Chapter 8: A Wedding
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the wedding of Blake and Victoria. My daughter Tori is, as most of you can attest, a force of nature…"
Shane leans back into his chair, giving his collar another tug to try and subtly loosen his tie; the remnants of their meal being cleared away as Tori's father launches into his speech from the table at the front of the room.
"Dude, these things are so uncomfortable." Dustin shifts awkwardly, fiddling with his own tie with far less subtlety than Shane.
Cam leans over to catch his hand before he pulls the knot free completely; the pale silk twisted off centre. "But you look so good in it," he soothes, fingers entwining with Dustin's as their hands return to the tabletop. The Samurai's own navy tie is still intact, as crisp and as smart as it had been at the day's beginning.
"Yeah, but it's not yellow," Dustin mutters, an echo of the protest the earth ninja had voiced at the fitting Blake had made the three of them attend for their suits.
Shane does his best to suppress a laugh, but even he had to admit it was jarring at first, seeing them all in uniform grey three-pieces and white shirts, their ties the only visible spots of colour — coordinated with either the bride or the groom's shade of blue; navy and sky, to match the flowers and the table settings as Shane can now see.
At least he had a point of reference for the experience, vividly thrown back into his first weeks of basic training, stripped of all individuality and condemned to military fatigues. Not a hint of red to be found. It was silly, but up to that point he hadn't appreciated the depth of this attachment to his colour, and how much its absence stung.
Watching Dustin and Cam struggle with the same had been disconcerting, and yet also a validation; even now the colours meant something to them all, a resonance that couldn't be denied. Something tangible.
In spite of Dustin's protests and Cam's quiet expressions of distaste, Blake had just grinned; almost gleeful in their discomfort. And this morning he'd arrived to reveal the grey jackets were each lined with their own individual colour. A nod to their shared past, and a reassurance none of them admitted to needing but were glad of nonetheless.
Across the table, the Samurai is grinning at his partner, but whatever he'd been about to say is interrupted by Tori's father calling for a toast to his daughter and her new husband, and the room is filled by the clink of champagne glasses and the rumble of voices.
"To the bride and groom," Shane joins in, raising his sparkling grape juice towards the couple.
Chatter breaks out amongst the guests, but is almost immediately stifled by a sharp ting of metal on glass; everyone's attention brought back to the top table to see Hunter carefully getting to his feet, microphone in one hand and the other clutching a sheaf of paper.
The taller Bradley flashes the room a cocky, practiced grin. "Right, my turn. I know, this is what a lot of you have been waiting for and thank you to the Factory Blue team for volunteering up so many embarrassing stories of Blake without me needing to ask."
Loud cheers break out from the tables either side of Shane's and he recognises some faces from the engagement party. Blake's teammates. And Hunter's too, he realises. Blake grimaces, turning as crimson as his brother's old uniform.
Hunter sticks his tongue out at him — childish, immature and irreverent — before looking out over the gathered guests. "Hi. For those who don't know me I'm Hunter, Blake's better, smarter-"
"-older," the groom coughs.
"-faster brother. And his Best Man. Those of you that do know me know I'm not so great at the public speaking thing so, uh, bear with me; I'm going to do my best."
Hunter's fingers are clenched tight around the paper, a barely perceptible tremor shaking his hands and a faint tightness to his voice that belies his discomfort at being thrust into the spotlight. Blake must have known that, when he'd asked him to be Best Man. Not that Shane could imagine there even being the slightest consideration of Blake having anyone else.
"Those of you who know us well also know us Bradleys aren't that great at decision-making. Like the time when Blake decided tequila shots with a Thor impersonator in Vegas was a good idea. Admittedly he'd been drinking slushies most of the day without realising they were alcoholic but…"
Shane can hear a shift in Hunter's tone, the words coming smoother, lower, a steady cadence that draws in the crowd. Something inside Shane unclenches; a tension he hadn't realised he'd been holding easing as the other man's confidence grows. Hunter's back is straighter, less hunched in on himself and allowing the grey jacket to hang properly, his grip on the microphone loosening as he seems to relax into the spotlight. His chin is raised, eyes sparkling clear blue and lines crinkling at the corners as his smile blooms into realness. In his formal suit and tie, Hunter almost looks every inch a picture of calm sophistication.
