Rerir x fem!reader while still respecting Rerir x Tholindis
Angsty idea
Rerir only has eyes for Tholindis. She was his past, present and future, even in the hands of death. Tholindis was all he ever thought about, all he ever fought for.
And then there's you, the newest apprentice of Nefer and the latest employee of The Curatorium of Secrets. Of course, Nefer wouldn't take just anybody in. You have a certain affinity towards kuuvhaki and have discovered that you're able to rewind your actions and experiences exactly 10 seconds back in time.
"It may not seem like a lot, but she essentially has the ability to change outcomes and reassess her steps, provided that she acts quickly in her 10 second window," is what Nefer said when she caught wind about you.
Spoiler for current Archon Quest
While out on an intel gathering trip for Nefer, you stumble upon a small box with a ring inside. Seeing as it was in the middle of nowhere, you decide to keep it and only really inspect it when you get home. It's an aged ring, with a sort of deep purple gem in the middle. Something compels you to slip it onto your ring finger and as soon as you do the air splits in front of you, as if a hole appearing out of nowhere.
You've unknowingly opened the moon gate and there on the other side is a white-haired man, ominous in appearance, black bandages wrapped almost all around him, you could only really see one crimson eye where a flash of surprise crosses.
In the next second, the gate closes, the man is nowhere to be seen.
Instinctively and almost immediately you hone kuuvahki into sending you back in time a mere five seconds, when the gate was open. Your arm reaches in, hand makes contact with the man's bandaged arm and with all your might pull him out of the moon gate and into your room.
You fall backwards onto your bed, the man, sorely out of place in your cozy house, sprawled on the floor.
Rerir had abandoned all thoughts of revenge at this point and had already bid his farewells to Tholindis through Columbina. So when he realizes he's back in the realm of the living, he's painfully confused.
You're none the wiser. You have no idea who this man is, only that you thought you needed to save him from that sad looking place.
"...I'm sorry but how did you open the moon gate?" You jumped when he spoke up. Not exoecting a rather gentle voice from his...monstrous looking persona.
"I didn't, it just, happened,"
It was then that he recognizes the ring on your finger. The same ring that he had prepared for Tholindis for their engagement but never got to give her. He's too stunned to speak, but you've already started to offer him your bathroom so he could "freshen up".
"Do you not see how I look like?" Rerir started. Surely you weren't being kind to someone who looked like trouble.
"...I don't judge people by their looks... A beautiful, well-kept lady could very well be a murderer in disguise,"
How ironic that statement was and how it reminded him of his old predicaments with Tholindis.
Before he could even say anything else, Nefer is at your door, with Lauma and Columbina behind her. Something about a shift in kuuvahki energy originating from your house.
Rerir is detained, but he doesn't resist. You on the other hand, was brought up to speed on who Rerir was, along with his terrible deeds.
To say you were surprised was an understatement. It was also a complete mystery (at this moment, at least) how you were able to pull him out of the gate.
Days later after Columbina and the others had assessed that Rerir has, in fact, no malicious intent nor passion for revenge anymore, she releases him into the living world under the condition that he is watched. The decision was made under strict scrutiny, this was someone who had caused a lot of trouble after all, but if there was anyone who understood the importance of giving second chances, it would be your group of friends and Nasha Town.
Of course, that task was put upon you (and under secret supervision by others). You were the reason why he ended up back here after all.
You learn that this isn't an easy task. Despite not having a thirst for revenge he is still tainted with abyssal energy. Something that he has to learn how to control. On top of that, his presence in the living realm seems to stir the Wild Hunt even more, and, curiously, the Wild Hunt seems to be following YOU around. Later, you find out that they're attracted to the ring, not you. However, no matter what everyone tried, the ring would not budge from your finger. Columbina thinks it's the malicious energy inside anchoring itself to you.
"In that case it's best that you let me know when you're leaving town on an assignment. It's safer if I go with you," is what Rerir said, genuinely believing that you had given him his chance to repent for all that he had done.
