Tumgik
#venti angst
zeraaachan · 11 months
Text
Tumblr media
hypothetically
if i died hypothetically… what will you do?
summary: in which the reader asked them a hypothetical question and they curse the day it becomes reality. alternatively, how the genshin! characters react to reader's death
content warning(s): major character death, angst/ no comfort
character(s): scaramouche, xiao, venti
Tumblr media Tumblr media
modern au! scaramouche
"babe, hypothetically speaking…"
scaramouche's head adorned by his crown of violet hair lays on their lap, his dark locks being gently combed by their nimble fingers. he hummed and closed his eyes to urge them to continue.
"if I die hypothetically--"
"no."
"babe, i haven't finished yet."
"no."
"no, like seriously," they said with a chuckle. scaramouche's eyes are now already wide open, glaring at them with obvious hate for the topic. yet the sharpness of his gaze is a sharp contrast to the way he currently holds their hand: soft yet firm, as if even the reaper is not allowed to take them from him. "if I die hypothetically what will you do?"
"no."
"what do you mean no?"
"no."
"babe…"
"no."
"scara, love…"
"no."
"no."
"no."
"no."
"no."
"no."
"no!" scaramouche's breath hitched as the only word that escaped his constricted throat is a mere one syllable word. he repeated the short word with another despaired cry. an anguished wail as the two cones of ice cream on his hands fell to the ground, completely forgotten and melted at the mercy of the hot pavement. "no…" another horrified murmur escaped his lips as he take in the sight before him. he can not even hear anything except for the sound of panic and cries to call the ambulance. "no, no, no…"
scara, felt himself shut the world, as the very person that stabilize him to the ground is in front of him… immobile. they sleep on the pavement of the road as a thick, warm red blankets their body. their eyes didn't even met his. it's inanimate, gone… just like as how the rest of the words that the cunning boy once knew became replaced by one word that fully express his grief. all that was left for him was to say, "no…" in pure guilt, in agony.
no, no, no, no… he screams and tear himself in his head as he blame his stupid self for everything. his hands found its way on his dark hair as he cries in pure pain. no, please, no… no… he bemoans, tears continuously falling from his eyes, the same thing he despised yet he now hated even more. no, no, no… what if he just stayed with them instead? what if he didn't stepped away for a moment and bought ice creams for the two of them? then maybe he'll still be holding a warm hand and not a cold and bloody one. no. oh no… no, no…please no. if only he was with them… if only he was there when someone accidentally pushed them… if only the car didn't hit them… "no…no…"
as scaramouche, the ever prideful, kneels on the harsh pavement with both of his knees… as the red started to seep into his entirety, he remembered the words they hypothetically asked that day. in which he answered 'no', repeatedly, it's a 'no'.
how ironic that when the hypothetical question became a reality and his only response truly became… 'no'.
                        modern au! xiao
"babe, hypothetically, if i die,"
a sharp hiss escaped xiao's throat as soon as he heard those words slip past their lips. the mere thought is blasphemy for him, an unimaginable imagine that he'd rather not have. and that's why he can not blame his eyes for narrowing in alertness and unsettlement as he waited for them to continue.
"what will you do?"
the edge to his gaze didn't lessen nor dull. solid amber remains cold, rigid, as the thought freeze each blood cell in his body and cold fear gripped his being. his gaze remained hard on them, unreadable of the muddled thoughts that run in a frenzy in xiao's head.
"i…" he started, trying to makes his voice softer. he racked his mind to find the right words to give them but in the end, what his tongue presented to them was his honest, straightforward answer. "i will never let that happen." he stated, full of conviction, more to himself than them. it is a vow that he etched to the very fiber of his heart's muscle and there it'll stay 'til his heart beats. "just call my name if you're in danger, call my name whenever you need me… i'll always answer your call."
a static noise suddenly filled his ears. it blurred his memory and drowned his reminiscing.
twenty missed calls and one that he actually received. the first twenty are from them, the last call was from a hospital. all that registered to xiao alatus' muddled brain are a few words from the call: heavy injuries, we did our best, and… their name.
he promised them immediate answers. he swore to them an instant response. he vowed to them his presence with their every beckon and call. he made an oath, to be there whenever they need, to be by their side whenever they were in danger… to answer whenever they called.
and the one time xiao alatus didn't answered… the one time he failed to check his phone… the one and first time he dismissively said that everything was fine… was the last time they'll call.
ah, xiao is too stupid. a fool. a whole fucking circus! and the weight of the joke fell heavy on his shoulder, made him drop on the morgue's floor, and laughed as he sing the hymn of bereavement. stupid! how can he easily make a vow and eat his own words? how can he swear to protect them and be nowhere near when they indeed need him? how can he not take their call…? when now he realized how every call of theirs matters…that each time they call him, his name, is the number of times that he actually lives.
how can he let it happen?
the one call xiao failed to answer… is the one he should have.
                     venti
"hypothetically,"
they started as venti serenade them with his lyre. his ears strain to hear the melody of their voice above his strumming of musical instrument and the lyrics that he sings with pure affection. he listens intently to their next words, just as how he listen to the rhythm of the wind.
"what will you do if I die?"
it made the harmony pause. the orchestra experienced a hiccup in their synchrony as the silence became its new conductor. venti's fingers hovered over the strings of his instrument, his gaze now fully trained on them as a mixture of horror, shock, and fear, play like the wind in his green eyes.
"windblume, what made you say that? are you in any sort of danger?" the bard asked in evident distress and their dismissive shrug did nothing to soothe his worries. it terrified him. yet when they urged him to answer, venti sighed in surrender. his mouth that sings the most beautiful and sweetest verses voiced his mind. it made his tongue, expert with the taste of wine yet is never a liar, let a devoted oath fall from the archon’s lips. "if you die… i'll sleep… and choose to never wake up."
"venti!"
"but that won't ever happen, windblume. as long as i am one with the wind, you are cherished, loved, and protected." he vowed, a tone of sincerity in the bard's beautiful voice that made its sweetest song when he swore to them. "there's no place that the wind doesn't reach."
oh, but there is a place where the wind can't reach.
and they fell to it, drowned in it. without the wind, the turbulence took them and took their whole being away from the anemo archon. they spiraled downwards, down to the deepest depths, pulled to the deepest place… at the end of death's tornado. and he wasn't there to save them. the wind can not reach them… he can not reach them. until all of the air in their lungs was gone… and not a single arm of wind reached them.
they escaped the wind's grasp and turned to death's clutch.
ah, venti, barbatos, forgot how to cry. he should have been used to this. he should have prepared for this. he lost one too many already… and it seems that everyone he cherish can not be protected by the wind, by him. anemo must be a hateful element and death is a more enticing option. since how can everyone leave him? always alone with the wind.
ah… venti, the bard, feels tired. the words he swore to them that day rang in his ears. he can still hear their voice, their sweet music that sings with the wind… and he can still hear his promise to them that day.
just as promised, venti, barbatos the archon, went to a deep slumber… to another place that the wind doesn't reach. 
2K notes · View notes
2-dsimp · 14 days
Note
Can I request Yandere siren venti angst (like with a reader whose trying to hunt down mermaids and sirens for their scales ) for the Mytherials event, if you have time
A Sirens scales———————————
Yandere siren! Venti x hunter reader
————————————~—————~——————~———————~
【Cw: yandere tendencies, imprisonment, delulu venti, toxic relationship, slight angst】
————————————~—————~——————~———————~
“Oh honey it’s a virtue of mine to value freedom, but where do you think you’re going?”
Venti cooed, his lax feature’s sharpening into a grimacing smile as he noticed his darling chipping at the chain which encased their ankle.
“ The only way to the surface is to swim through this lagoon and I don’t think you have the lung capacity for that”
His head was peeking out from the watery surface of the underground lagoon. And he swam fluidly towards the spot where he held you captive surrounded by a shimmery circle of his blue iridescent scales.
“We had a deal… And this wasn’t part of it. I didn’t sign up to be your damn cave decoration”
You spat, a look of scorn apparent as you couldn’t help but berate yourself for being so dumb as to break monster hunter rule 101: To never trust the words of a siren, lest they drag your soul to depths of hell. But you were desperate for the money since you had a sick friend to take care of.
“Awe sweetheart don’t demean yourself like that. You’re no decoration but my lovely mate after all”
The siren purred as he emerged fully from the body of water to cast a wet hand against your cheek. Admiring you in your entirety, his touch that was gentle soon became all consuming after hearing your adamant rejection.
“What’re you talking about? I never agreed to become your mate. Just let me go home.”
You retorted as you continued to make work of the chain. While actively shying away from his slimy touch. The stark scent of sea salt made you nauseous.
“Don’t say that. You are my mate sweetie. Weren’t you the one to say that you wanted my scales to begin with?”
Venti tried to rationalize with a small chuckle as he started to apply pressure when he cupped both your cheeks. Sharp nails dug into your damp skin while he directed your gaze to his crazed ones.
“So why are you trying so hard to deny it?”
He asked, his voice was hollow as he stared deeply into your eyes with wide blown slits. You had to have known what accepting his scales would entail. So why couldn’t you understand that you guys were meant to be? He gave you his scales did he not? So why, were you trying so hard to constantly reject his advances.
You didn’t need to go back to the surface. Not after all the struggles you’ve told him about with your stay up there. What kind of lover would he be if he were to allow his precious human to be exposed to the dangers beyond his reach.
“Oh I know what’s holding you back! It’s that friend of yours isn’t? What’s his name, Ah it’s şçæřämœćħè right?”
Venti begrudgingly sounded out his name in clear distaste and didn’t know whether to laugh or sneer from how you immediately perked up at the mere mention of another man’s name. He couldn’t help but feel an envious bout of jealousy boiling deep within his gut. Well at least he knew what his priority should be, if the only thing tethering you to the surface was your friend then perhaps he could remedy that.
“Well rest assured your pretty little head darling! I’ll make sure to take extra care of him so sit tight I’ll have to make some trips”
In the end sure he did twist his words a little when he struck a deal with you, who seemed to be down on their luck. Promising you his scales in exchange for your prized company. Since he’s always been enamored watching your daily pathetic attempts at capturing a siren.
But he did uphold his end of the bargain did he not? He made sure to pluck out his scales and pile them around you enshrouding you in their glimmering shine. So it’s only fair that you start acting like a proper mate for him since he’ll be expecting a cave full of his guppies in the future.
160 notes · View notes
the-travelling-witch · 11 months
Text
𝐀 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
summary: what do they do and how do they cope after you suddenly go where they can’t follow?
pairings: scaramouche/ wanderer :: venti :: kaveh :: zhongli x gn! reader
warnings: angst, reader dies/ has died, arson [scara], alcohol consumption [venti, kaveh]
genshin impact masterlist || a million miles away- belle
the loneliest [pt. 2 - xiao, kazuha, aether, childe]
Tumblr media
𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐂𝐇𝐄
“Come back to me, and stay by my side I feel my heart shake; come, ease this ache..."
Dull amethyst eyes watched in apathy as the golden flames swallowed the edge of the picture, slowly singeing away your smile, then the arm you had thrown around his shoulders and lastly his hand holding you close by the waist, until only small flakes of grey ashes remained and fluttered to your lover’s feet. 
The silence around him was too loud, pressing on his ears and threatening to crush his skull. Letting his gaze sweep through the space you’d once lived in together made his chest constrict like vines wrapping tighter around his ribcage the more details he took in. Every chair, every tea cup, every stray piece of paper brought back memories of you, together with the bitterness of knowing he’d never get to hold you in his arms again.
It was then that he realised, getting rid of all your possessions, every picture you’d taken and every gift you’d given him wouldn’t be enough. Your presence had long since invaded every corner, nook and cranny of this house, the space irreversibly intertwined with you. And now that your physical form had faded, your soul had come back to haunt his every waking moment and to even follow him into the depths of his dreams. 
Perhaps this was his divine punishment, the atonement for all the sins he had committed clinging to his newly taken form. Or perhaps it wasn’t you at all, only his mind mocking him for not living any and every moment with you to the fullest, not giving you all of him when he had the chance to.
Whatever it was, he couldn’t take it anymore. He’d have to cut all ties with this place in order to rid himself of the shackles he found himself bound by. Even if it meant reducing the centre of your shared happiness to cinders.
As he laid the fire, meticulously making sure no room of the house was spared, he wondered. How would a real human feel in a moment like this? Would they also feel nothing? Or was it just him, an artificial puppet, who’d only feel numbness at the death of his loved one? Were any of his feelings real in the first place? You’d have deserved someone who actually loved you and cherished your memories, not someone who destroyed the very place you’d called a home.
The flames singed the ends of his clothes the same colour as your photo as he stepped out into the evening breeze, which now carried smoke and the smell of burning wood with it. Even as he watched the roof cave in and the support of the house break away, he felt no sadness, yet the vines seemed to creep only deeper between his ribs, snaring around the place where a heart should beat.
Your lover looked around the area where your home once stood. And it felt like all air had been knocked out of his lungs.
There, between two trees, grew the flower you had loved so much. And was that your favourite dish he could smell? A flock of birds flew overhead, probably to escape the fire, reminding him of the ones you’d fed over winter, the ones he reprimanded you not to spoil.
To his horror, the more frantically he searched for something which wouldn’t bring back thoughts of you, the more images flooded his brain. The force of his realisation brought him to his knees as he stared at the damage he’d done with his mind clear for the first time in days. There was a pressure building behind his eyes and his throat tightened uncomfortably, constricting airways he didn’t need. Was this what happened when humans cried?
“I’m sorry.” It was barely there and completely broken at the same time. The weakness he’d so despised in others overwhelmed him as embers swirled high in the sky. 
He was a fool, a complete and utter fool, to think he could ever get rid of you, of his feelings for you. It had never been the house you were bound to. From the very start, your soul had been intricately intertwined with his, and it would continue to be, until he too faded from this world in the distant future. Hopefully, then, you would be reunited and you could forgive him.
Tumblr media
𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈
"...I'm standing over here, reaching for you  A million miles away, come back and stay..."
Venti had no idea how much time had passed since that day. Not that he as an archon was very good at keeping track of time spans as short as days or weeks in the first place. It wasn’t like he avoided thinking about you, no. He did. A lot, actually.
Before his mind’s eye, the shine of your smile and the sparkle in your eyes as your joyful laughter rang through the air was as clear as day. The days spent lazing around in the grass with cider and apple tarts while Venti hummed a lazy tune filled him with more warmth than the sun. Yet, his smile at the memories didn’t quite reach his eyes, just how his brain never reached the point where he’d seen you last. And he never strained himself to remember it either.
All his actions felt heavy, like an invisible weight was holding him down. Venti was sure if he were to use a wind glider, he’d fall out of the sky like a stone. Thinking was akin to walking through mud, every step hardly leaving the ground and every fibre of his body screaming at him to stop and just lie down.
After your funeral was held, most of Mondstadt’s citizens reckonned they’d find the usually playful bard at the tavern even more often from now on. At first, that was true. Venti sat down at his usual table and ordered what he’d always ordered but the other patrons quickly caught on that he wasn’t doing okay at all. Normally the centre of attention and excitedly talking to anyone who’d listen, it was shocking to see the bard stare down on the contents of his glass in silence. 
So it came as quite the shock when after a few days, Venti didn’t show up to the Angel’s Share anymore. In fact, he was hardly spotted around the city at all. It was mostly the guards from the morning and night shift who saw him come and go. When he left, there were only two locations where one could find him. Either on the windy peak of Starsnatch Cliff or in the arms of the tree at Windrise. Both would do, as long as he was away from the pitiful glances people would throw him.
On that particular day, Venti was mindlessly strumming his lyre to the sound of the rustling leaves as he overlooked the planes of Mondstadt, not actually taking in any of the sights. His mind was here and there, not lingering on any one thought very long. Before coming here, he’d overheard people in town wonder about the wind which had recently picked up, how it tasted a lot saltier, as if coming from the sea, how unusually cold it was for this time of year and how it bit at the skin more. He supposed that was true.
In the beginning he’d brought a basket of apples when he came out here but they all tasted as if he’d taken a bite out of a handful of flour, so he stopped. All the cider tasted bitter and wine only added to the constant pressure building behind his temple. So Venti eventually gave up on trying to find something he could stomach. It wasn’t important to an archon anyway.
