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#genshin hurt/comfort
fallingdownhell · 5 months
Note
i love your recent posts but can i request hurt/comfort genshin impact xiao, wanderer, cyno where like they get into an argument about the reader being weak or something like that
although they didn't mean it, but after a few days after the argument, they see reader like training hard for them because of the fight.
<3
Mhh, always. You know I love me a good dose of angst! And I'm sorry, but I only included two of the requested characters, because otherwise this would haven gotten way too out of hand and too much to read. Hope you're okay with that.
Characters Included: Xiao; Wanderer
Content: gender neutral reader; angst; comfort; hurt/comfort; established relationship; arguments between them and reader; shouting and cursing at reader in wanderer's scenario; Kunikuzushi/Kuni is being used for Wanderer
Word count: 2,2k words
Enjoy the read!
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Xiao
You have to understand him. He's just looking out for you!
There is a clear, natural difference in strength between you and him!
He's an adeptus after all, and you're just a human! Sure, you possess a vision and you know perfectly well how to utilize it to your advantage in battle, but he's still your boyfriend! Let him be worried about you!
Honestly, he really just had your best interest and saftey in mind when he approached you one day, offering to train with you and possibly make you stronger, since he noticed your form to be a bit lacking when he watched you train.
The problem was, he told you exactly what he was thinking, no filter whatsoever. Which in turn caused you to get a bit defensive with him. That didn't sit right with Xiao, because in his eyes, he was only trying to help you.
This then resulted in a huge argument, where neither of you wanted to back down against the other.
"(Name), for the love of the Archons. Can't you see I'm only trying to help you here?"
"By berating me and telling me all the things I'm doing wrong? Without offering any advise at all? Yeah, great help.", you scoff as you turn your back to your boyfriend, trying to resume your exercise in peace. You were hoping that he would get the hint, to leave you alone. But he didn't.
"I'm really only looking out for you. You lack basic knowledge with the sword and you lack stamina as well. You're moving around too much, you make so many unnecassary movements. The hold you have on your weapon is too loose. Anyone could easily knock it out of your hand. Also-!"
"Okay! I got it!", you suddenly burst out as Xiao keeps on listing the things you're doing wrong in his eyes. It not only frustrated you, but it also made you feel so inferior.. to him and basically everyone else. You know that everyone starts out at some point. Everyone has to learn from the beginning. So why is he being so mean to you? Shouldn't he be more supporting of you as your boyfriend?
"I get it. You've made your point very clear."
You speak again, while Xiao just stares at you, mouth still hanging open. He didn't expect for you to raise your voice like this. You were usually so soft spoken.
You stared into each others eyes for a few more seconds, before you let out a sigh and placed your sword back into its sheat.
"I'm going home.", you announce as you go to grab your stuff. You collect everything and put it in your back, leaving without taking another look at him.
Suddenly, Xiao got the feeling that he made a huge mistake. Not only by "helping" you out with your training, but also as he let you go like this without having a talk with you, but something told him to let you be for the time being.
.....
Well... did he regret letting you just go like that. It has been almost a week since he last saw you, because you refused to call his name like you usually did on a daily basis.
And he was afraid of seeking you out himself, since he feared to only further sour your mood with an unannounced visit from his side. But he wanted to see you again so badly...
When the one week mark was reached without hearing anything from you, Xiao has had enough. He needed to make sure that you were okay. He was certain you would have called his name if you were in mortal danger, despite the argument at hand, but it's better to be safe than sorry. He needed to know you were still alive..
So, he teleported to your home, waiting for a few seconds in front of the door, gathering courage, before knocking on the door. He waited and waited, but nothing happened. He knocked again, but still nothing.
Xiao was about to leave again, scolding himself in his head, because of course you wouldn't open, you obviously didn't want to see him right now, when he heard noises coming from a bit further away.
Deciding to investigate, he followed the noises. And what he saw did shock him a bit..
He saw you, standing in a circle of training dummys, practicing different moves and tactics. He could tell that your hold on the blade has gotten better over the week you have been apart. In fact, everything he had critiqued about your skills seems to have improved...
Have you been training relentlessly this entire time??
This made him feel even more bad about this entire argument. He wanted to help you, not make you overexert yourself like this, just to prove something to him..
Deciding that it was finally time to talk, he approached you. You heard the footsteps coming your direction and turned towards them. Surprised to see Xiao there, you stopped in the middle of your session, facing him.
It was quiet for a few seconds as he arrived in front of you, and when you couldn't take it anymore, you decided to speak up again.
"What? Here to berate me even more?" It sounded way more sarcastic and hurtful than you had intended it to, and you saw Xiao flinch the slightest bit at your words, but you didn't back down from them.
"No..", Xiao answered weakly.
"I'm here to apologize." His words left you surprised, not expecting this at all.
"I didn't realize how much my words were hurting you. That was never my intention, (Name). I.. I'm just worried about you. There is a clear difference in skill, after all, but I shouldn't have been like this to you. I sincerely apologize for the way I treated you."
You have been with Xiao long enough to know two things. First, he was being completely honest with you. You could tell by the tone in his voice and the way he tried to look into your eyes, while also trying to avoid them at the same time, feeling embarrassed about being this vulnerable with someone.
Second, you knew just how hard it was for him to be honest and vulnerable with you. Saying this must have caused so much for him to do, yet he did it anyway.. for you.
For a second, you stood there and stared at him, before sighing and walking over to him, wrapping your arms around his body in a warm, comfortable hug. He did not hesitate for a second before doing the same, having missed this feeling dearly for the past week.
"I don't mind you helping me or giving me advise.. but maybe don't be so brash and insulting about it. Okay?"
He nodded, promising you to be more careful with his words from now on.
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Wanderer
You sighed with relief as the Ruin guard in front of you collapsed and shattered into its parts, the cut on your side hurting a bit when you breathed, but it wasn't bleeding too bad, so the wound must not be too bad, either.
You were usually not that easy to surprise, but for some reason, you overlooked that particular ancient machine, resulting in it getting a hit on you before it was taken down.
Though, you were not the one responsible for taking it down. The actual reason was flying in from behind it, your boyfriend, Kuni. And while you were smiling at him, wanting to thank him for his help, he had a scowl on your face as he landed in front of you.
"What the hell were you thinking, Idiot? You would be dead now if it weren't for me being here!", he shouted as soon as he landed, not letting you get a word in.
You were taken aback by his harsh words and tone, staring at him, which only made him even more agitated.
"The hell? You don't even have an excuse! How can you be so fucking careless? I know you're weak but I wouldn't have thought of you being this stupid as well!"
You heard each and every single one of his words, and they all stung right in your chest. You were aware of the difference in power between you two, but that didn't mean you were incompetent with your polearm. You've trained long and hard to get to the point where you are now, and you were proud of yourself for it.
When you looked into his eyes again, you could see a bit of shock behind them, like he was surprised himself that the words actually left his lips.
You waited a few seconds, to see if he would apologize to you or take them back, but nothing came. Kuni's pride hindered him from doing the right thing..
"I see. If that's what you think of me, I won't be in your way again."
The words sounded cold when they left your lips, and Kunikuzushi flinched ever so slightly when hearing them, but you didn't react to it. Instead, you turned and walked away from him without acknowledging his presence any longer.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? Where are you going?", he shouted after you, but no response. Then, he chased after you, but when he noticed that you were still ignoring him, he gave up on it, figuring that it would be best to leave you alone for the time being.
Surely, you would come crawling back to him soon enough... right?
....
....
Two weeks.
The incident has happened two weeks ago. And for those two weeks, he did not hear or see anything of you, whatsoever.
He was so sure that you wouldn't even survive a week without him before coming back and apologizing, but it seemed like he was wrong this time.
And he hated to admit this, even to himself, but.. he missed you. Missed your stupid, cheerful smile, your laugh and the way you always made his day better, just by spending time with him.
After about a week and a half, he began to think, that maybe, this time, he was actually the one in the wrong. That maybe, he took it too far with his words this time around.
Maybe.. he should be the one to apologize to you.
And yet, it took him a few more days to overcome his stupidly high pride and actually follow through with his thoughts.
Nahida, who knew all about the situation from Kuni himself, smiled and nodded proudly as the puppet went to leave the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
He first searched for you at your home, but you couldn't be found there. Then, he went on a stroll through the city, hoping to run into you along the way, but that too, proofed to be without success.
His last hope was the adventurers guild, and that someone hopefully has seen you there.
And luck was on his side this time, as some other members told him about how you have constantly been taking commission after commission for the past few days.
Feeling his worries for you rise again, he went to the locations given to him, hoping to find you there.
About an hour or so later, he spotted you at the location of the third commission you took, standing next to a defeated ruin drake while facing another one head on.
He had half a mind to rush over and take care of it for you, but something in him told him to let you handle it yourself. So he watched with bated breath as you easily took care of the machine, letting it fall to the ground while you remained completely unharmed.
That's when he really realized what his words might have caused for you. You are by no means a sheltered human, you're capable of defending yourself, and very well so.
As you were checking the defeated drakes for useful stuff, he came out of his 'hiding spot', walking directly to you. You noticed him approaching but chose to ignore him still. In fact, you've noticed his presence in the middle of the fight, but decided not to call him out and see what he would do.
When he arrived, he just stood next to you in silence for a while, watching you. But when you still wouldn't acknowledge him, he decided to speak up.
"(Name)... I... I'm sorry..", he mumbled quietly. He felt embarrassed, not used to acting like the bigger person, but he was in the wrong here, so he had to do this, no matter what.
The words out of Kuni's mouth caught you by surprise, your head swirling around to look at him, finally.
Kunikuzushi didn't know what else to say right now, so he stayed silent, hoping you would understand how difficult this was for him right now.
"..I'm not weak.", you answered him quietly as well, fully facing him now, but your posture and tone seemed a bit more open and calmer now.
"..I know."
He may not be the best with words, but somehow, you always understood what he wanted to say, anyways. It has always been this way between you. It was one of the many things he loved so much about you.
And that's how it was this time, too. He quietly thanked the Gods when he pulled you into his arms again, holding you for the first time in what had felt like an eternity.
2K notes · View notes
kleewie · 2 months
Text
i don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep you (and i)
summary: dating tip? just don't. for celebrities, romantic relationships are absolutely forbidden. the slightest hint of one could ruin your career. but are you even listening to the lecture? doubt it, 'cause you're doing the complete opposite. (alternatively, a celebrity au featuring secret relationships.)
→ featuring: childe, & ayato (you can really tell who my faves are)
→ warnings: angst, hurt/comfort, slight cursing, established relationship, mentions of alcohol and drinking, tension, actual cursing, unreliable reader pov, gender-neutral reader (i apologize if i missed things, i haven't proofread it yet)
→ a/n: so, hi! long time no see? i was pretty stressed with college and well, i'm back! i began writing this last year and finally got the courage to finish it. but here it is and i hope you enjoy it :> please let me know if you like it <3 it really makes my day!
credits to @dumplingsjinson for the prompts!
beware, lengthy post ahead! more under the cut!
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the debut.
“forbidden?” you repeat.
“absolutely forbidden!” your manager says. “a rookie with no fanbase? a scandal will ruin your reputation! you're absolutely forbidden from dating anyone.”
you sigh. he's being too overdramatic.
you will never be in a relationship, you're absolutely sure. how can you? with no time for yourself as it is, dating someone with the limited hours you already have sounds impractical.
besides, you're too busy training and practicing for auditions.
remembering it now, you want to laugh.
i told you so, your thoughts chastise.
god, you should've listened.
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childe, the actor
“that's a wrap!” the director cheers.
your eyes glisten as you hold back tears. it's embarrassing, you think. so damn embarrassing.
you've been repeating the same kissing scene multiple times now. obviously, the director cheers for finally completing the take and not because you did a good job.
childe pats your back. “you did great,” he says, with a smile.
but you know the gesture so goddamn well. the same nonchalant cold grin he throws at everyone that he now directs at you? oh, he's angry alright.
for what reason? who knows. you're too busy wallowing in self-despair over how terrible your acting is.
the scene is supposedly simple. it involves the second lead, who happens to be you, confessing their love to the leading man, resulting to a spontaneous kiss.
yet, you're fumbling over the lines, acting so out of character, tripping over set, incorrectly initiating the kiss at awkward angles—the whole time-wasting squander.
“what's going on?” childe eventually asks, once he arrives at your shared apartment. his bag drops to the floor with a flop. “you're acting strange. the entire crew sees it, i see it, the director sees it—what if he decides to fire you? what will you do then?”
you swallow dryly. you left the set early hoping childe's hectic schedule prompted him to forget the whole issue. yet, here he is finally bringing up the conversation after what feels like a month's worth of tension.
as you sit on the sofa chair, your fingers massage the bridge of your nose. breathe in, breathe out. you repeat. don't cry. you try to calm yourself down as a sob tries to break through.
eight months, you've been a couple.
but, there are some things you're afraid to say.
each year, the biggest tabloid newspaper in the country releases an article on celebrity dating scandals. a month ago they released one single page article about a popular actor dating a newbie actress. it barely had any juicy details, just a simple paragraph of a somebody dating a nobody.
yet, it did not end well for them. and you're terrified; for when it could happen to you.
you imagine it. dozens of messages and multiple missed phone calls on your cell as your name becomes the next talk of the town. the headline reads: revealed! a nobody actress, the second-lead from the northland bank saga currently dates the nation's boyfriend, childe!
it terrifies you. you could lose your job. lose what you love doing the most. and you could get tossed aside like an old sweater under someone's bed, left to rot and decompose.
so, yes. you hesitated earlier at set because you don't want anyone to connect the dots. to look at the kiss between you two and notice something amiss. to speculate that there's more to your relationship than what meets the eye. to realize you look at him as more than a co-star. to see how much you're in love with him. to realize the both of you are dating.
“it's not easy.” you say, releasing a sigh.
two years you've been in the business. rookies barely get any roles as it is. being in a well-received rendition of an old romance drama is a once in a blue moon opportunity and you can't risk someone finding out about your relationship.
“camera shy? no—you've kissed heaps of actors for that school drama.”
you mumble, “two people aren't heaps of actors, tartaglia.”
“then what is the problem?”
childe saunters to where you sit. he leans towards you and presses his palm on the head of the sofa, trapping your body between his and the chair. childe's eyes meet yours and you instantly look away.
he knows you well enough to comprehend that look on your face. the way you hide your clammy hands behind you, the manner of your eyes staring only at your feet, how your body tucks itself into the corner of the seat.
“me?” childe whispers.
he places a hand under your jaw. his thumb softly pushes your chin upwards so your eyes meet his.
“why?” he pleads.
“you won't understand.”
“i will if you tell me,” he says, holding your gaze. seeing how you relentlessly persist on keeping your mouth shut, he shakes his head. “oh, please tell me.”
you hesitate. you tell him and then what?
you could say: hey, childe! i'm afraid of our relationship being discovered. i'll be hated by your fans. you'll be constantly drained by my crying and whining. your reputation would take a hit regardless of how popular you are and—and then he'll finally realize how exhausting and annoying it is being with you.
your self-deprecation loves to pull you deeper into its sapping embrace. you're nothing, it mouths. childe would dump you and find some other actor or actress to date. god. it would be so easy. with his popularity, good looks, and charming personality, he'd find a better and talented rising-star the moment he chucks you out the front door.
so, you shake your head firmly.
“tell me, please.” he whispers.
you cross your arms, and look away.
“are you sick?”
you shake your head.
“somebody hurting you on set?”
again, you shake your head.
childe pauses, “...do you have feelings for someone else?”
“no!”
“then what is the damn problem?”
“nothing!” you exasperate, furrowing your brows together.
childe takes your reluctance as distrust and it ignites his irritation. do you not trust him? is he that insignificant to you? what are you hiding? hell, did you fall for the main lead of the show, zhongli? or do you not love him anymore? god, he can feel himself suffocate in resentment.
is he so unimportant that you'd prefer to keep the problem to yourself? it makes his blood boil; how he'd do anything for you, but you'd rather keep it to yourself and suffer alone.
“tell me.” childe scowls as he watches your lips quiver.
you keep your mouth firmly shut.
“fine, hold your tongue.” he sneers, “i understand. i really do, baby. it's not about the cameras, the flashing lights, the audience.”
childe brushes his lips against yours, “you wouldn’t kiss me like that in public, though, would you?” he releases his hold on your chin and his sharp eyes meet yours. “it’s only behind closed doors when you care to act like we’re each other’s.”
with a hooded jacket in one hand and a face mask in another, childe swiftly leaves the apartment with a slam of a door.
leaving you alone with your wretched thoughts.
more under the cut!
despite walking out the flat hours ago, childe still reverberates jealousy and anger; pure envy at how normal you act around everyone else yet, around him you're too guarded; and angry at himself for saying those awful words to your face.
he smacks his forehead on the steering wheel. childe acknowledges how childish he's been acting. you aren't ready to talk, and he shouldn't be forcing you to speak out your difficulties.
surely, the stress is piling up on you. he knows the hours you've been working on set, memorizing lines, practicing moves—again, he thumps his head on the wheel.
stupid, he curses. control your damn temper next time.
he reaches for the box of blueberry cheesecake on the front passenger seat. subconsciously, he drove two hours (and back) to the bakery's main branch as its side branches were sold out of your favorite cake. and he knows how much you love the pastry.
however, his body slouches in the parked car outside the apartment. the long drive works miracles with his anger, but the courage to actually walk inside and apologize never comes.
the ding of a text draws his attention. ‘go inside and beg for forgiveness, brat.’ yoimiya, a fellow actress from the same company as him, says. the woman is always in the loop and well-informed.
a shiver goes down his spine. if you told yoimiya about the argument, he's absolutely sure you're furious. you'd only speak to her as a last-ditch effort; knowing her personality she'd pummel him to bits while you watch.
as a result, he stands inside the apartment, one hand knocking on your bedroom door. however, instead of tasting blood, he hears your stifled sobs. the abrupt sound convinces him to turn the knob and enter the room.
the illumination from the hallway brightens the bedroom, shining a bit of light on your face. you lay on the bed with your knees to your chest, with a blanket over your waist. your reddened cheeks and tear-stained eyes makes his stomach churn.
“please don't cry, baby.” childe cooes, kneeling by your bedside. he leans over you, his fingers gently grip your cheeks. “i'm so sorry.”
the sudden apology sprouts pools from your eyes. his thumbs brush the water off your face and softly says, “i shouldn't have said—please, don't cry. it's my fault for taking my anger out on you.”
“i'm afraid of losing you,” you whimper. “if they find out—oh god—they'll tear me apart. i'm nothing compared to you. i'd lose everything. i might even lose you—”
“never, i will never leave you. no matter what happens,” childe interjects.
you furrow your brows, sobbing. “i'm no one—too difficult,” you hiccup. “you'll throw me away. i'm too whiny and too draining. if they find out... you'll see all the comments about how ugly—”
“breathe, baby.” he settles himself on your bed and softly places you on his lap. “you're gorgeous. you're not draining, and frankly, you're cute when you whine.”
you bury your face into his neck and continue, “i'm serious, childe. you'll get exhausted. the articles will talk about you too!”
“articles, mhm. they're just articles.” he hums.
irritation begins to set in. was he this clueless? you release another sob, “they're not just articles. they'll nitpick every single thing you do! oh—look at this newbie getting together with childe. oh, they suck at acting! why is childe even—”
childe gently places his palm on your neck, coaxing you to meet his gaze. “are you talking about the tabloid from last month?”
you sigh, “what else am i talking about?” and instantly you sense his laughter resonate. “are you laughing?”
“you're adorable, baby.” he breathes, nuzzling his face on your neck.
“you're making fun of me! what the hell, childe?”
he releases a sigh, pausing his laughter. “the tabloids every month. they're paid. companies pay them to talk about their idols for publicity.”
your face contorts into confusion, “who would willingly—they talked about lumine all month because of the article! you know she's my favorite actress. why would they willingly put her on the spotlight like that?”
“publicity, baby.”
you shake your head, “it makes no sense.”
“oh, it does.” childe hums. “of course, they'd seek permission first. it boosted views for her drama, didn't it? lumine did say she got extra for the views and switched apartments.”
“yeah, wait—you knew this whole time and didn't bother to tell me?”
he chuckles, “that's what you get for keeping these things to yourself for a month.” he squeezes the bridge of your nose.
“you're terrible.”
“love you too, baby.” he teases, “and besides, if a tabloid threatened to do something—” his thumb gently traces the skin around your neck. “—i'll keep you safe.”
a soft smile graces your features. “...i'm just not ready for anyone to find out. yet, anyway.”
childe hums, “we'll do it on your terms, okay? whenever you're ready.”
“sure, i guess you can keep me for a while longer. until you throw me away and find the next rookie to—”
childe's soft laughter sparks a flutter in your stomach. he would never do such a thing. the moment he first laid his eyes on you on set, heard your beautiful laugh between takes, listened to your jokes while practicing lines, and god, seen your angelic smile? the things he would do to keep you as his.
“never.” a cheeky grin appears on his lips, “i'll take care of you.”
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bonus: five years later
your phone rings. the vibration continues on and off, signaling multiple inbox messages. you swipe your phone to see texts from several of your close friends.
‘i know you told me you were okay with it, but i didn't think he'd try to do it so soon. i tried but he's too hardheaded.’ says yoimiya.
‘congratulations! when's the wedding? i'm kidding. don't kill childe.’ says thoma, an actor from your same company.
‘sorrows, sorrows, prayers.’ says venti, your current co-star.
you even receive a message from childe himself.
‘good morning, baby. i'm completely fault-free. simply honoring your wishes as a devoted fiancé should.’
attached to a message was a link to a video entitled: please don't kill me honey.
you click the link.
the video's blurry, as if taken by a cellphone. you recognize thoma as the person videoing the whole scene, as he turns the camera to face him before focusing it on a woman—seemingly a fan of childe. she wears merch from his most recent drama.
a fan goes on stage chosen by a random lottery draw. the said fan wins the chance to interview childe, who was the guest of the day for talk show, and ask one question.
the girl hastily walks on stage, holding a microphone given by staff.
“um. hello, childe!”
the audience screams as the huge video screen focuses on your lover's face. he waves a quick ‘hello’ and the crowd yells louder.
the girl hesitates, “are you dating anyone right now?”
childe twists the microphone in his hands. “hm? right now... i'm not dating anyone.”
the crows sighs in relief, utterly happy their favorite leading actor continues to be single.
but you see the outline of a smirk flashing on his face, and you instantly know there's a deeper meaning to that sentence. “but, it's difficult to say... since we're not really dating as of the moment.”
quietly, you hear the voice of yoimiya whispering, “don't do it.” the camera now focusing on her, trying to get herself on stage. thoma flips the camera around to face it on himself, waving a hello, apparently enjoying the drama. he then focuses the camera on the wide screen, featuring childe's face.
to add mayhem into the mix, childe continues, “i don't think being engaged to your partner falls under dating. we're way past that.”
the interview ends with the audience screaming their lungs out in disbelief, while childe's laugh resonates the whole auditorium.
