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"Brian, you're being very silly now. You're afraid sure, but just of change, stop making this out to be something it's not."
Brian adjusted his waistcoat once more as though that would make it straighten when the hundred times before failed, and looked at himself one last time in the mirror before going out to see his oldest friend, yet commander, Roger. Roger, the Sun, was as golden and bright as ever, choosing some simply awful bright green and beige. Compare to him Brian felt ever so pale, his nerves would simply not abait. He knew himself, the Moon, to be a pale and dimmer light than Roger could ever be. What friend of Roger, who knew and so loved the Sun, would ever want him?
But the nature of arranged marriages was often to find stability, and if lucky, love, rather than have it from the start. Brian could be hard working and determined, he could make their marriage work.
On a beam of sunlight and moonlight respectively they came to the clearing. It was a gorgeous scenery of a blue lake with mountains, and on the flowering field where they stood were abandoned ruins that left only paved stone and a grand arch with pillars.*
"Hello," Deaky, the Earth, greeted them warmly. He shook Roger's hand and then Brian's clasping both of his around Brian as he looked up at him reassuringly. He had a face that could be so kind when he smiled, but Brian also knew could be demanding and harsh. It was good to think his marriage was a happy occasion.
Brian found it hard to focus on anything but where his bridegroom might have been waiting for him, but the space under the pillars was empty. "Come, let us gather," and so they did. As soon as Brian stepped off the fields, off of the flowered covered grass and onto the stones, the Earth burst open and a man came out on a terribly fast carriage. Fuck. Yeah, Brian could only imagine what strength and speed would be needed to travel up from the Earth's depth. He, and Roger, as well as Clouds, Wind and Rainbow, all traveled above it for a good reason.
The horses however were impossibly well trained. Enough strength to pull them out of the depth but then came to a gentle stop right after. His bridegroom was... dressed like Brian and it made him smile to see it. He too wore a white ensemble with a caplet, but his hair was dark as the ravens and it offset completely differently with that.
Roger came to lead this Freddie, whom Brian had never yet met, down to the arc, as Deaky led Brian. "Marriage is the creation of a home, and a home is happiness and stability, you shall see. It shall provide for you like nothing else can." Brian hoped that was true, hoped that he would be as fulfilled in his marriage as the far more grounded God. He squeezed Deaky's arm as they arrived at the end and they had to let go. Brian stood, himself a fully grown man and adult, ready for the new adventure that would be marriage.
Freddie gave Roger a smile, that was easily returned, as they patted each other on the back before he turned to face his future spouse. He gave him a smaller smile, hesitant and maybe nervous too, but... happy to be embarking on this, together. "If we are ready," Deaky asked, clasping his hand, and Brian felt how the whole world seemed to pay attention, the wind stilling and the birds quieting. It seemed even the sun was standing still for once.
"Al..most," Freddie replied nervously under his breath as he looked around. Brian had only had eyes for his husband-to-be but when he looked he saw that cats had appeared, a handful but even as he watched a few more came forward from shadow and smoke. Brian was thrilled to have this, his moon currently hanging full over them. His domain might have been the night but he spent just as much time in the blue sky, and wished people would not only see him as the darkness.
The cats sat there, still and patient like only those of a God's could be. When Freddie looked back at Deaky and nodded, they knew they were all there. "Gathered today is Frederick of Mercury and Brian of May that they be joined as only marriage can join two souls." They extended their hands but did not yet touch, Brian happy that despite the caplet they did not have bell sleeves and could easily access their hands. "This union they shall form, that they may never be alone in this life and in this world," Brian was surprised to find Freddie's hands too clammy with nervousness. It made him feel better about the butterflies in his stomach, and he couldn't help but to smile at Freddie who smiled back.
"I enter this marriage willingly *and eagerly,*" Brian flushed at Freddie's take on the vows. That was- this was no forced marriage, that was true enough, none could command someone in this that was an adult and their own master, but it was still arranged, they were still strangers. Yet Brian could see this as nothing but a good sign, an enthusiasm for all that was to come. For that's what marriages were, a grand celebration. "That I might have this companionship in all times, times of strife, as times of joy, as I hope to bring joy and steadfastness to us, to you." His eyes were so intent, dark pools that seemed to absorb the light and nearly consume Brian too. "This duty I vow of free mind and willing heart, so be it."
Brian swallowed as he felt Freddie's hand in his. Brian's hands were long but slender and Freddie's thicker hands felt sturdy and reassuring as he tried his best to speak without stammering. He was too nervous to pay attention to how to alter the vows and instead said them as he had so carefully practiced in his mirror a thousand and one times. There was almost no one to witness them, but he only... wanted to make a good impression for Freddie.
