Here is my first oneshot!
It features Xavier x MC (Though the MC is named here and has a personalized extended ending, because it's a birthday present for someone but basically it's MC coded)
Pairing: Xavier x Katarina (MC)
Fandom: Love and Deepspace (LaDS)
Genre: Romance, Fluff, Light Humor, Smut
word count: ca. 4k
Tags / Warnings:
💫 NSFW / Explicit (Smut, First Time)
💫 Gentle Dom
💫 Hurt/Comfort (mild)
💫 Established Feelings
💫 Mild Humor / Post-Mission Vibes
💫 Fluff & Intimacy Overload
Another mission, successfully completed.
Fighting Wanderers had long stopped feeling like anything special. Sure, this job still came with the very real risk of losing my life if I ever got careless—but that didn’t change the fact that I'd gotten used to it. More than once, I had fate to thank for still being alive. There had been plenty of missions where I underestimated the danger my enemies posed... and barely made it out.
I couldn’t tell the exact time, but the night sky over Linkon was glowing softly—illuminated by a thousand stars and the artificial lights of street lamps and car headlights passing me on the way back to my apartment. Above me, I heard the familiar hum of jet engines—an airship from the Farspace Fleet making its way back to Skyhaven.
That meant it was probably around 4:00 a.m. Not an unusual hour for me... but it explained why my eyelids felt like lead and I could hardly keep my focus. In my mind, I could already hear my bed calling to me, soft and warm and fluffy—along with the rest of my plushie army, proudly led by the very first plushie Xavier ever rescued for me from a claw machine: Galaxy Kid.
Funnily enough, the plush always reminded me a little of my charming, mysterious neighbor.
By the time I reached the door to my apartment, I let out a long, relieved sigh.
My feet were killing me—the night had been a real workout.
Who would’ve thought there were Wanderers with the speed and stamina of cheetahs?
At least that meant I could skip the workout tomorrow.
Or maybe even the whole week, I thought with a tired smile.
My fingers dug into my pockets, searching for my keycard—the one I needed to unlock my door.
Strangely enough... it wasn’t where I expected it to be.
…
Wait a second... I didn’t have it on me? Had I actually forgotten it—or worse, lost it during my fight with that Feralith? (A term I’d made up for humanoid Wanderers with wild animal traits.) You’ve got to be kidding me...
That was my only keycard. Xavier had told me more than once to keep a spare physical key on me just in case. But I always thought that was unnecessary—after all, I always had the keycard. I never forgot it.
Never.
GG, Katarina. I could already picture that smug little smile of Xavier’s and the look that said, Told you so.
What now? I couldn’t just ring up the landlord in the middle of the night, and it’s not like any keycard service was open at this hour. Damn it...
"I knew I heard something."
That soft, calm voice made my heart skip a beat.
I turned around slowly—and there he was, just like I’d secretly hoped. Xavier stood in the dim light of the hallway, his expression mildly concerned, but a warm smile tugging at his lips.
"Just getting back from a mission, Katarina?"
"Yeah, unfortunately. But you should know all about that, Mr. Elite Hunter—when a job runs almost until morning." I shot back, watching as he brought a hand to his mouth to muffle a quiet laugh.
"Fair point. Usually I’m pulling all-nighters. But for you, that’s not exactly business as usual, is it? You’re not hurt, are you?" he asked, stepping closer, his eyes scanning me from head to toe—probably checking for any visible injuries.
I didn’t say anything at first. Of course I was enjoying the closeness and how gently he cared. So when he reached out to inspect me, I raised my arm without resistance. His warm, steady fingers trailed carefully along my upper arm—a spot that often took hits when I shielded myself from enemy attacks.
"Everything seems fine," he murmured after a few moments, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as his index finger slowly trailed across my skin. It almost felt like he wanted to touch me longer than necessary... No. I was overthinking again. Right?
"No worries, I’m not hurt. Just completely drained. But unfortunately, I can’t get into my apartment. I think I lost my keycard during the mission… or, knowing me, I probably left it inside in a flurry when Tara called all hyped before we started."
I scratched my cheek, feeling a little embarrassed. I could practically hear the silent I told you so he was serving me in his head—complete with a smile that was far too charming for this hour.
It felt kind of humiliating that he of all people had to see me in such a ridiculous little mess. I was a Hunter, damn it. I fought Wanderers. I saved civilians.
And now? I’d locked myself out of my own place.
But instead of laughing, Xavier simply gave me an understanding smile and nodded. “I get it. If you need a place to crash, you’re welcome to stay at mine,” he offered—and my heart rate, already unsteady, kicked up another notch.
"Xavier, that’s really sweet, but I don’t want to cause any trouble," I said with a grateful smile, trying to wave him off.
"It’s no trouble," he cut in firmly, shaking his head. Then he stepped closer, placed a hand on my shoulder, and gently brushed my long dark hair aside as he leaned in. Almost like he was about to kiss me. “You’re always thinking about everyone else... but when do you ever think about yourself? So stop worrying, and let’s get you inside before you pass out right here in the hallway. I’m not sure I’d be able to carry you in my current state,” he added with a playful wink, finally pulling back.
I blinked, caught off guard for a moment. Current state? Maybe he was just as exhausted as I was... or maybe he was teasing me again. Xavier was such an enigma—soft-spoken and polite, yet somehow always knowing the right moment to flirt. It was always a breath of fresh air being around him. And that’s exactly why I loved him.
Wait, what...?
"Are you rooted to the spot?" His amused voice broke through my spiral of thoughts, and I saw him holding out his hand to me. "Planning to sleep here in the hallway? Should I get Miss Hunter a blanket?"
I rolled my eyes in mock annoyance and took his hand, letting him guide me up the stairs to his apartment—conveniently right above mine.
"I think the hallway’s a little too hard for sleeping, but thanks for the offer," I replied, feeling the warmth of his hand wrap around mine. I returned the soft pressure he gave and followed him without letting go.
Once inside his apartment, I went straight for the couch, already thinking of how to make it comfortable enough to sleep on.
"What are you doing?" Xavier asked, gently grabbing my hand just as I was rearranging the couch cushions to use one as a pillow.
"Uhm… I was going to lie down…?"
Xavier looked at me silently at first, then let out a quiet sigh. He pulled me away from the couch so I was standing again, then held his other hand up in front of my face, raising both his index and middle fingers.
"Two things," he said softly, then curled his middle finger in, leaving only the index one pointed. "First—you just got back from a mission. You should take a shower before getting any rest."
"Oh—you're right. Especially since I’m just a guest here. Sorry, Xavier, I don’t want to get your couch all dirty," I said with a light laugh, already turning toward the bathroom.
"Second," he said, stopping me mid-step. I turned my head to look at him, just as a wide smile spread across his face. "You're sleeping in my bed. I’ll take the couch," he said firmly.
"What? No way. I’m not letting you sleep on the couch just because I’m the guest," I protested, shaking my head.
Xavier only shook his head again. "I can sleep anywhere, really. It doesn’t bother me at all."
"But—"
Once again, he cut off my objection—but this time, by gently placing his index finger against my lips.
"Katarina… you’re overthinking again. It’s just for one night. Go take your shower, then find something comfy from my closet to sleep in. And tomorrow, I’ll wake you up for breakfast. No more arguing, okay?" he added, and his fingertip slowly traced the shape of my lips. I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into the tenderness of the gesture. His words made my cheeks warm, and I knew there was no use trying to talk him out of it. Xavier could be even more stubborn than I was.
So I gave in, gently taking his hand and lowering it from my face. "You win. We'll do it your way. Thank you, Xavier," I whispered, then placed a soft kiss on the tip of his finger.
This time, it was Xavier’s turn to blush, and I couldn’t help but find him even more adorable than he already was.
While Xavier made himself comfortable on the couch, I headed into his bedroom to pick out a shirt to sleep in. I’d never been in his room before, so I had to figure out where he actually kept his shirts. The most obvious place—the large wardrobe in the corner—only held his Hunter gear and some neatly hung formal outfits for events. Apparently, his everyday clothes were stored elsewhere.
So I started opening drawers one by one, and of course, the first one I pulled open was the one with his boxers.
Blushing furiously and feeling mildly mortified, I slammed the drawer shut, now cursed with vivid mental images of Xavier wearing nothing but those boxers. I shook my head to clear the sinful thoughts and kept searching until I finally found the one with his folded T-shirts. I grabbed the first one I saw and made a beeline for the adjacent bathroom. A cold shower—that should help bring me back to my senses.
It was just one night. And we weren’t even sleeping in the same room.
A fact that—annoyingly—bothered me more than I wanted to admit.
-.-.-
I was pulled from my light sleep by the sound of footsteps in the room. Though soft and careful, the wooden floor creaked every now and then, followed by the rustle of something being opened…
Slowly, I blinked away the sleep from my eyes, the room still blurry at first. But as the silhouette standing by the wardrobe came into focus, I instantly recognized Xavier’s fluffy white hair.
Something was different though… He was wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his hips, and a single drop of water trickled down from the tip of his hair, sliding down the muscles of his bare, sculpted back.
I swallowed and quickly shut my eyes again, pretending to still be asleep so he wouldn’t catch me staring.
"Good morning, Miss Hunter."
His voice startled me. He knew I was awake?
"Uh… How did—"
"How did I know you were awake?" he interrupted, turning to face me—revealing not just his amused smile, but his impressively toned chest as well. And that towel? It wasn’t doing a particularly great job at hiding anything. There was… not much left to the imagination.
I swallowed again, this time harder, as I caught sight of a small bulge forming beneath the fabric. Quickly, I averted my eyes.
Xavier seemed to notice where my gaze had landed and flushed faintly, clearing his throat as if to collect himself.
He approached the bed, placing one knee on the mattress in front of me and leaning over. Instinctively, I shrank back onto the soft pillow, returning his gaze without a word. But my heart was pounding so loudly, I was sure he could hear it. Or at least feel it.
"Your eyes gave you away," he whispered. I blinked and tilted my head slightly.
"M-My eyes?" I asked, brushing my fingers over my face. Then I remembered what Dr. Zayne had once told me about sleep and how to tell if someone was truly unconscious or just pretending.
"Because my eyes moved beneath the lids, right? Real sleep doesn’t do that… the pupils stay still," I murmured back.
Xavier smiled and nodded.
"Someone’s been paying attention in biology," he said softly. "But even without that, it wasn’t hard to tell. The moment I stepped in, your breathing changed. So did your posture. Your body tensed up visibly."
Before I could respond, I suddenly felt his damp hair against my shoulder.