The melody his hands subconsciously called into existence snapped him back into the present. It was a song he had started writing with you as his muse, a song he’d not yet shown you, wanting to wait until it was finished, no matter how much you begged for him to show you already. 
Even to his own ears, his voice sounded foreign. As the patron god of Mondstadt’s bards, he’d always prided himself on his smooth and serene voice. But now it was nothing but a hoarse whisper, cracking as he tried to voice the words he’d engrained in his mind. His vocal cords felt raw and burnt after hardly talking to anyone longer than he had to. In the corner of his eyes, the statue depicting his image seemed to mock him; a bard who couldn’t sing, a god who couldn’t even protect a single person.
When he reached the part of the song where he left off faster than he’d like, his hands were trembling and he slumped against the tree bark in exhaustion. Yet, with your memory in mind, he willed himself to continue, to capture your spirit in his art at least, if he couldn’t hold onto you any other way. 
Despite his best effort, what started out as a lovestruck ballad quickly turned into a lament, no matter how he filled the lines with affection and joy. He tried and tried, with more vigour than he’d shown in the last weeks altogether, to right the verses, to do your image justice, but it was all in vain. Every version was more sorrowful than the last. When the moon peeked through the twigs, he resigned himself to his fate and cast his gaze to the far heavens above.
“My darling dove, can you hear me?” He whispered into the still night air. Only the distant call of an owl answered him. “I hope this song reaches you all the way up there. I really wanted to play it for you.”
Leaning his head back, Venti was suddenly overcome with a tiredness he hadn’t experienced for a very, very long time. Now was as good a time for a slumber as any, he supposed. Perhaps by the time he opened his eyes again, things would be different and his chest would feel light as air once again.
Tumblr media
𝐊𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐇
"...No matter how far the memories may be When I close my eyes, you're all that I see..."
It was his fault.
The reason he’d never get to throw himself into your arms ever again was him, and him alone.
If he hadn’t answered your question whether he’d like you to get the materials he needed for his newest project from the Akademiya with a 'That’d be a big a help, my rose' he could still call you that nickname now and in the future. If he’d just gone and gotten them himself, you’d never been caught up in that horrible accident, an experiment gone astray, as the mahamatra had explained to him. If he hadn’t been so selfish, you’d still be alive.
Deep down, a reasonable part of him knew he wasn’t to blame. His friends had emphasised that as well, nobody could have expected something so gruesome to happen. Still, Kaveh couldn’t accept it. It didn’t feel right to excuse himself like that. You died because you wanted to help him, he deserved to carry this blame, this pain, this guilt. 
Despite Tighnari and Cyno showing up to console him, Kaveh turned them away without much hesitation. Grabbing a glass and a bottle of wine, the architect disappeared into his room, sparing his roommate not so much as a glance. This behaviour didn’t change much over the next few days, except for the fact that wine was swapped with coffee, thanks to Al-Haitham.
Speaking of the Grand Scribe, he’d normally be happy to have some peace and quiet, yet, seeing the normally talkative blond isolate himself for days on end made him genuinely worry for his old friend. Neither of them acknowledged the way plates of food would appear in Kaveh's room or how he would wake up with a blanket draped over him which hadn’t been there when he fell asleep. 
There was a single instance in which Kaveh spoke and it was only a single word. When Al-Haitham had been cleaning up around the house, he’d picked up a vase holding sumeru roses that had wilted beyond recognition. Just as he was about to discard the flowers, there was a low, muttered ‘Don’t’ that made him stop in his tracks. It wasn’t so much the word in itself as it was the way Kaveh said it. The roughness in his voice was so foreign from its usual melodic lilt, no emotion swinging in it at all.
Al-Haitham faintly remembered how you had brought the roses over one day when you two had gone on a date and wordlessly put them back on the table. 
In general, not many of Kaveh’s -and by extension your- possessions moved at all, collecting dust as they lay just like on the day of your passing. The only thing that changed was the growing pile of scrolls and papers littering the architect’s room. In order to get his mind off everything, Kaveh had buried himself in work. Yet, none of his sketches turned out to his liking and he grew more frustrated and irritable the more crumpled or ripped papers covered the floor. Never before had he broken this many pencils as a consequence of jabbing the coal onto his designs and pressing down harder than necessary.
Until he found himself staring down on a completely blank sheet with no idea whatsoever. All utensils were strewn about the space, discarded and never picked up as dreary and washed-out crimson eyes drooped without the mercy of sleep overcoming him. Every time he tried to rest, your face and voice would startle him awake again and he’d choke on the breath he tried to take.
With his hair unkempt, clothes rumpled and dark circles under his eyes, the “Light of Kshahrewar” was merely a shadow of his former self as he hunched over his messy desk. The first sobs tearing through him broke the dam on all the feelings he’d bottled up inside, burning his throat like acid as they tore free. The previously untouched scroll served as a canvas for all his regrets spilling over in the form of falling tears, drawing a portrait of his tumultuous state of mind.
Still, the sinking weight in his chest prevailed, the guilt a constant reminder of the loneliness he couldn’t shake.
Tumblr media
𝐙𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈
"...Come back to me A million miles away, come back and stay”
Zhongli had been setting the table for when you came home from work, two tea cups already waiting to be used as a kettle of water boiled on the stove. Soon the pleasant aroma of tea leaves and the cheery sound of your voice would fill your shared home, Zhongli plating two bowls of bamboo shoot soup as he waited for you to come home.
Right on time, there was a knock on the door and he quickly made his way over, elated to finally be in your presence again. A genuine smile graced his lips as he opened the door, a smile that fell abruptly when he came face to face with two millelith, their faces decidedly neutral. Still, the air felt ominously sombre. 
“Mr. Zhongli?” One of them confirmed before bowing his head as continued. “We are sorry to inform you that there has been an armed robbery. The person who is registered to live here with you has unfortunately not survived the violent encounter. Our deepest condolences.”
After handing him the bag you always carried with you, the soldiers departed, leaving the consultant alone with his thoughts. As in trance, he sat down and carefully opened the bag, almost as if a sudden movement could make it crumble in between his fingers.
Considering his incredibly long lifespan, this was hardly the first time Zhongli had lost someone he cared for deeply. That, however, didn’t mean it was any easier. Parting ways with loved ones was something any sentient being couldn’t get used to, especially if it happened so suddenly.
While his mind had already processed the information, it seemed his heart had a hard time keeping up with what was happening, his mind in a strange limbo between reality and thought as he unpacked your belongings. While turning each one over between his gloved fingers, Zhongli tried sorting out his emotions. Even the sweetness of shared moments replaying in his mind couldn’t sugarcoat the bitter sting of grief taking root in his very being.
The shrill screeching from the tea kettle drew his attention away from the items on the table occupying the space where you’d usually link your hands as you traded stories of what happened in your respective days.
For a few seconds that felt like aeons, Zhongli held the tea kettle in his hand before ultimately deciding to brew tea after all. Perhaps it would help him retain a sense of normality. Before he realised, he’d already filled your cup, an action he was so used to it apparently became routine at one point. With a sigh, he did the same on his site before taking a seat again and watching the ripples of water move across his cup.
When he awoke the next day, Zhongli couldn’t tell how long he had sat like that or when he’d gone to sleep, his motions automatic as if pulled by strings. Making breakfast, getting dressed, staring out of the window into the busy harbour… He was aware he was doing all of these things, yet he didn’t feel fully present, merely looking onto the scene.
Being with you had shown him so much of what mortal life had to offer, your perspective refreshingly different from his own, he couldn’t help but smile melancholically at the memory. In light of your brilliance, perhaps the old god had no chance but to fall in love. Enveloped in your affection, Zhongli had finally felt like he found his place among the people of Liyue but once more this connection had been severed. 
In the late afternoon, a knock sounded through the humble abode yet again. This time, however, it was not the millelith.
“Director Hu, what an honour,” Zhongli politely bowed. “Is there a matter in which you need my expertise?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” the young woman said, her crimson eyes seemingly looking straight into him. “I heard what happened, so I came to see how you’re doing.”
“Your concern flatters me, Director. Please do come in.” Stepping aside, he opened the door wider to allow Hu Tao entry.
Gliding right into his living room, she took a seat at his table, gaze sweeping through the room. It was then Zhongli noticed how there were still two cups sitting there, one empty and one untouched. 
“Ah, please pardon me. I was not expecting guests on this day.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I don’t mind,” she gave him an understanding smile. Naturally, in their line of work, both of them had seen many people suffering through the loss of a loved one and it was an understatement to say grief showed many different faces. “I won’t be taking much of your time anyway. 
“First of all, I’d like to offer my sincerest condolences. An incredible person like them will be deeply missed.” Despite the simplicity, her words were fully genuine. “Take as much time off work as you need, your healing is the most important thing right now. And while I hate to bring business into a personal situation like this, you should think about what kind of ceremony you’ll want to hold. When you have an answer, just tell me and I’ll handle the rest.”
“Thank you, that is very generous of you, Director.”
When the house was empty once again, Zhongli gently picked up both cups and poured out the cold tea inside. With the sinking sun dipping Liyue in liquid gold, its former archon commenced his evening ritual. Turning the cup that was supposed to be yours between his fingers, he chose two new ones and set them up with his usual care for details.
As the tea brewed, Zhongli went to retrieve a journal you had gifted him once but which he hadn’t found any use for yet. Taking his place at the now empty table, he dipped a quill in ink as he contemplated what to write.
In the end, he settled for describing his day, just how he would when you’d sit across from him, listening to his stories attentively. He could vividly picture your expression of awe before him, bringing a fond smile to his face. As more time passed, dried flowers or notes you had left him eventually found their way between the pages as well.
Naturally, your loss cut deeper than Zhongli ever could hope to understand. At times it made him feel empty, like the sun would never smile upon him again. And while mourning was an important part of coming to terms with devastating loss, he had learnt over time that wallowing in sorrow and getting swallowed by pain would not honour the life you had lived.
Instead, his priority lay on treasuring every moment where your paths intersected, to preserve a part of you which would remain untouched by corrosion, so you could continue to shine forever like gold in his memory.
Tumblr media
© the-travelling-witch 2023 - do not repost, translate, copy or edit
if you like my content, reblogs, comments and asks are always much appreciated ♡
Tumblr media
tag list: @mccnstruck @teyvattales @silentmoths @ainescribe @meimeimeirin @dustofthedailylife @nsojbbkkm
➺ send in an ask to be added or removed
Tumblr media
1K notes · View notes
vanillasann · 1 month
Text
His World, Your World
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Pairing: Venti x gn!reader
Genre: Angst <3
Summary: He loves his nation and you just almost as much. For Mondstadt is his world and he'd do everything he could to protect it. Even if it costs his life. So when you have to choose between his death or his nation's, he begs you to choose his. But will you?
TW: Major character death (u), but nothing too graphic. English is not my first language, so I'm sorry if there are many grammar errors! <//3
Note: I've been dying to write something since last, last, last year/? but my lazy ass is stronger than me. This draft has been in here for a year. But oh, well, at least I write something now. I've always loved 'Which would he choose? You or the world?' trope and also inspired by a fanart I saw months ago; Venti hates you because you chose him over Mondstadt, but sadly I forgot their username-.
Tumblr media
It's not a secret for anyone to know the fact that Mondstadt is Venti's home. It won't even be an overstatement to say that Mondstadt is his world.
For him loving it oh so much; even greater than he value his own life. For it was what his friends had always been wanted. For it was what his friends had been fight for.
He loves it dearly with all of his heart. He loves the people in it; his people, his children. He loves the freedom his nation has. And for it, he'll do anything he could to protect it. Even if the cost that he must pay is his life.
What to lose? I am but an archon that has long ago left my nation anyway. They'll be just alright without me, he thinks.
There are so many words that could describe Venti. He is a God. An Archon. An immortal being. A cheerful person that is allergic to cats. A drunkard bard. But never even in his mind that he'd ever could be described as a lover.
A lover who loves his partner passionately. A lover who cares so much about his partner's well-being. A lover who will go out of his way to comfort and cheer them whenever the world gets too mean towards them. A lover who vows to his partner that he'll protect them with everything he has.
Venti knows that he's rather friendly with all his acquaintances. Yet he never thought about even the possibility of him falling in love with someone, let alone a mere mortal being, for he is an archon.
At least that's what he thought. Until he met you.
You, who make his heart thump like crazy, feels like knocking hazardly in his chest. You, who make his day a bit more brighter just by getting a thought of your voice calling his name. You, who make him smile like a drunk man even when he hasn't chugged any bottle of Diluc's dandelion wine. And you, who make him addicted of your all.
He tried to shrug it off as his form of interest towards you. Nothing big, just a little crush that will wilt over time, he thought back then. But that little crush was and is still growing wildly every time he spends his day with you. Making a flower garden that he himself can't seem to get rid of, for he has gotten fond of these feelings.
He cherished every moment he has with you, whether it's just strolling around Windrise or visiting Diluc with Kaeya. Whether it's mundane things like joking and making a fool of himself just so he can hear a chorus of your laughter he so adore or a pretty night when he asks you to join him to stargazing in Starsnatch Cliff.
He loves you so much that he even drinks wine less just so he can spend more time with you. He loves you so much that he writes songs about you so that the world knows how amazing you are that even an archon fell head over heels for you.
He loves you and his nation just almost as much; with all of his heart, with everything that he has. That he'd sacrifice anything else if it means he could keep his nation and you safe.
So when you are faced with a big choice that had to be made, he pleads- no. He begs you to choose his doom.
While Venti is a lover who yearns nothing but to spend a lifetime with you, his love, he also is Barbatos, an archon of a nation. He couldn't imagine his life if you'd choose him over his nation, his world.
He begs and cries and sobs to you while clings like you are his lifeline.
Who you are to decline his pleas?
But while you understand his position, you couldn't help but feels like he's selfish. Oh so selfish to sacrifice himself so no one would die. Because while yes, everyone might just be alright, but- what about you?
You who had loved him so much, too much in fact, that you'd choose his life over yours, even over the world, for he was yours. You who had given him everything you had and gave in to his every whim and plea every single day without fail. You, who can't even think about your life without him and his laughter.
And Mondstadt will not last that long without him anyway, you tried to justify yourself in front of a mirror silently. Blank stare at your broken state reflection.
But the flashes of his dying heart and broken scream and tear-stained face of sorrow, because he lost his nation, make your stomach churn and tighten your chest that you can't draw even shallow breath. A realization hit you; He couldn't live without his nation, and vice versa.
That much is what you need to know to make the decision. You clean yourself as much as you can and go to make it.
Underneath the sunset glow and under the tree in windrise you two stare at each other deeply with an empty smiles, trying to pretend everything is alright.
"Are you really sure about this?"
"You promise you're gonna be happy?"
"You promise you're gonna be fine without me?"
He nods at every question you throw at him, even with a trembling smile and tears that threaten to fall, he stands his ground. He answers your questions like he knows what you'll choose after his pleas and begs. Because you'd never say no to him, for you love him too much.
He'd accepted his doom. Anything for his nation to be safe and for you to continue your life, even without him.
But then why?
Why is your form slumping against him in his embrace as if you don't have any strength to even hold it anymore?
Why are you rubbing his back softly and whispering apologies for what you've done?
Why are your breathing and your heart slowly fading away despite him holding you so tight against him?
Why is he screaming your name repeatedly with uncontrollable tears that fall while he tries to shake you awake when it should have been him who won't respond to yours?
Why is he can't do anything despite him being a God, an archon, to bring you back by his side?
Why would you trade your place in his stead as a sacrifice?
Venti doesn't understand.
Or rather, he doesn't want to. For he forgot that he knows a fact.
That while Mondstadt is his world, Venti was yours.
154 notes · View notes
coffeetheactualjellii · 6 months
Text
Blood dripped down the blade of your "Lover". They had a choice, Sacrifice you for the world.
"My Love, do you Love me!?"
"Yes, yes I do"
"Then why?"
"This Nation is Verry dear to me"
"Dearer than I?..."
"Yes dear, Dearer than you."
♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜
-Zhongli,Venti,Ayato,Neuvillette, Cyno,Childe,Jean,Kujorou Sara, Abyss Aether/Lumine and Alhaitham.
