"pardon?" lyney said, wide eyes speaking volumes of his bewilderment. you stood in front of him, remaining unfazed as the two of you spoke in the empty backstage of the opera epiclese, where no one would disturb the conversation you two held.
"you said you love me, didn't you?" purple clashes with yours, "yet you kept so many things from me... to think you'd be part of the fatui out of every organization...!" your voice trembled, so did your hands as your nails dug against your palms. lyney wanted to speak, his lips moved yet no voice could be heard.
"you promised to fix things between us... you promised to heal me, to gain back my trust! but after the events lately, i don't think it's possible to trust you again so easily." lyney's voice came, "i- i know... and i know that an apology wouldn't fix things so easily..."
tears adorned your eyes, threatening to fall yet you don't let yourself shed a tear. "so show me that you mean it. no more lies, no more deception... i don't want the lyney who had kept so much from me. i don't want the lyney who wasn't the actual lyney i knew to the point i questioned every aspect of our relationship if it was genuine or not."
"and i don't want us back if you don't trust me enough to tell me everything about you like i trusted you wholeheartedly with my life on the line..."
lyney stood frozen in front of you, a myriad of emotions ran wild to the point he wasn't able to identify the suffocating feeling he was experiencing. you were his rose, his beloved rose. but all roses have thorns, and your thorns have crushed his heart in your hold.
but you were right, to an extent that all lyney wished was to go back and make everything right, to show that he actually loves you. but time was irreversible, and he shouldn't be wishing to fix the broken past, as fixing the shattered pieces of diamond was nearly impossible.
he should be fixing the present, his and your relationship.
lyney remembered it like yesterday, the order he received from his "father" to watch you, observe you, and to deceive you.
he remembered nothing but the mission in mind, to him, you were nothing but a task, a job lyney had to finish.
the interactions, conversations, and moments you two shared slowly increased to something becoming more frequent. yet to lyney, all he had in mind was his "father's" mission.
and like the quick flow of time, like clockwork, your relationship became more than just prey and predator. to lyney, you began to be more than just a task, a mission.
a friend, a loved one.
and suddenly, like the quick turn of pages in a book, you two became so much more than a close friend. lips on lips, skin on skin. loving affirmations were exchanged and the cob had found its pen, two lovers resembling those of swans, genuine and beautiful.
but everything went too quick, the prophecy, the primordial sea, the serial disappearances of young women, and the trial. and lyney faces the broken string of his and your relationship, the very thing he feared and wished for it to become nothing but a fleeting thought, a fleeting nightmare.
"i promise i will, no matter what. to me, you are my rose, my beloved. i didn't want things to end up like this but as they say, the harsh truth will all come to light. i'm... i'm so sorry and i know i deserve this but i will do everything to fix us... i cannot bear the thought of us no longer being together but i promise... i promise that i will do it, to fix this mess. so, please... trust me like you've always had and i'll tell you everything, trust me and i'll show that i truly, truly love you."
lyney didn't even noticed the tears that cascaded down his cheeks, smudging the tear drop on his cheek as his shoulders trembled. archons, he just wished everything was normal, all lyney wished was to have everything back to how it was before. he would do anything, anything to have you back in his arms.
moments felt like hours, years even. but lyney gasped upon feeling your arms wrap around him, feeling your tears on his chest as you too, weep.
with hesitance, lyney pulled you into a tight embrace, having no intention of letting go soon as you two quietly cried in each other's arms.
tonight, after a stunning magic show was spent in the empty backstage where the dam had broken along with two lotuses emerging after, a symbol of two lovers getting back up, far stronger and beautiful than ever.
you can't separate two swans who had become each other's mates after all.
too busy thinking about... ( lyney ver. )
cw: implied family issues and violence + blood
lyney who gazes you from afar with concern in his purple eyes. he doesn't let the worry break through his languid facade, as he has a talent for picking up details the ordinary wouldn't notice. after all, you can't fool a magician who's talent was deceiving everyone, no?
lyney who casually joins you during one quiet midnight, draping his cape over your shoulders claiming to soothe your shivering figure. you two watch in the city in silence, the other feels comfortable while the other feels suffocated.
lyney who firmly hugs your trembling frame after the dam has broken, whispering sweet nothings to your ear as he caresses your tresses in hopes of comforting your saddened soul under the cold, quiet night.
