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yxstxrdrxxm · 27 days

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SYNOPSIS: It was the first day that you came to the country after running away from your home. Although there were mysteries left untold and people you wish to escape, there was one that you never understood—why do these men keep falling for you?!

CW/s: Delusion, lovesickness, yandere behavior, stalking, violence, murder, jealousy, nonconsensual touching. (fem. reader)

NOTE FROM BLACK SWAN: Because the majority voted for the first for the revival of "FLAWED", this is the first dream I delve that focuses on... Oh my. How intriguing... Perhaps all of you will enjoy this one. It's all about you, after all.

Since the start, you never understood the matter of obsession, especially when it comes to 'love'.

Don't misunderstand—of course, you know how bad obsession can be. In your time spent in this world, you have seen so many seemingly getting utterly obsessed with your existence, oftentimes stumbling and trying to get your attention. Try as you might to ward them away, they seemingly can't stop themselves from even fumbling over you.

It was, in all honestly, a mess. Sometimes you even wonder if these people are even normal with how they can't seem to look at you right in the eye.

Though you might find them cute as they seemingly can't understand the message of 'look at me', what is not cute is when they start committing crimes. They say its all because of you, but really, what is it about you that drives them to such a thing?

So when you have a feeling it was going to happen (and you know that it will. You have a knack for such a thing, even when you used to struggle to detect it for a week), you immediately start planning on moving to a different location entirely.

In your flawless logic, it's the only thing that drives them away. They can't find you if you can't find them, no?

Alas! It... Never works.

Each time you seemingly tried, hoping and praying to the Gods above that they'd give you a small respite, a breather, even... They seemingly come back like weed, trying to suffocate you with spouting such nonsense you hear on the daily.

The one thing you can say that it worked for the first few times. In those times, you were able to gather yourself and breathe, perhaps relax as you no longer have to worry about those people follow you.

But when they find out where you went, they never seem to stop from then.

Each time you ran, they followed. They followed and followed, up until you had to uproot your entire life to go to a different country. If only to even get a chance to think clearly.

And here you are, in the country you chose to stay in: Mondstadt. It does seem quite lovely, and the chatter amongst normal people was a nice change to the near screaming you hear almost on the daily. Although you miss your friends back at Fontaine, you can hardly think about coming back.

After all, those obsessive fools may just catch whiff of you and follow you here. You can't have their disgusting hands grab you, right?

As you stayed in Mondstadt, you find out a few things about the residents here. One of them was about Chiori's shop, which was booming in the aspect of textiles, weaving and flowers. There was another one, but you heard that the owner had went missing.

Oh well.

It must not be important.

The next were the two bars— one of them you took little interest in, considering the famous one was run by your two closest friends. You, Aether and Lumine go way back, practically when you three were kids! Although you three grew apart since you got to senior high, all of you stayed in contact.

And besides, the latter must be run by some drab, so you'd rather catch up with your friends than go somewhere unfamiliar.

And finally, the one thing you absolutely adore was the bachelors you see.

You overheard that there was a painter that's globally known in all of Teyvat, especially in the art world. You never knew what his alias is, but there were talk amongst the townsfolk of a good artist that is seen in the town square. And luckily for you, you were already heading there, and you had to stop when you saw him.

Blonde hair tied in a messy short ponytail, the rest of those locks swept carelessly by the wind. Those cyan eyes glimmering in the sun makes it look more like prized gems, and although he only wore a white vest and black jeans, the canvas and paints he has stands him out more than anything.

You can only admire as he was painting the landscape, and when his head rises, both of your eyes meet.

You simply let out a gasp and turn away, unknowing of the look he must have on his face.

Oh, no, you mused, biting your lip. I sure hope I look okay! I must look like garbage in front of such a cute painter!

You simply closed your eyes as the embarrassment settled in, but you did betray your instincts and turned when you hear footsteps walk towards your direction.

Ah. He's walking towards you. He's actually walking to your direction.

"Excuse me," he says, his eyes drifting to your attire from the ground up. Eyeing the dress you wore, the luggage, then to your face and hairdo, his lips seem to quirk to a smile. "Ah, you must be the one the twins mentioned to me about. [Name], yes?"

He knows me?!

"Yes, that's... that's me," you answered, your voice faltering as you began to twiddle your thumbs. Letting out a nervous giggle, you shifted your gaze away from him again, unable to look at him. "I guess you're friends with them, huh...?"

"Mm, I suppose," he answers, the soft sound of his voice echoing and making you feel more hung up on it. "That aside, I do believe introductions are in order. My name is Albedo. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Oh, you know it's a pleasure of mine, you thought dazedly. What a prince. This must be what adoration feels.

Being with Albedo felt akin to a dream, and sometimes, you swear that those days you spent hiding from those insane suitors were all behind you.

After all, if there is one thing they can never attain, it would be what he has. The charm, wit, and his smile.

You were utterly hooked because of that smile of his.

Sure, there were moments that it felt like he were pushing those bounds bit by bit: you would catch him trying to hold your hand (something you always told him to stop), or the times he would give you those eyes. You always thought that he may be trying to hide his obsession for you, too, and he's trying to subvert the blame.

In your mind, you knew you aren't doing anything wrong. Why would you? Were you even expressing those thoughts in hopes that he would notice you?

And yet, even with that in mind, you can only find yourself dumbfounded when you hear from Alice (his companion) that he is away for a month. Something related to his work, she reasoned to you, but you took it as a sign of something sinister.

No... It can't be, you thought, horrified as you paced in your house. Don't tell me...

Now, you hate to suspect people that you liked. You hate the feeling of doing that, of thinking the person you may actually consider normal in your perspective to have fallen like the rest of the buffoons.

You hate to think they became obsessed. That he became obsessed.

So in that regard (and by the stroke of luck as he's gone for a month), you began to cut off contact with him. You began to block him everywhere, delete his number, and make sure to throw away things you suspect that he has tampered with. It was a lot, but it was all for your safety!

After all, why would you bring yourself to trust him if he's gotten obsessed over you? Ah, it'd be a nightmare!

And in your endeavor to cut him off due to the heinous idea, you began to plan out your next moves... That was, until you bumped into him.

Raising your head, your eyes met turquoise—a unique color, you thought, but you realized that it was only one.

"Oh my," you heard the recipient speak with a chuckle. "I wasn't expecting to see a cute lady here. So, you must be [Name] that I hear from Alice, hm?"

You simply squeaked when he said your name, the dulcet tones standing out far more than the soft voice you hear from that wretched blonde.

"I- I am," you stammered, raising a hand to cover your mouth. You free left hand began to fiddle with your hair, twirling a strand before you tucked it behind your ear. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking—"

He seems amused at that as he reached over to hold you from leaving.

"Ah, ah, ah," he tuts. "Not so fast, little lady. What's the hurry? I don't think it's respectful for you to walk out on someone."

Pulling his hand to your arm, he traced his fingers until he grabbed your hand, raising it to graze his lips— such is the behavior of a suitor.

"Call me Kaeya Alberich, miss [Name]," he whispers, his lips curled to a smug grin. "Or shall I call you my darling lily instead?"

Ah, he's going to be the death of me!

Unlike the time you spent with the blonde stalker to be, the time you spent with the casa nova was interesting. He seems to have a lot of fun regaling you with tales of his own, weaving them into elaborate chronicles you find yourself listening to for hours.

He was an avid storyteller, and the things he tells you feels so surreal, and yet when you look into it, it was true. You even found out that he was single too, but you never told him that.

Despite this, however, the red head is the one that catches your eye. You half-expected for him to even meet your gaze the few times you and Kaeya were together in his bar, but when you two do, he seems to look at you in disdain.

You didn't understood why he does. Kaeya tells you he looks like that to everyone, but you find that extremely hard to believe.

Does he knows that I came from Snezhnaya? you thought, pursing your lips as you stared at the busy bartender. Or is he simply playing hard to get?