316 notes · View notes
kiri-tatsu · 11 months
Text
This time I won't leave your side
Tumblr media
you died before their eyes many years ago barely lived your life, you still had many years before you, this time you come back to them, living and breathing again. Was this a sick joke played by Celestia on them? But no matter, they wish for more as you are back, after all they will love you a thousand more times no matter how you come back to them, they will always be able to tell it's you.
tw- some angst, reader death, fluff, strictly platonic(Qiqi & Nahida), the rest could be read as platonic or romantic, leaning more to romantic on them tho, characters- venti, zhongli, raiden, nahida, wanderer/scaramouche, xiao, aether, lumine, albedo, and qiqi
Tumblr media
Venti
A man, a bard, a god, an archon, immortality was granted to him when he be came the Anemo archon, whether it be a curse or a gift, he didn’t know anymore. But he knew it was a curse bared by him the moment he found his beloved laying in a field full of bloodied flowers.  
If only he had been quicker, or if he never let them go alone by themselves to do their commissions, then maybe, they wouldn’t be six feet under.  
Every day he would visit their grave in the late hours of the night, sit and talk with a bottle of dandelion wine, as if they were there with him. He knew no matter how much he spoke, his words will never make it to their ears.  
One day he awoke by their grave, he drunk himself drunk and decided to just spend the night with them. But there was someone else by him when he awoke, they had messy h/c, and he couldn’t see anything else.  
“Who... Who are you?” He asked as he sat up, and the stranger turned to him, and he felt his heart leap to his throat, his chest hammering, and his eyes widened in astonishment. “Good morning, sir, it seems like you had a fun night,” they smiled at him as he sighed nodding with his own smile upon his face.  
“That I did,” he knew that they wouldn’t remember anything, but to have them here now, he was happy and content. He took up one of the unfinished bottles as they sat in the grass beside him, and they spoke for hours beside the grave.
Tumblr media
Zhongli
He lived for eons; lovers, friends, people he thought of as family, have came and gone. He should’ve been used to it by now, but no matter what he could never handle it each time he seen it.  
He is immortal, he is cursed with seeing mortals he grows close to die in front of his eyes no matter what, that is just the way of life. No matter how many times he sees it, he will never grow used to it.  
Rain poured from the night skies heavily one night, it was difficult to see, and he knew as he waited for his love, they might perish in the storm. The next morning, he was right, someone awoke and seen their body on the side of the road, cold, and frail.  
He blamed himself no matter how much someone else told him otherwise, when the 76th director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor died and his young grandchild had taken over, he went to work of her, Hu Tao was her name.  
Visiting the grave of his beloved was painful, but every year on their birthday, on their anniversary, or even on their death anniversary, Zhongli would get up, ask Hu Tao for the day off, and sit at his beloved grave for the whole day.  
Their birthday was coming up, so he decided to ask Hu Tao for the day off, and he was allowed to leave for the whole day. He went to go prepare; flowers, tea, some letters he written to them, and even some of their favorite food.  
When he carried all of the things in his arm, he nearly dropped some of the stuff, “Hey, do you need help?” That voice nearly made him freeze, but he turned with a small nod. “That would be very appreciated,” he spoke kindly to them, and when he looked into their eyes, he knew.  
He knew they had found him again on their own, and like always, he would stay by their side, until the end of his curse. He would love them no matter the shape or form in their next life, it was still his love.  
Tumblr media
Raiden Ei/Shogun
Life and death, such a concept what hard to accept when you lived hundreds of years. No matter how much death you witness, or how much you try to forget it, it will always be there to haunt you until the end of time.  
The land of eternity was difficult to live in with all the hostile people, the lightning and all the rain, yet it was such a beautiful place. Beauty would always be found in the storm no matter how you see it, and the electro archon knew that.  
The day her darling passed due to some treasure hoarders, he promised herself to rid of all of them on her lands and that she did, well, her puppet did. Still meditating, she waited for until her puppet would come back, and this time she did with someone else in tow. 
They seemed familiar, and they looked beaten up, she looked at her puppet who looked elsewhere as she tugged on the rope that was connected to their hands. “Shogun... What is the meaning of this?”  
The person looked up at Ei, and she felt her heart drop to her stomach, their eyes formed into a glare as they looked at her, but her heart was beating rapidly against her chest. They were back again, and she was glad to have them back and alive.  
“You, what is your name?” When they stated their name, her heart fluttered as she nodded with a soft smile to herself, they are back, they are alive and breathing. They are safe now, she told herself. 
 
Tumblr media
Nahida
She was a god of wisdom, of course she knew of reincarnation, she was locked up for nearly five hundred years, she had a bit of freedom, and she made a friend, one of the sages that had her locked up, they were nice. They wanted to go against Azar’s words and let her free, but the other sages knew of their plans, and they were disposed of.  
Nahida no matter how much she sees people come and go, she wouldn’t be able to handle it, she may be over five hundred years old, but she still was a child no matter her knowledge. She cried for hours and hours when Azar came with one of Y/n’s belongings, tainted with splotches of blood.  
When she was freed from her prison and Azar was delt with, she would stay by the blond traveler’s side at times. When they had decided to take up a rather difficult commission one day, she went with them, but even then, the two were enough, they just needed a bit more power.  
A person from out of nowhere jumped in swinging their weapon with their vision, and they turned to the three with a large smile and wiping the sweat from their brow. Paimon asked loudly for their name, and they stated it with a loud voice clearly proud of their self.  
Nahida smiled with a nod, the sage from all those years ago was back, and they were a vision wielder now. The traveler introduced them self with a smile and offered dinner as their gratitude. “And this is Nahida,” she held a hand to her chest, her heart fluttering in happiness. “It’s nice to meet you Y/n, I hope we can be friends,” again, she wanted to say but stopped herself.  
Tumblr media
Wanderer
The betrayals, as he called them, made him into the man he was years ago, The Balladeer, Scaramouche, The Sixth of the Eleventh Harbingers. He was feared by all, but there was only one person who lived in a cottage in the forests of Snezhnaya, he stumbled across them one day during a harsh winter.  
His first thought was to rid of them for even seeing him vulnerable, but he bit his tongue and said nothing as they treated his wounds. Every few weeks he would go and visit them, but he would rather die than let them know.  
A particular harsh winter had gone over the land of ice and snow, he knew that tiny cottage wouldn’t be able to keep them safe, so when he went to go visit them after the ice storm had passed, he was met with his fellow harbinger dragging their body out of the home.  
“Oh, you need not to worry for them, they are my latest experiment Balladeer,” and he bitterly turned on his heel and went back, their smile and kind eyes pushed into the dark backside of his mind.  
When he resided in Sumeru and received his Anemo vision, and his pasts memories as The Balladeer, surprisingly their smile was the first thing he had gathered in his mind. The lands of Sumeru were hot on the day he strolled around, going about his day aimlessly.  
He bumped into someone, a small scoff leaving his mouth, “I am so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going!” They rambled as they picked up their things, and they looked up at him with a small frown. His breath hitched as they smiled at him softly, “I’m sorry again,” and they turned on their heel and walked away from him.  
Without knowing his own feet moved on their own, and he followed after them without another words, they turned with a smile and he held his face flush. It wouldn’t be so bad to open up to someone now after all that he has been through.  
Tumblr media
Xiao
The Yaksha, a protector of Liyue, a conqueror of demons, and an adepti. He wished to only rest one night, but in the dead of night, he heard the faint whisper of his name. With a wisp of black and teal, he was met with the sight of his beloved covered in blood and fatui agents and gunners surrounding their body.  
All he saw was red as he felt his mask consume his face, there he slayed the ones who caused his dear harm, and once they were slayed, he dropped to his knees by their side. Tears cascading down his cheeks as he took their dying into his arms, their cold hands raising to gently brush some of his tears away.  
They spoke lowly, “I love you,” and with that their body fell limp in his arms, be forced himself to carry their body and bury them, no matter how much it tormented his heart. And he forced himself to promise to never go to another mortal or love ever again.  
Lantern Rite, the time to be happy, to let xiao lanterns float up into the sky, and spend time with your loved ones or ever friends. But this was yet only year he no longer had his beloved by his side, but instead the blonde traveler and their floating fairy by their side came up to the balcony of Wangshu Inn.  
Following behind them was another person, bright/dark eyes, and a smile on their face as they carried a xiao lantern in their hands. “Xiao, this is Y/n,” and his heart fluttered hearing their name, but he crossed his arms and closed his eyes trying to keep his composure. “It’s nice to finally meet you, conqueror of demons,” they said with a smile making him want to hug them tightly and never let them go, but this wans’t his beloved.  
This one was a new Y/n, not the one he used to know, but still, he will try to make some conversation, “Likewise mortal.” 
Tumblr media
Aether
A lone traveler from another world, traveling with his sister, but he lost her along the way to this new world. Teyvat... It was strange, but it was a newly welcomed adventure. The person he met was a beautiful/handsome person in his eyes. He thought he shouldn’t get too attached until he found his sister, but that was inevitable.  
They easily broke past his flimsy walls he put up; teasing him for hours that they would spend together, but he knew nothing of this world’s horrors. He thought he was safe just carrying around a sword unknowing of visions.  
One day he ventured out to find some fruit leaving his beloved alone in their makeshift camp, and hearing a scream from a bit aways, he turned and ran back. If only he didn’t leave, then maybe he wouldn’t be cradling their body in his arms as they smiled up at him, their eyes closed as they held his hand limply. 
And then he found himself staring out into space reminiscing about his days before his floating child companion, she was complaining about something, but he couldn’t hear her as he stared at the person before him. They waved their hand in front of his face as he final was snapped out of his daze.  
“I’m sorry... What were you saying?” They let out a small chuckle as he felt his cheeks flush, “I was asking what would you like to order?” Oh, that what Paimon was yelling about, food. But he knew not what to say his words seeming to die on his tongue the more he looked at the person before him.  
Who knew reincarnation was possible in this world, but then again it was full of surprise that he was willing to discover as long as this Y/n stays by his side safely at all times.  
Tumblr media
Lumine
An abyss princess, she was forced to see death and destruction. In every world she traveled with her brother, it was always different, but this was the first time she traveled alone without him.  
Back in Khaenri’ah, she was alone, but she bet a blond man, and another person, her first love in this world. They were an amazing person; kind, calm, beautiful in her eyes, and she told them after a few years of friendship.  
And when she was going to propose to them, the archons of this world has decided, Khaenri’ah should be no more. Blood, fire, death was everywhere as people ran and screamed for their lives, but where was Y/n? 
They were no where in sight as Lumine ran around trying to find them, just as she was about to run into a building the roofs began to cave in, and before she could react, she was pushed out the way.  
Her honey-colored eyes turned to see a familiar head of hair get crushed by the fallen debris, and she knew, her love sacrificed their self for her. With a heavy heart, and tears in her eyes as she moved to leave, she looked to see the sky painted red, and fire reaching towards the heavens.  
Hundreds of years later she looked over a cliff to watch her brother, the blond man, and a floating child. Took caught up in her gaze, she failed to notice a person running to her, swinging a claymore around.  
But before she could get hit by their attacks, she raised her own sword and their blades collided as sparks flew from the two metals. Her breath hitched as they jumped back, their weapon coated in elemental energy as they grinned at her widely. “And so the abyss princess knows to fight,” they snarked with their eyebrows furrowed with that grin upon their face.  
“You... What is your name?” They slung their weapon over their shoulder with their grin still upon their face as they jabbed their thumb to their self. “Names Y/n, princess.”  
Tumblr media
Albedo
Relationship; complicated, complex, and too much effort to maintain, it’s what he always thought. He knew any type of relationship relied on communication, quality time, and even effort.  
And somehow, some way, a mortal managed to worm their way into his heart, his darling, his love, his first; Y/n. They were his everything, his friend, his lover, his muse, the reason for him to live. He wanted nothing but to have them in his life for all eternity.  
But he was too late, too late to do anything when a sword impaled his darling, all he saw was red as he slayed the beings that harmed them, and when he fell to his knees by their side he was too late to even be there in their last moments.  
And after that he never left his lab, be it the one in Dragonspine, or even the one in the one in the Knights of Favonius building. The only time he would turn to see something else other than his research was Sucrose bring more supplies or Klee pestering him.  
Out of material for his latest experiment, he heaved a heavy sigh as he looked around his lab; messy, dirty, unorganized, maybe he’ll clean up once he comes back. Leaving his lab, he walks slowly, how long has it been since he left? How long did he stay with his experiment?  
His eyes trailed up to the sun; how long has it been since he had been outside? His legs carried him until he collided with another being. “Oh, I’m sorry,” they spoke as Albedo rubbed his head and looked up at them and their outstretched hand.  
His heart nearly stopped beating in his chest, “Uhm... Hello?” They questioned a bit awkward from his staring. Shaking his head, he took their hand as they pulled him up, and gave him a smile, “Sorry for bumping into you, I was told by Sucrose to help deliver these to Albedo,” his eyes still couldn’t leave them, but how could he not? His Y/n was back.  
He sighed taking in reality, his Y/n was gone... This one was a new one, “That would be me, my apologies, I am a bit out of it,” they smiled at him and waved their hand at him. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to form another companionship.   
Tumblr media
Qiqi
When she heard of the passing of the person she loved as her parent when she was just barely a few years old to understand, she cried for hours. When she died, her memories of that person were wiped completely but at time you could hear her mention a person’s name when she rambled under her breath to herself about remembering things. 
So Baizhu had gifted her a journal to write anything and everything she possibly wanted to remember. And every day she would write about everything and anything, some days she wouldn’t have anything for her journal.  
One day she was writing in her journal, and in strolled in the Traveler and Paimon, and her eyes looked up at them a bit disinterested. “Doctor Baizhu is not here... Qiqi will help you instead,” and a person accidently bumped into the traveler making a Qiqi look at them.  
“You are clumsy... Apologize,” she said as they helped up the blond and looked down at the little girl, “Hi Qiqi, Doctor Baizhu sent me to come get these for him,” they handed the little girl a slip of paper giving her a smile.  
She took the paper with a little smile at the mention of her caretaker as she looked down at the paper, “Qiqi will get this for you...” She smiled up at them as she turned on her heel and gathered what the paper said, when she returned, they were talking with the traveler.  
“Qiqi, has gotten what Y/n needed,” she said not realizing what she said, and the person turned to her with a surprised look, before they shook their head and gave her a pat on her hat. “Thank you Qiqi,” and with that they left, and Qiqi took out her journal and wrote the name.  
It was familiar as she flipped through her journal, and saw the name on the very first page, Y/n... They had come back, and the zombie girl didn’t even know it, all she knew was she felt warm all over when she talked to them.  
im so srry this took awhile, i haven't had any motivation lately :( but i am trying my best, i have an idea for a kaveh x reader oneshot if anyone would be interested to read that when that comes out &lt;3
933 notes · View notes
ikaroux · 1 year
Text
Learn to love yourself
Synopsis: There are things about you that you can hate. Curves that are too pronounced. A face that is too round. A more self-effacing character. And you sometimes wonder, "Why did he choose me?"
Style: female reader, Cute, sweet, loving, reassuring, established relationship.
Alert: None.
Characters: Venti, Dainsleif, Ayato.
Note: I love writing about Venti, especially since I started writing "Before the Sun and Moon." I know this character isn't necessarily the most beloved of the boys, and I won't hide the fact that Diluc is still number one in my heart. Nevertheless, I hope to make him more attractive to you… On the other hand, it's quite short, but I appreciate having written for these three characters.
Part 1: Diluc Zhongli Kaeya Xiao
Part 2: Albedo, Kazuha, Tartaglia/Childe
Tumblr media
Sitting in front of your dressing table, your eyes stared at that large brown spot with no distinct shape imprinted on your neck since birth. You hated it, you always did… Not only were you born with it, but it was in a place that was nearly impossible for you to cover, except in the winter when you wore turtlenecks. Of course, you tried to use makeup to hide this birthmark, but despite your best efforts, it was impossible to cover it completely.
Your frustration and discomfort had intensified when you met Venti. Over the months, he had become so dear to your heart. So gentle and loving, making you feel beautiful and loved. You had done everything to hide this flaw from him, for fear that it would disgust him… But Venti was the kind of man who liked physical contact, and he often wondered why you always wore something around your neck, preventing him from placing teasing kisses on it. But he never forced you to respond, showing patience and restraint.
