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Gaki’to and Khaishan’s laughter rang in the tranquil atmosphere as they ran about in the premises of Kugane. Both the male Miqo’te and Au Ra chased each other in a simple game of tag, their eyes sparkled in reflection with the orange sunset’s rays. Gentle gusts from the salty sea near the piers brushed against their running figures. Arms swinging back and forth, they glowed from the promise of the velvety night that would soon arrive to greet them.
Meanwhile, Eyja and Crystal sat by one of the seating areas at the famous Umineko Teahouse. Known as the most prominent teahouse in Kugane, Umineko Teahouse provided its customers with an assortment of teas and tasty Hingan sweets. The perfect place to spend their long vacation from being the Warriors of Light by Crystal’s suggestion.
Both Miqo’te and Au Ra were adorned in their casual wear, their elbows occasionally bumped into one another from their proximity. They exchanged glances and chuckled.
However, they’re not alone. A couple of other customers occupied other spaces in the area– albeit one group was that of drunkards. The rowdy Hyur stomped on the table, lifting his empty teacup into the air as his friends clapped after hearing his slurred speech. Something about wanting to participate in some kind of nightly activities… though most were lost in translation as his rambles became nonsensical, hiccups interrupting him at times. On top of that, the clapping grew louder, his friends heartily laughing with joy.
Crystal softly sighed and lowered her teacup down to her lap.
“I wished the teahouse would be relocated sometimes,” she murmured.
Eyja took a sip of her tea, shifting her gaze to her wife. “Any particular reason why?”
“I wanted some peace with you, but they’re being noisy,” Crystal grumbled, bringing the tea back up to her lips with a side eye to the drunkards. “Just because we’re next to the tavern doesn’t give them the right to annoy everyone like that.”
Especially in broad daylight. Crystal bit her lip, tilting her cup back more. A bead of sweat slid down the side of Eyja’s face as she watched Crystal exhale loudly, slamming the now-empty cup to the side.
“Why can’t they go somewhere else?’
“Crystal…”
Eyja gently placed her tea aside and scooted closer to her wife. As laughter from their students faintly reached their ears and horns, the Miqo’te gently placed her hand over Crystal’s. The Dragoon stiffened. However, she slowly relaxed, her gaze diverted to their hands. On top of one another, she noticed the silver band that circles Eyja’s ring finger. At the very center of the band was a brilliant diamond. No matter what time of the day it was, it never failed to shine, the finest diamonds excavated from the caves by the Dragoon’s very own hands during her time at the Diadem. Crystal’s brows arched. She looked up to Eyja. Eyja responded with a faint smile, her ears twitching.
“Sorry,” Crystal’s voice grew small. She shook her head, her shoulders hunched. “I didn’t mean to complain like that. I know they meant no harm.”
After all, these drunkards were wholeheartedly welcomed as they purchased a generous amount of tea and sweets from the teahouse. Not to mention other than the noisy racket they were making, they never once caused any form of harm or damage to the owners, customers, and property. Crystal sighed loudly and looked away for a brief moment.
“I don’t know what overcame me.”
Maybe it was just how quiet and peaceful everything was, but it started to gnaw on Crystal’s nerves. Event after event, various incidents pushed her and Eyja over the edge, threatening them of their livelihood had they not protected them. Things came to a screeching halt after they put aside their title as the Warriors of Light– at least, for the time being. Even the potential trip to the New World, Tural, didn’t feel as dangerous as their previous encounters.
“Don’t beat yourself up,” Eyja said. She squeezed Crystal’s hand and leaned in close. Their arms pressed against each other, the Miqo’te continued. “It’s been two years since the event of the Final Days and you were going through so much. You’re just… trying to get used to the peace that you wanted to achieve for all of us.”
“But you went through a lot too–”
Crystal’s sentence was cut off. She blinked, staring at Eyja’s fingers pressed on her lips. Eyja shook her head, adding, “I know I went through a lot. We both did, and we both worked to earn that peace for everyone. But I don’t want to discount your experiences too.” Eyja eventually trailed her fingers down to Crystal’s lower lip, tracing over them. From left to right, she felt Crystal’s breaths quickened. Chuckling, the Warrior retracted her hand. “You never really had time to relax until the day of our wedding.”
