LOCATION: Joel & Ingrid's Wedding Reception
WHO: @thexcarrollxtimes & @carrollcountypsychology
WHAT: Vincent introducing Declan as his boyfriend to Davin
Vincent:
"He's by the drinks," he told Dec once the text came through. He wasn't sure why, but all of a sudden his throat went dry, and his heart dropped to his stomach. Introducing Declan wasn't a big deal. Despite what Davin had said, Vincent was sure his brother was just pulling his leg and knew who his boyfriend was. The two had been best friends all throughout high school, and you never found one without the other close behind. They had been inseparable until Declan left for college. But then again, maybe he didn't remember him. Maybe Vincent had been too wrapped up in his grief over losing mom, and navigating his growing crush alone to remember himself that Dav had already gone on to live his life away from Carroll by the time Declan mattered in his life. Either way, Davin had seemed okay with Vincent and Declan being together, happy for his little brother even, so why was he suddenly nervous to make the official introductions?
"Dav!" he called out once he spotted his brother by the bar area, raising a hand to catch his attention. He glanced back at Dec with a smile, giving his hand a squeeze as he led him over. "Dav, this is Declan. My boyfriend," he said proudly with a motion to show him off, giving him another, softer smile. "You know, my best friend who you swear you never met before," he teased his brother with a gentle laugh as he brought his attention back his way. "You seriously don't remember him?"
Declan:
Declan was nervous. Things were great between him and Vincent, it felt like they were making up for lost time. But a small voice at the back of his mind wondered when the metaphorical shoe would drop. He hadn’t had the best track record with relationships. He was always too, well, too Declan–quick to fix and quick to apologize. Everything was always fine. His last partner had even asked if he ever felt anything other than fine. But he wanted this time to be different. How many people actually got the chance to be with their first love? He wouldn’t fumble it this time.
Meeting Davin was a big deal, maybe the biggest deal. Declan had fought with Vincent all those years ago, leaving him heartbroken and alone. Would Davin remember him as the man who’d made his brother cry?
He brushed that thought away. With Vincent’s warm body at his side, he reminded himself what was important this moment and this person.
Declan glanced toward the drink table and immediately recognized the man. There was something about the line of his shoulders and the way he held his chin that reminded him so much of Vincent.
The smile Vincent gave him was all the encouragement he needed. Declan returned the expression, an affectionate smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He pressed a hand gently against the small of his boyfriend’s back and followed him.
“Hey, Davin, it’s great to see you,” Declan offered the older man a hand to shake and an eager grin. “This party is really something, isn’t it?”
Davin:
The moment Davin learned his brother was with another male, he did what a good older brother would do. He teased Vincent, but at the end of the day told his brother he was happy for him. And he was happy for Vinny.
At least until this precise moment where he was three drinks in and saw his brother advancing towards him with his boyfriend.
Sudden it became real. His brother was with another male and he felt his stomach flip. What was going on? He had gay friends in the city, he always considered himself open minded. But those people weren't his brother.
Uh, hi." The normal talkative Davin felt weird and didn't even realize Declan was offering his hand for a shake. Yeah, something." He murmured.
Vincent:
Vinny flinched and his brow furrowed in confusion. Had he upset Davin somehow? He glanced over at Declan as his brother barely said two words in return greeting, the first sign something was off, and completely ignored the outstretched hand, sign two Davin wasn't entirely himself right then.
"Fucking expensive is more like it," Vince chimed in, trying to cut through whatever tension had suddenly started swallowing up the trio. "That foyer or whatever you call it is bigger than my entire house," he added with a nervous laugh, his hand dropping Dec's to run over the back of his neck before finding its way to his boyfriend's waist, his grip gently squeezing away his anxiety once he felt his closeness.
Declan:
This was going as well as Declan had expected. He felt Vincent’s flinch at his side. The motion was so jarring, Declan half expected to see a bruise where someone had struck him. But there was no bruise, only hurt and confusion plain on Vince's gentle face.
Without thinking, Declan stepped between the two brothers. It was so automatic to want to shield Vincent from pain he hadn't realized he was doing it until it was too late.
“Extravagant, really!” Declan's smile never wavering–it was his only tool for disarming.
“It reminds me of all of the projects I've been putting off on the farmhouse,” he reached for a glass of wine in an attempt to play off his awkward movement before returning to Vince's side.
“I heard you all rescued a raccoon. How's that going?” Declan asked. He'd seen the way Vince had lit up when talking about the little guy. Maybe it was a safe topic?
Davin:
All he could hear was his father's voice in his head at the sight of the two men. The teasing jokes his father would say when they were out and about and see two men together. Why was this bothering him so badly? It made no sense, he came to terms with his brother being gay, bi. Hell, even went out of his comfort zone and went to a store that was for the gays just to give Vincent a funny present letting him know he was good with his life choices.
But, that hand running along Declan's back started to make him feel extremely uncomfortable.
Davin ran his fingers through his hair nervously, he wished he had a lifeline at the moment. "Yeah, we saved a raccoon." Not exactly the enthralling tale he told Ruth about the heroic rescue. "I uh, I probably should go find Ruth. We're supposed to make everyone feel terrible with our dance routine."
Vincent:
What the fuck was happening?
Vincent's heart dropped and the world around them suddenly went quiet. A shiver of fear started to run itself up his spine and out through his extremities. His arm dropped from around Declan and he shoved the hand in his pocket, unsure what he had done or said to turn his brother against him. Against them. But clearly he had done something and it suddenly felt like he was committing a cardinal sin with the affectionate gesture in front of Davin. He swallowed thickly and nodded, huffing out a nervous laugh in an attempt to choke back the tears he could feel moistening his eyes.
"Yea, Bandit is a real handful. Cute, but meddlesome," he tried going on, now avoiding looking at his brother all together, glancing at Dec with a quick, sad, apologetic smile before taking a drink to help further swallow back his quickly rising sorrows. This wasn't going how he planned AT ALL. "Yeah," he huffed out with a slight raise of his brow, feigning interest in his glass. "Ruth is good for having fun. Sorry we didn't stick to the dino theme," he poorly tried joking to keep up with the conversation, his jaw clenching tightly and his brow furrowing as he avoided his brother's gaze and concentrated on just not falling apart.
Declan:
Vincent was wilting before Declan's eyes and he needed to do something. Good impressions be damned, he was here to have a good time with his boyfriend, not entertain someone who couldn't give them the time of day. He took Vincent's hand and squeezed. It was a reminder that they were in this together–that everything would be okay. “Well, it was great to see you, Davin. I gotta get this man something to eat before we hit the dance floor,” he gave Davin his biggest and brightest smile before turning his attention to Vince. “Shall we?”
