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dotster001 · 1 year

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For Tuna

Summary:Grim does some interviews to find the perfect sugar dad for him you gn!reader x all boys in one way or another.

A/N:I haven't unpacked my tag list yet, so hopefully this is everyone!

Part Two Part Three choose your ending...

"Grim, we can't afford the bougie tuna. Put it back."

You'd missed it before when you were loading your basket at Sam's shop, but Grim had snuck in the expensive tuna. Now you were at the counter, trying to hide your embarrassment as you told Grim to put it back. Sam gave you a sympathetic smile, but still. You didn't need to add his pity to your plate of worries.

"Prefect, don't worry about it. I can take care of it."

You jumped. You hadn't realized Ruggie had lined up behind you with his own basket full of stuff.

"Yeah! Let Ruggie-"

"I couldn't do that, Ruggie, but thanks for the offer."

Ruggie grinned, "oh please, it's on Leona. He said I could get whatever I want as long as I come back with his energy drinks."

You made an unconvinced face, and Ruggie gave a playful wink.

"Trust me, your tuna won't even make a dent in his wallet. I could pay for your entire load, and still be able to pay off my student loans. In fact," he slapped down Leona's wallet, "Sam, add Y/N's groceries to mine, I'll take care of it."

Before you could protest further, Sam was ringing you both up.

And then Grim got an idea. A terribly, wonderful, awful idea.

"There, all settled. Plus now you can afford to fix your windows this month, or…." He looked at the cash in your hand, "well you can fix one window at least. And don't feel too bad for Leona. Eat the rich and what not," Ruggie patted your back comfortingly then left with his groceries.

"C'mon Grimmy, let's go," you said with a heavy sigh.

"Actually, I have something to do, Henchhuman. You go on home, I'll see ya later."

"Okay, but if you need me…."

"I'll be okay! Geeze you get so anxious without the great Grim. It's embarrassing."

You rolled your eyes and left. You would be so proud of him once he had finished though. He was excited already.

Heartslaybul Dorm….

"Mr. Rosehearts. Thank you for meeting with me."

Grim primly took out his pen and began to scribble on a clipboard.

"I didn't meet with you. You barged into my office," Riddle said, his arms crossed along his chest.

"I think you will find this meeting beneficial. It pertains to Y/N L/N."

Riddle relaxed a little, and raised a single curious eyebrow.

"You see, It has come to my attention, that Y/N and I do not have the funds to live comfortably. In fact, Y/N is practically starving to death! It has also come to my attention that you harbor some feelings for the prefect, and are in possession of a great deal of funds. Now," Grim dramatically looked up at Riddle, who's face was a shade of dark red. "How do you intend to provide for Y/N?"

Riddle opened his mouth, and Grim prepared himself for the worst, but…

"Wait, Y/N's on the market?!?!!"

Grim turned over his shoulder just in time to see Cater run in, tea tray in hand.

"He's only taking applications from rich people."

"Not a concern, housewarden!" Cater cleared his throat. "Hi, I'm Cater Diamond, and my dad is a banker."

"Oh!" Grim made a note on his paper. Riddle stood up abruptly.

"You only talk to your family on holidays, I wouldn't call that a solid source of income-"

"Yes but I'm a people pleaser, so I'll probably follow in his footsteps. So I will also have a banker's salary."

Riddle turned to Grim in a panic.

"I'm going to be a doctor!"

"Oh!" Scribble scribble.

"Oh please!" Cater rolled his eyes before conspiratorially leaning into Grim. "We both know Riddle. He'll work long shifts, day in and day out, and he'll never come home. Meaning poor Y/N will be trapped in a lonely loveless marriage. Meanwhile, I'll work my nine to five, and be home in time to gift you tuna, and keep Y/N warm at night."

"You think Grim cares about that?" Riddle shoved Cater out of the way. "I'll make time for Y/N. Plus my salary will provide double the tuna for you."

"What's all the yelling about?" Trey entered the room, followed by Ace and Deuce.

"Don't look at them, those three are poor as fuck. I mean a baker? Blech, disgusting," Cater apologetically smiled at Trey. "No offense."

"What?" Trey said, feeling more confused than he ever had been.

Grim clicked his pen closed.

"Thank you for your time. I have more interviews to conduct, but I will be in contact if you get through to the second round."

He scampered out of the room as Riddle and Cater nodded after him.

Savannaclaw Dorm….

Grim sat at the foot of Leona's bed as he tapped his chin thoughtfully.

"How can I provide for Y/N, huh? You mean the little demonstration Ruggie gave this morning wasn't enough?"

Grim tapped the pen impatiently against the clipboard.

"Mr. Kingscholar, it is important that you participate fully, or I will remove you from the list entirely."

Leona groaned.

"I receive a….certain amount of, shall we say, an allowance."

"And how much can I expect from that? I have a lot of people to interview. Please don't waste my time."

Leona looked over at Ruggie, who was folding laundry, then gestured Grim closer, before whispering a number into his ear.

Grim gasped, then hastily scribbled something onto his clipboard.

"We will be in contact with you when the second round of interviews begins." Grim stood up and hopped off the bed.

"Ruggie," Leona snapped, "Ensure my future relative makes it out of here safely. Let no one stop you."

Ruggie nodded in understanding as he escorted a proud looking Grim out.

Once they were halfway through the dorm, Ruggie began to speak.

"Leona has promised me a job with an excellent salary once I graduate. Just sayin."

"Won't he just take back the job if he finds out you're competing with him?"

Ruggie rolled his eyes, "Nevermind."

Jack left his room, and noticed the two of them, and began to walk towards them.

"Jack will make you get a job if you pick him," Ruggie whispered hastily. Grim hissed and sprinted the rest of the way out of the dorm.

"What's wrong with Grim?" Jack asked.

"Shi hi hi who knows?"

As Grim made his way to his second location, he was picked up by the scruff of his neck.

"Hey! What's the big idea?!?!?"

"Aw little sealie you're so cute!"

Grim stiffened.

"Fu fu fu," Jade laughed next to him. "our boss would like to have a word with you."

Grim gulped.

Octavinelle Dorm….

"Thank you for agreeing to see me," Azul said smugly.

"I didn't. Your scary twins picked me up and dragged me here."

"You see," Azul pushed his glasses up his nose, expertly ignoring Grim, "We got word that you were interviewing potential candidates for Y/N's future husband. I prepared some charts for you."

Azul pulled out several charts. Grim understood exactly zero of them. But he nodded thoughtfully and pretended to make a note on his clipboard.

"As you can see, my income is projected to continually go up until retirement. Plus my assets will continue to be of value, and my investments will be bringing in money for many years to come. I can safely say, money is no object. Plus, I am an excellent cook. You will never have to eat poor person's tuna ever again."

Grim made a real note this time just as the twins roughly turned his chair around.

"Now that Azul has had his turn, we would like to give our pitch," Jade said with an eerie grin.

"You see, our parents run a certain…. organization," Floyd and Jade shared a grin before turning to Grim again. "Jade and I are the sole inheritors of this empire when they pass. Just keep that in mind."

"Also, people who oppose this organization have a tendency to, shall we say, disappear."

Grim shivered as he made a skull and crossbones picture on his clipboard.

"Awesome. Great. I'll be taking Grim now…."

"Sea Snake!" Floyd shouted, wrapping his arms around Jamil, who had silently snuck into the room.

"Let go," Jamil hissed, wriggling away from Floyd. "Give me the cat."

"Aw, but we were playing with him…."

"It's alright Floyd. I think the three of us have made our point quite clear," Jade hummed, before the octotrio shared a laugh.

Jamil rolled his eyes before carefully picking up Grim.

Scarabia Dorm….

"Look, Kalim isn't going to brag for himself so I thought I'd bring you here and remind you that this entire dorm was funded by his family. And he will be inheriting said funds."

Grim nodded and made a note.

"What about you? I mean, I already know you aren't getting picked cause, well, " Grim pointedly looked him up and down. "But the other broke losers have tried to participate."

Jamil leaned down and gave a dark smile.

"I don't need money to win over Y/N," eyes flashing red as he spoke.

"Monsieur Fuzzball!"

Grim and Jamil both groaned. It only took two seconds for him to be scooped up by the hunter.

"Non, non, do not struggle. I only wish to prove myself as a proper caretaker!"

Pomefiore Dorm…

Grim had never been so pampered, well fed, and relaxed in his entire life. Rook had provided snacks galore, given Grim the full on spa treatment, brushed out his fur, and was now massaging his sore kitty back.

"Monsieur Fuzzball, doesn't this feel wonderful?"

Grim nodded as Rook continued his massage.

"Just think, you could have this everyday!"

Grim groaned happily as Rook hit a tough knot.

Suddenly, Rook's voice was directly in his ear.

"All you have to do is give me the Trickster."

In that moment, Grim knew he would sell you for this life without a second thought.

But before he could do that…

"For heaven's sake I told you to find Epel, not this rodent!"

Rook immediately stopped the massage, to turn to his Queen.

"Roi du poison! I was simply-"

"Spare me," Vil snapped, before handing a struggling Epel over to Rook. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small card, gracefully handing it to Grim between two fingers.

"I believe you are aware of my financial situation, but should you have questions, you can reach my manager on that card."

Then he left the room with a flourish, and the lingering scent of apple blossoms.

"You know I am willing to share the trickster with you," Rook whispered to Vil in the hallway.

"Ew," Epel groaned.

"As if I'd ever share," Vil smirked.

Outside the Ignihyde Dorm…

Ortho stood next to the tablet, holding Grin up so he could see what it said.

"So as you can see from my bank account," Idia's voice said from the tablet, "Money is not and never will be an issue."

"It all looks good," Grim muttered as he made a note, "but I have to say it's a red flag that you couldn't come here in person…"

"Hey! Big brother is just busy with his experiment!"

"Yeah, exactly, thank you Ortho, for being the only one who appreciates genius. In fact this conversation is over. If he doesn't get it, then that's his loss. Ditch the noob, Ortho!" And the tablet floated back into the dorm.

Ortho gently set Grim down. "Look, big brother gets nervous around the prefect, that's all. But I think they'd make a great couple."

He gently patted Grim's head, then floated back in. Grim sighed, made a note about how Idia was a package deal, then continued to the final dorm.

Diasomnia Dorm…

"Small kitten, I am to be king of a country. Not only that, but I have spent centuries curating my hoard. Our nest will be always warm, and my perfect child of man will want for nothing," Malleus finished with a smug grin, as he leaned back in his throne. Then he sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Now you three can make your offers, or whatever."

"Me next! Me next!" Lilia said, cradling Grim like a baby. "I'm not as young as I look, and am on the best of terms with the queen and future king. I also have a great fortune built up! Kay, who's next?"

Silver timidly raised his hand.

"I just want to say, what about what Y/N wants? What if Y/N doesn't like any of us? What if Y/N doesn't even want to get married in the end? Or maybe they'll be just as happy with or without money?"

There was a long pause. Then…

"Silver's father is loaded and will do anything to see his children married and happy!"

"Fa-Lilia!" Silver hid his face in his hands in embarrassment.

"Same with Sebek. And his dad's a dentist!"

For once Sebek had nothing to say.

"Excellent, this looks very promising for you four," Grim nodded scribbling his final notes, "Now to-"

"GRIM!"

Uh oh. He turned around and saw you storming in.

"Child of man!"

"Save it Mal Mal! I'm here for my rat," You scooped up Grim, placing him under your arm as you left the room.

"When will we hear about the second round of interviews?" Lilia giggled.

You answered by flipping them the middle finger without looking back.

The Hallway….

"What the hell, Grim? I'm not for sale!"

"I'm not selling you! I'm just trying to get you provided for!"

"Please! This is about tuna and you know it!"

"Who even told you?"

"Jack called me about an-"

"Ah! Prefect!"

You and Grim groaned as you heard Crowley call to you both.

"Yes, headmage?" You asked through gritted teeth. You turned and saw Crewel was with him….wearing a bigger coat than normal.

"That coat looks so soft," Grim muttered.

"Yeah," you whispered back. "Wait, headmage, what do you need?"

"I heard your current allowance is no longer sufficient," he gently traced your jawline, settling below your chin, tapping up against it thoughtfully. "How does a little extra sound?"

You nodded dumbly.

"Good good, I'm too generous, I know," he hummed and walked off.

Before Crewel followed him, he smirked and patted the top of your head.

"Good pup."

He stalked off. You stood frozen for a moment. Grim smirked up at you.

"You know, they look like they…."

"You keep that thought to yourself, Grim."

....

Tag list-@shytastemakerthing @stygianoir @leonia0 @lleoll @eccedentesiast-sapphic

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tenderfxck · 1 year

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al haitham is dreaming. he's- he's sure of it.

why else would that secretary he's been harboring some not-so-pure feelings for be bending over right in front of him, her little skirt riding up and over the swell of her ass just enough to see a full show of what cute panties might lay hidden beneath.

except there was nothing under that tight skirt. she. . .

she wasn't wearing anything.

al haitham had the perfect view of two full pussy lips squished so beautifully between the seam of her plush thighs from his desk.

thoughts of planting himself behind her and sliding his cock right into that pretty little cunt almost immediately barged their way into his mind, evicting any other logical thought that may have resided there until this moment. he couldn't possibly look away, liquid heat rushing to his gut at the idea of fucking her doggy-style against the bookshelf she was sorting through right now.

he wasn't sure whether to promote or fire whoever requested those research articles she was now gathering from the large cabinet right in front of his desk. she seems oblivious to al haitham's current ordeal, however. and he was uncertain if she was aware of the revealing position she put herself in. maybe it was just laundry day.

or perhaps, haitham thought, feeling his cock twitch to life even more, she never wears panties. . .

oh, archons.

so now al haitham just has to be patient. he'll sit there, heart hammering away, staring at that tight-looking pussy taunting him from across the room until she's finished her business and takes leave of his office.

he won't breathe a word to her except for a simple request. just for her to close the door on her way out, so as soon as it clicks shut he can pull his cock out and relieve himself of this burning need currently laid weeping against his thigh and straining tight in his pants.

but for now she still sorts through documents, and al haitham will continue burning this sight in his memory to use for many, many lonely nights to come.

#on purpose? that's for you to decide #i was pussy whipped writing this ill admit #i saw an up skirt shot and the rest was history #useless bisexual #tender thoughts #al haitham smut #alhaitham smut #al haitham x reader #alhaitham x reader #al haitham x y/n #alhaitham x y/n #al haitham x you #alhaitham x you #genshin impact smut #genshin smut #genshin x reader #genshin x y/n #afab reader #also can you believe i didnt post something at 3am???

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suguru-getos · 1 year

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Genshin men x Sexual frustration

A/N: How our Genshin blorbos express their sexual desires, needs for us. <3 Including how they are at it, LMAOOO I am in the 5.5 hr meeting and yk now my mind’s had it cause I’m thinking about smut. 😭

Characters included: Kaveh, Ayato

Kaveh:

Our dearest, most wonderful man is quite expressive with his feelings. Whether sexual/romantic. He would nudge you gently, as soon as he has your attention he is all over you. Kissing you passionately, hands moving across your body, caressing your curves, cupping your face, squeezing your ass, massaging your titties. He is ALL OVER YOU. Almost in an overwhelming way, until you gasp & mewl out in pleasure, just as turned on as him. He has a slight tint in his cheeks with the way your half-lidded eyes look at him, his pupils humanly dilate out of absolute adoration for you. <3 Would start kissing the sweet spot of your neck and groan gently, asking you sweet questions like, “Can we take this to bed?” // “God I need you so fuckin’ bad Y/N.” etc.

Will take absolute control but he will be gentle about it, reassuring, observing your expressions, how you react to his tones. He’s probably the guy to sketch you naked after you are fucked to slumber by him. <3

He does not like teasing you, but doesn’t like being teased either. If you tease him he doesn’t mind giving you a handprint or two on your ass, kissing it better. He is the definition of a wonderful soft, pleasure dom. Likes to fuck you deeper once he tips off the edge, grinding his cock against your filled womb as he groans. “Mine- mine— all mine—” Kaveh is a possessive mf okay? Okay.

Ayato Kamisato:

This man is just— menacing with the things that he wants. He is quite territorial about it, barging into your space and whispering things like. “If you might have some time for me,” sass king 101 and would edge you for hours when you try to tease him especially when he has all this pent up desires inside of him. Won’t let you cum until you are a babbling mess, arched back and whines escaping you begging him to let you tip off the edge.

Ayato would tend to you after, once you ride on the blissful high of several orgasms as he thrusts his load deeper inside you, his words hinting the slightest of breeding kink he harbors. “You will look so good— all pregnant and full-” as he peppers kisses across your face tenderly.

#genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin smut #genshin thirst #ayato kamisato #ayato smut #ayato thirst #kaveh #kaveh smut #kaveh thirst #kaveh x reader #ayato x reader

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yandere-romanticaa · 10 months

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As a request, may I ask please for a reader running away from the Fatui debt collector and ending up by getting caught by Childe ?

The strong regard in which the Fatui held their contracts in could almost rival the nation of Liyue itself. By signing your name on the paper you signed off your entire life away, perhaps even your very soul if the situation or person called for it. The Fatui were rolling in mora and their Harbingers were some of the richest people to ever grace Teyvat. Their bankers know what they are doing, no penny is ever left unchecked and all of the clients pay what they are owed, no matter the cost.

You were one of those unfortunate clients.

On paper, their professionalism was okay, maybe even great if you're delusional enough. But everything came at a cost and you realized that the Fatui were only ever interested in keeping their side of the contract intact.

After mysteriously being laid off your job and losing every earthly possession you ever owned, you were left with no options other than to turn to the Northernland Bank. Despite its somewhat sketchy reputation there was also a decent amount of individuals who were quite pleased with the banks services, which is exactly why you felt all the more urged to go there. Everything was going smoothly for the first few months. You managed to pay rent and get some other basic necessities in order such as food and clothes but you were still far from the safe zone. You never managed to pay your debts on time which made the clerk at the bank frustrated with you.

"We can be kind to you only for so long." she'd say.

"Don't make the same mistake again."

You promised her that you wouldn't and you intended to keep that promise.

Unfortunately, life almost never plays out the way we want it to.

After weeks of endless job hunts, no one wanted to take you. It made no sense whatsoever! You had no criminal record, were always diligent on your previous job and had no enemies. Whenever you'd have an interview the people behind the counter would always be quick to shush you and tell you that they could not take you in. The last place you applied for, a small flower shop, was so quick to turn you down that it should be considered the world record. The moment you said your name out loud it was as if a switch was pressed and the owner switched gears entirely. Her demeanor went from calm and sweet to anxious and downright terrified as her entire body started shaking. She was beyond forceful as she shoved you out the door and told, no, begged you to not come back, ever.

