skywishes1

[skywishes1]

[Genshin Impact v3.7] Genius Invokation TCG - Fan-made Cards: Character+Talent+Summons 1/3

[skywishes1]

Spring Is In The Air~

Something happens to them when the seasons change. 

Itto, Tighnari, Yae Miko, Zhongli x Reader

A/N: I wrote this like two months ago and never posted it… I’ve always wanted to try writing something like this so here is my pathetic attempt! It’s corny BUT, smutty!!! :-)

WC - 2,224

NSFWWWW // SMUTTYYY

~~~

Keep reading

[skywishes1]

“WOW, I REALLY CAN’T SPEAK, HUH? MUST BE BECAUSE OF HOW PRETTY YOU LOOK”

[ masterlist ] [ event ] [ reblogs are v v v appreciated ]

fluff, romantic relationship, lucifer, mammon, barbatos x gn!reader

warning(s) : mammon’s one is kinda sad at first ?? mostly bc he’s overthinking things ☹️ probably he’s a bit ooc but idc he’s gorgeous regardless (let’s say you two are at the start of your relationship in this one-shot).

words count : 2587 words

request: “howdy may i rq an obey me scenario with this prompt —> “wow i really can’t speak, huh? must be because of how pretty you look.” gn! mc says it ! would like it to be with lucifer, mammon and barbatos. maybe something like them rambling and asking if mc is listening and they drop that line ^ thank youu”

a/n : AA FINALLY AN OBEY ME REQUEST 🫶🏻 i love those characters with all of my heart, aND THIS PROMPT IS SO GOOD, it’s one of my favorites !! thank you for requesting btw <33 and i apologize for the long wait :( i had no time to write between school and personal matters. anyway, just so you know, lucifer’s and mammon’s ones are soooo long while barbato’s is auite short, i kinda rushed it because i felt bad since i’ve been neglecting requests lately 😭😭 (yeah this is the second time i’m posting this)

LUCIFER :

as the student council vice president, lucifer is well known among the royal academy of diavolo’s demons and angels: although being a composed individual most of the time, he has also an intimidating and almost cruel side to him because of his status, hence why many demons fear him. his fierce, self-assured demeanour is somewhat entrancing, capturing everyone’s gaze in an unbreakable trance, plus his aura of pride is something inevitable in everyday life.

this is not to mention his complicated past and the authority he possesses thanks to lord diavolo, which — according to many demons and a few angels — give more might to his persona.

although sometimes you were the main cause of many troubles in the past, now you can consider yourself quite privileged to be in his good graces. as his partner you have access to a vulnerable part of him that not everyone has a chance to see, where his pride comes off and his insecurities and annoyances emerge, and you can afford to be bold with him.

this very day, he is complaining about a bunch of ‘inferior’ demons who have caused a rather bothersome fuss during curses and hexes class, knocking out a student, giving a headache to your beloved: lucifer knows perfectly well how to put someone in their place, even forcefully if necessary, however it doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel pressured and tired after doing his duty.

the stress derived from all of his responsibilities, and from the piles of paperwork stubbornly sitting on his desk nearly every day, highly increases over time.

now the two of you are in his study, lucifer is rereading the report about today’s incident he just finished to write while you intently watch him work, helping him here and there. frowing in displeasure, he keeps changing a few sentences, wondering how the hell he’s going to survive this afternoon.

however, you can’t help but admire his handsome features: his black eyes shine with a reddish light, they are a little jaded but also alive; his rosy lips form a straight line, emphasizing his concentration, but no less beautiful; his cheeks are covered with a slight sheen of blush, probably due to his weariness; what to say, his demonic beauty is undoubtedly striking.

being too busy with your thoughts, you don’t realize he’s trying to get your attention to what he has been saying for the past few minutes.

“[name], are you listening to me?” he asks, lips slightly parted at your silence.

it’s almost funny, the fact that he completely ignores the reason of your quietness.

“[name].” at this point, lucifer’s voice is filled more with worry than irritation. why aren’t you responding to him? is something the matter?

as he’s about to ask another question, you snap back to reality, slowly turning to your senses.

you try to say something to seem completely nonchalant, but your voice — hoarse from nervousness — betrays you, and you can’t help but observe again your partner, who is frowing even more than before. if that’s possible.

you sigh, in defeat with yourself, and a genuine grin makes its way onto your face. “wow, i really can’t speak, huh? must be because of how pretty you look”.

at first, he doesn’t really process those words.

although his gaze is fixed on your figure, his mind is fuzzy from all the work he’s currently doing, almost as if he were in a dream-like state, not at all focused on the present world. there’s silence for a few seconds in the room you two are in, and you’re asking yourself if you need to bring lucifer back to reality. but when you’re about to talk to him, you shift slightly on your sit, and his brain registers the movement.

so, suddenly, realization hits him. perhaps, too suddenly.

if it weren’t for his majestic pride, he’d cover his face, now completely red — but, doing so would be admitting his confused (but contented) mood derived from the sound of your words, which is inadmissible to him. so, all he can do is pretend that he’s not impressed by what you have said, even if his body is betraying him: in addition to the blush on his face and neck, his eyes are filled with astonishment and his lips, slightly parted again, form a small circle, defining his astonishment.

finally, he glares at you — taking back a part of his self-control — and seems to be lost in thought, probably wondering how he should face the situation without feeling too embarrassed; you can almost see the gears of his brain working wildly, desperately trying to find a simple solution.

and then, his eyes sparkle.

never underestimate a demon, especially if it’s lucifer. have you flustered him? well, be prepared, because he’ll pay you back in the same coin.

he adjusts himself on his scarlet armchair, which highlights his shimmering eyes, and leans towards you, over his desk. you can tell by his look that, if you let him speak, his words will be the death of you. and there’s no way you’ll allow it.

“too bad i need to be in another a class in, like, five minutes,” you blatantly lie, checking your wristwatch, and getting up. you lean just a little to give lucifer a quick peck on the lips. “well, see you later, pretty boy”, you wink at him and leave the room in a hurry, without giving him enough time to process what has happened.

yet again, he’s stunned by how you’ve called him.

the avatar of pride may be confident and assertive, but his heart can only flutter when someone is genuinely complimenting him. especially if it’s you.

MAMMON :

“… and so he blamed me! me, do ya understand? he, without hesitation, cursed the great mammon in front of the whole class! what an outrageous thing to do, don’t ya think!?”.

one interesting thing about the avatar of greed is that, despite his attempts to play it cool, he’s not confident about himself. thinking about it, it can’t but make sense: he’s driven by his multiple desires — money, for example — and craves them every time there’s a minimal absence of those, including external approval; he needs to be seen and accepted by everyone.

admitting it out loud would probably never be an option, considering his stubborn nature, but mammon would do anything to make you smile or laugh at his jokes — anything. he wants to be worthy of your attention — because in his mind he’s not deserving of love, particularly yours. of course, if you asked him something about this matter, he’d say the opposite — he’s everything but good at communicating his needs.

getting to know the demon hasn’t been an easy task, but with time you’ve managed to discover that there’s a soft side to him — a kind, warm heart behind his usual carefree mask.

despite all these thoughts spinning in your head, in this moment you are still fascinated by mammon’s temper and gestures: his hands, shaken, are moving quickly in the air, a slight pout is adorning his face, and his eyes are glimmering in bitter frustration — the sky of the devildom is reaching his darkest shade of colour while he looks vigorous yet ethereal.

“… handsome”, you murmur, as if talking to yourself.

mammon suddenly stops in his tracks, a slight embarassed expression appearing on his face.

“oh? what did ya say?” he asks, confused yet hopeful, thinking that maybe he has misheard you — because how could someone like you view him as nothing but that? sure, you’re his partner, however the fear of not being seen and loved for who he really is… is always present.

you sigh and wrap your arms around his waist, resting your head on his shoulder. “wow, i really can’t speak, huh? ah, must be because of how pretty you look…”.

the noises of the night fill the atmosphere between you two in this moment; mammon’s brain has stopped working and, honestly, you can’t blame him: saying that he’s taken aback by your remark would be a great understatement to describe the current situation.

the avatar of greed is feeling so many emotions in so little time — his heart is pounding stronger than ever, you can almost hear its soft sound, and a reassurance which he has never felt so intensely is hugging his chest. these sensations are something he would gladly immerse himself into, a new type of greed to add to his long and interminable list, a new need.

unfortunately, the clock is ticking and mammon doesn’t want you to see his true self, not in a moment so embarassing for him, not like this — though he would love to indulge in this sweet pleasure for a while longer.

“you— human! what are ya thinking, speaking like that to your first demon? ya sure are bold! i’ll close one eye for this time, so consider yourself lucky tonight, because the great mammon won’t be so gentle in the future!”

a quick laugh escapes from your lips and, before he can question it, you grab his jaw with one of your hands, so his eyes can only be directed towards you.

“mammon, sweetheart, drop the act. you are making a fool of yourself and, although you’d be so entertaining to watch right now, you need to realise that i love you, truly.”, your gaze softens and you smile at him, making his heart melt. “it’s okay to not understand why you are cared about — but i want you to know that you are important to me, so, so fcking much. we’re in this together — aren’t we? then, will you allow me to show why and how i’m going to love and take care of you, mh?”.

mammon remains still as you finish your speech; his unsteady breath, however, betrays him.

“[name], i… thank you”, he says, unsure on how to continue his response.

“talk your feelings out, if you feel like it. i’m not a judge here,” you reassure him.

his gaze shifts for a moment, symbolising his indecision, but then it returns to yours. “i’m… i am glad to have ya in my life, [name]. but, well, i suppose i have one request to make”.

your smile turns suddenly into a smirk, finally happy to see your boyfriend taking courage to express his feelings.

“yes, dear?”.

“be greedy with me,” he pauses, slowly breathing in and out to not mess up his next words. “indulge in my sin whenever you can, day by day, and don’t leave anything behind. spare nothing, let the greed take control over you, like i’ll do with you from now on”.

“oh now, now, who is the bold one?” you murmur, getting closer to him. “you’re extremely covetous, mammon, and this is one of the many things which i appreciate about you. i already made a pact with you, so i don’t see a problem with your request. i accept it”, and you kiss him, as if you’re sealing the deal.

who would have thought that one of the greatest demons of all the realms could feel such things for a human?

BARBATOS :

despite being barbatos’s partner, it’s not quite often that you’re invited over lord diavolo’s castle to spend time with two of the most powerful demons in the devildom. the reason why is actually pretty simple: your lover’s life is full of events to attend and favors to give. his presence is requested by every kind of beings, alongside his trusted services to the devildom’s prince, resulting in little to no space left for your meetings. the same can be said for you, since your school life isn’t exactly giving you energy to talk to him either — so you could say you two are fair.

this evening is different from the usual, since you were invited for dinner — a rare, but pleasant occasion to find yourself in. the one who has arranged it all is, nevertheless, lord diavolo himself: though he often acts oblivious of his requests, he has a keen eye for his butler’s mental state — so it would have been only a matter of time before he found out about barbatos’ single desire to relieve his stress… you.

using the “celebration” of your school achievements as an excuse, diavolo set up these hours in his magnificent mansion just for the two of you — saying that he’s attended elsewhere and oh so unfortunately he won’t be able to remain with you even for a while longer.

this is the premise of the current moment — you are quite literally squeezing your boyfriend, hugging him from behind, while he prepares his nightly skincare routine. he’s looking at himself in the mirror, dark green eyes are inspecting his state: his hands are on both sides of the sink, slightly supporting his robust and elegant figure; his torso is covered by a black tank top — something you’d rarely have the chance to see, considering barbatos’ extreme care for a professional appearance; his cold but soft skin seems bright, almost shining, under the tender lamp’s light.

his lips are smartly moving, giving life to his thoughts, however you are too focused on him to pay attention to his words.

“[name]?”

the sudden call of your name wakes you up, but only for a second.

“mh?”

his eyes meet yours in the mirror. “are you listening to me?”.

“mmh mh”, you nod, not registering his question at all, and continue to admire him in silence.

obviously, he’s completely aware of it — after all, he’s the demon who can see through both the past and future.

with a swift movement of his body, he turns to face you, making you cling to his waist.

with his right hand, he gently holds your chin between his fingers. “would you like, my love, to share your thoughts on the matter? you seem rather unfocused tonight, wouldn’t you agree?”.

you swallow, waiting for your confidence to come back. then, you try to give back the same energy of his — since you wouldn’t like to lose to his antics, not again.

“damn, i really can’t speak right now, huh? must be because of how pretty you look, barbatos. it’s actually not fair”.

although you don’t look nearly as self-assured as him, you regain a bit of your control when you notice a hint of hesitation and bewilderment on his face.

he scoffs, looking away from your eyes — and doing so makes it evident that his ears are bright red. you catch the opportunity right away, moving his hair away from the sensitive skin.

“ah! if only the others saw you, the formidable barbatos, right now! you wouldn’t be feared so much,” you teasingly comment, preparing for his next move.

“i wouldn’t be so daring if i were in your place, [name]”, barbatos remarks jokingly — but you can never be so sure when it comes to him: as proof you have his piercing gaze fixated on your face, which conveys a message that you couldn’t otherwise pick up.

“well- i guess i’ll make it up tomorrow! aren’t you tired? it’s been an exhausting day — let’s watch a movie!” you suddenly suggest, not resisting to his towering yet fascinating aura.

he sighs as you quickly evade from his arms, though he’s suppressing a smile.

barbatos supposes he can let one person to make fun of him.

[ do not copy, translate, repost, etc. | by @ elf-osamu ]

[skywishes1]

The Not So Gentle Angel

NSFW

18+ ONLY

NO MINORS

~MC has female anatomy~

SimeonXmc

TW: Hair pulling, rough sex

What started as a simple invite to watch a movie in Simeon's room ending up becoming a steamy makeout session on his bed. Simeon felt guilty for indulging in his desires of finally being able to taste your sweet tongue, but even angels have to be naughty sometimes, right?

