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Marriage. In his immortal life, Wanderer had never ceased to wonder – what exactly was the point of tying the knot? Joining together in holy matrimony? Whatever else these chatty, bustling humans named it? Succumbing oneself to the bounds of marriage was but a redundant liability, a simulacrum of the testimony of love and an overall pointless endeavour.
What a stupid, foolish way to waste one’s time.
“Will you marry me?” Sethos stood on one knee before Wanderer, holding a small velvet box with an engagement ring. The sapphire encrusted in it sparkled dimly in the evening sun, casting an ethereal blue glow on Sethos’ tanned face.
A hoarse ‘what?’ was all that Wanderer managed to croak out in response, too dumbfounded to digest the new information. Mentally, he cursed himself for tuning Sethos out. It wasn’t like he was at fault – sometimes Sethos’ yapping would become too overwhelming, making him brush aside some things the other said. As per usual, right on fucking time.
So, Wanderer did what he used to do best back in his arduous Fatui days – he started to assess the situation. Sethos stood on one knee and held out a ring. That was something to begin with. If his uncharacteristically bashful expression and the way he nervously chewed on his lower lip were anything to go by, Sethos was afraid of hearing the answer.
Wanderer blinked. Sethos was proposing?
As if hearing his unspoken question, Sethos smiled and continued, “I want you to be my husband. I want us to be official and have a family and a big, beautiful garden. And I hope that’s something you want, too. Will you marry me, Kunimitsu?”
Marriage. Such a foolish concept could only be created by humans who derive pleasure from bothering each other and have nothing better to do than build a home and family together. Wanderer had never needed close connections, let alone ‘family’. Sethos’ request was hopelessly naїve and immature. Immortal beings, impervious against the winds of time, care nothing for human affections.
Wanderer opened his mouth to try and reason with Sethos, who laid his heart bare before his feet, hopeful and honest, as he had done countless times before. All he could utter was one breathless, little word.
“Yes.”
And even in a moment like this, he couldn’t help but think about one particular sly goddess, whose wisecrack he’s been yearning to hear. Inwardly, he hoped he’d get her blessing for this excitingly meaningless journey.
“What the fuck do you mean ‘stolen’?” Wanderer hissed, clenching his fists tighter, lest he resort to violence, which he would very much like to avoid. Therefore, he could only glare helplessly at Kaveh, who stood before him with his hands shoved into his pockets and his gaze averted in the opposite direction.
“Stolen. The merchant that should’ve delivered the rings got ambushed and robbed. I’m—” Kaveh bit his lower lip and sighed defeatedly. “I’m sorry. I’m a failure of a best man.”
Something stirred in Wanderer’s core at seeing Kaveh so guilt-ridden and wallowing in self-loathing. He wished he could name the reason why he pitied the man instead of strangling him in place.
Nahida would’ve been happy to know that.
“It’s not your fault,” Wanderer muttered with a scowl, almost hearing her gentle laugh in the corner of his mind. He shrugged, dismissing the thought. “Where do you think they retreated?”
Kaveh frowned upon seeing Wanderer’s stone-cold face. So, the blood shall be spilled. “Listen, we have three hours before the wedding, I’m sure we can buy new rings—”
“No way,” Wanderer scoffed, crossing his arms. “They dared to insult me and my fiancé, and hence, they shall pay the price.”
“You’re insufferably headstrong,” Kaveh sighed. Then, he murmured, “It reminds me of someone.”
Wanderer only arched his eyebrow, still awaiting the answer. Kaveh looked up at the sky with a quiet groan. “They headed somewhere towards Vimara Village.”
“Excellent.” A wicked grin split Wanderer’s face as he soared up. The wedding was supposed to be perfect, and he wouldn’t let some insolent hoarders ruin it.
It took him half an hour to finally reach his destination, where the hoarders’ camp presumably was. Strong gusts of concentrated Anemo energy encircled his tightly clenched fists, ready to throw punches. Lowly worms… They shall rue the day they dared to cross their paths with him. At full speed he dashed into the camp, prepared for a fight.
