#We all know how it is... Stares off into the aether.....

[mossgoblins]

i am, obsessed with your art and how accurately you characterize faulkner and carpenter, it brings me so much joy

WAUGH THANK YOU SO MUCH....

[sixosix]

and his voice is a familiar sound | scaramouche

forced proximity + childhood friends reuniting, humor, kissing and tension. suggestive implications and suggestive humor, a bit of scara’s mommy issues, wc 5k

ft. a down bad jealous bf scaramouche, bffs heizou and kazuha, and aether bc aether always has to be there

“If I ask you to come with us for a vacation, would you say yes?”

Your bedroom was already too cramped for one person, with what you could afford with your money after quitting your part-time job. It made it incredibly difficult for all parties involved when you invited someone over, especially when that person had no concept of personal space. You barely looked up from the pages of your book, humming halfheartedly to whatever Heizou is saying. You heard vacation and instantly decided to not waste your time.

Heizou must have sensed these thoughts, too, because he forces himself into your field of view by nearly climbing over your lap. “Hey, look at me. Would you say yes?”

“Heizou!” you hissed, pushing him off before Heizou could wrinkle the pages of the book that’s definitely overdue for borrowing time. You started to think about taking another part-time job if your friends kept inviting themselves over and invading your personal space.

Heizou looked at you, his face doing a complicated combination of a frown and a smug grin. “Come on. You never join us on trips…”

“For good reason,” you said, gesturing to the lapful of Heizou you are currently getting bombarded with.

“You’re so mean,” Heizou laughed, thankfully getting off your lap. He refused to let go of you, however, immediately wrapping an arm over your shoulder and pressing up against your side. This must be one of his techniques to make the people he was questioning feel restricted. It was working. “How will you get yourself to settle for a nice, young man with that attitude? What are you even reading?”

“I grabbed whatever book had a pleasing cover so I can tune your nonsense out.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.

“What?” Heizou clapped the book shut and turned to you with the eyes of a reprimanding mother. “I swear I’m being serious. Can’t you consider it for even a minute? You’re breaking my heart. Plus, Kazuha’s the one who’s inviting us out.”

Hmm. What a compelling argument. Heizou knew that no one could ever say no to Kazuha. You wouldn’t really care if your absence would break Heizou’s heart, but Kazuha’s disappointed eyes were enough to put a god to their knees.

You zeroed in on Heizou’s wording. “Who’s ‘us’?”

Heizou started listing each with a raise of a finger. “Just Kazuha and Aether—and a friend we met recently. Kazuha invited him.”

You frowned. You didn’t know Aether visited again. “How the hell did Aether get invited?” Then, upon careful reflection: “And who’s the new friend?”

“If he was around, why not, right?” Heizou laughed, carefully setting the overdue book aside from your view. “The new friend’s Scaramouche. Have you met him before?”

What a strange name. Kazuha always managed to befriend people from all over, like a child bringing home turtles and a new species of bugs. You made a note to look him up. “Never heard of him.”

He hummed. “Said he came from Sumeru but he looked pretty Inazuman to me. Funny guy. He’s like a disgruntled baby brother.”

“And you only met him, what, recently? Why is he invited to our group already?” you asked, like the territorial person you are. How come it seemed like you were the last to know about this guy?

Aether was alright. Aether came back every few months to check up on everyone and got roped into all kinds of things with your friends, so you knew him well enough already. You liked his long braid. Heizou and Kazuha had been your friends for as long as you could remember being a college student.

Heizou grinned, patting your head. “Scaramouche’s nice, I promise. You wouldn’t even notice he’s there.”

At your dubious stare, Heizou amended, “C’mon, do you think I’m the type to befriend an asshole?”

Yes, but Heizou wasn’t the type to befriend a major asshole whose opinions he vehemently disagreed with, and he thought belonged better in jail, so you had to think about it for a bit. At the very least, this new guy didn’t seem like a criminal.

