Work Text:
Back when Clive and Jill were young and still living inside the impressive walls of Rosalith Castle, they heard rumors every day.
The rumors varied in topics, some about the duchess, some about a secret organization within the castle or some about relationships between shields and girls from the town. Some of them sounded more likely than others, but they never really paid them much attention.
But the older both of them got, the closer they got to each other, the rumors changed. At some point one could hardly call them rumors anymore. Especially when word about their excursion to Man's Hill spread at court, and the second it did, it spread faster than the flames of the Phoenix ever could.
On not one occasion did the servants of the castle tell Clive and Jill directly that they were sure to hold a wedding feast for the Lord Marques and the Ward Princess sooner rather than later.
Or comments about what a great and sweet pair the two of them would make. And what a relief to see the Lord Marques getting betrothed to the girl he likes, unlike his grace all those years prior.
Clive and Jill alike waved the rumors off, stating that they were just friends. Maybe close friends even but nothing more than that. He was just 15 and she 12, becoming 13 in a few weeks.
The servants often laughed at the poor attempt to drown the gossip, fueling it instead, the blushing of their faces speaking a different language than their words.
Unbeknownst to the other, both of them would lay in their respective beds at night, waiting that sleep would elude them, thinking more about the prospect of marriage with the other than it would be becoming of ~just friends~; both smiling at the thought of it.
Imagining what a royal wedding could look like.
Thinking about how the castle staff and townspeople would react to their betrothal. It seemed everyone would approve of their bond.
About who could be the chaperone. Maybe Lady Hanna would move temporarily from Eastpool to watch over them.
About dance lessons for the first dance as husband and wife.
About wedding gowns in red and blue, as a sign of the connection Rosaria and the North would now hold.
About the first kiss, maybe stolen in private prior to the ceremony. A moment just for them.
About the wedding cake.
About the future.
About being able to wake up to each other every morning.
About spending the day together, exploring the duchy before falling asleep entangled into each other.
About becoming old together.
About being happy. Happy together.
And when sleep finally found them, they would dream about this very future, hoping for the rumors to be true...
But then the Night of the Flames happened and with it, it burned every hope they ever had for such a future.
That was until 18 years later, Clive and Jill, finally together in every way possible, talking about the future they both wanted, maybe even more now than back then.
"Do you remember the rumors about us"? Clive asked while pouring both him and Jill another mug of wine.
Welcoming the drink, Jill's brown knitted. "Which of them? There were so many at one point. The one that we trained Torgal to always growl at your mother?"
Torgal barked from the other end of the room, which sounded much like a confession.
Clive felt the color rising to his cheeks, staying silent for a moment, collecting himself before speaking again "The ones about us…getting married. Sooner or later.."
"Oh, of course I do. Had more than one sleepless night because of them" Jill giggled, a sound that made Clive relax immediately.
"Why's that?" He asked, genuinely curious.
Now it was Jill's cheeks that gained a rose color. "Because I tried to imagine what it would be like. To be married. To be married... to you"
"And? How was it? Being married to me? In your imagination I mean?” Clive needed to know. He knew exactly what Jill was feeling for him now. But still, he wanted to know if she felt for him like this when she was young. For he certainly loved her for as long he could remember.
"It was all I ever wanted. Truly. Sure I was scared at times, with the blight and the treaty with the north, much would be on streak back then. But the thought of you being married to anyone else, scared me even more. Being with you was all I ever wanted...it's still what I want..." the last words barely a whisper.
"Jill..."
Clearing her throat, Jill set down her drink, straightened up and smiled at him "What about you? Did you ever think about the possibility of being married? Married to me?"
In a few fast steps, Clive closed the distance between him and Jill, holding her by the waist, looking her deep into her eyes.
"When I first heard about the rumors, I was laying in my bed that night, thinking hard about this prospect and the more I thought about it, the happier I became. I was grinning like a fool in the dark, because it was then that I realized, I wanted nothing more than spending my life at your side. Seeing to your every need and making sure you're happy and safe. And I trusted no one other than myself to see to this role. I still do... I wished with all my heart, it would come true."
None of them said a word, the looks they shared saying more than any word, book, play or song would ever be able to.
The love they had for each other for all of their lives almost touchable in the air, the dream alive once more.
The dream of just being together but as husband and wife. Being selfish for once. Not just being content with the bare minimum like they normally are.
They didn't say much more that night, when the all-consuming need to be as close to each other as possible intoxicated their every thought.
But then, the dream died a second time. Or at least, so Jill thought.
