✦warning: smut, 18+ content, minors do not interact
✦disclaimer: afab!reader with no set pronouns, temperature play (kaeya), pussyjob (kaeya), implied edging (kaeya, wax play (diluc), impact play (diluc) electro-stimulation (scaramouche), shibari (scaramouche), fingering (scaramouche), tentacle (ayato),blowjob (ayato), impact play (diluc, kazuha), exhibitionism (kazuha), unedited
At the tavern with a good drink in hand, you sat very close to Kaeya enjoying the company and the music from the various bards performing. Whenever you let Kaeya touch you, his star-lit pupils noticed the way you jolted—your body not used to the cool temperatures that envelop his hands. He could only chuckle, strumming his fingers onto your thighs. It would be interesting if he could change his body temperature to the other parts of his body, not wouldn’t it?
When he finally got you home, his lips mashed with yours, slowly feeling you up as the burn of your arousal became creeping up. Kaeya could only coo and tease, noticing the translucent strings of your slick sticking onto your thighs and panties. His frosty vision lit up in an aquamarine hue, and his fingers pressed against your clit as you gasped loudly.
Your body trembled to feel him slide them along your nub, making it all that more sensitive as he watched your squirmed from underneath him. He continuously rubbed—gathering your sobbing juices coating his hand—before freeing his hardened cock from his tightening pants. You were so cute like this, mumbling how cold he was. You should know better than egg him on like this.
His nails hugged into the fat of your thighs, stretching you out wide to observe your sobbing folds as he nudged the tip of his length along your folds—with that same icy touch. The wet sounds of his length being coasted by your juices echoed out in the room as your lip trembled from your burning needy clit. He heard you whine out his name again as he chuckled, other hands flicking your pebbling nipples.
He thought you could handle the cold <3
Reading a book in the lap of Diluc, he couldn’t help smiling at your focused gaze. As he noticed the candlelight illuminating your features, his mind couldn’t help wandering to the wax dribbling down the stick.
He wonders what it would be like on your off skin, his hand warming the candle as each bit of wax makes you whine and jolt. He could help wish to press his lips against your back, near the wax staining it, telling you how well you’re doing for him and putting up with the heat. With his cock pressed hard against his pants, he could imagine taking his pants off, gliding his length along the plush of your ass, letting the tip nudge along your slit.
And yet he would still be heating up that wax, with the beautiful smell of lantern flowers and oils wafting from it. He couldn’t help but bring a smack down onto your ass hearing your call out his name as he noticed his handprint illuminating from the globe, the pain slightly amplified with the heat of his palms—bright vision illuminating on his side.
He never wanted to hurt you, he was your knight in shining armor, but he always wondered what it would be like if he got a bit rougher with you.
Snapping out of his thoughts he could only sigh feeling his cock rise and pink spread throughout his cheeks, with you still sat on his lap clueless about his fantasies and arousal. All he could do was wrap his arms around you, pushing you further on his clothed boner, hoping and praying you’ll pay attention soon.
Scaramouche could only smirk, eyes slightly slit up in an amethyst hue as bolts of electricity jolted out from his fingertips. You were so utterly cute to him, looking at the menace all doe-eyed, slightly turning your wrist bound by rope with your lips quivering in excitement and fear.
Brushing his lips against your ear, muttering how submissive and docile you were under his touch, his buzzing hands would pull at your nipples as the jolts of electricity scattered throughout your body. You could only moan out his name, struggling in the bounds wishing to hold him as he continued to prod at your oh so sensitive buds.
Even as his soft lips trailed down across your body, each kiss was greeted with another jolt of electricity. He could only sneer and chuckle watching your push your thighs together, desperate for some kind of attention towards your throbbing hip, and so he complied with your needs.
His hands pinched at your clit, as two fingers slowly dripped down into your sobbing hole, pushing back and forth with his power still on display causing you to wring in absolute pleasure. Scaramouche couldn’t believe how much you enjoyed this, with your fluttering walls clamping down hard on his fingers still thrusting inside of you.
He couldn’t even stop his hips, grinding on the edge of the bed with a maddening smirk on his face. The image of you, utterly helpless to his touch burned in his mind. He would be thinking about this for a long time.
Ayato was much more creative than people gave him credit for, you included. Gifted with a vision at a young age, Ayato was always exploring the depths and tricks he could use with hydro. As he was bored soaking in a hot spring with you, he couldn’t help lifting his hand from the water causing a tendril to form out of the very water he was in.
And a cruel smirk immediately fell onto his lips.
You were lifted up from the water, mouth covering your lips to hide any of your moans trying to leak out so as to not alert any of the servants lingering in the estate. Ayato commanded the tendril to slowly fill you up, watching in absolute amazement as your hole slowly opened up to him. His lips darted out, wishing nothing more than a taste of your pussy currently filled up.
It was so deep, stretching your walls out as it guided in and out of you at a brutally slow pace hitting the most sensitive areas inside of you.
He lifted his form from the water, slowly stroking himself off at the pace of the tendril filling you up. With his free hand, he managed to create more, as the glided along your breasts squeezing them tightly as another urged you to put your hand down. You did as Ayato lifted himself off, cock pressed up against your lips with a cunning smile.
Watching you slowly open your mouth, a hand on the base of his cock for the part you couldn’t fit—Ayato couldn’t help sigh in delight, placing a hand on your hair before commanding the tendrils to finally hear your plead to go faster. You were struggling to suck on his cock from the inhumane pace the tendrils were thrusting inside of you.
It’s never a boring day to Ayato, not if he can help it at least.
The wind always spoke to Kazuha, as if he could command with and listen to its whims. Although the mostly calm man appeared as the embodiment of wind, others didn’t realize the mischief nature wind seemed to have.
The wandering samurai had you pinned to a tree— his hand guided along the slick beginning to drip out from your pussy, your clothing all in disarray as to give Kazuha a better look and access to your ethereal form. As he finally disconnected his lips from yours with a string of saliva still connecting you two, you couldn’t help making a comment on how needy he was today. You laughed asking if he was that desperate to be inside of you after being gone for such a long time.
Kazuha could only sigh, cheeks becoming tinted in a slight pink hue. You didn’t know why, but he immediately turned you around, your wrist held high still pinned to the base of the tree. Kazuha leaned in, whispering how much of a tease you’re trying to be for him.
Before you could even make a statement, a quick blow of the wind caused you to gasp as it smacked against your ass with a quick but strong slight. As you tried turning your head, wondering just what happened, it occurred once more causing your body to vibrate in shock, pleasure and pain. You could only whine, as Kazuha chuckled still toying and rubbing circles across your clit.
Only when you could apologize would he tell the wind to stand down. For now, though, he will enjoy the beautiful sight of your ass jiggling to the strikes from the wind he was commanding.
Notes:This was also a request and I liked it but for some reason I can’t find the ask anymore, I might have accidentally deleted it. Has been sitting in my drafts for a while cause idk how else to make it better. It’s still a little cringy to me, tbh.
Warnings:VERYSTEAMY but generally still SFW bordering on not, you’ve been warned though, not proofread, some possessiveness, yes there are sexual innuendos, mentions of alcohol and drinking, did i say not proofread?, if there are pronoun slips please let me know.
The two of you never really meant for it to turn into a make out session. With Aether, there’s a lot of patience and no pushing to do things. It just happened spontaneously while cuddling in bed.
The first kiss was innocent. Just a quick peck on the lips. But something in him seemed to spur him on and suddenly he’s leaning in for another one…and another one…and another… He’s still slow about it, giving you the chance to say no but also hoping that you don’t pull away. When you don’t, he peers into your eyes and sees that they’re clouded over, just as his is and he puts his all into the next kiss.
His hand cradles your neck, his kiss is nearing hungry, wanting more of your soft lips on his. It’s an addiction now and you’ve wrapped your arms around his neck to deepen the already passionate exchange. You open your mouth to let his tongue slide in, the kisses are getting sloppy, wetter. Your legs are tangled together and the heat between your lips blooms in your stomach and has you silently begging for more. The raw emotion makes you weak.
“Hey! Why is the door locked?! Did you two forget about Paimon?! Let me in!”
The two of you pull away abruptly. Panting and flushed, Aether more so than you. There’s a subtle disappointment in his eyes, but he’s a gentleman so he smiles and gathers himself, smooths down your hair and his, kisses your nose and utters a quick “I love you,” before pushing off the bed and letting the clueless Paimon in.
Albedo
Did he plan it? You’ll never know. He took you to Inazuma with him when he was commissioned to paint The Five Kasen. Of course, he took Klee with him too.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been alone,” Albedo sets down the tea on the kotatsu and sits next to you on the tatami floor. Klee is out with the traveller and Yoimiya, and though he feels a little bad for not being able to take Klee around, he was really rather busy with the preparation of the paintings.
What you didn’t get was why he wouldn’t let YOU go with Klee instead. It’d been midday when he emerged from his separate work room and sought you out. And now the two of you sat side by side each other, you feel him snake an arm around your waist. “You’re done with the painting?” You question him as he presses a kiss on the side of your head.
“No,” he simply replies. The next time he dips his head, it lands on your lips and you instantly recognize the need in it. He rarely initiated kisses like this, the type that fanned a fire in your belly. It’s not a hungry kiss, but its long and his lips constantly move against yours, just as your head tilts to the side to give him more access.
Your hand slides away from the teacup and rests on his shoulder, his arms are coming up to your back and pressing you further into him. When he breaks away he only does so to dip back into your neck, trailing kisses up to your ear. “‘Bedo–” You shudder a little at the light and quick pecks…until your ears pick up on familiar little, running footsteps and the door making a small rattle before the two of you break away and it slides open to reveal a very happy Klee, bursting with joy about her adventures.
You pretend to be drinking tea, though Albedo’s hand is still around your waist, he clears his throat before greeting his sister. “Welcome back, Klee,”
Ayato
Intentional but has an excuse for it and kind of blames you for it.
It’s rare that he gets to go to a festival with you, but he decided that he could take a break today and walk around. Inazuman festivals are always looked forward to, with lots of stalls, festivities and the closing fireworks, it’s an enjoyable time for everyone.
For Ayato, however, he can’t help but keep staring at your kimono-clad form. You rarely wore them, only on special occasions. Simply said, you looked even more charming than usual.
So then was it his fault that he pulled you into a small alleyway in between two Inazuman houses and started kissing you? No. Not at all.
“A-Ayato–There are people–” He’s gentle when he maneuvered you against the wall, but his kiss was not. He nips at your lips in a teasing manner, and recaptures your lips over and over again with only a second to breathe between each one, his hands sliding up your hip to keep you in place.
“If you’re not too noisy they won’t notice, darling,” Ayato hides a smirk as he whispers to you, going back in for a now open mouthed and hot kiss. He just can’t get enough of you. Every breath he took was like breathing in lust and fire, seducing him to keep his mouth sucking yours.
Then, he feels something bump against his foot, he pulls away abruptly, one of his arms still leaning onto the wall next to your head and he looks down to see a colourful ball there. The sounds of kids shouting about kicking the ball too far and running after it makes him pull all the way back, just in time for the kids to stop at the entrance of the alleyway and look at the two of you quizzically, then down to their ball.
Ayato merely kicks it back towards them, and they don’t ask any questions, just caring about the fact that they can continue their game. He does pull you over and out of the small space though, despite you still being flushed and easily says. “We’ll continue later, care to come over?”
Dainsleif
Not a particularly jealous person but there are times where he can’t really stand other people giving you too much attention.
Wolvendom was apparently a dangerous place. Not for Dainsleif. Dainsleif might have been more dangerous than Wolvendom itself. So despite the dangers of the forest you find yourself at ease when he’s around.
The plan was to just pick wolfhooks, but things escalated pretty easily when you found your back against a tree and Dainsleif hovering above you. He didn’t have his arms out, nor was he pushing you towards the tree, but his gaze stayed you there. “…There was a man at the tavern who was a little touchy with you,” he started and you realized he had somehow been watching that exchange.
“He was drunk, Dain. He was kicked out a little later,” You explain as he cups your chin and levels his gaze towards you.
“…I don’t like it,” he simply says and you nod saying that you knew. No one would. However, instead of him complaining he translates his frustrations into a rather forceful kiss. Him pressing against you and trapping you at the tree, you didn’t resist, you had no intention to and all you could do was melt against him.
It would seem as if he was taking out his anger on you, but his kisses gradually ease up, and all it starts to translate to is love and of him never wanting to let you go. His hands tether at your waist and he continues to drown you with his kiss, tongue pushing against your lips, asking for access to your mouth. It’s soft yet dominating at the same time, like an artist’s brush that confidently strokes at the canvas, he continues to stroke his lips on yours.
The first signs of rainfall drip on the tree the two of you are under, it escapes past the leaves until he starts to feel it drip on his scalp. He pulls away as the rain starts to hammer harder down on the two of you. He doesn’t mind kissing you in the rain, but it was the thunder that worried him. He instinctively pulls his coat away and over your form, then retreating under a nearby shelter that he knew of.
His face still has desire painted on it, but he looks down at you, slightly drenched and looking cold and smiles a little with apology. “Sorry,” he says curtly and you only grin back at him.
Diluc
He likes the thought of being intimate with you. Kissing is just the most basic form of love that he discovered he enjoys. He enjoys it so much it’s hard for him to tell himself that one kiss will be enough.
It starts with your visit to his study. He’s there, poring over papers and the moment you walk in it’s as if his exhaustion billows away. He waits for you to approach him at his chair behind the desk and greets you by taking your hand and kissing the back of it. “Done with work?” He asks you and you nod your head with a small “Mmhmm,”
He stands then and greets you more intimately with another kiss. Gloved hand placed on your collarbone and clutching at your shoulder as he pulls you in. Your lips fuses into his perfectly, like you were made for each other and he thinks the same. It’s the exact reason why he can never just kiss you once, specially in the privacy of a room.
He kisses you again, but this time with more fervor, like he hadn’t kissed you in forever, like it was his first time seeing you in ages. His weight starts to push on you, and there’s nowhere to go but on his desk. Without ever taking his lips away he hoists you up over his desk, letting you sit comfortably while you wrap your arms around his shoulders. He’s standing in between your legs and his hands are pressed tightly on your waist. He pulls away to see the expression on your face, clearly wanting more.
He doesn’t ever complain about giving you more and the kisses heat up to the point that your tongues are dancing together, panting against the passion, your hands are tangled in his long, red hair, and you instinctively tug at the hair band keeping it together. Your body almost trembles against his at the intensity of his lips conquering yours–
“Master Diluc? The accountant is here to see you,” The knock on the door pulls the two of you apart, but he doesn’t move from his forehead to forehead position with you. It feels hotter in the room, and he’s sure that it’s not just him who feels it. He stalls for a while to think about what to say, wanting to just turn the accountant away and tell him to come back another time, but you laugh under your breath, feeling the conflict in him.
“Master Diluc,” you breathe out, clearly teasing him. “Don’t keep your guest waiting, I’ll come back later,” It’s you who pushes him away and jumps off the desk, turning to open the door and reveal Adelinde behind it. “He’ll be there in a second. Thank you Adelinde!”
Gorou
Shy. So more often than not you’re the one initiating. You’re surprised that he’s actually a good kisser, or did he just get gradually better at it? Maybe he read some books about it…
Gorou already knows what’s on your mind when you ask him “Can I see the armory?” The first time you asked that, he merely raised his eyebrows and said sure. That had turned out to be a full-blown kissing session that left him flustered the whole day.
It had actually been a while since you visited, and so when you ask “Is there anything new in the armory?” with a small grin on your face. Gorou can’t control nor hide the swish of his tail. He doesn’t admit out loud that he’s missed you far more than he can comprehend.
