My Dearest Darling (Irnes/Fatui!Reader Part One)
Alright you gremlins, gather around! I had to dig this out of the depths of my drafts and give it a much needed makeover, but here we are. Note that reader is gender neutral, and this is completely SFW. For those who don't know who Irnes is, this, that, and here will explain all you need to know! For all you existing Irnes smoochers out there (@ardensforest I'm looking at you), enjoy!
Irnes is well known around the palace. And as one of the many agents roaming the halls on the orders of the Harbingers or Her Majesty, it's only natural that you eventually encounter him, but you didn't expect it to be like this. He runs straight into you by accident, clearly in a hurry, and ends up knocking you both to the floor. Logically, it should've probably given you a pretty nasty bruise, but you're also an agent that's endured dozens of beatings in sparring matches with your superiors. It's really nothing, in comparison to the bruises that the sheer brute force of the Captain has given you in the past, but you weren't expecting to be slammed into full force by a lanky and oddly heavy clone.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry! Are you alright?"
He gets off you quickly and helps you up, dusting off your uniform. You don't even realize what's happening at first, he's that fast, but once he's standing in front of you and turning your chin to make sure your pretty face isn't hurt- Well, you can't help but blush a little. He's clearly one of the Doctor's clones, but he's not cackling at the top of his lungs nor setting anything on fire, which is... unusual. You don't have the heart to ask his name, only muttering a little thanks as he limps around you, brushing off your coat and muttering to himself while checking that you aren't hurt.
"Good, you aren't hurt. Once more, I'm terribly sorry for all this! I must go, however, forgive me моя красота!"
He quickly kisses your hand, bowing his head in sincere apology, before turning on his heel and bolting, leaving you in a stunned silence. You're almost tempted to follow him out of curiosity, but you don't, looking down at your hand with a little blush. What a strange man... He even called you beautiful after only looking at you for a second.
After that day, you keep seeing him around the palace. A passing glimpse of his pale blue hair, the echo of his voice or laughter down a nearby hall. But you don't get the chance to see or talk to him again, no matter how hard you try. He's always too fast, darting away before you can stop him. It's frustrating, to the point that some of your friends within the ranks have started laughing at your pouting face when you get back to the barracks. You just want to talk, how hard is that to achieve! Very hard, apparently.
Weeks of trying to track him down pass, and it finally happens, much to your relief. He looks surprised to see you, but you aren't falling for it again, and immediately pull him to the side before he can escape.
"You've been avoiding me, haven't you?"
He raises an eyebrow, clearly confused at your antics. The other clones he was with are now investigating to see why he was pulled aside by an agent of lower rank, but you don't care, grabbing him by the lapels and pulling him down to your level.
"Every time I try to talk to you, you're gone. Care to explain?"
"There's not much to explain, моя красота! I swear I have not seen you since, and if you wish to repay me for hurting you, slap me now! On the left side, please, that's the only one I can feel it on..."
What. Why is he blushing, and even leaning down a little for you to get a clear shot? Is he crazy?! (The answer is yes, obviously)
"I'm not going to slap you. And I'm not mad."
"Oh. I see! Oh dear, I must apologize-"
So that was awkward. But you got your talk, and Irnes assures you that he didn't even notice you (ouch) and very clearly asks your name. You give it to him, who are you to say no? It's not even your real name, anyhow, you're just a meager agent with nothing to your name. Sure, you have a family, but they aren't exactly well off. Besides, no one of a high position has really asked your name before, so who are you to say no?
"A lovely name, моя красота!"
"Then why are you still calling me that?"
"Oh! Because you're beautiful?"
"Ha! No, you are beautiful! I may not be able to see under that mask of yours, but if what I can see is anything to go by... You are quite lovely."
This cheeky bastard. You can see the little smile on his face, but it doesn't sound like he's sucking up to you or lying... Hm. He's probably just flattering you, right?
"Well, I hate to leave again моя красота, but I do have a mission to complete. It was a pleasure meeting you formally!"
He bends down and kisses your hand a second time, winking subtly as he lets go, walking past with a little awkward bounce to his step. While the start of your... whatever this is might have been a little awkward, it seems to be going well now.