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ayato, company director
“oh, them?” ayato's steady gaze meet yours, pressing his lips in a tight-lipped smile. “they're a friend of mine.”
friend. it echoes in your mind, repeating incessantly. friend. friend. friend.
dread creeps into the pit of your stomach akin to a quick flick of a lighter. after all this time, your stomach lurches. is that all he thinks of you?
god, you need a drink.
the businessmen before you smile, prompting you to return the favor. subsequently, you humbly introduce yourself as just an ‘actor in the industry’. and they laugh. of course they do.
who wouldn't know you? a multi award-winning movie and television star with piles of nominations. so modest, they say. so kind, they praise. you grin, the smile not reaching your eyes, thanking them for their compliments.
but you're so accustomed to their fake smiles, ingenuine flattery, and sweet talk; you never truly know what's actually honest and real—eyes flickering to your azure-haired partner—no, who's honest and real.
you swallow the thought down.
as if aware of the invisible daggers thrown his way, ayato's gaze meets yours. his lips are pressed firmly together, eyes devoid of warmth.
not now, his expression conveys.
you narrow your own eyes, irritation burning through your corneas. as much as you want to start an argument in front of his investors, you agree to his silent insistence. after all it's his gala; one he's tirelessly prepared for over several months.
so you bite your tongue and smile: one honed by years of acting—fake yet strangely genuine.
it's not strong enough. you say, sipping wine with shaky hands. earlier, you left ayato to his fellow businessmen using the excuse of needing a bathroom break, a reason to which he obliged.
you stare at the elaborate party before you, wishing you could go home. the gala swiftly dissolved your social battery, aided by forced mingling and bitterness. a friend, your consciousness repeats. always a friend. so you sit on a chair by the wall, sipping drinks like water.
suddenly, the hairs of your neck stand on end. you sense his presence behind you, prompting a glance through your peripheral vision.
“careful, darling.” ayato's says, tone smooth yet laced with warning. “i'd rather not have you collapsing. your lovely face wouldn't compliment these filthy floors.”
you tense immediately, shoulders stiffening. “reverting back to pet names, i see?”
ayato's hand now rests on your shoulder, his thumb brushing your soft skin. “what seems to be the issue? i doubt it's due to the eight glasses of wine you've consumed in one sitting.”
you roll your tongue in your mouth, practicing the words. let's break up. you bite your tongue. let's see other people. besides, he wouldn't care would he? it's not as if he's been acknowledging you as someone he's been dating, has he? hiding your relationship from his business partners is one thing, but concealing it from closest friends? his family? that's an entirely different matter altogether.
a friend, he says to his business partners.
a star from the company, he answers to his closest friends.
a companion, he whispers to his family.
you're sick and tired of it. all of it.
raising the wineglass to your lips, you drown the drink in one go. you raise two fingers signaling the waiter for another drink.
ayato sighs and you think you feel his hand on your neck tighten, ever so slightly. “you've reached your limit with wine, dear.”
soon, the waiter arrives with three more glasses on his tray. ayato's disapproving glare compels the waiter to scurry across the ballroom floor, steering clear of you.
you click your tongue and begin, “who says so?”
“your fiancé,” he mutters, voice dripping with venom.
you immediately scoff. “sure. for your sake, i'll pretend you mentioned that earlier.”
before ayato could retort, the presence of another individual calls his attention; his younger sister, ayaka.
“brother, the sangonomiya heir's requesting your presence.”
he sighs, irritation etching his features. yet, you blink, catching a subtle shift in his expression—seemingly twisting from annoyance to something resembling relief at the mention of sangonomiya's name.
you swallow the bitter thought.
“watch them for me, could you? i'd rather not have them find a server willing to disobey my instructions and serve them a drink,” ayato whispers, his tone betraying a hint of tension that doesn't go unnoticed.
ayaka nods. her consent prompts the older brother to depart, heading towards the misty rose-pink heir who stands at the opposite side of the ballroom.
ayaka says the inevitable, “you should let him know it bothers you.”
“...i'm not sure what you're referring to.”
her gaze follows yours, observing the giggling and cheerful countenances of the kamisato and sangonomiya heirs. they seem to be enjoying their time together. as always, you remark.
“they're just close friends, you know.”
you click your tongue. “like how him and i are just friends?”
ayaka sighs, understanding your implication. “you know what i mean.”
sangonomiya's hand on your partner's shoulder elicits an exasperated sigh from you. “thoma told me they were to be married if i wasn't here.”
“the man always running his mouth—” she takes a calming breath before continuing, “—but brother's very fond of you. i'm his sister, i should know.”
“then how come after dating him for five years, he still calls me his friend.” you pause, a hand sliding into the right pocket of your outfit. you absentmindedly play with the engagement ring inside. “i'm his fiancé, aren't i?”
“he has his reasons. petty reasons.”
you bite your tongue. or he's embarrassed of you.
you met the kamisato company heir two years after your debut as an idol. as you shifted towards acting, you developed a close relationship with his sister, a seasoned actress from the same company. eventually, she became the bridge that strengthened the bond between the two of you.
you dedicated yourself nonstop, evolving from a rookie actor to a multiple-nominee and winning star; all in the pursuit of being able to openly show off your relationship with ayato without it tarnishing your reputation.
however, when you're prepared to finally reveal your relationship, he isn't.
and it leaves you wondering, is there someone else?
you mean, you're hesitant to doubt the love of your life. but considering he's kept your relationship a secret from everyone for years, it's obvious he's adept at keeping things hidden.
even from you.
and the thought sours your mood.
excusing yourself once more to use the restroom, using the premise of consuming ten glasses of wine, you bid adieu to your favorite kamisato (at the moment). you instead head towards a secluded balcony away from prying eyes.
you stare at the garden below. your eyes quickly blink back the tears threatening to fall. not now, you hiss. don't do this to me, not right now.
“i assumed you would have retreated to your room by this point.” his voice murmurs, unnervingly composed.
you turn around to see your partner holding a glass of wine. his features remain blank, inscrutable.
maybe it's because of all the wine you've been drinking. you can't seem to tell between what's real or not.
“what did you discuss with kokomi?”
“i wasn't aware you were both on a first name basis.”
“answer the question.”
he smiles, “business as always.”
you huff and wrap your hands around your arms. “of course. just business.”
ayato immediately picks up the anger in your tone. he lays his palm on your forearm, gently pulling you towards him. “look at me,” he pleads, with a subtle trace of irritation in his voice.
you turn to look at his face, eyes glaring.
“i felt your glares the entire night.” he begins.
you shrug, smiling innocently. “...what ever do you mean?”
“don't toy with me, darling.”
as he enunciates his answer, it's as if the final thread of your patience snaps. does he still continue to feign innocence and lie to your face?
last month he proposed and you were overjoyed. you then expected a shift in your relationship; the final unveiling of your engagement to the public. you gave him your permission, a definitive “i'm ready for everyone to know.”
yet thirty days later the engagement remains concealed leaving only a few of his friends (thoma) and a few family members (ayaka) knowing about your updated relationship.
if it was the ayato from two years ago, he would be delighted—ecstatic even—to reveal the truth. he might have used the gala today as an avenue to scream to the world, this person and i are in love.
but he didn't.
so the weight of your feelings began to drag you down; it almost feels suffocating in a way. as if a ribbon labeled, he's ashamed, tightly winds around your insides, intricately tying them all together into a sophisticated bow sowing distrust whispering; he's hiding something.
your suspicions, coupled with his frequent visits this month to the sangonomiya estate, fueled your frustration until it erupted. if only he ceased pretending innocent, perhaps you would able to smile through the whole facade.
if only he didn't ask.
“i'm not naive. if you developed feelings for kokomi then you shouldn't have proposed.” you snap. “was it out of pity? did you feel so damn guilty that you chose to go through with the engagement instead of being honest about your feelings?”
ayato furrows his brows, mouth tightening in anger. “what are you talking about? i discuss private affairs with kokomi. business affairs.”
you laugh; one infused with irritation and disbelief. “don't tell me then. keep your stupid secrets.”
“do you want me to jot down a damn list detailing every single thing i do in a day?” he growls. “i won't divulge company secrets just because you feel like throwing a tantrum.”
your hands drift to the tie around his neck, tugging the crooked tie straight. “no. go ahead and keep your secrets.” you pause and roll the words with your tongue, “you're clearly very good at keeping secrets. you’ve kept me—us—as a secret for so long, so of course you’d be good at keeping fucking secrets.”
anger flares across his face. “you desired our relationship to remain a secret, and i respected your wishes.” he sneers, “i wanted to let the damn world know how much i'm in love with you yet, it was the opposite of what you desired.”
ayato releases his grip on you and strides back into the ballroom, but he halts right at the door to the balcony. “so don't dictate when i should reveal the truth simply because you've grown sick and tired of keeping me as your dirty, little secret.”
he finally departs; and you stay, tears pooling, with a profound ache in your heart.
ayato waltzes around the room in a nonchalant dance; yes, good to see you. he lies. how's business? he couldn't care less. enjoy the party! no, he wants everyone in the damn room to feel his wrath.
although he yearns to set the entire ballroom ablaze, ending the party prematurely would be ill-manned of him. so, ayato continues being a gracious and honorable host.
but he feels hollow. he envisions himself freezing the entire room in an icy gust, everyone turning into statues. he wants to sprint back into your arms and plead for you to listen.
he doesn't understand what came over him. why he lost his temper like that. typically, he'd manage your outbursts with composure and understanding. what happened? he doesn't know.
he attributes his outburst to the mounting pressure. the chronic lack of sleep and continuous exhaustion coming from his title as heir. perhaps it's the truth gnawing his skin; despite his powerful position atop the company, it can easily be ripped away with the flick of a wrist.
instead of spending time with his fiancé—he doesn't know if he still deserves to call you that, you probably threw away his ring the second he left the balcony—yet here he is, engaged in conversations with business associates he cares little about.
“brother?” ayaka calls. she finds him leaning against a railing of stairs. “i closed off the gardens.”
ayato swallows. he last saw you sneaking towards the grounds. “they're still on the grass?”
“yes.”
“they'll catch a cold.”
“they will.”
he glances at his sister. “they think i'm unfaithful.”
“i know,” she says matter-of-factly. “have you offered them any evidence to convince them otherwise?”
ayato stays silent.
“i know you care about them, brother.” ayaka sighs, “however, surprising them with a specially crafted ring and being petty when your entire relationship is at stake may not be the wisest move.”
he sighs.
“most especially if they suspect that your frequent visits to the sangonomiya manor are fueled by romantic feelings for its heiress, and not for their own wedding ring.”
after a while, ayato spots you lying on the grass in a starfish formation, having finally swallowed his pride. his eyes glaze over your features: red eyes, cheeks marked with tear stains, and an exhausted expression.
“can we talk?” he begins.
you spare a quick glance before turning your attention back to the night sky. “there's not much to talk about.”
“i'm not cheating,” he asserts.
“i know.”
“do you know, or have you resigned yourself to not knowing?”
“hm,” you hum. “a part of me entertains the thought of you cheating. yet an even smaller part absolutely knows that if you were truly cheating, you'd be more discreet. who, in their right mind, would inform thoma that you visited her manor?”
he chuckles, a laughter-less sound escapes him. “i understand i've been secretive. you have every right to assume i'm up to something indecent. but i have my reasons.” ayato confesses, kneeling beside your body. he places his hand inside his suit pocket, pulling up a black small box.
you instantly sit up. “you're horrible,” you cough, eyes widening as he opens the box to show a ring. “this entire time you were—god.”
“i placed a special order,” he mumbles. “i visited each day to ensure it was flawless, right down to the smallest details.”
“i'm so sorry.”
“don't be, love.” he breathes, “you had your reasons, and i was insistent on keeping it a surprise.”
relief floods your features. “good,” you whisper before tears well in your eyes.
the sound of your sobs breaks his heart. he immediately wraps his arms around you, brushing his lips on your cheeks.
“i'm sorry, darling,” he murmurs, kissing the skin above your brow. “i'm sorry for worrying you.”
“goddamn sadistic,” you sob. “you knew i was freaking out, but you just watched!”
he grins, “i have to admit, you look cute when you're jealous.”
a groan escapes you. “don't make me throw away both rings.”
“is that so? i should've ordered twenty spares.”
“no.” you scold.
“oh? look at my darling, so jealous,” he smirks, nuzzling his face into your neck. you then feel his lips press into a straight line. “you're not something i would ever try to hide. i would never be ashamed of our relationship.”
you laugh, “prove it.”
your smile faces seeing the smirk on his face. in that exact moment, you know that kamisato ayato, the preposterous god in human flesh, plans to do something grand and explosive to prove you otherwise.
“do not.” you begin, “we've talked about this. you cannot—you absolutely will not bribe the government to declare our wedding date as a national holiday!”
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bonus: ten minutes before the clash
“is it getting warm in here, or am i sensing the intense gaze of your loving fiancé on me?” kokomi laughs, sipping a glass of champagne.
ayato takes a peek, and he chuckles upon seeing your irritated and jealous expression. “they certainly are.”
“please do not involve me in your lovers' quarrels. everyone knows we're just close friends.”
“they do.”
“have you told them?”
“...it may have slipped past my mind.”
kokomi shakes her head. “sadistic.” she slips a black box into his palm. “clear it up. i do not want to be murdered by your future partner.”
ayato glances at you from across the room as you engage a conversation with his sister. “mhm, i could, but their jealous expression is too endearing.”
“sadistic,” she repeats. “absolutely sadistic.”
he chuckles.
“also, kazuha mentioned that you've been referring to them as your companion. correct that.” she continues, “and stop calling them your friend!”
“they asked me to when we started dating.”
she rolls her eyes. “you're so petty. stop trying to provoke them!”
“anyways, everyone knows we're engaged,” he corrects. “their whining face is the cutest.”
“sadistic.”
“kokomi?”
she tilts her head and hums, “yes?”
“ever wondered how much it costs to propose a national holiday?”
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author’s note: lmao. so in this modern au ayato actually succeeds in turning your wedding date into a national holiday. the government actually appreciates his donation because a.) they always accept goodwilled (lmao) funds and b.) ayato's an important pillar to the gov and they don't want to upset him 'cause petty rich boy tantrums tilt the economy (how sadistic).
so, ayato's the heir of the company where you are employed at as an idol turned actor/actress. kokomi is the heiress to a big jewelry corporation. lmao they were both engaged together when they were like five but they instantly broke it off because well, they both threw five year old tantrums.
plus thoma telling you that they were to be engaged was just a fact he blurted out when you asked about kokomi (he manages to omit the five-year-old part because he's careless + he didn't think it matters because anyone can tell ayato's intensely in love with you)
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bohbee · 1 year
Note
Do you think you could do some genshin characters reacting to you flinching during a fight? 👉🏻👈🏻 Im not picky with which characters as long as Childe is included
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Flinching During an Argument, Genshin.
Part 1?
Masterlist
Characters: Childe, Diluc, Kaeya, Wanderer.
Warnings: Mentions of violence, misunderstandings, past abusive relationships, insecurities, yelling, blood (unrelated), potential harming.
Notes: There are some kinds of spoilers for The Wanderers but yeah >:). Sorry for not writing for a long time, there's been a lot of stressful things happening in my life right now but I'm trying to write more :). There will be more parts to this I just don't know when.
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Childe (Tartaglia, Ajax)
The room which was usually filled with laughs and smiles now had a dark aura. Both occupants of the household argue with each other, in a fit of rage and hurt. "Ajax please just listen to me! I could've lost you!" You said, wiping the tears from your eyes, a shudder left your chest as your boyfriend's eyes darkened towards you. His boots took a step forward and he pointed his finger toward you.
"You always underestimate me!" A vein popped from his forehead, the air getting thick causing your heart to speed up. "Ajax I di-" He cut you off with a shout causing you to back up into the wall "No! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I SUFFERED THROUGH TO BE SEEN LIKE THAT"
He went to push the hair out of his eyes, his gloved hand swayed in front of your face causing you to cover your eyes, frightened of his next course of action. Your knees buckle slightly. Childe's movements came to a halt, and his annoyance quickly left, now filled with shock and pain.
"Dove... I-" he started to speak, his hands gently grabbing yours, delicately not to strike for negative emotions in you. As he moved your defense, he winced at your fear-struck face, tears he caused painting your skin. "I would never... ever harm you... I'm so- so sorry" He opened his arms slowly, trying not to frighten you, offering for you to hug him, and you pounced into his grasp. Small sobs emitted from your throat, "I'm sorry- I just don't want to -hic- lose you, and I-" your rambling was cut off by a small hush from the ginger.
"I would never leave you... I was being unreasonable, let's just drop it for now, come on I'll take you to the bedroom."
The rest of the day was filled with soft hums, and both of you enjoyed each other's presence. "My dove?" Tartaglia's voice was soft, you looked up to meet his eyes questioning him. "C'mon let's go to a restaurant.... let me treat you?" He said, well more of asked... still not knowing how much you were willing to do. "Of course.... let's go."
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Diluc
Nothing was different from today than any other day, you went on commissions and came home to your loving husband. However, the crimson irises begged to differ. "You need to stop being so reckless! You've come home yet again with a new bloodied bandage!" His tone was deep, filled with irritation and worry. Though, that didn't do much but annoy you. "Luc, please listen to me, love. This is a part of working for the Guild!"
His eyes shot toward yours, pure frustration filling his pupils. "Every. Day." He started, his body slowly getting up from where he was sitting. "I. Have. To. See. You. Get. Hurt." His body was slightly in front of you, a two-foot gap in between your bodies. "EVERY. DAMN. DAY.!" His booming voice shook the air, causing you to flinch and stumble onto the ground.
A few seconds of silence went by until he kneeled to where you fell. "I am deeply sorry, I- it was never my intention to frighten you, my love." His eyes were filled with shame and insecurity, his gloved hand reached out to you slowly. You softly grabbed it allowing him to pull you up and into a hug, watching for your injuries. "I'm sor-" you started but your husband shushed you "No need dear, I must be the one to apologize. I was being rash, just promise me that you'll be more careful?"
You nodded softly and hugged his torso a bit tighter, the both of you stood in the common room for a while before he broke away from the embrace. "Why don't you let me re-bandage your injuries and then after we can go for a walk?"
As the day continued on, the well-known couple could be seen walking down the paths of the outskirts of Monstadt. Hand in hand, soft delicate smiles painting both of their features.
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Kaeya
Sadly, petty arguments with Kaeya always happened, it was all fine though. None of it really went far, that is until now. The two of you were in his office at the KOF building, snapping at each other. Snarky comments and shouts were heard throughout the whole building, though no one dared to enter not even Lisa nor Jean.
"You are being unreasonable!" you shouted at the blue-haired male who only scoffed back, he stood from his seat and turned his back away from you. "For the last time, now listen real closely and get it through your more than thick skull." He slowly turned towards you, his deep frustrated tone quickly shutting you up. "She was NOT flirting with me, just because you're insecure does not mean you get to PROJECT your feelings on me nor the poor lady who was being nice."
His words made you wince, stepping back in shock as you look up into his eyes with hurt, no more than hurt..... betrayal "oh." Your head bobbed in a quick nod as you went to leave the room. "W-wait.... (y/n) shit... I didn't mean-" he chased after you. The people in the city watched in shock which only rubbed the salt more in your wound.
You finally made it to your home, your boyfriend rushing in behind you. No words were spoken, his strong arms yanked you into a hug as you sobbed into his chest. "I....... I am so so sorry snowflake......" your loud cries pulled at his heart strings. After gathering your emotions, you went to respond, feeling guilty for the situation. "You were ri-" his soft lips slammed onto yours, effectively stopping your words. "Don't even think about finishing that sentence."
The two of you made an executive decision to take some time off together in which Jean more than happily approved of. The two of you were now in the amazing city of Sumeru, sitting together in the Grand Bazaar. Your head laying on his soft shoulder as both of you watch the amazing dancers.
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Wanderer (Kuni)
You and the umbrella hat male were walking down a trail in the outskirts of Gandharva Ville, when suddenly a random root appeared from nowhere, which caused your body to fling forward into the ground. The Wanderer turned around slightly shocked, he laughed slightly and swung his hand to help you up. But the sudden motion frightened you and caused you to cower backwards. "I'm sorry!" you yelped out while closing your eyes, preparing for the hit that would never come.
Kuni looked at you shocked, no words left his mouth, he was truly stunned at the scene in front of him. You soon opened your eyes and looked to the side embarrassed, "I- uh- sorry heh, that's embarrassing.... well lets uh continue." You stood up and brushed your pants off and walked past your "new" boyfriend, expecting him to follow you. Though his next words, stopped your movements.
"What......" he paused before slightly hanging his head in shame "I know I used to... treat you unfairly....... just know that I am trying to get better." he muttered before walking to you and gripping the back of your shirt. "I don't want to lose nor hurt the one I love...." he mumbled before he slowly and awkwardly hugged you from behind.
"I know you are trying.... don't think I've given up on you Ku.... I trust you."
Over time, the two of you slowly dropped your walls with each other, becoming closer than ever. He was a completely different person than the one you used to date. Same face..... same body.... same soul..... just different purpose.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
I hope this is good :), I love you guys... also dude why are genshin characters written so WELL gah damn!
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goldfish-afterhours · 3 months
Text
Genshin Characters Apologizing After a Bad Fight
Characters: Diluc, Childe, Kaeya, Zhongli x Gn!reader
Type/genre: Bulleted headcanons, angst/hurt comfort?
Warnings: Curse words, probably not the healthiest coping mechanisms/apologies
Diluc
His apology comes out strained, as if the words are clinging to the back of his throat
His fists are clenched tight by his side. He prepares himself for you to yell, to scream at him
But you don’t even turn around to look at him
Diluc always saw you as his rock, his lighthouse in the stormy night, the one who keeps him steady as his duties of both vineyard owner and vigilante shake him back and forth like a ragdoll
But right now, it hits him for the first time how small your back is, how human you look
Has he been taking you for granted all this time?
When you don’t respond to his apology, he calls your name, and you finally turn around
His eyes widen when he sees the tears streaming down your face
His heart absolutely breaks. How could he have made you, his love, his everything, hurt this much?
Before either of you says anything, Diluc flies towards you, cradling your head gently in his arms, as if any slight pressure would cause you to break and shatter like glass
“How pathetic of me to make you cry. I’m so sorry.”
Childe
His heart could rival the weight of the world right now
Childe isn’t used to disappointing others. No, he’s always been the golden boy, the prodigy, the one who sets the bar and breaks it at the same time
So how come you are sitting with your back to him, refusing to say a word?
And why can’t he find it in himself to say something, anything, to make this better?
He is petty person, someone willing to drown an entire city rather than admit defeat. Any word of apology is almost impossible to force out of him.
Instead, he drops a book in front of you. It flips to a random page, and you can see the photos and names of people listed on it
Not unlike a cat bringing their owner a mouse, this was Childe’s form of an apology, even without the actual words being uttered.
“Choose any person from this book. I’ll bring you their head.”
Kaeya
His fingers are restless, constantly scratching the back of his hand or twisting each other
His jaw is clenched, shoulders slumped forwards as he refuses to look you in the eye
“I…I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
You knew that Kaeya had a hard time with apologizing—not because he was arrogant and thought he could do no wrong, but the emotional and physical toll it took on him was great
He often finds himself caught in a dilemma
On one hand, he has a difficult time admitting he is wrong as it forces him into a vulnerable position. To be wrong is shameful, an embarrassment.
On the other hand, he knows he fucked up. And he knows there are only a very few amount of fuck ups people let slide before they get fed up and leave.
