Stolen Book
A/N: @eliankrios Happy Birthday~ I hope you have an especially wonderful day today. I wish you a good start into your new year of life and the upcoming phase you told me about. So, it isn't really a surprise, since it was already discussed, but I hope you will still find a bit of joy while reading this.
Summary: Surprise~
Words: 1,764 words under the cut
Mika had never considered himself particularly fast. Diligent? Yes. Observant? Definitely. Reliable, even under pressure? He prided himself on that. But fast? Not usually.
Which made his current situation all the more frustrating as he hurried across the courtyard of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, boots skidding slightly against the stone as he tried to keep up with the tall figure walking several paces ahead of him - completely unbothered.
“Mister Lohen- wait!” Mika called, breath catching. “Give it back!” Ahead of him, Lohen didn’t even slow down. If anything, his pace seemed to become just slightly more leisurely, as though he were savoring the moment. “Oh?” Lohen glanced back over his shoulder, a sly curve to his lips. His voice carried easily, smooth and amused. “You mean this?”
He lifted Mika’s small field notebook in one hand, holding it just high enough to make a point. Mika’s face flushed instantly. “Y-Yes! That’s- That’s private!” “Private?” Lohen echoed, feigning surprise. “You shouldn’t leave such interesting material unattended then.” Mika’s heart dropped and his face flushed.
“You didn’t- You didn’t read it, did you?!” he stuttered with a shocked expression. Lohen hummed thoughtfully, tapping a finger against the cover. “Hmm… let’s see. Detailed notes on terrain, wind direction…” his smirk deepened, “and a rather meticulous section titled ‘Behavioral Observations: Vice Captain Lohen.’” Mika let out a small, horrified squeak.
No, that couldn’t be real… he saw it… “I-It’s for research!” he blurted, picking up speed despite his lungs protesting. “I needed to understand-” “To understand me?” Lohen interrupted, voice dipping into something softer, more dangerous. He stopped walking altogether. Mika, unable to react in time, nearly ran straight into him.
Lohen turned fully now, his red eyes glinting with interest as he held the notebook up - far above Mika’s reach. “That’s quite bold of you, Mika.” Mika swallowed, then jumped- or at least, he tried. His fingers barely brushed the air beneath the notebook. The Vice Captain chuckled, lifting it just a bit higher. “You’ll have to do better than that,” he commented.
Mika jumped again, this time with more determination but still couldn’t reach it, barely able to brush it with his fingertips. Lohen’s smile widened, clearly enjoying himself. “Is that all the reconnaissance prodigy of Mondstadt can manage?” Mika’s cheeks puffed slightly as he landed, frustration bubbling up. “Y-You’re being unfair…” he complained.
“Am I now?” Lohen tilted his head. “You’re the one who thought it would be wise to document me.” “I wasn’t- It’s not like that!” “Then what is it like?” Lohen leaned down just slightly, enough for his gaze to meet Mika’s more directly. “Curiosity? Admiration? Or-” he didn’t finish his sentence - he didn’t need to - and only showed the other a teasing grin.
Mika’s face turned a deeper shade of red. “J-Just give it back!” He jumped again - closer this time - but Lohen effortlessly adjusted, arm stretching higher, just out of reach for the blonde. “Persistent,” Lohen mused, “I like that.” Mika huffed, landing again. His arms dropped to his sides as he pouted, clearly at a loss.
For a brief moment, the courtyard fell quiet, except for the faint rustle of wind, then Mika’s expression shifted - a flicker of realization suddenly reaching him, as if it had been carried by the wind right into his mind. “…Right,” he murmured to himself. Lohen raised an eyebrow.
The blonde eyed him a bit nervously now, fidgeting with his fingers, as if he were at odds with oneself, considering something. “Given up already?” Mika didn’t answer, instead he stepped closer - much closer than before. The mint-green-haired didn’t move, watching him with mild curiosity - and that was his mistake.
Mika quickly reached out - not for the notebook this time, but for Lohen’s side. More specifically… his exposed armpit. “Wha!” The reaction was immediate. Lohen’s composure shattered as a high-pitched, startled giggle slipped out, his raised arm jerking downward on instinct, his hand slightly tightening around the notebook.
The blonde’s eyes lit up, a wave of relief washing over him. It had been a dangerous gamble, that lucky turned out to be in his favor. He felt a bit embarrassed about it to be honest, but having a big brother, he learned how to deal with situations like these. “Got you!” he cheered and wiggled his fingers down his side and over his ribs.
With his other hand, he immediately went on the offensive as well. His fingers fluttered against Lohen’s stomach… and thank the wind archon, it turned to be just as effective as his side. “Hehe! W-WaHahit!” Lohen’s voice hitched, laughter slipping through despite his clear attempt to suppress it. “MiHika!”
“You shouldn’t leave such sensitive areas unattended,” Mika shot back, emboldened now, his fingers scribbling lightly across Lohen’s midsection. Lohen’s laughter came out in short, restrained bursts, his shoulders tensing as he tried to regain control. “You- Hnkk! That’s uHunfair!” he laughed.
He couldn’t believe that the blonde would actually resort to something childish as this- no, he was even more surprised that he was so damn tic- ahem sensitive to someone’s touch. In any case, it would usually be him to have the upper hand, he always did, but right now, Lohen felt like he fighting a losing battle, and he didn’t like that at all.