In those brief moments you shared with the woman she became fear personified. You never understood why but right now that didn't matter.

Not when Fatui agents were pursuing you in the darkness of the night.

They were like the harrowing winter wind, sharp and swift. They barged into your home and demanded you pay what you owed unless you wished for more serious consequences to take place. The hooded agent pressed his large blade against your neck and his fire red eyes tore into you, daring you to make a move.

He was not expecting you to actually do something, let alone kick him in the shin.

A cryo mage and a hydro skirmisher were hot on your tail but you managed to quickly outrun them.

Panting, you hid behind a large pile of wooden crates near the harbor. There was little to no light aside from the stars, providing you ample cover against your assailants. This wasn't unfortunately only an advantage for you alone as they too could make use of this darkness. Not only were you outnumbered but also found to be completely and utterly defenseless. With little to no combat training and no vision to speak of, this endless chase became more and more unbearable. Options were also limited - keep hiding and make a run for it outside of the city but risk getting chased all over the content or come out of hiding and face the music.

Neither option was good. Death was all but guaranteed. The Fatui did not understand the concept of mercy.

That was a sentiment that the 11th Harbinger knew all to well.

He watched you from a window, ocean blue eyes tailing after every single move of yours. His chin rested on his hand while the other toyed with a white glaze lilly that grew close next to him, the soft petals providing him a much needed source of silly entertainment. In his eyes you were this glaze lilly - gentle, beautiful. Easy to break. It took him no effort whatsoever to tear your life to shreds and keep you docile. Tartaglia was a little bitter how you did not remember him back when you were younger, which might be the reason as to why he is being so harsh right now. He always liked to play rough and the sight of you shaking made his blood rush with pure and utter glee. Everything was going according to plan and he could not have been more satisfied. A wicked smirk danced on his lips as he ripped the glaze lilly from the pot, its green stem now firmly in his hands. A wave of determination came over the young man as he let out a quiet laugh to himself.

As fun as this was, he was done. No more games, he was going to have you.

It was time to step into the heart of the action.

Like an acrobat, Childe leaped out of the window and landed gracefully on both his feet, the bow on his back firmly set in place. His fingers twitched in anticipation as he creeped up closer and closer towards you. He was so quiet that not even a mouse could hear him.

It really wasn't your fault for screaming so hard, he thought to himself. Anyone would have gotten scared if someone just came up to them like that. As a matter of fact, he even found it kind of cute!

The shrill screams naturally caught the attention of the people he told to hunt you down and in a flash they stood before the two of you, panting but ready for action. The measley subordinates were, unsurprisingly, startled to see a Harbinger out in the open like this, prompting them to immediately lower their heads and bow deeply.

You were too caught up in your own paranoia to hear Childe mumble a quiet "You are dismissed." command to them. You trembled, fat tears caking your face as the ginger turned to face you, a small smile on his lips. He scared you enough for now, hasn't he? Reaching out towards you he held your quivering body, your face pressed deeply against his chest as you wept loudly. The grey fabric of his clothing soon turned a much darker shade due to the heavy tears but you could not care less.

Tired, you were so tired.

Despite having no clue to the identity of the man who held you so gently, there was absolutely no chance you were letting him go. You made your decision right there and then - snaking your arms around his thin waist you stayed like that as you let out everything out of your system, the pain, the fear and every other dark emotion which clouded your heart, all the while having no clue that your savior was the one who brought out all of this misery to you.

He could be a sadistic bastard, Childe knew this. He went too far in tormenting you and was most surely going to make everything up to you.

Right now though all he could do was sit on the ground and cradle you in his arms as his heart wept alongside yours, but with much different reasons than yours. He was a walking paradox, both the tormentor and the savior. All in due time though, you would grow to love it.

He would make sure of it.

🥀 TAGS: @genshinarchives, @mod-kisa-blog, @juuuuuj101010, @kalopses-sonderes, @b10h4z4rd, @xiaopleasecomehome, @yumekos-gamble, @mayulli, @cc-6789, @saturnalya, @mewmeowmika, @ranposgirlboss

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cinnamonest · 2 months

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Also on note of that “bone breaking” post I believe Xiao is an absolute menace to the innkeepers because of his inability to gauge human sickness and injury. He's thoroughly convinced any slight discomfort you experience is a near-death situation.

Human life is incredibly fragile. Their bodies are nearly unbelievably susceptible to death from even very mild injuries and sicknesses, they die so easily it's frightening. Which is why he has to be very vigilant with you.

You once got a bit nauseous from eating something a bit past expiry date — you insist it's just food poisoning over and over, but he practically drags you to a pharmacist anyway “just in case,” because there are many deadly pathogens and parasites humans can die from that begin this way, and you will drop dead before you even know something is wrong.

If you have a headache, it's probably an oncoming aneurysm that will cause sudden death. You may think you have a mere common cold, but he is well aware that many very dangerous and severe illnesses begin as symptoms of common colds, some of which progress so rapidly you may not have time to notice before sudden death.

You try to explain your throat hurts because what you ate is giving you heartburn, but if it has the word heart, which is a very vital organ, that can only mean you are at great risk of, you guessed it, sudden death.

More than once now you've been sleeping a little too deeply — your breaths are so slow that it looks like you're barely breathing at all, so he has to shake you awake to ensure you are still alive. Any cough or sneeze is met with this head-jerk in your direction and yellow eyes wide open staring in panic, and you have to swear up and down you just got swallowed the wrong way or inhaled some dust.

Not even period pains are safe — it's normal, so you insist, you can't hide your discomfort so you're all but begging him not to worry about it, but this one time he remembers about seven hundred years ago he once heard a villager mention a woman who had internal bleeding mistaken for just that and died, so it must be seen professionally (yes, each month). The whole concept bothers him — you're bleeding and in pain, those things are bad, how can you be sure it's the normal amount of bleeding and pain and not too much, that you're not actually five minutes away from dropping dead? That's right, you can't know, which is why you have to let him carry you to the harbor for the third time this week.

Injury is even worse — yes, he's aware that human flesh bruises easily, but this bruise is on your ribcage, and you don't recall how it got there, there are organs underneath there and you could very well be internally bleeding out.

Both innkeepers are, at this point, used to him coming bounding into the main lobby in full-fledged panic, demanding to hand over the emergency medical kit kept by the front desk so he can save you from bleeding out (you accidentally cut your finger on a splinter on the baseboard), and they no longer bat an eye or ask where you're going when he comes barging through carrying you (protesting, at that) out the door without a word before vanishing in the direction of the nearest village with a doctor… even when you try to get their help to please tell him I'm fine, they just ignore you at this point, knowing it's futile.

There's a death at the inn once — you try to be reasonable and explain that it was a very elderly and sickly man who most certainly died of natural causes, but see, you don't know for sure that he didn't have some kind of rare rapid-onset deadly illness that can spread from the bottom floor all the way up to where your room is, so it is imperative that you be disinfected professionally.

He annoys the doctors too — they're all used to it at this point too, but many of them are aware of him, and none of the humans really want to oppose or risk upsetting one of these beings they have a degree of reverence for, so much to your dismay, all of them continue to treat his concerns as legitimate, even though it's very blatantly clear to you that they're faking taking it seriously.

On the bright side, having some pity on your suffering perhaps (or being tired of dealing with the same thing over and over), the harbor pharmacist managed to convince him that an over-the-counter mild painkiller was a miracle cure for a wide variety of ailments, so unless you feel that you need more, he says, then that should be enough… which cuts down on the frequency of your unnecessary emergency care visits, but only somewhat.

At this point, surely at least one of the concerns has been legitimate, he has definitely saved your life more than once by now. And yet, you have not thanked him for this, you continue to be so naive to your own fragility and do nothing but complain about it when you literally owe him your life. Unbelievable.

But rest assured, your ungratefulness will not deter him from continuing to take the utmost care of you, he'll continue to save you, regardless of how unappreciated these life-saving efforts are.

#i'll put this out from drafts in the meantime since i got behind on posting the last week or so #.x

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khristie16 · 7 months

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Blindfolded Desires

about: Love - Lies - Unravelling Mysteries about Charles warnings: angst angst angst, third parties info: someone else has their claws on you, can he be trusted? tags: (✿◡‿◡) @urmotheris @cmleitora @honeybunchiesofoats @f1lov3r Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

The following day unfolded with a lingering headache, a testament to the tears that had flowed throughout the night. Disappointment clung to you like a shadow, and you couldn't help but wish for a chance to rewind time. The vulnerability you had shown to someone seemingly indifferent cut deep. Regret seeped into your consciousness as you reflected on the decision to open not just your heart but your body to him.

As you prepared for the day's classes – a task you approached with a sense of dread – your thoughts stubbornly clung to Charles. On your way, a familiar face greeted you. Stephan's infectious smile momentarily lifted your spirits. It made you wonder if this was a shared trait within the Leclerc family.

“Hello YN, how are you?” Stephan initiated a conversation, and you found yourself responding. Surprisingly, he was amiable, and as you settled into the classroom, Charles made his entrance. His emotions remained inscrutable, but Stephan, seated beside you, couldn't overlook the hurt etched across your face.

“YN, are you okay?” Turning to him, you replied with a forced assurance, but Stephan sensed your distress, linking it to Charles. Throughout the class, Charles couldn't shake the unsettling feelings within him. Seeking a respite, he decided to distance himself by taking another girl out. In his mind, perhaps things would return to normal. However, reality proved to be a stark contrast, as his thoughts incessantly circled back to you during the entire date.

Back in your dorm, Stephan's messages brought a smile to your face. Suddenly, a late-night knock disrupted the moment. Anticipation surged; could it be Charles seeking to bridge the gap? The door opened to a determined Charles, his serious gaze locking with yours. Seven awkward seconds stretched before he spoke.

“May I?”

The air became palpably charged with confusion. Yesterday, he had barged into your room, uninvited; today, he sought permission. Nodding, you opened the door, allowing Charles to step inside, his gaze fixated on the ground.

“I'm not good with words, so I will show you instead.”

Closing the distance, he took your hands and placed them on his chest. As you processed the unusual gesture, you traced his chest and ventured to his hair, a replay of the intimate moment shared just the day before. A gentle tug on his hair evoked an unexpected low growl, surprising both of you. Confused, you took a step back, questioning his sudden display of vulnerability.

“What are you doing?”

Charles looked back with fury. “Isn't it obvious?” he spat through gritted teeth.

The phone's notification interrupted, a message from Stephan proposing to take you to the same place where he had seen Charles on a date. Panic seized you, and the beautiful feelings you had harbored seemed to evaporate.

“How was your date today?”

Charles's widened gaze confirmed your fears. Closing your eyes, tears threatened, and you uttered what he now knew too well.

“Get out.”

The following day unfurled with a sense of numbing detachment, each step an echo of the misery that had settled within. Questions circled your mind, a relentless loop wondering why you repeatedly found yourself entangled with men who only left you feeling wretched. As you grunted in frustration while mechanically brushing your teeth, your phone buzzed with another notification. It was Saturday, and you had agreed to Stephan's invitation to go out. In a somewhat pathetic attempt to maintain some connection to Charles, you embraced this link with Stephan, even if it was indirect.

On your date with Stephan, everything unfolded smoothly. He took charge of the conversation, making you laugh, sharing tales from his childhood. Lost in your thoughts, you failed to notice when Stephan posed a question.

“YN?”

Caught off guard, you turned to him, offering a distracted response. “I see you're somewhere else, huh?” he remarked,

His gentle smile suggesting an understanding demeanor. Apologies lingered on your lips, but Stephan continued to share his thoughts.

“It's about Charles, isn't it?”

Your heart skipped a beat, and your eyes widened. He halted, and so did you. The sincerity in his eyes was palpable.

“I saw it yesterday on your face.”

Panic set in, wondering who else had detected your inner turmoil. If anyone else noticed, it was undoubtedly clear what was preoccupying your thoughts. You wished to shrink, feeling small again. Stephan sensed your struggle, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder.

“I'm sorry, YN. That's what Charles always does. He sleeps around and leaves those poor women. I've lost count already.”

His words cut deep. You wished he would just stop talking, and you wished you hadn't found yourself in this situation.

“You mean here, on campus?”

Your confusion was apparent. Stephan, in his first year, had always been under Charles's wing, part of the inner circle rather than left out.

“Well, he's always been flirty. But yeah, I mean since I've been here. He's always somewhere late with a different woman every night. Like yesterday, for example.”

Comfort seemed like a distant concept. Squeezing your eyes and ears shut, you sought protection from any more revelations. Stephan, understanding your distress, held you by the shoulders.

“Don't worry. It will pass. I'm here for you if you need me.”

Later in the day, as you were pondering your thoughts, a message from Nicole illuminated your phone screen. Meet me tonight, I gotta tell you something. The unexpected summons puzzled you, adding an additional layer to the complex emotions already swirling within you.

#charles leclerc smut #charles leclerc fanfic #charles leclerc imagine #charles leclerc x reader #charles leclerc x you

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s1mpactafterhours · 1 year

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ok so i did a variation of this over on the sfw genshin main BUT i also wanted to make a filthy version too bc like my brain's been wandering- but anyway.. hear me out 🗣👏🏻

al-haitham coming home and barging into his housemate's room to tell him something or ask about something (etc etc) and accidentally walking in on kaveh absolutely plowing you, like you're both going at it hard until you suddenly hear the door open. (kaveh had assured you he wasn't supposed to be home until much, much later!) and so you're just desperately trying to cover up or hide or something, anything- but kaveh's noticed the way al-haitham looks at you, even if the man himself has no idea yet, so he just keeps going at it, witness be damned. al-haitham makes some offhand remark about how neither of you have any decency, but if he weren't wearing those damned headphone looking contraptions you'd be able to see just how red his ears were.

this is unfortunately how he begins to come to terms with his attraction to you, and unknowingly begins his learnings of the ways of heartache. kaveh pays this no mind, feeling that he's finally got the upper hand on his smart ass, seemingly unshakeable housemate. he's on a mission to make you scream his name, as many times as possible, as loud as possible. at some point, though neither of you hear it, al-haitham just ends up slamming the door on his way out, leaving to go to the library or literally anywhere else.... but not before guiltily rubbing one out. you two provided the perfect background noises he never knew he needed, but more importantly, it was your moans that were driving him insane. how would you sound screaming out his name all night long instead?

so off he goes to busy himself with work, so much work, so much that he ends up taking on extra work just to distract himself from the honeymoon phase you're both in, and the way kaveh just can't seem to stop showing you off in front of him. he can already tell the latter is doing so on purpose, but he refuses to let the blonde get the better of him. you're aware that something is going on, but attribute it to their weird relationship and how they're just always fighting.. though it has been awfully quiet lately, and you're starting to get suspicious. kaveh is quick to assure you that al-haitham is just very busy with work, and he's even quicker to get handsy with you. cuddles while he works on his projects, hands on across your shoulders or thighs at dinner, all the nights you two fuck your stress out before collapsing together in bed.. you're far too entranced by your seemingly sickly sweet lover to see through the haze, but it's always harder to think straight when you're getting your back blown out (or blowing him out-) ..and so, you don't.

and even as al-haitham has time to get himself back together, he can't help but wonder if maybe things would have turned out differently had he been more aware of his own feelings. if he had asked you out first, would that be how the both of you would be now? or had you always only had eyes for kaveh? the questions that used to keep him up at night become mindless chatter as he tries (and fails) to block you both out on the other side of unfortunately thin walls. but life goes on, and so does your relationship, and before you all know it, you're making plans to move in together, to share your lives together, and suddenly al-haitham finally knows what loneliness feels like.. all alone in a house that used to house shenanigans for three. he's not sure if he'll bother looking for a new roommate now that he's been promoted, but sometimes he can't help but wish he could share the news with you both, and how he misses your antics and smile and.... he belatedly begins to realize he misses kaveh too. in which a new set of questions unlocks thoughts he'd never even considered... had he harbored feelings for you all this time, or was he instead projecting because he was jealous... and falling in love with his own roommate all this time?

#that ending was NOT supposed to happen but i liked the plot twist of him being so confused he didn't know who he liked anymore ifk #kinda just wrote all this rambling mess with no planning so im sorry for how sh #for how unorganized it is* ;;#genshin angst #genshin smut #genshin drabbles #genshin blurb #genshin nsft #kaveh x reader #al haitham x reader #ft hints of kavehtham (?)#my post #aerin.writings #aerin.txt #aerinposting #s1mpactafterhours #kaveh smut #...technically #......ironic how i wrote this bc i want that twink obliterated (and i want to do the obliterating <3)#this little brat istg..#sad he wasn't in the next drip marketing but fingers crossed for next update;;; at least we'll be getting dehya (& len- i mean mika lol)#corrected papers to projects bc i briefly forgot kaveh was an architect whoops-#was so used to doing nothing but papers when i was in school tbh. force of habit. and more await me come grad school hhdhfhf #best wishes to everyone and their studies fr #also can't wait for playable kaveh and more lore drops ✨#edit: some minor proofreading and corrections. added maybe a sentence or two but nothing major tbh #no one: al haitham: *the photo tearing scene; fake ass smile; and crying his eyes out after the wedding from kwill's please don't mv*#x reader #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader

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hottpinkpenguin · 1 year

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Kaz brekker with the Nightmares end eventually prompt? Male/gender neutral reader if possible and romantic! If you do it then thank you!

A/n: I always love my first fic for a new character, so thank you anon for putting Kaz Brekker on my list!! this is a tad cheesier than my normal fare but i think our brooding boy Kaz needs a little romance in his life, so here it is. Hope you love it<3

Nightmares Kaz Brekker X GN!Reader WC: 2,031 Content Warnings for: depictions of violence, dead bodies, gore; probably some non-canon details

Kaz’s legs grew heavy and stopped kicking, his back end sinking into the cold waters of Ketterdam’s harbor. Behind him, the rank stench of rotting corpses from the Reaper’s Barge hung like a cloud in the air. The lights of Ketterdam bobbed on the horizon ahead like a beacon, but it seemed with each moment Kaz was drifting further away from the shore. His fingers fumbling to grab hold of his dead brother’s jacket for flotation. He gulped at the night air in the rare moments where his head broke the surface of the waves. The salt water stung the open sores on his face and hands, his body weak from sickness and hunger. The only thought in his mind: swim.

Trying to stifle a wave of nausea, Kaz grabbed ahold of Jordie’s bobbing corpse and hauled himself as far upward above the waves as he could manage. Kaz let out a strangled sob as his brother’s dead-pale face sank an inch below the water, his lifeless eyes gaping up at the starless sky above.

“Jordie.”

Kaz choked on his brother’s name, grief and horror twining together in his chest like strangling vines. He tried to push away thoughts of giving up, of letting go of Jordie’s corpse and allowing the sea to take him.

