Abel Lazarus When Viper makes it up to the make shift altar he takes her hands and takes a moment to think. Fine. Speech? He’ll give her a speech to remember. He’ll… Try his best.
Just how emotional could this be? This was a pretend speech for a pretend wedding to appease the flour-kids. Nothing more, nothing less. Just two friends platonically pretending to get married to keep the childish glee and excitement about love alive.
Abel Lazarus “… Viper Lazarus, you’re the first person… I’ve ever felt could see the worst parts of me and never waver. Time and Time again you’ve forgiven me for things I maybe shouldn’t have been forgiven for- but you help me see the point in trying to forgive myself too. Since meeting you I’ve felt for the first time ever around someone who wasn’t my Uncle that maybe my birth was meant to be more than just a curse. More than just a punishment my mother was meant to suffer through. You’ve helped me learn that maybe. Maybe there’s a point to all of this. I.” Perhaps I love you is too hard to say aloud even platonically- it’s still far too scary of a phrase. “I care about you.” He’s… So careful to not… Mention anything their child selves don’t need to know. Don’t need to hear about.
…Oh. She was so wrong. This could be so emotional.
Abel gets about two sentences in before Viper’s eyes well up and she’s trying so hard to keep it together. She’s doing a great job, listening intently to Abel’s every word, truly feeling like they got each other. Like he understood her, she understood him. That… he cared for her, so deeply. That she was able to make him feel like being born wasn’t a mistake. That he was meant to be in the world, and those around him weren’t burdened by his existence. Her lip wobbled as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill out any second. But she looked at him with such warmth that the kids likely… would mistake it for romantic very easily.
Abel Lazarus But there’s something else he needs to tell her. So he pulls her in for a tight hug and whispers in her ear, “… I know you’re scared. To see your parents again- worried they’ll. Reject you. But I know they’ll be glad they just got you back, because I only lost you for a few days and I can’t even tell you how grateful I am to have you back. You’re not a monster. You’re my best friend.”
The dam bursts in an instant, and as Abel holds her, tears are falling from her eyes and soaking his shoulder in rapid succession. She hiccups softly, trembling hands grabbing at the back of his jacket as she tries to form together sentences.
“Abel- I-” Her voice cracks, “I care about ya too. So, so much….and…and… ya make me feel…like it’s worth bein’ better… worth makin’ an effort ta not… look away from… my past. Ta look at it…an’ give m’self time ta heal. An’ ya make me wanna help ya be a better person too…when…I ain’t ever bothered so much for anyone else ’fore…” Not outside of Kanna.
“…An’ I jus….thank ya. For forgivin’ me too… Thank ya…for everythin’. Ya…sweet. Truly more ’den sweet.”