"X-Xavier..? What are you doing?" I asked, my voice a soft whisper. But I didn’t stop him—not when he pressed his nose to my neck and inhaled deeply.
"Recharging my battery… Is that a problem?" he murmured, and the way his lips brushed against my skin sent a shiver skittering down my spine.
"Of course not," I answered with a soft smile, running my hand gently through his damp hair. He nuzzled against my neck like an affectionate cat, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the way my fingers slipped through the silken strands.
Before I realized it, I felt the mattress shift again—he was now fully on top of me. His legs pinned mine beneath the blanket, and just like that, he’d taken full control of the situation without me even noticing. In the next breath, I found myself pressed back into the bed, and then—his lips were on mine.
He was kissing me.
Xavier, the reserved and enigmatic fighter known as Lumiere, was nearly naked… and kissing me.
Was this a dream?
No… the kiss felt far too real.
My arms wrapped around his neck as I returned his kiss—the one he had initiated so gently, so cautiously. Xavier seemed to respond to my reaction, because his kiss deepened, grew bolder. A low, yearning sound rumbled in his throat.
He clearly enjoyed it when I slid my fingers through his damp hair, and I soon felt the weight of his body settling more fully onto the bed.
Xavier was now completely on top of me, his legs locking mine beneath the blanket, and without even realizing it, he had taken complete control of the moment. The next thing I knew, I was pressed into the mattress, his lips moving against mine.
He was kissing me.
Xavier—reserved, mysterious Xavier—was nearly naked, sitting atop me, and kissing me like I was the only thing that existed.
Was this a dream?
No, it was far too vivid. Far too intense.
My arms tightened around his neck and I kissed him back, feeling his lips grow more demanding. His body slowly pressed down against mine, the dampness of his skin cool and tantalizing on my own. The towel that had clung to him moments ago… was now gone. I could feel him—all of him—every curve, every heat-filled inch, and my breath caught in my throat.
But just before I could say anything, he suddenly broke the kiss. He hovered above me, his breath heavy, his gaze locking onto mine—and I felt it deep in my chest.
"I love you, Katarina…" he whispered, voice trembling. "May I show you… just how much?"
My heart skipped a beat.
I could hear my own breathing louder than anything else in the room. My skin already burned beneath his touch. And yet… I knew what he said wasn’t just about desire. It wasn’t about lust. It was real. Honest. Him.
I raised my hand to his cheek, brushing my fingertips against his warm, trembling skin.
"Yes… please, Xavier. I want this. I want you."
A soft shiver passed through him. He lowered his forehead against mine.
"Thank you... I just—" he exhaled shakily. "I don’t know if I’ll do everything right. I’ve never… not with someone who means this much to me."
I smiled gently, brushing his hair back from his face.
"Neither have I. But if it’s going to be anyone… I want it to be you."
He kissed me again—this time slower, reverent. His hands slid down my body, still shaking slightly, as if every inch of skin he discovered was something sacred.
When his fingers slipped under my sleep shirt and brushed against bare skin, a small gasp escaped me.
Had I always been this sensitive? Or was it because it was him?
Carefully, he pulled the shirt up and off of me, watching my face for any sign of hesitation. When I gave him a soft, encouraging look, he smiled—shy and sweet—and let his fingertips trail along my sides, to the clasp of my bra.
He paused.
I reached for his hand, guided it there, and whispered, "It’s okay. Don’t be shy."
He understood.
With a quiet snap, the clasp gave way, and he slowly removed the last layer covering my chest. His breath caught when his eyes fell on my bare skin.
"You’re beautiful…" he murmured, voice husky. I blushed at the intensity of his gaze.
Then he leaned down, and I shivered as his lips brushed over one of my nipples—tentative and soft. His tongue circled it, tasting, learning, while his hand gently explored the curve of my other breast. The way he touched me was still slightly unsure, but so, so tender. I buried my fingers in his damp hair and arched into him with a quiet moan.
Xavier lifted his head, eyes wide with concern. “Did I hurt you?”
“No… it’s just… you feel so good.”
His lips curled into a soft smile, but there was something new behind his gaze now—something darker, warmer, hungrier. His hand slid lower, tracing the line of my stomach until it reached the waistband of my shorts. He glanced at me, silently asking for permission. I nodded and raised my hips slightly, allowing him to pull them down.
My underwear soon followed, and I was left completely bare beneath him. Xavier paused, eyes wandering over me as if I were a constellation he had studied for years, memorizing every star, every curve.
Then, with trembling fingers, he touched me between my legs—cautiously, gently—until he found the wetness waiting for him. He began to draw slow circles, and I gasped, my body twitching at his touch.
“So sensitive…” he whispered, more to himself than to me. “Does it hurt?”
“No… please… don’t stop.”
He silenced my reply with another kiss, deep and distracting, while one of his fingers slowly slid into my warmth. I tensed, unfamiliar with the sensation, but his other hand came to my cheek, soothing me with a gentle caress.
“I’m here… I’ll go slow. I promise.”
And he did.
Patient and careful, he moved his finger within me, letting my body grow accustomed to the feeling. Before long, I felt myself opening to him, my breath quickening as desire overran any lingering discomfort. When he added a second finger, I moaned his name directly into his mouth.
He pulled back just enough to look down at me, panting, his eyes wide and full of longing.
“I don’t think I can wait much longer… Katarina, I… I want to feel all of you.”
I nodded, placing my hands on his waist. “Then take me, Xavier. Show me how much you love me.”
He reached for something in the nightstand—a small foil packet. “Jeremy told me to always keep one in here,” he mumbled, a bit dazed. “I told him he was insane. I think… he knew something I didn’t.”
I laughed breathlessly, and he smiled as he rolled the condom on and leaned over me once more. With the tip of his length, he brushed against my entrance, teasing slowly, carefully, before pushing in just a little.
I gasped and held onto his shoulders. He froze.
“Should I stop?”
“No… please. Just go slow.”
And he did.
Bit by bit, he slid deeper inside me, every inch bringing with it new sensations—tight, unfamiliar, intense. But not painful. It was Xavier. It was him.
“You’re so warm… so tight…” he groaned, voice hoarse. I felt him tremble. “I just want to make you feel good… I just want to make you happy.”
I kissed him, pulling him closer. “You already are.”
He began to move, slow and steady, and I felt my body adjust to him, craving every movement. The pleasure crept up slowly at first, like a fire being gently stoked—then growing stronger with every thrust. I couldn’t hold back the sounds spilling from my lips anymore, and his moans of my name joined mine, raw and breathless.
“Katarina… I love you… I don’t think I can last much longer…”
“Then don’t… come with me… Let’s fall together…”
His lips crashed onto mine—desperate, deep, hungry—while his rhythm quickened. My legs locked around his waist, and my nails dragged down his back as I spiraled closer to the edge.
And then—we fell.
I clenched tightly around him as the orgasm hit, my body arching into his. He buried himself deep, letting out a broken moan as he released, trembling within me.
For a long moment, neither of us moved. We lay there, breathless, slick with sweat, clinging to each other as the aftershocks rippled through us. Finally, he let himself collapse fully onto me, his head resting on my shoulder.
“I love you… I love you so much…” he whispered against my skin.
I ran my fingers gently through his hair, smiling with a joy I couldn’t put into words. “I love you too… Forever.”
We fell asleep like that—naked, exhausted, tangled in each other’s arms. And yet, in every sense of the word… complete.
Extended Ending:
Warm sunlight filtered in through the window, painting golden stripes across the sheets. I blinked slowly awake, blinking against the light and feeling something soft curled around my back. Or rather—someone.
Xavier had an arm loosely draped over my waist, his breath steady and warm against the back of my neck. His skin was warm, his presence grounding. I smiled sleepily.
Turning gently to face him, I found that he was already awake—his hair adorably tousled, his eyes half-lidded and drowsy, his face carrying that quiet, contented look I’d started to adore.
“Good morning, Miss Hunter,” he murmured.
“Good morning, Lumière,” I whispered back with a grin.
We stayed like that for a little while, tangled in warmth and silence. Eventually, I got up to make coffee, slipping on one of his oversized shirts. But when I returned, he was no longer in bed.
I found him in the living room, sitting casually on the couch, slightly hunched over... holding one of my sketchbooks.
I froze. “Xavier. Please tell me you didn’t—”
“I saw everything,” he said with that perfectly calm, composed tone that, coming from him, was honestly more terrifying than yelling.
Oh no.
I rushed over, but he raised the book, just out of reach, and flipped to a particular page. A drawing of Childe and Lumine, mid-kiss—except... it wasn’t Childe.
It was him.
His face. His hair. His sharp, elegant profile drawn in tender pencil strokes beside a blushing Lumine. My Lumine.
I turned beet red.
“That was just—uh, a practice sketch! For anatomy! Purely artistic!”
He smiled. He smiled.
“I didn’t realize I was so… creatively versatile. And with a Genshin heroine, no less?”
“Oh my god—give it back!”
I lunged for it, but he simply held it higher.
“Katarina,” he said in mock seriousness, “why did you never tell me I was your perfect Genshin boyfriend? I feel… betrayed.”
“I was tired, okay?! I just wanted to draw something sweet! And you... kind of have Childe vibes… sometimes.”
He laughed under his breath. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Then he gently closed the sketchbook, handed it back to me—and leaned in to kiss my forehead.
“But if you ever need a model for your next couple fanart piece,” he added, voice low and teasing,
“I can pose.”
Hi there! You can call me Mina or Sekata – I’m a passionate writer, hopeless romantic, and longtime fan of character-driven stories. This blog is dedicated to all things Love and Deepspace (LAD) and our beloved boys: Sylus, Rafayel, Zayne, and Xavier. 💙
💫 What you’ll find here:
✦ Headcanons
✦ Oneshots (fluff, angst, smut – tagged accordingly)
✦ Character x OC / Character x Reader
✦ Canon x Canon (on request!)
✦ Commission info
✦ Sappy love declarations
✦ Bonus: emotional damage in poetic form 😌
Whether you're here for sweet kisses under neon skies, tragic soulmate tropes, or chaotic softdom Xavier brainrot – you’re in the right place.
Commissions are open (soon!) and customizable – feel free to drop by my inbox or check my pinned post for details.
Hello there, I am still alive and decided to translated one of my older Genshin fics for my husband Wriothsley <3
I wrote a total of three oneshots with one of it the reader has something with Neuvillette first. They are all plot-heavy yet with fluff and stuff and tbh they turned out quite LONGISH. Since I quite like them, I thought I share them with you!
But please bare with me, it's been years since I translated something in english and I may be a bit rusty!
