#intrulogimoceit

It really had been a beautiful ceremony. The weather was perfect, a soft breeze ruffled both grooms’ hair in just the right way, every little detail was clearly chosen oh so carefully, and there were no unforeseen events that would have tarnished the lovely atmosphere. None of that had been any kind of problem. No, the problem was mostly the fact that one of the grooms had told him that he was going to be sitting with someone at the reception that would be just perfect for him. And when more information was requested, all that was provided was “Don’t worry, you’ll figure it out.” 

Once the ceremony ended, all the guests made their way to the grand ballroom where the reception was being held. A beautiful venue - grand vaulted ceilings, gothic architecture. Just inside before the dance floor and the area where the tables were all set up was a sign with the seating arrangements. The seating chart was both helpful and not. Walking up to the board to see what table he’d been assigned to had been easy, as was finding the table itself. But once that was done, there weren’t specific places set for each seat. At least not at their table. Just the names of the four men who’d be sitting together written elegantly on a little card next to the floral centerpiece. So the main clue as to who at the table was the aforementioned perfect match was clearly not going to come from there.

The four of them were all at least a bit familiar with each other, but not that much beyond a basic understanding of who they were and how they were connected to the newlyweds. There were two who were closer to Roman - Remus, his twin brother, and Logan, his best friend since childhood. And two who were closer to Virgil - Janus, a close friend since high school, and Patton, who was essentially a cousin. 

Logan was the first to the table - even after stopping for a glass of wine on the way, sitting himself down in the first seat he came upon and letting out a long exhale. He’d been divorced for a few years now and his best friend had been encouraging him to get “back into the game” for a while. He’d pretty much written off the concept as a whole, he’d done the relationship thing and apparently it wasn’t for him. Lesson learned. Janus next, sitting down across from Logan and sharing a greeting nod in vague recognition as well as silent approval of the glass of Merlot they were each holding. Janus was also not one who loved the concept of dating, he had some noticeable facial scarring that he was really tired of being stared at about - or worse, pitied for - and just kept his distance from people he didn’t know more often than not. It made things easier. 

Third was Patton, happily walking up and waving to the other two before sitting in one of the two open seats, right between them. His and Virgil’s mothers had been close friends since they were kids, so they grew up as close friends and considered the other’s mom to be an aunt. Rather than explain all of that, saying they were basically cousins was much simpler. Virgil had been there for Patton more than once over the years when a relationship didn’t quite work out for him. He was sweet to his core and his love languages were basically all of them, so things ending between him and a partner with comments made about his “clinginess” or how he was “overly affectionate” had happened more than once. He never wanted to make anyone uncomfortable, of course, he didn’t blame anyone for not being the same way he was - but he knew what made him happy and he shouldn’t have to go without either. 

And last to arrive was Remus, he was easily the most unmistakable. For one, he was an identical twin to Roman, anyone who saw them knew that. But he also just had something of a reputation. He wasn’t one who cared too much for strict social conventions and he was definitely considered to be a pretty wild card. A wild card amongst wild cards, honestly. 

Once they were all seated, they looked around at the ones seated around them. Since the seats weren’t specifically assigned, none of them really knew who it was they’d been sitting here to be set up with. They also had no idea that any of the others had been told the same thing. At least their table was the smallest, the only table of only four, so there weren’t seven others they had to navigate between, thankfully. Three was still something, though.

They sat there quietly for what felt like a very long moment, eyeing each other. This was the designated Cocktail Hour portion of the wedding, so the grooms were off taking pictures now that they were officially married and all the guests got to enjoy the open bar and make small talk for a bit. Half of their table would have happily sat there silently until it was time to go home, but the other half simply didn’t have the capacity. 

“Hello! I’m Patton, um, I’m Virgil’s sorta cousin, family friend. I think I’ve met a couple of you guys before, but introductions just seemed easier.” Patton piped up, looking across the three around him. 

“Remus.” He piped up, pointing at his face. “I’m pretty sure it’s clear where I fit in this whole clusterfuck.” 

Patton blinked. He knew there was no way he could have guessed what the moustached man was going to say, but still hadn’t expected that.

“I’m Logan, Roman’s friend. I’ve definitely met you a number of times over the years, Remus.” Logan added, apparently completely unphased by the comment. 

Janus held his glass up and out toward them a bit. “And I’m Janus, I've known Virgil since we were teenagers.” 