You’re rather shocked as well that when the door to the armory closes he’s the one who captures your lips in a kiss. He pulls away to say “I–I haven’t seen you in so long. I just–” but you silence him with another, pulling at his clothes to get him leaning on top of you, mouths meshed together.
Your hands wander up to his ears, you always do that, rubbing at it while kissing makes him let out a low growl into your mouth and give a slight jump, but he doesn’t hate it. In fact it encourages him to do more. To open his mouth and receive yours. The kissing sounds are starting to sound lewd and his hands are starting to crawl up your sides.
“General?” Gorou jerks away from you, there’s a sound of a weapon clinking, as if it was getting hung up on the wall. There are footsteps coming around to the two of you and you flatten your clothing out hastily. One of his soldiers was in the armory and emerges from a row of weapons. “Ah general! I thought I heard you!” and proceeds to ask about which weapon would suit him more, because he was having a hard time picking.
Gorou glances at you, face still flushed but there’s nothing but amusement in your eyes. He sighs inwardly and makes a future mental note to check if there’s anyone in the premises first before deciding to kiss you.
Itto
He doesn’t constantly think about making out with you but when it starts to happen he can’t get his mind out of the gutter anymore. Doesn’t have a normal amount of shame as well. So getting caught making out is like nothing to him.
His favourite place to go beetle hunting is Chinjuu forest. Apparently that’s where all the big and strong ones are. He’s looking at every nook and cranny. In the river, atop trees, under boulders, on the stone stairs, inside logs. You name it.
When he finally finds one, it’s like he hit the jackpot. “Heyyy!! Y/N, check this out!” he waves over and runs towards you to show you his new found treasure…only for him to trip on a big rock and start falling backwards, the beetle is startled and flies away from his hand.
Itto is somewhat of an impulsive klutz, and so when he realizes that he’s falling he clumsily grabs on to the nearest thing, as if it would help him. Unfortunately, that was you and you end up on the ground with him.
“Ow…Gee…Stupid rock,” he pushes himself up by his elbows and glares at the rock by his foot, then realizes that you’re completely pressed up against him and resting right below his chin. “Y/N! You okay?!”
He wraps one arm around your waist, with how burly Itto was, having you resting on top of him was nothing. He realizes how close the two of you are and a bulb instantly lights in his head. “…Wanna kiss?” He grins shamelessly and you smack his shoulder hard. “Ow!”
“Come on! Just one!” he urges and and somehow flips you over to the ground. Now he’s the one hoisting himself up above you. You consent and he giddily kisses you on the lips. Despite his size Itto is always gentle at first, and he never goes past your boundaries. Always asking if he could kiss you. He pulls away with a satisfied smile, but just looking at you under him like that…it stirs a bit of something in his gut.
“…Another one?” He asks. Eyes tacked on to your suddenly delicious looking lips. He leans in again and this time the kiss he gives has a slight nip to it, his teeth gently nibbling on your lower lip, like he’s trying to get an actual taste of you. He pulls away again, face starting to become pink. “…A-Another–” This time it’s you who pulls him down by his coat, not letting him finish his request and it turns into a full blow make-out session.
It’s a clumsy medley of kisses at first, just trying to taste more of each other and lips grappling for control. There’s a sudden, fiery urgency between your kisses, like you’re losing time, and your hands are starting to slide down his exposed midriff.
“Boss! Bossss!!” You push him away when you hear his gang members calling after him, but he didn’t seem to care and chases after your lips again. “Itto!” you hiss and punch his shoulder. “What?” he looks at you innocently. “Get off! Your friends are coming!”
“So what?” he blinks, actually looking like he doesn’t care. He just doesn’t find anything wrong about giving you affection. “Get off or I’ll never kiss you again!” You threaten and he pouts but relents. By the time his gang members arrive. The two of you are stood up, with you dusting your clothes off and Itto looking like a defeated bear.
Kaeya
You bet he initiates and he does so whenever he feels like it. However, other times, he likes to lure you into his trap by using his charms, so it looks as if you’re the one who started it but in fact he’s been sending you signals the whole time.
“Ah, so here you are,” Kaeya chuckles, kicking the door to the rooftop close as he saunters over to you. Up at the rooftop of the Favonius Headquarters, it was quiet and no one ever really went up there. You could see a small view of the town, as well as the windmills surrounding it.
You were leaning over the railings, and only turned around to give Kaeya a half-glare, crossing your arms over your chest. “Came up here to tease me more?” You said, earning another chuckle from Kaeya. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about, love,”
He lifts your face up to meet his using his finger. His grin is handsome, and the moonlight illuminates his eye that much more. Your hands rest on his shoulders as he comes nearer and you mumble at him almost accusingly. “Liar. You couldn’t keep your hands off me during the meeting…”
Kaeya doesn’t say anything but does slither an arm around your middle. He was a menace. The Favonius meetings were long sometimes, and you guessed that he got bored. He kept nudging you with his knee, and at some point had even secretly placed his hand on your thigh, tracing patterns on it with his finger, pretending to listen to the meeting minutes.
Kaeya leans in to whisper into your ear, his breathy voice sends a shiver down your neck and spine. “Can’t help it, your squirming is fun to watch,” and that’s how he gets you to press your lips on his. Just with a little urging, a little teasing, a little subtle touch. It drives you crazy and it entertains him to no end.
“Someone’s impatient,” he whispers again when you pull back, “It’s your fault,” you whisper back. This time he’s the one who makes the move. His kisses are perfect. It touches more than just your lips, it reaches your soul, your heart and the very core of your being. You’re always left wanting more. He knows how to kiss in a way that has you chasing for more, clutching at him for more. He knows that when he sucks at your bottom lip you’ll mewl and bite his back. The heated exchange continues, up until the door to the rooftop slams open.
“Sir Kaeya–Oh…Uhm…I–” The knight who walks in realizes Keaya is in the middle of something. Kaeya doesn’t have plans to turn around, but he does so only to briefly address the knight. “I’ll be there in five minutes,” Kaeya doesn’t wait for the knight to leave, and proceeds to continue kissing you until your lips are sore.
Kazuha
Gentle but will catch you off guard. Always starts off with innocent kisses up until it escalates into a desire that he can’t ignore.
The bird’s nest of the ship. That small lookout on the highest point of the mast, where a crewmember would stay and warn the other crew members if there was an impending doom coming. Like a storm, or another big ship, or a small ship they should avoid. It’s an important part of the ship, but also a somewhat private little getaway.
The breeze is always nice up here, but when night falls it becomes a tad too chilly and you end up wrapped up in Kazuha’s arms and warmth. You stay like that for a moment, just enjoying the lull of the sea and the sound of the waves. After a while longer you tip your head up to look at him, finding that he’s gazing tenderly at you.
You smile, and he follows. A little piece of heaven was so easy for him to obtain with you in his life. You tip your head up to invite him for a kiss, and he effortlessly meets your lips romantically. It takes your breath away, the manner in which he silently claims your lips as his and only his. It’s not demanding nor forceful at all, yet something about it makes you surrender and your knees start feeling weak.
His arms tighten around you, he pulls away for a brief second, only for air and comes back in immediately. This time it feels like his lips scorches yours, the flame that ignites leaves you whimpering for more, clutching at his arms, senseless to everything else except his kiss.
The only reason it stops is because you’re suddenly jerked away from him. He startles as well, feeling his feet sway a little, but his hold on you is protective and reassuring. A strong wave had nearly tipped the two of you off balance, and Kazuha looks beyond the sea to see that a storm might be brewing.
He chuckles a little, aware that he got carried away for a moment there. “Let’s go back down, love. It’ll get dangerous up here in a few,”
Scaramouche
Rough and demands it when he wants it. For him it’s like an impulse, or maybe the result of holding back too much and suddenly exploding with want.
He was sour the whole day, and you had no idea why. Possibly one of his moods. He took it out on nearly all his subordinates, shouting about how everyone here was incompetent and useless.
When night fell and the men had fallen back to their makeshift tents or quarters, Scaramouche came back to his and your tent, done antagonizing everyone for the day. He doesn’t say much as he undresses and prepared for the night, slipping on a simple shirt and shorts. You were already on your shared cot, reading a book about something trivial.
He climbs in with a huff and you can’t help but smile at how childish his temperate was sometimes, but you’re startled when he climbs on top of you, your wrists are suddenly pinned above your head by his lone hand. “S-Scara–”
Wordlessly, his lips demandingly bears down on yours. You let out a slight sigh as you kiss, your eyes immediately closing at how possessive the kiss felt, but it’s exactly the way you like it. You part your mouth for him, and his tongue lashes in like strong waves pulling you under a sudden splash of desire.
The way he kisses you is beyond hungry, devouring your lips and all your senses to focus only on him. “Scara–!” was the only thing you could let out when he pulls back for a breath, a string of saliva connecting the two of you, your face incredibly flushed. That prompts him to do more, moving to yet again taste your lips.
“Sir? There’s an emergency out at the waterfalls. It seems that the resistance is closing in,”
Scaramouche pulls away and curses under his breath. He’s about to kill that soldier who’s standing outside the tent. He climbs away from the bed and starts getting dressed again, leaving you breathless on the bed. Still, you would think he would just leave, but for you, he comes back to where you rest and places a kiss on your forehead. “Wait for me, puppy. Won’t be long,”
Tartaglia
Mischievous and almost calculated. Beckons you to initiate it and leads you into it.
His meeting with the other Fatui agents just ended, and he’s left exhausted and melting into the sofa he was sitting on. His body is totally limp, just wanting to do nothing for a moment in the living room of his hotel suite. Sure, he loved the adrenaline of battle and the excitement it brought. But meetings were something else, it took a lot out of him.
“Childe?” You peer into the living room, having taken refuge in the bedroom that whole time while he took care of his business. He immediately perks up at your voice, his energy levels spiking at the thought of you. “Here, Y/N, we’re done,” he confirms and beckons you over with his hand.
You step out of the bedroom door and walk over to him on the couch, yelping when he easily pulls you atop him, forcing you to straddle him, your knees on the couch and your hands on his shoulders. “Childe!”
He only chuckles and leans back, liking the view of things, one of his hand lazily placed on your waist. “It’s been a long day honey,” he sighs out and takes his other hand to cradle your cheek. “I think I deserve a kiss,”
Indeed he does and you agree with no complaints. You straddle his lap fully when you lean in and hotly connect your lips. Your scent is hypnotic to him, the only thing in the world that could ever catch him off guard was you. He encases your waist in his arms, pulling you closer to him until you’re pressed against each other.
“Mm,” a hint of a moan escapes his lips and into yours. He doesn’t stop kissing you, the intensity increasing with each one. He starts to kiss you in a way that makes your toes curl and your insides burn, your brain melting into nothingness, not even noticing that your hands start to slide up his shirt.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
You pull away, only to be pulled back in. “Keep going,” he breathes out, ignoring the obvious knocking on the door.
“Sir–I’m sorry. We’ve forgotten to report an important part of the mission,”
Childe clicks his tongue, but he hoists you up in his arms and shouts back. “I’m off-duty, come back tomorrow,” before the two of you disappear into the bedroom.
Thoma
Natural. It just happens when it happens. There’s not much thinking involved and there’s no prior teasing.
He’d been busy for a while, setting up things and making sure everything was in place for the Irodori festival. You, being a worker at Yae Publishing house, was also busy during that time period. For the whole festival you didn’t see each other, nor did you have the time to pass by even for a short greeting.
On the final day of the festival, Thoma finds himself waiting for you to finish your shift at the Yae Publishing House stall. “Thoma!” You run up to him, delighted to see your lover after a long week, he meets you with a hug and laugh, spinning you around once before setting you down again and walking to the restaurant that the two of you agreed to eat at for dinner that day.
It was also the celebration of the end of all your hard work for the festival. For this special occasion, he had requested a private dining room for the two of you. The night started off as normal, the two of you talking about your respective events and duties.
“I missed you,” he suddenly interjects in the middle of your story. He just couldn’t help it, it’s been so long since he saw your smiling face. “Ah, sorry, you can continue your story,” he waves a hand, urging you to go on, but you’ve stopped and shifted a little closer to him. “…I missed you too, Thoma,”
And just like that your lips were inviting his. He drops his chopsticks and turns to face you, his hands on both sides of your face to bring you closer to him, to feel his lips melt and combine with yours. He feels your fingers clutch at his shirt. Thoma’s kisses makes you forget your own name. Makes your heart beat faster and faster until it feels like exploding. Every time your lips come apart and together again you’re spun into a dizzying world of fireworks and passion.
“Y/N…” he whispers before he dives in yet again, your hands now tugging at his hair, as if wanting to sink into him deeper.
“Your drinks are here!” The door slides open rather suddenly and the two of you jerk apart, faces an intense red. The server is oblivious and hums to herself while placing the glasses on your table. “Enjoy!” She says before retreating out and sliding the door shut again.
The two of you are tense, but when you meet eyes, you can’t help but let out a snicker, he follows and the two of you are just laughing it off seconds later.
Venti
It’s like a form of entertainment for him, like a hobby. He loves kissing you and he doesn’t hide that at all.
“Venti…are you drunk?” You ask as you sit next to him at the tavern. He’s rather rowdy today, but he raises an eyebrow at your query. “Me? I haven’t even had a drink yet Y/N! I’m just excited I have time to visit the tavern again!”
The two of you are off to a table on the side, it’s a little secluded, but in no ways was it private. The deeper the night got the more people came in, but you realized that Venti wasn’t drinking any booze at all. In fact his attention was all on you, just talking to each other and enjoying each other’s company.
You don’t quite understand Venti’s attraction towards you. It’s as if he appeared one day and decided to latch on to you. Was it really love? Or just fascination? Still, he was a handful, but he was able to take care of you and be considerate of your feelings, despite being energetic and carefree all the time.
“…and so we decided to leave Dragonspine,” you finished your story, drinking some of your mocktail and noting that Venti was nodding at you with sparkling eyes.
“It must’ve been cold up there, hm?” He simply says and it dawns on you only now that his arm is wrapped around your waist and the two of you are quite cozy in that position, your body tucked in his. “You’re so cute, Y/N. It’s almost unbearable, ehe~”
Then, his eyes light up almost instantly. “Ah, you haven’t given me a kiss today! You were so busy in the morning that you forgot!” He leans in, putting his face out for you but you feel your cheeks heat up and decline his offer. “Idiot, we’re in public!”
He’s silent for a moment, realizing that you’re shy, and for some reason that face of yours spurs him even more to try and kiss you. Assertively, he uses his hand to move your turned away face to meet his and he’s the one who leans in for a mind-bending kiss.
You gasp into it, eyes widening at his bravery. Although it was loud in the tavern all you could really hear was your heart beating in your chest. He doesn’t let up, you feel his tongue prodding your lips, asking to be let into your hot mouth and your eyes close automatically, losing yourself into the sudden tingling sensation running up your spine.
He kisses you like you’re the finest wine he’s ever tasted, he drinks you up like he hasn’t had water in days and you feel his mouth just pressing on yours over, and over, and over again–
BANG!
The two of you startle away from each other. One of the waiters has smacked a medium barrel of wine on your table. The type that was for sharing and had a spout connected to it. The waiter saw you kissing, but he didn’t bat an eyelid. That happened all the time in the tavern. Instead, he actually grinned and said. “Here’s that wine you ordered, this’ll warm you both up quick,” and left cackling.
Xiao
Always doesn’t expect how he likes kissing so much. He doesn’t usually initiate but when it happens he’s also surprised by the hunger he has for your lips. It’s almost like the demon inside him comes out and wants to devour you.
Xiao has his own room in Wangshu Inn, but he doesn’t use it as much as one would think. He rarely needed sleep and staying in human quarters just seemed odd to him. He never got used to it.