You weren't with Kaeya today (which is an odd sight, because he's always free), so you decided to come by to the bar. You've been there for hours now, but even when you were staying there for so long, he never seems to bat an eye at you.

It was only when it was closing that you decide to approach the counter. You were obviously annoyed as you slammed the counter, finally catching his attention, and as you open your mouth—

"Leave."

...

"I'm sorry?" you uttered, shocked.

"Leave the bar. We're closing," he answers sharply, his steel gaze hitting you like needles on skin. "I've been ignoring you ever since you came here, miss. Please leave the bar. You've been here since nine in the evening."

The audacity of this man!

"Excuse me? Leave? I've been trying to get your attention—!"

"By what, pray tell?" he scoffs, crossing his arms with a scowl. "By batting your eyes and giggling like a teenager?"

You scoffed.

"I'd never do that!"

"Oh, but you have," you heard him reply, rolling his eyes at you—presumably because you think he has you cornered... Which he doesn't, you justified to yourself. "In fact, the bar has been empty ever since you came. You've been acting eerie enough that the regulars have left."

Hah, the audacity he has. It makes you sick.

"You act like I'm the one that has the problem here, sir," you scowl, reaching over to grab him, but he simply smacks your hand away. Raising his phone, he's now glaring at you outright.

"Don't touch me," he warns. "Miss, I'm warning you, leave. Leave or else I'll call the police."

...

You know what? Perhaps pursuing him isn't a good idea right now.

"Fine! I'll leave, then," you told him, turning on your heels to leave.

...

It was only when the lady left did Diluc sighed in relief, checking his phone once more. He noticed the messages he got from Albedo, the most recent one being something that he found shocking.

[ ALBEDO: I believe we're dealing with a case of lovesickness. ]

The sound of slamming on pavement was the thing that echoes in the room, blood and petals were being torn to shreds as the two individuals fought for dear life.

It was a monstrosity, one may say. And if they walked into the room, they would find out who was it that caused such a gruesome display and who became their victim.

Slamming the head on the floor, you felt sweat drip down your face. After what you experienced since that day, you had to be found out, and you decided that it was simply better to get rid of the weaker ones that got 'too close' to outing your location.

"You— you psycho! You freak!" you yelled at the top of your lungs, bashing the person's head as you did so. The mask they wore simply haunted you as you heard them choke and beg, but you didn't care.

They were all the same. All of them were the same, monstrous beings behind those smiles.

"Why do you keep following me?!" you yelled, raising a hammer as you slammed it on their shoulder, making them holler. "Didn't I tell you to stop?! You drove me out of that town, you freak!"

As you kept on slamming, the bones began to crack, the sound echoing around. You could hardly hear what they have to say as you simply can only see red, your ears hearing the sound of your heartbeat.

After a few more slams, you raised the weapon and bashed the head in, cracking it open like an egg and letting blood pour out.

...

Panting heavily, all you can do was look over at what you've done, and it seems that in your haste, you realized who it was that followed you.

...

Ah.

Ahaha.

Actually, that person you murdered wasn't even the one that followed you.

The blood staining your hands was one of the innocent, the one you decided to take the place of as one of the missing individuals.

Raking your hair, you couldn't help but giggle and laugh, the realization dawning on you. You forgot why you came to this town, didn't you, hm?

You came here not because of those people who became 'obsessed' and would tail you. Those people were ones that accused you for your crimes, some who had evidence as you were involved in their cases.

What a shame, really. Each time they got close, you simply bludgeoned them, making sure their remains were not to be found.

This town was no different, but it's okay, you reasoned to yourself.

Raising the now broken body of the florist, you couldn't help but smile, brain matter seeping out and blood oozing like gallons. The flowers you carelessly pulled in your rage remains by your side, but it was nothing that you can't get rid of.

It's fine now.

All you have to do was wipe everyone's memories, and you'll be in their place.

Sure, those pesky men will remember, but it's fine. In your eyes, they can't say a word when society thinks that the one they're supposed to bond with was you, after all.

You're the main character of this story, and that's how it always should be. ♡

@.yxstxrdrxxm | do not republish or repost my works anywhere | 2024

Happy April fool's!

What, were you expecting for this to be anything you wanted?

Haha, unfortunately, no. Actually, this dream was simply one that I found amusing. You all thought this was a normal yandere fic, yes?

Well... It isn't, I'm afraid. Please take what this was written with a massive grain of salt, because this dream was derived of a non-canon incident. Therefore, this dream never actually happened. Though, the events were quite jarring if it did.

Now, tell me, traliblazer.

Have you noticed anything that stands out? Anything that makes 'you' in this story perhaps... Too perfect?

Hehe. I'd start looking if I were you.

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v3ry-cherry · 1 year

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APRILLUC — DAY 27

imagine Diluc realizing how purely happy you make him right after another smile appears on his face. it’s not the very first time it’s happening but enough for him to finally admit it aloud in his head — especially when it gets confirmed by the heat in his chest and unfamiliar tickling in the abdomen. he touches his checks with fingertips, just to make sure his smile is really as wide as it feels. he didn’t feel like that in years. well, to say even more — he’s smiling exactly like when he was a child. oh, how naturally it feels like in the good, old times. when the days were simpler and he was noticing how the strands of sunshine feels on his skin before he has forgotten it for years. every little wrinkle that started to appear on the face of his dear father and the sound of the genuine laughter that belonged to his adoptive brother. when he could easily describe when the air smells of morning dew and cecilias from his garden that now he last visited a few years ago. so far no one has been able to recall these memories of his as easily as you and this single thought cut his mind like a lightning. how easy everything seemed to be when it comes to you? Diluc raised his head and turned it towards you. you were smiling, like usually. your fingers spread out against the light blue sky, lying on a picnic blanket, doing sweet nothing and yet you were still smiling. he usually tries to put his head in order and get rid of any unnecessary thoughts but he never thought anyone could feel so tangibly like rays of sunshine. to be something so radiant and warm, pleasant to keep close — maybe even too close, closer than he should want it. close enough to make him want to satisfy his curiosity to feel it against his skin. how warm it would be? how would it taste, only by touch alone? apart from its life giving aspects, the sun is harmful to humans. just like everything else. even if it seems right up close, it will surely burn their skin when touched. sun is safe and good, needed even, but from a distance. it's obvious. all of his previous thoughts shouldn't even have a place at first.

so why is it that the second after his body denies it again, he still clings to your presence as if he mindlessly wants to burn himself? he is a human after all, even if he refuses to admit it as much as he can. a man trapped with the same human needs and the same weaknesses like every other single human being. he indeed was still only human — stupid, foolish and ineducable. a fragility that endeavors to whatever feels good, right and true. to go where peace, satisfaction and happiness, possibly, can be found. something that maybe somehow will bear the weight from its shoulders even for a moment. especially when he hasn't found peace in a single human soul for so long because he stopped looking for it when more than one of them were brutally ripped out of his surrounding. when he learned that people usually bring the storm, never the breeze. he was convinced that it was not people that he should look for it in. but no matter how long ago he had given up the pursuit of happiness, he found it hard to resist since he get to know you.

so of course he wanted to try something so tempting, so describable. because Diluc couldn’t deny it, even if the smell of summer peaches, jasmine and warmth that you bring every time with yourself has never been his favorite — at least until now. because somehow he desired it so much, probably all along. the type of warmth you get under a blanket on a winter evening or straight from the sun in a cloudless day. the same that embraces your hand, outstretched to him and asking him to join and lie next to you. that specific one that carries your smile alone.

masterlist

#aprilluc #diluc #diluc ragnvindr #diluc genshin impact #diluc imagines #diluc x you #diluc x reader #diluc scenarios #diluc fluff #genshin impact #genshin impact diluc #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact fluff #diluc ragnivindr x you #diluc ragnvindr imagines #diluc ragnivindr x reader #genshin impact diluc ragnvindr

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teacrying · 1 year

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Birthday

A/N: it’s my birthday soon so yeah lol and this was half-asses at most

Fandom(s): Genshin Impact

Character(s): Dainsleif, Alhaitham, Cyno, Diluc, Kaeya

Genshin Impact:

Dainsleif would use this day to cherish you and treat you like the goddess you are. You deserve the world and he’d gladly take the archons on all at once to give it to you. Now, he usually does cherish you today he amps it up even more. With some planning of certain things like outfits and places taken care of a week before other things had been in works longer. He helped design a beautiful piece of jewelry and placed an order for a bouquet full of flowers that reminded you of him. For Dain this is the only holiday he takes part in with his chest. You are his safe place, and his home that he never thought he would find again.