But something deep within him burned hotter than the firepox that riddled his body. A drive to live, to fight, to survive. Kaz had always had it - he got it from Jordie, he knew. Jordie had taught him how to fight back when the world threatened to crush you. Kaz heard his older brother’s voice echo in his mind: swim, Kaz.

His vision swam with white dots, but he forced himself to kick his legs, though they felt heavy like anchors.

Swim, Kaz. Swim. The feel of his brother’s unnaturally stiff, cold skin beneath the thin, water-logged linen shirt seared itself into Kaz’s memory.

Swim. Kick. Breath. Swim. Kick. Breath.

The lights of Ketterdam drew closer.

Kick. Kick. Swim.

The faint sounds of the docks tickled his ears. Kaz’s lungs were burning, the firepox that had weakened him and taken his brother’s life making one last, desperate attempt at his strength.

Breath. Kick. Breath. Kick.

Kaz felt his leg bounce off the ragged surface of a rock. The sounds of waves lapping on a rocky coast announced his arrival at the shores of Ketterdam.

Kick. Kick. Kick.

As soon as Kaz felt the pebbles scrape his stomach, he threw himself off his brother’s dead body and emptied his stomach in the sea foam. His head spun with exhaustion, fever, and terror. Next to him, he felt his brother’s body bob against him in the waves. Kaz scrambled away from the feeling, the terror reaching a fever pitch in his mind as he began to understand what he’d done.

He turned to look back at Jordie, now face-down in the ankle deep waters along Ketterdam’s warehouse district seawall. Jordie’s stiff body was so pale it seemed to shimmer with an unnatural, sickly glow. Kaz shivered violently as panic ripped through every inch of him. Mustering all his strength, he tipped his chin towards the sky and shrieked. He screamed for everything in his life he’d once thought would keep him safe: for Jordie, for his parents, for the world he thought he knew. The shriek felt like it would tear him in half, and Kaz let himself empty the pain he felt inside into the raw dark night. When the scream finally died on his lips with a strangled sob, what was left of the boy that had been Kaz Rietveld knew he would never be the same again…

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kaz felt himself rear up out of bed, his heart racing and that shriek from so many years before fading like an echo in his ears. He was panting, his body soaked with sweat. He swiped back the stray strands of hair plastered to his flushed forehead with a gloved hand.

“Kaz?”

A familiar voice drifted through the barely open door to his private quarters above the Crow Club. Kaz felt the knot of panic in his chest loosen slightly at the sound.

“Kaz, are you alright?”

Ever respectful, you didn’t barge through the door to check on him, although Kaz could hear the tense itch of concern in your voice. Kaz let his eyes close as he tried to clamp down the lid on his memories.

“I’m fine,” he called back, although his voice wavered pathetically. There was a split second of quiet before you replied.

“Nightmares, boss?”

The question was so quiet Kaz almost didn’t hear you. He let out a shaky exhale through lips that quivered ever so slightly. A gentle tap on the door: a question.

“Come in, y/n.”

Kaz wasn’t used to letting people into his quarters. Even Inej and Jesper, his closest friends - if Kaz Brekker could be said to have such relationships - were rare guests. Kaz didn’t like that he let you in, but you felt like a tonic. It wasn’t a coincidence that Kaz had asked you to take night watches for him. Your presence seemed to ease a pain Kaz had felt for so long he’d forgotten he had it. And on nights like this one - nights where Kaz’s dreams swallowed him whole and spat him back out - he needed you close. He’d never admit it aloud, although he didn’t need to. There was an understanding between you two, a tacit agreement. You’d stay close to him, he’d look after you.

You opened the door and slipped in, a momentary brightening from the hallway lights followed by the return of darkness to Kaz’s quarters.

“They were bad tonight.” Not a question, but an observation. Kaz looked over in your direction as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He could barely make out your silhouette, although he could see the moonlight from his open window dancing in your large, thoughtful eyes. Damn those eyes, Kaz cursed to himself silently. They would be his undoing.

“Yes.”

Kaz never talked much about his dreams, even to you. He was grateful that you were content with what little information he did give. He had a feeling that you recognized just how difficult it was for him to tolerate the miniscule amounts of vulnerability he allowed you to see.

From the doorway, you nodded. You didn’t move to come closer to Kaz, and he didn’t motion for you to. You were close enough for Kaz to hear your even, steady breathing. He focused on that sound and tried to slow his own inhales and exhales to match. Even though it violated every instinct he had, Kaz let his eyelids flutter close. You hung back next to the door. The sounds of the sleeping city outside filled the quiet. Minutes passed, and Kaz let his mind loosen its grip on the fear that his nightmare had awoken.

When he opened his eyes, he found you exactly where he’d left you. Leaned against the wall, your kind eyes still trained on him. Kaz scooted up to lean back against the headboard, his bare chest now rising and falling in time with your own breathing.

“You have nightmares too, if I remember?”

Kaz caught the flicker of surprise in your gaze. Kaz usually never talked on nights like this, not unless you asked him something. Not only was he speaking, he was asking about you. Surprise gave way to a tender smirk, and you nodded.

“I did. Still do, but they’re less now.” Flickers of moments from your past that plagued your dreams danced in your head. A field of charred bodies… your sister in her favorite day dress lying face down in the blood-soaked mud next to the smoking remnants of your house… the way the smoke from your burned-out village blotted out of the sun…

You shook the images away like gnats, bringing yourself back to the moment, back to Kaz.

He was watching you intently. His dark hair was deliciously disheveled, and you could see the smooth planes of his stomach peeking out above the bedsheets.

“How did you do it?” he asked quietly. You forced yourself away from his body and tried to focus on his words, realizing you’d lost track of the conversation. You cocked an eyebrow at him, unsure of his meaning.

“How did you cope with them, I mean,” Kaz clarified. “How did you get them to go away?” A gentle night breeze fluttered the gauzy curtains by the window next to his bedside.

You turned Kaz’s question over in your head, wondering where to start.

“They never really went away,” you confessed, chewing on your lip. You’d resigned yourself long ago that you’d live the rest of your life with memories of the day your family was taken from you carved into your soul. It wasn’t something you would escape or ever come to terms with. It simply was.

You tried to say as much, but the words that dangled on the edge of your tongue felt all wrong. Your mouth opened and closed with a heavy sigh.

Kaz’s lips quirked up at the sound. He turned to look out into Ketterdam’s streets, the moonlight casting his handsome face in a gentle glow.

“That’s not a fair question,” he mused with a hint of embarrassment. “I’m sorry to bother you, y/n. I’m fine. You can go back to your post.”

You felt a twinge of disappointment at Kaz’s words, although they were less of a dismissal and more of a question. You turned to leave, but hesitated as your hand touched the doorknob.

When you turned back to him, he was staring at you with something that looked like hope in his eyes. It made your heart leap in your chest.

“One thing I learned about nightmares, boss. Even nightmares end eventually.”

Kaz considered your words thoughtfully. You held his gaze as you kept talking.

“The things that gave us our nightmares ended, too. It doesn’t mean we forget them, it doesn’t mean we move on. But it does mean that we aren’t prisoners forever. The dreams, the memories… they’re with us, but they don’t control us. They teach us things, but they don’t command us.”

Kaz drank in your every word, watching the way your expression glazed over as whatever memories haunted you swam just beneath the surface of your eyes. He knew that look: he’d seen it in himself many times before. The way you wore it though was different. He marveled at the realization that he’d never really seen you before. He’d felt you, felt the calming effect that your presence had on him. But now he could see why: you understood him. As much as anyone could. Kaz had always liked to think that others only knew him as much as he let them know him. You were proof that that wasn’t true. It both frightened him and delighted him.

“Sorry… that didn’t make much sense.” You let your eyes drop to the ground, suddenly embarrassed by your outburst. You turned to the door, eager to make your escape from the awkward moment.

“It makes perfect sense, actually,” he interjected quickly. You hesitated, halfway out the door into the dimly lit hallway. With the aid of the lamps from the hall, Kaz could see you more clearly. He thought he detected a faint flush on your cheeks, and he had to bite down a smirk at the sight. He was glad the light didn’t reach him, because you’d see a similar heat on his face. He’d taken a big step with you tonight, but he wasn’t ready to show you how he felt. Not yet.

“Thank you, y/n,” he called after you.

You turned halfway back to him, not meeting his eyes. From your profile, Kaz could see the faint hints of a smile.

“You’re welcome, Kaz.”

You left him alone with a quiet click of his door. Kaz hated how much he loved the way his name sounded in your voice.

This time when Kaz fell asleep, it wasn’t his past that swirled in his dreams, but hopes for the future.

#kaz rietveld #kaz brekker #kaz x reader #kaz x y/n #kaz imagine #kaz shadow and bone #bastard of the barrel #kaz dirtyhands brekker #six of crows imagine #six of crows #shadow and bone #shadow and bone imagine #freddy carter #freddy carter x reader #freddy carter x y/n #freddy carter imagine #kaz brekker x reader #kaz brekker x y/n #kaz brekker imagine

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persimmonsimmer · 20 days

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Hellebore House

In the language of flowers, the hellebore stands for

tranquility . . . and anxiety

protection . . . and scandal

. . . and . . . delirium.

Can there be dark without light?

Pleasure, without the sting of pain?

Good, without . . . well, “evil” seems a little harsh! Not to mention how simplistic this whole system of binaries is in the first place.

The inhabitants of Hellebore House are not evil, although perhaps they are bad, or something less than good. They are self-serving, certainly. They are rather self-serious, too, and fond of luxury. They are not overly concerned with using their talents to force the wider world into a better, kinder, more enlightened shape. The world can fend for itself.

And who are you to judge them?

#sims 2 #sims 2 build #my builds #barge harbor #hellebore house #this one was SO MUCH FUN to work on #fully embracing dark opulence and allllllllll the clutter #basement not pictured - keeping some secrets for now ;)#long post

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theee-collector · 9 months

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Teen Wolf Librarian AUs

A collection of Sterek fics where one of them is a librarian (most play in a library themselves)

This is Lovecantrophy by orphan_account

12.1K | Sterek | Teen

In which Valentine's Day is closely approaching, and Derek is a disgruntled grad student who works at a library. He's hit a roadblock on his thesis, he's harboring a (not so secret) crush on Stiles, and he keeps receiving werewolf-themed gifts from a secret admirer. Basically, Derek is totally oblivious and angsty, Stiles does a lot of planning off-screen, and Erica and Scott are awesome friends who are awesome.

Unknowing First Date by gayderek

1.2k | Sterek | General

Derek doesn't share, but for some reason he lets the mystery boy sitting across from him borrow his headphones. Turns out that the Mystery Boy isn't mysterious at all. He's kind of annoying, but he's kind of cute too.

You're the piece that I just found out how to fit to by pseudofoucault333

23.2k | Sterek | Explicit

Stiles is known as the tattooed reference Librarian, the somewhat reluctant crush of most teenagers in Beacon Hills and the son of the Sheriff. Derek is the new Deputy in town who has a history of heartbreak. Will Stiles' persistence pay off to help him get Derek to trust him and will Derek finally admit to himself that not everyone looks at him and sees a pretty face?

Inside this place is warm by wolfcloaks

40k | Sterek | Explicit

Coming down; One love, two mouths Stiles Stilinski: -Senior at Berkley -Double majoring in Human Biology and Biomedical Engineering -Student Librarian -Closet Artist -Basket case extrodanaire -Hopelessly crushing on Derek Hale (read as: pining) Derek Hale: -Grad Student at Berkley -Philosophy Major -Dog enthusiast -Does not cry during The Notebook, fuck you,Laura -Is definitely not pining over the librarian with the cute moles -Would very much like to tell the librarian's curly haired boyfriend to fuck off Or Where Derek and Stiles are complete dweebs in love and jump to horribly inaccurate conclusions Or When your meet-cute turns into a bit of an (light) angst fest but it's all ok in the end

Hale's Library & Coffee Shop by scarlettletterr

3.8k | Sterek | Mature

College Student Stiles is looking for a place to work - so he can pay his bills - when his friend from class, Erica, mentions that her boss is looking for someone to help at Hale's Library and Coffee Shop. Stiles gets the job, along with a giant crush on his boss, Derek, that seems obvious to anyone but him.

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover by isthatbloodonhisshirt (wasterella)

6.1k | Sterek | General

“Hi,” Stiles said jovially with a bright smile. “How can I help you?” For a few seconds, hot, sexy guy said nothing. He just stared at Stiles like he’d never seen another human being before. Eventually, after a sufficiently long and awkward silence, hot, sexy guy had said, “I’m looking for a book.” “Sure thing!” Stiles had then waited. Because—he worked in the public library, so someone coming in asking for a book was normal, but only asking for a book with no other details was a little too vague. “Um, I’m gonna need you to be a little bit more specific,” he’d informed him. “Right.” Hot, sexy guy had looked flustered, some of his murderous aura dissipating.

Checking You Out by wherearethebreaks

7k | Sterek | General

Usually, the people who actually did come into the library used the computers. Usually, Derek could just sit at the small table behind the circulation desk and spread out his papers and get his homework done. But not that day. Oh no. No, some random guy just barged in, doors slamming loudly behind him, tripped over a display for some new books they'd gotten, and didn't sign in, (which, who doesn't know that you have to sign in during school hours?) all before running, running, into the non-fiction shelves. Who runs in the library? Who doesn't sign in? The librarian who usually had to deal with the rowdy and unruly teens that often wandered inside to talk loudly with their friends, was in the bathroom. Meaning, Derek was the one who was going to have to deal with this kid. Something he'd never really done before; therefore, didn't know how to deal with. "Uh, excuse me?" A.K.A: Derek is a library student aid and loves the peace and quiet, a quiet that is interrupted by a fellow student that Derek has to kindly deal with. To bad the guy's a total cutie that shows up the next day, and the one after that to ask him out.

You taste so bitter and so sweet by EmmisaryStilinski22

5.2k | Sterek | Not rated

Dear 402, Your two dogs woke me up every night this week at 4 am! Please silence your hounds from hell! Regards, 403

Dog Days of Summer by CarnalCoffeeBean

1.9k | Sterek | General

Beacon Hills, as it turns out, is actually boring as hell. Or, the one in which summer is boring, Derek accidentally becomes a library volunteer, Lydia and Erica get shit done, Stiles researches werewolves, and multiple people trip, stumble, and fall flat on their faces on their way towards something resembling love.

Special Collections by hannah_baker

16.4k | Sterek | Explicit

Stiles Stilinski is a senior in college working on his thesis. Derek Hale is the grumpy (though inhumanely attractive) special collections librarian. All they needed was a common interest to spark a friendship that becomes more than either of the bargained for.

Can I get Your (call) Number, baby by lielabell

4.9k | Sterek | Teen

Thing is, for the most part, Stiles's loves his job. He loves the quiet hush of the library, the way it smells like must and old books. He likes walking through the stacks, collecting books to be shelved. Likes sitting at the reference desk, hell, he even likes the fact that they still have a card catalog, even though no one ever uses it. Everything about the job is amazing. Except... Except for the music majors.

Stacking up by bravelittlesoldier

8.2k | Sterek | Teen

Stiles is working in the basement of the Library of Congress and is feeling his social skills quickly deteriorate. Then along comes a new librarian working at Circulation who is most definitely a male model. Maybe its time to start re-socializing.

Librarians Always Know What To Say by codarra

1.1k | Sterek | General

Derek comes into the library where Stiles works. A lot. Only he doesn't know Stiles' name. And he's fairly certain Stiles doesn't know Derek exists.

Baby, I'm yours by yodasyoyo

4k | Sterek | Teen

Honestly, Derek Hale didn’t think he could be surprised anymore at the things you see working behind the circulation desk of the university library. He thought he’d seen it all. There’s a guy that comes in on Thursdays that carries a kitten in his bag and thinks Derek doesn’t know. There’s another guy that comes in every other day or so to catch a nap in a secluded corner. And then there’s the couple that Derek’s had to kick out three times now for having sex in the stacks. There’s this one guy that has, by far, expanded Derek’s list of strange happenings in the library. He only knows the guy’s name because he has to come to Derek to check out his books and it shows up on the computer but it’s not actually anything Derek can pronounce so it doesn’t really help. Anyway, Unpronounceable-first-name Stilinski is always up to something.

#librarynerd by yodasyoyo

7.7k | Sterek | Teen

“I’ll likely get far more done in the group if I’m not distracted watching you with your pen--” “My--My pen?” “Pens. Drinking straws. Don’t act like you don’t know,” Derek says darkly. “You know.” ____________ In which Stiles follows Scott into his Spanish study group, takes one look at the hot nerd who runs it and then decides to stay... even though he doesn't actually speak Spanish.

Old you in the garbage(new you in display case) by dearericbittle (dutchmoxie)

13.5k | Sterek | Teen

Stiles is lonely and desperate and suffering from a crush on the grumpiest librarian. So what’s a boy to do but cook up a ridiculous plan to get himself dated and/or finally get laid before the holidays? He just wants his She’s All That moment, okay? He never expected that the plan would actually help him get the guy.

#sterek #teen wolf #rec list #tbr

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aonungyoufuck · 1 year

Text

Runaway {pt 2}

Parts: One , Three

Synopsis: Small Family moment with your Brothers. Ao’nung confesses why he stayed. Ao’nung hissing at his mom

“Sister. I bring you my hunt today” Lo’ak said barging in as if you hadn’t been asleep.

Groaning, you rubbed your head as you sat up. “Eywa, Lo’ak you could have at least made noise just so i wake up normally”

“Sorry”

You could see Neteyam come up behind him and smacked him.

“You’ll be happy to know Everything is well in the family. Cant say Lo’ak hasn’t gotten into a few scuffles here and there however”

“ I have not!”

“Of course he did”

Neteyam nodded. He had always been able to confide with you as you two both had the same responsibility to look after your youngers. “I am guilty of it too tho. Had to make sure this Skxawng didn't get lost as sea as well”

“Translation: He wanted to have fun” Lo’ak Said slicing the fish he had Brought to you

You could only roll your eyes as you took a bit of the fruit that had been left there.

“I heard Ronal isn’t at all too pleased to know Ao’nung stayed here last night” Neteyam said

“HE STAYED HERE? AT NIGHT? WITH YOU?”

“Oh please I was asleep. Apparently the fool slept sitting” you spoke watching Lo’ak prepare your food. Luckily enough he was getting better and better. Perhaps your mother taught him a thing or two. “However, I am going to ask Ronal if she could Teach me. Not train me per say but hopefully something so i can repay her kindness. I mean once this baby is born its really just Tsireya. I would like to help her, you know?”