And having you leave is not something he can afford
Kaeya’s seen this before. Faced again and again with abandonment, he knows a simple “I’m sorry” is not enough to make most people stay
But it is all he can offer
He prepares himself for the worst, but he was not prepared for the way you gently lifted his chin with your hands, a soft kiss melting away his fears
Zhongli
When you slam the door to your room, Zhongli doesn’t try to stop you
He doesn’t knock on your door, nor does he try to coax you out
He knows your type of anger—it’s like fire, and feeding premature apologies or sweet nothings would only fan the flames
So he sits outside your door until you’re ready to come out
Slips you snacks and books from under your door, in case you get hungry or bored in your anger
When you see the treats and novels slowly appear from under the door, you’re still fuming, but it’s difficult to be furious knowing your thoughtful lover is on the other side, not pushing you to calm down but trying to make you comfortable as you sit with your anger.
When you finally calm down enough to unlock the door and step outside, Zhongli is waiting
There is not a trace of annoyance on his face, but you can tell he relaxes a little from relief that you are willing to come speak with him again
Takes your hands in his, giving them a gentle squeeze as he apologizes for his behaviour earlier.
“Please accept my apology, my love. I never meant to hurt you.”
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rukkiya · 9 months
Text
goodbye isn’t for forever
(al haitham x reader, zhongli x reader (separate)
༻ part 2 to take it back༺
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al haitham ⋆ ˚。⋆୨୧˚
It's been two weeks since you’ve left.
The once lively apartment Al Haitham had taken for granted was no more, it was far too quiet for the scholar.
The silence was far too loud. He couldn’t concentrate on his work.
The same work that had led him to push you away.
He’s seen you around of course, he checks up on you and makes sure you’re doing well through mutual friends or passing by shops/places you’d both go together.
He hasn’t slept properly since you’ve left, he doesn’t remember the last time he was alone in bed without you next to him.
He thinks back to the times you’d wake up at night and get him from his study, dragging him to bed because he has to be up at the crack of dawn because you wanted him to sleep, because you cared. Now he’s stays wide awake, not worrying about work or other matters for once, instead he was worried about you.
No one has brought it up to him though, they couldn't.
He thought he was hiding it well, keeping it masked under his unrelenting face but the emotions he felt were being shown through his eyes.
During Al Haithams meeting with Cyno he was stammering, taking one too many pauses because he couldn't concentrate on anything. Cyno merely eyes the two wedding bands linked around a silver chain sitting on top of the scholar's chest but says nothing of it, well that is because he already knows.
“Have you tried talking things out? He looks like shit.” Cyno sits next to you, handing you a bottle of water sighing when he sees the corners of your lips tug down at the mention of Al Haitham.
“I can’t, after what he’s done. What makes you think that he wants me in his life anyways? Look, he was the one who threw his wedding band at me. I didn’t do it, he did.” You lay your head on the table huffing as Cyno sighs again.
He doesn’t like seeing you this way. He’s not the most fond of Al Haitham but seeing him down, with an expression other than a punchable face, it actually makes Cyno feel bad for him. You both being this torn was more on you guys than you expected.
“You miss him, you miss him more than you're letting on. From what I can see he misses you too.” Cyno leans back on his seat, you slightly turn your forehead on the table to glance at him, seeing that knowing look he always wears when he knows he’s right.
“Y/n, for as long as I’ve known Al Haitham I’ve never heard him stumble on his words or look worse than now. You might not accept that because yeah you’re right it is his fault. Everything he’s said and done to you isn’t excusable by a long shot but if he really truly meant it, he wouldn't be beating himself over it this bad.” Cyno explains, putting his hand on top of your head and ruffling your hair making you grumble and turn away.
“I’m scared, we’ve been together for so long, married for just as long and for him to do that I- I can’t just let it go so easily you know? He’s probably held it in for so long and he finally spoke the truth, what if I’ve been a hindrance this whole-“
“Stop.” Cyno clicks his tongue, making his hand into a fist and softly bonking your head.
“You always do that. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Listen, you said it right now didn’t you hear? You’ve been together and married for so long, don't you think he would’ve told you beforehand? If anything you made him more tolerable, he seemed content and happy with you. But right now he seems lost.” Cyno removes his hand from your head and crosses his arms.
“But I did something just as bad Cyno I took mines off too.” You turn your head to face Cyno again, feeling your voice crack just remembering how Al Haitham’s face looked completely horrified when you did that.
“Go home and you’ll see. Go home to him y/n he’ll have it waiting for you I can guarantee.” Cyno smiles at you knowing look in his eyes, he knows Al haitham wants you home just as bad, he’s keeping your ring on him for when you do come back.
Your chest feels heavy, your hands are sweaty as you stare at the familiar wooden door to your shared house with Al Haitham.
It’s only been two weeks, it feels like forever since you've walked out. You didn't even bother getting your things.
You raise your hand and hold it up, contemplating as to whether or not this was a good idea. But you feel your knuckles tap against the wooden door a few times and freeze, holding still to hear any movement from within.
Nothing.
No footsteps, no moving, no talking.
You do it again only to get the same empty response.
You feel your stomach drop.
Is he ignoring me? Did I really mess it up? Why did I leave like that? You feel your eyes burn as you continue to state at the door, mind thinking the worst.
‘Y-Y/n?” Al Haitham whispers from behind you.
He blinks a few times, making sure he's not hallucinating. There's been a few incidents where he thought you came back home a few days ago and it wasn't you, he didn't want to get his hopes up.
You blink at the door and hold your breath, slowly turning your head to look back at a distraught looking Al Haitham.
You open your mouth to say sorry, to apologize for leaving him when you should have just talked things out but nothing comes out, instead a small whimper escapes as your vision gets more blurry. His eyes, the look in his eyes made your throat swell. When you first met him it was so hard to read him, to tell his emotions but the look in his eyes right now says everything.
This tears Al Haitham from the inside out, his long legs walk up the small step to your house and he opens his arms as he nears you immediately wrapping them around you and pulling you in close, his eyes blown wide.
“It's you- you're here I didnt think you were- I thought you weren't coming back.” He exhales a shaky breath as he brings you closer, one hand cradling your head and other pulling you up from your torso.
“I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for what I've said to you. It's inexcusable to say it's because of my work when you were just trying to help, you always do and I need that, I need you here to keep me grounded to keep me sane, you're anything but a hindrance, you help me in ways I never thought anyone could. Please stay. Don't leave me again.” he pulls back, hands moving to hold your face as he rests his forehead on yours.
“I will marry you over and over again if I have to prove myself.” one of his hands moves from your cheek, grabbing your hand in his and placing it on his chest where the necklace with the rings are.
“Haitham I'm sorry I left you alone I should've just listened.” you grab his hand that was holding your cheek, closing your eyes at the warmth you've missed so much feeling the tears you were holding slide down your face. Al Haitham only shakes his head
“Don't apologize to me. No one should have to hear that. Be treated that way, especially you.” he feels his hands shake slightly, with you in his hold. He feels like it's fake, like it's another one of the dreams he's been having since you've left him like he's going to wake up and you're still going to be gone.
“Please don't leave me, I need you home to keep me grounded. I missed you more than you can imagine.” He hugs you again, pulling your head into his chest and closing his eyes.
Throughout all the time you've been with him you've never seen him so on edge, look so scared. Let alone be this affectionate, you can feel it in the way he holds you , the way he speaks, he truly feels bad for what he said and done. Though you still feel torn, hurt from his actions you know you can't leave him again as you've missed him just as much.
As he holds you close, breathes in your comforting scent that he's come to love so much he vows to not take your caring for granted, that he needs you here more than anything. That he isn't himself without you.
zhongli⋆ ˚。⋆୨୧˚
Zhongli left, he’s gone.
You’re more than sure he’s moved on, found someone better who manages to actually care for their own well being and who doesn’t stress him out too much the way you did.
It’s what he deserves, anyways all you were doing was weighing him down, putting him under constant stress and worry to the point he couldn’t take it anymore.
It’s you, you’re the one who pushed him away the only good thing you had going on is now never coming back
Though he's been gone, Zhongli kept his word, he’s kept an eye on you since the day he left you.
A whole year had flown by agonizingly slow. It was driving him crazy as more time passed he grew worried you didn’t want him back.
During the duration of the year he’s noticed how you care more about your well being more. You took a break from adventuring and weren't as reckless. You started to work at your fathers local bakery to get back on your feet as you recovering from your injuries, Zhongli was relieved.
Though you seemed fine on the outside you only grew to despise yourself more than you ever had before since he’s left. You knew you didn’t deserve him and having him leave just proved your hurt heart more to that fact.
Zhongli kept his word, still watching over you from far away places, making sure to keep out of your line of view but more than anything he wanted to go back to you, wanted to go back home with you where you both belong.
The year with him gone was a process, one that took your mind into a very dark place.
You were hurt for so long, then you grew angry only for it all to ball up into self hatred.
During your time away from him you’ve reflected, taken care of yourself physically but mentally you were drained, it was constant nagging going on. Zhongli would be the one to quell those thoughts but you only had yourself, it was getting harder as days went on.
“I can’t stand seeing you beaten and bruised yet you are all the time.”
“You’re too much for me to handle.” Zhongli sighs, finally having enough, leaving his wedding band behind and walking out the door, never turning back once.
You shoot up from bed, looking around the room as you try to regulate your breathing, seeing the sun peeking in through your curtains.
Your hand reaches over to the ever so cold side of your bed and you're thrown back to reality. You mind immediately fogging with thoughts you don't want to hear.
You were in a constant brain fog, always lost in your own thoughts.
To the point it was was starting to become a problem, you weren't aware of lots of things most of the time. Not paying attention to certain things that could easily turn dangerous.
You got ready for work as usual, made your way down to the bakery, your mind racing a thousand thoughts per second.
“Hey y/n right?” A regular that you see buying bread at your fathers bakery stops you just blocks away from the bakery.
You turn around and he walks closer to you, greeting you with a smile.
“Good Morning.” you force your lips to turn upwards.
“Your father told me to tell you to pick up some things from my house for ingredients before you go in, it's just down the street.” he points down the road to a small house by the mountain.
“Alright, I'll go grab it right now. Is it a lot of supplies?” you ask, walking down the path thinking nothing of the situation.
“Not much but I think you’ll need an extra hand if anything.” The says, following a few feet behind you, looking around the surrounding area.
Zhongli was on his usual morning stroll, passing by your fathers bakery to make sure you get to work safe when he sees a random man stop you.
He stops walking when he sees you walk the complete opposite way from the bakery, following the man down the road. He feels a familiar feeling rising in his chest once again, your putting yourself in situations you don't see are clear signs of danger.
“Yeah, I'll help you bring them back up, it's just a few bags of flour and sugar right?” you ask, the man only hums in response, walking slowly behind you. You don't think about it, instead you continue your regular pace, already dreading the day ahead of you. you know you won't be able to concentrate much already feeling drained from getting up from bed alone.
Though it was morning, the end of the street was oddly quiet for this busy part of town.
Every stall around here is usually set up by now.
You near the small house and walk up the porch, turning and waiting for the guy behind you to open it though you notice his whole demeanor change. He was much closer now looking around him before looking back at you, reaching in his pocket to grab his keys.
He walks past you and unlocks the door holding it open, mentioning for you to walk in first, so you do, hearing the door behind you close and the sound of clicking, like he was locking it behind him.
“Why're you-”
“I brought them, our deal is done.” the man clears his throat, looking directly behind you.
You freeze, looking at the man with wide eyes when you realize what he said. Feeling the hairs on the back of your neck stand as you slowly turn around seeing a group of treasure hoarders standing directly behind you.
You start to back away, reaching into your pocket and getting the small dagger you carry but feeling someone grab your arm before you can pull it out.
“No no no, don't play dirty now we just want to talk. Your father makes a good amount of money in this town, he'll surely pay a good ransom to get his precious kid back now, won't he?” a treasure hoarder laughs, squeezing your wrist making the dagger drop from your grasp.
“My father pays for my brother's medical bills. Please don't make him pay for something he can’t afford. I have money, you can take all mine and let me go. I won't say a thing.” you look at the treasure hoarder standing in the middle of the room and hear his laughter boom through the small house.
“You’re kidding me right?” his hand brings up the ax he was holding and takes a step towards you.
You don't want this, to make someone else suffer because of you. Not your own family after they are already dealing with so much.
Zhongli waited a few minutes by the house you entered and saw no sign of you coming back out, he didn't want to interfere. He has no right. He's been so scared to go back to you, he regrets leaving. He knows he shouldn't have done it that way, he should've stayed, helped you another way. He doesn't think you'd want him back after so long, he has no right to be checking on you. You've probably well moved on.
But he can't help but worry, still check on you because he still loves and cares for you, just like he said he would the day he married you. But he left you, walked out the door, left his ring but worst of all left you all alone.
He feels something off though. From the looks of it the man you were talking to wasn't someone you knew personally, he could tell from our body language, the way you distanced yourself from him. If it was a friend of yours or someone you were close you’d look more relaxed and wouldn't be so tense or distance yourself so far from them when talking.
They're taking too long. Are they ok? Zhongli thinks, eyeing the small house. Contemplating as to whether or not he should go and check.
“Listen, your father gives us the money for you and nothing else got it.” the treasure hoarder leans down to your height and you narrow your eyes at him.
“My father won't give you a penny understand? Do your worst.” You dare the man in front of you seeing his smile drop.
You stay still, seeing a small open window to the right of you from your peripherals. The dagger you dropped right next to your foot.
“You testing me kid?” the treasure hoarder steps even closer making you shrink into yourself.
You quickly duck down, sweeping your leg under the mas feet and grabbing the dagger next to you hearing a thud, you don't even turn around as you hear multiple footsteps closing in as you run to the window, your arms and torso getting out before you feel a pair of hands grab your leg.
You feel your body get pulled back in instantly, your body hitting the ground with a loud thud.
“Donp tugh mi (don’t touch me)!” you try to scream but a hand muffles you before you do.
The loud ruckus alerts Zhongli and he doesn't even take a second to think. He's outside the door in an instant before his brain can register what he's doing.
A soft knock at the door stops everyone making the guy on top of you press his hand harder against your mouth.
“Don't think about it.” he looks down at you, voice dripping with malice.
Another knock at the door and the man on top of you signal for his subordinates to stay quiet.
Zhongli was giving them a chance to prove themselves but the second time he knocked and no one answered he had enough.
It grew completely silent, the sound of footsteps walking away was heard before the door and its hinges flew into the house.
A familiar silhouette stood in the doorway and you couldn't blink, you had to be hallucinating now.
Why is Zhongli here? How did he know I was here? Your mind halts seeing his eyes glow gold.
The man on top of you was thrown off in a second as a flash of gold passed by you, the other men being knocked to the ground seconds after as everything slowed down your eyes following the gold flash going across the room.
Everything goes quiet once again. The treasure hoarders in there were now all on the floor knocked unconscious as Zhongli stood in the middle of the room, chest heaving up and down as he glares at the foolish mortals who dared to try and hurt you.
You slowly sit up and back away, not really knowing what to say to him because why? Of all time why is he here? How'd he know you were here?
He hears the floor behind him creak and turns, golden eyes narrowing at you until he comes to realize it's you, you're ok.
When he broke the door down and saw the man holding you down his mind went into autopilot, he hasn't acted out on emotion in so long, it took over him before he could control it.
“Why're you here?” you ask, looking away from him grabbing the dagger and putting it back into your pocket.
He steps forward and you step back, the anger you've been holding back is starting to surface.
“Why did you follow him? Do you trust this man this much to have him bring you here and-”
“Dont, I don't need another lecture from you.” you almost laugh. After all this time away this is what he starts with?
“Yeah I know, take care of myself, work things out, I remember trust me, after all that's the last thing you told me before leaving remember? Right now I don't have time to hear it, I have to go to work.” You don't even bother looking back at him as you walk past to leave.
“I'm sorry.” He stares at you as you stop, seeing you shake your head and look down.
“I shouldn't have left you alone, it wasn't a good way to prove myself, I just wanted you to-”
“Zhongli please don't….” you sigh, feeling the heavy feeling settling in your chest, turning to look back at him, your eyes widening when you see one of the men he knocked out get up behind him.“GET DOWN!”
Everything moved too fast, your legs, the man behind him, but Zhongli didn't move fast enough.
Old habits die hard. You feel tired from everything, thinking too much, getting up today.
Zhongli feels the weight of your body go limp as you fall forward an arrow sticking out of your back, the man he had knocked out earlier standing directly behind, wide eyes looking up at Zhongli as he realizes who exactly it was.
“I didn't mean to get them. I wasn't going to hurt them. I swear, please don't hurt me.” the man coweres as his legs give out under him. Zhongli only stares down at you in his arms, seeing your eyes fighting to stay open.
“You're going to leave again aren't you?” your voice cracks and Zhongli feels his breath hitch, the pain in his heart worsening, you think he'd leave you alone like this?
“I'm not leaving anytime soon my love, just give me a second and i'll take you to Dr Baizhu right now, whatever you do dont turn around and keep your eyes open for me.” He picks you up, carrying you to the corner of the house facing you away from the man behind you, leaning down and giving your head a kiss before standing back up.
It all feels like a dream, this can't be real, you feel far too sleepy for it to be.
Zhongli summons his polarm and stands back up, slowly walking to the man who hurt you.
You couldn't do what he wanted again, you tried but your eyes keep closing from sheer exhaustion, the last thing you heard before completely blacking out was screaming coming from behind you, the same flash of gold blinding you once again before you felt your own body go limp, succumbing into the darkness.
◇──◇─────◇──◇
authors note: hello lovelies!! ◝꒰´꒳`∗꒱◟ ohmygoodness I’m so sorry for how long I took to write a second part to this T~T I’ve just been pretty busy but I’ve been getting more inspo for more stories that I’m so freaking excited to share with y’all! :D but alas part two of take it back is here! I had to make zhongli’s part angsty and another open ending- IMSORRY ik I need to stop LOLOL but I do hope you all enjoy and that I wrote it angsty enough for y’all (some of y’all told me to make it more angsty LMAOO you all like getting your feelings hurt just like I do >.< please make sure you are all taking care and staying safe ^~^<3 (this isn’t edited so apologies for any errors!!)
@ilocqua @2hilarious4u @esthelily @cypressus-lunis @taetaebunni @coruscale @wearetherealarm @chiyukin @lum1nesc3nce @anxietysslave @starlightaura @duckyyyx @dreamlessnight @myimymy
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dxstopiaa · 10 months
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hey hey! could i request zhongli, cyno, and tighnari with a hypersexual s/o who is actually pretty ashamed, so when they finish, they wait till theyre asleep and starts breaking down bawling their eyes out. this is kinda deep but i js want some comfort at the same time. if this is too deep or dark feel free to not do it 🫶🫶🫶
characters: zhongli, tighnari and cyno x hypersexual! gn! reader.
warnings: nsfw elements! hurt/comfort [dont worry at all anon <3 if this is something you experience, you should never feel ashamed]
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zhongli
❥ That feeling was there again— the one of guilt and shame you couldn’t eradicate no matter what you told yourself. Your husband’s thick cum still coated your thighs, not daring to move nor clean it up in fear of waking him beside you.
❥ You truly envied him. Zhongli slept peacefully with arms snaked around your bare waist, not a worry present. He loved you, you knew that, yet a tide of disgust wavered over your shivering body. It retreated in the form of hot flashes, returning upon each dreadful thought that went too long considered.
❥ His forearms, dangerously close to the tears accumulating at your jaw, embraced you so gently. You were too lost in the depths of your shame to realise your sobs had grown louder, grasping onto your lover’s hands for any sort of comfort.
❥ “My darling? What has you so distraught?” Zhongli’s husky voice whispered into your ear, not doing much except influencing the developing streams of saltwater across your cheeks. Your lack of response frightened him greatly, feeling his weight shift against the head board.
❥ “Please answer me, dearest?” His heart pumped with agony at your strings of broken cries. Did he go too rough with you? Were you scared? His questions dissipated when you wrapped your frail arms around his chest. Soft, tear-ridden eyes gleamed up at him, nothing but a satin robe to distance your bodies from another.
❥ “I feel so revolted with myself. Do you feel that way too?” Your meek, shaky voice muttered such self-deprecating language left those lips he kissed with pure adoration. How could you doubt his love? His light gasp followed by a frown pulled you from the depths of overthinking.
❥ “Of course not, sweetheart. Hearing words so undervaluing from you leads me to think of the restless nights you’ve endured without my knowledge. Allow me to help you, what is it that you’d like, dear?” He fondled your shaking hand, smoothing a finger over your wedding ring.
“Anything that regards you is nothing short of perfect, i’ll prove so by whatever means.”
cyno
❥ Soft, undisturbed snores filled the room, courtesy of the sleeping general. You were still reminiscing of the events which had occurred a mere hour ago. You— who was so eager and needy for Cyno it felt humiliating. He had you on his cock nearly every day, pleasuring you albeit not making as much noise himself.
❥ Was he tired of your high libido? Was he getting bored of you? Endless questions swarmed your mind like a cyclone, twisting your perception of your boyfriend till it rained down. You couldn’t help but start to weep, tributaries of tears collecting at your chin, washing away the gentle touches Cyno had placed there prior.
❥ You shouldn’t be so obvious about it, you thought. Perhaps it’d be better to calm down in the bathroom, removing the covers from your body. You didn’t even get to lift your head from the damp pillow fully as your lover had seized your wrist.
❥ “Don’t go, hiding your tears from me won’t help you in the slightest, love.” Called out Cyno, voice raspy with slumber. Although he didn’t know what this was about, that somber expression did not suit you in the slightest. He’d rather have it gone.
❥ Eyes blurred and hazy, you glanced over at him, finally allowing him to pull you close at his side. How could you even describe this to him— say that it’s nothing or burst into tears before you even opened your mouth? Your throat felt painfully constricted.
❥ “Don’t worry, if you can’t tell me now, this can be discussed in the morning. For now, just get some rest.” Cyno comforted, tracing his thumbs over each tear-stained cheek. You didn’t need to tell him, he could already sense what was wrong.
❥ That distant look in your eyes whenever you finished quickly, the sobs he thought were of pleasure were rather subtle cries of guilt. It was quite obvious yet he was so unperceptive to not realise it till you were curled up beside him? Cyno held you closer than ever, arms framing your shivering body as if you were glass, about to shatter any second now.
“I apologise for not seeing this earlier. Let me remind you that i fell in love with the exact person you’re incorrectly ashamed of, i wouldn’t change anything about you.”
tighnari
❥ There was something off about you— Tighnari could sense it, although not place a finger on it. Your lips trembled with something he thought was fear, yet it wouldn’t make sense if it was. You’ve always been an expressive person, so why the sudden change?
❥ You were quite loud just a few minutes ago, now it seems you’ve withdrawn yourself under the cotton covers for comfort. You’d always ask for aftercare and snuggle close to him after sex, though not a single request sounded from the opposite side of the bed.
❥ If only he knew that your saline tears dampened the pillow and your lashes, the red hue that was on your cheeks had shifted up to your eyes, worn with distress. Tighnari had never mentioned anything negative to you at all, however this sickening discomfiture twisted your stomach.
❥ Despite how hard you tried to disguise the reality of your feelings, fleeing from your excessive eroticism, it’d all come down one day. Your throat closed up, a pounding migraine overtook your senses, making it all the more apparent.
❥ “Dear? What’s the matter? Are you hurt?” The forest ranger panicked— ears twitching half-confusedly. No response apart from a snivel and the rustling of the quilt which you grasped onto. Immediately, he reached for a glass of water and towel.
❥ Tighnari turned you over, fingers brushing along your jaw, patting the cool, damp fabric over your closed eyes. Wails of panic were replaced with small hiccups, breathing still irregular but not as before. Would you even want to discuss this now? He fears startling you again.
