Chapter Text
Wendy knew that there was nothing to worry about. Even so, they found themself nervous as the day approached. Looking at Clayman, it was clear he felt similarly - he was jumpy and distracted throughout the course of the day. Wendy was less jumpy, and more quiet. Melancholy. Unable to focus on the tasks in front of them.
Tonight was going to be something very important for the both of them, after all.
Their naming ceremony.
Human weddings were a tradition Wendy was ill-acquainted with. In truth, after so much time surrounded by magicules and growing closer with the majin around them, they were no longer human themself. As a result of that a wedding hadn't felt right to them. They didn't know what sorts of ceremonies and traditions existed between majin, let alone amongst the upper echelon of majin, the Demon Lords.
Clayman had thought for a long time when they'd asked for his thoughts. Finally, he'd said softly, "a shared name."
Wendy had been struck by that. They understood immediately the signifigance, having been in this world as long as they had. Names were crucial to magical beings - names were power.
And shared names, or surnames, were a symbol of connection.
Wendy had possessed one of those once. They had long forgotten it. None of the Moderate Harlequin Alliance or Clayman's Army had surnames, and so theirs was not used either. Over the centuries, it had faded away. There had been a sense of loss when they realized they could no longer recall it. They had grieved it - but they had moved on, their surname merely one of many things they had lost in their quest to support Clayman.
So it was decided - they would conduct a private naming ceremony, carving the knowledge that they were equals and dedicated to each other into their very souls.
In retrospect, it wasn't at all surprising that Wendy was nervous about it. It was a big deal. It was significant.
And they wanted it.
With that desire burning in their heart, they headed for the private room where the two of them would conduct the ceremony.
"Oh! Wendy." Clayman startled at their appearance, standing up straight. He was wearing his mask, but despite that, they could sense his sheepishness, certain he was smiling behind it.
Wendy smiled softly. Clayman's mask was a comfort item for him - he wore it in situations where his emotions were intense.
"Clayman." They said warmly back to him, taking in the room as they approached him. The room was well decorated, and Wendy suspected Eva had been the cause of that. Flowers decorated the walls, ranging the gamut from roses to a special flower that Clayman had painstakingly bred for Wendy, resembling the foxglove from their world, with a purple hue that matched their hair. Rose petals were strewn across the floor. There was a small table with pastries and wine, and two large, plush chairs that faced each other, a small table to the side of them. A few candles were present around the room, the source of the pleasant scent permeating the room.
Wendy took all of that in quickly, before eagerly turning their attention fully to Clayman. They stopped in front of him, cupping his face with their hands, palms resting on his mask while their fingers reached past it, brushing his hair. Clayman swallowed in response, his hands naturally going to rest on their waist. He leaned forward, the forehead of his mask pressing to their bare one.
"Are you ready?" They asked, their own heart pounding.
Clayman hesitated, before nodding. "Yes, I think so." He lifted his head, before reaching up with a shaky hand to remove his mask and slip it away.
He met their gaze with a shy smile, cheeks faintly flushed. Wendy bounced up to press a quick kiss to his lips, taking one of his hands in theirs.
"Me too," they replied softly. They averted their gaze, even as they smiled widely.
The two made their way to the chairs, sitting down without relinquishing their held hands.
"How should we do this?" Wendy wondered aloud, squeezing his hand gently.
"I have wondered that myself. Perhaps," Clayman cleared his throat, chuckling nervously, "we could...share some words? If that appeals to you."
Wendy nodded, meeting his gaze with pink cheeks that mirrored his.
"Um..." They squirmed in their seat a bit, looking away again as they collected their thoughts. "I want to tell you...what this means to me, if that's alright."
"Yes. Please." Clayman added a second hand to their held ones, giving a reassuring squeeze.
"I want to be with you. I want to be by your side." They swallowed thickly, eyes tearing up as they met his gaze. "I want to support you, through everything. Through success, and through failure. Nothing can ever come between us or keep me from you - and this is my commitment to those truths." Their lower lip wobbled. They looked like they wanted to say more - but turned away, unable to continue.
