Dancing Through The Stars - Ticking of the Clock - Luocha - Laendler
Author Notes: I'm going to be completely honest, I was at a bit of lose on where to go with this one when I got started. And I'm sure that's largely because I don't actually play Honkai: Star Rail and instead just lurk in the fandom like a gremlin, but to make a long story short, I was a bit lost when it came to Luocha's character. I really crutched on the song "Borderline" by Tame Impala, which I also listened to while writing this fic though, so I figure that's why this fic came out the way it did. This dance in this fic was heavily inspired by the Laendler performed in 1965 film “The Sound of Music.” Just like the rest of this series, reader is female. I hope you enjoy!
If you would like to read more of this series, the fics can be found here: Dancing Through The Stars Master-List.
Type: Female reader/ sfw/ some fluff/ angst/ pining
Word Count: 1939
You openly frowned at Luocha as he looked up at you from where he sat at the table. A slight smile on his face that spoke of an apology he had to make but that you’d already known was coming for far too long. Because, simply put, he hadn’t been acting right the past few days.
It was like there had been a cloud hanging over the two of you that had yet to pour its rain over you both. But even then, with just the shadow of clouds looming on the horizon, you knew there was a storm on the horizon.
You watched as he stood, feeling the odd urge to back away. As if fleeing could somehow put off whatever was about to come.
Which was ridiculous, because you would’ve thought that the break in the weighty atmosphere that had been haunting you would come as relief. But instead, you found that you dreaded it. Especially as he smiled at you with that gentleness of his that you’d so come to love.
You swallowed, noting the way that coffin of his remained propped in the corner and wondering if you should’ve taken it as a warning to not get attached to him back when you’d first met. If you had, you might not be in this situation now.
But you hadn't. Instead, you’d paid more attention to his soft smile, elegant disposition, and gentle nature.
“Luocha….” You trailed off, slipping back one step and watching the way he stopped the very moment you made even a single motion of retreat.
He let out a sigh, “I’m afraid that I’ll be leaving soon, my dear.”
You outright frowned at his words, noting the way the clocks ticking suddenly seemed a lot louder as his green eyes slid over to meet yours once more.
But, in the end, his words weren’t really that surprising. After all, Luocha was a traveler, and you’d known all along that he’d come to Luofu for a specific reason. It was only logical that he’d leave once he’d taken care of whatever it was that had brought him here in the first place.
“So you finished what you needed to do here? Where will you be heading next?” Your voice was oddly quiet as you spoke. Almost like it was having to compete with all of the idle sounds that surrounded you that all suddenly sounded too loud.
The ticking of the clock, the sound of the wind blowing outside, and even the sound of your mingled breathing.
He shook his head, his long blond hair swaying lightly with the motion as his eyes closed with a calm finality, “I won’t be leaving the Luofu. We just won’t be able to see each other for a while.”
Your brow furrowed at his words, but it was suddenly all too obvious that there was something he wasn’t telling you. Which really wasn’t that odd considering Luocha had struck you as someone who kept his cards close to his chest even when you’d first met him.
Yet another sign to avoid him that you’d ignored or somehow hadn’t noticed.
Still you shifted, your eyes staying on him as you crossed your arms lightly, “Well, why do you have to go then?”
Your tone somehow managed to stay light even despite the strange wariness that started to fill your mind as he turned, looking out the window. And something told you he was looking at something far further off than the streetscape outside as he spoke in a soft tone, “Because I’m afraid I did something.”
Your lips pressed together as you let silence fall between the two of you.
The obvious next step would be to ask him what he did, but you weren't sure you wanted to know. After all, even if you had ignored the distinct weirdness of him toting a coffin around, you weren't a fool.
There always had been something about Luocha that was off. And even if you’d never seen him do anything wrong, a part of you had always whispered that there was something more to this man than the numerous kind acts I’d seen him do.
He looked back toward you, a smile crossing his face once more as he tilted his head and reached out. Holding out a gloved hand in one smooth motion that was impossibly elegant even despite its simplicity, “It’s a silly request but, would you dance with me before we part?”
Your lips twitched up as you almost laughed at his words despite everything. So innocent despite the fact you both knew that this was far too serious a situation for anything as mundane as a simple dance.
Because even if you didn’t know what it was he’d done to result in him having to leave, you knew it couldn’t be anything good. Not with it being him, and not with how cryptic he was being about it.
