It was a day he had been dreading since they graduated.
A day that everyone else had been looking forward to with bright eyes and excited whispers.
Did he really have to be here? Couldn't he just send a gift through the mail and say he had work or something?
No, he couldn't, he had already promised her he would be there, and he always kept his promises to her.
With a sigh he stepped out of his car, straightening the black suit jacket while looking down at the white button up; making sure none of the whiskey from his flask had spilt on him before heading towards the church.
"Hey Sun!" Yang cheerily waved at him as he walked to the entrance, she was dressed in one of the bridesmaids outfits, a soft purple sleeveless dress with her hair done up. She looked as good as she usually did.
"What's up Yang." he said with an easy smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, 'So, big day, how's she handling it?"
Yang rolled her eyes, "about as well as she usually handles stress, she's running Ruby ragged right now."
"Classic Ice Queen." Sun chortled as he looked around the church. It was mostly full. Friends from high school he hadn't seen in years were quietly conversing while the family was talking amicably in the back.
"Are you okay Sun?" Yang asked, catching his attention again.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, totally." he said with another worn smile, "just uh...tired…"
"Whiskey can do that to you." Yang said pointedly, making Sun shift slightly.
"That obvious huh?" he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"You don't miss that smell after growing up with an uncle like mine." she said matter of factly, "why are you doing this to yourself?"
He shrugged, refusing to meet her eyes, "I promised her I'd be here." he mumbled.
"Sun." Yang said, putting a hand on his shoulder and making him look at her, "you don't need to torture yourself like this-"
"-i'm fine Yang," he said dismissively, stepping back, "honest...i'm gonna go find a seat."
He moved off before she could say anything else. Heading towards the gift table as memories flash through his mind.
They were five when they first met, a small monkey faunus street rat and the daughter of the town mayor. They didn't care about those labels, they became fast friends simply because they were the only two at the park; chasing each other with shrieking laughter, chattering about anything and everything.
"One day i'm gonna have a huuuuge wedding!" she had exclaimed as they played house, "and I'm gonna be all dressed up as a princess!"
Sun sighed as he stopped at the table, looking at a picture of Weiss and Henry, the two had been together since their senior year of high school; the star couple that everyone wanted to be.
"Sun?"
Once again Sun turned around, smiling tightly as his best friend walked up, giving him a fist bump, "dude, I didn't think you'd show." Neptune said quietly, looking about as if nervous.
"I told her I would." he said simply.
"Well yeah, I know, but you know how Henry is-"
"-i don't give a fuck about Henry." Sun said, any attempts at his false cheer gone as he frowned at his friend. "I'm here for Weiss, no one else."
"Look man I get it," Neptune said quickly, hands held up in a placating gesture, "Just...don't be surprised if Marigold tries to start something."
"At this point i'd welcome it." he muttered, discreetly pulling his flask out and taking a hit.
"Dude come on, really?"
"Yeah, really." Sun retorted, holding the flask out to him.
"...i'm only doing it in solidarity." Neptune said, taking the flask and taking a pull, "Pyrrha would kill me if she knew."
"Then don't let her find out." he said with a chuckle, watching as another familiar face walked in from the back, a bridesmaid behind them fixing their skirt, their eyes met and Sun had to fight the urge to frown as Henry Marigold walked towards them.
"Good game out there Sun!" Weiss cheered for her friend as he ran off the sidelines, leaning against the fence to stare down at the star running back.
"You know how I do Weiss-cream." he said with a teasing grin as she rolled her eyes.
"Whatever you say monkey-boy." she scoffed, her smile returning full force as the quarterback ran over, jumping up to the top of the fence and capturing her lips.
Sun looked away, doing his best to hide any disappointment and jealousy.
"Hey babe." Henry said with a megawatt smile.
"Hey," she returned with a slightly goofy smile, "good game tonight."
"We'd have been lost without me." Henry boasted while Sun snorted, "you got something to say Wukong?" he asked, glaring at the faunus boy, who just stared him down until he cracked a grin.
