#teyvat talk

[dreamerinthemoonlight]

Comfort after a Long Day (Kaeya, Diluc)

It's been a long, exhausting day, so I figure I'll do some imagine/drabble/head canon thingies because I totally wish I had a Diluc or a Kaeya to cuddle with on a day like today. Also, no bullet points. I'm literally writing this on my phone right before bed.

Hurt/comfort with Diluc and Kaeya under the cut.

GN reader in Diluc’s. F!Reader in Kaeya’s

Diluc

Honestly, I can't say Diluc is the best cuddle buddy out of the Genshin Guy's (alas, he has Thoma among others to contend with), but when you come in after a long day at work, completely exhausted, he's high up on the list.

He will happily pull you over to the couch, sit you both down, and pull you close.

While his fingers thread through your hair, rubbing soft circles into your scalp, he asks if you want to talk about your day.

If you say yes, he'll listen, letting you vent or cry into his shoulder.

If you say no, he'll continue cuddling you until you're ready to get up and finish out the day with him. Or until you fall asleep, because I'm pretty sure he makes a really good pillow and having his fingers combing through your hair would be ridiculously relaxing. Either way, your bad day won't end bad if he has anything to say about it. He does

Kaeya

Kaeya takes a bit of a different approach, when he walks in the door and finds you curled up on the couch.

His first thought is "no, this won't do."

As much as he'd like to start teasing, trying to pull you out of your bad mood, he's well aware that teasing is not the solution. At least not at first.

Instead he sits next to you, repositioning you so that your head lays on his chest. The even thump-thump helps ease the weary tension in your shoulders and bad.

"Bad day?" he asks, merely receiving a nod in response.

"Wanna talk about it?"

You shake your head.

"Alright. Would you like to hear what Klee did today?"

Your ears perk up at the mention of the young knight. With a few exceptions, no matter what your mood is, Klee's antics are always of interest. "Please."

Kaeya chuckles, lacing your fingers together. Your hands are so much smaller than his, all of you is, it makes him want to protect you, to shelter you from some of the harshness of life.

Of course, he can't do that, so he settles for trying to make you smile. "A couple treasure hoarders ran across her 'treasure'."

"Don't tell me it was clearly marked."

"Always. I think it's the first time that a pack treasure hoarders has been so quick to turn themselves in. Actually, they were reporting the bomb but--"

You smile, the exhaustion in your eyes being replaced with mirth. "Is there a difference? If a criminal walk up to headquarters, Klee bomb in hand or not, you're turning yourself in. Is she in solitary confinement?"

"Unfortunately. I was going to show her a new, more discrete place to go fish bombing."

"Kaeya Alberich!"

A sense of satisfaction flares at the use of his full name. "Yes, ma'am?"

"You're supposed to set a good example."

"I am. I'm teaching her how not to get caught."

You sigh and lean back against Kaeya's chest. "Can we head to bed early? Today was three times as busy and we were understaffed."

"Of course, love. Are you feeling better? A little. I just want to sleep."

Kaeya nods, running a hand over your hair. "Sure."

Kaeya picks you up, ignoring the withering glare you send his way.

You both sleep well, curled up, safe in each other's arms.

[cantarella]

I love essays, thank you for responding! Some of my own (wlw) mutuals have been rting/reblogging ship stuff for them, like it’s their token “good hetero ship” and I just…. :(

I’ve also seen a number of ppl refuse to acknowledge that Furina and Focalors are the same person. Like, that’s one bitch. Not recognizing that Focalors is Furina’s divinity (now laid to rest) is such a disservice to her character imho. Like, immortality as a kind of “youth” that dies when you finally breach adulthood is what I keep thinking about, among other things. Atp, with Focalors gone, all her memories independent of Furina (I assume this is because of the curse, and a final note of kindness from Focalors so that her humanity doesn’t have to process 2 sets of memories at once. Though the latter is a head canon I guess), Furina and Neuvillette are so horrifically incompatible with each other.