The next few months are... interesting. You see him occasionally, and eventually learn his name: Irnes. No last name, no title. Just Irnes. Which makes it easier on you, but he calls you "sir" instead of the other way around, which is odd. After asking him about it, he just shrugs with that pointy smile, clearly messing with you. You whack his shoulder in retribution.
You think you're getting closer, at the very least. He seems to like you, occasionally walking up behind you and grabbing your shoulders, scaring the living daylights out of you. You, of course, get him back by pulling on the long strands of hair around his face, which he's all too happy to oblige. He starts hanging around you more, and very clearly ignoring his duties just to poke and tease you. He's much taller than you, always getting you with short jokes and apologizing profusely when you pretend to ignore him.
You find that he spends a lot of time in the clone barracks and library, whenever he has free time. He can often be found sitting in the window overlooking the Piazza, surrounded by cushions and books. He invites you to sit whenever you appear, offering the seat at his side as he shows you his work with ruin creatures. He never really let go of his fascination with them, you realize, and he sometimes mentions working with them in the past.
"I wish I could go back... Liyue really was beautiful, you know. The shoal especially."
You don't ask what he was doing in Liyue beyond working with ruin creatures, but it couldn't have been anything good. That's fine though, you've done plenty of bad things yourself. Maybe not out of your own volition, but orders are orders, especially when you want to keep your head. You don't tell your mother the details of your work for a reason, only that you guard the Harbingers. She would have a heart attack if she knew the truth.
At one point, he invites you to be his plus one to some sort of high society party. You decline regretfully, but only because you've never done well with aristocrats, much less greedy old men like the ones you're bound to encounter there. Besides, you don't have any kind of jewelry or clothes that would be fitting of such a high class event. You'd only embarrass him, being dressed in the old embroidered outfit your mother gave you, with little roses and leaves stitched into the blue fabric. It's old, to the point that it would look almost ratty. You can't go out in that, it would humiliate him. He seems a little bummed, but he respects your decision, which is arguably the part that hurts the most. He clearly wants you to go, but he doesn't do anything to pressure you, which you're all too familiar with, being an agent bending to a Harbinger's every whim.
But he misunderstands the reason. He thinks it's because you don't want to be seen with him in that way:
"It doesn't have to be anything romantic, if that's what worries you! I assure you, it's purely a business banquet. I just... feel quite silly, going by myself."
That makes you feel even worse for saying no. He doesn't hold it against you, though. In fact, he welcomes you back when you visit him in the library during your break, showing you the new design he thought up. He practically pulls you into his lap, showing you every little intricacy of his ruin creatures, explaining each part in terms you would understand. It's as if nothing happened, yet you still feel guilty for turning him down.
The first time he recognizes you officially as friends, you don't feel satisfied. For some weird reason, it doesn't feel right. He calls you his "dear friend", but you feel as if it's not enough. You also feel horrible for wanting to be his dearest friend, you've seen how he acts with those he trusts more than you. Is it so wrong to want that? You don't dare say anything, you don't want to ruin this tentative friendship you both have.
You find out he has a child. Well, not his, but there's a little clone following him around everywhere like a lost puppy, and you're shocked when he introduces the child as his "child". Oh. Maybe you've been reading this all wrong. Does he have someone already, or maybe had someone before? He's not wearing mourning clothes, but maybe it was a long time ago. That's probably why he called you his dear friend, right? You start to overthink it, thinking that maybe he's been toying with you, manipulating you. There's something he wants from you, isn't there? He's just trying to get into your mind, to use you for his own ends. Your superior warned you about this, and you so foolishly fell for it.
"What's wrong, моя красота? You look upset."
"It's not nothing if it's bringing out that wrinkle between your brows!"
Oh great, now he's making fun of you. You resist the urge to pull away as he smooths his thumb over the wrinkle between your eyebrows, smiling serenely. Why does he make it so hard to resist? Are you just a fool, or is he just too good at playing you?
"However, his father will have my head if I linger, so I guess you'll just have to tell me later!"
Oh. You feel stupid all the sudden. You don't deserve him, do you? Overthinking every little thing... He must think you foolish.
