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As an occasional helper to Wildfire, you were making the rounds some weeks after the Overworld had finally opened up again to the Underworld. You were ready to help anyone that wasn’t used yet to this still quite new situation. In the last weeks, you had already reunited families and accompanied people back to the surface after years “downstairs”.
Of course, you kept in touch with your friends from the Astral Express through your phone. They had left some time ago already. You had told them that you felt at home on Jarilo-VI, as if you were meant to be here. March 7th and Dan Heng had reassured you that you would always be welcome aboard the Express for a visit, and the Trailblazer had thanked you for your kindness and care of them, telling you how much they valued your friendship.
You would miss them for sure, but the happiness you felt as you slowly became more and more part of Belobog’s life was worth the nostalgia.
Today, after a halt at Natasha’s clinic to bring in some supplies from her mother, you decided to take a break around the Fight Club. Rumour had it that people from topside even came down to watch some fights, now! You wondered whether or not you would see some familiar faces, though you still doubted you’d see any Belobog noble.
As you reached the building with its giant green and red sign, you noticed in the corner of your eyes a very well-known blonde head and her big hat. You walked up to Hook for a little chat.
“Hello, Hook the Great”, you greeted her with a smile.
“Oh, we meet again!” she beamed at you. “How can I help you, honorary member?”
“I’ve come to say hi. And maybe chat a bit. How are the Moles doing?”
“As busy as always! The Moles have to keep watch over the safety of Boulder Town, for evil is always thwarting our operations!”
“Evil? What kind?”
“There are two of ’em: the old witch at the clinic, and the other… Big Sis Seele!”
You looked at her quizzically. You knew the kid had something against Natasha, but Seele…?
“Uh…” she started after an hesitant pause. “But Seele sometimes also plays with me, and takes me out shopping. So the Moles don’t really see her as a bad guy.”
The words “bad guy” reminded you of someone. You felt the need to make sure he wasn’t being a nuisance to the children.
“Do you know about someone named… Sampo?”
“That blue-haired man? Of course I do!”
Oh, no. He wouldn’t have dared… right?
Only one way to know…
“You haven’t been bullied by him, have you?”
“Have I? I only remember bullying him. I do hear a lot about him being a “bad guy”, though. But that man treats me well!”
“R-really? How so?”
“Few of the adults in Boulder Town want to play with us Moles. Mr. Sampo’s the only one who’ll take us out for joyrides - it’s wild! He’s different from the other adults - funny and chatty! Mr. Sampo is definitely one of the good ones. Don’t worry, honorary member!”
Well, you weren’t expecting such an answer.
But then, Hook kept going.
“Mr. Sampo is a really nice guy, now that I think about it. Even Luka has said he can be reliable… when he wants to be. At least, his intel has always been true and useful to the Moles, so Pitch-Dark Hook wouldn’t have anything bad to say about him! On the contrary!”
Now, that was starting to sound like a sales pitch…
“Even the old witch has praised him! And though Big Sis Seele often gets mad at him, she too has said he was a good… uh… ah! Asset! A good asset.”
Alright, that was a sales pitch.
You kneeled in order to get eye to eye with the girl. Serious talk was about to ensue.
“Hook… Are you trying to tell me something?”
“No? Though, maybe you should marry Mr. Sampo! He is really nice…”
“Hook…” you sighed, smiling apologetically. “I… I can’t just marry him…”
“Huh? Why not?”
“Because that’s not how these things work.”
“That’s nonsense!” she exclaimed as she put her hands on her hips. “You only have to love each other to get married! That’s what Daddy always told me!”
“And how would Pitch-Dark Hook the Great know if Mr. Sampo and I love each other?” you asked sceptically.
“Pffft! Easy! Mr. Sampo already told Hook!”
… What.
“Mr. Sampo what?”
“He told me that he would loooove to marry you. But you would be too stubborn to say yes. Guess he was right!”
“He… What?!”
“Yes! He told Hook!”
You fumbled over your next words, cheeks flushing.
“And- And what about me, huh? Maybe I- Maybe I don’t like him!”
“Yeah, yeah, tell that to my Diggertron. Have you seen how hard you are blushing right now?!”
You stood up again, hoping your size difference with the girl would conceal the undeniable.