Wrapping your arms around his neck, you pull yourself closer to his embrace. You begun to train your fingers down the opening of his shirt that exposes his back and feel his incredibly toned muscles. As you're rubbing his back, you feel a hand start to make its way up your torso, stopping right below your breast. He wants to touch you more, but with his duty to remain pure as an angel, he doesnt know how to go about touching you. You place your hand on his and pull away from kissing. You give him a soft smile and say, " You can touch me if you want. It's okay, Simeon."

Simeon's eyes are full of lust, something he's never experienced before meeting you. He bites his lip and gives a slight nod of the head. You guide his hand under your bra and press his hand against your breast. He lets out a low breath of air as he grabs your other breast with his other hand and starts massaging. He leans in for a kiss and starts making laps around your tongue, exchanging little moans in each other's mouths. He rolls your nipples in between his fingers, giving you sensual chills down your body.

You wrap your arms around his neck again and lay down on the bed, pulling him on top of you. You feel his warm bulge pressed up against your leg. You wrap both legs around his hips to feel his buldge on your clit through your pants, grinding slowly. Feeling his hardness through his pants rub against your clothed clit feels like heaven, creating moisture in your panties. He can't help but thrust his hips forward, wishing there wasnt clothes in the way. He moans in your mouth and makes his way to your neck, sucking on it ever so gently, hands still on your breasts. He's inexperienced, but you're willing to guide him through it if he wants. You move your hands down to his belt, grabbing on to it. You pull away from him kissing your neck and look at him, panting trying to catch your breath. " I can make you feel good, Simeon. No one has to know if you don't want." Simeon directs his gaze away from you, embarrassed. " I... I don't know how to..." He blushes. He doesn't want to disappoint you in the bedroom and think low of him. You give him a gentle smile and put your hand on his cheek, bringing his gaze back to yours. " It's okay. If you want, I can lead." He smiles at you and gives you a nod of approval.

You both strip from your clothes and have him lay on his back on the bed, his face tickled with a pink glow. You spread his legs and kneel in between his knees. You bed forward and begin to slowly lick from under his balls all the way up to the tip of his dick. He lays his head back in the pillow and gifts you a beautiful, breathy moan. You make laps around the tip of his dick with your tongue and begin to bob your head up and down, maintaining eye contact with him.

His blue eyes look so beautiful when he stares at you. His mouth remains open and he's letting out pretty little moans for you. He puts his hand on your head and begins petting you, running his fingers through your hair so lovingly. Seeing his abs rise up and down slowly from his deep breaths turns you on even more. You begun to fondle his balls while sucking him off, making his eyes roll to the back of his head and lays his head back on the pillow.

" L-let me p-please you now... Pl-please, MC." You pull away and smile at him. " Of course" you say gently. You trade places, having you lay on your back and he's the one in between your legs. You can tell he's a little nervous. He lays on his stomach and places hands gently on the insides of your thighs. He takes his soft tongue and gently licks your sweet clit. You let out a moan and spread your legs wider. " Oh, Simeon. You're doing so w-well." You praise, letting out another rewarding moan. He's so gentle as he licks your folds. Feeling a little more confident from the received praise, he moves his tongue faster, getting a better taste of you.

He's been waiting forever to taste you. You taste so sweet it's intoxicating. As he's eating you out, something ticks in this angel's brain. He's suddenly ravenous. He wants to taste you more, he wants to taste every ounce of slick coming from you. He becomes a hungry wolf in front of it's prey. The timid angel that was here before, is now a sex hungry beast ready to feast upon you. Could it be because he was pure for so long and breaking his angelic duties feels too good?

If you thought angels were weaker than demons, you were wrong. This angel is strong and it shows. He wraps both of his arms around your thighs and kneels up on the bed, bringing his mouth deep into your heat. He slides his tongue in your weeping hole, fucking you with his tongue. Your eyes widen at the sudden force and let out a yelp. You let out a loud moan. " O-oh my god" you saying in a whiney voice, trying to prop yourself up with your elbows. You meet his gaze and something had changed. What once twinkled innocently, was darkened with corrupted lust. Your eyes are fixed to his as you're vocal about the pleasure you feel.

He can't wait any longer. He wants to feel you from the inside, now. He breaks away from your head and flips you on your back hastily and slides in you. You gasp at the sudden penetration and let out a loud moan. You arch your back, sticking your ass in the air and your face flat on the bed. He begins fucking you from behind with powerful force. You're a loud, moaning mess. With him deep in your guts, there's no way you can control your volume.

Your moans fuel him more. He takes a fistful of your hair and pulls your head back, peeling your chest off the bed and having your neck and breasts exposed. Your eyes roll to the back of your head with your mouth wide open. You reach your peak, walls clenching around his dick. You can feel your slick drip out of you and on to his cock. He continues thrusting in to you so you can ride out your high. As he fucking you and holding your head by your hair, he leans over and bites your bottom lip. His muscles are glistening from his sweat, strands of hair sticking to his forehead. He looks into your eyes and says, " You're so beautiful, MC." He let's go of your hair and slams you down on the bed. He grabs on to your hips and fucks you as hard as he can. With a grunty moan he busts inside you, filling you up with him warm cum. He pulls out and flops next to you on the bed. He pulls you close, and you rest your head on his toned chest. You look up at him with a tired smile. He looks down and you and gives you the sweet smile he always gives you. He pulls close and kisses you softly. His eyes have that innocent sparkle again like they did before, no longer having a dark sheen of lust. You never knew that this gentle, sweet angel wasn't so gentle after all.

[skywishes1]

Could you do a love bites hcs for the dateables too pls? I loved the brothers version<3

Ask and ye shall receive!! I think I’m slowly getting better with the dateables…maybe. Brothers here

Love Bites ~ Dateables version

Diavolo:

Dia is overly touch starved so to say he gets caught up in the moment is an understatement. The prince absolutely loves when you bite and suck on his neck but he’s a little timid to return the favor, afraid that he’ll get too worked up and hurt you somehow. Once you finally convince him it’s okay he’ll leave soft but firm bites on the base of your neck and trail them all the way up to your ear. He’s too afraid of Barbatos and Lucifer seeing them and getting in trouble so he leaves his big marks on your stomach and chest. His favorite places for you to bite though is on his chest or his inner thighs, he’ll run his fingers across his shirt or pants while in his office just to feel the indents in his skin…and get worked up in the process.

Barbatos:

Barbatos is a true gentleman of a demon, he only bites if you want him to and will only bite as hard as you give him permission to. If you allow him to he’ll make sure to leave his fang marks all over your body, so long as it can be covered at RAD. Barbs is also not afraid to draw a little blood if that’s what you’re in to, he praises you the entire time and will kiss those marks each time he gets you alone until they heal. It’s not often the two of you get alone time so he makes sure to give you exactly what you want when you do, even if it’s just you leaving marks on him while his hands are tied together.

Solomon:

One of the ones who doesn’t care who sees the marks he leaves, if it’s a spot that makes you moan and writhe then he’s bitting as hard as he can. Solomon is a tease though, he’ll kiss and lick at the spot for ever making you whine and beg…which is exactly what he wants. Once he thinks your mind is fogged up enough, he’ll bite down sharp and fast, he loves the way you react and can’t help but rut his erection against you or the mattress while he continues to leave you covered in his marks. Solomon definitely doesn’t try to hide them but he can’t help but feel proud when Lucifer spots one on you and gives him a look.

Simeon:

Our sweet angel is the most nervous out of the group to bite you. He doesn’t quite understand why you would want him to do that, but he lives to please you so he’ll try it anyway. His bites are soft and gentle and that makes them all the more erotic, he looks to you for reassurance after each bite wanting to make sure you’re not hurt. The day you decided to return the favor while making out was when Simeon suddenly understood why you loved biting so much. The sound he made was a mix between a moan and a scream of pleasure, his hand grabbing onto your head and pulling you closer to his neck encouraging you to bite again. After this he’s much more willing to bite but still makes sure they won’t be seen by others, he would feel ashamed if Lucifer or Diavolo saw them but he would die instantly if a certain little angel caught sight.

✨Bonus✨

Mephistopheles:

Possibly an even bigger brat about this than Belphie. Mephisto takes any opportunity he can get to pull you into an empty room at RAD for a messy and handsy make out session but once biting gets involved it happens even more! He’ll drag his fangs across your neck, whispering filth into your ear as he does, and bite down harshly each time he degrades you. He’ll strategically place his marks where no one but Lucifer would see, he makes sure to bite the fire out of that disgusting pact mark of his as well. If confronted by the Avatar of Pride about it later his only response will be “would you like to see the matching ones they left behind?” before giving a shit eating grin as Lucifer storms out.

[skywishes1]

nesting (xiao x reader)

1.5k. established relationship. fluff. suggestive but nothing explicit.bird xiao traits tho i didnt lean hard enough into it i dont think so mb ill try again soon.

The first time it happens there’s frost on the ground when you wake up. You have to force the window open. The frost cracks. You wince, half expecting to have broken the window. 

Cold air invades the already drafty flat at the top of Wangshu Inn. 

You cross your arms over your chest. The cotton robe did little to protect from the start of the winter season. Snezhnaya did have a monopoly on snow. All too soon snow would cover the Liyue landscape. There were only a handful of snow days and the sun melted most of it away by noon, but you still shivered as the sun rose.

You strike the flint, restarting the fire in the wood stove. Xiao must have put it out accidentally. It was a common occurrence with his anemo fuelled comings and goings. You didn’t want to say anything, worried your lover would take it the wrong way. This was new. He’d only just asked you to move in with him.

Keep reading

[skywishes1]

Yearning Over the Years - Xiao

▪︎ Xiao x reader [Genshin Impact]

Fire and explosion lit up Xiao's dim eyes, sparks of light making it seem like he held the galaxy in his pupils. Those same eyes looked at you, not with a soft and gentle gaze but rather with regret and devastation.

"Xiao... please dont look at me like that" you pleaded.

You reach out your hand to touch his cheek, where a few tears have started to stream.

He dared to be weak around you, even when he's at war.

"Dearest, keep your eyes open, will you?" He clutched your hand.

"I will, I will." you chuckle.

You look up to see the blood-stained clouds. The once blue sky was now red in colour, and reflected nothing but the misery of the world.

"Once the sky is clear and the dust have settled, promise to find me at our spot." You requested.

"I promise, i promise to find you even if it takes a hundred years." Xiao declares.

As you take your last breath, Xiao cant help feel infuriated towards the deities and gods, for dragging those who are innocent in a war full of violence.

~

Xiao recalls your last moments while sitting beside a lake.

After millenniums he still remembers all the little details.

The way tears in you eyes glistened and the soft smile on you lips slowly faded away, how the life inside you was drained along with your blood.

How can he ever forget you, when you were the only one who made his life worth living.

Ever since that war, ever since that moment he has promised to protect the innocent people of Teyvat. He knows it's what you would've wanted.

Whenever he felt turmoil, he would go to your favourite place. To your spot.

The place was tranquil and quiet, as if a leaf falling can be heared. Tall trees surrounded the area and lush greenery filled the territory.

A small, clear lake can be found at the eye of it. With small fishes and big boulders around it.

He'll never forget that time you tried taking a seat on one of those rocks and took a swim with the koi.

He also recalls that time you made flower crowns using the flowers around the forest.

And that time you climbed a tree and couldnt figure out how to go back down.

He misses those times, he misses you. A lot.

While in a trip down memory lane, he lost track of time and soon the moon began to rise.

The lake was even more beautiful at night with the moon casted on the crystalline waters.

He can only wish to stay here forever, but unfortunately he's gonna have to leave.

Songs of night birds and barks of animals filled the night, behind the chime of wild animals were the sound of breaking leave and footsteps.

He didnt think much of it as in can only be monsters, and he really didnt want to spill blood around this area so he ignored it and headed to the direction of Liyue's towns.

That was, until he heard a voice call out.

"Uhm hello? Is anyone there? Please I dont mean any harm! I'm just lost" someone exclaimed.

Xiao can feel his heart racing, his mind was lost in thought. He feels like his chest is about to burst.

Is it really you?

"Stop right there! Dont move an inch closer" He said, eyes wandering around, looking for the person who spoke.

Xiao spotted a figure near the trees, a floor length cloak covering their face and body.

"Please, I was traveling to Liyue but my horse wandered off to the forest! Now I cant find my way back on track." They said as they took of their cloth, trying to prove they're human.

As the cloak drops to the soil, so does Xiao's heart.

How can someone, have such similar voice and figure as you?

Could it be...?

You took a step closer to him leaving the shadows. The dim moonlight illuminated your face.

"Y/n?" Xiao whispered.

~❁

A/n: Its been a while since i wrote this, but i couldnt find the time to post or to edit it. However, nows the time.

Ive been insecure with my writting lately, i feel that my plots and prompts are mundane and uninteresting.

But ive learned how to cope, by posting. You never really know whats gonna happen unless you do it.

Lose the chance or take the risk.

Always choose to take the risk.

[skywishes1]

i like you more this way. xiao x reader

after disappearing for a few days, i'm finally back again! i'm finally back <3 i hope this is okay since i haven't written for so long and i'm not confident how this went. thank you everyone for reading my one-shots >3

i wrote this because it was requested! so here are some disclaimers and a must-know before reading: the reader was abandoned. gender neutral. and they have a mask of xiao.

YOUR LIPS GRINNED, but you were sure that he didn’t notice it. How could he notice it when your face was hiding beneath his mask?

“You’re wearing my mask again,” Xiao’s voice was softer than when you first met him. He’s staring at you as if he’s trying to decipher your expression underneath his mask.

“It’s not yours, it’s mine.” You rolled your eyes, didn’t bother to remove your mask on your face.

“The idea of the mask is mine, mortal,” there he was again, using his signature name for you. Xiao scoffed, yet he never removed his eyes on you.

There was something in his eyes sparkling at the sight of you. The people may consider him as an Adeptus who hated communicating with humans or a human near his presence. Yet you’re here, talking to him as if he wasn’t an Adeptus.

