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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He takes his time walking over to Neil, enjoying the way that he looks, relaxed and sun-kissed. When he's behind him, he bends and drops a kiss into his tousled hair.

"Hey," he says. "Having fun?"

"Yeah, I think I am," I said, sounding only a little bit surprised as I reached for him, hand around his wrist and tugging him down to sit beside me.

"The alcohol selection's shit, though."

Bill smiles, letting Neil tug him down to sit beside him. He takes a moment to tug off his shoes before he slips his feet into the water.

"Yeah, well, I've got alcohol at home," he says. "So it's just an incentive to stay over, isn't it?"

"Yeah, 'cause I need another one of those," I laughed, my shoulder bumping against his as I finished off the last of my cider and set my glass down in the sand.

"Figure we're all gonna make ourselves scarce tonight. Give the two newlyweds some space."

"Always good to stack them up," he says, leaning in to press a kiss against the side of Neil's neck. "You know you're always welcome."

"Yeah, I know," I said, smirking as I reached out to take his hand and fed him back a line he said to me weeks ago: "'Cause the texts don't always cut it."

Looking out over the water, I said, "View's not half bad."

Most of Darrow wasn't that much to look at, but there were a few exceptions.

"Not that I'm complaining about the texts," says Bill. He's quiet for a moment, taking in Neil's profile against the backdrop of the ocean. "Yeah. It's not bad."

"Uh huh," I said, cutting him a knowing look as I leaned back on my hands, toes sinking deeper into the sand.

"I'm glad you came, you know."

"You asked, so I came," says Bill, rolling one shoulder in a shrug. "Couldn't miss an opportunity to officially be your boyfriend somewhere, could I?"

Huffing out a laugh, I said, "At least Marcus probably won't give you the third fucking degree."

I knew he was curious, and would always be protective, but he trusted me to make my own decisions, so I didn't have to worry about him saying something weird or threatening or whatever.

"He did ask me if he needed to give me the talk, but we figured we were good," he says, grinning. "Since I am old and decrepit and have all of that figured out already." He leans in and presses a kiss against Neil's cheekbone.

"The talk? Jesus Christ. I'm the one that should be giving talks, here," I laughed, throwing my arms across his shoulders.

"Did I ever mention how I was the first guy Marcus ever fucked?" I asked, cutting him a crooked grin. "I mean, maybe now's not the time to bring it up." My grin widened.

He turns towards Neil, wrapping one arm loosely around his waist. "No, you never did," he says, huffing a laugh through his nose. "Now i don't feel so bad for accidentally bringing up my divorce like an asshole."

Barking out a laugh, I said, "It was just a couple times. Figured out we made better friends pretty quick."

I nudged him lightly in the ribs. "Sorry. I probably should've given you a heads up."

"Because I absolutely thought you were some kind of virginal angel when I met you. No past at all." Bill rolls his eyes and smiles. "Don't apologise. You don't have to tell me everything."

"I know I don't have to tell you everything," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I ducked my head and kiss the top of his shoulder. "Wasn't planning on making a list of every guy I've ever fucked."

Grinning crookedly, I admitted, "There aren't that many of 'em left around here, anyway."

His fingers skim along the line of Neil's jaw as he ducks his head.

"Not unless it's a really hot story, anyway," he says. "I'd say I'd swap you, but I don't have that many before I met you."

"Yeah, I'm not real interested in hearing about your sex life with Audra," I said, maybe putting an extra dose of sarcasm into her name. She might've been a great person. She probably was. But it was a stupid fucking name.

"All my stories are hot, though."

He huffs at the derision that's clear in Neil's voice, shaking his head. "Yeah, I don't think you two would get on that well," he says. He purses his lips over a smile, looking at Neil. "I bet they are."

Lucky for both of us, I didn't really care much about whether or not we would've gotten along. It didn't matter. I did wonder, now and then, if I'd have fit in with his group of misfit friends. Probably. I found that strangely comforting, for some reason.

Huffing out a laugh, I admitted, "Not all of 'em."

"Let's focus on the ones that are, then," says Bill. His voice is light, teasing, but he also knows that Neil knows that he can tell him anything he wants, any time he wants. He gives him a quick squeeze.