Before I start my senior year, I just got to post the story on how the two ties a knot because well... They're my OTP lol. I am working on the next chapter of Mad Souls but it's been a struggle since I'm juggling internship stuff and my final thesis as well, so I kinda lost my touch in fanfiction. Thankfully, I have actually finished this story before all the madness begin, so it's just a matter of time to post the complete story. I hope you like this chapter (and the story, of course) and I'd be grateful for every review and follows & favs, so please leave them for me because I've worked hard and put a lot of thought into this :') And thanks to the amazing MartengaPop for her endless support and for letting me borrow Becky Atkin, her OC. Be sure to check out her stuff. And sorry for the long note lol.
P.S: the rating will be changed soon for future lemon.
The words about Hanzo and Athenia's wedding day have been heard and talked all over the realm. Not only because Athenia's status as the princess of Edenia and how she's marrying the well-known ninja assassin Hanzo Hasashi, it's because people are surprised how two people with strong personalities like them can finally tie a knot – and to people's surprise, they're tying a knot to each other!
Everything has been prepared and the big day has arrived. The Grand Palace of Edenia has been decorated oh-so-luxuriously to celebrate the precious and historical moment. As the queen of Edenia, Kitana has prepared a large troop of army to guard the wedding ceremony as the palace will surely be packed with people. The guards are placed in every corner of the palace and Kitana has ordered their commander to train them harder in order for this wedding to go smoothly with zero disaster. Even though the enemies have been defeated, Kitana is not taking any chances.
It's only a few more hours before the big ceremony begins, and Athenia is sitting on her dressing table in her beige-themed bedroom with her hair and make-up fully done. The only thing left to do is put on her wedding gown that is hanging on her closet's knob. She taps her perfectly manicured finger on the table nervously as she stares at her beautifully made Grecian style wedding dress that will show her flawless back off once she puts it on while glancing at her engagement ring that looks like it is naturally twisted on her finger once in a while. Her wildflower 'ring' Hanzo used to propose her has been replaced by him with the real one. It still captures the essence of the previous ring as it has a white flower pendant with a diamond on the other end. She tread her feet in a fast pace; she is nervous as hell, but she is not quite sure if this is just an ordinary cold feet she's having.
Athenia realizes that she's not being herself right now – or most of the times when it comes to Hanzo. Her feelings for him had made her a different woman, at least to her. He brings out all the best side in her that she or anyone else didn't knew she had. She didn't know she could be gentle, compassionate, and witty behind this tough and harsh mask she put on until Hanzo comes into her life. And for the first time in her life, she finally knows what love really means and how it feels. Well, to Athenia, it's more than just feeling things you've never felt or doing things you've never thought you would done; It's actually not realizing what you've gotten yourself into whether it's bad or good or right or wrong and your feeling stays the same; you still don't want to be apart from that someone. In Athenia's case, it's Hanzo, and she's not planning to let him go soon or later.
She's almost lost in her thoughts when a knock on her door is heard,
"Ath, are you there?"
Athenia breathes a sigh of relief; finally a familiar voice to accompany her sudden nervousness. She normally doesn't get nervous – she wasn't at all familiar with nervousness before she is placed in this situation. Athenia then takes a deep breath as she gets herself together and finally replies,
"Bex, just come. You really don't have to knock every time, you know."
The door creaks open and it reveals her best friend, Becky Atkin, and she's all dolled up in a sky blue bridesmaid dress that falls below her knees. Her hair is done in a french braid styled bun with a gray little headpiece that matches her eyes. She gasps in shock when she sees Athenia only in her silk white robe as she rushes towards her,
"Ath, why aren't you dressed yet? It's almost time!" Shrieks Becky as she grips on both Ath's upper arm in panick.
"Come on, Bex. Just because you designed my wedding gown doesn't mean you can order me when to put it on right?"
