Work Text:
Today was the big day.
The day their separate stories would find the same ending.
Kaelix Debonair had never been the type to stand still, but right now, he could hardly keep himself from pacing side to side, trying to ease the nerves. He stood hidden at the top of one arm of the garden’s wide Y-shaped path, tucked behind vines and flowers that brushed against his suit’s sleeves, shielding him from his family and friends—waiting for him to walk down the aisle.
On the other side of the garden, at the opposite arm of a letter Y-aisle, Zeal Ginjoka waited behind the same tangle of vines and blooms, trying his best not to ruin his hair by running his hands through it for the hundredth time. His heart pounded so hard it felt like it might shake the petals from the archway. He focused on his breathing, desperate to keep the sweat from ruining his crisp suit.
It almost did not feel real.
Kaelix had always been the embodiment of sunshine. The livehouse bouncer never ran out of stories or jokes or meme references to share with anyone who would listen. He thrived on meeting new people, effortlessly finding himself at the center of the room, laughter and warmth trailing behind him wherever he went.
Zeal, on the other hand, was his opposite in all the best ways. The laid-back bartender with that quiet, mysterious edge that melted into something soft once you looked closer. He was the type who liked to stand back and watch, content to linger at the sidelines until Kaelix—usually Kaelix—tugged him right into the spotlight, drawing out those gentle laughs and shy smiles that made their friends melt.
They had come from different lives, different ways of moving through the world—and somehow, those differences had drawn them closer, until standing apart felt impossible.
Now, just beyond the veil of vines, they could just hear each other’s world mixing at the center: the loud cheers of their friends, laughter echoing as Seible—their chosen flower boy—scattered petals along the aisle with a dramatic flair.
It was the perfect kind of chaos—the kind that usually made Kaelix feel right at home. But at the moment, his mind was somewhere else, so even the warmth of all that laughter could not slow the rapid pounding of his heart.
Kaelix pressed his hand flat against the bark of the old tree beside him, trying to steady the way his chest felt too tight—in the best possible way. He could almost see Zeal on the other side of the stone wall that separated them for now, doing the same: fidgeting, trying to calm his breath, his eyes probably soft in that way that always made Kaelix want to kiss him until they both forgot what they were so nervous about.
But it was impossible for them not to feel every second of what was about to happen—to stand there pretending this was not one of the most important days of their lives.
On the other side of the stone wall, Zeal drew in a slow and shaky breath, eyes drifting closed as he tried to focus on the steady hum of the garden—the laughter, the gentle rustle of the leaves in the breeze, even Seible’s gleeful chaos somewhere out front. But it was no use.
The noise always faded every time his mind drifted back to Kaelix, who was also waiting too. Just the thought of him standing there, pacing and nervous, was enough to make Zeal’s chest tighten.
“Hey.”
A low voice came from behind. Freodore stepped into view, adjusting the sleeves of his sharp black suit, the green tie striking and complementing his turquoise hair. He looked like he came out from a magazine shoot—but there was a warmth in his eyes that made Zeal’s shoulders ease, just a bit.
“You’re gonna ruin your hair at the moment if you keep on doing that.”
Zeal let out a quiet laugh, about to run a hand through his hair before stopping himself. “I know. Just…nerves.”
Freodore clapped a firm hand on Zeal’s shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. “Relax. You got this. Kaelix is about ten seconds away from combusting from excitement and nervousness over there. He’s been babbling your name to his older sister every five seconds.”
Zeal’s lips twitch into a small, real smile. He could almost picture it—Kaelix pacing back and forth, his older sister at his side, steady and bright in her best woman’s dress, trying to calm him down and failing.
“I can see him doing that.” He chuckled under his breath.
Freodore’s grin softened, his eyes crinkling. He squeezed Zeal’s shoulder once more as the garden speakers cracked to life, announcing, “The Best Man and Best Woman.” A ripple of cheers drifted in from outside.
“Just remember, you’re not doing this alone. You’ve got him…and you’ve got all of us.”
