Vulquinn One-shots

Best Man

All dressed up in his tuxedo, Sal took a look into the mirror that stood before him and adjusted himself so he looked his best. Hair slicked back with gel and not a single strand out of place. Suit was perfectly tailored and freshly pressed, his bow sat perfectly on his neck. He looked to be the image of pure perfection on his special day.

"So how do I look fellas?" He gives a 360 spin with arms outstretched to give the full effect. The boys clamored together and looked in awe at the image of perfection their friend appeared to be. Strings of compliments wrapped around Sal and he took them all with grace, but deep inside he couldn't help but feel as though it was all wrong.

When he looked to one particular friend, he knew he was walking into a mistake.

Q stood there smiling, but it was the kind of smile that hid away a storm of clouds behind it, the one you give to people as to not worry them and reassure that everything is "okay." Q had feelings for Sal but had always set them aside since his best friend was happy with his girlfriend. He didn't want to be a home-wrecker and destroy the happiness that Sal had found in her. So he stood off to the side, smiling even though he felt pained inside.

Secret is: Sal had the same burning passion for Q. He never said anything because he was in deep denial about it, so much so that he never took his time to understand those feelings until he was engaged and planning his wedding. As he sat through meetings in preparation for this life changing event, it struck him like cupid's arrow to his heart. It was an epiphany that he wish he had sooner and would loom in this downward spiral of uncertainty.

"You look great Sal. Now let's get rolling, don't want to be late to your own wedding!" Q jokes and pats Sal on his shoulder to try and lighten himself up. He can't be selfish and writhe in his pitiful feelings, this is Sal's special day, not his. So just for today, he'd be trying extra hard to push his feelings down more than he usually would.

The ride in the limo to the chapel was filled with champagne and joyous commotion. But Q sat there silent, watching as Sal happily looked to all the others. He could have sworn though that just for a second, he saw that smile dissolve. He could have sworn that he saw in Sal what he saw in himself: disingenuous smiles and artificial happiness. But as fast as he blinked, it seemed as if his mind was playing tricks on him and what he saw was a figment of his over active imagination.

Q for the remainder of the time being had managed to switch himself into auto-pilot mode mentally. Mindlessly participating in superficial conversations and partaking in the free alcohol to further numb his nerves. Within a few blinks, there he stood at the head of the Chapel along side the other groomsmen with Sal front and center awaiting his muse to make her way down the aisle.

The sound of echoing organ pipes filled the room as the cliche wedding march played, all who attended stood and turned to the door that began to open. There she stood dressed in a beautiful white gown and adorned with a graceful veil, bathing in the sunlight that seeped in. Sal looked onto her and didn't feel much of anything, and that was the whole problem.

'When did the love run dry?' He asked himself inside. She was beautiful, he wouldn't deny that, but when he was with her, it no longer felt right. He didn't feel complete, he didn't feel like this was where he was meant to be, he didn't feel as though he could happily spend the rest of eternity with her, he didn't feel the spark he fought so hard to keep alive anymore.

There she stood before him, glowing in all her glory with a smile as wide as the open sky. With shaky hands and jittering fingers, he lifts her veil over her head to reveal the woman he would now be bonded to. She coyly looks to him with a glimmer in her eyes and a pain tenses in his stomach. He was lying to himself and to everyone, he was especially lying to someone who lived in blissful ignorance to what was truly running rampant in his head.

Why can't he just tell her the truth, why couldn't he? Was it to avoid hurting her? He guessed that was part of it, she was sweet and lovely and didn't deserve to have her heart broken like that. Was it to save his own reputation? Partially. He just wasn't sure how people would react when they saw how 'in love' he was with her but then flipped over to what his heart truly desired. If he did end things, he wouldn't want to wait. If he had his way he would have Q's face held gently in his hands and their lips pressed together.

He wasn't stupid. He knew Q had a thing for him. He could see it and read it all too well within those puppy dog eyes of his. And that was the part that made things worse. He purposely held himself back and turned himself away from the harder road to love and settled for conventional and easy. He was his own worst enemy. It wasn't the reality he would allow himself to live in.

The minister continued with his speech and it got to the line that made Sal's stomach drop.

"If anyone objects to the union of these two, speak now or forever hold your peace." He pursed his lips together, he looked around to all the still faces in the room. Then his eyes met with his.

Q stood there watching as Sal looked around to everyone, almost as though he was internally pleading for someone to say something. He clasped his hands together and bit his tongue and refused to say anything. He trapped his confession in his throat with all his energy, giving up the life he fantasized with his best friend.

No objections were made in the moment of silence and the final moves were set into motion. Rings were placed on their fingers, vows were said, and it was all sealed with a kiss. It didn't feel sweet to Sal anymore, it felt like chains around his heart and a weight on his soul, but it was too late.

Within a blink of an eye they were at the reception sat at an elegantly decorated table flourished with roses, mums, and eucalyptus leaves. A toast was raised by each member of the bridal and groom party, glasses with bubbles in the beverage were raised to glimmer in the lighting. It was Q's turn to speak and he stood up, faltering as his legs had felt weak with nerves.

"To Sal, my best friend and the most important facet of my life. Nothing will surprise me more than you finally settling down with someone. It's even more surprising that you found someone that's willing to put up with your shenanigans... i'm just teasing." Light laughter erupts in the room as Q smiles down to his best friend. "But i'm truly happy for you, because you've taken the biggest step in your life with grace and a smile on your face. Here's to my lifelong best friend. May you bring each other eternal joy and always be there for each other! Cheers!" Sal's eyes began to mist up and his heart began to feel crushed. He raises his glass while his smile lowers.

'Eternal joy.' He thought to himself. 'I wish it was with you.'