“Because you’re embarrassing me!”
She pointed an accusatory gloved finger at you.
“Because Pitch-Dark is telling the truth!! You like- no, you love Mr. Sampo, and you should be ashamed to say overway- over…”
“Otherwise?”
“Yes! Otherwise! Shame on you, honorary member! Shame on you!”
“Oh, they left no more than ten minutes ago”, said Natasha.
“Really? Ugh…”
Sampo sat in reverse on a chair with a defeated sigh. Arms crossed on the backrest, he kept silent, long enough for Natasha to get back to preparing some medication.
“Say, Nat…”
“Yes, Sampo?”
“Do you know what would be the best way to propose to… someone?”
The doctor paused, taken aback.
“You mean… You want to propose to-”
“Yes. Is it that crazy of an idea?”
“No! No. It isn’t. I’m sorry if I was rude.”
“S’fine. I just…” he pouted. “I don’t know. I want to.”
Natasha set down the vials she was working with to get a better look at Sampo. At the same time, he sighed deeply, obviously lovestruck. She had never seen him so… discouraged, either.
“My”, she started. “It’s the first time I’ve ever seen you this… this…”
“Sad?”
“… Melancholic”, she corrected tactfully.
He let out a soft laugh.
“You don’t say…”
“How long has it been? Since you knew?”
“Since I knew I was in love?”
She nodded.
He scratched the back of his head, a soft blush spreading on his cheeks.
“I don’t know… I can’t say it was from the start, because it wasn’t, but at the same time… It felt kind of…”
“Natural?”
“No, more like… Obvious. Or like there was no way it wouldn’t happen, like it was… just meant to be.”
She smiled kindly.
“Hm. It seems that you fell really hard for our friend.”
“Yeah”, he chuckled. “Pretty much.”
He took a dark red, heart-shaped, velvety box out of his inner pocket.
“I even got the rings already.”
He proudly opened the box so Natasha could see what rested inside.
“Did you… steal those?” she slowly asked.
“What? No! I bought them! Legitimately, mind you. I got them custom-made, even…”
She took a closer look at the two rings. The appearance of one did remind her of you, strangely enough. Maybe because the small embedded gem was the exact same colour as your irises. The other one was an exact replica of Sampo’s eye colour.
“I’m sure they’ll love it”, she said with a kind smile.
“I hope so”, exclaimed Sampo as he put the little box back into the inner pocket of his jacket.
He grunted, a hand to his face.
“I wanted to make it special, but I don’t even know what would be the most romantic place to do it…”
“What about where you first saw each other?”
“That was in the Snow Plains!” he explained in a somewhat distressed voice. “That would be nice, if there wasn’t a constant blizzard out there, still…”
“Then… somewhere you share memories of?”
“What? The mines? The Fight Club??”
Natasha stared at him, surprised and curious.
“What were you two doing at the Fight Club?”
“I- I’ll tell you some other day…”
“Hmmm, didn’t you talk about the Museum, once?”
He scratched his cheek, this time.
“I… can’t exactly go back there, heehee~”
Then an idea struck Sampo.
“I know”, he said as he stood up with a smile. “I know somewhere! Thanks, Nat!!”
He bolted out the door before she could ask him anything else.
“You will marry Mr. Sampo anyway, honorary member!!”
“No, I won’t, Pitch-Dark!!”
She blew you a raspberry as you left her. That child was so, so stubborn…
You finally entered the Fight Club. You had come to this part of Boulder Town for that reason, after all! And it seemed like your friend Luka was already on the ring. Time to be a good cheerleader!
As Hook was sulking, still mad at you for being the most stubborn adult she had ever met, she heard rushed footsteps coming towards her.
“Ha!” she exclaimed triumphantly. “So, already coming back with excu-”
She turned her head.
“-ses…?”
It wasn’t you.
It was Mr. Sampo.
He smirked at her, half-teasing half-apologetic.
“Mad at someone? Hope it’s not at me~”
“Nah. I’m just mad at your future spouse~”
“Oh, truly~? What did they do?”
“Well, you were right. They said they wouldn’t marry you. I told them it would happen anyway, but they didn’t seem to believe me. How dare they not heed Pitch-Dark Hook the Great’s opinion on such important matters?!”