Freodore flashed him one last reassuring smile before slipping through the curtain of vines and into the hush of the garden. A ripple of claps and cheers echoed as he made his way down the aisle, meeting Kaelix’s sister near the altar—both of them ready to stand by their favorite idiots until the very end.
Kaelix’s heart hammered in his chest as he pressed his palm to the rough bark beside him. He could imagine Zeal breathing on the other side of the wall, just as shaky.
Zeal’s fingers fidget with his cuff, a whisper slipping out under his breath. “This is it…”
Kaelix let out a small, breathless laugh, whispering the same words like he could hear him. “This is it.”
A soft silence settled over the garden as the officiant’s warm voice rose through the fading light.
“Family and friends, thank you for being here today to witness this union between Kaelix and Zeal. Please rise, and let’s welcome our grooms.”
A gentle rustle of chairs swept through the rows as guests stood, the laughter from earlier giving way to a hush of anticipation.
On opposite arms of the Y-shaped path, Kaelix and Zeal paused behind the curtains of vines—the last barrier before the aisle. They each drew in a steady breath, hearts thrumming against their ribs. Then, almost at the same time, they stepped forward, pushing through the greenery into the glow of the garden lights.
This was it.
They were still a few steps apart—each on their own branch of the Y—but the moment their eyes locked, the distance felt smaller. Kaelix’s grin softened into something shaky and bright. Zeal’s lips tugged into a quiet, warm smile that chased away the knot of nerves that had been coiled in his chest all day.
The garden path split like the letter Y—two branches curving away through blooms and ivy before merging back together at a single point in the center. Simple, but perfect—a shape that mirrored their lives. Two stories that had twisted in different directions for so long, until one day they curved toward each other when they needed it the most.
For so long, they had walked alone—following separate paths, making their own turns, never knowing they were both headed for the same center point. And just like the branches of the letter Y meeting at its heart, they found each other right in the middle—not just of the path, but right in the middle of their lives.
Now those same branches had come together as one—and from here on out, they would keep walking forward, hand in hand, through every laugh, every quiet night, and every promise yet to be spoken.
From that moment, everything shifted. All the miles they walked behind them did not matter as much as the road ahead.
Step by step, they began to walk down the garden aisle on their own arms of the path. Petals catching on polished shoes that trembled just a little. Their heads turned towards the altar, yet they could not look away from each other, even as the hush of family and friends settled around them.
They did not look away from each other. Not for a second.
Because this was their first real glimpse—the first time they ha seen the love of their life standing there in a suit meant only for this moment.
They had decided, from the very start, not to peek. Not during their suit fittings, not when they were getting ready—they had wanted this moment to happen right here: to see each other fully for the first time halfway down the aisle, surrounded by everyone they loved, yet somehow just for them.
Kaelix nearly stumbled on nothing when he caught the first glimpse of Zeal’s suit—a sharp, dark piece with a subtle sheen that made his black hair look even darker, his broad shoulders framed by the lines of the jacket. He looked unfairly attractive, the green tie perfectly knotted against the white shirt.
Zeal, for his part, felt his breath pause for a second when he saw Kaelix step through the last tangle of vines—hair, bright as snow, dancing along with nature’s air, the cream-colored suit standing out underneath the warm garden lights. The pale fabric hugged Kaelix’s frame, his own yellow tie neatly knotted around his neck.
Neither of them had planned to get emotional so soon, but the memories washed over them at once—every shared night, every fight they had survived, all leading to here: to the one person they’d choose every time.
Kaelix had to blink fast, keeping the tears at bay while biting his lower lip, trying his best to not break a tear. Because he knew if one fell, the rest would follow—and he would be full-on crying before he even reached Zeal. Which he did not want. Not yet, at least.
Each step, each heartbeat, carried them closer to the place where the branches merged and everything else fell away.
When they finally met in the middle, they just stood there—face to face, eyes shining, hearts rapidly beating, breaths caught somewhere between laughter and tears.
Zeal could not help it. Not with the embodiment of everything beautiful standing right in front of them. The words slipped out, low and warm, meant only for Kaelix to hear.
“You’re beautiful.”
He whispered, the corners of his smile trembling, almost like he could barely believe that it was real. Kaelix was real. Everything was real.
