Ben Hargreeves (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} phantombenace) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} momadness_log,@ 2023-02-06 20:33:00 |
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Where: The Maldives
When: Their Wedding Day! (1/28/2020)
What: The Grooms Get Married
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
The spot on the beach that Zari had picked out for the ceremony was actually on the other side of the tiny island, obscured by the main building where the restaurant and spa facilities were. Once again, his friend had outdone herself, but Ben could really only take the whole thing in one piece at a time, like snapshots. He was right on the cusp of being overwhelmed: with joy, with eagerness, with a desire to speed through all of this and also slow it down so that every microsecond was an eon. Soft music drifted gently over the gentle lap of the tide. He thought he recognized the playing—would have to ask later if Zari had asked someone, maybe Simon, to record something for them—and the song choice made him smile as he walked down the aisle, surrounded by their friends and family.
As Ben made his way down the aisle, Cisco entered from the side with Ray and Barry close behind. Barry had the rings, and Cisco had literally all the nerves ever. This was a lot of people for him ever since the HYDRA event. But he glanced over at Zari for a little silent reassurance. These were their people. Nothing could happen there. Still, he couldn’t help but fidget a little with the cuffs of his sleeves. That is, until he laid eyes on his soon to be husband. The worry subsided. They were there together. Everything was going perfectly. The song actually wasn’t Simon alone. Of course it was hard to tell, but the guitar in the background was Cisco’s own. Any fear he might have had melted away as he watched Ben quietly.
Ben saw Zari give Cisco the tiniest nods, and he was so grateful to her. To everyone, really. It was an understatement to say that things had been hard lately. He wasn't sure they would have gotten through it as well as they had without the people in their lives. A lump set up residence in his throat, and no amount of swallowing could make it go away. Zari looked radiant of course, however, Ben couldn't keep his eyes off his husband-to-be. He knew the suit wasn't his favorite, but Cisco never failed to fill one out in a way that left Ben breathless. He took Cisco's hand immediately, only barely noting the way Zari smiled indulgently at the pair of them. "Hi. We're getting married."
Cisco wanted to enjoy the moment, he needed to focus instead of let his mind wander, but there were so many things to take in. More things than he’d seen in the entire last couple months. The only reason he was able to be there was because of all of them. Ben was the one who kept him sane. Who gave him a reason to keep going and keep trying.
This suit had all the right pieces in all the right places. Small gold and silver touches to match their theme with the blues as well. Taking Ben’s hand as he joined him, his eyes softened. “Hi. We made it.”
Not because he didn’t think their relationship wasn’t going to make the day, just because of all the things that happened leading up. There were days Cisco wasn’t even sure he could leave the house. Now they were standing there ready to take the next step in their lives. His fingers tangled with Ben’s gently.
His eyes shifted towards Zari, a lot less nervous now. All of the important people in his life were right there.
Ben did his best to turn his attention to their officiant, and found her smiling sweetly at them both. "Let's be real: it's pretty rare that I get to be on this side of the ceremony. Usually I'm the whirlwind behind the scenes, and make no mistake, I'll be right back to that just as soon as I get these two lovely gentlemen well and truly hitched."
Ben giggled along with a few in the crowd, and he mouthed 'thank you' to her, and Zari winked at him. "You can imagine my joy when they asked me to seal their deal, so let's get right to it. Ben, Cisco, we're gathered here together to bless and celebrate your union. You two have been through a lot, arguably crossed universes to find one another, and now you're joining your hearts together in a bond that neither time, nor space could ever hope to break apart—no matter how hard it tries, am I right?"
It sounded a little like she'd been hanging out with Ray a bunch, and Ben had to resist the urge to look around for him. Instead, he grinned at Cisco and and squeezed his fingers. "You're damn right."
Cisco could barely resist the urge to just lean right into his very soon husband to be and make that moment more intimate than it should be, but he resisted for the moment. The sound of laughter and sass brought him back to Zari in front of them with a warm look. One that hadn’t been there only a couple weeks ago thanks to all the aforementioned hard things. A hint of crimson touched his cheeks at that squeeze. His own hand resisted nervous wringing of Ben’s just barely. “I’ll always find my way to him." It was a soft comment, but one that confirmed the sentiment firmly. Barry had his lightning rod, and Cisco had found his in Ben.
A glance from Zari then to Ben. He’d written a couple things to say to him, Ben was a lot of the reason he was still standing there.
Emotion threatened to rob Ben of his voice entirely, and he had to swipe quickly at his eyes before he compromised any of their wedding photos prematurely. This was one of those moments he wished he could freeze in amber. It was perfect. Even the way Zari's nose wrinkled as she grinned at them. "Okay, but for real, I'm going to need you guys to stop upstaging me." Ben hiccupped a wet little laugh. "Or just keep doing your thing, because it's vow time, my lovelies. Time for you to take the stage. And if you're feeling a little bit of performance anxiety, it would be best if you took each other hands, faced one another, and forget the rest of us are here. It's all you, babes."
