Work Text:
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
The setting sun cast bands of gold and red across the clouds. Thoma walks slowly across the open fields of Araumi, heading towards the northernmost coast of Narukami Island. A lone archway of weathered stone stands on the cliff, overlooking the creating waves of the ocean and, far on the horizon, the barest shadow of the mountain peaks of Thoma’s homeland.
The billowing silk of his haori flows behind him from the breeze, the red and gold fabric harmonizing with the colours of the sunset, the shadowy grey of the kimono beneath it contrasting his golden hair and tanned skin. The outfit had been custom made months ago, at Ayato’s insistence, and had been waiting in his closet for a special occasion within the Kamisato clan to be worn.
The closer he draws to his destination, the more Thoma feels his heart pound fiercely in his chest. He knows he shouldn’t be nervous, shouldn’t be scared of what’s about to happen, but he can’t help but worry. How was he, a common man from far across the ocean, with no title, no nobility, no honourable lineage dating back centuries, about to be married to one of Inazuma’s most influential leaders and head of one of their oldest clans? Yes, they have been together for a decade already, sharing every iota of themselves with each other, but somehow, deep down inside, Thoma still feels unworthy of his love. Despite Ayato’s delicate words of praise and declarations of their equality, how can a humble housekeeper truly belong at the side of one of the highest ranking people in the nation?
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Thoma looks up and finally spots the stone archway, the graceful curve framing a lone figure draped in brilliant white silhouetted against the golden sunset. His heart flutters at the sight and Thoma forgets how to breathe for a moment. The renewed realization of what he is about to do settles deep in his gut and Thoma can’t help but smile faintly. He continues to walk closer and closer to the archway, his mind focused on nothing else than the man waiting for him, the man he loves more than anything else in this world.
Time stands still
Beauty in all (he) is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
The closer Thoma gets, the more he sees of his waiting lover. Ayato’s outfit is stunning, an elaborate white kimono that sparkles in the evening sunlight, with a long, flowing haori made of the same white silk, embroidered with the Kamisato clan emblem and camellia flowers in silver and the softest of purples and blues. His pale blue hair is gathered at his neck in a knot with a pair of jewelled hair sticks pinned through the soft strands. Thoma can’t help but stare at him, the very personification of beauty and dignity that waits for him beneath the stone archway.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
As Thoma approaches the cliff, he spots another figure moving in the same direction as him, coming from the other pathway through Araumi. He smiles as he recognizes Ayaka, making her way to meet them as their witness. Her own outfit has been exchanged for an elaborate kimono, deep blue and embroidered with pale blue and silver, with a matching fan held tightly in her hand. Thoma’s breath catches in his throat again when he recognizes the fan as one that had once belonged to the late Kamisato Kayo, Ayato and Ayaka’s mother. It’s a nice addition to the impending ceremony, but Thoma knows how hard it is for Ayaka to handle items passed down from their parents.
They meet up where their paths cross, at the spot where the pounded dirt path turns into the ancient, worn cobblestone of the ruined shrine, and Thoma smiles warmly at his soon to be sister in law. Ayaka smiles back, her eyes shining with happiness, as Thoma bows deeply to her. She giggles softly and taps her fan on his shoulder, causing him to chuckle in response as he stands. He offers his arm to her, and she slips her hand into the crook of his elbow as they turn and make their way up the final stretch to where Ayato stands.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer
One step closer
When Thoma and Ayaka are a dozen steps away from the archway, they pause. A few heartbeats pass before Ayato turns to face them, and Thoma once again finds it hard to breathe. His eyes lock with Ayato’s violet ones and their world narrows to only each other for a moment, time slowing to a bare crawl as they see each other for the first time since last night. Thoma had insisted that they observe at least one Mondstadt tradition for their wedding, and had stayed in his old rooms for the night, only wanting to see Ayato for the first time right before they recite their vows to each other. The wait was well worth it.
A soft noise at his side breaks Thoma out of his trance. Ayaka has choked back a small sob, and Thoma’s eyes follow hers to look downwards at the item held in Ayato’s hands. It seems Ayaka’s fan isn’t the only priceless heirloom that will bear witness to their union, as the item his lover holds is the late Lord Kamisato’s sword, the clan crest inlaid on the handle beside the dark purple bindings. The last place Thoma had seen the sword was on display in the estate, placed in a stand across the small family shrine. He hadn’t even noticed it was missing from its spot.
Thoma looks up again, and his eyes meet Ayato’s once more. His lover smiles and holds out one of his hands, the other gripping the sword tightly. Without any hesitation, Thoma slips his hand into Ayato’s extended fingers, and they take the final few steps towards the archway together, hand in hand.
I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Ayaka watches as they stop and turn to face each other. Ayato lifts his fathers sword, touching his forehead to the hilt in a silent act of reverence, before placing the sword at their feet. With both hands now free, Ayato takes both of Thoma’s hands in his and takes a deep breath before reciting his vows.
I, Kamisato Ayato, take you, Thoma, to be my wedded husband. I promise to love and cherish you. To give you a home full of warmth and acceptance so that you never feel the distance from your birth-place. To support you, to encourage you, to comfort you. We shall form a link between our two nations, we shall walk this path together, and bridge our differences with love.
I pledge that the vows I make to you today will endure even after we are gone, as a member of the Kamisato clan shall always have their wishes honoured by the rest of the clan for all time.
With the Almighty Shogun and my beloved sister as our witnesses, I declare you, with my power as the Yashiro Commissioner, to be my husband, just as I am yours, until the end of Eternity.
Thoma’s eyes blur as Ayato recites his vows, his fingers trembling and his heart beating wildly in his chest. The words engrave themselves in his mind, and he has to pause and breathe before beginning his own carefully rehearsed speech.
I, Thoma, take you, Lord Ayato of the Kamisato Clan, Yashiro Commissioner, leader of the Shuumatsuban, as my beloved husband. I vow, just as I did as a child, to always be by your side to protect you as your loyal shield. To care for you, to cherish you, to comfort you, to support you. I promise to treat you with honour, with respect, with devotion, and to accomplish all of that with all the love I possess. My heart has always belonged to you, and it will be my honour and privilege to stand here beside you for the rest of our lives.
With the Almighty Shogun and the Shirasagi Himegimi as our witnesses, I take you to be my husband, just as I am yours, until the end of Eternity.
Thoma reaches into the front of his kimono and removes a carved wooden box. Inside lay a pair of rings, one gold and one silver. He removes the silver one and places it onto Ayato’s shaking finger, while Ayato takes the gold one and slides it onto his. The box is slipped back inside Thoma’s robe, they clasp their hands together once more and then turn their heads towards Ayaka, who snaps open her fan with a flourish before placing it gently atop their held hands, covering their rings.
I, Kamisato Ayaka, having witnessed your vows, and with my powers as the Shirasagi Himegimi, declare that you are now and will forever be lawfully wedded husbands. May the Almighty Shogun bless your union and may it last for all Eternity.
They turn back towards each other, and, as the sun’s final rays light up the sky, Thoma leans forward and presses their lips together, sealing their marriage with a tender kiss as their hearts beat as one, just as they have for the past ten years, and how they will for many many more.
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more