Remember that you are a omniversal being that can shift realities just by the mere change of your awareness. Remember that you are NOT held captive within one reality, no not even this one. Understand your infinite power, your infinite being that is existing across all realities, dimensions, multiverses, the ommiverse, and so on.
Break free, break free from the indoctrination of this society. Break free of the chokehold of limitations!!
Do NOT let the matrix you were born into hold you back from your DR. Don't let your OR or CR hold you back or define the limits of your DR. Do NOT let people dictate what you script! Do NOT let bloggers tell you if your DR is or isn't a good place for you to be in! Do NOT let shift to spread their falsity to you! Do NOT forget you are pure consciousness not attached to any mind, body, universe, dimension, or even multiverse!
Identify with the true you, pure glorious consciousness that is free. That can shift anywhere. That can shift to be anyone, do anything, have whatever they want.
Open yourself to the multiverse. Recognize your infinity. Your godliness. Your divine oneness with every reality. Existing everywhere, being everything, partaking in every event, all at once.
Trust in the knowing that failure is a mere lie. That your fears, do NOT and will NOT ever be able to stop you. Only YOU can. NOT the world. NOT people. NOT limiting beliefs. NOT methods. NOTHING! Only YOU.
Stay focused on your goal!! Wake up and realize your infinity. You have the power to shift to and live in the exact reality you truly desire to be in. Keep your gazes on your truth. Your desired reality.
“get out your guns, battles begun, you a saint or a sinner?”
“You’re our last hope.” The familiar sentence rings in his ears.
“My son, the time has come. Your land waits for your return. Now reign upon them and show them that the people of Khaenri'ah will forever live on.'' The loud voice of his fathers echoed in his head far louder than any other times he’s heard it.
Along with it rang a sick mixture of cheering and cries of agony. Those who were bestowed with kahnrriahs downfall, their cries ring in his ears as the cheers from the fallen army encourage him to push foward.
Kayea’s always been afraid of it, terrified of himself. Disgusted.
He knows he has to choose a side, over the place where he’s from, his homeland, or the place that accepted him with open arms, his home right now, where not only those he holds close reside, but you aswell.
Now is the time he must choose, to fight for his fallen nation, or to become a sinner of the one who welcomed him in.
“If love's a fight, then I shall die, with my heart on the trigger.”
He was so afraid, he tried to push you away but you pushed yourself closer every damn time he did.
You knew he was hiding something, something he was too scared to talk about, too scared to tell you about. He only shouldered the burdens of the past on his own two shoulders despite you telling him countless times to share the burden because he didn’t have to be alone anymore, with you he didn’t.
He mentioned it, hinted at it here and there when he would joke around. Sometimes his questions and jokes sounded so light and airy but the look written on his features was screaming at you to notice the true meaning behind his words, and you did.
Though he didn’t tell you everything at once, about who he really was, where he was from, about his fallen land and the people that fell with it, you didn’t think any different of him. You know a day will come where he truly tries to push you away because of it but you won’t allow him to make such a decision. Because even if he does try, you will only stick closer by side even longer.
The Kaeya you know and love is him and him only, you know his past haunts him and you want nothing more than to help him, help him realize he isn’t bad, it isn’t his fault, it’s not all on him, and he isn’t alone.
So when he finally tells you the truth, he fully expects you to up and leave. To see the same look of betrayal written on your features and the look of disgust that Diluc wore that night but he sees nothing of the sort.
Though he’s the one who told you if his past he’s the one rendered speechless. He can’t help but be shocked at how you only held him closer, how you gently held him as he told you his fears and guilt from his past. As he clung to your shirt for dear life as the tears finally slid down his face, past his patched eye and down onto your hands that only wiped them away without a second thought, archons he felt so undeserving.
He told you, warned you a day would arise. One where he would have to choose one way or another, he doesn’t know how it’ll happen but he warns you that when the day does come to leave him. To let him go so you won’t be dragged down along with him down the path of sinners, but you’ve assured him you were a sinner yourself, you told him you weren’t perfect and you’ve don’t things that’ve stained your white clothing and to never tell you to do such a thing because you won’t leave him, especially not after he’s trusted you with his past.
When you are on your way home from work you hear commotion from afar as you enter the city gates of Mondstadt, your legs making you walk towards the noise curious as to what was causing it.
You quickly pinpoint the direction it was coming from, The Knights of Favonius headquarters. You immediately made your way up the steps, each step getting quicker as it soon turned into a sprint .
A sick feeling sets in your gut as the shouts of the people become clear, making you scan the crowd as soon as you reach the outside of the headquarters. The words “traitor” and “spy” were being screamed at by the citizens of Mondstadt over and over. You didn’t see the one person who your eyes were desperately searching the perimeter for, making you instinctively summon your weapon.
You felt sick as you pushed your way past the angry mob, you needed to find him, now.
“We should’ve never put our trust in you! You’ve betrayed us! I should’ve known better than to trust someone like you!” An elderly woman shouted, fist clenched as she raised it up to the front of the crown making your head shoot up to see who she was yelling at, though deep down you already knew who the comments were against.
“It’s not true is it? Captain would never betray us!” One of the younger knights shoved another as they argue, more commotion happening as seconds passed
Your eyes land on the main person they're screaming at. The person who has a look of terror on their features as their eye met yours from across the crowd. You begin to shove your way through to the front, weapon drawn in hand he only watches in horror as he thinks you are part of the angry mob. That you’ve chosen their side over his and his heart shatters as he sees you desperately shove your way forward. You’re going to strike him down, just like Diluc did the day he told him about his true self.
But only does his heart sink even more when you make it to the front and throw yourself in front of him to stop any incoming attackers, he only watches as you point your weapon back at the people you grew up with for his sake. As you stood your ground and stood in front of him to prevent anyone from hitting him any further than they have. You stood in front of him, though he pleaded with you not to, you did just like you promised you would.
“They say before you start a war, you better know what you’re fighting for.”
“Y/n?” You hear him call out to you from behind, his voice sounded so weak, defeated, and hurt. Nothing like the Kaeya you know and love.
“Y/n, p-please don’t you don’t have to do this I-“
“No, I can and I will. No discussion needed, they have no right to call you such names and if they dare point their weapons at you I have no shame pointing mine right back at them.” You assure him, standing taller and glaring at the people in front of you as they spewed more false accusations and unnecessary comments.
His mouth hung open a bit, he can only look at your small frame not shielding him much, but still trying nonetheless. But not only do you stand alone no, shortly after you arrived some of your most trusted companions and friends, family Kaeya’s made through his time of living in this foreign land that he’s come to call home.
Jean, Lisa, Bennet, and razor stood in front of him along with you, shielding him from the people who dare go against him.
“How dare you spew such nonsense, you know nothing about his past let alone what he’s been through!” You speak up, cutting off the unnecessary words behind thrown at him. Making the man and woman standing in front of you halte at you. “He’s protected you for so many years, yet you think you have the right to say such things to him over somerumors? Shame on you all. I will not back down to anyone who dares go after him as if they even want so much as touch a hair on him, they have to go through me first!” You threatened, eyes narrowing as you drew your weapon closer to you as the crowd inched closer.
“baby, you are all that I adore. If love is what you need, a solider I will be.”
Though various names were being thrown around, he was almost attacked by multiple citizens he’s made bonds with and peoples views on him may have changed he can only watch in a daze.
He knew this day would come sooner or later. How information of his past got leaked is besides him, he truly doesn’t know who or what gave that information and he can’t bring himself to care at this very moment, he just can’t believe his eyes.
He’s always believed he was destined to be alone, to never have anyone to call his own, to call his home. And though he found peace here, a home to “temporarily” call and some friends that became more like family, he seriously thought you’d all turn against him like everyone else, because that’s what he deserves, so he tells himself so.
But he is guarded by his most trusted companions, he’s guarded by you, his love, his home. Alongside you were his other loved ones standing tall in front of him, protecting him, weapons drawn ready to strike down anyone who tries to hurt him.
“I’m an angel with a shotgun, fighting till the wars won, I don’t care if heaven won’t take me back.”
Let it all be damned, they’d have to tear you to shreds if they wanted even get near kaeya. Their Cavalry captain, your Cavalry captain, your Kaeya. It made you furious at how they turned against him so quickly, they no nothing of what he’s been through yet they throw such hurtful names at him.
“I’d throw away my faith babe, just to keep you safe. Don’t you know you’re everything I have?”
If you truly had to leave it all behind you would, without a second thought. You knew the second he opened up, his walls came down and he showed you, told you, the truest parts of himself that you’d do anything to stay by his side. No matter the costs or measure’s you’d have to take. You knew he’d be opposed to it aswell but for once he needs to let himself be the one getting taken care of instead of always caring for others.
The people he’s kept safe for years, the city he’s protected, if they thought for a second he was actually a bad person than shame on them. You know, just from looking at him you knew he’d never betray Mondstadt like he feared he would. You knew he wasn’t the monster he made himself belive he was all these years, if he was he would’ve betrayed Mondstadt years ago, not stay here and protect the people of this land, not now that he genuinely cares so much for the elderly and children of this city. So you chose him, you chose him just as he chose you and everyone else in this dammed city because you know he wouldn’t hurt anyone let alone betray anyone in the place where he was raised.
“Dammed traitor! I can’t believe I put my faith in a coward like you! TO THINK A TRAITOR WAS PRETENDING TO BE ONE OF US! YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!” A middle aged mad shoved you aside, causing you to stumble a bit. Kaeya immediately outstretched his arms, getting ready to pull you away and behind him from anyone who dares touch you but you caught yourself before you stumbled back.
Why? What’s going on? Why are you willing to go to such lengths? They won’t look at you the same, it’s ok if they hate me but not you! Kaeya’s head rang with so many questions. He just couldn’t understand. Why would you or anyone else ever stand up for him? “Why are you all doing this? There’s no need to go this far for me, you shouldn’t even-“
“One last warning!” You speak over Kaeya cutting him off before he could finish. You already knew what he was going to say and you didn’t want to hear him say it, not now, not ever.
“If anyone dares go against Captain kaeya, you have to get through me first!” You declare, drawing your weapon up to the man before you. Bennet and razor nod their heads along as they block a few people that tried cutting in.
“Captain Kaeya is not what you say he is! His background doesn’t matter! Where he’s from shouldn’t matter either! So what if he’s from another land! He belongs here just the same, maybe even more than any of you would!” Bennet shouted, his voice cracking ever so slightly. He felt overwhelmed, angry at the people who dared to call the man he looked up to such names.
“Kaeya is part of lupical, lupical is important to Razor! Kaeya protects lupical so Razor protects Kaeya!” Razor slammed his claymore on the ground to scare away a group of young knights from throwing anything at kaeya.
“Sorry captain but we’re not leaving you alone.” Bennet held his head high, taking a deep breath as he sent a sheepish closed eye smile to Kaeya, trying to hide his red eyes and angry tears so his Captain wouldn’t have to feel bad for him crying.
“Knights and Citizens, don’t interfere with us. I do not want to take any unnecessary measures but if you keep threatening Captain Kaeya I have no choice but to put you in your place.” Jean shouted, standing her ground as she kept people on her side at bay, no one wanted to go against grand master Jean, as she did not want to go against them but if she was provoked she’d have no other choice.
“My my, you guys actually think your two cents in this situation matters? You know nothing of what you spew so I’d say watch you mouth before zi teach you manners and to learn how to think beofre you talk.” Sparks of electricity zapped around you, Lisa was getting fed up with everyone’s shouting, she wasn’t one to be out in the front lines let alone be one to really draw her catalyst but she couldn’t let this go on any further.
“We’re not leaving. I’m not leaving, if they have a problem with you then it’s my problem too. We’ll get through this together,” you walk back until you feel your body hit his, his hand immediately wrapping around your arm, instinctively pulling you closer. “Together we’ll always be with you, ok love? No more shouldering everything on your own, you have me and I’ll fight for you until the end.” You glance up at him and the look in his eye speaks more than a thousand words. He looks relieved, scared but relieved nonetheless. He knew his secret was out but the fact that you, his love and his other close companions were here standing with him because you believed him him, you knew he’d chose you he’d choose Mondstadt, his home. It made him feel free, like a bird out of a cage.