Rerir, however, had the habit of falling into the ocassional depression and bad moods, brought by memories of his past and burdens of his actions. He lashes out at you one day, hurling accusations about how you had made his life miserable, that you should've just left him in the quiet of that void. There was nothing left in the living world for him, no Tholindis, just pain and hatred. Before he could lose control over his abyssal energy, you step 10 seconds back in time, right when you were about to knock on his door.
You instead turn away and leave on your assignment without him, opting to ask Flins to accompany you instead.
For reasons obvious to you, yet not to others, you continue to avoid Rerir up until he himself seeks you out.
"Have you not been given any tasks these few days?" His appearance had changed drastically while trying to live a normal life in Nasha Town. Gone were the black bandages and gauntlets, replaced by mundane looking clothes that made him look like a scholar instead of an adept fighter. He now kept his long white hair in a bun.
You're unsure how to answer him, for it would be easy to ask around and find out that you indeed were going out on tasks without him. However, remembering that you were supposed to be responsible for him, you decide to answer truthfully.
"I've been out on a couple, I had someone else tag along,"
The confusion that breaks on his face is readable. "You could've asked me,"
You stay silent for a few seconds before carefully replying "...there were days where you weren't in the mood..."
Rerir's eyebrows scrunch up even more, then the tension in his features releases and turns into realization. "You used time reverse,"
By no means was he stupid. He could put two and two together, albeit it was a little cryptic.
"Gods, did I hurt you? Is that why?" He dug his palms into his eyes, attempting to hide his frustration.
"Mm, no, not in the way that you think, at least," you left out the part where you think he was on the verge of it.
"Oh... Oh, that's good, I guess," he sighs, now moving one of his hands to rub his temple. "Listen, I--" how was he going to say that he would like it if you were just honest with him. When his previous life was built out of lies, honesty was so much more important in this one. "If I cause you any harm then by all means, please protect yourself," he started. "And... maybe this is strange to ask of, but I'd rather you don't hide it from me if I do. You don't have to protect me from that guilt," He seemed to take in a huge amount of air, as if lacking the courage to say his next lines but blurting it out anyway. "I promise I'll use that guilt to become better, I won't let it tear me down anymore,"
You meet his eyes of silent determination, you're not sure whether to be in awe or to pull away from the split second of attraction you feel.
"You don't have to promise me anything... I'm not..."
Tholindis
The phrase isn't finished, but the heavy silence that followed fills it in for the two of you. You clear your throat after a moment, changing the subject as soon as you recover. "Uhm, but, I'll try, anyhow. Not to hide things, I mean,"
You hope the heat on your cheeks isn't visible.
He takes it, and eagerly replies "Great! Then come find me whenever you need help,"
and that's where my brainrot ends.
What possible scenarios could we have for this? Feel free to share your ideas!
In celebration of his new marketing, and hopefully a character demo in the near future, here's some Rerir Fluff because I've only written angst about him thus far. (And a little angst just cause)
CW: wholesome content, swearing! Lots of curse words. Rerir x reader, rerir fluff, rerir angst. Clingy Rerir, reincarnated, but oblivious, reader. Mentions of implied murder, and cute relationship content.
In the past Rerir dreamed of a sweet, beautiful life with his beloved partner, but then Khaenri'ah was destroyed and his love had died in the fallout. So, what's life with Rerir like in the present? When Rerir is the only one who remembers their tragic love story and his unknowing darling just goes along with his slightly possesive-sometimes murderous- and clingy behavior?
How does Rerir attempt to reclaim the life he so desperately dreamed of for 500 years?
The Racher of Solnari, a Sinner of Khaenri'ah...Rerir has gone by many names in the past. Even the mere thought of Rerirs wrath evoked fear in all who imagined the terrifying beast that stalked the wilds of Nodkrai.
'Beast'...'monster'...'traitor'... all viable names Rerir has worn as badges of honor, though, lately he has reclaimed a much older title; one he hasn't held for centuries.
