Status: One Shot

Always Saving Myself For You

Always Saving Myself For You

Kellin knelt on the bathroom floor, muttering under his breath and holding the golden ring up in front of him. He was going to do it today, he'd finally plucked up enough courage to propose. It'd been a long time coming anyway, he'd had the ring for four months now.
"Kellin?" Vic called from outside the bathroom. Kellin jumped up, startled, and hastily pushed the ring into the pocket of his jeans, tapping it gently through the material. "You okay?"
"Yeah, Vic," Kellin yelled back. "Gimme a second."
Kellin heard Vic's retreating footsteps and sighed quietly. He flushed the toilet to make it appear he had actually done something, and washed his already clean hands before unlocking the bathroom door and entering the living room.
He smiled to himself when he saw Vic sitting next to the radiator, headphones in his ears.
"Hey, babe." Kellin greeted his boyfriend, tugging a headphone out and joining him on the floor. He could hear 'Gimme Stitches' by Foo Fighters blasting out of them.
"Hey, Kells," Vic responded, taking his other headphone out. "You were in the bathroom for like, half an hour. Is it still safe to go in?" He joked. Kellin laughed along with him, slightly nervous.
"As safe as it ever is." He shrugged.
"Are you okay?" Vic asked, staring intently at the other boy.
Kellin nodded, although he was so nervous he honestly thought his heart was going to pound out of his chest. "Er... There's actually something really important I want to tell you..." Had he done it right so far? What had his sister told him? Didn't she say not to announce it?
"Yeah, Kellin?" Vic prompted him.
"I... Erm..." Kellin crawled around Vic so he was kneeling in front of him instead. Vic looked at him curiously as he wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans, then digging into his pocket to retrieve the ring. "Vic... I, er... Well..." Why was this so difficult? And why was he so nervous? "I... Urgh! Will you marry me, Vic?" He asked hopefully, clutching the golden band tightly between his fingers.
Vic eyed the ring warily, tears forming in his eyes. "I... I can't Kellin." He whispered, and Kellin literally felt his heart snap in two. It took all his self control not to burst into tears as Vic leapt up and ran out of the room, out of their apartment, slamming the door shut as he did and leaving Kellin still kneeling on the floor, feeling stupid and unwanted.
!@#$%&*?/
Vic allowed the tears to fall freely as he power walked through the snowy streets of LA, specks of the crystals stinging his already burning eyes. He regretted not even picking up a jacket or something as the cold nipped at his bare arms and pierced through the thin, white t shirt he was wearing. But that didn't really matter now, because all he could think about was Kellin, looking so hopeful, and the pain that immediately replaced hope when Vic said no. He felt awful, because he loved Kellin, so much, but he could never have said yes to him. He couldn't say yes to anyone, never again. He continued through the streets, his chest heaving so much from sobbing he was finding it difficult to breath, and he was in so much pain he couldn't even begin to imagine what Kellin was going through. He probably hated him right now... Not that Vic blamed him. He hated himself right now.
He finally reached his destination, and knocked on the door, willing it to be answered quickly. And something went right for him, as only a few seconds later, Jaime opened the door.
"Hi, V- what happened?" He demanded when he saw the tear tracks on his friend's face. He pulled Vic inside and immediately wrapped him in his arms, allowing the smaller boy to sob into his chest. "Kellin didn't hurt you, did he?" He liked Kellin, they were quite good friends, but he wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he had to.
Vic shook his head wildly. "I hurt him!" He wailed.
"W- what do you mean, Vic?" Jaime asked, fearing the worst.
"He- he proposed!" Vic sobbed, clutching onto Jaime's arms as he shook with the force of his cries.
"Oh no." Jaime said, leading Vic to his bedroom and setting him down on the bed. "And then?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"I said no, and then I ran." Vic answered miserably, dabbing at his eyes and sniffing.
"Do you want anything? Tea? Coffee? Hot chocolate?" Jaime offered sympathetically.
"I don't deserve anything." Vic said, staring sadly at his friend. "I'll make some tea." Jaime decided, leaving the room to put the kettle on.
Vic curled into the duvet cover and allowed himself to cry even more. Just thinking about Kellin was hurting him in more ways than imaginable, and all he wanted to do was take back the past hour, so he and Kellin could be listening to Fall Out Boy together and singing along and just being happy.
"Here you are." Jaime offered Vic another sympathetic smile and placed the mug into Vic's hands. He took a sip of the hot liquid and felt his insides immediately start to thaw.
"He probably hates me now." Vic mumbled, finally wiping away his tears and hiccuping slightly.
"I'm sure he understands, Vic. I mean, after what happened-"
"But he doesn't know." Vic interrupted.
"What do you mean?" Jaime frowned.
"I never told him."
Jaime sighed and rubbed Vic's knee. "Do you want me to call Mike?"
"If it's not too much trouble." Vic nodded.
Jaime stood up and reached for his phone. The only reason he'd gone to Jaime and Tony's apartment was because they lived closest to Vic and Kellin.
"Mike? Yeah, I need you to come over. Like now? Vic's in a bad shape... Come over, I don't think he can talk over the phone." Jaime glanced over worriedly at Vic and sighed. "Okay. See you in few."
The two men sat in silence for about ten minutes until they heard the doorbell ring. Jaime leapt up and answered the door.
"Where is he? What happened?" Vic heard Mike demand as soon as he was let into the apartment.