The next time you see him, it's back in the library, swaying lopsidedly to the music from a record player, the black disk spinning and horn like attachment blaring some slow jazz, the room full of candles as he stands by a bookshelf. There's a book in his hand, undoubtedly about ruin creatures, and it's weirdly peaceful. In the warm light of the candles, you can see the scar along the right side of his face and neck more clearly, jagged and rough against his clear skin. It looks deep, to the point that you wonder what caused it. But you don't dare intrude.
"Come sit, dear. I don't bite."
He chuckles, but it's half hearted. He moves to sit down, but winces and struggles a bit, lowering himself into the chair slowly and shakily, only using one arm to stabilize himself. The other rests on the table, but it doesn't do anything to help as he plops down in the chair with a huff of annoyance, grabbing his right leg and pulling it into a more comfortable position with his free arm. He notices you watching him, but doesn't poke fun for once.
He seems surprised that you'd ask, but chuckles regardless. What's so funny? He's clearly in pain, you've seen that face on dozens of senior agents when their old injuries are aching. So why is he playing it off?
"I'm fine, dear. My body doesn't work like it used to, some days are worse than others."
He says it so easily, as if he didn't almost fall just a moment ago while trying to get into his chair. He doesn't look old enough to say that his body is breaking down either... Maybe he's ill? Or maybe it has to do with those burns...
"You can. You just might not like the answer."
"It's not a happy story, dear."
"I've heard plenty of unhappy stories. If you want to tell me... I'll listen."
"I'll hold you to that in the future, then."
He won't tell you, clearly, but you don't push him. You have your own past, things that you aren't proud of. You won't tell anyone about the reason one shoulder clicks when you move it too fast, but this is likely much worse, if he's struggling that much.
"Alright. May I escort you back to your quarters later, then? I don't want you to hurt yourself..."
"That's very kind of you. I'll have to accept, having such a lovely majesty on my arm is hard to resist."
You give him a playful scowl at the "majesty" part, which gets you another one of those chuckles that you love so much. The rest of your evening is spent in relative silence, Irnes seems to be in a somber mood. Once he's finished reading and sketching, he moves to put his books back, but you beat him to it, snatching them right out of his arms with a teasing grin.
"Ah, you really don't have to-"
"Hush, I want to. Besides, you shouldn't push yourself too much. If your body is in pain, you need to listen to it."
Ironic, coming from you, but Irnes doesn't protest. Once you turn around, he's standing, though he's clearly favoring his left leg, offering a hand. You take it, coming in close and letting him grab your bicep, leaving the library and reentering the frozen corridors that surround it. Irnes doesn't keep pace with your normal speed all that well, so you slow down, letting him lead. It's weird, seeing his face without that weirdly wide smile, his frown seemingly being one of either pain or concentration.
Once you arrive at the door, he lets go, hobbling over and glancing back with a small smile.
"Of course. Make sure you get some good rest, okay?"
He chuckles again, but it seems more genuine this time.
"Alright. Don't worry your little head off, I'll be fine. Good night, dear."
Irnes himself can't stop thinking about that night, not for a long while. You were all too kind to him, not to mention that you didn't press with questions, something he greatly appreciates. Yes, he's been fairly infatuated with you since the beginning, but this made it... more. You also don't seem to realize his affections either, always keeping him at arms length. Perhaps he wasn't clear with his goals? He'll have to be quite obvious, then.
A quick letter, penned in his barely legible handwriting arrives over dinner. Your friends whistle and tease you for it, but you ignore them, opening the letter and finding a simple message:
I will be in the Piazza this evening. Please do consider joining me.
You tuck the letter into your pocket and stuff the last of your pelmeni into your mouth, getting chuckles from your squad mates as you get up quickly, rushing to meet him. You don't want him to get too cold, waiting for your arrival, so you practically run from one side of the palace to the other, arriving in the Piazza completely out of breath and sweating. You always did run cold, compared to the cold of Snezhnaya, or so your mother says. Glancing around, you find a familiar figure standing at the top of the stairs in front of the palace, a cane in one hand as he seemingly observes the emerging stars. Huh. It's not snowing tonight...
"Yeah, sorry for keeping you waiting..."
