The mood in Haven had changed drastically over the last several days. At the beginning, everything was business as usual, with no particular atmosphere to make note of. Then, the marginally successful attack against the manufacturing facility when coupled with the revelation of the new Nines and VIRM had quickly sent public opinion into a terrible downward spiral. That all changed when Hiro entered your office, however.
As the door closed, Hiro was met by two sets of eyes looking over the monitors sitting on the desk. "Hey (Y/N), do you have a minute?"
"I think so," you reply. "What about you?" you ask the child seated in your lap.
Asada glances up from the book she was reading and looks over her shoulder. The silver-haired girl gives you a shrug and goes back to her book without a word. You grin and pat her on the head before motioning for Hiro to sit down.
Hiro makes himself comfortable, leaning against the head of the table. In the meantime, you disable the central holographic monitor with a flick of your wrist. "What is it you want to talk about?"
The young man shifts his weight. "Well… I was going to ask you for a favor."
"Whatever you need," you respond.
"But… I haven't asked yet," Hiro chuckles. He takes another deep breath before continuing. "Zero Two and I are going to get married."
"Oh? In that case, congratulations," you say with a smile. "I'm very happy for you both."
"Yeah," Hiro places a hand on the back of his neck. "Zero Two is really excited, and I'm sure it'll be great…"
"But?" you finish his thought.
Your dark-haired friend hops up so that he is now sitting on the table. "I just can't help but feel like I'm not good enough. I'm supposed to be able to protect her, but when we fought at the Garden she was injured while I held the controls. I can't get it out of my head."
You listen carefully as Hiro lays out a few additional details behind his fears. After he's finished, you take a moment to consider what he's said. Having finally decided how you want to approach this, you start your reply.
You tap Asada on the shoulder. "Hey, when you think about Zero Two, what comes to mind?"
"Zero Two is strong, stronger than you," she answers flatly, while also deflating your ego. That's what you get for asking a child though, they have no filter.
"Does she need anyone to protect her?" you continue.
Asada shakes her head.
"Well, there you have it," you tell Hiro.
With a look of confusion, he asks, "What do you mean?"
"You don't have to be able to protect Zero Two to marry her," you state. "I know I might not be the best person to say that given my track record with Ichigo, but there is so much more to your relationship than being partners, isn't there? The two of you always seem like you're having such a great time together. Laughing and having fun, horsing around, and all the other things that only the two of you do with one another."
Asada cocks her head. "What does marry mean?" she asks.
"It's when you promise to be with someone, forever," Hiro tells her.
The silver-haired twin twists herself to look directly up at you. "Can we get married too?"
You cough and Hiro laughs out loud.
"No, angel, I don't think we should do that," you say after clearing your throat.
"Why not?" Asada pouts.
You quickly come up with an answer. "Because that's something adults do. A little kid like you can't get married to an adult. And you're my daughter, you can't marry family either."
Asada falls silent and appears deep in thought. "Are you and Ichigo married?"
"No," you repeat. "We aren't."
"Why not?" the child echoes her previous question as you begin to grow the slightest bit annoyed with her intelligence.
"I don't know," you answer truthfully, "Maybe because we're very busy with being in charge and taking care of you and your sister."
Hiro, who had been laughing to himself while watching this exchange, speaks up. "You know, Asada, if Zero Two and I have kids someday, I hope they're like you and your sister."
True to her youthful nature, Asada replies, "Don't have boys. They're icky."
"But what if they weren't?" Hiro offers. "You could even marry them because they wouldn't be your family."
The youth considers this for a moment. She then squints at Hiro. "If they don't look like Zero Two I won't marry them."
Hiro smiles. "I'll see what I can do. I think it would be nice to have a pretty girl like you in the family."
Asada blushes profusely and hides her face in the crook of your arm.
"Anyway," Hiro returns to what had brought him here, "would you be the best man?"
"I would be honored to," you answer. "When's the wedding?"
"Two days," Hiro says. "Zero Two said she needed at least that long."
Hiro gets up and heads for the door. He pauses in the opening, saying, "Thanks (Y/N), really. I know we haven't had too much time together recently. Not like we used to back at Plantation 13, or when we first started out on our own over here. You still came through for me, though, and I just wanted you to know that I appreciate it."
