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“Shouta, if your mother looks at me like that once more, I think I’m going to combust.”
The whisper barely startled him awake, despite how panicked it was. What properly helped him out of his drowsiness, was Hizashi’s hand on his shoulder, shaking him awake and the warmth of that hand spreading from his shoulder, all over his body. Hizashi had that power on him, to always make him feel warm, to always make him feel something others couldn’t.
They had been best friends for fifteen years, now, after all. It was the kind of things that stuck.
The fact Hizashi still was afraid of his mother after all that time wasn’t a surprise, though. Hizashi had been terrified of her from day one, when he had met her one day the blond had come so they could do homework together. She had, as Hizashi kept saying, given him the scariest shovel talk ever, stating that if he ever hurt Shouta, one way or another, she’d have his skin. Shouta knew she had been joking, though he did have doubts sometimes because she had never acted like this with anyone else before, not even Nemuri and Oboro, a few weeks later when they too had come for a group homework session. Only with Hizashi. But Hizashi, despite the harsh warning, had stuck for all these years and it was rare when they didn’t do something together.
Like today, for example. They were at a wedding, one of Shouta’s distant cousin’s that he hadn’t seen in a decade and Shouta had asked Hizashi to be his plus one. Hizashi loved weddings, so he had immediately said yes.
On his hand, Shouta hated weddings, so he had immediately started falling asleep when the ceremony had begun earlier, though from his seat at the back of the room, it had been discreet enough, and Hizashi had promised to cover it up if he started to snore.
His mother, on the other hand, wasn’t pleased with the fact apparently and Shouta couldn’t blame her. But he couldn’t help having a hard time keeping awake, considering how long this was. There was a reason why he didn’t like weddings, after all, and falling asleep was easier to deal with.
It didn’t mean she was going to allow him to, hence why she kept glaring at Hizashi for him to keep Shouta awake.
“You’ll be fine,” Shouta waved a hand around, forcing an eye open and groaning as he was forcing himself to sit up. The ceremony had passed, the speeches too. They were in the middle of dinner now, waiting for the cake to come while the bridesmaids were showing the powerpoint presentation they had made about the newlyweds. No one could blame him for falling asleep during such a cringe worthy moment.
“If I ever get married,” he articulated next, rubbing his face then leaning on his hand, his elbow on the table, “You have to promise to never make a powerpoint presentation. And banish anyone who even thinks about making one.”
“Deal,” Hizashi grimaced, glancing towards the stage where the bridesmaids were laughing about some inside joke no one else but them and the bride could understand. Gods, he loved weddings but this one was awkward as fuck. “Same for you. No powerpoint presentation. And no one who’s had more than two drinks allowed to give a speech.”
“Why would you even remind me of the speeches,” Shouta whined, closing his eyes and shaking his head. The best man hadn’t managed to force two words out of his mouth. Apparently he had drunk some shots for courage and had ended not only without courage, but also too drunk to put a whole sentence together, bawling his eyes out instead. It had been terrible.
Hizashi hummed, by his side and Shouta glanced at him.
Now, it wasn’t exactly new to him, that Hizashi was a gorgeous man. Hell, Shouta had witnessed him go from awkward nerd to handsome smarty, when puberty had hit him hard some time after they had met. With his luscious blond hair, his sparkling green eyes, a body to die for and his bubbly personality, Hizashi was amazing, all in all. Amazing and brilliant and kind and the greatest friend Shouta could have ever asked for. Always answering the phone when Shouta called, no matter the hour and it had taken time for Shouta to even dare, feeling like he’d bother the blond if he called too late. Answering his texts easily, knowing which mood he was in just analyzing his punctuation and how many words he had indeed used to begin with. When they met, Hizashi usually only needed one overall glance to know what would come next, if they’d have a night in or if Shouta was motivated enough to go out.
Things were easy, with Hizashi, because Hizashi had learned to read him so perfectly that Shouta didn’t have to force himself out of the shell he had remained in his whole life. And it didn’t mean he didn’t do anything in return, hell he’d die for the man, and twice at that. His gestures only were more discreet, less grand and yet, Hizashi accepted them like they were to be treasured anyways.
Hizashi hadn’t hesitated a second, when Shouta had asked him to accompany him. And Shouta was glad the blond was around.
