Work Text:
Robin POV
The room is bathed in sunlight, the stained glass's design visible by the natural light. The buzz of hushed conversations fill the room and threaten to overwhelm my senses.
"Is everything OK?"
I turn to my left. Steve looks at me, concern and worry etched on his face.
"I'm fine. A bit sleep-deprived, but I'll live." I lie, smiling. Just then the organist begins to play the wedding march, grating on my eardrums. I wince, each press of the keys resonating around the room and serving as a brutal and bitter reminder of what could have been. The door opened, and out came Nancy. Despite myself, my breath catches in my throat. She was wearing a sleeveless dark grey wedding dress, her hair done in a simple updo and adorned with flowers. I force myself to look ahead, where the priest and Jonathan are waiting. After the ceremonies, the congregation dispersed.
Time Jump, Reception
I take a sip of my champagne- and cough at the burning sensation at the back of my throat.
"Not to your liking, then?" Someone says. Mike.
"Eh. Apparently my tastebuds are not accustomed to the high life. How about you? You drink?"
Mike shakes his head. "Nope. El will have my head if I so much as drink a single glass."
I snort. "How's El by the way? How's the baby coming along?"
At that Mike's face brightened. "It's good. She's due in a month."
Just then I see Nancy and Jonathan approach us, and I excuse myself, suddenly feeling sick.
I grip the edge of the counter, hands shaking as I look at myself in the mirror. Face pale and clammy, eyes wet from tears, my breath coming in fast, irregular gasps.
"Robin?"
I turn around. Nancy looks at me curiously.
"What do you want?" I ask coldly.
"You've been actively avoiding me. All night long. Is something the matter?" Nancy replies.
"You tell me." I say with a humourless laugh. Nancy glares at me.
"What the hell is wrong with you? I thought we were friends. Why are you not happy for me? Did I do something-"
"Are you happy, Nancy? With him? With Jonathan?" I interrupt.
"I love him. Why do you ask?"
"I didn't ask you if whether you love Jonathan or not. I'm asking you if you're happy."
Nancy looks at me, confused. "Where are you going with this? I can't understand..."
I laugh again, cold and brittle. "You still don't understand?"
"What? Stop it with the-"
"I LOVE YOU, ALL RIGHT?!" I screamed, my vision blurring with tears that cascades down my face. "I LOVE YOU, AND YOU WERE JUST SO F*CKING BLIND THAT YOU CAN'T SEE IT!"
Nancy, instead of being shocked, looks at me, then starts laughing. She was laughing. At me, at the prospect of me loving her, I don't know what. Suddenly she stops, eyes flashing with rage.
"You think I don't know that?" Nancy hissed. "Huh? Five years, Robin. Five f*cking years. I've waited for you. I've waited for you to make the first move, but you were such a coward."
"Then why did you settle down with Jonathan?" I ask less out of anger and more out of pure curiosity.
"Because I have to. You and I both know how narrow-minded the people are in our neighborhood when it comes to sexuality."
I sigh deeply. "I guess this is it, then? You're with Jonathan now."
Nancy nods, throat bobbing. "Yeah I guess. I hope you find someone who can love you."
Once Nancy vanished, I finally let go.