As an adepti, the outdoors was his calling. It’s where he spent most of his time, even with his brothers and sisters back when they were all together. In a way he was very in touch with nature and his surroundings.
Today he spent the usual night up on the Wangshu rooftop with you. Looking down at the lights and the people weaving in and out. You came to him that night with red lipstick on, and it’s not because you had intentionally put it on. It was because you just finished an opera performance at the inn, and though you weren’t the lead singer you worked as a background dancer, and sometimes that required makeup that stood out, specially in Chinese opera.
Xiao had seen your performances several times. He didn’t say much about it, but he did comment once that he thought the story was beautiful and that your moves matched the story. That was more than enough for you, coming from him.
That night, you were merely wanting to say a brief hello, just as you always did after a show. “I’ll be going now, Xiao,” you say after a moment but his hand reaches out for your wrist and holds you in place.
You turn back with a curious look on your face, wondering if he was alright. “Xiao?” He gently pulls you towards him, and stares at your face. Something in him aches to kiss you. To mess up your makeup.
He moves you over to the wooden railing of the rooftop, your back pressing against it and him trapping you in between. He continues to stare at your lips, and you finally get the message. “Xiao, do you want to…” you gulp, and he does as well. His eyes dart up towards yours, as if asking for permission.
The permission you give is your eyes closing, head tilting the slightest bit forward, letting yourself fall vulnerable in front of him. He lets out a slight sigh at the sight before pressing your mouths together. His hand finds its way to your scalp, moving you closer to him, tasting your moist lips.
He’s aware that he’s possibly smearing lipstick all over himself, but that just heightens his desire. He wants it all over him, only him and when he pulls back to see the mess that he made of you, eyes clouded over, red lipstick smudged to the side of your lips, mouth parted as if asking for more and panting, he lets out an almost guttural groan and plunges in for more.
It’s intense, like his lips had a mind of its own and he wants nothing more than for you to just hold on to him like this forever. And then, in a sudden split second, he disappears into black smoke.
“Here’s your dinner Xiao!” The chef of Wangshu inn, Smiley Yanxiao appears at the entrance of the rooftop, but when he looks around and doesn’t see Xiao there, he scratches his head and addresses you instead. You who was covering your lips to conceal how smeared your lipstick was. “Hey, Y/N, tell Xiao that I’m placing his dinner here, okay? Thanks!”
He proceeds to place the almond tofu dish on a table off to the side and turns around to go back to the kitchen. Your heart is still hammering in your ears and you’re not sure if what happened earlier had really transpired. But when you blink your eyes again and Xiao reappears in front of you, face covered in a rare blush and avoiding your gaze, you’re a hundred percent sure it had happened, and you can’t help but feel your heart skip another beat at that.
Zhongli
Patient. Knows how to bide his time. It’s not rushed or sloppy. It’s slow and sensual and he knows what he’s doing.
“Darling, I’ll be off soon,”
It’s how your mornings with him usually start. He wakes up to tend to his duties as a worker in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and you also have to attend to your duties as a simple hairdresser in Liyue Harbor. Appointments with you are usually done in your home, where you and Zhongli lived. Occasionally you do home visits and go to the client’s home instead of them coming to you.
“Mmhmm, I’ll see you later,” You rush over to him who is already at the door, tip toe for a quick kiss and attempt to unfurl away from his hold, only for him to hold on to you tight.
He doesn’t like rushed kisses, though the two of you are busier than usual this morning he’ll hold fast to his promise of giving loving kisses. Never rushed nor in a hurry. “Hold on a moment, dear,” he requests and holds your chin in his hand, slightly squeezing your cheeks and holding it up for him to dip down properly and sensually into a heart-melting kiss.
It gets you every time, and you don’t know how he does it. There’s always an air of confidence in his kiss, he knows what he’s doing and he knows that it gives you butterflies in your stomach. This morning, however, instead of you pulling away satisfied with just one, you ask for more by putting your hands lightly around his neck.
He gets the message and leans into your touch, pulling you by the waist, flattening your whole body against him and starting to deepen the kiss by the second. Glued to one another he claims your mouth sensually, still not in a rush. When your lips come together, it’s soft, but it’s searing hot, as if his lips is melting your skin and kissing every crevice of your being. “Zhongli…” you breathe out when you pull apart for a second, not knowing where your sudden desire comes from.
“Hm…” He merely lets out, amused at this development and continuing to brush his lips against yours. There’s a knock on the door, and that’s a clear sign that the two of you had kissed for too long. Zhongli chuckles, knowing that it must be your first appointment for the day. Just as quickly, he regains composure and kisses your forehead for a final goodbye, like nothing had happened at all.
You’re the one who’s still flustered, staring at his back and wondering how he could open the door and converse happily with the middle aged woman waiting outside your home. You almost pout, but you see him turn towards you and mouth the words “Let’s continue later,” before he bids you goodbye and leaves you with your first client.
Summary:You’ve been best friends for a whilenow, and you definitely have those little feelings of maybe wanting to be more but you just don’t know how to convey it. So you take a leap of faith, put a hand on his cheek, and give him a peck on the lips. Something you’ve never done before. Hey, actions speak louder than words, right…?
Warnings: inspired by an old tiktok trend even though I don’t have tiktok cause it’s banned in my country, lol but it was also a request by an anon, not proofread
Aether
Stunned does not even describe the entirety of it
He’s speechless and staring at you for a good five seconds before his brain starts to work again
“Wait, what was–” touches his lips to try and recall if that really happened or if he was trippin’
“Wait, hold on,” starts laughing at you and grabs at your wrist.
Proceeds to stare at you for another 5 seconds to process the information overload.
“Would you…wanna try that again?” with a loopy yet unsure grin
Albedo
Blinks once and leans back, away from you.
The surprised expression only crosses his face for a second.
He’s trying to logically piece together things and not jump to conclusions cause that’s just not him.
“…Did you, make a mistake?” When you shake your head no he grabs your hand and pulls you closer up against him.
You’d think he’d be more subtle but he might have been waiting for that for just as long as you were.
“Just making sure…before I experiment on your lips again,”
Ayato
arm latches on around your waist before you can even pull back and turns the quick peck into a full kiss.
He doesn’t half-ass anything and is even bold enough to pepper kisses down your jaw.
You’re a little overwhelmed at his response, not expecting it to be this positive.
“Hm?” chuckles. “I’m only giving you what you asked for. One is hardly enough, no?”
Bennett
Has the “?!?!” expression
Simply half confused half shocked
Frozen in both fear and nervousness.
Cannot help but replay the kiss a thousand times in his head before he stutters out
“Y-Y-Y/N?!” and doesn’t even know what to say
Goes red
“T-T-That was a kiss, right?” You nod and he goes even redder if possible
Can’t comprehend it and straight up asks you why you did it. Your attempt at being obvious has failed.
It’s not that he doesn’t like you, he simply just can’t believe it.
Chongyun
just dies. pray for him.
A bit like Bennet but more of a “!!!!!!” reaction and immediately goes red without any prompting.
Has to turn away and calm himself though you can still see his red ears.
You ask him a moment later if he’s okay
“F-F-Fine! I’m…extremely pleased!” Then turns around when he realizes what he said and waves his hands to try and explain. “I-I mean, you don’t have to do it again! I’m just–”
Decides shutting up would be a better option and keeps his mouth closed while his eyes are tacked on to the ground.
Dainsleif
At the first touch of your lips, not even 1 second in he recoils his head back and looks at you with eyes that are a fraction wider
It makes you think that he didn’t like it, since his averse reaction was so fast.
In reality he just doesn’t wanna cross a line that the two of you can’t undo but you take it the wrong way and apologize to him.
He snatches your wrist in a split second, “Don’t apologize. I just…” his eyes wander over to your lips and you see him gulp.
“I just want to make sure this is what you really want…” he says this while learning forward, just waiting for you to be the one to connect the two of you again.
Diluc
Does not even realize that the moment you lean in he ALSO leans forward and welcomes your lips.
Also does not realize that his hand has comfortably placed itself on your hip.
Kiss lasts longer than you intended and when the two of you finally pull back there’s astonishment in his eyes, but the good kind. The type where he’s taken aback by how good and right that felt.
He doesn’t withdraw his hand on your hip but he does cough into his hand and avert his eyes for a moment.
“…That was…rather unexpected…No, I’m not displeased at all…” he explains himself, gets the courage to finally look at you again and breathes out a question, his lips look more luscious than usual but so do yours, in his perspective “May I…once again?”
Gorou
Tail freezes, ears perk up.
His eyes don’t even close and he’s stunned, hand half up about to cover his lips but he seemed to have malfunctioned.
“Y-Y-Y-You can’t just–!!”
There’s so many random things running through his mind:
Did you eat dango for a snack? Cause your lips sure tasted sweet.
How are they so soft? Sure he’s stared at you a couple of times but he didn’t think your lips would be THAT soft.
How is he still alive? He feels as if he’s been sent to heaven already.
Snaps out of all his thoughts by shaking his head, tries to keep a straight face. “W-Warn me next time!”
but his tail is uncontrollably wagging.
Itto
Possibly the one with the most wide-eyed and dumbfounded reaction.
Speechless but savors the taste of your lips.
When he finally comprehends what happens (took you some hand waving in front of his face), he grabs you by the waist and pulls you in for another one. Head dipping confidently, no questions asked and just goes for it.
“W-Wow! Uh…I mean! Didn’t know you were such a good kisser! W-Well. Actually! I can’t really be sure, we gotta try that again and see!”
Eager and oh so ready. Like he found a new hobby.
Will pounce on you if he has the chance.
Kaeya
Sees it coming before it even happens and welcomes it. It’s like he was practicing for it his whole life.
Immediately has his hand pressed against the back of your head to deepen the kiss and lean closer to you.
It definitely lasts for longer than you thought it would.
He pulls back with a grin but doesn’t let you go.
His whisper sends shivers down your spine and he runs a finger under your chin to tip it up “You know this isn’t going to end with just one, right?”
Also the type that would pull you by the waist and he would fall back in bed while you topple on top of him.
Kazuha
It all seems so natural with this guy.
When he sees you coming in his hand rests on your cheek automatically and he receives the kiss gracefully.
The kiss doesn’t deepen, but you feel that he has urged you to lengthen it a little.
When the two of you pull apart it’s not a sudden jerk back, it’s a slow and only slight slide away.
He’s looking at you as if he’s seen the stars in the night sky for the very first time.
He doesn’t utter a word, but his look says it all and he dips down again for another kiss, just assuming that you’re alright with it.
Razor
Blinks. Processes. Blushes
Shy smile on his face but he’s a simple person who communicates better with actions so he kind of understands your intentions.
He moves forward to give you a quick peck on the cheek (that’s the only thing he’s brave enough for) as if returning the favor
then he turns around and pretends to be busy doing his own thing when in truth he has a flustered face on and is just trying to hide his giddiness from you.
Scaramouche
Grabs your wrists, both of them, and demands an answer. “The hell do you think you’re doing?”
He’s not scowling, but there’s a glare on his face and yet there’s a subtle shyness to it. Like you’ve offended him but he doesn’t want to show it.
“If you’re going to do that, you have to do it properly, you dumbass,”
Pulls on one of your wrists so that you’re nearly crashing towards him (just the way he likes it) and clumsily wraps his arms around you and kisses you.
He pretends he knows what he’s doing but has no idea and it’s probably also his first kiss.
Tartaglia
The one that chases after your lips with a laugh.
You kiss, you pull away, but his lips are following yours as you pull backward and it’s just so funny that the two of you can’t help but giggle.
But he always gets what he wants so he cups your face in his hands and gives you a proper kiss.
“Should’ve done it earlier, it’s hard just being your friend,” winks
Also one who will ask for another, and then another, and then another so you’ve gotta have your boundaries set, he’s so good at begging for more kisses too.
If he’s not satisfied and wants more, is also the type to trap you against a wall until you give him another.
Thoma
Has a gasp caught in his throat.
instinctively has his fingers on his lips
“Y/N was that…intentional?”
eyes wide in pleasant surprise and when you nod your head he breaks into a small charming laugh.
“I’m sorry, I made you wait. I’m a little embarrassed that you made the first move but…”
There’s a glow on his face and an unparalleled gentleness in his eyes when he brushes his thumb across your cheek.
“this time, let me do it,” as he leans in for a fireworks behind your eyes kiss.
Venti
Blinks. Is surprised only for a split second then laughs.
“Ahhh so that’s why you’re so jittery today!”
Would wrap his arms around your waist and pull you on his lap.
“No need to be nervous kitten, I’ve been waiting a while too. Come on, just one won’t do!”
Ridiculously giddy and doesn’t hide it. Like a child who has found a new candy store.
At some point he will remind you that you were the one who made the first move. It’ll probably be one of his most favourite stories to tell.
Xiao
You caught him by surprise.
He holds your hand but turns his head away to look at something else, trying to keep his blush covered.
You keep moving to the side he’s turned to only for him to swing his head the opposite direction when you do so, still trying to hide.
“Quit–Quit moving around! I just–” growls under his breath that you won’t let him have his moment in peace.
Suddenly grabs you to plant a clumsy kiss on your lips again.
Then becomes embarrassed all over again.
Xingqiu
Surprised, but kind of in a neutral way.
He’s always liked you and is comfortable with you so he’s delighted, but also outwardly calm about it.
“Hm…Shame. That was a little too quick,”
Inwardly he might be freaking out a little bit.
“I’m…not all that knowledgeable when it comes to these things. But I can assure you that I enjoyed it,”
Tugs at your hand to “hint” that he’d like to try again but probably will have a hard time conveying that he wants to try again using his words.
Zhongli
His lips part a little when it happens and he regains composure fairly quickly.
“Hm…” Will close his eyes to think about it but will also beckon you closer with an upward flick of his hand.
Takes your hand and kisses the back of it. It’s tender and patient and he looks up at you while he does so.
“There’s no hurry…I’m the type of person who…” trails his hand up your arm, to your shoulder and traces your jawline. “Likes to savour things…”
His voice has the ability to make you tremble with some sort of excitement. “Now then…Let’s try that again,”
OK SOOOOOOOO I just wrote this on a whim because I made this post on my other blog and couldn’t get the idea outta my head. will I write more of this in the future? WHO KNOWS,,, I haven’t been able to write much because I have to write academic stuff (booooo) instead of writing fanfics (YAYYYYY)
anyway here, I hope u enjoy whatever this is!! my april fools prank on u guys is to post this and then forget abt it,, jkjk I might actually complete this if I feel like it (please read the other post for context first!)
I’m in a little bit of an angsty mood tonight because I was listening to this, so I just wanna dump it here to think abt:
imagine childe’s pov when reader chooses diluc over him.
he knows, he knows full well that he deserves it— yet it still hurts like a fresh wound when you finally say it aloud. childe can’t even bring himself to cry, because he thinks he doesn’t deserve the right to grieve over something he let slip out of his grasp so carelessly. part of him wants to be angry, to lash out at diluc, but he knows that diluc is logically the better choice. he can provide safety, stability— everything that childe doesn’t have.
and it hurts even more if you think about how childe accepts his losses with grace if the competition is fair and there’s no trickery involved. if diluc ragnvindr won your heart fair and square, then there’s no reason for him to challenge that truth; it’s something that the harbinger will have to live with for the rest of his life. everything he worked and fought for is finally over.
but a small part of him still wonders; it’s over, yet can’t he move on?