Even IF they didn’t look like father and daughter and even IF the mental age difference wasn’t terrifying… Furina has so much of the world left to learn. She’s still the same person and yet she’s different, that transition is traumatic actually! Not to mention the literal trauma of having the lives of ALL your kin in the palm of your hand that you mentioned.

As for her sq, I thought I was pretty clear that one of the takeaways, after reading the director’s journal, was that Furina is like a big sister/sibling/familial-linkage-of-some-kind to all Fontainians. Despite everything, they are her family, she’d do it all again, because “to be human is to be part of the greatest opera ever known,” and there’s beauty in this life to preserve etc etc. Idk if I’m making any sense tbh, but it’s nice to know at least a few other people understand how to consume media critically 🥹

(Also! When shippers go on and on abt Neuvi paying for Furina’s apartment/things…Clorinde offers to do the same fucking thing. Like, literally offers to find her a new apartment with the apparent fortune she makes from being the champion duelist I guess. But they refuse to acknowledge that. Given, they probably don’t read her character stories or flavor text, but still)

yw! and ouch I can feel that, I'm very picky with who I follow so that didn't happen to me but this pairing is quite inescapable

anyway, that's an interesting take on focalors and furina, which I agree with but only on a symbolic level. yes they're of the same origin, but they're the same only in the way jesus and the holy father are both god. idk if you're familiar with christian doctrine but the focalors furina and neuvillette dynamic is based on the father-son-holy spirit trifecta. maybe I'll do a post on that eventually but in the meantime here's a chart to make it easier

the father (focalors) created the son (furina) in his image, they're both incarnations of god but they're not one or the same being. rukkhadevata explained how this works in the context of teyvat and the irminsul also

furina and focalors share the same nature, though not in the same way rukkhadevata and nahida do as they are reincarnations, but the fact focalors died while furina lives and they don't share memories and experiences proves that in the eyes of the irminsul they're two separate beings with different "fates". which obviously makes furina even more incompatible with neuvi as she was never anything but a frightened young girl and the power and maturity imbalance is so steep it's at a 90° angle

that said, I do believe symbolically focalors' death put an end to furina's adolescence, as a death of the immortal self and of a physical manifestation of the idealized youth

in a similar symbolic way furina is an older sister type of figure to people of fontaine now. she ruled over them for 500 years she obviously cares for them, but only now she can actually learn to know and understand them as herself, and help them in ways furina, not the hydro archon, can

trying to find her own place in the world, distancing herself from her guardian figure and getting help from her friends, achieving enough power to protect herself alone, and literally going out drinking for the first time in her character stories (not that #those people read them anyway I'm sure) which is literally what hyv has been using from the start to show if someone is of age or not, are all steps of someone just stepping into adulthood. trying to ignore all this and say she should go back to working with neuvi and that the vision is him protecting her or putting a claim on her (writing that made me suicidal for half a second) for the sake of a fuckass m/f pairing is an actual insult to both of their characters. it's actually vile to me

anyway I hope the fans explode and die bc they're both illiterate and fans of heterosexuality. like pick a struggle

[dreamerinthemoonlight]

Reunited

Here goes my first request. @stygianoir I hope this fits what you were thinking of. This was supposed to be HCs but apparently not

Original request:   What if dain had an immortal female reader but he thought he lost her and one day lumine reunites them? Fluff plz 

CW: Bittersweet to Fluff

WC: 575

Dainsleif x fem!Reader

It was a day like any other.

You were out and about, hunting the abyss order. After all, as the top healer of Khaenri’ah when it fell, it’s your duty to see to the well being of your people. Well, relative well being.

Although you can’t do anything about the curse, you can keep the warped minds behind the abyss order from hurting them any more. Thus, not long after Khaenri’ah fell, you cast off the mantel of healer and took up the sword, just like Dainsleif, your once lover.

After Khaenri’ah fell and it’s people were cursed with immortality, you two quickly lost sight of one another. You weren’t even sure he was still alive. He had been in the midst of it all that day and you know full well that even the most skilled warrior can fall in battle.

So the last thing you expected was to find him leaning up against a wall in the same tunnel you were searching.