"Nonsense. I would wait as long as it takes."
Huh. What's that supposed to mean? You don't ask, just move closer to try and figure out what he's looking at, his face tipped towards the few glints of light in the sky.
"I didn't know that it wasn't going to snow tonight."
"My predictions were correct, then. You see, there's a single night a year when Her Majesty's eternal winter moves west, and creates a brief window of clear skies. Only at night, however. I observed it a few years ago, but I didn't know it was recurring until tonight."
"Huh. So the storm moves just enough to see the stars?"
"Precisely. You understand me so well."
Okay, so it's not just that one phrase then. You can't ignore how weird these sentences sound, especially to your worrying brain, which is taking them way too seriously.
"So... That's what you wanted to show me?"
"Among other things. I thought, however, that you would appreciate seeing the stars after some time..."
"You know, many people think the stars are Celestia's bravest warriors, hung in the sky for all eternity to honor them. If my predictions are correct, the stars are not that at all, but masses of fire in the far distance, moving just as we do across the expanse of space. Marvelous, isn't it?"
"I didn't take you as an astronomer."
"I'm not, dear. I just... enjoy watching them."
No more words are exchanged between you two, just a comfortable silence.
"Do you have a vision, dear?"
"Yeah... why do you ask?"
"I see. It's nothing, I was simply thinking. It really does make sense, you're so strong spirited that I can't see it being any other way."
Your heart beats a little faster at that, and you can't help but move closer, until you're a mere whisper away.
"Really? I think I'm rather weak, I'm not sure why I got in the first place..."
"Not at all. You are one of the most stubborn yet kind people I know, dear. If I were an Archon, I would've given you one a hundred times over..."
He's going to be the death of you, saying such nice things. You fall back into a comfortable silence, watching as more stars emerge from the darkness, until the sky is so full of them that you can't believe there would ever be that many great warriors in Celestia to fill them all.
"Thank you for inviting me out here tonight..."
"Of course, dear. I enjoy your company, you know."
"I can tell. Now, shall we go inside? I'm kind of cold..."
"Of course! Come with me, I'll have Sergei make you a pot of tea..."
But before you can go inside, he stops you, a firm hand landing on your shoulder.
He seems to be just staring at your face, his expression unreadable. You don't pull away, but you give him a confused look, waiting for him to make some sort of move-
Then he takes your hand, placing a clear and deliberate kiss on it.
You almost faint right then and there, staring at him with a shocked expression. You try to speak, to put your thoughts in some sort of understandable order, but nothing comes out except a stream of unintelligible stutters, his small smile making your ears heat up even more.
"Let's go inside, dear. You look faint."
Eventually, the deep winter season settles of Snezhnaya, and Her Majesty's festival of love has started. It spreads like wildfire through the barracks, gossip and bragging filling the air as your comrades talk about their wives or husbands back home, or even their unrequited crushes that they plan to rectify during the festival. It leaves you thinking... Who are you going to take to the festival this year? You're known within your squadron to always attend, despite not having anyone to go with you, it's one of your favorite holidays. A week of traditional music, lights, and good alcohol, what wasn't there to love?
Originally you were going to ask him. You bought flowers, a rare commodity in the eternal winter that surrounded Snezhnaya, ones that glowed a soft amber and red, paying half your allowance for the month just for the finest quality you could find. You wouldn't be able to replace your boots with holes in them, but it was worth it to see the expression of joy on his face. But something stopped you... What if he didn't think of you that way? What if he was just overly affectionate?
Your squadmates encouraged you to do it. What could go wrong, they said. The worst he can do is say no, right?
That's how you ended up in front of the Doctor's laboratory, awkwardly holding a glowing bouquet, tapping your foot as you wait for your knock to be answered.
That's when the door swings open, and you chicken out. You don't even bother to stick around and see who opened the door, you just bolt, vanishing down the hall in a split second, cheeks aflame and heart racing.
"Irnesss... Your guard dog stopped by!"
Shit. You have to get out of here. Turning the corner quickly, you run until you're panting in the middle of the Piazza, hiding the flowers in your coat quickly, rushing past the bustling agents and nobles with a thoroughly red face. This was a stupid idea... What are you doing?