Almost; his hair is messy, unkempt and untamed. Shane's sure at the start of the day there had been some attempt to style it, but it's been undone by the blond's habit of dragging his fingers through it, pushing it out of his eyes in a self-conscious gesture. An image rises before Shane, of his own fingers tangled in blond strands and he wonders if its still as soft-
"… and that's when he realised he'd lost his pants."
Laughter rings out, firmly yanking Shane's attention back into the room. He starts guiltily, but everyone around him is too intent on the Best Man to pay him any mind.
Hunter allows the mirth to subside before continuing, "But there's one thing Blake's done that we can all agree is definitely not a mistake, and that's asking Tori to marry him. To be honest, we've all been wondering what took him so damn long."
"Too true!" The cry comes from the Factory Blue tables and Dustin cheers alongside them.
"Probably not many of you were around to see the beginning of Blake and Tori's relationship-" Hunter's gaze flicks briefly to where the ex-Rangers are seated "-but unfortunately I was and it was painful. So much teenage angst you would not believe — so I'll spare you the details." He pauses, giving the crowd a wink. "But buy me a drink later and I might tell you."
"Do not buy my brother a drink," Blake interjects, making a grab for the microphone.
Hunter just laughs, moving the mike easily out of the groom's reach and tapping him on the head. "Love at first sight is an overused cliche, I know," he says to the room. "But I think in Blake and Tori's case it might be true. It just took them a while to admit it to each other."
Not to mention they were a little distracted with the small matter of saving the world at the time, as Shane recalls.
"But in spite of what we're told, you need more than love to make a relationship. You need friendship; you need trust, and understanding, and communication. You need compromise, and you need to be able to give each other space to grow without growing apart." His lips twist into a crooked smile. "And right about now, those who know me are probably going 'who the hell am I to be giving out relationship advice'? Don't worry; I'm not. Because it isn't advice. It's everything I've learned from watching these two. And as long as you keep it up — and don't listen to me — I know you are going to be just fine."
He glances down to his notes, then looks back out over the crowd, focus pinpointed for one brief second on Sensei Omino; the Head of the Thunder Academy seated alongside Cam's father on the table Blake had taken to referring to as the 'Elders'. Both white-haired now, but maintaining an almost regal, undiminished presence. It might have been a trick of the light, but Shane could have sworn Sensei Omino nodded.
"The internet tells me it's traditional at this point in the speech for the Best Man to say something about welcoming a sister to the family. I'm not going to do that. Instead, I want to talk about two very special people who are not here today, but I know my brother and I both wish they were." Hunter pushes his shoulders back, as if visibly steeling himself; the pause stretching a fraction longer than just a breath before he presses on, smile fixed in place. "This might come as a surprise to most of you — I know, I know; place to drop a bombshell is at a wedding — but Blake and I are adopted."
There's a smattering of uncertain laughter and Shane snorts. Blake is shaking his head at his brother, his despair palpable, but Hunter ignores him; unrepentant.
"Our adoptive parents were everything a mom and dad should be. They loved us, and they always made sure we knew it. They gave us a home, a family, and safety. We couldn't have asked for better." The Bradleys' eyes meet; Blake nodding and swallowing hard as Hunter half turns towards the bride, expression soft. "I wish they could have met you, Tor. They would have adored you. The only thing they ever wanted for us both was our happiness, and you make my brother so happy."
Tori's eyes are bright as she leans into her husband; Blake sliding a hand over hers. A hush has descended on the room, allowing Hunter's next words to be heard in striking sharpness.
"Our parents were our world and we had nowhere near enough time with them. But they taught us that family is far more than where you are born or who you are born to. More than blood. So when I say I'm not welcoming a sister today, it's because Tori has been family for years." There's the faintest tremor to his voice now, the paper crumpling in his grip; he doesn't seem to notice. Shane suspects he doesn't need it anymore; the speech coming from somewhere deeper. "And the past few years have definitely not been easy. I haven't exactly been the best of brothers and I put the people closest to me through a whole load of shit- stuff; sorry, Marie."