“Oh, I remember him saying that! Wait, does that mean you went to our high school? Virgil was a year ahead of me.” 

Janus dipped his chin in a single nod, humming in a vaguely affirmative way. 

“Didn’t you too, Specs? You’ve been around since forever.” Remus added, looking over to Logan. 

One of Logan’s eyebrows quirked up above the frames of his glasses, he really wasn’t sure why he had been dubbed Specs, Patton wore what appeared to be the exact same glasses. But, no matter. “Yes, we lived in the same neighborhood. But I was a grade ahead of you both.” “Yeaaaah, that’s it. And you were, uh, the violent dick tournament.” Remus replied, making Patton nearly choke on his water and Janus cough like he forgot how to breathe.

Logan only blinked. “Yes. Valedictorian.”

“That’s the bitch! But you weren’t hot like this then though.” Somehow, that was the comment that got Logan to actually react, a red tinge taking over the edges of his ears as it sunk in. Remus’s head tilted to the side as he watched it happen, then he quickly let his eyes dart between the other two. “What? You both see it, right? The sexy nerd thing isn’t easy to pull off.” He only seemed surprised that no one responded, but then he quickly came to a conclusion as to why. An incorrect conclusion. “Oh, hey. Don’t think you two aren’t super lickable. Just cuz Lo’s all sharp lines doesn’t mean the young dad bod thing doesn’t totally do it for me too. And,” He said to Patton before turning to Janus and letting out a low whistle, thankfully not loud enough for any other tables to really take notice. “You are hot as fuck, and the scars only make you look even more badass.” 

Remus just sat back in his chair, looking across the three of them. They couldn’t really tell if he was proud that he’d silenced them all or if he was just waiting for a compliment in return. Eventually Janus managed to find words. “...So, are you drunk already? Or are you actually just like this?” 

“Oh, he’s just like this.” Logan managed to get the comment in before Remus could answer, followed by a fairly long drink from his glass. 

“What? I’m just being honest! I..” Remus started before groaning and letting himself fall fully back into his chair from where he’d been perched at the very edge. “I just remembered I promised I’d be on my best behavior and the thing I was gonna say next would be toeing the line.” He explained with a pout.

The fact that everything up to this point had apparently not been toeing the line really had to sink in to the other three before conversation could continue. 

“...I suppose that does sound like something Roman would do.” Logan eventually managed, really having no idea where this conversation could possibly be headed. Thankfully, Remus had really gotten rid of any awkwardness - if only in such a way that the other three were now sure there was nothing they could say that would come near what had already been said - so there was little to be concerned about at that point. So Janus casually joined in more fully. “Most of today seems like something Roman would do. I mean, Virgil certainly wasn’t the one who insisted on monogrammed wine glasses and marble table numbers.” Janus held up his glass again, turning it to show the R and V etched into the glass in elegant script. 

Patton looked down to the beautiful centerpiece, and sure enough, the flowers that made it up were in a short marble vase with their table number on it. He then giggled a little bit, causing the attention of the other three to go back to him. He picked up one of the folded napkins that had been sitting next to the centerpiece and unrolled it to show them. None of them had really noticed them much, but now that Patton had brought one to their attention, they all realized it was hardly a napkin at all. To start, it was velvet. Monogrammed in the same way the wine glasses were. “He really did go all out, didn’t he? I know these weren’t Virge’s idea either.” Was Patton’s little giggle adorable? Yes. Was anyone going to mention it? No. Instead, Logan picked up one of the velvet napkins as well. Some were red and some were purple, the monogram in the opposite’s color thread. “What are these even for? Surely they aren’t really to be used as napkins.” 

“He’s always loved velvet, the absolute freak.” Remus made a face, scrunching up his nose and sticking out his tongue. “It makes my fucking teeth itch. Like, I want to spit them all out. Preferably at him.” He lifted up his hands from the table and limply shook them out a bit before crossing his arms.

Patton looked back into the basket of napkins, leaning in to look deeper inside. After a second he glanced at Remus, eyes noting his green dress shirt, and then a smile lit up his face. Patton reached in again and pulled something out from underneath the remaining velvet napkins. A black cloth napkin, tied in a green ribbon. “Here, this must be for you.” Remus took it with confusion, immediately pulling the green ribbon off and watching it unroll. A little note fell out, him picking it up and laughing as he read it. Patton had a big smile, watching. “What’s it say?” “Don’t say I never did anything for you, you filthy casual.” Remus responded, turning the little card around to show them. “Aw.. Maybe now I won’t do that thing with his toothbrush.” 