SYNOPSIS!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀you’re just an ordinary maid in a count’s mansion in the outfields of mondstadt, doing chores all day to satisfy your lord and his mysterious guests. no questions asked. but when there is a specific guest, and this was no ordinary guest but the wealthiest man in mondstadt━━diluc ragnvindr pays a visit, the atmosphere of the mansion changes. the other maids ditch you as you were the only one who knew proficient etiquette and knew how to care and speak to guests from higher class. but when lord ragnvindr requests you to spy on your own lord, speculating your lord with suspicious fatui activity, you gladly helped him.
TAGS+WARNINGS!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ fluff & angst. strangers to friends to lovers. possible deaths, blood &gore, explicit language &phrases, use of alcohol, mentions of abuse, mentions of murder, possibly misinformation or tweaked lore for convenience (sorry hoyoverse this is my world now)
CHAPTERS!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀one.(coming soon + more as well!)
AUTHOR’S NOTE!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀hiiii mika is bullying me to post something on tumblr for months now. haha <3 there we go finally i posted something!! this is actually a fic i have on wtp (and i’m more active on there with more diverse fics) and the reader is actually an oc but i will definitely make some changes here and write it as a Reader and it will be gender neutral! i really enjoy this story and the plans i have for it so i hope you will enjoy reading it! <3
if you would like to be on a tag list and be tagged on every chapter update, send an ask to be on the tag list! ^_^
Yandere that truly loves you and is willing to destroy anything and anyone to ensure your health and happiness >>>>>>>> yandere that breaks your mind for the fun of it
Basically mei raiden’s quote “if saving you is a sin I will gladly become a sinner” to kiana kaslana.
APPARENTLY SOME LEAKERS DROPPED THIS ALL OF A SUDDEN AND SAID TO GUESS WHICH ARE FAKE WHICH ARE NOT AAAAAAA
A-ayato’s design being based on zhongli hold me i-
Also rip scaramouche wanters (I fr wish this is a fake one)
EDIT: personally I don’t think ayato will be a claymore, there’s no instances of him wielding one. Only polearm and sword. Yunjin not being geo is true tho, she’s anemo apparently
The character from liyue resembling fuhua from honkai is also true
This leaker did the most Chad and inhumane thing ever
Fanon, mischaracterized diluc who people only look at his exterior coldness is not malewife. But canon diluc who’s very caring, loyal and willing to sacrifice his life for the people he loves, therefore doesn’t want them to get too close since he fears for their safety is the best malewife in genshin and that’s a fact (along side thoma of course)
A/N: i feel so bad posting this with inazuma and all the new content… no one cares abt the windblume festival rn its 2.0 lolol. i wrote this during the windblume festival and thought i’d also share it on here. windblume plot doesn’t really have that much to do with the story itself so its whatever
warnings: cringe… but none
SFW
word count: 1.3k
summary: You fall victim to venti’s schemes and are now on your way to confess to Diluc.
“Oh, Barbatos, I can’t do this. This was stupid to begin with.”
Your heart felt tight in your chest as you walked. Clammy hands fiddled around a bouquet of freshly picked small lamp grass. The blue petals were illuminated in the moonlight that shined down on Mondstadt. Small lamp grass always had a gentle, refreshing floral scent when it was picked, but you did not feel refreshed in the slightest. In fact, you were more than ready to throw up.
The Windblume Festival in Mondstadt was the designated time of year for romantic endeavors and confessions to occur. It was a time of independence, freedom, and love for the city. You planned to spend this year enjoying the culture and activities offered, but the Archons seemed to have other divine plans for you instead. The Archon, Barbatos, to be specific.
In order to make some quick cash for alcohol, Venti had been offering romantic poetry lessons to the citizens wishing to convey their feelings to their sweetheart or lover-to-be. You had no intentions of partaking in the romantic side of the festival, but a certain Cavalry Captain had managed to get you involved. Venti wanted wine from Kaeya, who would procure it from Diluc. Kaeya was unsure if he would actually be able to get the “payment” from Diluc, so he snitched on your feelings for the bartender to Venti.
Venti saw your struggle as potential—for more wine, that is. He decided to kill two birds with one stone, and now you were on your way to confess your love to the Dawn Winery’s tycoon himself. Of course, part of you was doing this willingly.
It’s become almost painful to be around Diluc lately. Your thoughts always became distracted when you were around him, and you’re unable to focus during work and commissions at times due to thinking about him. He sent butterflies swarming into your stomach just from meeting his eyes, and his fire wasn’t needed to make your cheeks flare red from heat. It was embarrassing how much of a wreck he made you.
You figured that finally confessing your feelings to Diluc was for the best, and maybe this push from Venti was exactly what you needed to get over him. There really was no harm in confessing. Having a crush on someone was akin to complimenting them. It meant you respected and admired them as a person. The only down side to confessing was the chance of rejection, which could put a strain on your relationship with Diluc and make things tense. Diluc was known to have antisocial tendencies, so maybe he would feel tooawkward every time he saw you and end up avoiding you entirely.
But, it was too late to let that wonderful pep talk steer you away from your destination himself. Diluc had walked out of the Angel’s Share bar and locked the door. He turned around and found your eyes staring at his. It had obviously been a busy night at the bar, as Diluc only ever put his beautiful hair in a high ponytail on busy nights. The moon’s soft luminescence served to highlight the light flush on his cheeks. Diluc’s smile was gentle and warm as he raised a gloved hand to greet you.
That kind smile felt like an arrow being shot into your stomach, causing you to inhale sharply. There was no turning back now. You softly cradled the bouquet to your chest with one arm, and raised the other arm to return his greeting. Reluctantly, your legs slowly began to make their way towards him.
“What are you doing out this late, (Y/N)?” Diluc questioned. His eyes glanced over the bouquet you carried, but refrained from asking anything about it. You bit the inside of your cheek for a second, thinking about the words you would use to end your favorite friendship. You took in a deep breath.
“I came to talk to you about something, actually. Do you have a few minutes to spare? I know it’s pretty late.”
“I do. What do you need?” He stood looking down at you. Your body was hot and fidgety under his gaze. It wasn’t even an option to continue looking at his expecting eyes, so you settled on giving your speech to his boots.
“Diluc… I know you’re a busy man with a large burden put on your shoulders. I see how hard you work for the winery, and you’re always so diligent.” You nervously played with the parchment wrapping around the bouquet you held. “You take care of everything almost effortlessly, but I know you probably put a lot of stress on yourself to make it seem that way, and I really respect you for it. I respect how you treat your workers with kindness and put their needs above yours… You have such a kind heart to everyone, including me. For as long as I’ve known you, I’ve always seen you put others before yourself, like staying out late and putting yourself at risk for the sake of Mondstadt.” You paused for a second to breathe deeply, the heavy silence quickly scaring you back into talking.
“I really do…think very highly of you.” Your cheeks hurt from how hot they were. “But, the more I got to know you, I recognized other things about you. You have every reason to be cold and spiteful, yet you continue to have the most loving heart out of anyone I’ve met. You’re selfless and brave, and you never expect anyone to thank you. Lately, I’m unable to focus around you anymore. Whenever I’m with you, I feel so giddy that I don’t know what to do with myself. You make me feel so safe and happy, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. With every moment I spend with you, Diluc, I just…
"I realize how in love with you I am!”
It was terribly quiet now, and your heart was beating so fast that you expected to start seeing dots any second. You had said your feelings to Diluc, and there was no going back. You expected an awkward cutoff at some point to save you from the embarrassment of an unreciprocating rejection, or at least a quick, curt response, but neither seemed to come. Some time had passed after your confession, so you decided to look up at Diluc’s face.
When you met Diluc’s scarlet eyes, you immediately saw the dark red blush that covered the poor man’s surprised face. If you didn’t feel that exact same heat on your own face, you probably would have thought it was the cutest thing in the entire world. Your own eyes stared into his bright red ones for what felt like an eternity, until he finally opened his mouth to respond.
“You sure know how to catch me off-guard, (Y/N).” He chuckled softly, his words doing nothing to dismiss the rocks settling in your stomach. It felt like you would die if he didn’t give you a proper response soon.
Diluc stepped towards you, quickly closing the distance between your bodies. He leaned down and brought his hand up to your hair, brushing it back. Soft lips pressed gently against your forehead and another hand moved to cup the side of your jaw. Your eyes went wide and your mouth opened slightly in surprise. Diluc removed his lips and stood up straight, taking your hand in his and tracing your knuckles with his thumb.
“I’m sorry I made you confess first, (Y/N)… I’ve shared your feelings for a long time. Hearing you say those words—I genuinely thought I was in a dream.” His sweet laugh fell out of from his lips once again. This time, instead of making you feel heavy, you decided it was your new favorite sound—one that made you feel light and free. His laugh was the perfect sound for the Windblume Festival.
A/N: this is an older piece from a few months ago… i went through and edited it a bit. my diluc brainrot is always strong :( i hope he comes home too one day
warnings: none
SFW
word count: ~550
summary: You’re kept up late waiting for a certain someone.
The subtle moonlight that fell through your window did nothing to help your fight against heavy eyelids. A small cup of tea sat long abandoned on the low table in front of you. Even if the drink were to still contain the comforting heat it once did, nothing seemed more appealing than sleep at the moment. Nothing, besides sleep or him.
Sleep would surely not come soundly unless you knew how he was. It was long past the time he told you he would visit you. Your brain was hazy and loosely grasping at consciousness, but explanations for his delayed arrival kept you awake. Although it was unlikely he got overtaken in a battle, you also knew he was human and not as invincible as he thought he was. Perhaps a cargo wagon was delayed and he had to stay late to handle the repercussions? If there was a stalled wagon this late at night, maybe there were thieves who saw the distraction as an opportunity to attack him from behind? If he was nearly as tired as you were this late at night, they could have easily landed a blow on him from behind. Could he be bleeding out on a cold dirt road in the middle of the night, without anyone there to help him? While you stay here, warm and safe in your apartment?
And with that final thought, you forced yourself out of your seat, rushing to grab your jacket. There was no way you could stay here any longer without knowing why he was late. Anxiety began to swirl in your stomach, as it often did late at night when your thoughts roamed into frightening territory. You grabbed your front door’s handle and opened it, only for your vision to be filled with the wide chest of the very man you had been waiting for.
His arm was slightly outstretched, his elbow still tucked near his waist. The black cuff from his jacket hugged his gloved hand, which was about to knock on the door you had just opened. You looked up at his face. His soft lips were slightly parted and his eyes were wide, but tired. He was evidently surprised you opened the door when you did, but too exhausted to exhibit any animated emotions. Though, he wasn’t the type to do such a thing even when he wasn’t tired. Beautiful red hair fell around his face, tickling the edges of his jaw and cheeks. It seemed impossible to not spend a few seconds tracing the small, wild curls of his hair with your eyes. A heinous crime not to, to say the least.
“(Y/N)…”
If his presence alone wasn’t enough to eliminate the built-up anxiety you carried, his voice surely killed it off.
“It’s okay, Diluc.” You wrapped your arms underneath his heavy, black jacket, encircling his waist and pulling your entire body into him. You were too relieved to complain about his tardiness, and too tired to pull away from the warmth he always seemed to emanate. Asking him about his activities could wait for the morning. For now, you both were ready to welcome sleep. Diluc reciprocated your hug, wrapping his big arms over your own and around your back. He slouched forward to rest his chin on your head for a few seconds and sighed.
always writes little notes for you when he leaves early for work. He can’t even imagine what it’s like to wake up to an empty and cold bed, him long gone for a day of managing a business and manor. So, he will leave little notes on the kitchen table, little post-its that say things like ‘I will be home early tonight, I can’t wait to see you’ or even a simple ‘I adore you’. Sometimes, if you’re extra lucky, he’ll even make you breakfast. Somehow, it always seems to be the perfect temperature for eating right when you notice it.
makes sure that when you’re assigned to a mission outside of Mondstat’s safe walls, it’s one with him. When confronted, he will deny having a say in your job, merely attesting the ‘coincidence’ to fate, or sometimes teasing you by accusing you of changing the assignments yourself. In truth, he worries about you. He knows how capable you are and has seen your strength firsthand, but fear still manages to cage his heart in an inescapable bind. What if you meet something stronger than you? No, he couldn’t handle loosing you. So, instead, Kaeya will follow you, ensuring your safety, but not without a few cunning remarks and teasing flirts. After all, he would truly follow you to the ends of the Earth, if only you asked.
finds himself asking you to be a helper for his research more often than not. It started out with a simple request for you to become a sketching subject for him. As time went on, he found himself drawing you when he zoned out, picturing the way the reflecting sunlight cascaded across your skin when you stared out at the piles of snow. So, to quell this confusing need to be close to you, Albedo offers you a position as his assistant. When you are around, the male begins to wonder if he should study the meaning of beauty and why he finds you to be the most accurate description he has ever witnessed.
always stumbles to you after getting hurt on a job, no matter how far into headquarters you are. Sure, it’s quite difficult to dodge all of his subordinates when he’s dripping blood, but seeing your smiling face is more than worth it. When you usher him into your private quarters with an exclamation of shock and worry, he can’t keep the grin down. Your voice is soft when you chastise him, warning him of the stinging before beginning to clean his wounds. Childe finds that in these moments, where he is laying in a sunbathed room, watching the wind blow tree branches just beyond the window, and the only sound audible is that of your soft mutters and breaths as you dab antiseptic on his injuries, he feels most at home.
wishes to listen to you speak more than speak himself. This is quite a change from his normal behavior, when he eagerly recounts stories of days long forgotten. Said change even shocked the archon himself. Zhongli finds that when he is with you, his interest in the past dwindles just the slightest. Instead, he is quick to lend an ear to your problems. The god finds you most beautiful when you speak of things that make you happy, eyes shining and gentle smile playing on your lips. He will quietly commit every single thing you say to memory, so even if the day comes that you two must part, your words will dance through his mind infinitely. Yours are ones he could never forget.
Diluc helping his afab!reader while they’re on their period. He hates watching them writhe in pain as they groan about cramps, silently cursing his inability to offer any aid. Then, it hits him. Hot water bottles are supposed to help, so what about a 5′9 heated hunk of muscle? This was one time the male could appreciate his naturally high body temperature.
Wordlessly, he slipped into bed beside them, situating his glove-free hand on the small of their back to pull them closer. At first, Y/N was confused, eyes opening and blinking curiously at their boyfriends actions. But, once they felt the relief that came from the warmth Diluc exuded, they needed no other hint to cuddle into his side, releasing a sigh of contentedness as they did so.
Diluc felt his heart clench at their actions, suppressing the small smile threatening to break onto his lips. Instead, he busied himself with tracing small shapes into their shoulder and back back with a single finger.
Y/N had done so much for him, thawed his seemingly frozen heart, and brought a flicker of light to what seemed an endless void of darkness. Anything Diluc could offer them, from a shoulder to cry on to a human heating pad when their cramps became too much, he would offer without a second thought.
a.n) HI HI EVERYONE OMFG IM SO SORRY FOR HOW LONG I WAS GONE! genshin has literally taken over my life AHA um!! i will do my best to be more active, but for now expect reallyyyy irregular posts. also yes, i am hormonal and on my period so. take this.
diluc takes a tumble, and you take it upon yourself to patch him up.
it’s not that diluc’s against healers. he’s well-aware that they serve a very important function, and that their talents should not go unappreciated. but as much as he knows that, and as much as he understands that being in top form is essential for what he does of an evening, he still won’t go to one.
he just doesn’t like making a fuss.
besides, he’s only got a few cuts and bruises. chances are they’d heal in a few days anyway – and to avoid any questions, he could just hole up in the winery. occasional hermitage isn’t unusual for him, nor would anyone think it strange. so while it’s more than he usually comes away with, he thinks it’s nothing to get worked up about.
you disagree.
he hadn’t expected you to be here, nor had any of the staff alerted him to your arrival. he’d found you poking around the foyer when he got home, slick with sweat and bush branches tangled in his hair. in any other circumstance, he would have found the wide-eyed surprise on your face endearing. but as it was immediately followed up with fuss, he resigned instead to a feeling of mild displeasure.