Your friends loved traveling, with Kazuha mostly being the culprit, but you liked staying inside most of the time. They never forced you to go with them, so why was Heizou being suspiciously persistent today?

“I think he’s your type,” Heizou finally said, caving in.

“You’re trying to hook me up with him?”

“Not exactly… but you two would seem cute.” He went silent for a thoughtful moment. “I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed if you slept together.”

You made a face.

Heizou laughed brightly. “Alright, alright. You can go back to being the good poster student you are if you promise to think about it. Seriously. Kazuha’s moving to Liyue soon—he’s probably inviting us out because of that.”

“I’ll think about it,” you said, reaching around for your book.

You would. What Heizou said about Kazuha made you remember that there are only a few weeks left until this is all over—then, after that, you all might go your separate ways. That thought floated around your mind for a little while as Heizou made himself comfortable on your bed, sighing before he dozed off.

You sighed, shuffling to give him space. “If this is your way of trying to make me get laid, try to at least be subtle and not weird me out before I even meet the guy.”

You stalked Kazuha’s Insta to search up this Scaramouche guy and nearly dropped your phone.

scaramouche11206. It was empty, entirely useless for your research. Scaramouche’s profile was a public account, had zero posts, and had four people he was following. It was Kazuha, Aether, Heizou, and a Vahumana Darshan update page.

You checked the tagged posts, and your jaw dropped to the ground.

Scaramouche was Kunikuzushi.

Heizou was taking a group selfie in the image, his tongue stuck out and winking while the camera showed two other men. On the left was Kazuha, with his ever-polite smile, then on the other, with the all-black getup was what the tags said was scaramouche11206.

It was a little difficult to tell why you were enamoured with the masked face with a short hime cut for a moment, but the piercing stare to the camera couldn’t be mistaken. It was a minute of staring before it clicked. This was your Kunikuzushi.

You dialed Heizou before you could even think about it.

“What…? It’s five a.m.” He sounded like he just woke up, “What’s up?”

You swiped back to the image of Scaramouche, as if staring at it any longer would imprint each pixel to your brain and bring him to life before you. “Hey, where’s Kazuha? Tell him I’m going.”

YEARS AGO.

Summer. The cicadas rang in your ears. They chirped about as you and Kunikuzushi trudged further into the forest. Sunlight peeked through the leaves, splashing Kunikuzushi’s beautiful face in a delicate glow.

Komorebi. Shadows scattered on the ground. Kunikuzushi lifted his head and turned to you. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

His voice was quiet, but even with the wind and the singing cicadas, you could hear him loud and clear. You could pick out his voice from a crowd. Your heart would know where to find him.

“I like looking at you,” you said. “I like you.”

He accepted the answer and continued walking. You beamed. Usually, Kunikuzushi would scoff and bat your words away, hiding his flustered face. But he didn’t.

Longing. Kunikuzushi turned back to you, stopping in his steps. You nearly bumped onto his back. “Do you like me enough to marry me?”

Was this a marriage proposal? You tried to think of you and Kunikuzushi, walking down aisles and reciting vows, and almost laughed. But then you tried to think of anyone else. You tried to think of a life without Kunikuzushi.

You thought of Kunikuzushi with anyone else and nearly threw up in his face. “You’re the only one for me.”

“Even if I hurt you?”

You frowned. “You would never hurt me, Kuni.”

Kunikuzushi’s expression crumpled. He could never hide anything from you; he was too expressive, eyes round and lip trembling. Your heart sunk to your stomach. You reached for his hands and forced him to look at you. “Kuni, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

He looked at the ground. “I said I didn’t want to live with her anymore. I didn’t really think Mom would make Aunt Nahida take me.”

The cicadas faded. The world fell into a hush. Your grip on his hands grew weak. “What?”