You’re different, after all. Perhaps, pushing yourself in his presence (even though he may or may not like your presence), made himself quit from pushing you out of his life (he can’t leave too because he would be lying if he didn’t enjoy having you around).

“That’s because your fans adored you and created a mask so that everyone will know the Conqueror of Demons.” You chuckled, finally moving your mask away from your face.

His eyes were glued to you, and you can see his eyes lit up after showing an expression. Xiao was so used to your noise but he still found himself fond of your laughs. He found them adorable and pretty.

Yet Xiao looked away.

“Don’t worry. I’m a fan of the Conqueror of Demons too, that’s why I made sure to work hard so that I’ll get enough money to buy your mask too, Xiao.” Your lips curved into a sweet smile.

Your mind flashed back at the time where Xiao first saved you after you were left somewhere on the road. It was a terrifying memory, and you had nothing with you but yourself.

It didn’t take long when you found out that numerous hilichurls were going after you. You were helpless. You never had a vision once in your life. The feeling of death was near, and you couldn’t help but give up, letting them conquer you mercilessly.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a surprise that you were saved by Xiao after all. It was around the Guili plains, and he could see you helplessly crying for help. He stopped them before they even touched you. Your little you was mesmerized, and you wanted to express your gratitude to him.

“This was where I saw you on that day,” You remembered him taking you to the top of the Wangshu Inn — allowing you to see the wonderful view of Guili Plains. “You were there,” he pointed to your north, “Far from there, actually.”

Your eyes widened, surprised. “You saw me there? I know where you are pointing to — because I was there — but how did you manage to see me from here?”

“It was your cries,” he answered, staring where you were. “It was a painful cry. A cry I’ve heard familiarly before.”

That was the time where you got so interested to be with Xiao more. You were glad that he found you, and he continued to rescue you at the times where you needed him the most (even if you’re far from the Guili Plains). You were amazed at the fate where you had decided to stay in the Wangshu Inn, finding the Adeptus Xiao you were looking for.

“Are you okay?” Xiao asked with worriedness in his tone. “You’ve spaced out.”

You shook your head. “Nothing much. I just remembered how time flies.”

His eyebrows furrowed at your comment, yet he suddenly knew what you were talking about.

“Come here,” he demanded, gesturing to you to come beside him. You followed without second thoughts, yet you’re admittedly confused.

You sat beside him, awaiting what he would do.

“Why?” Your eyes met his deep amber orbs.

He suddenly averted his gaze. He must have been waiting for something, and he was flustered to admit it. You skimmed at him, looking suspiciously as you were somehow aware of his actions.

“Um,” Xiao paused. “Do you..”

He stopped. It was embarrassing to suddenly tell it, truthfully. However, you knew he wanted to do something. You had been with Xiao for years, and you knew how to handle him already.

You laughed. “If you wanted to comfort me, you can just hugged me already,”

His plump cheeks reddened at your remark. This proved that your assumptions were correct. However, you didn’t expect him to suddenly feel his arms wrapped around you (because it was you who usually moves after you bluntly confessed what he wanted to confess).

Your lips cheekily grinned at his gesture, accepting his hug as you wrapped your arms around his torso. “Aw Xiao, you’re sweeter now, did you know that?”

He snorted at your tease, yet he didn’t let it go.

“It’s okay,” you chuckled, hugging him tightly. “I like you more this way — just not used to it.”

You felt his lips on the top of your head, catching you off guard. Your eyes expanded, glancing at him. “That was you kissing my head?”

Xiao didn’t respond, but his sight remained on you. His eyes softened, enjoying the sight hugging you under him. His heart continued to race, adoring your face.

“Yup,” you giggled. “I like you more this way.”

[skywishes1]

hello! i was wondering if i could request a poly cyno x reader x tighnari where the reader is going through a tough time and is kinda burnt out. maybe where she tries to brush it off, but the boys catch on pretty quickly and then they comfort her? anyways, i hope you have a good day/night!!

-🌹 anon

Hey! Of course you can!<3

I don't have anything against poly ships, I do in fact have a few of them myself. Have I ever written for one? No, but I sure want to. Hope it turned out okay.

Thank you so much for your request, 🌹 anon

Content: poly relationship; written with fem!reader in mind, but can also be read as gn!reader; mentions of mental illness; self doubt; burnout; much comfort from the bois

Word count: 1,8k

Hope you enjoy reading<3

You were tired.

Your days studying in the Academya left you more drained than anything else lately. Although you were a good student, diligent and often praised by your professors, that didn't change anything about the heavy workload you put on your shoulders.

The days seemed to last for an eternity, while the nights were over far too quickly. You never felt like you got any quality rest.

While one of your boyfriends, Cyno, kept a close eye on you and made sure you took care of yourself, the other suffered extremely from the lack of contact with you.

You haven't really seen Tighnari for a few weeks, except for his one day visits to Sumeru city when he was in need for new materials. He would make it a point to visit you, but you were still so focused on your research, that you didn't spend much time with him.

Same with Cyno. While he was often times with you in the city, he rarely got to see you anymore either. Well, that's wrong. He did see you, but was the time spend with him? No, it wasn't.

You kept telling youself and your boyfriends that this was only a temporary issue, that you would soon be done studying in the Academya. Then you could finally give them all the attention that you have deprived them off until now.

And yet, two months after your last conversation with your boyfriends about this issue, there were still no signs of it getting better anytime soon.

You were working yourself to the bone, day in and day out. So it was only a matter of time until the stress would get to your head, poisining your thoughts.

You began to think about all the times you neglected Cyno and Tighnari, how you didn't even keep in touch with Tighnari back at Gandharva Ville via letters. He probably only heard about you through Cyno, meaning he had to rely on his words.

You couldn't help but feel bad, ashamed and guilty.

Your head then began constructing this idea... this terrible idea of your boyfriends. About how they started to resent you. For neglecting them, for focusing on your studies instead of them.

Thoughts began to bloom within you. Hlw they probably hated the idea of seeing you again, hating you in general.

Your hand that had been writing on a paper until a few moments ago, began to shake as silent tears began rolling down your cheeks.

You wanted to believe that it wasn't true. That this was just the stress getting to you...

But how could you, when it all made perfect sense? Of course they would feel this way.

Now that you thought about it.. you haven't seen Cyno at all the last two days. He usually came by every day, even just to make sure that you were taking care of yourself.

But... nothing. He didn't show up at all.

And as you realised that, the thoughts only became louder and more convincing.

'They already started separating from you, silently..'

'They feel they're not important to you...'

'You are no good partner to them..'

Those thoughts began to flood your mind as you set down your pen, tears continuing to fall down your face. That night, you cried yourself to sleep, as these negative thoughts kept pestering your mind.

...

The next day, Cyno saw you walking within the walls of the Academya and immediatly noticed that something was wrong with you.

He saw your red, swollen eyes and knew that you must have cried yesterday. The reason for it he might nit know, but that didn't matter. It was obvious that you needed him right now.

So, he talked to the Matras, gave them their orders and then set out to find you again.

He found you in a quiet corner in the house of Daena, reading some kind of book related to your studies, while you occaisonally sniffled and rubbed your swollen eyes.

Cyno approached you quietly, sitting down on a chair across from yours, his eyes fixed on your exhausted form.

You jumped a little, not expecting any form of company to disturb you. Once you recognise Cyno, you relqx a bit, but quickly tense up again, remembering what had happened the day before.

Cyno, of course, noticed that shift in behaviour from you.

"What's going on?", he immediatly asked, not wasting time with chit chat.

"What... do you mean, exactly?", you answered, trying to deflect, making it seem like everything was fine. Which, you failed. Because even if Cyno wasn't the best with feelings, he was perceptive.

"You cried. I can see that with only one look at you. So.. what happened?"

At his words, you wished to just slap yourself as you realised that you forgot to put on makeup, so that you could hide the obvious bags under your eyes. But that would have been only one part of the problem, anyway.

"Oh.. nothing much. Just... stressed."

"Stress? That's all?"

You nodded, not being able to look your boyfriend in the eyes. You knew that if you did, he would immediatly figure you out. Little did you know that by avoiding his gaze, he worried even more.

"You're hiding something from me.", he concluded. You sighed, but didn't give him anything further to work with for a few minutes. Then..

"It's just.. the stress is getting to me. To my head, exactly. It's been... a lot.", you told him in a low voice, not wanting to say anything more.

To your surprise, the next thing Cyno did was to just silently, without another word, stand up from the table and walk away. You didn't see were he was heading, but that didn't matter to you.

All your head needed, was right there. Your boyfriend walking away from you when you would have needed him the most.

You could feel the tears welling up again in your eyes, but this time, you forced them to stay in, not wanting to cry in broad daylight in front of your fellow students. But going home wasn't an option in your head either, so you tried to swallow the hurt and continued your studies.

Little did you know though, that Cyno was walking straight to the Acting Grand Sages office, not bothering in the slightest that he had just interrupted a seemingly important conversation with some other sages.

Alhaitham looked at him with his usual stoic expression, while Cyno explained the situation to him, requesting for a two weeks vacation for you amd himself.

After a few seconds of considering, Alhaitham signed it off, handing the documents to Cyno, whishing him the best of luck. Having achieved what he came for, Cyno headed back down to were you were seated before, glad that you were still in the same spot.

He approached again, but this time, you noticed him. And he wore an even more determined expression than he usually did.

"Cyno? What are you-!"

You got interrupted as he grabbed your wrist and pulled you out of your seat and after him, waking his way towarsa the exit of the house of Daena.

"Hey, stop. Where are we going?", you asked, weakly struggling against his grip.

"Visiting Tighnari.", he said.

"Wha.. but I can't. I still have to-"

"You don't have to do anything. I requested some time off for the both of us, and Alhaitham approved of it. We are going on a vacation, because Archons know that you need that, (name)."

After he said that, you were in no place to argue against him anymore. Your resistance against him grew less and less, until you completely stopped. He, in return, loosened his grip on your wrist a bit, but still held you tightly to him.

He made a stop at his and your house, to gather some stuff, mostly clothing, before you made your way to Gandharva Ville together.

The walk was mostly quiet as you were trying to figure out what to make of it. You were sure that they must hate you at this point, yet Cyno's actions clearly indicated the total opposite.

As you arrived at the base of the forest watchers, Cyno spotted Tighnari in front of his hut, talking to some other forest rangers.

The fox immediatly picked up on the scent of his two lovers as soons as you two entered the village. But he also instantly knew that something was up. He could sense that you were upset about something amd Cyno was worried about you.

He made quick work of the matter with the forest ranger, and as they began to depart, Tighnari already spotted you and Cyno walking towards him, so he waited there for you to.

"Hey..", he said in a soft tone, immediatly pulling you in for a long and loving hug as soon as you were close enough.

"...", you didn't say anything as you hugged him back tightly, which confirmed his assumption that something was definitely not right.

He looked over at Cyno, who motioned for them to go inside, which Tighnari gently coaxed you to do so with them.

"Do you want to talk about it?", Tighnari asked as you all were inside. But you didn't feel ready for that just yet, so you just shook your head slightly, gaze fixed on the ground.

"All right then..", you heard from the fox and the next moment, you were suddenly in the air, as your lover had picked you up and walked over to the bed.

The next moment, you were placed on the soft mattress, ine of your boyfriends on each of your side. You were completely surrounded by them, and suddenly, you felt safe.

Like a heavy weight has finally been lifted from your shoulder, and you could feel a single tear run down your face again.

Tighnari, who you were facing, brought one hand up to your face, softly carressing your cheek. He slowly leaned in, kissing you on the forehead.

In the meantime, Cyno, who was laying behind you, slid on hand down your arm, intertwining his fingers with yours once he reached your hand, as he slowly started to place light kisses on your neck.

In this moment, you felt so loved and cared for by your two boyfriends, you had no idea how you could have ever doubted their love for you.

You couldn't controll your tears anymore and you just let everything out that you had been holding back.

For the next few hours, you three just laid there, cuddling with each other, while Cyno and Tighnari whispered sweet and loving words to you.

You may not be able to talk about your troubles quite yet, but you knew that with them by your side, everything would turn out okay in the end.

Because you had each other. And now there was no doubt in your mind anymore..

... they did love you with all their heart.

[skywishes1]

“You are like the sun” ☀️

[skywishes1]

Every night is a cozy, sleepy night when you're dating Hawks.

He swears crawling into bed with you lulls him under some kind of spell. Memorizing the warmth of your skin against his, there's nowhere he'd rather be than surrounded by the impossible soft of your little shared escape from the world.

The buzz of the city, of heaps of caffeine from too-sweet canned coffee, of long hours doing hero work finally simmers down; and all he can feel is pure calm as he lets out the breath he's been holding all day.

Blame the avian in him, but he'll make sure your shared bed overflows with fuzzy comforters and throw pillows. Together, you add piles and piles onto his mattress, custom and large to fit the expanse of his wings. He brings home assorted blankets, you bring home stuffed animals of varying sizes. It suits the both of you.

He'll carry you to bed, bury you underneath the covers and situate himself under the cloud-soft warmth that cradles you both.

The ache in his muscles is finally soothed. Melting under the covers and nuzzling into your neck, there's nowhere on earth he'd rather be.

[skywishes1]

floral swing. (xiao, kazuha)

notes from tori: hello all, i haven’t written in so long nor have i been active for a reason. i have no excuse for the first, but the second!! i saw taylor swift last weekend and then when i got back from my trip i got covid :( so yeah, very busy fortunately and unfortunately, but i’m back now! this isn’t very good, but i hope you enjoy anyway!

warnings/info: gn!reader, fluff, kissing, short, that’s all, i am obsessed with the floral swing furnishing in the teapot

kazuha.

“Can’t we stay in here forever, Kazuha?” You breathed, melting into the pillow-soft cushions of a floral swing, your head pressed into the man’s legs. The swing pushed and pulled beneath you like the lull of ocean waves brushing up against the shore. Kazuha’s fingers did the same, weaving through the crisp wind that tickled your skin and stroking over your cheeks, your fluttering eyelashes. He hummed, and the sound harmonized with the chirp of nearby birds. 