"Yeah, we got an hour until curfew so let's go celebrate!"
"Wukong." Henry greeted him curtly, walking up to the two guys, hands in his pocket and a glare fixed on the faunus.
"Marigold." Sun returned, "how are you on this fine sunday evening?"
"Good, until I saw you." he said, leaning in and whispering, "did you forget what we talked about before?"
"Weiss wanted me here." Sun said in a way of answer, "so I'm here...wasn't that Ciel?" he asked, eyes going to the bridesmaid.
"Yeah, so?"
"Just surprised, haven't seen her since junior year." Sun said, looking at Neptune, "didn't know she and Weiss were close enough to have her as a bridesmaid."
"She's an old family friend." Henry said pointedly.
"Imagine that." Sun drawled as Neptune snickered.
"Do you have something to say Wukong?" Henry asked, his jaw clenching.
Sun went to take a step forward, only to stop as Neptune put a hand up.
"We're just happy for the two of you." Neptune said easily, "it's not every day two people so...devoted and faithful to each other get married."
Henry's eye twitched, "just don't do anything stupid." he said to them, walking away.
"Most of the stupid is going with you so I think we'll be fine!" Neptune called after him, making a few nearby people chuckle.
Sun cracked a smile, but felt a stifling pressure on his chest, "I'm...gonna take a walk outside." he muttered, moving away from Neptune, who watched him go with a sad frown.
Sun took a deep breath as he stepped outside into the garden, hands in his pockets as he looked up at the apple trees in full bloom.
"I missed this."
Sun looked up and smiled at Weiss, the two were in their favorite diner, hanging out for the first time since school had started. "We don't have a lot of time to hang out anymore." she said, leaning forward, giving him a pouty frown.
"You know I'm always down to hang out." he said with a grin, "just gotta call me."
"I know...but Henry's been acting weird lately and I'd really rather not upset him."
Sun's smile became slightly strained, "I still think he's an asshole." he said.
"You think all of my boyfriends were assholes." she said with an eye roll.
"And I was right." he said smugly as she laughed, kicking his foot under the table, which began a small war that had them laughing side by side in the same booth.
For a moment they were silent, both a few inches from each other, "Sun…" Weiss whispered.
"Yeah?" he asked, slowly leaning forward.
"I…"
"Sup losers!" Neptune exclaimed, suddenly jumping over the booth and sitting down, instantly the two were separated and looking anywhere but each other, "what did I miss?" Neptune asked obliviously.
Sun ran a hand through his hair, "what am I doing?" he muttered to himself.
"I'm wondering the same thing…"
Sun stiffened, slowly turning around and finding Weiss behind him.
She was beautiful, in a dress that complimented her curves, her hair hanging down past her waist in curls. "Weiss…" Sun breathed, "you...you look beautiful."
She blushed and looked away, "thank you…" She said softly, before looking back at him, "what are you doing outside? I'd have thought you'd be inside finding a seat."
"Yeah I uh...needed some air." he said with a tired chuckle, "what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be in the antechamber driving Ruby crazy?"
Weiss laughed at that and Sun relaxed, "I think If i had stayed in there then Ruby would be murdering me."
"Well we're already at a church, just gotta change the decorations a bit." he drawled, grinning when the comment brought on more giggles.
"I'm glad you're here Sun." she said, stepping forward and giving him a hug, which he gladly returned, "I was worried you weren't gonna show."
Sun pulled away from her, keeping his smile in place, "I wouldn't miss this for the world Weiss...you're my best friend."
"Then...then why haven't you been around?" she asked hesitantly, confusion evident in her eyes as she stared at her, "you...just cut me off one day. And no one could explain it…"
Sun's smile fell, "I...there was a lot going on." he coughed, "but I'm here now…"
Her smile returned, "I could always count on you when I needed you most huh?"
"Yeah...always."
"Weiss! Lets go!" Ruby called from the door, making the heiress turn around.