You wink. "What're friends for?"
"Yeah," Hiro chuckles. "I suppose you're right."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
While Hiro's only real task in preparing for the wedding was to assemble his groomsmen, his partner finds herself in an entirely different situation. This, naturally, is of Zero Two's own doing, and she is aware of it. However, that doesn't change the number of things that have to be done in the next day and a half.
"Ichigo," the stressed girl whines, "have they finished deciding what we can have for dinner?"
Ichigo had hardly walked through the door to the renovated house Hiro and Zero Two shared when she was met with the question. "It looks like we'll have salad for the first course, seared fish and mashed potatoes for the second, and cake with ice cream for the desert."
"What kind of cake?" Zero Two asks as she intertwines flowers to make an arrangement.
"White," Ichigo answers after taking a seat at the table across from the bride-to-be.
Zero Two frowns. "I like the other kind better."
Ichigo is about to comment that it was the best that could be done on short notice when a knock comes at the door. Zero Two glances up at her with a look that says, "Could you?"
Ichigo answers the door. It isn't immediately clear who is waiting outside through the baskets of freshly picked flowers, but the hint of fiery hair tells her that Miku has arrived. The girl had been tasked with gathering flowers and other greenery from the surrounding forest. Based upon the three full baskets she's brought back, Miku had more luck than Ichigo had anticipated.
"Will this be enough?" Miku asks with a smile.
Zero Two nods. "It's perfect. Thank you so much, Miku."
"Of course!" the bubbly redhead proclaims. "Is there anything else I can do?"
The room is momentarily silent as Zero Two puts the finishing touches on the current arrangement. "...Oh!" she says with a start, realizing that a question has been asked of her. "Um… Did I remember to ask?"
Zero Two stands and takes Miku's hands. "Miku, you're one of my best friends. Would you please be one of my bridesmaids?"
"Yes!" Miku squeals, her face radiant. Before Zero Two can stop her she's pulled into a hug. It takes a moment for Miku to cease her hopping up and down in excitement. "I would absolutely love to!" she reaffirms.
"That makes two," Ichigo absentmindedly mumbles. "Zero Two, how many bridesmaids do you intend to have?"
Zero Two begins counting off on her fingers. "Miku is one, Ikuno is two, Kana and Kokoro are three and four. Darling tells me you knew Naomi before I came to Plantation 13, and since she is with Ikuno it would be rude to ask them to be apart, so that's five. You're the maid of honor, so… six."
A twinge of sadness rushes through Ichigo as Zero Two says Kokoro's name. "I'm sorry, Zero Two," Ichigo tells her, "but I don't think Kokoro can make it on such short notice. We can't send a shuttle to the Garden for her because it would be too risky, and the next supply transport isn't until the end of the week."
"Oh…" Zero Two's smile fades but she quickly bounces back. "I'll just call her to tell her. It won't be the same, but she'll be happy for us."
The mention of Kokoro inevitably brings about thoughts of her still unborn child. It has been almost two months since the Third Garden was liberated, meaning Kokoro was now three months through her seven month pregnancy. By now she probably had a sizable bump that would be impossible to hide, not that Kokoro would be at all embarrassed of her little bundle of joy.
The memory of Kokoro is not without its sadness for Ichigo. There is a feeling of guilt that lingers around the child, even if Kokoro had embraced her pregnancy. If she had been found earlier then perhaps she could have been saved from this fate.
Then there was Futoshi. He would have loved to attend the wedding. Being Kokoro's escort would surely have been the highlight of his night, but with how jovial the young man had been, and knowing his love of his friends, it wouldn't be the same without him. Yet another loss suffered when the rebellion was under her joint command.
The pity party isn't allowed to go on for too long as another knock brings Ichigo back to reality. She answers it and is greeted by none other than Doctor Franxx. He carries with him a large black bag with hints of white escaping from within.
"Father!" Zero Two rushes past Ichigo and embraces the smaller man.