“Captain?” Your voice is barely a whisper and it doesn’t seem to catch Dainsleif’s attention.

You clear your throat and try again. “Dainsleif, is that really you?”

Dain pushes himself away from the wall and turns to face you, freezing when he meets your eyes.

“Y/N. You’re here.”

You nod, itching to touch him, to confirm that this isn’t a hallucination 500 years in the making, but you can’t make yourself move.

“I’m here.”

“Why? You should be---”

“A hilichurl?”

Dain’s face twists in distaste, but he doesn’t say otherwise.

“I was lucky, I suppose. I was spared from that pathetic fate. Now I’m hunting those who torture them.”

“You too? No. I should have known you would. Always so sweet until someone messed with your loved ones.”

The force gluing your feet to the ground releases you and you launch yourself at your former lover.

“Dain. I missed you so much.”

Dain wraps his arms around you, burying his face in your hair. “Y/N. You’re alive. I didn’t think you could be.”

“I’m the Twilight Sword’s lover, how could I not be?”

“You still want to be my lover? After this long?”

You reach up and cup Dain’s face. “How could I not? As long as were both alive I will love you. I told you that right before Khaenri’ah fell. The minds of our people might be eroding, but the love in my heart won’t.”

“Y/N.” Dain groans. “You’ve been reading romance novels again.”

You burst out laughing, the sound bouncing off the earthen walls of the tunnel. 

“No, Dain, my silly captain, I haven’t. Unlike you, I have no issues speaking from the heart.”

“Don’t leave me again.”

“What?” You do a double take, pulling back so that Dainsleif’s words aren’t muffled by your hair.

“Come with me. If we’re both hunting the Abyss Order, it won’t hurt to travel together.”

“Won’t hurt?”

Dain flushes. “Please, travel with me, Y/N. To our end or the order’s end.”

“To our end or the order’s. That sounds like a wedding vow.”

“It’s not. But maybe one day...”

Your heart leaps, because for the first time in 500 years, there’s a “one day” not just a “yesterday”.

[dreamerinthemoonlight]

Surprise Under the Veil

This is a request from @stygianoir. I hope you approve. I tried for a lot fluff, but the request required a bit of angst. But happy ending though! 

Summary: Ayato enters into an arranged marriage, only to receive a pleasant surprise when he sees his bride.

CW: angst to fluff

Word Count: 847

A/N: I may or may not have over thought this while I was writing it. As a result, well, it took a couple hours to even pick where the wedding was. Much less actually write the damn thing. 

Fem!reader

The soft spring sun climbs high over Watatsumi Island, warming the crowd that gathers on the pink clamshells that surround the Sangonomiya Shrine.

At the head of the crowd, standing under the massive shrine gate, is Kamisato Ayato. His title today: the groom.

The Yashiro commissioner faces away from the crowd. To onlookers, he seems to be eagerly awaiting the arrival of his bride. 

Inside, however, his mind tracks back to the meeting that started this all.

Ayato sits at his desk at the Kamisato estate, regarding his visitors with unreadable eyes.

It’s unusual for Lady Guuji to come to call. For the Raiden Shogun to accompany her? Unheard of.

“To what do I owe this pleasure, Your Excellency, lady Guuji?”

The Shogun regards him with a soft, unyielding look. The feeling of being sized up sends a prickle of unease up his spine.

“He’ll do,” she murmurs, before addressing him directly. “You’re to be married at the beginning of spring.”

For the first time since Ayato took up the position of clan head, his mind screeches to a halt. “Pardon me, Your Excellency. I’m not sure I heard correctly. Married?”

“You heard correctly.”

Ayato’s heart cracks, the ornate ring that has been sitting in his pocket for nearly a month now, waiting to be given to you, now weighing heavier than the mantle of clan head.

“Who will I be marrying?”

Yae Miko is the one to answer him. “I have been speaking with Sangonomiya Kokomi and we’ve agreed that a marriage between an extended family member of hers and someone from the clans that run the tri-commissions would go a long way to mending the rifts between us. As you’ve yet to be married, we decided that you would make an ideal candidate.”