“Hmm Maybe. If Ronal would allow you such” Neteyam said Splitting the food to you three.

“Where’s The rest of the family?”

“Mom is preparing some food for Kiri and Tuk. I think Dad’s still Out with Tonowari? I dont know for what really tho so i cant really say” Neteyam spoke handing you bits and pieces of the fish and fruit.

It made you smile, and roll your eyes. You weren’t a child but it was nice of him to know he still cared for you as such. Even tho you werent at all that much younger than him.

“I see” You nodded as you continued to eat. You should give Lo’ak credit for the meat being prepared well.

“Its nice all of us. Eating like this”

“Yeah cause we don't eat” You spoke feeling a hard slap to your side. “LO’AK?”

“You know what i mean okay”

“Lo’ak do not hurt our sister. Cant you see she is on her deathbed”

“You both are the worst you know? It would be you dead if i hadn’t stepped in you know?”

It was just this for a while. You didnt count the seconds that passed. You just basked in it. But soon they had to leave. You bid them farewell and to tell the rest of the family to enjoy their night. As you sat there. Waiting. And it hadn’t been long till you heard the jostling of beads at the door.

“You may come in”

To no one's surprise but maybe Ao’nung himself. He stepped in. “Mother brought this” he spoke, handing you the bowl of very still Wet Algae along with some roots that had been boiled alongside it. “Its suppose to help with any internal pain you may feel"

“Thank you” If it was bitter tasting well you didnt have to let him know. “ i heard you got one nasty cramp on your back since you stayed here last night”

“Well you heard wrong”

“Ao’nung. I saw you” You said giggling a bit to see his ears flatten.

“Alright well what do you want me to do? You were basically giving me your last words last night. Cant exactly sleep knowing id be blamed for leaving you alone” He said moving the mess your brother’s didnt exactly clean up.

“Im sorry i left you on such a bad note” You apologized. Drinking the last bit of the bland broth and chewing on the roots.

“Man. Your Brothers suck at cleaning you know?”

“They tried their best” You could only chew harder. The question is harboring in your mind “may i ask you something?”

“You already did. But go on” Ao’nung sat in front of you.

“Do you think, I could ask your mother to teach me some stuff? Not Tsahik training or anything of that sort. But just to help her when your sibling is born?”

“I mean i dont think she’ll like it all too much. But she's a reasonable woman. So i know she'll teach you if you ask” Ao’nung took your fruit bowl from you and began eating “But you are the most Reasonable from your siblings too. Given you haven’t gotten into fights and you have learned our ways faster than your siblings. Well aside your sister”

“ i guess you’re right, Maybe i did more good in not joining in on kicking your ass”

“Pff. You think you can beat me?”

“In anything Fish lips”

Ao’nung couldn't help but laugh. Making you smile as you watched.

“I think this is the first time i heard you laugh like that. Its nice” you smiled at him looking at the floor as you felt your hair fall down.

“Was the way i laughed before ugly or something?”

“Way to ruin the moment” you laughed a little rubbing your temple. “I meant in a sense where you aren't laughing out of mocking someone y'know?”

“Oh”

“Yeah oh” You Were getting tired. The food and the pain numbing as you laid down. “Now if you may. You better get going before your mother gets mad for you staying here again” you didn’t wait for a respond. Not that you could hold the sleep coming to you

But Ao’nung didnt move. His spear now at his side as he sat between your sleeping form and the only entrance to this place. He didn't know why. But something in him told him to just protect you while you were in this vulnerable state.

He thought himself crazy. Why was he so persistent on caring for you? Why did he agree with his mother? Why wasn’t he bothered? But seeing you just lay there made him think. Made him fall back on seeing your body heave and wheeze with the pain of having an open wound. You were nearly dead. You almost died. It did not only affect Tsireya but himself too.

He just kept watch grip tightening when he heard the faintest of noise. Tail laying atop of you making sure you kept breathing. Letting out a low hiss when he saw the curtain open. But quickly dropping his ears.

“Ao’nung! Its time you head home” His mother spoke. Stern and cold. Looking down at you as you didnt stir.

“But”

“No, I will not argue this. You are to go home and she will be sleeping here tonight alone. You can see her again tomorrow evening. I dont know why you want to but you can then. For now go home and head to bed” She ordered leaving no room to argue.

She watched as he bit back his tongue. Standing up spear in hand as he walked out. Ronal only turned to look at you. Placing the wet paste on top of the sheer wraps around you. “ I dont get what this boy sees in protecting you. You are safe and alive. It should be enough” She muttered out.

“Nete..yam”

She looked at you. Your worried expression trembled as your hand shook and moved slightly, reaching out. She could only sigh in exhaustion. ‘Soon’ she thought as she had to think. She would rather swallow her pride than let Neytiri help her as she had offered for helping her children. But realistically what other option was there, she thought.

“Hush now. You are well as is he” she could only whisper as if to ease your worried mind. Eywa had saved you, and that should be enough.

#avatar the way of water #atwow #atwow imagines #ao'nung x reader #aonung x reader #aonung #ao'nung #ao'nung x y/n #ao'nung x you #neteyam #kiri avatar #tuktirey #lo'ak sully #sully family

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yournameloveskpop · 2 months

Text

Trust. . .

Paring: Yeonjun & Beomgyu x reader

Warning: no warn

Style: angst, romance, Fluff, friendship, forgiveness

Word count: 9.596

Y/N dashed through the labyrinthine halls of HYBE, her heart pounding not just from the sprint but from the anticipation of what was to come. She was running late, a rarity for her, especially today when she had scheduled a dance practice with Yeonjun for their upcoming project. The thought alone sent a flutter through her heart; after all, Yeonjun wasn't just anyone. He was the person she harbored the most profound affection for, her feelings for him an open secret among their circle—Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai were all in on it.

As she hastened her steps, she couldn't help but rehearse the moment of meeting him in her mind, playing out various scenarios. "Maybe he'll smile his bright, welcoming smile," she mused silently, "Or perhaps he'll start with a joke, easing the tension."

Little did she know, Yeonjun was well aware of her feelings. It was a truth universally acknowledged, yet he had maintained a respectful silence on the matter. It wasn't that he found her affection unworthy; rather, it amused him, her adoration evident in her every shy glance and hesitant smile. But beyond that amusement lay an unspoken boundary, his feelings a closely guarded secret.

Upon finally reaching the dance studio, her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind. The door swung open to a scene that brought her world crashing down. There, in the middle of the room, was Yeonjun, locked in an embrace, sharing a kiss with someone else. It was a sight so starkly opposed to the scenarios she had imagined that for a moment, reality seemed to fracture.

Y/N stood frozen, her heart fracturing under the weight of betrayal. The room, the people, the very air around her blurred into insignificance, leaving her in a void of shock and heartache.

"Yeonjun," she whispered, her voice barely a breath. The word, once filled with warmth and affection, now felt like a shard of ice on her tongue.

Yeonjun's reaction was immediate. Pulling away, his eyes locked onto Y/N's stunned figure. His expression shifted from shock to a paled realization of the magnitude of what had just transpired.

"Y/N, I—," he started, the words catching in his throat as he took a step towards her.

But Y/N was rooted to the spot, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Betrayal, confusion, and a deep, aching sadness swirled within her, leaving her unable to articulate the storm raging in her heart.

Yeonjun's voice was a mixture of desperation and panic as he tried to explain, "Y/N, please, you've got to believe me, it's not—"

But Y/N wasn't listening. Her heart felt like it was shattering into a million pieces, each shard a testament to her misplaced trust and affections. As she turned to leave, her eyes met with the girl's, who wore a smirk that seemed to twist the knife deeper into her wounds. With no words left to say, Y/N fled, her tears blinding her as she ran.

In her haste, she collided with Beomgyu, the impact bringing her to a momentary halt. Her tears were uncontrollable, each sob tearing through her with a visceral force. Beomgyu, caught off guard by the sudden encounter, instinctively reached out to steady her.

"Y/N, what happened? Why are you crying?" Beomgyu's voice was laced with concern, his heart aching at the sight of her distress.

"Just leave me alone!" Y/N choked out between sobs, pushing past him and disappearing from sight.

She couldn’t bear anyone seeing her like this, especially not when her heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

Beomgyu stood there, stunned for a moment, before his concern turned to anger. He had harbored feelings for Y/N for what felt like an eternity, feelings he had managed to keep hidden. Yet, seeing her in such a state ignited a protective fury within him.

Without a second thought, he stormed towards the dance studio, his mind racing with thoughts of what could have made Y/N so upset. He barged into the room, his eyes immediately finding Yeonjun, who looked guilty, and the girl, who seemed indifferent to the pain she had been a part of.

"What the hell is going on here?" Beomgyu demanded, his voice filled with a cold rage.

The girl, taken aback by the intensity of his anger, quickly excused herself and left, leaving Yeonjun to face Beomgyu's wrath.

"Beomgyu, I can explain—" Yeonjun began, but Beomgyu cut him off.

"You think you can just play with Y/N's feelings like that?" Beomgyu's voice rose with each word. “You knew, Yeonjun. You knew she liked you,” his anger palpable in the tense air of the dance studio. "Do you have any idea how much she cares about you?"

Before Yeonjun could respond, the commotion attracted the attention of Taehyun, Soobin, and Hueningkai, who hurried into the room, alarmed by the yelling.

"What's going on? Where's Y/N?" Soobin asked, his voice filled with concern, as he took in the scene before him—Beomgyu, seething with anger, and Yeonjun, looking like he was on the verge of explaining himself.

"Y/N saw something she shouldn't have," Beomgyu said through gritted teeth, his anger not abated. "And Yeonjun here," he pointed accusingly, "is at the center of it."

Taehyun, Hueningkai, and Soobin exchanged worried glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. It was unlike Beomgyu to lose his temper so publicly, signaling that whatever had transpired was serious.

"I'm going to find Y/N," Beomgyu announced, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And you," he directed his glare back at Yeonjun, "stay away from her. You've done enough damage."

Without waiting for a response, Beomgyu turned and left the room, his steps determined and swift. He knew he had to find Y/N, to be there for her in a way Yeonjun had failed to be. The others lingered for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. Soobin finally broke the silence, suggesting they give Beomgyu some space to find Y/N and help her through this ordeal.

As Beomgyu dashed through the labyrinthine corridors of HYBE, his heart was a tempest of emotions. Every corner he turned seemed to echo Y/N's cries, her tears a vivid image he couldn't shake off. He was driven by a singular purpose—to find Y/N and be the support she so desperately needed at this moment.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere back in the dance studio was thick with tension and regret. Yeonjun stood silent, his head bowed, the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. Taehyun, Hueningkai, and Soobin remained, each lost in their thoughts but united in their concern for Y/N.

"So, what exactly happened?" Taehyun pressed, looking at Yeonjun with a mix of disappointment and concern. His voice broke the uneasy silence that had settled over them.

Yeonjun wiped his face, trying to compose himself before he spoke. "I... I made a mistake," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't think about how my actions would affect Y/N. I was selfish."

Hueningkai shook his head, struggling to understand. "But why? Why would you do something like that if you knew how Y/N felt about you?"

Yeonjun had no answers that could mend the hurt he had caused. "I don't know," he confessed, the remorse clear in his voice. "I just didn't think. And now, I've hurt her, and I can't take it back."

Soobin, always the peacemaker, looked around at his friends, their faces a mixture of anger, confusion, and sadness. "We need to figure out how we can support Y/N through this. She's going to need all of us."

Back with Beomgyu, his frantic search ended when he found Y/N, but she wasn't alone. Jungwon and Heeseung had found her first, offering the comfort and solace Beomgyu had been rushing to provide. Seeing her there, in the arms of her friends, brought a momentary relief to Beomgyu's racing heart.

"Heeseung, Jungwon," Beomgyu greeted, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "How is she?"

Jungwon looked up, his expression somber. "She's... it's been tough. But we're here for her."

"Y/N, Beomgyu's here. He's been looking everywhere for you." Heeseung added.

Y/N's eyes, red and swollen from crying, met Beomgyu's. There was a flicker of something like gratitude in them, but it was overshadowed by the hurt and betrayal she felt.

"Beomgyu, I..." Y/N started, her voice a fragile whisper.

Beomgyu kneeled down beside her, offering a hand in silent support. "You don't have to say anything, Y/N. I'm just glad you're not alone."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the kind of silence that speaks volumes, filled with shared pain and understanding.

"I just... I can't believe he would do this," Y/N finally whispered, her voice breaking. "I thought he... I thought there was something more."

Beomgyu felt his heart break a little more for her. "I know, Y/N. I know. But we're all here for you, okay? You're not going through this alone."

Y/N nodded, a small, fragile gesture that conveyed her gratitude amidst the storm of her emotions. After Jungwon and Heeseung left to reunite with the rest of ENHYPEN, the room felt significantly emptier, leaving Beomgyu and Y/N in a bubble of shared silence and understanding. Beomgyu watched over Y/N as her breaths deepened, a clear sign she had succumbed to the exhaustion and emotional toll of the day. Observing her peaceful face, he couldn't bring himself to disturb her slumber.

Time seemed to stand still as Beomgyu sat there, Y/N asleep against him. He was lost in thought, reflecting on the day's events, the turmoil it had caused, and how it had inadvertently brought them closer. His protective instincts kicked in; he knew he couldn't leave her in the practice room overnight.

With a gentle maneuver, Beomgyu carefully lifted Y/N into his arms. Her head naturally found the crook of his neck, her breath warm against his skin, her arms reflexively wrapping around his neck while her legs encircled his waist. He adjusted his grip, ensuring she was secure before making his way to the dance room where she had left her belongings earlier.

Upon reaching the dance room, the door creaked open to reveal Yeonjun and the rest of the group, still there, seemingly locked in a discussion that halted abruptly at the sight of Beomgyu carrying Y/N in such an intimate manner.

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the air charged with tension. Beomgyu's gaze locked onto Yeonjun, his eyes cold and accusing, a silent testament to his feelings of betrayal and anger.

"What are you doing with Y/N?" Yeonjun finally broke the silence, his voice a mix of surprise and concern.

Beomgyu's glare didn't waver as he adjusted Y/N's weight in his arms, making sure not to wake her. "She fell asleep," he stated simply, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding. "And unlike some people, I actually care about her well-being."

Yeonjun flinched at the accusation, guilt washing over him anew. The others exchanged uneasy glances, the atmosphere heavy with unsaid words.

"Beomgyu, let's not do this here," Soobin intervened, attempting to diffuse the situation. "Y/N needs rest, not more drama."

Beomgyu nodded, acknowledging Soobin's point but not softening his stance. "I'm taking her home," he declared, his voice firm. "She shouldn't be here, not after everything that's happened."

Hueningkai stepped forward, his expression one of concern. "Do you need help with her stuff?" he offered, trying to be of assistance in the only way he knew how.

"No, I've got it," Beomgyu responded curtly, carefully bending down to gather Y/N's belongings with one arm while securely holding her with the other.

Taehyun approached, his voice gentle. "Beomgyu, we're all worried about Y/N. Please, let us know if she needs anything."

Beomgyu paused, his gaze softening as he looked at Taehyun. "I will," he conceded, recognizing the genuine concern in his friend's eyes.

With a final glance at Yeonjun, Beomgyu turned and walked out of the room, Y/N still cradled in his arms. The silence that followed was heavy, each member of the group left to reflect on their actions and the consequences that had unfolded.

As Beomgyu navigated the quiet halls, his thoughts were solely on Y/N. He felt a surge of protectiveness and care for her that went beyond their friendship. In this moment, he was her guardian, her silent confidant, and perhaps, in time, something more.

The journey home was quiet, with Y/N remaining undisturbed in his arms. Beomgyu couldn't help but feel a sense of rightness in holding her, a promise to himself and to her that he would be there, no matter what the future held.

Upon reaching her home, Beomgyu gently laid Y/N down, taking a moment to tuck her in and ensure she was comfortable. As he stood by her side, watching her sleep, he made a silent vow to protect her, to be the friend she needed, and to help her heal from the hurt that had been so carelessly inflicted upon her.

As Beomgyu settled Y/N into her bed, the serenity of her sleeping face offered a stark contrast to the tumult of the day. Each breath she took was a soft whisper in the quiet room, and Beomgyu found himself mesmerized by the peaceful expression she wore—an expression so different from the tear-streaked face that haunted his thoughts. He brushed a gentle hand over her forehead, pushing back a stray lock of hair, and allowed himself a moment to marvel at her resilience.

"I promise you, Y/N," he whispered into the stillness, "I'll be here. No matter what comes, you won't have to face it alone." His vow was a silent commitment, a pledge made in the quiet company of her peaceful slumber.

With a final, tender kiss on her forehead, a symbol of his protective promise, Beomgyu reluctantly pulled himself away from her side. He moved through her apartment with a familiarity born of countless previous visits, each room holding memories of laughter, shared secrets, and now, a new layer of unspoken bonds.

Finding his way to the couch, Beomgyu made himself as comfortable as possible. The fabric felt oddly comforting beneath him, a reminder of all the nights spent just like this, though none under such strained circumstances. It was during moments like these, enveloped in the quiet of Y/N's apartment, that Beomgyu allowed himself to reflect on the depth of his feelings for her.

His contemplation was abruptly interrupted by the buzzing of his phone. Glancing at the caller ID, he felt a surge of frustration upon seeing Yeonjun's name flashing on the screen. With a resigned sigh and an involuntary roll of his eyes, Beomgyu answered the call, his voice edged with a coldness that mirrored the chill in his heart.

"What do you want, Yeonjun?" Beomgyu's greeting was far from welcoming, his patience thin.

"Beomgyu, I... I need to talk to you about what happened," Yeonjun's voice came through, tinged with a desperation that Beomgyu found both irritating and pitiable.

"And what could you possibly say that would make any difference now?" Beomgyu retorted, his words sharp as knives.

"I know I messed up, Beomgyu. I just... I didn't realize how much I was going to hurt her—or you," Yeonjun admitted, his voice breaking slightly with the weight of his guilt.

"Realization comes too late, Yeonjun. You played with her feelings, with our trust. Do you have any idea how broken she was?" Beomgyu's anger bubbled to the surface, each word laced with accusation.

There was a heavy pause on the other end, Yeonjun struggling to find the words. "I... I want to make it right, Beomgyu. Please, tell me there's something I can do."

Beomgyu sighed, the anger in him simmering down to a weary sadness. "The damage is done, Yeonjun. Right now, all you can do is give her space. Let her heal. We all need to reflect on our actions and their consequences."

"Beomgyu, I'm truly sorry. To you, to her, to everyone," Yeonjun's apology felt sincere, but the chasm his actions had created was too vast for mere words to bridge.

"Just... take care of her, okay? She deserves better than what I've done," Yeonjun said finally, the resignation in his voice clear.