❥ Your boyfriend continued to lightly massage your head, raking his slender fingers in your tangled hair. Moments like these— where you needed him the most, he’s here for you.
“Shh, it’s okay, don’t stress over this too much dearest. Get some sleep now.”
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Text
In Sickness and In Health
Synopsis: You fall ill while Childe's away, and while he might care about the Fatui’s missions, Foul Legacy doesn’t.
Foul Legacy Childe x Reader Pronouns: Gender Neutral (no pronouns mentioned) Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Fluff Warnings: Being sick, mentions of pain, headaches, and difficulty breathing, worry, general suffering
~ * ~ As a Fatuus, Childe is often away from you. It’s his duty as the Eleventh Harbinger to carry out orders, completing missions in the name of the Tsaritsa while training young, eager recruits to grow into another member of Snezhnaya’s pride and joy. This he explained to you, over and over, before you had even begun to consider him more than a friend. He was so nervous at first, scared you would reject him, disgusted by his status as a Harbinger. It’s only when you finally moved to silently slip your hand into his that his voice faltered and trailed into silence, lips twisting in uncertainty before lifting into a relieved grin when you gave him a smile full of understanding. Since then the constant, nervous reminders of his position have faded away, replaced by dates of absences and return, one mission after another. It breaks his heart to be away so much, but you always wave off his apologies- his home isn’t the Harbor; it never has been, and as long as he returns, you’ll be alright. And yet no matter how dire the circumstances, Childe would always leave you with a kiss on the forehead and a whispered promise to spend time with you when he returns- anything you like, whether that be dinner, travel, or simply a walk. You’d always laugh and playfully hit his shoulder, unable to do any real damage. He knows what you want, you choose it every time, as the comforting arms of his Foul Legacy form around you are incomparable to anything else, the knowledge that Foul Legacy adores you as much as Childe does ensuring you a good night's sleep after weeks of worry. It makes him smile, seeing how much you love his Abyssal form. He wasn’t even aware Foul Legacy could feel emotions such as love, but the constant, rumbling purr in the back of his mind whenever you’re nearby says otherwise, and his hand briefly rests in your hair before he’s forced to pull away. You’re there when he boards the ship to his destination, smiling and waving goodbye, and his subordinates swear they see the famed Tartaglia’s eyes sparkle as he waves back to his dearest secret standing on the shore. Childe’s only joy in the coming weeks are the letters you send, detailing your normal, mundane life as well as how much you miss him. It’s the only time he genuinely smiles, normally confident smirk gone from his face as an agent hands him a letter almost daily, although they’ve been sparser lately. He opens today’s letter eagerly, making sure not to tear the paper, but his expression morphs into one of confusion when he sees the short, terse paragraph in elegant writing. Zhongli, it must be- Childe knows that script anywhere- and his dull eyes widen in horror as he reads the message. You’re sick. Extremely sick. Zhongli’s been tending to you for a few days, but your fever refuses to go down and the only thing you say when awake is how much everything hurts, mumbling Childe’s name whenever you slip into uneasy dreams. Zhongli assures him that he’ll do his best to take care of and hopefully lift you out of sickness before Childe returns, but that doesn’t prevent his stomach from twisting into a knot of guilt as he thinks of you suffering without him by your side. Foul Legacy whines in his head, to the point Childe can almost see the Abyssal beast curling his claws anxiously as he urges the Harbinger to return home, wherever you are. Childe grits his teeth as he folds Zhongli’s letter; obviously he’d love to go back to the Harbor, but his duties have taken him across the sea, miles away from you, and even if he could go back he wouldn’t dare leave his duties and reveal you as his beloved- the mere thought of the danger you’d be in sends a shiver down his spine. Foul Legacy’s whines turn to hisses, repeatedly insisting to go home, go back, go HELP! And Childe throws his hands up in frustration. “I can’t!” He says aloud, trying to placate the monster clawing at the edges of his mind while his own thoughts race with worry for you. Foul Legacy falls silent, and for a moment Childe thinks he’s won the argument, before he hears a sudden, deadly growl. If you won’t, then I will. There’s barely time to blink before Foul Legacy assumes control of their shared body, inhaling the crisp air and flexing his talons. Without a backward glance he leaves, star-speckled wings spreading and catching the seaborn wind. The agents will awaken to their Harbinger missing, but Foul Legacy doesn’t care- the Fatui’s petty problems are unimportant compared to your pain. His haste is so great that he reaches Liyue Harbor just as the sun is setting, touching down carefully outside your back door to avoid the late-afternoon Millelith. The door’s unlocked, a foreign scent leading inside, and with a growl Foul Legacy enters your home, gaze landing on Zhongli who whirls around in shock. The ex-Archon exhales in relief when he sees Foul Legacy, moving aside to reveal your frail body curled on a bed, fingers clenching the sheets in discomfort. A frantic cry tears itself from Foul Legacy’s throat, rushing past Zhongli to kneel by your side, claws hovering over you, unsure where to place themselves. Zhongli pats his shoulder, trying to reassure the Abyssal monster, and the commotion shakes you from slumber and into unsteady wakefulness, dazedly looking at your love. This must be a dream, it has to be. Childe’s somewhere overseas, completing his latest task for the Tsaritsa; he shouldn’t be back for weeks. And yet, Foul Legacy stares at you, crystalline eye flooded with concern as his whines dip, with some effort, to gentle purrs and he slowly extends a hand to you. “Legacy…” You catch one of his claws in a weak grip, fingers wrapping loosely around the talon before falling back to the mattress, and Foul Legacy whimpers at your lack of strength. Archons, you’re so frail- just how long had you been suffering before Zhongli wrote to him? His hand brushes against your forehead, only to immediately recoil when your skin burns with sickening warmth, far beyond a healthy range. Your eyes flutter shut, too exhausted to stay awake but comforted by the presence of the one you hold dear. Foul Legacy watches you drift into an uneasy sleep, absentmindedly playing with your hair. His touch calms your fevered dreams, and soon your features relax into an expression more peaceful than Zhongli’s seen in days. Legacy’s gentle coos turn to a low hiss as he turns to face the funeral consultant, keeping his claws gentle but his glare steady and pointing at you with his other hand. “Fix. Help. Heal.” And Zhongli simply nods, moving to fetch today’s dose of medication. When he returns, Foul Legacy has curled around your body, cradling your head against his chest and holding your limp hands. The room fills with soft, soothing purrs, refusing to pause even when Zhongli tilts your chin upwards so you swallow the bitter medicine. It tastes like mint and ginger in your dreams, and you nearly spit it out, but the gentle hand petting your hair urges you not to as you lapse back into slumber. From then on Foul Legacy never leaves your side. Day and night he tends to you, comforting your twisted dreams and giving you medicine and making you drink water, when he can. More often than not you feel his cool talons settle on your cheeks and forehead to stave off the heat, and in the fleeting moments you’re awake you can make out his figure keeping you company, claws wrapped around your hands and wings laying over your body like gauzy blankets. His routine is to care for you and nothing less, directed by the vague memories of when Childe’s own siblings were ill, and even when Zhongli stops by, the Abyssal monster refuses to leave you. In a way, Zhongli’s grateful- surprised, yes, but also grateful for the help. He could already see how your condition improved simply by having Foul Legacy tend to you, your breaths coming out easier and sleep being far more peaceful. When you’re in pain, Foul Legacy is too- and on nights when your head feels like it’s splitting open from agony and you can do nothing but cry, he cries with you, attempting to coo and reassure you only to break out into full sobs at the sight of your suffering. But such nights become few and far between the longer he stays, and soon he sleeps the starlit hours away alongside you, the need for constant supervision diminished. He’s napping by your side the day you wake up, tired but lucid, and cup his cheeks in your hands. Foul Legacy jolts awake with a surprised chirp, staring at you like he can’t really believe that you’re here, awake with your consciousness intact, giving him a sleepy smile. “Hi…” Legacy cries out and swoops down to bundle you in his arms, burying his face into your neck with overjoyed clicks and croons. You’re still fragile- he can feel it from the way you lean against him as you thread your fingers through your hair- but you’re alright, you’re okay, and you’ll only get better from here on out. With a tenderness only you’ve had the right of knowing, he sets you back down, the bed cushioning your aching bones, and you open up your arms towards him as an invitation. With a delighted trill he accepts and cuddles against you, claws wrapped securely around your waist and head nudging underneath your chin to make small, hoarse chuckles bubble out of you for the first time in weeks. Your laughter is the sweetest melody to his ears, and Foul Legacy purrs blissfully at the sound. Eventually your hands begin to slow, going from scritches to long, languid pets as sleep tries to pull you back under, fighting against it to no avail. Foul Legacy simply pulls you closer, slotting your body against his as he strokes your arms; his permission to wander back into unconsciousness. You yawn, snuggling impossibly closer and latching onto the scarf that hangs around his neck with a sleepy mumble of goodnight, before peaceful dreams inevitably claim you again. With a soft, affectionate rumble, Legacy pulls the covers over both of you and allows your quiet breathing to lull him to sleep, too, where you can both finally rest. “Love you…” It’s the sun instead of pain that wakes you, filtering through a space in your curtains and bathing you in golden light. You stretch, delicately, and crane your neck towards the Harbinger dozing beside you, before nudging him with a mischievous grin. Childe mumbles, blinking tiredly- it feels like he’s been asleep for days, the only thing on his mind being the murmur from an exhausted but happy Foul Legacy- and when he turns he’s met with the sight of you, the effects of your illness still present but almost invisible due to the smile on your face. “Good morning.”
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II Childe’s Anger II
There's a darker side to Childe that he never lets you see. The wild temper he struggles to keep under lock and key in your presence. You were his everything, his one and only, his family---so when he almost loses you, that temper snaps forward like a venemous snake.
childe x fem!reader II angst, hurt/comfort.
word count: 2,865 cash money
content warnings: Descriptions of anger (mention of throwing things but not at reader or in reader's presence), descriptions of injury.
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It doesn't matter how angry you make him or how horrible what you've done is, Childe can always be swayed by you. You could tear off his right arm then sell it for pocket change and he'd still only be able to resist your honeyed words and doe-eyed pleas for about a minute. He just turns into a goofy-faced pile of mush at any hint of romantic attention you give him, no matter how long you’ve been a couple. Usually, if you've pissed him off, all it takes for him to forgive you is a couple sweet cooings about how he's your favorite man in the world and that you'll only ever belong to him. Hearing those promises from you lights his skin on fire, and he just can't help himself from taking your wrist and tugging you up to his lips. But this time…this time you've really done something unforgivable…
You put yourself in danger.
The night before was a good night; you’d made dinner for Childe, you two snuggled on the couch, you watched a movie on the television he’d gotten from a trip to Fontaine—it was sweet and romantic and relaxing…
Until you brought up a sore subject.
While snuggled up in his lap, cheek resting on his chest, him all but purring in content and happiness, you found it the appropriate time to bring up your intentions for tomorrow.
“Ajax…", they way you sweetly say his birth name never fails to make him melt, "There’s a commission up for grabs at the Adventurer's Guild…someone is lost in the chasm and they want an adventurer to conduct the search.”
“Hmm that’s nice.”, he hummed absentmindedly, resting his chin on the top of your head and hugging you just a little tighter. He has a habit of getting too absorbed into movies; it’s actually quite cute—watching his awe-struck face and twinkling eyes on the screen. He’s like an excited little kid, lost in the movie and the feeling of you in his arms.
“I’d like to take the job.”
Silence.
You almost thought he hadn’t heard you until he stiffly reached for the remote beside his thigh and shut off the TV completely.
“…what was that?”
Something you’ve come to learn about Childe after dating him for so long is: beyond his charming, flippant character in the face of danger, and beyond his unserious approach to dire circumstances…When it comes to the protection of those he loves…he has a temper.
An easily struck temper.
“Childe. I’ll be fine. Please don’t worry abou—“
“Absolutely not. You’re not going.”, he said with that edge of finality to his voice you’ve come to be very familiar with, before standing from your shared seat and walking to the kitchen. Putting distance between you two.
Leaning over the back of the couch to look at him---not letting him escape this conversation, you argue, “It’s not your decision. I wasn’t asking. I was letting you know.”.
Normally, you’d be more gentle with your reasoning—carefully explain the safety measures you’ll take and advocate for your skills as an adventurer. But, after playing out this scene with Childe a countless number of times…
No, you can’t go there. No, you can’t do that. Treating you like a toddler that can’t handle herself...
You had, understandably, grown tired of it.
Even from the meters of space between you two, you could see the telltale signs of Childe’s unsavory, protective side rearing it’s head. The set of his jaw, the way he white-knuckles the edge of the counter he’s leaning on…the way he won’t look at you.
There was a long silence between you two—Childe a menacing statue in your kitchen. You weren’t sure if he was even breathing.
You sat there for what felt like ages—starting to get worried about if Childe was ok…would his knuckles break from how hard he’s holding onto that counter?
Finally, he spoke, his voice caught between a breathy exhale and a rumbling growl.
“If you try to go…
…I will keep you in this house until the commission is over.”
You knew he would.
Even with his demanding job, he’d find a way.
So you had no choice but to relent.
“Ok…I won’t go.”
Childe hated being like this—he hated imposing on you, hated the way he reacted to these sorts of things. He couldn’t keep his cool.
But it’s your safety. You're his family now, the most precious thing in the world to him—if anything happened to you…he’d lose himself. He’d go mad and burn every inch of this world down. It would be worthless garbage if you weren't in it.
So he had to be like this. He had to protect you. At any cost. Even if it upsets you, even if it makes you hate him, he’ll keep doing it. As long as he lives, he’ll put himself right between you and any threat—even if it displeases you. Even if he knows you can handle it yourself. Childe doesn’t take risks when it comes to you.
He felt guilty. And when he feels guilty he goes quiet, and distant. His vices are embedded within him—even if he apologizes, they won’t go away. It’s hard to apologize for...yourself. And it’s even harder for him to apologize for himself to you—the beautiful, endlessly loving, perfect person...who made the mistake of wandering into this controlling monster’s life.
You didn’t believe that, but he did.
So he went to his office.
And stayed there the rest of the night.
———
He wasn’t in bed with you when you woke up, when you turned over to reach for him only to get a fistful of cold sheets.
He wasn’t there when you checked his office, either.
...so he didn’t notice when you left to take the commission.
He may be your boyfriend, but he wasn’t your warden. He couldn’t control your actions or tell you what to do. Especially after losing his cool and leaving you to sleep alone last night. If he was just going to disappear on you, then you could disappear on him.
…you knew it was horrible reasoning, but you were too stubborn to turn back.
And what do you know? Horrible reasoning leads to horrible outcomes.
You got hurt. And not hurt like the usual cuts and scrapes you get on your dailies. No. Real hurt. You-could’ve-lost-your-life hurt.
All you had to do today was a quick check in with the search party, a little reconnaissance, and then you’re back before Childe knows it.
But during your reconnaissance, your glider was torn by a stalagmite, obscured by the darkness of the cave, causing you to land on an unsteady wooden mining structure that collapsed beneath your weight. You fell along with the rubble to the bottom of the pitch-black tunnel—your arm crushed by a wooden beam.
And you were lucky. If you hadn’t landed in a pile of corrupted muck, you could’ve died from the blunt force of the fall, but it was still killing you. Slowly. Painfully.
You were stuck, thousands of miles from the man you loved, dying, and he had no idea where you were—wondering if you’re safe. Worse, he could be out looking for you. You can picture his expression clear as day; Childe never shows terror, but when it’s you in danger, his mask falls faster than you did to the bottom of this mineshaft. You can see the fear in his wide, blue eyes. You can hear the desperation in his voice, bordering on a scream as he calls for you—his throat raspy from how long he’s been yelling for you. You can feel his heavy, labored footsteps shake the ground as he clamors around every inch of Liyue harbor in search for you. He would rather die than lose you, so his expression is that of a dying man as he searches desperately, despairingly for you. The image you know is playing out layers and layers of earth above you breaks your heart a million times over—this is your last regret. You left Childe in anger, and now he’ll never see you again.
Your vision finally faded as the corruption overtook you.
———
Childe is one to give the silent treatment, because he doesn't want to fly off the handle and say something he can't take back---so when you wake in your shared bed, your back pressed up against his chest as he holds you securely, you'll have to live through his hard gaze, his set, flexed jaw, and his silence.
“…Ajax?”
Nothing.
You try to shift but he holds you in place like a splint. And after you blink the sleep out of your eyes, you see why.
Your heavily bandaged arm is splayed out to the side of the bed; the bandages cover the various screws and other work put in by healers to preserve what they could of your arm. In your rest, Childe had been holding you still so you wouldn’t roll over and harm yourself further by moving it.
“…they don’t know if you’ll be able to use it again.”, he says, grimly. The first thing he’s said to you since you woke. He said it like it was a personal slight against him—like you broke something he loved with all of his heart. And you did. That’s exactly what you did.
“Childe…I’m so sorry.”, your voice cracks as you speak, tears quickly welling up in your eyes.
He’s silent again. His jaw looks like it might break from how hard he’s biting down on his words. You’ve never gotten the full brunt of the vitriol he’d spit if he didn’t strangle it down—but you’ve heard him give it to others.
He didn’t know you were just beyond the door of his office when he was chewing out his subordinates for a careless mistake that jeopardized an important shipment; you never knew how unforgiving and cruel you boyfriend could be before that day. The way his voice came out in a terrifying snarl, he sounded more animal than man—to the point that you couldn’t believe it was him, considered that maybe you had the wrong office, until you peeked in and saw. His wild eyes, his sharp, chaotic gesticulations, the way he threw the contents of his desk onto the ground in frustration—apathetic to if anything or any one broke. He’d always been so sweet and understanding with you, you’d never even seen him frown, but the way he spoke to those Fatui soldiers…it revealed something fundamental about him to you.
It took you a lot of time to make sense of it, a lot of thinking and insecurity and fear but you realized…the Childe you knew really was jubilant and kind, he was caring and attentive and generous…but he also really was the man you saw and heard in that office that day. The only difference was who he was talking to.
He was still your Childe. He always would be. But he was only yours. So the rest of the world got to see the ugly he hid from you. The ugly that would seep out of him—clouding his gaze in a menacing, red mist, that would turn his grip from gentle to an inescapable vice…that made him say things he didn’t mean.
So no matter what honest and loving words you utter to him, he is unresponsive, and will remain so until he's cooled down enough to organize his thoughts and deal with you.
But you don't want to wait. You don't want to go to bed with only a rigid "Goodnight." from him. After what you’d done today, you weren’t sure if he’d ever speak to you again—what if, once you healed, he’d leave? The thought horrified you. So you had to get him to speak. You had to.
Gently resting the fingertips of your working hand on the white knuckles of Childe's harshy closed fist securing your waist, you say—your voice shaky with tears but still sweet and considerate of him, "Sweetheart...would you open this for me? I'm worried you're going to hurt youself...".
From how hard he was squeezing, it was possible his nails were digging into his palm. He didn't relent at your touch, his gaze averted to the wall just past your head. That was your fault, of course, because no matter how upset you make him, you’re still the most beautiful woman in the world in his eyes. His gorgeous little girlfriend, the one he works so hard to keep safe and happy, the girl he’d do absolutely anything for. If he were to look at you, look into your beautiful doe eyes, and see those eyes full of tears? He’d lose his resolve. He’s angry with you. You did something unforgivable today. So he just couldn’t look. From the pink dusting his cheeks, you could tell he was fighting not to ogle you. Since he doesn’t open up, you slide your hand over his fist to hold it—he doesn’t stop you.
“Childe…talk to me…please?”. You sound so helpless calling out to him like that. Every instinct in his body screams to run and protect you, to respond and give you anything you need. But the only response you get from him is how he tightens his grip around you ever so slightly. Like he’s assuring himself that you’re fine—you’re safe in his arms.
“Childe…please.” the sob that caught in your throat at that please finally broke him. Brought a crack down the middle of the dam of anger and panic he had reinforced and reinforced again while you were asleep.
His voice came out in a quiet, but dangerous rumble. You felt it in your chest before you heard it.
“I don’t see why you think it’s ok to needlessly put yourself in danger like this.”
If he would’ve said anything else, you wouldn’t have argued. You knew you were in the wrong for telling him you wouldn’t go and going anyway. You knew you were in the wrong for getting hurt in a place where he couldn’t find you. You knew you were in the wrong for how you handled the whole thing.
…but you weren’t in the wrong for doing your job.
“It’s not needless, it’s my job…”, you said, gentle as possible. You weren’t going to snap at him, but this was important to you. He had to understand, “…you do the same thing…”
“You’re my girl. You don’t need a job.”
“I can’t just sit alone in the house all day.”
“Then get a safer job. Start a flower shop. I’ll pay for it.”
“Adventuring is what I’m good at. It’s what I love.”
“You’re supposed to love me!”
And there it was. He raised his voice at you.
The way you flinched did not escape his gaze.
He was a monster and he knew it. He knew he didn't deserve you but he couldn't let you go. No matter how much he told himself he only exists to your detriment...he couldn't. let. go.
Like a dragon that stays atop it's hoard even as the walls of it's cave collapse around it. Like a raccoon fishing a coin out of a small hole---no matter how hard he tries to pry both of you out, knowing you're both stuck in his grip, he can't let go.
With that, he clamped down on his jaw again, drawing his arms back from around you and getting out of bed. He broke for the door but your helpless cry cemented his feet to the floorboards.
"Please, Ajax...please don't leave me."
You were used to how Childe would run from you in guilt--the monster, Grendel, fleeing from Herot to his cave, but this time, you just couldn't brave it. You needed him right now.
He just couldn't understand how you could bear to have him in your presence.
He felt ugly, embarrassed and ashamed, but the desperate tambre in your voice told him you wanted him. Even in his worst moments, you wanted him.
So he returned to your side, kneeling at the side of the bed like a devotee, his face just before yours and his rough hand reaching our to cup your cheek---so gentle, like he was convinced you'd shatter in his grasp. His lips were held in a firm line, but his eyes were wells of love and devotion for you.
Only for you.
"Ajax...I love you."
With his deep sigh, the pressure in the room was alleviated--fresh, new oxygen renewed into the space. The tension in his knuckles, his shoulders, and his jaw was finally released. With those three words, he had melted into the Ajax you knew, your Ajax.
"I love you too."
"I'm sorry."
"I know you are."
There was a moment where you two were just, you two. Where he stroked your cheek with his thumb and gazed into your beautiful eyes--his own held that special little sparkle that was typically lost in the void. The sparkle only you get to see.
With a hum, he let's go of you and stands.
"I'll get you some food."
And with your simple nod, he left. But this time, you knew he'd be back.
