Sword Wedding for Lambo (AGG: Rise)

Sword Weddings for Lambo

…

Commissioned by Citino

Wordcount: 2500

…

Primi leans her head against your shoulder, as you slowly dance together across the dance floor.

Many others have already retired, leaving the two of you alone in a ballroom with empty chairs and tables, and as you hold her in your hands dancing to an invisible tune… you can’t help but recall the room you first met it.

It was also a mess of empty tables and chairs.

“Hm?” Primi makes only a single sound, yet you know her query in its entirety. Your years together have made it so no words are needed.

“I recalled our first meeting. It was in an abandoned classroom, and you came to be on a throne of broken chairs and tables.”

Primi blushes a bit at your words.

Over the years she’s become mature enough to be embarrassed by her earliest days, but she is still a little eccentric from time to time.

You make sure to do the same thing every time she feels the slightest bit of shame, and place a light kiss upon her cheek.

“It’s a good memory for me, Primi.” In truth, you have no ill memories with Primi. Some might say it’s impossible for a relationship to be flawless, that romance fades with time, yet with the woman you’re now holding in your arms… you can’t imagine those words being anything besides a bold lie.

Primi struggles for a second to find the words to respond to your own.

You look upon her and take her in as she does.

The small blush on her face, upon her declaration, has spread all the way to hear ears.

Her lips have curled upward into a small, happy grin.

A glimmer of joy sparkles in her scarlet eyes.

Then, finally, she decides upon her answer by holding you closer and bringer her lips to your own.

It is a small, chaste kiss, but one filled with promise, even though the two of you do not wish to leave the ballroom just yet.

Holding Primi in your arms, you sway to the sound of a silent song, whilst unseen by any other.

She places leans against the crook of your neck, and her hair brushes against your cheek, as you feel her heart beat against your own.

You know not how long the two of you dance together in the massive room, but you cherish every moment of it.

The celebrations earlier were pleasant, and you enjoyed sharing the fateful moment with your friends and family, but now… this moment… was entirely, completely, and solely yours and hers to cherish.

So, though you’ve already uttered the words many times, you say them again.

“I love you, Primi.”

She starts in your arms for a moment, and her heart beat quickens, but there is no pause or any hesitation in her answer.

“I love you too, Li.”

And, with those words shared, you feel at peace and content with Primi in your arms.

…

Masamune primly and proudly makes her seal on the marriage certificate, before turning to you with a smile.

Since you signed the document first, the deed is now done.

The two of you are married.

She proposed to you an hour ago, you accepted, and now you’re both married.

Huh.

“Ceremonies and traditions can be observed later. My desire was to be bound to you as soon as you agreed.” Masamune waves goodbye towards the elderly government official who watched you the affair. A Drone hands Masamune a bouquet of dandelions, which she accepts with a smile, while lacing taking hold of your hand. “I’d like a few years to prepare for our public marriage. It will be a traditional event which will aid my career greatly… but here and now I simply want to be with you.”

You consider her words carefully before replying.

“The public will know of this within minutes.”

“My dear, every new station started broadcasting about this the minute we reached five kilometers of this town hall.”

The temptation to check the news on your Communicator is strong, but simply stretching out your senses confirms Masamune’s words.

A crowd nearly a hundred strong has gathered around the small-town center, and a few transports are burning towards your location this very instant.

Masamune lays her had against your arm and gives a thoughtful hum.

“Normally, I’d want to be considerate of their preparedness, but I truly wish to spend the rest of the day only with you, my lord and my husband.” She looks up at you with a faint smile upon her lips. Her streetwear is composed of jeans and a sleeveless shirt whose topmost buttons came undone in the brief moments you were distracted by the masses congregating your way. “Please, excuse my rudeness towards them, but would you mind taking us both somewhere… very private?”

Her gaze smolders, her forms press against you with singular intent, and the sweetness of her perfume fills your lungs.

Your throat suddenly feels very dry.