“Will you agree to this?” Raiden Shogun asks.

“It is my duty to serve, Your Excellency.”

“Good. You and Miko will be in charge of planning the ceremonies.”

“Yes, Your excellency.”

Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko stand. 

“I’ll be back, Ayato-kun.”

With that, Ayato is left with the pieces of his broken heart.

After that, Ayato had done his best to find you, but to no avail.

As he continues to wait for his bride, the soft sound of the shrine’s fountains doing nothing to calm his nerves, his mind turns to you.

You were his first love, and hopefully his only one.

The two of you had met one sunny day at one of the vendors Ayato frequents. You had started talking, laughing at the antics of the people around you and the situations you both found each other in. Neither of you thought of each other’s station. It was… nice.

Soon random meetings in the city turned into clandestine meetings whenever the two of you were on the same island. You had often stated that you weren’t often free to enjoy the sights of the city and he was inclined to agree. Being the head of the clan doesn’t allow for the free time he wishes he had.

Secret meetings became public as the two of you started courting. Both Ayaka and Thoma were happy to aid Ayato in marrying for love, not the politics he hates.

But that means nothing now. 

Ayato tries to ignore the lance of pain when he thinks about your lively eyes and lyrical way of speaking, the way you always seemed to dance when you walked. A married man can’t love another woman after all.

Music fills the air, drawing his attention away from the past and the heart ache to the opening shrine doors.

Sangonomiya steps out with a woman in a flowing blue dress and a lacework veil. Four priestesses follow the pair.

Ayato ignores Sangonomiya and focuses on the bride. A nagging sense of familiarity tugs at him.

Her figure, her gait, something about it seems familiar, comfortingly so.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Yae Miko catching his eye, mouthing “Your welcome”.

Ayato’s heart jumps. A familiar figure and one of Miko’s “I know something you don’t know” looks. It couldn’t be….

Except… he knows that you live on Watatsumi Island, that you find your duties to be rather tiring and that you admire one of your cousins--though you never named names. Still, it’s too convenient, right? 

Sangonomiya and the rest of the bridal party stop under the gates.

Ayato lifts the bride’s veil and his heart stops. “Y/N?”

Your eyes glitter as you try and fail to hold a straight face. “Lady Guuji said I might see an interesting face today. It looks like she was right.”

“Lady Guuji…”

Ayato falls silent as the Divine Priestess starts the ceremony. 

“You may kiss the bride,” Sangonomiya concludes with a smile.

Ayato cups your face, tracing your jaw with his thumb before capturing you in a deep kiss.

“I love you, Y/n. Will you marry me?” he asks you.

You laugh at his question. “I just did, Ayato-kun.”

“I know. I just wanted to ask.”

Heartbeat becomes joy as the two of you join… for eternity.

[dreamerinthemoonlight]

Genshin Cuddles HCs (Cyno, Tighnari, Xiao)

I am having a huge burst of creative energy. I should be going to bed but NO! I will think of cuddling with the genshin boys. This is going to be weird. Awake me takes no responsibility for what sleep deprived me does. Reader is assumed to be short because I am and this is a self insert, hehe;  slight angst in Xiao's (I mean, it's Xiao)

A/N: Good gods, I really was tired when I did this. I had next to no formatting, a childish Authors note. To anyone who read this on my other blog, I am really, really sorry. I won't promise it won't happen again, so I'll apologize in advance for any future instances of sleepy posting.

I did my best to extent Tighnari's a little. Our fox-boy deserves more than a few sentences

Cyno x gn!reader, Tighnari x gn!reader, Xiao x gn!reader

Cyno

Mr. Serious Mahamatra is actually an amazing cuddler

He's a settled person so he's not going to fidget and squirm. He could probably cuddle for hours if you both had time.

Spooning is very much a favorite. Especially if you've had a long day, the two of you will lay in bed. He'll press himself against you back, wrapping his arms around you and pressing his lips into your hair. Even though he's one of the smaller Genshin guys, he's warm and radiates this steady, grounded energy. Being the little spoon makes you feel safe and cared for. More often than not you fall asleep when spooning.

