pushbackthedarkness | (no subject)

Never in his life, with as long as it's been and with as many dangers he's faced, has Marcus imagined himself here.

And yet...

The gathering is small, especially now with Kat having gone, and Marcus feels her absence keenly. She had helped him with so much and her touch is everywhere, from the simple, but beautiful centerpiece on the table, to the suit she had helped him pick. It helps a little, having her influence scattered about the celebration. It wouldn't feel quite right, doing all this without Kat after having become so close to her over the years.

It's all so simple. They're on the beach, which feels appropriate for Marcus and Dan, even if they're not about to share why. Not far from where they stand, however, they shared their first kiss, years ago now. They've had dinners here, shared stories, and Marcus asked Dan to marry him mere feet from where they perform the ceremony. Simple is best, truly.

The ceremony isn't religious, because while Marcus is still a man of God, it's God who has made him into a weapon. He doesn't want that here and instead they opt for a civil ceremony, a friend Marcus has made who works at City Hall coming to officiate. There is no alcohol, but instead they have sparkling cider and an easy meal catered from a restaurant Dan and Marcus frequent often.

The only music comes from the bluetooth speakers Marcus has set up around the area, a playlist he and Dan had built together. And when the sun sets, as a surprise to them both, Sabrina uses her magic to light up the water in front of them in something close enough to a fireworks display that it won't attract too much outside attention.

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"The light show especially was impressive," Marcus says with a fond smile as Sabrina brings a chair over to sit with him. He reaches over, curling his hand over her shoulder and letting it rest there against her shoulder blade, warm and settled.

"Thank you," he says. "For the lights. For the talk with Dan, of course. For everything."

For being here with him, for living in their home, for giving him something he never thought he could have. Part of what he's just said is teasing and his smile says as much, but so much more of it is genuine.

"I think it might have been even better if I magically enhanced real fireworks. Like with gunpowder," she says, taking utter joy in creating situations that remind Marcus just how chaotically inclined his child is. Does she think the reminders are necessary?

Not in the slightest. They're just fun.

She smiles down at her bare feet, already half-buried in the sand, and then up at Marcus, tipping her head so she rests her cheek on the back of his hand. "You're welcome. I'm just really happy that you're happy. I know you didn't always think it would be this way, which, I have to tell you, as a witch, the powers that be heard you and just laughed. And now look."

She's certainly right about that. Marcus has always imagined his life would end the same way it had been from the earliest memory he has; alone and rather sad and a little darker than most people would like. While he's had a life filled with helping people and being of service, he's taken little for himself. Until Darrow.

So he never would have imagined this. Never could have expected it. And yet here they all are, his family, his husband.

"Now look," he agrees. "Although will the powers that be hear me and laugh if I wish for you to not accidentally blow your fingers off while trying to incorporate gunpowder into your magic?"

"I can't say," Sabrina answers. "I'm always walking a fine cosmic line."

Her luck can't hold forever, and she's hopeful that if she keeps some semblance of balance, the terrible moment when that finally happens, when her luck breaks-- well, maybe it just happens to the other Sabrinas. Sorry, Brinas.

"Also, magic really kind of took the fun out of chemistry for me," she adds, watching as Salem has either completed his mission or decided to abandon it with all the power of his station as cat. He trots over, and sits just in front of Marcus, looking up, tail gently waving and curling in the air. Instead of collecting her familiar, Sabrina watches with a far more serene little smile.

"Salem's happy for you," she says, both of them exuding the same air, peaceful and pleased and aware of how quietly powerful this day has been. "And so am I, if I haven't said it enough. You... you took me-- us-- in, when you didn't have to do it. I've worried, a couple of times, about what would happen when I needed to be on my own, but never very much worry, not since you and Dan figured it out."

"Oh, I still plan on being thoroughly distraught when you and Salem decide to leave me," Marcus answers as he ducks into a crouch so he can collect Salem in his arms. It's still sometimes a surreal experience, holding this purring little ball of warmth against his chest, remembering when Salem had been the one doing the holding instead, when he had been large and strong and completely different than the cat he appears to be now.

"But I know you are," he says, stroking Salem's ears. "Both of you. Even if Salem did leave what I can only interpret as a rather filthy message on the tablet for me this morning. So many eggplant emojis."