"My dearest Wendy," Clayman murmured, freeing one hand to cup their cheek, tilting their face back towards him. "I have noticed and appreciated all the ways you have been looking after me. I have seen the way you have changed over the centuries. The things you've lost, and the things you've gained. You've given your all for me, haven't you?"
A surprised sob broke from Wendy's throat as they met Clayman's soft gaze with wide eyes.
He had noticed? They had changed so much over the many, many years. The loss of their surname was merely one change among many, while the loss of their humanity as they evolved into a majin was the culmination of every other change. These changes had not come easily - they had been painful, each one keenly felt.
But for his sake, there was little they wouldn't accept.
"Yes," they sobbed, throwing themself at him, feeling his arms wrap around them instantly in response. "Yes..."
"I saw it all." He whispered to them, pressing a kiss to their hair. "Words cannot convey what it has meant to me."
They held each other for some time, before Wendy pulled back.
"S-sorry...I didn't mean to start crying so quickly..." They mumbled, tucking a strand of hair behind their ear.
"There's nothing to apologize for." Clayman tugged on their hands, inviting them to sit on his lap. They took the hint, noticing how watery his red eyes were as they wrapped their arms around his shoulders, legs laid across his.
Wendy pressed a kiss to his cheek, smiling warmly as his expression softened even further.
"I also wanted to say," they met his gaze intently, "that I want to make you happy. To continue making you happy. And- and to be happy with you. Because I love you. And this is my commitment to that, too."
Clayman leaned in to press his lips to theirs for a longer kiss.
"I love you too." He pressed his forehead to theirs for a moment, sighing softly. They brushed their nose against his.
"Your turn." They offered up an almost cheeky smile to cover up their bashfulness, still sniffling from their earlier emotional outburst.
Clayman hummed in response, solemnly looking skyward. Wendy waited patiently, taking in the sight of him. His expression was melancholy as he sorted his thoughts.
"You know already the future that we're working towards." Clayman began, letting his gaze fall back to Wendy, who was listening eagerly. "I want to reiterate the promise for that perfect future - for you and I to enjoy it, together. I couldn't do it without you."
He smiled at them, and they felt their heart swell with pride at his acknowledgement.
"But I know," his voice dropped to a whisper, "how much you've had to give up for this. For me. And," one hand clutched at his chest, "I want you to rely on me more. I want to support you better. You have made enough sacrifices. I love you, and I don't want endless sacrifice for you. You mean so much to me," a few tears spilled over. "and it grieves me how much you have sacrificed for me. So please - lean on me."
Wendy pressed their face to his chest, clutching at the fabric of his jacket, sniffling as they cried against him.
"And equally importantly, I want everyone to know that you are my equal. Not my subordinate, or my advisor, but my partner ." Clayman's eyes shined, and Wendy was awed by the pride in his expression at this proclamation. "And- and I hope it will be a point of pride for you, as well."
"Of- of course!" Their voice broke. "I have always been proud to be yours . And I always will be."
"I-" Clayman shook his head, smiling as he was overcome with tears.
They embraced each other, crying and smiling and peppering each other in kisses until they had calmed down enough to continue.
"I love you, Wendy." Clayman said, meeting their gaze deeply.
"I love you, too, Clayman." Wendy replied. "I'm ready."
"To carve those commitments into our souls."
"To unite us at the deepest level."
The air was different now, charged with magicules that reflected their intentions to bring this connection into existence.
"I have an idea for a name that I've grown rather fond of." Wendy admitted.
"I would be honored to hear it." Clayman cupped their cheek, rubbing his gloved thumb across the soft skin.
"Verite."
Clayman hummed, carefully considering it. "Wendy Verite. Clayman Verite." He repeated the names a few more times. "It's appropriately elegant." He remarked, raising his brows with a pleased expression.
"Thank you." Wendy ducked their head, giggling a bit. "Did you have any ideas?"
"...I was really at a loss on this one." Clayman admitted, blushing a bit. "I didn't manage to come up with anything I liked."
Wendy giggled again, prompting Clayman to huff and pout a bit.