Now, despite having known each other for so long, it wasn’t often they’d see each other all dressed up the way they were tonight. He knew Hizashi owned way too many clothes and had to dress up sometimes for whatever reason. Hizashi might have talked about it before but Shouta had forgotten. But it meant Hizashi owned many suits and did they suit him well. It was amazing how the right color (dark teal blue tonight), the right fit, the right accessories brought his frame out so nicely. His hair had been pulled into a half-bun, the same kind as Shouta’s, though his hair was much shorter. He was wearing his darker pair of glasses, the bright red ones might have been too flashy for tonight.
Hizashi belonged on the front pages of fashion magazines. He did and Shouta had been saying so for a long time, by now.
Shouta hadn’t been able to stop staring since the moment he had picked his friend up on the way to the wedding. He hadn’t commented, though, but Hizashi had.
“Gosh, Shouta, look how gorgeous you are !” Hizashi had exclaimed, seconds after he had opened the door, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. “Fuck, I wasn’t ready for that ! Is that suit yours !? Please tell me you’re keeping it !”
Shouta wasn’t, he was renting the thing because it’d be no use to him, to buy a suit for just one day. His job as a teacher didn’t exactly ask him to wear suits, he was far more comfortable wearing dark jeans and sweaters.
This, though, probably was the first time they’d spend time together all dressed up. Hizashi had insisted that, for the occasion, they’d pose together for the wedding’s photographer, asking the woman to send him the pictures and giving him a good tip for the trouble after the shot had been taken. None of them had seen it, as the woman had been called by the bride a couple of seconds later but Shouta wasn’t sure it’d look as good as Hizashi said it would. They had simply stood under one of the trees in the barn’s park where the wedding took place, the sun already setting. Surely, it’d look atrocious and they’d spent the next ten years laughing at how bad an idea it had been to begin with.
“Sho ?”
Shouta startled out of his thoughts, as Hizashi called his name again, pushing a stray strand off his forehead and giving him an unsure smile.
“Wear that suit, when you get married.” No if, when, Shouta made sure to say, knowing full well his friend would get married, someday and would make someone very, very happy. “You look good in it.”
“Sure,” Hizashi laughed. He didn’t argue, didn’t hint that it was a weird thing to say. Shouta nodded to himself. “You'll have to wear colors, then. I want you to stand out a little, that day.”
Shouta rolled his eyes.
“I’m serious ! Doesn’t have to be a bright red suit ! Here, look !” Hizashi grabbed the vase full of flowers at the center of their table, ignoring the curious looks he received from the guests sharing said table with them. Shouta had almost forgotten they weren’t alone at that table. Ah well ..
Hizashi didn’t hesitate, when he pulled the best looking flowers in the vase, a couple of red roses along with small green leaves, he arranged them, using a hair tie he retrieved from his pocket to keep it together and slipped his creation in Shouta’s chest pocket. It didn’t look too bad and did stand out against the black jacket.
“See ? Looks great.”
“It does,” Shouta conceded, with a short nod.
“Maybe I could just make it for you, that day,” Hizashi mused, a soft smile on the lips and his eyes locked on his creation. “Though the florist might make it look way better than I can manage.”
Shouta glanced at his friend, the side of his lips pushing up. “I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t like the way they’d arrange it.”
“Huh ?”
“You’re .. You’d be a bridezilla.”
Hizashi laughed so hard that a few heads turned their way. He didn’t care until Shouta’s mother glared at him and he was quick to shrink in his chair again, looking sheepish and hiding his mouth behind his hand.
“Seriously Sho ? Me ? A bridezilla ?”
Shouta nodded slowly. It wasn’t enough of an answer, though because Hizashi was staring at him expectantly and Shouta sighed. “You always have high expectations in everything you do. It already was like that, back at school, you couldn’t bear for things not to be perfect and you haven’t changed a bit on that matter.”
“I don’t see how that’s an issue,” Hizashi huffed though his smile was bright and amused.
“It’s not,” Shouta admitted in a shrug. It was how Hizashi was. Maniacal, sometimes, when something passionated him. One only had to see him work or create to know. It was how he functionned. “But organizing a wedding would force you to work with so many people and you’d need to control things to feel comfortable. Hence, bridezilla.”