Tori's mother has a frown on her face, lips pursed, but the affection in her misty-eyed gaze betrays her feigned exasperation.
"Blake and Tori got the worst of me. But no matter how bad it got, you were both had my back. I'm no good with words, but 'sorry' and 'thank you' don't come close to what I owe you." He coughs, dragging his focus over the room again. "Without the love and support of these two people, I wouldn't be standing here making a fool of myself today. I love you both and I cannot think of a couple more deserving of a happily-ever-after. So-" It's louder than perhaps he meant to be, almost sending his glass flying as he reaches for it with unusual inelegance. "-I'd like to make a toast. Not to the bride and groom, but to family."
"To family."
Shane finds his own throat is tight as he echoes the toast alongside the gathered guests. He isn't the only one; Kelly's eyes are glistening as she takes a large swig of her wine, cursing a little as drips fall on her navy gown, and Shane catches Cam subtly trying to wipe his eyes under his glasses. Dustin slides his boyfriend a napkin; the Samurai scowls, but accepts it.
At the top table, Tori and Blake are on their feet, both hugging Hunter tightly. The bride is laughing, yet patting dampness off her cheeks as she says, "I'm not sure how we can top that speech. Dammit, Hunter, I've managed not to cry all day. Thank you." She turns to the wider room, drawing the guests' attention to her. "And thank you everyone for coming. I can't quite believe this day has finally happened…"
At her back Shane can see the brothers speaking quietly; Blake's hands clutching at the sleeves of Hunter's jacket and unmistakable tears shimmering under the canopy of fairy lights strung across the ceiling. He pulls his focus onto Tori, standing calm and confident under the combined gaze of the room, and allows the Bradleys their privacy.
Not long after Tori finishes her thank yous, Shane finds himself leaning against a pillar, watching the couple take to the floor for their first dance; the assembled guests pressing around the edges to get a view of the tradition. With the pillar at his back, and Cam and Dustin carefully — subtly, or so they probably think — blocking people from getting too close, providing him with a small pocket of space, Shane, for once, doesn't mind the crowds.
Love is the answer
At least for most of the questions in my heart…
Tori is dazzling; the pearls strewn in her hair catching the light as Blake twirls her across the floor, tanned skin glowing against pale silk, her dress spinning out in graceful waves around her legs. She moves with the ease of a dancer; a poise and an elegance Shane's always known she possessed but never really displayed until now.
The eyes of the whole room are on her.
She only has eyes for her husband.
…Like: "Why are we here?", and "Where do we go?"
And "How come it's so hard?"…
Blake is equally as enamoured; the younger Bradley seeming unable to stop smiling as his hands settle at her hips, Tori's arms coming up to circle his neck and he whispers something in her ear. Something which causes her to throw her head back with laughter, a wicked grin distracting from the formality of the event, but it's pure Blake and Tori.
The racer is moving with a lightness too. A bit less natural, more practiced grace than his partner, but with rhythm and competence nonetheless. Shane suspects he's had a dance lesson or two in preparation, but it's paid off as Blake confidently leads Tori across the floor.
…It's not always easy,
And sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing:
It's always better when we're together…
Shane can see Blake's lips mouthing along to the song, his bride pressing closer, her head tucked under his chin, looking for the whole world as if they've forgotten everyone else's existence.
They probably have.
It's intimate, deeply personal, and Shane finds himself studying instead the faces of the other guests to try and give the couple a moment to themselves. It's a silly, empty gesture, but he does it regardless. Hunter was right; they deserve this.
It's always better when we're together
Yeah, we'll look at the stars when we're together.
When Shane can bring his gaze back to the dancefloor, it's to see Blake spinning Tori out and away, towards his brother; the blonde catching Hunter's hands and drawing him into the middle of the room. He follows her with an unexpected willingness, no hesitation visible to Shane. Blake is leading Tori's mother onto the floor; Marie Hanson resplendent in a navy blue two-piece, laughing at her son-in-law with a fondness that has clearly been earned over the many years of her daughter's relationship with him. It's casual, easy, familial.