While he knows things like these don’t truly matter Alhaitham tries for you. He knows for sure that when your feelings aren’t “positive” he doesn’t like it. So he gets you mostly practical things that you needed and something that you wanted. I can picture him giving you socks and underwear cause you mentioned that you needed them but in the mix of that there would be a book or plushy you wanted! He would also know that with socks and underwear could not only be practical but also fun for both of you! He would take you out for brunch after giving you the present at home. He means well but he’s also too smart for his own good, even Kaveh tried to say something but was shut down instantly.

Cyno tries to gift from the heart. He knows he’s away a lot but he also wants you to know he’s always thinking about you even then. He might commission a TCG card or two from a certain alchemist that is the both of you in your favorite place or he might make a scrapbook! The scrapbook would be full of pictures he took, some with you and some that he took of the landscape when he was missing you, along with some description of where it was and possibly even how he was feeling. He’d also include some pressed flowers that he specifically asked Tighnari the meaning of.

Diluc will take this opportunity to spoil the ever loving shit out of you. He is a man with a plan and he will make sure it goes down perfectly. From bouquets to meals you won’t have to do anything but cuddle up to him and thank him. He would gift you something(s) he saw you eyeballing for a while, surprising you with how vigilant he was with everything in his world. Such a king. He’d be extremely willing to try some of your hobbies today rather than any other day.

Once he was done doing the major things he needed to do, Kaeya would slink back to you with a bouquet, a nice bottle of wine, your favorite meal, and a simple necklace that was in the shape of his pupil. He knew you loved his eyes, despite him being indifferent to the fact it was different, so he thought this would be perfect! Spending the rest of his night with you and cherishing it while avoiding the minor problems that would have popped up during his working day.

#teaskies headcanons #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact headcanons #genshin impact dainsleif #dainsleif x reader #genshin impact alhaitham #alhaitham x reader #genshin impact cyno #cyno x reader #genshin impact diluc ragnvindr #diluc ragnivindr x reader #genshin impact kaeya alberich #kaeya alberich x reader

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hanniejji · 2 years

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born from the ashes of another

[ father!diluc ragnvindr x child!reader ]

summary: a phoenix born from ashes and flame, blaze as bright as the first, but can never last as long as the first burst. how does a phoenix ignite itself after losing its flame?

notes: this chonky piece of shit took a long while to finish goddamn. also, heavily inspired by my anons who keeps giving me wonderful brainrots! y'all are wonderful and i love reading your ideas! neways, watch me drop this out of nowhere without a proper ending haha suffer motherfuckers >:) | m.list

words: 7,449 | warnings: sad shit, character death (mentioned), "y/n" used, injuries, torture (not descriptive), trauma, neglect,

ACT I.

diluc's eyes flutter open at the start of your cries, the sound passing through the doors of your room across his, just like what he had intended.

well, what his wife intended for.

shaking the sleepiness out of his mind, he pushes his weary body off the bed, the cold floor helping his groggy brain to wake up by sending chills along his nerves.

"shit."

he winches at the stinging pain on his side from an earlier encounter. it wasn't a deep cut, but it stung like a searing burn against the cloth of his sleepwear. 'wretched abyss,' he thought. nevertheless, he forces himself to move quickly, hoping that your cries haven't woken any of the staff in the house.

yet, his hand flinched just before he could even turn the door knob of your door.

his chest feels constricted, the long hallways seemingly looming over him and the shadows wavering into figures that he's sure is just a figment created by the combination of his imagination and fear. perhaps with a mix of his fatigue and emotions that he had been restraining for the sake of going through his responsibilities without a hitch.

but who could blame him for having moments like this, when he hasn't even had a moment to mourn for the loss of his wife?

the loss of his beloved and the arrival of their child. it was a fear that loomed over everyone in the household after they discovered their madam collapsed one day. her body was too weak to nurture another life. diluc had been in denial at first, searching far and wide for someone to help them save his wife and the child in her womb.

in the end, the doctor had to force him to choose before they lost both of you.

and he chose what his wife begged him to. a final wish that he couldn't possibly deny her of. he could still remember her pained voice as she whispered her last wish to him.

"save them," she had begged the trembling man seated beside her bed. "there's no guarantee that i may even survive this, so please, at least save our child, my love."

if finding even the tiniest hope for her survival was a struggle, making sure that you live through the process was akin to fighting death itself. you didn't make a single noise the moment you were born and there was almost no air coming from your nose. the doctors were separated, some were fussing over you while your mother was taken care of for the entirety of the night.

the moment you made a small cry was like a small show of mercy from the gods.

your mother was still conscious enough to see you for the first and last time. she spent her last moments in his arms, smiling at your resting form bundled in a red blanket.

those mere minutes of tranquility was something out of his dreams.

the image of his wife—with the exception of her deathly pale skin and weak breathing—holding your frail body in her arms, the smile that was shared between them. yet diluc's lips trembled at the inevitable quietus in his beloved's eyes. her last words uttered in a whisper and the shiver that traversed across his spine when he felt her cold hands lingered on his skin.

"i love you."

the next thing he knew, doctors were scurrying right back to the room while he sat outside with you in his arms, lifeless eyes staring aimlessly at the floor.

nothing could possibly console him. but his life had forced him to go back and attend to his responsibilities, as if the death of his wife wasn't enough for the gods.

a loud shrill of your cries woke him a second time this night.

no, he scolded himself, turning the knob to push your door open and taking a deep breath, i don't have time for such thoughts.

carefully, he closed the door with a click, his face frowning at the incessant cries coming from your crib. he can see your little arms flailing up and around through the wooden rails, prompting him to quicken his pace towards you.

what a tiny little thing you are, he can still remember his wife's voice when you were placed in her arms that night.

"good evening, little one," he coos, lowering his hand to brush against the baby hairs on your head.

"if i remember correctly, adelinde fed you earlier just before i arrived—" he recalls that it had just been two and a half hours ago when he finished his patrol around mondstadt, "—what must be causing you to fuss at this time of the night?"

he wasn't aware of it, but the corner of his lips tilted up into a small smile. his voice in a gentle tone that only his beloved had the honor of hearing. your delicate skin barely felt the feather-like touches of his fingertips but it was enough to make your cries decrease in volume, your hiccups and whimpers left to echo in the four walls of your room.

diluc felt his heart leap for a second, but shook his head to focus on easing your cries.

"your diaper is clean," he glances at the sheets in your crib, "you hadn't entangled yourself with the mattress either."

it's safe to say that everything that diluc had read about parenting, which were multiple shelves upon shelves of books, had dispersed the second he had to put it to use.

"uh," he looks down at you in concern, clueless and hands trembling in nervousness.

you're still crying, albeit not as loud as before but he still wouldn't want you to keep crying until you get tired. he sighs, wracking his brain of anything that might solve his problems right away.

"barbatos help me—wait, no, nevermind," he groans, reprimanding himself for even thinking about that unreliable and drunkard archon of mondstadt. hesitating for a second, he carefully reaches under your armpits then pauses.

how do you carry babies again?

you must've sensed his reluctance, squirming at the uncomfortable grip he has around your armpits and whining.

"wait, no, that's not right."

cursing under his breath, he then slips his hands under your head and bum, carefully—almost too careful, he's so afraid to accidentally drop you—lifting you to his chest, where he lets your head rest on his shoulder. the weight of your body was unfamiliar in his arms, so light. he really hasn't carried you that much, huh? his arms are too stiff to be comfortable for babies, yet here you are, babbling quietly and relaxing.

wait, what?

he turns his head to look at your untroubled sleeping face.

did you… did you stop crying the moment he took you in his arms?