“Hi, honey!” Sethos’ voice chimed in, making Wanderer freeze mid-air. Slowly, he touched down, blinking, dumbfounded. Sethos was sitting atop the pile of weakly groaning bodies with the sweetest smile known to Sumeru. It reached his half-lidded eyes, forming small webs of wrinkles in their corners. And oh, Celestia above, did Sethos look hot like that – smirking broadly, covered in the blood of the hoarders, holding two wedding rings in his hand.
“Impressive,” Wanderer whispered out despite himself. Sethos laughed at his stunned expression. He stood up, making the man twice his size croak under his foot as he stepped onto his stomach.
“I think you meant to say ‘I love you, my beautiful fiancé-soon-to-be-husband’?” Sethos climbed down the pile of bodies, walking to his beloved. He stretched out his hand, showing two wedding rings. “In case you didn’t notice, I saved the day.”
“Hmph,” Wanderer scoffed, and a small smile crept up his face against his conscious will. “I admit you did satisfactorily.”
“That’s all? Come on,” Sethos urged, leaning in. His lips softly brushed against Wanderer’s in a chaste kiss, before Wanderer shoved him away.
“You reek of blood, Sethos,” he drawled before clicking his tongue. “And to think the wedding is in two hours…”
“And here I thought you liked me a little…” Sethos leaned in again, chuckling lowly, “…unhinged.”
Wanderer’s smirk widened. The man was a menace, but he wouldn’t have him any other way. Perhaps, that’s what the humans’ idea of love was – an ultimate acceptance, a complete devotion.
If that was the case, then maybe, for the first time in his life, he’d finally accept this love blooming within him – wholly and unconditionally.
“Let’s leave, shall we? We can’t allow you to come to our wedding like this.”
He took Sethos’ hand and led them out of the camp. Two hours were more than enough to get changed and prepared.
They didn’t make it in time. And as Wanderer watched Sethos coming up with an excuse, sloppy as their make-out session twenty minutes ago, he felt a strange fondness lodging within him. This sensation had always chased him whenever he watched Sethos being in his element, effortlessly charming the crowd surrounding him.
It was worth admiring; how Sethos had managed to befriend seemingly everyone in Sumeru. Scholars, students, merchants – everyone had gathered at their wedding to cheer for Sethos. For a flicker of a moment, Wanderer felt a pang of envy. He shrugged it off. It’s always been lonely on his side. He looked around for his best man, but Kaveh disappeared immediately after Sethos and Wanderer exchanged rings. Probably downing another bottle of expensive wine, Wanderer thought.
What a messy, overwhelming gathering…
“Are you alright?” Sethos asked him after Cyno finished his toast, delivering a cluster of jokes in ludicrously poor taste upon the guests.
Wanderer looked up at Sethos, whose eyes were filled with concern. Since they were now married, they should keep no secrets, right?
“Not really. These people are too obnoxiously loud.”
Sethos laughed heartily. “Ah, ‘Mitsu, don’t be so surly!”
“I’m not surly, and stop stealing my phrases,” Wanderer scoffed, remembering when he introduced Sethos to this adjective. More than a year had passed since their desert adventure. They’ve gotten closer than he’d ever imagined them to be. What kind of spell Sethos had cast upon his heart, he didn’t and needn’t know. “I’m merely pointing out that they seem a little too happy about something that’s technically none of their concerns.”
“They’re happy for us,” Sethos retorted with a smile. Then, he kneeled in front of the chair, where Wanderer was sitting, and took his hands. “They’re happy for you.”
“What a nonsense,” Wanderer grumbled, but his words lacked sharpness. “By the way, did you see Kaveh? Isn’t my best man supposed to be by my side the whole evening?”
Sethos opened his mouth to answer, only to be cut off by the loud sound of the voice.
“Alhaitham!”
“Ah, there he is.” An amused smirk formed on Wanderer’s lips.
Kaveh walked, or, to be precise, stumbled onto the stage, almost tripping on his way. His cheeks blossomed rosy pink, and it didn’t take an Akademiya scholar to understand – the man was inebriated as fuck. “Alhaitham!”
The scribe, who previously sat in a secluded corner, immersed in a manuscript about the ancient history of Sumeru, sighed and closed the book. He waded through the crowd and approached the stage. Was it a trick of light or did a small, barely perceptible smile grace Alhaitham’s lips as he saw Kaveh’s angry frown, Wanderer did not know.