Once you get back to the barracks, you place the flowers back in the cup that you'd been keeping them in, making sure they were getting enough water. Another day, another failure. Ugh, why can't you just-
"A letter from Lord Irnes."
You turn and find a palace servant in the doorway, holding out a hastily scribbled note. You take it, thanking her quickly and unfolding it before she's even walked away, scouring the letter like it's personally offended you.
I wish to invite you to the Piazza this evening. I have a little surprise for you! Please do join me, if you're so inclined. I cannot promise stars this time, but I have something so much better.
He's going to kill you with embarrassment is your first thought. The second is that you have to show up, your pride demands it. So you prepare to skip dinner, instead training with your weapon and delusion until the sun starts to dip towards the horizon. The second it's out of sight, you rush to the Piazza, the last of the day crowds trickling out and leaving you mostly alone. He's not here yet, but you rush to the place on the stairs where you stood last time, bouncing your foot as you wait. Maybe the clones tattled on you, told him that you stopped by- no, they said it earlier, didn't they? He's probably going to ask you about it-
You're snapped out of your thoughts by his hand landing on your shoulder gently, your back stiffening at the sudden feeling.
"You seem to be in a good mood..."
"Of course! I'm glad you're here, the first day of the festival starts quite soon!"
"What do you mean, the festival?"
"Oh, right! Forgive me, I got ahead of myself!"
He reaches inside his coat, producing a single blue rose, glowing faintly in the night as he hands it to you, petals silken and unblemished.
"I call it Perpetium! Unfortunately, the term eternia has already been claimed by our beloved Raiden Shogun, so I had to get creative! This rose will never wilt, will never die, for as long as both you and I live! Possibly even longer, my estimations are not exact..."
"...Irnes, I can't accept this."
"Because I was going to ask you! I had flowers and everything! You can't just go and steal my idea!"
At your "frustration", Irnes giggles, hiding his grin behind his hand.
"I'm terribly sorry, my dear! I've been a wicked, horrible man!"
Irnes bursts into a fit of giggles at your dirty look, covering his mouth with his hand. You give him a playful whack on the shoulder, but that only makes him laugh harder.
"Was that the- the reason you ran away earlier-"
You flush in embarrassment, hesitantly nodding. That only makes him laugh harder, his shoulders shaking as he wheezes at the thought of you frantically running away earlier.
"I'm sorry, I'm very sorry my dear! I shouldn't laugh at you-"
You cross your arms and wait for him to stop laughing, knowing full well that it's all in good fun. Though you feel a little embarrassed, especially now that he knows you ran away...
Once he finally stops laughing, he takes a moment to compose himself, turning to you with a red tinted face.
"Forgive me, my dear. You know, I think it's rather cute, don't be so embarrassed. Please do forgive me for laughing..."
"Alright, alright. We should probably head to the festival then, before it gets too late..."
You start to walk away, only to be pulled back gently by Irnes, a wide grin on his face.
"Whoever said we were walking? I have a carriage for a reason, my dear!"
Somehow, despite everything, you manage to flush an even deeper red. You would've been mistaken for a tomato, if you weren't so human shaped. Irnes merely laughs it off, offering his good arm languidly. You take it, and he leads you out of the Piazza, where the lights no longer shine and it's purely dark.
"Not to worry, my dear. I can see perfectly well in the dark with one eye, at the very least. Like a pirate, you know. A pirate with manners, but a pirate nonetheless."
"You flatter me, my dear. I'm a scarred and aged man, the only handsome bit of me is what little tit I have left!"
"You're not that old, don't mess with me like that. You don't even look to be in your fifties yet, and that's not even all that old."
"You're right! Though if a scarred and progressively aged man is to your liking... Who am I to say no to you?"
You climb into the carriage, offering a hand to help him up. Irnes waves it away with a grateful smile, the carriage swaying slightly as he sits down across from you, the warmth inside making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He settles himself with a bit of a struggle, the carriage jerking and swaying as it begins to pull away from the palace, leaving the darkness behind.
Once the carriage finally comes to a stop, you spring out, offering an arm as Irnes gets to his feet. He takes it gratefully, squeezing your bicep lightly as he gets down from the carriage, staggering a little but holding on to you to stabilize himself.
