Then room was warm and full of people. A wedding reception in full swing. Tables set with yellows, reds, and oranges and vases of day-lilies at each center. Fairy lights were wound around the room, with those orange, red, and yellow ribbons. The bridesmaids stood out as they danced in stunning, shimmery orange; Todd and the other groomsmenwore ties just as bright. Cash had told him the theme of the wedding was fire, and he could sort of see it. She had wanted it to be passionate, as she and Parker were, and it was. It was perfect.
The wedding had been beautiful. Sunny and warm, held in Parker's parents' massive back yard. There had been quite a few people; they both had large families and lots of friends. It had been floral and tasteful and a little wild. Cash and Parker were married by Parker's uncle, and there was no small amount of laughter. Todd wasn't sure it could have gone any better.
Todd slouched in his seat, contentedly watching everyone dance, talk and eat. Levon was twirling Aisha around, a brilliant grin on his face. He'd been dancing the whole evening, laughing and unbelievably hyper. Todd had decided to come sit down, alone at their assigned table, unable to keep up with his boyfriend's energy level.
Todd shook his head in amusement and pulled his phone from his pocket. It had vibrated some time ago but he had studiously ignored it, knowing exactly who it was. Now he read the message, mulling over the swell of emotions he felt.
Would you like to come by for dinner on Sunday? I'm making chicken pot pies. You are welcome to bring Levon again.
Todd wasn't sure if he wanted to make dinner with his mother a common occurrence. Two weeks ago he and Levon had gone over for a meal. It had been awkward, though not horrifically unpleasant. Niklas and Levon had provided the majority of the conversation, keeping it light and away from unpleasant topics. Todd was grateful to be allowed to stay mostly silent, holding Levon's hand beneath the table and pretending his mother wasn't staring at him. It had been over four months since he and his mother had spoken and he hadn't been sure how to look at her. But she seemed happy to see him, if a bit uncomfortable. Todd wasnèt sure it would ever stop being uncomfortable.
Johannahad pulled him aside after dinner, under Levon and Niklas' watchful gazes. They had stood in silence for a moment, alone in the living room, before she spoke, raspy and thick.
"Thank you for coming over," she had said, and he'd looked at her.
"You'rewelcome." Todd wasn't sure what else to say. There were still problems and he wasn't about to go rushing into things only to get himself hurt again. There was still a huge lack of trust. He was still quite sure he didn't like her.
"Niklas and I won't be travelling this summer," She told him hesitantly and he tried to decide how he felt about that. "So we'll be home if you want to come see us at any point."
"I'm not going to make any promises," Todd stated and she nodded, a rare smile touching her features and making her look much younger. Much more like the mother from his memories. His heart ached.
"I wouldn't ask you too," Johanna breathed. "But thank you for trying. I'm so grateful."
Todd wasn't sure what to make of the new relationship with his mother. It was shaky at best and felt like they were both waiting for shit to hit the fan. But it wasn't wholly unpleasant. She texted him much more often; asking what he was up to and how he was doing. He answered some of them, trying not to be blatantly rude and always with Levon close by to make things feel a bit less like he was drowning.
Todd glanced up and Levon and they made eye contact. Levon grinned immediately and Todd just sighed. Levon excused himself from the dance floor and headed off to the food tables.
Todd looked at his phone, chewed his lip and punched out a message.
I'llbe there.
Dinner with his mother. If Levon was there it wouldn't be too bad; at least Todd hoped. If all went to shit he would just go back to pretending his only relatives were the Kiplings. Not that that was ever a problem.
Todd shoved his phone back in his pocket without waiting for a response. He let out a deep sigh and scrubbed a hand over his face. It was all so exhausting and it was not the time to be weighed down by his family drama.
Todd watched Parker and Cash move around the dance floor, talking softly as they moved, faces lit in blissful smiles while they ignored the people around them. Todd was so unbelievably happy for them, unable to stop smiling while he watched them.
"If you cry again, I'm going to laugh at you," Levon stated, a glass of white wine in each hand and a smirk on his face. He slipped into his seat next to Todd, handing one of the glasses over.
"I didn't cry," Todd denied without much fervor, sipping his drink.
"Sure, you didn't," Levon snickered. "There was just something in your eye?"