The moment of relief was short lived as the flames of a scorching eagle flew past the crown making everyone go quiet. The blazing flames of retribution slightly burned the citizens’ skin.
Your body tensed once again as ready yourself, steady your feet on the ground as you raise your weapon up once again knowing exactly who’s flames those belong to. You felt Kaeya’s hand drop from your arm only to see him standing in front of you now in a blink of an eye as he stared at the man who was staring right back at him from the top of the steps across the entrance.
“Master Diluc.” An old man whispers out.
“I-It’s master Dliuc!” Another citizen says a bit louder.
“He’s here! He’s come to our side! Surely master diluc will put captain Kaeya in his place!” Citizens now cheered as they saw the familiar mop of red hair at the other side of them.
Diluc took a step forward, the crowd surrounding you cheered louder, urging him forward, even going so far as to make a clear path directly to Kaeya.
Kaeya’s shoulders tensed, he stood still, breath getting caught as he saw Diluc take another step. Flashbacks of the night of Crepus’ death came back, it was happening again, they were going to fight again, Kaeya didn’t want this, he didn’t want to fight his brother. He swore that night that if Diluc truly wanted to fight again he’d let himself get struck down, but now he’s in a predicament. As you are standing directly behind him, he made that promise to himself before he met you, but now he has someone to fight for, to protect, so as long as you're behind him he won’t let himself. He knows if push comes to shove he'll have to get you out of here before things get too ugly.
Kaeya and you weren’t the only ones tense though, Jean, Lisa, Bennet and Razor all froze. They only stared as Diluc made his way closer, not knowing what to do, what to prepare themselves to do.
Dliuc drew his claymore, his steps picking up as he dragged the claymore behind him, making his way up to the man of the hour. He was furious. The crown only urged him on further making his blood boil.
The heat emitting from his body was unnatural, only normal for those who wield pyro visions to handle.
Bennet and Razor were torn, each step Diluc took made them shake with uncertainty. Both young boys respected Master Diluc and Captain Kaeya, they never wanted it to come to this, they don’t want to see them fight.
Diluc’s eyes were locked on Kaeya’s as he walked closer, neither of them dared to break contact, unsure of what would happen next they were both wary. Kaeya only pushed you back a bit more, just in case, his hand hovered over the hilt of his sword.
In the blink of an eye, another burst of flames surged around you all, heat prickled your skin as Dliuc raised his claymore in the air and slammed it down into the ground below him, making everyone go quiet again.
Everyone froze, shocked gasps and sighs of relief were heard around you. Your eyes pried open again, the heat much more immense than earlier as Diluc was standing directly in front of you, directly in front of Kaeya.
His claymore cracked the ground beneath him as it seethed itself a few inches between the concrete. His glare much more intense than normal as he looked down at the crown below him, daring them to say something, waiting for someone to do anything.
Kaeya’s grasp around you eases up, he had grabbed onto you ready to evade Diluc’s attack earlier but all for nothing as Diluc stood in front of him, shielding him from the people calling him names.
“Those who dare oppose the Knights. Who dare accuse Kaeya of such acts and who dare go againt any of us, I will shown no mercy.” Diluc cleared his throat, making it known to the citizens just who’s side he was on, just who he would protect.
Kaeya didn’t think the day would come, truly didn’t think he’d see Diluc ever protect him, let alone stand up for him in such a situation as this.
“Are you just going to sit there and wait for a fight to break out? Or are you going to put them in their place and tell them what’s really going on Captain?” Diluc kept his voice low, not bothering to turn around and look at the shocked look written on his younger brothers features.
“I think they deserve an explanation but they can’t go around saying nonsense either, are you really going to allow them to ruin you reputation? Stand tall and put your foot down. You’re the Captain of the Knights of Favonious for goodness sakes it’s about time you use that title properly.”Diluc spoke up a bit louder, no one dared to even whisper too scared to do so as they didn’t want to see what would happen if they did.
Your hands wrap around Kaeya’s arm, urging him to speak up for himself, to clear things up properly. “You’re not alone my love,” You smile at him, relief taking over you again as Diluc now stood on your side.”Just explain to them what’s going on I’m sure most will understand. We won’t leave you Kaeya, we’ll all be here. They’ll understand.” You assure him, nodding you head in the direction Diluc and the others were at showing him just how many people believe in him, how many people do trust him.
“And I want to live, not just survive. tonight.”
For once he can let himself think of a future he’d never thought he’d have. One where he resides here, with his close friends he’s made thought the years, the citizens he’s come to love protecting and most importantly you, you were his home. If the citizens of Mondstadt allow him to continue to protect them he would. Though many may see him different and many went against him today he can’t bring himself to get angry or mad at them, insead it makes him more assured of his answer now. As he steps around Diluc and finally is face to face with the citizens once again he hopes they understand as he explains his situation and why he did it, and as no names were behind thrown and the looks of disgust and betrayal they all wore before we’re gone he has his answer for sure. He’d chose Modstadt over his homeland any day just as they had once chose to accept him when he had first arrived.
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authors note: hellooo lovley people!! SHSHSHHS THIS IS MY DEDICATED BIRTHDAY FIC FOR KAEYA!!! \（*´▽｀*\）ohmygosh the way this has been sitting IN MY BRAIN FOR MONTHS I mean monthss- It is inspired by my favorite song from when I was younger called “angel with a shotgun” by the cab HDHDUDU MY HEART this song brings back MEMORIES! I remeber hearing it again earlier this year and it just fit so well with my Kaeya please I had to write it for him MY HUSBAND SKRUNKLY BABY DESERVES SM LOVE I CANT omg ahhh I’m going bonkers bc I finally wrote it lol!!ahh okokok sorry for the long rant lol I’m posting this early bc I do work on his birthay (the 30th) and I wanted to make sure I got it out before so here it is hehehe!! this piece was very fun to write out I love this song and Kaeya sm (I don’t think it’s obvious enough heheh) so it just makes me really happy (ㅅ´ ˘ `)♡ I do hope you all enjoy! <3333
.ೃ࿔*:･ 「 𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐬. 」 gn reader, reunions, established relationship, fluff, Beidou lifts you up and spins you around at one point.
You’ve been counting. Every second, every minute, every hour. Too long since you’ve last seen her, since you’ve watched her sail away from the port. Each wave that crashes against the docks of Liyue harbor easily reminds you of Beidou and makes your heart ache. Salt and seawater only remind you of her; of her touch, of her voice. Of her lips, that taste of whatever drink she’s had last. A sigh escapes you. Wistful, is all you can think to describe yourself. Hopeful, maybe.
The route you take through Guyun stone forest is a familiar path, one you could navigate in your sleep. The sun is still rising for the day when you reach the entrance of the cave and head in. Here, after a brief walk, is a small cliff that juts out to face the ocean that gives you the perfect view of the horizon (and of the Alcor, should she be sailing your way.) The flora and the crystal flies that hang in the air give the place an etherial energy. Adventurers come by to challenge the nearby domain, so they keep monsters away, though they hardly ever bother you.
In the past, when you grow restless for Beidou’s return, you find yourself coming here. It’s easy to pass time, to take a breath of fresh air, and to hope you’d see the familiar prow in the distance.
Summary: How many Akademiya guys does it take to figure out whether or not you've friend-zoned Alhaitham? After discussing how strong he is, Kaveh, Cyno and Tighnari analyze his relationship with you. Things get interesting when you join their table.
Other info: fluff and humor :D, female reader, my extension of the conversation in Alhaitham's character demo because I loved the guys' interactions there so much
Words: 2.7k
*****
"Essentially, more time on contemplation, less time on execution," Alhaitham tells them. "Simple, isn't it?"
"... Not really," Tighnari and Cyno reply.
"Ugh, I knew I shouldn't have brought this up with you," Kaveh complains.
"I thought my answer was quite engrossing," Alhaitham says. He raises his hand. "Boss, this is good wine. I'll have the same please."
Kaveh swirls his cup. "Well, he has at least one weakness," he comments.
"Do tell," Cyno says.
"He's had the same crush for years," Kaveh tells them. "The guy's completely smitten."
"You can't be serious," says Cyno.
"Why is that so surprising?" Alhaitham says. "It makes less sense that I wouldn't be attracted to her."
"See what I mean?" says Kaveh. "You should see how he is around her. He practically treats her like a queen."
"I have a hard time believing that," Cyno says, crossing his arms.
"Stop exaggerating," Alhaitham tells Kaveh. "I just treat her the way she should be treated."
Kaveh only laughs at his answer.
"I thought you didn't like social interaction," says Cyno. "Or had any friends for that matter."
"It's not tiring to be around her," he says. "She's different."
"Of course she is," says Kaveh.
"Well this is interesting," says Tighnari. "What is she like?"
"We've known each other since we were kids. She was mature for her age. She did things like helping me resolve issues I had with others to keep the peace, making sure other kids didn't bother me while I was reading… Also, comforting me whenever I got discouraged…"
"You? Discouraged?" Kaveh scoffs.
"Yes? I'm only human you know," Alhaitham simply replies. "Anyway, you get the picture."
"That seems reasonable," says Tighnari.
"So it's one-sided?" Cyno asks. "As far as I can tell, you're still single."
"No," says Alhaitham, crossing his arms. "It's not one-sided."
"You're kidding me, right?" Kaveh says. "Are we even talking about the same person?"
Tighnari raises a brow.
"Every time she introduces him to another woman, she's a little too obvious with sharing why they'd be good for Alhaitham," Kaveh explains, "as if she's trying to sell them off to him."
"Don't be so dramatic," Alhaitham says. "She's not selling anyone."
"If that's the case, then why are you sure she likes you?" asks Cyno.
"Well for one, she comes by often to check how I'm doing."
"Perhaps she simply thinks you're incompetent at your job," Kaveh chides.
"Two," he continues, ignoring him. "She's always willing to hear about the latest book I'm reading, no matter how boring others think of it."
"Hmm…" Tighnari mumbles. "I can understand that."
"And three…" Alhaitham puts down his cup. "Whenever she reaches out for my hand, like when she wants to comfort me, she stops short of actually holding it."
"She does?" asks Kaveh.
"Interesting. So it seems that while she does display some sort of affection for you," says Tighnari, "perhaps she just didn't want you to get the wrong idea."
"So you're doubting my conclusion?"
"I'm simply saying it's difficult to judge based on the evidence you've provided. We may need to observe the two of you for ourselves."
Alhaitham sighs. This isn't going anywhere.
"Does she have any reason to not want to date you?" Cyno asks. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were overly critical of her, commenting on her every action."
"I give her nothing but compliments. She knows I think very highly of her."
"Huh," Tighnari says. "That's quite unexpected."
"I've been telling you guys," Kaveh says, "but he's really something else around her."
"Is she… actually older than you by any chance?" asks Tighnari.
"She is."
"Hmm… Well this changes things. Perhaps, she still sees you as a kid and is simply just doting on you."
Kaveh turns to Alhaitham, eagerly waiting for his reply.
Alhaitham clears his throat. "She's less than a couple of years older than me. It's not a big deal."
"Just admit that you're friend-zoned," says Kaveh. "Who'd treat their love interest like a kid?"
"I'm not so sure…" Cyno says.
Both Kaveh and Tighnari raise a brow.
"I think that Alhaitham has a clearer picture and can judge more accurately than any of us. They've known each other for long enough."
"It's just his wishful thinking on his part," says Kaveh. "Who wouldn't want to read into their crush's actions?"
"I agree to an extent," says Tighnari, "but perhaps we're missing some crucial information here. We don't know how well Alhaitham can judge a person's actions when romantic feelings are involved."
"This is why you aren't getting anywhere," Kaveh scolds him. "You're assuming she has feelings for you when she doesn't. You still need to win her over."
"Then what do you suggest I do?" Alhaitham crosses his arms.