"oh, my little flame."

you look so… so fragile and at peace. he never imagined that such a vulnerable little thing like you would ever feel so secured in his presence that you'd cease your tears at the touch of his warmth. it's like he was all you were searching for in the first place—and he is. you really were asking, crying, for him. for a mere few minutes in his arms and you're already so comfortably sleeping, as if you weren't just fussing a moment ago. you wanted him, a man who had lost everything and grew familiar with violence, to hold you in his arms.

the whole time that he was awestruck at such a precious moment in front of him, he had not realized the tears running down his cheeks.

only when he felt the drops of crystal clear tears on your clothes did he snap from his gaze, shifting you gently to wipe away his tears. his tired eyes affected by his sudden tears feel heavier than earlier.

but he didn't want to leave this yet.

he wants to stay like this a little longer. he wants to feel the utmost trust you put in him to hold your fragile little self and protect you in your most vulnerable state.

this… this is an unfamiliar territory, yet it also feels right. like his arms is where you are safe the most.

so he stays.

leaning his back on the armchair placed in your baby room, he carefully shifts you to lay on his arms, watching you sleep with tenderness in his eyes. to be given such an opportunity to care, love, and protect such a precious little thing. one that was given to him by his wife. one that lit up a tiny flame in his heart, slowly engulfing his whole person and soaring the skies.

he would do everything to protect you, even at the cost of his life.

"rest well, little phoenix."

but you burned so brightly that he sometimes had to look away.

ACT II.

to say that everyone in the ragnvindr household, staff and employees alike, are in shambles is an understatement.

this includes even the ever so smooth cavalry captain, kaeya.

the cause? you, the only child of diluc ragnvindr, had fallen terribly ill a week ago. at first it was just a runny nose and a constant feeling of discomfort. three days later, your simple cold turned into a high fever. the bad news? diluc is thousands of miles away in fontaine, dealing with international business and he hasn't been answering their letters. yes, letters, plural form. they had sent the fifth letter this morning.

kaeya, and everyone else, is slowly losing their mind. adelinde and elzer are on the verge of a breakdown.

"ah, seriously, your stupid father."

kaeya sighed for the nth time today. he had been taking his day off for the past four days, choosing to look after your ill state. the convenience of his cryo vision came in handy in this situation, keeping your forehead cool with a hand and using his body temperature to make sure you aren't being affected by the heatwave outside.

yet, your fever refuses to go down. you weren't necessarily hard to take care of, but the frown on your face and whimpers from time to time says enough.

that, and you kept asking for your currently absent father.

"uncle?"

"yes, pipsqueak?" he rubs his hand across your back, "do you want something?"

"where's dad?"

kaeya couldn't help the grimace at your question, choosing to say something that wouldn't directly tell you that your dumbass of a father is too busy to spare a minute or two to read their letters regarding your state.

"he'll be home soon, alright?"

kaeya's never been a religious person, but he prays to the wielder of faith that what he said will come true.

"i want dad…"

"i know, kid, i know."

a few seconds later, you're once again in a feverish dreamland. kaeya couldn't imagine how it must've felt to not find the person you need the most at your weakest state. (well, he could actually, but even then he was always surrounded by people when he was your age)

perhaps it's not as obvious to the public, but kaeya is not just anyone. he knows the longing in your eyes whenever he sees you look at you diluc. the way you don't seem to have the same glee that klee and any other child have. he's also painfully aware of diluc's negligence and irresponsibility as your father. how can he not be aware, when you ask him things that you should already know just by spending time with your father? when he had never seen the two of you in the same room, bonding or doing whatever a father and his child should be doing? when he can clearly see you looking at your father with desperate eyes and diluc looks at you wistfully, unable to sort his the unresolved emotions he still had since your mother's passing? after all, diluc ragnvindr is a man who cannot waste his time to mourn when time is unwilling to wait. time is unyielding, merciless, keeps moving forward and will not spare anyone a moment to stop. and you are his child burdened at such a young age.

but you still ask for your father nonetheless.

"is dad here yet?"

that's the nth time you asked that question now.

adelinde couldn't help but frown every time you did, praying to the anemo archon once more that the master would soon push the doors to the manor open. after kaeya left for work—he unfortunately couldn't skip today's patrol, something about observing the recent appearance of an unusual activity in the wild—you had woken up from a fever dream. if adelinde wasn't already stressed for the past few days, she was sure she would've passed out when she saw you crying in your sleep, twisting and turning around under the crumpled sheets before waking up with a yelp, curling around your knees as you let out heart wrenching whimpers and cries for your father.

it took a while before you eventually settled down in bed again, but unable to close your eyes after the fright.

"please, young one, you need to rest if you want to get well."

"i want to wait for dad…"

she had never seen you in such a state where you'd stubbornly stick your feet to the ground with the resolve that resembled your father so much. you were always such an obedient child, listening intently to the staff—especially to diluc—and never having to be told of something twice for you to understand something.

but right now, even as your eyes refuse to stay open and your breaths turn shallow, you clench your fist around your blanket with a determination that's mighty as steel.

oh you remind her so much of diluc whenever he gets stubborn as a sick child, it would've been so endearing if only the two aren't in such a complicated situation.

"knock knock," elzer peeks inside from the door, giving you a gentle smile before entering. "don't want to sleep yet?"

"the young one is insisting on waiting for the master," adelinde sighed tiredly.

"i want to wait for dad," they barely heard your voice from under your blanket. when did you even cocooned yourself?

"i figured as much," elzer chuckled as he walked closer, pulling something from behind him to show you. "i have something that might help you. here, let me unwrap you from the burrito you got yourself into."

carefully, he takes the blanket away from your shivering body, quickly replacing it with two coats similar to the ones your dad wears everyday.

"did you take that from the laundry?"

"apologies," he sheepishly smiles at adelinde. "i thought our young ragnvindr here would feel better if they had something to remind them of the master."

"you didn't even have the mind to tell me?"

"you haven't left this room since master kaeya went out!"

"thank you."

the two whipped their heads to look at you, both exhaling a relieved breath at the sight of your eyes closed, snuggling into the coats that are remarkably too large for your size. you look a little more at ease now, forehead lacking the crease of your eyebrows.

"i miss dad," you subconsciously murmured, barely heard if it wasn't for the silence in the room.

elzer brushes the hair away from your face, delicately smoothing his thumb at your temple with a soft smile.

"fret not, young one. master diluc will arrive sooner than later," he purses his lips at the lie.

just like that, you have once again fallen into the land of dreams, hopefully one that will not stir you awake with fear.

as if the archons had enough of their constant voices, their prayers have been answered.

diluc can consider his business in fontaine successful. he had not expected it to only take a week and a day, clearly assuming that it would've taken more than just a week to strike a deal in business. but hey, what's done is done and he's thankful that he could come home to you sooner.

after all, he wouldn't have worked his ass off as diligently as possible if he didn't want to see you immediately.

he had been packed with papers here and there from multiple people who wanted to do business with him—he's much more surprised that he went through all of them in such a short amount of time—that he had unintentionally forgotten the unusual amount of letters from elzer and… kaeya?

what in the world would kaeya want from him other than to annoy him? no matter, the sooner he finishes things up the sooner he can go home.

ah, home. home is wherever you are safe.

except, he didn't expect to come home to his maids scurrying around without the supervision of adelinde and how they are extremely relieved to see him enter through the entrance.

"master diluc!" they exclaimed at the same time.

the two rushed to his direction, both simultaneously rambling his ears off in concern.

"wait, wait," diluc sighed, stopping them from their rambles, "i do not understand anything that the two of you are saying. now, tell me what's wrong, clearly this time." he pointed a look towards moco.

"um," she gulped—clearly nervous about the sudden stare—"it's about your child." the two tensed up at the way his eyes squinted into a worried look.

"yes? what happened?"