"Ah, the night air is always quite delightful! Shall we walk?"
The walk through the main street is slow, Irnes occasionally stopping to let you oggle the goods on display or talk to the many merchants enthusiastically. The smile doesn't leave his face, not for a second, his face lighting up in surprise when you bring him piping hot pirozhki straight out of the oven. The vendors are everywhere, but the main attraction is the memorial square, a statue of Brighella erected in the northern corner, brandishing her sword and decorated in flowers. Candles line the base of the statue in honor of her victories, some alight in the night as happy couples pass in droves.
A slow dance spins in lazy circles around the square, the music subtle and quiet in the peace of the night. Tiny lanterns hang around the square on paper thin strings hung off the edges of buildings, their warm pink glow casting the stone in wide spirals.
The two of you stand at the edge of the circle, the music continuing to warble through the crowd. You want to ask-
"Shall we dance? I may not keep up well, but you have that... Light in your eyes. You want to dance, correct?"
"...You can't see my eyes."
It's true, you're still wearing your fatui mask from the palace. Irnes merely chuckles, shaking his head.
"I don't need to see your eyes to know that they shine. You're always so... brilliant, I would be a fool to claim that your eyes are not the same!"
You're at a loss for words, once again. Irnes has that affect on you, for whatever reason. Maybe it's because he's so bold, or because he confessed to you not long before this. Either way, you gape at him for a moment before clearing your throat pointedly.
"Thank you. You're... also brilliant, you know. You have a way with words, making even the smallest things seem so beautiful."
Now it's Irnes' turn to stare at you, or at least you think that's what he's doing. He then takes your hand squeezing it tightly.
"Thank you, my dear. I could sing your praises all night, but that will have to wait for later..."
He winks at you, and you instantly turn back into a flustered tomato.
"Let's dance, my dear. I'd hate for you to get cold."
He takes your hand, leading you out into the circle while humming along to the music happily. While one of his hands is occupied with the cane, he puts the other on your waist, letting you lead him in slow circles, swaying slowly in time to the rhythm. The pink light brings out the startling blue of his hair, casting his skin in a rosy hue, his smile soft and lacking in the pointy teeth he so obviously favors.
It's peaceful, having him so close, his breath on your face and hand on your side. You can't help the urge to lean in and kiss him, it feels so right-
"Once you take this step, you can't go back."
"Oh, I know. Is it alright with you?"
"It always will be. Kiss me, my dear, before I get impatient."
With that, you move your hands to grip his shoulders, watching his face for a second longer. Oh, how you want to admire it more.
You kiss him gently, feeling how he softens against you. His lips are chapped, rough, but you don't care in that moment, the world closing and setting a single spotlight on the two of you.
When you pull back, you're almost convinced he's going to kiss you again. But alas, he merely watches you, a little grin on his face.
"Yes. Is it because you're happy?"
"Of course! I'm just... glad that I'm not dreaming. It would break my heart to wake up right about now..."
"Well, it's a good thing you aren't dreaming, then."
Another kiss, the music continuing long into the night. You sway gently until you're nearly asleep on your feet. Irnes is so warm, it's like being wrapped up in a warm blanket...
"My dear... You're getting tired. I believe we should return to the palace so you can rest."
"Good. Not to worry, I will come find you in the morning. We will discuss everything then."
The journey back to the carriage is quiet. You're half asleep through most of it, Irnes' arm over your shoulders, escorting you back with a watchful eye. The carriage ride is also quiet, except this time you're leaning against his side, blinking slowly and fading in and out of sleep. Once you arrive back at the palace, he nudges your shoulder, herding you out of the carriage and back towards the palace, not the barracks. Weird. That's not where you live...
There's hushed talking. You don't bother to look up and see who it is, Irnes barely stops to speak with them. Once he's done speaking, he pulls you towards somewhere you've never been before, the door opening and a bunch of blue blurry blobs surrounding you.
The next thing you know, you're laying down and a gentle kiss is planted on your forehead, the bed dipping beside you.
That's it! Hope you enjoyed this first part, more to come! Irnes might be sassy, but he also loves you very much.
