Chapter Text
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The darkness in the sky, the back terrace illuminated by the firelight of the lamps.
Silent, he stands above a raised platform in the back of the Tenshukaku terrace
" Now, Tartaglia. Don't you want to come closer? "
Veiled hat blows in the wind, his sword is ready
" Are you ready ? "
" To die by your hand? " He's not ready to die " It would be an honour " theatrics and bravado. He knows he’s made up his mind, yet still the theatrics drags on
" Your life is in my hands, how could you still stand there "
" Because I think I am in love with you "
" You're scared "
" I am "
He throws an envelope at his feet , Tartaglia picks it up and recognises it immediately.
" I-it's, its my father's letter to me "
" Your family really cares for you "
" He does. "
“ Then why do this ? “
“ The need is a part of me I cannot escape. ”
" Come closer. Let's have a talk before I take your head as a trophy. " He beckons, pale hand being the only skin he would see while he has a veiled hat on " I don't know why I would do this. Why I let this go on for so long. Normally i'm decisive about killing suitors "
" Perhaps you've fallen for me " Kunikuzushi scoffs at that. Obedient, Tartaglia comes closer, almost looks timid like this, a proper pressed coat on and glasses hiding his abyss touched eyes
" You have glasses on now "
" And you always have you hat on "
" Do you think looking timid will help you? " He huffs, almost a laugh " You're so eager to show your nature of hunger what good will your glasses and coat do to hide it? "
" Nothing. Perhaps being timid is my true nature, perhaps the abyssal hunger is my true nature, who knows. You're the one to speak; you often hide beneath that hat " he tilts his head slightly " A noble lady's hat. It hides you. "
" You look timid like this "
" Its because its warm "
" Then you ought to be more comfortable "
He takes off his coat, his familiar grey and red suit beneath it
" That's more you. "
" Is it? "
" I don't know. "
Tartaglia lets the coat fade into the space where he keeps his weapons " The coat makes you look like every other Snezhnayan man "
" I always thought that maybe I'd be like every other Snezhnayan man at this age, I'd have a normal life as a hunter, an actor— maybe even an adventurer. My father was one before he settled with my mother; maybe I'd be like him and find a good man to raise a farm with. Isn't it silly? Even then I had that hunger, that want for more, but I thought that it would pass. Yet here I am. "
" An abyss touched young man, about to pass "
" By your hand "
" You could have run. " He looks upon him " Why aren't you running, attempt a kidnapping later. "
" I always keep my honour and my word. And even then, I get to see your beauty up close. Even if you are wearing a veil "
" You really do need glasses to see "
" Yeah. I'm nearsighted" He takes them off " Do you not like them?"
" Does it matter what I like? You're going to force me to be wed regardless "
" I'll try not to . " He folds the glasses and puts them away like his weapons “ Marry me, " He asks again
" Are you marrying me for power, a political strategy? "
" No. " He confirms, " I don’t ever want to do those tricks schemes . I'm the vanguard of our queen, upfront and forward. "
" Asking to marry me overturned everyone's plans. Yet you're seeing this through to the end. Why are you like this? " even without glasses, Tartaglia can see that he does not seem to understand why, after all his honesty
" They said they have an assurance for me. I don't know what it is but they promise me that even if you get what you want, everything will be fine"
" What does that mean? "
" Honestly I don't know. " He shrugs " They always keep me in the dark. Maybe it will mean my siblings will get a huge insurance payout" He chuckles
" You're so stupid. " How cold, " Typical for a human. Living , filthy mortal flesh. "
He knocks away his veiled hat as he seizes his wrist " How dare you, I am not a mere human you can touch "
" Yet you are here, with us, tangible. I can feel you, alive "
Tartaglia holds him close, as Kunikuzushi is swept off his feet , he can feel him breathe as he speaks
" I am the son of one nearest unto heaven, child of the most eminent and noble incarnation of lighting " His face is close to his, he makes no move to resist
" Listen prince, I want you to be mine— "
" I am a god in my own right, you know touching me is sacrilege "
" — and I will be yours — "
" No mortal will possess me "
" — when we are wed "
" I will not be betrayed again! " He hisses , face close to his
" I will be a faithful husband, I shall not betray you. "
" I am not human. You are flesh and blood. " He looks him dead in those dull blue eyes , a challenge " What do you even believe will happen if you take me?"