As for the Oneshot, here are some informations:
Fandom: Genshin Impact
Pairing: Wriothesley x female Reader (there are some scenes but no genitalia are specified so you can also view it as gender neutral - except that the reader is called miss and lady a few times.
Genres: fluff, romance, a bit of comedy, a lil spicy (nothing explicit that would make it R18 though) extended ending
Length: 11.347 words
Other informations: There are two OCs of mine in there, Hiroshi and Taisaki and the Reader also has a Twin Sister that is not named. Also, Reader is an opera singer and has a Hydro vision.
S/n means sisters name of course. Oh, Guillaume is something like an OC too! And the character Tarana that is mentioned is an OC too!
The last side note until it finally starts: This was my very first Wriothesley fic after we met him ingame and played his ingame story. even though it shouldn't count as spoiler, there are spoilers for his past. Also please bear with me if he is a lil ooc :> It was really my first attempt to write him back then!
Wriothesley's expression was a mix of disappointment, disbelief, and incomprehension. In the same breath, he berated himself for not noticing sooner that Guillaume wasn't the man he'd always thought him to be. A man with short brown hair and a slightly tanned complexion knelt in front of the Duke, Sigewinne, and the other guards of Fort Meropide. He avoided the Duke's gaze and remained silent about his current predicament.
"Of all the people in this place, I had the most trust in you, Guillaume," Wriothesley's voice was calm, yet there was a warning in its undertone. "I hope you understand the consequences of your actions, of letting such a dangerous criminal escape, a threat to all of Fontaine."
Fort Meropide was where people were incarcerated after being found guilty by Neuvillette. The spectrum of crimes was broad - from minor, harmless offenses like mocking the Archon Furina, to deprivation of liberty, bodily harm, and even murder. There was even a separate cell block for the latter, where particularly serious cases like serial killers were kept under observation.
Currently, however, the watchful eye was focused solely on one person with such an immense criminal record that even Childe would be proud of the number of victims - if it weren't mainly innocent civilians. [S/n], a young woman who had already caught Wriothesley's attention during her arrest. Only a few people resisted before when the Duke arrested them, but [S/n] had practically provoked a battle of visions - Cryo against Cryo. After she had left a striking scar on his neck, he had finally managed to overpower her and handed her over to Guillaume.
Guillaume had been serving under the Duke for several years, always demonstrating exceptional duty and responsibility. There was no one in Fort Meropide whom Wriothesley could rely on more.
The fact that this very man had helped the most dangerous woman in Fontaine to escape didn't compute. 'The Chief Justice has already been informed of this incident, and your own trial will begin soon. Until then, you will wait for your sentence in a cell. Take him away,' Wriothesley's words sounded cold, but Sigewinne knew his true feelings. The turmoil within him was evident in his eyes.
How could he, who was known for his people skills and his ability to read others, have been so deceived?"
As Guillaume was led away, he stopped walking. "I know there's no excuse for my actions, Duke Wriothesley. But I want to say that I've enjoyed being in your favor for so long," Guillaume's words sounded emotionless, and Wriothesley noticed a pitch-black aura around the young traitor. The Duke remained silent and closed his eyes until Guillaume was gone.
"…Shouldn't we have told Monsieur Neuvillette and Madame Furina about this strange element..?" Sigewinne asked, looking concerned.
"It's too soon for that, Sigewinne. First, [S/n] must be brought safely back to Fort Meropide. I will go to the surface myself and investigate. You take care of this place, I rely on you,' Wriothesley said, and the small Melusine looked up."
"You want to go yourself...?" Sigewinne asked.
"It was my own negligence. If I had seen through Guillaume's intentions earlier, this wouldn't have happened. So I will personally take care of recapturing the criminal." the Duke replied.
"She gave you another scar during your last encounter. Shouldn't you ask Madame Clorinde for support?" Sigewinne asked worriedly.
"Madame Clorinde has helped us too often lately. She deserves a break.’"
"And so do you, Wriothesley."
"I can't afford a break."
"At least take someone with you and don't do everything on your own!" The Melusine wouldn't let up, so Wriothesley finally relented.
"Alright. I'll take Hiro and Taisaki with me. Please call them both."
Sigewinne seemed satisfied and smiled. "Yes, right away! One last tea before you leave?" she asked.
"That would be very kind."
"Coming right up!"
Hiroshi and Taisaki were two talented martial artists who taught the inmates the basics and advanced courses in the Pankration. Originally from Liyue, they had traveled through the lands of Teyvat to improve their skills. They were also siblings. With them, Wriothesley had the right support in case of combat. Hiroshi's Pyro fists struck quickly and mercilessly, and Taisaki's Geo kicks always hit their mark.
In his office, Wriothesley explained the situation over a cup of tea. Hiroshi and Taisaki looked at each other and crossed their arms. Hiroshi, a muscular man with short red hair, warm orange eyes, and a perpetually friendly smile, exuded a cheerful, almost boisterous energy. In contrast, Taisaki, with her long, pale blue hair tied in a neat braid and serene green eyes, gave off a more melancholic and analytical vibe. Both wore traditional Chinese-inspired clothing, with Hiroshi's adorned with a vibrant dragon motif and Taisaki's featuring a graceful phoenix.
"Don't blame yourself, Wriothesley. No one would have expected something like this from Guillaume. And it sounds like that black aura has something to do with his behavior," Taisaki said calmly, placing her index finger under her chin in a thoughtful pose. "There have to be another person involved who controlled him. But of course, he won't reveal anything. In any case, you should make sure he's always guarded. The mastermind behind that might want to silence Guillaume forever," she added.
Wriothesley nodded. "I'm aware of that and have already taken precautions."
Hiroshi smiled. "As expected of the Duke."
On the surface of Fontaine, the three searched for a small village south of the capital. Along the way, Taisaki held [S/n]'s file, conducting a brief background check, which she read aloud to her brother.
"[S/n], born in [region]. Her parents were respected archaeologists from the Academy in Sumeru, which her older brother also attended and now continues her parents' work. Her parents have been missing since a mission to the ruins of Khaenri'ah. Besides her brother, she has a twin sister. The relationship between [S/n] and her siblings was always very frosty and distant, and apparently the contact broke off about 5 years ago. Hmm. But we're looking for the residence of her sister, aren't we? Why do you think you'll find her here, even though the two of them have no contact and a bad relationship?’ Taisaki asked, puzzled, and Wriothesley stopped before reaching the village gates.
"Because it's the perfect hideout. She might think that no one would look for her here. Even if her sister doesn't offer her shelter, she could move freely there if she's hiding," Wriothesley explained.
"The idea isn't that stupid. It's at least a good start, and maybe we'll learn a few things from her sister that will help us find [S/n]. After all, she knows her better than we do," Hiroshi added, and the three continued until they reached a small, inconspicuous hut. It had a small garden with a pond and various flowers that lined the path to the front door in orderly beds. Among them were rainbow roses and even species from Liyue and Mondstadt, which highlighted the beds in color.
Wriothesley took a deep breath and began to knock gently on the door. "Excuse me for interrupting, but we have an important matter," he said. Shortly thereafter, he heard light footsteps and the door opened. A woman with [h/c] hair, and [e/c] eyes opened the door to them with a surprised smile.
"Yes?"
…
Wriothesley wanted to say something, but his voice failed him when he realized he recognized the young woman in front of him. Hiroshi and Taisaki were equally astonished, as you didn't look like [S/n] at all. Your sister had short, unruly hair, which was dark blue, and her cold blue eyes pierced anyone who looked at her wanted poster. The warm eyes of you, on the other hand, seemed like the complete opposite.
Wriothesley cleared his throat to regain his composure. "Forgive me. I didn't expect to see you again under these circumstances," he said.
"Huh? You know each other? Why didn't you say so before?" Hiroshi blinked, looking back and forth between the two of you. Wriothesley sighed lightly and rubbed his forehead before shaking his head slightly.
"Because I didn't know that this young lady was the Blue Moon of the successful evening performances at Opera Epiclese," he explained, but that didn't diminish his two companions' confusion.
"Who?"
[Flashback]
It started a few weeks ago, shortly after the incident at Fort Meropide, when the primal sea broke through the seal in the administration wing under Wriothesley's office. Clorinde and the Duke were able to hold back the water until Neuvillette arrived and could contain it again. Without the brave and above all courageous intervention of the two, the city of Fontaine would have been flooded by the impending invasion of the primal sea.
Out of gratitude, Furina organized some exotic performances at the Opera Epiclese, in which she invited guests from various regions. Of course, Wriothesley was also invited to spend the day there and simply relax. At first he had politely declined, but Neuvillette had then been able to convince him when he said:
"Are you sure, you want to turn down a personal invitation from Miss Furina? I would be heartbroken if I had to condemn the administrator of Fort Meropide for disrespecting our Archon," the Hydro Dragon said with a slightly teasing undertone, as he was of course only joking. Even though he could well imagine Furina accusing anyone who didn't do what she asked of them.
On the evening of the performances, Furina was in the upper lounge and gave a short speech about how thanks to HER own organization,(even if it was the efforts of Neuvillette, Clorinde and Wriothesley), Fontaine had been saved from demise. When asked what exactly Furina had actually contributed to the matter, she simply explained that it was her merit that Fontaine had such reliable protectors and that she had foreseen it all.
Wriothesley sat in the front row next to Neuvillette and his hands were folded in front of him. The Chief Justice noticed that his seatmate seemed a little stiff and cleared his throat. "Duke Wriothesley, I know you're not usually an opera-goer, but please try to relax a bit," he said calmly. The Duke unclasped his folded arms and closed his eyes.
"I'm trying."
The lights went out and a young woman with short black hair and glasses stepped onto the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming. To celebrate the rescue of our beautiful Fontaine, we have put together a unique program for you today! We have invited a beast tamer from Sumeru who has the most dangerous animals in Teyvat with him. But don't be afraid, the animals obey him implicitly! Oh, and we have invited the most famous musicians from Mondstadt and Liyue! The bard Venti and the 'rocker' Xinyan will give a joint concert! But don't think that's all! No, after this performance, another treat awaits you! Lune Bleue, that's the stage name of our newest opera singer, is celebrating her debut tonight! Yes, you heard right! Our Opera Epiclese has a new member and we would like to warmly welcome her. Isn't that right?" After this question, the audience applauded and cheered, at least everyone except Wriothesley, who looked over at Neuvillette, who was also clapping rather reservedly. However, not out of disinterest, but simply because it was his way.