Kunikuzushi didn’t have a good relationship with his mother; you knew that. They were complicated. They always fought and he grew up to loathe her. You knew that. But you didn’t think…

You breathed in deeply. It was not Kunikuzushi’s fault. It was not Ei’s—and definitely not Nahida’s fault. It was just the way things go sometimes.

You forced a laugh, hoping to ease the troubled expression on his face. “Were you proposing because you’re moving away?”

Kunikuzushi blushed. “Shut up.”

Your face softened. He was always so cute when his face was as red as the red by his eyes.

Kunikuzushi inhaled sharply, taking your hands and looking at you with a determined glint in his eyes. “If I were going to ask you out, I would do it better than anyone who would try to marry you. So don’t entertain them.”

The trip’s plan was basically swimming when you could, staying at a hotel, driving out of the hotel to eat somewhere cheaper, and it would be stretched out for a few days. All in all, it didn’t sound too bad. With the type of people you were going out with, you were expecting a lot more drinking (Kazuha) and near-death-related activities (Aether). Although Heizou said it was Kazuha’s trip, he was apparently mistaken.

“It was originally for Scaramouche and his family, but his mother had last-minute changes and couldn’t go,” Kazuha explained as he helped you fit your luggage in the trunk of Aether’s car. “Scaramouche said it would be a waste and told me to invite my friends.”

“Woo-hoo, Scaramouche’s mom!” Heizou cheered.

“When we met her, it seemed like you hated her,” Kazuha mused as Heizou climbed inside the car. You were in the passenger seat while the two were shoved in the back. It seemed that even if you moved to a bigger apartment, you’d end up suffocated by Inazuman men either way.

“Hard not to after hearing Scara’s contempt for her. I’m an empath or something.” 

Aether adjusted the side mirrors. “Are we forgetting anything?”

“Where’s the Scaramouche guy?” you asked.

Heizou cast you a sly smile. “He’s already at the hotel, probably buying us other rooms.”

At least another thing about him hadn’t changed: he’s still disgustingly rich. You did some digging about the hotel, and it was the kind of place you could only dream of even looking at. You suddenly felt severely underdressed for a five-star hotel, with only sweatpants, a duffle bag, and a dream.

“Hmm, I don’t think so,” Kazuha said, and weirdly enough, you caught him looking at you curiously from the sideview mirror.

“No?” Heizou crossed his arms behind his head. “I doubt Scaramouche’s the type to willingly share a room with anyone.”

Aether scoffed, laughing under his breath. “Definitely not with us.”

You looked outside to hide a smile. It seemed that your Kunikuzushi hadn’t really changed drastically. This made you feel better about meeting him again.

“What made you change your mind?” Heizou asked.

You sighed and fell into step along with him as Kazuha and Aether went on ahead. There are families crowding the lobby, draped in gold that matched the fabric of the chandeliers overhead. Their jewelry was brighter than your future. Even the floor smelled expensive.

“Scaramouche did,” you mumbled.

Heizou’s brows lifted to his hairline. “Oh?”

“I mean—I don’t know, I’m not sure yet.” You were absolutely sure, but it’d be embarrassing if he didn’t recognize you at all, and Heizou would think you were just lying. It had been years.

Heizou tilted his head. “Well, whatever it is, I’m rooting for you. And if he fucks up, I know how to pack a punch.”

You didn’t doubt it. Heizou definitely knew how to pack a punch.

The hotel was so fancy and so meant for only rich kids that you and Heizou stood out like sore thumbs by looking around. Some woman your age walked past, her chin high and her steps light. You and Heizou looked at each other, then tried to mimic the same grace as you pair sashayed towards the desk.

“What are you idiots doing?” Aether asked as you reached them.

“Fitting in, unlike you,” Heizou said.

A new voice cut in. “Took you losers long enough.”

Scaramouche turned around after speaking to the clerk, his mouth in a thin line and his stare piercing. He also stood out next to the men in polo with his fingerless gloves and gold rings. He looked like he belonged better on an Inazuman fashion magazine cover than on a hotel vacation with a bunch of losers.