"Honey, I'm home!" You called from the door, cheerful but exhausted from your long shift at the junkyard. Someone broke into the fatui base and stole a bunch of broken reactor cores, every single mechanic in Nodkrai was beating down your doors to barter for one. You learned the hard way how some of the kids in town have held the titles of 'master mechanic' amongst their older peers. You looked forward to seeing the future 'evil geniuses' of tomorrow, hoping that by helping them, they shall spare you from their future mischief.
Until then, you are stuck cleaning up their messes because your boss is too lazy to hire more staff.
"Rerir, are you here?"
Silence greeted you in return, interrupted slightly by the buzz of electricity coming from your lights.
You peaked around the corner, peering into the kitchen, the living room, and even upstairs to your shared bedroom. Your partner was nowhere to be seen.
"Must be out hunting again." You said to no one, unzipping your many layers of coats now that the cold was locked outside where it belonged.
"You could say that, I suppose." Said a voice behind you.
You shrieked and instinctually swung in the voices direction, unknowingly hitting Rerir in the process. It would've hurt, would've knocked a fucker on their ass had it been anyone other than Rerir. To him, however, it felt like getting slapped by a kitten.
Hell, if you had been anyone else, he would've ripped your throat out and devoured you whole on the spot. Thankfully you held the special privilege of being able to get away with pretty much anything and Rerir would just let you do it. Hell, he sometimes even joins in on the fun. As long as that fun doesn't involve jumping off cliffs and waiting till the last second to use your glider. Rerir isn't very fond of that game.
Despite the special privileges you posses, it would unfortunately seem that tonight would not be one of those nights you can get away with anything.
Rerir stared down at you disaprovingly, his arms were crossed across his broad chest, he looked like a disapproving parent who caught their child sneaking in after curfew. It would've been terrifying, mortifying even, were he not wearing the big fluffy pink sweater you gifted him last month to help keep him warm.
"Are you done?" He asked, raising a brow.
"Don't scare me like that!" You smacked his arm lightly, not that it would do much to him anyways, "Not all of us can turn into mist and sneak up on people, Remember?"
"My love, I myself am not a fan of this little...'quirk' of mine. Hopefully it will be gone quite soon."
"Still, I don't like being snuck up on..." you pouted, rather cutely in Rerirs opinion.
He sighed and ran a hand through your hair, ruffling the already frazzled mess. "I'll do better to remember that in the future, now, why were you so late getting home?"
Ah, yes, time was something Rerir had a particular fixation with, but never with himself. No, no, no only with you.
For good reason, he promised, but he never liked to elaborate on that further.
Rerir had a few rules he preferred not be broken, the first of which being he wants to know where you are at all times, often sending the Wildhunt to keep an eye on you while you're out in the hills or working late in town.
"For your protection," he has reassured on many occasions. "If something happens, I can be there in an instant."
That one made some sense, especially since the Fatui have come to Nodkrai and announced themselves as the new rulers. People didn't really bother with them much anymore, often just throwing the rowdy grunts out of businesses, but sometimes the grunts would sneak into the scrap yard looking for interesting parts to take back to the research facility.
You didn't really care that much, honestly you would've let them in had they just pay for the parts like their suppose to. Oh well, at least your vision can be put to use when they start fights over scrap metal.
The second rule was a big one, being that you need to be home by 11:00pm. This was a rule you didn't entirely understand, but it's not like you really wanna be out that late anyways. The Nodkrai winter is long and dangerous, the temperatures can drop to below freezing in an instant.
Most folks who live outside Nasha Town tend to lock themselves inside their homes early and bundle up by the fireplace. The city, on the other hand, can sufficiently keep the people living inside the walls warm for the whole winter, they have nothing to worry about.
You've asked him in the past about these strange rules, and you get a similar answer every time.
"I just don't want you to get hurt, what happens I'd I'm not there to keep you safe or...I am unable to find you and you are taken from me again?" Was his explanation.
"Again?" You asked curiously. As far as you were concerned, their hadn't been a day you haven't been with Rerir in some capacity. Not since he found you during a Wild Hunt attack.
Rerir didn't elaborate further when you had first asked, he still hasn't. He'll often change the subject when uncomfortable topics such as that come up. "How was work?" "What did you have for lunch?" "Did you learn anything interesting today?" Are his main go to conversation topics.