Werner is surprised by Zero Two's sudden display of affection toward him and stands stark still. Clearly, he isn't yet used to this new relationship that exists between himself and his adoptive daughter. Nonetheless, he places his hands on her back and returns the hug.
"Did you bring it?" Zero Two excitedly asks.
"'Did I bring it'?" the man repeats with a grin. "Did I bring it? Hmm, I knew there was something I went back for, but it slipped my mind the moment I arrived."
Zero Two's smile shifts from happy to playful. "I guess you have no choice but to go back." She takes the bundle from Doctor Franxx. "I'll look after this while you're away."
"I don't think that will be necessary," the scientist states. "You'll find the contents of that bag to be exactly what you hope them to be."
"Miku," Ichigo enters the conversation and resumes her role as maid of honor, "could you go and get Nana for us?"
Miku appears puzzled for a moment before realization dawns on her. "Right, she's helping Zero Two make sure it fits. I'll get her!"
"I am going to start getting changed," Zero Two excuses herself into the other room, leaving Doctor Franxx and Ichigo alone.
The latter takes a seat at the table and pulls out a list. One by one things have been checked off, each pertaining to the wedding. Ichigo taps a pen against her furled lip then scribbles a note. "She said she'd rather have chocolate cake… probably because of the richness. Maybe if we incorporate honey or caramel into the white cake, she'll like it better."
"It seems you tackle all of your tasks with the same unnatural vigor," Doctor Franxx commends Ichigo as she finishes writing.
"I've found it best to just go after problems directly," is the response he receives, despite Ichigo not looking up from the sheet of paper.
The man takes a seat across the table from Ichigo. "You continually surpass my expectations."
"I'm glad to be of use to you," the blue-haired girl icily replies.
Franxx sighs. "You don't like me much, do you?"
Ichigo takes a deep breath and sets her pen on the table. "I don't. You withheld information you had no right to from us and it nearly got us killed."
"This has nothing to do with Psi and Omega's past then?" Franxx asks over folded hands.
Ichigo glares at him. "Nothing at all. (Y/N) promised me that part of his life is over, and I believe him. He feels nothing for Psi or the other Nines. His conviction to defeating APE is as strong as ever."
A clap resonates through the room. "I'm glad to hear it," the old man says. He sighs, and then his voice drops to nearly a whisper. "My dear, I have created many monsters in my life. I know more than anyone that I carry the weight of hundreds of years of sin on my shoulders. This is my attempt at making amends. I want nothing more than for each of you to live happily on the surface of this earth. Everything I do is with that goal in mind. If the day comes where this gamble requires my sacrifice, then I will consider it a necessary step. Rest assured that I am completely on your side."
Ichigo mulls over what she's heard. Taking into account the doctor's previous actions and the length he had gone through moments ago to prove his sincerity, she makes her decision. Ichigo stands and prepares to leave the house and continue her duties.
"I trust you, doctor. That doesn't mean I have to hold a favorable opinion of you. You've helped more times than I can count, so I've never questioned your loyalty."
Doctor Franxx twists his moustache.
Ichigo glances at the door behind which one of her closest friends is changing. Her tone is much softer as she says, "What you're doing for Zero Two, though, I respect you for that."
With her final piece spoken Ichigo sees herself out. Miku returns with Nana soon after. The pair enter Zero Two's room after a greeting between subordinate and superior.
In the meantime, Doctor Franxx excuses himself for a walk. The fresh sea breeze had felt nice on his journey into Haven, and it would be several hours for the fitting and alterations. For now, he was going to explore Haven and witness what it was like to live simply once again.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A little more than 48 hours later, the time has come. The wedding party is assembled, the dress fitted, food prepared, venue decorated, and bride beautified. All that remains is to carry out the ceremony.
Werner Franxx, father of the bride, has been watching the guests enter through the large oak front doors of the manor for almost half an hour. The old man withdraws a pocket watch from his shirt and it reads 1:55. The wedding is to begin precisely at two, and as the sole member of the wedding party to have actually attended a real wedding before it is his responsibility to ensure things proceed smoothly. Last night's rehearsal had been the first step, but now it was time for the real deal.
