The Game of Love
The wedding has been the most difficult thing Ted has ever experienced in his life. Watching the love of his life say his vows to a beautiful woman and look at her like she was the light of his life; Ted always wished Marcus would look at him that way.He stood throughout the entire ceremony, struggling to keep his emotions in check. After the exchanging of vows, and the happy couple exited, he forced a smile onto his face, hoping that people would think he was crying out of joy for his friend.
He wasn't. The reception is going a little bit better now, but Ted admits to himself it's probably just because there's an open bar that has his favorite kind of whiskey.
Winston takes a seat next to him at the table, but Ted just ignores him and continues nursing his whiskey, hoping Winnie hadn't seen him use it to take his medication."Doing okay?" Winnie asks.Ted glances at him for moment.
He looks so out of place, dressed like a gentleman. Winnie never dresses this well- but then again, Carey had fought for it. Marcus was okay with him just putting on clean clothes, but she had politely insisted on him matching with the other groomsmen had on.
"I've been better," Ted replies lowly, his voice rough.
Winston looks like he has something he wants to say, but he decides against it. "I know you really love him, mate. I'm really sorry."
"Being sorry doesn't fucking help," Ted snaps.
Winston looks honestly hurt, his eyes falling.
Ted immediately regrets his quick response and sighs. "I'm sorry, Winnie. I didn't mean to get nasty with you."
"It's okay. I know you're probably upset. Marcus has already asked me how you're doing."
"Has he now?" Ted asks, though he really doesn't want to hear about it.
"He wants to talk to you."
Ted doesn't acknowledge the statement, instead thinking aloud. "It sucks to love someone that doesn't love you back."
Winston lets his gaze fall, and busies himself with the flower petals strewn on the tabletop as decorations. "I know, Teddy. I don't know how to help you with that, to be honest."
Ted shrugs. "It's not your fault. Thanks for trying though, Win." He stands, with the intention of getting another drink. Instead, Marcus catches his eye, staring back at him from across the grand reception room. Ted sighs for the millionth time. "I'll go talk to him I suppose."
God, did he look stunning. He was all dressed up and perfect, with his hair fucking ruffled as if he just came through a storm to get here. Little bastard. His hair is always a beautiful mess. Meanwhile Ted falls asleep and wakes up with what looks to be a dead cat clinging to his head.
"Hey," Marcus says with a small smile. He wraps Ted up in a warm hug. "I wasn't so sure you were gonna come." The blonde tries to return the smile, but it turns into a scowl. Marcus doesn't seem to notice.
"I didn't have anything else to do, and I know it means a lot to you, so I thought I'd swing by."
"Thank you. Honestly mate. Thanks. I know... this can't be too easy for you." Marcus is sickeningly sincere, and Ted feels like all the alcohol he'd had in the past few hours was a bad idea. Seven shots of a bad idea, actually. He should've had Winnie or Ben stop him after three.Ted shrugs, trying to ignore the way his entire body is protesting. "You're welcome. You seem happy with the new Mrs. Mumford."
Marcus scoffs. "She's keeping her name, she is. I can't say I wasn't disappointed a bit not to share my name with her."
Ted wants to take him by the shoulders and scream at him, tell him that he has wanted to be Edward James Milton Mumford since the day they met, But that wouldn't change anything, No matter how well Edward James Milton Mumford rolls off the tongue, he had lost his chance.
"I'm sorry mate. I've got to get going." Ted says suddenly, forcing a smile onto his face.Marcus' own smile immediately disappears.
"It's not even eight o'clock yet. Stay a bit longer, yeah?"
Ted shakes his head numbly, already mentally retracting himself from life. "Nah. I've got an early appointment tomorrow. I really got to head home and sober up." He hears a sad and muted goodbye from the love of his life before turning to find an exit. He's lit a cigarette before he's out the door despite Winston's plea for him to quit. They haven't identified the masses as cancer yet, and everything has turned to shit anyway so why should he care?
And so he spirals downward.
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A/N :) Hi, I'm not dead! Life's just a hassle xD Anyway I wrote this a while ago, but I never posted it and I'm actually writing another part or two to it yet.
Thanks for reading <3 I'm trying to get unstuck on TENH, I swear <3