“It certainly eases the mind,” The words blended pleasantly in your mind as another cool breeze washed across your face. In the traveler’s teapot,  life was devoid of tribulation. All that existed was the sun, unerringly warm against your skin, Kazuha’s fingers dripping through your hair until you were just on the precipice of blissful sleep, and—

The press of something firm against your lips, ambrosial granules flicking onto your tongue. A fruit. 

“Zaytun peaches, have you had them?” Kazuha always knew what was on your mind. His voice had to be a lullaby, and you welcomed the offering, the peach’s skin velvety against your tongue, it’s flavor sweetened by flecks of sugar. “With a sprinkle of sugar, just how you like.” The follow up statement was laced with self-satisfaction, and you smiled against his fingers, chewing thoughtfully and letting your drowsy eyes flick open to gaze at his features leering over yours. The sun cast a halo around his hair, and your hand rebelliously reached for the scarlet strand nearly brushing against your nose. 

“Do you want a taste?” You murmured, watching a range of emotions flick through his ruby eyes. First: him attempting to read your intentions, your feelings. Second: confusion. Third: realization, and finally, a soft desire that burnt against his cheeks. Within a few seconds, you were wrinkling your nose at the ticklish sensation of his hair finally brushing the tip, swallowing thickly before feeling his words on your lips.

“I suppose a taste wouldn’t hurt,”

xiao.

You could only think one thing as you gazed upon the adeptus in your lap, his lashes fluttering, his cheeks flushed a soft, docile pink.

“You’re so lovely, Xiao.” You charmed, words softer than wind chimes. Xiao was favorable to compliments if you whispered them lowly and fervently. He was much like a bird that way, needing to be carried gently into affection, perhaps out of fear that something disastrous would happen if he indulged too much.

And gentle you were; it was hard to coax him into relaxation regardless, and you strived to keep his peace as long as possible.

Xiao hummed, a sign he’d heard while you leaned and pressed yet another featherlight kiss to his nose, moving leisurely to his cheekbone to plant another. His trust in you was intoxicating. Just a few months ago, and the action would’ve made him recoil. Now, however, he barely flinched when you dragged your lips to the bow of his, kissing his upper lip like a breeze. As if to soothe the action, you traced your thumb down his round cheek as you withdrew, scouring his face for any unfavorable reaction. Instead, you earned a pleased sigh, one which you echoed.

The silence enveloped your pair like a warm blanket, the cool grass between your toes, the weight of his head on your lap, the tickle of his hair against your thighs. Your seat — a cushioned floral swing — rocked back and forth, draping vines framing the scene before you, embroidered with white petals. Pressing your lips together, you smiled quaintly, eyes drooping closed at a blissful breeze wafting over your sunkissed cheeks, pretending like the sliver of time was eternal, like Xiao would never leave your side, like he’d be between your fingers until the stars fell from the sky—

The worn fabric of Xiao’s glove against your cheek pulled you from your reverie, and your eyes fluttered open as his thumb smoothed a growing wrinkle between your eyebrows.

“Are you troubled?” The somewhat archaic lilt to his speech, the concerned glow to his golden gaze: it immediately softened your disposition, and you offered a smile, plucking his fingers from your face and bringing them to your lips, adorning each one with its own kiss.

“At your side? Never?”

[skywishes1]

Hey! Been a while but, I've been reading everything you post! I don't know if I'm allowed to request but.. Could you do something where the reader asks the boys to teach them to fight? Can it be with Cyno, Heizou, Kazuha, and Xiao..(separated..and fem reader!)? Complete fluff ofc!.. You don't have to do everyone and remember to take care of yourself!!

- <3 ur fav hoomen being

Asking your Genshin Boyfriend to Teach you How to Fight

...and how they react <3

Info: Characters include Cyno, Kazuha, and Xiao. Fem!Reader. Established relationship. 99% fluff, 1% angst if you squint. Overprotective genshin boys. Reader is a little bit feisty in some parts. Reader receives a vision in Kazuha's. Tiny argument. Warnings: Allusions to death and violence (non graphic), not proofread A/N: Technically my requests are closed but you get special treatment. Just don't tell anyone (everyone else reading this, no you didnt) I didn't add Heizou unfortunately because I've tried to write him once and it was a struggle for me to characterize him, so I'm still learning in that regard.

Cyno

He gently placed his fork onto the porcelain plate laying before him, careful to avoid the shrill dink he'd always loathed. "And why exactly would you be needing to use self-defense?"

By the subtle narrowing of his eyes, you could tell he was already rummaging through the deepest depths in his mind for the worst case scenario. An unfortunate trait. "You never know what could happen as an adventurer! People get caught off guard all the time by slimes or hilichurls, or even a group of treasure hoarders or eremites!" To emphasize your point, you raised your hands menacingly over your shoulders, mimicking a fearsome monster. He cocked his head to the side.

"Would I not be present to defend you?" He asked genuinely, deflating his posture slightly to lean back in his chair. You shrugged. "You might be -- or, you might not be. I've been wondering what would happen if I was blindsided by monsters and you weren't around, it would be awful!"

He suddenly has a sour look on his face. Others may dismiss it, but you know him well enough to gauge that the notion rubbed him the wrong way. Instead of indulging the feeling, he merely shakes his head. "I'll simply have to accompany you at all times, then."

If it weren't for this being Cyno of all people, you would have laughed it off as a joke. But, he was dead serious and even-toned, his expression not faltering at your obvious incredulity. "How in the world would you manage that?!"

He shrugged, slightly raising an eyebrow. "I'll figure out a way."

You scoff. "So, now I'm going to be coming along for all your missions? Tagging along to help you fight? Because that's what I'd have to do, Cyno." You're aware he struggles with understanding sarcasm, so you add exaggerated hand gestures to get your point across easier.

Clearly, you struck a nerve. He regards you coldly, glaring daggers straight through you. "You will never come along for those things," he insists harshly. Despite how much you despise being on the receiving end of his wrath, you know it isn't truly aimed for you. However much it appears he's staring you down, he's staring straight through, hoping to catch some invisible enemy who may wish you harm.

His worst fear has always been you being accidentally dragged into his work. Archons, he's even had nightmares about it. Your insinuation hadn't been directly to cause him concern, but you had to get through to him somehow.

After a moment of reflection, he sighed heavily as the realization sunk in. "Fine. I will teach you, but do not expect me to go easily on you."

You'd be lying if you said that wasn't at least mildly frightening.

---------------

By the end of the day, your knees were wobbling and threatening to give out from underneath you. Perhaps wearing heeled boots to spar with one of the most skilled fighters in Teyvat wasn't your greatest idea.

As it's your lover's signature weapon of choice, you had donned a spear and said a brief prayer to Kusanali before beginning the fight. At first, metal had clashed against metal hit for hit, and your confidence had grown. You soon learned he'd been gauging your skill and taking it easy on you, which did very little for your ego. In no time at all, your legs were frequently knocked out from under you, your body tossed to the side, or the blunt tip of the sparring spear pressed to the soft flesh of your stomach.

For each time you'd been bested, Cyno would repeat, "Dead."

You searched his irises for any hint of pity, but found only resolution staring back. You'd requested his assistance and he was intent on giving it, no matter the cost. Sure, if he had intended on killing you, he could do so even with the soft edges and blunt ends of the training weapons. He was taking great caution not to seriously injure you, but he wouldn't allow you to be coddled and therefore killed when a real fight came along. At least...that's what his mind was telling him.

You couldn't fault yourself too badly on your skills, to be fair. His chest, like yours, was heaving with the effort of taking a breath. Although your whole body was soaked with sweat, you could see the faintest sheen of sweat across his brow. You prided yourself on the fact that, at the very least, he'd exerted himself.

A swift breeze blew by, offering relief to your wet skin. "I..." You spoke, out of breath, "I think I should take a break." If your muscles already felt exhausted, you could only imagine how sore they'd be tomorrow.

The change is instant. He drops his spear to the side and approaches you gently, taking your face carefully in his hands. You let out a sigh of relief, leaning far more of your weight than intended into his waiting hands. He clicks his tongue in disapproval, as if seeing your weakened state for the first time all evening. Perhaps there really is a switch that flicks in his brain.

He retracts slightly, and you groan at the thought of putting even the slightest bit more weight on your aching legs. With one hand, he tears a hanging piece of fabric from his hat. You gasp, feebly attempting to stop what's already been done. "Cyno! Why?!"

He shrugs. "It can easily be replaced. Here, for your face," he explains, no change of tone to be heard. He takes your hand, gently unfolds your fingers, and places the fabric in your palm. You're not sure if you should scold him or tear up. Nonetheless, you swallow back both your words and your tears, and wipe the sweat from your face. "Thank you," you whisper.

"You did well today," he compliments genuinely, "You surprised me. You managed to keep up." His words are so monotoned, but the softened expression on his face contradicts his voice. He regards you softly, plucking a stray piece of grass from your hair and casting it off to the side. He hums under his breath. "Perhaps you could use a bath, though."

You find yourself laughing despite the situation. You've just been battered and beaten for several long hours in hot Sumeru sun, and your brain feels slightly like mush, but he manages to make you laugh regardless. You revel in the way his eyes light up at making you laugh; his goal with those he's close with is always to lighten their moods, however gloomy the situation.

He begins to lead you away from the range, keeping a hand around your waist to steady you. "Why is the Jadeplume Terrorshroom so great?"

You frown at first, confused. The Jadeplume Terrorshroom is a known dangerous entity, one that only the most skilled adventurers dare to take on. Your exhausted and muddled brain finally catches up and realizes: he's trying to keep you laughing. Despite preemptively assuming this joke will flop like most of the rest, you smile. "Why is that, my love?"

"He's a fungi."

You snort, shaking your head. His jokes truly were excruciatingly awful, but you couldn't find it in yourself to brush them off. Least of all now.

"Do you understand the premise of this joke? It is both a fungus, meaning a mushroom in this case, and a fun...guy. A funny type of guy? Therefore, when putting the pieces of this joke together-"

"I understand, sweetheart."

Kazuha

When you'd first brought up the prospect of him being your impromptu mentor, you'd expected him to reassure you, whispering something like, "I'll always be able to protect you, dove."

Instead, after only a moment of careful consideration, he nodded assuredly. "You're quite right, I accept your offer."

You blinked with widened eyes. "That's it?" You asked incredulously, a slight furrow to your brow. At least some minor persuasion was to be expected; for one, he'd have to put in the time and effort of teaching you, and for two, nobody wanted to believe their lover would ever need to put these skills into use. It was a horrifying probability that something could catch you off guard or cause you injury. With a gentle, reassuring smile, Kazuha nodded again.

"It's in your best interest to learn to protect yourself," Kazuha agreed, "I only apologize that it wasn't me who brought it up to you first." From his tone, you could gauge that he was sincere in his own admission. He even seemed tinged with a layer of genuine guilt. It hadn't been your intention to cause him any grief, and thankfully it seemed to be placed on the backburner for now, forgotten.

"I'll teach you everything I know." He hopped gracefully off from his position perched on the ledge of the Crux, landing with a little bounce to his step. He hummed thoughtfully before spotting an abandoned wooden sword on the hull, likely left by one of the children who would come to play in the days prior. "It seems the winds have smiled upon us today," he said with a chuckle, "This will do just fine, don't you think? We could start right away."

You blanched. Truthfully, you'd been expecting to procrastinate on this a bit, only putting it out there as a suggestion. It seemed this was your karma and -- left with no way to escape and no excuses to make -- you reluctantly agreed.

------------------------------------------

Your lover was a formidable warrior with a heart of shining gold. You'd always admired the way his movements flowed from him just as easily as music and poetry, like second nature to him. You'd expected a rough, tiring trial of brute strength; you couldn't understand why you'd been concerned with such a thing in hindsight, though.

There was something so pure and unique about the gentle way he'd adjust your grip upon the hilt of the sword, or the way he'd rest his hand over your own to guide a swing. He was ever patient, whispering soft reassurances so close that you could feel his breath tickling your cheek. As he taught you, he spoke of the responsibility that wielding such power and knowledge brings along with it, and how it must not be forsaken. He taught you, slowly, to move with grace and speed. You learned to parry and dodge, to strike with lethal precision when need-be, and to be merciful with your strength when you could.

When the training day ended, it began again the following morning. It became nearly a love language of sorts. As he taught you to fight, he taught you to lead with your heart without fear of it being struck down or denied, and how it can be your greatest weapon to do just that. If you didn't know better then you would have assumed he was a wise, old master with hundreds of years of experience. An archon, or a youkai at the very least. You met his prideful eyes when you first managed to block his strike, and the awed shock when the next morning you managed to win your first duel against him.

Your chest is heaving with the effort you'd exerted, but a smile graces your flushed cheeks; you had won, after all. Your bond with him has grown so much in this short time, culminating at this new peak where you can hardly contain the depth of your affections. There's a tingling feeling in your heart that reaches down to the tips of your toes. The energy consumes your soul, but you stuff it deep down, knowing there was no way to express how thankful you were. You'd expected to be taught self defense, but you had learned so much more, about yourself and your beloved. You could never say what you wanted to. You weren't a poet, not like him.

"I'm so proud of you, love," he says breathily, approaching to take you into his arms. You accept his embrace with a heavy sigh that you hope releases the weight of your contentment. "I adore you. I adore the way your eyes speak in your stead, the gentleness of your laughter, the fluttering of your heart against my own when I hold you this way. Do you know how much I love you, little dove?"

As you had acknowledged, you could never be a poet. But he certainly was, and without even the slightest hint of a stutter, nor needing time to gather his thoughts. They spilled from his lips like honey droplets, so sweet it made your stomach turn. "Yes," you whispered, "Thank you. Thank you."

As you began to pull away from the embrace, you felt a pulsing of heat in your palm. A comforting warmth, like how the remaining embers of a burnt out fire still emanate the last hints of their heat, without scorching you. You pulled back swiftly in confusion, wondering if you'd perhaps hurt yourself somehow, and gasped in shock. Sitting gently in the palm of your furled fingers was a vision, glowing a pale, light green. An Anemo vision, and it belonged to you.

