Kiss
Author: Aki
Focus: Morphia/Thuban
Rating: PG
Marriage gowns are large and ridiculous. The amount of time one spent getting their hair done for their wedding is ridiculous. All that pomp and ceremony, long rehearsed lines having no true meaning of how you feel towards your partners is ridiculous. Those guests and tears and emotions that they have no real right having, the dumb advisor in ridiculous robes with the even more ridiculous robes that ones husband had to wear were, of course, ridiculous. In Morphia's mind, there could be no more useless an institution than marriage.
Thuban, however, was as excited as a dog who knew his master was coming home. He apparently though those rehearsed lines were romantic, that Morphia was sure to be beautiful in her gown, and that his robes were noble and knightly. He often spent long nights in his room, dramatically reading lines that Morphia knew could have never come from him. Meanwhile, she completely ignored all memorization duty, because going to the library and reading was far more important than this exaggerated, stylized play, though Thuban would often drop by, looking like a wounded puppy every time she declared all those words she had to memorize meant nothing.
So walking down that big, glamorous aisle that day meant nothing to Morphia. As ambassadors and citizens "ooh"ed and "aah"ed at her she could do nothing but smile that nonchalant smile that royals usually had plastered on their faces. Thuban's face even lighted up with delight and she had half a mind to scowl at him for daring to think she looked good in this ridiculous getup. The advisor said a few words about "this amazing alliance" and "the future of our two kingdoms, forever intertwined" and then hinted to the Princess to say her lines.
Easily, she did, though she made up quite a few on the spot. They were apparently no less "stirring" than her original lines, seeing as how many were already in tears. Thuban, however, only had a small look of dejection, knowing that all those words she said meant nothing to her. Then he started with his speech.
"O Queen Polaris, you are always kind enough to read with me, to eat with me, to stay by my side despite the fact I know there are others you love far more than me. You're an honest woman, and always tell me the truth. Sometimes, you get angry at me, and sometimes you aren't the kindest. You almost never consider my feelings in situations.
Yet, despite the fact you always act like I'm just someone you have to tolerate, there are moments when I know you care about me. When I'm sick, you personally bring me something to make me better. When we were little, you'd always want to play with me. And although some things that you say don't come from the heart, I know that deep within in, you do care about me.
So I ask of you, Queen Polaris, to accept my love and my vows, and that we may live happily like in the stories we read together."
The lines he spoke were not the lines she had remembered him rehearsing. Did he make up everything on the spot too? They seemed so thought out, and so like him that they didn't seem like random words spouting from his mouth. Despite herself, Morphia realized she was crying.
After what seemed like an eternity or Thuban smiling gently at her, as she cried, stunned, the advisor finally said, "May this bond be sealed with a kiss!"
Nervously, he leaned over towards her, only to fall over comically. The hall roared with laughter as Morphia helped pick him up and kissed him on the forehead. "You klutz."
Star gazing together, Hiro looked over at Shizuka with an almost unrecognizable look on his face. "Do you think I'll fall this time?"
She turned and laughed at him, shaking her head in confusion, "What are you talking about, Hiroyuki?"
He gazed back up at the stars solemnly, giving Shizuka a small hug, "Nothing."
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