On the other hand, when Cyno gets home after a long mission, you'll curl up on the couch with his head on your chest

After the darkness that permeates his job, your heartbeat represents light and life and goodness. He values the time spent listening to your heartbeat just as much as he values rules and justice. It's a balance he needs and he knows it.

Tighnari

You know how kittens will curl up in little piles, facing each other and all and it is really, really cute?

Yea, that's you and Tighnari

You'll kinda burrow into each other and he'll wrap his tail around your legs

He'll even yet you scratch his ears while he pets your hair. No sleeping really ever happens like this, but it's so relaxing you might as well have taken a nap

If you're cuddling because you had a really bad day, you two might spoon, or you'll sit on his lap while he holds you and lets you pet his tail.

If you happen to fall asleep while cuddling his tail like a stuffed animal, he's fine with it, but is glad there's no one around to take a picture because that would just be embarrassing.

Xiao

Xiao is probably so touch starved it's stupid

Once he starts getting physical affection and serious cuddles, he realizes that he actually really needs it not that you mind

Like Cyno the type of cuddles depends on the situation

He's not as into spooning, though it does happen especially late night when you're tired and ready to sleep. I think he really wants to be able to see your face and even in Teyvat physics don't really allow for that when spooning

Instead, when you're the one who needs comfort and touch, you snuggle up to his side and he wraps his arm around you. As usual he doesn't say much,  but with Xiao, he really lets his actions speak for him

When he needs the comfort, he tends to want you on his lap where his can bury his face in the crook of your neck. He wraps his arms tight around you like he's scared to let you go.

It's all you can you to stroke his hair or gently rub his back. Just like his actions speak louder than words, your actions are more likely to reach him than platitudes, though you make sure to use your words as well. He really could use them

And sometimes you're just in the mood to cuddle at which point it depends on when and where. His head in your lap, yours in his, honestly, all he cares about is being able to see your face and be in contact with you

[dreamerinthemoonlight]

Genshin Guys as Boyfriends: Part 2 (Tartaglia, Kinich, Neuvillette)

It's been so long since I did ones for Kaeya, Xiao, and Thoma. Even though they were only reposted at the beginning of November, it's been ages since I wrote them

CW: None (seriously just fluff)

Tartaglia x gn!reader; Kinich x gn!reader; Neuvillette x gn!reader;

REQUESTS and ASKS are OPEN

Tartaglia

Same thing I said for Kaeya goes for Tartaglia in this one. He definitely has a teasing streak, but he'd be a really, really solid boyfriend

I mean, look how he treats his family. Dating him puts you pretty far up the list of people he values most

Nah, Tartaglia spoils the shit out of you. Fancy dates, gifts (he doesn't hesitate to use fatui funds to get you souvenirs during his missions), the works. He's away so much that he doesn't want you to forget that he really does love you

And when he's around you, expect him to be pretty clingy. He's always holding your hands or wrapping his arm around your waist, or just laying in bed spooning.

He won't say as much, but your presence is grounds him. After spending all his time fighting and threatening people, your company reminds him of what it's like to be a normal human

Kinich

Honestly, I think Kinich has a really hard time dating you at first

this kind of close relationship isn't something he's ever known, especially when you start telling him that shit you do doesn't have a price tag

it's a point of conflict, but he does start to get used to it, start to trust that his company is enough for you

That being said he's always trying to do stuff for you. Definitely an acts of service kinda guy. To the point you start to wonder if you owe him. it's at that point he realizes what you've been trying to tell him, that a relationship, by nature is one of give and take and shit like "prices" don't really factor in

after that things are much smoother

I think his favorite activities with you are stuff that doesn't involve a lot of other people. Cuddling a bit maybe, wandering around in the wilderness, I think he loves showing you all the little stuff he's learned over the years. Rather than going to fancy dinners he'd rather stay at home and cook with you

He's never very verbal about his affection, but one day he just comes up behind you and wraps you in a hug and you just feel really, really lucky because that kind of affection isn't natural to him