Kaelix let out a shaky laugh, the corners of his eyes crinkling with brightness.
“Look who’s talking,” he shot back softly, voice thick and filled with love he would never stop carrying. “You’re beautiful too.”
They both laughed—quiet, breathless, with just enough tremor to showcase how much they were holding back. Without a word, Kaelix reached out and looped his arm through Zeal’s, pulling him close until they were pressed side by side.
Together, arms linked and hearts still racing, they turned toward the altar. With each step, they walked that final stretch down the aisle.
Instead of a single traditional reading, Kaelix and Zeal had decided they wanted something different—something that felt like them. No solemn verses from old books. No lines they had heard a hundred times before.
Just the voices of the people who had stood beside them from the start, through every twist and turn.
So one by one, a handful of their closest friends and family stepped forward to share small pieces of their hearts.
Seible was first, tugging at the hem of his suit jacket, pouring out all the words he wanted to say.
“Me and Furi-chan watched these two dance around each other for so long, you’d think they invented the word ‘slow burn.’ If you ever doubt love is real, just look at them. That’s all I’m saying.”
Elira followed, a bright grin already in place as she shot the couple a playful look.
“I didn’t know these two were a couple when I first met them. Thank gosh, honestly, because I’m not sure if I could’ve handled the pining stage. Big props to Seible and Freo! But I’ve watched them since, and trust me, they’re just as gross and sweet in private as they are right now in front of all of us. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Zeal’s father stood next, voice warm and proud as he met his son’s eyes.
“Zeal has always been our kindest son. Seeing Kaelix bring out the biggest, most loving smile of his, the one that reaches his eyes, ever makes me believe this is forever. Hold onto that kindness, both of you. You make each other better.”
And then Kaelix’s mother grinned bright, eyes just a bit too shiny. She looked between them like she could not decide which one to beam at more.
“Kaelix is our sunshine; he’s been lighting up the room since the day he was born. But I’ve never seen him shine brighter than when Zeal’s around. Thank you for giving him a place to come to Zeal. And for letting him be just as loved in return.”
After the final words from their family and friends, the officiant stepped forward, eyes filled with warmth as they looked at Kaelix and Zeal, who were standing close to each other, hands lightly clasped together.
Before the question was asked, the officiant spoke directly to them—reminding them and everyone gathered of what this moment meant. They spoke of the responsibility and the joy that came with choosing each other, of the sanctity of the vows they were about to take, and of the promise that marriage was not just a word, but a thousand small choices to stand side by side every single day.
“Kaelix and Zeal, do you come here freely with full hearts, ready to share your lives, your laughter, your pain, and your love from this day forward?”
Kaelix’s voice was first—soft but certain: “I do.”
A heartbeat later, Zeal’s answer followed, steady and warm: “I do.”
For a moment, the world seemed to slow around them. They shifted closer, turning to face each other fully, hands trembling but anchored in each other’s grip. It was as if every heartbeat stretched just to hold this moment still—two soft smiles, two teary-eyed gazes, and all the words they had waited so long to say.
They took a breath together, and it felt like the garden leaned closer—ready to hold every promise they were about to make.
Their vows were not too short or too long—just enough to hold what their hearts needed to say out loud. Honest words scribbled down deep at night, ready now to share for the world to hear with shaky voices and all the courage that loving each other had taught them.
Kaelix’s voice wavered as he lifted the small, folded paper with his vows. His hands trembled, but the grin that tugged at his lips was bright even through the tears threatening to spill.
“I promise I’ll be your first dance tonight as your husband, right here in front of everyone. And our last, just you and me, slow-dancing in the dark of our bedroom when we’re wrinkly and old.”
His voice cracked on that last word, and his free hand lifted to swipe at his cheek, trying to catch the tears before they could fall.
Zeal’s quiet laugh broke through the hush, his thumb brushing over Kaelix’s knuckles. When he spoke, his voice was softer but steady—calm in a way that always made Kaelix feel safe.
“I promised to be your last call and your safe place when the night grows still and the world feels too big. To remind you, you’re never alone, not once, not ever. I can't wait to wake up and eat your miso soup every single morning."