“Huh? I’m… pretty sure I was sharing the same vacation plan as you…”
They did go on many trips together. Not to mention they lazed around together under the same roof, splayed out on their bed and couch. If they weren’t in the main rooms, occasionally, the two would hide out in the basement, the large library containing various books and trinkets holding their attention for a few days or so. At times, they had to leave separately to go to work, but they almost always came back together to share dinner and plan out their next days off.
Throughout the year, she could not recall a moment where stress forced her into the corner. Crystal scratched her cheek, her brows arched again.
“I felt plenty relaxed with you when we were engaged. I still am even after our wedding.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that, but you silly lizard,” Eyja chuckled and gripped her hand again. “You were like a nervous wreck throughout our entire engagement about the wedding.”
If there was a creature she would describe her wife, it was how she was acting like a tailless lizard, flailing about and running away as the impending deadlines crept into their love life. And it didn’t take long for Crystal to remember the details. There was a pregnant pause. Then, the Dragoon lowered her head, her cheeks burning as memories washed over her mind.
It was a week before their reception and Crystal frantically ran about the premises to prepare for their Ceremony of Eternal Bonding. On top of the decorations, and gathering of the necessary staff and guests, there was so much to do. So… so much to do. Unfortunately, Crystal’s grace was nowhere in sight up until the day of their wedding.
Crystal’s thumb absentmindedly rubbed her wedding band, her face beet red. Seventh Hell, she wished she could forget how embarrassing it all was.
[1 Year Ago]
Eyja stared blankly at her fiancee running about Crystal’s apartment at the Mist. Normally, it was a photoshoot establishment where Crystal did her occasional side job as a photographer. In the one studio apartment that served as a business, there wasn’t much to clean up save for the equipment here and there.
However, today was a completely different story. Boxes, both opened and closed, strewn about the floors and tables– some ribbons hanging over the armchairs as clothes scattered about as if a whirlwind from Leviathan whipped through the small area. On top of that, various people serving as important ambassadors on the day of their weddings visited the room, speaking to Crystal and Eyja about the decorations and plans for the entirety of the day. Sweat flew out of Eyja’s head at the sight of Crystal scratching the back of her neck, her eyebags prominent as she explained the plan to their staff.
“...okay, I think we should go back and check on the decorations again.”
Eyja wanted to slap her forehead so badly in front of her lover. In lieu, she bit back her groan and forced a smile as Crystal paced around the messy apartment, hands behind her back long after the guests had left. She mumbled incoherently under her breath for a few seconds until she came to a stop and raised her head. Looking at Eyja, she asked,
“Do you think it’s too white for your liking?”
“Ugh, Crystal… we’ve discussed this almost a hundred times,” Eyja finally blurted, rubbing her temple for a short moment before, eventually, her fingers combed through her snow-white hair. The Miqo’te’s ears rested on her head, her forced smile frozen on her face. “The decorations are more than okay. I love what we have and I love what you’ve chosen for us.”
“But… What about your ideas?”
“It’s also my idea because I agreed to yours.”
“So you’re okay with the idea of having them open up with red carpets.”
“Yes.”
“What about the establishment? The post-party?”
“Didn’t we already decide upon that?”
“Y-Yes, but just wanted to make sure… we’re okay with being at the restaurant for this, right?”
“Crystal…”
“Do you think Gaki’to and Khaishan need someone to help do their ties? Or do you think they can help each other instead?”
“Hey, Crystal, I think you’re overthinking it all–”
“That might not be enough… No, maybe it is… okay…” Crystal rubbed the back of her neck, scratching at it again as she bit her lip. She shifted her gaze elsewhere for a moment, her smile crooked. “I just wanted to make sure that I’m not forcing you to like what I like. Besides,” The Dragoon fidgeted in her spot. “I’ve done this plenty of times with my past marriages. It would be horrible if I made this wedding of yours worse instead.”
