Side One
This Time
"You sit there and let us wait on you." A heavily pregnant Machi points at the rickety chair in the threadbare room beneath the lone church in Meteor City. "Your Majesty."
"I'm giving up all that royalty nonsense." Oito smiles, even as she sinks into the chair.
"Pish posh. You're the bride. You're queen right now, and you'll always be queen in Phinks' heart." Machi puts her hands on her hips. "I'm huge and pregnant and riddled with hormones. Don't argue."
"I wouldn't dare," Oito says dryly.
Shizuku laughs. She, Machi, and Melody wear matching lavender dresses. Oito's dress is short and white and lacy, simple yet pretty.
"Danchou said to give you one gift before the wedding," says Melody, fussing with the red ribbon in Woble's hair. Machi, meanwhile, begins to comb Oito's dense curls.
"Oh?" Oito raises an eyebrow.
Machi and Shizuku exchange grins.
Shizuku holds out a beautiful garnet necklace.
Oito's hand covers her mouth. "Is –"
"I believe we stole all your jewels before your last wedding." Machi waves her hand. "Well, Shizuku and Melody weren't members yet. But I was."
Oito shakes her head. "I told him that when we first met. And so Chrollo hunted down a piece… Well, I suppose this is the start of a much better wedding and a better marriage."
"Oh, for sure." Shizuku chuckles.
"You know, I was going to put your hair up, but it looks lovely free," Machi muses as she fastens the necklace around Oito's slender throat.
"I like it." Oito peers at herself in the mirror Shizuku holds up.
She looked like a doll last time, in a corseted gown that weighed more than she. This time, she's loose, comfortable, and free.
The last time, the entire royal family of Kakin was in attendance. Most of the family looked pained or bored; Sevanti glared at her. Oito hadn't cared, because she was important enough to have snagged the king.
This time, only thieves and assassins and hunters will attend.
And yet, she couldn't be happier. She's not worried about stumbling, or whether she can keep her husband's attention, or feasting on her own celebrity.
She feels peace.
"Take care of her," Oito orders sternly.
Illumi nods, eagerly accepting the toddler who tugs at his braided hair – no doubt Hisoka's doing.
"Uncle 'Lumi," Woble chirps, clinging to him. Illumi shivers in delight.
"That's right. I'll see you in a few minutes, okay?" Oito blows her daughter another kiss before Illumi disappears into the church.
"Ready?" Chrollo appears, and Oito laughs nervously.
"I was ready yesterday."
The doors swing open. Sunlight filters through the cracked windows; dust from years of neglect glitters in the air. The scent of moist wood is their only incense.
And on the worn, scratched pews, not a single seat is left untaken.
Oito's mouth drops. Meteor City more filled than she anticipated.
"Go," Chrollo whispers to the two flower girls, dressed like lilies in the spring.
Nanika and Alluka dance down the aisle first, sending the petals Nanika created swirling around the attendees.
Nobunaga offers his arm to escort Shizuku next. His eyes are already bloodshot from crying, a fact that prompts Shizuku to giggle. And that giggle, unfortunately, reminds her of the lump in her own throat.
Kurapika straightens his suit before Melody links her arm with his. The eyes of both her former bodyguards turn to look at her once more, softening with recollections of their beginnings, awed by their culmination in the present.
At last, Feitan walks Machi, the pregnant Maid of Honor. He keeps his eyes on her every step, as if every glide of their feet is its own adventure.
And then Chrollo extends his hand to Oito.
She accepts, and they enter the aisle.
Oito gasps.
Phinks is dressed in dazzling white. His eyes pop when he sees her. Sweat beads his forehead. He's trying to smile, but his cheeks are already slathered in tears.
Lucky for her, she doesn't need a turn of lips to understand his smile.
Only then does Oito notice that the entire queendom of Kakin stands there, princes in to – even Benjamin, though not Tserriednich.
And this time, they all beam at her.
"Because you gave us hope," Duazal whispers, just loud enough for Oito to hear over the gentle folk song Bonolenov sings. A popular song for those in Meteor City, instead of the stiff church compositions she's familiar with.
The commoners of Meteor City stand beyond the queens, mixed with the surviving families of the elders. In the far corner, a small figure hides herself, her face covered by her hair instead of her visor. She is surrounded by the children she relates to all too well. The children she's tentatively begin working with.