Also, Ajaw learns really quickly that being mean to you is a one way trip to time out

Neuvillette

Calm, stable, loving Neuvie. I love him so much

I think of the three, Neuvie is the most stable. Tartaglia is a battle-hungry maniac (and I love him for it) and Kinich is traumatized to no end. Neuvillette is just a workaholic

But even if he's a workaholic, I don't see him saying no if you want to sit and read on a couch while he does paperwork

He'd be so affectionate. Kisses to the backs of your knuckles, soft touches to your hair

In public he's not a fan of excessive PDA, though he will hold your hand, but in private he's really, really touchy. Loves to lay his head on your lap (of have you lay your head in his, he doesn't really care). Tons of cuddling and just sweet little touches

Also, hair brushing. I think in his case that's a whole ass love language. You could spend hours brushing his hair, gently combing out every tangle. And then he does the same for you, or if you don't have much hair, he still spends a lot of time with his fingers in it.

I guess, a good way to put it is Neuvie is all about that quiet, soft intimacy

He's not possessive at all and always encouraging (of everything except crime, he'd rather not see you in the defendant's box) and just ooooooo. He's just the perfect boyfriend

[dreamerinthemoonlight]

Genshin Cuddles HCs: Part the Second (Kaeya, Dainsleif, Zhongli)

Is it any coincidence that I'm tired again while doing cuddles head canons? Probably not. I imagine I get really clingy and cuddly towards the end of the day.

But apparently not as tired lol

CW: A little angst, fluff

A/N: As per the last one, reader is presumed to be short because this 100% self insert

kaeya x gn!reader, Zhongli x gn!reader, Dainsleif x gn!reader

(PS. If you want tagged for certain kinds of content, hit me up in the asks. I'll be happy to put together some taglists)

Kaeya

To be honest, on first starting to date Kaeya, you'd think that he would be a huge tease (I mean, it is Kaeya)

But when it comes to stuff like cuddling and mid winter snuggling, it's usually quite the opposite.

After all, Kaeya is far more serious and earnest, I think, than he allows himself to let on.

Cuddles with Kaeya come in three forms

The first is him big spooning and you little spooning. He absolutely loves being the big spoon. You're so small in his arms and it feels wonderful to know that you trust him like that.

When big spooning he really loves to bury his face in your hair and trace little gentle shapes over your skin

Other times things are reversed. He really never thought that he'd enjoy being the little spoon, but he trusts you without reservation. These are moments where he has no responsibility, instead just lets you take care of him

He frequently falls asleep like this, which really warms the heart. It's moments like these where he'll let you take off his eyepatch and set it to the side

What he doesn't know is that when you do, you usually press a little kiss to the scar

Then there's the third kind

These are almost exclusively late at night, when even the strongest masks start to lower.

Sometimes he'll reach out for you, pulling you into his embrace. He'll hold you like you're fragile, like he's afraid you'll break. it's in these moments where he'll whisper in your ear the most genuine words of love

They would be the warmest moments, but in those moments you hear a truth he never speaks. He's terrified of losing you, that you--like everyone else in his life--will not find him worthy of keeping

All you can do in lose moments is lay your head on his chest, letting him wrap you in his arms, until he's convinced that not only are you still here, but that you're not going to leave him

Dainsleif

Dainsleif, I think, is surprisingly good at cuddling

I was honestly surprised in 3.5 when we saw a very gentle side of him and I think that would apply to his significant other

Seriously, the man has lost everything. He's gonna treat his s/o right, no matter what

For Dain, and for you as well, cuddling is a way to relieve stress

It really doesn't matter the position either, as long as you're sharing warmth on cold nights

You can't count the number of times you've curled up against a rock--though you find that's not the most comfortable spot for really anything--laying your head on his chest, just listening to his heart beat

It's just as often that you find his head in your lap, blond hair splayed out while you rub circles into his scalp. The touch is soothing, grounding him in the moment

Of course, there are times when you curl up under a blanket, limbs tangled together, pressed so close you can't tell where you end and Dain begins. Those are almost desperate in nature, as if warding on the ever encroaching nature of time. It's in these moments that Dain finds himself scared, and intent on branding these memories in his mind

Zhongli

Compared to Dain and Kaeya, cuddles with Zhongli are the fluffiest things on the planet

They usually happen at two times of day, with some exceptions

It's not uncommon to start the day with cuddles in bed. You'll wake up to find a pair of strong arms holding you close and a pair of molten gold eyes watching you sleep.