"I only had the one name that spoke to me, really." They admitted.
"Perhaps that's the world's way of telling us that this is the right name for us." Clayman said, expression softening.
"Perhaps it is." Wendy smiled. "Well, if- if you like it, I'm happy with it."
Clayman nodded. "I am as well."
The moment they agreed, they were bathed in a soft golden light as the naming took effect. They felt the change taking root, deep in each of their souls. They felt strengthened, connection indescribably deepened. Wendy was aware of the Words of the World announcing their new skills, certain Clayman was hearing similar words.
<Unique Skill: Electromagnetism> Acquired.
It was difficult to care, with the elation Wendy felt in their heart. With the elation they both felt. There would be time later to process the changes they were experiencing.
Right now, they just wanted to focus on how incredible it felt to be connected like this. They hadn't known what to expect - and the feeling had them crying even harder into Clayman.
The light faded away, and they held each other, calming down until their tears had dried and they could press their lips together in a gentle kiss. They indulged in that for yet more time, humming happily and holding each other.
"Do you want a snack?" Clayman offered. He giggled a little, still unable to contain his bliss.
"Only if I can come back and sit in your lap again." Wendy replied with a cheeky grin, wiggling the slightest bit.
"I would be distraught if you didn't." Clayman reassured them.
Wendy pressed another kiss to his lips before getting to their feet, stretching a bit. They headed for the table full of pastries.
As they piled pastries onto their plate, they felt Clayman's arms wrap around them from behind, his soft sigh reaching their ears.
"I was going to get some for you, too." Wendy said, tilting their head back to look up at him.
"I know." He murmured, gazing down at them softly. "I just missed you."
Wendy's expression softened instantly. "I missed you too." They leaned forward, stretching to grab a second plate. "What pastries do you want?"
Clayman pointed at a few, and Wendy piled them on. Shortly, the two of them were back in his chair, cuddled up and feeding each other pastries.
They were loath to separate - once they left this room, somehow this moment would be over. The effects would remain forever, but right now, it was a comfortable space where nothing was expected of them.
It wasn't long before they began to discuss the abilities they'd gained.
Wendy had received the unique skill, <Electromagnetism>. Through some experimenting, the two of them discovered that it was a combination of <Leyline Manipulation> (a subskill of Clayman's <Unique Skill: Manipulator>) and <Teleport>, allowing them to use the Leylines to teleport near instantly anywhere in the world. Based on the method of travel, it seemed likely that the magicule cost would multiply with distance.
Clayman had received the unique skill, <Electromagnetic Pull>. This built off of <Leyline Manipulation>, allowing Clayman to summon a willing individual who possessed the skill <Electromagnetism> to his side.
Two complementary skills - the world had seen their union, and rewarded them appropriately for it.
"It's late." Clayman remarked. The bottle of wine had long been emptied, the two glasses sitting on the side table, the last of the red liquid pooling stubbornly at their bases.
"Nn," was Wendy's only response. Their eyes were mostly closed, squinting up at Clayman. Honestly, they were fully aware they'd dozed off a few times, cozy as they cuddled up against him.
Clayman chuckled softly at that, tucking a loose strand of hair behind their ear. "Will you come to bed with me?"
Wendy took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "But I like being right here , with you..."
They knew that the moment had to end eventually. That the two of them had to go to sleep, unable to stop the flow of time. And they knew equally well that in the morning, it would be the start of the rest of their life as Wendy Verite, partner of Clayman Verite, which was an exhilarating prospect.
But even so, they resisted the pull of sleep.
"I know." He pressed a kiss to their forehead, whispering, "I feel it, too."
They nuzzled into him in acknowledgement, whining softly.
"Alright." They forced their eyes open, blinking at him sleepily as they got to their feet. They moved sluggishly, both reluctant and tired. "To bed, I guess."
"To bed," Clayman got to his feet, taking their hands into his, "and to a new day as Clayman Verite and Wendy Verite."
Wendy couldn't help but smile, only barely noticing the way Clayman blinked away the happy tears that threatened to form in his eyes.
Hand in hand, they headed towards their bright future.