“it’s unusual for you to be bested,” you muse, dabbing gently at the graze on his chin. “should monstadt start panicking?”
somehow, you’d sat him down in a chair upstairs and gathered a makeshift medical kit from various places in the building. diluc doesn’t even know where you’d managed to find all these things. he’s also not sure if you’ve got any medical prowess to boast of.
“i wasn’t bested,” diluc mumbles, doing everything within his power to stop himself from looking at your face. he thinks he might burn up otherwise. “i… tripped.”
“you tripped?” you sound like you didn’t believe him.
“yes,” diluc says, with the reticence of a man nursing a deep concern for his honour, “i tripped over some branches lying around the hilichurl encampment.”
“you got all these cuts and bruises from a couple of branches?” you’re growing more skeptical by the minute.
there’s a long silence, heavy with your disbelief.
“their camp was right next to a cliff,” he admits. “so, as you can imagine…”
“you fell off a cliff?” your jaw drops.
“yes,” he says, stoutly.
you laugh. it starts small, a little chuckle you seem to be keeping to yourself, but then it blossoms, loud and raucous and likely noisy enough to give his staff cause for concern. it startles him – he’s never seen you like this, eyes squeezed shut as you’re keeled over, a fist pressed to your mouth as though you’re trying to stuff the laughter back inside. it almost feels like a mockery of some kind, but he struggles to articulate how.
yet something in diluc’s heart stirs. something strange, something new, something he hasn’t let himself give in to. he’s felt it before, but he’s never let it take shape, never let himself dwell on it. such feelings are dangerous – distractions at best and a hinderance at worst. or, that’s what he likes to tell himself. it’s a good a reason as any to keep them to himself, shoved as far back in his chest as possible.
“what’s so funny?” he asks. his cheeks feel hot, and he’s becoming less sure he likes the sound of your laughter.
“it’s just the thought of you—you tumbling—” you’re still giggling as you try to speak, cheeks round and eyes sparkling as you look at him.
he still doesn’t understand why you find it so amusing. if you were to go tumbling off the side of a cliff, he couldn’t imagine himself finding such humour in it. but perhaps that’s because you yourself would laugh it off. you’ve never taken yourself too seriously, and he’s well aware of his reputation as a man with little mirth.
he thinks, in passing, that he would like to make you laugh more. but, he hasn’t the first idea how (and he has no intention of tumbling off any more cliffs). for now he lets you wear yourself out, waiting (impatiently) for you to regain your composure.
“i’m sorry,” you say as you take a deep breath, “the visual was just… just too much.”
diluc has nothing to say to that. he just grimaces, clenching his gloved fists in his lap.
your eyes are already back on his face, carefully looking for any unattended scrapes. “besides, i’m just glad you’re okay.”
he’s startled for the second time tonight. you sounded so… sincere, as you said it. and you’d said it like it was nothing – but to him, such small words… he knows there’s still people who worry about him – if he got seriously injured, jean would surely have a panic, and while kaeya was a problem all of his own, diluc was sure he would have at least a little worry in his heart. but to have someone say it to his face, with no worries about how he might perceive or it how appropriate it may be… it’s exhilarating.
and diluc thinks it’s stupid that he’s so worked up about it.
“don’t waste your time worrying about me,” he mumbles. he’s sure you can feel the heat emanating off him.
“i know you’re more than capable of taking yourself,” you hum with a smile. “but that’s not going to stop me worrying about you.”
diluc mumbles something incoherent. even he’s not quite sure what he meant to say.
that tugging in his chest won’t stop. but what was he supposed to do? you are one of the few people he can truly call friend – and of all the people he knows, you aren’t imbricated in the trauma of his past. your opinion of him isn’t coloured by who he used to be. there’s a freedom, a space to breathe in your relationship. you don’t pity him in the slightest, because you weren’t there. you remind him of the dawn, all gentle light and hope.
how would you respond, if he dared tell you that your touch made him feel like he might implode? if he admitted to wanting to lean into your touch?
he’s not brave enough for that. what if you found the thought repulsive? what if such an admission would permanently fracture the relationship you had? diluc is used to taking calculated risks – but this is one area he has no confidence in.
for now, he just wants to relish in this moment, as much as your touch makes him feel like he’s about to fall apart.
warnings: swearing, mentions of killing, murders, death and anxiety.
author’s note: it’s been a while. hiya
Kunikuzushi did not like the idea he got the moment he sat down in the makeshift investigation room of Teyvat Academy’s students. He did not like the idea that created in his mind– Or rather, he did not like the way the pieces of the puzzle he’d been trying to solve finally came together, forming something he had thought of before but decided to ignore.
A member of the aforementioned unofficial investigation club being the killer.
Yet, it made sense.
He looked up at you, palm against your desk as you waited for him to speak. Your expression was indifferent, up until then, but the moment you made eye-contact, Kunikuzushi saw you smile. It left as fast as it came, making him question if he’d just imagined it. But it felt real. It felt like you’d read his thoughts. It felt like it was only the two of you in the room, in the world, and that Kunikuzushi had come to a conclusion you knew was right but no one would believe. He felt cornered, stuck, suffocated.
But then,
“What’s up?”
nothing.
He cleared his throat and shook his head a little. “Nothing, sorry.” he said, sighing.
“It’s fine.” you said, sitting down in your chair.
He fiddled with his fingers on top of the center table of the room, gaze fixated on the wooden surface but hazy. His teeth chewed painfully on the inside of his lip. Now, what caused Kunikuzushi such sudden anxiousness, one may wonder?
Logically speaking, only someone already present in Dottore’s room could have killed him. There was no real sign of intrusion, apart from the one the killer had clearly faked to throw off the investigation. But there was something about it that was odd. Dottore was someone who disliked people– That much, Kunikuzushi knew of. He’d known the boy for long enough to have the pleasure of getting to know his antisocial tendencies. Therefore, there couldn’t have been anyone locked with him in his bedroom. So then, the killer would’ve had to come through the window. And to get to his room, you’d either have to be on the same floor as him, or be awfully good at climbing. The way the walls of the school were made rendered it practically impossible for someone to go from down, to up. The walls were too slippery and there was nothing to actually hold on to to get up. The higher floors had a few bricks off, and if you were tall enough, you could hang from your window or balcony and get your feet to touch your downstairs neighbor’s one.
There were only two people capable of achieving such a feat in the school.
“So I stepped over the windowsill and grabbed its edge, and waited for Ajax to leave.”
“Yeah, I can get anywhere with just the school’s windows! It’s pretty easy, as long as my starting point is a room from the upper floor.”
You.AndFischl.
His fingers nervously drummed against the table as he thought. Fischl had nothing of a killer. From the attitude, to the motive. But then again, that was something he couldn’t be sure of. And as annoying as it was, everything about you seemed awfully suspicious in Kunikuzushi’s eyes. He couldn’t help but think about all those times something was off but he overlooked it. And he was certain one person could help him with solving this.
Xiao.
That night, Kunikuzushi stayed back at the investigation room, to search more. And the cycle went on for days on end.
Questioning, questioning, and more questioning. He asked people things. Random things. He asked questions to students and club-members and school staff and even the detectives and the lawyer. He needed something, until his lead would finally come to him. So he gathered informarion, unconsciously trying to get more about you.
It was just as Hu-Tao said. You could practically not get anything about you from asking around the school. A mere picture— Student Council President. Strict but kind. Understanding and hardworking.
But that was only if people didn’t know you.
“[name] has to go see Director Kamisato really often. Once, I was up at night and they were going out of their room at the same time as me. They asked me where I was going and I said I needed some fresh air, and I asked them. They said they had some reports to give him.”
“Uh, well… I dunno. Prez has been attending Teyvat Academy since elementary school, I think. That’s pretty cool, right? Teyvat’s a prestigious school.”
“I know them from kindergarten! Always quiet— Much more than now. Now that I think about it, they always hung out with that green-haired dude. Dunno. They weren’t the same, much less approachable than they are now. Why are you asking, by the way?”
“A-Ah? Nothing, just those stupid Detectives making me run errands.” Kunikuzushi hurried, laughing nervously. “Speaking of, did the Detectives ask a lot about [name] too?”
“Uh… They did, at first, but then not at all anymore.”
“Yeah, I tried talking about the Student Council’s involvement, y’know, hardwork, in all this, and that detective Hu-Tao immediately changed the subject.”
“The Student Council members are totally free of suspicion it seems. I mean, it’s understandable, right?! They are all very great, responsible hard-workers. It’d be unfair to suspect them? No?”
“If you ask me, it’s a bit odd, but I think Prez’ isn’t getting suspected at all.”
Mona Megistus was a friend of yours. Surely, this was gonna lead somewhere. Kunikuzushi tapped his fingers on his phonescreen, “Do you mean they’re getting, like, protected?”
“Yeah. Basically.”
Kunikuzushi furrowed his eyebrows. “By who…”
“Kamisato?” Mona proposed. The boy looked at her with confusion, and she scoffed. “What? Our dear Student Council Prez’s hatred towards the Director could be an act. A disguise. Y’know?”
Kunikuzushi had to tell himself he was much too focused on you after his fifteenth interrogation of the day, and finally started to ask around about Fischl.
But everything about her was… Not fishy at all.
“She’s really bubbly. She spends most of her time creating cool stuff. I think she’s a really cool person.”
“I dunno her really well. She’s a bit of a Chūnibyō, but, well, y’know? It’s cool anyways. Behind her grandiose act and everything, I think she’s a real genius.”
“She helped me fix my drawing tablet once, and ended up adding even more helpful features! She’s really nice. Don’t know what’s up with her and that Oz… Thing? App?… But I like her! She’s very friendly, too.”
“Fischl’s been at Teyvat Academy since the first year of High School, I’m pretty sure. Just like Diluc and most of the Student Council. Except Prez. Y’know, elementary school and all that.”
Argh, how did this somehow go back to youagain?!
After a tiring day of investigating, Kunikuzushi was sitting at the center table of the Investigation Room. He reviewed notes on his phone.
“Hi.”
“Fuck’s sake, [name]! You scared me.”
You laughed. “Sorry. What are you up to? I saw you asking people stuff all around the school while I worked. Investigating?” you asked. He nodded, shifting in his seat a little.
“Yeah, and about that— There’s something I think we should talk about.” It seemed as normal as the rest of the investigation, so he eventually brought it up.
“I think we should start giving out our own alibis.”
Diluc, Fischl, Ajax and you all looked up at him at the same time. Kunikuzushi gulped silently but pushed down his nervousness. It had to go well.
“Yeah.” you said, nearly startling him out of his skin due to the silence before you started speaking. You smiled at him, and it was the exact same as usual, but he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off. “We should. Actually, we’ve seriously been overlooking this.”
“I was at Aether and Lumine’s to confirm their statements again around an hour before Dottore was killed.” he said calmly, brewing something that looked more like a mix of drinks than coffee or tea. He looked up at Kunikuzushi and everyone else, “I was in my room at the time of the murder. I’m pretty sure the CCTV shows that.”
“If it wasn’t messed with, then sure.”
It was too quiet for anyone to catch it but Kunikuzushi was sitting close enough to you to hear. You were fiddling with your fingers on top of the table, seemingly smiling to yourself.
“Well, I was in my room the whole time. I had a basketball match in the evening with the rest of the team and went straight to sleep afterwards.” Ajax said. He and the rest of the group were clearly not on good terms after the whole Kaeya situation, but he was still part of the council.
“I was finishing up some reports in my room. Stupid Director asked me to finish them up last minute and I spent most of the night on them.” you stated, smacking your lips and smiling. Then you tilted your head towards Fischl and Kunikuzushi’s gaze sharpened.
“Fischl?”
“Ah? I was fixing some stuff with Oz. I actually added some more functions to him!” Fischl said excitedly, as if she wasn’t just asked for her alibi at the time of a murder. None of the group was really surprised. Kunikuzushi squinted and then looked up at the girl’s face.
“Is this what you’ve been… Tinkering with for days now?” the boy asked, brows furrowed. Fischl had, in fact, been paying more attention to the robot parts on her desk than the files she had to organize for at least a week now. She chuckled sheepishly and scratched the back of her neck.
“That’s right. I actually added a PSS to the school.”
“Product-service systems?”
“Post-scriptum scriptum?”
“A private security system, you idiots.” she huffed, then she pointed at the corner of the room ceiling. Kunikuzushi squinted, and slowly shook his head.
“Sorry but, what am I looking at exactly?” he asked.
“Our personal security cameras. Or at least, one of them.” she said. “Since a lot of them are defective around the school and Director Kamisato apparently has no intention to fix them despite the two murders that happened in the school— I decided to make new ones myself!”
Kunikuzushi was extremely impressed, to say the least.
“These babies will not only provide us visual on every single corridor and club room, but also audio input. Add to that, they’re practically invisible, and with how high the walls are in this school, I think it’s a pretty long shot to think anyone would actually notice them.”
“This is invasion of privacy.”
You were the one to say that. Diluc frowned and crossed his arms, leaning against the brewing table in the room. “You’re saying this? It’s out of character of you, [name].”
“No, it’s not.” Kunikuzushi suddenly said, smiling. It was tight and forced but no one noticed. He was an ace at acting, after all. “[name] is an annoying stuck-up fucker, after all. Student Council rules must’ve gotten to their head after all this time.” he joked.
Ajax laughed and Diluc furrowed his eyebrows, gaze lingering on you and Kunikuzushi for a bit longer before looking away. “It’s okay, Fischl. It technically isn’t considered so— None of them are put in club rooms, even less bedrooms. It’s just a normal CCTV system.”
“Aprivate one.” she insisted and Diluc waved her off.
Kunikuzushi’s fists were tight on his legs under the table, gaze fixed on the wooden surface. He slowly brought it up to you, who remained completely silent. You stared at the wall blankly, seemingly displeased.
“[name].”
“What is it, jackass?” you retorted, not looking away.
He furrowed his eyebrows.
Fischl was off the list.
“What reports did the Director want you to finish up exactly?”
“Huh?” you turned to him with a slightly startled look, “Just… Reports. Ones about students’ activity, if you want me to be precise. I have to make them at the end of every month to give to him. Stop acting like I’m suspicious, you idiot.” you ended off with a smirk.
He scoffed and looked away. You hummed, “What about you, Kuni? What’s your alibi?”
He froze a little, put on the spot. Then his eyes widened and his brows furrowed as he turned to you, “I literally reported the murder! You know my alibi already. The police asked me tons of times, too. You were with me!”
“Just saying. Reporting a murder you committed yourself is a technique like one another.” you laughed, “My point is even if someone reports a murder, don’t overlook their involvement in the case just because of that, okay everyone?”
“Got it, Prez’.”
Kunikuzushi understood from the mood, and your smile, that you were just trying to get him to say his own alibi in case him not saying it was brought up against him later, or something of the sort. And maybe as a way of getting back for clearly suspecting you a few minutes before. He clicked his tongue and scoffed a little.
What an idiot. What a stupidly smart idiot.
Twelve hours passed.
It was five in the morning. He waited at the entrance of the school, back leaned against the brick wall and arms crossed. He checked his watch again and scoffed, before looking up. His eyes widened and he pushed himself up.
“You’re here.”
“I’ve already got someone waiting for me on my first day? Are you a guide or something?”
“No. I’m part of— Err, honorary member of the Student Council. I’m here to ask you questions about something that happened a few years ago.” he asked, realizing he sounded like some sort of reporter, then he shook his head. “Sorry, I just need to know your side of the story on something. Several things. It’s important.”