"Ha. As if I'd help you. She could do way better than you anyway."
Alhaitham groans. Why is he even part of this conversation?
"Well, have you ever told her how you felt?" asks Cyno.
"Of course," replies Alhaitham. "I'm pretty obvious about it."
"For someone as reserved as you, I highly doubt that," Cyno adds.
"I wrote her a letter, eloquently expressing my love for her."
"Pfft. What?" Kaveh snorts.
Tighnari stares in disbelief. "Oh. I get it. You did that when you were children."
"I'm referring to the one I gave her yesterday."
"Pfft."
"That's… pretty obvious," Tighnari adds.
"I bet it was more of an essay than a love letter," Kaveh says with a smirk.
"Well, in that case, she either doesn't like you," says Tighnari, "or there's something that prevents her from admitting her feelings."
"Perhaps she's intimidated by your position," suggests Cyno.
"It's unlike her to care about those things," Alhaitham says. "She even treats me like a kid at times."
"So you do admit she just thinks of you as a kid," Kaveh says.
Alhaitham doesn't answer.
"Honestly, this case is closed," Kaveh continues. "There's nothing more to it."
"Hmm... Have you tried to make her jealous?" asks Cyno.
"You're still not convinced?" Kaveh is surprised at him.
"Knowing the result of that would likely draw us closer to a conclusion," Tighnari adds.
"Why would I purposely try to hurt her?" asks Alhaitham.
They exchange glances. Alhaitham still had the ability to make them go speechless with his matter-of-fact tone.
"Well, he's definitely serious about her," says Cyno.
"I told you," Kaveh says. "Seems like she's the only person he'd open up to as well."
"Of course she is," Alhaitham replies.
"I wonder…" says Tighnari. "Has she ever shared her own struggles with you?"
"Why would that be a factor?"
"Well, that would display how comfortable she is around you."
"Hmm… Not bad…" Alhaitham seems to agree with his line of reasoning.
He goes quiet and uncomfortably so because the other three exchange awkward glances at each other in the meantime.
"Well?" Cyno breaks the silence.
"You may be right," Alhaitham tells Tighnari with a sigh. "But that certainly raises more questions."
"Can we just start playing Genius Invokation TCG?" asks Kaveh. "We just keep going in circles with this topic."
"So you guys did just drag me out to play cards," says Alhaitham.
"It would be interesting to meet her," says Tighnari. "It's gotten me curious."
"Same here," says Cyno.
Kaveh looks up at the tavern entrance. "Huh? She's actually here."
Alhaitham's eyes flicker open for a brief moment. "Nice try. I'm not falling for that."
"I didn't expect to see you here, Alhaitham," you say, ruffling his hair.
He freezes and the three of them take a closer look at his face.
"I never expected him to have that kind of expression," whispers Tighnari.
"Me neither," Cyno agrees.
Alhaitham clears his throat. "They simply invited me here for some cards," he tells you. "Nothing more."
"Can I join?" you ask.
Without question, Alhaitham gets up from his chair. He holds the back of his seat and slides it out, gesturing for you to take it.
Cyno and Tighnari widen their eyes.
"Is it just me or did that feel kind of odd?" says Tighnari.
"Coming from him? You're not wrong there," adds Cyno.
You hesitate for a moment before you accept his kindness and take his seat. He stands next to you, waiting for the other guys to start preparing the game.
The two onlookers feel slightly uncomfortable for some reason while Kaveh tells them another round of 'I-told-you-so's. There isn't anything out of the ordinary as you all take your turns playing each other. Cyno is intense as usual, not just with his tactics but also with how he approaches the battle like an interrogation. Tighnari was calm and collected even under pressure, and Kaveh spoke his mind with every move, regardless of whether it's his or his opponent's. But having you there with Alhaitham is… strange.
Nothing really happens of significance. The two of you treat each other well and with respect. Just having Alhaitham being a complete gentleman around you is unnerving for the rest of them. Curt responses and sarcastic remarks are absent. He's completely agreeable with you and his usual temper isn't there either. Everyone plays the game in peace.
"You should save that card for later," Alhaitham tells you. "He can't do anything for the rest of the round anyway."
"Hmm… I'm not quite sure if that's what I want to do yet," you respond.
"Alright," he says. "You should do what you think is best."
"This guy…" Kaveh turns to you. "How do you get him to be like that? If it were any of us, he would've scolded us with a lengthy explanation about how we'd lose if we didn't follow his exact instructions."
"What? She can think for herself."
"And none of us can't?"
"I'm already familiar with how the three of you play and where you go wrong. I want to see if she does anything differently."
"It seems that he really does only compliment you, huh?" Tighnari tells you.
"Why would I do otherwise?" Alhaitham states.
His straightforward remark stuns them once again.
"Okay, we get it," says Kaveh. "We all know about your huge crush on her."
"Seems like you can't say anything bad about her even if you try," Cyno comments.
"Of course I can."
"You can?" you ask.
The whole table looks at you funny. You fiddle with the cards in your hand, pretending you weren't shocked for a split second.
"Interesting," says Cyno.
Alhaitham crosses his arms. "What is it?"
"I'm keeping my observations to myself for now."
Alhaitham raises a brow, but lets it go for the meantime.
A few rounds go by and you help set up for the next. When Alhaitham picks up a die for you from the floor, your hand brushes against his and the die falls off the table once more.
"What's wrong?" Alhaitham asks as he picks up the die again. "You're not usually this clumsy."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with me," you say.
He takes a closer look at you and you avoid his eyes. "Alright," he says. "You still ready to play?"
"I'll need to head out soon," Tighnari says. "It's my turn to be on patrol for tonight."
"Hold on," Cyno says, placing his cards on the table. "One last round. I'll be your opponent this time," he tells you.
You finish setting up the game and test your skills against Cyno. He certainly doesn't make it easy for you. You fall behind pretty quickly, but at least he's not as intimidating as when he played with some of the others.
"So," Cyno says, "what do you think of Alhaitham?"
Your eyes widen at his sudden question.
"You're straight up asking her?" says Kaveh.
"Why not?"
"I guess he has a point," says Tighnari.
They turn their attention to you to see what you'd say.
"Well…" you say, "he's very intelligent and talented."
"No, not what everyone else says," says Cyno. "What you think."
"What do you think you're doing?" asks Alhaitham. "Are you interrogating her right now?"
"Just let her answer the question."
"Well…" you say, "he's nice? And sweet?"
Cyno raises a brow.
"He's cute?"
"Pfft." Kaveh holds in his laughter.
Cyno ignores him and presses the question.
"I don't know how to respond," you tell him. "We've known each other for so long I can't just sum it up in a sentence."
"Alright. I'll get straight to the point," says Cyno. "What do you think of Alhaitham's feelings for you?"
"I think he should get to know other people… and try dating someone else?"
"See?" says Kaveh.
"I've already told you I'm not interested in anyone else," Alhaitham says.
"No, you should listen to her answer," Cyno tells him. "She's not lying."
"What?" Alhaitham widens his eyes.
"I'm not done yet," says Cyno. "There's more." He turns to you. "How serious do you think Alhaitham is about you?"
"He's definitely sincere."
"I'm pretty sure that was obvious," says Tighnari.
"But you don't take his feelings seriously," Cyno tells you.
"It's not that. It's just…"
"You don't?" asks Alhaitham.
"Alright. It's your turn from here," Cyno tells him.
"But I thought I was clear," Alhaitham tells you.
"You were."
"Apparently not clear enough."
"Look. You used to follow me around like a duckling whenever you weren't reading a book," you tell him. "How was I supposed to take your crush on me seriously?"
"It's been more than a decade since then."
"I... Okay, fair enough," you concede. "But it would disappear once you learned I didn't live up to your expectations."
"What expectations?" Alhaitham raises his brow.
"I don't know. That I'm this perfect woman that you've been pining for more than half your life. You'd know I'm not so great if you'd actually try liking someone else."
"Is that what you've been telling yourself?"
"You never say anything bad about me."
"Why would I want to talk about your flaws? Especially when I've been trying to win you over," he says. "Besides, aren't they obvious to you?"
"What?" You're genuinely surprised. "Like what?"
"Like how stupid you're being right now."
You freeze.
"Besides, I've been around you long enough," Alhaitham continues. "There's plenty I don't like. Like the way you cut me off at times–"
"What?"
"–or your atrocious style–"
"Okay, that one hurt a bit–"
"–or how stupid do you have to be to keep asking Kaveh for money –"
"Alright. I get it."
"–or that time you–"
"Okay! I get it! You like me!"
Kaveh looks at you as if you've grown another head. "How did you come to that conclusion? Are we even listening to the same conversation?"
"I think she's finally realized that his feelings were deeper than she initially thought," says Tighnari. "Especially since she knows that Alhaitham is still objective with her and not blinded with infatuation."
"That's right," Cyno says. "She's been the exception to his behavior for a long time. It makes sense she would think his judgment would be clouded with the information she had."
You hide your face from them. It's embarrassing how they read you like a book once your guard was down.
"I didn't expect the solution to be so simple," Alhaitham says.
He slips his hand into yours and you let out a little squeak. "You've also been wanting to hold my hand for some time haven't you?"
"Ugh. You're all smug now because you know that I return your feelings."
"I also don't like how you rearranged my bookcase."
"You can stop now."
"I think it's time for us to go," says Cyno.
"But we haven't finished our match yet," you tell him.
"I'll just forfeit this one."
"I'm with you on that," says Kaveh. "Anything before they start being gross with each other."
"I guess this is a good time for me to head out as well," says Tighnari.
The two of you are suddenly left alone at the table with a bunch of dice in front of you.
"Well, that's one way to win a match," Alhaitham tells you. "I'd say it's pretty ingenious actually."
You simply groan. You know what's coming.
"Do you want me to help you win every time?"
"Please don't."
*****
I hope you liked it. :)
This is one of those fics I wish had inline commenting like on Wattpad. I would've loved to see how everyone reacted at certain parts in real time but unfortunately Tumblr doesn't have that.
Anyway, you can find links to my masterlist and taglist on my pinned post if you want to check out more of my writing.
based off of that moment in the archon quest. wc 2.8k, fluff, spicy/suggestive. warnings: kissing, it gets heated, there is a bed. also kabedons. MINORS DNI please.
It all started when he asked you to follow him to a more secluded location to continue your conversation.
Alhaitham isn’t exactly nondescript. With a lean, muscular and tall stature, a head of gray hair that you wanted to touch as soon as you saw it, and an outfit that verges on dramatic, you’d be hard-pressed to believe that anyone who laid eyes on him would forget it quickly. Sure, he wears the colors of the Akademiya, but you don’t think that’s why you felt numerous pairs of eyes watching when you greeted him at Wikala Funduq.
This makes it all the more intriguing when you realize that this man is no ordinary scholar, Vision aside. He has a tendency to only answer questions he likes, he can intimidate troublemakers with a few words, and he holds his cards very close to his chest.
“Listen, you don’t need to tell me your secrets if you don’t want to. But I think I have an offer you’d regret refusing.”
He raises an eyebrow at your suggestion, a thoughtful quirk to his lips. “Is that so? Let’s take this somewhere else then. Even the walls have ears.”
At the very least, Alhaitham appears to be a man of his word. He agrees to the deal, you uphold your end of the bargain, and you receive the results you ask for within the week. In fact, it’s such smooth sailing that you propose another deal, and he accepts with only a few questions about logistics.
With time, this odd relationship, full of give and take, hidden within code words and furtive conversations, begins to eat away at you. Because of course you aren’t the only one who notices when the two of you meet.
The young girl who works the front desk at the inn you are staying at asks you about the “handsome man who walks you home,” fingers twirling her hair. You inform her that regretfully, you only know as much as the Akasha will tell either of you. The food vendor who sells your favorite lunch set asks if you’re seeing someone, with an obnoxious wink that makes you snort and shake your head. Even the Eremite who handles commissions gives you a curious look every time you walk into Wikala Funduq, but he probably knows better than to ask about anyone Alhaitham meets. As you have personally witnessed a few times, the silver-haired man is quite the intimidating force when provoked, both physically and psychologically.
