Chapter Text
- Jack, go away, - Rhys rubbed the bridge of his nose with his robotic hand. Covering his weary eyes, he sank exhaustedly to the edge of the podium. The entire schedule had been blown because of Rhys's indiscretion.
- Pumpkin, why are you so miserable? No one's ever flown the infinite vastness of space and you're already in no mood, - Jack brushed back his brown hair and stood beside his assistant. - Especially since my idea is not as crazy as you might think.
- I assure you, I've heard many bad ideas from you, but this one is no better than the others, - Rhys folded his elbows on his knees and hid his face between his palms.
- Rhys, - Jack squatted across from the boy. He gently took the other man's palms in his own, removed them from his assistant's handsome face, and said with a pleased face, - have I ever given you any reason to doubt yourself?
- Of course not, - the young man scrutinized the smoothed creases on the man's mask and met Jack's gaze. - But your idea is unwise, especially for this holiday.
- It's only a wedding.
- Our wedding, Jack, which, by the way, you insisted on, - Jack murmured approvingly, stroking Rhys hands in his grip.
- Then we must show all the dregs of the world who belongs to the most charming princess, - Jack winked with a charming smirk on his lips at the tiredly smiling boy and kissed both hands of his fiancé. - Don't worry, everything will go perfectly, especially since it's all a far-fetched formality, the important thing is that we're both together.
- To the end? - Rhys whispered the words meant for the only man in his life, extending a human little finger in front of him and lifting the corners of his lips slightly.
- Absolutely, cupcake, - they interlocked their tiny fingers and touched their foreheads, smiling like teenagers.
***
- Are you ready? - Wilhelm, dressed in a dark blue three-piece suit, entered the room where Rhys was waiting for him to leave. It was an isolated instance of a man dressed in a formal suit, and yet because of his robotic limbs, asking for his costume to be altered three times. - I'm surprised Jack didn't make you wear a dress, - Wilhelm grinned, crossing his arms over his chest, which was a pretty bad idea because seconds later he heard the sound of tearing seams. - Shit!
- Wilhelm, - Rhys exhaled, tilting his head and placing his palms on his waist.
- I told you this was a bad idea, - the man grabbed sleeve, pulling at the fabric without straining, and it tore away from the jacket with a distinctive sound. - That's better, - the man turned the metal arm and did the same with the other hand, to the horror of the boy, who was massaging his temples for the tenth time in the last week. - God, this is so much more comfortable, do you want me to do it for you? - The man reached for Rhys, but the young man recoiled from the giant hands, wrapping his arms around his shoulders.
- No! My suit is worth as much as five of yours.
A wine-red satin suit hugged his obscenely long and slender legs. Beneath the jacket, which had no shirt underneath, a blue tattoo was visible, curling down the right side of Rhys's chest, and black circles, outlined in thin lines of deep black, on his neck. The chrome arm was hidden beneath the wide sleeves, but even so it drew attention with its silver luster. The edges of the lapels and sleeves were embroidered with black patterns similar to those seen on fragments of eridium in the Vaults when illuminated by a powerful beam of light. On his pale feet he wore patent black moccasins without a buckle. His hair, not drenched in a ton of gel, curled at the tips and fell lazily to his forehead, lending a certain air of tenderness and sexiness to the guy's appearance.
- I have to admit, kid, if you weren't with Jack, I'd hit on you, - Wilhelm's laugh echoed through the room, if not down the hall, hitting the young man on the metal shoulder with a swing.
Confused by such sincere words, Rhys covered his mouth with his palm and stared in amazement at the man twice his size.
- But the truth is, Jack is lucky to have you, - Wilhelm offered his elbow and smirked as he looked at the blushing young man. - And as his friend, I'm happy for the jackass, - they accepted the invitation and moved toward the waiting guests.
- Maybe you're right, - Rhys said, looking ahead.
- About what?
- That he's lucky to have me, not everyone can handle his temper and his quirks.
Wilhelm burst into a contagious laugh that reeked of genuine amusement, and it made Rhys want to smile and laugh a little.
As they crossed the threshold of the restaurant, decorated with scarlet and lilac flowers, all eyes turned to them. Their hearts pounded in their ears, hundreds of silhouettes flashed before their eyes, and the lack of oxygen seemed fatal. Closing his eyes, Rhys mentally counted to ten, something he always did when he was nervous or angry with Jack.
He didn't even notice as they approached the glass staircase built right in front of the podium. How the firm hand was replaced by a familiar warm palm with fine scars on the rough skin. How a minty breath touched his face or how the palm rested on his cheek.
- Open your eyes, sleeping beauty, - a deep voice with the occasional huskiness caressed Rhys's delicate ears.
On impulse, Rhys slowly opened his multicolored eyes to meet the same heterochromatic ones opposite.
- Hello, handsome, - the young man whispered.
Jack was dressed in a satin gray suit with a white shirt. The sleeves of his jacket and shirt were rolled up, exposing a tattoo on his right arm and a watch on his left. His hair was styled in his usual hairstyle, and he wore white shoes on his feet. And a mask that hid the main secret of the president of Hyperion that Rhys kept in his heart.
- Hello, pumpkin, - clasping their cold palms in their warm hands, they stood on the podium and looked at each other, only occasionally catching a glimpse of what the priest was saying. And when the final moment came, after which there would be no turning back, Rhys lowered his gaze to their interlocked hands.
- Do you, Rhys, take Handsome Jack to be your husband? - A squeaky voice echoed in the boy's head.
Husband. Handsome Jack.
Do you take him, Rhys?
Jack stared at the boy's pensive face with fixed, expressionless eyes.
- Um... Rhys...?
Jack silenced the priest with a curt gesture of his hand without so much as a glance.
He sighed and looked again at the serious face of his husband, whose eyes gleamed with desire.
Are you ready?
Wilhelm's question raced through the whirlwind of his thoughts, and only now was the answer on his tongue.
- Yes.
The priest swallowed and shifted his frightened gaze to Jack.
- D-do you take...
- Yes, - Jack smirked at Rhys and moved closer to his husband's face. - I'm taking this sexy little thing as a husband.
There was an encouraging whistle from behind Jack, which Nisha couldn't resist, and a loud giggle from William's side. A quiet sob came from Timothy, standing next to Nisha, and a hum from Athena, standing next to Wilhelm.
- Then I now pronounce you husband and husband, - the man took two steps back as he bowed to the couple.
- Hey, pumpkin, - Jack extended his little finger in front of him, smirking at the surprised boy, - together.
Rhys tilted his head to his right shoulder and grinned, interlocking his metal pinky with the stranger's pinky. - To the end.