The stranger nodded. Kunikuzushi smiled tightly and held out his hand, “I’m Kunikuzushi.”
“…Xiao.”
“So I’ve heard.”
And that was where the investigation really began.
recently i’ve gotten some pretty negative remarks or just plain insensitive comments about my writing and it’s killed my motivation to write by a ton.
i know that these people are just giving what they think is criticism– but it’s hard to take when it’s not really.. criticizing anything that i can fix? like they don’t point out particular details that are identifiable which is why it puts my mood down so much. that and most the time, they’re just plainly insulting the ideas i have or such.
i’m not a baby when it comes to criticism– god no!! i’ve grown up writing and drawing my whole life and it’s only possible i’ve gotten this far because of it. i always try to see someone’s criticism from an objective point of view instead of taking it personally.
i sincerely want to improve my writing. i’m not some experienced writer which is why i want feedback to grow as a writer! but i’ve been overwhelmed with things going on in real life and now with writing which is supposed to be my safe space– which is why i’ll be taking a break.
this has been going on for a while and i’ve finally had enough, i’m sorry.
i don’t know how long it’ll last, i can’t really go into detail as to when i’ll be back because even i don’t know. i just need the time and space to think about this and hopefully recover my self esteem on here lol
i’m genuinely hurt and it’ll take me a bit to get back on this platform without feeling anxious that what i’ll write next will get me a mountain stack of hate.
to my followers and people who genuinely like my writing; thank you all so much. i’ll definitely be back soon once i get past this!
synopsis: general scenarios genshin characters and reader go through during winter!
writer’s note: merry christmas to all & happy holidays to my followers! you guys definitely motivate me to post more, so thank you! what i’ve written is more catering to winter generally. venti’s got a mention of holiday songs, but not any specifics in mind. itto’s is about a new year’s festival! so happy i got him haha
i’ve been nothing but excited to work on this, hence the longer scenarios and such. hope you guys enjoy reading as much as i did writing!
content under the cut!
YOU’RE HEARTWARMING. LITERALLY.
CHILDE
on the rare occasion he gets an extra break during winter, he’ll take you out somewhere in snezhnaya. usually a popular shopping district!
the two of you walk down the snowy, illuminated streets while he’s off in his own world retelling a memory from his childhood. he insists on holding all of the numerous bags; it only gives the impression to onlookers that you two are a lovely close-knit couple (but he’ll stop himself from admitting that thought to you you for now).
not only that, but it’s not exactly hard to miss the lingering look of adoration in his eyes whenever his gaze is upon you.
however that look only twists in concern when he sees you rubbing your numb hands together in a desperate attempt at warming them. his heart aches when he sees the way you shiver from the biting wind.
setting the bags down lightly, he pauses in the middle of his steps and you do too. you look over at him with curiosity as the harbinger takes his own gloves off, placing them by cupping his hands with yours. his hands are warm, you note. a stark contrast compared to yours.
he parts to reach for his red scarf and scolds you for not preparing accordingly for the weather. his fingers move deftly to cover all of your exposed skin, wrapping the scarf carefully around your neck.
the scarf radiates warmth from its previous wearer, his scent wafting through your nose. you want nothing but to bury your face deeper into the soft material and sigh happily, but if you did that in front of childe he would never stop teasing you.
speaking of the redhead, he’s already picking the bags up and walking again. clearing your throat, you follow suit. “what about you? aren’t you cold?” his eyes flash over to you immediately at the sound of your voice.
“hm?” he cocks his head, “don’t worry about me partner! i’m used to this weather, and snezhnaya has had much worse.”
you can practically feel the proud grin he has on his face without even looking at him. he’s oozing confidence. “alright, but you’re taking them back when we get to your house.”
“it’s fine, you can keep them i promise!” he insists. you only sigh, giving in to his stubborn nature.
the walk only continues in a comfortable silence, the only thing heard was the heavy trudging through snow and slight clinking of metals from his expensive clothing.
“they look better on you anyway,” he mutters inaudibly.
THOMA
thoma knows how to knit. so when the colder season comes rolling around the corner in inazuma, he’s already got a hand-knit scarf and mittens ready for you. he’s remembered your favorite color and even chose the most comfortable yet durable yarn!
he just didn’t expect you to wear them so often. almost everytime you go out, the sight of you wearing the mittens renders him sighing dreamily with a dopey grin.
“hey! i’ll be ready in a second, i just can’t find my scarf,” you scratch the back of your neck bashfully and invite the blonde into your home.
he looks around, nervous. this is the first time he’s been inside of your house, he swallows and sets his shoes down. it’s small but definitely pleasant, homey and inviting. “it’s fine,” he smiles sheepishly, “if you want i can help you look for it!”
you deadpan at him, “no. you do enough helping– for archons’ sake, tonight is supposed to be an off day for you! no helping, just sit here,” you sigh in mock exasperation jokingly and he only laughs, assuring that he won’t move an inch.
while seated, thoma can’t help but think that the sight of you running around your own home frantically searching for something is adorably domestic. before he can indulge in the thought anymore, he hears a relieved shout coming from the other room.
“found it!” you come running down the hall, wrapping the scarf around your neck and motioning at him with your hand. “come on, let’s get going! we’re gonna be late and i don’t wanna even think about arguing to the attendant,” you babble on about how difficult it was to get reservations at this time of the year to the high end hot pot restaurant which he loved and frequented.
thoma chuckles, shaking his head and putting his shoes on. he holds the door open for you with one hand, looking at your outfit.
what you wore was nice and complimented the weather. what stuck out to him was the sight of you in the scarf he had knitted himself– the way it tied the whole outfit together made his lips quirk upwards in the slightest.
hopefully he’ll see you wear the newly-knitted sweater he had sitting on his bed for you just as much.
ZHONGLI
he constantly has a hot cup of tea waiting for you. your favorite brew, decaf or not– all up to your preference! if you’re not a big fan of the bitterness tea brings, he has lighter leaves to combat that as well!
the weather drops significantly in liyue during winter; nowhere near as cold as snezhnaya, but still chilly nonetheless. he really doesn’t want you to get sick; but he can’t really do much as the two of you are busy with your own work. which is why he’s invited you over for a chat the instant he heard from hu tao about how you had caught a cold.
“what’s this?” you sniffle, putting your shoes by the doorway and striding up to zhongli.
he’s sitting by the fire with a new set of teacups that look antique. upon closer inspection, it’s of a traditional liyuean design, definitely not anything you’d see being made lately. he hums, “i was cleaning out some things and found it for you. it’s a set made to remedy ill conditions like colds and sore throats,” he rubs the set clean with a hot cloth and sets a cup down gingerly.
“that’s possible? how– and why do you have this?” you stare at the cups in awe and the male besides you chuckles.
“one moment,” he leaves to his kitchen momentarily before coming back with a familiar canister of tea leaves, gesturing for you to sit down.
“it’s a long story, but the adeptus used to–” he jumps slightly at the unexpected sound of your sneeze, pulling out a handkerchief.
he hands it to you, brows furrowed in concern. “i have some bamboo shoot soup cooking in the kitchen but it won’t be ready for a while. are you free to stay the evening?”
you nod eagerly at his request, “your bamboo shoot soup is seriously the best! i’m gonna be cured in no time at this rate,” you laugh out, suddenly abashed you avert your gaze to the cups. “thanks, you really didn’t have to do this,”
“nonsense,” he gives you a small smile, already onto preparing the hot water and tea leaves.
DILUC
he gives you his coat, the dark jacket he has on most the time. the first time he gave it to you, he said that he’d be fine with his vest alone, and that he has a spare.
it’s hefty, his coat. you can tell it definitely wasn’t something cheap from its weight which allows it to warm you instantly. you can see why he wears it so much now.
he’s lent it to you so much that its initial scent has grown tame, the smoking firewood and faint sweetness from alcohol brewing fading. you’ve tried to return it to him, but he insists that it does you more good than with him. after all, he does have a spare!
which is why he’s surprised you’re gifting it back to him with some embellishments and newly embroidered designs on it.
“i don’t know if you’ll like it,” you fumble with the bag as you present the gift to him, “but i spent a lot of time on it!”
diluc takes the coat out and stares at it with an interested gleam in his eye. “it’s,” he pauses, hand trailing down a sleeve that has a beautiful yet fashionable new design sewn onto it, “it’s wonderful. you did this?”
you nod eagerly, smiling. “yeah! it took a lot of practice, but i think it’s pretty neat! do you like it?”
“i do,” he nods at you, “thank you. are you going to be fine the walk home?” he eyes your clothes warily, already seeing how your arms suppress a noticeable tremble.
you only laugh nervously, looking away as you wave at him, “i’ll be okay! i don’t really live far from the tavern and today isn’t that cold!”
diluc only huffs, shaking his head and he offers an arm, ears heating up as you look directly into his eyes questioningly. “i’ve already closed up. come on.”
XIAO
he can’t do much, is what he tells himself. but when xiao sees you shivering on the balcony of wangshu inn just to visit him amidst the wintery season of liyue, he feels bad.
he should do something to keep you warm and comfortable, the cold doesn’t necessarily bother him but seeing you shake and cupping your hands together makes him ponder what he could do.
he can’t really offer you any clothes, and you won’t go inside where it’s warm whenever he tells you to. he suggested a blanket or something of the sorts, but you claimed that it would just get dirty. he told you to layer up– but you didn’t exactly have any jackets or sweaters thick enough. “i wanna keep you company!”
he scoffs, at your words, crossing his arms. “you can do that inside. i’m not that far.”
you only whine, “it won’t be the same. and it’s not even that cold, really!”
“you were sick last week.”
“not anymore!” you grin at him. xiao doesn’t say anything, seemingly contemplating something with a crease in his brows. all of a sudden, an idea comes to mind. you’re sitting next to him in silence, closing your eyes as a harsh gust of wind sweeps through. xiao shifts, turning his body to face the direction of the wind.
at the sudden absence of wind slapping at your face, you open your eyes to see xiao’s back.
he turned in order to block the breeze.
you feel your face burn, muttering out a quiet ‘thank you’ and he only nods.
RAIDEN SHOGUN
she can’t do a lot other than fluctuate the weather to suit your current condition.
if you’re showing the slightest signs of discomfort from the cold, expect a clear sky with a bright sun as soon as she notices. it doesn’t take long for her to notice either, ei is scarily perceptive.
if you’re sick, she’ll definitely watch out for you and make sure the least amount of casualties come your way (the ones in her control). it worries her seeing you not in your best condition and she wants nothing but for you to feel happy and healthy soon!
she’ll send commands from her plane of euthymia to keep tabs on you, ensuring your health and wellbeing. ei would personally summon you– but she doesn’t want to risk putting any strain on your body from doing so.
“i’m fine, really,” you hand a small tri-color dango to the concerned purple haired woman. “i stopped coughing and sneezing yesterday, and i’m perfectly fine in here with you!”
she purses her lips, eyes glossing over with unease. “if you say so. i will try to help aid in preventing this matter from happening to you ever again. i’ve already taken the extra precaution.” she accepts the treat and smiles softly at you.
letting out a small sigh, you take a sip from your dango milk and stare at your lap. “it’s nice that you care about my wellbeing, but you should watch yours as well.”
ei only tilts her head in confusion, “i can assure you i won’t get sick, plane of euthymia or not.”
you laugh, “i mean– mentally. you say you’re fine but, aren’t you lonely in here? i mean i can’t always drop by like this. i don’t wanna hassle you, and it’s indecent of me to intrude,”
she only sets down her food, staring at you with a reassuring fondness. “i don’t mind having you here. your company is enjoyable, i only wish you could stay longer.” you hope she doesn’t notice your wide eyes and flustered expression. (but she does!)
VENTI
venti loves winter with you! from making snowmen in the coast of dragonspine to singing winter jingles together on starsnatch cliff, he finds that no activity is boring with you around.
most the things you do together may seem childish, but to venti he just sees it as opportunities to bond and have a good time!
winter in mondstadt means a festive setting and that comes with plenty of holiday songs. he enjoys singing them with you, whether he’s the main vocalist or the faint echo in the back.
something about the way you laugh out of embarrassment as you finish a song with him makes his heart stutter in its pace. but if he were to be asked what he enjoyed the most about winter so far, it would definitely be the thing you two were doing right now.
“ah, can you hand me the eggwash?” you reach over for a clean brush and venti obliges to your request, sliding you the mixture.
“thank you,” you hum, getting to work immediately. venti only watches you and his eyes light up in curiosity.
“when will the pie be ready?” he grins, tracing shapes in the spilled flour. “please tell me it’ll be ready soon, it’ll be ready soon right?”
your eyes narrow at him, “venti this isn’t the first time we’ve made an apple pie together. it’ll take two to three hours before we can eat it, cooling and all.” he groans, fully knowing what your reply would be. still, it doesn’t make him any less distraught. you only sigh.
“if it’ll make you happy, i can make some apple crisps with the leftover apples while we wait. it’ll only take about ten minutes, promise!” his cheering brings a small smile to your face as you put the pie in the oven.
now for the rest of the two or so hours, you have no idea how to contain him.
ITTO
staking out and snowballing kujou sara.
is what he wishes the two of you could do, but he’s got way more fun activities in mind! during this time of year, yoimiya puts out the most impressive fireworks at the new years festival and he wants nothing but to watch it with you this year!
he’s got nothing but one goal in mind, to make sure you enjoy the experience as much as possible. he’s taken the extra steps of snagging a lot of jobs beforehand to have a hefty amount of mora to spend on food for the two of you. he wouldn’t normally do this, but for you he wanted to go above and beyond.
“do you need any help with that?” you glance over to the oni whose arms are borderline bursting with different snacks and such.
he looks at you with a stuffed mouth, grinning from ear to ear. “nope! i goth this coveredth!” following him up the small hill, he leads you to a side of the festival that doesn’t have much people.
the two of you settle down and chat and you occasionally laugh at his silly antics. right now he had two wooden sticks from the skewered dango hanging from his mouth, making impressions of animals.
suddenly, he turns his head and takes the sticks out, pointing ahead. “it’s starting, alright! shhh!”
confused, you look in the direction he had his attention trained on. not a minute later, a large high pitched sound fills the air and a bright firework lights up the sky. multiple follow, and the cheering of people and loud noises can be heard in the distance.
itto joins in on the noise and gets up with two pots in hand, repeatedly banging them together. you laugh at the scene, apparently it was an inazuman tradition to scare off bad spirits and bring in good luck for the upcoming year.
“come on, you try!” he grins boyishly as he hands you the pots, taking your wrist in his hand as he pulls you up. he definitely succeeded in making you enjoy the experience– of his company.
HOW THEY HOLD YOUR HAND // CHILDE, THOMA, ZHONGLI, DILUC, XIAO, BAAL, VENTI + KAZUHA
warnings: none
synopsis: how i think the aforementioned genshin characters would hold your hand :]
writer’s note: again the bias with tartaglia in this one is so evident but i am shameless, speaking of my favorite stay tuned for a longfic with tartaglia himself on.. soulmates
**edit: no longer about soulmates oh boy here we go
content under the cut!
YOUR HAND LOOKS LONELY.. CAN I HOLD IT?