Sampo laughed gleefully.
“I told you they would react exactly like that!”
“Yeah, but still!”
“By the way…” the con-man lowered his tone, kneeling to the child. “I need your help. For what might be the most important mission of the Moles yet.”
Hook stared at him with big eyes. This was a serious matter, indeed.
“Pitch-Dark Hook is listening.”
“Yo, friend!” cheered a sweaty Luka as he stepped out of the ring to greet you. “How’ve you been?”
You kindly passed him a towel so he could dry himself.
“I’m fine!”
“Nah-ah, I see the remnants of a scowl on your eyebrows, friendo. What happened?”
Bless his sweet soul for seeming an air-head but being actually that much more perceptive.
You sighed in defeat.
“Fiiine, I’ll tell you… I got into kind of an argument with Hook.”
“With Hook? About what? What ice-cream flavour is the best?” he laughed.
“Nooo… It- It was about…”
You turned your head around in shame, arms crossed.
“Sampo…” you mumbled.
“Huh? Sampo??”
After a second of disbelief, Luka burst out laughing.
“Ahahah! Don’t tell me- Don’t tell me Hook uncovered your crush, of all people!! Ahahah!!”
You looked at him in pure shock.
“What… What do you mean…?”
He flicked your forehead with a huge smirk.
“You’re too easy to read, my dear friend! Heck, you might be the last person who doesn’t know you have a crush on the guy! Eheheh!”
“I- I don’t!! I don’t have a crush on him!! Why would I??!”
Luka stared at you, scanning your expression. His smile had completely disappeared.
After a few moments, his face distorted into one of pure joy and fun once again.
“You don’t have a crush on him because you actually love him already!! Ahahahahah!!” he laughed as he wiped a tear from his eye.
“Shut up!!” you cried out, bumping his head with a fist. “I’m not in love with him!!”
Luka only responded with a big grin.
“Prove it, then.”
You opened your mouth… but nothing would come out. Your mind went blank. Your brain cells were suddenly too busy thinking about dark blue locks of hair and emerald eyes.
And how the only times he had “scammed” you, you had ended up helping someone else in some roundabout way.
And how the only time he had truly disappointed you, he had made up for it without any request on your part.
And how it was thanks to him that Bronya was brought to the Underworld, and that everything that ensued… even happened in the first place.
He was the unsung, unknown hero of Belobog.
And you were the only one who understood that.
Tears of frustration started to run down your cheeks.
“I hate him…” you whispered. “I hate him because he does every single thing right in the most wrong ways… And he’ll never be paid back for all the things he has already done for this city…”
And you sobbed.
You sobbed onto your friend’s shoulder for longer than you would ever admit.
You put your hand on the door’s handle as you shook your other hand in the air.
“See you, Luka! I owe you some ice-cream!” you shouted with a smile.
“Strawberry-flavoured! See ya!” he cheered.
You exited the Fight Club. You hadn’t made two steps outside before you heard something.
“Ahem.”
You looked downwards. Hook was staring at you with her arms crossed. You mimicked her.
“Yes? How may I help you?” you asked, not particularly pleased to see her after your… little disagreement.
Not even taking into account the fact that she was right-
“I’m sorry for what I said earlier”, she started, not even looking at you. “But I need you to escort me to the Overworld on a very top-secret mission. Sooo…”
She lifted an open hand at you.
“Will you do me this favour, honorary member?”
It took you the amount of three seconds of fake reflection to take her small hand in yours. You let out a tired sigh.
“You know I can’t be mad at you for too long”, you confessed.
“Yay~ You won’t regret it!”
“Won’t I? I wonder”, you mused with a small smile.
“Please, Serval! You are the only one who could do me this favour, I beg of you!”
Sampo was kneeled at Serval’s countertop, his hands joined together as if praying to the Aeons.
“I’ll help you set up the stage for a month- no, for six months- forget it, I’ll do it for a whole year if you just help me this once! Pleaheaheaheaaase~” he bawled, teary-eyed.
At first, Serval thought those were just crocodile tears. But Sampo? Having a plan to propose to you? Sampo?? Of all people… Sampo???
She sighed. Refusing would simply get her a bigger headache, anyway…
“Alright, fine! I’ll help you. Just… stop crying on my counter, will you?”