The rest of the evening was only moderately interesting for the Duke. The beast tamer had managed to captivate the audience, but for someone who dealt with "beasts" in human form on a daily basis, these little games with wild animals were rather amusing. Even the concert by Venti and Xinyan couldn't fully carry him away, although he caught himself tapping his foot in time as the music filled the hall and Xinyan's rockier style complemented Venti's bardic sounds.
Neuvillette blinked when Wriothesley accidentally kicked his knee with his subconscious tapping and chuckled as he put his hand over his mouth to stifle the chuckle. Nevertheless, it caused the Duke to stop tapping and turn in the other direction, slightly embarrassed, with his hand also over his mouth. "Sorry. I got a little carried away," he apologized.
"It's nice that you're slowly getting into the evening, Duke. Go ahead, enjoy the music as you please," the Chief Justice smiled and was glad that Wriothesley had accepted the invitation. He had noticed for some time that Wriothesley desperately needed this time out.
After the joint concert ended and Venti and Xinyan bowed before the roaring applause of the audience, the organizer also clapped with a smile before announcing the new opera singer. "And now we come to Lune Bleue, who has traveled all the way from [Region] to our beautiful Fontaine to become a famous opera singer here!"
Another round of applause greeted you as the curtain opened again. Your [h/l] hair was gently blown by an artificial Anemo turbine in the background and your elegant outfit resembled that of a diva. You took a deep breath and pressed the microphone to yourself.
"Hello, people of Fontaine!" you began, and your voice was a little shaky. Obviously you were a bit nervous. "It's the first time I've sung in front of such a large crowd, so please forgive my nervousness! I'll do my best to pay the necessary respect to this opera and to enchant you with the wonderful world of music," you continued, and music began to play slowly as the stage darkened again.
All eyes were on you and it became dead silent in the opera house as you sang the first lines.
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxABgqQdX7g )
"You've touched a solitary heart,
Lost in shadows, torn apart.
You've seen the souls astray,
And shown them a brighter way.
With weathered hope, you journey on,"
Wriothesley's eyed widen at the lyrics and he looked up. His gaze met yours, and your clear [e/c] eyes seemed to sparkle like [gem in the color of your eyes] in the spotlight. The words you sang somehow touched him, even though he didn't want to admit it. His hand unconsciously went to his chest, where his heart was beating, as he continued to listen to the lyrics.
"Waste not your smiles, nor tears you shed. Endure the summer's fading breath. Raise high our flag, so pure and bright,"
Neuvillette smiled wordlessly as he watched how deeply the Duke was immersed in your singing. This was actually the main reason why he wanted Wriothesley to come. Because he had learned from a certain leader of the Spina di Rosula organization that it could only be beneficial for the Duke to reflect on a few things in his life, and since he rarely listened to the advice of others, perhaps the power of music could reach his not so cold how people saw him heart.
"Beyond this endless, winding road. A light awaits, with hearts galore. Trust the heavens, as you gaze above,"
At the end of the road there was a light... did that also apply to Wriothesley? His path was filled with darkness, the bare walls of the Meropide fortress, which had such an oppressive atmosphere. And the cold, dark black and white tones that he had to see everywhere all the time because of his total color blindness. He didn't even know what such a light looked like. Realizing this, he laughed softly to himself, but it was a bitter laugh.
"We'll guide our stars, a guiding light. High in the eastern sky, so near. With hands of our own, we'll make them real,"
The audience remained silent until the song was over. And when the lights slowly came back on, everyone stood up and clapped loudly, calling for an encore. This loud outburst pulled the Duke from his half-trance. He blinked with slightly widened eyes before feeling a small nudge on his shoulder. It was Neuvillette. He had also stood up and was clapping, wanting to convey to his seatmate to do the same. Wriothesley stood up wordlessly and clapped his hands as you smiled with a pounding heart and thanked the audience for their reactions.
Wriothesley wanted to leave afterward, as this act was supposed to be the last of the evening, but Neuvillette stopped him. He said that he wanted to meet with Miss Navia backstage and it would be nice if Wriothesley could attend the meeting. The two men went behind the grandstand where Navia was already standing in front of the door leading to the dressing rooms. The second she saw the two men, she smiled and waved in greeting.
"Monsieur Neuvillette, Duke Wriothesley. How nice to see you both," she said.
"Miss Navia, it's been a while, hasn't it?" asked Neuvillette, shaking the elegant lady's hand before she smiled.
"Yes, that's true. I'm glad we're not meeting because of a case this time. Duke, how are things at Fort Meropide?" the blonde woman asked.
Wriothesley was silent at first, searching for the right words to describe the dreary daily routine without making it sound too depressing. "The inmates are behaving themselves and are working hard to reintegrate into society. Only the fights in the Pankration arena are slowly becoming a problem, and Sigewinne is struggling to keep up with treating injuries during tournaments. We'll probably need more staff for medical care soon," he said, and Navia nodded in understanding.
"I see, if you like, I can look around for suitable healers. I heard that a young healer from Liyue, who is usually on a pirate ship, is currently on vacation in Fontaine," she suggested.
"That's very kind, but I'd rather discuss that with Sigewinne first. She can be quite particular about her work," Wriothesley said with a weak smile.
Shortly thereafter, the door opened and you stepped out. "Oh! Vina! How did you like the performance? Was I okay?" you asked, scratching your cheek in embarrassment. Neuvillette and Wriothesley looked a little perplexed at the name. 'Vina?'
"Do you have a middle name, Miss Navia?" Neuvillette asked curiously. Navia waved dismissively.
"No, no. We've somehow gotten into the habit of calling each other by nicknames. And since I always call her [nickname], she came up with the idea of shortening my name in a way nobody else would call me. I like that nickname," said Navia, and you laughed softly.
"Haha, yes, we are so close that we've often been asked if we're sisters. Vina was a great help to me when I first arrived in Fontaine," you explained.
"No, not at all, I have to thank you! You helped us a lot in solving a kidnapping case," replied Navia, waving her hand.
"I remember. The kidnapper had taken a young boy hostage and impersonated his father. He had scared the child into thinking he would be killed if he made a noise, so he was supposed to play along out of fear," Neuvillette mused.
"That's right, I met the two of them and saw the fear in the boy's eyes. Something just didn't seem right, so I kept my eye on them and told Vina and the gendarmes to stop the man at the exit. Luckily, everything turned out well," you nodded. "By the way, it's nice to see you again, Chief Justice. Outside of trials, people don't see you very often," you smiled and your gaze fell on the black-haired man next to the judge. "Oh, a new face. I don't think we've met before."
"No... we haven't," Wriothesley replied softly, but before either party could introduce themselves, the harmony was abruptly broken as out-of-control mecha patrols made the streets in front of the opera unsafe. Lately, such a failure had occurred more frequently and could be traced back to sabotage of the machine cores. However, it could not be determined who was responsible for this.
From that day on, Wriothesley visited the opera more regularly, even though he always remained in the shadows of darkness and had no more opportunities to speak with you. You didn't even know each other's names... Just a few furtive glances when you felt yourself being watched from a corner of the opera and then looked around but couldn't see Wriothesley...
That the two of you would see each other again under such circumstances, neither of you would have thought.
[Flashback End]
Hiroshi smiled after this story. "Well, if that's not a coincidence that you're seeing each other again. But unfortunately, that's no reason for joy, Miss [Y/n]. I want to get straight to the point if you don't mind. When was the last time you saw your sister [S/n]?" the redhead asked, as the four parties had made themselves comfortable in your apartment over a cup of tea.
"My sister? Hmm, that must have been five years ago. She turned her back on my brother and me when he started studying at the Sumeru Academy. Unfortunately, she then disappeared completely from our lives and we never heard from her again. Is she okay?" you asked, looking slightly concerned at the three.
Taisaki looked at Wriothesley, who closed his eyes briefly. Then he began to speak. "If contact broke off five years ago, then you probably have no knowledge of what your sister did afterwards." At these words, you shook your head and then saw the Duke hesitantly hand you a file. "It's in your best interest to only read the first page..."
You swallowed hard and looked at the file. "...Multiple murders...? Violence against heads of state and human trafficking...?" One could see in your eyes that you could hardly believe it. "She's in Fort Meropide?!"
"No. I mean, well, she was supposed to be there. But she managed to escape today," Wriothesley explained.
"B-But... I thought Fort Meropide had the highest security level, how could she escape? Vina told me that no prisoner had ever escaped from the fortress since it was built..." you stammered and handed the file back to Wriothesley.
"Yes, it's a big faux pas and should never have happened. That's why we're here. Have you noticed anything strange? Suspicious figures or do you even think it's possible that your sister is hiding nearby?" Wriothesley then asked.
"No... Why would she be around here? She doesn't even know I live here, since I only moved here half a year ago. Right after I was accepted as an opera singer. And even if she knew where I lived, I would be the last person she would want to stay with." you sighed.
"We are aware of that because of your past relationship, but that is precisely why we also considered it the perfect hiding place. But apparently we have to start over. Hmm. Can you tell us more about your sister? What was she like as a child? Did she have any preferences?" Taisaki asked.
"She was always a loner. My brother and I could almost never get through to her and we never understood why she was so closed off and cold. She also always brought injured animals home with her and then nursed them back to health. Those are the rare moments where we actually saw her smile. As far as I know, she didn't have any real hobbies, she was constantly just in her room or had sneaked off. Hmm... Oh! Something comes to mind. She had these ideas about a rebel group. Vendetta Mortale, their goal was to free animals in human captivity and inflict the same suffering on anyone who harmed animals. She might still be involved in these activities," you pondered.
"Thank you very much for the explanations. That really helps us. Don't worry, we will find your sister before she can do any more harm. We'll let you know when we've been successful," Wriothesley thanked you and stood up to leave with his companions. But as they were at the door, they were stopped by your voice.
"Wait please," you called out, and the three turned to you. "I would like to help you," her words made Taisaki and Hiroshi look at their superior. "Please. She is my sister and I have some idea of how she thinks. Maybe I can even get through to her if we catch her."
"That's far too dangerous for a civilian. She would probably attack you as well, because she has no sympathy for the lives of others. After all, she wasn't in the maximum security ward for criminals for nothing," Wriothesley said sternly.
"I understand that, but please let me help anyway! I won't get in your way, I promise. And if it comes to a fight..." you began and reached into your shirt. Then you took out a pendant, which on closer inspection was a vision with the Hydro symbol. "...I will support you there as best I can. She is my sister and... I feel partly responsible for what she has done," you explained further and looked at Wriothesley determinedly.
Hiroshi whistled softly. "So you have a vision too? You're really full of surprises, Miss. Well, I think it's only an advantage to have someone with us who can see through our target. And with four visions, [S/n] probably doesn't stand a chance."