As it is with Tori and Hunter. He's holding her carefully, as she was some gossamer creature that he could damage if he wasn't careful. Shane doesn't blame him; he's never see Tori look like this either. But his smile is genuine, shoulders relaxed despite the watching eyes and he too has a rhythm and natural ease of movement that Shane hadn't expected from the older Bradley.
They'd never gone dancing.
Tori is speaking now. The air ninja is too far away to catch the words and he wouldn't intrude even if he could. Whatever it is, it means something to Hunter because his smile is soft and yet tinged with something else; a brightness in his eyes that's more than the reflected glow of the lights. A solemness, a joy, and a sorrow.
They pause, oblivious to the music, oblivious to the watching guests. A moment of stillness broken by Tori stretching up on tiptoes to press a quick, chaste kiss to Hunter's cheek, her hand following to wipe away any stain her lipstick may have left.
And then Hunter's passing Tori to her father; the rest of the wedding guests taking that as the signal to join the happy couple on the dancefloor and Shane loses sight of them all — of Hunter — in the throng. Dustin is already tugging Cam forward; the brunette giving Shane a wink as he slides his arms around the Samurai's waist, encouraging his boyfriend to sway in time to the music. Cam's lack of dancing ability is notorious and he shoots Shane a long-suffering look over Dustin's shoulder as they move in a slow circle. But when he turns back to the earth ninja, there's nothing but adoration on his face.
Shane allows his gaze to wander aimlessly. Definitely aimlessly. He's not looking for anyone in particular; his focus moves over Tori's parents, now dancing together, to Blake's- the Bradleys' motocross friends drinking beers and looking like they're about to harangue the DJ to change the tempo, to- There; he catches sight of a tall figure slipping out of the panelled glass doors that he knows from earlier exploration lead onto a terrace.
But his attention is pulled away by a rustle beside him and he turns to see Tori, a rueful smile gracing her face as she shrugs at him.
"This dress has too much material for ninja stealth," she laughs, holding the white silk out to the side.
"You look beautiful."
"You've said."
Shane shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck as he answers, "Well? It's true."
Tori is practically glowing, an inner light radiating from her as her happiness shines through. His smile comes quickly, unable to help but share in her joy. The bride takes his hands in hers, in what Shane assumes is just meant to be a reassuring gesture, but before he realises what's happening, Tori has him out on the dancefloor.
Pin pricks instantly run across his skin; his pulse picking up the beat as the first spike of adrenaline hits. It's too exposed out here; too public. There could be snipers anywhere, behind the pillars-
"Hey." Tori's whisper cuts through his thoughts, dampening the rising panic. "Breathe. It's okay, Shane. I've got you. You're safe." She guides his hands to her waist. "Focus on me and the music; we're all that matters."
The dress is smooth under his palms, the blonde's own hands coming to rest lightly on his shoulders, the smell of her perfume light and sweet. He does what she tells him to; focuses on her, looking into her eyes, bright and clear, a smudge of mascara at the corners which recalls her earlier tears.
"The speeches were good," he tells her, gently using his thumb to wipe away the black. He pauses, knowing the surprise is clear in his voice but unsure how to proceed.
"Blake told him he didn't need to do it." Tori takes pity on him, not even pretending to misunderstand. "But you know Hunter. Declared it was all down to Blake not wanting his brother to embarrass him and if he didn't let him do it he would find another way. I believe the words 'slide show' and 'public humiliation' were used." Tori's smile turns fond. "I knew he was nervous. He ran some of the stories past me — for reassurance, I guess — but that last bit?" She swallows. "That was all Hunter."
"You okay?"
"Yeah." She gives him a too-wide grin. "It was unexpected, that's all. I didn't think he'd get so… sentimental on us." She snorts. "Not in front of a crowd, at any rate."