"It's not about that, Ath. Come on, I'm honored that you're going to rock one of my pieces, but it's not always about work. And why are your lips trembling? Are you okay?" Becky checks her temperature by placing her palm on Athenia's forehead.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just—" Athenia sighs as she discards her arm away from her forehead, "I don't know why I'm so nervous. I've never been nervous before and it's freaking me out!" Athenia reaches for Becky's hand and holding it tightly. By the look on Becky's face, she knows she can feel how cold her hands are.
"Whoa, Ath. You're not being yourself right now. What's going on?" Being a good friend and maid of honor, Becky takes her by the arm to sit her on her bed and she sits beside her as she pats her back with one of her palms.
"God, I wish I knew." Athenia says as she intertwines her own cold hands, trying to warm them up. She then looks up and finds Becky's eyes with her shaky ones, "I guess—"
"You know, it could just only be the cold feet you get before you say I do. It happens, Ath. You'll be okay. Once you and Hanzo leave the aisle, you guys are going to have a happy marriage life—"
"No, Bex. I don't think that explains my nervousness at all."
"Then what is it?" Becky's eyes start to show concern, and she should be concern indeed. Athenia knows Becky well, and so Becky knows her better, and Athenia is not the person to show nervousness, fright, let alone insecurities, "It's okay, Ath. Just tell me what's bugging you."
Athenia sighs as she stares at her engagement ring that circled beautifully around her slender ring finger, rubbing it once in a while with her thumb, recalling the night where they got engaged, "I've told you how Hanzo used to be obsessed over avenging the murderer of her ex-wife and son and how badly he wanted them to be restored, right?"
"Yeah. So?"
"I wonder if he still wants all of that…" There's a short pause after Athenia shares this piece of her mind, "Well, not just that. If he doesn't and he only wants all of me, will he love me or our future children as much as he loved her and their son? Will he go as crazy if he ever lost me or our children? Well, not that I want him to be into his old Scorpion self again, but… you know what I mean. There's just a lot of questions and uncertainty in my mind that – Ah, Bex…"
"Oh, Athenia dear, you're overreacting," Becky says softly as she gives her dearest friend a warm hug, "Have you ever paid any attention to how Hanzo looks at you?"
Without letting go of her hug, Athenia replies, "Umm… I guess. Well, I don't know – what about it?"
Becky lets go of the hug a moment later and reach for her hand, "Gosh. You really do need to pay more attention to how people act around you," Becky smiles. Her grey eyes are comforting; just what Athenia needs in a best friend, "Even Corvo and I know the way Hanzo looks at you is nothing we've seen before, and I almost didn't believe his background stories you've told me and how he used to be Scorpion. I mean, when he looks at you, I swear his whole features seem to smile; his eyes can't fake it, Ath. It's like his surrounding is all in black and white but you."
Ath stays silent, still listening to Becky while she recalls all the time she has spent with Hanzo. She tries to remember how he actually looks at her. Before she even got to her conclusion, Becky continues,
"And the way Hanzo puts his arms around you in public can't also be faked, Ath; it's intuitive. Every time any men lay eyes on you, he puts on this hissing tiger face on which seem to tell them to get their own. Even when the four of us hang out, the way he randomly strokes your back and shoulder makes me jealous sometimes," She giggles, "It's like he adores every inch of you."
Still in silence, Athenia got lost in her thoughts. She used to think that the touch Hanzo randomly gives her meant nothing remembering how randomly he does that, but seeing by how often he does that kind of tells her something else, and Becky's words starting to make sense.
"Don't forget the way he lights up every time he sees you laugh. I can tell that he loves the sight of you laughing, even at his own stupidity. It's like the chemistry between both of you will never fade in time,"
Athenia smiles at that thought, remembering Hanzo and his adorable self when his face lights up. Even Athenia still find it adorable when he's angry over stupid little things. He could be a baby but a man at the same time. It confuses but amazes her at the same time how Becky is actually more detail-oriented on her relationship with Hanzo more than she ever does, "Bex, do you have a crush on my fiancée or something?" Athenia giggles, a sign that shows she has been calmed.
Becky laughs at that remark, "God, Ath. Of course not! It's just – watching you guys happy kind of lighten my heart as well – and Corvo's too; he turned kind of cuddly. Thanks to Hanzo."