The silence of the conversation hung heavy between Beomgyu and Yeonjun, a tangible presence that seemed to occupy the entire room. Beomgyu's heart was a tumult of emotions, each beat a reminder of the responsibility he had taken upon himself.

"Don't worry about that, I will," Beomgyu assured confidently, though the weight of his words was like an anchor, grounding him to the reality of the situation.

As he ended the call, Beomgyu couldn't help but feel the burden of their conversation settle heavily upon him, a fog that clouded his thoughts and lingered in the air. He lay back on the couch, the darkness of the room enveloping him like a cloak. His mind, however, refused to quiet, drifting inexorably back to Y/N, who slept in the other room, oblivious to the turmoil that surrounded her.

The first light of dawn had barely begun to seep through the curtains when Beomgyu was roused from his fitful sleep, not by the sun, but by the sound of sobbing. Sitting up, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, the remnants of his dreams fading into the background as reality took hold. The sight that greeted him was one that tugged at his heartstrings: Y/N, looking lost and confused, her petite frame seeming even smaller as she tried to make sense of her surroundings, her cheeks stained with tears.

He sighed, the sound heavy with concern and a deep-seated ache for the pain she was going through. It was clear that the events of the previous day were crashing down on her anew, the hurt caused by Yeonjun's actions reopening wounds that had barely begun to heal.

"Y/N," Beomgyu began, his voice soft, trying to break through her distress with as much gentleness as he could muster. "Hey, are you okay?"

Y/N looked up, her eyes wide and red-rimmed from crying. "Beomgyu? How did I—? What happened?" The confusion in her voice broke his heart a little more.

"You fell asleep. I brought you home," Beomgyu explained calmly, moving to sit closer to her. "You've been through a lot. It's okay to feel like this."

"But why?" Her voice cracked as she spoke. "Why would Yeonjun do this to me? I thought he... I thought we had something special."

Beomgyu took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "Sometimes, people make mistakes, Y/N. Yeonjun made a big one. But remember, you're not alone. I'm here for you, we all are."

"But it hurts so much," she sobbed, the words barely a whisper. "I feel so stupid, so betrayed."

Reaching out, Beomgyu gently took her hand, offering a silent promise of support. "You're not stupid, Y/N. You trusted someone, and they let you down. That's on them, not you. And I promise, the pain will lessen in time. Until then, I'll be right here."

Y/N looked at him, a flicker of gratitude shining through her tears. "Thank you, Beomgyu. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Beomgyu offered her a small, reassuring smile. "You'll never have to find out. Now, how about we get you cleaned up, and then I can make us some breakfast? Sound good?"

A tiny nod was her response, the smallest of agreements, but it was enough. Beomgyu stood, helping her to her feet, guiding her towards the bathroom with a care that spoke volumes of his concern.

As he waited for her to emerge, Beomgyu busied himself in the kitchen, the clatter of pots and pans a welcome distraction from the heavy emotions that had filled the apartment. The act of making breakfast, something so mundane, felt grounding, a semblance of normalcy in the chaos of their lives.

When Y/N finally joined him, her appearance somewhat refreshed, Beomgyu had already laid out a simple but comforting meal. They sat together, the silence between them filled with unspoken words and shared sorrows.

"Beomgyu, I..." Y/N started, her voice hesitant.

"Shh," he interjected gently. "You don't have to say anything. Just eat, okay? We can talk about everything else later."

After the dishes were done and the kitchen tidied up, Beomgyu directed Y/N towards the couch, draping a blanket around her shoulders with a gentleness that spoke volumes. It was his way of saying, without words, that he was there for her, a shield against the turmoil of her emotions. They settled into an uneasy silence, punctuated by the light, cheerful banter of a sitcom playing on the TV—a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere between them.

As the laughter from the screen filled the room, Y/N seemed to relax slightly, her body unwinding from the tight coil of stress and hurt. Beomgyu watched her from the corner of his eye, a bittersweet feeling in his chest at the sight of her trying to find solace in such simple joys.

Eventually, the episode ended, and the reality of their situation crept back in. Beomgyu stood, stretching slightly, his movements catching Y/N's attention. Her hand shot out, gripping his hoodie with a sudden intensity that surprised them both.

"Where are you going?" Her voice was tinged with panic, her eyes wide and fearful at the thought of being left alone.

Beomgyu knelt beside her, his hand covering hers, gently prying her fingers from his clothing. "I'm just going back to the TXT apartment for a bit," he explained softly. "I need to grab a few things. I promise, I'll come back. I'm not going to leave you alone like this."

Y/N looked up at him, searching his eyes for the sincerity she so desperately needed to see. Finding it, she nodded, releasing her hold on him but the reluctance clear in her eyes.

Beomgyu offered her a reassuring smile before heading out, the promise to return hanging heavily between them.

---

Upon arriving at the TXT apartment, the atmosphere was tense, the air thick with unspoken words and heavy glances. Beomgyu's entrance was met with a mix of concern and disappointment from his bandmates, all of whom had been caught in the emotional aftermath of Yeonjun's actions.

"So, how is she?" Hueningkai was the first to break the silence, his voice full of genuine concern.

"Not great," Beomgyu replied tersely, his mind still on Y/N's vulnerable state.

The room's attention then shifted as Yeonjun entered, the weight of his guilt making his steps heavy. The tension spiked, a tangible force that seemed to push against the walls of the room.

Beomgyu's gaze locked onto Yeonjun, a glare so intense it could have sparked flames.

Yeonjun swallowed hard and tried to speak, “Beomgyu I-,”

"No," Beomgyu cut him off, his voice sharp. "You don't get to speak. Not after what you've done."

Yeonjun flinched but pressed on, a desperate need to explain himself evident in his tone. "I just want to make things right. I know I messed up, but—"

"Messed up?!" Beomgyu's voice rose, a crescendo of anger and disbelief. "You broke her, Yeonjun. And for what? A moment's folly?"

Soobin, ever the leader, stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Guys, this isn't helping. We need to think about how we can support Y/N through this, not tear each other apart."

Beomgyu, his heart racing with a cocktail of protection for Y/N and anger at Yeonjun. He turned away, his movements brisk as he began to pack his things. The rest of the members watched in silence, a somber mood settling over them.

"Beomgyu, please," Yeonjun tried once more, his voice low, "tell her I'm sorry. Tell her—"

"Just stop, Yeonjun," Beomgyu snapped, his back still turned. "Your apologies mean nothing now."

With his bag slung over his shoulder, Beomgyu left the apartment, the door closing behind him with a finality that echoed through the room. The remaining members were left to contemplate the fractures within their group, the weight of Yeonjun's mistake pressing down on them all.

Beomgyu's return to Y/N's side was swift, his thoughts consumed by her well-being. Upon seeing him, Y/N's face lit up with a mixture of relief and gratitude—a balm to the turmoil he felt inside.

"I'm back, just like I promised," Beomgyu announced, setting his bag down with a thud.

Y/N's response was a soft smile, a silent acknowledgment of his return. They settled back into the couch, the previous tension melting away in the comfort of their shared silence. As Y/N nestled closer to Beomgyu, the warmth between them felt like a small beacon of hope amidst the storm. The TV's chatter faded into the background, its light-hearted sounds a stark contrast to the complexity of emotions swirling between them.

Y/N broke the silence first, her voice soft, "Thank you for coming back. I was worried you might... not."

Beomgyu looked down at her, their eyes meeting. "I promised, didn't I? I'm not going anywhere." His voice was firm, yet gentle, a testament to his commitment.

"I just... I feel so foolish, Beomgyu. How could I not see this coming?" Y/N's voice trembled, a mixture of hurt and confusion.

Beomgyu sighed, his arm tightening around her. "It's not your fault, Y/N. We see the best in the people we care about. Sometimes... they just don't live up to it."

Y/N leaned her head against his shoulder, the comfort of his presence a salve to her aching heart. "What do I do now?" she whispered, more to herself than to him.

"You heal. You move forward. And you remember that you're surrounded by people who truly care about you." Beomgyu's voice was soft but filled with an unwavering certainty.

Back at the TXT dorm, the atmosphere was stifling, the silence thick with unspoken thoughts and regret. Yeonjun hadn't moved, his gaze fixed on the door Beomgyu had stormed out of, the finality of that moment echoing loudly in his mind.

Soobin finally broke the silence, his voice laced with disappointment and concern. "We've never seen Beomgyu that angry. Yeonjun, what you did... it's affected all of us, not just Y/N."

Hueningkai nodded in agreement, the hurt visible in his eyes. "We're supposed to be a family, a team. How could you let it get this far without talking to her?"

Yeonjun looked down, shame and regret mingling in his expression. "I... I was scared. Scared of hurting her by rejecting her feelings. But I see now... I've hurt her, and all of you, far worse by not being honest."

Taehyun, always the voice of reason, chimed in, his tone serious but understanding. "It's going to take time to repair the trust you've broken, Yeonjun. Not just with Y/N, but with all of us."

The room fell silent once again, each member lost in thought. The bond they shared had been tested, revealing cracks that needed mending. It was a sobering realization that actions have consequences, and the path to forgiveness and healing would be a journey they all had to undertake together.

As the day turned into evening, Beomgyu and Y/N remained on the couch, their conversation drifting from healing to hopes for the future. It was a tentative step towards moving past the pain, guided by Beomgyu's unwavering support.

"Beomgyu?" Y/N's voice was hesitant but curious. "Do you think things can ever go back to how they were before all this?"

Beomgyu pondered her question, his gaze shifting to the fading light outside the window. "I think... it might not go back to exactly how it was. But maybe, we can build something even stronger. Sometimes, it takes a storm to clear the way for a fresh start."

Y/N smiled, a glimmer of her usual spirit shining through the shadows. "I like that. A fresh start."

As days turned into weeks, the gap between Y/N and Yeonjun seemed only to widen, an unspoken agreement keeping them apart. The situation with the dance project hung heavily over Y/N, a constant reminder of the rift that had formed not just between her and Yeonjun, but within their circle of friends. After much back-and-forth with the management, they finally reached a compromise: Y/N wouldn't drop the dance, but she was allowed to choose a new partner. The condition was simple — the showcase must go on as scheduled.

The task of finding a new dance partner proved to be daunting. Y/N pored over her friends' schedules, hoping to find a gap that could align with her own. The search was exhaustive, her list of potential partners dwindling as each name was crossed off due to conflicting commitments. Even with Beomgyu's help, finding someone with the talent to learn the choreography on such short notice seemed near impossible.

One afternoon, Y/N and Beomgyu found themselves in the dance studio, surrounded by the echo of their failed attempts to secure a partner. The silence between them was a heavy cloak, laden with frustration and the ticking clock of the looming showcase.

It was in this moment of quiet defeat that Taehyun and Hueningkai entered, their presence a burst of energy in the stillness. "Any luck finding someone yet?" Taehyun inquired, hope tinting his words.

Y/N shook her head, the weight of her situation evident in her slumped shoulders. "No, everyone's schedules are just too packed. It feels like I'm back to square one."

Beomgyu sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. "Yeah, and it's not just about finding someone free. They need to be able to pick up the choreography fast."

They delved into a discussion about potential candidates, each suggestion met with the reality of clashing schedules and time constraints. It was during this conversation that Hueningkai, who had been unusually quiet, spoke up.

"You know," Hueningkai began, his tone casual yet laced with a hint of determination, "my schedule isn't actually that packed right now. I've been following your dance preparations and... well, I've picked up most of the choreography."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Hueningkai in surprise. Y/N's eyes widened, hope flickering in them for the first time in days. "Really? You'd do that?"

Taehyun smiled, a sense of relief washing over him. "That's great news! Hueningkai, are you sure you're up for it?"

Hueningkai nodded confidently. "Yeah, I've been keeping an eye on the routines, and honestly, I've been practicing in my free time. I think I can do it and Besides, it's for Y/N."

Y/N felt a wave of emotion at Hueningkai's words, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Thank you, Hueningkai. I... I don't even know how to thank you enough."

"No need for thanks," Hueningkai replied with a grin. "Let's just make sure we nail this showcase."

The studio, once filled with a heavy air of uncertainty and tension, was now alive with the sound of music and the rhythmic tapping of feet against the polished floor. Hueningkai, it turned out, wasn't just familiar with the choreography; he had mastered almost the entirety of it. His dedication was evident in every move, every step in sync with Y/N's, save for a few close contact moves that needed refining.

As they practiced, Beomgyu and Taehyun observed from the sidelines, their expressions a mix of surprise and admiration. "I knew Hueningkai was good, but this is just... wow," Taehyun murmured, his eyes following their every move.

Beomgyu nodded in agreement, a warm smile spreading across his face as he watched Y/N find her rhythm alongside Hueningkai. "He's really stepped up. Look at them, they're almost perfect together," he commented, his voice carrying a note of pride.

Meanwhile, hidden from their view, Yeonjun stood silently behind the slightly opened door, watching the scene unfold with a complex mix of emotions. The dance that was meant to be a duet between him and Y/N was now being brought to life by someone else. The realization stung, a poignant reminder of the consequences of his actions.

Inside the studio, Y/N and Hueningkai paused for a moment, reviewing the steps they had just practiced. "That spin needs to be tighter," Y/N pointed out, her tone constructive.

Hueningkai nodded, his focus unwavering. "Got it. And when we come together for that lift, we need to be more in sync. Let's try it again?"

"Sure," Y/N agreed, readying herself for another run. "And, Hueningkai? Thank you. Again. I can't tell you how much this means to me."

Hueningkai flashed her a reassuring smile. "Don't mention it. We're gonna kill this showcase."

Their dedication to perfection was palpable, each repetition bringing them closer to the seamless execution they aimed for. As they worked, Beomgyu turned to Taehyun, his voice a whisper, "It's amazing how quickly they've adjusted to each other, isn't it?"

Taehyun nodded, his gaze still fixed on the duo. "Yeah, it's like they were meant to dance this together. It's... bittersweet, though, seeing what could've been for Y/N and Yeonjun."

Beomgyu's expression grew somber at the mention of Yeonjun. "Yeah, but maybe this is for the best. Y/N needs people she can rely on right now."

Unseen, Yeonjun's heart ached as he listened, the words cutting deeper than he'd care to admit. He had hoped, in some small way, that watching them would ease the guilt he felt. Instead, it only served to magnify it, the sight of Y/N moving on with the dance — and perhaps, in time, moving on from him — a silent testament to the distance that now lay between them.

Back in the studio, Y/N and Hueningkai continued to refine their movements, their determination unyielding. After several more attempts, they finally nailed the sequence, their execution flawless. A collective cheer erupted from Beomgyu and Taehyun, breaking the intense concentration.

"That was perfect!" Beomgyu exclaimed, clapping his hands in approval. "Seriously, if you guys keep this up, the showcase is going to be amazing."

Y/N, out of breath but beaming with pride, leaned on Hueningkai for support. "We couldn't have done it without each other. Hueningkai, you're an amazing partner."

Hueningkai, equally flushed with exertion and satisfaction, grinned. "It's all about teamwork, right? We're gonna make this showcase unforgettable."

As the group celebrated their progress, laughter and chatter filled the air, contrasting sharply with Yeonjun's solitary retreat. His footsteps echoed in the hallway, each step away from the studio—and Y/N—felt like a heavy burden, his heart heavy with regret and longing. The mirth from the room he had just left was a cruel reminder of the camaraderie and connections he had jeopardized.

"Alright, everyone, let's call it a day," Y/N announced, her voice steady but tired from the intense rehearsal. "We've done amazing work. Hueningkai, you've been incredible. Thanks, everyone, for staying late."

Hueningkai, ever the gentleman, grabbed Y/N's bag, slinging it over his shoulder. "No problem at all. Let's make sure we all get home safely."

Beomgyu, maintaining his protective stance, casually draped an arm over Y/N's shoulders. They walked out together, a close-knit group, until they noticed Yeonjun's retreating figure.

"Yeonjun!" Taehyun called out, his voice echoing down the hallway. The figure paused but did not turn to face them. The tension in the air was palpable.

Yeonjun's voice, when he finally spoke, was thick with emotion. "Yeah?"

Y/N's heart ached at the sound, torn between the hurt Yeonjun had caused and the evident pain he was in now. Beomgyu's grip tightened, a silent plea for her to remember the past hurt.

"I thought I told you to give Y/N space, Yeonjun," Beomgyu stated, his voice firm and cold.

Yeonjun slowly turned, revealing his puffy, red eyes—evidence of his inner turmoil. Y/N's breath hitched at the sight, the urge to comfort him overwhelming her sense of betrayal. Despite Beomgyu's efforts to hold her back, she broke free, stepping forward with a resolve to face Yeonjun.

"Yeonjun, why are you here?" Y/N asked, her voice soft but laced with an unresolved pain.

"I... I needed to see how you were," Yeonjun admitted, his voice breaking. "I've made a terrible mistake, and I can't stop thinking about the pain I caused you."

The group fell into an awkward silence, watching the scene unfold. Beomgyu's heart raced with a mix of anger and jealousy, but he held his ground, respecting Y/N's need to confront Yeonjun.

Yeonjun stepped closer, hesitantly reaching out before pulling Y/N into a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry, Y/N. I don't expect forgiveness. I just needed you to know."

Y/N's arms slowly wrapped around Yeonjun, a gesture of comfort rather than forgiveness. The hug was long and filled with a silent exchange of apologies and heartbreak.

Beomgyu watched, his heart cracking a little more with each passing second. The sight of Y/N in Yeonjun's arms stirred a deep jealousy, but he knew Y/N needed this closure.

After a moment, Beomgyu stepped forward, gently pulling Y/N away from Yeonjun. "It's late. We should all head home," he said, trying to mask the turmoil inside him.

Yeonjun nodded, stepping back as he wiped away fresh tears. "Take care of her," he said to Beomgyu, his voice barely a whisper.

Beomgyu wrapped his arm around Y/N, leading her away but not before giving Yeonjun a look that was both a warning and a silent acknowledgment of the pain they all shared.

As they walked away, Y/N leaned into Beomgyu, seeking comfort in his presence. Beomgyu, feeling the weight of Yeonjun's gaze on them, whispered, "I'm here for you, always."

Y/N nodded, her heart heavy with a mix of emotions. "Thank you, Beomgyu. For everything."

The group's departure left the hallway in silence, Yeonjun standing alone, a solitary figure consumed by regret. The echo of their footsteps was a stark reminder of the distance his actions had created.

Back with the others, Beomgyu felt Y/N's weight against him, a reminder of the responsibility he had taken on. He was determined to help her heal, to show her that she deserved someone who would never take her for granted.

As they reached the car, Taehyun turned to Y/N, offering a supportive smile. "You're strong, Y/N. And you're not alone in this."