Yet another comment that it just felt right to ignore. “What a loving family.” Janus added, getting another sip from his glass. Logan hummed in agreement and mirrored the action. 

Remus was fiddling with the green ribbon, Patton watching. It seemed like he was trying to tie it around his own wrist and was clearly struggling. “Want me to tie that in a bow for you, Remus?” Patton asked, watching as Remus’s wild green eyes flicked up to meet his gaze.

“Sure, I’m not getting anywhere with it.” He held his hand out with the ribbon, Patton taking it and tying it around his wrist like a bracelet with a perfect little bow. Remus pulled his hand back, looking down at it. “Thanks! You know, it's always good to have a man around who’s good at tying things up.” 

Patton clearly was going to respond, but that comment made whatever he’d been planning to say die in his throat. Logan and Janus just silently wondered if Remus was referring to that in a sexy way or a murdery way, both coming to the conclusion that it was certainly both. 

Seeing as no one piped up, Remus continued. “Actually, hold on. Are there any scissors in that basket?” He pointed to where the napkins were. “Um, no I don’t think so?” Patton responded, glancing in again. “Ugh, Roman never fucking listens to me! I told him if he’s going to have ribbons everywhere he needs to have scissors accessible! At least he didn’t do the stupid little decorative rocks. You know the ones that look like they could be real rocks or chocolate rocks? Choking hazards. Like, even sober people can be idiots. Have you ever been to Lush? People take bites right out of the display soap all the time!” 

It was really occurring to the other three that as much as you can try to expect the unexpected, you could never really be fully ready for it. 

“...Let’s just go back to the scissors. Why scissors?” Janus asked, his expression a mix between fascination, concern, and some indecipherable third thing. 

“Uh, because you never know if someone’s gonna try and strangle somebody with all this ribbon? Especially now that he’s married.” Remus ‘explained.’ 

“What does being married have to do with, um, being s-strangled?” Patton asked, clearly purely concerned. 

“Spouses are the ones most likely to murder you, statistically. He’s just inviting disaster!” Remus added, looking completely sure of what he was saying. 

Patton and Janus were both at a loss. Logan, however, did something none of them were expecting. He laughed. It was a single short little Ha! that clearly escaped without his permission, and he quickly brought his hand up to lightly press his fingertips to his lips, but they didn’t fully hide the small amused smile. Remus’s face lit up, a grin splitting his face from ear to ear. Patton and Janus shared a little glance, but also found themselves smiling. 

Thankfully, for Logan at least, they were interrupted at that point by people at other tables starting to clap. They looked up to see that the grooms were joining them in the reception hall, walking arm in arm into the ballroom. The four of them joined in on the clapping, watching as the new husbands fully crossed the room and made their way up to the center of the dance floor. It was clearly time for the first dance. 

They’d also both changed from their ceremony outfits, which was for the best. Roman’s white suit had had a long jacket that transitioned into a dramatic train behind him, and Virgil’s black suit had a cape that began along the seams where his sleeves met the body of his jacket and ended right at the ground. They were now in much more reasonable outfits for the dancing and celebrating half of the event. Of course they were still a bit dramatic, Roman’s white jacket had golden appliques and Virgil’s black jacket had much more subtle gilded piping, but they no longer had tripping hazards at the very least. 

Everyone watched as the couple had their first dance, it was undeniably sweet. Those who knew Virgil could see how secure Roman made him feel, he didn’t have any of the subtle discomfort he often portrayed when he was the center of attention, and those who didn’t know him as well had no idea anything was out of the ordinary at all. Their song did eventually end and they bowed slightly to more applause from their guests before making their way to their head table. 

The MC hosting the event then announced that food would be coming out in just a few minutes and they were free to come interact with the newlyweds a bit if they weren’t already bombarded with visitors - but also reminding everyone that they needed to let them eat too. It was a playful announcement, but Logan was actually the one who’d stressed to Roman that it was important to remind the guests of that fact. Far too many people he knew talked about how they didn’t get a chance to eat at their own weddings, himself included. 

