In the back room of the church Neptune was already transformed and was wearing a brilliant white wedding gown. She looked at herself in the mirror and fidgeted messing with the flowers in the bouquet. Nepgear entered wearing a flower girl outfit.
"You look nervous." Nepgear spoke.
"Most girls look forward to their big day… I just never thought I'd have one, you know?" Purple Heart replied turning to her.
"Maybe this will be good for you. He's really responsible and disciplined." Nepgear told her.
"Neptune!" Noire's voice roared as she, Vert, Blanc, and the other cadets entered the room.
"You all came." Purple Heart spoke surprised.
"How long have you been in a relationship?! Specifically, do you even know who that is?!" Noire lectured.
"Weiss Winters, murderer of hundreds of people, also known as the Nightmare of Planeptune. So what? His kills are in legal bounds too, by the way." Purple Heart replied.
"So he's covered in blood. Explains his whole 'Neptune is pure, I am unclean' mindset. Even if we've had our fair share of bloody battles." Vert giggled.
"By the way Noire, he has a Black Heart Medal… you recognized him as a defender?" Purple Heart asked.
"What? I don't remember making anyone named Weiss a defender… there was this one annoyingly good Warrior Priest I bestowed it to once when he saved Uni from a bad situation while training. He resembles him, but since the names don't match I can say it isn't him." Noire replied.
"The name was made out to him though. I will say that the name looks like something was scraped off before his name was engraved." Purple Heart spoke thinking to herself.
"How peculiar. Maybe he changed his name and had it re-engraved? As far as I know it's against their beliefs to fight another Warrior Priest in mortal combat." Blanc suggested.
"The ceremony is going to start in a few minutes." Histoire spoke flying into the room, and the others cleared out so Neptune could properly prepare herself.
"Okay… I can do this. I'm a big goddess. It's two simple words. I do…" Purple Heart pep-talked, and then exited the room heading toward the aisle as Here Comes the Bride played. She could see Weiss in a tuxedo. She arrived at the altar and glanced at Nepgear who gave a smiling thumbs up.
The priest began the usual opening speech as Purple Heart tried to remain calm. She felt all of the attendees looking at her dressed in white. Before she knew it she was being called to.
"Your answer?" the priest asked.
"I do." Purple Heart replied in a slight panic.
"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." The priest spoke, and they turned to each other. Weiss moved back Purple Heart's veil, and she saw deep into Weiss's eyes. They had compassion, but behind it was a void of sadness despite his expression. They kissed and the church bells rang.
Weiss carried her from the church and into a carriage that took them away. Purple Heart could only think of what she saw in Weiss's eyes. During her duel with him, all she could see in his eyes were rage and frustration. What could Weiss have gone through to make the love that should be in his eyes at that moment vanish? She decided that day that it would be her mission to revive the love that was vacant from his heart. If that meant diving into the pool of blood that is his past, she'd go in head-first to make him truly love her.
That evening marked their first night as newlyweds. Purple Heart expected the first thing after their dinner, courtesy of Compa, to be some adult fun time. She was almost disappointed when he simply showered and went to bed, but at the same time a little relieved. The wedding was one thing, the deed was another entirely. She reverted to normal, showered, and went to bed as well.
The following morning the Basilicom received reports of problematic monsters too powerful for the Guild to handle. Weiss walked to the bedroom and attempted waking Neptune.
"She doesn't wake up easily… Noire tried for a solid week." Nepgear explained.
"I can wake her up. You left the tub filled with lukewarm water as I instructed, yes?" Weiss asked.
"I was wondering why you asked me to do that." Nepgear replied.
Weiss rolled Neptune up in the covers, lifted her onto his shoulder, and carried her to the bathroom. Once there he faced the tub and skillfully flicked the blanket sending Neptune spiraling knocking her clothes off and when she stopped spinning gravity began working again making her fall into the tub waking her up.
"Wah! I-I'm up! I'm up!" Neptune cried out looking around in a panic.
"We have jobs to complete today. Wash thoroughly so we complete them before noon." Weiss ordered.
"Before noon? What time is it?" Neptune asked.
"It is currently 6:23." Weiss replied gathering her clothes.
"What?! That's, like, less than six hours from now!" Neptune cried gripping the rim of the tub.
"If you don't lollygag, then it should be no normal from a normal work day from what Histoire told me. That isn't counting reports that appear during the day." Weiss lectured leaving the room for the laundry room to begin washing the clothes.
"How'd he even strip me without me feeling it…?" Neptune asked herself pouting as she began washing herself.
Neptune finished getting ready, and they began for the day. Neptune was a little mad that he woke her up that way.
"Have a good time." Nepgear spoke, and Weiss stopped.
"You aren't going with us?" Weiss asked.
"I-I don't want to be a third wheel." she replied.
"Nonsense. Neptune and I are married now so you're my little sister as well. You're more than welcome to come with us." Weiss smiled, and Nepgear blushed a bit grabbing her sword hurrying to catch up.