“Hmmm, did I say a few years? Perhaps I should be hastening my efforts to make our wedding happen within a few… months?” The suggestion, the demeanor, and Masamune’s overall actions send alarm bells ringing throughout your mind. The words “insatiable,” “fervent,” and “devoted,” echo within your skull along with many others. “My dear lord and husband… perhaps you should act more quickly… because certain thoughts are occurring to me that are very, very improper.”

The need to act forces you to play your hand, and search your skull for the most isolated, hospitable location possible to take Masamune to.

She is normally elegant and collected at all times, even when merely spending time with you.

However, if you do not take hold of matters now, then a situation shall arise which will disrupt her plans in the near future.

You’re quite ready to simply let loose and live in the moment, but you’ve learned long ago that you must hold the reigns tightly when Masamune is concerned.

Otherwise you’ll both lose yourselves to wanton excess.

…

Clarent has a furious blush on her face as she holds out a simple band of gold your way. The simple band shines softly in the fading rays of the setting sun, as the sea rushes beneath you both.

Clarent guides the boat you’re both on with one hand as you look upon the offering… and raise an eyebrow as you continue to deflect the projectiles of an angered, wrathful, and ancient creature that has arisen from the depths of the world you’re both exploring.

“Now is quite the time to propose.”

“I nearly lost it twice as we were investigating, so I want to give it to you now!” Clarent shouts into the rushing winds, as the hydrofoil swerves to avoid a van-sized projectile. The titan of lava and stone cries out in a language the AI in your communicator is doing its best decipher. You are not killing it, as you were both trespassers upon a place it was protecting, so deflection is all you can do. The hydrofoil is carrying large amounts of surveillance equipment, and most of its drones have still not returned, and thus you cannot leave yet. “Please take it, so that I won’t lose it!”

You take the preferred band, while slapping aside a block-sized mass of fire into the horizon. The titan seems perturbed by your actions, perhaps even stunned, and it is more tentative with its next attacks.

Escaping and disengaging was indeed the right call.

But you don’t ruminate on the situation any longer, as you hold the golden band in one hand, and observe the words inscribed within.

“Forever yours, Clarent.”

“There is time to read such things later, Li!” Clarent cries out, and holds onto her canvas hat, as a projectile you believed was an overthrow sends a large wave towards the boat. The hydrofoil assists Clarent’s efforts to keep from capsizing by firing off its boosters and using the wave as a ramp. That perturbs the immense creature even more than your casual deflections of its attacks. “Please continue to repel the creature!”

“It’s a person, not a creature, and we need to move more quickly.” The creature’s form is waning the more it attacks, and you worry about its constitution if it devotes more of itself into trying to defeat you. It is the sole kind of life in this world, and you do not want it to perish trying to accomplish something foolish. “It is growing weaker and more sluggish with every attack it sends our way.”

“I’m trying, I’m trying!” Clarent speaks, but her gaze keeps darting towards you as you slip the ring onto your hand. Despite the cold sea breeze, a vibrant red blush has formed on her face, as she guides your vehicle and equipment far away from the ancient isle of a forgotten world. “Please give me an answer, so that I can properly focus!”

How silly.

“What answer besides yes could I possibly give, Clarent?”

You punctuate your statement by reaching down, tilting her chin up, and kissing her squarely upon the lips as an ancient behemoth of flame takes flight to chase you both.

Huh, well… you answered that question yourself.

…

Naomi sips the tea you’ve made with a smile, as she looks upon the plans for her wedding.

Out of consideration for her elder sister’s request, she stalled planning on her wedding, but now that you and Occisor have wed, she is meticulously planning it with you.

She is clad in a white suit and her hair tied up in a high-ponytail, as you sit beside her and await her questions for input.

She types.

You wait.

She types.

You wait.

She types for an hour, until the pot of tea is entirely finished, and only then do you speak.

“Naomi?”

“Yes, my fiancé?” Her adoration of the word is evident in her speech. She says it quite sweetly as she turns her smiling gaze upon you. “What is it?”