lyney who hugs you tighter when he hears of your woes and the hurdles you had to endure. it took all of his might to not express his fury and anger because he knew what you needed was someone to comfort you, and that someone happened to be him.
lyney who lets you stay at his house for the time being, surprising lynette and freminet who said nothing upon seeing your fragile state, quick to ensure that you feel at home while their older brother soon disappears, claiming to finish some incomplete business
lyney who comes back with trinkets he received in hopes of easing your pain, swiftly avoiding the inquiries of his "business" that he mentioned before leaving. he'd rather you enjoy the trinkets he had bought, in hopes of steering your gaze from his sleeves adorned with small stains of crimson.
lyney who took you out of the house when the clock struck midnight, gently telling you that you will be alright and that he promises to protect you from then on. vague answers were said when inquiries about your family came to be but it all ended with a common trick of pulling out a rainbow rose out of his hat, the silent witness of two souls being intertwined, adorned by a red string.
too busy thinking about... ( neuvillette ver. )
cw: implied past abuse, torture, and false charges
neuvillette who holds you close to him, soothing your cries and fears like you have done for him, softly whispering loving words to your ears as he comforts you anguish.
neuvillette who comforts you in the morning, promising that he'll make everything alright when you hear the announcement of your abuser being released from his five year sentence.
neuvillette who had to quiet down the melusines when they saw you upset, having learned of your past as they grew angry at your absuer, claiming they have hurt their "parent."
neuvillette who brings you all of your favorite foods and drinks as an apology for coming home late, conspiring with furina on the most flawless and perfect way to have your abuser sentenced for the rest of their lifetime.
neuvillette who presses charges against your abuser, verbalizing of their crimes when in truth, were nothing but false charges that furina allowed, claiming that she will bend the law to see her dearest feel free once again.
neuvillette who made sure that your abuser regrets their very own existence, having struck a feeling of fear and sorrow that stuck on him permanently yet the hydro dragon prefers to not speak of his methods, claiming they weren't for the faint of heart.
neuvillette who gently reminds you that he will protect you from anything that dares to harm you, mentally or physically, to never be afraid for anything because he will be your shield as you were his warm soleil during his icy days of downpour.
summary: in a written book, it tells the tales of three glorious adventurers, the two being lovers. together, they face the hurdles of what the world brings them, always coming out as victorious winners. yet in this tale, they fell as defeated, shattered diamonds.
content warning: major character death
pairing: aether x gn!reader
lowercase intended + not proofread
extra: i recommend listening to isabella's lullaby while reading!
UNDER A MOONLESS NIGHT
... is where you can find two star-crossed lovers, bathing in the misty night at an abandoned castle. "promise to never leave me?" asked the lover whose eyes glistened in the dim hall where gold decorations faintly shined.
"you're well aware that i can never do that, mon soleil." said the boy with braided golden tresses as he gently swayed you, twirling you around as the long silky fabric that adorned your figure beautifully danced around the two of you, creating an illusion of a celestial dance that came from a fairy tale. from another's eyes, the two star-crossed lovers resembled a diamond carving of two dancers whose brilliance will always shine in the darkest corners of the world.
this world was not their home, and neither was the castle that had long been abandoned for centuries and centuries ago. yet in the premises of its grand structure, the world seemed timeless, as if it was only the two star-crossed lovers against the world.
UNDER A MOONLESS NIGHT
... you can find three adventurers who voyage world to world to find a home, but deep down, they know home isn't a place without the other as their souls had long been connected with a gentle thread that tethers them together.
the strings between the two star-crossed lovers were inevitably stronger, like two ties between two soulmates. the sister who watches the two was ecstatic, her brother was happy with the one he loves and she was grateful that his lover has a good heart, mutually seeing each other as siblings who care for one another like how a sister does to her younger sibling.
"come on now, you know this isn't fair!" came the boy with golden tresses, playfully whining at his lover and sister. in response, the two only laughed as they enjoyed the crêpes in their possessions. "this is what happens when you oversleep brother! come on, we're not leaving this world any time soon, we can get another one tomorrow!"
"she's right, ma lune. we have all the time in our hands! besides, crêpes are a universal food, we can always buy more in the next world." said the lover with a lovely smile as the sister grins, "unless they weren't made yet!"
the boy with golden tresses grumbled before playfully fighting with his sister, this elicited a laugh from three adventurers who voyage world to world. not to search for a new home, but rather, to experience the limitless possibilities with the ones they love together.