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sweet-almonds · 1 year
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boyfriend!scaramouche when he had your first kiss, he was really nervous, his breathing uneasy when he confessed his love to you and was getting anxious when you didn't reply to his love letter that he took hours to write, mainly for the reasons of writing something and erasing it, worrying that you wouldn't like it; he closed his eyes, bitting his lip anxiously, praying to whichever archon can listen to him that this was all a dream, but what he didn't expect was when you carefully kissed his lips, not wanting to startle him, nonetheless he did get startled lmao.
boyfriend!scaramouche when he takes you to dinner dates; he always holds your hand, kissing it gently, barely grazing his lips on the back of your hand. he NEVER lets you walk by yourself to his car, he always walks to your door, knock's on your door in a specific order that you two made to make sure who was knocking and takes you out to one of the most EXPENSIVE restaurants in town, lucky you he rich rich he also brings a bouquet of flowers, but not a normal bouquet, but a bouquet of YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER🥺🥺
boyfriend!scaramouche who's love language is quality time. when his mother, and his two only friends had left him, he had no one to rely on, he had only himself; so in the beginning steps of your relationship, he would always annoy you, be sometimes mean to you, but don't take it seriously please, he really does love you, he really does, he just needs some time to process what was happening with his mind and his feelings, and in his mind, the best way to do so is pushing you away. but always keep an eye on him and stay close, because with time, he will realize that you really mean to stay, and he will warm up to you. he sometimes will let out a few remarks, but he doesn't mean it, that's just his way of saying that he wants you by his side forever.
boyfriend!scaramouche when you two started to live together in his luxury apartment, he would tell you that he had major nightmares, reliving the memory of his mother leaving him, but ever since he met you, he has been having nightmares of YOU, leaving him behind in the darkness; waking up with tears streaming down his eyes. but ANYWAY, he basically said "so um, if i ever do that, just go back to sleep, i'll be fine👍". you didn't reply, but you are definitely NOT going to leave him all alone at night, crying his eyeballs out🥺. so when he did wake up at night, you would wake up, and hug him, putting one of your hands behind his head, burying his face into your chest, while also singing a melody your mother would sing to you when you were a child; at the beginning, he would protest, but not long after, he gave up, and just ended up falling asleep on your chest, snuggling up closer to you. if you listen closer, you can hear him say 'i love you' in his sleep with a smile on his face.
boyfriend!scaramouche that is just madly in love with you, and doesn't intend on letting you go, he wants to stay by your side forever, he wants to be the person you can depend on, the one you can trust, the one you can love. and he will not stop untill you give your heart to him, so that he can keep it in his safe place, his very own heart.
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maybe i should do another one?
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teapartyspilled · 8 months
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It Will Come Back III
pairing - Scaramouche x f!reader (Au)
AN: This is a 3-4 part scara angst series. It does not make scara look good. If you're looking for scara comfort, this is not the series you should be reading. Reblogs are much appreciated and I would love your feedback to this :) Please also let me know in the comments or in my inbox, DMs. (P.s - I think it might just go to 5 parts. Still debating.)
Word count - 6900
CW/TW: angst, insecurities, arguments/conflicts, jealousy, crying, heartbreak, mean! scara, unrequited love, hurt/no comfort, ghosting, alcohol, spiraling thoughts, fluff
Header art credit
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And for a moment I thought you were here. But then again, it wasn't true
PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 - You found me | PART 4 | PART 5
As Scaramouche's name slipped from your lips, his pulse quickened, and his heart seemed to skip a beat. The world around him faded into the background, leaving only you in his vision. He watched as you took a moment to compose yourself, replacing the shock in your eyes with a kind smile. It wasn't the same smile you had once greeted him with, filled with warmth and affection, but it wasn't marred by regret either. He noticed how you raised your forefinger, indicating that you needed a minute. You turned around and spoke with Diluc. The bartender's red hair and usual scowl were a contrast to the gentleness in his eyes as he spoke with you, nodding at your words. Scaramouche couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling that he had no right to feel.
As you walked towards their table, towards him, he felt a whirlwind of emotions crashing over him. His stomach felt queasy, and he wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension, but his words seemed to have failed him. He had imagined this moment countless times, how he would react if he ever saw you again, but now that it was happening, he felt utterly unprepared. As you reached the table, Scaramouche forced a smile, trying to appear unaffected by the tumultuous storm of emotions raging inside him. "Hey," he greeted you, trying to keep his voice steady.
"(Y/n), it's really been a while," Miyo chimed in, her excitement still evident in her voice.
You nodded, your eyes meeting Scaramouche's briefly before you turned your attention back to Miyo. "Yeah, it has, hasn’t it?" you replied.
Venti, with his mischievous grin still intact, turned to the trio—Scaramouche, Miyo, and you—and asked, "So, do you all know each other?"
You were the first to respond. "Yes, we do," you replied calmly.
Venti smacked himself lightly on the forehead, his eyes widening with realization. "Ah, I completely forgot!" he exclaimed. "You're from Inazuma! You've been living in Mondstadt for so long and adapting so well that it feels like you've been here all your life, (y/n)."
Scaramouche clenched his teeth at the familiarity with which Venti spoke with you, as if Venti knew you better than he did.
Miyo, ever observant, noticed the change in his behavior. "Scara, are you alright?" she asked, concern in her voice.
Scaramouche managed a strained smile, "I'm fine. Just fine. How about you (Y/n)? You doing okay?"
You grinned widely, trying to dispel any worries. "I've been doing great," you said, your tone confident.
Scaramouche wanted to scoff. Of course, you’d say that. It wasn’t like you were going to admit if anything was amiss. After all, he had pushed you away with his harsh cruel words. You had appearances to keep, didn’t you? But he knew that there was truth in what you said as well. He could see the changes in you, both physically and emotionally, since the last time he had seen you three years ago. Your nails were painted a pretty shade of pink, a detail he never would have noticed back then. The color had returned to your skin, and you seemed more vibrant than ever. But most importantly, the sparkle in your eyes, the one that had dimmed in the past, had returned, and it fascinated him.
Miyo's face lit up with excitement as she beamed at you. "Oh, that's great!" she exclaimed. "Why don't you join us for a few drinks? We can catch up. I would love to know what’s been going on with you over the past few years!"
Scaramouche shot Miyo a pleading look, hoping she'd understand his unspoken request. As curious as he was about you, he wasn't mentally prepared to interact with you, not now, not like this.
You giggled at Miyo's suggestion, the warmth in your laughter reaching Scaramouche's ears like a sweet melody. "As much as I'd like that," you replied, "I promised Diluc that I'd help him behind the bar today."
Venti chimed in, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ah, that's perfect then," he said with a mischievous grin. "Having you here at Angel's Share means Diluc will be much more lax with my open tab." He winked at you.
You laughed and retorted, "I wouldn't push for that if I were you, Venti."
Venti chuckled playfully, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh, come on, (Y/n), it's worth a try." Before you could say more, he called out loudly, "Master Diluc, join us for a moment, preferably with more drinks!"
Scaramouche noticed Diluc rolling his eyes at Venti's exuberance, quickly wiping his hands with tissues before making his way to the table. The scowl that Scaramouche associated with the redhead was back on Diluc's face, but this time, Scaramouche felt like it was directed at him. He couldn't help but feel uneasy under Diluc's gaze, sensing an intensity in the man's eyes that made him uncomfortable.
As Scaramouche observed Diluc approaching the table, a surge of uncertainty washed over him. Did Diluc know about him or about his history, or lack thereof, with you? The thought gnawed at him, leaving him with a bitter taste of insecurity. He watched as Diluc stood close to you, his hand resting gently on your back. Despite the stern exterior that Diluc portrayed, Scaramouche couldn't help but notice the gentleness in his touch towards you. He was tall and well-built, an imposing figure, yet Scaramouche couldn't deny the subtle affection he displayed with you.
You took the initiative to make introductions, turning to face Scaramouche and Miyo. "Luc, this is Scaramouche and his girlfriend Miyo," you said, a hint of formality in your tone.
Miyo corrected you with a grin, "Fiancé, actually! Look!" She proudly showed off her engagement ring, and Scaramouche found the gesture adorable. Miyo's excitement about their engagement was infectious, and it momentarily lifted the heavy atmosphere around them.
“Oh wow. That’s a big rock!” You smiled at Miyo. “Congratulations to both of you!!”
Scaramouche couldn't help but feel a slight disappointment in how genuine you sounded. Did you really mean those words, or were you merely being polite? The insecurity gnawed at him, and he quickly pushed the thought away, not wanting to entertain any false hopes.
You turned your attention back to Diluc and said, "And this is Diluc, my boyfriend and my boss for tonight." You teased the redhead.
Diluc nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze shifting between Scaramouche and Miyo. There was a flicker of something in his eyes, an unreadable emotion that made Scaramouche's heart race even faster. It only added to the complexity of the emotions swirling inside Scaramouche. Here was the man you were now involved with, someone he knew nothing about, and it gnawed at him.
Diluc politely extended his hand, "Nice to meet you," he said with a calm demeanor.
Scaramouche replied in kind, trying his best to keep his composure. "Likewise," he said, keeping his tone even as he noticed Diluc's arm still placed on your back. It took everything in Scaramouche not to squeeze too hard, controlling his temper as he got a closer look at the man while shaking his hand. Diluc had red eyes that seemed to be always glaring, coupled with fiery red hair that made him look rough around the edges. He looked aloof and there was an aura of mystery around this man. He didn't seem like the type of guy Scaramouche would usually imagine you being attracted to, which only fueled his curiosity further. But then again, what did he know about your preferences?
Miyo, in a talkative spirit, complimented Diluc about the bar and how much she enjoyed Dawn Winery's products even in Inazuma. She playfully joked that he should consider opening a distillery in Inazuma to make the products more accessible and less expensive. "Think about all the business you'd get," she added.
Diluc chuckled, his tone carrying a mix of confidence and wit. "If you draft a proposal that catches my interest, I might just give it some serious thought," he replied.
Venti took this opportunity to excuse himself to the bathroom, leaving the four of you to continue the conversation. Diluc then turned his attention to Scaramouche, a hint of smugness in his eyes. "I'm sorry, ‘Your Highness’. I don't quite know how to address you," Diluc said, "I've heard that you are the prince of Inazuma."
Scaramouche's eyes widened, a sudden realization hitting him like a bolt of lightning. Diluc knew. He probably knew everything about Scaramouche and your history. The thought made Scaramouche's heart race, and he quickly composed himself, brushing off the prince title. "I'm here on vacation, away from any royal titles and responsibilities," Scaramouche replied tersely, "Scaramouche will do just fine." His alias felt less formal then his own name.
Deep down, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Diluc's knowledge of his past, his connection with you, it all left him feeling exposed. He felt like Diluc was silently judging him, sizing him up in a way that made him restless.
Diluc's attention was drawn away by another bartender who called out, "Master Diluc!" Scaramouche noticed how you and Diluc looked at each other, not saying anything, but there was an unspoken understanding passing between you two. He couldn't help but feel like an outsider, as if he were witnessing a private moment that he was excluded from.
You took a deep breath, breaking the silent exchange, and turned to Scaramouche and Miyo. "I'm sorry, but we have to go."
Miyo perked up and proposed, "How about the four of us do dinner together tomorrow? It would be a good opportunity for us to catch up but also to get to know ‘Master’ Diluc better."
Scaramouche felt like protesting the idea, but he bit the inside of his cheek to restrain himself. He noticed you hesitating, and he hoped you would decline, but then you looked at Diluc again. Something passed between the two of you, a silent communication that Scaramouche couldn't grasp, and Diluc nodded in agreement.
"I'll reserve a table for four at Good Hunter's," Diluc said calmly.
"That's perfect!” You tiptoe and place a soft kiss on Diluc’s cheek causing Scaramouche’s stomach to churn. “It's one of the best restaurants in Mondstadt." You explain to Miyo and Scaramouche.
Scaramouche observed your eyes crinkling with excitement, a sight he hadn't seen in a long time. He remembered how you used to look at him with the very same expression when he relented to your whimsical ideas, which slowly faded over the years, until he never saw it on you again after he started dating Miyo. Diluc and you excused yourself and walked side by side towards the bar.
The rest of the evening unfolded with Venti regaling them with stories about Mondstadt, its history, and the various peculiar characters that inhabited the city. The bar was alive with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of glasses as patrons enjoyed the delicious wine and lively atmosphere. Yet, amidst the jovial ambiance, Scaramouche's focus remained solely on you. He watched with a mix of emotions as you confidently handled the bar, effortlessly mixing and pouring drinks with ease. Your playful banter with the waiters and other bartenders was met with smiles and laughter. Your ease and charm were evident, and Scaramouche couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise at the way you seemed to fit in so effortlessly. He noticed how your eyes would often seek the redhead, and how there were fleeting exchanges of touches between the two of you. A gentle touch on his shoulder as you handed him a drink, or him tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear. Each touch sent a jolt through Scaramouche, sparking a sense of uncomfortable emotions that only grew as he continued to watch you and Diluc interact with each other.
As he observed you animatedly talking with the bar's patrons, he noticed that many of them seemed familiar with you. It made him wonder, were you always this extroverted? Back in college, when you used to hang out with him and his friends, you were like a silent spectator, never truly engaging or joining in on the fun. It now dawned on him that you weren't quiet because you didn't want to join in on the fun; you were quiet because you didn't feel welcome. He remembered the jokes they made at your expense, the way they poked fun at your quirks and eccentricities.
The music blared loudly in his dorm room, and the air was filled with the chatter and laughter of exchange students from Snezhnaya. Scaramouche found himself sitting among a few of his classmates, including Signora, Zandik, and Ajax. You were there too, sitting next to him, though you seemed quieter than usual, perhaps overshadowed by the boisterous atmosphere. Ajax was sharing stories of his adventures with his father on Snezhnaya’ s frozen river, where they would go fishing in the ice during the cold winters. "It's quite an experience, you know," Ajax grinned, his eyes shining with excitement.
You chimed in, your voice soft but sincere, "I've never seen snow in my life. It must be so beautiful."
For a moment, an awkward silence fell upon the group. Scaramouche noticed everyone, including himself, staring at you with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Zandik, always the one to speak his mind, broke the silence with a thoughtful expression. "People who get too comfortable with one place never see beyond it," he remarked cryptically.
Signora sneered at you and directed her response to Zandik, "You're assuming too much, Zandik. She doesn't even look comfortable in her own little dress."
The comment elicited a round of laughter, and Scaramouche couldn't help but join in, though he noticed how uncomfortable your smile appeared. Ajax quickly intervened, calling for everyone to go easy on you. "No need to be so harsh on her guys," he said, his tone gentle, "We're all here to have a good time." Ajax then turned to you with a warm smile, "If you ever find yourself in Snezhnaya, I'd be more than happy to show you around."
You whispered a quiet thank you, and Scaramouche playfully chimed in, "Well, she'd first have to leave Inazuma for that, but you know her, barely leaves her room."
The remark earned him some chuckles, but Scaramouche couldn't help but feel frustrated as he noticed how your smile faltered.
Scaramouche's thoughts were interrupted as he saw Diluc subtly grab your hips to move around you behind the bar. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the way Diluc's fingers caressed and gently squeezed your waist, and the way he leaned in to whisper something in your ear, earning a playful giggle from you. He felt a surge of irritation building within him. You were slipping away, moving on with your life, and he couldn't help but feel like he was being left behind. He was the one who walked away from you in the first place, he reminded himself.
He sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and exhaustion. "Miyo, I think I'm tired. Can we call it a night?" he said, trying to hide the bitterness in his tone.
Miyo nodded, understandingly. "Sure, Scara. After a whole day of sightseeing, I'm feeling pretty tired too."
As they said their goodbyes to Venti, Scaramouche couldn't help but feel defeated. Seeing you with Diluc, witnessing the ease and affection between you, was a harsh reminder that he was no longer the center of your world. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of emotions, struggling to make sense of everything that had transpired that evening. He felt envious of the connection between you and Diluc, yet he knew it was irrational to feel that way. He had walked away from you, and now, seeing you happy and involved with someone else, he should be happy that you moved on, but why was he feeling frustrated instead? Is this how you felt when you had to see Miyo and him almost every day?  You must have struggled to hold your ground, to bear witness to their happiness while hoping that it could have been you by his side. You must have been enduring this torment for months, you bore the burden of pain while he could barely stand a fleeting encounter with you and Diluc for a few hours.
His mind was consumed by thoughts of you and the realization that he had been holding on to you, thinking your world would still be consumed by him while he moved forward with Miyo. As he walked beside Miyo, he tried to put on a brave front, to push aside the turmoil within him.  The streets of Mondstadt were alive with the bustling nightlife, but Scaramouche felt detached from it all.
-------------------------------------
As you applied body lotion to your arms, you noticed Diluc lying on the bed, scrolling through his phone. You couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious after the encounter at the bar with Scaramouche. Before you could stop yourself, the words slip out of your mouth. "She's nice, isn't she?" you asked casually, referring to Miyo.
Diluc looked up from his phone, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm, who?" he inquired.
"Miyo," you replied, still focused on your task of applying lotion.
He shrugged, placing his phone on the nightstand. "I don't know her well enough to make that judgment yet. Why do you ask?" he questioned.
You sighed softly and said nothing at first, unsure if you should share your feelings with him. “It’s nothing” You offer a small smile.
Diluc rests his weight on his elbow, pushing himself up to sit beside you on the bed. He gives you a knowing look and says your name, "(Y/n)," in a tone that's familiar, a tone that he uses when he had to admonish you. “There wouldn’t have been a question in the first place if it was nothing. We already discussed this, didn’t we? You can tell me about anything that’s bothering you. I will listen to it no matter how trivial it may seem to you.”
You shake your head, not quite sure how to express your feelings. "It's just... seeing Miyo and Scara tonight brought back some old insecurities," you say, your voice tinged with vulnerability. "I just... I can't help but think about how she’s better than me.” You sigh again, leaning into him, feeling the warmth of his presence.
Diluc gently grabs your hand, lifting it to his lips, and places a soft kiss on your fingertips. "If anyone should be insecure among the two of us tonight, it should be me," he jokes. "After all, your ex is in town," he adds, trying to lighten the mood.
You roll your eyes at his teasing and defend yourself, "Scara is not my ex. And if he heard you say that, he'd probably make sure you're banned from Inazuma or something." You joked.
Diluc scoffed playfully at your comment, "If it ever came to that, I'd just make sure there would be no trading of Dawn Winery products in Inazuma. And I'm certain that would hurt Inazuma more than me getting banned from the country," he said, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
You couldn't help but smack him on his arm, trying to hide your smile. "You’d upset my father if you did that. You know how he is about your dandelion wine." you teased.
He continued, his voice tender and genuine, "Miyo may be nice, but you are incredible. My eyes are only for you, Schatzi and so is my heart." His term of endearment always made your heart flutter. You placed a soft kiss on his forehead, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
His arms wrapped around you, pulling you down to the bed as you lay on top of his chest. He gently stroked your hair, his touch comforting and reassuring. "Are you okay? Seeing him again must not have been easy on you." he asked softly.
You took a moment to collect your thoughts before answering honestly, "I feel insecure and anxious, but strangely, I don't feel hurt. I thought seeing him again would reopen old wounds, but I feel nothing of that sort." You looked up into Diluc's eyes, finding solace in his gaze.
He smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair away from your face. "You're strong, and you've grown since then," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "You don't need to compare yourself to anyone else.”
You nodded in response to his words. His touch was comforting and pressed a gentle kiss to his chest, reassuring him that you were doing okay.
"Tomorrow's dinner should be interesting," Diluc mused, a hint of amusement in his voice. You chuckled softly, knowing that he was referring to the dinner with Scaramouche and Miyo.
"Please behave," you teased.
Diluc's arms tightened around you, and he pressed a kiss to your forehead. "I can't promise my best behavior," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I am a jealous man, Schatzi.”
In the soft glow of the room, Diluc's confession made your heart skip a beat. You looked up at him, your eyes meeting his, and you could see the sincerity in his gaze. It was both endearing and slightly teasing, knowing that he was just a touch possessive of you. A playful smile tugged at your lips, your fingers gently tracing circles on his chest as you whispered, "I don't mind a little bit of jealousy."
Diluc's lips curved into a soft smile, and he brushed a strand of hair away from your face. "I know I have nothing to worry about. Because… well, you're stuck with me.” He teased. "No one else stands a chance." He said with unbridled confidence.
--------------------------------------
As the cab pulled up in front of the Good Hunter's, Scaramouche couldn't help but feel a mix of apprehension and curiosity. He knew he had to maintain his cover, even though a select few recognized him with his alias - a prince in disguise. His guards, dressed in plain clothes, stood outside the restaurant, a necessary precaution despite being in Mondstadt. Miyo, elegant in a modest and long designer dress, walked beside him as they entered the establishment. She looked like a princess from fairy tales he had read as a kid, he thought to himself. Placing his hand on her lower back, they walked into the restaurant.
Inside the restaurant, the ambiance exuded both coziness and luxury, with warm lighting and tasteful decorations adorning the space. The aroma of delicious food filled the air, creating an inviting atmosphere that put everyone at ease. Scaramouche's eyes met Diluc's across the room, and he felt a wave of tension wash over him. Seated across from you and Diluc, Miyo greeted the two of you with a friendly smile, and Scaramouche followed suit, putting on a façade of composure. The conversation flowed with polite pleasantries as you exchanged greetings, but Scaramouche's mind was in chaos.
He couldn't help but notice how stunning you looked in the black dress, the plunging neckline adding a touch of allure to your appearance. Memories of the incident with Signora flashed through his mind, recalling how you stopped wearing dresses after that, and now, here you were, radiant in a dress that made his heart throb. In the midst of the conversation, his eyes found yours, and you nodded in acknowledgement. That simple gesture made him he fear and wonder if you could see the turmoil in his eyes.
As Miyo looked over the menu, she asked, "What would you recommend here?"
You chuckled and replied, "Well, everything is quite delicious here. You can't go wrong with any choice. Trust me, I’d eat all of it in one sitting if I could."
The exchange was light-hearted, a rare moment of casualness between you and Miyo. Scaramouche couldn't help but notice how different this was from the times he saw you together at the shared dorm. You would often retreat to your room whenever Miyo was around, only engaging with her when absolutely necessary. But here, in the soft glow of the restaurant, you seemed more at ease.
Miyo then turned her attention to Diluc and asked, "And what wine would you recommend, Master Diluc?"
Diluc gave a nonchalant shrug, "I'm afraid I wouldn't know. I don't drink," he replied calmly. “And please, just call me Diluc. The locals here like to exaggerate my importance.”
Her gasp of surprise was met with a smirk from Scaramouche, who assumed that his beloved Miyo had caught Diluc off-guard. "Oh, come on, Diluc," Scaramouche chimed in, "haven't you had your fill of wine while being in the business of making it?"
Diluc maintained his calm demeanor and replied, "I am in the business, but that doesn't mean I have to partake in it. I know how to enjoy what life has to offer without alcohol involved." His words were composed, and it seemed like he was trying to prove a point without being overtly confrontational. But Scaramouche didn’t miss the redhead rolling his eyes, looking disinterested and unimpressed with the question.
He could sense that Diluc was subtly trying to challenge him, to have a standoff, yet the women seemed oblivious to it. Deep down, Scaramouche could feel a mix of emotions. Part of him wanted to engage in the competition, to grab your attention and to emerge victorious, but another part of him felt he needed to be civil and polite for your sake. After all, you’d been kind to him so far. “Fair point.” He shrugged at Diluc’s response.
As the evening progressed, the group ordered an array of delectable dishes and fine wine. The conversation flowed smoothly, touching on various topics such as recent happenings in Mondstadt, the beauty of Inazuma, and even a light-hearted discussion about favorite books and movies. As the food arrived, Scaramouche noticed Diluc discreetly placing a few caramelized mushrooms from his plate onto yours. You thanked him with a look of pure adoration, and Scaramouche couldn't help but swallow the lump forming in his throat. He knew how much you loved mushrooms, but he despised them, leading you to rarely cook them during your time together at the dormitory. It stung to see Diluc effortlessly doing something that brought you joy. It felt like Diluc was rubbing it on Scaramouche's face that he was better for you.
Miyo noticed the exchange and switched to Inazuman, speaking directly to you. "Diluc must be spoiling you often," she said with a playful smile. "You've never looked this good before, and I'm happy for you."