Hueningkai added, "Yeah, we're all here for you, no matter what."

As the months slipped by, the showcase's arrival was imminent, and the synergy between Hueningkai and Y/N had reached a level of near perfection. Their dance was a seamless flow of energy and emotion, a testament to their hard work and dedication. It wasn't just the routine that had improved; Y/N herself was healing, slowly stitching the fragments of her heart back together.

In the midst of this healing process, both Yeonjun and Y/N felt a longing to salvage their friendship. They wished to tread back to a place of understanding and mutual respect, but Beomgyu's protective presence cast a long shadow over their intentions. Beomgyu, who had stood by Y/N through her lowest, found it hard to let go of the past. The idea of Yeonjun being close to her again stirred a fear in him, a fear of being sidelined after being her constant support, especially when he harbored feelings deeper than just friendship.

Yeonjun's text broke the monotony of the afternoon, a simple message waiting at the top of Y/N's phone screen.

Yeonjun: I'm by the HYBE entrance. Need to talk. Can you meet?

Y/N, her heart a mixture of nerves and anticipation, quickly started to gather her things. As she reached for her bag, Beomgyu's hand found her hip, stopping her in her tracks.

"Where do you think you're going?" Beomgyu asked, his voice betraying his concern.

Y/N sighed, turning to face him. "Yeonjun wants to talk. I... I think I should see what he has to say."

Beomgyu's grip tightened, his eyes pleading with her. "Y/N, after everything... Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Y/N met his gaze, her resolve firming. "I need to do this, Beomgyu. Not just for him, but for me too. I need closure."

"But I've been here for you," Beomgyu said, his voice cracking slightly. "Doesn't that mean something? I... I care about you more than you know."

Y/N placed her hand over Beomgyu's, feeling the warmth of his touch. "It means everything, Beomgyu. But I can't ignore this part of my life that needs fixing. Please, try to understand."

Beomgyu reluctantly let go, his heart heavy with unspoken words and feelings. "Just... be careful, okay?"

Y/N nodded, offering him a reassuring smile before heading out to meet Yeonjun.

The city's bustle surrounded them as Yeonjun led Y/N to a quaint café tucked away from the main thoroughfare. It was a spot they'd visited a few times over the past weeks, each meeting an attempt to navigate the delicate process of rebuilding their friendship.

As they settled into their seats, Yeonjun broke the silence first. "Thanks for coming, Y/N. It... it means a lot."

Y/N unfolded her napkin, her fingers tracing the edges. "We agreed to work on our friendship, Yeonjun. I'm just keeping my word."

Yeonjun nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "I know. I just want you to know how sorry I am. For everything."

Y/N looked up, meeting his eyes. "I appreciate your apology, Yeonjun. It's been hard, but I'm healing."

There was a pause, filled only by the ambient noise of the café, before Yeonjun spoke again. "I've missed our friendship, Y/N. The way things were before... before I messed up."

Y/N sighed, her heart heavy. "I've missed it too. But we can't go back, can we? We can only try to move forward."

"Exactly," Yeonjun agreed. "I'm not asking for things to go back to how they were. I just... I want a chance to prove I can be a better friend to you."

Y/N considered his words, the weight of their shared history pressing down on her. "It's going to take time, Yeonjun. And effort."

"I'm willing to give both," Yeonjun said earnestly. "Whatever it takes."

Their conversation flowed more easily after that, touching on lighter topics, the tension slowly dissipating. Yet, beneath the surface, there remained a tangle of emotions and unsaid things, a reminder of the long road ahead in their journey of reconciliation.

As the afternoon waned, Y/N glanced at her phone, noting the time. "I should get going. Rehearsal with Hueningkai starts soon."

"Thanks for this, Y/N. For listening." Yeonjun stood with her, the shadows of the setting sun painting the café in a soft light, "and maybe in the future. . . We can be dance partners again."

"I'd like that." Y/N offered him a small smile. "Thank you for being honest. I'll see you around, Yeonjun."

The atmosphere within the TXT dorm had been stifling for weeks, an unspoken tension hanging heavy in the air. Beomgyu and Yeonjun, once inseparable, now found themselves caught in an awkward dance of avoidance and silence, their friendship fractured by the events that had unfolded. Soobin, ever the peacemaker, had observed this growing rift with a heavy heart, determined to find a way to mend the bonds that seemed so perilously close to breaking.

One evening, as the golden hues of sunset bled through the windows, casting a warm glow over the living room, Soobin decided it was time to intervene. He gathered the members, signaling for Beomgyu and Yeonjun to sit on the couch, their shoulders tense, the distance between them palpable.

"Soobin, what's this about?" Beomgyu asked, a note of apprehension in his voice, eyeing Yeonjun warily.

Soobin cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the two. "It's about us. About our team... our family," he began, the weight of leadership evident in his tone. "We've been through a lot together, and it hurts to see two of my closest friends so... distant."

Yeonjun shifted uncomfortably, his eyes on the floor. "I know I'm the cause of this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm sorry, truly. I miss... I miss us."

Beomgyu sighed, his arms crossed defensively. "I don't know if I can just forget what happened, Soobin. It's not that easy."

"I'm not asking for instant forgiveness," Yeonjun added quickly, meeting Beomgyu's gaze for the first time that evening. "I just... I miss my friend."

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the tension thick as Soobin searched for the right words to bridge the gap that had formed between his members. "I know things have been hard," Soobin continued, his voice steady and reassuring. "But we can't let this keep going. We're not just a group; we're a family. And families work through things, together."

Beomgyu's resolve began to crack, the weight of the past weeks pressing down on him. He looked at Yeonjun, seeing not just the source of his anger but the friend he had lost along the way. "It's not just about forgetting, Yeonjun," Beomgyu said, his voice low and strained. "It's about everything that's happened. How can we just go back?"

"We might not go back to how things were, but maybe we can start anew," Yeonjun offered, his tone hopeful yet tinged with sadness. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust again, Beomgyu."

Beomgyu's gaze faltered, landing on his hands. "You were my safe space, Yeonjun. For years," he confessed, the hurt palpable in his voice. "And then... then everything changed."

"I know," Yeonjun replied softly. "And I regret every moment that brought us here. I was selfish, and I didn't consider how my actions would affect everyone, especially you."

The conversation that followed was fraught with emotion, both Beomgyu and Yeonjun laying bare their feelings, their grievances, and their regrets. Beomgyu, who had always been more reserved with his emotions, finally broke down, revealing the depth of his pain and anger.

"I've been holding back for so long," Beomgyu choked out, tears streaming down his face. "I love Y/N, Yeonjun. And I've been burying that because she loved you. I thought I was okay with that, as long as she was happy. But then you... you hurt her."

Yeonjun's own eyes filled with tears, the weight of Beomgyu's confession hitting him hard. "I didn't know you liked y/n like that, Beomgyu. I swear, if I had known..."

"It doesn't matter now does it," Beomgyu said, wiping his eyes angrily. "What's done is done. But it hurt, Yeonjun. Watching her break because of you... it tore me apart."

The room was silent, save for the soft sounds of Beomgyu's sobs, each member wrapped in their own thoughts, the gravity of Beomgyu's words settling over them like a heavy blanket.

Yeonjun, his own heart heavy with remorse and a newfound understanding, tentatively extended his hand towards Beomgyu. His gesture, hesitant at first, transformed into a comforting embrace, pulling Beomgyu closer in a silent promise of support and understanding. As they connected, Beomgyu's tears found new strength, his body shaking with the force of his emotions, yet in Yeonjun's hold, he found an anchor amidst the turmoil.

"Beomgyu... I'm here, okay? I'm so sorry," Yeonjun whispered, his voice laced with sincerity and regret.

The warmth of his embrace seemed to break down the walls Beomgyu had built around his heart, his grip tightening around Yeonjun in a desperate search for solace.

"It's... it's been so hard," Beomgyu managed to say between sobs, his voice barely audible, a testament to the depth of his pain.

"I know, I can't even begin to imagine how you've felt," Yeonjun replied, his tone gentle, each word carefully chosen to offer comfort.

"I tried to be strong, for her, for everyone... but seeing her hurt like that..." Beomgyu continued, the bitterness of the past mingling with the pain of his unspoken love.

Yeonjun pulled back slightly, looking Beomgyu in the eye. "I've been a fool, Beomgyu. I was so wrapped up in my own confusion, I didn't see the damage I was causing. Not just to her, but to you, to all of us."

Beomgyu wiped at his eyes, a mix of anger and sadness still evident in his gaze. "How do we move past this, Yeonjun? How can I trust that you won't hurt us again?"

"I want to rebuild what I've broken, step by step," Yeonjun said, his voice firm, underlined with a resolve that hadn't been there before.

"It's about her, about how we... how I deal with my feelings for her now," Beomgyu admitted, his admission hanging in the air, heavy and fraught with implication.

Yeonjun nodded, understanding dawning on him. "You love her... and you've sacrificed so much. I can't undo what I've done, but I want to support you, in any way I can."

Beomgyu sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly. "I just... I want her to be happy, Yeonjun. That's always been the most important thing."

"And she will be, Beomgyu. With you by her side, how could she not?" Yeonjun offered a small smile, an olive branch in their complicated web of emotions and relationships.

Beomgyu managed a weak chuckle, the sound brittle but genuine. "Thanks, Yeonjun. I... I appreciate that."

The two sat in silence for a moment, the echoes of their conversation settling around them like dust after a storm.

Hueningkai, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up, his youthful optimism shining through. "and no matter what, we've got each other's backs, right? We'll help Y/N through this too."

Yeonjun looked at each of his bandmates, a sense of gratitude washing over him. "Thank you, guys. I've been so selfish, and yet, here you are, still willing to stand by me."

"Because that's what families do," Soobin said, his gaze encompassing each member. "We stand together, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard."

Beomgyu nodded, a sense of resolve fortifying within him. "Let's make a promise, here and now. To always be honest with each other, to support each other through everything. For her, for us."

On the night that had been eagerly awaited by many, the backstage area was buzzing with nervous energy and excitement. Y/N and Hueningkai, both looking stunning in their performance attire, shared an unspoken bond, their eyes locking in mutual encouragement. Yeonjun, finding a spot closer to his bandmates, couldn't help but admire the duo.

“They’re going to be amazing, aren’t they?” He murmured, a mix of pride and wistfulness in his voice.

Beomgyu, catching Yeonjun's gaze, nodded enthusiastically, his eyes bright. "Absolutely. And have you seen Y/N? She looks incredible tonight," he couldn't help but gush, his admiration for her barely contained.

As the duo made their way towards the stage, their hands found each other's, a source of strength and comfort. Their entrance was met with an eager applause, the audience's anticipation palpable in the air. Hueningkai gave Y/N's hand a reassuring squeeze before they took their positions, ready to captivate everyone with their performance.

From the wings, Yeonjun watched, awe-struck by the fluidity and passion of their dance. "I wish that was me out there with her," he confessed to Soobin, who stood by his side. "But, seeing her shine like this, maybe it's for the best."

Soobin placed a comforting hand on Yeonjun's shoulder. "Your time will come, Yeonjun. When things are lighter, who knows? But for now, let's just enjoy their moment," he advised, a gentle smile on his face.

As the final pose was struck and the applause thundered through the auditorium, Beomgyu couldn't contain his excitement any longer. He rushed towards Y/N, his heart racing with pride and joy. "You were phenomenal!" he exclaimed, lifting her off the ground in a whirlwind of happiness.

Y/N, caught by surprise, laughed, wrapping her limbs tightly around him. "Beomgyu! You're going to make me dizzy," she protested, her laughter infectious, her heart soaring from the rush of the performance and the unexpected affection.

"I could spin you around all night! You and Hueningkai were perfect out there!" Beomgyu's words were filled with genuine admiration, his eyes sparkling with emotion.

In a moment of boldness, fueled by the adrenaline and the magnetic pull between them, Beomgyu leaned in and kissed her. It was a kiss that had been a long time coming, a kiss that spoke volumes.

Y/N responded with equal fervor, her arms and legs still securely wrapped around him, the world around them fading into a blur. The kiss was passionate, a declaration of feelings that had simmered beneath the surface for too long.

From his vantage point, Yeonjun watched the scene unfold, a pang of jealousy and regret lacing through his chest. "I guess I really did mess up, didn't I?" he muttered under his breath, the sight of their happiness a sharp reminder of what he had lost due to his indecision.

Taehyun, standing next to him, offered a sympathetic look. "It's tough, Yeonjun. But sometimes, we learn the most about ourselves through our mistakes," he said, his voice soft, hoping to offer some solace.

As the kiss ended and Beomgyu and Y/N finally parted, still wrapped in each other's embrace, the rest of the group approached, their expressions a mix of surprise and delight.

"Hueningkai, you were incredible too!" Beomgyu was quick to include him, his enthusiasm unabated when he jokingly leaned into h hueningkai for a kiss. "It was a perfect performance."

“Thanks man, but I think I’ll pass on that kiss,” Hueningkai laughed and gently pushed beomgyu away.

Yeonjun, gathering his courage, stepped forward. "Yeah, you both were amazing," he admitted, his voice sincere. "I'm really proud of you, Y/N. And Hueningkai, great job."

Y/N, still in Beomgyu's arms, smiled at Yeonjun, a gesture of forgiveness and understanding. "Thank you, Yeonjun. That means a lot."

The group's dynamics had shifted, but in that moment, there was a sense of closure, of new beginnings. As they all congratulated Y/N and Hueningkai on their successful performance, there was laughter and shared joy, a testament to the bonds that held them together, through highs and lows.

As the night wore on, and the adrenaline from the performance began to fade, Y/N found herself reflecting on the whirlwind of emotions. The kiss with Beomgyu had sparked something undeniable between them, a connection that both had sensed but never fully explored until now. As the celebrations continued around them, Y/N's thoughts kept drifting back to that moment, the warmth of his lips on hers, the way her heart seemed to beat in sync with his.

Finally, stealing a moment away from the crowd, Y/N found Beomgyu leaning against a secluded backstage wall, a contemplative look on his face. She approached him, her steps hesitant but determined.

“Beomgyu,” she began, her voice slightly shaky from the cocktail of emotion swirling with in her. “About that kiss…”

Beomgyu's gaze met hers, intense and filled with an emotion she couldn't quite decipher. "Yes, about that..." he echoed, pushing off from the wall to stand a bit closer to her. "I hope it was okay. I mean, I've wanted to do that for a long time now. But I never found the right moment until tonight."

Y/N couldn't help but smile, a warmth spreading through her at his admission. "It was more than okay, Beomgyu. It felt... right," she confessed, her heart racing at the vulnerability they were sharing.

Beomgyu took a step closer, his hand reaching out to gently grasp hers. "I'm glad to hear that because I've had feelings for you for the longest time. And seeing you up there tonight, so radiant and full of life, I couldn't hold back anymore."

Y/N's eyes softened, her own hand squeezing his in return. "I've had my share of feelings too, Beomgyu. But everything was so complicated, and then there was Yeonjun..."

Beomgyu nodded, understanding her unspoken words. "I know. And I don't want to rush you into anything. I just... I want you to know that I'm here, for you, whatever pace you want to take things."

Their eyes locked, a silent agreement passing between them. "Thank you, Beomgyu. That means the world to me," Y/N said, her voice laced with a mixture of relief and newfound excitement. "Let's take things slow and see where this journey takes us."

Beomgyu's smile widened, his heart lighter than it had been in ages. "I'd like that very much, Y/N."

As they rejoined the ongoing celebrations, hand in hand, there was a new sense of possibility in the air. Both were acutely aware of the challenges that lay ahead, but in that moment, they were content in the knowledge that they would face them together, step by step.

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shu-glue · 1 year

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On New Year's Eve (And Day, and the Week Before, and the Week After)

includes Zhongli, Tighnari, Scaramouche/Wanderer, Thoma in which the aforementioned spend their birthdays—and in turn, new years—with their beloved, you.

contains: tooth rotting fluff like no joke i need a dentist, established relationships in tighnari's and thoma's parts, growing relationships in zhongli's and wanderer's, gender neutral and they/them pronouns, spoilers for the Sumeru Archon Quest in wanderer's, spoilers for thoma's character story, lots of physical affection and just touchy-lovey stuff (sfw!), maybe ooc characters omg im so sorry

a/n: i don't think wanderer's ended up fluffy at ALL AHAHAHAH. this is long overdue and it's just in time for thoma's birthday uhu. i had a clear idea for each of their parts but i think i deviated so much, i hope you all still enjoy this EHDJEJS HAPPY NEW YEAR, LETS SEIZE 2023 BY THE NECK /j /hj(?)

✐ He's so old, you know.

✐ And it's not even to poke fun or make jokes; Zhongli really does feel old.

✐ After more than 6000 years of living, those 6000 years all seem to blend for him. Every 'new' year that passes isn't a new year, per se, but a repetition of everything thus far. Spring still comes after the winter, the sun still rises for the farmers and the roosters, the mountains of Liyue still stand tall.

✐ And after the first 1000, the new year became… old for the Geo Archon. He'll stare fondly at his people as they dance and sing in celebration of the upcoming year, he'll partake in the festivities that are sure to take place once the final hour of this year starts to count down. However, if you ask him—a being who's lived for millennia and for more millennia to come—the new year won't bring him as much joy and excitement as mortals feel because he's seen many new years come and go for as long as he's been alive.

✐ The years don't change for him, as everything's always in a state of uniformity for him. He won't even realize that their world has finished another trip around the sun until Director Hu barges into his office in excitement. She's been rambunctious all day, seeing as it's the last day of the year and even, coincidentally, her beloved consultant's birthday.

✐ He had been stubborn, refusing to accept a day off even with these two events transpiring today (he has stopped looking forward to them for years now).

✐ Unfortunately for him, Hu Tao was equally stubborn and equally eager to see this old man (now it's to poke fun and make jokes) enjoy himself for once, especially since it's the dawn of New Year's Eve. And she has the perfect weapon, the ultimate trump card up her sleeve.

"Oh, Mr. Zhongli~!"

It's not uncommon for Hu Tao to come barging into Zhongli's office at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor unannounced, another phenomenon that will likely not change in the upcoming year. A lively little thing despite the nature of their work, that sometimes has Zhongli quite perplexed despite his vast experience with people of all kinds.

He fixes some documents on his desk and looks up just as the current overseer of the funeral parlor enters his office, a pep in her step and a cheeky grin on her lips. Maybe Zhongli should ignore the cheekiness in her grin. Maybe.

"Director Hu. What brings you here at this time?"

"I was wondering why the lights are still on in here, despite it being the New Year and all. I should've guessed it was you, Mr. Zhongli." Hu Tao giggles, clasping her hands behind her back. "Aren't you going to come down to the harbor? Everyone's really going all out in the festivities."