Caressing your birthmark with your fingertip, your mind wandering in the twists and turns of your imagination, you didn't notice that your boyfriend had come in through your bedroom window, as he so often did with his anemo vision. When you felt lips brush against your ear, a gasp almost made you fall off the stool you were sitting on as your hand reflexively came to cover your neck.
"Venti! I already told you not to come in through the window!" The young man laughed as usual, apologizing without much conviction as his aqua green eyes seemed to be drawn to what your hand was hiding.
"What are you hiding from me my dove?"
"I-I- Nothing at all! Go wait for me in the living room!" Venti did not move as you asked, instead tilting his head to the side when he caught the tremor in your voice.
"What are you so afraid of, my sweet spring? Don't tell me someone has hurt you?" Venti walked over to you, settling behind your back, his hands firmly on your tense shoulders. When you looked at his face in the reflection of the mirror, something unusual caught your eye… His eyes and the tips of his pigtails were glowing with an intense glow, identical to that of his anemo vision. Anger seemed to be what had triggered this strange reaction.
"No one hurt me… I-" You lowered your head, tightening your grip on your neck. It was then that tender arms encircled your chest as Venti's face rested on the hollow of your shoulder.
"So tell me what you're afraid of. I love you my dove, you know you can tell me anything."
"I don't want to put you off me…" Venti moved slightly away from you, his bewildered eyes staring at you as if you had just said the stupidest thing in the world. You turned your face toward him, your lips close to his. Your hand trembled against your skin, hesitant to move against his gaze. "I love you Venti, I don't want to lose you. You're the best thing that ever happened to me in my life. Try to understand me…" Venti sighed, delicately moving closer to you to place a tender but brief kiss on your lips. As soon as he pulled away, the young man rested his forehead against your shoulder, his arms tightening their grip around you.
"It's more like I should be afraid of losing you. There's so much about me that you don't know… That could scare you or worse, make you hate me. Believe me when I tell you that you are more precious to me than anything else in the world. You will never keep me away from you. Never." Tears welled up in your eyes and slowly, carefully, you slid your hand down your neck, revealing the mark that painted your skin. You closed your eyes, waiting for your lover's reaction. You felt him move behind you before the warmth of his lips kissed your birthmark, making you flinch slightly. "You are beautiful, Y/N. More beautiful than anything I've ever seen. Sweeter than any poem I've ever heard or sung. I'm so glad I met you." And before he could give you time to respond, he held you closer to him, placing eager kisses on your neck, letting only a few moans escape your lips. Venti accepted you completely, carving out a place in your heart that would be reserved for him forever. You hoped that one day he too would be able to face his fears and open up to you…
Tumblr media
"Did you see how skinny she is." Whispered a passerby to her friend.
"Yes, how awful!"
"Don't tell me that the handsome blond guy with her is her boyfriend?"
"No way!" Sneered the stranger.
Dainsleif turned around to face the two women who were openly criticizing you, his cool gaze and poise silencing them immediately. He proudly took your hand to lead you away from the atmosphere that he knew was making you sadder than ever.
Dainsleif was not always present at your side, too busy fighting the abyss and protecting the world you lived in. He always expressed his affection, his love for you. But you couldn't help thinking that these women were right… You were too thin, wiry, nothing attractive to men. Dainsleif was… well he was perfect. An angelic face, blond hair framing his jaw perfectly, blue eyes that seemed to hold a deep, quiet ocean, a beautifully sculpted body…
"Don't pay attention to what they say." Dain muttered softly as he continued to walk quietly, his hand still firmly holding yours.
"Why? You know it's the truth. I don't need them to know that my body is… Hideous. I don't even know what attracted you to me in the first place." Dainsleif paused, slowly turning to face you, his gaze still soft when it came to you. His free hand came to rest on your cheek, his thumb tenderly caressing your skin.
"I love your eyes." He said softly, his caresses extending to your eyelid. "I love your nose." The warmth of his finger ran along the bridge of your nose until it reached your mouth, his thumb lovingly brushing your bottom lip. "I love your lips." His hand planted itself on the back of your neck, drawing you into a sudden, deep kiss, eliciting soft moans between breaths. "I love your voice." Finally, he gently placed his forehead against yours, keeping his hand in your hair. Closing your eyes, you both savored this tender moment. "Do you need a reason to love someone? I love you for who you are, not for what others think of you. I absolutely love every part of your body, every part of your soul." And you knew that Dainsleif spoke sincerely, he was a man who never lied, his sincerity and honesty could sometimes be hurtful, but always helped you move on. More than that, Dainsleif had helped you learn to love yourself step by step, even if it wasn't always easy, even if the looks on your face kept tearing you apart from the inside, as long as he stayed by your side, the world would keep turning.
"I love you Dain." A rare frank smile stretched his features as he pulled you closer to him.
"I love you Y/N." Such simple words yet brimming with emotion when spoken by him. Dainsleif held you in his arms for a long time, kissing every part of your face that your proximity allowed him to reach. Ignoring the regular passage of strangers, their curious eyes gazing at your two bodies tenderly entangled against each other.
Tumblr media
Ayato was the very personification of perfection. He was an upright man, always elegant, always polite, always discreet… A clan leader leading the cultural commission with a masterful hand. When he spoke, people listened, when he fought, it was always with elegance and determination. However, Ayato had sides that he preferred to hide from others, even from his sister. Manipulative, cunning, ingenious, hiding behind his false smiles his real intentions. Only in front of you could he show himself… The trust and love he had for you made you so happy and yet… You were infuriatingly clumsy. Appearances in Inazuma were something essential in society, the slightest slip could bring shame and dishonor to a clan… Slipping on a stone in public. Spilling a cup of tea. Breaking a precious object. Ayato always stood behind you, catching your blunders. You were so ashamed of yourself. So ashamed to embarrass him in front of those who held him in respect.
You were a burden in his life…
Little by little, you began to refuse to accompany him to official dinners or meetings with other clan leaders, using any excuse to justify your absence from his side. But Ayato wasn't blind, watching your every reaction with sadness. He wanted to wait for you to make the first move to confide in him, which you never did… You were pulling away from him, and he couldn't stand that.
"Y/N, how about coming with me to this new restaurant they opened in town? They serve some strange drinks there that I would love to try."
"Not tonight Ayato, I have to visit a sick friend." Ayato watched you out of the corner of his eye, putting on his gloves with more rigor than he wanted.
"You don't have any sick friends." He said simply, pulling on his white jacket over his shirt, consciously ignoring the stiffness in your body at his words. "I asked Thomas to watch you when I couldn't. I was worried about your change in attitude. Why are you avoiding me Y/N? I'd rather you tell me if I've done anything that might have hurt you than watch you grow further and further away from me." You remained silent, clenching your fists in your lap. Ayato sighed loudly, his arms falling heavily at his sides. "Do you still love me?" He asked in a quavering voice, fear soaking into it like ink on paper.
"Of course!"
"Then why do I feel like I'm losing you?" Ayato finally turned to you, his face marked by loneliness and anxiety. "Tell me what I've done, and I promise to do everything I can to make it up to you. I love you and-I don't want to see you walk away from me again."
"You didn't do anything wrong! I'm the one who… I'm embarrassing you with my clumsiness. I feel… Unworthy of you." You lowered your head, hiding the feeling of humiliation that invaded you behind your closed eyelids. Ayato seemed to want to remain silent, his blue eyes watching you carefully. How could he let you think that about yourself? Did you really think you were beneath him? Ayato felt hurt… Not because of you, no, but because of his own incompetence. Wasn't it him who didn't deserve you? After all, he hadn't been able to immediately see the distress his status had caused you. Hesitantly, he slowly approached you, kneeling beside you and lifting your chin to him with his fingertip.
"Forgive me for not understanding what was wrong…" Your eyes glistened with tears that you refused to let fall. "I love your clumsiness. I love your innocence as well as your pure naivety. All these parts of you melt my heart. It doesn't matter what other people think… Did you ever notice my amusement when you spilled your tea on one of the clansmen?" A tear rolled down your cheek as a soft smile stretched your lips. "Or the tenderness in my eyes when you caught yourself on my arm when you were about to fall? Ayato placed a soft kiss on your forehead. "Oh, and that day when you broke a Kujou clan vase. If I hadn't had my younger sister by my side, I don't think I would have been able to keep my urge to laugh out loud locked inside me." Said he, starting to laugh as he reviewed the images flashing through his head. A blush warmly invaded your cheeks as you tugged on the sleeve of his coat, laughing softly with him.
"It's-It's okay I get it! You can stop right there!" Ayato slowly stopped laughing, affection evident in his eyes focused on you.
"I love you my precious Y/N. Don't turn away from me. You bring so much joy to my life… More than I could ever feel. Don't be ashamed of yourself, because I absolutely love all sides of you." He placed a tender kiss on your lips before rising to his feet, reaching out to help you. "Well, how about we go taste this drink that seems to be all the rage?"
"D-Don't come complaining if I spill my drink on you!" A wry smile spread across his face.
"I wouldn't complain, considering you'll be the one to clean me up." The man made you stammer incoherent words, the red on your cheeks spreading to your ears. "Perhaps I should force this inevitable fate and bring about the catastrophe?" Ayato brought your hand to his lips, a mischievous smile on his face.
"You wouldn't dare!?" A squeak escaped your lips as he pulled you outside the Kamisato domain, lovingly intertwining his fingers with yours…
1K notes · View notes
hiraa-straw · 2 years
Text
Tumblr media
this break my heart (the picture i saved it from twitter @/GenshinUpdate )
1K notes · View notes
godineedsleep · 3 months
Text
Venti x Reader
summary: Venti and his continually reincarnated lover
wordcount: 1.4k+ | tags: mild angst, fluff, reincarnation trope
pairing: venti
Barbatos knew ever since he had taken the form of his friend that life was fickle. He watched people pass on like grains of sand in a time glass, one after the other, soon forgotten about as others followed suit. But the wind does not forget. Not so easily.
He once again felt his bleary eyes open, the calls of his people ringing behind his ears. He felt anemo swirl up around him, eyes flicking around the forest he lay in. It was different than when he closed his eyes, bushes in the wrong place and trees moved, but it was not much of a shock. He felt the prayers of his people chorus behind his ears and heeded their call.
And then he met you. You, who was so fierce and brave and still so kind yet in the face of war. He watched as you fought, talked with you, and sat complacent as you charmed him. You had asked for his name, once. He had told you to call him Venti and to remember him as the eccentric bard home to Mondstadt.
And then he watched as you were slain. You had been strong, vision or not, but you were unlucky just once. And Barbatos watched as your chest concaved to the force of the blade, and as your blood joined the many already fallen, and he felt a strange sense of calm as an arrow flew through the head of the enemy.
Barbatos mourned you, just like he did every mortal. He mourned you by the bottle, by the sweetness of the wine that trickled down his throat. He mourned you as he mourned all the fallen of Mondstadt he couldn’t protect, as he mourned those who died trying to protect the nation he held so dear. 
During a Windbloom Festival, over two hundred years later, Venti saw your eyes again. You had changed- you were a little shorter, hair a little lighter- but those eyes, with a bold determination as you bickered with a shopkeeper about her price of goods, he couldn’t forget. Your mannerisms stayed unchanged, you still had the familiar inflections and your hands still held the hems of your clothing when you were stressed. 
Venti slips behind you, glancing towards the rather annoyed shopkeeper.
“What seems to be the matter here?” He chirps, voice light as he smiles towards the two of you. The shopkeeper barely spares him a glance before dismissing him.
“I’m sorry, I can’t take payment right now.” She turned back to you, eyes sharpening to a glare in an instant.
“And I told you, I won't lower my prices. What you see is what you pay.” Venti winces as you grind your teeth, watching you become more agitated.
“Your prices are extortionate.” As you continue to rant, Venti looks down at the shop's products. You had been pretty accurate- for selling simple wrappers to hold windblooms when gifting them, they were at a high price. When glancing around, he found this was the only stand selling them.
“It takes advantage of people just wanting to enjoy Windbloom- how did you even decide this was fair?” The shopkeeper stares at you flatly.
“Inflation.”
“The economy has been on an incline for a while, you lying-” Venti places a couple of mora on the table, cutting you off. He grins at the cashier, eyes twinkling.
“I believe this should be enough, correct?” The shopkeeper diverts her attention immediately to the coins, swiping them off the counter before any objections. She thumbs over them, waiting a few seconds before pushing the bundle of paper towards you. 
“Take it. Next.”
Venti dragged you to the side, glancing at you. You were a bit dazed by his action, eyes trailing up from the bundle of thin papers in your hands to stare at him- studying him. So, he thought, it was only fair to return the favor. You surely had changed, your clothing less knightley and more of the common folk- and you dressed comfortably, too, which was good- but as your eyes dragged over his own appearance he found himself admiring that familiar fire, kept safe within the borders of your iris.
“You…” he hears your voice, hesitant and unsure, and hates how it reminds him of your demise. Your former demise, he supposes. 
“We haven’t… met before, have we?” 
Barbatos finds himself strangely silent, feeling the warmth as you hold his hand to keep him still. Like he would run. And he finds himself smiling, whether from the absurdity of that notion or the look on your face he didn’t know.
“Maybe when we were younger.”
It's a few years later when Venti finds himself gently strumming his lyre, your head in his lap, during a bright summer day. It was cool, with the wind constant and the shade of the tree at Windrise. You were dozing off, smiling as you listened to his song. And when you looked up at him, eyes tired yet shining and happy, he couldn’t stop himself from pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. He loved the way your eyes crinkled as your smile widened, and he relished the way you pulled him back down for a proper kiss. 
It was these small moments Venti cherished, where the two of you shared these quiet moments together, where he could simply enjoy your company. The moments the both of you could just sit, stop for just a moment, where he could hold you and sing to you and you could just be happy with him. 
And then you died again. 
It was different this time, though. You had lived long this time, the crows feet beneath your eyes that used to only appear as you smiled became more permanent. He wished he could have grown old with you. He wished he had the heart to change his form from how he died, to give you the sembalance of growing old with your partner. He wept in your arms time after time, agonized over that fact. 
But even if he could age, Barbatos thinks, it wouldn’t change anything when you eventually passed. While even when a gust of wind peeters out, it only resumes someplace else. At a different time. 
He held your hand, bony and thin as it was, as you looked at him with the smile he so adored. And you passed.
And so he slept, for years and years and years, until he was needed again. 
He would wake again and again and again, and would meet you again and again and again. Sometimes your hair would be different, other times your frame. But your eyes were always the same. They always looked at him with a distant sort of recognition, and that small flame would always be lit. 
He would never force his way into your life. There were lifetimes that went by where you simply said hello to him on the street, just as many as the two of you would become friends. You would have your own loves too, aside from him. He found that any lover he would try to have would only remind him of you, so he abstained. 
In the times you were gone, sleep and wine became his friends. His children of Mondstadt were easy to converse with, yes, lively and kind as they were. But they never had the comfortable familiarity you brought. Only the remembering of ghosts long past. 
Venti finds you again, years later, humming a gentle song on the base of the tree of Windrise. And you look up as he walks over, smiling. But he stops, shocked, as he sees more than just the usual faint recognition in your eyes. There was something… more there. He can’t help himself from gently murmuring your name, and just the sound sends you smiling and laughing. 
He feels you crash into him, shocked still, arms instinctually wrapping around you. Venti finds himself laughing along with you, the bottle of wine he had brought to drink dropped somewhere to his side. When he finds your eyes, he sees recognition he hadn’t seen in them before- at least, when the two of you met for the first time. And he sees your eyes filling with tears: of relief, happiness, and other emotions he couldn’t place. 
“You haven’t changed a day, my love.” You smile up to Venti, grinning wide as he gently wipes your tears from your face. Your smile wavers for a moment, growing bittersweet. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
And Barbatos smiles, gentle, as he runs his fingers through your hair.
“For as long as the wind blows, I will protect you, just as you have protected I.”
And you smile. And he thinks that his patience has been worth it.
141 notes · View notes
semolinapudding · 4 months
Text
I fall in love with souls, not faces.