Eyja sighed. Under normal circumstances, Crystal wasn’t this anxious. At times, yes, but she was always the type to bulldoze on ahead without thinking twice about herself if it meant making her loved ones feel happy. Yet since last week, Crystal’s anxiety spiked and she was jittery.
Extremely jittery.
The Warrior’s tail swished from behind as she approached her Au Ra. Crystal’s gaze was fixated on one part of the floor, her mumbles stringing together topics that meshed into a confusing vortex, jumping from one topic to another in quick succession. Eyja placed both hands on her hips, frowning. Crystal hadn’t noticed their proximity. There was another sigh from the Miqo'te before she grabbed Crystal’s arms.
“Hey, everything is going to be okay.” Eyja’s gaze softened, watching Crystal slowly divert her attention back to her fiancee, almost robotically. Funny, had it not been for the current context. Eyja patted her arms, saying, “This is OUR wedding, okay? I just had as much effort in planning the wedding with you as you did for me.” When greeted with silence, she continued. “I know you wanted the best for me and I’m so happy about that. I’m really happy you think so much of me and for me. However…”
Eyja pulled her into an embrace. Crystal blinked rapidly, her shoulders stiff as she was brought into a crushing hug. When she managed to shoot a glance at Eyja, she faintly heard Eyja purring into her horn, nuzzling into them. A shudder ran down Crystal’s spine, her muscles relaxed as her tail flicked once to the side. Eased into her hold, Eyja rubbed her back with a small smile.
“I want this to be a wedding for you too. I want you to experience it as if it’s your first one all over again.”
To see the smiles of Crystal bloom before her in a similar fashion as her first wife’s wedding… Unlike the one with her late wife’s, Crystal’s expressions lit less of a gentle glow and more like a beaming sun, the tears prickling the corner of her eyes as she exclaimed her happiness to her loved ones and those present for her wedding reception.
Even Eyja at the time couldn’t help but clap for Crystal. At that moment, Eyja was in the audience, alone as she graced her well wishes silently to Crystal, who stood in her elegant white dress alone at the top steps of the chapel. It was just the two of them, their eyes met with one another, smiling at each other, albeit for a different reason.
But that was the past and this was the present.
This time… for sure…
Eyja gently pulled them away from their hug, her hands holding onto Crystal’s. Crystal’s hands were always so rough, yet they were also gentle and safe. Her heterochromatic eyes smiled as she raised her head. She squeezed her hands, whispering,
“I promise you, it’ll be our first ones together. I promise you that.”
“...and you worried for nothing,” Eyja laughed, snapping Crystal back to their present time. Crystal blinked, glancing at her ring. “We almost rescheduled the wedding because you were hiding in the dressing room for so long.”
Eyja recalled the moogle pounding away at Crystal’s door. Though she was in her private dressing quarter, separate from each other as a surprise for both themselves and the honored guests, she heard the poor creature rapping the door’s surface with his tiny hands.
“Same with you too!” Crystal puffed her cheeks, shooting a playful glare at her wife as she rubbed her wedding band again. “Had the moogle not done his job, we would’ve made our entire Free Company, friends, and family wait for us!”
“It was not THAT long!”
“Uh, I believe 20 minutes was the time limit that they gave to us and you were close to that 20-minute mark.”
During that time, the moogle dashed between the two separate dressing rooms, sweat flying out of his little fuzzy pom as his panicked tone ushered Eyja out of her room. His little paws pressed against her back, uttering compliments about her attire and makeup until she crashed into Crystal at the entranceway. Thankfully, Crystal caught her in her arms, asking if she was okay.
And Crystal intended to rub that in Eyja’s face, laughing as she poked her side with her elbow. “I think it was a good thing to rush at the end, though. You looked like your childhood hero when I caught you.” Almost as straight out of a cartoon, sparkles glinted from the corner of Crystal’s eyes.