Kikyo.
Oito is glad to see her, and gladder still that this woman hasn't bothered her children.
Cheadle, Leorio, and the Hunters stand near the front. Franklin bawls besides them.
Hisoka and Illumi, too, with Milluki and Palm. Gon and Killua. Kalluto waits at the edge of the pew, ready to spring forth with the rings he bears.
At the altar, Raissa Valdrada beams. Another woman leader inspired by Oito's revolution, even if Oito never intended so.
But the only person that matters to Oito, right now, is Phinks.
Phinks spins Oito around and tilts her backwards to seize her lips. The church erupts in applause, and Oito smiles up at him.
She's never felt healed in a church. But this time, she does.
The circus makes for a fun venue, even if Leorio should never have been designated DJ.
"You'll never lead the Hunter Association after this!" Cheadle shakes her fist at him later at night, and Oito shakes her head.
"Are you glad the queens came?" Phinks asks, looking at her anxiously. "I said they could."
"I…am honored." Oito wipes her eyes, adjusting Woble, who sits on her mother's lap and inhales more wedding cake. "I thought they would have been to busy setting up more supply runs to the Ai."
"They view you as family, too. Just like us." Phinks's cheeks hurt from smiling. The good kind of pain.
He squeezes her thick, wild curls. "Should we leave soon?"
Oito nods, a faint blush on her cheeks. The Troup has compiled enough money to purchase them the loftiest hotel, by Meteor City standards. By Kakin standards, Oito's sure she would have been repulsed.
"Woble…are you ready to stay with Uncle Kurapika?" Oito asks, waving to Kurapika and Chrollo.
Woble nods as the two men approach.
"Don't worry." Kurapika grins. "We're going to have lots of fun, aren't we, Woble?"
Woble chirps in response, and Chrollo pats the baby's head. "Say good night."
"Bye-bye. Mommy, Daddy." Woble waves as Phinks and Oito leave.
Phinks finds himself weeping again.
"Aren't I supposed to carry you?" Phinks asks tentatively as he unlocks their door.
Oito blinks. Nasubi definitely hadn't cared about anything besides bedding her, and Nasubi was, well, awful. She has no idea what people are really like.
So Oito bats her eyelashes. "You can, if you like."
"I do." Phinks grins and sweeps her into his arms. He carries her across the threshold into their room, which is covered in arabesque wallpaper and peeling gold trimmings. A white canopy bed lies in the center, old but clean, a finer bed than Phinks has ever slept in.
Oito takes his face in her hands and draws his lips down to hers. He deepens their kiss, as the hunger in his lower parts battles the fear he has of disappointing her.
"Hey." Oito whispers as he lays her on the bed.
"Hey yourself." Phinks stutters. She's so small. She's a queen. And he's a thief.
Those wise, kind eyes smile straight into his soul. "Don't be nervous."
"Nervous? Me?" Phinks scoffs, stifling a laugh.
Oito shakes her head with amusement and decides to move things along. In one smooth tug, she's removed her lace dress to reveal rather scanty, elaborate lingerie. Pink.
Melody had planned well when she said it was easy to remove. Oito jots a mental note to thank her.
Phinks squeaks.
"Is this okay?" Oito asks, covering her body with her hands.
Phinks nods, mouth dry.
Her hands guide his, pulling off his shirt, investigating every muscle on his large chest, removing his pressed pants. Franklin had insisted that he couldn't get married without pressing his pants, to Phinks' bewilderment.
"Are you afraid of breaking me?" She teases when they're just in underclothes.
"Y – Yes." Phinks is not refined. He's a thief who follows his heart. He's not a virgin, and neither is she, but he's never really – really cared before. What if he's horrid, and rude, and she regrets marrying him?
"I love you," she says, lying back and guiding him atop her. I trust you. "Besides, if I didn't reject you for murder, why would I reject you for bad sex?"
Phinks chortles. "You're not wrong."
"Not to mention it's hard to be worse than Nasubi." Oito winks.
Phinks's fingers dance between to her hips. "I hope you never have to fake pleasure again."
"I'm happy just to be with you." Oito blushes as she and Phinks finally begin to consummate their love.
In the morning, Phinks awakes to Oito tickling his chest as sunlight tickles his eyes.
"I love you," he breathes, excited for thousands of mornings to come.