A concept of a romantic story with Venti
A story in which Venti falls in love with a human for the first time. Experiencing love and intimacy for Venti wasn't strange, rather familiar, because even as a wind being he witnessed humans and their connections, but could not completely understand the experience until he found himself in the situation.
In this story, Venti is attracted to not only you as yourself, but your very soul, your essence, and both of your souls get tied together by being compatible. After the loss of the nameless bard which he could not get over so early in his archon years, his sorrow and loss is manifested into the attachment and love to you.
Oh, how beautiful love is. Only now he can understand it himself. Being human. If only he was... Because your fates are two different paths, he's an archon and you're a mortal, and you're not meant to be by nature.
Barbatos the god of freedom and death. Who frees the souls into the after life or into rebirth on earth. They say that everyone will meet Barbatos once in their lifetime, and is when their lives are fading. Barbatos appears then with his wings and hands open, welcoming your soul. That's what you see when you fade from life young. Barbatos and Venti, the same being, guiding you to dance in the space between life and death, prolonging this sweet and painful connection for some little more time.
And when he guides your soul to rebirth, it does not go back on earth untouched. He leaves trails of anemo infusion within you, meant to bring you back to him again, in your next life, back to the Anemo god that's dedicating his immortality to only one soul.
A faint birth mark of the color of anemo is on your hand. The unique mark which means is that you belong to Barbatos, but you don't know. You're reborn, and meeting him again is once again the first time for you, but for him it's not.
And every time you die, every time he relives the pain, each time he sends your soul to be reborn, each time falling in love with you over and over, waiting for you. He can't let go of your soul, it keeps reliving in Teyvat instead of flying to the heavens.
And each time you're reborn, you always only love one song he sings, the same favorite song. It becomes a deja Vu. The more you're reborn, the more you get deja vu's, until you begin to remember, you get so aware.
The Anemo infusion into your soul brings memories back to you, like the winds that hold whispers and secrets. Your mind and soul are no longer two separate essences but they get merged, and you, in your essence are now just a fully aware soul with a mind and body, remembering what you shouldn't. Nature doesn't follow its natural state because you know Barbatos has loved you till the beginning of time and has never let go.
Archons are such weak and fragile beings in their essence. Tormented in their own pain, unable to bear the concept of human life. Of death. They get attached to humans and things more than anyone ever does.
At what point does immortality not feel like strength, but rather like a painful curse and fragility?
"My blume, don't you know, archons are nothing without humans? Humans can live without archons, but archons would not survive without humanity. Immortality is a curse, painfully engraved into our fates."
Who wants this story written?
112 notes · View notes
m1d-45 · 1 year
Note
Heheehee would love to see venti post-imposter au like that one u did for zhongli...I love guilt >:)))) and thank u, u r amazing!!!!
unnamed poem, unnamed bard
a/n: wrote a whole poem for this. hope you enjoy <3
-> warnings: reader is dead. reader is a literal corpse and is described and referred to as such. major spoilers for mondstat archon quest, the most microscopic spoilers for liyue archon quest.
-> lowercase intended!
taglist: @samarill || @thenyxsky || @valeriele3 || @shizunxie
< masterlist >
Tumblr media
‘the creator is the highest god across every nation.’
seven sets of eyes stared at the body in front of them, at the arrow shot through it’s throat. several other wounds crossed the body, but none were as lethal as the first.
‘they have created everything, from the clouds-‘
angry gray rippled across the sky, thunder crackling in the distance. the storm had been brewing all day, and now the reason why was clear.
‘-to the air-‘
wind howled and cried, whipping through hair and pulling at clothes. one of the ties around venti’s braids had been ripped away, the hair beginning to unravel in the gale. still, even as nahida clutched at focalor’s cloak to stay standing—poor girl, she’d been trying to convince her—the clothes on the corpse were still.
‘-to the earth beneath our feet.’
blood seeped into the ground below, shimmering even in the dim light filtering through the clouds. the brick pattern below had shining blue for grout, blood tracing a spiderweb out.
‘they are only to be adored with the highest of veneration.’
thin hands shook around the handle of a bow, painted nails digging into the grip. barbatos’ eyes are wide, teal, unblinking gaze staring at the body as if it would magically come back to life. as if it would reach, pull out the arrow, as if it would sit up and chide him for behaving so rashly. it doesn’t.
‘after all…’
amber eyes search for purple, then red, black gloves tightening around the geo lord’s weapon. he was not without sin, having also participated in the chase—none were truly pure, none truly deserved any form of forgiveness except for maybe nahida.
‘it is they to which we owe our lives.’
seven chests heaved with a variety of emotions—adrenaline, contrition, horror—but an eighth was oddly regular. blank, lifeless eyes, matching the color of the ones on the corpse, curved with a smile. well done! they cheered, silent pride shining in the dim light.
‘they are stronger than steel.’
“who are you?”
the gritted voice of the pyro archon shattered the fragile silence.
“me?”
‘brighter than the sun.’
the false god put a hand to their chest, the fake shock on their face not hiding their glee. “well, i’m your god, aren’t i?”
‘with their iron-strong will,’
six hands tightened on weapons. one set let go of cloth, small stature still brimming with anger.
‘eons long work begun.’
new blood stained the dirt, red instead of divine blue. the fake’s body jerked, elemental reactions dancing across their skin as their body fell to the floor. superconduct burned out their eyes, overload locked up their lungs, quicken sped up the rate at which blood flowed from their veins. frozen pinned their still-twitching body to floor as they slowly died.
the gods almost wished that it had taken them longer to die. they certainly didn’t deserve a quick death.
‘they forged the valleys and plains.’
seven voices united by the covered body of their god, undivided by worldly squabbles. grudges and bitterness fell away, if only for now, seven heads bowed on seven sets of knees. even nahida, innocent as she was, had knelt alongside them here. seven prayers were lifted on seven tongues, some wavering, all weak. the scenery did little to distract when they knew they had slaughtered it’s maker.
‘mountains shaped, clouds retained.’
the burial was silent, only the sound of dirt against dirt breaking the solemn air. shimmering jade rose from the earth, obsidian lettering carving out their sin. seven were too weak to continue standing, seven sets of tears beginning to fall. seven asked for forgiveness.
‘as night turned to day turned to night again,’
none would receive it.
‘their last creation made, to their own world they ascend.’
grass and flowers were quick to grow over the unsettled dirt, risking quick uprooting for the chance to get closer. seven hearts burned. seven souls screamed.
drinks hit their tables with loud bangs. ‘who are you, bard?” a man called. ‘where have you heard such things?’
barbatos was the first to flee, unable to bear feeling their aura so long after their death. his wide wings flapped erratically, all of his usual grace lost as tears blurred his vision. the cuffs of his shirt clung to his skin, droplets of blue already staining to matter how hard he tried to scrub it out. it refused to even smudge.
he tucked his wings in and dove, barely even trying to slow his fall once he got closer to the ground, not feeling the pain in his feet. he stumbled once, twice, then collapsed at the foot of his own anemo statue.
the boy laughed, the teal on his nails matching the mirth in his eyes.
barbatos’ chest heaved, the air he commands abandoning him in his time of need. the peaceful breeze of windrise couldn’t hide the uneven beats of his heart, the cool stone behind him not soothing the burn on his face. he could see them, the golden chains of his crimes, already encircling his arms. the fingers that pulled the string stiffened with shining rings, too tight to be comfortable, his opposite palm already beginning to glow. some scrap of his consciousness mourned how it would affect his ability to play, to drink, to move, the unforgiving chains binding his actions.
the larger majority mourned his god.
‘you can call me venti.’
673 notes · View notes
xcyphoz0a · 1 month
Text
Reconciliation
Gender neutral reader, hurt → comfort(not much comfort actually oops) TW/CW: regret → comfort, mentions of drinking Character(s): Venti Word count: 388 Proofread: n/a | And he gives you a chance. So please, think. | A/N: part two to regret
Tumblr media Tumblr media
It’s pretty common to see the windborne bard at Angel’s share, drinking his worries away, eyes watery and red, hunched over the bar counter because of too many drinks as the bartender and the owner of the bar do their own thing.
But it wasn’t common to see the bard quiet, at the second floor, the corner of the building, eyes only red and face soaked with salty tears.
He had come stumbling, already drunk, ordering more wine as he walked up the stairs with such fatigue, slumping himself over the wooden chair, the only thing audible being a mutter of a name.
And when you get pushed in the tavern by your lovely friends–a floating white haired girl and a blonde traveller–you’re forced to ask Diluc where your lover is. The three look at you, expecting you to go upstairs and see him. To talk to him. To talk things out. To reconcile. Your feet are heavy, as if chains of balls of steel hold you down like a prisoner.
When you see him all you could feel was the cracks of regret become bigger and stronger–the pull so strong that you can’t reach the railings of the second floor.
He sees you. But he doesn’t run up to you in a hug anymore like he used to. He only looks away, thinking that you were his desperate imagination.
But you make your slow way towards him, your hand reaching out to him. You can see how his face seemed to be covered in pain, hurt–that you caused. It breaks your heart, and you wish you could turn back time to say things differently.
When your hand manages to hold his hand on the table, he stiffens. Body rigid, head turning slowly, eyes looking at you to the hand that holds his.
The tears come back again, and you hold him tight.
Venti grips your clothes in such strength from pain that you couldn’t help but continue muttering sorry, apologies that could only go so far to ease the smallest bit of pain.
He’s drunk.
He won’t be able to remember anything of what you said.
Yet his mumbles say how he forgives you, how he wishes you were back in his arms again.
And you promise him that you will.
You promise to him in tears.
Tumblr media
taglist : @chaoffee @sunnidear @solstarz
69 notes · View notes
bahbzxxx · 8 months
Text
Sick! Venti X Traveler!Reader (SFW)
(In which his sickness was caused by getting his gnosis taken cause Huh sis that hurt even watching. But HAH he’s getting ✨better✨ while S*gnora is a pile of ashes lolsies)
Tumblr media
There’s only one set of eyes on your mind as you race through the serenitea pot that’s much too big for your liking. If you were focused on your environment, Everything everywhere would make you want to explode into a pile of stardust here and now. Only the thought of not finding him would make you want to do that.
You approach the guestroom. Venti has been staying with you for a little while, recuperating. He will do it once in a while… when he needs a place to hide because the sickness is too hard to cope with alone. Sometimes, his stays are very long…and they seem to get a little longer, every time. He insists that it’s because he enjoys being with you, and he’s really recovering, but by not. But you know He will never feel the same… since…
No…NO.
You push the ice from your mind and how it still feels like frost blooms along your skin, only to penetrate it. It’s sharp.
You can only imagine how sharp it was for him…
With you just…there…doing nothing…
You knock on the side of the door, which is slightly ajar.
You hear a gentle hum, as well as footsteps and slight floorboard creaks from an owner too beautiful and divine for any land in the sea of stars you crossed.
Venti’s viridescent gaze envelops you in a fuzzy warm cloud as he opens the door. He is sleepily rubbing his eyes with his eyebrows furrowed. His expression softens as he sees you…and he takes both your hands in his, and he takes you inside. He can sense your despair…so he closes the door behind him with a gentle pat.
You see that he has no corset on and wears flowy pants that are a touch wrinkled. There are light sleep lines on his face and peaking out of his sleeves…the tell tale signs that he had just been in a deep nap.
“Hmm… you’re done early today…hmm…got any stories for me?”
His voice is so husky…and you can hear his exhaustion.
He holds his hands out to you with a soft smile, sensing you could really use an ear.
The hug you give the archon is almost enough to crush his own lungs.
“Hmph~ oof!”
his unbuttoned shirt is now covered in your tears as you cry into his chest, squeezing into his soft waist as if it is your life-line.
“Mmmm? Mmm…”
His heart breaks when he realizes you’re crying. He wraps his arms around you, rubbing deep circles in your back and nuzzling the top of your head.
He lets out a large sigh, and it feels as if his body is deflating like an anemo slime.
“Windblume…oh, my sweet little Windblume…” he whispers softly into your hair, leaving kisses in between.
He knows why you’re being like this…and truly, he does understand, as much as he’d prefer if you weren’t worrying so much.
“I know. I know…but I’m okay. She’s all gone…shes not gonna hurt us anymore…she’s not gonna hurt you, hurt…hurt me…”
He feels you squeeze him tighter, and he hears your little hiccups. You’re crying harder now…
“Windblume… I’m fine…I’ll be fine…I’m recovering, mein liebling, I promise you…bit by bit…”
He keeps rubbing your back, taking deep, steady breaths. He continues whispering sweet comforts as he holds you for a while, rocking you back and forth as he leans his body against the wall.
After a while of standing, Venti feels a bit weak…he may have recovered a lot, but he still needs a bit more time.
“Come with me, love…”
Gently, he leads you to the fluffy chair he begged you for a while ago from the Cats Tail in the corner. He plops down with a heavy sigh, closing his eyes and leaning back.
“Ahhh…”
The bard opens his eyes, a bit upset that you haven’t joined him yet. He finds you standing there hesitantly, shyly watching over him while your eyes still sparkle with tears.
“Liebling…” He beckons, chuckling to lighten both your moods a little.
He reaches for your arm, and gently pulls you into his lap. He feels your hesitation, knowing that you’re scared even sitting in his lap could make things worse for him. He reassures you that this is oh so far from the truth.
“Uh-uh, no no no…I want you here with me…It’s okay…you make me feel better…”
He takes you in his arms once more, making sure you’re cozy in his lap.
“There we go…all comfy and cozy.”
He kisses your cheeks and your eyelids, as if he’s kissing your tears away.
You can tell he’s still lethargic based on the weight of his kisses…
“Now it’s my turn to suffocate you, hehe…”
He squeezes you to him, letting your head rest on his heart. It beats so steadily and slowly, like a gentle bass drum.
You sit like this for a while, You staring up at him, his chest he offers as your pillow as he takes his time kissing all over your face.
Naturally, despite all the worry you had, and still have, his viridescent gaze is so calming and soothing that you feel yourself growing sleepier and sleepier, much to his satisfaction. But…he sees that you’re still trying to fight it off, even when you’re safe in his arms and you can sleep. All this worrying about him… it made him sad, knowing that you probably were getting much less sleep than he was…
“My little warrior…you’ve been so worried about me…you’ve been so exhausted…you don’t need to hide that from me…” He sighs, moving the hair out of your face that just keeps coming back and hiding your precious eyes from him.
“…you know…I’m not quite used to someone being so concerned for my well-being…you remember that?”
You nod, and he purses his lips.
“I-I know…I know I worry you…” he continues softly, stroking your cheek with his thumb.
“And as much as I want to give you a little bop on the head and tell you to stop that…”
He gives you a bop on the nose, hoping he can get you to giggle for him. Maybe just a crack of a smile even.
“That means…I’d have to stop getting worried with your adventures…I-I know, my Windblume…it may seem like you’ve seen just about everything…can do anything…but there’s always a part of me that’s just terrified…so scared you won’t come back to me…”
He tips your chin back up to him.
“But…you always manage to find a way back… Back to me…don’t you?” He smiles, bringing his nose closer to yours.
“I’ll even bet that you could be cursed by an evil sorceress on your travels, doomed to be an insect forever…”
Your eyes widen. You’d seen much worse, but nobody had done that…
“But…then I’d find a certain pretty little butterfly on my nose as I wake up from an afternoon nap…somehow, somewhere…”
You raise an eyebrow. You suppose you’re the pretty little butterfly in question…
He chuckles deeply, his chest vibrating against you.
“In other words…no matter how much I worry about you…somehow, even if it’s through a single thread of hope…I know that you’ll end up okay…right? Somehow…I really don’t know yet. You still truly amaze me…”
You giggle at the expression on his face.
“And…do I amaze you?”
You nod, a cute little blush on your face.
“Hmm…ok, then…let me amaze you with how, no matter how much you keep worrying about little old me…I’ll always be with you…and I’ll always find my way back to you…even if it’s just a tiny gust of wind…know that it’s me…do you understand, Liebling?”
You just smile, imagining to yourself how that would work. The bard takes that as a yes.
“Besides…you and I both know I’ve seen the rear end of much worse than this…and maybe…just maybe…I’m a little stronger than I’m given credit for…”
There’s a bit of bitterness tinged in his soft expression and tone…but it’s definitely not directed at you. That person is a pile of ashes now.