Franxx returns the watch and checks on the venue one last time. The manor's atrium has been beautifully decorated. Linen as white as freshly fallen snow is interwoven through the banisters on either side of the grand staircase, all the way up to the first landing. On the railing, level with each stair, an arrangement of baby's breath has been hung with care and brings a breath of life to the occasion. The chandelier, which had been destroyed before Haven's rebirth, is once again suspended from its golden chain to illuminate the room and bring with it a bright, warm light.
The wedding party, save for the bride, is outside as well after having welcomed the guests as they arrived. The doctor clears his throat to gather their attention.
"It is time," he tells them. "Now, I'm sure you're all a bit nervous, especially you, my boy," he slaps Hiro on the back. "But remember, no one is going to be looking at you from the moment the bride enters the room. All you have to do is manage not to trip and fall on your way in."
Looks of terror cross the faces of several members of the wedding party. Franxx only laughs.
"Now, go," he ushers them in.
As Kana and Kyo begin to make their way down the aisle, the sweet sound of organ music fills the air. Doctor Franxx takes this opportunity to excuse himself and makes an expeditious retreat to the rear courtyard where his daughter is waiting for him.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It isn't uncommon for the bride to suffer from pre-wedding jitters. Her wedding day is often the most important of her life to this point, and nothing is scarier than taking that final step toward a new life. One where the term "I" is replaced by "we," and "mine" becomes "ours."
Zero Two finds herself free of these worries. There is no one in this world that makes her happier than her darling, Hiro. The man who can cause her heart to race and spirit to soar, the one who stimulated her in more ways than she could count. The bride-to-be waits in the clearing behind Haven's hilltop manor for her escort to come for her.
She hears him coming long before he arrives. With her sensitive ears, she picks up the distinctive squishing of his cane against the grass even amongst the sounds of her wedding. It is another thirty seconds before he arrives.
Werner Franxx smiles proudly as he looks upon his daughter in her wedding gown.
It's a flowing strapless dress, a gorgeously made outfit that looks like it was made for her. Above her chest, its ruffled off-shoulder pieces form a ring just below her shoulders, serving to leave her neckline and shoulders more than visible. The gown comes to a point above her stomach, before billowing out over itself to the floor. Diagonally across her body, starting from her upper thigh to the bottom of the dress, is a double layer of frills that splits the article nicely.
Long, bicep-high gloves accompany the gown, leaving only a part of Zero Two's upper arm visible. Her hair is tied over her shoulder in a single massive lock by a bright red ribbon, made of the closest color to her horns that could be found. Sitting between the protrusions is not her usual white limiter but instead a lovely flower headband, made by Miku from an assortment of rosebuds, berries, leaves, and a braid. And on top of it all lies her veil, a large affair that falls just shy of the ground.
Zero Two feels the weight of his stare and blushes. "Do I look okay?"
Doctor Franxx gives a small chuckle before answering. "My dear, you are positively radiant. Karina would be proud to see you in that dress."
"Who is she?" the blushing bride asks.
"She was my wife," he tells her as he closes the distance separating them. "She would have been your adoptive mother had she survived. That dress is the one she wore on our wedding day."
Zero Two runs her fingers over the silken gown. "I'll remember that."
"Well," Franxx shakes off the jitters and offers his arm to the taller girl, "shall we do this?"
She gingerly accepts. "Do you promise not to cry?"
Werner leans against the young woman, using her to stabilize himself without the use of his cane. "I will make no promises. You are my only daughter after all."
The pair begin their walk to the front of the manor. Zero Two's final moments as an unmarried woman are drawing to a close, but she couldn't be happier.
"I'll try not to either."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The manor is silent as Zero Two and her escort round the front corner. The space outside the mansion is empty, save for two young girls who are playing with their frilly dresses.
"Wow!" the blonde twin exclaims as the bride comes closer. "Asada look, she's so pretty!"
The second twin looks up and drops the hem of her skirt. Unable to put her thoughts into words, Asada stares in awe at Zero Two. Finally, when the woman is close enough to hear does she whisper, "You're so beautiful."