When Clive and the other's left for Origin, she knew that the likelihood of their return was minimal. She prayed to Metia. She prayed to Shiva. She prayed to Ifrit. For just one more miracle. She would never be selfish again, would never want more than what she was having, at this moment, she just wanted Clive, Joshua and Dion back. And when Metia faded that night, she was sure her prayer was denied. She got him back once, that was more than many other people would get in a lifetime and when she wanted it a second time, of course that wouldn't happen.
After dawn broke the next day, Jill was still laying on the old wooden floor of the Hideaway. Torgal was still at her side.
She refused to move, refused to step back into a world without Clive. She thought it was all her fault, for being greedy. For wishing the rumors of her childhood finally coming true. For secretly gathering material for a dress...
Eventually Jill needed to move again, her body arching, her lips parched, her stomach growling as the sun was already going down again. It's been a full day now. The first day of the rest of her life. Alone.
But then Torgal got up on his legs, running towards the lift to the pier. It was then that Jill spotted the little ferry approaching the hideaway. She wasn't sure how many people were accompanying Obolus and who it was with the distance the boat still needed to close, but her heart hammered in her chest. She tried not to hope, tried not to dare but failed horribly, Clive, Dion and Joshua had to be all on the boat. They had to.
She pulled the trigger of the lift almost violently, pacing back and forth during the short ride down, before jumping out of it, running down the pier, the pain in her body all but forgotten.
And when the boat finally got close enough for her to see the person next to Obolus, her heart stopped for a beat. Black unruly locks were the first thing she spotted. He came back. He really came back to her for a second time.
Again, Jill was blessed with a miracle. Magic may be gone, but wonders still exist.
Once more Jill tried to control her body with all her might, but to no avail. She was sinking to her knees, crying tears of joy. She couldn't stop herself from it. Only when she felt someone embracing her, did she open her eyes again. And when she opened them, Clive's deep blue ones were staring back at her, before hugging him close to her, he weakly hugged her back, but it was him and it was all that mattered to her.
They reluctantly parted from their embrace when Tarja was clearing her throat.
"I know you don't want to hear that, but I need to check on Clive. I can tell from the bare look upon him that he's injured. Infirmary. Now. And I don't accept a no for an answer. You don't want to be tied to the bed don't you?"
"Thank you Tarja. For once I agree with you, I should definitely get checked". Clive tried to rise to his feet, only for his legs to almost give in.
Jill helped Clive rise back to his feet, placing his arm around her shoulder to support him. Of course she noticed the curse on his hand and wrist. But it was only then that she noticed that neither Joshua nor Dion were on the boat with Clive. She turned around and saw Obolus slowly shaking his head, as if he knew what she was thinking about.
Tears forming in Jill's eyes again, she got Clive back but at what cost?
Knowing it would serve no purpose, Tarja didn't even try to ask Jill to wait outside the infirmary while she was tending to Clive, ushering them both into the small room at the back of the infirmary.
"Jill, please help Clive undress, I'm sure you're more trained in that regard than I. I need to prepare some tinctures and herbs." Although Tarja tried to sound like she was teasing them, the tension in her was ever present.
Sitting down on the bunk in just his small clothes, Jill took in Clive’s form. Countless bruises and cuts found their way onto his body. She was used to seeing him a bit worse for wear but this? It was never this bad. But considering he just finished God himself, he was looking almost fine.
That was for except his left hand.
Clive never fell victim to the curse. Somehow Jill thought it impossible but now, seeing his hand all the way up to his elbow in stone, her heart sank into her stomach. Before she could say anything, Tarja approached them, setting her tools on the little table right next to the bunk.
Jill immediately took a few steps to the side so she could work her wonders. Much to Clive's disdain. He wants, needs, her near him.
While Tarja cleaned every cut, Clive started talking about what happened. How Dion sacrificed himself, about Ultima's true form and plan, about the mother crystals. And then about Joshua's death. In all those years, Jill never saw Clive that broken, that desperate never did she see him crying so much, his breathing irregular, coming out in hiccups, all this time, his right hand clutch into Jill's, the second Tarja moved to his other side, she clapped her hands over his. He held her so tight, it almost hurts but she would endure, he needed her now more than ever. For the rest of his check-up he didn't say anything else. Just keep sobbing.
When Tarja told them that she needed to inspect his right side again to confirm another broken bone and Jill needed to move to the side, panic spread in his face, holding onto Jill even tighter.
"I can't lose you too, Jil,l" He mumbled between sobs.
"Clive I'm right here, just look at me the whole time, I'm not going to leave you. Just focus on me. Can you do this for me? Tarja needs to take care of you, she needs to."
After a moment of consideration, he nodded and let go of his grip on her hand. Almost afraid to blink. But he fought through it.
It had never taken either of them that long before to be tended to, but after almost two hours, Tarja was content with her work.