“Hmm.” He clears his throat. “So…”
He leans in to whisper into your ear. His tone lowers at least an octave.
“Trust me.”
It’s not a question. It’s not a request.
He presses his forehead to yours, his eyes enveloping yours. Your lips are almost touching, and you feel his breath on yours.
“Trust. Me…”
He closes the fragment of space between your lips. It starts out soft and sweet, but his kiss becomes heavier as he puts one arm around the small of your waist to keep your fellow sleepy self from slipping, and the other on your cheek.
He keeps kissing you, breathing the same mantra into you every time your lips part- “Trust me.”
You slip your arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer to you.
“I love you…I love you so much, mein liebling…I love you in a way that even a poet as myself couldn’t describe without making an utter fool of himself…”
His cheeks, already rosy, grow redder and redder and hotter everytime your lips touch and twist. You get so lost in this lush little wonderland that you feel you’re going to fall, even in his hold. The sensation startles you, and you panic. You gasp, clinging onto the fabric of his shirt. He lets out a whimpery and whiny groan.
“Oh…perhaps this isn’t quite the best idea, is it?”
He sighs, blowing his bangs out of his face.
You nod bashfully, an apology forming on your tongue. You slowly begin sliding off his lap, but his grip on your waist tightens.
“I had wanted to try and get out of bed today…maybe be useful and show you some of the poetry I had penned…but maybe…just maybe…”
There’s a gleam in his eye. It’s that gleam.
“Hmm…yep. Not today. Back to bed!”
You find yourself slung over his shoulder as he makes way back to the bed. Before you can scold him for obvious reasons, he’s already tossed you onto the bed, and the mattress is springing underneath his weight as he climbs onto the bed himself, looming on top of you.
He laughs as he ensnares you underneath him, your arms crossed and shaking your head. Your face is priceless, and he’s sure the winds of the far flung past, present, and future will never, ever forget it.
He feels a bit dizzy now…to not even his own surprise, so he flops down beside you, making the mattress bounce even more.
“Ahhh…that’s more like it…”
He weaves an arm under your body and around you to pull you closer to him.
“Now…where were we…oh, yes…”
You lean in for another kiss. You’re left hanging for a bit, and you can hear the smirk he’s wearing.
You open your eyes with a pout.
“Oh…don’t be like that…besides…aren’t we forgetting something? Hmm?”
He brings his braid to your face and brushes it against your cheeks and makes it do a little dance on your nose. He bops you on the nose once he’s done with the little dance.
Of course you have to undo his braids. Of course you do.
“There’s my Windblume…”
(is that angsty enough)
164 notes · View notes
Text
A moment with you
Tumblr media
summary: when the immortals are suddenly reminded of your mortality
pairings: xiao x gn!reader; zhongli x reader; venti x reader; scaramouche x reader
warnings: [angst ahead] overall: mentions of death; xiao´s part: mentions of death, life or death situation; zhongli: mentions of past loved ones; venti: nightmares, past traumatic experiences; scaramouche: death (not reader nor character); if i forgot anything please do tell me!!
a/n: this is my first time writing something that´s not mainly fluff, so i´m both very excited and even more nervous; if you like this fic, i recommend you go and thank @dustofthedailylife without whom i might not have had the confidence to post this ♡
genshin impact masterlist
Tumblr media
XIAO
Never bothered to further explore the difference between his immortality and the humans´ mortality
Such sentimentalities only got in the way of his eternal duty
Xiao didn´t get too attached to the realm of mortals, their customs, habits or lifestyles
For many millennia he kept his distance and only spared a glimpse here or there
That was until you came along
You invited him into your mortal life and taught him how to cherish the smallest wonders Teyvat had to offer, no matter how fleeting they were
And that´s when the yaksha grew fully aware of how short-lived this moment of peace with you could be
Countless memories of how easily mortality could slip from between one´s fingers infiltrated his mind
If there was a way for you to become immortal yourself, he would be torn about bringing it up but would eventually talk to you about it; he won´t pressure you to accept and lectures you thoroughly on just what this decision would entail
The black smoke surrounding the yaksha was slowly dissolving, the horned mask evaporating and reappearing on his hip. His grip on his spear tightened as the remaining malice wrapped around his body and clouded his mind, karmic debt weighing him down, but only momentarily. With a last glance over the battlefield, he gracefully leapt off the edge of the cliff.
Xiao´s feet landed on the wooden planks of the inn´s balcony without so much as making a sound, his footsteps quieter than the wind rustling through the leaves. Sure, his day had again been filled with nothing but banishing evil spirits and fighting the malice building within him but luckily for him, he had recently found an effective remedy to cure his ailment.
Opening the door to your shared room the adeptus expected to find you already there, just like on most days. You hadn´t said anything about being out later either but Xiao wasn’t about to fret quite yet. While he placed your well-being over anything else, he also knew you could handle yourself, despite you being `a mere mortal´.
As time passed and the last sun rays cast an eery red glow over the world, however, Xiao grew more restless. Grumbling to himself, he made his way down to the reception, if someone knew when and where to you had left, it was that woman.
“(Y/n)? Hmm, no, I´m sorry but I know as much as you do, I´m afraid. I´ll notify you if I see them.”
“That will hardly be necessary,” he scoffed before taking off and jumping from the balcony. Maybe his ears betrayed him but he swore he could hear a faint “I wish he would stop doing that”.
Where were you? Xiao had clearly instructed you to call out his name if you were in danger and he trusted you´d do so. Currently, he really wished he could trade abilities with you though, wanting nothing more than to call out your name and have you appear right in front of him.
This feeling, he hated it. The way his chest tightened, his mind straying to the worst possible places. It was unlike him and that only made it worse. Just a couple of years ago, he couldn´t have cared less about a single mortal life, choosing to isolate himself from their world instead of learning their ways.
And then you wedged yourself in between the cracks of his hard shell and stirred something long forgotten deep within him. The planes of Liyue he had traversed plenty of times before somehow seemed more colourful when he was with you. Nature was bustling with life, his curiosity for butterflies, lizards and crystal flies reawakened tenfold when you pointed them out to him. His vision was more than just a weapon, a tool for inflicting pain, when you rested your head against his shoulder as you sat with your hands intertwined and listened to the evening breeze. He wasn´t ready to part with these feelings any time soon.
After minutes of aimlessly traversing Guili Planes, he forced himself to halt. Over the harsh beating of heart against his ribcage, he tried listing to the wind. Morax had always told him to focus on the elements around him when in search of something for the world had a way of communicating its joys and sorrows to us.
Xiao was about to give up and continue his manual search when he heard something. Or well, it was more a feeling. Distress, to be exact. At that, his attention broke and he took off in the direction the sensation seemed to be coming from, his footsteps faster than ever, feet barely touching the ground.
He only slowed down when he reached a small village on the outskirts of Liyue Harbor. Spear already in hand, he closely surveyed the area, ready to take out whatever monster was causing your anxiety but there was not one to be found. Actually, there was nobody to be found, the streets oddly empty and the windows of the houses dark and cold.
Just then, the yaksha heard agitated voices coming from the side of the mountain. Rushing over, he could already see the glow of lanterns from down the street. What was possibly the whole village was gathered around an old wooden construct mortals used to mine ores but this one seemed to be no longer in use. The rotten planks were dangling oddly in the air and the frayed ropes barely held them together.
In an effort to decipher what he was looking at, Xiao followed their wide-eyed gazes up the mountain and he almost dropped his polearm at the sight. At the very top, he could make out three figures, two tiny ones and… you. There was no doubt to be had, it was definitely you and the anguish he felt earlier returned. But this time, it was his rather than yours.
You were clutching the hand of a little boy, your palm clammy from both fear and exhaustion. In front of you, just out of arms reach, stood his sister with glassy eyes and trembling legs. Testing your foothold, you tentatively stepped forwards only for the wood to creak and bend under your soles. In time with his sister´s shriek, the boy´s hold on your hand tightened.
“It´s okay, it´s okay. Nothing happened,” you tried to soothe them, praying your voice didn´t give away how helpless you truly felt. “Okay, here´s what we´re going to do: Chang, do you see this part of the mountain above us? I´ll lift you up and you´ll climb out of here, understood?”
When the boy nodded, you folded your hands into a robber´s ladder and pushed Chang as far as your arms could reach, praying to the archons the boy could climb. The plank underneath your right foot gave out, splinters falling into the gasping crowd as your pants ripped all the way up to your thigh where the sharp edges lodged themselves into your flesh. The sniffling next to you grew louder as you cursed under your breath.
Pulling yourself back up, you reassured Ming that you were alright and stretched your hand towards her again. The gap between your side of the construct and hers wasn´t that big, normally you easily could´ve jumped the distance but you´d both fall to your certain death before you could even land. So, you only scooted closer, centimetre by centimetre, leaning closer to the edge.
Your fingertips finally touched and you clasped your hands together. Scanning your surroundings for a safer route, you came up empty-handed. Breathing in deeply one more time, you mustered all your courage and gave the girl a hopefully reassuring smile before pulling her to you with all the strength left in your tired arms.
And then you were weightless. It was as if time had slowed down as you looked up towards the top of the mountains slipping farther and farther out of reach. Clutching the little girl tightly to your chest, you opened your mouth to call out to the only person able to help you now but nothing came out. Your throat was sealed with fear. You screwed your eyes shut and braced yourself for the impact, hoping at least Ming would-
The impact came but it was softer than expected. Shakily exhaling, you vaguely registered someone calling your name. Loosening your arms from the small body in your grasp, you let yourself be pulled into a familiar embrace that felt just a little tighter than usual. Strong hands were stroking up and down your arms, your back, your cheeks—everywhere they could reach.
“I- I saw you fall and- I thought I was too late.”
For the first time since you had met Xiao, his amber eyes were glassy and you saw your own fear reflected in them. Throwing yourself against him, you started to cry harder than you ever had before as he cradled your head closer to his chest. Over your own sobs you couldn’t hear those of the worried parents, relieved they could hold their children in their arms again.
“I was so scared, Xiao. I thought I was going to-,” you whimpered. “Without you, I´d be- I´d be-“
“Shh, no more. Let´s go home.”
A mere blink later, you were nestled into the blankets of your bed at Wangshuu Inn, your position unchanged except for the fact you had wrapped your arms around his waist in return. None of you spoke a word as you calmed down, both still trying to process what just transpired.
As he stared into the dark of the night outside the window, Xiao´s thoughts wandered. It was incomprehensible. Why put yourself in such danger when your own life was so fragile? Why risk everything for someone else? Someone you didn’t t even know?
Although he tried to push them away, the memories of you falling to your death were haunting his every thought and holding his mind in a vice grip much worse than his karmic debt. Scenes of him standing over your broken body, too late to catch you, choked his breathing. Burying his head in the crook of your neck, he concentrated on your pulse, the continued rise and fall of your chest.
“Please, don´t go where I can´t follow.”
ZHONGLI
The former archon was very well aware of your differences, as a consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor he was confronted with a human´s mortality on the daily
He had watched over Liyue long enough to see younger generations replacing the older and eras blend into one another, consequently changing the Land of Contracts in their constant cycle of rebirth
And he had been alive for even longer, forming new relationships and having to sever just as many
Zhongli knew from the beginning he could not enjoy your company for eternity and the day of parting would come sooner or later, preferably later rather than sooner
That doesn´t mean he´d not be worried, the notion of your mortality still weighed heavy on his heart and mind, some days more than others
But he tries to make the best of it and cherishes every moment with you to its fullest
There´s no use lamenting a flower´s inevitable wilting before it even had the chance to bloom
 If there was a way for you to become immortal yourself, he would not bring it up to you; humans have a very different outlook on life compared to immortal beings like himself, he´d be scared you´d lose a part of yourself if your lifespan went from barely a century to endless
 He will consider it if you´re the one who brings it up and are well aware of what you´re getting yourself into
It was a beautiful day in Liyue Harbor, sun casting its golden glow over the city. Next to the window of his humble home sat Zhongli, attention focused on the journal on his desk. The former archon was deep in thought, absentmindedly twirling his brush between his fingers, the inkwell opened but yet to be touched.
He had already spent a considerable amount of time on finding the right words to convey his emotions but none of the phrases in his head seemed to do the memories justice. The subject of his written memento was an outing he had together with you the day before, a date as the people today would call it. Therefore, only the most eloquent and sophisticated of sentences would do.
It had been quite some time since Zhongli had picked up journaling as a hobby and it had become somewhat of a second nature by now, an essential part of his routine. But it served not only as a creative outlet opposed to the more formal nature of his work at the Funeral Parlor. No, his journals were a second memory for him, an extension of his mind so to speak, which was less prone to slipping from his grasp when he reached for it.
What started this passion was actually a rather sombre occurrence, a realisation he never thought he´d come to. A couple of centuries ago, Zhongli had visited the resting place of a trusted companion for melancholy´s sake and was shocked to find his mind void of clear memories, their voice muted and appearance foggy. In fact, he had trouble recalling some of their fondest moments together, although he promised to treasure them for eternity.
So, in order to keep future promises, he started writing everything down. Especially if it related to the people he cared for, the people he loved; people like you. Be it a common afternoon of sharing stories over a cup of tea or a night spent together under the lights of the Xiao Lanterns during the Lantern Rite. He was determined to commit every part of you to his memory.
As he contemplated his phrasing further, he let his gaze sweep across his room. Wherever his eyes landed, there was a trace of you to be found. The jacket you left hanging over his chair, the matching charms you two bought during a walk in the city, the flowers you gifted him that he preserved by drying them, the teacup you got him to replace the one you´d broken. Zhongli smiled as he recalled how flustered you were and how stubbornly you insisted on presenting him with a new one, one that was far more beautiful and valuable in his eyes.
Wallowing in memories, he flipped through previous entries in his journal. As he read, it was like going back in time and he couldn´t suppress the little chuckle as he visibly recalled you chewing out Childe nor could he stop his fingers from tracing over a note you had written, two little hearts doodled in the corner.
With a sigh he closed the little book, he could tell this was not going anywhere. While thinking back on these moments with you made him feel warm and cosy, it also brought the bittersweet taste of yet to be sorrow.
Sometimes he wished he was mortal like you. He longed to see the world the way you did, longed to grow old with you and longed to not fear the day of parting. But he couldn´t afford to think like this, it was not how the world worked. No matter how much he desired it, he knew you wouldn´t be joined forever, your paths would inevitably stray away from each other. And he could do nothing to change this dreaded future.
He used to be the oldest of the archons, he formed the earth with his bare hands and shaped a city that had long since grown prosperous under his care, yet he was powerless in a situation where he needed it most. It was the universe´s most cruel mockery and he could do nothing against it. One day, these tokens and these notes and these memories would be the only thing marking your temporary presence in this world.
There was a knock on the door. Smiling to himself, he called out for you to let yourself in. As always, your timing was impeccable. Zhongli met you halfway between the front door and his room, his hand reaching out for yours to brush a featherlight kiss onto your knuckles. If only he could preserve your adorable giggle like the flowers in his room, the sound alone was enough to leave him wondering why his spirit was clouded in the first place.
As he listened to you talking about a renowned opera troupe coming to perform in Liyue Harbour soon, his immortality was the furthest thing from his mind. Instead, all he could focus on was your excited expression and your hand in his.
VENTI
He´d rather not think about your mortality
Venti knows it should be addressed, at least for him personally but he avoids the topic as best as he can
After what happened to his friend, it´s hard to ignore your eventual fate
It makes him turn to the tavern more often than he´d like to admit
But he never shares his concerns with you or anyone really, even though there are a handful of people who know his real identity and some of whom are immortal themselves
You and him being separated was not eventuality but certainty, so he wants to use every opportunity to make memories he could look back on fondly
The bard has written countless songs with you as his muse, on a quest to immortalise you in the melodies of his lyre
If there was a way for you to become immortal yourself, Venti would discuss it with you and although he knows better than anyone you´re free to make your own choice, he´d love nothing more than to keep you with him as long as time would allow it
The moon was shining high in the sky, the streets of Mondstadt were empty and silent, yet rest didn´t come easy to its archon that night. Tossing and turning under the covers, drifting in and out of sleep, Venti almost gave up on the idea of getting any shut-eye in the coming hours.