His eyes shimmered under the garden lights, a choked laugh escaping as Kaelix squeezed his hands together—life, if they held on hard enough, they could keep every promise right there in their palms.
Everything about it felt magical
It was like the whole world had slowed down so they could hold this moment a little longer.
When they exchanged their rings—tiny bands of gold slipping over trembling fingers—it felt simple, but it carried everything: every promise they had spoken and all the ones they had yet to find the words for.
It was the symbol of their commitment and their love. The quiet promise that no matter where the path led next, they would walk it side by side.
.
“By the love you share and the promises you have made, I now pronounce you married.”
And when they finally leaned in, heart still hammering, and pressed their lips together for their first kiss as a married couple—everything felt right. The laughter, the tears, the soft rush of cheers that followed.
All of it felt like a dream wrapped in something real.
Everything about it was magical. And it was theirs.
As the sun dipped beyond the garden, the after-party unfolded in a space that was every bit a mix of them both: Kaelix’s dream of something small and close and Zeal’s wish for something just a little grand.
They had chosen a modern glasshouse venue at the edge of the garden—all sleek lines, soft lights, and open to the night air. A generous buffet lined the polished tables, while clusters of flowers and scattered candles softened every corner.
The night hummed with easy laughter and clinking glasses as friends swapped stories that left Kaelix pink-eared more than once, with Seible and Freodore adding just enough teasing to keep him hiding behind his hands.
Kaelix and Zeal’s siblings teamed up to kick off silly games that had everyone shouting over each other between bites of cake, the whole place buzzing with that joyful chaos.
In between the laughter and the teasing, their parents each took a moment too—no big, polished speeches, just warm, honest words that carried more weight than anything else that night.
And then the music shifted, calmer, the beat steady—Kaelix caught Zeal’s hand before either of them could think to run. He had promised this: their first dance right here, in front of everyone who mattered.
They stepped onto the stage, surrounded by a circle of fairy lights and happy, blurry faces. In that small space, they found each other again—moving slow, Kaelix’s hand resting on Zeal’s shoulders while Zeal’s palm settled at Kaelix’s waist.
Their free hands stayed clasped, knuckles brushing as they swayed to the music. Every turn felt easy, laughter slipping out when their foreheads bumped.
Before the party could pull them back in for one more toast or another round of games, Kaelix tugged Zeal’s hand again—a grin that said, Come on, just us . They slipped away down one of the garden paths, past the glasshouse glow and the warmth of their loved ones’ voices, until they found a quiet spot tucked behind a small archway.
With the garden lights flickering and the beauty of nature surrounding them, they finally stopped running. Kaelix tipped his head back to look up, breathless while Zeal pressed his shoulder close—both of them laughing.
It was quieter than the party, softer than the music.
Just the two of them, standing in the quiet of their own forever.
In between giggles, Zeal wiped a tear from his eye. “Did we seriously ditch our own after-party?”
Kaelix just kept laughing—that infamous, drawn-out “hah” that always left Zeal cracking up right alongside him. The sound bounced off the old garden walls like music they could only hear.
“We did.” Kaelix wheezed out, catching his breath for half a second before snorting again. “We really just ditched our own party. I can already sense Freo and my sister looking for us.”
That only made them both laugh harder, hands still clasped like they would never untangle again. Eventually, the laughter faded into quiet little sighs, and they just stood there under the fairy lights, catching each other’s gaze.
Kaelix was the first to speak again, his voice lower now, almost like he was afraid to break the spell. “I can’t believe we’re actually married.”
Zeal smirked, a playful spark lighting his eyes as he nudged the moment back to something lighter for a second. “Means I can finally push my microwaved coffee agenda on you more now.”
“Absolutely not!” Kaelix made a dramatic choking sound, swatting lightly at Zeal’s chest with his hand. “Not on my watch. I’m going to fix you, husband.”
Husband.
The word husband left his lips so easily, yet the second it settled between them, it made both of them pause.
That was what they were now.
Zeal gave Kaelix’s hand the faintest squeeze, leaning in close enough that their foreheads nearly brushed.