"Almost all your ribs are broken or cracked, your ankles are both sprained, and I don't want to even count the cuts and bruises you got. But nothing life-threatening. But the curse... of course your hand and arm..., I don't need to tell you this. But from what I can tell, it also spread internally, similar to Jill's. I need to keep a close eye on you the next few days, checking if it spreads further. It's almost a miracle that you survived in the first place with that amount of aether flowing through you, and I don't want to lose you now. You're going to stay here. For at least a week. Understood?
Clive just stared at Jill's hand, back in his again. "Aye".
"Jill, you can stay here. I think it would be contrary to his mental state if you leave. You can take the bed over here". "I'm going to fetch Clive some clothes, be right back".
Stripping down to her pants and white shift, Jill didn't opt for the extra bed, but instead crawled under Clive's blanket. Not even Ultima himself could stop her from being as close as possible to him.
They stayed silent for a moment, only the waves outside of the Hideaway audible. It really felt like they were the only people in Valisthea.
"Jill?" Clive's voice was raspy from crying, but otherwise steady.
"Hm?"
"I wasted so much time in my life, I don't want to wait anymore," his eyes almost glued to her face.
"What do you mean?"
"My life was always decided by others. Be it the role as a shield, as a slave, as Cid, as Mythos. I spent half my life with thoughts of revenge, I've lost so much and so many. I can't bear the thought of losing you again as well."
"You won't lose me Clive. I won't let that happen."
"I know," his eyes teared up once more. "But I want everyone to know as well. That we're one. I know it's not perfect and not how you or I imagine it. I can't offer you a land, not even a proper home, I don’t even have two hands anymore. I can't promise you wealth or the nice things you deserve to have. The only thing I can offer and promise you, is my undevoted love for you and that I will never leave you again. You are my everything, my guardian star, you are my Jill. So would you marry me?
"Clive of course I will. It doesn't have to be perfect, our life is far from perfect anyway. As long as you are with me, it's perfect. When you're back on your feet we can.."
"No."
"No?" Jill wondered.
"No, I don't want to wait. I want to do it now. If you're amenable to it. I know you deserve better than this, but..."
Thinking about it took Jill no time at all.
"I don't deserve or want better. Like I said, I only need you. So aye. Let's do it, let's get married," Jill couldn't hold back a light chuckle. It was what she always wanted, the circumstances were not what she imagined them to be, so many important things were missing, important people in their lives never going to hear about it, but she hoped they would approve their bond.
When Tarja came back a few minutes later, to bring Clive some loose clothes he could wear with all those bandages, they asked her to fetch another thing or another rather person for them.
"You want to do what now?" Tarja, never the type to be speechless, now struggled to find some words.
"You know what? I don't care, just don't let those wounds reopen. I know that the two of you tend not to let an opportunity pass in the last moons. I don't want to patch up Clive again. Be right back.”
As promised, a few minutes later, Harpocrates entered the infirmary, a quill and a single parchment of paper in his hand. He sat down at the chair at the end of their cot. And before he could say a single word, Clive breathed deeply before apologizing.
"Master Haprocrates, I'm sorry I couldn't bring Dion back with me. I know how much he meant to you and I failed you. I failed you both. When Ultima attacked us, he sacrificed himself to buy us time. I'm in a debt I will never be able to repay".
"Clive, his majesty...Dion...he knew that there's the chance of him not returning from his battle. That he felt like he needed to atone not only for his sins, but for those of Sanbreque as well. It lay heavy on his heart. I'm sure that you tried your very best to save him. And to save your brother. There's nothing to forgive, Clive. You saved the world, I'm sure both of them are more than happy with that outcome. Their deaths are not in vain".
"Master Harpocrates..."
"Clive, I understand that this was not the topic you wanted to discuss? From what Tarja had told me, there's something else, more urgent, you need my humble assistance with?" Harpocrates gave him a warm smile. He didn't deserve those people Clive thought.
"Aye. I...We...want to get married" Clive's cheeks are gaining a dusty color, still a bit nervous about the wedding. If one might call it one.
"I'm more than honored to be the one to bind you. But I have to admit, this ceremony will not be as thoughtful as the others you attended over the years in our home. Giving the lack of time for preparation a proper speech".
"That is more than alright with us, thank you for doing this in the middle of the nigh,t" Jill said, smiling, clutching Clive's hand. He only nodded.
"Clive Rosfield, Jill Warrick, I've witnessed many weddings in the course of my life. Some of them were forced by families, others forced by war. Here in our little world, I was blessed by bondings out of love. But none of them were like this one. All it takes is to be around you two for a short time to feel the love you held for each other. If there's ever a pair meant to be together, it would be the two of you. You endured so much together and as an individual, you lost so much and many, but still you got the other one. If I were to be writing a book, explaining what love is, I would tell your stories."