It never fails to make you blush, because he looks at you like you're the entire world. Which is really rather flattering given the power and status of the man currently giving you this ridiculously soft smile

The other time you two cuddle is at the end of the day. Sometimes it's inside by the fire. Other times it's outside looking at the stars, but you almost always end up wrapped up in each other

So many nights, you're tucked under is arm, or laying your head on his lap while you listen to the stories from the past or random every day advice

It's really soothing. He's got the beautiful deep voice that is almost magnetic.

The exception to the rule is when you're upset. There are times when something happened during the day, or you wake up after a nightmare and all you want is to be held and reassured. And he's good at that too. Grounding you, centering you.

Of course you do the same for him, though, given his personality it is very rare. But there are times when the past catches up to him, where an event he is incapable of forgetting weighs on his mind. He's found that your touch, your embrace, you holding him the same way he loves to hold you, makes it a little better

[dreamerinthemoonlight]

A Storm without Judgement

Summary: You have a nightmare, Cyno finds himself

CW: hurt/comfort, very vague references to SA, nothing graphic but people sensitive to that may want to skip this one, pet names (love)

Word Count: 1348

Pairings: Cyno x fem!reader

A/N: I'm starting the last bits of reposting from my previous blog, so that should be complete in the next couple months

The night is dark, when you wake up. It’s dark and cold, despite the heat and humidity that never ceases in Sumeru. If not for the pitter patter of rain, it would be oppressively quiet too.

You lay still in your bed for a few moments, gripped by the claws of a nightmare.

While nightmares are not unusual, now that your Akasha Terminal is no longer stealing your dreams, this one is worse than usual. Even now you can see Cyno passing judgment over you. You can feel the fear, knowing that your lover’s scorn would be the last thing you would ever see.

Your breath hitches in your chest and you slip out of bed, tossing on a nightgown and robe before rushing out into the rain

You follow the paths that wrap around the great tree forming the core, passing Razan garden entirely before making your way to the platform outside the Sanctuary of Surasthana.

As a lowly mortal, a simple researcher not two years past her graduation, you doubt that the Archon would be willing to offer her advice--especially not in the middle of the night. But that doesn’t mean that being so close to her home doesn’t give a sense of solace, as if just being close to the gentle young god is enough to soothe the soul and offer a cool head.

At least, that’s how it works on most nights like this. Tonight, not so much. You’re not quite sure if it’s the rain, or the fact that your nightmares reflect very real fears, but the images refuse to fade. 

You sit at the edge on the platform and wrap your arms around your legs, burying your face in your knees.

It’s going to be a long night.

“If there’s nothing else, Lesser Lord Kusanali, I’ll take my leave.”

Cyno bows to the diminutive archon. Since the coup several months before, Cyno has spent a great deal of time in the goddess’s company, making detailed reports every week or so.

This week’s report was especially long. Some students and researchers in the lower echelons of the academia, still unhappy with the removal of the Akasha Terminal, had taken it upon themselves to make trouble, and while it wasn’t difficult to deal with them, it was still time consuming.

But finally, he can return to the dorm room he shares with you.

“Have a good night, Cyno,” Nahida says.

“I will. Thank you, Lessor Lord.”

Cyno bows again and leaves her in peace.

What he doesn’t expect, as the door closes behind him, is your figure sitting curled up outside the Sanctuary.

“Y/n?”

This isn’t the first time he’s seen you like this. Night after night, he’s felt you jolt awake, sometimes crying. But he’s never pushed for why, after all, you’ll tell him when you’re ready. Right?

The look of fear in your eyes, when you twist to face him, dashes that hope.

At that moment a bolt of lightning flashes across the sky, the night storm finally ready to unleash its full strength.