Mika grinned. “Is it?” He continued, alternating between gentle pokes and quick, teasing scribbles along Lohen’s stomach and sides. For a moment, it seemed like Mika might actually win. Then Lohen made his move.
In a swift motion, he dropped the notebook entirely, letting it fall harmlessly to the ground as his hand shot out, catching Mika’s wrist mid-tickle, as the other had been distracted by the suddenly dropping notebook at their feet.
Mika froze, slowly looking up into the other’s ruby-like eyes. Slowly, Lohen straightened, his breathing uneven but his expression shifting back into something far more dangerous. “…Clever,” he said softly. Mika’s confidence wavered instantly. “M-Mister Lohen…?” Lohen’s grip tightened - firm, but not painful - as a smirk spread across his face.
“But you made one critical mistake.” Mika barely had time to react before Lohen’s free hand darted forward, fingers digging lightly into Mika’s side. “Eek!” The sound that escaped Mika was somewhere between a gasp and a high-pitched squeak as his body jolted. “Never let down your guard,” Lohen murmured. “N-No! WahaHAahAh!”
Mika’s laughter burst out instantly, far less restrained than Lohen’s had been. His knees buckled slightly as Lohen’s fingers worked expertly along his sides. “Oh?” Lohen’s tone turned teasing again. “That sensitive?” The surveyor shook his head frantically, even as his laughter betrayed him. “I-I’m ehEheh I’m n-noHot-! Ahaha!” “Liar.”
Lohen shifted his attack upward, one hand sliding to Mika’s underarm while the other continued along his ribs, paying attention to press into the soft spots in-between. Mika’s reaction was immediate. “NOHO! MIHIHISTER LOHOHOHEN!” His voice cracked into helpless giggles as his shoulders shot up, trying- and failing to block the tickling. “IHIHIT TIHICKLES!”
Lohen chuckled, clearly enjoying the way Mika squirmed. “You really should be more careful, Mika. Recording information about someone like me…” his fingers wiggled deliberately under Mika’s arm, eliciting a loud squeal “…comes with consequences.” Mika’s face was bright red now, his laughter spilling uncontrollably as he tried to twist away.
“S-STAHAHP! I CAHAN’T-!” “Can’t what?” Lohen teased, leaning closer. “Endure a little… interrogation?” “THIHIHIS ISN’T FAHAIR! Y-YOHOU MEHENAY!” “Fairness is overrated.” Lohen’s fingers danced mercilessly between Mika’s sides and underarms, never staying in one place long enough for him to recover.
Mika’s laughter turned breathless, his attempts at escape growing weaker by the second. “MiHister L-Lohohen- plehease!” he managed between giggles, his hands pushing weakly at Lohen’s arms. “I- I gi-giHive uhp!” Lohen tilted his head, watching him with clear amusement. “Already?” Mika nodded rapidly, laughter still bubbling out. “Y-YeHehes!”
“Hmm,” Lohen pretended to consider it, though his fingers didn’t stop, but got a bit slower, “I don’t know. You were quite persistent earlier…” Mika let out a helpless, high-pitched laugh. “I-I’m sohorry!” “Are you?” “YEHES!” Lohen’s grin softened just slightly but his teasing didn’t. “Then perhaps I’ll-” Before he could finish, a large shadow loomed over them.
“Having fun?” Both of them froze. Lohen’s hands stilled instantly. Mika blinked, still catching his breath as he looked up. “C-Captain Varka!” Varka stood there, arms crossed, with an expression completely unfazed as he took in the scene: Lohen holding a flustered, laughing Mika in place.
“…You two done?” he asked casually, as if head seen something like this countless times already. Lohen released Mika without protest, stepping back with a small sigh. “We were in the middle of something.” “I can see that,” the Grand Master commented, letting out a sigh.
“…It’s not nice to tease your juniors too much, Lohen… let's have a chat about it, shall we.” Without another word, Varka reached down, grabbed Lohen by the back of his uniform, and hoisted him over his shoulder like it was nothing. “H-Hey,” Lohen started, sounding more annoyed than surprised, “put me down.” “Nope.”
“This is highly unprofessional,” Lohen argued. “So was whatever you were doing just now.” Mika watched, wide-eyed, as Varka turned and began walking away, Lohen draped over his shoulder, arms crossed and clearly displeased. “…This isn’t over, Mika,” Lohen called back, his smirk returning despite the situation, “we’ll continue this later.”
Mika squeaked at his comment, suddenly feeling his hands on his sides again. Then they were gone. Silence settled over the courtyard once more. Mika stood there for a moment, still slightly breathless, before his gaze dropped to the ground. “…My notebook!” He quickly knelt down, picking it up and checking it over. Thankfully, it was unharmed.
Clutching it to his chest, he let out a small sigh of relief. Then, slowly, a thoughtful expression crossed his face. “…Behavioral observation,” he murmured, flipping it open. He hesitated for only a second before pulling out a quill he always carried along.
Vice Captain Lohen exhibits extreme sensitivity in underarm and side regions. Reaction includes involuntary laughter, loss of composure, and defensive reflexes.
The blonde paused. Then, cheeks faintly pink, he added one more line.
Note: The Vice Captain is highly retaliatory. Exercise caution.
Mika closed the notebook with a small nod, his determination returning. “…I’ll be better prepared next time.” He pricked up his ears when somewhere in the distance, Lohen’s voice echoed faintly in protest as Varka carried him off, followed by sudden chortle of laughter. Mika smiled just a little. Yes, next time… he’d definitely win.