Perhaps you've grown closer to him after sharing meals a few times and fighting back to back in the occasional scrape. But to the outsider, the two of you are just acquaintances who happen to collaborate occasionally in your lines of work. Maybe even friends, if you count the number of times he's quietly snorted at a stupid joke you made or the relief you feel when you feel a touch on your shoulder and turn to see it’s him.
But none of that explains the current position you find yourself in, back pressed firmly to a wall, body boxed in by a very familiar pair of arms.
“Please, explain to me again why we’re doing this?”
You hiss at Alhaitham, who doesn’t look away from the open air market the two of you are monitoring from the shadows. Instead, he places the pad of his left thumb against your lips, and you fight the strange urge to bite it. Rolling your eyes, you grasp his hand and pull it away from your mouth.
This time, Alhaitham had asked you to join him on an information-gathering mission. Apparently he needed to look inconspicuous - which you noted gleefully that he certainly wasn’t, not with that attire. To your surprise, he agreed and asked for your help. Which brought you to this vibrant bazaar, full of people and goods from all over Teyvat. Surely, if you needed items to help this visually striking man change his appearance into one that the casual passerby would glaze over, this would be the place to find them.
Of course, wherever the two of you go, somehow trouble always seems to find you. You had barely spent thirty minutes browsing when Alhaitham nudged your arm. “We need to leave.”
“What? We just got here!” You frowned at him, but the look in his eyes combined with the underlying tone in his voice told you he wasn’t joking around.
“Fine, but I’m not done here.”
Alhaitham tugged you into the shadows of a tree at the edge of the bazaar behind a building. Heart racing, you barely managed to catch your breath before his arms obstructed your line of vision. Cue your current situation.
The sound of numerous boots hitting the stone pavement jerks you out of your reverie. Despite feeling rather confused about why the two of you are hiding at a bazaar, you trust that Alhaitham has a good reason to not want to be seen by what sounds like the Eremites. After all, he could easily take them in a fight if that was all that was needed.
Then a single pair of boots comes closer, and your heart jumps into your throat as it rounds the corner. Any second, they would be on to you - and Alhaitham leans in with a rough whisper.
“Pretend to kiss me.”
As the clattering approaches from around the building, you quickly throw your arms around his neck, sliding one hand into his hair as he presses into you, his face mere hairwidths apart from yours, breath warm on your cheek.
Then you hear the boots stop and some awkward coughing. Knowing they might try to pull you apart and interrogate you, you decide to just go all in and discourage them from sticking around.
Lifting a leg, you hoist it to rest on Alhaitham’s hip as you rake a hand through his hair. To his credit, he quickly catches on, lowering a hand to catch your thigh, moaning loud enough for the guard to hear. It resonates deep in his chest against yours, and you swear your heart quivers. The feeling of his breath against your lips as his other hand slips around your waist briefly makes your mind blank out, overwhelmed by his sudden proximity, everywhere and all at once.
When he gently rests his forehead against yours, you finally snap back into focus and let out a shuddering moan in response, letting him crowd you against the wall as you trace a hand up his broad back.
You hear a loud spluttering, then the sound of boots pounding away from you. Neither of you miss the muttered “youths nowadays” that echoes off the pavement, and you both shake with silent laughter.
Then you realize he’s still very much in your personal space, his breath fluttering against your nose, his hand burning under your thigh. As if he just realized as well, Alhaitham quickly lets go of your leg, and you both avoid looking at each other for a long moment. What do you even say at a time like this? Hope that wasn’t too bad? Did my breath smell? Was my leg heavy? Who are you hiding from and why?
You decide to stick with the last question. It feels the most safe to ask in the unspoken tension that now hangs in the air between you two.
But as soon as you open your mouth, Alhaitham shakes his head. “I can’t tell you right now but it’s related to the mission. Are you still up to the task?”
Giving him a confident smile, you rest your hands on your waist. “Of course. I gave you my word.”
Dusting yourselves off, the two of you quietly return to the bazaar to quickly wrap up shopping, deciding to move independently for the sake of time. Neither of you talk about what just happened.
Two weeks later, you are walking through Port Ormos, arm in arm. With the disguise you put together for him, it’s almost impossible to recognize the man under the brown wig. You hope the loose clothes will be enough to obscure his build.
You’re trailing a man of interest. As you watch from a distance, the portly man enters the tavern and you follow him in after a few minutes, arms linked. Alhaitham tugs you away to a nearby corner, sitting on the side closer to the man’s table.
As you place your order, you notice the suspicious man looking around carefully, eyes darting all over the tavern. Alhaitham leans in and whispers in your ear as you look down, avoiding the man’s eyes as they skim over your table.
“You see, the man’s wary of who might be listening in - but not of a young couple sharing sweet nothings with each other.”
“I bet he would never expect you to be canoodling here,” you murmur back with a chuckle. He snorts and grasps your hand resting on the table, letting you slip your fingers between his.
“And that’s why I asked you. From his point of view, we are too busy being enraptured with each other to even spare a glance for him.”
True to his observation, Alhaitham and you spend the time undisturbed as you furtively observe the man. An Eremite comes in to speak with him for a while, and Alhaitham nods at you to continue whispering as he listens in. It feels awkward at first, holding a one-way conversation while trying to appear like lovebirds. You can’t help but tense up whenever the two men shift in their chairs, but Alhaitham squeezes your hand and you refocus.
After reaching some kind of conclusion, the Eremite nods and leaves. The man you were following stands up soon after, and the two of you quickly huddle to hide your faces as he makes one last visual scan of the room before exiting. Letting out a quiet sigh of relief, you head out to follow his tracks.
But as soon as you step outside, it starts to pour - heavy rain that splatters mercilessly onto the now dark gray pavement, threatening the integrity of your shoes.
“We won’t be able to track him in this rain, but he also won’t be able to make his move today. Let’s call it here.”
“You sure?”
Alhaitham nods and turns to you. “I got plenty of information today, so don’t worry about it.”
“Then why don’t we have dinner and regroup? We didn’t actually eat anything in there.”
To your pleasant surprise, he raises an eyebrow with a small smirk. “The one who gets the most wet pays.” And with that, he races off into the rain.
“Ugh - not fair!” You rush off after him, protesting at his unfair methods as you do your best to hop between store fronts and overhanging trees for brief amounts of shelter.
Thankfully it doesn’t take too long to arrive at your inn, and you wring your clothes and hair briefly before heading in. Alhaitham is leaning next to the door, looking rather pleased with himself.
“Well, well, someone certainly got drenched out there.”
You roll your eyes and enter the inn, letting him close the door behind you. “I’d say the exact same about you.”
Alhaitham watches as you speak to the girl at the front desk, apologizing for the mess and asking about dinner. He should be worried about his disguise slipping, the humid rain making his hair stick to his forehead uncomfortably, his shirt clinging to him in all the wrong ways, his shoes squelching with water. But he can’t help returning your smile as you beam at him, hair in your face, offering him a towel and describing the menu for tonight. Another reason to be thankful for rain, he muses.
At the landlady’s urging, he is ushered upstairs to bathe and refresh himself. It isn’t long before the two of you are seated in your room, dishes piled precariously on your table. You both eagerly dive in - the landlady’s food is always delicious, even more so after a bath.
“So.”
After the dishes are cleared, the day’s events reviewed, an uneasy silence falls between you. Your foot taps quietly on the floor, your eyes dancing about the room. Alhaitham has been around you long enough to know your body language is practically screaming nerves at him, and it makes an odd feeling curl in his stomach that the Akasha has no name for.
“What is it?”
You finally look right at him, eyes burning with a determination he doesn’t know the reason for but it punches him in the chest, demands that he pay attention.
“We need to talk about… this. That time at the bazaar.”
The words spill out of your mouth, thick and heavy. He bites the inside of his cheek at the memory, your fingers in his hair, the warmth of your body against the cold stone wall. His stomach swirls again, and he swallows.
“I couldn’t let them see my face or they’d know I was in the area and likely aware of their current dealings.”
You sigh loudly at this, leaning back into your seat and staring up at the ceiling. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Then what are you talking about.”
Something in you must have snapped, because you shoot up from your chair, march around the table, and grab the collar of his shirt.
“How about now? Still have no idea?”
Alhaitham shakes his head with a frown. “I’m afraid you’ll have to explain.”
“Ugh, you-!” You let him go and let out a breath.
“I’m sorry.”
You stare at him incredulously, and he frowns again.
“Really, I didn’t intend for it to go so far, it was the only thing that came to mind. I apologize for saying this so late.”
“Oh.” But instead of looking appeased, your countenance clouds and your lips twist in a way he’s never seen before. “So you didn’t mean to. An accident. Of course.”
The hurt dripping from your voice turns his insides sour, and he knows he has to fix this.
You turn away, moving toward the door when he calls your name. Despite yourself, you pause, one hand outstretched for the doorknob.
“What?”
“I’m sorry I gave you no choice at the time. But just because I didn’t mean for it to happen doesn’t mean I regret it.”
You turn around slowly, hand falling back to your side.
“You don’t regret it?”
Alhaitham looks squarely at you, and you know he’s not lying.
“No. Do you?”
He stands up from his chair, walking toward you, and you can’t look away. But he pauses a few steps away from you. Your choice this time - to move toward him or leave and not come back.
“Not at all.”
You breathe out and promptly grab his collar, tugging him forward. He quickly follows your touch, a hand on the small of your back pressing you closer as he captures your lips. Your body feels like it’s burning up, the way you taste each other again and again as if you both had starved for days, gasping for air in between until your back hits the wall.
“Is it me - hah - or do you have a thing for walls?” Your chest heaves against his, arms now around his neck, and his eyes glint as he cups your face in his hands.
“Only yours. Is that a problem?”
“Only if you don’t believe in beds.”
Chuckling, Alhaitham catches your legs as you cross them around his waist, leaning in for another kiss as he walks to the awaiting mattress. He moves to set you down but you tighten your legs, resulting in him tumbling onto the bed next to you with a soft grunt.
You laugh giddily at his surprised expression, pleased at your successful stunt.
“So that’s how you’re going to play, hmm?”
Before you can think, his tongue is tracing your lips, pressing into your mouth, hot and wanting. Your grip tightens on his shirt, the soft fabric crumpling between your fingers. You know he’ll probably scold you for it later, but you can’t bring yourself to care when his calloused fingers are climbing a ticklish path up your back, making you shiver.
Then he pauses, reaching forward to tenderly brush a thumb across your cheek. “Are you sure about this? It’s not too fast?”
You smile and press a soft kiss to his jaw. “It’s perfect.”
Alhaitham sighs in relief, pressing his forehead to yours. “Archons, I adore you so much.”
You squeak, and he blinks in confusion at the sudden sound, making your face burn.
“I - I just realized that we didn’t exactly… talk about it just now. I like you too. Very much.”
To your pleasant surprise, Alhaitham covers his eyes with a hand, but you can see his neck turning pink.
“You will be the death of me, one of these days.”
Snickering, you press a light kiss to his lips. “Not if you get me first.”
“Is that a request?” He moves his hand to meet your teasing gaze.
“Can you handle it?”
He smirks, and you think it’s the most attractive sight you’ve ever seen. “Try me.”
summary You ask your best friend Eddie to give you your first kiss. Eddie's not really in the habit of saying no to you. [4k]
warnings fem!reader, fluff, first kiss, eddie being totally sweet on his best friend, wrist kisses, sharing a bed, eddie reads to you, you hurt your arm and eddie is overprotective/doting etc, unspoken mutual pining, requested here
𓆩❤︎𓆪
"This is way heavier than you implied," you say, words followed by a startled, pained gasp as you lose your grip on the amp and it almost pops your wrist from the socket trying to keep it up.
"Shit," he says.
Eddie quickly shoves the bigger amp he'd been carrying into the back of the van and makes to help you, his fingers pushing into your stomach as he lugs it up into his arms.