It was odd how quickly he could change the subject, one second you could be prying him for details on something ominous he said, the next second you two were talking about possibly adopting a new pet. Two cats and a dog being the current agreement.
You found it oddly charming that the beastly man who terrorizes Nodkrai was so interested in getting a little fluffy pet.
Pulling yourself out of your thoughts, you leaned against his body for support and sighed, "My boss is a dick...he had me work overtime even after I was told I could leave early..."
Rerir wrapped an arm around your waist and held you closer to his body, his free hand gently stroking your hair. A comforting, repetitive motion that slowly eased the days stress away. "I can always have a talk with him, you know?"
You chuckled, the sound soft and pleasant to Rerirs ears, it's been so long since he's heard it. A part of him almost believed he had imagined it. "No, you can not kill my boss."
"Never said kill." He pointed out.
"Highly implied." You corrected.
He smiled, a rare but beautiful smile only you got to see, "Dinners cold, but it's done. Let's go warm it up."
~
While Rerir does not need to eat in the same capacity you do, that did not stop him from cooking for you.
It was quite the sight, the first time you watched him cook. Standing at damn near 10 ft tall and looking like a masked killer did nothing to save his image when he wore that green and blue 'Kiss the Cook' apron for the first time while making chicken soup.
He claims he has had a lot of practice, though has not cooked for himself in a long time. He had issues with the stove at first, but has taken to cooking pretty well. You have to admit, it's nice to come home to a warm meal after a long shift, and there is something comforting about spending a little time in the evening helping Rerir finish dinner and cleaning up together. It feels natural, just sitting down together and laughing about the day over a good meal. Even if only one of you are actually eating.
Tonight was no exception. Rerir had made a large pot of stew, in anticipation for the first blizzard of the season.
"How do you know there is a blizzard coming tonight? We haven't heard anything from the storm watch in weeks." You asked curiously, stirring the warming pot.
"Because my darling, I know everything. It's a blessing some days, a curse most." He replied, as he set the table.
"Okay...if you know everything...what am I thinking now?"
Rerir thought for a moment, "you wish to know if we have those cake things you like? Bottom shelf of the fridge."
You walked over to the small fridge and pulled the door open, inside sat a plate of Lakaberry Krumkakes.
"How did you-"
Rerir kissed your cheek and pulled out the plate. "I know everything, my love."
You took the plate and returned the chaste kiss, "Thank you, Rerir. This is really sweet."
With table set and dinner served, the two of you ate dinner in the peaceful quiet of your home. The smell of good food wafting through the air, which he personally- and privately- liked to admit put the delicacies of Khaenri'ah to shame; the comfort of another person to dine with, almost as if nothing had changed for the last 500 years. (Even though he knew that wasn't true.) And best of all. Getting to hear you talk about your day.
Rerir mostly listen while you went on about whatever happened in town and who brought what to the scrapeyard, he enjoyed listening to you talk. Missed it even. Your voiced filled the silence he had grown accustomed to, and he didn't believe he could ever go back to listening to the empty void again.
Rerir had zoned out somewhere between your boss telling you to stay late and one of the young inventors in town trying to barter some metal flowers for a busted reactor core. He couldn't help it, really he tried to pay attention, but he couldn't help but be put at ease in your presence. Your absence had left a gaping hole in Rerirs eternal life, and while it took a very long time to track you down, it was finally been filled.
Even if you couldn't fully remember him, even if the 'you' he once loved in Khaenri'ah was different from the 'you' of today, It didn't matter. He was simply happy just to have you back by his side.
"Rerir? Are you listening?"
Shit, he zoned out too long. What did you say?
"Yes, my darling?"
"Did you have a ghoul follow me and the weather reporters around this week?" You asked, reaching for a krumkake. You already knew the answer, but you wanted to hear him say it anyways.
Rerir stared at you for a moment, contemplating his response. He tried and failed to find one that didn't sound crazy.
"Is it still sweet if the answer is yes?"