"they had fallen ill for a week and three days now."

without wasting a single moment after those words escaped moco's mouth, his feet hurriedly skips to the stairs and swerved the corners of every hallway to their room right in front of his, where adelinde is just about to close the door upon her exit.

"what happened?"

she sharply turned around at his sudden voice, breathing a sigh of relief. she almost thought that she's starting to see things out of desperation.

"i'm glad you've returned safely, master diluc," she curtsies, "the little one had only just fallen asleep after a few hours of restless tousling in bed. they've been asking for you ever since they fell ill."

"their condition?" he eyes the crack on the door where he can see the mop of hair just a little.

"their fever hasn't gone down for a week now, but it also hasn't gotten worse. although, i'm afraid this is causing too much stress on them and it's not allowing them to rest," she moves aside the door, placing a hand on his shoulder and gently nudging him inside with an encouraging smile. "i believe the constant thought of you and your absence in their delirious state is weighing down on their fragile condition. i'm sure they'll feel a little better with their father's presence."

"thank you for looking after them and… apologies, i—"

"it is not i that you should be apologizing to. please," she pleads, "they need you right now, master diluc. they need their father."

sharing one last glance of acknowledgement between the two, adelinde leaves diluc to his own device, the latter then pushing the door open as quietly as possible.

the sight of your tiny figure wrapped in his coats, curled into a ball in the large bed that seems to be too cold for your comfort feels like a lightning struck diluc's heart. your eyes are shut tight, half of your face covered by the clothes and obvious shivers wracking your body. to the eyes of someone that doesn't share the same sharp sense of a man who's been through harsh winters and countless near death encounters, one wouldn't be able to see the twitches of your eyes, completely encased inside your slumbering dreams.

all of this was happening while he was thousands of miles away. such a foolish mistake on his part to regard those letters inconvenient without even knowing its contents.

your pain reminds him of your mother's demise. like a mirage playing all of his suffering in a loop.

but no, he's here now and it's not the time to wallow in self-deprecating thoughts when he should be prioritizing your health.

"my little flame," he exhales under his breath, lowering himself beside you on your bed and brushing your hair away from your face, the mere touch of his warm fingers stirring you awake from a cold dream.

or maybe, you're still dreaming.

because there's just no way for the man that you've been calling out for just moments ago—it's been days but you're too delirious to figure that out—is now here beside you, smiling at you in a way he never had done so before.

"dad?"

"hey," he greets, staring right back at your sleep-hazed eyes with a soft smile, "how's my little phoenix feeling, hm?"

"cold. i feel very cold."

"i see, it just so happens that i have a pyro vision to help you with that," he breathed a relieved sigh when you chuckled quietly. "would you mind if i hold you to keep you warm for a while?"

"you're not… busy?"

"that doesn't matter right now, little flame. i would rather be here than anywhere else."

dad is always busy, you thought. this really must be a good dream.

"i… i want dad to hold me."

"i would gladly."

in the next few minutes, you fight to keep your eyes open, nuzzling your head against the warmth of your father's chest. he has you huddled close to his chest while he sits on the chair beside your bed, still bundled in his coats. you look so much like that night when he first took you in his arms to sooth your cries, falling asleep with your bundled form in his chest and waking up to see your peaceful slumber, not once stirring awake to cry after he took you in his arms. that night he swore to give everything he has to protect your light.

if the archons would let you, you would stay in this dream forever—and if falling asleep in this dream means you'd wake up to a reality where diluc barely looks behind him to see you trying to reach for him with your little hands, then you never want to wake up from this dream.

"rest well, my flame. i'll be here for you whenever you need me."

and what a wonderful dream it was.

ACT III.

kaeya had never felt so cold in the tavern in his entire life.

it wasn't raining, nor was it winter that sources the low temperature, and it couldn't possibly be cold in such an establishment that diluc owns. in fact, it's always been warm in the tavern.

until today, that is.

"would you care to repeat that again?"

kaeya, despite being a cryo vision wielder, felt the hairs in his body stood at the icy venomous tone that came out of diluc's mouth. he's used to hearing him speak in such way that makes him intimidating—not so much to kaeya—but right now his voice just reeks pure anger and murderous intent that everyone, sober or not, can do nothing but stare at the scene in fear.

"i will gladly say it again!" the man hollered, utterly drunk and out of his mind.

"fool," kaeya glared at the man in front of the bar counter.

"you would've been better off saving your wife rather than your wretched child. you wouldn't lose anything if you saved her, you could just make another! they're a pathetic child anyway! so meek and naive, how can they possibly live up to their parents' names?"

kaeya gritted his teeth, jaw and fists clenched, shooting up from his seat that pushed his chair backward. but before he could even make a step towards the man, diluc raised his hand as if to tell him that he's got this.

agitated and confused, but kaeya knew better. he may not look like it, but he knew that something is brewing behind that void expression on diluc's face.

"they are nowhere as wonderful as your gorgeous wife! in fact, they're better off gone from the face of this world instead of having killed their own mother—"

a hand reached out from behind the bar, grabbing onto his collar and pulling him forward.

"—hey! how dare you touch me! i am a nobility!"

"say. that. again."

the man felt his whole body tremble at the sudden rise in temperature and the blazing vermillion eyes staring right through his soul, molten lava swirling in rage in those orbs, glowering down at him with the intensity of a bursting sun, radiating pure heat that will melt him right before he can even get close. despite all of this, his sweat felt too cold, traveling across his whole body when the hand around his collar tightens when he doesn't answer.

one can tell that he's completely sober and wide awake right now.

"did i tell you to stop speaking?"

"no—no, no, no, please sir you must understand—"

"oh, i completely understand what you're trying to say."

suddenly the world spins and his face is planted on the bar counter's wood surface with the strength of a person who has trained with a claymore more than half his life.

"but sire, you know nothing about my late wife and my child," diluc smashes a wine bottle on the wooden counter, the money's worth of wine spilling on the floor but diluc could care less. the wine may as well be the blood of this buffoon here. his blood is boiling, a concoction of anger and pure bloodlust spilling over the nose of the pot that makes him point the shattered ends of the bottle near the man's terrified face.

"you better listen to every word i say with that pig-headed brain of yours," his voice gets impossibly colder, dropping into a lower tone as he looks down with murderous eyes. "if i hear you utter my wife or phoenix's name, i will personally see to it that it will be the last name that you get to say and my face would be the last thing you see."

he goes over the counter while dragging the man behind him like a sack of potatoes with great force, ignoring the cries for mercy—even the people at the tavern avoid meeting his eyes. he is soon thrown outside the tavern, his fancy noble suit kissing the dirty pavements.

"never show your obnoxious face in my tavern again," diluc turns around, pauses, before looking back at the horrified man once more. "oh, and don't doubt my ability. i will know if you mention my wife and child's name again."

"good evening and welcome back, master diluc."

"good evening."

diluc shrugs his coat from his shoulder, letting adelinde take the cloth from him before turning to elzer.

"i assume that the documents i asked for this morning have arrived?"

"yes, sir, i placed the document right next to the sales report files in your office. everything else is ready to be arranged for tomorrow."

"good, thank you," he sighs in relief then turns to adelinde. "how is phoenix? had they eaten?"

"yes, they did request that we place a smaller portion of food this lunch and dinner. they claimed that… that they'd be too busy to study to eat that much."

"they've been awfully invested in their studies these days," elzer added. "perhaps i should schedule a time for tutor sessions?"

"no need," he shakes his head. "y/n had expressed a disinterest in being tutored by someone else."

he bids the two a good night, venturing through the hallways that he knows so well like the back of his hand, mindlessly skipping his room until he is stood in front of your door. the adrenaline and surge of emotions from tonight's shift at the tavern left a sour taste in his tongue, bile lumping in his throat at the words he's been trying oh so hard to forget.

the sheer audacity to tell him that you are nothing like your mother.

you are everything that your mother wanted you to be. you remind him so much of her that it sometimes sends his heart in a spiraling tumble across mondstadt's mountains. sometimes it hurts, sometimes it gives him a sense of peace to have you safe and sound, right beside him—a piece of what's left from his wife, a blessing and a gift. but mostly, it scares him that he might fail to protect you as well, like he always does.

but despite all of these, you also bring so much comfort to him that your mother once did.

you are nothing like what the man mentioned you to be.

finally, diluc's shoulders drop the tense posture it has been with after the encounter in the tavern, his breath more regulated and mind finally free from the malicious infestation it once held towards that bastard.