UNDER A MOONLESS NIGHT
... where you can find the soleil who settled in the fields of inteyvats, playing with the beautiful flowers of a godless kingdom. truly a sight for sore eyes, warmly thought the traveler as he took in the sight of his lover in the field of flowers as shooting stars flew in the sky.
the sky was bright, as if it wasn't night. truthfully, there was nothing more unearthly than the illogical upbringings of a newfound world, and those were the things that the three adventurers appreciated when traversing through different worlds.
some were common while some were unusual yet struck a cord of a heavenly sensation. they've seen far worse things than the ones they had recently encountered but endured it, hand to hand, with just the three of them against the world.
"why are you just standing there?" you called out with a light chuckle before gesturing the traveler, welcoming him in your quiet space, "come here...
aether!"
like a backlash, time flowed once again yet the clockwork seemed to move faster, resulting in the blur of time in the traveler's perception. aether wanted to move, he had to, yet why did it feel like he had been shackled down by his own torment?
in a written book, the previous chapters were all glorious tales of three adventurers, the two being star-crossed lovers. they travel from world to world where it is just the three of them against any mighty forces they encounter, and in the end, they have always stood victorious.
so why? what had made the author of Destinies so cruel to have the three glorious adventurers separated, stripped of their power, and defeated in the final battle?
aether knew he couldn't do anything, he watches you in frozen terror as your figure dissipates to thin air, leaving behind a trail blue particles, mouthing six words that had shattered his reality beyond repair.
"i'm sorry... i... broke our promise..."
the screams of his sister were silent in his world, he just couldn't grasp the notion of something so unreal, time stopped once more yet the feelings he felt wasn't one of love or happines.
it was of grief and sorrow.
the boy with golden tresses promised to never leave his star-crossed lover, yet the one who left at the end was the lover themselves. what an ironic promise.
summary: men are cruel as they disgustingly label women lower than them. as unfortunate as it may seem, you fortunately have your dearest who proves that he's not as low as the vile creatures.
warnings: boys being disgusting, harassment, past toxic relationships, sexual harassment, name-calling (slut, whore), swearing, assault, mentions of violence, lowkey ooc
characters: albedo, cyno, kazuha, lyney, and tighnari
gn!reader but implied having feminine items such as a purse
lowercase intended + not proofread
ALBEDO
traversing through mondstadt was another mundane routine for you, helping the citizens with their troubles and whatnot. fortunately, things had been far more peaceful ever since the traveler had came and gave leeway for peace in the city of freedom.
but that didn't mean horrid things would suddenly stop overnight. oh no, definitely not. because the least you expected was to find yourself in a vacant room in the favonious headquarters, surrounded by what people call the knights.
"heh. you know you shouldn't be walking around with those skimpy clothes you got, looking like a slut." you cringed, feeling a shiver down your spine as you stepped backward from the nearing hand.
"you're absolutely disgusting. how the hell have you become a knight with that filthy attitude? archons, i feel truly disappointed for your parents." you spat with venom in your tone, the consequence for that was angering the knight.
"a feisty one, hah?" he grinned with a sickening feeling, and his hands soon laid on your body, groping in places it shouldn't be. "stop it!" you yelled, thrashing around, attempting to pull the man away. you were no fighter, and that was obvious.
you felt nauseous, you couldn't even comprehend the words that were being said. you just wanted to go see albedo, why must the world play and pull on the strings of your life?
"to think such behavior was conducted in the headquarters filled with people who's desires are to protect the people, not to harass them... truly disappointing." a familiar voice, the speech was relaxed, if not, unfazed. however, there was a tone of hostility, dripping with poison.
albedo, whose eyes are glimmering with disgust and anger, a contrast to his gentle and calm expression. "c-chief alchemist!" you took the opportunity to slip away, quick to get to albedo's side and taking his hand in yours, an attempt of comforting yourself and to soothe the chalk prince's anger.
"i'm sorry my dear, have i not been caught up with affairs, this wouldn't have happened." albedo said, eyes softening when meeting with yours, lips on your forehead as you relished in his calming presence. "you can go wait outside, i'll just deal with some unnecessary variables."
ushered to exit the room, you saw nothing, but you sure did hear the sound of a fist meeting with a face along with the cries of the knight begging for forgiveness.