With a smile, Zero Two lifts her dress enough to allow her to bend down and speak with the girls face to face. "Thank you, both of you. I'm so happy that you two could help me with this. Look at you, you're both so cute."
Asuna beams. "We're glad too! But Zero Two, how did you get so pretty?"
The bride giggles and covers her mouth with her gloved hand. Before she can answer, however, someone else speaks.
"Yes, each of you look wonderful," Doctor Franxx tells them, "but we simply must be going. Everyone is waiting for us inside."
"Right," Zero Two nods. "Are you girls ready?"
Asuna and Asada step behind Zero Two and gingerly lift her dress' train. Zero Two leans enough that her father can whisper in her ear as he lowers her veil.
"I want you to know this," he says. "I'm so very proud of you. You never let anyone or anything hold you back. When you asked me to give you away three days ago, it was one of the happiest moments of my life."
Werner plants a kiss on his daughter's rosy cheek. Unable to control her emotions, Zero Two hugs him so tightly it forces the air from his lungs momentarily. She then takes his arm and squeezes his hand.
The oaken doors to the manor swing open and music begins to play. For those inside it is clear that the bride has arrived, but the sun behind her blinds them to her features. When she enters at her father's side there is a collective gasp as everyone is able to take in her beauty.
Zero Two is like the sun. Anything short of that is a disservice to her. The true sun behind her bathes her entire form in its golden splendor. Powerful rays seem to radiate outwards from the equally powerful woman, as if she herself is their source. Yet stronger still is the smile fixed upon her face, so blinding that it makes the room's collective heart ache. It is infectious, and similar wide smiles soon appear on the faces of every other person in the room, save one.
At the far end of the room, standing two-thirds of the way up the staircase, Zero Two's soon-to-be husband waits for her. Hiro chokes up when he sees her, covering his mouth and nose with his hands and bending slightly at the knees as they go weak. He has truly never seen anything more amazing in his entire life than the way Zero Two looks right now.
The crowd whispers about Zero Two and her dress as she walks by. Doctor Franxx is every bit the proud father, smiling brightly as he escorts her down the aisle. Asuna giggles with delight while Asada just manages to not trip over her own feet behind them.
When they reach the end of the aisle, Werner stops and faces his daughter. Zero Two leans forward and he lifts her veil. The man then glances up the stairs at the boy who, from this day forth, will be responsible for her. With both of Zero Two's hands clasped in his, he looks into her starry eyes and says, "Go ahead, my daughter. Find your happiness."
Now alone, Zero Two ascends the steps one by one. First she passes her bridesmaids, each of them offering support in the form of a smile, or a thumbs up from a particular redhead. Then she stops on the stair beside Ichigo and hands off her bouquet. The shorter girl wipes away a tear and accepts the flowers. Finally, Zero Two reaches the top step and stands across from her beloved.
Freya officiates the ceremony, having traded in her normal look for a more ceremonial armor and bearskin cloak. The AI clears her throat to gather everyone's attention and begins. Given that she is simultaneously using the PA system it comes out louder than she intended, but it still succeeds in her original goal.
"Friends, guests, loved ones, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Marriage, a sacred covenant between husband and wife of love and support. The promise that at the end of the long days, the hard days, the worst of days, someone will be waiting for them with an open heart to share in their troubles." Freya finishes her opening remarks and opens the Bible held in her right hand. "You may be seated."
"At this time I will share a reading from the book of First Corinthians, chapter thirteen, that spoke to me when thinking about Hiro and Zero Two and the love that they share." The golden woman adjusts the book. "'Love is patient. Love is kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's faults, but delights in truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope. It is always ready to endure whatever comes. True love does not come to an end.'"
The book snaps closed, echoing through the room.
"'True love doesn't end,'" Freya says. "That is a powerful statement, one that Hiro and Zero Two both intimately understand. Their love is of the purest nature, as anyone who has seen them together can attest. No one better complements Hiro in every way than Zero Two. No one better enables Zero Two to be her best self than Hiro."
"To show this love that Hiro and Zero Two hold for one another, they will now declare, before the lord and with you as their witness, their intent to marry. Please join hands."
Freya turns to Hiro.