"I'm sorry," he says, and for once you think his apology might be genuine. "I forget how heavy they feel at the end of the night."
Your arms ache. You definitely pulled something you didn't mean to, a sharp pinching pain climbing from your wrist to the crook of your elbow. "Eddie, I think I hurt myself."
He shoves the last amp into the van and doesn't bother closing the door, turning back to you with a concerned grimace. "Yeah? Your wrist?"
He holds his hand out and you extend your arm, wincing. He's tentative, taking your wrist in one hand while the other grasps your upper arm loosely.
"What's it feel like?"
"Like I twisted my ankle, but in my wrist."
He laughs under his breath at your explanation, sweat-damp hair falling into his eyes as he looks you over. "The word you're looking for is 'sprained,'" he informs you jovially.
There's no physical evidence of any injury, not that either of you had expected that, and he has no real reason to be touching you. His thumb smooths over the flat of your wrist.
"How bad is it? Amputation?" you ask, suddenly all drama. You put on a tearful frown and pinch your eyebrows together.
Eddie – who's used to this, who encourages this – nods gravely. "You'll likely never use it again."
"Good heavens, doc. Is there really nothing you can do?" you implore, leaning away from him with your uninjured hand thrown to your forehead.
"Nothing… unless you're willing to undergo the most invasive, painful, gruesome operation any one girl has ever undergone."
"Anything."
"Close your eyes."
You close them, always willing to play these fanciful make-believe's with him. He's charming, it's funny, but you can't say you expect the hot press of his lips against your pulse. If it had been a smacking, playful thing with too much spit you would have laughed about it, but it hadn't been. It's gentle. It's sweet.
He pulls away. You open your eyes to find him lingering, staring at your wrist. A split-second.
"Fixed, right?" he asks smugly.
You take your arm back and curl it towards your chest, twinging with pain. "Definitely. Good as new."
Eddie slams the back doors shut and stretches with a groan, cool night air kissing the shining sliver of abdomen that emerges. He's always sweaty after a gig. You know you should find it gross.
You should.
"Alright, get in the van, sweet thing. It's way past your bedtime."
You laugh and climb into the passenger side, skirt riding up and tights featuring a brand new ladder thanks to some idiot who'd almost broken your leg. You point it out to Eddie as he starts the engine, "Did you see this? S'my last good pair of tights."
He tugs at the ladder and you squeal, pulling your thigh up and over the other so he can't reach it.
"There, they're punk now. Do it on purpose and you're cool," he says sagely.
"Are you staying?" he asks, the question so familiar it doesn't need a proper end.
"Thanks for that."
There's lost minutes of a comfortable silence. You watch the roads change as you draw nearer and nearer to home.
"If you shower first."
He sighs like this is very tortuous of you to ask but agrees. "Yeah, whatever. Always get what you want," he mutters, taking a rough turn that has you gripping your seat. "My bad."
"Learn to drive!" you demand, laughing.
"You learn to drive! Then you wouldn't need a ride every night!"
"Baby," you say earnestly. "Rides to your shows."
He looks at you out of the corner of his eye. You turn to him, perplexed by his uncharacteristic silence. Usually he has something quick to say, an uppity comeback, too witty for his own good and twice as fast.
"What? Wait, don't tell me, you're having a total epiphany right now on why I'm the best friend you've ever had." You nod to yourself, leaning back in your seat with your chin held high. "It's easy. I'm extremely dedicated, I'm sharp as a whip. I'm funny, I'm confident-"
"Humble."
"I'm humble. And obviously very pretty."
He hums to himself. "I kind of hate when you joke about stuff like that."
You blink and drop your chin. "What?" you ask. Weaker than you mean to, your chest feels that heavy weight of an unexpected argument, but Eddie doesn't look angry.
"Because- 'cos I know you don't mean it." He draws his eyes from the road, a familiar stretch of black top leading into Forest Hills, and gives you a well-meaning grimace.
"Sorry, I-"
He clears his throat. "No, don't be. I guess I wished you actually believed that shit. Do you know how many people would come to all of my shows? Listen to the same ten songs, drink the same shitty beer and then help me pack up at the end of the night?" He sounds back to normal. Punchy, a hair's width from incensed. "Nobody but you."
"I'm your best friend," you say firmly. "Of course I'm gonna do all that."
"Right." He laughs and scrapes a hand through his dishevelled hair.
You pull into the parking spot and climb out of the van. You slip like you always do, giggling to yourself as Eddie comes around to roll his eyes at you and shut the door.
"We'll leave it for tonight," he says after he's retrieved Sweetheart, his prized guitar, traipsing up the steps to the front door. "Don't want you straining your poor wrist any further."
You kind of agree. "Or you could do it all by yourself and I'll watch."
"Maybe tomorrow. Are you hungry?"
You ignore his question and waltz straight into his bedroom, throwing yourself down on his rumpled sheets with a harrumph. He puts Sweetheart back into her rightful place and presses a kiss to his fingers. You can't help thinking of the kiss he'd given you, bringing your wrist to your chest where he can't see. It feels the same as it had before, but different. It still aches.
Eddie throws himself down next to you and climbs up over your back, a hand on your shoulder. "Is it still hurting?"
You squeeze it. "Not really."
"Let me see? If it's swollen I could get you some ice. Or, like, a bag of frozen peas. Not that I think we'd have anything that green in the freezer," he corrects himself.
"I don't think they have to be peas to work."
"What if that's where you're wrong? What if we totally need the power of the peas?"
You turn on your back so he can see your wrist. Hovering above you, all his smells and sounds are amplified. The gentle hum as he looks over your arm. The smell of sweat under deodorant, cigarette smoke and something funkier. Then, mixed in with everything, cedar.
When his kind attention on your wrist becomes too much you wrinkle your nose and make a big show of moving away from him. "God, you stink."
"You're fucking horrible," he says, putting your arm down carefully. "I'm gonna shower. Find your pajamas."
"Did you wash them?" you ask as he climbs off of the bed.
"Nope."
You grumble about dirty clothes and search for the pajamas you'd left here last time. Eddie disappears into the cramped bathroom and you can hear every sound he makes, the clipping of bottle caps, even his footsteps moving from the cabinet under the sink and into the shower.
Water sloughs heavily against the glass partition and you try not to listen, try not to think about him and what he's doing and where his hands are.
When he comes in he's in a towel and nothing else. You squeak and pull his covers up past your eyes. "Christ, Eds."
"What? It's my room. I forgot to take clothes in with me."
"You're sullying my eyes."
"Like you've never seen it before."
You scowl. "I've never seen you naked."
"Can you come out? You're being ridiculous."
You hear him go into the bathroom and let the sheets fall from your face, blinking at the sudden brightness. Yellow lamp light bounces of the poster-covered walls, shiny as egg yolk.
He's left the bathroom door open. You peer out into the hallway and then stop yourself, feeling guilty. You don't actually want to see him naked. You're curious.
"Fine," he says as he trudges back in, plaid pants low on his hips. He shrugs into a t-shirt and it sticks to his damp torso, leaving his dark happy trail on show for the second time tonight. "You've never seen me naked. It's not like you've never seen any guy naked."
You feel a tepid mixture of embarrassment and defensiveness. "Who says I've seen a guy naked?"
His eyes are owlishly large, dark lashes not far from kissing his eyebrows as they pinch together. "What?"
You don't repeat yourself.
"You fucked Jerry Mandoza."
"Did not," you say, startled.
"I gave you condoms."
You resist the urge to glare at him. "And you can have them back, if you like. They've been in my nightstand for a year."
"I thought you liked him."
"I did. I just wasn't… ready."
He holds his hands up in surrender. "That's fine, babe. Swear. But, you never told me. Why didn't you tell me?"
He sits heavily at the end of the bed and takes the towel from around his neck, scrubbing ruthlessly at his wet curls.
"That's exactly why your hair gets so frizzy," you chide lightly, climbing on knees to his side. You ease the towel from his hands and are much kinder than he'd been, drying the skin before his hairline and behind his ears and then moving onto his pretty curls.
"He didn't do anything creepy, did he?" Eddie asks. He smells like toothpaste.
You laugh as you wring excess water from his hair as carefully as you can. "No. He was actually really sweet. Said all the right things. He was a gentleman," you drawl dropping the towel back to his shoulders.
"But?"
You sit back and smile at him. "I don't know. He leaned in for a kiss and I just… I got so nervous about it. He closed his eyes and I didn't think, I turned my cheek. He didn't call me for another date. Can't say I blame him."
You're not sure why you never told Eddie that story before. He tilts his head to one side and squints. "Why were you nervous? He was in marching band."
You snort. "It wasn't about him. I guess I was worried my first kiss would be awful."
He rubs the back of his neck with his towel. "First kiss, huh?" he asks.
"Right."
He pulls the towel away, holds it in his lap. You notice his rings are missing, likely still in the bathroom. "I mean, I think you did the right thing. If you weren't ready it can't hurt to wait. And first kisses, they can really suck. Mine, with fucking- fucking Darren Harmon, that sucked. He spit in my mouth so much I think I tasted his dinner from the night before."
You laugh in shock and disgust. "That's gross."
"Tell me about it."
"Why did he spit?"
Eddie brings his legs up onto the bed and his tone is gentle. "Well, when you kiss someone, there's like-" He raises his hands and drops them, lost for the right words. "You know, tongue."
"Is it weird?"
"Sure. Of course it is. But it's really fucking fun, too. Or it can be, if the spit is kept to a minimum." He purses his lips, eyebrows raised. "Actually, spit can be kinda nice if you like the person you're kissing. It's hard to explain."
You spread your legs to fall into a W-shape, hands braced on your knees. "Sorry, I'm not trying to harass you for details."
"You're my best friend. I'll tell you anything you want."
You smile at your legs.
Eddie reaches over to put his hand atop yours. He's leaning toward you, hair falling in his face as he catches your eye. "It's fine. Keep your first kiss for someone you actually like, babe. You'll like it better."
He squeezes your fingers and leaves the room. You can hear him filling a glass of water and turning off all the lights he's left on.
"Did you want anything else?" he asks, offering the glass.
"No, I'm just gonna brush my teeth really quick."
"Take your time."
You take a little bit more than you need to, staring at yourself in the bathroom mirror until your heart is pounding, thoughts coming a thousand a second. Lately, Eddie's touches – his hand around your wrist, his thigh over your thigh, even the thud of his rubber toed converse tapping yours – have become individual events in time. Even when you can't remember the conversation, you can remember his skin on yours. You look at photos from gigs and instead of thinking, Oh, that's the night we made fun of Gareth's new haircut, a truly momentous occasion, you think, That's the night Eddie tugged me by the belt loop. That's when he brushed an eyelash off of my cheek. That's when he leaned in so close I thought he was gonna kiss me.
Even now, the conversation about kisses is fading though you desperately want to remember what he'd said. The sound of his voice slips away. The heat of his fingers curled around yours remains.
You wash your hands twice and don't feel any better.
As if destiny or some higher power feels the need to taunt you, you slide into bed with an amicable handful of inches between your thigh and Eddie's and he totally ignores the gap, sidling up to you with a smile.
"You'll like this," he says, spreading the paperback in his hands open on your thigh. "'A pockmark of matter that can dissolve any light that threatens to eradicate, to nullify, to quantify. An indelible darkness, spreading from one universe to the other, the pristine pages of a tome sullied by a piercing fountain of ink,'" he reads to you, his voice smooth and unhurried. "Guess what she's talking about?"
"Dark matter?"
"What? Keep your astronomy to yourself, dork. She's talking about the Puppet's heart. How sick is that?"
You grin. It is pretty sick.
Eddie's smile grows with yours, though his lips part when he notices something on your face. "You have-" He brings his thumb to your mouth and brushes it roughly, tugging the soft pillow of your upper lip up.
You turn your face. "Jeez. Keep your hands to yourself, Munson."
"Sorry," he says, not sounding very sorry.
"You wanna read some more of your book to me?" you ask. "My eyes are tired."