"If she's the only enemy we're facing. Well, if it's your wish to help us, we're happy to accept this help. But be warned, this mission carries unknown dangers. And don't take any unnecessary risks, okay?" Wriothesley asked, defeated. You smiled and nodded.
"Thank you very much for your consideration, Duke. Let's go find my sister."
The first lead took the four to the capital. Since Fort Meropide was directly connected to the capital by a canal, the most obvious escape route led directly to the capital. So now they went in search of possible witnesses.
"The city is pretty big. We should split up and question people separately," Taisaki then suggested.
"That's a good idea, but what do we do if we encounter unforeseen dangers? Is it smart to be on our own then? Besides, we don't know how capable Miss [Y/n]'s fighting skills are," Hiroshi pondered. You crossed your arms.
"I probably won't be as strong as you, but precisely because of that I would be careful. If something goes wrong, I can always send a signal," you said and created water in your hand, which quickly heated up and turned into steam.
"Nevertheless, I think we should at least be in pairs. Tai and I will take the north and east, you two go to the south and west," Hiroshi finally suggested. Wriothesley nodded and looked at his pocket watch.
"The escape was exactly two hours and 10 minutes ago. Through the canal it takes a little more than 8 minutes. Let's go to the Epiclese Opera first, where the connection between Meropide and the surface is," he analyzed and you nodded before the four split into pairs.
At the opera, you and Wriothesley also separately asked the passersby if they had noticed anything strange. A person coming from the direction of the canal or someone running through the streets soaked, after all, it was sunny and there was no rain. At first, this went very poorly, as no one seemed to have noticed anything. Maybe your sister found other escape routes? It was also still unclear which element was involved too, since it was not one of the known ones that Guillaume was surrouned of. Speaking of elements, that brought Wriothesley to a question that had been overlooked so far.
"When did your sister got her vision?" he asked as the two of you took a break from all the walking and asking around.
"Huh? Oh. We got our visions around the same time. That must have been about 9 years ago. We were attacked by a big Hilichurl when we were playing in the woods. Why is that important?" you wanted to know.
"Because something strikes me as odd. Your sister's vision doesn't seem to be an ordinary Cryo vision. It uses a power I've never seen in my life before. My people tell me that this energy is pitch black. Since almost everything is black for me, I couldn't tell the difference."
"I understand, I can't believe it - wait, for you almost everything is black?!" you asked, blinking as you looked beside you. Wriothesley nodded slightly.
"Since birth, I've suffered from achromatopsia, a form of color blindness where I can only see black and white," Wriothesley explained, and you felt a wave of sympathy for the black-haired man.
"Oh... So you've never experienced this world in its magnificent colors..." you said softly. Wriothesley was silent, considering what to say. He didn't want to dampen the mood.
"No, but that's okay. As long as this color blindness doesn't hinder me in my purpose and my goals, it doesn't bother me either," he murmured. Now he thought back to the lyrics he heard when he first heard you sing.
"Duke-"
"The formalities aren't necessary. Please, just Wriothesley. The Duke is just a title I wear in the fortress and I'm used to it by now," he interrupted you directly and you nodded slightly.
"Wriothesley, may I ask you a question? How long have you been leading Meropide?" you asked.
"About three years. I've made it my mission to lead people back on the right path who have strayed from Fontaine's laws. And to help wrongly accused people leave this dreary place. Why do you ask?" he asked back.
"I was just curious. But that sounds really great. You're such an honorable man, that's admirable," your words made Wriothesley laugh bitterly once again. Honorable? Him? In his eyes, he was far from it.
"Believe me, I'm anything but that. A honorable man doesn't have blood on his hands."
"W-What?"
Wriothesley ignored your shocked expression and stood up again. "We should keep looking for clues," he said then and didn't explained his sentence at all. You swallowed lightly and stood up.
"Alright..."
That day, the two of you were unfortunately unsuccessful and Taisaki and Hiroshi seemed to have found out just as little as you were. The siblings from Liyue had taken a pension near their witness interviews, so Wriothesley and you also had to look for a place to stay for the night. Unfortunately, most of the pensions were already fully booked and there was only one establishment left where you could spend the night. However, you both were not exactly happy about it.
The pension "Le Jardin des Sens" (Garden of the Sensuality) was a pension run by a gentleman from Inazuma and offered a special deal for couples. The pension was exclusively for couples, so you and Wriothesley had no choice but to introduce yourselves as a couple to the receptionist.
After some awkward moments of silence, as the two of you sat in a romantically decorated room that smelled of exotic scents and was prepared for various things that were guaranteed not to happen, Wriothesley cleared his throat before standing up. "I will sleep on this... couch," he began, looking at a love seat with many velvet cushions and pink fluff. "...it goes without saying that a man should not share a bed with a woman with whom he is not in a romantic relationship."
You were grateful for his decency, but felt a little bad that you had the large king-size bed all to yourself and the love seat was a bit too small to sleep on. "Thank you. If we don't find anything tomorrow, we can gladly switch."
"I hope we find a normal pension then. I feel very uncomfortable here," the Duke sighed and you smiled slightly as you picked up a pack of condoms that was on the nightstand and looked at it. Yes, you felt the same way and your red cheeks were certainly visible to him as well. This place... and admittedly, Wriothesley was a very attractive and charming man... You couldn't say if you would be averse if things went further... Wait a minute, what?
Wriothesley, of course, was a gentleman and let you use the bathroom first to get ready for bed. He himself sat at the window during that time and looked out, probably to give you a sense of privacy when you came back in a nightgown and slipped under the covers. After a while, he also heard the light steps and the rustling of the bedcovers. After the noises had stopped, he turned away from the window and entered the bathroom. When he came back, you were already asleep. Wriothesley glanced at you and had a slight smile as he saw your peaceful expression with a slightly open mouth. Then he lay down on the couch and tried to sleep as well.
A few hours later, you woke up because your mouth felt very dry. It was still night and apart from the reddish lights of the room, only the moonlight was providing illumination from outside. You quietly got out of bed and glanced over at the couch, you didn't want to wake him. You tiptoed barefoot to the minibar and got yourself a Fonta, a popular carbonated drink that is very popular in Fontaine.
After quenching your thirst, you tiptoed back to your bed, but also noticed that it had become quite chilly in the room. The nights in Fontaine could be relatively cool due to the falling humidity and the window had been open for hours. You shivered on your bare arms and legs before you noticed that Wriothesley wasn't even covered. He was just lying there, in his pants and shirt, with his jacket under him to lie more comfortably on the sofa. Just from the sight of his bare torso, a shiver ran down your spine from the cold. Although... was that really because of the cold? Your gaze wandered a little too long over his taut muscles and the numerous scars from his neck down and across his torso.
You swallowed lightly and shook your head. No, that wasn't right. You tiptoed to one of the hotel cabinets and looked for something to cover him with. It didn't take long before you found what you were looking for and took a fluffy wool blanket, which was probably intended for winter, out of the closet. Then you walked back to him, careful not to wake him, and gently covered him with the wool blanket.
Relieved that he didn't wake up from it, you smiled and then went back to your own bed. After closing your eyes, Wriothesley opened one of his eyes to make sure you didn't notice. He snuggled up to the wool blanket and a small grin graced his lips. It had actually been a while since someone had shown him such warm gestures and he hadn't even realized how good it felt. He closed his eyes again and drifted off to sleep until morning.
The next morning, Taisaki and Hiroshi were looking for Wriothesley and you. With a small technical device, whose function resembled that of a GPS device, the two martial artists from Liyue could locate the position. However, they only saw a romantic "Love Hotel", as these types of establishments were called. They looked at each other. "That has to be a mistake, right?"
Before Hiroshi could even answer, the very couple they were looking for left the hotel. Wriothesley and you saw the two and blushed a deep crimson as you saw the shocked expression on Taisaki's face and the wide grin on Hiroshi's.
"It's not what it looks like!" You stammered with flushed cheeks, waving your hands frantically. Wriothesley's cheeks had also turned red and he scratched his nose slightly in embarrassment, but remained silent about the situation. Taisaki blinked several times and was about to ask what it was otherwise, when a woman's cry for help saved the couple from this embarrassing situation. Without further thought, the four ran in the direction from which the scream came.
A middle-aged woman sat on the ground, and before her was a creature. However, it was neither a Hilichurl nor an Abyss Mage, but a real animal. Specifically, a giant crocodile. "How did this get here? The canals are secured," Taisaki wondered aloud as you blinked.
"And besides, these animals are native to Sumeru, aren't they? I've never seen a crocodile here before," you whispered. Wriothesley acted quickly, trapping the creature with a wall of ice he swiftly created from his fists. However, there was a manhole cover beneath the animal, and it disappeared into the underground canal system beneath the city.
"Damn. We need to catch it. It might not be as dangerous as an Abyss Mage or a Hilichurl, but it's still life-threatening to civilians. Especially to children. Tai, Hiro, inform Monsieur Neuvillette and Miss Navia immediately," he ordered, already jumping towards the manhole.
"Eh? For an animal? Wriothesley, you can't be serious," Hiroshi exclaimed, a bit startled by the urgency to pull all the big levers for this situation.
"That's no ordinary crocodile," you pointed out, causing the siblings to look at you. "Did you see the black smoke in its eyes? You told me that my sister and that guard were also surrounded with this energy... I think it's more dangerous than it looks, and we can't risk the waters of Fontaine being contaminated by this energy."
"Exactly!" Wriothesley's words echoed as he had already descended into the canal. You nodded and followed him.
"Please get the Chief Justice and Vina, I will help the Duke capture this creature."
"But-"
"You heard her, Tai. Let's hurry up," Hiroshi winked, and Taisaki sighed in defeat, shrugging before they headed towards the palace.
Wriothesley quickly noticed someone else had jumped into the canal and looked slightly astonished at you trying not to lose your footing on the slippery pipes with your inappropriate shoes. Before he could question what you were doing, you planted your hands on your hips and looked at him determinedly.
"You don't think you can follow an unknown danger alone, do you? Taisaki once told me in private that you tend to underestimate situations. So, someone has to look after you," you declared confidently. But shortly after saying that, you slipped on the slippery path and nearly fell into the sewage. "Aaah~"
The expected wet fall didn't happen as you found yourself pressed against a muscular chest, held by strong arms, feeling a breath at your ear that sent shivers down your spine. "And who looks after you~?" he whispered, and you could hear a hint of amusement in his voice. Embarrassed, you cleared your throat and stepped back from his embrace.