Hizashi resumed laughing, though it was very much more controlled now. At least, no more head turned to them, which was good, he guessed. Shouta didn’t like that kind of attention.
It took a moment for Hizashi to finally calm down and sigh, a big smile on the lips. His eyes were bright with happy tears and he didn’t look the slightest offended with the claim, nor did it seem like he was going to argue against it. On the contrary, he shrugged, eventually.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he admitted, glancing at him, smiling. “If I were to marry a guy I’d love with all I have, I’d want it all to be perfect.”
“I’ll have to endure one big wedding when it happens, right ?”
His deadpan had Hizashi’s smile widden so much that Shouta could almost count all his teeth. Almost.
“I didn’t say I’d want a big wedding,” Hizashi pointed out. “And I sure wouldn’t have someone I’d love so much to endure that if they didn’t like it. But it doesn’t mean a small wedding can’t be worth remembering either.”
Shouta hummed softly, not entirely sure Hizashi would settle for a small thing. Hizashi caught his thoughts immediately.
“What, you don’t believe me ?” he chuckled, looking around and shifting his seat closer. “Alright, ask me what I’d want then.”
Shouta sighed. He did believe Hizashi, because he knew Hizashi would never lie to him. But this felt more like Hizashi actually wanting to discuss the subject to begin with and Shouta always, always indulged him when it felt like that.
“Where would it happen ?”
“In a park,” Hizashi was quick to answer. “Under a tree like the one from the picture earlier. Some fairy lights, some candles too, maybe. I’d wear this suit, as you asked, though I’d look amazing in a wedding dress.”
“You would,” Shouta muttered, easily imagining it. Hizashi loved to wear dresses, from times to times. He looked great in them.
“Maybe I could buy an evening dress for after the ceremony then. So, yes, under a tree. Not too many people like, close family, close friends. No work colleagues, they’re the worst.”
Shouta automatically nodded.
“No written vows because they always suck and looking at each other’s eyes would be enough anyways. Holding hands. Making out when the officer would say “husband and husband”.”
Shouta snorted. “Then, the party ?”
“Yeah,” Hizashi breathed out. “No posing for pictures because they never look natural.”
“You made me pose for a picture just an hour ago.”
“Hush, you’re not supposed to point out the plot holes,” Hizashi snorted. “I’m a bridezilla, remember ? If you piss me off, I’ll go rampage.”
Shouta rolled his eyes. “Alright, no posing. We already said no powerpoint presentation. Does it include movies ?”
“Yup, there’re just too cringy,” Hizashi grimaced. “No speech if the person has had more than two drinks. And no more than two speeches because who cares about them anyways ?”
Shouta sure didn’t. “Food ?”
“Fuck yes !” Hizashi laughed. “Amazing food. The greatest food ever !”
“A DJ or a band ?”
That had Hizashi freeze and his eyes widened. “Oh fuck .. Can I have both ?”
“For a small wedding ?”
The blond’s lips opened and closed several times, like a fish out of water. Then he emitted a distressed whine. “I don’t know … I can’t .. decide ? I’m a DJ ! I love DJ’s !”
“You’re also in a band,” Shouta pointed out, amused with his friend’s obvious inner debate.
“Well thanks for that, I won’t sleep for two weeks now !”
Shouta snickered. Then he cleared his throat. “First dance ?”
“Easy,” Hizashi waved a hand, his previous turmoil already forgotten. “‘Unchained Melody’, by the Righteous Brothers.”
Shouta blinked, unsure. He glanced up at Hizashi, because he didn’t know the song and Hizashi cleared his throat, leaning a bit closer, as if they weren’t close enough already, started singing the lyrics into his ear, from what he assumed was the chorus.
“Woah, my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch, a long, lonely time, and time goes by so slowly and time can do so much, are you still mine? I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me ...”
Shouta shivered so hard, goosebump breaking on his arms as Hizashi continued the tune, humming the melody. He wasn’t sure what the lyrics meant, his english wasn’t as good as Hizashi’s but the way Hizashi had sung, the longing in his voice, it had taken him to the guts, twisting and releasing and twisting again.
Also, he had known that Hizashi sang well, it never was a secret but .. wow.