CHILDE
his grasp is firm, yet gentle. his hands are cold, but it isn’t anything akin to the biting frost of snezhnaya. his hands are much more of a soothing, cool feeling and if you held them long enough, they’d emit a soft warmth with time.
he usually has his gloves on. if it’s a lazy day and he doesn’t have to do much other than sign papers, he’ll keep them off. trace the little cuts and he’ll give you a small smile and a shake of his head when you ask if it hurts.
his palms are rough and calloused, a result of mastering the art of different weapons. scars litter the back of his palms.
there was once when he babbled on about how much training he had to endure to master wielding all the different variety of weapons. excitedly expressing how he’s finally so happy that he’s getting so close with his signature bow. upon you mentioning how he has yet to “master wielding” your hand, he found his face heating up, before cockily pointing out how lucky he was it’ll be something only he alone can “wield.”
when he lets go, whether or not because something came up or just to leave to run an errand– his finger tips linger longer for yours. he doesn’t want to leave you just yet. before he lets go, he already finds himself missing the familiar affection in his palm.
pinkie promise him you’ll hold his hand plenty when he comes back for dinner, won’t you?
THOMA
warm; oh so very warm! if it’s winter or even on a particularly chilly day and you find your hands getting the slightest bit cold, slip your hand flat against his.
he welcomes you with open arms (fingers..?)! he insists the red on his face is from the cold, not from the contact; laughing bashfully as you interlock your fingers, bringing your hand up to his mouth to plant kisses upon your knuckles.
his hands aren’t exactly as rough as you’d think with all the chores he has to do all day, but they aren’t particularly the softest thing in the world. his hands are pleasing to look at as well, the cream color always seems to emit a captivating glow in the sunlight.
say this to him and he’ll stop whatever he’s doing– be it chopping carrots or folding laundry– just to stare at you with an unbelievably soft gaze, lips drawn in a tight line as he wonders just what in celestia he did to get so lucky with you.
that’s before he comes up with something he deems even cheesier to say back at you of course.
ZHONGLI
you usually interlock arms, as he deems it more convenient. his hands are occupied most of the time, be it holding a cup of tea or reading a book. not only that, but he finds interlocking fingers or holding your hands as you walk quite awkward. do his gloves really feel that nice?
but that isn’t to say it’s a bad thing! on the rare occasion you do hold hands, it’s usually sitting across from each other or somewhere private.
when you two are in bed, you often find yourself playing with his gloveless hand. like the element he commands, sturdy and protective. his hands are no different.
if you look close enough, you can see that the veins coursing through them glow with a pale, faint golden yellow. if you plant kisses upon them, he’ll let out a pleased hum before reaching for your palm to do the same.
given he’s a pleaser if anything, it just doesn’t feel right if he doesn’t reciprocate.
DILUC
to be honest, you won’t find yourself holding his hand a lot.
sharing affections with the busy man are usually on a more intimate scale, examples including eskimo kisses as he leaves the manor or even welcoming hugs when he comes back.
but the closest thing you’ll get to hand holding with diluc ragnvindr would be having his hand laid atop yours while you two are either sleeping or reading a book by the fire.
they have calluses from his duty of protecting mondstadt, but his hands have a lot of care put into them. you can tell when you bring them up to your eyes. they’re perfectly trimmed, clean nails, healthy nail beds, you get the gist. diluc values his hygiene plenty and seeing as he handle people’s drinks, he finds it all the more a reason to take care of them.
he loves to cup your face in his hands, thumbs rubbing at the soft shape of your cheekbones as he leans down to take a kiss from you.
XIAO
if you’re looking for full blown interlaced fingers and the soft caress of a thumb against the back of your palm with this adeptus– please look elsewhere.
he isn’t familiar with such complicated contact like that, much less with the people he deems close to him. not only that, but he finds the prospect of hand holding a bit unnecessary. what if he needs his hands to protect you in case something comes up? not only that, but why are you going to him if your hands are cold? there’s plenty of safe heat sources in wangshuu inn, do you see him as your personal heater?
but something he doesn’t mind is hooking his pinkie with yours. of course, only when he has absolutely nothing to do and is completely free.
when he sits atop the balcony in wangshuu inn, you’re given every greenlight to stride up to him, sit besides him, and lock pinkies. he’ll get a bit warm in the face and try to shy away from you if you were to have a sentimental moment with him before this.
he silently begs for one thing– don’t tease him. at least not too much, he’s trying his best for you, okay?
RAIDEN SHOGUN
her hands are supple, soft.
she likes the contact! if anything she finds it endearing that you’ve gone out of your way to ask her for her permission to do this in the first place.
she remembers clear as day when you had first asked, flusteredly waving your arms around. saying how you didn’t want to provide her any discomfort. with a small amused smile, she waved off your concerns and took your hand in hers, effectively shutting you up.
ei finds that her favorite way of browsing through the streets of inazuma city is with you, cupping her hand with yours as the two of you walk together. she adores the look on your face when you lead her through the stalls and go up to one asking for dango milk for the both of you.
it never fails to touch her heart that you remember her personal preference for the simplest things (at least in her mind) like food.
VENTI
being a musician, his hands are more firmer than you’d think.
hours spent plucking away at the strings of the harp had made his fingertips more solid than yours, but it suits him plenty, only adding to the infinite charm that the bard exudes.
he loves holding your hand! the type to swing your arms as he hums an aimless tune while the both of you walk around windrise finding a nice place to sit down. i believe that he out of everyone i’ve written for here, he would rub his thumb against the back of your palm the most. he finds it comforting when you do the same back to him.
bonus* he absolutely adores holding your hands in his while he teaches you some fun tips about playing with his harp. guiding your hands into the correct position to pluck at it so it would cause the least amount of discomfort, that type of stuff just warms his heart since you’re so interested in his hobby-job!
KAZUHA
when you’re holding his bandaged hand, be gentle.
there are times when the bandage frays away and becomes loose. when this happens you usually tie a comfortable knot for him so he can keep it on until the both of you get home to re-bandage him.
he’s not a fan of interlacing fingers either, he finds cupping your hands more intimate and prefers the spread out contact more.
his most favorite form of hand holding with you has to be on top of a hill of some sorts while the two of you have your hands on top of each other. kazuha adores taking you outside with him on walks, which allows for intimate moments like these to happen plenty.
put your head on his shoulder and he’s doing the same back to you with a small, content smile on his face.
synopsis: general heartwarming things i think some genshin characters do with you! (as a romantic partner)
writer’s note: i’m getting to work on requests, writing has been hard for me to manage in my schedule with all that’s going on currently. hope you guys understand^^; thinking about writing a longfic with childe sometime or anytime really
content under the cut!
I LOVE YOU, CAN YOU TELL?
CHILDE
during the more rare sentimental moods that he finds himself in, childelikes to come up behind you when you’re mindlessly doing any chore.
in contrast to the variety of different tasks you take on, be it washing the dishes to folding his clothes on your shared bed, the action he takes doesn’t ever change.
he places his hand right over your heart, almost cupping your torso while he brings you closer to him. your bodies pressed against one another in the most intimate way possible.
his natural body heat is warm enough to make you convince yourself it’s definitely the only reason why your face is heating up, not him muttering sweet nothings into your ear!
“can you believe that this little thing in you is beating just for me? i have one myself, doing the same thing for you,” he takes your hand into his gloved one, placing it flat upon the side of his torso where his own heart lays. “can you hear how loud my love for you is?”
his eyes are blown with nothing but adoration, shining with a love you rarely get to see in them. his cheeks are rosy in hue and you swear you can feel warmth emit off of them but you’re too encapsulated with his words to pay attention to anything else.
moments like these where he is the most gullible are special to him, not because of how he abandons nearly every fatui-involved persona he has, but because it’s with you. he trusts you wholly, completely.
THOMA
due to his schedule clashing with yours, thoma will usually find himself awake sooner than you do.
he doesn’t use this time to get ready, not at all. he ignores any distant calls in the back of his head for him to attend to his duties– because it can’t hurt to just adore you as you sleep so peacefully in front of him, can it?
it’s not as if he loses his sense of time, he knows his limits and exactly when he has to leave the house. his job is quite demanding after all!
when it does get frighteningly close to that time being later than usual, he’ll rush out of bed (reluctantly) and do his daily routine before coming back to the bed where you lay sleeping. smiling to himself, he’d plant a chaste kiss on your forehead before tucking the blanket back up to your shoulders and gently closing the bedroom door.
when it comes to days where you don’t have work and he does, he’ll plan ahead and leave meals suitable to eat until he can get home and make dinner with you.
even though you’ve told him countless times that you can cook for yourself, he always insists, going on about how he wants it to be “his cooking to get you through the day.”
ZHONGLI
zhongli isn’t exactly sure when he started planning on trying different flavors of tea with you every week at an end of your shift.
his main love language is to spend time with the ones he loves, be it going out on a nice dinner (that he will surprisingly pay for,) to something even as simple as just drinking tea. it’s a liyuean custom to drink tea along with eating light foods with friends and family; with him being a man of tradition it’s only natural for him to go back to his roots.
he hasn’t noticed how he himself would hum a lighthearted tune while he was handed the new package of tea leaves from his local vendor. not until you yourself pointed it out one day, the two of your going home together with the package.
you jokingly nudge at him, “what’s gotten you so happy? you aren’t going to start seeing a bag of leaves over me now, are you?”
zhongli chuckles, “not at all, dear. i am just.. rather happy to be able to spend some time with you after such a busy week. when we get home, would you like your favorite dish to go with this new brew? i have already done the courtesy of prepping most of its ingredients.”
DILUC
diluc likes to write you notes for you to read by the time he’s already left the house.
they’re mostly short and simple, but they never fail to bring a smile to your face and start your day with a positive attitude.
from advising you to eat your breakfast as soon as possible because he’s already informed the maids to make it, to how he’ll come home later than usual because he has a shift to work at the angel’s share, they’re always full of care and worry for your wellbeing.
you’ve told him plenty of times how you find his little notes to be quite adorable, and his responses will always have something to do with clearing his throat, saying something along the lines of how he finds it to be the most efficient way of showing his own way of caring for you while he’s gone.
not only that, but they’re always signed– well scribbled would be the more fitting word, with a “p.s. i won’t be long, love you” with no period at the end because he’s “too embarrassed to look at it any longer, writing it in the first place was already hard enough.”
XIAO
he likes to listen to you talk about anything really; as xiao finds himself enjoying the sound of your voice.
most the time, he won’t reply. he doesn’t mind your company, if anything he likes having you around.
he’s just bad with words or anything that has to do with assurance in general– as his curt and blunt replies can come off a bit insensitive at times. to avoid that as a whole, he doesn’t talk a lot which would make lengthy replies very rare, only present when you clearly need his input.
he chooses to observe you as your eyes glow with a pleasant mirth; chatting amiably about your day. he picks up on the smallest details and adds it to his general knowledge about you, shaping an even more vivid image of what you like and what you dislike.
once, he handed you a gift and as you took it from him you failed to notice his solemn expression. he was gauging your reaction to see if his gift met your standards, and it did! if anything, it exceeded your standards.
you were surprised to find out he even knew your favorite flavor of filling for your favorite pastry from the vendors at liyue. it was only something you mentioned once. you asked him about it, but he never gave a clear answer, turning bashful as he looked away from you.
RAIDEN SHOGUN
ei has grown fond of hearing you explain the modern day inazuman lifestyle to her.
her ideals of a strict eternity stems from what she’s used to in the past. but ever since the traveler had shown her around the more “new” inazuma on a walk, she’s found herself to be much more curious about what else has changed.
so she turns to you, her closest companion and lover for answers to every single one of her questions.
at first, it was clear she was embarrassed for even asking such questions in the first place– clearing her throat as she averted her gaze away from you while muttering, “of course, if you think this would take too much of your time then you are free to leave..”
but you reassured her that you honestly didn’t mind. if anything, you wanted to be of help to her! ei loves how you never get frustrated with her lack of understanding of modern day technology, she loves that patient and nurturing side of you so very much. it makes her happy to see you demonstrate such care for her.
VENTI
the green-clad bard just loves to hum aimless tunes while you have your head in his lap.
bonus points if you’re both under the tree in windrise! he thinks the breeze is so relaxing, not only that but the comfort the tree brings him along with your company. how can he even think of saying no to any of those in the first place?
since you’re already at windrise, windwheel asters aren’t uncommon; which leads to flower crowns being made! if you plan on making him one, be sure to put it on him and call him your cutie! it never fails to make him giggle and hug you close to him.
he really enjoys stroking your hair. your relationship with venti is at the point where it doesn’t require a person to always initiate conversation, as silence is something the both of you can find relaxation in (especially with each other!)
picnics are a must! the food is mostly dependent on you though, so be sure to always have fresh apples stocked up. venti will eat about anything you make, but apples are not only an easy staple to maintain, but they can keep your bard happy!
hello! so i’ve been terribly inactive recently, but i’m back! i took a break not only for the workload i had to endure but because i admittedly burnt myself out writing.. i’ll try to pace myself better this time!
i have a couple final drafts to post but they’re going through lots and lots of rereading until i feel they’re ready to post, haha
requests are open!! i’ll try my best to cater to everyone, if i don’t reply to your request please don’t feel discouraged!
happy wishing to everyone!! i hope you guys get who u all want :]
pairing: Diluc Ragnvindr x GN!Reader, they/them pronouns used for reader length: 1.4k - chapter one here genre & warnings: Cyberpunk AU, swearing (not beta-read)
-5 Years Ago -
The streets of Natlan were hot and suffocating. The concrete jungle surrounded Diluc on all sides, and he shed his long sleeve, shoving it into the black duffel bag slung across his shoulder. His winter clothes weren’t doing him much good there, and he regretted not bringing anything lighter to wear. He really didn’t enjoy walking around in just a tank top, but it wasn’t like he had any other option, really.
He walked along a busy street, cars zipping by with a quiet hum. The pavement was searing hot; the black spots littering the sidewalk were a testament to the many rubber soles that had been eaten over time. Diluc looked down in distaste. It’d be a pity to have to get rid of his favorite boots.
Picking up the pace, Diluc made his way to a nearby restaurant, ready to take a rest after a long week of hunting criminals working with the Abyss. Sometimes he really hated doing this. Not that he regretted leaving Mondstadt, not when his traitor of a brother was still living there. But that was beside the point.
The restaurant was small, run by a local family who had been very welcoming to Diluc during his stay in Natlan. The food was absolutely to die for; Diluc was dreading the day he left if only because he wouldn’t be able to have any more of their food.
Diluc took a seat in the corner of the room, and though it was probably rude of him to be taking up a whole booth, he couldn’t bring himself to care all that much. His usual order was placed in front of him—a plate of three sopes, topped with refried beans, carnitas, and some queso fresco. It was different from what he would normally eat back in Mondstadt, but he found that he enjoyed it all the same.
“You know, you really should try something new every once in a while!” His usual waitress, who was one of the owners’ daughters, flashed him a teasing grin, hands on her hips.
“I’ll keep that in mind, Camila,” Diluc laughed, waving her away. She shook her head but bounced away to take another customer’s order.
He sighed, feeling the warmth of the food chasing the tension out of his body. He let himself indulge in the meal, eyes closed. It wasn’t often that Diluc found himself relaxing like this— at least, not since his father died. These days, it seemed like relaxation was nothing more than an old friend he saw once in a blue moon. It wasn’t the best lifestyle; Diluc was sure his dad would force him to rest were he still here. But such is life.
Diluc finished his meal in comfortable silence. Golden sunlight poured through the large windows at the front of the space, the specks of dust floating in the air looking more like embers drifting by. Fitting, he thought, for a nation as obsessed with fire as Natlan.
“So, what’s a guy like you doing in a place like this?” Your voice melts the silence, and for a second, Diluc mourns the loss of his peaceful moment. You set down a plate piled high with food as if you were going to join him for a meal.
“Who are you?” He asked, not unkindly.
You smiled and leaned back, getting comfortable. “I guess I should introduce myself.” You gave him your name, and he instantly stiffened. “Though, most people just call me Shade.”
He knew who you were.