“Kaveh,” Alhaitham said calmly. “You’re making a fool of yourself—”
“See?” Kaveh snapped. “That’s what you’re all about! Your propriety and poise make me sick! You, callous, obdurate man!”
“Kaveh—” Alhaitham tried to reason with him, but Kaveh cut him off with a wave. A small crowd of guests has gathered around the two, making the impenetrable Akademiya scribe squirm, much to Wanderer’s (and, apparently, Kaveh’s) satisfaction.
“Don’t act like you care about our public image or me making a fool of myself. That’s not the case and you know it. I’m tired, Alhaitham. I’m tired of pretending to be your roommate. I’m tired of pretending we still hold grudges against each other. I’m—” Kaveh’s lower lip wobbled, and he bit it. His expression hardened, as he evened his voice. “I don’t want to keep living like that, whether you like it or not. Alhaitham.”
Kaveh dropped to one knee and took a small box out of his pocket. He opened it and held it out. A simple silver ring glimmered, reflecting the sun's rays. “Let’s take us to the next level. No more pretending to be roommates. Be my husband, Alhaitham.”
Alhaitham’s eyebrows disappeared somewhere under his bangs. His jaw dropped slightly, as he reached out to gently trace the ring in the box. “Kaveh…”
“This is the first time I see him genuinely surprised,” Tighnari, who approached Wanderer and Sethos silently, commented with a pleased hum.
“You knew?” Sethos asked him with a chuckle, and Tighnari rolled his eyes. Wanderer gave Sethos a long, ‘everybody-knew’ look.
“Kaveh wasn’t very subtle. In fact, for the last two months, he had been pestering me with questions about my married life with Cyno. Of course, I—oh, wait!”
Alhaitham sank to his knees before Kaveh and set the book aside, earning a wave of cheers from the guests.
“Kaveh,” Alhaitham spoke earnestly. “Yes.”
Wanderer didn’t have time to decide whether proposing at someone else’s wedding was an insult. Before he could open his mouth to say something scathing, Sethos grabbed his hand, dragging him away from the crowd. All Wanderer could do was interlock their fingers as they ran away, facing the wind that carried the evening freshness and untold promises.
His feet had never felt so light before.
“Well, that place was not my scene anyway,” Wanderer huffed as they reached the ledge near the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Sethos, out of breath, laughed – a small, weak sound.
“You’re talking about our wedding here, honey,” he chided softly, straightening and lolling his head back with a weary exhale. “Ugh, I’ll never get used to running on stones instead of sand.”
“Fragile little bee,” Wanderer chuckled fondly. “Why did you drag me all the way here?”
Sethos smiled, huffing quietly at the nickname. Somehow it came off as a term of endearment instead of diminishment. His arms wrapped around Wanderer’s frame, and he pulled the other closer, relishing the way their bodies fit perfectly against each other. “Mmm, let me catch my breath first.”
“Huh? Fine.” Wanderer embraced Sethos in response. They remained unmoving for a few minutes, as Sethos’ breathing steadied. Wanderer mindlessly treaded his hand through the mess of Sethos’ hair, savouring the sensation of his dry locks with split ends between his fingers. Sethos was endearingly imperfect, he thought, a far cry from his artificial immaculate body.
And yet, he’d learned to love these imperfections – from the curls of thin hairs that dusted Sethos’ chest to his countless battle scars, from the birthmark on his shoulder to the slight crook of his canine teeth, from the small wrinkles in the corners of his eyes to his bitten nails.
“Sethos,” he whispered, swallowing his pride and fear, at once and forever. “I love you.”
Sethos laughed in his arms. His heart leapt to his throat as he heard the admission. Little droplets of tears brimmed his eyes, and he willed them away with another shaky laugh.
“I love you, too.”
“I know,” Wanderer snarked. “You tell me that every day.”
“How can I not to?” Sethos withdrew. He cocked his head, and a sly sparkle flashed through his emerald eyes.
“Fool. And you still haven’t told me what you brought me here for.” Wanderer crossed his arms, tapping his foot, which, he supposed, suggested impatience.
Sethos suddenly beamed.
“Oh! Right!” Then, the corners of his lips tugged into a broad, smug smile. “I wanted to present you a wedding gift.”