"T-T-That was just a test to check your reflexes. Maybe you don't need as much help after all," you mumbled, looking slightly embarrassed and turning your gaze away to hide your flushed cheeks. Wriothesley raised an eyebrow slightly and then smiled.
"Of course. Just be more careful. The paths are narrow and slippery. Maybe you should head back up; this place isn't suited for a lady," he suggested, running a hand through his hair. You were about to respond when you heard the squeak of a rodent and felt something furry brush against your leg.
Once again, you clung to Wriothesley, burying your face in the crook of his neck. You managed to stifle your scream, but the force of your sudden movement pressed Wriothesley against the wall, and his arms instinctively wrapped around you. He blinked several times as you nestled close to him, trying to recover from the scare.
"It's okay, it's okay. I didn't realize I'd be afraid of rodents... Hahaha, sorry, I'm just a bit jumpy in such dark places," you apologized against his skin. Wriothesley sighed softly, but it wasn't an annoyed sigh.
"That's why I suggested you go back up."
"And leave you alone down here?"
"I'll manage. I'm not the Duke of Fortress Meropide for nothing," he smiled, gently stroking your back.
"I know that... But..."
"But?" he prompted. You remained silent, your glowing cheeks feeling hot in this cold place.
"I want to help wherever I can. And I feel better knowing you're not dealing with whatever here lurks alone. So please let me stay by your side, okay?" you asked, and once again, Wriothesley felt a pleasant warmth in his chest.
"Alright, as you wish. But you can head back up anytime you want," he said, and you looked up. He was still holding you in his arms, his expression friendly and gentle—something not immediately apparent at first glance. You smiled gratefully and then pulled away from him.
"Hah, as if I'd just leave. When I start something, I finish it."
He liked your determination, and the two of you continued searching the sewers for the strange creature. Along the way, the uneasy silence was broken several times as you both chatted a bit. Wriothesley learned more about your past, your relationship with your brother, your hobbies and preferences, and your combat style. You used metallic fans from Inazuma, called Tessen, to keep your enemies at a distance. With your Hydro abilities, you could create powerful waves that you could fling at your enemies by spinning the fans and "fanning" them. And while Wriothesley was eager to see your combat skills in action, he sincerely hoped that a fight wouldn't be necessary.
He, however, didn't reveal much about himself, except that he was once a prisoner at Fortress Meropide. You were very surprised by this, but since he didn't elaborate, you didn't want to pester or annoy him with questions, so you let the topic drop.
The canal was quite large, and eventually, the two of you lost track of where you had come from or how to get out. There was still no sign of the crocodile or any other strange things.
"It's getting creepier the further we go. It's getting darker, wetter, and colder. But at least you don't feel watched down here," you remarked at some point, breaking the long silence that had settled after your small talk ended. Wriothesley found your words puzzling.
"That sounds like you feel watched elsewhere?" he asked. You nodded slightly, unsure if you should tell him about it. Maybe you were just imaging things...
"Since some time ago, I've felt watched during my performances. Not from the audience seats, but... how should I say it... somewhere from the pitch-black rows in between. Like someone was watching me who didn't want to be seen. Sounds crazy, doesn't it?" you asked. Wriothesley remained silent at first, then realized he was the one who had occasionally visited the opera after your first performance, staying hidden. Why did he do that? To avoid snide comments from Furina or others? Or because people who knew him were often intimidated by him? He couldn't really answer that question himself.
"You have a very good instinct if you noticed someone in the darkness," he responded with a mysterious smile, causing you to blink at him in surprise.
"Huh..? So you also believe someone was there? And I didn't just imagine it?" you asked. Wriothesley subconsciously avoided your gaze, and then it clicked for you, making you blush slightly as you looked away.
"Now I understand why your eyes occasionally searched through the rows. You were trying to figure out where those unknown eyes were coming from," he laughed softly. You also laughed softly, though it was more to avoid admitting that your search had other reasons. You had been looking for that attractive Duke of Meropide, hoping to see him again. Now knowing that he had visited the opera for you and only for you (because why else would he hide just for your performances? Lyney and the other stars of the show said they never felt another pair of eyes on them, but during your performances, there was always a strange feeling from the back of the stage), made your heart swell with joy. Who would have thought that after a fateful encounter, both of you would yearn for each other and that fate would bring you together again now?
"You could have at least said hello after the performances," you remarked, gently nudging him from the side. Wriothesley smiled again, looking down at the noticeably shorter woman beside him.
"You were always immediately visited by Miss Navia and Miss Furina, so I didn't want to intrude," he admitted.
"Oh, I wouldn't have guessed you as the shy type, Wriothesley," you laughed, and Wriothesley cleared his throat slightly.
"People often misjudge me. I just have an intimidating aura."
"Really? Honestly, I've never felt intimidated by you for a single moment," you mused. The two of you then paused for a moment, smiling at each other in silence, until the harmony was shattered and Wriothesley reacted instantly, pulling you aside. A pyro ball narrowly missed you.
"W-Where did that come from?" you asked, watching as Wriothesley slipped on his boxing gloves.
"Up there," he said coolly. When you looked up, you saw two Abyss Mages—a Pyro Mage and an Electro Mage. "That must be the welcoming committee. Abyss creatures don't usually wander in here," he noted, sending a few bursts of cryo from his fists towards the two beings.
The Abyss Mages disappeared into their barriers and teleported down. Now, the Pyro Mage was in front of Wriothesley and the Electro Mage in front of you, both of you standing back to back. "Well, they shouldn't be a problem. It's just those barriers that are annoying," you said, summoning your metallic fans.
The two creatures attacked simultaneously, and you and Wriothesley countered their attacks with your own elemental strikes, creating an elemental reaction against their shields. "The shields are down, this is our chance!" the Duke shouted, unleashing a barrage of ice at the Mages now on the ground. You struck a few poses with your fans, as if performing on stage, and hurled water at the ice, freezing the two beings. Wriothesley then shattered their frozen forms with a powerful punch.
After they were defeated, you noticed a black crystal on the ground where the Mages had dissolved. "What's this..?" you wondered, reaching out to pick up the crystal.
"Wait, don't touch that! It's the dark energy that infected your sister!" Wriothesley warned. But before you could grab the crystal, a massive tremor shook the ground, causing you to lose your balance. Wriothesley tried to catch you, but you slipped from his grasp by a hair's breadth and were swept into an underwater current.
Before Wriothesley could jump in and rescue you, the whirlpool twisted, likely due to another force—possibly your own attack—and you resurfaced, swimming to the ledge where Wriothesley was kneeling, his hand extended. "Are you okay?" he asked after pulling you up.
"Yes... just a bit soaked and cold... Where did that earthquake come from all of a sudden?" you asked, noticing a crack in a wall where you had previously reached a dead end.
"Someone seems to want us to take a specific path..." he murmured.
"So it's a trap."
"There's only one way to find out," the Duke said, and the two of you continued on your way.
The two of you had no idea how long you'd been wandering through these canals, but your tired limbs made the search more difficult. Moreover, you were so drenched that the cold began to take its toll on you. You rubbed your arms for warmth until you felt something warm draped over your shoulders. You looked beside you and saw that Wriothesley had placed his jacket around you.
"Sorry, I should have taken better care of you. Hopefully, the jacket helps a bit; it's not very thick," he said. You snuggled into the jacket, inhaling his scent that clung to the fabric.
"This isn't your fault! Thank you, but... it's quite cold down here. Doesn't it bother you at all?"
Wriothesley grinned slightly at your question. "Cryo, my dear," he replied, and you laughed softly.
"I see."
It took a little longer before the two of you found an alcove that looked somewhat livable. Someone had probably used this place as a hideout. Perhaps your sister..? Maybe you would find some clues, and the break was much needed for both of you.
While searching the room, you noticed Wriothesley sitting on the floor, looking through some soaked papers scattered in front of him. You couldn't help but reflect on your time with him and all the kind things he had done. Plus, the stories you had heard from Navia and Neuvillette about him. One question kept nagging at you: what could he have possibly done to end up as a convict in Meropide?
You gathered your courage and decided to ask. "Wriothesley, if you don't mind me asking...How did you end up in Meropide as a prisoner in your past?"
Wriothesley paused, looking up from the papers with a thoughtful expression. "It's a long story," he began, then sighed. "Let's just say I made some choices that were necessary at the time, but not everyone agreed with my methods."
You could sense there was more to the story, but you didn't push further. Instead, you nodded, understanding that some things were better left unsaid. The silence between you two was comfortable as you both continued to search for any clues about the strange creature or any other signs of what was happening in the canals.
“Wriothesley?” you asked after gathering the courage to address the subject.
“Hm?” he hummed in response, his attention still focused on the reports detailing various unsolved cases archived in Fontaine.
“You once told me that you’re not honorable because you have blood on your hands... and that you were once an inmate of Meropide... Did you... kill someone?” you asked quietly. Wriothesley stiffened slightly and let go of the paper he was holding.
“Yes.”
His admission surprised you. It seemed he trusted you enough now to talk about it. “How did it happen? I just can’t imagine you killing someone without a reason.”
“...”
“Who did you kill?”
“My foster parents.”
“Oh...”
An uncomfortable silence settled between the two of you, neither daring to speak or look at each other. Eventually, Wriothesley broke the silence. “I was an orphan and was adopted by a noble family. My foster father and mother presented the image of a perfect family. Besides me, they adopted other children—my friends, my 'siblings' with whom I grew up on the streets. When we got older, we were given to... larger families who were supposed to take us in. And my 'parents' would adopt new children. They seemed like such good and kind-hearted people, I thought back then,” he began. As he spoke, you turned to face him. He was still sitting on the floor, looking down at his hands. His voice was not as calm and composed as usual. Clearly, he hated talking about his past.
“Then I found out that we were just being raised as... 'livestock',” he said, causing your eyes to widen. “When we reached a certain age, we were sold as laborers on a black market for human trafficking. All the children who had left the household back then... I never saw them again. No one knows what became of them. And the children who couldn’t be sold... were 'disposed of'.”
“Disposed of?!” You covered your mouth in shock, not wanting to imagine what he meant, though it was clear.
“It’s so ridiculous when I think about it now. Back then, I thought I was an extremely lucky child. And so did every one of my siblings. And I wasn’t the only one or the first to uncover the cruel secret of our parents. But just like the 'useless' children, those who discovered the secret were also silenced. Forever.” You grew quieter and sadder as he continued to share his story. “My parents wore such fake smiles as they treated us children like livestock. They didn’t care about us for a single second. We were always expendable to them. And they didn’t care what happened to the children. But I did.”
