.
"Tell me about it. But he's just nervous. I think the feeling is new to him." The two began to walk, exiting the chaotic room and walking out into the cathedral. The building was huge, one of those ancient Roman Catholic buildings Sebastian was sure to have been built before electricity was invented. Guests were milling about everywhere, so many people that Sebastian wasn't even sure that Claude and Hannah knew them all.
"I think feeling itself is new to him." Ciel countered with a short laugh. "He's always so…" They weaved in and out of the guests, making for the main exit. Sebastian was in dire need of a cigarette.
"Stoic?" Sebastian supplied.
"Yeah. I'm shocked he even invited me to his wedding at all. But then again, I'm shocked that all of the people here were invited." They walked through the open doors adorned with white ribbon, golden ausmas, and lavender crocus.
Warm spring air greeted them as they stepped outside, it was nearing May now. The last spells of winter dissipated and now summer was creeping up on them, adding an extra layer of brightness and warmth to everything.
Sebastian hated it. Why didn't more people get married in the winter? Or fall, when the leaves radiated that same orange-yellow light without the heat to go with it.
"He likes you. That's why he invited you." Sebastian finally responded, now that they were in an area where they could actually hear each other. Ciel came to a stop in front of him as he leaned against a pillar, pulling out a cigarette from the inside of his suit.
"He also invited Alois." Ciel stated, crossing his arms.
Inviting Alois hadn't really been Claude's choice. Hannah for some reason was amused by the blonde and felt some strange sort of affection for the man that was constantly trying to steal her fiance from her. Sebastian didn't understand it and neither did Claude but Alois was here regardless.
He could do nothing but shrug.
They stood in relative silence and Sebastian observed Ciel as the younger turned his gaze to the street where somehow even more guests were arriving.
The younger man looked apprehensive, or uncomfortable may have been the word. Distantly Sebastian wondered if his girlfriend had been bothering him about proposing to her with all this talk of weddings. He had heard they had a strange effect on women like that.
"So…" Ciel began suddenly, his tone sounding like he was genuinely curious about something and also like he wasn't sure he wanted to ask.
"...You've seemed happier lately."
Sebastian raised his eyebrows. "Happier?" He echoed.
Ciel looked even more uncomfortable."Yeah… I mean when we were still doing the project you were kind of… um… distracted? So… I was just wondering if something happened." He must have seen something in Sebastian's face because he then quickly added, "With Adrian, I mean."
And now Sebastian was uncomfortable.
He was hoping that his erratic behavior during the project hadn't been noticeable to anyone other than Vincent and Claude. He really wasn't expecting Ciel to have known him well enough to know that he was behaving strangely and even more to attribute that behavior to Adrian specifically. Although thinking about it, there really wasn't any way that anyone couldn't have noticed.
They had been done with the project for almost a month and a half now. The group photoshoot they had to reshoot on Valentine's Day and the few individual assignments in the week after had been all they needed to wrap up and the line of clothing had a few more advertisement and production hoops to jump through but that didn't include them.
After Adrian and him had that very meaningful heart to heart talk in his apartment Valentine's day and… done that; Sebastian was in a whirlwind of new and unknown. Adrian had practically lived at his apartment for three days and they had done… that more times than Sebastian could have ever anticipated, then he had been slapped in the face with the news that Adrian was returning to London. He had been irrationally angry at first, in the way he always got when dealing with Adrian as if he felt too much and those emotions could only channel into anger. They had argued, neither saying things they actually meant and then Adrian was gone.
Sebastian had barely made it two days before he had called Adrian and desperately apologized. Adrian had apologized as well and they agreed to talk as often as possible until he could return for some time in the summer. It had put an intense strain on their budding relationship and Sebastian often found himself realizing just how new to this he really was. He had hardly ever had a relationship he really cared about and putting thousands of miles of ocean between them was difficult but he wouldn't give up on this that easily.
"Um…" Sebastian realized he had stood motionless for some time and quickly knocked the ash from his cigarette, taking a deep drag of it.
He didn't really mind telling Ciel, the young man could keep his mouth shut and was showing genuine concern for him without ulterior motives. It was just that he didn't really know how to phrase it. He didn't want to have an "out-of-the-closet" talk, because that really wasn't all that true. He hadn't really ever been in the closet to begin with.
"I guess we're dating right now. Or something like that."
Sebastian cringed.
It wasn't far from the truth, they just hadn't really talked about the specifics. Not that he minded of course. But even still he could have phrased it at least a little better.
"What the fuck!" A sudden, new, voice called out. The voice startled Ciel so badly that he nearly fell over and Sebastian wheezed on the drag of cigarette he had just taken.
Alois appeared suddenly, looking completely bewildered.
"A-alois, what are you-" Ciel began, holding a hand over his heart with wide eyes.