This was the place Cisco was calmest in. This was how things were supposed to be. There was a warmth that filled him up that he hadn’t felt in months now as he watched Zari speak. He wanted to react, he thought maybe he was reacting but really it was like he was just soaking in that moment. All the bad things were drowned out by his friends and family there around them, and he turned to face Ben. All he saw was him. There was a moment of silence as both hands gripped Ben’s. Public speaking was never his forte.
But then it was like everyone else just sort of faded away. “You’ve been watching over me since the day you got here. Saw me even when nobody else did. You’re the first one I want to tell things to no matter what it is. I don’t know how I got so lucky to find you, but here we are. And I’ll never let that go. Your love is unlike any I’ve ever experienced… You’ve shown me how much life there is outside of the lab. And what real adventure is.” He paused a moment, looking briefly over the crowd, finding only warmth there. “There were no cheat codes, and somehow we still made it here. I want you to know how much I love you, and will show you that every day of our future lives together.”
More tears spilled down Ben's cheeks as Cisco spoke. His heart beat against his ribcage like it was trying to escape so it could settle in next to the one in his love's chest. He didn't want to take his hands away, and maybe Zari or Klaus or someone got that vibe from him, because someone was dabbing his cheeks with gentle touches that made him smile and laugh and pressed their fingers more tightly together as he drew in a deep, shivering breath. "You have no idea how hard it is to keep myself from kissing you ahead of schedule. Really, I should be getting an award for my restraint."
"I'll get right on that after you two adorable dorks get through the ceremony, don't you doubt it." Zari winked at him and made a 'go on' gesture with her hand.
Ben chuckled, and then the entirety of his attention was on the improbable, nigh impossible love of his life. "A very wise man once stole the following words from the inestimable Gloria Gaynor—and they seemed pretty fitting for where I am now, standing in front of you, with my heart and soul and life in my hands, ready, willing, and able to give it all to you: As long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive. I thought I knew what love was, but I never thought it was meant for me. Not like this, not being seen for who and what I am and not only being accepted for it, but cherished. That's how you make me feel every instant of this second life, and it's how I want you to feel when we're together or apart. Because I accept you. I cherish you. I would even hazard to say I was made for you. And whatever comes next, good, bad, boring, exciting, so long as I get to do it with you as my husband, it's all worth it. I love you, Cisco Ramon, and no force in any universe is ever going to change that."
Zari was always looking out for them, and that hadn't stopped now. In his eyes she was part of his chosen family. There was no escape now as he stood there looking into Ben's eyes and holding his hands. Cisco had never been able to touch anyone like this until now, he'd never known a love like this one before. And suddenly he wished he'd added four more paragraphs to that speech. But then, Ben was talking and it felt like the entire outside world around them faded as he soaked in those words. Things had been so hard lately he wasn't sure he could feel warmth like this anymore.
This moment did so many things for him, there was hope at the other end of this mentally challenging time for normalcy. Ben was the reason he'd made it out, and was also the reason suddenly his own eyes were threatening to spring a leak. "Tell me I can kiss him, or there may be traditions broken and so many angry ancestors." He looked over at Zari with a smile through the misty eyes of his.
"Impatient!" It was apparently Zari's turn to dab at her eyes while she laughed. "Rings first. Besties?" She pointed jointly at the best men. "Hand 'em over, and you two repeat after me. Then we can get to the kissing part. Promise."
They'd picked out the rings together, but this was the first time Ben was seeing them in person after they'd been resized. Naturally, he let go of one of Cisco's hands to take the ring, and slid it onto his finger, while he repeated their short and sweet vows in a voice tight with emotion and a smile reserved for his love alone. "With this ring, I thee wed, and pledge you my love, now and forever."
Cisco also reluctantly let go of Ben’s hands to take the ring from Barry once his was on his finger. He’d picked them up, but couldn’t believe how perfect they’d turned out. Having that ring on his finger finally was like having an anchor to reality. With everything as it had been, he needed the reminder occasionally that this was real. That ring would help more than Ben knew. He reached then to Ben’s hand, gently sliding that ring on his now husband’s finger and repeating the same phrase. “With this ring, I thee wed. I give this ring as a symbol of my love. Now and Forever.”
And finally, he was able to kiss his new husband. A kiss that was far too short for his liking, but one he’d never forget.
Ben was only barely aware of Zari barely getting out the words "You're married! Now kiss already!" before he was enveloped in the kind of breath-stealing kiss that frankly left him week at the knees. When he emerged from the other side of it, his arms were wrapped tightly around Cisco's waist, and their small audience was cheering. Ben leaned his forehead against his husband's, and said, "Hi. We're married."
His hands only left Ben’s own to kiss him back and literally sweep him off his feet. He had his arms wrapped around him in return as he placed him gently back down on the ground. “Hi. Husband.” That grin didn’t leave his face for the rest of the evening. His hand, rarely left Ben’s that evening. He couldn’t remember the last time a warmth like this filled him up. He wanted that entire day to go on forever and play on loop.