“I think I’d spend the whole night slow dancing with my husband,” Hizashi whispered after a pause, still close, still leaning to him. “Hell, I think I’d want a DJ just to make sure we’d dance to the original recordings of the songs, they always sound so good.”
Shouta forced himself to nod, clearing his throat, pulling on his collar because it was hot here, wasn’t it ? Hizashi didn’t move away, and their shoulders were touching now.
“What if he doesn’t like dancing ?”
Hizashi snorted. “I won’t marry a guy that won’t dance with me at our wedding.”
“Bridezilla.”
Hizashi laughed, Shouta smiled and the tension he wasn’t sure had originated from before dissipated. It allowed him to breath and he sipped at his glass of water to give himself the time to think about the next question.
“Cake ?”
“The biggest, most amazing cake ever !”
Shouta rolled his eyes. “Small wedding,” he reminded his friend.
“Small wedding, big cake ! I don’t make the rules !”
“That’s not a rule,” Shouta turned to Hizashi, shaking his head. “I don’t know much about weddings but this sure isn’t a rule.”
“Wouldn’t you want to stuff your face with cake ?”
“That doesn’t count,” Shouta stated in a huff. “You can’t have a huge cake for a few people, it’ll just go in the trash at the end of the party.”
“What if the guests go home with slices of cake as a ‘thank you for coming’ gift ?”
Shouta frowned. “Okay but ..”
“Checkmate,” Hizashi said, as if it was enough of a reason. Shouta shook his head. “You don’t want cake ? Well that’d make it more cake for other people.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want cake,” Shouta poked at Hizashi’s side, the way he often did when Hizashi said something to tease him. “Don’t take my cake away.”
Hizashi’s smile turned soft. “Alright. I’ll make sure you receive a ton of cake. Starting now !”
Before Shouta could react, Hizashi was getting out of his chair, heading for the cake, apparently. Oh, with their talking, they had missed the cake cutting and the “I’m going to smash cake into your face to make people laugh” part too.
“No smashing cake in the other’s face,” Shouta muttered when Hizashi returned with two dessert plates. The amount of cake in his was impressive. “What did you tell them ?”
“That you were low on sugar and needed more cake to make it through the rest of the night,” Hizashi said, shrugging as he sat again. “And I agree, no smashing cake in the face, it’s not funny and it makes such a mess. The bride had some in her earring and I don’t think anyone noticed. Just imagine how it’ll look in the picture.”
Shouta grimaced. Hizashi pulled his tongue out.
“Is that enough cake to satisfy your need for cake ?”
“It’ll tell you when I’ll be finished.”
It was. It definitely was, Shouta thought once he had cleaned the entire plate and maybe it was even a bit too much, as his belly ached a little with how full it was. He hadn’t wanted Hizashi to tease him about not being able to eat all of the cake, so he had just eaten it all. Hizashi had helped, though he had made it look so innocent, so Shouta wouldn’t feel bad or anything of the sort. Hizashi was like that. He always was like that.
“What about yours ?”
Shouta wasn’t sure what Hizashi was talking about. He frowned, focusing, feeling like Hizashi might have said something and Shouta might have missed it, but when nothing came back to him, he looked up at Hizashi in a confused manner.
“We spoke about what my wedding would look like,” Hizashi clarified. “What would yours be like ?”
Shouta blinked. He shrugged. “I don’t know. Never thought about it. Never had a reason to think about it.”
What he meant was that none of his exes really gave him a reason to think about marriage. They had been nice but nice wasn’t enough to marry someone, was it ? And they sure had felt the same toward him.
“Not even one idea ?”
Shouta shrugged again. “I like your ideas,” He admitted easily. “You could just organize it all for me and it’d be perfect. You know me.”
Logical and practical all at once.
“Yeah,” Hizashi breathed out, visibly deflating. “Yeah.”
Shouta stared at his friend for a long time, trying to understand why Hizashi looked so down, out of the blue. Surely, it wasn’t that important, right ? Also, Shouta wasn’t sure he wanted to get married to begin with. The only logical reason to get married, was for taxes and stuff, probably.
“I need a smoke,” Hizashi whispered, pulling his packet from his inside pocket and checking he had his light. “I’ll be right back.