"I saw you two looking all suspicious and walking out here together so I decided to follow you!" Alois shouted, pointing an accusatory finger. "And then I overhear that!"
Sebastian frowned. "Suspicious?"
Alois ignored him, looking completely outraged.
"How the fuck did you get Adrian first!? You!? I had him! I totally caught him looking at my ass like three separate times!" Somehow Sebastian felt that wasn't true.
Alois' frown morphed into realization.
"No fucking way... Is he only into straight guys!? Fuck! Or maybe bisexual? Because are you…?" Alois glanced over to Sebastian, then curled his lip in disgust. "No, nevermind I don't care. This is bullshit!"
Then, without another word from either of the people he just verbally assaulted, Alois spun on his heel and walked back into the cathedral- purple tailcoat swirling behind him.
As he turned though, Sebastian almost thought he saw that look of disgust morph into a small smile.
Maybe Hell really had frozen over.
...
Claude's nervousness was radiating from him permeating the minds of all around him and infusing them with that same fidgety, sweaty, mind numbing feeling. And since Sebastian was the best man and standing so close to him he was getting the worst of it. Though he could still feel the tenseness of the triplets besides him, he honestly had not paid much attention to them in their dance classes and sort of regretted not knowing which was Thompson, which was Timber and which was Canterbury. Looking across the altar, Sebastian wondered if Nina was being affected at all by any of this. With a start, he realized that the woman was actually wearing a dress which was to be expected given the occasion but she had almost unhealthy obsession with wearing shorts. She looked as uncomfortable as she probably felt but that usual look of contempt in her eyes was gone, replaced with a tender softness Sebastian had not thought possible.
Behind her stood the rest of Hannah's bridesmaids. Mey-rin, who looked like she might topple over at any moment with how impossibly tall her heels were. A woman named Paula, whom Sebastian had never really met before he assumed that she was a close friend of Hannah's. And then behind her, a relatively famous actress Sebastian hadn't even realized Claude and Hannah were associated with- Irene Diaz, undoubtedly beautiful in that overly polite way that wasn't really Sebastian's type. Her boyfriend had made his presence known in their practice sessions anyways.
Sebastian's attention was drawn to the entrance of the room as the signature wedding march music began to play. Hannah stepped into the room, emitting a quiet elegance as she took slow steps up to the altar. She looked the most beautiful he had ever seen her, long lilac hair pulled into an intricate updo with a darker variation of those crocus flowers weaved in. She looked radiant. A quiet smile stretched her lips as she looked up to Claude who seemed to have lost the ability to function. Behind Hannah was Luka, Alois' younger brother, who seemed to be serving as a ring bearer.
Eventually she was standing beside Claude in front of the altar looking radiant enough that Sebastian wasn't sure if it was the lights lighting up the room or her.
The congregation in the booths produced a soft hush from the movement of clothing as everyone sat back down. The loud wedding march had quieted also, now a soft but tender melody.
"Welcome everyone," The priest began. He was a young man, much younger and flashier that Sebastian thought a priest was allowed to be. Honestly he wasn't even wearing the traditional cassock. Instead he seemed to be matching the theme of wedding itself wearing a white suit with a long coat and an ascot with a ruby brooch in the center and as he lifted his arms in a welcoming gesture, the extended lace sleeves of his undershirt became visible as well as his white gloves.
"We are here to witness the most soul binding and holy ceremony, the beautiful and exquisite matrimony of Claude Faustus and Hannah Annafeloz." The man spoke intensely, gesturing wildly and Sebastian had to wonder once again if they had hired a proper priest or some deranged idiot that had played them.
"May God himself bless this holy couple on this world changing day and let their souls become one as they were always meant to be; A joining that I, Priest Aleistor Chamber will make it my holy duty to achieve on this day."
Sebastian looked upon the crowd and caught eyes with Bard who gave look that said he didn't look too confident in the legitimacy of this priest either. Sebastian give him a look in return, eyes gesturing to the suit he was wearing with a smirk and Bard rolled his eyes and flicked him off stealthily.
...
The ceremony went on for what felt like hours, between the impromptu sermons the priest kept giving seeming emotionally moved in a way that was almost disturbing, the readings from the bible, and the long exchange of vows in which Claude messed up several times- revealing just how nervous he was. He had actually stuttered. Claude Faustus had stuttered.
And then there had been the exchange of rings. Luka had walked up to the altar from the side and presented the ring to Sebastian and then to Nina who then had to go through a long process involving interacting with the overly flamboyant priest to bless the rings and then Claude and Hannah had to say even more vows. All in all the entire process reminded Sebastian why he had never been too keen on going to these things.
After the formal ceremony they had moved everything outside, where the sun had just begun to set.