Wanderer arched his eyebrow incredulously. Sethos’ sudden impatience and smugness were nothing short of suspicious.
“And what kind of a wedding gift that might be?”
Sethos let out a short laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. He took a few steps back, before looking up at Wanderer again. His smile became softer, as he gave his confused husband more space. “It’s a meeting with an old friend.”
With that, he quickly turned around and walked away to preserve the privacy of the conversation. Suddenly, Wanderer felt the lump forming in his throat. His eyes watered as Sethos’ words sank in. He clenched his jaw tighter and winced. He wouldn’t cry in front of her.
“Hello, Mister Hat Guy,” a familiar voice called him from behind, and his defences tumbled. His eyes shed tears, and he spun round, falling onto his knees.
“Buer…” he choked out, reaching out to her transparent frame. His hand passed through the apparition, falling limp by his side. “Buer, how?”
Nahida giggled, crossing her arms. “I must admit, Sethos’ persistence surprised me. Somehow, he discovered the spell allowing my consciousness to be unsealed as an astral projection. I’m still very weak, and I can’t sustain this form for a long time…”
“But it’s still something,” Wanderer interrupted her explanation. “Buer, listen…”
“You’re getting married, are you not?” Nahida smiled softly. Her eyes radiated the same warmth Wanderer remembered, making the corners of his lips twitch up involuntarily.
“Sort of. Sethos was very, as you put it, persistent.”
Nahida only laughed at his feigned attempt at nonchalance. “I’m guessing you weren’t opposed to the idea?”
“Not in the slightest,” Wanderer admitted. Then, a thought crossed his mind. He tilted his head cautiously, asking his next question. “Do I get your blessing?”
“A lotus flower finally rose from the murky water. Now it craves the warmth of the sun. You’ve grown very much, Hat Guy,” Nahida said fondly. “I’m proud of you.”
“That’s—” Wanderer tsked, averting his gaze. Warmth spilt all over his chest at her words, lodging within him. “That’s not an answer…”
“You have my blessing,” Nahida assured him. Their gazes locked onto each other as neither spoke. Nahida was smiling, he thought. This smile brought him hope and peace. This smile reflected her benevolence that won over his undivided trust.
Her body grew more transparent.
“Buer,” he whispered. “I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait for centuries if needed. Just… promise you’ll come back one day.”
“This day shall come sooner than you think,” Nahida replied. She looked down at her arms, already barely visible in the last rays of the evening sun. With the last smile and a wave of her hand, her image dissipated, leaving an empty space where she stood.
What was left was only bittersweet. The lump in his throat hadn’t disappeared, yet he couldn’t find it in himself to cry. His chest felt light and he could breathe freely, although he needed not to. Perhaps, this was the closure humans spoke of.
He stayed still for a while until he heard footsteps approaching from behind. He rose to his feet instantly and squared his shoulders.
“Well? Did you like it?” Sethos inquired softly, putting a hand on his husband’s shoulder. Wanderer smiled, still trying to swallow the bittersweet taste on his tongue.
“Thank you,” he uttered, enveloping his arms around Sethos. He nuzzled his face into his shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of his skin – spice, capsicum and sweat. “Want to go home?”
“So soon?” Sethos chuckled, pulling away. He gripped Wanderer’s shoulders, searching for the signs of distress and unease in his face. Upon finding none, he sighed. “What about the wedding party?”
“Let them have fun.” Wanderer shrugged. “Besides, they have plenty of other reasons to celebrate now.”
“True.” Sethos nodded in agreement. Then, a teasing half-smirk crept up his face. “And what about my wedding gift?”
Wanderer took his hand. His small smirk mirrored Sethos’. He leaned in, pressing his lips against his husband’s.
“Your wedding gift…” he murmured against Sethos’ lips, “is waiting to be unwrapped as soon as we get home.”
Warmth spread across Sethos’ cheeks, and he pulled away with a short snicker. Wanderer grinned, pleased with the effect. Without any further hesitation, he started walking, dragging Sethos along.
Marriage. Such a pointless venture. Merely a celebration for celebration and married status for the sake of supposed privileges. Yet now, with a mortal human, no, Sethos by his side, Wanderer felt like this night could be the start of something wonderful. Nahida had once urged him to ‘walk wherever’…
He might as well let the fate guide him this time.