“Did you need my help with planning our wedding?”

“In truth… no. I simply wanted to spend time with you.” Naomi makes a few clicks, and as the screen on her computer turns black, she leans against you and takes hold of your in the table’s shadow. “You’ve been very busy, so I had you make some time for me. Please… accept my apology.”

Her words are sweet and melodious, and punctuated by a small grin.

“That apology is questionable at best.” You lightly complain, while she leans against you. The computer folds into the table, and the windows open. She has planned much of this in advance. The door opens to admit a few Homunculi with trays of food. The tasting menu has arrived, and with a single glance, you know that your favorites are all present and that you’ll find nothing wrong at all. “I have been tricked.”

“Yes, you have been tricked by your fiancé into spending time with her before your wedding, because she is very, very selfish.” Naomi muses as the table is laid before you, filled with your favorite dishes as well as her own. A few homunculi begin to set up string instruments some you know and others you’ve seen only in pictures. A tailor enters with several dresses as well. “She’s already made most of the choices in regards to the wedding, besides all the ones she knew you’d like a say in.”

Soon enough the room has been transformed into several, sectioned spaces in which various aspects of the wedding shall be showcase.

You are very sure that you’ll have at most five choices to make with three options each, before Naomi will have you all to herself for the rest of the day.

“How cunning.” You admit freely and with a smile.

Naomi laughs and places a kiss on your cheek.

“I have had the pleasure of learning from the best in regards to how to be clever.”

…

Strider idly motions for you to move over on the couch, and rests a gloved hand on her stomach, while the putting her other arm over your shoulder.

“Sup, boss. You got me pregnant. Congrats. We should probably get married.”

You have an immense amount of self-control; therefore, the sudden declaration doesn’t have you accidently put a thumb through the remote control.

A moment is required in order for you to gather your wits, but after taking a breath you glare at the grinning, white-haired sword clad in a red button-up and black pants.

“You did that on purpose.”

“Well, you can’t blame a gal for liking how her lover looks when he’s flustered. You get a little, cute blush, you know?” Strider grins and leans against you. A moment later she produces a letter from the pocket of her pants. “Dad sent this like five minutes tops after I told him. It’s hilarious.”

You feel somewhat miffed that Strider told you she is with your child after Great Red, but you are instantly distracted once you open the letter.

It opens much like a folded scroll, until it reaches your lap.

Half of it is name recommendations, while a quarter is words of congratulations, and the last portion is statements in regards never forgiving you if Strider’s kids are mistreated in any shape, way, or form.

After reading it, you decide that Strider made the right choice in telling him first.

“I know, right? My old man can get pretty scary.” Strider laughs and pauses thoughtfully for a second. “Huh, do you think he wants me in a white dress down the aisle or what?”

“He’ll be happy with you wearing any color.” You immediately answer. Great Red takes pride in events as a whole and hardly cares about the minutiae, as long as what he wants to happen happens. “Much like me.”

“Heh, I’m pretty sure you like me wearing nothing at all the most.” Strider teases you with a large, fierce grin and all but nullifies the distance between the two of you. For a second, you’re reminded very much of the previous night, which has led to this situation… until her grin softens into a smile. “So… you’re happy right? I think I’ve got your emotions down pat, but I’d like to know for sure, yeah?”

It took Strider quite a while to read more subtle social cues, about twice as long as the other swords, and to this day she practices sin order to make sure she’s right about her readings on others.

You’re the only one she has entrusted with this fact, and you’re the only one she’ll ever ask to verify.

So, without any ounce of shame or hesitation, you nod assertively.

“I am incredibly happy, Strider, to have a child with you and marry you.”

With those direct words, stated as absolute fact, the small, content smile on Strider’s face widens while her eyes grow misty.

She chokes a little as she takes a calming breath, and laughs her nerves away in your arms, content and accepting your answer with calm silence.

The two of you spend the day together in calm, companionable silence.