Behind My Smile - EDITING SOON

XVIII) Beautiful Unity

"I can't believe I'm about to marry the love of my life..." Nino sighed as he pulled on his shoes. "I'm surprised she hasn't backed out yet with my luck."

"I'm not," Kim called from the large hotel bathroom. "You're one hell of a catch man. She'd be crazy to get cold feet." Nino smiled and sat up before falling backward onto the bed. His head turned to the left, meeting Adrien's brooding figure across the room. 

His tie was undone and his white shirt unbuttoned. His jacket was discarded on the chair beside him as he scowled at his phone. "What's up, Adrien?" His head perked up at his name before readjusting his position and setting his phone down.

"Lila won't respond to me. I-It should be fine. She said she would be checking up on her mother before heading to the service. She'd respond if she weren't, right?"

"Yeah. I mean, I'd put down my phone if my mother had stage three cancer. There's nothing to worry about." Nino rolled over to the large mirror on the wall and grimaced at his appearance.

"Yeah... nothing - nothing to worry about," Adrien whispered as he rose and adjusted his shirt. He became aware of Nino's distressed look and chuckled before pulling the mini kit from his bag. "You need a little help?"

"Oh god please!" he cried when he noticed the kit in Adrien's hands. He sat on the bed obediently and watched with curiosity as Adrien pulled bottles and brushes from the kit. "Where'd you get my tone?"

"Juleka," he replied as he opened the foundation and dabbled a bit under his eyes and chin. "she gave me some when Mari was reserving her services for Alya." He brought a tube of lighter concealer and tapped the slightest amount to highlight his face. Next, he brought out translucent powder and set his work in place. Nino gazed into the mirror at his concealed dark spots and eye bags, smirking like a maniac. "Alright, Men! Let's get out of here. The sooner we get his ass down the aisle, the better!"

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Adrien stared out at the rows of inhabited seats. The golden shine of their surface reflected the bright chandeliers above. Once the ceremony concluded the room would be transformed into a dining hall. Adrien had looked over the seating chart many times before. Nino and Alya would sit at their table of two upfront.  The two tables closest to them would be for their parents and best friends, which had Adrien sitting with Marinette and their respective dates. Around the room, their former classmates would be scattered among those who had met Nino and Alya during their travels. 

He couldn't wait for the ceremony to start. He was just as, if not more nervous than Nino despite only being best man. The night rode on his planning and oversight. He didn't want to be the reason this wedding flopped. 

Looking to his right he made eye contact with Nino, whose eyes were wide in fear. "Not getting cold feet are we?"

"W-what? Me? No." He looked away to his parents and let out a breath. "I'm just worried, that's all. What if something goes wrong. What if someone objects or we drop the rings? What if someone tells an awkward story at the reception?" He shook his head and stared at the door, no doubt yearning for his finacée to walk through. 

"Well, I can't promise on any of that except for the last, but come on. You'll be alright." He reassured with a smile. "Alya will marry you no matter how many times someone tells you no, or if you drop the rings. Hell, she would marry you even if it were the end of the world." Adrien heard the priest behind them step forward and clear his throat quietly. "Looks like that's my queue. You got this, Nino." Adrien's hand clasped Nino's shoulder for a moment before he resigned himself to the side door. As he walked he found Lila in the crowd and blew her a kiss, a sentiment to which she reciprocated.