~
You don't know if Rerirs hunch was correct or if the weather man was correct, but the storm began a little past midnight nontheless. First a simple flurry, but now it would seem the gods dumped a bucket of snow onto your home while you and Rerir cleaned up dinner. Thank goodness you two brought in the firewood the other day, or it would all be buried by now.
This would be the first of many torrential snow storms that will blanket Nodkrai for the next six months. Goodbye sun and chilly temperatures, hello giant fluffy coats and hot drinks!
And of course-
"Is this better? Would you like another blanket?"
You were laying on top of Rerir, your head resting on his chest while one of the phantom hands pulled a quilt over the two of you. Rerir felt neither heat nor cold, yet practically radiated warmth. A trait of his you adored, especially on cold nights like this one.
Rerir had his arms wrapped around you, tight but comforting. Almost as if he thought you would dissappear if he let go. He was like this most nights, but tonight felt different somehow, but what was so different about tonight?
Honestly, he had been rather clingy all week. He'd always be around the corner keeping an eye on you; he'd jump if you so much as sneezed; nearly fainted when you fell down the stairs last week, despite walking away with just a few bruises; and has found a new disdain for your neighbor who keeps 'randomly' bumping into you on your morning run. The last one was fairly normal, you had a feeling what Rerir was like getting into this relationship, but everything else was a little out of character for your boyfriend.
At least, the boyfriend you are familiar with.
"Did you have a bad day today?" You asked tracing the markings along his shoulder.
"What makes you say that?" He replied, absentmimdedly playing with your hair.
"Well, you're squeezing me like I'm a teddy bear."
"A very cute one."
You rolled your eyes and kept tracing the patterns running along his arm, "haha, funny...but seriously, are you okay? You've been acting strange recently."
No, he wasn't okay. Infact he was actively fighting himself to remain calm even now, but Rerir would sooner grovel beneath the false gods feet than admit that to you. He glanced over at the calender. October 29, the day Khaenri'ah was wiped off the face of Teyvat.
The day he watched you die.
Rerir had been on edge the entire week, even if the rational side of his brain said that there was nothing to be afraid of. He was jumping at shadows; staring off into the flames that he swore had engulfed your home just a few moments ago, only to be reminded that was just the fire place.
And worst of all, seeing your body beaten and broken beneath the steps of the castle. A sight forever engraved into his memory. It seemed only reasonable to Rerir to be on edge, in his opinion at least.
'I'm alright love, just thinking about something...do you remember how we met?" He cautiously asked.
How could you forget? You still have the scar from that night running along your arm.
"I was lost when the Wildhunt raided the beach, and got attacked by a confused Ratnik. Poor guy was on his very first shift, and I chose a bad day to wear pink." You joked, pulling the blanket higher over your shoulders.
Rerir traced the scar running along your arm with one of his claws, it might not hurt you anymore, but Rerir felt his heart being torn apart every time he saw it. He can't forgive himself for hurting you, even unintentionally. After all, how could he have known this was where you would be? Reborn in the very nation he spent so long planning to destroy?
Doomsday shall have to wait for another day, until he can convince you to move somewhere warmer that is.
"Bastard should've watched where he was aiming." Rerir frowned remembering the Ratnik who struck you out of fear for his life. Strong hit, horrible aim, a bad combination.
"He was a scared young man, we all make mistakes when we are afraid. He acted purely out of survival, i can't fault him for it entirely." You defended the young Ratnik. He had been very good to you while you recovered, even paid for your medical bills out of his own pocket, but he safely retired soon after his first few missions. The Ratnik had decided to study at the academia rather than fight the eldrich monster who was currently holding you so tenderly.
Rerir looked down at you, "Do you really believe that someone's actions can be excused by 'fear' alone?"
"Not all actions, but some. We all want to survive, so we do what we must. That doesn't mean you can get away with certain stuff because you're afriad...I'm just saying I don't blame him for getting lost, scared, and fighting for his life."
Rerir nodded, burying his head into your hair. He ran what you had said through his mind. What could be forgiven in the context of 'survival?' Just how much could be forgiven? He has committed terrible crimes in his life so he may continue living, long before he became the sinner he is today. He told himself for many nights he simply followed the kings orders, that he did as he was told.