“I mean…” Eyja mumbled under her breath, her shoulders hitched as she tightened her grip around Crystal’s hand. She looked away from the cartoonishly sparkling Crystal, her heart beating fast, and muttered, “You looked so beautiful in front of me, I forgot to breathe.”
“Could you speak a little louder? I’m a little deaf.”
“...liar.”
Crystal chuckled at Eyja’s playful punch to her arm. The Dragoon immediately reached over and pulled Eyja close to her body, holding her into an embrace with one arm.
“You’re so cute, you know that?” Crystal softly spoke into her ear. She felt her snow-white ear twitch and nuzzled into it, adding, “I love you so much.”
“You’re tickling me!” Eyja laughed, squirming. “But I love you too!”
“Do you?”
“Of course!”
“Do you reallyyyyyyy mean that?”
“Ask me one more time and there will be no more cuddles for you!”
“Aw, no!” Crystal ceased nuzzling into her ear and pulled away, albeit keeping her in her hold. Eyebrows scrunched together, Crystal whined. “But I want my cuddles!”
Eyja tried to frown, but a smile still broke out from her face. She got even closer to Crystal’s body, her tail wrapped around her waist as she said, “Only if you stop doubting me.”
“No more doubts!”
“Oh?”
“Yes! I won’t doubt you or even myself anymore!”
“Then… what if I told you that I was the one that accidentally broke your lance back in the day?”
“Oh, that can’t be it,” Crystal laughed. “That was a weapon forged by Godbert himself. I must’ve broken it when I was fighting against Nidhogg.”
“Are you certain?” Eyja stared as her tail lightly squeezed her wife. “Are you really sure it wasn’t because I decided to brush up my Lancer skills only to snap it in half with my very own hands?”
“I’m sure… I think?”
“So you’re doubting.”
“I think so?”
“Are you seriously doubting your logic right now?”
“What? I’m not very good at these mind games! But… did you actually break my lance?”
Eyja burst into a fit of laughter and grabbed Crystal’s cheeks, squishing them and pulling at them. Her lizard is just so adorable, she couldn’t help but fall in love with her all over again like the very first time she laid her eyes upon this Au Ra. Crystal joined in on the laughter amidst her light-hearted slandering, trying to squish Eyja’s cheeks in return. By their sides, their half-eaten dango stick started to cool down alongside their tea, the aroma long gone. In addition, customers of the teahouse had also left a while ago, and the sun fully set.
It was just them now, losing track of time as the moon replaced the sun’s job, filling the young night with their laughter. Eventually, their laughter died down to soft chuckles and giggles.
Foreheads lightly touching each other, both the Miqo’te and Au Ra looked into each other’s eyes. Their eyes smiled, lovingly taking in the sight of their lover.
Crystal’s presence always felt so safe and Eyja’s presence always felt so warm… Crystal and Eyja parted their lips, yet no words were uttered. Instead, they leaned in close, capturing each other’s lips in silence. In this very moment, their kiss spoke a volume that transcended honeyed words waxed by poetry and Bards.
They parted from their exchange. Then, they leaned in again, entangled in another kiss. Two… three more times, their vision narrowed into their small shared world where the only sight they have is that of one another, exposing their pure and vulnerable selves. Upon parting once more, their hearts raced, their cheeks flushed.
“That… was nice,” Crystal whispered, her other hand gently taking hold of Eyja’s free hand. Their fingers intertwined together, her voice soft. “I feel happy being with you.”
“And the same with you too,” Eyja grinned, eyes closed, and snuggled into Crystal’s sturdy body. She felt her wife’s chest rise and fall steadily with her hand as she said, “No matter what happens, we’ll always be together.”
“Even during our downs?”
“Obviously, silly.”
The two giggled again as they shared another intimate moment. Though they had forgotten that their students watched from afar with the most deadpan expression— or at least, from Gaki’to.
“Geh, lovebirds are at it again,” he said with flattened ears.
Beside him was Khalistan adjusting his glasses, his cheeks rosy and flowers popping around his face. “They are indeed…” he mumbled, sparkles accompanied with the flowers. “The lovebirds are at it again.”