"y/n?" he quietly knocks on your door.

a few seconds passed without a response, he quietly and carefully turned the knob and pushed the door, noting that your lamp is still lit and the windows are still wide open, letting in the cold wind of the night.

"oh, dear," he sighed exasperated—yet the fond smile on his face says otherwise.

papers and books are scattered all over your desk, all kept in place by your folded arms and head that was sprawled across the wooden surface. your cheek was pressed on an opened book, a quill lying limp on your hand and inkwell dangerously close to tipping over your pile of papers.

you had fallen asleep while studying.

he approaches your slumped body, placing the lid on the inkwell and moving it to a safer area. before he could even begin to move you back to your bed, his hand paused all movement as he stared at your sleeping face.

you look so at peace—something that he wants to maintain for your safety. something that he risks his life every night and works hard everyday for. he would raise hell from the underground and bring blazing fire to the abyss if he had to—he would do everything to keep you safe. even if it means burning himself in the process.

"my little phoenix," he whispered into the night, a hand brushing the hairs away from your forehead. "you look so much like your mother."

willing himself to move, he carefully carries you to bed and tucks the blanket around you, brushing your hair so it wouldn't get in your face whilst you sleep. he tidied up your desk and closes the windows, checking around for anything to arrange before turning the lamp off and making his way to the door.

he faces your bed right as he closes the door, smiling at how you seemed to be deep in your sleep.

"you did well today, my little flame. good night."

the next day, you groggily thanked adelinde on your way to the kitchen for breakfast, muttering how terrible it would've been if your ink had spilled all over your books. your mind was still half asleep to discern her confusion.

ACT IV.

birthdays are said to be a day of celebration. the special day that you were brought to the world and into the lives of those that cherishes you, receiving gifts and greetings and spending the whole day with those that you love.

you don't like celebrating your birthday.

your birthday is far from special. you despise it. every year, you grow agitated whenever the day slowly comes and you have to prepare yourself to plaster fake smiles to those that greet you, before trying your best to convince your father to not spend mora upon mora for a single party. it's one of those rare times that you're glad that he's too busy to arrange anything, letting elzer to handle the task. the poor guy has to deal with your incessant request to just drop the party plans and lie to your father every time.

overtime, everyone in the winery figured that you just don't like celebrating it at all, and that's understandable. it's something that they understand without having to say anything, choosing to greet you with warm smiles in the morning and your favorite platter of food instead. the cake—which is something you actually do enjoy by the way—and the fake props stays though, diluc would be suspicious if he finds no sign that a celebration took place.

your birth stole the life of someone precious to the people around you, why should you celebrate it?

the only problem lies in the city of mondstadt itself.

you once made the mistake of venturing to the city to buy yourself something for yourself—no offense to diluc's gift but it's more often than not something that you're not interested in, you will never say that to his face though.

the moment you step foot inside the city gates, people bombarded you with happy greetings and inquiries about how you would celebrate, some gave you a free treat—you particularly love the flowers and small treats. they raise their voices in such an over enthusiastic way that it echoes in your ear like a broken phonograph. it's irritating, infuriating, and exhausting—but as a ragnvindr, you have to force the most polite smile on your face and give them the same fake energy they give you, ignoring those who stare at you in a way that makes your skin crawl.

you may be in your preteen years, but you weren't born yesterday—hah!—nor are you blind.

you were lucky kaeya was near that time and saw your unnerving smile. since then, you made a point of not venturing outside the vicinity of the dawn winery for a week after your birthday.

unfortunately, that's not the case this time.

"where have you been the whole day?"

you froze on spot at the sound of his voice—stern, strict, and cold. you hadn't expected him to wait for you, especially not when the manor is littered with strangers plastered with smiles and disgustingly sweet voices greeting your ears the moment they laid their judging eyes upon you. surely, he must be tired from all the social mingling.

you felt suffocated surrounded by these guests.

diluc had scheduled a banquet held in the manor the same day of your birthday, celebrating not only your birth but also the emerging business opportunities for the winery. it had been a while since the ragnvindr manor opened its door to visitors—your parents' wedding, specifically—so it's no wonder why all of these noble families were eager to attend.

hosting a banquet on our birthday, means your attendance is a must. diluc had once emphasized the importance of making appearances when hosting an event.

for the most part, you had been present from start of the banquet, saying your oh so called gratitude whenever someone greets you a happy birthday. but you knew better than to trust those excited grins and sugar-coated words. you hear them all the time, what makes them think theirs is special? within this kind of society, there's no room for being naive and gullible.

yet it still did not stop you from feeling disgusted and asphyxiated.

right in the middle of the event, your head started to spin from how crowded you felt. excusing yourself was easy enough, you know the right words to say. escaping the manor was tedious though, everyone wanted to greet the young ragnvindr, but you successfully made it to the back porch where you found yourself hiding away from the monsters making themselves feel at home in a house that was supposed to be your safe place.

the comfort outside was soon disrupted when one of the maids found you, panic stricken on her face as she relayed to you that the banquet had been dismissed hours ago and your father was not pleased with how you ditched the event.

"y/n, i asked you a question."

his voice sounded louder than before, you can conclude that your silence was not what he was looking forward to, nor is any excuse you'd make on the spot.

"apologies," you will yourself to speak loud enough for him to hear, but avoid looking his way. "i got caught up admiring the view outside."

why is it so hard to make a lie on the spot when you're talking to diluc?

"the view outside?" you can hear the confusion in his voice. "the view outside has been the same since forever. what difference does the view have now that it made you leave the banquet meant to celebrate your birth?"

you dig your nails into your palms, biting the insides of your cheeks to refrain yourself from making a sarcastic remark.

"nothing, father. although i couldn't say the same for inside the house."

your mouth opened before you could even think of what you just said. well, there goes your attempt at a peaceful conversation.

i really should lessen the time i spend with uncle kaeya.

"inside the house?" diluc pushes himself up from the couch, arms crossed and his eyebrows furrowed. "i'm going to need you to expound on your words and while you're at it, why our guest claimed to not have attended any of your birthday celebrations that you and the other staff claimed you had hosted. elzer seemed to turn pale when i asked him about this, so i figured it would be better to ask you myself."

oh, he knows.

the look on your face confirms his suspicion.

"y/n, if you don't give me a proper explanation for your lies and sudden dereliction for your manners, know that i will not forget to address such topic unless you give me the explanation i want to hear—"

your head feels fuzzy, his voice is being muffled by the sound of faint ringing and your heartbeat in your ears, throbbing—pounding on the skull of your temple. your throat turns dry, lips parting to let you breathe as you felt the suffocating atmosphere from earlier once again.

never have you felt such a bubbling feeling of frustration and heaviness directed towards your father.

"yes, i lied."

"i am aware," he clicks his tongue at the nonchalant way you spoke—the sound wasn't that loud yet it echoed in your ears painfully.

the way he spoke sent your mind reeling with insecurities. your fear of disappointing the one person you strive to get to acknowledge you in the slightest prickling your skin with hot iron, as if engraving the tone of his voice in your head.

disappointing and shameful.

but something snapped inside of you when the circumstance has settled in, when the past occurrence whipped in front of your eyes in a single moment, along with the emotions that came crashing on you, recalling every little bit of effort you put through to get to him.

is it… really necessary for me to do something and be someone of distinction to deserve my father's recognition?

suddenly, you couldn't stop your mouth from spitting fire.