" Perhaps . . .
He was not going to kiss him at the moment, but this, this is a challenge. " Your kiss will give me eternity "
And he leans in deeper.
His kiss is electric, he tastes like smoked herbal tea. He feels his nerves alight, a buzzing in his ears as he closes his eyes. Kunikuzushi drops his blade and clings onto his back for balance, he quickly pulls away. He feels electrocharged , so that's what happens when you kiss him
The sky lightens a beautiful blue twilight hue
" I am madly in love with you "
" Your name . . . " He makes no move to push him away, hesitates
" Ajax "
Ajax smiles.
" My name is Ajax, prince,"
The sun rises, painting the sky gold, light glimmering on the surface of the darkened sea
" Why is it pronounced like that? " He frowns, touching his own lips
" You can do with me what you will, prince. I promised you one wish "
" I wish to . . . " He sighs " I can't believe I'm fucking saying this– I wish to marry you "
" Wait really?! "
" Do you want me to rescind my statement "
" No no, I'm just . . . " He holds him by the waist " So happy "
And he lifts him up and twirls around " I'M GETTING MARRIED!!" He carries him like a sack of rice on his shoulder and starts running
" Hey! Put me down !"
" I'M GETTING MARRIED~!!! "
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Dear ma and pa,
I'm getting married!! He's very beautiful and strong. I survived his suitor trials and i'm soon to marry him! The religious leader and the Yashiro and Tenryou commissions doesn't seem too happy about it, but we have it in the bag since the prince I'm marrying is the ruling archon's son. Did Pulcinella mention that? Pantalone is returning to Snezhnaya before me to draw up some more of his grand schemes, and I will send this on his express boat home. so by the time you receive this letter I may already be married! But do not worry, I won't stay in Inazuma for too long, we'll have a Snezhnayan wedding too. Your most successful son is happy to announce that i've caught a great man.
I managed to impress him through my cooking, he likes savoury foods and bitter drinks. Texture is a problem for him it seems, I think he hated the sour sauce because it was a little sweet and sticky.
He even let me kiss him and it made me feel so happy my heart could have stopped. Now I know how our eldest sister felt when she met brother in law. I'm taking him home to meet the family within the next month, and if heaven allows, we will not meet his mother.
The specialties I sent are specially picked by the local cultural consultants and a few of them I've tried myself. The Inazuman style dyed silks are for mama, and the shrimp chips are for Tonia. The rest is to be distributed at your discretion.
Your son,
Ajax
P.S. my husband to be is approximately 166cm and his waistline is approximately 70cm. I think he likes the colour black but I can't be too sure. I will have to ask him. Can you ask mama to make a scarf? He says he physically cannot feel cold but I think it would be a nice gesture. Also the live eels are for eating, not pets.
"
" Mama! Ajax is getting married to the electro archon's son!" Tonia runs to her mother, copper coloured hair bouncing behind her
" Ajax' getting married !? " Her mother exclaims, taking the letter to read.
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Been a week or so since the ginger's triumph over his trials. He's spread the word that he's chosen a suitor and the Tenryou and Yashiro has understandably opposed.
" Prince, out of whatever wish you could have asked for. Why marry me? "
" Isn't this the outcome you wanted "
They wait for the representatives of the three commissions in a private room, food has already been ordered, tea has been served.
" If you didn't want to cause a diplomatic problem by killing me, you could have told me to fuck off forever , never to return to Inazuma lest divine lighting stike me! " He dramatises
" I don't think I want that either. I made up my mind before you so shamelessly impatiently acted like the brat you are. "
" Why? " He scooches closer " I'm just a little curious "
" I wanted a dog " he teases
" Come on, if you wanted a dog there's countless out there falling for your mystique " His face close to his " Tell me the real reason "
" Hm." He makes a sound of consideration, he places his hand on Tartaglia's face. Enough to cover those dull blue eyes , perhaps to hide the expression on his face " No one here loves me, no matter what I've done to gain approval. I've caused a lot of trouble for a very long time, but I worked hard for over a hundred years to fix it. I've proved myself a better ruler than my mother, yet they don't care. They see me as nothing but a child under her guidance. They only love and care about me because I'm hers. You on the other hand, you who is in love with me— I can use.