You blushed at her words and wiped your mouth with a tissue to respond to her, but before you could, Diluc interjected fluently in the same language. "(Y/n) makes enough money to spoil herself and sometimes me, despite my objections." His voice was smooth and composed, surprising both Scaramouche and Miyo. “She gets quite flustered when I try to spoil her instead.”
The unexpected display of fluency in the language caught Scaramouche off guard. Diluc was a native of Mondstadt, and he hadn't anticipated Diluc being proficient in Inazuman. He felt envious, wondering if there was anything this man couldn't do.
Looking at their shocked faces, Diluc turned to you and asked, "Did I make a mistake while speaking Inazuman?"
You dismissed his question with a warm smile and replied, "Your pronunciation of some words were a little off, but everything you said was grammatically correct. Good job, Luc!"
Miyo chimed in, "I didn't know you could speak Inazuman, Diluc."
Diluc's smile remained, and his eyes stayed fixed on you as he explained, "Well, (Y/n)’s grandparents can only speak Inazuman, so I've been learning the language to communicate with them."
Miyo placed a hand on her heart and cooed, "Aww, that's so sweet."
Scaramouche nodded, acknowledging the effort, "Impressive," he said. The man seemed to be trying to flex his abilities, and Scaramouche couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. It was already a struggle for him to be friendly with Diluc, and now this display of language proficiency felt like an unnecessary show of skill.
The dinner resumed with the group savoring the delicious dishes and engaging in lively conversation. Miyo seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the food, and Scaramouche kept reminding himself that he had her by his side and that he didn't need to let your presence rile him up. Miyo was a diplomat in the Kanjou commission, engaged to him, and soon they would be married. She understood him better than most people, and her kindness was evident in her interactions with everyone at the table. Scaramouche tried to tell himself that he felt this way because things remained unresolved between you and him. You had left without saying a word, and it had left a mark on him, an ache that he couldn't fully explain. Perhaps, that was why he felt this way. He couldn't let himself be affected by your presence, not when he was about to commit to Miyo.
As you finished your food, a knife slipped from your hand, clattering loudly on the floor. Scaramouche chuckled softly, reminiscing about how clumsy you used to be, leading to such moments happening often. He was warmed by the fact that at least this part of you hadn't changed. He remembered how your clumsiness was the butt of most jokes amongst him and his friends. You quickly dove under the table to retrieve the fallen knife, and Diluc's arm immediately reached out to cover the corner of the table before you could get back up. It was a small gesture, but it didn't escape Scaramouche's observant eyes. Diluc seemed to be looking out for you, even in the smallest ways.
As you got back up, you apologized sheepishly, and Diluc slowly pulled his arm back. "Clumsy as always huh, Schatzi*?" His tone was teasing.
‘Schatzi?’ What the hell does that mean? Was he making fun of you by calling you names?  Scaramouche frowned, curious about the term Diluc used to address you. It didn’t sound like he was mocking you but instead it sounded very affectionate.
Miyo, noticing the term, asked, "What does Schatzi mean?"
Diluc's smile turned fond as he explained, "It means 'little treasure' in our language."
Little treasure. It was evident that Diluc held a special place in his heart for you. Of course, he did. You were precious. It made sense that he called you that, right? And terms of endearment were a thing to be expected with two people who were in a relationship. So why did the name leave a bitter taste in his mouth? A voice in his head hissed at him, if she was precious, then why did you let her go?
---------------------------------
As the evening wore on, Diluc excused himself to go to the bathroom. You couldn't help but steal glances at him throughout the night. He looked so effortlessly handsome, and the soft lighting of the restaurant seemed to enhance his allure. The way he carried himself, with a certain air of confidence and intelligence, only added to his charm. You found yourself lost in thoughts about your first interaction with him, how he had been completely different than what you expected him to be.
It had been another night at the bar, and you found yourself drinking alone. Kaeya had left with some girl, leaving you by yourself to drown your sorrows in alcohol. It had been half a year since you moved to Mondstadt, and you were slowly rebuilding your life after the heartache in Inazuma. Favonius Corp had provided you with a sense of stability, and you had managed to find a circle of friends who supported you. But Scaramouche's memories still lingered, and the pain from your past kept resurfacing, leading you to seek solace in the bar.
You laid your head on the table, the alcohol making your mind hazy. The sense of agency and happiness you were slowly reclaiming seemed to temporarily slip away as you drowned in your thoughts. A sudden knock on the table jolted you awake, and you glared at the person who had disturbed your moment of peace. It was a familiar redheaded man with a scowl on his face – Kaeya's brother and the renowned Master Diluc. You had seen him around the bar before but had never spoken to him.
"The bar's closing, and you're the only patron left," Diluc stated matter-of-factly.
You looked around and realized he was right. Pushing yourself off the table, you were swaying slightly, not fully steady on your feet. You made your way to the bar as Diluc followed you. With a slurred voice, you asked him how much you needed to pay for the drinks. He shook his head and informed you that Kaeya had already taken care of it before leaving. You nodded, appreciating the gesture, and mumbled that you'd see him around, walking away from him.
But Diluc had other plans. He pulled you back by the collar of your shirt, surprising you. "I promised Kaeya that I'd make sure you'd get home safe," he said firmly.
“I am … I am fine….” You slurred feeling offended that he assumed you needed his assistance. “I can handle going home by myself. The prince of Mondstadt can retire for the night, thank you.” You stuck your tongue out at him.
You noticed him smirk, and it annoyed you. Diluc chuckled, "If I'm a prince, as you claim, then it's my princely duty to escort you home. That's what a prince should do."
You rolled your eyes, the alcohol giving you the boldness to speak to him in such a way. He usually had an intimidating aura around him, but tonight, your inhibitions were lowered. "I'm not a damsel in distress who needs the prince's assistance. I'm more like a witch at best who lives in the forest and can survive by herself. Strong, independent and intimidating!"
Diluc laughed out loud at your remark, and you couldn't help but find his laughter contagious. He looked so handsome when he was relaxed and wasn't scowling, you couldn't help but stare at him. His features were sharp and striking, exuding an air of royalty that matched his reputation as the prince of Mondstadt. His sharp red eyes appeared warmer than usual and his smile was breathtaking. It felt like you were witness something rare, something so reserved and it made you greedy. You wanted to see more of him, like this. "All the more reason for me to drop the witch off and ensure the safety of Mondstadt," he said with a playful smile.
"You're so pretty when you aren't grumpy." You blurt out your thoughts before you could stop yourself.
Diluc raised his eyebrow, mildly amused by your slip. "Did you just say that I am pretty?"
Before you could respond, a sick sensation overwhelmed you, and you felt your stomach churn. You knew what was about to happen, and you tried to hold it back, tried to warn the man in front of you but it was too late. You ended up throwing up on his shoes, and embarrassment washed over you. And just like that, another alcohol induced interaction altered your life yet again.
Scaramouche cleared his throat, pulling your attention back to him. His sharp eyes were watching you intently, and you could feel tension in the air. "Since when?" he asked, his voice measured but carrying a hint of something unspoken.
You blinked for a moment, thinking about what he meant. Then, you realized he was referring to your relationship with Diluc. "About two years in a few weeks, we started off as friends and then we just clicked you know?" you replied honestly, offering him a small smile.
"That's wonderful... good for you," Scaramouche said, his eyes avoiding direct contact with yours.
The atmosphere between you and Scaramouche felt awkward, and you tried to lighten the mood with a smile. His expression looked conflicted, and you couldn't help but wonder what emotions were swirling beneath his composed exterior. Was it repulsion towards you, or perhaps guilt? He wanted nothing to do with you and yet, here you were, a few years later, sharing a meal with your respective partners. The past with Scaramouche had been filled with anguish and pain, but it was in the past now. You had moved on, and you once thought you would never recover from the pain you endured, but looking at him now, you knew that time, therapy and space made things better.
Miyo's question interrupted your thoughts, pulling your attention away from Scaramouche. "How do you deal with all the attention? Being with someone as famous as Diluc must always bring the media's focus on you," she asked with genuine curiosity.
You shrugged, offering a smile to Miyo. "Initially, it was overwhelming. I wasn't used to the attention, but over time, it gradually faded. Mondstadt respects freedom and privacy, so that helped a lot." You paused for a moment, then continued, "And I assume Diluc's PR team also plays a significant role in protecting us from the constant spotlight."
Miyo grumbled, looking a bit envious. "I wish the Inazuman press was that kind towards us," she said, glancing at Scaramouche, who remained silent.
“We spoke about this several times, Miyo.” Scaramouche sighed in frustration. “The press plays an important role in the public perception of the Monarchy. It is important that our lives are documented my them to build our trust with the people.”
“I know.” She retorts. “But sometimes… just sometimes, it is nice to have some time off to ourselves without the attention you know? Like right now.” She smiled weakly at him.
The atmosphere at the dinner table became a bit awkward as the conversation between Scaramouche and Miyo unfolded. It felt like you were in the middle of something that you shouldn't be a part of. You tried to be discreet, sipping on your drink, but it was hard not to notice the tension in the air.
Thankfully, your awkwardness dissipated when Diluc returned, joining everyone at the table. “I am sorry, I took the liberty in paying for tonight’s dinner.” His eyes landed on Scaramouche. “You see, I have to leave early in the morning tomorrow for a business meeting in Liyue.”
Scaramouche quickly agreed. “Yes, we were thinking of leaving early as well.” He looked pointedly at Miyo. “We’ve been quite exhausted as well since we have spent most of our time touring through this city. Plus, the night is getting chilly. I’d like to be in the hotel before the temperature drops further.”
You noticed Scaramouche and Diluc shaking hands, their exchange cordial but lacking the warmth that you had often experienced with Diluc. Miyo spoke up, breaking the awkward silence, "You two must visit us in Inazuma as guests of the crown. We'd be delighted to host you both."
You smiled at Miyo's invitation, appreciating her friendly gesture. "Thank you, Miyo. We're planning to visit Inazuma sometime in the next few months," you replied. “I’ll keep you updated.”
As you got up from your chair, Miyo surprised you with a warm hug, and you reciprocated the gesture. It was nice catching up with her after all these years. To your surprise, Scaramouche uncharacteristically pulled you into a hug after Miyo let you go. His embrace felt foreign and awkward, and you could sense the tension between the two of you. "I hope to see you around in Mondstadt before we leave," Scaramouche said, his voice tinged with an unfamiliar vulnerability. You frowned and felt a sense of confusion, not sure how to respond to his unexpected show of affection. You couldn't shake off the feeling that hanging out with him and Miyo by yourself wouldn't be a wise idea.
As the group walked towards the exit, Diluc made sure to take care of both your coats. He helped you put on your coat, and you noticed how his gentle touch was in contrast to the awkward hug you had just experienced with Scaramouche. Diluc wore his own black coat, and as you all stepped outside, the chilly night air greeted you. Diluc, ever attentive, pulled out a red scarf from the pocket of his coat and wrapped it around your neck.  "It's cold tonight. You should keep warm," he said with a concerned tone.
You groaned, "I don't want to wear the scarf, Luc. I don't like how it feels on my neck. It's almost like it's choking me!" You chuckled. You liked the fact that he cared about you. It was endearing and it made your heart flutter. But poking fun at him to get him to laugh was something you always did as you were addicted to seeing him smile.
Diluc couldn't help but smirk at your remark, and you noticed his eyes briefly wandering behind you and then back at you. He teased, "That’s really funny, Schatzi. If my memory serves me right, you didn't seem to mind the 'choking sensation' last night." His playful tone made you turn as red as his hair, embarrassed that he brought up last night's intimate moment.
"Gosh, Master Diluc! how inappropriate of you," you retorted, pretending to be scandalized. Both of you burst into laughter, and the playful banter between you lightened the mood, at least for a moment. You turned around to bid farewell to Miyo and Scaramouche only to find his face as pale as a ghost with hurt and resentment in his eyes.
*Schatzi -  diminutive of Schatz, a term of endearment for a woman, literally "treasure," from Proto-Germanic *skatta- (source also of Dutch schat "treasure,". For those of you who are familiar with my blog, you know I love and stand by this name being used by Diluc for his S/O. Idk it just feels right coming from him.
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Text
so long, loneliness 
warning: hurt/comfort - (reader is ignored, talked over, feeling alienated by friends) 
includes: Childe, Diluc, Thoma
character x gn reader | anthology  
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Childe
he notices ... 
the energetic way you were talking has fizzled to nothing, like a sparkler whose flame was doused in a puddle 
the power of your laugh has faded, been replaced the the obnoxious cadence of those around you 
the way you try to interject, only for the opportunity to be stolen by another 
he notices ... and he won’t stand for it
Group outings were not your jam. You knew this, and yet you convinced yourself to go out with your friends, and their friends, because, well, it had been a while and it was good for you to get out of your house sometimes. Still, you wished it wasn’t such an exposed place, and that you’d chosen a spot more in the middle so it wasn’t easier for you to be left out of the conversation. 
The group had been talking about their jobs for some time now and though you worked in a similar field, it was hard to interject with so much going on. Not to mention you kept feeling like someone was trying to get your attention, but maybe that was your imagination. 
“Oh yeah- I’ve had customers like th-” you started, only to get nowhere. 
“Ugh, one time this lady came in a few minutes before we closed and wanted to order like seven things off the menu!” One of the others in the party interjected, pulling the attention away from you and back toward them. At this point, you felt like it was on purpose, but you had to remind yourself they’d done that to everyone, you were the only one that stopped trying. 
The edge started to feel lonelier and lonelier. The bustling harbor drew your attention since the conversation wasn’t worth your time anymore. You watched citizens pass underneath on the main strip. They seemed to be enjoying themselves as they stopped by the vendors to peruse their wares, or follow the tantalizing scent of freshly cooked food. If you could have it your way, that’s what you’d be doing - at least then you could more easily slip away.
There was a crash behind you, another table knocked a cup onto the ground but when you looked past them you saw a familiar face leaning against one of the decorated railings. Shooting a quick look at your table you realized you were the only person who noticed him but when you waved he didn’t respond. Instead, he looked upset, though you couldn’t figure out why. 
“Um, I’ll be back,” you said to the person sitting next to you. You didn’t really know them, but at least they nodded to show they heard you before returning loudly to the conversation at the table. 
You grabbed your stuff and carefully made your way toward the brooding man standing in the darkness. “This is why people don’t like you,” you teased once you got near enough. The tall ginger took a moment to react to you being there, but when he did his eyes seemed to finally find color. 
“What?” he looked confused, but unlike what you’d experienced all night, at least he looked at you. 
“You’re standing in the shadows with a murderous look on your face; it’s why people find it hard to approach you.” 
“Now hold on, I have plenty of friends,” he shot back as he pushed himself away from the beam and placed his hands on his hips. 
“Sure,” you rolled your eyes but laughed at the shift in his behavior. You weren’t sure how Childe came into your life - it was like one moment he just ‘poof’d’ into existence and never left. The amount of times you stumbled across him was strange, considering how mysterious he made his life out to be. “Anyway, is there something bothering you? You’re face looks --” you asked, mimicking the expression you saw on him before taking a look across the scene as if seeing it from his perspective would give you insight into what made him scowl like that. From what you could tell, the only things visible were patrons of the restaurant, and the tops of buildings. 
“Not anymore,” he responded and took a step between you and what you were looking at, “Come hang out with me.” 
“W-What? Right now?” 
“What better time than right now?” 
“Childe, I’m with people. I can’t just go.” 
“Yes you can. This place is dead. Besides, I’m way more fun,” he winked and took a step closer to you. It made your stomach flip, especially because he seemed to be boxing you in with little room to escape. This was another reason he had so many few friends - the intensity. 
“Maybe -- but --” looking back to the group, you thought about what they’d say if you just left. It didn’t seem right to just dip out ... but ... you did consider doing just that a few minutes ago so ... 
“Mmm, okay, I see where I stand. I get it, leave me here all by my lonesome ...” Childe bent toward the railing, his body crumbling as if the thought of your rejection physically hurt him. 
“Ah! Hold on a second -” you pushed his chest to try and keep him from falling over and making an even bigger scene than his ‘despair’ was already causing, “archons, you know I like you! Now stand up, we’re in public,” you couldn’t help but laugh at the puppy-dog like expression he had, but as soon as he shifted back to the intense Childe, it was your turn to avoid crumbling to the floor. 
“Hah,” he moved so fast. In an instant he pinned you in the corner, his hands gripping the railing to keep you in place while he closed the distance between the two of you, “so you do like me.” 
Blinking, taken-aback, you stammered, unable to form a sentence. The sharp grin creeping across his lips made your skin burn; why was it so hard to breathe? 
“And you said no one liked me.” 
“I - wha-?” 
Childe continued to look at you until his face became unreadable. He was looking at you, but it was ... more than that. It was like whiplash, and you weren’t sure how to survive it. Luckily, the group you came with erupted in noise and, in an instant, Childe moved giving you much needed space to breathe. 
“Hey, come on! Don’t keep me waiting!” he shouted, already half-way down the stairs, hand extended, beckoning you to take it. Biting your lip, you contemplated where you wanted to be. Option one would lead you back to the edge of the table where you had to scramble to be heard, while option two ensured you’d be at the top right next to someone who actually wanted you there. 
Rocking your head back and forth you gave it some more thought until your uncertainties turned into a nod. With a giddy smile on your face, you dashed toward him and grabbed his hand. 
You couldn’t feel it, it was hard to tell, but when you smiled at him he felt a wave of relief because this time it was real, this time, you gave it to no one but him. 
“Try and keep up!” he exclaimed but never ran faster than you could manage. 
Diluc
he notices ...
the smile you had when you first arrived is hidden, is fake and doesn’t look like you 
the way you fidget, leg bouncing, head down, nails pushing back the cuticles that have seen many stressors 
the glances to the tavern entrance, your mind plotting the path to your escape 
he notices ... and he won’t stand for it
The tavern was always loud but for some reason it seemed louder today. Perhaps that’s why they couldn’t hear you when you spoke up, that makes sense? Right? 
Your friends burst into laughter and you appeased them by participating even though you missed what was so funny. 
“How can someone be so hot and so stupid at the same time” you heard as you took a sip of the drink you didn’t want in the first place. It tasted bitter, leaving an unpleasant tang in your mouth. 
“This is why getting to know someone first is important. Ugh, and he thinks he’s all that. You should just break up with him.” 
“Yeah -- but I like him,” the boy lamented across from you, his head dipping toward the wooden table in despair. In the back of your mind you knew this conversation wouldn’t go anywhere. How many times had you tried to convince him to break it off, and how many times did your suggestions go unheard? 
Still, there was a lull, perhaps you could interject, “I know you like him, but maybe this is your sig-” 
“Friend, he literally can’t find his way around Mond,” your other friend interjected, cutting you off. If anyone were looking, they would have seen how much you deflated when the two of them kept talking, unaware you were there at all. 
“It’s a hard to remember!” 
“He’s lived here all his life!”
“So?” 
“AND ITS A CIRCLE!” they shouted as they threw their arms in the air. The sudden loud outburst drew the attention of by-standards and you felt an uncomfortable amount of eyes on you. 
“See, that’s hard to remember.” 
“Honey, no,” they laughed and brought out a laugh from your friend sitting across from them before dropping their head in disbelief. “I can’t with you, hah.” 
“I’m - um - going to go get more drinks --” you said but were cut off, ignored, again. Normally you didn’t mind. The three of you had been friends for so long and they were both a lot more energetic than you so even though it looked like they were alienating you, they really weren’t. It’s just how they were -- there were plenty of times you got the chance to talk -- at least for a bit -- sometimes. With a sigh, you turned toward the bar, their conversation fading the further away you got. 
Most of the tables were filled so only a few spots were left open at the bar-top. A couple here, several loners there, and then you, sliding in between knowing you wouldn’t be here long enough to take one. 
“I’ll be right with you,” the bartender said while you pulled out your money to settle the bill. This was your chance to leave - it was getting late, you had things to do tomorrow - your friends wouldn’t notice if you left anyway. Glancing back at them you saw they were in a heated conversation, unaware you weren’t still with them. Yup, they wouldn’t even notice. “What can I get for you?” 
“Oh, nothing I just-” you looked up and saw Diluc Ragnvindr standing on the other side of the bar. He tugged at his glove before resting it on the counter and you lost your train of thought. If anyone thought Diluc was unattractive, they’d be lying. “Sorry I -” Fumbling with your money, you took longer than you wanted in opening the small bag, “I just want to pay my tab.” 
“Alright,” he left for a moment before returning with a small slip of paper. “That’ll be 400 mora.” 
“Wh-Wait? Really?” You counted the drinks in your head and, based on what you could calculate, that didn’t add up. 
“The last drink you had you didn’t like it, so I excluded it from your bill.” 
How did he know you didn’t like it? Was he ...? “Oh no, you don’t have to do that, Diluc. I don’t mind,” you fingered through the change in your pouch fully intending to pay more than he requested. It would be wasteful otherwise. 
“It’s no problem,” he reiterated and glanced at the table you came from, “Headed out for the night?” 
“Yeah -- I um -- I have to get up early,” you lied. 
“It’s late. Are your friends not going with you?” Diluc placed his hand back on the bar top. If you were looking at him, you might of noticed the way he stared down the loners within earshot of your conversation. 
“No,” you answered with a sad smile, “they’re distracted, and I don’t want to shorten their fun so -- anyway, besides, I’m used to walking by myself,” you added and placed your mora on the counter, putting a few extra coins down as a ‘tip’. Diluc groaned, but didn’t say much else. 
“Charles,” Diluc called out while you put your bag away and turned toward the door. There were a few people standing behind you, waiting to get close enough to order a drink; so you apologized as you pushed through them. When you reached the front entrance, you looked back to your friends to wave goodbye but they didn’t look up. 
Suddenly, a hand appeared on the doorknob. You stepped back to move out of their way but were shocked to see it was Diluc. The look on your face was enough for him to answer the question floating in your head. 
“I’ll walk you home,” he explained so matter-of-factly like it was expected of him to do so. 
Throwing up your hands, you shook your head, “That’s really not necessary. Besides it’s so busy right now ...” 
He opened the door and a wave of fresh nighttime washed over you. It mixed with the smell of cedar and wine, a somehow comforting scent. When he called your name you listened, “It’s late and would be unsafe for you to walk by yourself. I’ll ensure you get home safely.” 
The noise from the tavern seemed so distant now that the outside world was welcoming you. It was like everything paused. Normally you had to jump at the change to interject, but Diluc wasn’t like that. He waited; with his hand on the door and the other extended toward your back but never touching. He waited. 
“If you’re sure,” you hummed, a little overwhelmed from the intensity of him. 
“I am,” he replied and though you couldn’t feel it, though it was hard to tell, when you smiled at him he felt a wave of relief because this time it was real, this time, you gave it to no one but him. “Shall we?” he asked and willed his heart to slow at the sound of your gentle laugh and a soft, ‘okay.’  
Thoma
he notices ...
the way you stand to the side as those around you block you out; you’re kind, and they’ve taken advantage 
the way you shake your head, say ‘go ahead,’ when you clearly wished they would have let you have it - at least once 
the smile you hold when you speak up and the frown it turns into when you’re left with no reaction 
he notices ... and he won’t stand for it
The shops always had the best things. Lately they’d gotten even better; mostly likely due to the lifting of the vision hunt decree that kept the islands isolated from the rest of the world. With less restrictions, the vendors and merchants were finally able to bring in new wares which made the shopping districts boom with business. 