With that, Hizashi left the barn, his head down and Shouta stared after him, his heart beating too hard against his chest.
That wasn’t like Hizashi. First because he loved weddings and despite how cringy this one was, he had waited all night to finally be able to go dancing and force Shouta to dance with him and the dancing was supposed to start soon. But, also, because when Hizashi had something to say, he usually didn’t hold back. There had been something he would have wanted to say, Shouta had seen it, he had felt it and yet, Hizashi hadn’t gone through with it. He had kept it all for himself and that was very unlike him.
It was why Shouta went after his friend. He didn’t care for the looks he received from the other guests at their table, didn’t care that, apparently, the first dance was happening and maybe it wasn’t the right time to be loud or anything. All he cared for was Hizashi and his wellbeing and he wasn’t going to sit back and wait for Hizashi to come back.
Hizashi was leaning against a tree. Their tree, the one they had posed under earlier and Shouta noticed him glance up then turn away, as if hinting at him that he really wanted to be left alone, but Shouta didn’t care. He approached anyway, he grabbed the side of Hizashi’s jacket when Hizashi looked like he was going to walk further away and he sighed.
“What did I say ?”
“Nothing,” Hizashi muttered, the cigarette between his lips, tensing as Shouta stood close. “It’s .. It’s got nothing to do with you.”
“Liar.”
Shouta might not be good at reading people, but he was good at reading Hizashi and he always knew when Hizashi was lying to him. And usually, when Hizashi did, it was so he could protect him.
“It’s got everything to do with you,” Hizashi corrected, though the words sounded strangled in his throat. “Doesn’t mean I wanna talk about it with you.”
That hit hard. Shouta’s lips parted, his stomach twisted and he almost stepped back. But he didn’t. Instead, he sighed.
“Tell me ?” he asked, in what he hoped was a soft tone. “Promise I won’t run if it’s cringy.”
Hizashi snorted but he faced him anyway. “Promise ? No matter what ?”
“Promise,” Shouta repeated with an assertive nod. It seemed to be enough for Hizashi, as he leaned against the trunk and pulled him closer. Shouta would have squirm a little, because Hizashi’s hands were on his hips and he was holding him close enough that he had to part his legs to allow Hizashi’s between them. But he knew what Hizashi was doing. He was holding him, to make sure he didn’t run away indeed.
“You said you never had any reason to think about getting married,” Hizashi said, his voice low, the words obviously difficult. “And you said you’d want me to organize it all anyways like you wouldn’t care.”
Shouta blinked. He wasn’t sure what Hizashi meant and Hizashi probably read that in him because he sighed, heavily.
“Shouta, I’ve been in love with you for the past fifteen years,” he admitted, “The wedding I spoke about is the one I’ve imagined if I ever married you. You’re the person I want to marry.”
That was another hit, but not the same kind as before, as Shouta’s breathing caught in his throat. His eyes widened as he stared at Hizashi, he could feel it and, at the same time, Hizashi’s hands tightened on him, to make sure he indeed didn’t run.
But this ? This ?
“Zashi …”
“Why do you think your mother gave me such a shovel talk the first time I ever met her ?” Hizashi snorted, looking away, shaking his head. “Gods, I must have been so obvious for her to see it right away and warn me like that ..”
“You love me.”
“I sure do,” Hizashi asserted and he pulled, settling his hands at the small of Shouta’s back, while Shouta wasn’t sure what to do with his. “I love you. Have loved you for fifteen years. Want to marry you and grow old with you. The whole package.”
For an instant, Shouta couldn’t breath. For an instant, it felt like he was asleep and his mind was being cruel again. Or, maybe, he was hallucinating and Hizashi wasn’t even here and he was talking to a tree. That could work too, right ? But the hands on his back felt so real, as well as the press of Hizashi’s thighs between his, the warmth, the tension. The expectation, as Hizashi was waiting for him to answer, one way or another and Shouta swallowed, lest he drooled all over himself.
“Let’s get married.”
It was Hizashi’s turn to be dumbfounded. “What ?”
“My cousin’s minister was invited to the party, I saw him sitting there,” Shouta waved a hand behind his head. “Let’s get him and get married. Tonight.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Hizashi straightened, blinking hard. “What the hell are you talking about ? You want to marry me ?”