You jump to your feet and for the first time, you run from him.

Cyno ignores the shattering of his heart and runs after you. 

After looping around the trunk of the tree once or twice, you slip and fall, barely avoiding bashing your face on the stone path.

In the time it takes for you to stand up and wipe some of the rain from your face, Cyno has caught up to you.

“Y/n, are you ok?”

You look into his eyes, finding the same steady look in his eyes that he always has. It reminds you of what you saw before he brought down his weapon.

You pull away.

Another peal of thunder shakes the smaller branches of the tree.

“Y/n, let’s go home. It’s not safe out here.”

Safe. If he’s considering your safety, then it must be alright. If Cyno were planning on passing judgment, he wouldn’t bother going back to your room.

You nods slowly, and let Cyno take your hand.

Despite the horrors of your dream, the warmth is soothing. It helps separate the dream from reality.

By the time you reach your shared room, both of you are soaked to the bone and shivering.

Cyno grabs towels, reaching out to dry you off, but you flinch away.

He hands the towel to you, but regards you with a careful look. “We need to talk about this.”

You cringe, but can’t deny that he’s right. All you can hope is that the truth doesn’t make the nightmare into reality.

It takes several minutes for the two of you to dry off and change. Cyno insists on making something warm to drink before you talk.

“What’s wrong, Y/n?” Cyno asks when you’re settled.

“A nightmare,” you reply, receiving a frown in response.

“I know that much. You have them often, don’t you?”

You nod.

“What was this one about?”

Your eyes close and the dream replays itself once again. 

“You killed me for speaking a truth,” you finally say, so quietly he can barely hear.

Cyno tilts his head, scarlet eyes focused on you, even though you refuse to meet his gaze. “A truth in the dream or a truth in reality?”

“Reality. There are things I haven’t said. I don’t really think you’ll kill me but…”

Cyno sighs. “If this is hurting you that badly, I want to know. I can’t help you unless I know what’s actually wrong.”

“It’s a long story.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

You bite your lip, casting your mind into the distant past, to sounds and sights that you’ve never been able to forget. Unbeknownst to you, a tear slips down your cheek.

“I made a bad choice. I trusted the wrong person and now I’m suffering the consequences. That’s all.”

Cyno watches the tear fall and frowns. Now that you’re opening up, he’s starting to see that he might have to push for the information he needs to help.

“What choice?”

You shut your mouth tightly.

“Y/n, please.”

“You’re not going to want me after I say. No one would want me. I did a bad thing. I should have said no. I didn’t know not to! I couldn’t have, could I?”

Small puzzle pieces start to slip into place. You face, sometimes, after a friend of yours makes a characteristically raunchy joke. The way you won’t let him do anything more than kiss you. The way you shy away from his touch sometimes.

Now, looking at the tears that now fall freely down your face, the hurt and vulnerability in your eyes, there’s enough for him to feel pity. Whatever it is, he’s pretty sure that it’s not your fault.

“I’m scared, Cy. I’m scared that you’re going to pass judgment on me and leave me. I did something I shouldn’t. I can’t run from that. But I still didn’t know. I just wanted a friend. I trusted her.”

“How long ago?”

You hold your hand out, three feet from the floor.

“Y/n….” Cyno reaches out a hand. “Can I touch you?”

You nod.

Cyno pulls you into his embrace. He’s not large, but he’s warm and steady. His heart beats, steady and strong. “I judge academic misconduct, love, not victims.”

Your breath hitches at the last word.

“Let go, y/n. It’s ok. I’m here and I won’t condemn you.”

“You still want me?”

Cyno threads his fingers into your hair. “Why would I not? I will not blame you. I will not hate you. I won’t hurt you. Just let me in. Let me help. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

He holds you as you finally let go, sobbing into his chest.

“I’m here, love. I’m here.”

When your tears are spent, he picks you up and tucks you in bed, before slipping in next to you.

The last thing you hear before sleep takes you once again is a soft, “I love you, no matter what.”

In Cyno’s arms, your dreams are nothing but peaceful.