You were excited to go with your friends, especially since you’d had to pick up extra shifts lately. It felt like eons since you last did something fun, something for you, so you made sure to take your time getting ready. 
At first, things were normal, lively, inclusive, but as the evening went on you started to feel left out of the group. While you were still looking at a shop, everyone else was rushing down the packed street to see the next thing. The amount of times you turned to share what you found with a complete stranger, or find yourself scanning the crowd for your group would have been enough to pay for all the items you found. 
Considering it had been a while for everyone to get together you tried your best to satiate the turmoil rising in your chest. It hurt to be left out, but would it hurt more to go home knowing you’d be left alone anyway? At least out here it seemed like you were a part of something. 
“Oh! Look at how pretty! Let’s check it out!” Your friend shouted, her hands wrapped around two other friends as she pulled them after her. You all had agreed to hold onto each other so you wouldn’t get lost in the crowd but as several people separated you from the rest of your group, you realized they had forgotten about it. 
You didn’t recall eating anything, so why did your stomach hurt and your throat feel clogged? Frustrated, you pinched the bridge of your nose only to be knocked to the side by some kids rushing through the bustle. You stumbled into a group of older gentlemen who asked if you were okay. Embarrassed, you bowed in apologies only to bump into some woman who was less accepting of your ‘I’m so sorry.’ All you wanted was to have a good time and, right now, you were doing everything you could not crumble. 
“Padron us,” someone interrupted your swirling thoughts as they grabbed your wrist and began to pull you through the crowd. You looked to see who it was but could only make out their bright red jacket and blonde, bouncing ponytail. “Oops - sorry about that,” he chuckled as he knocked into a group not paying attention to their surroundings, “almost through,” he said, seemingly, to you. 
When the two of you were finally free, Thoma made sure you were safely out of the way before letting you go. 
“Woah, that was wild wasn’t it?!” he chuckled and dusted himself off. He took note of his surroundings and you noted how he stood in front as if to shield you from the crowd. 
It was hard to catch you breath, but you did what you could in the safety of the space Thoma created. “Thank you, Thoma.” 
“No problem! It’s dangerous to be in a crowd like that alone.” 
“Yeah, well I was-- yeah, super dangerous,” you said, biting back the comment you wanted to say, i wasn’t alone, or at least, wasn’t supposed to be. “What brings you here on such a busy day?” 
Thoma ran his hands over his hair, the action pulled on the short red jacket he always wore, “Running some errands. I just needed to grab a few things, that’s all.” 
“You always work so hard. You need a day off,” you commented while your eyes scanned the crowd for your friends. It was a small hope that you’d find them, but it was worth a shot. 
“Haha, I don’t mind. Plus, if I hadn’t been out here I wouldn’t have stumbled across you. So, I’d call this a good day.” 
You turned your attention back to Thoma who was rubbing the back of his neck and sending you a kind smile. You liked Thoma, of course you did. He was always so warm, thoughtful, and capable, it was impossible not to like him. And here he went out of his way to save you from the crowd. Add this to the reasons why you had such strong feelings for him. 
“I guess I do owe you one for saving me.” 
He threw up his hands, “Its no trouble-”  
“Nope. It is. You’re super busy and I took some of your time. So, how can I help?” He seemed a bit shocked by your comment but after a moment he relaxed into soft laughter and resigned himself to accept he couldn’t wiggle his way out of it. 
“If you want to come help me run some errands ... maybe?” 
He looked so cute asking and you could already see his brain working on a way to convince you it was really alright. In the end, there was only one answer you could give him. 
“Absolutely. I’m ready to work!” You rolled up your sleeves and moved next to him, ready to dive back into the crowd for Thoma. 
He chuckled again as he turned about-face toward the slew of people. “Alright then. With two of us we’ll get it done in no time.” 
You beamed, excited and ready to go. “Mmhm!” 
With confidence, you took a step forward only to be stopped by Thoma’s hand around your wrist, “ah, maybe it’s better if I go first and you -- ahem -- hold onto me so we don’t get separated.” His cheeks looked a little red, and he could only manage to glance at you. Considering he was asking someone who wasn’t his partner to have prolonged physical contact with him, you understood how embarrassing the situation was (and hoped he couldn’t tell you thought the same). 
“A-alright,” you agreed and watched as he guided your hand to red fabric that stuck out above his belt. 
“Here we go, ready?” You nodded and took a step closer to him. The two of you shared flickering glances before he steadied himself and pushed forward, “P-Pardon us!” 
You couldn’t feel it, it was hard to tell, but when you smiled at him he felt a wave of relief because this time it was real, this time, you gave it to no one but him.
Tomorrow, you’d tell your friends something came up and to not feel bad about being separated because, even if you weren’t with them, you didn’t end your night feeling lonely. 
1K notes · View notes
fallingdownhell · 2 months
Note
Hey….. soz if this is too much but can you do this https://www.tumblr.com/fallingdownhell/715302705397202944/i-absolutely-love-your-works-can-you-make?source=share
but with tighnari, wanderer and heizou thanks
Always. I always like me some angst with comfort<3 Characters Included: Wanderer; Tighnari; Heizou Summary: you have an argument with the boys, since they've been neglecting you for their work Content: gender neutral reader; established relationship; some angst; hurt/comfort; some swears and mean words; Wanderer is referred to as Kuni/Kunikuzushi Word count: 3,6k words Enjoy<3
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Wanderer
You love your boyfriend. You truly do.
But between him helping out the Dendro Archon and now having enrolled in the Academiya, it felt like you didn't have a boyfriend at all anymore.
You rarely got to see him, and the times you did, he was so stressed and on high alert that he would probably snap at you if you were to bring up any topic that might put more stress onto him.
So instead, you just put up with his even more grumpy attitude towards you, trying to help him with whatever you could, hoping that it might take the edge off him a bit. But nothing ever seemed to work.
On the contrary, it has only gotten worse. For the past few days, you haven't seen your boyfriend. At all. He didn't come home and he has not been seen wandering the streets of Sumeru City.
You got so worried that you decided to pay Nahida a little visit, asking if she knew of the whereabouts of your dear boyfriend. She apologized to you, informing you that he had tasked him with something important, but that he should be back by today.
And true to her words, Kuni did come back home that night. However, once again, he paid no attention to you at all. He only laid down and fell right asleep, claiming that he was exhausted from his trip to the desert.
That was the point where you couldn't take it anymore. You understand that he has a lot to deal with currently, but that doesn't give him the right to treat you like you didn't exist. So, you decided to confront him in the morning, before he would leave again, hoping that a conversation could help clear things up between the two of you.
So, you made sure to wake up before him, making yourself and him some small breakfast like you like to do. When he comes down to eat with you, you greet him a good morning, which he only answers with a grumpy hum.
"Kuni.. we need to talk.", you decide to start, not wanting to take this attitude from him any longer.
A frustrated groan leaves his lips, rolling his eyes into the air. "Really, (Name)? Now? Can't we do this another time?"
"Yeah, sure. Just let me know when you decide to acknowledge me living here with you again. No, Kuni. We talk now. I'm done being treated like I don't exist."
At that, the Wanderer starts to gets defensive of his actions and soon enough, you two are in the middle of a full blown argument, loudly shouting at each other. Every semblance of a normal conversation has long left and you were now basically spewing insults at each other, none of you willing to acknowledge the others point of view.
"Gods, why do you always have to be so annoying? Maybe, if you weren't so god damn clingy all the time, I'd pay more attention to you!"
The words leave his lips and as soon as they do, he can see a flash of hurt shine in your eyes, which you quickly try to hide. But he's already seen it, and regret slips into his body.
Silence ensues, you're just staring at each other for a few seconds. You wait, hoping that he'll take back what he said, but nothing comes from him. His lips stay sealed as he just stares at you.
"So, it's my fault now? I'm the one at fault for you basically ignoring my entire existence? Making me question if I even have a boyfriend at this point? Because that's what it feels like. I don't get to see you anymore, I have to walk on eggshells around you, and then you go and blame me for it? Do I really mean that little to you?"
Your voice is dangerously calm as you say that, tears threatening to fall from the corners of your eyes, but you force them to stay down for now.
You see something shine in his eyes, but you can't put a finger on what it is before it's gone again, and he averts his eyes from you. A few more silent seconds pass and you're about to just get up and leave, when you hear him mumble something under his breath.
"...-ong."
"What was that?"
"..You're wrong.", he says, looking back up at you. Now, you can clearly see the conflict in his eyes, shining bright like he's begging you not to make him say this. But you just cross your arms in front of your chest, urging him to go on.
"I... you're wrong. You.. do mean something to me. More than I like to admit. I shouldn't have put the blame for my actions on you. I... I don't want you to leave. And.. I'll try better from now on."
For a moment, you look at him, contemplating his words. This would probably be the closest to an apology you would ever get from him. But when you don't answer him, you can see him starting to get a bit restless, squirming in his seat.
"I.. I'm... sorry..", he mumbles quietly, but you still heared it. Surprised by this, you can't help but let out a low chuckle, which instantly catches his attention.
"I just want to help you, Kuni. If there's anything I can do to help with the stress, let me know. Just, please don't ever treat me like this again."
Hearing you say that, he closes his eyes and nods his head, relieve washing over his body. And for the first time in a few weeks, he decides that it's not too bad if he shows up a bit later, just to make up for the time he missed spending with you.
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Tighnari
As head of all the Forest Rangers in Gandharva Ville, it wasn't an uncommon occurrence for Tighnari to be stressed. It happens quite frequently, actually. And although being stressed regularly isn't a good thing, it helped him come up with ways to handle it and destress again after a long and tiring day. Because the last thing Tighnari ever wants to do is let out his frustrations on his partner.
He's usually very great about communicating when he's particularly stressed, and if his words aren't a dead giveaway, then usually his tail and ears are. When things get too overwhelming for him, his tail hangs a bit looser than it normally would and his ears would also fall a little bit more. It almost makes him look like a soaked puppy. You'd tease him for it if that wouldn't sour his mood even more.
But this time, it was something different.
He wasn't particularly stressed with work or anything. But one one of his patrols through the forest, he ran into an undiscovered species of flowers. All exited about it, it has been all Tighnari has been focused about for the past two weeks.
It's all he's been talking about as of late, if you even get the chance to talk to him in the first place. Most of the time, he's cooped up in his little work place, often forgetting to take meals and breaks because he's so focused on studying the little plant and learning everything there is to know about it.
You bring him meals on a regular basis, but if you really want him to eat them, you'll have to stay with him and nudge him consistantly to take a break and eat, or he'll forget about it.
You tried talking to him about it, but he keeps shutting you down, claiming that it won't last much longer, only until he knows enough about it to figure out if it can be used in some new medicines and such. Though he did promise you to try and focus back on you and Collei a bit more.
That promise lastet for one whole day before he skipped out on dinner plans with you and Collei again. You decided that enough was enough, so the next day after the dinner, you went to him to confront him about his inexcusable behaviour.
He was exactly where he had always been these past days, you were sure he heard you approach him, since you didn't exactly try to sneek up on him, though he did not acknowledge your arrival at all.
"Tighnari, we need to talk.", you begin, walking over so you were now standing next to him, your arms crossed in front of your chest. He didn't even look up when you adressed him.
"Later, (Name). I think I'm onto something here.."
"No, not later. Now!", you stay firm, not wanting to delay this talk any longer.
Hearing your response, Tighnari answered with an annoyed sigh, but he finally placed his tools down and turned to look at you.
"Fine then. What's so important that you just have to interrupt my work here?" He raises an eyebrow, almost like he's challenging you, like nothing could be important enough for you to justify this interruption.
You however stand your ground, holding his gaze firmly. "Your behaviour is what's wrong. You've been so focused on this stupid thing that you forget about the people in your life. Like yesterday. You promised to have dinner with me and Collei. She didn't show it, but I know how sad and dissapointed she was when you didn't show up. Again."
"I'm sure Collei understands perfectly fine just how important my research is, unlike some other people, it seems." Hearing this from him, you couldn't hold back the pent up anger and frustration anymore. You unleashed it all which in turn made Tighnari even more defensive and soon enough, you were in the middle of an heated argument, your shouting to be heard by almost every single person currently within Gandharva Ville.
And though almost everyone was on your side and agreed that Tighnari had been working too much, they also felt a bit bad for him. No one would want to be at the recieving end of your anger.
The argument kept going and going, emotions continuing to boil up inside both of you, until one particular statement went over Tighnari's lips. "You know what? I don't have time to deal with you right now, (Name). I have far more important things to do. I don't need you constantly lingering around and distracting me. Honestly, you're annoying me."
Suddenly, it became almost deafeningly silent and a second later, his words catched up with Tighnari. His eyes went wide and he was about to say something, but you beat him to it.
"So, what? We don't matter to you? Am I just some form to pass time when you have nothing better to do? Is that all our relationship is to you? And what about Collei? Is she also not important to you?"
Tears were brimming at the corners of your eyes and Tighnari wanted to reach out to wipe them away. He hated to see you cry, even more so now because he was the reason for it in the first place.
His hand moved on instinct, but before he came even close to touching you, you turned on the spot and dashed out of his hut, leaving him standing there.
"Wait, (Name)!", he shouted, taking off and running after you. You were fast and had a head start, but he has always been the faster runner between the both of you.
Outside the Village, he caught up to you and caught you at your wrist. You came to a halt, but refuse to turn around and face him. You don't want him to see you crying, though you're both aware that he already knows that you're crying.
"(Name), please. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I don't know why I even said it to begin with. You're not annoying me, never. Our relationship is important to me, very much so. I realize now that I made a mistake by focusing too much on my research and neglecting you. And Collei, too. I promise to do better from now on."
"..You've already promised me that once, and didn't keep it. Why should I believe you now?", you question him, which he couldn't blame you for. Your voice was shaking, you were trying so hard to hold back the tears, his words from before obviously still clinging to you.
"You have every reason not to, but I swear to you, that this time will be different. I swear to you that I won't let this happen, ever again. Please, trust me."
You stay silent for a bit, desperately wanting to believe him. In the end, your heart wins and you slowly turn around to face him. A small nod is noticeable before you're being pulled into his arms, his hand coming up to hold the back of your head against him.
You both stay like this for a bit, just enjoying to be in each others presence again. Only then does Tighnari realize just how long he hasn't had the chance to hold you like that, and he silently curses himself out for his own stupidity..
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Heizou
Being a renowned detective comes with many benefits, but also a lot of disadvantages at the same time.
The more cases Heizou solves, the better his reputation gets, but he also makes a lot of enemies, especially in the high society fields. Not everyone always agrees with his view on justice and how he wants to achieve it, but Heizou doesn't care. So long as he follows what he thinks is right, he won't falter.
However, he is thankful to the gods above for a partner like you, who's supportive of his beliefs and decisions. He loves that you don't question him and that you understand how important his work is to him.
He knows that you've already had a lot to sacrifice for him. How he sometimes has to cancel date night because of an important case, but he's always made up for it more than enough.
So yeah, you're aware just how important his job is to Heizou. You truly understand..
But it has never gotten to a point like it has now.
For the past week, you haven't seen your boyfriend. At all.
He doesn't come home anymore, he's either cooped up in his office or out and about searching for clues. Kujo Sara told you that they've gotten a pretty serious case, one that Heizou leaped onto and is determined to solve, no matter what it takes.
Apparently, what it takes is for him to sacrifice all of his time and effort, probably forgetting that he has a life and a relationship outside his work, as well.
You tried to be understanding, even came visiting him in his office a few times with some homecooked meals or snacks. But every time you did that, he barely acknowledged you, barely even touched the meal.
You tried having some small conversations with him, but you either got short, one word answers or nothing at all besides a hum. Eventually, you gave up and just let him be, but it's been a week now since he's taken over the case and there's still no end in sight. And for the past three days, since your last visit to his office, you haven't seen or heard anything of your boyfriend.
So, on the eight day, you decided to try again. You cooked a nice meal for Heizou, packed it up and made your way over to the Tenryou Commission headquarters. Entering the building, you got a few nods as greetings from people who knew you, as you made your way straight to your boyfriends little office.
Arriving there, you took a deep breath before you knocked two times. When no answer came, your heart slowly began to sank. What if he's outside searching for clues again? Still, you decided to peek in regardless, just to be safe.
And sure enough, Heizou was sitting on his desk, multiple files and papers spread out in front of him as he was frantically reading through them.
"Hey babe.", you greeted him with a smile, but there was no reaction. Heizou didn't look at you and he didn't say a word in return. Still, you didn't want to give up just yet.
"I brought you something to eat. Figured you might want a break and something homecooked to eat."
You placed the lunchbox on the furthest outside position on his table that was still free, yet again, the action was not acknowledged by him whatsoever.
Twirling your thumbs, you wait for a few seconds, before you make another attempt at conversing with him. "So.. how's the case going?"
Suddenly, the papers fly to the desk, his hands slamming against the wood and finally, he turns to face you, though his expression looks almost furious. "It would go better if I didn't have such an annoying pest interrupting me all the damn time!"
Shocked at his sudden outburst, you stare at him. "Wow.. you don't have to be so mean about it."
"Apparently I have to, because you just can't take the hint when I don't engage with your stupid attempts at conversation making. Like, can't you see I'm too busy to entertain you right now, (Name)?"
His words stung, like he'd just slapped you in the face with them. Tears began to form, but you refused to show him just how deep his words had hurt you. But you knew that he knew. He saw the hurt in your eyes, and you saw realization flash through him as his words catched up with him.
But you didn't give him time to say anything else. He wanted you gone, so that's what you were giving him. Turning on your heels, you left his office, not bothering to close the door behind you. You could hear the yell of your name coming from Heizou, but you ignored it.
On your way out, you passed Kujo Sara, who gave you a pitying look as you walked past her. You didn't want her pity. You just wanted your boyfriend back, but it seemed like that was out of reach for now.
When you were out on the street again, you didn't know what you should do now. Going home wasn't an option, there were too many things that would remind you of Heizou back there, and you didn't want to think about him right now.
The beach... a while ago, you found a beautiful, kinda secluded spot by the beach. You decided to go there for now, maybe it would help freshen up your mind and how to move on from here on out.
The waters were mesmerizing today. The waves were calm and the sun was reflecting off the surface. You sat down in the sand and just stared out to the horizon, your thoughts beginning to wander.
You were so deep in thought that you didn't notice the time passing, the sun soon beginning to set, dipping the scenery into a serene red that you only rarely get to see. A shiver ran down your spine, but you didn't care, you didn't want to go back home just yet..
"Here you are!", a voice suddenly cuts through the silence and you flip around, recognizing Heizou who's jogging over to you. However, you decided to pay him no further mind, turning around again and staring right at the horizon again.
You take notice of his presence now next to you, but you still don't say anything. No words are spoken between you two as he sits down next to you and does the same as you, blankly staring at the ocean.
There's no indication that tells you how much time passes like this, just you two sitting next to each other in silence, until Heizou speaks up again.
"I'm sorry. About what I said earlier. I shouldn't have done that."
"..Then why'd you do it?", you question him, no emotion in your voice. He hated to hear you like that.
"I... You just came at a really bad time. And I know that that's not an excuse. Not at all. I was so close to the breakthrough in the case and I just... snapped. Again, that's no excuse and I'm really sorry about that. When I realized what I had done, Sara was coming over to me, no doubt about to lecture me. I just threw my files at here, told here the updates and then chased after you. I thought you would be going home, but when I didn't find you there, I began searching all over the place for you. And I found you here, in the end."
He ends his little monologue with a shy smile, scratching the back of his head. Then, Heizou's expression turned serious again.
"I mean it. I'm sorry I snapped at you like that. You didn't do anything wrong. You were right, honestly. I kinda forgot about you and invested too much time to that case. I'm sorry and I promise I won't let that happen again, ever."
Hearing those words from him, you can't muster more than a small nod as a response. You didn't want to argue anymore with him, you just wanted to spend time with him and feel close to him again. That's all you wanted and needed right now.
So, you slid closer to him and leaned your body against his, your back against his chest. His arms wrapped around you from behind, his head coming down to rest on your shoulder.
Tomorrow, you could talk about this more with him. Right now, you just wanted to enjoy this moment with him.
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hugs4wriothesley · 14 days
Text
Sleepless Nights
“I’m tired,” you say while burying your head into your lover’s chest as you both lie on the bed
“That’s why you shouldn’t have gone to bed that late last night,” your lover commented with a slight chuckle
“Mmm” you grumpily mumble into his chest while still snuggled up next to him
“You know, whenever I didn’t get enough sleep, I would just have to keep pushing through the day until I could actually rest.”
This made you perk up a little. You knew that before moving in your lover didn’t have the best sleep schedule but you thought at least he could take a little care for his health. “Because you ended up doing a lot of work and lost track of time?” You questioned raising your head a little.
“That and…” He started to trail off. Quite a few years have passed since the so-called “incidents” of his past. Enough time that when reminded of it he can just brush it off but that doesn’t mean it occasionally stops creeping in his dreams. Before you moved in whenever these occurrences would happen he would wake up in a cold sweat. He did not want to be reminded of what happened and the fear and anger he felt those days in his sleep. So on those days he would wake up early and work out or get a head start on work for the day. He had nothing to ground him or his bottled up emotions that appeared in his dreams so for the first few hours of the day he was a little off but by the end of the day he was already over all that happened in his sleep the night before. He knows since you’ve moved in he’s been more content and relaxed before bed causing him to sleep peacefully and smoothly. However it would also be a lie to say these occasional nightmares just stopped appearing. They are, however, less frequent and he’s able to calm down much quicker by just knowing your calming presence is there. You’ve always talked about how you feel safe and comfortable in his presence and the truth is he feels the same way. Waking up from one of his cold sweat flashbacks, his heart racing a little, all he has to do is slightly look down and see that you’re peacefully sleeping on his chest. Noticing your slow and steady breaths lulls him back to a blissful sleep. Of course, he’s never told you that these nightmares sometimes happen, but he is forever grateful for your presence in silence, and if you ever needed to hear it out loud he would explain right then and there just how much you mean to him. He was then snapped out of his thoughts as he realized you were staring at him waiting for him to continue his sentence. “Sorry,” he apologized “My mind seemed to go elsewhere”
Without him even saying what he was thinking you could infer what it was about. “It’s ok, you don’t need to finish that sentence,” you started. There was a small pause before you continued, “We have each other now”
And that was all he needed to hear to know that ‘Yes, everything will be ok’
Wrote this with Wriothesley in mind but realized it could also apply to Xiao and Scara
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sweet-honey-fruit · 2 years
Note
I saw you were asking for a request so I thought of something. What would the harbingers (Dottore, Pantalone, Tartaglia, Capitano, Arlecchino) do if someone hurt they're s/o to get information about them? Have a nice day btw :D
This this THIS! I’m a sucker for these kinds of things. It’s definitely a guilty pleasure of mine with these scenarios. Thank you for this, I had a lot of fun writing it!
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Harbingers With Hurt S/O
Warnings: Violence, mentions/descriptions of torture and death, use of pet names, possibly OOC Capitano cause there’s literally little to no information about him, spoilers for Fatui Harbingers lore
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Arlecchino
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She doesn’t want to admit how badly her heart ached when she saw you walk in battered in wounds and bruises. Yet you still greeted her with a bright smile.
All she did was stare at you with a blank look on her face, wrapping her arms around you and giving you a kiss on the top of your head
You held a special place in her heart, so seeing you like this raised an unbelievable amount of worry and anger, but she wouldn’t let you see that
Her voice came out in a hushed whisper, swaying you back and forth slightly, “Tell me my beloved, what has happened to you?”