He tried not to think about his own wedding much, it didn’t really do him any favors. But that particular factoid took him back to the memory very directly. He didn’t know how long he’d been a bit lost in his thoughts, but he felt a hand land on his shoulder seemingly out of nowhere and he was immediately snapped out of it. He turned to look up and find Janus standing beside him. “Hey, finish your glass. I’m going for a refill. And someone needs to be in charge of Remus.” Janus said, his tone flippant as he gestured with his own empty glass. But Logan could see something in his eyes... Something that said Janus knew Logan had needed to be brought back to the present.

He glanced down at the small sip left in his glass, hardly anything at all. Janus easily could have just snagged it and walked off, but he didn’t. Logan blinked a few times to clear his vision and then tossed the last of the glass back before holding it out to Janus. “Thank you, I certainly won’t say no to that.” “Figured. You seem to be a man of taste afterall.” Janus plucked the glass from his hand and then turned, striding off toward the bar. 

Logan had to take a moment to process that little comment, but then found himself suddenly alone with Remus, Patton already missing. Remus’s chin was resting in both of his hands with his elbows planted on the table, looking intently at Logan. Logan raised an eyebrow. “...Yes?” 

“Hiii. You went far away for a bit, like something spicy got ahold of you. What was it? Was it hard? Or was it actually close?” Remus asked, his eyes pure wonder. 

He didn’t really know what to say to that, but what he heard himself say was “That sounds like the setup to a riddle.”

Remus’s eyes somehow got even sparklier. “Oh I love riddles! Wanna hear one?” Logan just nodded, surprised. “Hmm.. Okay, okay. I once let over 1000 different people inside me, until I was ripped open by something long and hard . What am I?”

Logan looked directly into his eyes for a moment, tilting his head ever so slightly to the side before he answered. “The Titanic?” 

Remus quickly gave some excited little claps. “Yes! Ooo, you’re good. Okay. Um.. I’m smooth, preferably around eight inches long, and have cum inside me.” He leaned in, licking his lips a little. Logan’s mouth quirked up at the corner, just a bit. “Cucumber.” 

“Yes! Fuck, you’re so good. Okay, I have more. Umm..” 

Up at the head table, Patton had slipped over to the grooms’ side, thankful he’d managed to get a moment in where Roman was distracted with another guest and he could speak with just Virgil. 

“Virge! Congrats! This has all been so beautiful, I'm so happy for you!” Patton said, excitedly. Virgil smiling and standing to give him a quick hug. 

“Thanks, Pat. It’s been.. A lot, but good.” Virgil admitted, but he was still smiling. “I’m glad, I was hoping you’d been having a good time.” “I have, definitely.” Virgil nodded, but then slowly grinned a little more conspiratorially, glancing over to Patton’s table and then back. “How about you? How’s it been for you?” 

Patton blushed a little, reaching up to tuck a curl behind his ear. “Um.. Good? I’ve been having a lot of fun. I, uh.. I did want to ask you though..” He paused, but Virgil just raised his eyebrows a bit, encouraging him to continue. “You had said I’d be sitting with someone who, uh.. You know. And I just wasn’t sure who you.. I mean, they’re all great! I just didn’t know if you meant one of them.. Specifically.” He slowly managed, blushing. 

Virgil let out a little breath of a laugh. “Nope.” 

“Huh?” Patton responded, confused. 

“Not one of them specifically.” He shook his head with that same little smile.

“But.. Didn’t you..” “Yes.” Patton just looked at him, studying his expression for a long moment until a bit of movement behind Virgil drew his eye. Roman was no longer talking to someone else, he was looking back at Patton with a very similar sneaky little grin. Patton blinked a couple times, but Roman just gestured back at his table with his head, then gave him a nod. For some reason that was when it all clicked. These two thought that.. His gaze went back to Virgil, their knowledge of one another silently unfolding between them. 

It took a long moment before Patton nodded softly, a shy smile creeping up over his face. “...Congrats again, you two. Everything has been so lovely.” Patton waved as he turned and then made his way back to his table. His cheeks were still a light shade of pink as he took his seat again, listening to see if he could tell what he’d missed since he’d gotten up. 

“Oh, that one’s easy. Pasta.” Logan remarked, laughing softly. 

“Oh I love pasta!” Patton said, smiling. 

Remus and Logan just shared a quick glance before looking back to Patton again. “Me too, my favorite’s spaghetti.” Remus replied. 