So honest, is what Shane suspects she really means. He'd believed her — kind of — when she'd said Hunter had changed. But it's one thing trusting someone else's word and another to actually witness it. Seeing Hunter so vulnerable- seeing him make himself deliberately vulnerable, in front of a crowd of friends and strangers alike… If Shane had been waiting on a demonstration of the seismic shift his ex-boyfriend had undergone in his absence, there couldn't have anything clearer. He wants to apologise to her; he wants to say she was right, that he can see it now. But this isn't the time or the place. Besides, Tori probably already knows.
Instead he murmurs, "It was perfect. You and Blake… you deserve this, Tor. You guys are owed some happiness."
A flicker of surprise darts across her face, as if she'd been anticipating something else from him, and then she's shaking her head. "Don't you start, Shane Clarke. Or you'll make me cry again. So you know," she adds, a fierce light rising within her. "This doesn't change anything between us. Blake and I being married, I mean. You're still my brother. Still family. And we will always be here for you." She taps a fingertip against his nose. "I will always be here for you. I told Hunter the same and I mean it."
Unbidden, Shane glances over Tori's shoulder, out to where he can just about see the blond in question standing on the terrance.
Tori twists, her own gaze following the line of his. When she speaks, her voice is soft; a knowingness, an understanding flowing beneath the surface surety of her smile. "You should speak to him."
Shane shakes his head, dragging his focus back onto his sister. "No, I shouldn't."
Some things can't be unsaid.
She doesn't press it, just draws him close; her head leaning against his chest as they sway gently in time to the music.
"It's funny," Tori mumbles, pushing back so she can look up at him. "People keep saying I'm a bit young for this- getting married. We're only twenty-six after all. But I don't feel twenty-six. After everything we went through when we were seventeen…" She shakes her head, the smile still lingering on her lips, expression almost wistful. "We went through so much together, the six of us. Something only we share — that only we know. That experience… it forged something much deeper than friendship. At least, that's what I always thought." Her voice is a breath against his cheek, almost lost beneath the music. "We were so close once. All of us. It seems a shame to lose what was once really precious, just because we couldn't acknowledge what it meant at the time."
"Tori-" Shane's own whisper cracks and her hand tightens on his bicep.
"May I steal my wife away?" Blake is beside them, black hair cut short, smart in his grey suit.
Shane forces a smile, gently taking Tori's hand from his arm and backing away with a little bow. "Of course. Congratulations again, bro."
Blake's grin is wide and easy, navy tie hanging loose but not yet discarded as he pulls Tori into his arms. The blonde looks back at Shane, brow furrowed and unspoken words left hanging.
"Go enjoy your wedding," Shane tells them firmly, melting back into the crowd and finding his safe spot against the pillar, content to watch the ebb and flow of the guests as they move in time to the music. And yet he keeps finding his gaze drifting to the broad-shouldered man leaning against the balcony edge, still alone.
He gives himself a firm shake and turns away, choosing to head for the bar conveniently located in the opposite direction.
"What can I get you?" The bartender is about Shane's age, cute with a practiced, customer-service smile; politely professional without being overly-friendly.
"You have any alcohol-free beer?"
"Sure do." The man is already moving, twisting the cap off a bottle and sliding it over the bar almost before Shane is finished speaking. "Y'know," he adds, "you're in luck. We don't normally stock this, but the bride and groom asked specially."
Shane smiles. Bless Tori and Blake; they'd thought of everything.
"Can I get you anything else?"
"Nah." Shane pulls some dollar bills from his pocket, but the barman waves him off.
"Open bar, dude." He winks, just as there's a burst of raucous noise from the direction of the dancefloor. Shane doesn't need to look to know the originators; the Factory Blue guys clearly already having taken advantage of the free alcohol.
Shane drops a twenty in the tip jar instead. "For what you might have to put up with later."
That earns a proper laugh from the man, a thawing of the cool professionalism and perhaps a hint of interest, but Shane's focus has strayed again to the glass-panelled doors, just visible across the room, glimpsed through the pulsing, rhythmic bodies.
"Hey-" Shane makes a decision, gesturing with his bottle. "Can I get another one of these?"
A.N. Blake and Tori's wedding song is of course Jack Johnson's gorgeous "Better Together".