what if i just asked for more jack and ellen huh oh and i guess what about arranged marriage au because lol
Will and Fitch do their best to warn Jackson Swift about his bride. She’s stubborn, they say. Not a bad quality, he thinks. She’s been known to fence, an unusual quality in a young woman. Well, he does like to fence himself, so he can’t really see a downside to that.
It’s not like his best friends are trying to change his mind about his upcoming marriage - they can’t, and all three of them realize this. It’s a contract, and while Jack thinks it an outdated practice, he has to admit that having a bride already picked out for him is simple and convenient.
Of course, maybe it would have been nice to get to know her before the wedding. Not a week before. Maybe a few years. They could have become friends, he thinks. Grown to love each other as time closes in on them.
That’s probably the worst part of it. He doesn’t even know her, and she doesn’t know him.
He fidgets uncomfortably as she glares at him from across the room, but he still manages to flash her a small smile. It only makes her glare more.
Jack wonders if it’s natural to feel so attracted to a look that might have stopped his heart if he were a lesser man.
Speaking of, he supposes standing where he is, so far from her, is not the best course of action. With an ease that surprises even himself, he crosses the room until he’s in front of her.
"I think you’re scaring off the other women," is the first thing that comes out of his mouth, and he really can’t figure out why.
Ellen Stephenson stares at him, her eyes relaxing enough to look surprised before she huffs out a laugh. It’s not a particularly amused one, but it’s not out of irritation either.
Jack considers that a win.
"I really could care less," she tells him in a low-pitched voice, as if this is supposed to be a secret between them.
"Well, at least you won’t ever have to worry about that when we’re married."
He really has no idea why he says that, either. It’s meant to be a joke. That doesn’t meant he doesn’t end up flat on his ass, jaw throbbing where her fist catches him. The party stills, the music cutting off abruptly as silence reigns.
Ellen smiles down at him, a glint in her eyes that says she’s enjoying this far too much. He smiles back at her easily, rubbing his jaw. “I’m not worried about that at all, Swift.”
And then she walks off.
He’s pretty certain, as he climbs to his feet and ignores the stares, that he’s just fallen in love with his future bride.