You had a lot to owe to Kazuha, after that day, though he never asked for anything. He had taught you to fight, yes, but he had opened your eyes to who you really were. A vision was more than a stone, or even a power source. It was a culmination of your ambitions and hopes, allowing you to spread a little of your dreams with the world. He had opened your heart. How can one ever be repaid for such a duty?

Xiao

"Have I not told you that you can merely call my name and I will arrive to help you?"

You had anticipated some resistance. Xiao was often haunted by nightmares of his past, but there was no one reoccurring nightmare of his that involved you as well. His greatest fear was that he would lose control of his strength and injure or even -- Archons forbid -- end your life. It wouldn't be the first innocent person he had killed, inadvertently or not.

Despite how many eons passed, his guilt never faded. In a way, he was choosing to hold onto this guilt and pain, believing he deserved it for the crimes he'd committed.

To convince him to fight against you, even for training purposes, was bound to be a laborious task. "You know that I can't rely on that alone, especially now that I'm taking up work with the Adventurer's Guild," you pointed out, raising an eyebrow. You hoped that some minor reasoning would be enough, but you weren't above using more painstaking means if necessary. You honestly weren't close enough with anybody else to ask them to spar with you, nor did you know any teachers offering self defense classes near Liyue Harbor in the surrounding vicinity. He was your only option.

"I would drop anything to come to you," Xiao argued. You wouldn't lie, that did get your heart to skip a beat, but you weren't dropping it that easily. You'd always been a stubborn girl, after all, you weren't planning on forfeiting that trait now. Besides, he was blissfully unaware of how adorable he could be. Telling him might get him to pay more attention to his phrasing.

Either way, it seemed he wasn't going to give in to you easily either.

You knew the one thing that would work, but you'd been hoping you wouldn't have to say it. It wasn't your intention to worry him, but monsters were more vehement in the area than normal, and casualties were building on expeditions. In fact, one of your fellow adventurers had been forced to take time off lately due to the injuries she'd sustained while taking up what had seemed to be an average commission. You weren't going to take that risk any longer, just hoping you'd slip by unnoticed or relying on Xiao's ability to arrive at your aid. You needed to know how to fend for yourself.

"And what if I get killed? Then what?" You counter. His shoulders stiffed noticeably and he turned away from you. "I wouldn't allow that to happen," he growled, facing obstinately opposite. You inhaled deeply, preparing yourself for your next words.

"What if I'm caught off guard, too stunned to even call for you? What if I'm immediately gagged by a treasure hoarder or a Fatui member, and I can't speak?" You rambled, raising your voice just slightly to show him that you meant business. He shook his head swiftly once, appearing to be more like thrashing. Perhaps he was trying to clear your words from his head. "I'd be killed then, you know? What if, for some reason, you just can't hear me? I would be dead. That means no coming back, Xiao."

"Be quiet," he hissed. You grumbled under your breath about the unfairness of it, allowing your irritation to take over like a child. Normally, you were patient, especially with him. In this case, though, you felt it could patiently be a matter of life or death. "I mean it! Are you really able to live with that being your fault because you couldn't help me?!"

With a wild look in his eyes, he turned around to face you once more. "And what if I accidentally hurt you while trying to help you? Have you considered that?" His words were feverish and frenzied, like the hiss an unsealed jar will release when cracked open, and your eyes widened. "I'm not like Ganyu, or Yanfei. They could control themselves, but I do not trust myself to do that, [Name]. It's been too long since I've fought anything but a demon, and if I were to-" He cut himself off, squeezing his eyes shut tightly. "If I were to kill you..."

Your irritation was flooding out of you, replaced by an aching guilt. It had been you that caused him such great struggle, and pushed him to admit these things to you, despite knowing how much he hated to do so.

"I could never forgive myself," he whispered, his eyes still clenched shut. You placed your hands in the soft, pale skin of his cheeks in what you hoped was a consolatory manner. Slowly, his beautiful amber eyes fluttered open to meet your tearful gaze. "I'm sorry," you muttered, "I didn't mean to lose my temper like I did. I just...I guess I'm afraid."

Cautiously, his gloved hands came up to rest on your forearms, holding your hands to his face. "I've never been able to defend myself, and I don't want to know what I'd do if something really happened to me out there."

You could see the conflict behind his eyes. "I..." He trailed off. Ever your sweet yaksha, he was trying to think of a way to assist you, to take away your fear. He was trying to protect you from your own fears, and your heart swelled. You had placed the seeds of worry in his heart, and here he was trying so hard to rid you of your own. You'd have to find some way to make up it up to him in time.

"I can speak to Ganyu on your behalf," he offered, "I know that you don't know her well, and admittedly I wouldn't consider myself close with her either. But, I know that she is a kind girl, and she would want to be of help if she could."

You smiled, a bittersweet feeling in your heart. The idea made sense, and you could merely regret you didn't think of it yourself. "And you'll be there with me, too?" You asked, akin to a worried child. He hummed in agreement. "I would watch over you."

You pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, then another peck to his cheek. Adorably, warmth met your lips, and you pulled away to see a gentle blush adorning his face. "I'm sorry I lashed out at you like that," you told him gently, "I didn't mean to worry you or anything, I'm so sorry."

He worried his lip between his teeth, a telltale sign that he was forming a sentence. "I...didn't like the things you said," he forced out, and just before you rushed to apologize again, he continued, "But I understand. I wish I was able to teach you myself, but I can't bring myself to. I'm...sorry, for that."

You could see how hard he was trying for you, and you pressed another soft kiss to his nose. "You've done more than enough for me, sweet boy," you placated him softly.

Your words were true. Regardless of if you may have of your lost your cool, he was understanding and loving towards you, seeking only your best interests. Again, further apology was in order, you'd merely have to decide how.

Tags: @1-800shutthefuckup @chaimkko

[skywishes1]

“we’re all just lost souls with innocent heart..”

im shed tears with the cutscene ;_; why they do him like that someone hug him pls

[skywishes1]

[ TO LOVE ] SCARAMOUCHE.

to love is to betray—at least that’s how scaramouche has always seen it.

and then he meets you.

“this is my bath,” you tease him lightly, and even despite the shooing motion of your hand, even despite the soft glare sent your way, you still make room for him to settle between your legs.

“well, it’s also mine now too,” he huffs.

he leans his back against your chest, let’s his body melt in against yours, let’s the soft trace of your hands fill the empty cracks with something he’s lacked for long time.

scaramouche is almost certain you realize he’s in love with you before he comes close to knowing himself. and it’s funny—even though you fall first, he falls harder.

maybe it’s just the world being cruel once again, just as it always has been with him. it’s cruel, downright evil, really, that something about you makes him forget so easily who he is, who he’s supposed to be. love has always written itself as betrayal—but you make it seem so promising, luring out the softest parts of him, the naive ones that hope and hope…just to crumble in the end, like always.

but then you wash his hair, lathering shampoo into your hands and working through his hair softly, slowly, delicately like he’s fragile.

“admit it. you just like it when i wash your hair, huh?” and you’re still teasing, still using that slightly amused tone when you speak to him. he should be insulted, he thinks, but there’s a smile on his face.

for a moment, he notes that he’s lucky his back is facing you and the smile stretched across his lips is hidden—otherwise you’d have the satisfaction of knowing you’re right. because he does love when you wash his hair, he loves the closeness and the safety and the feeling of being wanted. of being cherished. of being something to someone without having to earn it first.

but he can’t bring himself to admit it, so instead, he scoffs, leaning more weight onto you as he quirks a brow.

“well, why wash it myself if you’re around?”

it’s his way of giving himself the upper hand—his way of convincing himself that love is not the reason why he so desperately chases the tenderness of your fingers against his scalp. no, instead, he convinces himself that mortals such as you were made to serve him like this. to treat him like he’s holy and divine, like he’s the god you’re meant to worship as you kiss his shoulder with a giggle.

“that’s true,” you hum, “why would you do it when i can take care of you?”

but you’re different—and it scares him a little. you don’t worship him like he’s a deity, like he’s all mighty and the answer to your prayers. instead, you simply love him, like it’s a choice, like it’s something you want.

you cover his eyes as you rinse out the suds. love. you cup his cheek and admire him. love. you lean down and press a kiss to the tip of his nose, teasingly grazing over his lips before pulling away. love.

everything about you is completely in love—but to love is to betray, and he knows the inevitable will be soon to come.

so he denies the urge to pull you back in, ignores the almost painful need to feel your lips press against his, turns away every part of him that screams to let i love you spill from his lips.

because every time he loves, every time he so graciously gives every piece of himself—like the heart he doesn’t have, even offering the parts that don’t exist and giving them up anyway—love always tastes like a bitter sip of betrayal.

i love you, he wants to say. but he knows as soon as the words slip, so will you from his fingers. just like the last time—just like the first.

“you don’t need to take care of me,” he grunts, “i’m fine on my own.”

“on your own,” you hum in thought, as if you’re carefully taking in his words. “isn’t that lonely?” you ask softly. by now, your hand has resigned to rubbing slow circles into his chest, pulling him in closer, almost as if proving a point.

i’m right here. you’re not alone.

“no,” he says stubbornly, “i’m above needing—”

“cause sometimes i’m lonely,” you admit, cutting him off. there’s no shame in your voice, not even a trace of hurt or sadness or even hatred. instead, you smile, pressing another kiss to his shoulder, and then the crook of his neck as you murmur, “but i guess not so much when i’m with you.”

“me?”

“yeah,” you nod, resting your chin on his shoulder, cheek pressed against his, “you. cause i love you, you know?”

and once again, scaramouche realizes he’s in love. he’s been so painfully in love for so long—and he thinks you’ve known it for even longer.

and to love is to betray, he thinks—but you’re still here, still holding him tight in your arms as you smile into his skin. so he finds a little hope, a little relief, as he closes his eyes and listens to your heartbeat against his back.

after a moment, with a tight grip on your thigh and wobbly lips, he quietly whispers, “i think i love you too.”

© hanmas do not plagiarize, repost, translate to other sites, or recommend on platforms outside tumblr such as tik tok

[skywishes1]

Look, but don't touch. [ Harbinger Edition ]

— You're the only one who's allowed to touch him. Likewise, he's the only one that's allowed to touch you.

— Childe, Pantalone, Scaramouche, and Dottore

[Masterlist]

Love Language Series | Touch [ Here ] | Actions | Time | Words | Gifts

This is written before the Sumeru quest. Harbingers are their own warning.

This was a fever dream, incredibly self-indulgent, don't talk to me about this ok. Honestly don't even wanna tag people in this (´。＿。｀)

Tartaglia

Childe is friendly but he always keeps himself at arm's distance from anyone who isn't his family. The kind of guy that acts like he loves everyone but he truly doesn't like anyone. Always polite but never kind. He won't be outwardly hostile if one of the cicin mages decides she wants to try her luck and cuddle up to him, he sort of admires her bravery, but the hardened stare and indifferent response are awkward enough for anyone to bail halfway.

So what a surprise to everyone when it's Childe himself that pulls you into him. It's not a friendly hug either, he quite literally drags you into his embrace as soon as he sees you, locks his arms around your waist, and spins you around. Before he catches himself and gently settles you down and pretends as if he didn't boldly announce to everyone that you're special.

He is a harbinger at the end of the day so any intimate relationships he has need to be hidden lest he puts you in danger. That said, he doesn't do a very good job. He gets agitated and fidgety if he can't hold you, longing gazes in your direction even if someone else is speaking to him about something important. Whether it's shooing specks of dust off your shoulder, a tap on the arm, or the brief brush of your fingers against his whenever he hands something to you. He always finds some way to touch you.

It's always the worst and best time to speak with Childe if you happen to be there. On the upside, Childe is more likely to give his approval to whatever his subordinates ask just so they go away and leave you both alone. On the downside, because physical touch somehow makes Childe drowsy and almost drunk, he's useless.

It wasn't always like this. During your first months as something more than friends, not quite lovers, he kept you at an arm's distance just like everyone else. Only the occasional arm over your shoulder or a hand on the small of your back, just enough to show you that you meant something to him. But over time, those touches began to linger until the dynamic shifted and he began to rely on your touches to keep him sated. On particularly stressful days, he'll pull you aside into his office with a rushed excuse to just hold you in his lap. He's recharging, don't make tease him.

But he's not a selfish lover. If you need comfort or just want to be held, he'll gladly throw his plans out the window just to spend time with you. What's wrong? Did someone upset you? Want me to take care of them? He'll offer anything to make you feel better while you're cuddled up to him and it makes his heart flutter when you say you just want to stay beside him. He has a bad habit of resting his entire weight on top of you if you're both ever lying down. All that muscle is heavy but sometimes it's comfortable until his elbow accidentally digs into your side.

Childe can be polite if someone else wants to touch him but he's baring his teeth at anyone that has the audacity to place their hands on you. If someone bumps into you? He's fine, accidents happen. Someone moves you to the side? Whatever he won't throw a fit over that. He believes in the below-the-shoulder, above-the-waist, hands not included, rule. If anyone touches you, it's the only time when Childe will throw his reputation out the window.

Scaramouche likes to compare him to a dog and he'll gladly growl and bark if that's what it takes for people to get the hint and leave you alone. He'll slide his arms around your waist, tilt your chin up, and without any concern about the scene that this will cause, kisses you deeply. All the while sending the nastiest glare to the person that touched you. Look, don't touch. You're his.

Childe likes to believe that he has self-restraint. He's a soldier first and foremost so he has discipline beaten into his bones. But right now he's close to snapping the pen in his hands and hurling it into that bastard's forehead. He can feel Ekaterina's concerned gaze on him, shifting on her feet nervously, as she struggles to push through her explanation of his assignment quickly. Unfortunately, it's all white noise to Childe as all of his attention is on the cicin mage whose being a bit too friendly for his liking.

"Lord Tartaglia?"

Of course, you don't blink twice at it. He's seen how that loud electro pirate dotes on you and is overly physically affectionate herself. Maybe he should also fight her as well after he's done dealing with this cicin mage.