But did that excuse his crimes? Did that wash the innocent blood off his hands?
If he told you, or worse, if you were ever to remember who he truly is and what he has done, could you forgive him as easily as you forgave that Ratnik? Despite how much he wanted to believe that would be true, he knew deep down you would most certainly hate him.
Rerir wouldn't even be angry with you. He wouldn't forgive himself either, he still hasn't.
So, he'll never tell you, he decides. After all, why bother you with a past you don't remember and he would rather forget? He can make due with life as it is currently, now that he is finally strong enough to protect you.
"What about you? Have you been doing okay recently?"
"Hm?"
Rerir stared down at you, "Well, you've been a bit spacey lately aswell...is everything alright?"
You hummed in response trying to find the words to describe how you've been feeling the last week. "I... had a strange dream about you the other night...but you looked different, a lot different."
"Oh? Pray tell."
"Yeah," you rolled over wrapping your arms around Rerirs body. It was his turn to be cuddled. "we were walking around this big city and we kept talking about some fancy resteraunt."
Rerir paused, he felt his chest tighten.
"And, what else happened?" He pressed cautiously
"I told you the resteraunt would be fully booked, so I said we should go to the gardens and talk. It sounded like it was something important, but I woke up before I found out what it was."
Rerir didn't say anything, but his grip on you tightened, was he even breathing?
"Rerir? Are you okay?"
"Y-yes, I'm fine. I'm alright."
More than alright, elated in fact.
"It sounds like you had a nice dream, even If it was incomplete."
"I wouldn't mind having it again, the city was beautiful...and you had the softest brown hair. Like I know that's weird to say, but-"
"No, no...I like hearing you talk about your dreams, especially the weird ones. They're always fun to hear." Rerir reassured, thankful you couldn't see hi face from this angle. Grateful even.
He missed this, these little moments were all Rerir had left to cling to, all that prevented him from falling over the edge an plummeting into the pits of insanity. He was finally living the life he had always dreamt of with you, even if it was 500 years late.
Because at any moment you could be taken from him again, and Rerir knows he won't survive if you were. Rerir learned quite a lot in his travels, but most importantly he learned to tune out the screaming voices echoing in his mind; he learned to spend weeks on end awake and restless, unable to stomach the nightmares his subconscious subjected him to; but most importantly, he learned to cherish every moment he had with you.
The messes made while cooking, your laugh, the way your face scrunched up when you were thinking; those little memories kept him sane and the these little moments now are what's currently keeping him sane.
Suddenly all those arguments over petty matters like furniture didn't mean a thing.
He spent so long alone, haunted by memories as he clung to the very last shred of his sanity. Fueled by a desire not just for revenge, but for love. To find you, to ensure you could never be taken from him again.
"Let's get some sleep, darling. We can go out and play in the snow tomorrow."
CW: Angst with no comfort, unrequited love, major violence, blood, and gore, reader is clinically insane, major character deaths, yandere!reader (?), non-con kissing, themes of obsession and infatuation, proceed with caution.
DISCLAIMER: This is purely a work of fiction showcasing the twisted, toxic dynamic between two mentally ill characters. I do not condone such behaviour.
A/N: I don't know what possessed me to write this. But, well, I've been meaning to write something involving Rerir for a while now, but although I find him attractive and well-written, I can't bring myself to like him. I wrote this anyway. I can't put into words why. But, I hope you can understand from what I've penned. Anyways, I plan on writing more genshin stuff in the future!! So, look out for that, I guess.
You had been watching Rerir for a long time, hidden beneath the Frostmoon’s gentle veil of divine moonlight, peeking through the gaps of your feathery cocoon. It had sprouted from innocent curiosity—a need to understand the mind of the slaughterer who slayed without as much as a hitch in his steps—and from boredom and eternal loneliness.
You were there as he knelt before the king; there, as he crossed out pitiful faces on a stack of neat papers; there, as he fell entranced by Tholindis’ charm; there, as he proposed to her under a large oak tree; there, as the woman cast herself into the moon’s estranged reflection; and there, as he had let himself be consumed by the abyss, desperate for the joyous closure he had promised his own story.