The three then began to make for the forests on the city outskirts. Inside they found many monsters with pieces of equipment from fallen adventurers. To Neptune's surprise Weiss didn't go "death tyrant" on them, and showed a superior ability to work in a team backing up either her or Nepgear when the enemy ganged up or guarding the flank when reinforcements appeared. In fact, it seemed like Weiss wasn't truly fighting but tanking to make sure nothing hurt her or Nepgear while simultaneously crowd controlling. When a dragon came at them Weiss threw his blade stabbing its jugular making it roar in fury at them. Weiss them began palm-striking its lower legs making it become unbalanced in its lunges and kicks. Nepgear saw firsthand just how good Weiss is at combat, and was also afraid… because this meant he didn't need his sword to take you out.
Eventually the dragon's knees buckled making it fall making his claymore burst out the back of its neck. It lay there gasping for air and he kicked the butt of the hilt making it completely exit through the other end. He retrieved his weapon and cleaned it before sheathing it. Nepgear and Neptune could only stare in shock at what they'd just witnessed. Weiss was definitely worthy of his unanimous Planeptune nickname… "The Nightmare of Planeptune". He walked toward them with the fury in his eyes he had in his duel with Neptune, and it slowly faded back to compassion.
"That's dealt with. Let's move on to the other jobs." Weiss ordered, and they simply nodded.
The majority of the morning was completing various quests. Halfway through Weiss began to hang back from the front line and covered the flank exclusively. It was as if during battle he was avoiding eye contact with Neptune and Nepgear. Did he fear them seeing the rage in his eyes? Was he afraid they'd see him as a monster? Weiss was a total wall to them, hiding what he truly felt inside.
They returned to the Basilicom where IF, Compa, and Histoire were waiting. The three of them were covered in monster blood.
"So this is Nepnep's husband. Honestly, I'm gone for a couple of days on one emergency house call and I come back to find Nepnep married." Compa spoke puffing her cheeks angrily.
"You must be Compa. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." Weiss spoke bowing.
"H-He bowed…?" IF spoke shocked.
"One must be respectful towards those who provide medical care, medical supplies, food stuffs for stores to sell, those who enforce the law, and those who serve our continent." Weiss replied standing back up.
"He's not a jerk and understands how important hospital staff, especially nurses, are. I approve." Compa smiled.
"You three! Don't just stand there, you're dripping blood on the carpet!" Histoire scolded, and the three hurried to the outdoor bath. They didn't remember that the bath is single-gender until after they'd stripped on opposite sides of the lockers.
It was already too late, and they were still soaked in blood, so they washed using the rinse units, covered up with towels, and entered the bath. Neptune had already seen Weiss's scar-covered body, but Nepgear hadn't and it spooked her at first. It was like every weapon imaginable tried to get a piece of Weiss. Even his legs had scars on them.
"Staring at his muscles, Nep Jr.? He's a married man." Neptune teased jabbing her side.
"I'm looking at his scars!" Nepgear scolded.
"My scars? Well, the bulk of them I got in the Battle of Controller Woods." Weiss explained.
"Oh, during the Lastation Civil War a couple of years back." Neptune spoke, and genuinely spooked Nepgear.
"You know something from the past?!" Nepgear asked in total shock.
"Well, duh, it was one of the biggest slaughters in Gamindustri history. It even beat the PC Purge by a huge margin." Neptune explained unamused.
"How many more?" Nepgear asked curiously.
"How the heck should I know?" Neptune replied.
"So you only brushed up on certain things." Weiss chuckled, and then Neptune sat beside him.
"You know, Weissy… they say love in the tub is pretty romantic." Neptune suggested tugging at her towel, obviously trying to creep out Nepgear.
"Weissy?" Weiss asked raising an eyebrow.
"It'll be my cutesy newlywed nickname for you. You could totally make one for me too…" Neptune replied with a smile.
"Can you not while I'm here?" Nepgear spoke disgusted by the display.
"What's a matter, Nep Jr.? Grossed out by our newlywed passion?" Neptune teased gets on her knees getting close to Weiss puckering to kiss him, and Nepgear freaked getting out.
"That wasn't very nice." Weiss scolded Neptune.
"Nah. She just makes it too easy." Neptune giggled sitting back down kicking her legs in the water.
"Neptune. I've been meaning to ask you something." Weiss spoke looking up at the stars.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Can you say 'I love you'?" Weiss asked lowing his eye lids to half way closed.
"Huh? Of course I can. I love you, Weissy. See?" Neptune replied with a giggle.
"I see. Well, I've lingered in the bath long enough. Wouldn't want to damage my skin. I suggest you do the same." Weiss spoke sighing before standing and leaving the bath. The entire night Weiss seemed to be a little down. Neptune wasn't able to see it, but to Weiss her words were far too casual… and were empty, carrying no meaning to fill the void of his heart.
End Chapter 02