Love , it's all conditional "
" You sound like il Dottore. Him and Pantalone believe love is a conditional thing. An exchange. I don't think so . . . I think love is something that is unconditional and undiscerning. Call me a romantic, a theatre kid, but I think that it's something that's priceless "
" You believe in fantastical notions like true love "
He pulls his hand away from his face and holds it in his own giving it a kiss " I've spent two decades watching my parents be lovey dovey, of course I believe in true love "
" You're that young? "
" Yes?? "
" By celestia i'm a cradle robber "
" Hey hey hey don't say that, you're so old that would make me a grave robber! "
" Maybe I should rethink marrying you "
" No takebacksies ! "
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Ajax always thought marriage was a romantic thing, he didn't expect it to be like this. In the shrine office filling forms and signing papers . After their chosen witnesses left, at least he's alone with the prince in the shrine's inner chambers. Surprisingly, there's an even smaller shrine of his now mother-in-law in there.
" So . . . How did you know my former name "
" Dumb luck I suppose. "
" You're lying "
" You . . . You told me that you loved a swordsmith. And I figured , I connected a few dots and well. I guessed it was you that story talked about "
" Those were old records . "
" Yeah. They were. The suitor challenge is rigged that way isn't it? No one else could have won. Only il Dottore knew because he was manufacturing delusions in Yashiori and Tatarasuna, but he can't marry you cause he's already committed and married to his business partner. "
" Detective Shikanoin could have won, he cleared all the cold cases in Inazuma and it includes even mine. It was just lucky he took the hint that my suitor challenge was because I don't want to marry "
" Could it be . . " he gasps " . . You had a crush on him and that's why he's the only one who can solve the trials? "
" I'm marrying you, aren't I? "
With a final signing of papers and the pre stamped approval from the Guuji Yae, that's it. They're married. He thought there would be a whole ceremony like how he reads the light novels.
" The start of a new life. " Kunikuzushi mumbles he holds up the paper
" That's the real reason then ? " He asks , he does not answer.
They stand side by side in front of a small indoor shrine to the electro archon.
The prince finishes writing a letter, taking a photo of the marriage certificate with a kamera and placing it together inside. Then promptly charring the varnished lacquer by releasing a large burst of electro onto it. The most he's seem from him, probably the most he can do
" We're officially, completely husbands now " Tartaglia's honestly in a bit of disbelief , how the hell did he pull it off. " till death do us part. "
" There. I even told my mother. You happy ? "
" Hm. Not just yet. May I kiss the groom ? "
Contemplating, he looks to the side, and back at him " You . . . You may "
Tartaglia leans in and this time, Kunikuzushi kisses back, pulling him by the deep red collar of his button up shirt. It's electric, his heart feels like it's going to pounce right out of his chest.
" Okay that's enough " He pushes him away , letting go of his shirt, looking sideward
" So . . . When will we consummate our marriage? "
" We aren't at that stage yet " He turns away, and begins walking, he's quite certain that if the prince was flesh and blood he would be blushing
" Yet? Alright then, I'll have to work hard to charm you! " They step outside to their newlywed lives.
The bright light of the morning shines making him look as divine as he truly is, but somehow it’s different. He’s all the more beautiful like this, no dissatisfaction or anger, the anticipation for something new in his eyes, Ajax is glad to have been spared he’s glad to have chosen him.
" I love you "
" Sure " his now husband scoffs and rolls his eyes " Walk faster before I make you swim home "
He follows, taking his hand into his own, he lets him, so elated to have him he feels breathless, perfect soft hands squeeze the boy’s own warm palm. With barely hidden excitement to leave, he pulls him away.