"Childe?" Ekaterina tries one last time, using a more familiar name to see if that would catch her superior's attention but alas, he was too busy glaring daggers into her college. Ekaterina raises a hand to lightly tap on her superior's shoulder to get his attention but just as her fingertips brush against the fabric of his uniform, Childe's death glare is directed at her. She flinches away from the otherwise easy-going Childe, her mask doing little to hide her startled expression.

"Sorry, sorry, not meant for you," Childe blinks away the hate from his ocean eyes, coming to his senses as he runs a hand through his hair, "What were you saying?"

"There is no need to apologize, Lord Tartaglia, I overstepped," Ekaterina, bless her heart, waves off the sudden aggression but takes a step back. Before she can continue, she overhears you saying goodbye to the mage and your footsteps coming closer. A small surprised noise escapes your chest as Childe pulls you into his arms immediately. If she didn't know Childe, she could almost say his expression was a bit cute with how pouty he was being. Although the look in his eyes says otherwise now that she was just on the receiving end. This seems to be a common occurrence because you just giggle and hug him back just as tightly.

"Please don't harm her. She was just being nice," you mumble into his chest.

"I'll think about it," he says, his eyes never leaving the mage.

Pantalone

On the one hand, the banker always carries this prestige that makes most people stay away in awe. No one wants to get on the wrong side of the man who basically funds the country of Snezhnaya. On the other hand, Pantalone has an ethereal beauty that compels people to come closer and touch. To see if the porcelain skin is real, feel if he's muscular or lean under the heavy fabric, or sneak a peek at what colour the banker's eyes are. It makes you kind of giddy knowing that this man belongs to you. That you know the answer to all these speculations.

You aren't sure when it started happening but at some point, he always ends up sort of mindlessly touching him. Placing a hand on his arm or knee, running your fingers through his hair, or gently rubbing away the stress from his shoulders. There wasn't an ulterior motive, Pantalone was just too handsome that you can't help but touch him just to make sure he's real. He thought you were overexaggerating a bit but he seemed deeply pleased at your confession since it was coming from you personally. That egotistical bastard.

But he always reciprocated your touch. Offering an arm for you to hold onto, brushing the hair out of your face, or rubbing small circles into your hand. Small gestures of affection would occasionally lead to more. The fact that Pantalone of all people let you be this close was something you secretly prided in yourself. You couldn't help but rub his newfound privilege in front of anyone that got too close that this elegant man was yours to hold. Look all you want but you're the only one that gets to touch.

You weren't aware of Pantalone's level of aversion to touch until he almost caused a scene at a gathering. It was meant more for looks and reputation, the occasional business talk, but overall a lax evening. One of the ladies thought it would be a good gesture to place her hand against Pantalone's arm. A bit flirty but innocent enough that the sheer disdain that swirled in Pantalone's eyes made her flinch away surprised. He struck her hand away, the sound carrying through the now-silent ballroom as everyone turned to the sound. You were surprised as well that Pantalone of all people, the image of control and ever-smiling, lips turned down into a repulsed scowl. Your feet quickly moved over to him, quietly excusing the woman for her careless act, and ushering her away before anything escalated. No one spoke of that night.

Ever since then you've always kept your hands firmly glued to your sides lest you feel his anger. If you happened to brush against his finger you would splutter out apologies and scamper away. If you felt his hand hover near you, you always assumed you were in the way and quickly moved aside for him. Overall, you acted as if it was you that was uncomfortable with touch. With each passing day that you fled from his hand, the crease in Pantalone's frown grew deeper.

It comes to a head one night when you get to see how Pantalone's aversion to touch applies to you as well. Occasionally some wealthy noble will host a gala and as one of the Tsaritsa Harbingers, Pantalone will be required to be present for at least one of them. Given his status, most of the attendees flock over to him which leaves poor you to meander about and find something to do with the time. Despite being his lover, you're not privy to what goes on with his work and frankly, the business talk and parties bore you. At least these places have food.

He sees you conversing with a man he knows is from Liyue, hoping to find more investors and trade partners here in Snezhnaya. He's already spoken to the man and rejected his offer so that's most likely why he's speaking to you, the banker's partner to garner sympathy. Although from the looks of things, you don't seem that impressed either. You notice his stare, perhaps his expression betrays him because your eyes grow concerned before giving a polite bow and turning to walk away and to him. If that was all then perhaps tonight wouldn't have ended so badly.

The man grabs your arm painfully enough for you to whimper and that's all Pantalone needs. He doesn't even try to hide his expression behind a smile, his lips set into a straight line. He grabs the man's arm tightly, the leather of his gloves crinkling from the force, and he nearly breaks the man's arm. How dare this inferior social climber put his filthy hands on you. You have to plead with him to let the man go, desperately trying to pry his grip away as the businessman begs the Harbinger on his knees that he didn't know.

Pantalone-

Pantalone is pissed.

You've never seen him this angry before. The lady all those nights ago doesn't even compare close to the anger radiating off him. His fingers flex still as he leads you away into an isolated hallway. You're not even sure if he knows where he's going, completely blindsided by rage. So you quickly step closer and throw your arms around him, stopping him in his tracks as you bury your face into the soft fabric of his suit.

"It's okay. I'm okay," you whisper softly into his back. You're not afraid, he won't get angry, not with you. Never with you. But it still pains you to see him this way. You feel more than you hear his deep sigh before slowly turning around and taking you into his arms. "Thank you. I didn't mean to start anything, you just looked displeased and I got worried. Oh, I'm sorry-"

You quickly move to shuffle out of Pantalone's hold but you can barely get two steps back before his touch grows firm and you're trapped. Despite how strong his hold is, he gently tilts your chin up so you can look into his pretty eyes. He really does have a nice eye colour you think in the back of your mind.

"You've been avoiding me. Care to enlighten me as to why that's the case? Did someone feed your mind with little lies?" Pantalone sounds coy but you can hear the undertone of worry. As if he's done something wrong which you quickly shake your head to.

"W-Well, that incident with the lady from a few weeks ago, the one in the red and black dress, you looked really angry when she touched you so..." you trailed off as your eyes look at anywhere that isn't the man in front of you, nervously twisting the cuff of your sleeve. When you actually hear it back it does sound a bit ridiculous to believe that but you just didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Or make him act a certain way just because you liked physical touch or to uphold appearances.

"And you thought you were comparable to people like that? That I would allow special treatment just because you were mine? That I would reciprocate to anyone but you?"

You fumble a bit at how honest his words are, searching for some way to justify yourself but at the end of the day, you'll knock your head against the wall for how stupid your logic is. So you stand on your tip toes and reach hesitantly up towards his face. Pantalone's face reminds neutral but he slowly leans into his touch, his muscles finally relaxing just by your touch.

Scaramouche

How the hell he tolerates you is anyone's guess. How the hell you tolerate him is Celestia's guess. He has the worst attitude, is quick to anger, flaunts his authority wherever he goes, and is overall a terrible person to be around. Yet every time he looks over his shoulder, you're always one step away from kicking at his heels. Which you have accidentally done before and somehow survived so he must like you a smidge. You tell him it's because it's out of spite that you're still here and spite is a powerful feeling. He of all people should know.

Scaramouche despises anyone being within his personal space, which is already a pretty big range, so the idea of someone touching him is repulsive to him. If he somehow was in danger and someone touched him in order to save his life, he would probably throw a fit and shock them. Their only reward is that he doesn't kill them. It's not like he has to worry too much, no one really wants to be in his presence longer than they have to and any admirers are quickly turned off within the first couple of seconds. Which makes it all the more baffling that you still hang around him and test just how far you can poke his limits.

The first time you touched him was by accident. Someone had bumped into you causing you to fall into Scaramouche. Luckily for you, you managed to put your hands out first and brace yourself against the wall but you had successfully caged the Balladeer between your arms. If you weren't currently fearing for your life you might have laughed at the horrified expression on the Harbinger's face. The only reason you survived that day was that Tartaglia chose that exact moment to waltz in and frankly, he was a far bigger headache than you were.

He's not sure how you managed to worm your warm into his cold non-existent heart but at some point, he got used to your presence in his life. A few words to take care of himself, extra paperwork being filled, or shooing away other soldiers so he could have space. All of these acts of kindness were met with half-baked insults and suspicious looks. Every time he asked you why the hell you were acting like he was some helpless doll you always answered the same, you just felt like it and he looked like he kinda needed it. Which was so baffling to him that you managed to walk away with your head intact.

It started off with small things. Like you're both feral cats that are trying to co-exist in the same alleyway. You always announce your presence, give him enough time to leave, and your touch is barely there. You never do anything close to intimate, never hold his hand or hold his face, and he never reciprocates ever. Although it speaks volumes when he doesn't push you away ever. You're always nearby, sitting close, and you both exist contently.

But just like a feral cat, with enough time and love, even they will begin to grow comfortable and domesticated. The look on his subordinate's face was hilarious when little old you waltzed over to the sixth harbinger, plopped down into his personal space, and literally sprawled yourself over his lap to see what he was looking at. Just to one-up the absurdness, Scaramouche didn't seem bothered in the slightest, only calling you an idiot for not being able to read the document that was right in his hands.

Although there are some downsides to being so close to Scaramouche. He's possessive with the power the enforce his pride. You have to constantly scold him that he can't go frying anyone that comes within two feet of you. It's hardly efficient and it's annoying having to scream just to know what time it is.

The you from years ago would have balked at how casual you were speaking with the infamous Balladeer.

"All I'm saying is you sound like a possessive maniac," you huff, your arms crossing over your chest as you frown down at the sitting man. You doubt he's even paying attention to you because if he isn't throwing spite around then he's filtering you out of his mind. Scaramouche barely acknowledges your words, still fiddling around with the Electro Archon's gnosis. It gives off faint sparks of electro every time he rolls it over his fingers but he doesn't give any signs of pain. Maybe because he's an electro-user? Either way, he's obviously not listening to you. You let out a loud sigh before shrugging and turning on your heel to walk back into the camp. Suddenly, his hand shoots out and latches onto your wrist and he's yanking you down. The you from years ago would have fainted seeing you sprawled over your superior's lap. As your vision tilts to the sky you can't help but think that for such a small body, he sure has a lot of strength. He wears a bored expression, his other hand is cradling his head while his elbow is on his knee, before a nasty smirk makes its way over his face.

"Yeah? So what?" Scaramouch says, his hand stopping to firmly hold the gnosis, though now one of his hands is now settled on your hip. You blink. Huh, you...weren't exactly expecting the ever-prideful Balladeer to blatantly admit that.

"Well, the "what" is that it makes it incredibly inconvenient to talk to anyone. Everyone avoids me like the plague because their scared you're doing to kick down their door and attack them," you pout, grumpily adjusting your head to lay on his knee, "Also you need to eat more. You make a horrible headrest."

"That's fine. You won't need anyone else," he says dismissively.

You open your mouth to say something but the look in his eyes makes you falter. He's serious. A mixture of a past memory, the present moment of you both together, and a far-off dream all dance in his eyes. It's a look you've never seen before on Scaramouche's face despite how long you've worked under him and you can't help but be mesmerized by it. It's likely the first and last time you'll ever see him be honest. But it's quickly over as his eyes morph into snarky glee, his lips pulling into a mean grin.

"You look stupid."

Il Dottore

People are downright terrified to even be in the same room as the infamous doctor. There's never a safe moment and anyone could be the next test subject depending on his mood. It doesn't matter who it is, even his own segments, if someone touches him that means they've just volunteered to be his next experiment. It's suffocating when Dottore is out and not locked in his lab because everyone need's to be hyperaware of where the doctor is located in the room. So to say that Dottore tolerates you is a massive understatement.

He actually quite likes to parade you around, almost like you're his newest addition to his collection. Touch isn't a problem for him if he's the one initiating it given how often he's dragging you around like you're some pet. He's not gentle in the slightest, nearly pulling your arm out in his crazed rush to show you his newest creation. You would joke and say that in moments like these, he's the one that acts like the pet. Too excited to show its owner its newest achievements. But you have a sliver of sanity in your mind so you keep your mouth shut.

Every moment with Dottore is a warped sense of time. You've been with the Doctor for a long time, before he became a Harbinger, and you don't know how your relationship progressed to this stage. You're walking on a tightrope of old colleges that are too intertwined with history to be separated or co-dependent individuals that need death to finally leave each other. So when he touches you softly, affectionally, you stumble and fall off your rope. The mad doctor laughing from above, arms still outstretched from where he's pushed you.

Half of it is madness, and half of it is out of genuine love. Although, to Dottore, madness and love are the same things. His acts of affection are spontaneous and equally as fleeting. One second he's rattling off medical terms and theories, pauses in his rant just to give you a deep kiss no matter who's around you to witness the act, and proceeds as if nothing happens. That's not to say you don't enjoy it when he decides to reward you, you just wished it wasn't in front of so many people. You suspect he does it on purpose.

There's no softness or quiet time aside from the very very few and far between moments Dottore decides to indulge you. He's a busy man, his mind only built for progress, and he has better things to do than to play pretend. But for you, the one who forcibly carved space into his heart, he can make arrangements. Only for a short while. Some days he may hold you as if you'll shatter if he squeezes any harder, other days he'll push your hair away from your eyes quietly, and one day he kisses you as if you're something more.

Unlike Dottore, you don't have an intimidating reputation. People can touch you if they want to. It makes you a bit happy when Childe will pat you on the back or ruffle your hair cheekily. He's also one of the few who can get away with it as well since Dottore can't physically harm him for touching you since he's a fellow Harbinger. Besides, people speak with their eyes more. Since that doesn't qualify as anyone touching you, Dottore won't do anything. So they stare.

They stare at how the Harbinger holds you in a special place. You aren't remarkable, you're the same as the rest of them. Yet you're untouchable and invincible from the man who can change their entire lives. Mistakes occur frequently when Dottore is in the room, the slip of a finger because everyone is too focused on staying out of the Doctor's way. You get to stand beside someone like that.