CYNO
being a scholar in the akademiya and the rumored beloved of the general mahamatra was not a peaceful matter as you thought of it before. fortunately, it had its perks, the downside was that some people just forget about it.
"c'mon baby, let's just forget the past and move on, 'kay?" the man, boy, you used to call your lover has been invading your personal privacy and has been continuously annoying you about it.
'how the hell did he even find me...' you thought, gritting your fists as you stood up from your seat, being agitated for far too long. "hey! don't ignore me babe!"
exiting lambad's tavern, the night sky of sumeru looks down upon your figure along with the radiant stars. the scenery would be perfect for a romantic and dreamy moment, but unfortunately, an irritating being is stuck to you like a leech, having no intention of letting go.
"can you fucking stop!?" you yelled after the constant annoyance of the presence following you for archons knows how long, stunning your ex, standing in shock at your sudden outburst. "there's no future for the two of us! if you wanted one, you should've treated me like the way you want to be treated! i will never go back to the likes of you again."
"is that how you treat me? after i took care and loved you for so long!?" that was all you needed to snap, as the loud sound of a slap was heard echoing in the quiet, empty streets of sumeru.
"took care of me!? what the hell are you talking about you bastard!? i was the one who did all of your unfinished works and projects, i was the one making money!! you, you ungrateful bastard always took the savings i had just to buy some useless pair of jewelry only to find out you were giving it to some other girl!"
tears brimmed your eyes as you felt your throat becoming hoarse after every second of yelling at the awful man in front of you. archons, you just wanted to have a peaceful drink at a tavern, not to meet the person you hated the most.
because damn, he was acting like a fucking weed.
"hah!? you're really starting to become more disobedient now, talking back to me." you yelped in pain as he pulled on your hair, kneeing your stomach as you coughed in pain.
"where's your lover now, huh? don't tell me all of those rumors were fake." he chuckled evilly as you sob from the pain.
and everything went like a blur, you heard your ex howling in pain along with the sounds of bones being broken. not soon after, you were cradled in strong arms against a sturdy chest, the very action soothed your pain and worries.
"you weren't home my love, don't worry, i'm here now, i won't let anything bother you from now on." cyno's stern yet gentle voice brought you to reality as you melted in his embrace.
cyno's amber eyes soon turned into the eyes of a predator eyeing its prey, a frown on his lips, one of anger. "and as for you. i recommend you not to bother them anymore, less you want to be enclosed behind cold bars, feel free to take up the offer anytime."
your ex panicked, taking off in fear. your lover huffed, soon carrying you in his sturdy arms. "sorry cyno, for.. making you worry." you quietly stated against his chest as he remained quiet for a few moments before speaking.
"please, don't. it's my duty to make sure you're safe and loved, so no matter what, i trust that you will rely on me in times of need."
KAZUHA
you leisurely walked into the streets of inazuma, enjoying the taste of freedom after the sakoku decree was abolished, there was a new upbeat in the city and the people were thriving.
that was only a few minutes ago, until you found yourself in a quiet alleyway with a weird man cornering you. "you shouldn't have gone walking around like that, you filthy whore, that desperate for attention?"
there wasn't anything special about your clothes, a typical inazuman outfit with a few alterations thanks to your dear friend, ayaka, who told the seamstress to add a few decorations, claiming it would brighten your beauty more.
"you creep. just because the sakoku decree was abolished, that doesn't mean you can just waltz in and start sexualizing our cultural outfit! have you not heard of respect!?" you countered, glaring at the man as your grip on your purse tightened, you should've asked kazuha for some martial lessons at the very least.
"but i can do whatever the hell i want. it's your fault for wearing those clothes." his hand was on your shoulder, attempting to pull down the sleeves as you thrashed your arms around.
"NO! STOP IT!" you hated this, you wanted to run, scream. but how could you do that when you're pinned against the wall as the man was grinning evilly? you prayed for the archons to at least save you from this moment.
and fortunately enough, your prayers were answered.
"attempting to sexually assault on an unwilling individual, much less my beloved, you've inclined me to do worse than having you rot behind the bars of inazuma." a voice so gentle yet cold and stern, kazuha spoke, hands gripped into a fist, "who the hell are you!?"
"just a wanderer passing by. now, if you'd allow me..." the samurai was quick to act on his feet, punching the stranger, causing him to falter and fall to his knees. kazuha immediately embraced you in his loving arms, lightly combing his fingers through your locks in hopes of soothing your shaking figure as he hid your partially clothed body from anyone's eyes.
