[He doesn't miss him now, now that they've been reconnecting. But he also doesn't know if it can be what it was, if he broke something that can't be reclaimed.]
And back then, I thought he was the great love. The only one. By the time I figured it out, you were already getting married.
[No, they didn't. But they were friends, weren't they? Maybe it says something about their friendship that it fell apart when Bradan stepped back, that it was never about friendship with them, not really.
Maybe they weren't meant to then.]
They were ... I don't know. They felt easier, until they weren't.
Yeah. They did. You were family. Your family was my family. We were something, Braid. Something real, and not something I would need a string to define.
( He grips the bottom of his seat, looking over at his old friend. )
Spent the last six months getting at least that back, hopin - ( He pauses, moving to stand. He thinks of walking away, but he turns back, tears in the corner of his eyes, threatening. He's tough. But this sliced straight through. ) Give me one damn good reason we can't do this. Cause I want you, Braid. Something fierce. I'm not holding college against you. I'm leaving it in the rearview. Can't we move forward. See who we are now?
[Bradan looks up at him as he stands, but then his eyes cut away, across the room to the dance floor where his family is enjoying the party. All of this feels a bit too public for his taste to be having a conversation this personal.
So he pushes to his feet and tips his head towards one of the side doors that lead out into the Quarter.]
( Yeah, fine. He turns and heads out that way, first, getting one more glance at his kid and the grands. Everyone is doing what they should be doing at a wedding. Except Niall's effectively doing what you shouldn't.
Out in the night air, he walks out a few feet before turning and giving him a 'Okay, we're here, now what?' look. )
[There are so many reasons he could give as to why this may not work. There's lots of complications and ways that he could twist himself up into knots to avoid something that would make him happy. But ever since they started digging up these pieces of their life before, there's only one thing that's been lingering, only one true regret.
Maybe he's had a little too much whiskey, but the impulse is too strong to ignore.
Another quick glance to make sure no one followed them out, before he steps in closer, cupping Niall's face in his hands before leaning in to kiss him.]
( He waits for him to say something. Anything. But, what needs to be said can't be. It's more. They've always been more. So, when he propels himself forward, Niall knows this was always the outcome. It had to get here.
They've never kissed before, and it's everything he thought it might be like. His lips are soft. There's a strength and conviction behind it. It's a gesture if there ever was one.
Once he comes to, realizes he's being kissed, he gives as good as he gets, his own hands coming to cup Bradan's face.
Quinn and the kids don't see anything, all dancing, all fun. Brogan caught his brother stepping outside over Felicity's shoulder, but gives him his privacy and turns Felicity around on the dance floor. Cormac misses it, completely, occupied by and fascinated by Zoe.
Bairre Sr. sees the pieces fall into place. He gives a squeeze of Catroina's shoulder from behind and places his chin on her shoulder.
"Finally," he says in his signature lilt. "Years in the making.")
[Catroina follows his eyeline and smiles softly, before nudging her husband back towards the dance floor. "Leave him be. You know how he gets."
The kiss breaks, and Bradan takes a breath, trying to process why it feels like he's released something he's been holding into for so long. His shoulders drop as he relaxes, looking at this man he's starting to realize he's been waiting for.
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no subject
[He doesn't miss him now, now that they've been reconnecting. But he also doesn't know if it can be what it was, if he broke something that can't be reclaimed.]
And back then, I thought he was the great love. The only one. By the time I figured it out, you were already getting married.
no subject
( He makes that clear very quickly, not that Bradan doesn't already know. )
I haven't been for nine months now.
no subject
[Niall might not like this person, the man with a more cynical edge.]
I don't think we can assume that things will just be the same.
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( He doesn't mean to say that through gritted teeth, but he can't help but have an opinion about it. )
no subject
Maybe they weren't meant to then.]
They were ... I don't know. They felt easier, until they weren't.
no subject
( He grips the bottom of his seat, looking over at his old friend. )
Spent the last six months getting at least that back, hopin - ( He pauses, moving to stand. He thinks of walking away, but he turns back, tears in the corner of his eyes, threatening. He's tough. But this sliced straight through. ) Give me one damn good reason we can't do this. Cause I want you, Braid. Something fierce. I'm not holding college against you. I'm leaving it in the rearview. Can't we move forward. See who we are now?
no subject
So he pushes to his feet and tips his head towards one of the side doors that lead out into the Quarter.]
Let's get some air.
no subject
Out in the night air, he walks out a few feet before turning and giving him a 'Okay, we're here, now what?' look. )
no subject
Maybe he's had a little too much whiskey, but the impulse is too strong to ignore.
Another quick glance to make sure no one followed them out, before he steps in closer, cupping Niall's face in his hands before leaning in to kiss him.]
no subject
They've never kissed before, and it's everything he thought it might be like. His lips are soft. There's a strength and conviction behind it. It's a gesture if there ever was one.
Once he comes to, realizes he's being kissed, he gives as good as he gets, his own hands coming to cup Bradan's face.
Quinn and the kids don't see anything, all dancing, all fun. Brogan caught his brother stepping outside over Felicity's shoulder, but gives him his privacy and turns Felicity around on the dance floor. Cormac misses it, completely, occupied by and fascinated by Zoe.
Bairre Sr. sees the pieces fall into place. He gives a squeeze of Catroina's shoulder from behind and places his chin on her shoulder.
"Finally," he says in his signature lilt. "Years in the making." )
no subject
The kiss breaks, and Bradan takes a breath, trying to process why it feels like he's released something he's been holding into for so long. His shoulders drop as he relaxes, looking at this man he's starting to realize he's been waiting for.
But now he has no idea what to say.]
So.
[Great place to start.]
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( His hands come down from his face, settling along his waist. )
We can keep this under wraps tonight. But, I want to do that again and take you out proper. Something you'd be interested in, Bradan Ford?
no subject
Yeah. Safe to say that's something I'd be interested in.
no subject
( He takes a full step backwards, proving he can keep his hands to himself. )
I think the Grans are taking the kids for the night. If you want to meet up after.
🎀
Maybe.
[But with that he's going to return to the party and see where the night takes him.]