It's been a hard day. A very hard day. You're absolutely exhausted and ready to curl up into a ball as soon as you get to your room. You aren't even sure what exactly happened. One second you were doing your job and the next your head was on the ground with a pulsing pain on your right cheek. It's not unusual for patients to lash out but under those circumstances, they don't have anything to do with you intimately. You know what people think about your relationship with Dottore. What people who only glimpse into the relationship you have with him think. Usually, they stay silent, only judging you with their eyes but always silent. That is until nearly 10 minutes ago.

"You're late."

You barely react when you hear his voice. Of course, it's him. God, what bad timing. He's the last person you want to see right now, especially in this state. You only give him a nod and mumbled out apologies, stumbling over your feet like a newborn lamb when his hand latches onto your wrist to drag you off again. You think you might have his fingerprints as bruises now. Another thing people can mistakenly think about your relationship. You only know you're crying when you hear the splatter of your tears against the tiled floors and Dottore's footsteps come to a halt. His grip on you has gotten tighter.

You're startled out of your wallowing when warm hands cup your face, brushing your tears away. His gloves are off. When did he take them off? Dottore simply looks at you as you silently cry. You're too tired to apologize, too tired to break down in sobs. Your arms hang uselessly at your sides but you close your eyes and lean into his touch.

"Give me their name."

He whispers it softly. You think back at the girl that struck you. You think she's new, she has to be. You know that if you say her name, you won't see her tomorrow. But you're too tired right now. So with no hesitation, you volunteer her to become the next test subject.

[skywishes1]

Low Battery Warning - Touch Starved HCs

— If he goes too long without you by his side, he starts to get irritable and too frustrating for anyone to deal with. For the sake of everyone, please remember to recharge your battery before leaving for extended periods of time.

— Tartaglia, Kaveh, Ayato, Alhaitham, and Dottore

[Masterlist]

I JUST WANT TO WRITE WHIPPED MEN OKAY? What do you mean I have to write a part 2 for two different fics??? I'm honestly surprised I managed to finish this. Also, ALHAITHAM NATION REJOICE, YOUR BOY IS HERE AND I CAN FINALLY MAKE A BANNER. I wasn't going to write him (I'm a kaveh stan) but now that he's here...

Tartaglia

While Tartaglia is the most favored to work with compared to the other Harbingers, that's only by a very slim margin. The closest you'll get to death is when the man gets bored and randomly picks someone to fight, but they usually make it out alive. Maybe a couple weeks in the medical bay and a few broken bones but they aren't dead for the most part. He's also the youngest and therefore the most easy-going even if he's a bit childish. He's a soldier first so he knows the pain of listening to someone verbally beat you down and not having the power to do anything back. But he's still a person at the end of the day and after so many people messing up and delaying his work, he's starting to get irritated. First, it was someone spilling tea onto important documents that he just finished signing, then the Fatui agents stationed near Jueyun Karst being defeated by some no-named treasure hoarders, and then finally being held hostage in his own office because the Liyue Qixing wouldn't leave him alone. God, he slumps over his desk, he just wants to go home and see you!

By the time he finally stumbles through the door, you're already passed out on the couch. He can't blame you, it's very late into the night and he would probably be more upset if you forced yourself to stay awake just to welcome him home. But he can still pout that he was taken away from you for so long, he didn't even get to see you all day. That's borderline torture. But he supposes he can forgive you since you look so cute bundled up in his red shirt. If he happens to take a picture or two that's for his knowledge and eyes only. So he easily scoops you up into his arms, taking a couple seconds to just stand there as he basks in the comfortable weight before he takes you to bed. Just for tonight. This will be the last time work takes him away from home for so long.

It lasts for two weeks. Usually, Childe could hold himself together, he's been away for far longer, but the fact that you're right there and he can't hold you is driving him insane. By the 14th day, Childe is ready to snap his pen in half and hurl it at the next person that comes through that cursed door. He doesn't though because it's usually Ekaterina, the only one that has the balls to talk to him right now, and she deserves far more than she's paid to deal with. But he's touch-deprived and tired. Even Zhongli with his infinite amount of patience advises him to sort himself out before inviting him out to lunch next time. He tried to deal with it on his own, this isn't the first time he's felt claustrophobic, but after the fifth Hilichurl camp he doesn't feel any better which only makes his mood sour further. He might even beat Scaramouche in how short-tempered he is right now. There's heavy air wherever he goes and whatever carefree persona he usually has on is thrown out the window.

It's Zhongli who clues you into how bad Childe's demeanor has gotten, the rascal looks horrible both physically and mentally. Despite the consultant and Childe being on friendly terms, you don't really know the man that well. But he doesn't seem like the type of person to lie so you thank him for the information and make your way to the Northland Bank. To be honest, you've been feeling the effects of not seeing Childe as often as you usually do. You know his work can get so hectic that it keeps him cooped up in his office but it's been a while since you've even seen that fluff of ginger hair. He usually doesn't want you near his work considering how it might put you in danger, but if he isn't taking care of himself then what kind of partner would you be if you didn't help?

Even outside the building, you can feel the effects of what Zhongli talked about. All the agents look like they're on their last legs, there's a gloomy atmosphere surrounding the building even though the sun shines brightly across Liyue harbor, and you can vaguely hear an annoyed Harbinger scolding someone. As soon as you set foot into the building Ekaterina nearly tackles you off your feet. Desperately thanking you for coming and looking at you as if you're the Tsaritsa herself.

As soon as Ekaterina says your name, Childe whips his head around at such a speed that you're afraid his head might fling off as his eyes lock onto yours. You know Childe wouldn't hurt you, never you, but he's looking at you like he's about to devour you and you're suddenly very glad you've never been on the receiving end of his anger. He shoves the papers in his hands into the agent's chest he was probably reprimanding and marches over to where you are.

"C-Childe?" "S-Sir?"

Ekaterina mirrors the wary call of his name until he's finally in front of you and without a word, throws his arms around you. You stumble a bit under his weight but you quickly circle your arms around his back and hold on tight so you don't trip over your own feet. You can only imagine what it looks like for Ekaterina to see her stiff boss suddenly deflate in your arms. A pleased groan escapes from him as he basically lifts you off your feet just so he can hug you closer to him. You almost feel like a child's teddy bear with your legs dangling in the air trapped in a crushing hug. You know that your relationship with Childe isn't a secret but you both don't show any displays of affection, you don't even really interact in public in general, so this is pretty open for the two of you. Well, for you at least. You don't even think Childe is registering anything around him except that you're here.

"Are you okay милый?" you whisper into his ear, nuzzling into the side of his head that's nestled into your shoulder. Your snezhnaya is a little rough around the edges but from how he seems to purr you think he enjoys it nonetheless. "Although I'm happy to see you too, don't you think we should move so we aren't blocking the main entrance?"

He sleepily blinks awake and slowly starts to acknowledge that you're both very much standing at the bank's entrance with everyone shamelessly staring. He frankly looks like he doesn't care, people have working legs, they can walk around you both. But he also doesn't want anyone to find another reason to take him away when he's very comfortable.

"If you need me, don't," is the clipped order that rings out through the bank. You know he's heavily censoring what he actually wants to say but from how everyone cowers away, they can probably tell what would happen if they disobey him. They all give him a nod and a salute before he's picking you up, cradles you into your arms, and swiftly walks upstairs. With a kick of his boot, the door slams shut and he sinks into his chair, you seated pretty on his lap.

"Please never leave me, I think I might die," he groans, re-wrapping his arms tight around your waist. You can only sigh fondly as you gently run your fingers through his hair, rubbing small circles into his scalp and he melts into goo. As if you would want to leave.

Kaveh

You know Kaveh is a bit...eccentric to say the least. He always says what's on his mind and most of the time his thoughts are things he should keep to himself. Even you're not totally immune to his blunt honesty despite the fact he tries to watch how he phrases things when directed to you. He doesn't want to accidentally hurt your feelings, regardless if you know he means no harm. It's rather cute that for someone who doesn't care about what others think of him, he's a bit insecure around you. He likes you, really likes you, and he often finds himself plotting out what he's going to say hours before your lunch date with him. But as soon as you greet him with that charming smile and a brief hug, he turns into putty and whatever flowery language he conjured in his mind is swept away. The confident architect that graduated with honors is reduced to a red-faced mess of stumbling words. It doesn't help that you find it adorable enough to press a chaste kiss to his red cheek and he swears that he's going to pass out from a heat stroke.

He's both extremely glad and terribly conflicted that your love language seems to be touch. He loves it when you brush your fingers through his hair but it always lulls him into sleep so he doesn't get any work done. He loves it when you hug him tightly but then he never wants to leave so he doesn't get any work done. He loves it when you cup his cheeks and pull him into a kiss but then he goes in for seconds, then thirds, and so on that he doesn't get any work done. If he went into alchemy rather than architecture he would dedicate his life work to studying why you have the touch of an Archon that compels him so. But he didn't and now that he's drowning in debt, he really needs to concentrate and finish his work before the deadline.

So now he has the painful task of trying to find an extremely polite way of asking you to leave him alone without you taking offense and breaking up with him. He would be devastated if he couldn't see your loving gaze on him again. But the situation is dire because as soon as he sees you, all he wants to do is curl up in bed with you in his arms. Preferably forever but he'll cross that bridge when he gets there. But every time he tries to bring it up it only takes one look from you for him to stutter and wave off his words. He tries to pep talk himself and every single time he claims that this will be the day that he, very politely, pushes you off, it ends with him melting into goo and waking up the next day with all his untouched work judging him from the table.

It gets to the point that he begins to air his grievances to Alhaitham of all people. To be fair, he doesn't expect the scribe to listen to a word he says and if he did, it would only be because Kaveh needed to pay his share of the rent. But he's pleasantly surprised when you pop up with a guilty smile and that Alhaitham explained his circumstances to you. He tries to clear up the situation, he has no idea what Alhaitham said specifically but it must have been put in the worst way possible, but you take his hands and he shuts up immediately. You give him a light giggle that melts his heart and you tell him to call for you once he's completed his work.

It was the worst decision he's ever made. Second to moving in with Alhaitham. Maybe his judgment of you being an angel was a lie and you were secretly the devil from how often his thoughts were plagued by you. He could draw a circle and think of your eyes. He knows that he's smitten in your presence but he didn't expect that to double when he's suddenly alone. His only motivation is that as soon as he's finished, he'll be able to see you again. But his mind and his work bleed together and he ends up drawing your face instead of buildings and pipes.

He ends up locking himself in his studio and slowly deforming into slime with how awful he's taking care of himself. Alhaitham has to pry him from the table only for Kaveh to flop in his arms that the scribe gives up and hauls the corpse over his shoulder and makes his way to your home. Kaveh still needs to pay his share of the rent so he's not allowed to die before then.

When you opened the door you weren't expecting Alhaitham at your doorstep with Kaveh over his shoulder. He doesn't seem to want to be in this situation either because it looks like he's two seconds away from throwing your boyfriend across the room. But he manages to reign everything in front of you and quickly explains Kaveh's situation, dumping said man into your arms, and telling you to fix it. You shoot him an apologetic smile that he waves off, it's not like it's your fault, before turning around and making his way back to his own home.

"Kaveh?" you whisper gently against his ear to not startle him. It only takes him a second to register your voice before he's perking up and beaming at you. He easily shifts positions so you're in his arms instead. Twirling you around and using the momentum to tuck an arm under your knees and smoothly picking you up, somehow supporting your entire weight in one arm while the other closes the door. Sometimes you forget that Kaveh is really strong despite his lean stature. He is a claymore user after all.

"Darling! What are you doing here?" Kaveh questions while he makes himself at home. If only your living space was big enough for him to store all his work otherwise he would have moved in with you by now.

"Alhaitham mentioned that your recent commission was taking up all your time and you weren't taking care of yourself. Are you alright?" you ask, wrapping your arms around his neck to steady yourself while Kaveh takes his shoes and coat off. In these types of moments, no matter what you do or say he'll refuse to let you out of his arms. If he has to live with one arm then he'll gladly do so just so long as his other hand is wrapped around you.

"Never better," he replies with a smile. He's obviously lying given the dark circles under his pretty red eyes but the soft look he sends you is enough to tell you that right now, he's never been more comfortable. It makes you a bit flustered to have such an intense gaze on you but Kaveh is always forward with his affections and this isn't any different. With you in his arms, there's nowhere for you to run to when he tilts your chin down and brushes his lips against yours.

"Be still for me..." he whispers, the vibrations of his voice tingling against your skin as both of your eyes slowly close. Only for the moment to shatter by loud knocks on your door. You both jerk apart and turn to the disturbance with varying expressions. You're a flustered mess while Kaveh scowls as if the door offended his entire life's work. He finally sets you down on your feet and gives you a quick peck on the cheek. Before marching to the door, flinging it open, and telling the man on the other side to shoo before slamming the door in his face. Unless the world is ending, don't knock.

Ayato

To say Ayato works hard is an understatement. There are several nights when he's glued to his desk rather than resting in bed. Such are the woes of him being forever dedicated to his duties as the Yashiro Commissioner. On days when there are big events and everything needs to be perfect, he's nearly inconsolable that Thoma weighs how much he can get away with if he knocks Ayato out with a frying pan. His pondering doesn't go far because even though Ayato looks like a corpse from the lack of sleep, he'd probably knock Thoma off his feet before the housekeeper could even raise his arms. Ayaka has better luck but she's only able to drag him away for a few minutes before he points in a random direction to divert her attention before disappearing as soon as she turns back. It's just something everyone is aware of and they try their best to support Lord Kamisato. But if it starts to look really bad, like Ayato might drop dead at any second, then you're called in. The last defense and their ace up the sleeve. Not to brag or anything but you have a spotless record and you intend to keep it that way.

It only takes one word from you to have the dignified and cunning Ayato turn into a scared rabbit. His name. None of the wary calls of Lord Kamisato, a dismissal of his titles, and certainly not your affectionate terms of endearment. It always brings the temperature of the room to zero and Ayaka has to double-check that her cyro vision didn't accidentally activate. Unlike Thoma and Ayaka, you're not soft on him and you set your foot down when it comes to his extremes. One of the many reasons he fell in love with you but it's coming back to bite him now. He hates seeing you unhappy, doing anything possible to wipe that frown off your face, but when it's him that's making you so displeased he can't help but look like a scolded puppy.