You lay down flat with one of his pillows smushed under your head and Eddie reads, sitting with his back to the headboard. "'You turn the page and find the ink has eaten into the next page, and the next. The damage is expansive, Dolly says, lifting her chin. But not limitless. Eventually, a page will turn. Eventually, the page beneath remains plain.'"
"I thought Dolly and the Puppet loved each other," you murmur, watching his finger slide up the back of the book.
He gives you a knowing smile. "They did."
"Not anymore?"
"I don't know. He's not the same anymore. He really is evil," Eddie says. "'The Puppet becomes a man of flesh and bone before her, nothing like she had remembered and yet the same. His voice, slick as oil, becomes a malfeasance of sound where before it had been her most treasured melody. And if the tome were sullied to begin with? The Puppet asks. If the darkness subsisted where I only lay my hand?"
"They speak in riddles," you complain.
Eddie shushes you. "'Don't act as though you didn't bring about this war, Dolly says, her voice harsh as tree bark. The Puppet draws ever closer, his wicked grin softened. A puppet once more. I did it for you, he says.'"
You gasp so loudly it makes your throat burn. "He did not!" you whisper-shout.
Eddie chuckles, hand dropping to your shoulder. "He didn't."
"Keep reading!"
"'Dolly refuses to acknowledge his pleading tenor. You did not, she shouts. You created this conflict to become what you wanted to become.
"'Someone you could love. The Puppet places a frozen hand over her cheek. She hits at his chest with the brunt of her palms, hands growing limp as he murmurs. Someone you could kiss.'"
You miss the rest of his reading, eyes slamming shut as if you'd been stuck. You catch small parts. An attempted reunion, a sword tipped in biting silver from the coldest recess of the moon. A short fight, a retreat.
"Are you sleeping?" Eddie whispers.
You swallow. "Almost," you whisper back.
Eddie tosses the paperback onto his desk and pulls the covers over your shoulders and curls toward you. "You should get some rest, sweetheart. It's been a long day."
You nod and turn to him, refusing to open your eyes. "Goodnight," you say, rubbing your cheek against the brushed cotton of his pillowcase.
"Goodnight."
Long minutes of silence. You can feel his warmth beside you like a heating pad under the sheets. You know his hand lies an inch away, if that, his fingers lax. You could stroke the length of his pinky with yours.
As if he knows, as if he can read your mind, a fingertip reaches out to tap yours. "Are you okay?" he asks.
You open one tired eye and lift your face enough to open the other. He looks beautiful. Hair half-dried and flat to his cheek. You reach out to push it from his face slowly. If you were any braver you'd tuck it behind his ear, scratch his scalp lightly with your nails.
"Is it your arm?" he asks.
You drop your hand. "'M just thinking."
"I can't help with that," he jokes, turning his gaze to the ceiling.
You laugh under your breath but even to yourself it sounds odd.
"Do you think you'd ever kiss me?" you utter eventually.
He doesn't answer for a while. Your heart races fast enough that it's all you can hear, like the wind rushing in your ears.
"Is that what you want?"
"I want my first kiss to be a good one."
"And you think it would be, with me?"
"You said to keep it for someone I actually like."
He takes your wrist into a kind hand. Calluses slide over your skin. "I meant someone you have the hots for, babe."
Dangerous territory. Wary to admit anything else, you try to take his rejection with grace. "It's okay if you don't want to. Was just… wondering," you murmur.
He strokes your wrist. "I'll kiss you if you want me to."
"No, I-" You laugh, all nerves and too much blood. "I don't want a pity kiss, Eddie."
"Who said anything about pity?" he says, voice quiet as yours had been and harbouring much less panic.
He pulls your arm like he's encouraging you toward him and you hiss. His grip slackens. "Sorry, I should've-"
"It aches, that's all," you say.
Understanding lightens his eyes. Honey melting into a woody brown. "Shit," he mutters, lowering his head. "I'm sorry." He presses his lips to your wrist in a small kiss. "If it's hurting you should've said."
The words come out hot.
"It…" you drift off as he gives you another kiss. Another.
Close-lipped, Eddie dots pecks down your arm until he reaches the crook of your elbow. He slows and stays. You take the initiative and drop your hand into his hair, stroking behind his ear like you wanted to, like you've wanted to for a while, and shiver as the tip of his nose ghosts against sensitive skin.
He draws away, pulls up, his face much closer than you can remember it ever having been before. You try to breathe normally but the look on his face prompts breathlessness, his eyes steady, bordering impassive. His lips hint a soft bemusement.
He raises his chin. "This okay?"
"This," you repeat, fingers curling into his hair.
Eddie moves in, bringing a hand to your face to guide you to one side. His lips bump into yours and you let your eyes close, overwhelmed by this new feeling. There's a tenderness to how he holds you still, worse when he pulls you in, his kiss hot and soft as water.
He slides his fingertips under your sleeve, palm hot to the breadth of your upper arm. His grip tightens incrementally and you try not to pull his hair in response, your knee hitting his thighs as your body seeks him out.
His lips part against yours and you both suck in a breath before he's kissing again. You try your best to follow his lead, though quickly find yourself a laughing mess as he wraps his arm around your shoulder to pull you close.
"What's funny?" he asks.
You honestly don't know. It's a giddy feeling to be this close, more so when he smiles back and tries to start up another round of sweet kisses, his lips pressing to yours insistently. He caresses the length of your back until you sigh, your open mouth an invitation that he sinks into.
You scrunch the hem of his shirt in your hand when he sucks on your top lip, nonplussed.
Eddie pulls away. Your eyes open in tandem.
You're noticeably out of breath and he isn't unaffected, his chest rising and falling almost as quickly as yours. "So," he says, inhale a struggle though he tries to hide it, "how was that? A good one?"
"I don't know. I don't have anything to compare it to."
"No?" he asks, already leaning in for another.
You weave your hand into his hair and he rubs his hand down your arm until your aching wrist throbs under his fingertips, callused by metal strings and somehow impossibly soft.
"I'm sorry about your arm," he murmurs.
You hope your hum against his lips conveys your forgiveness.
When you've been kissed to the point of dizziness you break it to hide in the space under his chin, breathing in his new smells, his skin, his hair. The remnants of soap; a sharp citrus, mandora awash in something heady.
He pushes his arm under your chest and wraps you up. You hug him back, languid in his hold as he starts to rub your back. Broad, sweeping lines. Your shirt pulls up and he smooths it back down.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," you joke lightly, quickly chased by a big yawn.
"If you're tired, you can sleep," he assures you.
"It was a good kiss."
"Tell me all about it in the morning, okay? Sleep, pretty girl."
You're feeling more and more tired with each passing second. Fatigue hangs heavy and his wandering hands make it worse.
"'Nother kiss in the morning?" you ask, burrowing your face into his shoulder.
He takes a little while to answer, turning his lips down into your temple. "Y'always get what you want, don't you?"
With Eddie? Just about.
𓆩❤︎𓆪
thank you for reading! | my masterlist
if you enjoyed, please think about reblogging! I promise its a big help ♡
note from kin: i am back from my break!!! to honour this return (and also to just get myself back into the writing groove), here’s a sweet little thing based on the idea of returning home at the end of a really long trip
apparently tumblr’s got a problem with new posts and tagging right now, so maybe this wasn’t the best time to start posting again…. but you know what? i’m doing it anyway
(an obey me version of this concept will be out soon as well!!)
“I sure hope they did,” You say cheerfully, watching Paimon zoom around you like an overexcited bee around a flower. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
The Traveller nods quietly, offering you a smile as they set the Serenitea Pot out in front of you with a flourish and lift the lid off. Paimon kicks eagerly at the air, practically shoving you into it. “C’mon, c’mon! Paimon wants to see their faces when they realise you’re back!”
“Alright, alright,” You reply, holding your hands up. “Here I go…"
The process of entering the Traveller’s Serenitea Pot has gotten less jarring the more times you’ve done it, but it’s been so long since you’ve last been over that you’d almost forgotten. You’ve often seen sailors at Liyue Harbour competing to see who can eat the most cubes of mint jelly without using their hands - the feeling of being sucked into the teapot is what you imagine it’d be like to be one of those mint jelly cubes.
Soon enough, your feet land on soft grass. You take a moment to find your bearings, then look around and smile a little. The Traveller’s re-decorated quite a bit since you were last here - they've rearranged practically everything. There’s a new little patch of farmland nearby, as well, with some healthy green sprouts peeking up from the dirt, and tending to them is—
“Adeptus Xiao!!” exclaims Paimon, zooming past you to the yaksha carefully watering what looks like a young Valberry bush. “Look who we brought!”
He doesn’t respond for a split second, apparently far too focused on the bush, then slowly turns his head. You wave at him, while Traveller sets their hands on their hips behind you with a smile, as if proud to be the one escorting you back. As Paimon zooms off to the house, no doubt to let the rest of the teapot’s residents know of your return, Xiao stands up.
Based on his still static expression, someone else might think that he’s unimpressed by your sudden appearance, but you know better - the subtle widening and brightening of his eyes tells you that Xiao is very, very happy to see you. His mouth opens and silently forms your name; as he moves forward, he drops his watering can so abruptly that it falls over and splashes its contents onto the tips of his boots.
“Hey,” You say cheerfully, knowing better than to go in for a sudden hug. You wait for him to come to you instead, and he does - hand half-raised and expression almost wondering, as if expecting you to disappear as soon as he gets close.
“...you’re here,” He says finally, hand still hovering in mid-air in front of him, as if inviting a hand-shake. Just as you contemplate giving him one, though Xiao seems to realise what he’s doing, and drops it.
“Didn’t Traveller tell you?” You ask in return, raising your eyebrow and looking over at them. They shrug and smirk mysteriously. “...I sent a message about it a while ago...”
“Then clearly they didn’t pass it on,” Xiao mutters, confirming your suspicions. He narrows his eyes at the Traveller, who just continues to smile their smug little smile, as if to say, ‘Isn’t this just the greatest surprise?’
“It’s good to see you again,” You say hurriedly to dispel the growing tension as Xiao continues to glower faintly in the Traveller’s direction.
At this, he looks back at you, and smiles a little. “... it’s good to see you as well.”
He takes a halting step forwards, then pauses. He seems to struggle with something for a moment; finally, he makes a funny sort of lifting motion with his arms, looking at you with something like uncertainty. “Would you like…?”
“If you’re alright with it,” You reply as nonchalantly as you can, though your heart jumps a little hopefully.
Xiao nods quietly, and the resulting beam that stretches across your face is well worth the decision. He finds it a little hard to will his arms into wrapping around you in return when you move forward to hug him, but he manages it after a moment, and it doesn’t feel nearly as awkward as the first time he did it. You’re the first person he’s ever wanted to get mitigate his touch-aversion for; he thinks to himself that he must be making progress.
It takes almost a lifetime for the two of you to part - in fact, the Traveller has to clear their throat pointedly to bring you both back to earth. You give Xiao a slightly flustered smile as you step away from each other and begin to follow the Traveller over to the house. He can’t help but smile back.
Someone’s waiting for you just beyond the front door when the Traveller pushes it open. You hear them before you see them - the eager tapping of their foot against the ground is so loud that you have to wonder how they’re not drilling through the floor.
When you finally step over the threshold, the someone lets out a roar of delight that makes Xiao jump about two feet into the air. Before you know it, you’re being swept into the air by the sheer force of one Arataki Itto’s embrace.
“You're BACK!” He yells, directly into your ear. “Oh man, I missed you so MUCH!”
“Itto—” It’s kind of hard to speak with the wind whistling past your ears so loudly. “Hey, hey, put me down!”
“Oh, right!” He finally stops spinning and sets you firmly back on solid ground, giving you a hearty pat on the shoulder as if to anchor you in place. “Sorry about that.”
“I-it’s fine,” You mumble, swaying slightly. Xiao, skulking behind you, places a silent, barely-there hand on your back as if to steady you. “So… how’ve you been?”