He was exhausted now and they still were not done with the formalities. No, now it was time for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to perform the dance that they had learned. He had been allowed a small break when Hannah had gone to change into a dress she could actually dance in but now he was exhausted and that feeling would only double now that Nina Hopkins was standing in front of him and the music signalling the beginning of the song began to play. Hannah and Claude were off to the side holding each other and watching them.
Sebastian cursed them in his head.
He stepped forward when he heard the signalling shift in the melody and took hold of Nina's hand, putting an arm around her waist, and began the dance.
They performed it flawlessly, and Sebastian felt the surge of pride in that feat as the four men successfully twirled their partners and then dipped them. Something they had added on at the last second and most of them had repeatedly forgotten to do at the last rehearsal. It was still a pain to do but Sebastian was at least pleased that he managed to do something that his best friend's wife wanted at her wedding.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the music stopped and Nina had even stiffly patted him on the shoulder and said "Nice work. I was beginning to think you were truly incompetent." before walking over to the bride and groom. It was the closest thing to a compliment that she had ever given him.
Sebastian rolled his eyes and made his way into the surrounding crowd. It was time for the first dance soon.
Ciel and Elizabeth caught his attention so he walked over to them.
"Oh my gosh, Sebastian!" Elizabeth cried when he was close enough. She pulled in for a hug and beamed at him with all the brightness of a 100 watt bulb. Ciel looked more exhausted than Sebastian felt and once again he had to wonder if all this talk of weddings was getting the best of his girlfriend.
"That was so amazing! I didn't know that you could dance so well! You and Nina were just stunning!" She continued, nearly bouncing up and down from excitement.
"Thank you. I'd be damned if all the misery I went through in the practices were for nothing."
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Mey-rin and Bard making their way over. Mey-rin seemed to be blushing madly for some reason and Bard looked pissed off. Sebastian turned his attention to them as they approached.
"I'm telling you I saw it myself." Bard snapped gruffly.
"He really didn't, though! I swear!" Mey-rin cried.
"I saw his hand grab your ass, Mey. If we weren't at a wedding right now I'd beat the shit out of that scrawny bastard."
Sebastian frowned. "What happened?"
"Nothing!" Mey-rin squeaked.
"Nothing my ass!" Bard exploded, drawing attention to their small group.
Bard sighed in frustration at the cautious eyes now on him and loosened his tie with a finger.
"I hate weddings, you know that?" He cast a tired glance Sebastian's way.
"What the fuck are you smirking at?" Sebastian didn't even realize he had been but quickly wiped the expression away. Bard narrowed his eyes. "You know you've seemed a lot more smiley these last few weeks Mr. Grumpy."
Ciel snorted at the nickname and Elizabeth swatted at him.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Sebastian replied, a humorous tone in his voice that instantly brought the smirk back to his face.
Mey-rin caught on immediately, but Sebastian also thought that she might have just been eager to change the conversation.
"Ooh, something happened didn't it?" At Sebastian's silence she poked him in the shoulder.
"Didn't it? Come on, tell us."
"What? I'm at best friend's wedding what's not to be happy about?" Sebastian's smirk stretched wider.
Mey-rin narrowed her eyes and grinned conspiratorially up at him.
"Bullshit. And you know it. Come on! We're your friends aren't we!?"
"You might as well just tell them." Ciel spoke up. "They're going to find out eventually anyways. You're not as good at hiding things as you think."
Mey-rin looked offended. "You told Ciel and not us!?"
Sebastian noticed movement behind them and took his opportunity.
"Shh." He said, forcibly turning Mey-rin around. "The dance is starting."
Claude and Hannah were making their way to the center of the field as music started up once again. Sebastian may have been bullshitting Mey-rin but he really was happy for Claude and a surge of something like pride rushed up inside of him as he watched the two hold each other close and sway to the music.
After a while, when it was consensually deemed appropriate by the change in music a few other couples joined the two on the dance floor. Irene and her own boyfriend Grimsby. Then Mey-rin and Bard as she tugged him along with her. Ciel put up more of a fight but eventually Elizabeth half dragged him out there with her. A few other couples that Sebastian didn't recognize went out as well and he suddenly felt very much the odd one out as every couple that had attending the wedding were now dancing together leaving the singles to stand awkwardly by themselves.
Although, as he looked around he noticed that Vincent had walked over to his sister-in-law, Angelina, and offered his hand in an overly gentlemanly way and she smiled gratefully at him as they began to dance as well. A few girls had walked over to the triplets and though the conversation looking kind of awkward from where he was standing two of them had gone with the girls that asked while the other stood firm and the last girl looked almost distraught as she walked away.
Even Nina somehow had convinced Alois' little brother to dance with her and Sebastian made a note of it incase he had to call the police later when Luka went missing. Speaking of, he didn't see Alois anywhere and all the possible things the blonde could be doing in a cathedral somewhere sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine at the same time it made him almost laugh out loud.
