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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"Happy returns," she says with a broad smile, setting aside her plate for a moment so she can take Marcus's hands and kiss his knuckles like that was a blessing all its own. It was, as far as she was concerned. She might just be a cousin or little sister in the scheme of things, but family, by blood or choice, was family.

"I feel like I should have been a little nosier," she admits, only a little teasing. "Thank you for inviting me, I promise I'll only interrogate him politely."

The kiss to his knuckles makes Marcus's throat tighten, his eyes growing a little damp. He's always been an emotional man, never ashamed of his tears or his anger, and while that's often gotten him into trouble, he feels utterly comfortable here and now, accepting how much all this means to him.

"Oh, he needs a proper interrogation," he answers with a wide smile. "I don't know that he's ever had one. Somehow the charming bugger has mostly gotten away without it."

"Good to know," Inej says, soft and kind, nodding about it and filing it away. She would do it today, to keep things light, but it was important. Especially because Daniel was even more a part of Marcus's life now, and Marcus was a part of hers and the twins, and that meant that Daniel would be a part of hers too.

"I'm so happy for you, Marcus." She means it, filled with joy and happiness on this occasion.

"I'm happy, too," he answers, realizing only in the moment just how true it is. "Certainly not what I expected to have happen to me."

He had never bothered making plans. Not after his parents had died, one killing the other, then Marcus killing the remaining while nearly being choked to death himself. Plans were something people made when they had a future and he had never been able to see himself with one.

And yet here he is.

Inej nods in understanding. Happiness is difficult at times, and especially when it isn't something that you anticipate for yourself. Happiness after the darkness of terrible things is especially difficult to anticipate for yourself. But Inej is so happy for Marcus. And so happy that he, especially, is happy.

"We've earned it," she says softly, eyes kind, knowing. "Do I still get to prevail on your good humor with the twins? Or is married life going to make you too busy for that?"

"Oh, much too busy," Marcus answers, just barely keeping a straight face. "As a married man I'm planning on having sex at least fourteen hours a day, so I won't have time for you or the twins anymore."

He smiles then and lifts his hand to Inej's shoulder, squeezing gently. "I'll always have time for you, duck. You and the little ones. Nothing will stop that."

Marcus will fight Darrow itself tooth and nail to keep himself here where he can be the support his people need.

Inej gives a sage nod of understanding, her own face barely composed. She was married, after all, and the first months are always the most intense. But the composure breaks into a bit of a giggle, anyway, especially when Marcus smiles at her and touches her shoulder.

"Take some time for yourself. I hear a honeymoon is customary."

"I did book us a night at that lovely bed and breakfast just up the coast," Marcus answers. "So I'm not doing entirely without, I promise."

He and Dan have lived together for longer than a year now, they've already fallen into married life without actually having been legally married and honestly, if Dan hadn't brought it up, Marcus isn't sure it would have ever occurred to him. He'd had to do some work on himself to reach this place, long held beliefs he hadn't even realized were there needing to be done away with, but he's glad he has.

It's changed everything for him.

Inej nods, smiling. She knows that living in together can erase the necessity of some of these ritual things, the wedding night and other little moments. It certainly had for her and Kaz. They were married long before he got her a ring and shared his name, and she knows that the wedding was to do with starting a family more than anything else, in her case.

She's thinking about it too much from her relationship with marriage, that's certainly true. But she does know that living together changes the importance of things sometimes, so she's glad that they're taking the time, no matter what.