“You’re the only guy I’d ever want to marry,” Shouta said, shrugging. Which was true. Who else but Hizashi ?
“That’s … Sho, that’s not what I want. I don’t want you to want me because you feel like you don’t have any other option,” Hizashi said, shaking his head. “You’re so amazing Sho. I know you don’t always realize it, you don’t always realize what a great person you are but it’s true. You’re amazing and gorgeous and kind and fair and any guy marrying you would be so lucky.”
“Then why are you arguing ? Let’s get married.”
“No,” Hizashi huffed, frowning now and looking almost angry. “That’s not what I want.”
“What do you want then ?”
“For you to be happy ! To find a guy that you’ll love like there’s no tomorrow, a guy whose smile you’ll worship and that will worship yours in return ! A guy that’ll make you feel at peace even when you have all the reasons not to! Someone you can trust and someone you can rely on and ..”
“Zashi,” Shouta interrupted, finally moving, now his body had absorbed the shock and he cupped Hizashi’s face between both his hands, pulled it closer, their nose touching, almost. “I’ve already found that guy and it is you.”
“Do you love me ?”
Shouta snorted but he didn’t answer with words. Instead, he pushed their lips together, his heart bursting in his chest as he did. Yes, he loved Hizashi, had for the longest time, never loved anyone the way he had loved Hizashi, never thinking Hizashi would ever love him back this way and, as Hizashi desperately moaned and kissed back, Shouta wrapped both arms around the blond’s neck, one hand buried in his hair, stopping him from ever pulling back.
“Let’s .. Let’s find the minister,” Hizashi croaked, his eyes attached to his, a thread of saliva linking their lips together. “Let’s get married.”
“You get the minister, I’ll get my mom.”
“Got it.”
The dancing had started for good now, apparently, when they came back inside the barn. Shouta was a little breathless, the two of them had rushed back in, as if eager to get married. Gods, should he be as eager as he was feeling at the moment ? He didn’t care to answer this question, feeling like this, anyways, was the best decision he’d ever taken his whole life and he beelined to this mother, where she was talking with an old aunt.
“Ma, can I grab you for a few minutes ?”
She looked at him, from head to toes, like she could read whatever he was thinking about but she grabbed his held-out hand, excused herself toward the aunt and cleared her throat.
“Are you saving me from that boring hag or is there something else ?”
“Something else,” Shouta admitted in a breath. He paused, as they approached the barn’s exit, wondering if he should tell her something, he turned to her. “You love me, right ?”
“Have I ever given you the slightest hint that I didn’t ?”
Shouta pinched his lips. “No.”
“You’re my son, Shouta, whatever you do, I’ll support, no matter how crazy.”
Shouta grimaced. “That’s a bit crazy though.”
“Am I dressed enough for it ?”
Shouta looked at her, from head to toes, nodding as he did. Her royal blue dress was perfect. She was perfect and he was glad she was his mother.
“Let’s go.”
She followed diligently to the tree. Hizashi wasn’t back yet, and Shouta couldn’t help but fidget as they waited, shooting quick glances to the barn, wondering what was taking so long. Or, maybe, it was normal it was taking so long. They kind of were hijacking a wedding, weren’t they ? Marriage proposals during a wedding already were a no-no. A wedding during a wedding party sure was over the top ! Also, the minister might just flatly refuse to marry them.
“Sho ?”
Shouta was about to turn to his mother, when the door opened and the minister walked out. Hizashi was nowhere to be seen, strangely enough and the man, somehow, had fairy lights in the hands and he silently put them up on the tree trunk, fixing them there with thumbtacks.
“Madam, if you’d like to join the groom back inside, he’s got something important to ask you,” the man said, addressing his mother. Shouta frowned, confused but his mother didn’t question, walking back inside.
The man had Shouta stand on the right, he adjusted the red roses in his pocket, smiled at him and nodded. Then he looked toward the barn and Shouta followed his gaze.
Hizashi, somehow, had made himself a bouquet of red roses and green leaves, the same ones composing the little touch of color at Shouta’s chest pocket. He was holding the bouquet in one hand, the other around his mother’s arm, waiting.