“Ehh, okay, I guess,” He replies, making a so-so sort of gesture with his hand, then grinning widely at you. “Better now you’re here, though! Oh, actually, uh…”
He pauses and makes a show of looking back and forth, then leans forward and whispers, “Can— can you do the thing? Only, you’ve been gone for ages, y’know—”
You raise an eyebrow at him and lean in to whisper as well, pretending not to notice Xiao surreptitiously trying to listen over your shoulder. “What thing?”
“Come ooon, you know,” He almost whines, catching one of your hands and wringing it in both of his. Is it just you, or have the pads of his fingers gotten even rougher since the last time you saw him? “The thing! The thing where you do— where you call me the thing!!”
“I really don’t— oh.” You shoot him a slightly exasperated, mostly affectionate look. “Seriously?”
“I like it,” He says defensively, practically beginning to dance on his feet in anticipation. “Come on come on come on, it’s been so long since I’ve heard it!”
You sigh a little, but you can’t be bothered to hide your smile. “It’s not that big a deal, baby.”
“It is to— oh, you did it!!” Irritation quickly forgotten, he finally drops your hand in favour of clapping both of his together gleefully. “Aw, man, it just hits different when you do it. I tried asking Thoma to do it, but it wasn’t really the same—”
“You what?” You can’t imagine what Thoma must have thought of a request like that.
“—and then I tried asking Miss Eula, but she totally ignored me! Can you believe that?”
You can, but that’s not the part you’re more focused on. You stare at Itto incredulously. “You asked Eula to call you baby?”
“Well, how else was I s’posed to get the rush?” He practically pouts. “You weren’t around, so I figured I’d see if it worked when other people did it… but, would you believe it, it just doesn’t! Guess it’s 'cause I like you too much, huh?”
“Ah...” You’ve never had the heart to tell him that you’d only called him baby in the first place as a joke, without expecting him to enjoy it so much. And you’re not about to do it now. “...well, I like you too.”
He beams so brightly that you can practically see every single one of his pointy teeth. He’s like the world’s goofiest shark.
Unbeknownst to you, Xiao is glaring at Itto from behind you with the sort of intensity that would fry anyone else alive. Despite being able to see Xiao’s face clearly, though, Itto hasn’t even noticed anything out of place about his usually calm expression.
“[Name], [Name]!” Paimon drifts back into the hallway from the kitchen with the Traveller behind her. You don’t know at what point they’d snuck off, but you suppose you were too occupied with Itto to notice. “Thoma’s making you soup, come and have some!”
Oh, that sweetheart. You smile and follow her obligingly into the room she’s just exited. Xiao follows not far behind, and soon enough Itto is bustling after you is well. With the Traveller squeezing in just after him, the kitchen is quite cramped - especially since it had already contained three people before any of you entered.
“Diona!” You exclaim joyfully as a tiny girl immediately scampers up to you and latches herself onto your leg. You lean down and allow her to leap nimbly into your arms, pulling her up and resting her on your hip. “Did you miss me?”
“...n-no!” She buries her nose in your shoulder. “I— I just, um— thought you looked like you needed a hug. That’s all.”
“Oh, I see,” You say seriously, bouncing her slightly. “Well, you were very right, because I definitely needed a Diona hug.”
She makes a funny noise into your shirt and clutches even tighter at your sleeve. Her little tail swishes about for a moment, then wraps itself around your arm. (Behind you, Itto claps a hand to his mouth and mumbles, ‘That’s so cute.’)
“Your soup will be ready soon,” says Thoma happily from by the stove. He’s practically aglow; he smiles at you from across the kitchen as if you single-handedly placed the sun in the sky. “Miss Eula remembered that you liked it, so I asked the restaurant where you had it for the recipe.”
“You spoil me, Thoma.”
He sends you the sort of completely innocent cheery wink that only the truly sunniest of people can pull off. “Only because you deserve it!”
You can feel yourself burning up a little, but it’s easy enough to dismiss with a laugh and an upbeat smile of your own. You glance over at where Eula is watching you quietly, hands cupped around a glass of iced juice.
“I didn’t expect you to remember that soup, Eula,” You say conversationally, and though she affects dismissiveness, you can tell that she’s just as glad to see you as anyone else. “Thank you for that.”
She coughs slightly and offers a smile. “...think nothing of it.”
“If you say so,” You sigh, bouncing Diona again slightly. You imagine you can hear her purring ever-so-quietly. “I hearItto asked you to call him baby."
For a moment she doesn't seem to hear you, but then her expression rapidly twists into very obvious disdain. “Yes. I didn’t oblige.”
“I did,” Thoma chimes, still stirring his pot. He’s using bursts of his own Pyro fire to keep it at just the right temperature. “But I don’t think I can say it with the same magic you do.”
“There’s nothing special to it, really…” You wonder vaguely if Itto tried asking Xiao. Now that’s an exchange you’d like to hear…
“It’s special ‘cause you’re the one saying it,” Itto explains enthuasiastically, going to perch on a stool and then missing it entirely. “Oh, whoops—”
“Careful, baby—” You shift Diona to one arm to catch Itto by the arm just as he lands heavily on the floor - only for him to immediately flop back down again. “—hey, what’s wrong?”
“You called me the thing and touched me at the same time,” He mumbles, lying back flat and pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes. “So I’m dying now. Sorry, Itto’s not home anymore...”
Xiao, hovering somewhere near the corner, gives Itto a disparaging look. Eula appears exasperated; Thoma is humming over the pot of soup and doesn’t seem to be paying attention to the antics being pulled nearby.
Diona turns around and looks down at Itto, then snorts. “You look silly.”
“That’s ‘cause I’m a silly man,” He says into his hands, then groans dramatically. “I’m not supposed to be silly. I’m number one, I’m the man, I’m the boss…”
“Traveller’s the boss, not you,” Paimon says indignantly. She’s mostly busy bobbing over Thoma’s shoulder, clearly awaiting her own portion of his cooking.
“...I’m the supreme head! Supreme heads aren’t silly! That’s what you do to me, [Name],” He adds dramatically, still lying flat on the floor. “You make me silly. You make me into crazy people.”
You lean over and peer down at him. “Have you been drinking?”
“‘Course not!” He waves an arm in the general direction of Diona, still perched in your arms. “Not supposed to drink around kids, am I? Liquor tastes gross, anyway…”
“Diona doesn’t let us keep any alcohol around, in any case,” Thoma adds, setting a bowl of steaming soup on the table and smiling over at you. “Come here, [Name], I’ve made it up nice and pretty for you… Eula, would you like some more juice? I know you don’t like hot things…”
Eula nods silently and comes over to sit across from you as Thoma refills her glass. She watches you admire the soup’s pretty garnish for a moment, then asks, “Did your travels go well?”
“About as well as they could without you,” You reply playfully, grinning when you see a slightly flustered smile flash across her face. “How’ve the others been treating you? How many times is Itto’s name down on your vengeance list now?”
“Thirty seven,” She replies in all seriousness. “He’s the first to have this many entries.”
“Haha, I’ll take it!” Itto finally pops up from the floor and drops himself into the seat beside Eula. “First again! See, I never lose at anything!”
“You lose at chess all the time,” Diona corrects. You’ve sat her in the chair to your left; her feet are dangling a good distance off the ground.
“Yeah!” Paimon joins in, bobbing over with her own bowl of soup clutched in her tiny hands. She blows on it for a moment, then continues, “Last time you played Eula, Traveller nearly died, they were laughing so hard.”
“You were laughing?!” Itto turns to shoot the Traveller a betrayed look. They simply shrug and smile innocently. “You told me you were crying! Crying in sympathy for my defeat!”
“It was the nineteenth loss in a row…” Thoma interjects, coming over to give Diona her own bowl. He glances over at Xiao to offer him a portion, but the adeptus simply shakes his head in refusal, and goes back to gazing at you. “...I’m sure you’ll get better at it eventually.”
“I wanna be the best at it now,” Itto says petulantly.
“You’ll have to practise, then.” Thoma brings over three more bowls for himself, Itto and the Traveller respectively, then finally takes the unoccupied seat on your right. You pretend not to notice him pulling his chair a few inches closer to yours as he sits down. “Miss Eula said she’d teach you, didn’t she?”
Itto groans and brings a passionate fist up to his chest. “But it’s so bittersweet when I’m being taught by the one defeating me!”
“You’re too dramatic,” Eula replies coolly, taking a sip from her drink. “Learning from defeat is what marks a wise fighter.”
“Wise? I don’t wanna be wise, I wanna be strong…” Itto thinks about this for a long while. “...hey, [Name], do you like wise or strong better? Strong, right? Right?”
“Hmm…” You pretend to give the question a good, long ponder, then aburptly don a devilish sort of grin, and wink exaggeratedly at the lady across the table. “...I like Eula.”
Eula gives no immediate reaction, save for the slight widening of her eyes. Then, as a subtle flush settles across her cheeks, Itto makes a loud noise of revelation. “Oh, I get it. Definitely strong, then. So you like me, too, right?”
“I already told you I did—”
“How’s the soup?” Thoma asks suddenly from your left. He’s still smiling, as usual, but there’s something just a little bit discontent about it. (A touch of jealousy, perhaps?)
“Oh, it’s— well, I haven’t tried it yet,” You look down at your bowl, then at the others’, noting that no one else’s herb garnish has been sprinkled in little flower shapes like yours. “It’s kinda too pretty to eat.”
“I made it especially for you, though,” He says, looking a little disappointed. You think something stabs you a little bit. “You should try it, at least. Here, would you like me to feed you?”
“Well—” He’s already taken the spoon and begun lifting it to your mouth. Well, if he’s being so generous, you’re not going to refuse him... and, you know what, the soup really is good.
“How is it?” He asks with a wide smile, reaching up to swipe at the corner of your mouth with a napkin. You’re not sure how to feel about this doting. (Actually, you are. You’re pretty happy with it.)
“Good,” You reply contentedly as he goes to fill another spoonful. “The best.”
His smile widens, and he leans precariously forward for a moment. “Thank you—”
“Boooo,” Itto calls lowly over the table, cupping his hands around his mouth and scowling. “Get a rooooooom. Or, actually— Thoma, you get a room, and [Name] can stay in this one.”
“Hm? What’s wrong?” Thoma turns a slightly teasing eye on him. “Do you want feeding as well?”
“Wh— no!” He blusters, flushing slightly. “No way! I can feed myself! I’m not a baby! I don’t need anyone to f-f-f-f-feed me—!”
“None of us are infants,” Eula interrupts, having noticed the way Itto glanced surreptitiously your way on those last few words. “We can all eat perfectly well on our own.”
The Traveller nods at this. Their bowl is already half empty.
“...we should go for a walk later,” You suggest after a few minutes of quiet eating. “Out in the wilds. Maybe we could beat up some hilichurls together…oh, or one of those wandering Ruin Guards! That’d be fun.”
“It would, wouldn’t it?” Thoma chuckles a little. “It’ll be just like old times.”
“I’ll hit it in the eye straight away this time,” Diona announces, kicking her legs about eagerly. “I’ve practised lots and lots while you were gone! And I know loads of cool attacks now, too! It won’t know what hit it!”
Eula nod. “She’s been very diligent. Adeptus Xiao’s been giving her a lot of pointers.”
At this you turn to look at Xiao, sitting quietly in the corner. He’s already looking at you; you kind of get the feeling that he hasn’t stopped staring at you for a while now. If you didn’t already know that this one of his ways of showing affection, you might have been a little unsettled.
“You were teaching Diona?”
He nods, still gazing back at you steadfastly. Then he glances down, curling his fingers slightly in his lap. “I thought… that was what you’d want me to do.”
“Training with adepti sounds way cool,” grins Itto. “Teach me something sometime, too!”
Xiao raises his head again, and he turns to you for a moment, as if asking what you think. You simply shrug, offering a supportive smile; a few seconds later, Xiao sighs and nods. “Very well.”
“That Ruin Guard’s not gonna last one second against all of us!” Paimon exclaims proudly. She’s already finished all her soup, somehow. “Even Azhdaha wouldn’t survive!”
“You say that like you actually help when we fight,” Traveller says out loud. Paimon looks deeply offended; she flies over to give them a good knock on the head.