Athenia beams at Becky. Becky returns her smile with an even bigger one, "Both of you are my favorite couple. Your love for each other is so sincere, pure, but raw at the same time."
Athenia's cheek flushed. She stares at her empty ring finger on her right hand that will soon have a wedding band around it. A slight smile appears on her face. Now she misses him even though she'll be seeing him down the aisle in a few minutes. She can't wait to see how handsome he will look in his Japanese wedding attire.
"Hey, Ath. You know what the best part about your relationship with Hanzo?" Becky asks, and Athenia lifts her shoulders, "He's changed you. Just like you've changed him. So don't tell me that he isn't crazy for you or he still wants his old family to be restored because I'm sure he only got his eyes on you and the future that lies before both of you."
Athenia shows a slightly bigger smile. She realizes how lucky she is to finally meet Hanzo. Now that she is sure of what she has, she spread her arms and lean her body towards Becky to give her a big hug, "Thanks, Becky. I love you. You're such a good friend," Compliments her, "Now will you help me retouch my hair and make up? I want to get dressed. I can't wait to get down that aisle." Athenia asks for Becky's favor as she stands up. Becky smiles when she sees her best friend is finally eager to get ready as she stands up to help her.
Hanzo glances himself at the mirror to check if the Japanese wedding attire he's wearing looks decent. He smooths the collar one last time with his palm as he exhales in confusion. He's nervous that he's about to remarry, but he's feeling lighthearted at the same time as he has been given the second chance to love and to be happy. And Hanzo is sure that he doesn't want to mess it up the second time. He knows how brave Athenia can be, and he is sure Athenia can take care of herself if she is ever in danger, but he has made a promise to himself that he will do anything to protect her and to have her by his side until his time comes.
His heart skips a beat when a knock on the door is heard. He turns his head quickly to the door and finds who looks like one of the wedding planners saying, "Gentlemen, it's time."
Hanzo can feel his heart drops to his feet. He places his palm on his left-side chest as he blows air out of his mouth. This is it, he thought. He heads to the door but he is stopped by a touch of palm on his left shoulder,
"Are you ready?" Remarks Corvo.
"I've got your vow," Kenshi reminds him from his right side as he pats his back a couple of times, "Get excited, Hanzo. You're about to live again."
Hanzo almost forgot that Corvo and Kenshi, his groomsmen, are in the room with him. He replies both of them with only a smile as he pats both of his friends' shoulders. He's so nervous that he doesn't even know how to respond to them. If the chattiness level could be ranked between the three of them, he'd sit in the second place. Corvo would be in the seventh as he is not the type of guy to speak if it is not really necessary, and he's so quiet most of the time, but this time, Hanzo can't even be considered in the eighth spot below Corvo.
He then turns the doorknob and heads outside, not bothering if Kenshi and Corvo are following behind him. He got lost in his thoughts already. Those feelings he's having are just too much for him. Though it's not negative feelings at all, he still struggles to not let a sweat drip. He doesn't want to be covered in sweat once he reaches the aisle as that would be too embarrassing. He normally enjoys getting sweaty when he's on his training gear, or on his and Athenia's sexy times, but not this time. He's neither training with Shirai Ryu nor fooling around with Athenia. He's getting married, and sweat plus this heavy Japanese wedding attire are not the best combination.
Yes, he's nervous as hell, but also pumped at the same time. He's finally marrying the woman he chose by himself, letting his heart follows what it actually desires from the get go, and he's going to start a new life with her; a better one. His heart rate increases at this point as he pictures Athenia in her white wedding dress. He bets she will look even more breathtaking than she already is. The color white definitely compliments her skin, and she will glow twice as much in her wedding dress.
"Hanzo, is everything alright?" Kenshi pats his shoulder from behind.