“Feels unreal, doesn’t it?” He murmured. “Some days, I still can’t believe I walked into that livehouse and found you standing there, laughing at some stupid meme video with Seible. And now look at us, all dressed up, ditching our own wedding party.”
Kaelix’s laugh slipped out again, softer this time as the past bubbled up between them like an inside joke. “I used to be terrified of you, remember that? I can’t believe the scary, too-handsome guy from the bar is now my husband. My cute, hot, sexy, softie husband.”
Zeal’s snort turned into a laugh, low and warm against Kaelix’s cheek. “Softie, huh?”
Kaelix just grinned, grasping their joined hands tighter. “Yeah. Mine.”
Zeal’s laugh faded into something softer, the corner of his eyes crinkling as he looked at Kaelix’s face like he was trying to memorize every feature of his all over again. He tilted his head, nudging their foreheads together until Kaelix’s next breath hitched in the cool night air.
“You know,” Zeal whispered, voice dropping into that low, gentle tone that always made Kaelix feel like the world had turned quiet just for them. “Sometimes I think about how crazy it is, how we both just…found each other. Out of everyone, out of everywhere.”
Kaelix let out a breathless laugh, but it cracked into something softer when Zeal’s thumb brushed across his knuckles. Zeal kept talking, words warming the space between them like a secret.
“I swear…if there were a thousand versions of us out there, a thousand lives—a thousand universes—I’d still end up right here. Loving you. Every time. I’d RECOGNIZE YOURS anywhere, no matter who I was or who you were.”
Kaelix’s eyes stung at that, their foreheads still against each other, lips so close but not yet touching. He let out a small, shaky laugh. “Yeah?”
Zeal’s grin softened into something dreamy, his thumb brushing under Kaelix’s eye like he could catch every unspilled tear.
“Yeah. No matter what universe, we’d always find each other.”
“Maybe in another world, we’re both famous. Your name in lights, mine on every album song credits.”
Inside the recording studio, two figures sat close, heads bent over a messy notebook covered in scribbled lyrics. The singer’s grin was impossibly bright, eyes shining as he looked at his husband—the producer who had finally agreed to share the mic with him for once.
“Are we seriously going to have a duo song? For real?”
“Mhm! It’s about time I finally share the same stage as you.”
“Gosh, I love you, my darling producer.”
“Likewise. I love you, my darling singer.”
They leaned in for a quick kiss, laughter still warm between them before they turned back to the mixing panels—two names, one song, a promise playing out in every note.
“Maybe in another universe, we have a whole different dynamic—maybe a master and a servant. And despite how different we are, we’d still find a way to be together.”
In a private study of a grand manor, a master sat buried in endless papers, candlelight flickering over papers he had long forgotten how to finish. Beside him, his loyal maid stood close, offering a porcelain cup to the busy master.
“Your tea, master. Just how you like it.”
“This isn’t one of your tricks again…right?”
“I’d never trick you, not when I love you this much, my darling master .”
“Still not sure I believe you... but I do love you as well, my darling maid .”
In the secrecy of their room, where titles and hierarchy meant nothing, they stayed—wrapped in a world that belonged only to them.
“Maybe in another, where nothing much changed from the past, our love would still bloom in the middle of all ordinary things.”
In a shared house where dark posters clashed with pastel throw pillows, two aesthetics clashed—yet love still settled into every corner.
“Have you seen my black eyeshadow?”
“Yep! I put it on our vanity for you.”
“Gosh, thank you so much for saving my forgetful butt. I love you, my darling prep .”
“That sounds funny! Well then, I love you, my darling emo .”
With that, they leaned close, laughter fading as one pressed a soft kiss to the other’s cheek—a quiet promise that even on the most ordinary days, their love would always feel like coming home.
“Maybe in another universe, we’d both carry secrets too heavy to speak, too terrified of betrayal but loving each other anyway.”
In the attic above the alchemist’s tiny home, a couple lay curled up on a creaky bed, legs tangled under the blanket—secrets still hidden, hearts still beating as one.