“Ah, I’ve missed this,” You remark happily as the Traveller tumbles backwards off their chair to avoid Paimon’s attack. You look around the table. “I’ve missed all of you, actually. It’s good to be back.”
Eula smiles softly back at you. “It’s good to have you home.”
Imagine clambering onto Diluc's lap at a dark corner of Angel's Share, noise playing in the background and drunkards swaying to the songs of bards. You've been trading teases and hints all night, more from you than from the redhead, hoping he'd get the hint that you want a little more than what his friendship has to give. His eyes widen a little, looking at yours with uncertainty as his one hand steadies your waist while the other hesitantly pushes you back.
"You're drunk," he mutters as if to warn you but you shake your head no, taking a sip from the wine glass you balanced between your fingers.
"I'm not." You lean closer, wondering if there's even any effort in the hand that's pushing you back.
"That's what all the drunks say."
A smile graces your lips as you slip the wine glass between your faces, tilting it to his lips and – despite his aversion for alcohol – he drinks from your cup, eyes never leaving yours. Droplets of dark red drips from his lips to his chin from your hold of the glass.
"How's the wine, master Diluc?"
"It's. . . grape juice."
"Exactly." You place the wine glass on the table next to you, feeling the way his arms snake around your waist to pull you closer. Who said you needed liquid courage to help you get a love life anyway?
K A E Y A
"So-" He pulls away but you're relentless: lips following his for another kiss. Kaeya indulges you –only for a second– before trying to escape the onslaught of a make out session that's been ongoing for the past 10 minutes or so.
"What does–"
Kiss.
"This make–"
Kiss.
"Us?"
Kiss. This one lasts a little longer. You try to register his words in your dazed mind. What does this make you two? You've been in love with him for so long now, dropping relentless hints to the point that you've dropped the biggest "hint" of all and pulled him into the Favonius library for a quick snog.
You pull away but your eyes settle on his lips, a blush filtering your face. Could you really handle facing his pretty little lavender eye right now? "I don't know, captain. What do you think this makes us?"
He shakily inhales, fingers reaching up to hold your chin, bringing your lips closer to his, "I'm not sure. We might need. . . a few more minutes of this to figure it out."
Z H O N G L I
"Friends don't do things like this," You breathe out against his ear as his lips pepper kisses to the side of your neck. You really didn't need to remind him. He knows all the formalities there is to a friendship, therefore you should know how he knows that this isn't something you do to a friend.
Yet, can you blame him for his actions of worship when you've been suggesting wanting more of him? How could he deny your "I wouldn't mind kissing someone like mister Zhongli" or "The funeral consultant is my ideal type" kind of comments? He's bound to pull his dear friend in by the waist one of these nights.
"Would you like to stop?" He pauses, lips a fraction away from the underside of your ear. He peeks at you from the corner of his eye and you shake your head no.
"Archons, no. Keep going." It's breathy and shaky, and if you paid a little more attention, you'd feel the smirk on his lips and he presses against your skin.
X I A O
"Hypothetically, if a friend were to kiss you, would you kiss them back?"
He gives you a look mixed between disgust and confusion. What kind of question is that? Sure, he's not familiar with human customs but kissing is done between lovers and not friends, right? His mind filters through the people he somehow considers a "friend". . . There's Ganyu, Traveler, Chongyun, Yelan, Shinobu, Yanfei, Itto–
"No." He answers and you pout.
"Did you consider Itto when I said a friend?"
". . ."
You giggle at his silence, eyes glancing at his as he stares away.
Biting your lip, you ask quietly, "Hypothetically, did you consider me?" You say, "What if I kissed you?"
He hums, obscuring his face from your view but you see his shoulders ease down. "Then. . . kiss back, I suppose."
masterlist 2
note !! not @/ me adding xiao to my short drabbles after finishing his quest last night
(n.) the act of loving the one who loves you; a love returned in full
With: Xiao
Words: 800
Genre: Fluff, and some amount of soft angst
Note: My compensation for the soul punching archon quest, so spoiler alert for 2.7
Soft lips brush against his own, gently, lingering; savouring every little touch, every little sensation. Almost delicately, afraid that if you pull away for even just a second, you’ll lose him.
“Breathe…”
Xiao’s hand on your waist tightens a little, as if to get you back to consciousness. “Y/N, breathe,” he murmurs softly.
You pull back a little, looking somehow dazed down upon his golden eyes that are mustering you with such tenderness in them your heart wrenches.
After the recent events in the chasm - being trapped somewhere between time and space, the illusions, …Xiao’s sacrifice for all of you – it is safe to say that you didn’t leave his side for some time after that.
In fact, neither did he.
Therefore, today you’ve contrived to wander down the path near Wangshu Inn; even if it would be just for a couple of hours, you wanted to spend this time with him, focus on what you have, treasure what you nearly lost.
You’ve chosen a somewhat tranquil spot near the water, to settle down for a while. Both of you lying on the soft grass, your elbow supporting your body as you try to focus on Xiao’s eyes that are looking up to you now.
He lifts his hands to brush some strand of hair behind your ear. “Your heart is racing too fast.”
You chuckle lightly. “Can you blame me?”
Your eyes travel over his features; from the gold of his eyes, over the darksome skin beneath them to the still not yet completely healed wounds on his cheek and around.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Gently you lean down a little to place a kiss on his wounded cheek. “I’m just glad you’re here,” you mumble, giving him half of a smile.
Xiao eyebrows furrow. “If it’s about what happened in the chasm- “
Again you bend down to kiss him, this time, though, on his lips, surprising him a little. But nevertheless, he responds almost immediately.
You try to savour this feeling, to remain in this moment with him, you really do, but your mind keeps bringing back short and sharp images from the day before. Especially the crucial moment when Xiao decided what he had to do. The determined look on his face, the sheer panic you felt when the anemo barrier appeared, and you tried to reach for him, to stop him, to do anything - but he was already gone.
Or rather, you were already gone while Xiao was facing his verdict, swallowed by the darkness beneath. The horror when you realized what had happened, what you lost without even the chance of a goodbye.
You hold him even closer now, kisses turning somehow longer and relentless, feeling every despairing emotion.
At some point Xiao feels sudden wetness upon your cheeks, unconsciously some tears have slipped out of your eyes.
Right away he is sitting up, pulling you with him so you are now sitting face to face. Xiao tilts his head a little, clearly shocked when he realises what effects his past actions still have on you.
“I can’t completely comprehend your demeanor,” he admits and cups your face with his hands, brushing away the tears. “Everything turned out fine, didn’t it?”
“I almost lost you. Of course I’m a little emotional.”
A line appears between his brows, while he studies your face. “This is my purpose - to protect. It always was and always will be. No matter the consequences.”
You press your lips together, an icy but burning feeling forming in your chest. “Xiao…,” you say softly. “You think you’re doomed to die in the place of someone else, that it’s an honourable way to go by sacrificing yourself – weather it’s for Liyue or the people you cherish most. But the people who cherish you, who love you, they don’t want you to go. Especially not that way.”
You lean forward, enough so your foreheads are touching. Then you take a deep, somewhat shaky breath. “I know this mentality is widely established in you, but… Xiao, I couldn’t live a life without you in it. I couldn’t imagine – I don’t want to imagine it.”
You feel his kiss against your forehead, causing you to close your eyes in devotion; then he bends down to meet your lips.
Xiao isn’t particularly a man of words, moreover for him, no right words exist to express his emotions, his sentiments. Or maybe it is also because both of you know, that in the end his mindset would remain, nonetheless.
Arms wrapped completely around him you hold him close to you, feeling the warmth of his skin, the beating of his heart.
“I love you so much. I hope you know that,” you mumble, brushing your lips together, lingering for another moment.
Thanks for reading! :) Comments and reblogs are appreciated <3
[Tokyo rev ver] [haikyuu ver] [bnha ver] [obey me ver]
Childe who has the warmest smile on his face when he sees you play with his little brother, who somehow manage to come back to Liyue, all while taking him somewhere else so that Childe can continue his work. But it’s only when you come back to the bank with a sleeping Teucer in your arms who’s all snuggled up against you that he knows that that’s it, you’re it for him.
Albedo who has a notebook reserved just for random little sketches of you. He likes drawing you. You are after all, his favourite piece of art and the best view of his world.
Ayato who doesn’t find boba tea as enjoyable if he’s not drinking it with you. Suddenly, without your presence, the drink loses tastes. He doesn’t know why. Maybe he’s just so in love with you that everything around him seems lifeless and sad if you’re not there close to him.
Zhongli who starts to drink his tea like you. He now unintentionally holds his cup the same way that you do, adds the same quantity of sugar that you do and heck, even starts mixing it like you do. He only realized when you pointed it out one day on your date. He apologized and tried going back to his own way but has completely forgot how he used to drink his tea.
Xiao who likes to feed the stray cats wandering around Bishui Plain and play with them for a while before going back to whatever he was doing before. He always thought he’d never get found out but when one day he doesn’t show up on your date, you decided to investigate because Xiao is never late. Which is when you find him with two cats on his lap and one on his head, all three taking a nap. He made you promise to never tell anyone.
Diluc who gives you his umbrella when it rains. He’d share with you but he doesn’t want your side to get wet, you did spend a while doing your hair and dress up for you guy’s date and he wouldn’t want to be the one to ruin your hard work. Or even worse, you could get sick. Of course, he’d nurse your back to health but he’d still feel guilty for not taking good enough care of you.
Kaeya who wears the ring you gave him for his birthday on a chain around his neck all the time. He calls it his ‘good luck charm’ and kisses it every time before going on a mission. He thought he lost it one day and came back crying to you, apologizing and saying that it must’ve break during battle when it reality he just forgot it on his nightstand in the morning lol.
Kazuha who writes you poems to compliment you. He believes that you deserve more than a simple “you’re beautiful” or “I like your hair”. So he’ll go out of his way to write you countless of poems just so he can describe exactly how he found your hair that day. (and hopefully fluster you because he is a tease after all and finds you extremely cute with your flushed cheeks)
Thoma who wakes you up with kisses. It starts with a kiss on your forhehead, then a kiss on each cheek, followed by a kiss on your nose and finally a kiss on your lips. The giggle you let out each time when he’s done is just so adorable and endearing to him that he never wants to stop.
Itto who can’t help but take you in his arms and spin around with you all squished to his chest whenever he gets excited. He does it unintentionally, really. He’s just so happy and you’re there, it’s not really he’s fault!
Dainsleif who puts his cape over your shoulders when he sees men looking at you in weird ways. The problem isn’t you, it’s them. And Dainsleif knows that. So he’s gonna prive your body to their eyes. No one should ever be allowed to look at you like that. (he also gets to see you drawing in his cape which is a rly adorable sight hehe)
summary: as the only pure mortal in the fright club, there seems to be an influx of interesting things happening in greendale that you are unaware of. a certain prince of hell happens to find that interesting.
warnings: typos, probably.
a/n: ummm maybe i binge watched caos this past week and maybe i’ve fallen in love. i’ll let you figure that out. also this is my first time writing for caos (and not marvel, lol) so let me know what you think!!’ pls give feedback thank u.
add yourself to my tasglist!
ps: this gif is mine so if you use it, please credit!
When all was said and done, Sabrina and Caliban had come to amicable terms regarding the shared responsibility of ruling Hell.
It didn’t take much convincing for Caliban to relinquish his prior ambition after learning his rule would end within a day, as the Pagans would have defeated him and taken Earth for themselves. Sabrina’s ability to show him the time loop she was once trapped in gave him a reason to quit the fighting and rule Hell on an equal scale, no questions asked.
Plus, he started to like the bleach blonde witch.
You, on the other hand, felt like you had missed out on the most important plot piece of the greatest film of all time.
the work of the yashiro commission is crucial, but in the eyes of kamisato ayato, it is nothing particularly noteworthy. he conducts his duties with devotion and diligence, so that there will always be a light to guide his way through the rainy night.
character teaser: lanterns in the night ☆ kamisato ayato
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