He almost felt uncomfortable as he stood there by himself looking on at all the couples and a pang of loneliness hit him. Could he really do this long distance thing? Desperately wanting to be around someone and not being able to was an alien feeling in itself but he had been getting this pangs of loneliness almost every time he saw a couple holding hands or smiling up at each other or laughing at an inside joke. Would he always have to feel that way?
"What's someone like you doing out here standing all by themselves?" A voice asked behind him. It scared him out of his skin and he turned to look at who the voice belonged to but they had moved closer in an instant and their cool hands were on his shoulders, chest slightly touching his back. Sebastian should have felt more alarmed by the closeness but although his head couldn't catch up he felt deep down somewhere that he knew who they were.
He resisted the urge to turn around now, instead looking out into the dancing group as though nothing had happened, but the rapid thumping of his heart suggested otherwise.
"I can do an American accent quite well, don't you think?" The now familiar english accented voice asked, sounding all too pleased and equally amused. Out of the corner of his eye Sebastian could see a strand of silvery hair dropping onto his shoulder.
"What are you doing here?" Was all Sebastian could ask. Adrian giggled behind him, his mouth now right up to his ear sending the warmth breathe into it sending a shudder through his body he was sure Adrian could feel.
"Indeed. What am I doing here?" The hands that hand been placed atop Sebastian's shoulders now moved until Adrian's arms were wrapped around his chest holding him tightly.
"Sneaking out I suppose? I arranged for my private jet to take me here, although I am a bit later than intended. I do believe I missed the ceremony entirely, what a pity." Adrian peppered a few kisses up the side of Sebastian's neck and he hoped that nobody had noticed them yet.
"I wanted to see you." Adrian whispered against his ear, before finally turning Sebastian around in his arms and hugging him almost desperately. Sebastian found himself hugging him back with just as much desperation. His heart lit aflame with affection as the realization of what Adrian had just done dawned on him. He had dropped everything and jumped on a jet just to see him.
"You know…" Sebastian started after a moment. "Most people would just facetime if they wanted to see someone's face."
Adrian chuckled against him. "I can't really touch you over the phone can I?"
"No, I guess not." Sebastian found himself grinning despite himself.
Adrian pulled away from him, a devious smirk on his face, pressing a kiss to Sebastian's lips.
"Can't do that through a screen either."
"Definitely not." Sebastian agreed in an overly serious way.
"There are a lot of other things you can't do through a screen either that I would love to do right now." Sebastian sucked in a breath at the suggestion and Adrian beamed at him.
"But I would hate cause a scandal at your friend's wedding." Adrian nodded over to the crowd where Claude was looking at the two of them with a warning in his eyes. Sebastian rolled his eyes and shot Claude a small thumbs up. The amber eyed man looked confused at the action but after a moment his expression looked defeated and he shot a thumbs up their way. Sebastian turned his attention back to Adrian. "I'm sure the priest wouldn't be too happy about it either."
"Oh, I don't know about that." Sebastian laughed. "I get the feeling he's not too fond of rules himself."
Adrian quirked an eyebrow up at that but smiled nonetheless.
"Well then, how about we join in the festivities?" He offered, holding out a hand. Sebastian took it, after a moment of hesitation and the two walked over to the other swaying couples, holding each other as the music played.
Sebastian looked up after a while, hooking a hand behind Adrian's neck to bring him down slightly for another kiss.
"I have to leave before ten." Adrian whispered as Sebastian was drawing away. He sounded regretful but Sebastian knew that even seeing each other for a few hours was better than not seeing each other for a full month and a half. Still, he felt a bit disappointed that because of where they were they didn't really have time to do those other things Adrian mentioned.
So it was that sense of disappointment that sent his lips crashing against the others desperately as if he may not ever see him again.
They didn't have much time and Sebastian couldn't help but feel a bit like Prince Charming about to be left at the ball as Cinderella ran away at midnight. But he could be happy for now. He could appreciate that they felt the same way about each other. He could appreciate the struggle their relationship was going to be. Nothing ever worth having was easy.
He was happy. And he supposed that's what mattered the most.
OH MY GOSH. Can't believe this is "over" already! I really, really loved writing this story. I love everything about it, and that's really impressive considering how self-conscious I am of my stories. It was a learning experience and I tried new things and planned and enjoyed every second of it and I feel like I've grown so much as an author. I went from rarely being able to write 4,000 words to having that be the minimum for almost every chapter! Anyways thank you guys so much for joining me on the ride... but I hope you'll stay a little longer. I've got about 5 or so extras I'm planning to do that I'm still just going to post onto this story. Look forward to those! Love you all so much! (Also had to have them married in a church the irony just calls my name. And I've only been to one wedding that was on a beach and the bride had an obsession with puppeteering... so sorry if any of this is inaccurate. )