"I'll be right there!" she called back, looking at Sun with a put upon sigh, "duty calls." she said,
"Yeah...hey Weiss…" Sun started, hesitating as Weiss stopped and looked at him.
"Yes?"
"I...uh…" he sighed, looking down as he gives her a rueful smile, "I really do think you're beautiful...congratulations."
She smiled, "thank you Sun...I'll see you inside."
Sun watched her leave, his heart heavy as he pulled the flask out again, finishing it's contents, 'No...you won't." he sighed, walking to the side gate, pulling his tie off as he went. "I'm sorry…"
"You really think she'd be with you?" Henry asked, glaring at Sun who he had pinned against the wall, "you think her dad would let that happen? You're a street rat with nothing going for him, I have a name, a position! She'd at least be taken care of with me-"
"-while you're out screwin' the whole town right?" Sun spat, pushing him away.
"And what about with you? Her father would disown her as soon as you take her on a date." Henry sneered, "no money, no job, she'd grow to resent you."
Sun clenched his fists, "I'd do everything I could to keep her happy." he said firmly.
"Then let her go, because holding onto her like this? It's not doing her any favors."
Sun slowly walked into the diner, looking at the faded sign and the old cook who was busily making orders.
"Take a seat anywhere!" the waitress called, not looking up from her phone as he walked passed, "I'll be with you in a minute."
Sun just nodded and sat down in his regular booth, ordering a simple cup of coffee when the waitress came. His phone pinged repeatedly as Neptune tried to find out where he was; so he turned it off and poured some whiskey into the coffee when it got there.
"Here's to being an idiot." he said softly to himself, fake raising a toast before drinking the cup. "Almost two decades in the running…"
He stayed at the diner, simply getting refills on his coffee for the rest of the evening, not moving even as the sun set and clouds rolled in. dropping a steady shower of rain on his small hometown.
"Hey, we're closing up soon." the cook called to him from the register.
"Alright," Sun slurred, standing up and placing a wad of bills on the table, "keep the change." he mumbled, walking out of the diner, he stopped short when he found himself staring at a crying Weiss, standing alone in the middle of the rain soaked street.
"Weiss?" he asked, looking back at the diner, then to her, hair damp and limp, make-up non-existent, and her small frame shaking from the cold of the rain. "What are you doing here?"
"Do you love me?" she asked, making Sun freeze, "do you love me? Or was Neptune lying?"
"Neptune...what happened? Weiss you're soaked, we need to get you out of the rain-"
"Not until you answer me." she demanded, wiping her tears away, "I've been looking for you since… since we talked outside the church and you weren't in the pews, and then Neptune couldn't reach you and…" she trailed off as Sun reached her, his arms going around her, "Neptune objected." she whispered against his chest, "he stood up and objected and...and said that Henry had been cheating on me and...and I wasn't mad at him...I was relieved that I didn't have to marry Henry I..."
"It's okay Weiss." he said softly, slowly guiding her back towards his car, "you don't have to say anything-'
"But I want to-" she exclaimed, pushing him back a bit so she could look at him, "I need to know if what Neptune said about you was true…"
"What did he say?" Sun asked, his heart catching in his throat.
"He said you've loved me since we were kids." she whispered, "that you...that you used to tell him all the time that you would marry me someday that...that you never asked me out because of my dad…" she clenched her fist against his chest, "I never cared about what he had to say about my life, you knew that so why...why did you never tell me!?"
"Weiss I...I'm...I have nothing for you," he began, "all I have is wise cracks and a smile I...I've loved you for our entire lives, I would do anything for you...even if it means I can't be with you-"
"-but I can't have that." she sobbed, hitting her fist against his chest, "-i can't just not have you in my life! You stupid, stupid, idiot!"
Despite the situation, Sun began to laugh, for a while Weiss glared up at him before she too began to giggle, resting her forehead against his chest as he put his arms around her. Neither caring anymore about the rain or the cold that came with it.