Still, against all logic you reached out. Slipping your hand into his warm one and causing his smile to spread as he pivoted. One arm tucking itself behind his back as you walked forward together with quick, light little steps. Occasionally pivoting to look toward each other before you finally turned to fully face one another and his other hand lifted. Meeting yours easily in the space you held between the two of you.
“The Laendler…” Your words were murmured as you danced back across the floor. Pausing each step to bounce one leg up in the lightest of kicks before you continued onward.
He hummed his response as you both turned. Your hands continuing to grip each other as they raised over your heads in an arch as you spun under them.
He let go of one of your hands, still smiling softly at you as he held your other hand up while his free hand tucked back behind his back once more. And you felt yourself smile fleetingly in response as you began to twirl as he walked along beside you. Easily keeping pace with you as his eyes stayed resting on you until he reached out. Catching your hand as you came back around and turning with you so that one of your arms extended out in front of him to stay in his grip while your other pair of interlocked hands rested right in front of you.
The two of you walked in an easy half circle like that, with you facing away from him. Barely managing to not frown as your brain kept turning over this entire situation you now found yourself in. Dancing with Luocha without knowing where he was going, and why.
Because even if him leaving didn’t come as a surprise, there was something about this that left a bitter taste in your mouth. Almost like we were dancing out of step with music or like this was a move that came at the exact wrong time.
You spun, turning to face him once more, your hands lightly resting against one another as they faced out. With your palms toward Luocha and his toward you as you both took light rotating steps. Exchanging sides of the floor with one another before he spun you once more.
And then he took your hands, holding them up over your head and pulling them down in a slow arching motion as you danced across the floor until your hands, still gripping his, were resting against your waist. And then he was twirling you lightly once more before letting go of your hand.
You hesitated for a brief moment, inhaling with sinking feeling even as you started the light, almost playful steps that took you in a little circle around him as he stayed in place. Clapping out a light beat even as his head turned to keep you in his line of sight. Almost as if he were trying to memorize the sight of you as the two of you traded off. With him walking a short half circle around until his back was too you.
You reached out hesitantly toward his shoulder, only to find his hand waiting, ever-ready for yours as his fingers curled around yours. Guiding you around him as the two of you went forward in your silent dance until you were facing him once more.
And this time, there was too much meaning in his gaze as your eyes met his and your hands raised. Resting palm to palm with his before your arms would swing up in an arching motion to rotate back around and meet back in front of the two of you again again. Parting briefly, but always returning to one another.
He shifted, his hands now gripping yours so that the two of you formed a frame with your arms and interlocked hands that you looked through to see each other as you rotated together. But this time your motions were slowing down. Lagging to a slow stop as you tilted your head. Your lips parting wordlessly as you searched for words amid the ticking of the clock that counted down the passing seconds that suddenly felt as if they were racing by. Leaving you with less and less time with this strange young man who you fully suspected would start haunting you the moment he disappeared from your life.
Just like how meeting him had felt strangely nostalgic despite the fact you’d never met him before.
Your eyes searched his as you slowed to a stop. Almost chest to chest as your arms slowly lowered, one of his hands leaving yours while the other continued to hold onto you. And all at once it felt like the two of you were standing on a line, where one step forward would send you hurtling over the edge and into something that might be dangerous even if you knew with startling clarity that he would meet you there.
“What did you do?” There was nothing accusatory in your tone, and the words came out as a whisper. Almost like you were afraid of how he would respond. And maybe you were.
He exhaled, his breath fanning lightly against you as he dipped his head, his eyes still holding yours as he spoke in a tone that matched yours, “Something terribly wrong.”
You swallowed, not surprised by his words, but still feeling oddly defeated. And you wondered what sort of expression you were wearing as he looked at you. Something remorseful in his eyes even as his lips lifted in an oddly pleased manner. As if he were apologetic for what this situation, but somehow pleased by what he saw on your face.
“I apologize for cutting our time together short, but I’m afraid it’s time.” He paused, leaning forward and you felt yourself tense as his lips brushed feather light against your forehead. His hand still gripping yours as he leaned back, a gentle smile sweeping across his features once more, “Go now, before they come and take me away.”
So it was to be an arrest…. You hesitated, feeling oddly like everything was moving in slow motion as your fingers tangled with his, “Be careful.”
He nodded, almost chuckling at your words as you stepped away, your gaze lingering on him for another fraction of a second before you turned and trotted out the room. Your pace speeding up as you went. Fleeing whatever awaited him and whatever it was that had just flickered into place between the two of you in those final moments as your throat tightened with warning.
A quiet promise that Luocha was indeed going to haunt you.
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