“Thank you so much, Serval!! You are my saviour!!”
“Yeah, yeah… So? What do you need me to do exactly?”
Sampo took some minutes to explain his full plan to the rockstar.
“What?! And you hope I will be able to convince him??! ”
“Please! Your brother is my best connection to the Supreme Leader! And between us both, you know he won’t listen to me!”
“I know! But still… That’s a pretty lofty request, you can surely see that…”
“Of course, I do! But it’s- it’s for them! Not for me - I mean, yes, it’s also for me, but you catch my drift.”
Serval grumbled.
“Hmm, I guess I can try… But I really can’t make any promise that I’ll sway Geppie.”
“Please, do try. You are my only hope.”
After staring at Sampo’s best puppy-eyed look yet, she grunted.
“Alright, I’ll give it a try. For them.”
“Oh, thank you so much!! I feel like I already owe you my life!”
“Don’t make me regret this.”
“Okay.”
“So, that is your very top-secret mission? Hook?” you asked the blonde girl as you both walked past the Museum’s big doors. “A visit to the Museum? Really?”
“Well, Pitch-Dark Hook the Great never had a chance to come and visit properly…”
You sighed.
“I guess…”
You looked at the child. Her eyes were silently pleading.
You smiled at her.
“Alright. I’ll indulge you.”
“Yaaay~” she beamed, overjoyed.
You couldn’t help but laugh at her antics.
“He wants to what?! ” screamed Gepard.
“I- I know it sounds a bit much”, said his sister as she attempted to calm him down. “But think about it! It would be a nice way to thank our friend for all that they did for us and the city in the past!”
The Captain of the Silvermane Guards merely groaned.
“And I…” she started again. “I kind of owe them that, at the very least…”
Her brother sighed.
“Yeah… Me too, I guess. And not just as a Silvermane Guard…”
She smiled at him.
“ Sooo you’ll help?”
He seemed to calculate his options.
“I might be able to”, he eventually said.
“Yes!” cheered Serval.
“But I’m only doing this for our friend!” he added. “Not for that good-for-nothing menace!”
“Fair point”, she said, as they heard the back door open. “I’m sure Sampo won’t mind.”
“Well, he’d better not”, replied Gepard with a scowl, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Sampo won’t mind what?” asked the menace innocently, carrying a awful lot of shopping bags as he entered the room.
“Eh? What are those?” inquired the rockstar.
“Flowers, and hum… some clothes. Mostly clothes.”
“I better get going, I’d wager”, said Gepard making his way to the front door as he shook his head.
“Thanks, Geppie~” exclaimed Serval.
What he wouldn’t do for his sister and his kind friend who helped save Belobog with the Astral Express crew…
“Oh! Oh! Honorary member! Look! Look!”
“Well, that’s new”, you said, staring at an ice-cream seller inside the Museum. Granted, it was placed in the inner garden of the building, but you remembered very well that such a luxury did not exist when you were helping with the exhibitions.
“Can I have some ice-cream? Please~”
“For you two, it will be free!” said someone behind you.
“Eh?!” shouted Hook, taken aback.
“Oh, sorry”, apologised Pela. “I didn’t mean to scare you!”
“Pela! Are you still helping with the management of the Museum?” you asked.
“Indeed, but only in my spare time. This has become another hobby of mine, it seems!”
“That… is an unexpected request, to say the least…”
“I know, Supreme Leader. I am truly sorry for inconveniencing you like so”, said Gepard as he bowed to Bronya in deference.
“No, it’s alright. We do owe so much to our friend… Such a small favour doesn’t seem all that out of place.”
“You think so, Supreme Leader?”
“Yes, I do”, she said with a gentle smile.
Gepard remained a bit sceptical about the whole ordeal.
“I know I was the one to bring this up, but… Are you sure, Supreme Leader?”
“Yes. My decision is made, Captain. And I shall also participate.”
The blonde man needed a glass of water, lest he’d faint soon.
Sampo Koski, of all people - Sampo Koski - would get what he wanted.
“Looks like everything is going according to your plan”, said Serval as she put her phone back into her pocket.
“Alright… Serval, I’m entrusting this part to you”, announced Sampo.
“Leave it to me”, she answered with a thumbs up.