He turns his face around to find Kenshi standing tall behind him with Corvo on his tail. His face turns dumbfounded as he notices his surrounding has completely change. White flowers can be seen in every corner. The sound of the chattering crowd echoes in the room packed with people. The smell of the white roses and people's perfumes mix in the air creating a sensational smell of happiness. From where he's standing, he recognizes some familiar faces sitting in the provided well-decorated long chair; Kuai Liang next to Raiden, and then a guy named Nathan who goes to the same workplace as Corvo whom he met a few times. And two chairs behind, Takeda, Hanzo's greatest pupil and the son of Kenshi, is whispering something to Jaqui's ear that makes her giggle flirtatiously. In front of him, Johnny and Sonya are catching up to each other, at least that's what it seems – Oh God, Johnny Cage is on his wedding. The guy with the most brilliant advice on proposal or some sort. He rolls his eyes at that thought.
And then he realizes something he should've realized a couple minutes ago; he's standing at the end of the aisle, the spot where he will soon be jointed. His lips parts in shock. Wasn't he just about to walk down here? How is this possible? He must have gone really lost in his thoughts that he shuts down the surroundings completely.
"Hanzo!" Kenshi calls his name in a slightly louder voice, "Are you okay?"
Startled, Hanzo answers Kenshi rather hastily, "Yes, yes. Never better." He lies; he has never been so nervous he could die.
Kenshi raises both of his eyebrows in disbelief, but the look on his face tells Hanzo that he chooses to let that one slides away. Kenshi might have his eyes covered with a red fabric, but Hanzo and Kenshi go way back that Hanzo has recognized his facial expressions.
"Alright, the wedding planner has told Corvo and me to get in the back. We'll be back here with the bridesmaids before you know it." Kenshi then gives him a friendly hug followed by a wish of good luck. Corvo does the same, and then they leave Hanzo standing alone with Kitana who is going to marry them.
"I know you are tense, Master Hasashi." Kitana blurts out of nowhere once Kenshi and Corvo are out of sight. Hanzo doesn't say anything on that remark. He only stares at Kitana as if he is asking her how she knew that.
"It is quite alright. Wedding day can be nerve-racking for couples." Kitana smiles, "I understand you were betrothed in your previous marriage."
Hanzo doesn't understand why Kitana suddenly tries to make a personal conversation with him. They normally only talk about the cooperation between Earthrealm and Edenia or something related to that, but since Kitana is Athenia's step-sister, he decides to go with it and responds. Besides, she's the queen, and she's the one who will join him and Athenia in a holy matrimony.
"Yes, my Queen. That is true."
"Please take a good care of my sister, Hanzo. You've made her happy, so please keep that smile on her face." Kitana supplicates.
Hanzo smiles at her remark. He actually has made her happy, and he's glad people notice her happiness as well. "That's what I intend to do."
Suddenly, the classic wedding music fills the room beautifully which instantly quiet the crowd, a sign telling everyone that the big ceremony is about to begin. Hanzo's heart skips a beat his sight heads to his toes. He joints his fingers in nervousness – this is it; the turning point of his life. Happiness is just a few minutes away, and he hopes he truly deserves it.
Next thing he sees is Kenshi walking down the aisle with Cassie Cage, one of Athenia's bridesmaids, linking her arm on him. Cassie and Athenia have been close lately. Surprisingly, they hit it off rather quickly after they are introduced to each other, which is not very common knowing the introvert Athenia. He guesses Cassie's charm is what captures her, and that's good; it means she has lowered her guard with people.
A moment later, Kenshi is standing tall next to Hanzo. He pats Hanzo on his shoulder, and Hanzo replies by smiling nervously at him as his eyes head to Cassie, who is in her position already. This means Corvo and Becky will be next and then…. It's his bride's turn. His heart beats faster at that thought as he roughly lets out an exhale. It goes quicker than he expected. He can now see Corvo and Becky are walking down the aisle with a smile on their faces, and soon enough, Corvo is standing next to Kenshi and Becky next to Cassie on to-be Athenia's side.
Suddenly, the classical wedding music is starting to fade and Ellie Goulding's How Long Will I love you starts to fill the room with its beautiful chords. At this point, Hanzo cannot even describe how nervous he is, and he doesn't even know why he is. Even on his first wedding, he didn't feel this way at all. But how come he is now?