"Allergies," Todd said, and his lips quirked slightly. He leaned back in his chair and let his eyes roam over his boyfriend. Levon looked amazing, even with his hair dampened with sweat, wearing the shimmery orange suit that clung to him in all the right ways. As one of Cash's bridesmaids he had had to match the women in the party, something Todd found amusing. Levon hadn't protested at all, eager to be apart of Cash's wedding.
"Right," Levon nodded sarcastically.
"We're having dinner with my mother on Sunday," Todd said and Levon's features settled into a carefully neutral expression, eyes examining Todd's face.
"Are we now?"
"Yeah,"Todd sighed, took a long drink of wine. "So long as you don't mind coming with me."
"I told you I don't mind. I'm here because I want to be a part of your life, even the rough parts," Levon tilted his head, smiling comfortingly.
"Thanks." Was all Todd could manage to that, a grateful smile crossing his lips. They fell silent for a moment and Levon released a wistful sigh.
"I think this turned out amazing," Levon said and Todd caught the grand way he gestured to their surroundings. "This is like, my dream wedding."
"Really?"Todd arched a brow and Levon shrugged.
"Almost,"Levon grinned a little. "My wedding would obviously be a flashier. Strobe lights and all that."
"Careful," Todd said mildly. "It's starting to sound less like a wedding and more like a night club."
"And that doesn't sound fun to you?" Levon laughed. "We could wear matching sequin jackets. Walk down the aisle to some good old Adam Lambert."
"If you think there's any way I'm ever wearing sequins than you're much dumber than you look," Todd deadpanned.
"Fine,"Levon chuckled. "What about zebra print suits with pink ties?"
"I'm really starting to understand why Cash didn't want your help planning."
"You wound me," Levon put a hand over his heart, grinning manically. "Can't you see my artistic genius?"
"Yourartistic geniusis going to end our non-existent wedding in homicide instead of honeymoon," Todd grunted.
"At least it'll be memorable," Levon sighed. "You'd probably want something simple and boring. Small wedding. Basic cake. Both of us in black suits. So damn plain we wouldn't even want to put the pictures on display."
"Tell me how you really feel," Todd said flatly and Levon laughed.
"Are you denying it though?" Levon grinned.
"I doubt our wedding could be anything boring, not if you're involved," Todd scoffed. "You're such a fucking peacock."
"As exy peacock," Levon corrected then pondered. "I'd put a lot of blue at our wedding. The bright happy kind. It would really make your eyes pop."
"Really now?"Todd arched a brow.
"And of course it's going to be happening in a hot airballoon or something equally magical. You know how much I like to stand out, Toddy," Levon waved him off. Todd laughed at that, emptying his own wine glass and placing it on the table with Levon's. The song changed to something slower paced and the people dancing changed up their movements to fit. Todd hid a smile as Aisha fell against her professor-boyfriend and he rolled his eyes at her drunken state.
"Want to dance?" Levon asked suddenly and Todd didn't even blink.
"No." It was automatic, rejecting Levon. All through school, at every party they attended together; Levon always asked and Todd always said no.
"You're such a shit," Levon couldn't help a smile and Todd returned it, heavy with amusement. "On your feet. You're going to dance with me. That's what it means to be boyfriends. We slow dance and makeout and everyone's uncomfortable."
"That sounds exhausting," Todd grinned, not resisting as Levon pulled him to his feet. They moved to the dance floor, sticking to the outskirts where there was less light and people. Todd rolled his eyes as Levon pulled him close, their torsos almost touching, Levon's hands firm on his hips. Todd let his arms settle loosely around Levon's neck. They swayed lazily, not quite in tune with the song, but neither of them really giving a shit.
Levon leaned up down ever slightly and pressed a familiar kiss to Todd'slips. It was casual, easy, normal. Todd watched Levon fondly, while the other man beamed and led their pathetic dancing; bodies pressed together comfortably. Todd had gotten beyond comfortable with Levon touching him and touching Levon.
They'dbeen dating for almost a year. Almost a year of bickering, Levon's inappropriate comments, and his obnoxious fashion sense. Almost a year of dealing with Levon's family's brutal teasing and their friend's mocking. Almost a year and Todd was the happiest he's been in a very long time, not that he'd admit that to Levon. The brat would never let it go.