“Did you feed the animals? Sorry for not helping you with that…”
“Yes, I did. And never be sorry you injured yourself. It’s my duty as your husband to take care of you.”
“Thank you for always taking care of me. I love you, my darling alchemist.”
“I love you as well, my darling farmer.”
In the quiet of their home, where secrets stayed behind thin walls, they held each other close—wrapped up in a world that belonged only to them, hoping that it stayed that way.
“Or maybe in another universe where everything is different but the same at the same time.”
Somewhere in a quiet city apartment, a tall woman with dark har tucked her chin on the white-haired woman’s shoulder, soft laughter warming the hush of the night—two souls tangled up in each other, just new names for the same love.
“I’m going to run us a bath.”
“Let me do it. You’ve been on your feet all day. Let me massage them for you as well later.”
“Thank you for always taking care of me. I love you, my darling Azealia .”
“And thank you for sticking by my side. I love you dearly, my darling Kaeli.”
Outside, the nightlife still buzzed on without them—but here, in this tiny corner of the city, they leaned into each other, safe in the one place that always felt like home.
Kaelix listened as Zeal’s words filled the quiet garden, each promise like a thread stitching them even closer. He tried to keep his composure, but the warmth cracked something open inside him.
By the time Kaelix opened his mouth, his eyes had already blurred with tears, slipping down his cheeks. He did not bother to wipe them away—he did not need to. Every tear carried the weight of how deeply he loved his man in front of him, how real this moment was.
When he spoke, his voice was soft but certain. Every word spilling out like a promise stitched across every universe they had ever dreamed of.
“You’re the quiet I run to when my mind won’t stop racing, Zeal. The hand that always makes sure I’m okay, even when I forget to take care of myself. You’re the calm that steadies me, the soft heart that holds every messy part of me without question. You’re the home I’d come to in every life, no matter how far I stray.”
Kaelix sniffled, breath hitched with another laugh as his tears slipped faster. Zeal’s thumb brushed over his hand, anchoring him.
Like two people written into a romance novel, Zeal leaned in, catching Kaelix’s watery smile with his own. A quiet promise that they would hold each other through every word.
“And you’re the laugh I wait for when the world feels too heavy, Kaelix. The shoulder I lean on when I’m too tired to stand on my own. The warmth I come to, whether that’s behind the bar after a long shift or curled up under some crooked roof in a whole different life.”
Kaelix’s eyes shone, feeling their foreheads brushed, noses bumping, so close that they could feel each other’s unsteady breaths. His breath caught on a quiet, half-laugh, half-sob—one hand tightening around Zeal’s like he would never let go.
“You’re my first home, my last stop, my always. My Zeal Ginjoka. And I swear to you, even when death does us part… I will find you again. In every lifetime.”
And then Zeal’s own voice answered back, wrapping around them like a promise too big for just one world to hold.
‘And I will always be yours. In every lifetime, Kaelix Debonair.”
They both let out a soft laugh before breaking into a choked breath, but neither said anything. They found themselves already leaning, their hands tangling at each other’s jaw, cheeks, and shoulders—like they could not decide what to hold on to first.
When their lips finally met, it was fierce but filled with so much tenderness—a kiss that pulled a tiny, surprised sound from Kaelix’s throat and made Zeal’s fingers dig into his waist.
They pressed closer, mouths moving like they were trying to carve every secret and every I-love-you into each other’s skin.
Somewhere in the back of their minds, they swore they felt every version of them—every universe, every half-lived life—crash together in that one perfect second.
When they finally parted, breathless and flushed, Kaelix laughed through the last of his tears—his forehead resting against Zeal’s, hands still tangled in his suit like he would never let go.
“I love you, my darling bouncer.”
“I love you, my darling bartender.”
Have you finally figured it out?
Throughout every universe of Zeal and Kaelix’s love stories, there is a message they have been wanting you to hear. It’s hidden in plain sight—you just have to look.
Watch for any BOLD, ITALICIZED, UNDERLINED, and CAPITALIZED words scattered across the fics in the In Every Lifetime series. Find them, connect them, and you just might uncover the vow that binds every version of these two—across every life they’ve ever touched.