After a good chat with Pela, Hook and yourself eventually departed from the Museum.
But you weren’t expecting to see Serval just outside the building, seemingly waiting for someone.
“Uh? Serval? What are you doing here?” you asked, a bit dumb-founded.
“I was waiting for you, actually!”
“… Eh?”
“Oh, and Hook! I have a new mission for you.”
“For me?” the little blonde asked. “What is it?”
Serval kneeled to her and whispered something in her ear.
“Alright!” Hook exclaimed, before darting with the biggest grin on her face towards the Underground.
“Hook!” you called out to her, a bit concerned.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine”, Serval stopped you. “You, on the other hand, must come with me to my workshop.”
“?” was your only reaction before you obediently followed your blonde friend.
A boy rushed into the clinic.
“Natasha! Natasha!!”
“Julian? What’s wrong?”
“We gotta go! We gotta go! Or it will start without us!!”
Seele also barged in.
“Nat! You heard him! If we’re late, Bronya will have my head!!”
“Faaasteeer!!” shouted Luka from outside, carrying an overjoyed Hook on his shoulders.
“I… I don’t understand…” you said, prey to utter confusion. “Wh- Why do I have to wear these??”
Serval had made you choose clothes without telling you the reason, not even the smallest hint. The most intriguing part was that all the outfits at your disposal tended to be quite, if not very , nice.
And white.
“You don’t have to know”, she explained with a kind smile. “You just have to trust me. I swear, the reason for all of this will make you happy.”
She gently held your shoulders.
“I promise.”
“O- Okay…” you accepted, still a bit sceptical, but mostly confused.
At least, although you felt nervous, you weren’t scared. And you knew Serval wouldn’t do anything that could harm you. She was too much of a big sister for that.
“Alright!” she exclaimed. “Now, we’ve got to…”
She turned to the door, but stopped herself as soon as she did. She knocked a fist onto her forehead.
“Silly me”, she scolded herself. “I almost forgot the most important…”
She rummaged through another bag, before telling you to turn your back to her. Of course, you obeyed without protest.
"Wait just a second”, she said. “I need to clip… There! Now, we’re good to go."
You were about to lift your hand to whatever she had clipped into your hair when-
"No touching!" Serval chastised you.
You had no idea of what you looked like. She wouldn’t let you near a mirror, a window or even some glass. But she did stare at you like you were the most exquisite little contraption she had ever laid eyes upon.
Her phone rang. She took it out, read the message she had received, tapped an answer back and put it back in her pocket. She then clapped her hands together with a big smile.
“Time to go~”
You couldn’t help yourself from smiling nervously.
“You are one lucky man, Koski”, Gepard lowkey scoffed as he looked at his phone screen.
“I know~” Sampo swooned. “I can’t wait for them to arrive~”
Your heart started racing when you understood where Serval was actually bringing you, as you walked up the stairs to Qlipoth Fort.
What were you going to see Bronya for? None of this made any kind of sense, whatsoever.
You started reminding yourself of your whole day. When did things stop making sense?
When Hook asked you to go to the Overworld with her, when she should have been still mad at you, knowing her. And there was nothing wrong with your visit to the Museum per se, but Serval waiting for you? How did she know you were in the Museum? And what did she tell Hook to do back downstairs? Why the white clothes? Why Qlipoth Fort??
What had she clipped to your hair…?
You were about to ask her, as you were already inside the Fort, in front of Bronya’s office door, when you saw Pela, flowers in hand.
Seemingly waiting for the both of you.
“Hi, Pela”, Serval greeted her.
“Hello, Serval”, she greeted back.
“What…” you mumbled. “What is the meaning of…?”
“Hey”, the blonde woman stopped you. “I told you everything would be fine and make you happy. Didn’t I?”
You slowly shook your head up and down.
“Stop worrying. You’ll love hi- this. You’ll love this. Now… Give me a smile!”
You gave her a genuine grin. Serval was always good at cheering you up.
Only Sampo could beat her at that.
“Here’s your bouquet”, Pela smiled at you as she handed you the flowers.
“My… Bouquet…?” you hesitantly questioned, looking at it.
It was beautiful. Just the right size to fit your own silhouette. And it mostly consisted of your favourite flowers, too.