You nodded slightly. “So you killed them to stop them from selling more children and hurting anyone else...”
Wriothesley nodded. “Yes. I killed them and freed all the children in their care. I didn’t want them to ever lay a hand on anyone again, traumatizing them or worse. I was charged with my crime and served my sentence. Then I swore to make Fortress Meropide a place of rebirth. To show everyone who had chosen a wrong path the way back into the light and help them become better people,” he explained, closing his eyes. “But I am far from being an honorable man.”You remained silent after his words, clutching his jacket tighter around yourself. "Even less do I have the right to see the world above Meropide in all its beauty," he continued. You stayed quiet, and suddenly, Wriothesley heard footsteps behind him. Without looking up, he felt arms wrap around his neck and a head rest on his shoulder. Kneeling over him, you hugged him tightly, pressing him closer.
"That's not true. Wriothesley, you haven't done anything wrong. You eliminated monsters who would have continued to abuse and sell countless more children. You saved your siblings and every orphan in Fontaine. And you accepted your punishment and served your sentence. What's more, you now help others who have strayed from the path of justice. Everyone in the fortress looks up to you... and not just because you're in charge. But because you run this place not like a prison, but like a large community where everyone helps, works, and supports each other. I've heard that many even choose to stay and help after their sentences are served. There's no one more honorable than you, believe me, Wriothesley. But you need to let go of your past demons to accept yourself," you said, closing your eyes. Wriothesley also closed his eyes, and instinctively, his head leaned against yours.
"My... demons," he repeated, feeling your arms tighten around him. Silence settled between you again as you remained in this intimate position. Wriothesley allowed himself to be enveloped by the warmth of your embrace, and you could feel him slowly relaxing under your touch.
Suddenly, he shifted in his seated position, pulling you forward onto his lap in the process. You were slightly surprised by his action and instinctively wrapped your arms around his neck. The dark-haired man buried his nose in your hair, holding you close. It was only then that you realized how lonely he must have been—a lone wolf on his endless path of desolation. The more you got to know him, the more you were amazed at how well the lyrics of your most popular song fit this man.
"Thank you for your words," he whispered after a while. You smiled and gently stroked his back.
"It's just the truth, Wriothesley. You do so much for the people in Fontaine. More than anyone else. Your calm and composed demeanor reassures people, making them unafraid of your position. And you show them that you're on their side, that you want to help them. So never say again that you have no honor. You are the most wonderful person in all of Teyvat," you said the last sentence so quietly, but from Wriothesley's noticeable stiffening, you knew he had heard it. When you looked up, you saw his cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and his mouth was slightly open. You then realized what you had said and bit your lip.
Embarrassed, you turned your gaze away from him and looked to the side until you felt a finger under your chin, gently turning your face back towards him. You swallowed as you saw how close his face had come to yours. "It's so strange," he whispered.
"Huh?" you asked softly, closing your eyes as he leaned his forehead against yours.
"I feel so comfortable in your presence," he continued, and you felt a tremendous warmth swell in your chest.
"I feel the same way. It's as if we've known each other for years," you added quietly. Wriothesley hummed in agreement, his hands gently and absently stroking up and down your sides.
"Yes, it feels that way. Like you know me inside and out."
"Isn't that so? With everything I've learned about you? I bet very few people know about your past. You don't like talking about it, do you?" you asked, enjoying the feel of his fingers on your sides. Wriothesley let out a small chuckle, and the vibration in his chest made you laugh softly as well.
"How true. I don't even know what's wrong with me. This feeling is completely... foreign to me," he admitted, pulling back from the forehead touch to look directly at you. Your cheeks flushed again, and you gazed deeply into his cool eyes, which were now filled with empathy.
"Me too... But... I enjoy it," you admitted, closing your eyes as you felt his lips lightly brush against yours. Wriothesley closed the distance between your lips completely, and the two of you fell into a long and tender kiss, as the world around you seemed to fade away.
You bothgot completely lost in your kiss, only pulling apart when you needed to breathe. As you opened your eyes, you saw that Wriothesley's cheeks were also flushed. "Sorry... I'm not usually so... forward," he apologized, feeling slightly foolish for his actions. But as he tried to fully detach from you, he felt your hands on his cheeks and your lips pressing against his once more.
The second kiss was more demanding, no longer held back on either side. Wriothesley placed his hands on your hips, pulling you closer. You let out a gasp, which he used to open your mouth and let his tongue explore. A battle for dominance ensued, one that Wriothesley clearly won. But there wasn't much time to celebrate his victory as they had to part again to catch their breath. They looked at each other and laughed softly before embracing.
"Are you throwing yourself at any random vagrant, dear sister?" A cold and disdainful voice shattered the idyllic atmosphere. The couple abruptly separated, shifting into defensive stances. Your sister stood casually against a wall on the other side, clearly disgusted by the romantic scene.
"It seems our target has come to us. That saves us the trouble of searching these canals," Wriothesley said, taking out his handcuffs and casually twirling them on his fingers.
"Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not here to surrender. My mission is simple: eliminate the Duke of Meropide. Then Tarana will grant me the power to wipe out all the inhabitants of this filthy planet and cleanse Teyvat of this plague," [S/n] said, firing several Cryo bullets that turned into small ice blades aimed at you and Wriothesley.
"Tarana? That's a name I haven't heard before. Is that who manipulated Guillaume to infiltrate?" Wriothesley growled, shattering the blades with his mechanical combat gloves.
"That's none of your concern; you're going to die soon anyway," [S/n] replied, leaping into the air to prepare a massive attack. A vortex of sharp ice blades and icy wind formed, materializing a weapon: a halberd. The icy wind rained down on you and Wriothesley, and you clutched your chest where your heart was.
"What's happening to me...? I feel... a deep bitterness inside me..." you murmured, looking to Wriothesley for help, who seemed momentarily disoriented. Then he shook his head.
"Don't inhale the icy wind! It clouds your mind," he warned, rotating his fists in front of himself and you to fend off the attack.
"Too late. Once my Cryo-infused bitterness enters your system, it will slowly destroy you. You'll feel what I have felt these past years," Your sister said monotonously, slowly walking toward you.
Wriothesley stood up and created a Cryo shield around himself and you. "I have Cryo too, so your little trick doesn't work on me. [Y/n], take my hand," he commanded, his voice and gaze instantly gentler when addressing you. You nodded slightly and took his hand, feeling the cold of his Cryo element flow from his hand into your body. "It numbs whatever she injected into you," he explained, watching as [S/n] rammed her halberd into the ground before her, creating a new ice shield.
"You don't want to cooperate? Fine. I'll bring down the entire canal and bury Fontaine in rubble," she snarled. Wriothesley's eyes sparkled, and you didn't notice him let go of your hand. His movements were swift, faster than the human eye could catch, and he was suddenly in front of your sister, gripping the hand that held the halberd. With a powerful kick to her stomach, [S/n] released her weapon and was pinned against the wall by Wriothesley, who held both her arms above her head.
"Not while I'm alive. [Y/n]!" Wriothesley called behind him. "As you can see, my hands are full. Can you help me with the arrest? My handcuffs are on my belt," he said with his typical grin. You had been silent the whole time, overwhelmed by how well he had handled everything, and nodded slightly as you ran toward them.
[S/n] tried to fight back with kicks and bites, as well as creating small Cryo needles. The needles grazed Wriothesley's face, leaving some bloody scratches, but he seemed unfazed. Nor did her kicks deter him. When you finally reached them, you took the handcuffs and placed them around her wrists. Once secured, Wriothesley let go of her arms and smirked triumphantly. "Phew, thanks. A bit longer and she might have freed herself."
"Ha, as if these stupid handcuffs could hold me!" [S/n] snarled, trying to break free.
"Oh, they will, don't worry. Or have you forgotten your first arrest?" he asked, and your sister growled angrily before being led up by Wriothesley, with you following close behind.
At the surface, you were greeted by Taisaki and Hiroshi, who quickly asked for a situation update. After explaining everything, Hiroshi gave his superior a thumbs-up. “Super fast and efficient! Just what I expected. ...Miss [Y/n], are you hurt?” he asked, approaching you.
“Huh? I didn't really fight.”
“But there's a red mark on your neck. If that's not blood... wait... is that a HICKEY?!”
Hiroshi's statement and subsequent whistle were so loud that both you and Wriothesley turned red and looked away, while Taisaki ensured that your sister was securely taken into custody. Hiroshi crossed his arms, grinning. “I suppose that's not what it looks like either?” he asked teasingly, but was met with embarrassed silence from both of you.
When it was time to say goodbye, Hiroshi and Taisaki went ahead, leaving your behind with both of you. Wriothesley wanted to personally escort her back but also wanted to say farewell to you without the siblings' teasing comments.
“Our mission together ends here,” he said, scratching his cheek, unsure of what to say. You nodded slightly.
“Yes, I’m glad we... or rather, you, prevented something worse from happening,” you nodded, then looked at your sister. “And I'm also glad we got to see each other again, even if the circumstances were far from pleasant,” you continued.
Your sister looked away. “Spare me the sentimental babble. I'd rather never see you again,” she murmured. Wriothesley closed his eyes briefly and was about to leave with your sister.
“I will come to visit you in Fort Meropide, I promise,” you said. [S/n] turned around, looking annoyed.
“Who says I want you to visit me? Weren't you listening to me?” she snapped.
“Who says I was talking about you?” you countered, shrugging. You then walked past your sister and pulled Wriothesley by his tie into a brief, gentle kiss on his lips. “Is that okay?” you asked.
Wriothesley returned the kiss and then looked at you amused. “Of course. It’s a nice change to have you visit me instead of me sneaking up to see your performances,” he replied with a wink, making you blush again.
“Y-You really only came to the opera to see me?”
“What else?” he asked, lifting his hand to stroke your cheekbone with his thumb. You nearly melted under his charm, suppressing a lovesick sigh.
“Tch, get a room,” Your sister commented, growing more irritated by the second. Wriothesley chuckled.
“Well, if we get the chance next time,” he began, leaning to whisper in your ear, “we can use the Love Hotel services as intended.” His words sent shivers down your spine, and when he pulled back, your face was flushed a deep shade of crimson.
“Oh, may I then return the favor for the hickey?” you replied, giving him another kiss goodbye. “I can’t wait to see you again, my Duke,” you whispered against his lips. Wriothesley released your sister to place his hands on your waist, pulling you close for a brief embrace.
“Then don't keep me waiting too long,” he breathed back, his lips lingering tantalizingly close to yours until a call broke your trance.