"This what you wanted?" Todd mumbled, looking around briefly and ignoring the smile Betto sent his way. "This middle school dancing?"
"You know I take advantage of every opportunity to be close to you," Levon retorted cheekily. "Even if we look like middle schoolers because you can't dance to save your life."
"You say that like the flailing you were doing earlier was actual dancing," Todd said. "You looked like you were being possessed by an angry chicken."
"We're going to have to take some dance lessons," Levon stated, ignoringTodd's comment. "For our non-existent wedding. There's no way I'm going have a first dance be this cringey."
"You're putting a lot of thought into this non-existent wedding," Todd said after a pause. "You do realize it isn't happening right?"
"If you think this relationship is ending in anything other than marriage then you're sorely mistaken," Levon said, lips twitching into a smirk. "Toddy Kipling has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
"Been doodling it all over your notebooks?" Todd asked, face flushed but expression cool.
"Maybe," Levon said impishly. "It does paint such a pretty picture."
"Maybe we should start smaller for now," Todd grinned a little. "Maybe get a place together."
"You want to move in together?" Levon blinked, surprise leaving his eyes wide and lips parted. He leaned back slightly to examine Todd's face.
"Could be interesting," Todd hummed, enjoying how caught off guard Levon was.
"Is this a joke?" Levon's eyes narrowed and Todd laughed.
"Is it not a pretty enough picture?" Todd pulled Levon closer.
"It's a very pretty picture," Levon murmured, squeezing Todd's hips.
"But we're not bringing your couch," Todd said and Levon blinked athim.
"What do you have against my couch?" Levon frowned, humour touching his eyes.
"It's small, uncomfortable, and ugly as all hell," Todd shook his head."I don't think I could live with that couch."
"I've had that couch since we were kids," Levon protested. "It has history."
"It has to go," Todd smiled crookedly. "It's me or the couch."
"Well," Levon pulled his hands away dramatically. "It's been nice andall, but the couch and I have always been friends-"
"Idiot,"Todd chuckled, Grabbing Levon and pulling him back. The song changed again, something faster paced but neither of them bothered to notice and kept swaying, slow and out of beat.
"The day Aisha gets married is the day I turn straight," Levon grunted, hours later while he and Todd got ready for bed.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Todd snickered and Levon threw a sock at him before falling onto the bed. Todd rolled his eyes and climbed into bed with Levon, both of them in their boxers.
"Ophelia will get married before Aisha does," Levon mumbled.
"Not ready for that, Lev," Todd grumbled. "You're just mad because you secretly wanted to be the one to catch the bouquet."
"Makes so sense that Aisha caught it," Levon huffed, breath thick with wine and gaze a little unfocused. "You know she thinks marraige is bullshit."
"People change," Todd shrugged and grabbed Levon, trying to maneuver the unwilling man under the blankets so they could go to sleep.
"You've changed," Levon said thoughtfully. "Not as angry."
"Trust me, I'm still angry," Todd growled, dragging Levon beneath the covers then heading for the lights.
"I think you're happier now," Levon told him and Todd sighed. Levon grinned a little drunkenly. "I think it's because you love me."
"I think I'm about ready to smother you," Todd grunted. It was nearly four in the morning.
"Smother me with kisses." Levon started laughing and Todd lazily smacked him on the forehead. Levon flailed a little to hit him back.
"Go to sleep, Levon," Todd mumbled.
"Sure," Levon replied without much sincerity but fell silent for a few moinutes. Long enough that sleep was taking hold of Todd's mind.
"Toddy?" Levon whispered into the dark room.
"What?"
"I'm going to ask you to marry me some day," Levon promised and Todd cracked an eye open to meet the green gaze that was already on his face.
"I'll probably say no," Todd deadpanned.
"I hate you." Levon's glower was instantaneuos and adorable. Todd had to laugh at it, shoving his face into his pillow.
"I love you too, Lev."
***
The End.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this, to vote, and to comment. It was awesome to have some support and it made me so happy. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy Todd and Levon with me. You guys are amazing.
Throwing a specail thanks out to CharlotteBeatrijs, badbitch11, and thatlovelygirl_04Â for commenting and reading all my chapters. You three made me so much more invested in writting this and I love you <3.
I'll be writting a few other stories, so maybe I'll see some of you there, but if not that's cool too. Much love and farewell!!!
xoxo