He wasn´t quite sure what caused this but sometimes his thoughts just seemed to move a mile a minute. In his many years of existence, he was bound to have sleepless nights, that much he knew, yet, Venti still couldn´t pinpoint what prompted his restlessness.
His day had actually been quite pleasant, spending it under the old tree at Windrise together with you, strumming his lyre to whatever melody the breeze brought to him. Venti was quite sure he could never grow tired of the expression you wore when you listened to his music and his heart soared when you asked him to teach you how to play, gently guiding your fingers over the strings with his own.
So, naturally, he was puzzled as to why he was lying awake, staring at the ceiling without a hint of sound sleep in sight. Every now and then, he did manage to drift off only to be awakened by a nightmarish image of your hands, covered in red stains. No, that was only residue from the fruits you ate during your picnic. Then he woke up to the sickening crack of a branch giving out underneath you and your shocked scream as your hand couldn´t reach his. But you only lost your balance, you didn´t actually fall, you were okay.
In fact, you were right next to him. Safe and sound, chest rising slowly and evenly, your mind far away from his dark thoughts. Without meaning to, Venti asked himself how much longer he´d be able to look over and see your peaceful expression and hear your soft breaths. Careful not to wake you, he reached out to you…
Your skin was ice cold. The archon physically recoiled from where he had touched your arm and his heart plummeted. The lack of warmth brought back one of the first and most gruesome experiences he had in this form. As much as he tried not to, he recalled it so very clearly; how cold his skin felt, how heavy he felt in his arms, those slow and shallow breaths, the red stains on his hands…
Venti´s sobs must have roused you from your sleep, your groggy voice calling out to him, your icy fingers against his shoulder as he tried his best not to flinch away from your touch. Sitting up, you opened your arms for him to sink into and he gladly did, hiding his face in the crook of your neck. Your hands slowly warmed up as you ran them up and down his back in soothing patterns.
“You´re okay,” you whispered. “It´s not real. You´re safe here with me, I got you.”
He wanted nothing more than to believe you. To believe that it wasn´t real, that it was just his mind playing tricks on him but how could he, when he knew what was bound to happen; when he knew that one day, you wouldn´t be here to comfort him; when one day, imagination might turn into reality, into memory.
But for now, he thought, it would be okay to hold you a little tighter, to press his lips to the spot where he could feel your pulse the strongest, to relax in your hold as you hummed a melody he´d heard before. He´d tell you eventually. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but he would.
Eventually.
SCARAMOUCHE
Your mortality? Yeah, he´s not a fan
I´ve said it before and I´ll say it again: Scara tends to be possessive with what he considers `his´ and he´d be damned if anyone so much as tries to take it (or in this case, you) away from him
Be it a lousy soldier, a disease or even the concept of mortality, he will not relent
Out of everyone on this list, I´d imagine him to be the most likely to actively search out ways to keep you tethered to this world
The end justifies the means and he utilises every resource at his disposal, having his agents look for clues, scanning materials on the matter while on a mission or bribing those who may know something
He might tell you he´s only doing it because this mortality makes you weak and that that´s not a quality the partner of a Harbinger should show but regardless of if he wants to acknowledge it or not, he´s not only worried for you due to the nature of his job and the enemies he´s made, Scara simply doesn´t want to lose you
He doesn´t trust others and others don´t trust him but you still accepted him and could look past his harsh words, something he had scoffed at in the beginning
Over time though, you grew on him and he decided to take a leap into for him uncharted territory and now that he was here, it would be hard to get rid of him again (not that you minded)
If there was a way for you to become immortal yourself, Scaramouch would undoubtedly convince or persuade you to grasp this chance, whether it´s for his sake or yours is unclear though
Scaramouche was leaning against a pillar in the corner, staring down the opposite side of the funeral hall with narrowed eyes. Honestly, the Harbinger couldn´t care less about the guy in the coffin or all these people crying or sniffling into their handkerchiefs.
What he did care about was you being one of these people, dressed in all black, eyes bloodshot from days of mourning. In all the time he´d known you, you had never been so shaken by anything before but after your cousin´s death, Scaramouche basically had to force you to eat, shower or sleep. The vacant look in your eyes made frustration against your late relative flare up for meeting such an untimely end and hurting you in the process.
He watched as you made your way up to the stand on wobbly legs, shoulders shaking as you reassured your aunt that you were fine. Your fingers trembled as you unfolded the eulogy he watched you write and rewrite at least a hundred times as you took a shaky breath.
Scaramouche let his gaze wander around the hall decorated in muted colours and flowers as he listened to you recounting old stories of the trouble your cousin and you would get yourself into when you were still kids. He was already familiar with all of them, you had explained that the two of you used to be very close up until he had gotten into that accident.
Somehow, his attention always came back to the framed picture of your relative and the resemblance he shared with you was so unmistakable it sent a chill down his spine. You´d shown him old family pictures before but as you stood up there, next to that coffin, next to that picture, your similar features seemed to stand out even more strikingly than before. Your cousin even was the same age as you, still young with all his life ahead of him. But death didn´t differentiate between early and late. There was no guarantee as to when your time would come.
Your voice broke off into a heart-wrenching sob, the paper balled up in your fists as if it was a lifeline. Despite the tears flowing freely down your cheeks, you finished your eulogy before being guided off stage by your aunt and into the embrace of your family.
As the memorial came to an end, the guests gathered outside for the burial of the coffin. You left your family´s side and slowly made your way over to him. As you looked up at him with glassy eyes, he couldn´t help but reach out and wipe away some of the tears falling from your lashes. At that, you only seemed to cry harder before hiding your face in his chest.
“Thank you… for coming.” Your voice was hoarse and barely above a murmur but Scaramouche heard you clearly. “I know you don´t normally care about this kind of stuff…”
He scoffed. “Of course, I´m here. Somebody has to make sure you´re getting through this.” In another uncharacteristic gesture, his voice softened. “How are you holding up?”
“I´m fine, really. It´s just…it all feels so real now. Before I didn´t…it didn´t hit me that he´s really gone now, that I´ll never see him again. But it all feels so final now.”
He could only hum in agreement, never having grieved over the loss of someone like this before. He stood back as you and your family all took turns adding to the pile of soil covering the wooden casket. Even then he merely watched as you mourned with your relatives a little longer.
Eternity stretched things out over a long time but each moment within it became all the more fragile. He remembered saying something like this once. And as he looked onto the scene unfolding before him, he guessed he was right about it, too.
Scaramouche had made his decision. He´d never have to look at your picture in that frame next to the casket, he´d make sure of that. This moment with you, he´d stretch it out as far as he could, the couple of decades he´d have with you just wouldn´t be enough.
Even if you despised an immortal life, despised him, you´d have forever to change your mind.
Tumblr media
3K notes · View notes
lxkeeeee · 1 year
Text
4NEMO as angsty relationship tropes
—4NEMO boys x GN! Reader, just some angst tropes for the 4NEMO gang cuz it's 10 pm and I'm going through midlife crisis, Anyways! Some tropes might repeat cuz I'm so unoriginal 💔 also, Aether isn't here cuz he joined G3O lmao but anyways... Enjoy!
Tumblr media Tumblr media
—Kazuha “Prioritizing wandering/adventuring over you, he just realized what he did wrong way too late.” Kazuha can never get tired of feeling the strong ocean winds caress his face or the refreshing scent of the sea filling his nostrils. Kazuha never stays at the same place for far too long, he can never stand still—he always yearns to travel the world, engraved every little detail into his memory. Alas, he failed to notice the longing look on your face whenever he leaves the door of your shared house, the way your hands would tug into his sleeves, whenever he bids you goodbye—afraid of letting him go. He didn't notice the loneliness in his lover's face—as he was too eager to leave the house and go back to the Crux.
Before, when he just first joined the Crux, he never fails to send you letters—letters after letters you received, constantly reassuring you about his whereabouts, but now, he rarely remembers—and if he did, he only writes out of guilt. At first you tried to understand, be forgiving—you know how he is, he is a curious young man, who are you to stop him?
But the days of him being far away from you, it started to eat you from the inside—you miss him dearly, whenever he visits he only stays for a day or two if you're lucky. You're tired from it, the constant loneliness, the coldness of your bed whenever he's gone the next morning—only a lingering warmth of where he once slept.
It doesn't even feel like you're together, it felt like you were just a pit stop to him. Suddenly, you stopped caring—Kazuha noticed this when he visited, your voice sounds so far away despite you being infront of him, the way you no longer lean towards his touches or the way you would turn your back on him whenever you two slept. But Kazuha paid no mind, as much as he would love to comfort you, the Crux would be leaving soon—and so did he, he slowly removed himself from your shared bed, careful not to wake you up—then gently placed a small kiss on your forehead and then left, making sure to lock the doors before he did.
Once you heard the silence of the house once again, the coldness in the air—you broke down.
After weeks of being gone, Kazuha is now back to your shared house to see it empty—you're belongings never too be found. Kazuha's heart began to race in panic, he frantically look around the house, looking for your scent—maybe you're just playing a cruel joke on him, but he couldn't find any—you're long gone. Tears threaten to fall from his eyes, his irises noticing a folded paper underneath the flower vase in their living room table—he immediately scrambled to get up, hands shaking as he unfolded the paper—his eyes scanning every letter, every sentences, looking for answers, looking for clues.
His eyes widening as his deep red eyes landed on your signature, he broke down. How can he be so stupid? How didn't he noticed your loneliness? The way you longed for him? The way you held into him before he left?
He lost you.
Tumblr media
—Xiao “Sacrifice.” Xiao didn't understand you, what your intentions are—basically anything human, he kept regarding himself as a weapon to the point that he forgot that it's okay to feel human, to feel weak sometimes. Xiao didn't understand why, why you offer so many things to him? Like a devoted follower to their god—but he's no god, he is far from being a god.
After all, he is a weapon of war.
He doesn't understand your kindness and where it came from, the way you would religiously visit Wangshu Inn just to give him almond tofu, the way you would run to the inn whenever you hear he got injured or the way your touch seemed to ease up a bit his karmic debt.
This is bad, xiao thought.
He can't risk you getting hurt from his karma, but Archons, you are just so warm.
He could just bask in you for hours, your warmth reminded him of the time where he would sit on one of the the stones in Qingyun Peak, feeling the sun kissing his skin.
You are so warm that Xiao almost felt safe.
But no, he's the one who's supposed to keep you safe, not the other way around.
And he can't do that if you're clinging to him, affecting yourself with his karma.
So, he harshly told you to stay away from him. Words keep leaving his mouth, each word harsher than the last.
"You're mere presence is unneeded, leave and never return. Only call if it's necessary."
Xiao could feel his chest tighten as he watched tears falling down your cheeks as you rushed out of the inn.
He did it. He kept you safe.
But at what cost?
Tumblr media
—Heizou “Loves his work more than he loves you.” "Love???" You softly call out, head peaking through the small gap of the open door, you see Heizou's figure standing proud as he places his hand underneath his chin, seemingly in a deep thinking, infront of him was a board—pictures, papers, evidences pinned to it, a bright red string connecting each evidence. He couldn't even hear you, mind drifted away to the clouds.
"Love...?" You call out again, this time his figure slightly jumped before eventually turns around in a fast pace, he let out a sigh of relief to see it was just you. "Sweetheart??? Why are you awake at this hour?" He asked as he looked at the wall clock—the hour that no sane human would be awake at that time, he shrugs before turning around to look at the board once more.
You frowned before scoffing lightly, "You should speak to yourself..." You softly mutter, Heizou sighs, "Sorry sweetheart, I've been busy." He says, not sparing you a glance.
Your eyebrows furrowed, annoyance from the lack of both sleep and affection starting to affect you. "You always say that love, When is your work gonna end and join me to sleep for once, I'm worried of your lack of proper sleep." You say, voice filled annoyance.
Heizou groans, "Archon's damnit [Y/n]! I can't just sleep off a case!" He groans out, voice slightly rising, you flinched slightly but he didn't notice—too tired and too busy to care about you to notice.
"I can't just sleep a case off because I'm tired! I can't live in peace if I find out an innocent person died because I've been slacking off."
You were too shock to say anything, his outburst surprised you. "Still, I'm worried for you okay?! I don't remember when was the last time you've properly slept! Can't your lover be even remotely worry about you?!" You ask, eyes beginning to sting, you shook your head to clear your thoughts—to shake the tiredness away, 'he is just tired.' 'he didn't mean to raise his voice at me.' you repeatedly say in your mind.
"Jeez, easy for you to say! I'm jealous of people..." He pauses as he did the jazz hands, "I don't know?! Slack off?! Wow I'm so jealous!" He pauses, eyes widening as he finally realized what the words he had just said, he quickly turns around to face you.
Only to see tears streaming down your delicate skin, eyes red, body shaking and small hiccups escaping your lips.
Guilt finally sets in.
He covers his mind, eyes widening..
"[Y/n]...." He stutters out as he slowly approached your quivering figure.
You slowly back away, he flinches from the action, your eyes not meeting his.
"I'm sorry Heizou... I'm sorry for disturbing you..." You softly say, voice shaking. His eyes widening from the lack of endearment.
"[y/n]... Please... I didn't mean to say those things..." He chokes out, eyes beginning to sting, he can feel the tears coming but he doesn't care.
What he cares is the large gap that seemingly starting to form between the two of them.
They looked so near but somehow also far away.
"Sorry for disturbing you, I think it's time for us to take a break from each other... Considering, it looks like you don't need me." You softly say, eyes dull and distant.
Heizou's eyes widen, alarm bells ringing in his brain, 'nonononono!!! You're wrong! I need you!' 'please don't leave me!' his mind screams.
He wanted to say something, but words seemingly doesn't want to come out of his lips.
'Say something damnit!' his mind screamed at him.
You looked at him with disappointment, your heart aching so bad, it felt like someone just grabbed your heart and teared it away from you.
"I'll see you later, Mr. Heizou." You softly say as you turn your back on him.
"Wa-wait!" He chokes out, you heard him but you didn't stop back to look at him.
Why should you? The times you've called out to him for the past days or nights, to join you for bed, he merely shrugged you off? The lunches you always prepared for him always go cold, uneaten due to how busy he is.
Maybe, the two of you weren't meant to be.
Maybe, he doesn't love you as he claimed to say.
Heizou watches your form slowly leave away from his sight, he wanted to run to you, he wanted to grovel and ask for your forgiveness.
He decided not to, because deep down, he knew he killed an innocent person—you.
He's a heartless killer who took advantage of someone so nice, innocent, beautiful...
He thought you'll always be by his side.
Forgetting that he should be by yours too.
He realizes that you got tired running after him.
His figure slowly slumped down into the cold cement floor of his office.
Then small hiccups can be heard, before full blown sobs can be heard. Tears staining the cold cement that seemingly eases the warmth of his skin—his anger for himself to neglect you.
He doesn't deserve you, that's a case that he doesn't need to solve.
Nobody knew that the great detective Shikanoin Heizou cried that night.
Tumblr media
—Venti “Lost sight of who he truly loves.” As usual, you didn't see Venti in your shared bed when you woke up. It's been so long since you've actually seen the man, despite being lovers for how many years, constantly try to be by his side with all your love and support—only to never been to yours.
It's been like this for how many weeks now, he used to wait for you to wake up and then immediately peppering your face down down to your neck with kisses.
But now, the apartment you shared felt empty, never seeing him in the morning and never seeing him at night because of how late he comes home—sometimes he never does.
You felt your heart ache before shaking your head, "He still loves me, I'm sure of it" you thought to yourself.
But why does it felt like your heart is in doubt?
You sigh before eventually preparing for the day.
You don't do adventuring often, but as someone who has been alive for so long, you tend to become bored of everyday life.
So sometimes you do commissions for the Adventures Guild. Usually Venti would join you but unfortunately you never saw the man for a few days now. You tried to look for him but it seems like he's hiding from you.
'Did you do something wrong?' you thought, as your heart ached.
Surprisingly, your commission for today is at Dragonspine—which is to leave emergency foods for travelers who got lost in the snow.
You placed the last ham in the one of the emergency food storage in the area and was about to leave.
"[y/n]?" A familiar gentle voice calls out and you turned around only to find Mondstadt's very own genius alchemist.