"I'll be there shortly, Miss Hu Tao. I just need to sort out these documents." Zhongli straightens out the pieces of paper, tapping them on his desk.

"Which is going to take hours! You'll be spending the New Year cooped up in this office!" Hu Tao laments, frowning deeply. "Well, good thing I called them then."

Zhongli pauses midway of sorting documents into his desk drawer. "Called who?"

As he says that, a new voice rings out from behind the doorway to his office, one that Zhongli immediately recognizes and knows who it belongs to even before you pop your head out from behind the door. "Hello, Hu Tao. Hello, Zhongli. Happy new year."

✐ As it stands, you may be the only mortal in Teyvat who could shake the ex-Archon's heart like this. A simple server who Zhongli had met while he was ordering food from Third Round Knockout, the new recruit Degui was grateful for when it got busier and busier at the tavern.

✐ A conversation bloomed where Zhongli told you some bits of history regarding Liyue Harbor and it was a rather pleasant surprise when you squeeze in your own knowledge of the place, admitting that you spend a bit of your time at Wanwen Bookhouse on your days off.

✐ It came to the point that Zhongli became even more of a regular at the tavern, if that were possible; and it wasn't because his wallet was suffering this time. The staff there have come to grow used to his growing presence at their establishment and they won't even interrupt your talks when it's a slow day at work. (It's rather adorable, seeing the two of you at a table sitting far into a corner, Zhongli looking up at you with soft eyes as you listen to him ramble about the origin of Slow-cooked Bamboo Shoot Soup with rapt attention).

✐ Hu Tao—bless her soul, really—also caught wind of her consultant's growing affection for you and has been hellbent on devising schemes to get him to admit said affections for you. (Never really works because he always saw through her schemes and as stated before, he's stubborn.)

✐ Alas, he's caught between a rock (heh) and a hard place because she sends the two of you out to enjoy the New Year's Festival by the harbor, reassuring Zhongli that she'll sort out the documents herself for the time being.

✐ Zhongli wouldn't be as chatty as he normally is; he'll still indulge in all the stories you tell him, tell you about the origin of some of Liyue's customs regarding the New Year but you notice his lack of engagement all the same.

"Am I boring you?" You ask, blunt and straight to the point with furrowed eyebrows and a frown playing on your lips, stopping him from walking as you both stand still in the middle of the street.

The ex-Archon's eyes widen at your inquiry, his body stiffening. In truth, he does realize that he's more indifferent today than normal. But he didn't realize that you'd be bothered when he should've picked up on it in the first place.

"Oh no, my dear, you never bore me. It's just," he pauses, looking for the right words to say, "I apologize. I'm not exactly… that enthused by New Year's Eve."

"Oh? May I ask why?"

"Well," he chuckles, awkward if you strain your ear enough, "after so many years, I… believe the notion of a brand new year lost its charm to me."

For all the times Zhongli has enraptured attention from others with his tales of history, he really seldom talks about himself. Granted, this is as much as he is willing to divulge to you. He can't tell you of his time as an Archon, or his time in the war, or what he lost, what he gained. (He'll scare you off; he doesn't want you to see him as bizarre.)

But he wants to. He wants to feed your curious eyes and open his heart to you.

But not now.

"Is that so?" You hum, averting your gaze to the passersby in front of you. "Even when it's also your birthday?"

"How did you know it was my birthday?"

Your cheeks flush red, and you hurry to cover them with your hands. "I… asked Miss Hu Tao sometime ago. I was surprised to hear that it's right at New Year's Eve. And I… wished to spend time with you today, even if it was just for an hour."

Zhongli falls silent at your words, a gloved hand raised slightly in front of him clasped around nothing at all. For the first time in millennia, he doesn't know what to say, what to do with these hands. He doesn't know what to do with himself.

"But I understand if you had other plans and if I was impeding on said plans, I apologize for taking up your ti—!"

"Earlier, Director Hu sent me to Qingce Village." He clasps his hands back behind him, finally regaining his composure as he interrupts you, much to your confusion. "I… the sight was such a joyous thing to behold, to hear them chatter and mingle as they prepared for New Year, and the only thing that I regretted was that I had reveled in the sights alone."

The gaze he sets upon you was heavy with all the feelings he'd been trying to hold back; he slowly raises his hand and takes yours within his grasp, rubbing his thumb over your knuckles. "I had no other plans today, and I'm grateful you came to visit me, and that you're willing to spend time with me. If you would ever be so kind, would you like to visit Qingce Village tomorrow, together?"

✐ The Lord of Geo Rex Lapis has seen many new years come and go. He's seen winter melt into spring multiple times, seen multiple farmers go from generation to generation, stood on top of Liyue's never-changing mountains and watched everything continue in the same cycle like always.

✐ But he forgets; he is no longer the Lord of Geo Rex Lapis, or Morax, but the mortal man Zhongli. The consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the never-ending fountain of knowledge of Liyue's history. Birthdays and New Year's Eve were trivial matters to Morax, but that didn't mean they had to be trivial to Zhongli.

✐ And if you were to ask him now, as fireworks start to fly up into the sky and bathe it in light, he wouldn't mind entering the new calendar and the new age with you by his side.

⚘ The forest never changes, even when the end of the year is fast approaching.

⚘ Tighnari should know because he's been on forest patrol duty for the past few years even on New Year's Eve. Especially on New Year's Eve. (It's to make sure no lummox accidentally sets the forest on fire with a wayward firework. It has happened once. Or twice.)

⚘ He's the only one willing to do so as well. Not that he hates the fact the people of Gandharva Ville love celebrating New Years, he just doesn't participate in the festivities. No matter how silent they try to make the fireworks, his ears are still sensitive enough for the few sounds to hurt like a forest boar charging right at him; thus, he always sits out on the celebrations to go on patrol instead.

⚘ This year, however, Collei and the rest of the Forest Rangers want to see their local botanical genius take a break from botanical genius-ing and forest watching.

⚘ So not only do they force him to get a day off on New Year's Eve, they also force him to get a day off on his birthday; which to him, doesn't sound very efficient.

"I mean, just look at this logically—"

"Mhm."

"—if I take a day off twice in a week, that would be a waste of two days not tending to my work. I don't even NEED two days off from work unless I have a life-threatening situation that needs two days off from work!"

Your fingers stop their ministrations on his hair and ears, causing said ears to flop slightly as Tighnari glances up at you in confusion. "Maybe, look at it this way, 'Nari," your voice is soft like a flower bed, and sweet like nectar, "Collei and the others just want you to relax from time to time, you know? I have to agree with them when they say you bury yourself in your work too much."

⚘ Meeting you was purely a coincidence. You were an aspiring zoologist, another scholar from the Akademiya with incredibly sharp wit and a brilliant mind. You came down to Gandharva Ville to study the wildlife and he was on patrol when the two of you encountered each other. Now, it would have been a beautiful and adorable first meeting story, truly something you'd expect to read about in a light novel from the Yae Publishing House. However, at that time, an Avidya Leopard was chasing you down and Tighnari could only guess that you prodded at the wrong hornet's nest. Upon successfully diverting the leopard with an olfactory solution that irritated its nose (and unfortunately, irritated his as well), he turned to you—red nosed and teary eyed—and called you a lummox between sneezes.

⚘ Maybe an unflattering first impression but hey, it bloomed into a lasting friendship and now relationship all the same. So maybe calling you a lummox upon first meeting was a good thing (it wasn't, you still pout at him when he calls you a lummox).

⚘ Much like the other forest rangers, you always urge Tighnari to relax and take a break sometimes. You know being the head of the Forest Rangers demanded a lot from a person and you know that paired with Tighnari's love for knowledge pertaining to everything natural, he'd be too stubborn to even think of taking a break. You love him but you'd rather have him call you all the synonyms of a buffoon rather than fish out his unconscious body from under a root after he sniffed some new species of flower but its pollen knocks people out. (If you ask Tighnari, he'll just say that was a hypothetical, detailed example).

⚘ In all honesty, you were the reason Collei actually managed to convince Tighnari to take that day off.

"I don't 'bury myself in my work too much'—" You look at Tighnari with an unamused expression. "Maybe I do get immersed in my work a little too much sometimes."

"You do." You bite the inside of your cheek, averting your eyes to stare at the grass and flowers beside the two of you—wild cosmos, and chicory, and daisies—all fluttering in the wind. "Would it kill you to, I don't know, actually take a break sometimes without complaining about taking a break?"

"You underestimate me." He's being sassy with you, eyes closed and eyebrows raised in a manner you know so well in all the months that you've been dating him.

"I'm not, I know you love your work, it's just that—" You sigh heavily, feeling Tighnari play with the tassle of your Vision that hangs off your chest, lips in a frown as he waits for you to finish your sentence. "I miss you sometimes."

His ears flatten against his head and he sits up slightly from your lap, eyes wide and frown deep when he takes in your crestfallen face. "Hey, hey hey hey," he gently brings you closer to him by your neck, nuzzling his nose against your hair, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry—you're right, you're all right," his gloved hand cups your cheek, "I bury myself in my work and research so much that I forget to focus on us."

"You do." Your tone is just as pouty as your lips as you glare at him through your lashes. It actually makes him laugh as he nuzzles his nose against your other cheek instead, kissing the corner of your lips multiple times. "Wh—'Nari!"

"Stop being so adorable, you lummox." He finally presses a kiss to your lips, soft and chaste. The type of kiss that he knows melts your heart and makes your knees buckle despite the lack of so called "raw passion". You both like it that way. "Come to Sumeru City with me."

"What?"

"Come to Sumeru City with me. Amurta invited me to speak at some of their seminars."

"But," you tuck a piece of hair behind your ear, looking at Tighnari with an unsure expression, "my research—" "Would it kill you to, I don't know, actually take a break sometimes?" He mimicked your words from earlier, nosing at your collarbone as you roll your eyes and sigh. "I don't want to leave you by yourself when New Year comes." (He doesn't want to be alone on New Year's either.)

"You hate celebrating New Year's."

"I hate the fireworks, love," his tail wags behind him, "but I love you more than I hate the fireworks."

⚘ The forest never changes, even when the end of the year is fast approaching, even when he grows one year older.

⚘ But, Tighnari wouldn't mind the jarring booms of fireworks, or the cheers of the people of Gandharva Ville as the clock strikes midnight. As long as you continue to stay by his side despite all his flaws, he'll welcome the new year with open arms.

⚘ (You both hear the sound of a firework randomly going off in the distance, and Tighnari mutters, "Lummox." under his breath before he kisses your forehead and runs towards the culprit, an irritated remark waiting on his lips.)

❅ In all honesty, he didn't expect to live to see the new year, let alone his 'birthday'.

❅ Then again, he didn't also expect to be aided by the Traveler and his floating, somewhat tolerable little companion, and the Dendro Archon he tried to dethrone himself nor to receive his very own Anemo Vision either so really, who was he to have normal expectations?

❅ To say that a normal life living in Sumeru was going to be difficult was, undoubtedly, an understatement. The Traveler already left for Fontaine with their companions, so it only left Nahida, now the sole Archon of Sumeru, as the only one he recognizes as his "friend" in this nation.

❅ He would have been content actually, if everyone else minded their own business and left him alone to his own devices (the puppet doesn't take kindly to being bothered with trivial matters) but unfortunately, his dear only friend is trying to get him to make more friends (who needs more friends? Two allies and talking emergency rations are quite enough).

❅ Despite his whining, Nahida signs him up for some lessons at the Akademiya, hoping it'd break him out of his shell and get him to mingle more with the other scholars and students.

❅ There is the one concerning fact that it's not that he's unwilling to break out of his shell, it's that he breaks out of his shell and stabs everyone close by with the shell pieces (figuratively) before retreating back. His prickly attitude does not help when it comes to intermingling with the student body at the Akademiya, who may, hypothetically, retreat to the far corners of the buildings just to avoid his ire. Nahida has plenty to work on with him.

❅ However, she firmly believes that he can finally be able to make friends and build relationships he can rely on again, as long as she nudges him in the correct direction. New year, new Wanderer, right? Right?

"Stupid," his fingers pull at the grass blades beneath him, glaring forward at nothing at all, "this friend-making plan would have never worked."

He has snuck out of the Akademiya once again, retreating into the forest that surrounded the vast establishment to avoid Lesser Lord Kusanali's searching gaze.

She had accompanied him to the Akademiya today to make sure he did do what she told him to; borrow some books from the library, attend some lectures about any topic he desires, strike up an academic conversation with some scholars that may be wandering hallways. Anything that would include socializing of any kind. But while she had her head turned to speak with Alhaitham, he managed to slip away and escape to the woods.

He does feel bad for bailing on her; Nahida only had his best interest in mind, despite all the things he did to her in the past (no amount of redeeming acts would make up for the mistakes he committed against her). However, surely, with all her knowledge and wisdom, she would have at least guessed that this plan of hers wouldn't work.

This entire thing is a waste of time. No one is as patient as Nahida, who can put up with his snarky quips long enough to see the soft side to him, the side that only a few have witnessed (the time he lost his memories doesn't count, not ever).

He was about to lean back, about to enjoy the sun streaming through the canopy that hangs above him, when someone—the audacity—throws a rock at his head. The force of the rock hitting him sends him lurching forward with a loud grunt. He whirls around so fast his hat almost falls off the top of his head, only to meet your slightly flabbergasted gaze.

"Huh? I thought you were some fungus for a second."

❅ Granted, you were aware that you were going to encounter something when you ventured out to the woods to gather ingredients for your cooking activity. The forest that surrounded the city is not that safe, seeing as you can randomly encounter any carnivorous or fungal enemy at every shrub.

❅ But you never expected to find the Archon's little friend sitting and brooding by himself behind a bush, let alone mistaking him for aforementioned fungal enemy (why your first instinct was to throw a rock at it, you don't know). (you also don't know why you heard a clink! sound when the rock hit him but you guess that you hit his abnormally large hat)

❅ You had heard of Lord Kusanali's companion, a quaint fellow with Inazuman roots but a Sumerian Anemo Vision hanging from the sash on his shoulder, who was also friends with the brave Traveler that came through your beloved nation.

❅ A strange fellow, with a tongue as sharp as he is strange.

❅ Yes, he yells at you for throwing a rock at him, spouting things about 'audacity' and 'not knowing who he is', which you admittedly chose to stop listening to. You really don't have time for any thorny mushrooms.

"Aren't you Lord Kusanali's companion? Where is she?" You ask indifferently, turning your head around as if looking for the tiny Dendro Archon (who is, well, busy looking for the Wanderer in Haravatat sorry Nahida).

"I fail to see how it concerns you."

"My my, so prickly for a mere 'shroom." Instead of leaving, you actually walked closer and squatted down next to him, regarding him with curious eyes. You're an academic, after all; you love to investigate the quiant and strange. "It's dangerous to be in the forest alone. You could be torn to shreds by a leopard for all you know."

He scoffs, propping his chin on the palm of his hand. "Says you. You're wandering the forest alone, just like I am."

"I fail to see how that makes sense, given that we're together in each other's presence."

❅ You're weird, is what he finally concludes. An unknown scholar, who the Wanderer has never seen before; he isn't even sure which of the Six Darshans you attend. Yet, despite his bratty and off-putting attitude, you still sat beside him. And you looked at him with a gaze he never experienced before. He has witnessed ire, he has witnessed pity; but he never witnessed a gaze like yours.

"You irk me."

"Thank you." He blinked when you blinked. "You intrigue me."

A confused 'thank you???' was on the tip of his tongue, ready to tumble out of his lips. You irk him. You truly do. Slapping his palms on his knees, he stands up. Retreating, to him, is a shameful act and must be avoided at all costs but in this case, he's willing to swallow his pride just so he can get away from you and that infuriating gaze. "Forget it, why am I even talking to you—"

"You can join us instead of brooding somewhere crawling with predators." There it is again. That look. He hates it.

"And what makes you think I'd go along with you and whatever crazy group you're with?"

You actually, legitimately think, he sees, as you look up in thought. As if you're actually thinking of—no, calculating the pros and cons of him actually joining you, totally ignoring the fact he insulted you. You are incredibly, absolutely…

"Well, I can only presume that you snuck away from Lord Kusanali for some reason. And you are admittedly the strangest person I've met." He could say the same about you. "I would like to get to know you better so I can see what makes you so weird. In addition, you'd be able to hide away from Lord Kusanali for a few more hours."

…you're so incredibly stupid and strange. But most of all, you've piqued his interest. He hates that look in your eyes, the look of someone scrutinizing a test variable, the look of someone disassembling a chaos device just to look at its contents despite the chance of explosion. But it's not like Il Dottore's, no.

He wants to challenge whatever hypothesis you've come up with about him.

"Fine." He finally scoffs, adjusting his hat before he looks at you expectantly. "Lead the way, scholar."

❅ You're… still clueless as to how you managed to convince someone like this Wanderer to come with you to your cooking interest club. You weren't expecting it; you wholely believed that he would reject your offer with the same snarky attitude.

❅ Your club members didn't expect this either, if the way almost all of them dropped their cooking utensils once you entered the kitchenette with Wanderer in tow was any indication. (They accept him real quick when he whips up a batch of perfectly baked baklava for the first time and helps some of your friends prepare some candied Ajinelakh Nuts. He even cooks his own take on an Inazuman dish that has your friends raving for more.) (He doesn't eat a bite of his own cooking, saying you all wolf it down well by yourselves, mocking, of course. You hypothesize, however, that he is just not fond of making sweets, judging by the grimace he wears everytime you offer him some. Why is he so good at making sweets then—)

❅ He still had a long way to go to make up for all that he did in the past. No amount of wishful thinking or positive attitude would change that. But, if he can accept his new identity as Wanderer (he looks at you, flour on your cheek, standing beside the stone oven waiting for the baklava to bake as you read a document you managed to snatch from the library), maybe he can accept this new year and this new life too.

The Dendro Archon smiles as she merely stands by the doorway, not wishing to interrupt such a warm scene. "Happy birthday, Wanderer."

♡ Sometimes, Thoma found himself missing Mondstadt.

♡ Inazuma is his home; he has found his purpose in this nation, he has found close friends who he'd do everything for and who'd do everything for him. He has a steady job as the housekeeper for the Kamisato Clan, and the people of Inazuma always turn to him when they are in a time of need. He's fulfilled in Inazuma.

♡ However, everytime he stands on the docks of Ritou, looking out into the horizon—when the sun sets, is high above the sky, and rises—he can't help but feel like the salty sea breeze is always pulling and pulling and pulling him. As if tugging him back towards the City of Freedom, the other half of his roots, his origin.