But that had never been your set of events.
For in your mind, brooding with delirious daydreams and juvenile visions, you had always been there. Not watching through specks of moondust. Not leering at him from beneath the pair of wings curled around your head. There, you had been Tholindis, but your love story would not transpire the same as it had hers. For you would not have sentenced yourself to a sure death, and Rerir would never have had to confide in the power of the abyss.
Regardless of what you would’ve done, in the end, Rerir had chosen destruction, and so, you could only watch as sin ripped his mortal form to shreds of spoiled meat.
You had unravelled him as you had any other; pulled apart the strings of his indescipherable heart, untangled them like converging rays of the three moonlights, and wept bitterly as you read the words engraved onto each strand.
Over time, the fibers of your divine heart reached towards him; keen to entangle. They stretched like protruding hands: blood-soaked, crimson.
As you blinked, the hands reached back.
Clawed fingers clasped around your throat. Nails broke your skin, and from it, pearlescent blood dribbled. A bandaged man stared back at you. His eyes flared with unbridled rage. Slowly, his fingers frightened, and you struggled to breathe.
His spiteful ramblings blurred into a high-pitched screech as the world faded from your vision. Through tears and puffy cheeks, your eyes mapped out his looming silhouette—his hair as they fell over his eye; his face, now pale and calloused; his sharp, lifeless eyes, now bearing likeness to the crimson moon—and you committed them to memory. Even in rage, even as his hands clawed through your chest, scouring for your soul, he was so beautiful. So, so beautiful...
“You’re perfect...” You choked, but his hand only tightened around your throat. You heard it crack. Pain split your jaw. You opened your mouth to scream, but only a disgruntled gasp emerged. Even then, you smiled lovingly, casting your divine, love-struck gaze unto his battered form. He was a spoil of war. A nobody who would be forgotten by time.
“I led them to their deaths,” you gasped, “the traveller, everyone... I did it for you.”
Bandages warped as the flesh beneath them smirked. Suddenly, you were bashed against a rock. Your limbs snapped, bending in unnatural ways. But such pain was but a scratch to a God. And if it were from him, you would take it without a hitch.
Rerir cackled. At his amusement, you found your own lips quirking into a smile.
“You’ve wasted your breath. I could’ve killed them anyway!”
You touched the bone he had just crushed. A sigh fled your lips.
Rerir stood before you now. All six-foots of him, leering at you, as you lay slumped against the rock. “I won’t pity you,” he spat.
“I never intended you to.”
A kick to your abdomen sent you rolling across the grass. White blood gushed endlessly from your wounds, smothering all over the flowers. As you moved, you felt another bone crack and splinter into dust.
You smiled as he propped you up. Your legs went numb. He raised his fist and positioned them into claws. You lifted your head. The drooping wings on your head dripped blood onto your eyes.
“I love you, Rerir. I always have.”
Without a word, Rerir plunged into your chest, and then slowly, he pulled out, clutching a beating bag of unidentifiable flesh.
Bewilderment flickered across his face, and soon, it contorted into rage. He shook your faltering body violently as he demanded an answer “The moon marrow. Where is it?!”
You beamed. Life began fading from your eyes. “Now,” you cooed, “I’m yours.”
Your limp arm cradled his cheek. Kuuvakhi swirled in your palm. Blue light permeated from your fingers.
The moon’s gravity gently held him in place. Even as he reached to crush your skull, you could only admire the look etched into his vermillion eyes.
“Let’s die together, Rerir,” a soft voice whispered, low like the still waters of sea washing silently ashore. “After all,” your paling eyes glimmered with love, “you already have my heart.”
Azure light cast itself in long, sharp rays. They spun and grew, until they encased you in a ball of light. Your hand dug into his jaw. Blood dampened your fingertips, and you admired its stench. You yanked him closer and forced your cold lips against his own.
And then, the light burst, drowning you both in a luminous spectacle. In death, he would always be yours.