You gave him a grin, "Mr. Albedo! Good morning~" you greeted and Albedo gave a small nod, "Good morning, doing commissions perhaps?" He inquires, you nodded, "Yup!"
His eyes looked around him before his brows furrowed in confusions, "I'm surprised that Venti isn't by your side."
You gave a nervous laugh, "Hahaha he's been busy..."
Albedo sigh, debating whether to tell you or not about the rumors he had heard.
Albedo heard a few rumors about Mondstadt's well known bard to be all over the traveler lately, and he also saw the said bard at Angel's Share right beside the honorary knight, he swore he heard the bard tell her poems that are far too romantic to be shared to someone who was just a friend, but he does recall the traveler looking very uncomfortable with the poems and pickup lines.
Although he is not close with the bard, he is close with the bard's significant other, considering they helped him with experiments and errands.
Albedo sighed, Your attention was caught.
"[y/n]." Albedo calls out, "Hmm?" You hummed.
"I'm not trying to ruin your relationship or something, but I'm just gonna tell you rumors I've been hearing lately..." Albedo hesitantly says and you quirk your eyebrow, "Rumors....?" You softly ask.
"I've been hearing that Venti has been all over the traveler lately. But I'm not sure, all I'm saying is that, be careful with who you give your heart to." Albedo says, his words take you aback.
Your horrible thoughts began to resurface, but you shook your heads before giving the alchemist a smile, "I see..." Your voice sounded so broken.
Albedo for the first time, actually felt bad, which made him shock, someone who he assumed that cannot experience emotions—felt empathy for someone. A part of him wanted to run to your side, and hold you softly. He knows he had some sort of feelings for you, you tend to always make his day memorable of sort.
He shook away his thoughts, your heart belongs to another—to someone who doesn't know how to handle it.
You on the other hand, you knew this would happen. Venti is carefree, he yearns freedom. You knew he would get bored eventually. You were in denial, but now everything makes sense.
"Thanks for telling me Albedo, you must have other errands to attend to, I'll be on my way." You softly say and the alchemist just nodded, "Farewell [Y/n], I'll see you when I see you."
"Likewise."
The sun has now set, and not once did you see Venti. You sighed, anger and disappointment filling your broken heart.
You sighed, "Maybe, I'll go to Angel's Share for a drink and hopefully find hi—" you trailed off, you inhaled.
"I'll just check Angel's Share and if I do see him right there and the rumors comes true then at least I was right." You huff, annoyance in your voice.
Angel's Share has been very uneventful surprisingly, only a few people have been drinking.
Venti who is only slightly drunk—not to the point of 'i think I'll about to do something that can put me in jail kind of drunk.
The traveler could just roll their eyes after hearing venti's 1532 pickup lines of the night.
Both of them are semi-drunk.
"That's like the 300 pickup line you've said today, Venti" Lumine laughed.
Both of them seemingly unaware of your presence, body trembling, eyes stinging.
You let in a deep breath before turning your back, walking out and eventually closing the door.
Diluc who was cleaning one of the glasses, saw your trembling figure. Before he could call out to you, you left.
'I hate this, I don't deserve this. He wants freedom? I'll give him freedom.' you seethe in your mind as you no longer cared as the people of Mondstadt see you disappear and only leaving wisps of Anemo in your wake.
That would be the last time the City of Wind saw you.
Tumblr media
"I thought you have a lover Venti?" Lumine huff, Venti's antics now starting to annoy her, she thought it would be okay to entertain the idiotic god would lead to him leaving her alone but that backfired.
"I just need to take a break from them, we've been together for centuries." He huffed and Lumine rolled her eyes.
"In my opinion, I think they need a break from you."
Venti looked at her with confusion as the female stood up and left a pouch of mora in their table.
"Well I'm off, I still have commissions and bills to pay unlike a certain someone." Lumine says as she slowly walked away, she paused and look at the drunk bard from her shoulders.
"Apologize to them before it's too late Venti. Anyways I'm off." She said as she left, giving Diluc a small nod and the man doing the same.
Venti woke up with a harsh headache, he doesn't remember when he got home, but he still remembers the words Lumine left to him the day before.
His eyes wandered to the spot right next to him, expecting you to be there as usual—only to find the spot empty.
For the first time in weeks, a sense of dread and guilt filled his heart.
"(y/n)?" He called out, the apartment felt colder than usual.
Venti can feel his heartbeat drumming against his chest.
"Darling? My windblume where are you!?" He calls out again, voice getting desperate.
His eyes scanning every room, only see that some of your things have disappeared. He felt fear.
He noticed a neatly folded paper placed in one of their coffee tables, the god of Anemo quickly scrambles to open it, eyes reading intently, hands trembling, ears ringing.
Dear Anemo Archon,
I have written this letter to tell you that I would like to resign from whatever position you gave me, a lover? Right hand man? Protector? I myself do not know but it seems that I am no longer needed by your side, and it also appears that the City of Wind no longer require my assistance and is now safe in the capable hands of the Knights of Favonius and to the All Mighty Traveler from afar. It puts my heart in ease to leave the city to such capable people. I realized that my loyalty here isn't needed, and I believe that the world should now forget me and I'll forget you too. I do not need these painful memories, but alas, even for a brief moment you gave me a bit of joy and I am thankful for that Venti, but now I feel like you just discarded me away. Venti, I hope you won't forget me, I hope every little thing reminds you of me, I hope those memories taste bittersweet. I gave you everything, I stood by your side. So why can't you stand on mine? This is farewell my dear beloved anemo Archon.
with love,
[Y/n] ♡
Venti's hands trembled as a bunch of "No's" left his lips, his eyes sting, he can't hear anything aside from the ringing of his ears and loudness of his heart.
He always mess things up.
He cannot admit it, but he knew he lost you. The one good thing that stayed in his life.
He messed that up too.
Tumblr media
No One:
Albedo to y/n: ako niyan, hindi kita gaganyanin.
LMAO I'M NOT SURE IF I WROTE THE MEME RIGHT, IM FIL BUT IM NOT FLUENT WITH TAGALOG XD
ALSO LUMINE IS GIRL BOSS AS ALWAYS, I WAS PLANNING ON MAKING HER A RIVAL BUT NOPE NOT GONNA DISRESPECT HER 💪💪💪
ANYWAYS VENTI WAS KINDA RUSHED BUT OH WELL.
913 notes · View notes
branches-of-time · 1 year
Text
I Lost a Friend
Tumblr media
“Something’s bothering you, Venti.”
His eyes dart to your reflection in the left corner of the mirror and they stay on you for a long moment. He still doesn’t blink. His lips are pressed together in a stoic, straight line. He parts them, and speaks.
“Barbatos.”
His eyes flick back to their prior position, glaring back into his reflection.
“It’s Barbatos. No one-" he pauses for a moment, seemingly searching his face for something recognizable and failing to find it, “-no one else.”
Tumblr media
Pairing: Venti x Reader - Established Relationship
Word Count: 2,120
Synopsis: You come home to a mess and a very upset God crying in your bathroom.
Contains: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Reverse Comfort, Drinking, Identity Issues, Crying, somebody pls give this sad bard a hug
A/N: ehehe here’s a little #ventober drabble that I got slightly (very) carried away with
prompts from @ LunASMR_Voice on Twitter
Days 1 (Wine) & 16 (Friend)
Tumblr media
When you first materialized in your serenitea pot, you noticed it immediately. All of the trees were completely bare. Like a tornado had ripped right through and took every single leaf and twig along with it. You knew it couldn’t have been from the natural falling of leaves that happens this time of year, it’s not like trees drop all of their leaves at once, and even so- the leaves aren’t on the ground either. They’re just gone. Not to mention, so is half of the outdoor furniture. Either tipped over, blown across the yard or just plain missing, it really looked like the aftermath of a storm out here.
Now, the only person allowed inside your teapot that would be capable of making a mess such as this would be Venti, however, knowing that still doesn’t settle your nerves all that much. This isn't normal. It’s quite unlike him to behave like this… unless something has really upset him. Regardless, you take a deep breath and make your way in through the doors of your shared home intent on asking him why it looked like a storm rolled through the teapot.
You call out to Venti as you step inside, but instead of a response you’re greeted with dead silence. No music playing, no singing, nothing at all. Save for the panting of one of your several dogs that followed you in through the front door.
Odd. Venti isn’t the type to just sit in complete silence very often. Even when he’s sleeping, he always leaves soft music playing in the background, almost as if he’s trying to avoid the silence.
You make your way into the kitchen, and begin to catch on to what must have happened here while you were out. Six empty bottles of various wines sit scattered around on the counter, and a seventh bottle has obviously been smashed to pieces on the floor. Venti doesn’t really drop things on accident. He’s got reflexes like a cat. Besides, there’s no wine on the floor, just glass.
It doesn’t take long for you to put two and two together and realize that a particular type of storm really must have rolled through.
You find him in the bathroom. There’s no way he didn’t notice you opening the door, but he makes no move to acknowledge your presence either. You take in his appearance. Hair hanging loose and messy where his braids have fallen out. The tips are glowing, just like his eyes and his archon marks are. Well, what you can see of them from between the parted fabric of his unbuttoned shirt, at least. They fade from a bright blue to a soft teal, in and out along with his breathing.
He seems half dressed, his vision, cape, corset, hat and accessories all gone. Standing with his back to you in just his shorts and shirt, you can see his tense expression in the mirror. He’s obviously had a bad day. His thin fingers are gripping the edge of the counter so hard you were surprised that it wasn’t crumbling underneath the force. Though, as usual, even when pushed to his breaking point, he was never one to forget his own strength. Not nowadays, at least.
He didn’t like having to use it, didn’t like it when others would look at him in fear after seeing even a fraction of what he’s truly capable of, so he keeps it reigned in. Tries to make himself look the least imposing he can. He wants to appear approachable. Friendly, warm, and safe. He usually does his best to mirror the way his friend had always carried himself, and tonight he seems to be having trouble doing that. He’s upset about something, that much is obvious… and you know him well enough to know that he’s not letting himself feel it. Not fully.
You attempt to break the staring contest he’s having with himself in the mirror. It’s a little off-putting, honestly, given the fact that he can go a concerning amount of time without blinking. Or moving.. at all. Standing here in the bathroom, as still as any one of the statues carved in his image that decorate the peaks and valleys of the City of Freedom. He’s actually kind of unsettling when he’s angry, and you’re willing to bet that’s exactly what he’s mad about in the first place. He doesn’t like himself like this.
You’re not truly afraid of him, though. Never have been. Venti has never once raised so much as a single hand against you in anger. You can’t even recall the last time he raised his voice around you. He doesn’t want anyone to see him when he’s upset… when he’s angry. Least of all, you. But you’ll be damned if you’re going to just walk away and let him try and deal with these emotions on his own. He’s had to do that for long enough. You’re here now and you’re going to do what you can to help him work through this.
You try to keep your voice as soft and gentle as you can when you break the silence.
“Something’s bothering you, Venti.”
His eyes dart to your reflection in the left corner of the mirror and they stay on you for a long moment. He still doesn’t blink. His lips are pressed together in a stoic, straight line. He parts them, and speaks.
“Barbatos.”
His eyes flick back to their prior position, glaring back into his reflection.
“It’s Barbatos. No one-" he pauses for a moment, seemingly searching his face for something recognizable and failing to find it, “-no one else.”
Just like you suspected, he’s struggling with his identity again tonight. It doesn’t happen often these days but it certainly does still happen. Your heart aches for him every time, watching him look upon his own form with such disdain. You attempt to talk him down.
“Okay… that’s okay.”
You make your way further into the bathroom and lean back against the door frame.
“Then, Barbatos, is there any particular reason you’re not Venti tonight, love?”
He closes his eyes and lets his head quickly drop forward to press his forehead against the mirror. The impact sounds like it hurt but if it does he doesn’t show it.
“I can’t be Venti. Not tonight. Not when I’m like… this.”
He takes a deep breath, and it comes out shaky like he’s trying to steady himself. When he turns around and looks up at you, you notice the pale blue tear tracks running down over the apples of his cheeks, and you feel a pain in your chest. There are few sights more upsetting than looking your very own God dead in the eyes and watching them cry. It’s.. it’s painful. Seeing how much he’s struggling to keep himself together. You want to rush towards him, wrap him up in your embrace and put the pieces of him back together. You also want to give him space if that’s what he needs right now. So you settle for something in between. You cross the floor and hold out a hand, giving him an invitation, a choice- and watch as he takes yours in his and starts tracing the lines across your palm, trying to calm himself enough to speak. His breathing is so unsteady, like he’s holding back tears.
“I can’t disrespect his memory by behaving so recklessly. It’s not becoming of anything that he stood for. He wanted freedom, and I loved him so much that his dreams became my own. He died fighting for it, for this future of free will and peace, and what did I do? I created myself in his very image and kept fighting. I rearranged the very earth with the power that came from my grief. I took life. I… I took many lives. Everything I’ve done since… I did it all in his image.”
Guilt is a hell of an emotion, with its way of eating away at you from the inside.
He’s still tracing the lines across your palm, over and over like he’s trying to memorize them. It’s easier for him to speak this honestly when he has something else to focus on. You slowly bring your other hand up and begin to ghost it along his arm, from shoulder down to wrist and then back up again. His thoughts continue to spill out.
“I have a very bad feeling that he wouldn’t be very proud of the things I’ve done. I mean- it’s been so long, how can I even be sure that he wouldn’t hate the person I’ve become? I was a wisp when he knew me, and now I’m this God that’s done so many things in the name of freedom that I just… I-I don’t know if the ends justified the means.”
He looks up and to the side, still unable to meet your gaze, and you watch fresh turquoise tears pool in his eyes.
“What if I could have done things differently? What if I had thought clearer… and taken more careful, controlled steps on the journey to freedom? How many lives could I have saved from becoming casualties of the storms I created? What if…”
His voice cracks on the last word and you pray that he doesn’t notice the tears threatening to fall from your own eyes. He takes one more shaky breath and looks directly up, speaking his final question to the heavens as much as to you.
“What if all that I am is a storm?”
Feeling something akin to relief from the weight of his long-unspoken worries being lifted now that he’s voiced them, he lets himself fall forward into you and you immediately reach out to catch him. He cries into your shoulder, and you bring one arm down to circle around his waist. Your other hand reaching up to run your fingers through his hair, keeping him as close to you as possible. You don’t even need to think to find your response, the words sitting ready on your tongue, waiting to spill out the moment you part your lips.
“Barbatos, you are the breeze that carries dandelion seeds across Mondstadt, imbued with the hopes and prayers of your children. You were the constant updraft that kept me from falling when we fought Stormterror. You dry the clothes hanging out on the lines. You keep the windmills turning in their perpetual motion. Cecilias can only grow on the cliffs where your energy blows freely, without restraint. You are the oxygen that fuels the life-saving campfires that burn on Dragonspine. You bring love, and the scent of apple blossoms towards the city in the spring. You are the warm gusts of summer air that wrap around every single traveler that steps foot into this land, letting them know that they are welcome here. You are the soft whisper in the fall breeze that tells every single child of yours upon returning to Mondstadt that they are safe, and that they are home now. You carry the passionate voices of the bards performing in the street. You have carried the voices of every single citizen of this nation when they cried out for freedom.”
You have to pause and take a deep breath of your own, running your hand up and down his back, slowly, gently trying to calm both of yourselves down. He holds you tighter. His crying has slowed to a halt, nothing more than a soft and quiet whine of protest emitting from him in response to your honest words.
You aren’t so presumptuous as to think that your words can completely lift the centuries of guilt that he carries, but you’re sure as hell going to try. Over and over, no matter how many times he needs to hear it, you will be there to remind him of all of the good that continues to exist in this world because of him. To remind him that he is so, so much more than the storms he has created.
You break the silence that has fallen over the two of you once again.
“Can you look at me for a moment, love?”
Pulling back just enough to slip your hand under his chin, he doesn't resist when you gently guide him to look at you. You wipe a stray tear from his cheek.
Catching his gaze, you hold it. Neither of you blink as his watery, blue eyes look up and meet yours.
God, you wish he could see himself the way you see him. He's something far beyond holy to you.
“Barbatos, you are not just a storm. My love… you are the wind.”
712 notes · View notes