“Why do I feel like even spaghetti must still be some sort of ordeal when it comes to you?” Came Janus’s voice, him finally back from the bar, sitting down and then handing Logan his wine glass. 

“Oh it is! So first I take a straw and-” The food finally arrived, waiters placing down their meals before them and making sure everyone received the option they’d selected back on their RSVPs before moving on to serve other tables. Whatever Remus had been about to explain faded out, them starting to tuck into their meals. Patton’s thoughts were a bit all over the place, thinking about what Virgil must have had in mind for him, and how he and Roman clearly saw an opportunity for the four of them to find what they hadn’t been able to thus far. Patton might not have come up with it on his own exactly, but the more he thought about it, the more it all seemed to make sense to him. The more it all started to seem really great.

After a bit he glanced up, looking at Remus directly across from him. He’d also glanced up from eating and met Patton’s gaze, those green eyes studying his face. Patton had been told he was fairly easy to read for most of his life, and apparently his still lightly pink cheeks were clueing Remus into something. Patton tucked his chin down just a little bit, bashful, but then quickly darted his eyes to both Janus and Logan before looking back to Remus again. Remus’s eyes mirrored what Patton’s had done on just a split second delay, then went back to him. Patton had no idea how, but he swore he saw Remus figure it out in that moment. The slight widening of his eyes - which had already been open fairly wide in all honesty - and the smirk that grew up one side of his face convinced him. He knew and he was on board. They were already half way there, the two of them just had to get the other half.

Conversation stayed light until the food was pretty much done, waiters coming around to collect plates just as the MC went back to the microphone, announcing that before they opened the floor up for dancing, the grooms would be doing their bouquet toss. All unmarried guests were asked to get up and head on over to the dance floor. Remus and Patton both smiled, looking to the sides of them to see that neither of the other two looked like they planned to move. But the two more excitable ones shared a nod and both grabbed a hand. Remus took hold of Logan’s, pulling him to his feet and toward the floor, while Patton did the same with Janus. Those two shared their own glance, but it almost seemed something like fond exasperation in their eyes rather than anything else. 

Roman and Virgil had moved around to stand in front of their table, each holding a bouquet. Patton watched their eyes following their group of four moving on the floor, them clearly seeing that Patton and Remus were bringing along Janus and Logan. Once everyone who was going to participate was in position, the grooms both turned their backs to the dance floor, the MC starting a countdown from three for them to toss the flowers. 

When the count hit one, however, they didn’t toss them over their heads behind them. They both spun back to face the group and then threw. Roman’s bouquet, which moved with surprising speed because he threw it overhand like he was pitching a baseball, hit Logan squarely in the chest, him quickly bringing his hands up to catch the flowers before they bounced off of him and hit the floor. Virgil’s sailed right into Janus’s hands via a softer but still very pointed underhand toss. 

The room erupted into good natured chuckles, Logan and Janus both having to look around while their thoughts caught up. Once everything had registered, them no longer going from staring at the bouquets in their hands to the man next to them also holding flowers to the two who’d thrown the flowers and back down to their bouquets again, they were both turning red. It was then they noticed Remus and Patton, smiling and giggling at them. That was when it finally hit them, like a bundle of flowers to the chest. 

The four of them stood still a moment, barely noticing that the MC announced the dance floor was finally open and that it was time to get the party going. Remus took the flowers from both Logan and Janus, quickly placing them back on their table before returning and grabbing Janus’s hands to start dancing with him, Patton also taking hold of Logan and joining in. 

Roman and Virgil were both smiling, glad to see their little side quest for their wedding day was coming together. They had a thousand other things they had to be aware of, friends and family still coming up for congratulations and requests to dance with them, but every time they managed to sneak a glance at the men from the table of four, they’d traded partners yet again, eventually ensuring that each possible pairing of them got a chance to dance before they just stayed all together in their little group and continued to enjoy themselves. 

It wasn’t for a long while, after several breaks from dancing to rest a bit, or get a drink, or have some cake, or take some pictures - that things were finally winding down and the four of them were back at their table gathering their discarded coats. A beat of quiet overtook them as they found themselves all standing together, in a completely different headspace from where they’d been upon arriving. It was happier, more hopeful, full of excited anticipation - none of them could have guessed this was where they’d have found themselves at the end of the night, but all of them were looking forward to seeing what would come next.

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