Both Jill and Clive began to cry, holding each other as tight as possible.
"I know, this isn't the protocol of a royal wedding, but since we are all outlaws here, do you want to speak your heart in your own vows?" Harpocrates, visibly moved, asked them.
A quiet "Yes" left their lips almost simultaneously.
"Jill, since you are the bride, you may be the first one".
Jill moved a bit so she could fully face Clive, taking his face in her hand, she smiled. " When you asked me, in the field of snow daisies, where I would see us, when this is all over, I told you that I want to spread my wings. I still do, I still can, because of you. You believed in me when no one else did, you were there for me my whole life, even when we were separated. Your voice was always there. Just with you standing by my side, I feel more powerful than I could ever feel with Shiva. Just being near you gives me strength. You are the reason I believe I can fly, I love you Clive. I always have and I always will. You are my treasure."
She hugged Clive and buried her face in the crook of his neck. Her love for him almost crushed her.
After a few moments of silence, they parted once more, for Clive to take in Jill. His body not able to hold her, as she held him, he did as best as he could, locking gaze with her storm blue-grey eyes.
"Jill, when you first came to Rosalith, my father told me to watch over you, as I did Joshua. That you would need a friend. What he didn't know was that I was the opposite. You didn't need me, but I needed you. From the moment you smiled at me for the first time, my life was set in stone. In this moment, I swore a second oath, one to myself, that I would do everything in my power to protect this smile, to protect you. I failed once, but this I swear today, will not happen ever again. I did commit more sins than men can count, but I was still blessed by your love. I would kill another God without a second thought if it would save you. I needed you back then and I need you now and forevermore. I love you Jill.”
Not caring that this wasn't the typical moment for a kiss during a wedding, Jill leaned forward to capture Clive's lips with her own, slow and languid, ever careful to not accidentally hurting him. Thankful that Harpocrates just gave them this moment.
"This is normally the moment, in which the groom presents the band to the bride, but given the rather spontaneous character of this wedding I suppose you don't have any, so let's skip this potion for a later day..."
"Wait, I actually have something similar," Clive interrupted Harpocrates to both his and Jill's surprise.
"It's not exactly a band, but something I hold dear for my entire life and I want you to have it". With this Clive started fumbling with his ear cuff, just to be immediately remembered, that his left hand wasn't going to help him anymore. But one hand was enough to get the job done, it just took a moment longer.
"You are wearing your pendant right?" Clive asked when he finally got the cuff of his ear.
The pendant Jill was wearing as a child, a parting gift from her father before he sent her to live in Rosalith. After the battle with Kupka the Undying as well as the guardian of the flames searched the ruins of anything bandits or the Empire hadn’t claimed that was of sentimental value. One of those finds happened to be said pendant.
"Yes, I do. Why?"
"I want you to wear the cuff alongside it. Close to your heart, so I can always be near you". Clive tried to give her a small smile despite his exhaustion.
Jill only nodded and added the cuff, that was part of Clive for his entire life, to her pendant, where it rested exactly where he wanted it to be. Right over her heart.
Jill nudged still a little bit closer to Clive on the small bed in the infirmary. Not wanting a single breath between them.
"All that is left now is signing the official paper. Forgive me for not preparing a more fitting design. Normally it would be embodiment with the crests of both of your houses," the old man tried to apologize.
"It's perfect Tomes," Jill interrupted him. "You said it yourself. This wedding is more than spontaneous. We would never hold such a small detail against you".
Knowing that despite the circumstances, one did not argue with the bride, he nodded and handed Clive the paper and his quill first.
Clive cursed inwardly that even writing two words was almost too much for his body and he had to lean sideways to the little table beside the bed to get it done.
But when he was finished, he took a deep breath, handing Jill the paper.
Looking at him and the paper he handed her, tears immediately began to form in Jill's eyes.
"You can't do this. It's not right. Especially not now with everything that happened". Jill whispered.
"I can. I just did. Remember? We are still Outlaws. And especially after everything that happened in the last days, it's the perfect time. This is a new beginning for the both of us. We are truly free for the first time in our life's. No responsibilities, no impending doom, just our future together, as husband and wife. And besides, unlike you, I'm not the last. Humor me, please?" Clive's gaze never left her features.
"Are you really sure that this is what you want? I don't want you to lose your whole personality in the matter of days," even more tears roamed free.
"I'm more than sure. I'm no longer a shield, I'm no longer Cid. For once, I can be who I truly am.”
How was Jill to refuse him this wish? To deny him the freedom that was taken away from him time and time again. And who would have thought that two words could elicit those rush of emotions from her.
Two words on a single piece of paper.
Clive Warrick.