She was crying. She was and yet, she didn’t hesitate, when she looked up at Hizashi and they shared a silent look and she started to lead him toward the tree. She did hold a tissue to his eyes, to make sure her tears wouldn’t mess her makeup up but she was absolutely beaming at the same time.
Her smile, though, was nothing compared with Hizashi’s, for Hizashi’s was bright and unrestrained. He was looking the happiest he ever had, staring at Shouta like Shouta was one of the wonders of the world. Shouta was breathless under such a gaze and he did feel a pang in his chest, as he wondered if Hizashi had hurt as much as he did, to think his love wasn’t reciprocated for the past fifteen years, to watch him date and fall for others but it was quickly replaced by the idea that he was marrying his best friend tonight and it was the best thing that had ever happened in his life.
Gods, he loved Hizashi so much.
Hizashi soon was standing in front of him and he handed the bouquet to his mother to hold, only so he could grab Shouta’s both hands. Shouta shivered at the touch.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Hizashi whispered, his eyes landing on the roses in his pocket. “Nice touch of color.”
“Nice suit,” Shouta answered, squeezing Hizashi’s fingers a little. “The lights are pretty too.”
“Thanks. Stole them from the newlywed’s table.”
Shouta snorted. Hizashi offered him a crooked smile.
“I have one question before we begin,” the minister said and his smile was so sweet. “What name will you be taking ?”
Shouta looked back at Hizashi, who was looking at his mother.
“Well, if you allow me, I would love wearing Shouta’s name,” he told her with a smile.
“Of course you dork,” she laughed, and she cried a bit more. “I only wished your mother was around.”
“Ah fuck, yeah !”
It took around ten seconds for Hizashi to pull his phone out, video-call his mother.
“Hi sweetie !” she said, almost immediately, “Didn’t think you’d call tonight ! Aren’t you at the wedding with Sho ?”
“Yes, yes we are,” Hizashi answered and he turned the phone so they could see Shouta as well. Shouta waved with a soft smile. “Look, no time to explain but basically, I’m marrying Sho right now and I wanted you to see. We’ll have a party at some point, don’t worry about it, right !? Can you get everyone ?”
“Oh baby, finally,” she breathed out in relief. It made Shouta blush so hard he looked away. Then, she was yelling, calling Hizashi’s younger siblings names, both adopted and her own and Hizashi took the time to set the phone down on an abandoned table, angling it so they’d be able to watch the whole thing. He then returned to Shouta, offering him a soft smile.
“Small party, I promise.”
“Won’t be small if all your siblings are around,” he shrugged, grabbing Hizashi’s hands again. “Can’t wait to see them again.”
“Same,” Hizashi nodded slowly. “Alright, I think we got everything.”
“Rings ?” they heard Hizashi’s mother yell from the phone and Hizashi rolled his eyes. “Honey, what about the rings ?”
“Later mom ! It’s not like we’ve planned much !”
“Boys, here.”
Shouta was surprised, when he saw his own mother approach again, slowly slipping her own rings off her fingers. First, her wedding ring, then her engagement ring, that she had worn ever since his father had put them on her fingers. Shouta wasn’t sure he had ever seen her without them. He didn’t dare ask if she was sure about it, though.
“Thank you,” Hizashi told her instead, and he hugged her with one arm. Then, he gave Shouta the wedding ring, keeping the engagement ring in his own palm so he’d be able to slip it on Shouta’s finger, and he looked up at the minister. “Alright, we’re good,” he said, and he breathed out. “Let’s go.”
“We’re all gathered here tonight, to celebrate …”
Shouta tuned the minister’s words out. Because the moment he locked eyes with Hizashi, it was all that mattered to him anymore.
He was marrying Hizashi. His best friend for fifteen years, his confidant, his sidekick. The only person he could ever marry, the only person he could ever trust and he wasn’t even nervous, he wasn’t even feeling the slightest uncomfortable with the rush of things and how everything was happening all at once. He was marrying Hizashi and it was making him feel so calm inside, his breathing steady. His heart was beating hard, but it all was from the excitement, not from any sort of nervousness or anxiety.
And Hizashi loved him. He loved him so much he had almost refused. Loved him so much his mother had seen it right away, fifteen years ago, and here they were now and they had kissed and it had been the best kiss Shouta had ever received. Gods, he couldn’t wait for them to kiss again and he knew it would happen again very soon and he was almost fidgeting as he was waiting for the words.