You’re hesitant, of course. You know how she can get, especially when it comes to you
But you especially know how she gets when you’re not upfront and honest with her
“Treasure Hoarders wanted information about the whereabouts of the delusion factory,” The moment the words leave your mouth, she brought you closer to her before letting go
Her face is stone cold, but you can practically feel the infuriation radiating off of her like a waterfall
It leaves you shaking a little bit, and you’re not even the one she’s livid at
She sends you to Dottore to get patched up, making sure to not-so-subtly threaten him to keep you safe and to not turn you into one of his experiments
She’s using these circumstances as a training exercise for some of her children in the House of the Hearth to gather information
Once she has the information she needs, you better believe she’s going absolutely batshit crazy
And I’m talking about leaving the Treasure Hoarders mangled bodies at other Treasure Hoarder camps to send a message
That message being that if they touch you again, she’ll make sure every single one of them will perish by her hands personally
Capitano
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He’s not the type of man that pays attention to those that he deems weaker than him
He doesn’t find them worthy enough for his time
Yet when one of his Fatui subordinates delivered him the news that you’ve been captured and tortured by a group of Nabushi in Inazuma-
Well, he could make this one exception, couldn’t he?
He’ll seek to hunt them down himself
He wants them to understand the mistake they did for touching the only person he has deemed worthy for his endless time and attention
For every mark that was bestowed upon you, he will make sure he doubles it both in numbers and in pain
He won’t outright kill them, he wants to get back home to you as soon as possible
But we will leave them barely conscious
Surely the Rifthounds can take care of them. They gotta eat too after all.
He’s grinning the whole time he walks away
Hearing them scream for him to save them as the Rifthounds bite away at their flesh
For anyone else the sickening sounds of tearing flesh and blood curdling screams would be enough to show mercy
But to him it’s music to his ears
Maybe next time they would think twice before using you to get information
Dottore
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He’s cackling to himself when he found out
The poor subordinates that informed him are quivering and praying to The Tsaritsa that they won’t feel his wrath
Cause this man is insane, but in that moment, that is the most insane he has ever been
Thankfully The Tsaritsa seemed to answer their prayers cause he dismisses them to bring you to him
Although one managed to climb up the list to be his next test subject when they declare that you’re being seen by a Sneznayan doctor so it “might not be a good time”
He snaps out a “I’ll treat them myself, your lucky my priority lies with them right now, otherwise I’d already have your flesh ripped away and replaced with metal”
He makes a mental note to do it later, for when you’re escorted in, he’s furtively seething
Littered in cuts and bruises, a deep cut slashed along your side, and lightning shaped scars surrounding it
He has a good idea who did it already, and why it was done
As he’s treating you, he’s tracing along the lightning scars, letting out a small hum
“My dear, tell me, what exactly happened.”
This man intimidates you from his voice alone, and you can’t even form the words to speak
Even though he knows, he wants to hear you say it, to just confirm that his anger is justified
Not that he cares on rather it is or isn’t, but his superiors certainly do
He can sense your timidness which makes him grin. He finds it so cute, but now is hardly the time to be having those thoughts
He reassures you that it’s okay, you can tell him. He’ll make it all go away. He’ll make them go away. Just tell him, he’s there for you.
And you do tell him in a hoarse voice, and he finds it pitiful.
Some Dancing Thunder Kairagi thinking that they’re entitled enough to put a hand on you, just because they believed you would tell them the Fatui’s plans
He doesn’t say anything after that, staying uncharacteristically quiet. Which is more daunting to you than if he were to spill out threats
He continues to treat you in silence. And once he’s done he’s escorting you back to your shared bedroom within the palace.
After, he’s having some of his subordinates fetch the ones that hurt you. When they are brought in, well, let the experiments commence
He’s certainly enjoying hearing them scream in agony as he tests out the effects of having multiple delusions. Hearing them beg, and plead for him to stop. But he doesn’t. He’s sure you did the same thing. Pleading them to just let you go. They didn’t stop till some Fatui Skirmisher’s stepped in, so why should he? But there wont be any Skirmisher’s saving them.
He’s making sure they suffer for a long, long time
Pantalone
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“Oh, how pitiful” he states as he walks into Dottore’s lab
He’s been told that you’ve been sent there after having a— rough encounter, to put it lightly— with a few Shogunate soldiers
He saw the pure exhaustion on your face, and yet he still maintained a smile
“I can see you were determined to give it your all. But do not worry sweetheart, for I will fill in and give it my all for you.”
He won’t only hurt the Shogunate soldiers indirectly, oh no. He’ll hurt the whole Shogunate army.
Slowly, he would cut off their money supply through the Northland Bank (don’t ask how that works, I don’t know myself but for the sake of this, it works). I mean, you can’t do anything without the very thing that gives you the pathway to do anything in the first place, right?
He’ll watch from the shadows as the Shogunate army is scrambling for funds, and ultimately scrambling to regain power
It would take a meeting with Kujou Sara in order to settle things. His only request was that the Shogunate stays out of the Fatui’s business, and most importantly, stay away from you.
You know how I said he would hurt them indirectly? That’s because he’ll have others do it for him.
He’ll give some to Dottore as test subjects, and some to Arlecchino for target practice for the kids. He’s just as much of a supplier as he is a taker.
While everything is going on outside of your knowledge, he’s keeping you close to him. Holding you, walking you to and from work, and even allowing you to tag along with him on more PG related missions for lack of a better term
He’s a man of endless influence throughout Teyvat, and he will not hesitate to use it to rip apart the nations for you. Especially if they dared to touch you like they did.
Tartaglia
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Definitely the most sane one when it comes to it, and that’s saying something
Especially since he’s the one that witnessed it first hand
As stated previously in another post, he’s already paranoid anytime you’re not around him since the Fatui have a lot of enemies
So when he went out looking for you since you took a tad bit longer to get groceries than it normally would, he found out that his paranoia was justified
Imagine his surprise when he found out that it’s not Treasure Hoarders or Hilichurls, no, it’s the Millelith of all people hurting you
“Well well, what did I just walk in on? Am I interrupting something?” He has a smile on his face but it doesn’t seem very happy
Perhaps that’s because his eyes are showing nothing but unadulterated hatred towards the group of men that think it was a good idea to beat you around for information on him and the Fatui
“If you wanted information you could have just came and ask me yourself, but instead you had to go out and dig yourselves your own grave. What a shame.”
He’ll instruct you to turn away, cause he’s pretty sure that what he’s about to do to them would traumatize you for life. He doesn’t want that for you.
When you do, this man is pulling out all the stops
Slicing and dicing, aiming and shooting, hydro and electro
He wants to watch them suffer, and he’s grinning like a mad man when he watches the life drain from their eyes
As much as he wanted to make them suffer more, he had to cut it short since he still had to prioritize you
He’s going to pick you up and carry you back home no matter how much you want to protest and insist that you’re okay
But this man is stubborn and he’s not having any of it.
He’s taking you home and cuddling you close, not letting you go even after you’re all cleaned up
His laid-back persona is broken as he apologizes to you, that he’s sorry that he put you in danger
Please reassure him that it’s not his fault and give him plenty of kisses
He’s not leaving your side for a LONG TIME
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suntoru · 8 months
Text
LET ME HEAL YOUR HEART.
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summary: they broke your heart three years ago. you thought he moved on, but you find him on your porch at two am.
a/n: AHAHAHAHAH I KNOW THAT SUMMARY SUCKED BOOTYCHEEKS BUT I DIDNT WANT TO GIVE TOO MUCH AWAY
wc: 1.3k words
warnings: angst to fluff, hurt comfort, violence, physical restraint?
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a knock at the door. ‘…it’s two am on a tuesday, who could it be?’ you think to yourself. confusedly, you walk to the front hallway, unlatching the lock. swinging the door open, you don’t know what you expected to see, but it certainly wasn’t this. confusion morphs into pure shock the second you see who the mysterious visitor is.
it’s… him. your ex. the man who was once your world, and the same reason it came tumbling down oh so many years ago. god, he’s so breathtaking, it almost makes you fall for him all over again. but this time you’ve learned your lesson, you won’t, you can’t let him break your heart again. with a lump in your throat, you immediately attempt to slam the door shut. and you’re almost successful, if it weren’t for his hand that reaches out to stop it at the last second.
“…can we talk? …please?” the same words you sobbed as you begged him to stay. you stay silent, giving him hope that there was actually a chance to fix what he broke. “no.” this time, you manage to close the door. “y/n…” he sighs, but you’re too lost in your own thoughts to even pay attention to what he’s saying. after all this time… why now? a tear runs down your face, a barely audible sniffle following suit.
then, another knock. in a gentle voice, he asks, “are you alright?” “i’m fine.” you attempt to say in the harshest voice possible. he sighs. you were always bad at hiding your emotions, and he knew just by hearing your voice crack at the end. “…please… let me in.” “…” “open the door.” he knocks slightly louder. much to his surprise, the door swings open.
“honestly, what more do you want from me?” you glare. “can we talk?” he repeats himself, crossing his arms. “and i already told you, no.” you scowl. he stays silent, feeling a stab of self-hatred towards himself for hurting you so much that all you want to do is forget his entire existence. he sees you attempt to shut the door again, but he sticks out his leg to stop you.
“please… can i at least say something?” he begs. you scoff in annoyance. “fine. then leave and never come back.” he takes in a deep breath. “i regret what i did. three years ago.” “…what?” it comes out softly, breaking through your cold facade. but just as quickly as that surprise appeared, it fades. “i-i don’t care.” he nods slightly, a slightly hurt expression on his face, but it’s not like he didn’t expect that response.
“i made the wrong choice. i should have fought for us, i should’ve…” his voice breaks for a spilt second. “i should’ve never let go.” he gives you a bittersweet smile. you look away, trying to feign annoyance. “i… never stopped loving you.” he stares at you, even as you refuse eye contact. “i still love you.” “well… i don’t.” you choke out.
it’s an obvious lie, one even a child could tell was false. “you’re lying.” he simply states. “i don’t… i don’t want you in my life anymore!! so just …leave!!” you attempt to snap at him, blinking back the tears that were building up. he felt a stab in his chest, the same one as four years ago when you pleaded him to stay. “yeah… you’re lying.” he looks at you softly, as if begging you to break the walls you set up and admit how you truly felt.
“i-i’m not, so go!! get out!” your voice rises with emotion. he sighs, but doesn’t move an inch. “…did i hurt you that badly for you to completely shut me out?” he mumbles as he feels another pang in his heart.
“shut up.” you spit out. he goes silent. you looked so… broken, but you just won’t admit you’re hurting. your words sting, but he understands why you want to lash out at him. “you’re still hurt.” he murmurs. “i know you don’t hate me.” he looks at you intently. “i-i do.” you lie. “i hate you a lot. i hate you more than anything else.” “you don’t mean that.” he says calmly. you scowl at him.
“you don’t know what i feel.” “no, i don’t. but i know you loved me four years ago.” he smiles sadly. “i can see in your eyes that it still hurts.” “shut up.” you try again. “just leave. you didn’t have a problem doing it three years ago, what’s different?” he winces. he knows you’re just hurt, but it still hurts to face the truth.
“i don’t want to.” he says softly. slowly, he takes a step in your house, careful not to make any sudden movements. his eyes pierce through yours. “look at me. let me in.”
“j-just go!!” you scream, the tears you fought so hard to keep in spilling free. “i hate you! just leave! i don’t need you in my life!” your voice breaks as tears roll down your face, he can’t help but take another step towards you. he’s so close he can hear your breathing. “no.” you can feel his arms wrap around you as he pulls you close. you’re pressed against his chest, feeling the warmth of his body. “you loved me then, and you still love me now, so why won’t you just admit it?”
“l-let me go!” you sob, trying everything to break free. thrashing against his hold, hitting him, kicking him away… “i’m not letting go. not now, not ever again.” he says simply. he holds you tighter, keeping your face pressed against him. “i hate you, go away, get out of my life!!” you scream. “you don’t mean that.” he says firmly. “stop saying those words and look me in the eyes.”
“y-yes i do! i hate you, i hope you die, go away!!” completely ignoring your threats, he wipes away your tears. “y/n. you’re hurting yourself; stop.” “leave me alone, let go!” as you continue to scream, he just stares. “you never stopped loving me. that’s why it still hurts.” “i don’t need you in my life!” trying to pull away, you attempt everything to get away.
“you wanted me to come back.” his voice is calm, he watches your movements, knowing you were trying everything to break free. “i regret leaving. i should have fought for us, but i gave up…”
“stop, stop, stop…” you sob, voice pained and broken. “…please… let me go…” your pleas break his heart, as his expression softens. “i’m sorry. i won’t let you suffer anymore.” he holds you gently, and you can see the tears roll down his face. “i’m sorry that i left you with no answers or reasoning. i’m sorry that i left you alone.” “go away…” you sniffle, still resisting against him.
“i’m not leaving. i should have fought for you, i should’ve never stopped loving you.” you still thrash and scream against his hold. “listen to me. i love you. so much.” his voice is soft and desperate, as if pleading you to listen. “i know you thought i moved on, but you were always in my thoughts. every day for three years.”
“j-just please, stop, i don’t want to remember…” you beg. “i know it hurts… i know your heart is broken. so is mine. but it doesn’t have to stay like this.” “i hate you, i hate your face, i hate you for leaving!!” you scream, throat hoarse from all the yelling. “i know.” he smiles sadly. “but i’m not giving up this time.”
“i hate you for caring, i hate you for coming back, and i hate that i still love you!! stupid, stupid, stupid…” you collapse in his embrace, no longer having the energy to fight back. “i know.” he whispers. “i’m stupid for leaving, so stupid for hurting you… but i promise, promise, i won’t ever make the same mistake twice.”
“so let me heal your heart.”
─ ✰ AYATO, CHILDE, KAVEH, XIAO, KAEYA, VENTI, KAZUHA, WANDERER?, HEIZOU + ANY OF YOUR FAVS.
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©kaeffeinee 2023. do not copy, repost, or translate any of my works on any platform.
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m1d-45 · 8 months
Text
second chances
summary: baizhu knows he isn’t your favorite, but he still finds himself hoping for the impossible. maybe, with enough prayer, he’ll get it.
word count: ~2k
-> warnings: major spoilers for baizhu story quest + lore + liyue archon quest, based on me and my experience (vaguely disliked baizhu at first due to partial information, immediately changed my mind w his quest and now adores him, doesn’t have kirara)
-> gn reader (you/yours) and unspecified traveller (they/them)
taglist: @samarill || @thenyxsky || @valeriele3 || @shizunxie || @boba-is-a-soup || @yuus3n || @esthelily || @turningfrogsgay || @cupandtea24 || @genshin-impacts-me || @chaoticfivesworld || @raaawwwr
< masterlist >
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baizhu knows he isn’t the most favored.
from the first moment the traveller set foot in his office, he knew. he wasn’t met with anything special, no big flair from his god when you first saw him. it was to be expected, with how much time he spent praying—could gods have regulars?
it was simple. a quick ‘oh, the snake talks?’ thrown his way, a comment or two about his choice of outfit or the jade pendant hanging off his vision, and that was that. mostly, you seemed preoccupied with qiqi and the funeral parlor’s consultant, something to be expected. he was a quick stop on your journey, a note in the margins about the doctor you met at the pharmacy. it made sense, of course, that you’d be occupied with the death of rex lapis during the failed rite of descension, and the return of osial and beisht surely took priority over him. he offered little, only a dialogue or two actually shared between him and the traveller when you were present. he’d gathered as much of his energy, saved it for your arrival to make a good impression, so… it made sense you’d fret over qiqi, constantly forgetful as she was.
it made sense. he’d… made his peace. he had more to worry about, surely, what with orders to fulfill and his own condition to manage. maybe not more important—never, not maybe, what was he thinking?—but certainly more.
when your attention on qiqi flared, spurred by some unknown whim, he delighted a bit in being close to her, even if your thoughts on him weren’t entirely positive.
it was fair. you liked qiqi, and were concerned. it made sense you didn’t know every detail of teyvat, and since he’s never had the chance to come to you and spell out his story directly, it made sense you’d make some assumptions.
“i guess that makes sense, but still… qiqi deserves better.”
she probably did, in truth, but hearing it from you…
he’s had his vision for years by this point. he’s hd it for as long as he’d had changsheng, to be exact, and she was always able to remind him of exactly how long that had been.
“ssseven yearsss, four monthsss, thirteen daysss, and counting…”
“ah… thank you, changsheng.”
he knew he wasn’t special. out of the thousands of vision wielders across teyvat, only a handful have started having their constellations appear in the sky. just under a hundred, by his approximation, but he tried not to count. if he sought out the proper numbers, tried to pin down a percentage of those with a vision that had a chance to hold their god’s attention, then he’d start trying to find patterns. he was a doctor, patterns and rhythms were his literal job, but he knew that wouldn’t end well.
(a librarian, an alchemist, a lawyer: did you perhaps favor more studious types? a bartender, an exorcist, a detective: or those with a drive in their lives? a nobody, a traveller, a wandering samurai: or those seeking one out for themselves?)
there wasn’t a pattern. it was random. and part of him hated it.
baizhu had had his vision for seven years, eight months, and thirteen (was it fourteen? the sky was growing dark) days, and had never once seen his stars in the sky.
he had one. he had a constellation, something he knew was rare among vision wielders, but it didn’t guarantee him a spot in the sky any time soon. kirara had hers long before she had her chance in the heavens—they’d spoken about that, both hesitant to show the other their divine gift, but willing to speak of its existence.
and now kirara’s turn had passed. though her vision didn’t shine any brighter, he could see the pride in her smile when she dropped off another delivery at the pharmacy. sign here, check these, make sure this is what you ordered, goodbye have a good day, pretend like yours doesn’t weigh more after seeing hers.
it wasn’t as if he was unremarkable. a perfectly healthy man who had thrown himself into illness to find the cure for all of them? surely that was interesting, wasn’t it? but it wasn’t his time, he was being impatient, slipping back to the same mindset he condemned his patients for.
“patience. medicine doesn’t work in an instant, and you’ll need to be taking this for the next week at minimum.”
“but it’s so bitter!”
“then tell me, what tastes worse: bile, or this pill? if you want to stop being sick, you need to take it.”
patience.
qiqi was blessed with a place in the stars near instantly after she’d gotten her vision, but she was not the norm. perhaps his expectations were weighted, then? or maybe you disliked his work entirely? he didn’t like entertaining what ifs, but when various aches kept him up, there was little else he could do while he waited for his medication to take effect. patience, he tried to remind himself, counting his breaths. be patient. wait, be calm, don’t agitate yourself. count in, count out, are your breaths getting shorter? just stay calm, be patient…
the first time he saw you, he knew you were coming. he’d saved as much energy as he could, doing his best to make a good impression. but now, with changsheng nudging him awake urgently, pushing him into his shoes and putting his glasses on for him, the first thing he’d expected was the millelith, maybe, or perhaps the ministry of civil affairs. maybe he was needed urgently, maybe something had happened to qiqi, maybe he was late for his medication and he’d get terrible headaches if he wasn’t quick- oh, but then why would she bother to coil around his shoulders?
and yet, out of all those possibilities, none were correct.
“hey! who’s talking about me behind my back?”
“changsheng, qiqi meant that as a compliment. there’s no need to be upset.”
it had been so long since he’d felt your light, far longer since he’d been properly healthy. he’d forgotten how it felt to walk without the dull ache in his joints, and yet here he was. standing by gui and a familiar looking child, speaking with your traveller. it was easy to say words he didn’t choose, his throat not getting dry despite the lack of his morning tea.
the quest was long, and by the end he should have been exhausted. between taking on jialiang’s sickness to turning him into a zombie, he should have been out of commission for the next few days. as it was he had a nasty cough, his breath coming shorter than typical… but that was it. he took his regular medication at the dinner with your traveller, the linger of your aura on them still seeming to dull his pains. how curious, that you could cure ailments even he couldn’t name anymore…
“baizhu, are you alright?” idly, he wondered if the traveller noticed the change in their voice when they were speaking for you. it always sounded a bit lighter, a bit of your emotions bleeding through… a pity he’d never know why. “today must have been taxing for you…”
all eyes were on him now, even qiqi’s. “i’m doing fine,” he said simply, taking another sip of his tea. “better than normal, if anything, which i have to owe to our guest.”
paimon still seemed nervous. “but what about when we leave? what if everything hits you all at once? normally you stay at the pharmacy, and using your power so much…”
a fair assessment. while he was no stranger to combat, to be thrown in the middle of a pack of such vicious hilichurls was a shock. still, he had made it through—even if, privately, he doubted it would have been so clean without you there. “i will be fine. even if my condition declines, i am well equipped to handle flare ups.”
it seemed the whole group was hesitant to let him go. changsheng insisted he stay up until three hours had past since the traveller left, when his limbs again felt heavy and his head began to hurt. something odd was stirring in his chest, and he was eager to get to bed before it sparked into anything more. it was reasonable, he knew, but there were only so many prescriptions to prepare before he had nothing left to do. gui had long since went to bed, leaving just him in the lobby of the pharmacy, quietly double checking his stock of herbs.
eventually, he stood from his seat, returning the sweet flowers to their proper place. he held up an hand to let changsheng climb up his arm, closing up the pharmacy. she curled around his shoulders twice, a familiar weight. the night was cool, a slight breeze bumping the chain of his glasses against his cheek. it had been a long few days, and he was happy that everything was settled. he’d done all he could for jialiang, and he and his family hopefully wouldn’t be coming back for quite some time. back to routine…
“…baizhu?”
he checked the lock with a quick tug, “yes? what is it?”
“the ssstarsss… they’re due, aren’t they?”
ah. the cycles of constellations, switching through the sky. if he thought about it.. yes, they were, weren’t they?
“by my memory, they are. why?”
her head was turned, looking off to the part of the sky not obscured by the roof of the pharmacy.
“…changsheng-“
“look.”
“it’s late.” his heart began to pick up, false hopes being raised. patience, he chided himself, but what follower did not wish for acknowledgment from their god? “we should go to sleep before we fall too far out of schedule.”
“baizhu! i know you have better sssenses than that.”
perhaps he did. his vision burned where it was clipped to his side, invisible vines creeping up toward his heart. “don’t be too hasty,” he said quietly, the words tasting as bitter as his pills.
don’t be too hasty. you could still be wrong. don’t get your hopes up. be patient.
one hand went to his hip, undoing the clasp of his vision, the other settling on the railing. a few clouds dotted the sky, but he lifted his vision anyway, searching for any stars tinted green.
everything happened at once. the terrace was replaced with an ocean of skies, the slight mumble of “i do have a guaranteed…” getting lost in the whirlwind around him. he was weightless, trapped in by an invisible box, only dimly aware of the fact that his pain had once again disappeared. he was floating, dressed in the attire he normally saved for formal events—dressed in what he’d put on when you’d first arrived—with no sight of the pharmacy below him. it was just him and changsheng, him and changsheng and the bright light that came from everywhere, lifting him from his unseen prison.
a laugh, a smile, a rush of power flooding through him, and when he next set foot in front of the pharmacy, he did so with a new gleam to his vision. he could hear a door open behind him—qiqi, if he had to guess, as why wouldn’t she be drawn to the power the adepti could only hope to imitate?—but couldn’t turn, breathless.
“welcome home, doc.. it’s good to see you.”
it had taken seven years, four months, and 25 days, but he was here. and it was more than he could have ever asked for.
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