"in fact, i've been lying to you and myself, father."

cold silence flooded the room at your words, but you willed yourself to gaze upon his bewildered face, a hint of pain behind those familiar vermillion eyes of his. if he had looked at you this way any other day, you would've done anything to clear yourself of confusion to appease him.

but this is no any other day.

"what are you trying to tell me, phoenix?"

your mind is too fogged with frustration and everything you have suppressed to be delighted with the nickname he often calls you.

"why do you always insist that i celebrate this… special day?"

you watch him look at you, questioning, as if he wanted to ask why you wouldn't know such a thing.

"because today is the day of your birth and i want you to be surrounded with the people who want to bring joy to you," his tone seemed perplexed, wording his words like it wasn't obvious enough. "i wanted you to be happy on your birthday."

you almost want to barf the second he spoke those words.

"why would you even ask such things—"

“have you ever asked me what i wanted?"

diluc staggered backwards, mouth opening to say something but he paused, something akin to realization plastered in his face and he pales. his tensed shoulder visibly lowered, breath shuddering at your words that echoes itself in his head like a broken cassette.

no, he had never asked you what you wanted. he just assumed that you would.

but why, why did you kept quiet? did i really appeared like i don't care enough to listen to you?

"i didn't want to burden you any further with my preferences. i… i thought it would please you if i never complained about anything."

it was as if you knew how his mind works, answering with his unsaid question.

"phoenix," he takes a step closer but dared not to get too close. he felt like an invisible force, a wall, is hindering him from approaching your figure.

"to be acknowledged by you. it was all i ever wanted."

what?

"forgive me if i seem too… unmindful of my manners in an earlier banquet. i never meant to hurt our family's name like that—"

"that's not what—"

"i wanted to keep up appearances and stay by your side, be the ever carbon copy of the master of the ragnvindr clan. but tonight,"—your gaze lowered, as if embarrassed—"it didn't felt right. the crowd of people felt… suffocating. i used to think that it was easy to keep smiling to appease these people that i'm not familiar with. but i guess you just made it look easier," you smiled, although tight and forced, like the ones diluc uses for his business. a smile so unlike yourself.

it pained diluc to have you direct that kind of smile towards him.

"i never wanted these flock of people walking around praising me for their own benefit."

but you deserve all of those words of acknowledgement, you've done so much at such a young age. you deserve so much more.

"i didn't ask for this party filled with all these people that i've never even spoken to, not even once."

i'm so sorry my little flame, i never wanted to make you feel like a lone whale in a vast ocean.

"i never wanted to spend another birthday that would only remind me of how extremely lonely it is to be loved just for my last name, if they even love me at all—" you chuckled bitterly.

you don't know how much i love you my little flame, i would've gone to hell and back for you.

"—i never wanted to spend another birthday wishing for my own father to recognize me for who i am and actually look at me for more than just a few minutes and not just because he has to. all i want is to spend my birthday, heck it doesn't even have to be my birthday or any holiday, with my dad. just my dad. no one else. and i hope he also wants to spend just a day with me, not just because it's his responsibility."

i do! it doesn't have to be any special day, i would've dropped everything if you asked me to!

diluc felt his whole body run cold at your next words, eyes glistening with tears at the sudden imagery of the woman he loved in his mind, holding your fragile figure in her arms as she took her last breath.

suddenly, you seem so out of reach.

"i don't want another birthday where i wish that it should've been my mother and not me."

what… what do you mean? how could you say that?

wordlessly—with dull eyes that remind him so much of himself whenever he looks at the mirror when he was younger and angrier—you gave him a tired smile, before turning on your heels.

"forgive me for being disappointing, father."

say something, say something, idiot! do something! move, move, move!

he watched helplessly, unable to tear his gaze from your retreating figure.

do something for the love of god! it's all your fault, if you didn't stay quiet, if you haven't been distancing yourself, this wouldn't happen! you pushed your own child away!

his mouth parted to say something, but his voice failed to speak up. the tears that gathered in his eyes fell in streams, the image of your form closing the door blurry as he whispers his unspoken plea.

"please, don't take anyone else from me anymore. not my phoenix."

530 notes · View notes

ooriru · 2 years

Text

kaeya x reader x diluc

I had this idea in my notes for a while BUT I WAS TOO SCARED TO POST IT

warning – cheating, a little bit of their backstory

you were kaeya's lover. keyword: were. everything changed when traveler appeared in mondstadt. no, you didn't blame the traveler for the disinterest kaeya had shown to you. though, it didn't stop you from feeling jealous. he had spent more time with the traveler and his excuses were always,

"I'm helping them get used to mondstadt, dear. they just... seem to be lost. you're worrying over nothing."

"..."

you stayed silent after he repeated this phrase for the 5th time. after witnessing him buy roses for traveler on valentine's day, you begin to realize he had fallen out of love for you. his heart holds a new place for a new person, the traveler.

it hurt. everything was hurting. your head hurt, and you clutched your head as the thoughts repeated.

"did i do something wrong? was it my fault?"

but you knew it wasn't your fault. your heart hurt the most. you've known him for most of your childhood. you grew up with him, and you loved every moment of it.

when crepes brought him in, you and diluc took care of him, nurtured him, and spent time with him when he was suffering.

oh archons, make the aching stop.

you found yourself weeping again, crouched down in your room. you've witnessed yet again your lover lowered one of his knees as he joked about proposing to them. he didn't even realize he hadn't seen you for 2 weeks. of course, he wouldn't. kaeya was too busy falling in love with them to even notice you.

but diluc noticed. you grew up together, of course he would notice something was wrong. he awkwardly patted you on the back when he caught you weeping behind a bush near dawn winery. you chuckled at his attempt of trying to comfort you. he recommended that you should take commissions to keep your mind off of the aches from your heart.

and you willingly agreed.

oh how it went so wrong.

at first, you took small commissions, such as watering the flowers when people were busy, or delivering food to different parts of mondstadt. it helped a little bit with your aches. but it wasn't enough.

you took on even greater commissions. diluc argued that it was too dangerous, but you disregarded it.

"that stupid bastard, what is he doing while his partner is in danger?"

diluc would always mutter whenever he saw you walking to complete another dangerous commission.

it was any other normal day. you took another dangerous commission. this time, you were supposed to clear off a base that was close to the town. nothing too bad, a few hilichurls and a mitachurl.

as you stepped in, your eyes widened in realization. the description was wrong.

why was a fatui agent here? on the left, you could see an electro cicin mage playing with her electro cicins and on the right, there was a mirror maiden. what the fuck.

"nope. nope. nope. nope. I'm getting the fuck out of here."

as you decided to step back, the corner of your eye caught movement. horrified, you turned only to groan at your unfortunate luck. it was a mitachurl base. it was so close to the fatui's, if you fought one base, surely the other base would hear it. you held your breath as you stepped backwards.

snap.

in the end, you stepped on a branch.

all heads turned to you as you continued to hold in your breath and ran for it.

you should've called for backup. you should've reported to them about the misinformation and the fatui base. you should've planned. you were so fucked.