Heizou beamed. “Scara!”

“Hey,” Scaramouche said, then his eyes landed on you.

It was hard to tell if there was any reaction on his face because Heizou went up to him to ruffle his hair, stealing away his attention.

“Thanks for inviting us out. I didn’t know you were the type to want to snuggle with his friends.” Heizou waggled his eyebrows as Scaramouche pushed him away with a hand to Heizou’s face.

Scaramouche wrinkled his nose. “I am not sharing a room with any of you three. You snore, Kazuha snores louder, and I would wake up to Aether’s leg on my stomach the next morning.”

“That was one time,” Aether muttered, blushing.

“How many rooms are reserved?” Kazuha asked.

Scaramouche sighed, craning his neck. He had a really nice side profile. “Still two. The other one with a king and the other with two queens. I was supposed to have the first, but you didn’t tell me you were inviting someone else. This shithole’s booked full now.”

Your gaze fluttered away as they all turned to you. You bit your lip, frowning. Did Scaramouche not recognize you? He was acting like he didn’t. He was treating you like he would any stranger. That upset you, but for the entire car ride, you were also preparing for it. It probably would’ve hurt worse if you hadn’t mentally prepared yourself.

Heizou grinned, slinging an arm over Scaramouche’s shoulder. “I suppose you have no choice but to share a bed with us.”

“No.” Scaramouche picked up his luggage and started rolling away. “Heizou, Kazuha, Aether, you share the king.”

The three men turned to you instead, surprise visible in their expressions. It was exactly because Scaramouche decided to share a room with you, whom he never acknowledged since you arrived.

You wanted to protest. If Scaramouche didn’t recognize you and opted for a choice that didn’t involve sharing a room with anyone, you’d rather sleep on the floor in Kazuha and the others’ room. But Scaramouche was already stepping inside the elevator and was holding the door for you.

You held your gaze to the floor the entire time as Scaramouche pointed at a room and told the three they would sleep there. Scaramouche flashed the card against the door of your room, then stepped inside.

“This one’s ours,” Scaramouche said. You couldn’t detect any hint of emotion.

The room was bigger than the two rooms at your apartment. It had two beds, as Scaramouche said, and a TV across. The room was cold as fuck. You shuddered, and Scaramouche remained unbothered with his layers of clothes that probably cost more than you.

As Scaramouche set his luggage on the bed closest to the window, you gathered the courage to not make this trip any more awkward.

You breathed in deeply. “I’m Y/N—”

“I haven’t forgotten.” He arched an eyebrow as he sat on the edge of his bed, staring at you. “Have you forgotten about me?”

“No, no, of course not,” you said. “I could never forget you, Kunikuzushi.”

You stiffened, thinking it was a mistake and there must’ve been a reason he was called by another name, but you took a look at him and got distracted. His face relaxed when you said his name.

I could never forget you. It was sickeningly true. You can never forget about Kunikuzushi. He was your first love. He was so cute with his wide eyes; and he was very clingy, too, which made him all the more endearing.

But looking at the present Kunikuzushi, with his intense stare and permanently bored expression, he was hot, and you started to think that maybe your type was just Kunikuzushi.

Horror settled in your stomach as Scaramouche flashed a wicked grin.

“Then you wouldn’t mind sleeping with me, would you?”

“He said what?” Heizou cackled, hitting the wall as he threw his head back, laughing.

Scaramouche meant it as sleeping in the same room, but he could have— no, should have worded it better. Scaramouche laid down on his bed right after and went on his phone as if he didn’t say anything at all. You blurted some half-baked excuse and left the room to cry about it in your friends’ room.

When Scaramouche said their room was assigned a king bed, you didn’t expect it to fit five people—and Scaramouche said he wanted it for himself? The bed was incredibly big, almost in a lonely way. You have never seen an Alaskan king bed before, but now, sitting on the edge of it, felt as if you could fit your entire apartment on it.