"These solemn vows have been witnessed, by the Earth below, by the Sun above, and we now declare this a marriage," Roger and Deaky intoned together, Roger for once sounding appropriately serious. Freddie and Brian hovered their free hands over their clasped hand and a ribbon of silver and black materialized and slithered until they were bound. Then, again deviating from the most traditional version of the ceremony but not unreasonably so, Freddie reached out with his hand to touch Brian's jaw and turn his face towards his. Slowly, and clearly telegraphed, Freddie came in for a kiss.
Brian had no intention of turning away his husband, his *husband,* because he wanted nothing more than to kiss the man and get to know him. Even if he was more unsure, or more nervous, hard to imagine, he wouldn't want his first act as a spouse to be turning away his husband's simple and easy request. Their kiss was not fireworks, was not love at first kiss, was not that stuff of legends that broke curses. It felt quiet and simple, as a marriage in an empty field before no one but cats. Freddie might like grandness at other junctures, but he too was still a man, a man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, and the quiet things like lazing on a sunday afternoon.
They broke away slowly and Brian opened his eyes, unaware of when he had closed them, and couldn't help but to smile. That had been nice, and he pressed in for another one. They would have forever to kiss each other now, and Brian... enjoyed the slow nature of this getting to know each other. The marriage night would need to be consummated like those of mortal weddings, and Brian did understand why so the married couple wouldn't grow ever daunted and complacent with their current situation, but there were hours until then.
The handfasting left space enough for Brian to turn his hand and take hold of Freddie's as they walked out from under the archway. They had come under it as two people and were leaving now as a married unit. Bound by the hand, bound by the vow. Even leaving it unconsummated would not undo what they had just done, for they were in fact married.
Roger came and gave Brian aside hug, strange and new to think of Freddie so by his side, taking up this space that Brian now would never be alone again. He took a steadying breath and looked up at the sky. There were no planets that could be seen in midday, but Brian- the Moon could feel them, could feel them and their satellites, their own moons. No planet had only one moon but Earth, and right now when Brian looked at the clear blue sky, there were no stars to be seen, so distant anyways, it was... only him for so long, Roger's bright light he had to share with Earth and everyone else, and now... and now he had another.
He turned to look at Freddie again and smiled. There was no great love, not yet, but the longingness for companionship and the... space for such a love. An eager willingness as Freddie has so said. Freddie came in and stole another kiss as Deaky mockingly grumbled, "You'll have him for the rest of your lives. Let us embrace him and congratulate you before you steal him away."
Brian now had an armful of Deaky as Roger tossed out, "I suspect the honeymoon will never be long enough." Freddie burst out laughing as Brian felt himself pink at the implications. He knew... lovers could be insatiable when they first got together, especially mortals. As a God and as a man he did not have the same expectations of purity or virginity. There had been a time, when he'd just turned into a man, into adulthood, that he'd... almost had too much sex. It had been... overwhelming, too much, and so... meaningless and without value. Just passing faces that wanted him, mostly because he was a God. The lack of connection in the act... made it feel like the opposite of love making. Just the physical, which might have been fine for some, but not for him. He was not that kind of soul.
"I meant-" Roger tacked on mock tersely, "That you're a greedy thing, and don't like to share what's yours. And he might be your spouse now, but he's still my friend and I will come pry him from you."
Freddie nodded, trying not to make light of what was a real concern for some. Marriage, especially for women, meant leaving their family home, leaving their family, their support, their mothers, not just for the first time but forever. But this would not be the case for Brian. He remained after all the moon, and his dominion in the sky would call to him. He would not be disappearing into the void to join Freddie, even if his realm was beneath the Earth and the sun's light. Freddie knew, for his own sake, that he would want to spend time with Roger too, for they were such dear friends.
"Come then, let us celebrate," Deaky invited them. They walked off the paved floor and onto the wild field. They all had music, one of lives great joys, in their soul, so it did not take long for the instruments to come out and for their voices to be raised in song. Even Deaky, who did not have the voice for it, joined in for the joy of this act shared, rather than an art perfected. That they might all be here together in this moment. They danced liked that amidst the colorful flowers for hours, until the mortal forms they had taken grew tired and weary. Then they rested upon the soft ground, drinking and eating like gluttons before getting up and dancing some more.
If it had been up to Deaky they might have never stopped dancing, but Time marched on regardless and Roger dimmed. His energy faded as did his light as his slumber came upon the world turning the sky orange and pink. Brian didn't know his new husband, didn't know his habits, and didn't yet know his dominion. Freddie was old and powerful like they were. An ineluctable part of the world, more so than even War or Wine. Maybe he was Time, or maybe he was Death or Darkness, that which dwelled so deeply in the Earth. But that didn't matter to Brian, all that mattered to him was that this man was his.
He cupped his husband's face and gave him another kiss as they had exchanged all day. And again, as they parted Brian found himself smiling, and expression always mirrored on Freddie's face. Holding their hands tightly together, Freddie summoned his chariot and they climbed aboard. Everything would be different now, but for the better, Brian trusted as he waved cheerfully to his dear friends ready for his wedding night.