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Everyone took bets. Who would cry the hardest at the altar?
The mass majority voted Ochako would. Considering how passionate she has always been about life and her relationship with Tenya in general, it would be an easy assumption to make.
But those that voted for her lost the bet.
She had misty eyes as she watched Tenya take the handkerchief from his breast pocket to dab off the tears trickling down his cheeks.
The words said by Deku (their officiant at the wedding) were a low murmur as she stared at her husband-to-be. She took in his quivering bottom lip, his pulse thumping against his neck, the subtle vibrations of excitement while he stood there just as impatiently as she was.
So handsome. He was so incredibly dapper in the tux Todoroki found for him. She would be so grateful.
"A-And now," Deku cleared his throat, clearly just as moved as Tenya was. "The groom will say his vows..." he nodded in his direction. "Tenya?"
The mention of his name seemed to bring him back to reality, taking him away from whatever thoughts had been swimming in his brilliant mind. He turned to Deku and shook his head. "U-Um, wh-what--?"
"The vows," Ochako leaned in and cupped a hand to the side of her mouth as she whispered the prompt. She gave him a wink before straightening her back.
There was a low muffled wave of laughter from their crowd of family and friends as Tenya nodded.
"Oh, yes, of-of course!"
Oh he was so precious. And he was hers. HERS. He will be hers forever and always from this day forward.
A lump of overwhelming love formed in the base of her throat as Iida blinked more tears away, trying to steady his breath.
He released a shaky exhale and grabbed her hands. They were warm and large and meant for her. They always held her perfectly, and now they would for the duration of their lives, their souls intertwined from this day forward.
"This woman...This...This amazing woman..." he took a quivering inhale. "I marry...ha...N-No matter what the health situation is...I will love her...I will respect her, console her, and help her anytime she asks...even after death, this brave, brilliant love of my life can call on me any time and I will be there for her, fighting by her side...I will protect her and never leave her...I will cherish her with every fiber of my being..." An audible swallow was made. "She will always be my starlight, bringing a brightness to my world that nothing else ever can. A-And I will do whatever it takes to keep that starlight shining." He smiled with eyes twinkling. "This, I swear."
"Oh Tenya..." Now the tears fell. It had been one thing to overhear him practice those lines with Deku when she should have kept to herself...But it was something entirely different hearing the words now, staring into the eyes of the man she would die for in a heartbeat.
"O-Ochako?" Deku sniffled.
"Yes?" Ochako sniffled back.
Tenya squeezed her hand a little tighter. "Your turn, my love." He brushed the pad of his thumb over the tops of her hands.
"O-Okay..." Suddenly she felt like the room around her had been filled with warm water. A gentle wave swaying her back and forth as she kept her eyes locked on Tenya. She was warm and comfortable. This is the type of love she had dreamed of since she first started dating Tenya. She knew this day would come. And now here she was.
A tear traced her cheek as she took a deep breath, mimicking Iida's previous ritual. She let the tear linger on her skin as the rehearsed words left her lips. "This man before me...This hero, partner, gentleman before me...I marry..." Her fingers tightened around her Tenya's hands. "No matter how sick, no matter how healthy...I will love him, respect him, and console him. I-I will be by his side, day or night. He can't get rid of me..." she giggled as another tear hugged her cheek. "I will love him...I will cherish him in a way he has never been cherished before...Should fate try to step in a separate us through death, I will fight against it and win, because nothing can keep me apart from this man...I will protect him, give my life for him without a second thought because I need him in this world, I need him in MY world..." Two more tears escaped her eyes with a nod of her head. "This I swear..."
Ochako barely registered Deku speaking his next designated lines despite knowing their importance. She just wanted to stay in this warmth, in this glowing love that radiated off of Tenya. This feeling...she never wanted it to fade. She will NEVER let it fade.
No matter how many arguments they will inevitably have, no matter how many near-death experiences they will have fighting side by side to save the citizens of their city...she will cling onto this feeling, this warm, loving feeling.
"Yes, I-I promise..." Tenya took out his handkerchief again to dab his eyes. "I-I am so sorry, my love..." He slowly slipped the ring from his pocket onto her slender finger. A perfect white gold.
"Shhh," Ochako giggled, her vision getting misty once again. "You have nothing to be sorry for."
"Ochako," Deku cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Hm?" Her eyes never left Tenya.
"This man you wish to marry...Will you in peaceful times, during sickness, love him, respect him, comfort him, and help him until death? Do you--?"
"Oh I'll be there for him long after we are dead, Deku," the words sprung from her mouth without her permission.
It got laughs from the crowd and widened eyes from Tenya, widened eyes that crinkled as a smile grew on his lips.
"Y-Yeah, you mentioned that, didn't you?" Deku scratched the back of his head.
"Mmhm," a blush like fire flared on her cheeks. She just wanted to kiss him already. Claim those lips and make Tenya hers right here and now.
"Do-Do you promise to fulfill your vows?"
"YesIpromise!" Ochako blurted out, quickly sliding her ring onto Tenya's finger. "Can I kiss him now?" She pulled her hands away from Tenya only to grab his suit's jacket and yank him closer to her, smiling at the gasp.
"O-Ochako!" Tenya placed his hands on her hips.
"Yes," Deku laughed, propping his hands on Ochako's and Tenya's shoulders. "You may kiss..."
The moment the last word left Deku's lips Ochako launched forward and captured Iida's lips with her own. The gentle kiss only lasted for a mere moment before the kiss deepened. Even with her eyes shut she could feel Tenya's blush beam against her, but she didn't care. She didn't care who saw. She was claiming this man as hers.
He will always be hers.
There were giggles and laughs and gasps at Ochako's show of affection, but it only made her kiss him that much more passionately. Her fingers combed roughly through his hair, tearing through the hair gel he wore to keep his hair in place.
He truly was the sweetest, and he was all hers.
"U-Um," Deku giggled. "I-I now introduce to you Ochako and Tenya Iida!"
Ochako didn't stop kissing until everyone in their small crowd was standing and clapping.
"Oi! Give him a chance to breathe, Round Face!" That was Bakugo's voice.
"Dude! Shut it! Just let them be!" Kirishima sniffled through a laugh.
The room filled with cheers of congratulations as Ochako pulled back. A smile split her face in two at the sight of what she had done to Tenya. His jacket ruffled, his hair sweeping every which way, and lips red and swollen. It was adorable and she wanted to take a picture to keep this moment forever.
"I-I believe," Tenya started, tugging at his jacket and smoothing out the wrinkles, "it is time for us to join our guests, yes?" He held out his arm for Ochako to take. "Are you ready to spend an eternity with me, my love?"
Her smile beamed with the brightness of a thousand suns. She loved the way that ring looked on his finger, and the way her ring looked on hers.
"Hehe, I've been ready since our first kiss." She took ahold of his arm and tugged them in the direction of the aisle.
Music played and more cheers filled the room.
But all Ochako could hear were the sound of her heartbeat dancing to the sound of Tenya's footsteps next to hers.
Today was the beginning of a beautiful new chapter of their lives.
And she will make every single day count.