"Hiro, do you take this woman, whose gentle hands you hold, to be your wedded wife; before the lord and these witnesses, do you promise to love, honor, and protect her, as long as you both shall live?"
Hiro squeezes Zero Two's hands. "I do."
"And do you, Zero Two, take this man, whose caring hands you hold, to be your wedded husband; before the lord and these witnesses, do you promise to love, honor, and protect him, as long as you both shall live?"
A tear of joy streaks down the young woman's face. "I do."
Freya smiles at the young couple before her who are so very much in love.
"We will now proceed with the exchanging of the vows. I understand that Hiro and Zero Two have prepared their own remarks to share. Hiro, if you would begin."
Hiro takes a deep breath.
"Zero Two, from the moment I laid eyes on you I knew you were unlike anyone I'd ever met. It wasn't because of your hair, your uniform, or even your horns. It was because of your spirit. I saw that you had this amazing drive, one that inspired me to push myself and to not accept life lying down. I can honestly say that without you I wouldn't be the man I am today. Thank you, for letting me stand by your side. It has been the greatest experience in my life and I cannot wait to start this new adventure with you because I know, as long as we're together, there is nothing that can stand in our way."
Zero Two wipes away a tear and mouths the words "I love you" to her partner. You are unable to see, but her giggle tells you that he has told her the same.
"Thank you, Hiro," Freya says. "That is a shining example of the love shared by this couple. Zero Two…"
Without need for further instruction, Zero Two recites her vow.
"When I was a girl, I was all alone. As I grew up, I remained alone. Even when I was older, I was still by myself. That changed the day I met you. You didn't see me as a monster, like everyone else was too ready to. You saw me for the lonesome girl who'd never had so much as a good thing happen to her. And even then, I was mean to you when we met. I tried to push you away, thinking I couldn't be better than what everyone else thought of me. But you wouldn't let me, and you didn't give up. Thank you, thank you for not giving up. It's because you didn't that I made friends. It's because of you that I learned not everyone in life was dishonest, or only wanted something from me. It's because of you that I found love. I will never be able to repay the kindness you've shown me, but I'd like to try. Marrying you has made me the happiest I've been in my entire life. Being married to you… is the one thing that can make me happier than I am now, I know it. Let's walk this new path together, darl… Hiro."
To most of the room, Zero Two addressing Hiro by his name holds no meaning. Everyone has a name, and it's used by whoever they meet. Those of you who know them are left speechless, however. Never before had Zero Two used Hiro's first name. But on her wedding day, in front of God and his witnesses, she had called him Hiro and not her darling.
Despite the shock surrounding this unexpected turn of events, Freya presses forward with the ceremony.
"Wedding rings are a symbol of eternity. Just as a circle has no beginning or end, neither shall your love. This outward symbol of your unbreakable bond will serve as a reminder of the promises you have made this day. May each time you gaze upon it, you be filled with the love you share for one another."
As rehearsed, Hiro turns to you for the ring. You withdraw it from your coat pocket and offer it to him. The young man gingerly takes it and returns to his betrothed.
Freya reopens the bible. "Hiro, please repeat after me."
Hiro and Freya speak in unison, but all Zero Two can hear is the sound of her heart beating and her partner's words as he slips the band on her finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it always as a sign of our love and commitment."
Zero Two stares at the ring on her finger. It's so light, in fact, that physically she can hardly tell it's there. Emotionally, it feels as though she is wearing her partner's love given form, and that is now something that no one could ever take from her.
"Zero Two," Freya's voice brings her back, "please repeat after me."
The bride takes her lover's hand and gently slides the ring onto his finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed. Wear it always as a sign of our love and commitment."
Snap!
Freya closes the bible and smiles. "It is now my distinct pleasure to declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
"Zero Two!"
"Darling!"
Man, let me tell you that felt good to write. I think pretty much everyone was looking forward to seeing something like this in the anime but unfortunately, we weren't that lucky. In celebration of this joyous occasion, Spaze has prepared another illustration. I hope you like Zero Two's wedding dress as much as we do. Don't forget to replace the [] with dot and com!
Link: imgur[]/a/aJqo3g3