It felt really weird to think of his little sister getting married. Like, why? Why marriage?She was almost two years younger than him, and as much as he thought Lee was a nice dude, she hadn't known him long. No one had. All the culty weird shit happening and finally getting her back, and then suddenly arranging a wedding? Well, arranging moss, thanks to Shosh.
He didn't know how he was expected to curate a Southern style environment for her wedding, and he hadn't been given enough time to create a proper ecosystem. What would six more months do? But Shosh was scary when she was mad. Well, she was always a bit scary. Whenever he alluded to how fast everything was happening it seemed like the brunette nearly hexed him through the damn phone.
He knew not everyone was in love with the first girl to talk to them, practically ever, but it all seemed a little bit like a trauma response. For both of them. Since 11, he'd been raised as her big brother, and it was only right that he worry. He knew all about trauma responses. Loxley had been non-verbal for years, and Dona was getting married.
In the end there was nothing he could do. He wasn't going to exclude himself, hurting her further. She had supported him in his quiet trauma. Getting married to a great guy wasn't the worst way this could go.
He kicked off his uncomfortable vegan leather shoes as soon as the ceremony was over. Shosh shot him a fierce look, and instead of shying away like before, Loxley stuck out his tongue. She couldn't do anything to him now, and besides, how was he meant to dance if his feet hurt?
He cried loud and freely at their first dance. A married woman, but Loxley could only see Dona as a girl dressing up and playing pretend. He rubbed his face on his sleeve hastily and pulled Piper out onto the dance floor as soon as he was allowed, followed by Nate, Catelyn, Shosh, and then suddenly everyone.
Soon the dance floor was full and the formal dancing was a little less formal. Everyone clamoured to dance with Dona, but he knew he'd get a chance. He took Catelyn and dipped her, making her laugh and slap him playfully on the chest for daring. "You're behaving! Mostly." She noted his bare feet and he pretended not to notice. "It - it's fun! I'm having fun. He's a great guy." They both looked over at Lee, with his little shy smile. Dona could have done a lot worse.
He danced with Sol next, and then with Nate for a little bit. He actually missed his shoes then, the added height against him felt pretty nice. He finally got around to Lee and gave him a tight hug.
"Are you gunna threaten me... again?" He asked with a guilty look in his eyes. Loxley snorted and squeezed his brother-in-law's cheeks. "Nah. Twenty other people in this room have probably all warned you. I like you Lee! Really! You're my brother now too, and my other brother is that moron over there," He pointed at Jeremy, who was showing a giggling Sonder how to do the chicken dance. "And I'd murder anyone who fucked with that dickhead. You're on the team, bud. Loosen up!" He gave Lee a quick kiss on the cheek and laughed himself stupid at the look he was given in response. Getting to know that kid was gunna be a hoot.
He swept Piper up around her waist and pulled her into a quick but passionate kiss. She looked almost as surprised as Lee had looked a moment ago. "Oh shit! I'm glad that was you! The champagne is making people awfully kissy." She laughed, and he joined her, his lips shadowing hers until their laughing bubbled between kisses.
He felt Dona wander up behind him, and he leaned to the side to listen to what she had to say. "I'm about to throw the bouquet at her, Loxley Blair Lockhart. Seriously!" Loxley made a high pitched whining to try and drown her out and Dona matched his pitch in a playful teasing-my-sibling harmony.
He turned back to Piper giggling and her cheeks red with more than drunken blushing, so she had definitely heard. He took a hold of her cheeks in his hands and started apologise over and over but stopped in his tracks to give a wild look. "This is like, really fun though, and not as scary as I expected..." Piper had always been the girl he'd been scared to ask too much of in case he scared her off, but she returned his gaze with an equally excited one. "Shhhhhhhh!! We'll talk about it later... but yeah, it is!"