#—★ writings #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact kaeya alberich #genshin impact diluc ragnvindr #kaeya alberich #diluc ragnvindr #kaeya alberich x reader #diluc ragnvindr x reacer #kaeya x reader #diluc x reader #genshin series #two sides of a coin series #lets hope this doesnt flop because ive been debating on whether to post this or not for weeks LMAOOO #kaeya x reader x diluc

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ratgirl112 · 2 months

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Diluc Ragnvindr Aesthetic

Game/Fandom: Genshin Impact

Characters: Diluc Ragnvindr

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generous1ty · 2 years

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guys

i have no idea what i’m doing, i’m just doing it. i think that’s really all that matters; that i’m doing something. so. so i’ll just do it. it will happen. it is happening. this is it guys.

oh my god i’m physically failing

genre: hurt/comfort, fluff... eventually

warnings: gn rdr, Diluc was drinking (Diluc is drunk), we’re addressing his trauma here and we are comforting him >:’(, Diluc has a breakdown while drunk; we are just conveniently there, Diluc has a flashback (not graphic (i think)) about holding Crepus as he died, no established romantic relationship, no established relationship at all actually he had no idea we existed until now, we’ve also worked at the winery for 3 yrs and Diluc does not remember hiring us because he didn’t. Elzer did. Diluc is a heavy drinker and his alcohol tolerance is absolutely mad, he’s so unkempt and not okay, he really needs a hug, we give him a hug, though he falls asleep right after but it still counts.

word count: 1.69k

Diluc never liked drinking- ironic as it may be for the owner of a tavern and a wine business; the alcohol slipping down his throat, or the burn it would leave behind, the terrible taste and texture that would stay on your tongue, the actions he committed when he was intoxicated.

and despite all that, tonight, he sat in a chair in his winery, behind his desk, sipping a cup of strong wine while half-dazed in his seat.

he really needed a drink; something to keep his mind off of the thoughts that would keep him awake during the night- when he was alone in the house that was cold and empty.

every time the alcohol would meet with his lips, he would cringe at the taste. there was no doubt he disliked drinking, but he swallowed it down anyway. his mind was hazy, fuzzing up like the fields of dandelions he’d see while out travelling. this was good; this was better. better than whatever else would swallow his mind late in the night.

but his mellow drinking party, with only him in attendance, had been abruptly interrupted when he heard the jangling of keys outside, and the door to the winery clicking as it unlocked.

you didn’t mean to interrupt his jovial drunken stature, but you had unfortunately left a book of yours at the winery you worked at when you had gotten distracted by actually doing your job (which was overlooking and organizing papers with Elzer).

and it had been, oh-so-conveniently, right next to the owner of said winery, disheveled, messy, and elegantly (not really) surprised at your entrance and quick arrival.

the first thing you noticed was that his hair-- usually tied in a neat, low tail --was unkept and loose. it framed his face well, if not for its knotted curls. Master Diluc was also seen in casual clothing, which was a rare sight in itself- the only thing you saw him in was his usual attire: the vest, ornament, and his signature black coat that looked way too hot to be in considering Mondstadt’s weather during the summer.

you thought he slept in such clothes, though it was a relief he didn’t.

the last thing that your eyes landed on was the half empty cup of Fire Water-- something you were very fond of seeing, considering the fact you handled its shipping and stock. everyone knew how the Master of the estate disliked wine, despite manufacturing it-- and the wine industry --so well, so the fact that he was holding a cup and a large bottle of it, well... it could be a bad sign, or maybe the man just wanted a taste.

“shit...”

the sudden curse had you startled- out of the 3 years you’ve worked for Diluc, not once have you heard him even utter a vulgar word, let alone speak so distastefully.

“i... i’m sorry, did i-- did i interrupt something?”

it was a stupid question to ask, considering the fact that he was avoiding to look at you- trying to rid himself of your presence at all, if he could. he was caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to do; something that wasn’t expected of him.

but he supposed that tonight all that shouldn’t really matter.

he took in a deep breath, exhaling as his body relaxed into his seat. you were probably the only person in Teyvat that could see Diluc so relaxed while so unrefined.

“no, i’m just... drinking.” his remark made him chuckle, a bitterness to it, “would you care to join me?”

of all the things that could happen in Teyvat, you definitely did not expect the owner of Angel’s Share; inherent of Dawn Winery; Ragnvindr’s greatest achievement -- to ever invite you to a drink. he may be your employer, but he was hell of a rare sight to see.

even so, you gave a polite smile- all the while confused -and accepted. after all, rejecting an offer to drink from someone superior was rude, and you definitely didn’t want to be pissing off your boss-- especially not when he was drunk.

“is there a reason for this... special occasion?” despite your hesitance to drink with him, you brought up a chair and he another wine glass, pouring the strong wine into it and giving it to you to drink.

he gave a long sigh, sitting back and relaxing into the chair again. he set his cup on to the desk and paused.

how should he respond, he wondered.

“...if i said there was?”

“well, i’d be happy to listen.”

Diluc’s eyes rested upon your figure; dark and unrecognizable because of the night, lights turned off to keep the atmosphere. there was nothing to illuminate the surrounding area, and yet, in a moment, the candle that sit on the desk, held by a candleholder, had been lit.

you were surprised, even jumping back a bit from the sudden light. you thought that the dark was what he preferred; something to shield him from the shame that might have crept in him since he was found doing something so obscene. you’d have to tell Elzer to grab another shipment of Fire Water tomorrow, since Master Diluc had already drank three.

“sorry, i-”

“i’d like to see the face of the person i’m confiding into, if you don’t mind.”

his words, despite the slight slur, were polite. it was hard to say no when he was asking so nicely- words spreading like honey into your mind. it was thick and sweet; hard to get rid of, but nice to have. his words were like vines, yet you welcomed them to encase you.

“i don’t mind,” you smiled, probably a reaction from how... sweet the Master of the winery was being, “i was just a bit surprised.”

“...thank you.”

despite the fact you were so open to listen to his drunken ramblings, he wasn’t exactly sure where to start. his night terrors? his insomnia? the fact that no matter where he goes, this crippling guilt travels with him and eats away at his mind..?

on second thought, maybe this was a bad idea. why would he ramble to a complete stranger? someone who he barely knew- someone who barely knew him. was it the alcohol? the fact he was making such bad decisions- the fact that he invited you here and told you there was a reason for him drinking alone, in the winery, in the dark, with three bottles of the strongest wine he had stocked, finished.

how did he even get here.

“i’m sorry, my- i’m-- well-”

Diluc shut his mouth quickly.

and you forced back a laugh and a smile. to hear Diluc stutter- well, it was quite... cute.

“take your time,” you took a deep breath, half for him, half for you, “we’ve got all night, no need to rush.”

a wave of security suddenly washed over him. he wasn’t sure if it was the reassurance, or the words you used, or your tone-- but he suddenly felt like crying. something he hadn’t done in a long, long while.

tears pricked at his eyes, and he let them overflow on to his cheeks.

“it was my fault,” his hands trembled in his lap, recalling the way the warmth in his arms turned cold while he was holding him, “if i had done better-- if i were just a little more stronger- if i had just--”

he choked on his words, crumbling down onto the desk as his sobs overtook his throat.

you were-- stunned. what were you supposed to do- how were you supposed to do it- what did he want you to do? you told him you’d listen, but you thought you’d be listening to the fact that he was struggling to make something new for his menu or that he was upset his shipments kept getting destroyed by hilichurls or even that he was furious Elzer took hold of management in the winery when that was his job-- all ramblings of, what you expected to be, the richest man in Mondstadt. you didn’t expect him to break down crying in front of you, sobbing about who knows what while drunk out of his mind.

so you stood up and walked over and helped him straighten his back while he cried. his arms were limp, and much lighter than they looked, as you held them to help him sit in his chair properly-- but instead, he opted to lay on your stomach as you stood next to him, his red hair resting on your clothes, his eyes still pouring out tears, his breath still erratic, him still sobbing and hiccupping.

you weren’t sure to put your hands. you weren’t sure what to do. what do you do when your boss is drunk and crying on top of you-- how were you supposed to know?

“Master Diluc,” you said his name for the first time this night, raising his face to look at you so you could wipe his tears, “make sure to take deep breaths- to breathe.”

his face was red- much more flushed than you thought when you sat across from him. red littered his cheeks to his forehead, then his ears down to his neck; his eyes were almost as red as his face, if not the same color. tears stuck to his long, red, lashes... it was shocking how such a vibrant color could be natural.

his breaths came out long and shaky, and as he tried to regulate his breathing, your hand wrapped itself along his head, gently playing with his bright red locks of hair as he slowly calmed down.

you weren’t sure what in the world you were doing, you just prayed to god that you were doing it right .

you continued to gently massage his head with the pads of your fingers, combing out the knots that held his scruffy hair into a birds nest with your fingers. by the time you had his hair completely combed out, you could hear Diluc softly breathing on your abdomen.

he had fallen asleep.

what in god’s name were you supposed to do now.

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