“Duke, the ferry won’t wait much longer! We need to go!” Taisaki called from a distance, and with a sigh, you and Wriothesley separated. He brushed a stray lock of hair behind your ear and gave you one last wink and smile before he moved off with your sister. You watched him until he was out of sight, smiling as you placed your hand over your heart. This warm feeling enveloped you completely, and you were determined to visit him as often as possible, to deepen this blossoming love.
END
EXTENDED ENDING
(Warning, the following content is a little steamy but not too explicit.)
Sigewinne hummed happily to herself as she walked to Wriothesley's office with a small tray holding a cup of tea. The Duke always enjoyed his tea after lunchtime and the head nurse brought him a cup every day. However, this time she had been a bit too eager with the timing and appeared much earlier than usual.
"Duke, your tea- Oh! Miss [Y/n], I didn't know you were here!" Sigewinne you happily. You were apparently sitting on the Duke's lap. Wriothesley looked up from his pile of papers and smiled.
"Ah, the tea is coming earlier than expected today. Thank you very much, Sigewinne," he said and saw out of the corner of his eye how you trembled slightly from his body movement. You had clenched your fists and seemed restless which made him smile.
"Ah yes, I have another important patient coming soon for their routine check-up - Miss Avice."
"Is everything okay with her baby?" the Duke asked.
"Yes, no complications! It will be born in two months...Oh Miss [Y/n] are you feeling unwell? Do you have fever? You look so pale," the little Melusine remarked while putting her paw under her chin looking worriedly at you.
You smiled and shook your head. "N-No everything's fine," you spoke with slight trembling in your voice which grew Sigewinne's concerns.
"Oh, I think a cup of tea would surely make the charming lady feel better. Would you please get another cup?" Wriothesley asked in his charming and calm voice. Sigewinne smiled and nodded.
"Of course! Right away!" she said before leaving the office again. Once the door was closed, you let out a soft moan and rested your forehead on his shoulder as you felt him twitching inside you.
"I'm sorry. She never brings the tea this early," he apologized and kissed your forehead gently. You pouted slightly and lightly hit him on the shoulder.
"That's the last time we do something like that in your office," you spoke, to which Wriothesley chuckled softly.
"That was your idea - making my boring work more pleasant with your warmth~"
You’re content is so cringe and literally nobody thinks William would ever act that way. How old are you anyways?? Your probably like 12 or something. Sherliam>>>>>>>> you’re content (William is gay and it’s really homophobic that u ship urself with him) anyways sayori challenge go!! Kys bitch
I would rather you not question my age when you can’t even use the right “you’re” and “your”. You literally messed up with that like three times lol. (Pro tip: You’re is an abbreviation of “you are” and your is used for possession)
Also I’m not going to share my age because the internet is a scary place but I’m guessing you’re either a 13 year old who has a strange superiority complex over people younger than them and fails to realise how truly young they are or a grown ass person who has nothing better to do than bully a random person on the internet.
Sherliam, although well liked by the fandom, isn’t canon and sometimes people forget that. William is also not canonly gay and is currently unlabelled, therefore it is perfectly acceptable to not ship sherliam. And I don’t ship myself with William, I just write content for self inserts.
To think you need to send me an ask that tells me to kill myself while being ANONYMOUS (really unoriginal with the sayori joke) shows just how obsessed you are.
Is it just me or are almost all of the bsd men would be terrible boyfriends? Lmaoaoa- who do you think would actually be a good boyfriend? I'd like to believe in Ranpo but I kinda doubt it💔
Ranpo would be the most terrible boyfriend - well, maybe you love kids and childish behavior of course. Because dating Ranpo would mean you don't need children anymore. You already babysit one, loool.
Actually, I think there are a few boys who would be quite good boyfriends.
Atsushi for example, I know he has zero experience in that area, but I don't view this as a minus. I think he would be the cutest boyfriend, always trying to make you happy and always make time for you. Of course, his bad habit of overthinking and overreacting could ruin some moments, but give him some time. Once he'll feel secure and trusted enough, he'll stop worrying.
I think Kenji would be a sweet boyfriend too, though he may be less experienced than Atsushi actually and I kinda view his common sense as young Son Goku from DBZ:
So, maybe not the best at first.
I think Tanizaki is a good match too, if you let out the fact that his sister has a creepy obsession over him.
and don't forget about Chuuya. He may be a mafia member, but he would treat you with the most respect ever possible.
But now when I think of it, I would nobody consider a suitable boyfriend. But that are just my expectations right? (and my expectations are just that he is romantic and kind)
Is the anime “Yakuzas way of babysitting” good? I just finished “The Way of the house husband” it was so funny!
It's quite good. The characters are awesome and between the funny and wholesome scenes, there are also hints of a real mafia themed anime and really good paced stuff.
If you enjoyed the house husband, you will enjoy this anime aswell!
I love SnA, but I am afraid its been years since I watched it and I am not up to date with the manga and stuff. ^^ though I remember how some of the characters personalities were.
Could you make an nsfw with sigma scenario?? like he's a soft dominant and then you sleep cuddled with each other very affectionately. i love your writing <33
Hello there thank you for your interest, but due some circumstances NSFW stuff is limited to commission work only (though its just like 5Dollar for a 3k oneshot with your OC and other ppl want 40 for 1k words..).
If you (or anyone else) is still interested in commission let me know :)
hi! sorry for mistakes if there are, english is my second language :)) soo i'd love some hcs?? or maybe even scenario, idk as you want! with... chuuya! and dazai (or only chuuya))) with a s/o who is like TOO shy, afraid of kisses and hugs, but really loves all this stuff (and them of course!) at the same time... and just doesn't know what to do. how would they react? id really like nsfw too, when it comes to intimacy yk👀 s/o wants it!!! badly, but.. afraid again. hehe sorry im weird))
Hello there, thank you for requesting.
I already wrote many hcs of the boys with a really shy S/O, I can link you the posts.
Shy s/o in lingerie
Shy tsundere
Chuuya with a very shy s/o
S/o (shy) stepping in the boys changing clothes
Chuuya let you meet his friends, but you're shy
Dazai with a shy s/o
More Dazai with a shy s/o headcanons
even more Dazai with a shy and blushy s/o
Chuuya with a shy s/o that accidently say they love him - scenario
Chuuya and his shy s/o celebrate valentines day
Chuuya with a short, extremely shy s/o
Dazai and his shy s/o meet for the first time
Flirty Dazai asking his shy crush out
Chuuya x extremely shy s/o oneshot
I hope that feeds your shy thirst a little :)
Hi uwu! I would love a stage or headcanon (your choice!), For poe, on how his s / o calls him on the phone and tells him I forgot his lunch, so to speak, * something romantic? * If it wasn't too much trouble! And I love your writing. Is incredible!
Thank you very much my dear, it gotten really quiet in the fandom, so I am glad it’s not dead yet.
It’s been quite a while since I wrote something in english, so I hope my english is not rusty. I’m sorry if it is ;-;
Edgar Allan Poe
Ranpo and Poe had an investigation together to solve a crime scene. That was not bad, you thought. It was awesome to see them work together and Ranpo not earning the whole fame alone (usually he asks Poe for help and then he claims that he didn’t needed help at all), but you also feared that Poe may have some trouble around so much strangers. He was still really shy and adorable, but in that case it could be troublesome.
You hummed quietly while cleaning the desk where you ate lunch alone, since your sweet author husband left early to help Ranpo. You didn’t minded eating alone, well not exactly alone. Karl was with you. Usually Karl never leaves Poes side, but Poe felt too bad leaving you alone, that he made Karl stay and keep your company. He was such a sweet and caring husband, sometimes you wonder how you deserved such a pure soul like him..
Karl seemed to be a bit nervous today though, since normally he sleeps after being fed. But this time he continues to run around between your feet and his nose nudged you several times, until you followed his movements. Then you understand why Karl seemed so restless.
“Oh.. Edgar forgot the bento I made him.. He must be quite hungry.”, you sighed and decided to bring him his lunch. Then you remembered something. “Mhm he didn’t told me where he went exactly. I better call him and ask him.”, you spoke to yourself and dialed his number.
[With Poe]
Poe was about to tell Ranpo his conclusions for the investigation, when his phone started to ring. He shrieked slightly from the sudden noise and scratched his head in embarassment when he stopped talking,
“I’m sorry.. it’s [Y/n.. ... Hello? Ah.. ah.. no you don’t disturb me.. You know you never would be able to.. huh? I forgot my lunch..?” Poe stopped tumbling over his own words and looked into his belongings. You were right. He thought he packed the bento you made, instead he packed an empty one.
Ranpo silently followed Poes chat with you with little to none interest, he crossed his arms and yawned.
“Oh no no no.. you don’t have to bring me lunch, [Y/n].. it’s fine.. I don’t want you to see how it looks here.. it’s kinda.. gross..” Poe mumbled, wanting to say that it’s quite bloody and chaotic over here and he would never forgive himself if you get a trauma from seeing dead bodies.
“Ah.. I’m fine, I’ll buy something. No, really. Y-You are.. too cute. I’m..-”
Ranpo ended Poes stuttering and grabbed his phone. Poe looked at him in shock and embarassment when Ranpo started talking.
“Actually I am hungry too. If you don’t mind to bring me food too, I would prefer sweets. I message you our location. Alright, thanks.”
Ranpo smirked and threw the phone back to Poe, who was completely shocked and speechless.
“Now, until they arrive, how about we end this boring case?”
Ummmm just wondering where can I read the bed manga? 🥺 I want to read especially the beast one but I can’t seem to find any website... TT Anyway, it’s great if u know! If u don’t, it’s okay! Have a nice day!! :D ♥️♥️♥️
As far as I know it’s not a manga itself, it’s a light novel, with just a few illustrated pages.
I haven’t looked for it either, I just read the summary in the BSD Wiki and saw some illustrated pages on tumblr.
So, I am not a big reader either except for mangas, so I really hope it gets animated one day. Because I am not that a big fan of live action movies either (though FMA and Black Butler weren’t bad)
Wow. I start to understand why the Beast AU Light Novel is so popular. I didn’t knew it was an alternate universe with Atsushi being Port Mafia and Akutagawa being in the ADA.
Damn, I need to read this and I want an anime for it!
Beast!Gin is such a beauty, oh my gawd
I can’t imagine someone like Atsushi being a ruthless killer for Port Mafia. Though it makes sense, he wasn’t able to control the tiger before he joined the ADA. And afterwards he was only able to control him because of Fukuzawas ability. Without it, his tiger is dangerous and maybe Dazai uses him because of that?
Because.. let’s be honest, Atsushi looks like the old same cinnamon roll he always was.