"i'm sorry for taking so long, my dove. from now on, i swear on my name to never let you experience such things again. i will be your sword and i will protect you until death does us part."
LYNEY
the quiet atmosphere of the backstage was what you needed after a tiring night of endless cheering for your lover's and his sister's performance. undoubtedly, their performance was always pristine and beautiful, like always.
most of the staff had already packed away and home they went, for sleep had fallen among most of the people in fontaine. you were simply waiting for lyney as promised, claiming he had to go finish a quick task, leaving you alone in the empty opera.
the least you expected was to find yourself on the floor with a man you feared, on top of you with a terrifying grin on his lips. he has your hands pinned above your head as you weakly kick your legs around, only for it to be held down with his legs.
"i never expected you to wait like an obedient puppy for a man other than me! i think you deserve to be punished, i mean, come on, cheating already when we're just taking a break?"
you gritted your teeth in agitation, "the hell do you mean break? we broke up years ago! who the hell said we're still together?" you spat, glaring hard against the man on top of you.
"is that so? then i have no choice but to force you, it's your fault for doing this to me. if only you could've acted like you would with that filthy magician." a blade, seemingly out of nowhere was in his possession, lightly pressing it against your cheek as your breath hitched.
"knock it off!" you yelled, thrashing your limbs around as the man let out a disgusting laugh, enjoying the suffering he was putting you through.
"hah! what can you even do? throw cards at me?" the man chortled, you however, were subtly trying to escape from his grasp which lyney noticed. with a snap of his fingers, you found yourself in the arms of the one you dearly loved. "what!?"
"oh, i'll do something far worse than that. you see, i've been wanting to test out a new magic trick, one where they saw and tear through your limbs. your actions today demonstrated that you're the perfect candidate for such a terrific trick!" lyney's voice was coated in venom, his eyes glared with the intention to do something to the man.
you heard only bits and parts, as his hands were over your eyes and ears, embracing you closer to him as a gesture that you were safe with him. that was a pure and pristine fact, as the magician lyney would filter his words about you with nothing but truths.
a visit to gandharva ville was a normal weekly routine for you, as you had a busy job, and so did your partner, tighnari. but that didn't stop the two of you to express your love to one another each weekly visit.
you were patiently waiting for him at an empty hut, quietly indulging in the music of nature as you sipped on your favorite drink that collei knew all too well, having it prepared before your arrival.
"oh hey! look who it is, it's been a while, old friend." one of your former scholars from the akademiya said, taking a seat in front of you as you smiled, "you as well. how are you fairing lately?"
"same old, same old. how about you? i heard you've gotten a partner recently." you nodded in response, "yup! he's actually—" "he must be lucky, huh?"
you went silent, a shiver crawling down your spine, and you knew something wasn't right. "what do you mean?" "well, you know, you've always been a heavy sleeper. i could've done anything to you and you wouldn't even wake up or even know about it."
"but it's not surprising if he'd already done that to you. i mean, even arjurn and daksh wanted to do you but they never got a chance. gotta give them one in the future, right?" he laughed as if he was just talking about the weather while you were shocked, disgusted even.
"please leave," you stated, glaring hard at the person you once thought as a friend in front of you, only for him to wolf whistle in return. "feisty huh?"
his hand wandered under the table and found itself on your thighs, causing you to flinch and stand up abruptly. "if you're here just to make disgusting comments about me and my partner, leave! you are not needed here."
"come on sweetheart, that can't do. besides, he doesn't need to know what'll happen between us." standing up, you found yourself defensively taking a step back from the awful creature in front of you.
"stop it. leave! i don't need you or your disgusting presence in this room, right now! if you won't leave, then i have no choice to report you to the chief officer of the forest rangers."
"then, let's just make this quick, alright? just—"
"they said to leave. you have made a trespassed against a very dangerous territory sir, with that filthy behavior, you are officially never welcomed in gandharva ville again." tighnari spoke from behind, his galre hard as his voice remained cold and ruthlessly.
making a beeline towards tighnari, you found yourself in his embrace along with his sweet gesture of a forehead kiss. "you dare to force my partner into something they were unwilling to do, have i seen them being harassed and forced into the act, i will not act as merciful as i did today."
"so please. leave, before i make your consequence harsher than it is. if you dare to go near to my lotus again, i am not afraid to make a hole in that head of yours."