It doesn't take much for you to know that Ayato has overworked himself to the breaking point again. You understand his duties mean that he's going to be riddled with work but you're his partner first and foremost. You're there to care about Ayato, not the Yashiro Commissioner. And Ayato looks like he's falling apart at the seams. Heavy eye bags, pale complexion, and his body swaying back and forth before he catches himself from falling over. It pains your heart to see him like this and yet still push himself to keep going. So you take one, two, and three steps towards him to delicately take his hand in yours, rubbing soothing circles into his palm before intertwining your fingers together.

Unlike Thoma and Ayaka, he doesn't disappear as soon as you take your eyes off him. Just stands there and stares dopily at you while you issue orders to take over his work. God, you look so attractive when you're in control. It's been a while since he's seen anything but paper and ink but did you always look this beautiful? He's so glad he's going to marry you. Maybe he can force the elders to move the ceremony date up. Everyone in the room politely ignores the fact that Ayato is saying these thoughts out loud and how red your face has gotten.

He doesn't object when you pull him out of the room with you, blindly following you wherever you happen to lead him by the hand. As long as your hand is in his, he'll follow you to the ends of the earth if you'll allow it. It's a bit comical how the dignified Yashiro Commissioner recedes into himself and crumbles away into a love-sick man just by a simple touch. At much as it makes you feel a bit shy, it's nice to know that Ayato won't try and weasel his way out of your grasp and return to his work.

If anything he clings to you like an onikabuto on a tree. You have to waddle your way to the baths with an oversized blue-haired man refusing to let go and draping himself over your back. You know he's making this as hard as possible on purpose, just do you can dote and pamper him a bit longer before he succumbs to slumber and has to return to work. It dampens his mood thinking of the future but it's quickly ushered away by the warm water poured over his head. It's fitting that his vision is hydro because he fits himself into the space you provide as you begin to scrub his hair clean.

There's something meditative about having his hair washed by your hands that no one else can replicate. It's a luxury that he only receives when he works hard enough that his arms hang uselessly at his sides and his body slumps into itself. Soft and malleable, completely willing to bend and mold in whatever shape you wish. But your hands scrub through his hair gently, rubbing all the stress out of his body and never complaining. Right now there's nothing else that matters more than being here with you and you with him.

"I'm going to rinse your hair out. Close your eyes now," you softly say and he follows your instructions. The rush of warm water is soothing to his ears although it sparks something in his memory that momentarily takes him out of this romantic moment. He reaches blindly behind him to take your hand, rubbing circles into your palm to halt your actions.

"It's just occurred to me but aren't you supposed to be on a trip to Watatsumi island?" he opens his eyes to peer up at you, his long eyelashes tipped with water droplets reminding you of just how pretty Ayato is. It's almost a good enough distraction for you to forget why exactly you're here rather than speaking with Kokomi right now. Almost.

"I was but someone had to go and work himself to death again. You need to take better care of yourself Ayato. I don't want to see Thoma running across all of Inazuma just to drag me back because you can't seem to sit still for a few seconds," your frown deepens with each sentence. Your free hand that's not in his grasp is knocking against his forehead, albeit not hard enough to cause any actual pain. He only chuckles before pulling you into the water with him until you're sitting on the edge of the bathtub. His head lay comfortably against your thighs.

"Apologies." He's not sorry at all. "When you're not beside me I have to throw myself into my work or else I may go insane."

"Oh so now all of this is my fault," you huff exasperated but he can hear the undertones of how happy that sentence makes you. "Come on, you'll catch a cold if we stay here any longer."

"Mmm, indulge me," he mumbles into your skin, his eyes closing once again with a content smile on his face. He doesn't need to see to know that you have an equally fond expression.

"Oh, so now my lord wishes to relax?"

"Only because you're here."

Alhaitham

You know that your relationship with Alhaitham is unusual to onlookers. You're both polar opposites and yet somehow stumbled into a rather healthy and committed relationship. To others, Alhaitham is a talented and intelligent man. The perfect bachelor if it wasn't for his "extraordinary sense of individualism" that he doesn't pay attention to people around him. He's notorious for being hard to get along with that not even his handsome face is enough for people to sit around for too long. Meanwhile, there's you. A wandering traveler who takes work whenever anyone needs an extra pair of hands. You're a bit well-known for accepting any job that pays well regardless of how dangerous or weird it might be. But unlike Alhaitham, you're more than happy to make conversation and you're often seen conversing with scholars from every one of the Six Darshans.

To everyone's knowledge, it's you that's the clingy one. You always have a hand around his arm or throw yourself at him shamelessly. Everyone assumes that Alhaitham tolerates it because he never pushes you off but he doesn't reciprocate affection to the degree that you do. If only those nosy scholars could see him now. Your newest job has you traveling to the Chasm to help collect and study the newly opened area. While the Chasm is close to Sumeru, a series of mysterious accidents led the entire mine to be closed. With the Liyue Qizing gradually reopening the area there's a lot of ground to cover. Alhaitham doesn't care much for the details except that this means you'll be away from him for a few years rather than a few weeks. As soon as you told him the expected date you'll return his face instantly soured. It was so cute that you couldn't help but press kisses to the corners of his mouth until they lifted. But one thing led to another and you're now trapped underneath his strong figure for the past couple of hours with no signs of him letting go. Every day you're gone equates to one minute he gets to keep you here.

No matter how much Alhaitham wishes to make you stay, even going so far as to bribe you, you eventually gather your things, press one last kiss to his lips, and leave him in his too-quiet house. He doesn't want to admit it but as soon as he closes the door he already feels lonely. But he'll learn to cope and continue with his life. He's been through more challenging obstacles and made it through. It's only two years, 3 months, 14 minutes, and 58 seconds. Alhaitham sighs and leans against the door. He's not going to make it.

Everyone else is content to whisper behind their hands about how the scribe seems to be more hostile. While Alhaitham doesn't have the most friendly personality, he's still somewhat polite until someone gives him a reason to exit the conversation. But now Alhaitham can barely get two sentences in before insulting someone. He doesn't even mean to do it on purpose, it just slips out. A girl who happens to share your eye color is met with a backhanded compliment that she should eat more fish. A man whose skin color is just a shade lighter than yours is met with an irritated scowl before he could even say anything. It's only now that people start to miss your presence because anything is better than a walking warning sign.

It only takes a few weeks for him to crack. He's not usually this starved of attention but the knowledge that he won't see you for another two years has him itching at his wrists. While on the outside there doesn't seem to be any changes, he's perfectly calm and collected, but his facade breaks when he starts making rash decisions. When he heard that his senior Kaveh needed a place to stay due to his financial situation, he offered to live with him much to everyone and his own surprise. Even Kaveh suspiciously asks why Alhaitham is being so generous. He doesn't dignify it with a proper answer, only that he better get his situation fixed within the next two years or the scribe is kicking him out.

As the second year rolls past, it's Kaveh who brings up Alhaitham's sudden mood change. He seems...excited. Kaveh chalks it up to Alhaitham being happy that Kaveh is finally moving out but that'd be kind of low even for someone like Alhaitham. As someone who cares about the arts and romance, there's a certain care in how Alhaitham cleans the house. Every systematic movement is laced with a longing gaze. His wrists are rubbed raw that Kaveh has to physically step in or he might rub so hard he reaches the bone. But above all the dangerous aura around Alhaitham is replaced with something Kaveh can only describe as restless patience.

"Honey, I'm home!" your happy voice is accompanied by the loud slam of the door crashing against the wall. Kaveh is startled by a random stranger entering their house but mostly at the term of endearment. Alhaitham only lowers his book at your voice before going back to reading. A bit rude in Kaveh's opinion but he can see the small smile that Alhaitham tries to hide behind the pages of his book. It's not like you aren't a bit devious yourself. So you retaliate by plucking the book out of his hands, taking a quick glance at his page number before placing it on the desk.

"Welcome back. I assume your job went well?" Alhaitham sighs as you kick his legs apart, plop yourself down into his lap, and rest your head against his chest. If you weren't so enthralled by the masterpiece that was Alhaitham's physique, you would have laughed at how the blond-haired man seemed to stare owlishly at the scene. His eyes almost fall out of their heads when Alhaitham doesn't push you off, doesn't throw you over his shoulder, or even make the slightest hint of being irritated or embarrassed. He just places his hands around your waist, rests his chin on your head, and sends an icy glare to which the blond-haired man scoffs before excusing himself. It's not anything different from what he usually does to onlookers although this is you and you can tell just how weary he is. How deeply he relaxes in your hold as the tension melts from his shoulders. How his eyes search over your body for any injuries that you might have gotten. It does look like you got a bit roughed up during your stay at the Chasm. Your hair is cut shorter than he remembers, you've put on some muscle, and there are a few nicks and cuts running along parts of your skin that are visible. But none of that matters because you're here. You're finally here.

"Aww, Haitham did you miss me?" you tease only to quickly eat your words when he manuever's you sideways so he can pin your back against the couch. You're hit with a sense of deja vu back to two years ago when you were about to leave for this trip.

"The next time you take a commission that lasts longer than two weeks, I'm coming with you or you're not going at all," he grumbles as he tucks himself into the crook of your neck with no signs of leaving. You laugh now but he's dead serious.

Dottore

You aren't sure when it started but at some point, you've been labeled as "Dottore's Favourite". He always seems to be the slightest bit nicer if you happen to be there, his voice a smidge less aggressive, and a lot more touchy. He's a Doctor first so he doesn't want to be contaminated by whatever bacteria people have gathered. But with you, he always seems to have a hand on you. Either harshly pinching your cheeks like a child with a crazed grin whenever you mumble something he deems stupid or pulling your arm of out its socket as he yanks you through the hallways of his lab. You act almost as his shadow, permanently glued to his feet and forced to follow wherever he goes.

You wouldn't consider yourself exceptional at your job but you did know how to listen. Perhaps it was your blatant disregard for your lack of safety since your head was always in the clouds that let you do your job with a steady hand. You don't blame your college's, it's hard to work under so much stress. If you had to do quantum physics and whatever the hell smart people do with someone who could, and would, kill you on the spot if you couldn't tell him what 3567 x 438 was on the spot, you think you could have exploded and crumbled on the spot. But you were just the ditzy receptionist who twirled a pencil on her nose more than on a paper. The only thing you were required to do was make sure Dottore was never bothered and let him know if anyone important needed his attention.

You've seen the Regrator the most compared to the rest of the Harbingers. You don't know what a banker needs from a doctor but you're not about to ask. It's not your business and you aren't paid enough to care about what your boss does. Besides, for such a handsome face his presence creeps you out which is saying something considering there's a maniacal doctor that treats human lives like numbers on a stats page. But since you are his "receptionist" you have to make conversation with him. Most of your interaction extends to him asking if the Doctor is in and you politely saying that he's out. You both pointedly ignore the loud crashes and angry yelling from one of his segments behind the closed steel door.

Once again, you don't consider yourself exceptional at your job. You're just a lousy receptionist at a place that doesn't require it and who spends all their time spinning in the office chair than doing actual work. You're just as replaceable as any grunt in this hell hole. So when Tartaglia waltzes through the doors, blinking at you with his dead fish eyes, before nodding to himself and hauling you out of your chair you can only hope that Dottore manages to remember that he has a meeting with Pantalone at noon.

You're hardly gone for an hour. Tartaglia was just bored, bored enough to come to Dottore of all people, that he happened to spot you who looked equally as bored. He just roughed you up a little before he deemed you completely useless and a horrible fighter before sending you back on your way. Seriously, if he wanted a fight he should have just picked one of the skirmishers instead of a damn receptionist. Although you may have to reconsider your position because as soon as you walk back into the lab, a girl is throwing herself at you and demanding where you've been.

You don't get the chance to answer before she's hurriedly running down twisting hallways, down the stairs, and punching in codes so complicated it looked like she was trying to make music out of them. Whatever questions you have are ignored in favor of getting you somewhere as fast as possible. It begins to make sense when you're finally shoved into a room, the girl who dragged you all this way throwing herself onto her knees and begging for forgiveness for letting you wander off.

The lab is an absolute disaster. This isn't the organized chaos you're acquainted with but the aftermath of a manic episode you're familiar with. Glass shards dripping with fluorescent liquid, research notes torn apart that flutter around the room as faux snow, and one mad doctor in the middle.

"Where have you been?"

For someone who destroyed years worth of progress, he sounds oddly calm and collected. His deep voice is firm while he fiddles with a test tube of blue liquid, watching it slosh around before placing it onto a broken table. He barely pays any mind to the girl currently on her hands and knees, forehead pressed to the ground while she glares at you to say something.

"Out," is your reply. A casual shrug of your shoulders even though the Dottore's back is to you. He's not wearing his usual white coat. That's too bad, you think it looks kinda cool. Really goes with his bird aesthetic.

"Out...out you say. Out. Out. Out," he mumbles softly, each time he say's the word "out", he taps the test tube harder onto the table. The lull in conversation only makes the pressure of the room drop lower before the tension snaps and he hurls the test tube at the girl still on her knees. It's only thanks to your reflexes that you manage to grab the collar of her uniform and throw her back just as the test tube collides with the floor, the liquid melting away the concrete where her head was. You can only give her a nudge and a look towards the door for her to scramble to her feet and flee as far away as she can. The slam of the door behind her acting as the nail in the coffin as Dottore's body seems to slump in on itself.

"Where have you been?" he asks again, running a hand through his messy hair. He sounds and looks far more tired, his fingers twitching to reach out and hold you but his pride stopping him. So you push yourself and step forward into his space, reaching your hands out to cup his face and rubbing soothing circles into his porcelain skin. He doesn't lean into your touch but he doesn't push you away either.

"Getting tossed around by Tartaglia. He came by saying he was bored and I just so happened to be there," you say absentmindedly, twirling the long lock of blue hair that hangs off the sides of his mask. He responds by snatching your wrist, squeezing hard enough until your bones creak. "Were you worried? Did you think I ran away?"

He doesn't dignify your question with a response. Simply shrugging your hands off his face before he reaches up to pinch your cheeks, a familiar cackle vibrating from his chest.

"As if you would have anywhere to go."

———

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