♡ He hasn't seen his mother in years. He also realizes he barely talks to his father anymore because of work, despite being in the same nation.

♡ He's fulfilled in Inazuma, with many friends, but sometimes he felt lonely.

♡ He was busy tidying up the tea room at the Yashiro Commission, making sure that everything was spic and span for when Sir Ayato and Miss Ayaka come back from New Year's preparations in the town proper. It's always rather busy during this time of year, and the two siblings always struggle with maintaining public order when the new year starts approaching.

♡ It makes sense that he must also do his utmost best to help them any way he can—

"Take a break this time."

What.

"But isn't this the peak of like, public disruptions, I don't think it's right for me to suddenly take a break—" Ayato stops his friend from speaking as he raises his hand, a smile on his face.

"You've been loyal to us for a long time, Thoma. You do things for all of us without asking for anything in return. This time, Ayaka and I both decided that we want you to enjoy New Year's without worrying about your duties as our housekeeper." Ayato firmly pats Thoma's shoulder in reassurance. "I'm not asking you as the Yashiro Commissioner, but I'm asking you as a friend. Go, enjoy yourself for once."

"But I—" Thoma doesn't get to finish what he's about to say, as Ayato walks away without another word, leaving the housekeeper alone in the tea room. "…how am I gonna take a break?"

♡ It's obvious that Thoma isn't used to taking breaks.

♡ He's accustomed to the hustle and bustle of his daily life, helping people with their errands, solving some villagers' problems, running errands for the Kamisato Clan, running his own errands. Now he doesn't know what to do with himself.

"Thoma, love," you place your hand on top of his bouncing knee, "you're antsy again."

His leg immediately stops bouncing when he feels your warm touch and Thoma breathes a drawn out sigh, gently clasping his fingers around your hand. "I know, I know, I'm sorry." He brings your hand up to kiss your knuckles, as if telling you that he's fine through every kiss he presses to your skin.

Thoma didn't mean to let his own negative thoughts impede on this date. Just as it's rare for him to visit his father, it's rare for the two of you to be able to meet up like this, having a warm meal at Kiminami Restaurant.

♡ You were a travelling merchant, which means your job demanded that you move around from place to place. You met when you were at Ritou, busy being denied access to travel within the nation despite your past business. Thoma, who was aiding some merchants, just so happened to pass by and managed to calm the situation down, and you got your travel permit.

♡ You guys became closer than ever since that day, until he finally asked you to go out with him. It was hard at first, with both your schedules, but you made it work; love isn't just the happy, fluttering feeling after all, but the effort you put for each other.

"Don't tell me you're bored because you're basically forbidden from lifting a finger, Thoma." You tease, bumping shoulders with him as you giggle when he scrunches his nose.

"Maybe I am."

"That's not the purpose of a break, you know."

"But—" Thoma plops his forehead on your shoulder. "I like helping around Narukami Island."

You frown, patting his blonde hair. You know he was brought up to be a loyal, and kind, and helpful young man (it's why you fell in love with him in the first place). He told you stories about how his father taught him about loyalty, back when you first started going out, and you even met his father one time.

You wished you could take his mind off of work, though, just so he can relax. He should make use of this period of rest, like go on a hike, or do yoga, or trave—

Bingo.

"Do you want to go to Mondstadt with me?" You ask him, momentarily lowering the chopsticks you have in your other hand. Upon hearing the City of Freedom, Thoma instantly perks his head up, looking at you with those green eyes you love oh so dearly.

"Mondstadt?"

"I was going to Liyue for a bit anyway, and I feared that I was going to have to leave you alone this New Year." You say, scratching your cheek. "If you'd like, we can go to Liyue together for the Lantern Rite, and… we can go to Mondstadt after that for your birthday."

You were nervous, asking him something like this. You don't know why but it felt like it was something big, like it was bigger than just the two of you. Thoma stared at you with wide eyes, the sun setting behind him just right, that the remaining rays of the sunlight illuminated your face in a serene glow.

He doesn't register exactly when he made up his mind, or when his mouth started moving, but eventually…

"Yes."

♡ Thoma was nervous when you were about to board the ship that would take you to your first destination, Liyue. But with your gentle reassurance and the feeling of your hand in his, he was able to quell the anxiety in his stomach until you reached the harbor.

♡ As you promised him, you and he enjoyed the Lantern Rite together, with you essentially giving him a tour of Liyue as you both ate the nation's cuisine and experienced their traditions.

♡ A few days after New Year, just before his birthday, you both caught a travelling caravan heading towards Mondstadt.

♡ It finally caught up to him that, yes, he was finally going to come back home after so many years. He'd be able to see his mother again. He'd be able to see the windmills, the people, the lake. He'd be with the other half of him again.

♡ It would be daunting to see just how much the city changed. How everything became different since the last time he was here. But, if you're here with him, on this new journey in this new age, he'll be fine.

♡ And at the back of that tiny caravan, with your hand in his like it's always been this entire trip, the City of Freedom now coming into view as you near…

♡ … Thoma cried in front of you for the first time.

#genshin impact x reader #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin imagines #genshin impact zhongli #zhongli x reader #genshin impact tighnari #tighnari x reader #genshin impact scaramouche #genshin impact wanderer #scaramouche x reader #wanderer x reader #genshin impact thoma #thoma x reader #these guys are probably so ooc

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jhuzen · 1 year

Text

a game of chase [m.reader]

i told myself i’d never get caught dead doing a solo childe fic bc my friends and i hate him. well. i’m not dead yet. ahdijsidmv. jk i’m just taking a break from a fic i’m writing so have this one-shot :D. idk why but when i thought of this, childe fits for some reason. and when i brought this up with my friend, they only said “yeah, the attention whore checks out”.

𖦹 i have no idea what genre this is, childe pining for you like mad, my indulgent hc of ekaterina being so done with her boss, a little bit of some characters x you

For every unfortunate soul out there that Childe would have the pleasure of coming across, he made a personal ranking of just how good that first meet was. Of course, it didn’t happen until halfway through he realized how much fun it was to catch some opponents off guard. And on times that he has to go and personally fight to collect certain debts for the bank, he always liked the absolute fear he instilled in every person.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t an ambush he created to be the one sitting at the top rank. Rather, it was his meeting with the traveler. It’s not everyday you see someone with a little flying child getting chased by the Millelith the moment they’ve stepped foot in Liyue. It was hilarious, really. And their meet was nothing short of pure amusement.

And yet, even rankings change.

Especially with the way you barged into his not-so-quaint little life.

A quiet stroll through the harbor — that’s all Chile ever needed and he knew he’d be set to sit on his chair for hours on end, doing boring old paperwork and reports to submit to The Jester. It was nothing to exciting, hence his innate need to get out and go for some fresh air. Take it as a preparation for this grueling boredom that he’s about to face. Though his subordinate preferred he start work now, he still was the one who has the last say.

And so here he was.

Children that reminded him of his little siblings loitered around, playing with huge smiles on their faces. It warmed his heart as he thought about his cold motherland where his family was. He ought to head back as soon as he finishes his reports for now. Just a few days with his family will do the trick.

Vendors by their stalls beckoned to him. He is the facilitator of the Northland Bank in Liyue’s Branch. It’s not too odd to be pulled aside constantly to be offered certain goods. They were only doing business, and as someone who has a sizable mora to spare, it wasn’t surprising to be solicited by them.

With a quick wave to the vendors, he rounded the corner. It was the relatively quiet part of the harbor — not often populated by any vendors as it wasn’t quite in the middle of the bustling crowd where anyone could see. It was quiet. And for someone like him who craved the noise of every clanging blades in a spar, the pained grunts of opponents, and the sound of a blunt impact from every landed punch, Childe enjoyed this part.

A subtle pout came onto his features as he realized that it wouldn’t be long before he has to go back and face the music of the cumbersome paperworks.

Well, that would have happened until his keen ears heard hurried footsteps hitting the pavement. He looked over his shoulder only to see someone hellbent on running. His mind quickly deduced the way you ran — calculative in steps and yet still on a hurry.

Is this guy running away from someone?

Hiding away from them too, in fact, as you booked it to his direction, and before Childe could even react, you had a hand on his wrist that not even he can tear away from. Your head snapped towards an alleyway and shoved him in it, with you following after as you caged him in this tight squeeze of a gap.

Childe blinked. And while he had many questions, your tensed silence was enough for him to clamp his mouth shut, with only your short ragged breaths filling the quiet space.

It didn’t take long though before a portion of his hypothesis was quickly answered as he heard dozens of heavy footsteps and clamoring armor heading to the direction where you and him were in. While you were a tad bit taller, he managed to see over your shoulder a couple of Millelith soldiers all in hot pursuit of you, no doubt. His dull eyes looked up at you, and even with the heavy shadow, he could faintly make out your relieved face when the soldiers came to pass.

You both waited for yet another excruciating minute until the soldier’s clanking armors finally drowned out in distance. A sigh of relief escaped your lips as you finally shimmied your way out of that tight gap, hand already pulling the little harbinger by the wrist once more.

“Sorry about that,” you finally spoke and Childe had to nod. For once, he was less chattier as he slowly rode out the mild thrill in his system. “I had to leave no witnesses.”

He quickly regained his footing in the conversation and chuckled, “Yeah? And I don’t suppose I’m your only witness?” He asked, adjusting his clothing from all the ruckus of being shoved in a dark corner.

“I ran out of luck hiding. So, yeah. You’re the only witness. And besides, if I move anymore while wearing this, I’m bound to attract more than what I intend — which is none,” You shifted around in your clothing, which now Childe took note of. You were dressed in the finest robes, patterned with the most graceful looking snakes and dragons that were no doubt handwoven by skilled artisans in Liyue.

Childe also happened to look up at your visage, cleaned up nice and well, hair done neatly aside from the little stray hairs that went out of place from what he assumed was your little chase with the Millelith. His brain quickly noticed the incongruence. You looked like an important figure and yet… you were being chased around by the people meant to protect figures that are deemed important.

He cocked an eyebrow, sizing you up and down, and you almost laughed at how hard he concentrated. You kept quiet as you waited for his little guess.

“A politician?” He tried and you quickly shot it down. Though, if Childe was being honest, with that Adeptus working in the Qixing as well as that scary fellow hydro vision and bow user lady, there was no room for corruption in the position of power. And besides, there would have been news around, even through rumors, knowing how well informed Liyue citizens could be.

Childe took a step back before he realized just what in Teyvat you were wearing. Those robes were no ordinary ones — they were a traditional Liyue garment used in ceremonies.

Your grin was evident as he locked in his final answer with a flabbergasted look;

“A runaway groom.”

“Bingo.”

“Well, I’ve heard of brides being whisked away before. But I’ve never heard of a runaway groom.” Childe laughed a little, but even in his dull eyes, a flash of pity and curiosity shone through which did not escape you. “What happened to you, man?”

You waved him off with a charming grin, “Nothing you should concern yourself over, my good friend. I just happened to be the unfortunate son who had to be pawned off to a lovely lady to expand our clan’s horizons.”

“That’s insane.”

“It is. Such is the life of a nobleman. Well, no, not always — just some special nutcases who can’t live without power.”

That was how Childe met you. Through a chase. A chase that decided the path of a good portion of your life.

How ironic was it that now he was trying to determine a certain part of his life through a chase.

Perhaps the fact that you were being chased when he met you was an omen of some sort of how his tumultuous love would end up. Childe wasn’t always superstitious, he only believes in the palpable results, the successes in his every mission, and the triumph that gives him high in every victorious ending in fights. But now, the thought of it was slowly questioning his radically logical mind.

Because now, he was chasing after you. Despite the fact that you’ve settled over your marital affairs, you risked your connections being severed from your family when you refused to marry the woman that waited for you by the ceremonial altar. And when you did, you proved everyone wrong by living a far more comfortable life at the edge of the harbor, managing a little teahouse that Childe had funded in capital for you.

In hindsight, the harbinger’s claims of generating more profit should have been an obvious forefront of how his emotions truly manifested. It was a hulking passionate love that towered over everyone but somehow it could never reach the peak where you sat in peace, making tea and indulging the bliss of your freedom.

Though Childe, despite the rationality that he claims he possesses, can be an unreliable narrator. He lies to protect his family, so it’s not a surprise to say that although true, his imaginative descriptions of his love for you is anything but tragic and complicated.

Simply put — he loves you but you were so, so dense.

Always just a foot away no matter how much he ran to catch up to you. No matter how many times he dropped by your shop that he proudly invested in, bringing you lavish gifts to woo you, all you had to do was smile gratefully, make him tea and it felt like all his efforts in winning your affections reversed into your favor — wooing him instead.

“Boss, have you tried… confronting the bull head on?” Ekaterina sipped on her tea as she looked at her boss with mild disdain, which is justifiable, considering that Andrei would always pass him off to her in his heartbroken rants about you.

A resounding groan left Childe’s lips as he slumped over the table with a lack of grace. He looked up at the bank’s receptionist and glared at her, “Mind your words. He is not a bull.” He said in defense of you, completely missing his subordinate’s point. “He’s more like a… a stallion that I would ri—”

“I will turn in my resignation if you continue that sentence, boss.” Ekaterina says with much defiance. The determination to just resign and perhaps get hired by you instead sounds lovely. Granted, she’d still see Childe and his insufferable pining soul, but she would be busy enough tending to other people to notice him… not to be the catch basin of this man-child’s flooding love troubles.

His blue eyes flitted from corner to corner, eyes narrowing at any unsuspecting man or woman that dared to make a move on you. He was always on the guard, but if anything, if he took Ekaterina’s little piece of advice, he would’ve had no worries. You would reject people with that kind smile of yours and politely tell them off with a claim that you finally have someone else.

Ugh. And you would look so cute with his family too! Teucer made another unprecedented excursion two months ago and was relatively surprised that his big brother made an investment on a teahouse. The way you tended to his little brother like a good big brother or even a father made him feel weak in the knees. Though it wasn’t as fun when Teucer had to be convinced to head back to their motherland, it endeared Childe to see a side of you that rarely comes out unless in the company of the little ones.

The way you acted now was a stark contrast compared to when you and him met. You were mischievous and playful on the first few months in his company, but it was the surface that he was slowly chipping away at — only appreciating your much deeper layers when he saw you fight for your freedom against an undesired matrimony that was being pushed on you. You worked with persistence and diligence in your name and Childe could not get more hot and bothered.

You were so inexplicably interesting. It was no wonder he was just one of the many people who were hoping to have a shot with you — that quiet teahouse owner in the outskirts of the harbor. Hell, even he had to meet that fellow hydro vision and bow user lady twice as she convinced you to come down and work in her establishment.

Childe’s eyes narrowed at the thought of her luring you into her web. Though he knows she means it as a literal job offer at the teahouse and nothing more, he couldn’t shake off the way your eyes seemed to soften around her, growing relatively fond of her appearance.

The harbinger decides that the day Yelan starts to bring in gifts, is the day he urges a business relocation. Maybe somewhere in Wuwang Hill. Anywhere but here.

It also didn’t help that one of your regulars was the charming former archon. He either came alone or brought his tiny superior with him. And on the off chance that Childe comes to pass by, he could see the way you seemed so engaged with the old man, leaning closer as he told his life stories from a thousand years ago, meriting him a melodious laugh that Childe couldn’t hear from the outside.

And while he adored the traveler, he also didn’t like that they’ve been trying to nestle themselves into your cozy abode like a love tick. And it drove him over the edge when you, ever the generous man that you are, would treat them to a cup of tea, free of charge. Like, that was a lost revenue, you annoyingly attractive and scrumptious airhead! That could have been profit!

You are denser than the muscles Childe would subtly feel out in his tight hugs with you. It was annoying. You’re annoying. It’s annoying. He hates it.

He hates you.

“Oh dear, you don’t look too good, Ajax.”

His eyes snapped open as he felt your hands raking through his ginger hair. He almost sobbed at your gentle touch, just going through with ease. He looked ahead to see Ekaterina missing, and from his peripherals, he could see her pouring herself another fresh pot of tea. Ah. Now that he noticed, the teahouse is now quiet, completely void of customers. He supposed it’s already your closing time.

“Had a tough day at work.” He mumbled.

“No, he didn’t.” Ekaterina’s voice echoed from and Childe only huffed.

Laughter rumbled from somewhere deep in your chest and Childe had to restrain himself from just ambushing you with something that he deems as the deciding moment of your relationship. He’s normally impatient, often just wanting to go at it bare hands. Heck, if stated otherwise in a mission, he would directly make contact and fight off the opponent.

But this isn’t a fight. It’s love. It’s raw attraction towards you and for once, Childe who had the boyish charm that could make everyone drop to their knees was at loss.

“Go back to the bank, Ekaterina,” Childe grumbled as he finally sat up from his seat, looking at his subordinate with a pout. “Andrei would scold you.”

“Andrei pays me double to stay with you.”

“I wish Andrei would also pay me double for putting up with him,” you sighed and he almost choked on his own spit, hitting your torso with a glare. You may be dense to his advances, but you still displayed a teasing disposition that no one is safe from. Not even poor him.

He huffed, crossing his arms, “I can just as easily pull out as this teahouse’s investor, y’know? Watch your words, [Name].” His threat was light and empty, and you knew as well — much to his chagrin. “I mean it,” he added for extra measure.

You only gave him a light hum and nodded along, “Of course you do,” your words were in agreement, and yet it only served to invalidate his empty threat towards you. “So, would you like a refill?” You asked, cocking your head in Ekaterina’s direction, who still had a hand on the pot. You were sure she’s gone through about half of it already since the moment she got a hand on it.

Childe’s breath suddenly got caught in his throat as he watched the setting sun’s rays illuminate through your form from the window. You looked absolutely breathtaking and suddenly, the moment felt right. You were only a few inches away, but as his foot moved to take a step, he felt restricted, bound by the chains of uncertainty as he watched you take a step away, your distance growing by a foot. Again, you were a foot away. After he hesitated when he was so close to just… claim you right there.

He coughed before nodding, “Yeah. Sure,” his voice, painfully stiff and strained.

The harbinger was quick to blame it on the fact that Ekaterina didn’t leave you two alone for some space.

But he knows that she was hardly the reason, not when his heart thudded with regret as he watched you walk over to his subordinate and wrestle the pot away from her. Not when his heart continued to hammer against his chest as his emotions went into another overdrive of absolute adoration.

Not when he can finally feel the chains loosen against his heart when he finally, absolutely without a doubt realized you truly were the one.

#i regret making this #i broke my childe hate oath #jk JAJDKSMDC #childe will forever pine that’s the only saving grace in this fic #there was a first version of this where reader is a manwhore #but eh i want something cute #because childe aint cute #genshin impact x male reader #childe x male reader #tartaglia x male reader #jhuzen’s stupid one shots

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