Whether you noticed his anxiety or not, you continued talking, picking at your food. “I’ll be honest; I’ve been keeping tabs on you, Diluc Ragnvindr.”
That made his heart drop to his stomach. His hand instantly reached for his bag, his handgun sitting neatly on top of his things, but you just snickered to yourself.
“Calm down. I’m not here to hurt you.” Your hands came up in mock surrender, but he didn’t let his guard down.
“I know you.” Diluc made eye contact with you, and your gaze burned. “You’re a Fatui Harbinger.”
“What an astute observation, Mr. Ragnvindr! Your intelligence knows no bounds, truly.” You rolled your eyes, and for some reason, that sparked annoyance in Diluc. How could you be so flippant about something like that? The Fatui were no better than most criminals; their forceful “diplomacy” was nothing more than a thinly veiled threat to the other districts from the Tsaritsa herself.
“What do you want? I doubt you want to talk to me just for fun,” he said, gritting his teeth.
“Before I tell you that, I should clarify something,” you began. “I’m no longer a Harbinger. In fact, I haven’t been one for… oh, about four months now.” You reached into your pocket, and Diluc froze before realizing you were only pulling out your phone. “Relax. If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead already.” That didn’t exactly make him less nervous, but he supposed you had a point. He wasn’t inclined to think that he could take on a Harbinger and survive, let alone one as accomplished as you.
“Right.”
“Anyways,” you nodded, pulling up a picture on your phone, “I think you have potential. You’re strong, if not a bit sloppy. But that’s something that can be fixed.” The picture you showed him was from two weeks ago when he was fighting some Abyss lackeys. It was a surprisingly good photo of him, his greatsword burning a bright red, lighting his face in a blazing glow.
He took the phone gently, brows furrowed. The Diluc staring back at him was so different from what he saw in his head. It was strange. “Why aren’t you a Harbinger anymore? You were one of the best they had,” he questioned, handing the device back.
You didn’t answer; you just looked at him with your ever-burning stare. “I grew up there, in the Fatui.” Your eyes shifted away from him, and he realized that you were uncomfortable. “It wasn’t all sunshine and roses; they’re a military organization first and foremost. They took me in as a kid. I don’t know where my parents are—assuming they’re even still alive.” You paused, but Diluc didn’t dare interrupt. “I spent my whole life thinking I was doing the right thing, y’know? That the Tsaritsa’s will was the only thing that mattered; she just wanted the best for the rest of Teyvat.” Your face twisted into some ugly thing, your obvious distaste for the Archon showing plainly. “She hurts people. She has some ‘grand design’ that we all bought into at some point, but at the end of the day, all we’ve done is hurt people. And yeah,” you waved a hand, “some of the Harbingers likehurting people. But I’m over it. I want something different for myself, and I wasn’t going to find it by being the Tsaritsa’s lapdog.” You ended your spiel with a huff, and Diluc was stunned.
He hadn’t expected you to be so… human.
“I still don’t trust you,” he stated, ignoring how you raised your brow at him. “I have no way of knowing if you’re telling the truth,” you went to interrupt, but he plowed on, “but, if you are telling the truth, then… I’m glad you got out. It sounds like you had a shitty childhood.”
You snorted, shaking your head in what might’ve been something akin to fondness. “You’re a good kid, Diluc. And,” you smiled sadly, “for what it’s worth, I’m sorry about your dad.”
It should have felt insulting coming from you. The Fatui were the reason his dad was lying six feet under the ground, instead of making him listen to some old song that Diluc really couldn’t care less about. The Fatui were the reason his family fell apart.
But the Fatui were also the reason you didn’t have a family to lose in the first place.
He whispered his thanks, the words bitter ash in his mouth.
Your first impression of Diluc was that he was sad.
He was like a bonfire that’d been doused in sand. Something in him had been snuffed out. The warmth of the flame was long forgotten to the grit of sand, passion and light lost to the weight of grief and darkness.
You knew well that the fire could be brought back. Would it ever be the same? No, of course not. Things hardly ever worked that way, and this was no exception. But nevertheless, you thought that maybe this kid would be alright.
“So, will you let me help you?” You extended a hand across the table.
A firm grip met yours. “Sure, why the hell not.”
Like a phoenix rising up out of the ashes, Diluc would be just fine.
pairing: Diluc Ragnvindr x GN!Reader, they/them pronouns used for reader length:2.3k genre & warnings: Cyberpunk AU, mentions and slight descriptions of body modifications, mentions of alcohol, swearing (not beta-read)
Notes: this is for the @treehouse-network collab! this was my first time writing anything cyberpunk, but i had a ton of fun with this! hopefully i can capture at least a little bit of the genre! also, i’ve got one more chapter already written for this, but after that updates will come whenever i have time! :) (also i do believe ira asked to be tagged so @killerdabi if u still wanted to read this its finally done skdjfh)
The train to Mondstadt is quiet.
It’s a bit tooquiet for your taste; being alone with your thoughts has never really been a pleasant experience for you. Even the busiest train car is sparsely populated, with only a handful of people seated throughout.
The bullet trains of Teyvat are sleek and efficient in design, the seats spaced with a clinical sort of accuracy. The insides are a stark white, with chrome accents scattered around, reflecting the sunlight coming through the large windows on either side. The floor of the center aisle and the ceiling have a bright stripe of color running down their lengths—a neon light meant to indicate which district the train is currently passing through. Right now, the light is a brilliant royal blue, which means you’re on your way through Fontaine.
Fontaine is arguably the most pastoral of the seven districts, and you often find yourself wondering what it might be like to live there. Would you have a farm, raising sheep and cattle? Or perhaps you’d have a small cottage where no one would be able to find you. The capital of Fontaine was also nice—cleaner than most of the other districts, and their interest in technology is centered more on practical, everyday items.
Ah, well, there’s no use dwelling on hypotheticals.
You don’t sleep for the rest of the train ride; the trip only lasts an hour and a half at most, and you can’t afford to let your guard down in a public place. You watch the blue lights on the ceiling melt into warm gold and, later, from gold into a striking teal. You have finally passed through Liyue and into Mondstadt.
The bullet train comes to a stop, a smooth yet slightly robotic voice announcing your arrival in the City of Freedom. With a puff, the doors slide open, and you grab your bags, stepping off the train. It’s been almost a decade since your last visit to Mondstadt, and though the memories aren’t all great, you arehappy to be back.
Dottore had been the one to bring you here, under the premise of inter-district diplomacy and whatnot. You hadn’t believed him for a second. As if Dottore would ever be interested in something like diplomacy. No, you knew better than that. There was no way that Dottore would have come all the way to Mondstadt for something that mundane. That man was nothing short of crazy, and honestly, you had hated every moment you were forced to spend with him.
You’re glad that’s all in the past.
Mondstadt is the same bustling city you remember it being, music blaring from speakers somewhere off in the distance and giant windmills looming over the buildings. People crowd the streets, and you have to shoulder your way through the densely packed streets.
Despite being the smallest district, Mond has a way of drawing people in. Though, its main draw might just be its (unintentional) leniency with law enforcement. You don’t think you could ever see yourself living here; the worn-down buildings and crowded streets aren’t much to your liking, though you guess they have a certain charm.
What you do like about Mondstadt is the alcohol. The drinks in Snezhnaya have always been too strong for you, but the wine in Mondstadt goes down easy—you find it more refreshing than inebriating. You can feel yourself brighten up at the thought of tasting Dandelion Wine for the first time in nearly ten years, and you maneuver the streets with renewed vigor.
You make your way to a bar on the city’s far end—Angel’s Share. The outside is unassuming, just a normal-looking tavern; you doubt it would have caught your interest had the reviews not been so impressive. It seems as if the entirety of Mond is taken with this tavern. Not even their competitor, the Cat’s Tail, had anything bad to say when you looked.
Walking inside, the first thing you notice is the noise. Idle chatter bounces off the walls, filling the space with a liveliness only achievable in the City of Freedom. The walls are a deep red, and golden lights scattered around the room brighten up the space. The lack of technology is strange; usually, bars and restaurants would let automated tech take care of orders and other tasks. But here you see waitstaff scurrying around, dodging rowdy customers and delivering their drinks with practiced ease.
One of the hostesses directs you to the bar, and you slide into a seat.
“What can I get for you?”
The voice that greets you is deeper than the last time you heard it, but there is no mistaking it.
“Diluc?” Your eyes widen in recognition, and the man behind the counter stills momentarily. He clears his throat before repeating his question. You raise an eyebrow at his apparent dismissal. “Just a glass of Dandelion Wine, please.”
He nods, quickly filling a glass and sliding it to you.
“You know,” you start, “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you ended up back here.” You take a long sip of your drink and sigh. Perhaps absence does make the heart grow fonder, because the drink is absolutely divine.
“Oh?” He turns to grab a glass to dry off, though you don’t miss that it’s already dry. “And why is that?”
“You always had something to come back to.” You shrug.
When you don’t add anything else, Diluc asks, “So why are you in Mondstadt, anyway?”
You snort. “What, am I not allowed to go places for the hell of it?” Diluc’s face sours, and you laugh. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.” Your voice lowers. “I’m here chasing a lead. Seems like the Abyss is on the move again, and I’m not going to let the Fatui take advantage of that.” Setting your glass down, you continue, “Besides, you and I both know that Ordo Favonius can only do so much. I figured it was probably better if I just handled it myself.”
He hums in thought. “Well, if you need help, you know where to find me.” Diluc turns, and suddenly the conversation is over. You sigh and return to your drink.
“You’re early.” A grin breaks out on your face at the sound of your old friend. You turn in your seat to see a tall woman dressed in all black, a nun’s veil covering her short, burgundy hair.
Rosaria, the most eccentric member of the Mondstadt clergy. You had met her back when you visited Mond with Dottore, and you had kept in contact with her ever since. Work was hardly ever a topic of discussion, at least while you were a Harbinger, but those conversations kept you sane while you worked your life away under the Tsaritsa. She had become a sister of sorts, no pun intended, and you find yourself grateful for her constant companionship.
“Ah, well, I had to check out the place myself. Surely you didn’t think I’d go into this blind?”
Rosaria simply rolls her eyes at you before walking away. You stand, glancing at Diluc one last time before following your friend to the second floor of the bar.
“I didn’t realize you knew each other,” Rosaria states. It’s obvious that she means Diluc.
You brush shoulders with her as you walk up the stairs. The wood creaks under your feet, and you mentally note what steps to avoid next time. “Ah, yeah. I haven’t seen him for the last two years, though. We don’t really… talk anymore.”
“Something bad happen?” You grimace slightly at her question.
“Not exactly.” You sit down, pulling out a chair, and Rosaria does the same. “It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got time.”
You scoff. “Yeah? Good for you.” Your tone is edging on sharp, and your friend takes the hint. You rifle through your bag before setting your laptop down on the table. “Anyways, it looks like the Abyss is en route to Springvale Ward. From what I can tell, one of their Lectors is leading a group of mages and other low-level threats to Springvale to distract us from their bigger plot.”
Rosaria nods. “So, what is the bigger plot, exactly?”
“That’s what I don’t know yet, unfortunately. I managed to get some intel out of a couple Abyss associates, but it wasn’t much. The only thing they knew was that they needed to keep the Northeast gate clear of any Favonius who could get in their way.” You send Rosaria a message with all the relevant documents and her phone chimes in her pocket. “The next big question is: are they smuggling something inorout?”
The clicking of boots draws you out of your conversation, and you notice a man approaching. His dark teal hair sits long over his shoulder, his ornate outfit complementing it beautifully. He takes a seat across from you, next to Rosaria. “So what’s this I hear about the Abyss attacking Mondstadt?
Rosaria doesn’t say anything to the newcomer, but she doesn’t seem to regard him as a threat. You answer cautiously. “Are they now? That would be real bad, wouldn’t it?”
The man just smirks. “The name’s Kaeya Alberich. Captain of the Mounted Unit for Ordo Favonius. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” He’s charming in the most disarming of ways, and were it not for the eyepatch on his face, you imagine he would’ve winked right about then.
“You can call me Shade.” You shake his hand, and his icy blue eye lights up in recognition.
“Oh, so you’rethe infamous Shade. I’ve heard quite a lot about you, though I must say not all of it was good.” The smile never slips from his face, and you keep your guard equally as high.
“I’m not interested in whatever rumors you’ve heard, Captain Alberich. My only goal is to help people. If you have a problem with that, I’m sorry to say that’s not my issue to deal with.”
He laughs at that, nudging Rosaria’s shoulder. “Did you hear that, Rosaria? They called me Captain Alberich! Not even my officers call me that! You really know how to pick ‘em, don’t you?” Rosaria doesn’t move as Kaeya slings an arm around her. He eventually simmers down, and he notices you fiddling with your arm.
It’s one of a few body modifications you have; some are a relic of your time in the Fatui, and some are more recent. You’re sure Dottore would’ve turned his nose up at the newer ones you’ve gotten, but he always was such a snob. Your forearm has a couple of panels; most of the internal structure was changed to accommodate electrical wires. You click them open and shut, mostly out of boredom.
“Ah, are you team mod, too?” You turn your eyes back to Kaeya and shrug.
“I’m not against it. I got some, had some given to me—it all kind of blends together after a while.” You click your arm shut one last time, flexing your fingers. “You have some yourself, I assume?” He nods but doesn’t demonstrate. Not that you were all that interested to begin with.
“Unlike my brother, I find body modification rather intriguing. Diluc can go on and on about the sanctity of the human body, but I really don’t get it. Why wouldn’t I want to make my life easier?” He flags down a nearby waitress and orders a few drinks for the table. “But anyway, enough about me.” He leans in closer to you. “I would love to hear all about what the Abyss is up to.”
It strikes you at that moment that Kaeya is much like a bird. Charming, beautiful, and sings a tune that drags you in feet first. But, unlike the tiny songbirds you find so appealing, Kaeya is sharp. He is more like a bird of prey. A hawk hidden under a false coast of peacock feathers. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up clasped in his beak, with no escape easily found.
You share your intel, and Kaeya leaves.
“I hope you know,” you say as you watch Kaeya disappear down the stairs, “that I don’t intend to let Ordo Favonius do all the work.”
Rosaria smiles. “Oh, I was counting on it.”
The rest of your evening goes by in a flash, the night speeding by in a mix of booze and old stories swapped between friends. Before you know it, Rosaria heads out for the night, leaving you by the bar. The noise has vanished from the building, only a few sleepy patrons left scattered around at various tables.
“I saw Kaeya leave earlier tonight.” You hear Diluc’s voice off to your right, and you see him walk out from behind the bar. He makes himself comfortable on the stool next to yours, and you turn away from him. “Did you really go to Ordo Favonius for help before you came to me?” The bitterness in his voice is plain, and you feel years-old resentment stir in your chest.
“Yeah, like you’ve made it so easy to talk to you these last two years,” you huff. “Honestly, Diluc. You know the Order isn’t my first choice, and I wouldn’t have gone to them if I didn’t think it would help.” His gaze lingers on you, heavy in all its intensity. “Besides, it’s not like I asked Kaeya to meet me. I came here to talk to Rosaria, and he just happened to show up. I made a judgment call, and now I just have to hope it pays off.”
A tense silence follows.
“I’m just saying that Ordo Favonius is inefficient. You can’t trust them to get anything done.”
You furrow your brows, feeling your annoyance seep onto your face. “And I’m just saying that I didn’t ask for your opinion on my decisions. You lost that right when you left, and you know it.”
Diluc doesn’t say anything to that, perhaps because he agrees, or perhaps because he simply doesn’t know what to say. Or perhaps a bit of both.
Both of you end that night feeling a bit sadder and lonelier than you started out.