“And now~” sang Serval with her hand on one of the giant doors.
Pela joined her in slowly opening them.
“Welcome to your wedding~” they sang in unison.
You could not believe your own eyes.
Bronya’s office was covered in flowers. Benches had been brought in, and they were full of people you knew and had helped, from both the Underworld and the Overworld.
But that wasn’t the best part of it, far from it.
Bronya stood in front of her desk, with a kind smile on her face, and next to her…
There was Sampo. Wearing a pure white three-piece suit, with a boutonnière of your favourite flower on his lapel. His slicked-back hair was so different from his usual style, you couldn’t help but find him dashing and handsome. Extremely so.
His gaze on you was the most attractive thing you had ever seen in your life. A mix of joy, pride, love, devotion and bashfulness.
All just for you.
You couldn’t help the smile forming on your lips, your vision getting slightly blurry, your need to almost run to him and call him stupid.
Your stupid soon-to-be husband.
Your dumb fiancé.
Your favourite idiot in the whole universe.
You walked a tad too fast to what was seemingly your spot in this entire loveshow.
Sampo giggled like he usually did, but the glee in his eyes was so pure, you had to stop yourself from saying “I love you” at that moment.
“I see that everyone is here now”, said Bronya before clearing her throat. “Thank you all for coming here, today, to celebrate the union of these two souls.”
Sampo and yourself did not even spare a glance to her, both too happy, looking at each other.
“You’re beautiful”, you barely heard him whisper.
He stifled another giggle at your blushing cheeks.
“If anyone is against this marriage, speak now or forever remain silent”, announced the Supreme Leader.
Five seconds of silence ensued.
“Very well”, she concluded. “We shall proceed.”
“Sampo Koski”, she called to him. “Do you take them as your spouse, do you promise to cherish them and protect them, no matter the cost, until death do you part?”
“I do.”
The way he said it. So real and true, like the rain falls, the wind blows, the fire burns, and dying stars explode.
Like your heart bursting with love for this one man.
Bronya called your name next.
“Do you take Sampo Koski as your spouse, do you promise to cherish him and protect him, no matter the cost, until death do you part?”
You took a deep breath.
You couldn’t take it anymore.
“I do!” you exclaimed.
This time, Sampo couldn’t stifle his giggling.
“The rings, please”, asked Bronya.
You heard Natasha utter a “go” then small footsteps came towards you and Sampo.
You looked down to see Hook in the cutest white dress, with two of your favourite flowers attached to her twin ponytails. She held up a dark red, heart-shaped velvety box to Sampo, with the biggest grin you had ever seen on her little face.
Your almost-husband kneeled down to the girl and opened the small box. He took one of the rings, straightened himself up and held a hand towards you. You extended your left hand for him to take. He slipped the ring on your finger then kissed it.
“I love you, my precious gem.”
You thought your smile couldn’t get any bigger, but there he was, proving you wrong.
The emerald colour of the gem made you swoon. It was just like his sparkling eyes.
You heard new footsteps close to you.
This time, it was Clara, also dressed in a frilly white dress, both her hands held up to your bouquet.
“Your flowers, please”, she asked kindly.
You passed her your bouquet, then Hook walked up to you and presented the tiny box to you.
“Thank you, my dear girls”, you thanked them both.
You took the ring for Sampo. Your eyes widened slightly when you saw the colour of the embedded gem on it.
“When I saw it, I immediately thought of your eyes”, he explained in a loving, soft voice, as you took his hand in yours, sliding the ring where it belonged. “That was the start of… all of this, actually.”
You were fighting the tears of joy with all your might, as you looked up to him.
“I love it”, you said in a restrained voice. “But…”
You saw the flicker of joy in his eyes turn into one of fear.
What an idiot. What a lovely dork he could be.
“I love you more!” you exclaimed with an enormous grin, two tears falling down on your rosy cheeks.
“I now declare you spouses”, Bronya gladly announced. “You may kiss the-”
Sampo had already moved when he heard the word “spouses”, everyone else in the room cheering for you both.
He kissed you so tenderly and passionately, it was hard to believe this wasn’t a cruel dream.
But it wasn’t one. It was all very much real.
You were Sampo Koski’s happy spouse.