They had to exchange the rings first and it wasn’t an easy task, because while Hizashi’s hands were long and thin and the wedding ring slipped on his ring finger easily, Shouta’s fingers were thicker and the only digit the ring accepted, was his pinky, and only up to the first knuckle. They didn’t exchange vows, looking at each other instead, laughing together when the ring wouldn’t fit on Shouta’s fingers. Then they both looked back at the minister who was smiling as he spoke again.
“I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may kiss the groom !”
They couldn’t have kissed faster. They kissed so quickly their teeth hurt but they laughed it off, as they adjusted and made-out just the way Hizashi had said he would, earlier. Shouta’s arms were around his neck, and Hizashi’s around Shouta’s back and they could hear clapping, from both Shouta’s mother and coming from Hizashi’s phone, loud and clear. They didn’t detach themselves from each other, though, kissing hard and kissing deep.
Gods, they could have had so much more kissing, had Shouta realized his best friend’s feelings during the past fifteen years, had he admitted his. But now he was pretty sure they’d have all the time to catch it up soon enough.
They parted, though, eventually. They had to, if they wanted to breath, because like idiots they had forgotten to do so and Shouta pushed his face against Hizashi’s neck, shivering under the kisses Hizashi pampered his face with, fingers combing through his hair, the other arm holding him tight.
“Congratulations,” the minister told them with a bright smile, nodding slowly. “I’ll have the paperwork ready for you, feel free to come to the office during the week so we can officialize it.”
“Thank you,” Hizashi muttered and he sighed. “Thank you so much.”
With that, the man left and Shouta opened a lazy eyes, only to realize that his mother was still crying but she now seemed to be talking with Hizashi’s mom on the phone and he looked up. Hizashi took advantage of it to peck his lips.
“We’re married,” he whispered, as if trying to make sure it was true.
“We are.”
“Oboro and Nemuri are going to kill us, to have gotten married behind their back.”
“Probably.”
Hizashi laughed, leaned down so they could share another kiss. Shouta cleared his throat.
“My place or yours ?”
“Yours is bigger and yours cats will be more comfortable there,” Hizashi answered with a nod. “Also it’s closer to both our workplaces.”
“Your bed is bigger.”
“We can keep my bed,” Hizashi conceded softly. “Though now isn’t time for this kind of planning.”
“No ?”
Hizashi shook his head and he grabbed his hand, entwined their fingers as he led them back inside. Shouta noticed his mother following them, though he was too focused on Hizashi and Hizashi let go of his hand when they reached the dancefloor, he headed to where the DJ was.
Shouta wasn’t sure what they told each other but he saw the man nod several times. When Hizashi came back, he didn’t say a word, only stood there, waiting.
A new song began, soon enough, and Shouta only needed a couple of notes to understand. So, he grabbed Hizashi’s hand, led him in the middle of the dancefloor and he faced him. He wasn’t awkward, he wasn’t nervous but he wasn’t much of a dancer and Hizashi took the lead from there, knowing him all too well. He had Shouta wrap his arms around him, and he wrapped his around Shouta and he shifted them into motion.
Hizashi was singing, looking at him in the eyes, the way he had earlier. Shouta didn’t understand it all, his english too poor, but oh well, it didn’t matter.
For this was their first dance, as Hizashi and Shouta Aizawa, their first dance as newlyweds. Shouta didn’t notice that his mother was filming it, he didn’t notice that some people were staring like they knew what had happened, just outside the barn. Didn’t even notice the outraged air on his cousin’s face as if they had personally insulted her by dancing a slow dance the way they were, though she probably would kick them out, had she known they had used her wedding party to get married.
All he noticed was that the longing he had heard in Hizashi’s voice earlier was gone, replaced by such softness, such attentiveness, such love, and goosebump broke when Hizashi whispered “My love” as he sang.
And Shouta promised himself, as he couldn’t stop staring, as he couldn’t stop feeling like this was the best day of his life : he was going to learn that song, and, when they’d have their wedding party and they’d have their first dance again, among their own guests this time, he would sing it to Hizashi, the way Hizashi had sung it to him tonight.