"In my room." Jaime replied. Mike burst into the room and sat next to Vic, studying his face before pulling his brother into a tight hug.
"What's the matter, Vic?"
"He... Kellin proposed..." Vic said quietly.
"Oh God..." Mike swore under his breath. "Do you want me to go talk to him?"
Vic nodded and looked up at his brother. "Explain... What happened..."
Mike nodded back at his brother and stood up to leave again. "Hey, thanks man." Mike pulled Jaime into a short hug and left.
!@#$%&*?/
Mike knocked on the familiar door to Vic and Kellin's apartment. He heard a scuffle, Kellin swear under his breath, and then the door was opened. Kellin appeared to be handling it just as badly as Vic was, if not worse. His eyes were red and swollen from crying, tears were staining his face.
"Hey." He said, his voice cracking and sounding hoarse from crying.
"Hi, Kellin." Mike smiled gratefully when Kellin stepped back willingly to let Mike in.
"I, I spoke to Vic." He started.
Kellin looked up sharply.
"Does he hate me? I'm so sorry, I just- I should have known he wouldn't be ready, four years isn't long enough-"
"Kellin." Mike interrupted gently. "He doesn't hate you. He loves you so much-"
"But-"
"-And he wanted me to come and explain why he said no so you don't hate him." Mike said.
"It's all because of Ronnie." He started as Kellin led him to the sofa and they both sat down.
"His ex?" Kellin clarified. Mike nodded and continued.
"Yeah. He proposed to Vic when they were like, twenty two, and he said yes, and then a day before the wedding- a freaking day- he disappeared. And Vic was heartbroken, and humiliated, and I guess now he's just scared the same thing's gonna happen. It's not your fault, Kellin, and Vic loves you, but he isn't ready."
Kellin stared at Mike, understanding clearly written on his face. "I... He never told me that..."
"He was ashamed. And he didn't want you to pity him, or anything." Mike placed a hand on Kellin's shoulder. "He's sorry."
"He doesn't need to be." Kellin insisted, standing up and going to the bedroom to pull on his shoes and a jacket.
"Where are you going?" Mike frowned, although he already had a hunch.
"Where is he?" Kellin spun to face Mike, keys halfway to his pocket.
"At Jaime and Tony's." Mike smiled. "Come on." He followed Kellin out of the apartment, a large grin plastered on his face even when he had to face the cold again.
!@#$%&*?/
Vic watched Jaime get up once again to answer the door. Probably Mike, he thought bitterly, come to tell him that Kellin wanted nothing to do with him. He heard the door swing open, and a loud shout of, "Vic!" That didn't sound like Mike...
The bedroom door was pushed open and Kellin stared down at Vic, a small smile on his face. Vic didn't even notice when Mike quietly closed the door again, he was too overwhelmed by the fact that Kellin was standing before him, and didn't look like he wished he had a machete in his hand.
"Kellin?" He whispered disbelieving. He couldn't help but smile when Kellin sat down next to him. "Did Mike make you come?"
Kellin happily shook his head. "Erm... He told me everything."
Vic nodded numbly. He looked worriedly at Kellin, who was still smiling slightly.
"I'm sorry." Vic murmured.
"Don't be, silly." Kellin shook his head and pulled Vic into a tight hug. And Vic promptly burst into floods of tears and hugged Kellin back with just as much force. "I'm so so so sorry..." He mumbled into the other man's neck.
"Vic." Kellin said seriously. "I love you. So much, and I get why you said no. You aren't ready, and with good reason, so just shut up and kiss me." He ordered, tugging Vic forward so their lips met.
"I love you too." Vic returned once they pulled apart. "And I want to marry you. Eventually. Just not now."
Kellin just nodded and pulled Vic up, taking his hand in his own and leading him out of the bedroom.
"You two love birds made up?" Mike smirked at the sight of their joined hands, and Jaime grinned when they both nodded.
"Even in something this big you guys can't keep away from each other for more than a few hours." The four men laughed because it was true, they had never been in an argument for more than a couple of hours, and they aimed to keep it that way.
!@#$%&*?/
-Three Years Later-
To: Michael Fuentes and co. (Because you have too many kids for me to list)
You are invited to the wedding of Victor Fuentes and Kellin Bostwick...
Mike grinned to himself and laughed. He had been involved with most of the wedding preparations anyway, but seeing the invitation made it official.
"Wedding's on May fifth!" He called to whoever was listening.
"Who's getting married, daddy?" Eva asked. The four year old stared up at her dad with wide brown eyes, the hand of her stuffed monkey covered in saliva from her sucking it.
"Uncle Vic and Uncle Kellin." He answered, smiling.
"Can I be a bridesmaid? Lola was a bridesmaid when her aunt got married."
"Maybe, sweetie." He said absently, ruffling the girl's hair.
"The fifth?" Nadia asked. Mike turned and nodded at his wife, who grinned. "That's what? Two months after my due date?" She looked down at her stomach, carrying twins.
"Plenty of time then."
"Uncle Vic and Uncle Kellin are getting married?" Andrea, their nine year old asked.
Nadia nodded.
"Cool." She turned and walked back out of the kitchen. Eva quickly followed suit, calling after her sister.
"I'm glad for them." Nadia said with a smile.
"I know." Mike agreed. "So am I. I honestly thought Vic would never get married." The couple laughed, but Mike knew how much truth his words actually held. He was grateful for Kellin, for being so understanding, and because he had managed to actually make Vic even consider marriage again, let alone make him go through with it. And, because he knew how important it really was to Vic, no matter how thick the mask he plastered on, he appreciated the two being together, and so in love, even more.
♠ ♠ ♠
A bit sadder than my usual ones, but a happy ending! :)