Kazuha was in between Heizou and Aether, their backs resting on the headboard. They were about to sleep, too, but as soon as you burst in, they settled into position and listened intently. Except Aether, kind of; he was texting his sister, who was demanding a room tour.

“I never thought he would be this bold. I mean, demanding to share a room the moment he laid his eyes on you? Wow,” Heizou said, looking terribly criminal with his expression.

“It is surprising,” Kazuha mused. “I’ve witnessed how women flock to his feet and how he bat them all off like he never saw them.”

An unpleasant feeling washed over, which was weird because why would you be upset? Of course they’d flock to him—with a face like that. He had the looks and the personality that would garner him a lot of masochistic fans if he were a character in a drama.

“Does that happen a lot?” The way you spat it out spelled exactly how upset you are.

“No need to get so jealous, now. After that display, I’m positive that he wants as much as you want him,” Heizou laughed, falling forward and resting his elbows on the mattress. He moved his chin to his palm. He looked like he was going to ask if you wanted to paint nails and curl hairs the next second.

Your face felt hot. What was this conversation? You’d much prefer painting nails than talking about this. “I don’t want him!”

Heizou arched an eyebrow. “No?”

Even Kazuha looked doubtful, which was enough of a blow.

“I’m just confused,” you insisted. “You know what happens when you’re in a room alone with an objectively attractive guy? You get confused.”

“I get it,” Aether said, setting his phone aside to share his insight. “This is your sexual awakening.”

“What? No!”

“It definitely is,” Heizou agreed. “Why else are you crying about this to us?”

There was a sense of impending doom at realizing that Heizou was brewing some horrible, horrible thoughts in that head of his. “To stop feeding into my madness!”

Heizou clicked his tongue. “How do you think he feels? His childhood best friend came back to his life looking like that—I’m surprised he hasn't eaten you right up yet.”

You didn’t know what was more horrifying: Heizou implying he thought you were hot, or him implying that he thought Scaramouche thought you were hot.

Your face must’ve looked like a constipated mix between flustered and horrified; Kazuha chimed in to tell Heizou, “You should be more careful with your words. I’ve never met anyone as possessive as Scaramouche.”

“It’s already a miracle he even remembers me. He wouldn’t get jealous. I doubt he actually wants me that way,” you sighed.

“Oh, but you want him that way?” Heizou asked.

You wanted to slap that expression off Heizou’s face. “Of course I do. He was so cute when we were little—I already liked him then. I didn’t think he’d grow up to be so…”

“Sexual awakening,” Aether said again.

“Ow,” Aether whined when you hit him square on the head.

Reluctantly, you returned to your room. Heizou, Kazuha, and Aether told you to get your shit together and face this not-sexual-awakening like a man. Kazuha didn’t say it, but you could feel that he was also thinking it. And if he ever said it out loud, you’d tell him to go fuck off to Liyue already.

Scaramouche was awake. The door clicked shut, and you faintly felt like those heroines locking themselves up in a room to hook up with someone who they didn’t think was the murderer on the front page right now.

“Where did you go?” he asked.

You tried not to let your surprise show, but Scaramouche was staring so intently that you would’ve failed miserably either way. “The other room.”

The longer you looked at him, the more you realized that Kunikuzushi felt like a fever dream. Being only a few feet away from the guy you used to be so fond of, now grown and had an air of haughtiness that would’ve been a turn-off had it been anyone else— it was doing things to you.

“Are you scared of me?”

You laughed and nearly choked on it when registering that Scaramouche was still looking. It wasn’t something like embarrassment. It was more like laughing unabashedly and then sensing that your hallway crush walked past. Maybe it was a bit of embarrassment.

“No. No, I’m not scared.” You moved to sit on your bed, eyes trained on the wall. “You didn’t tell me you were back.”

“You changed your number. You moved out.”

“Oh.” You did do that. Your apartment was very far from your home.

“And I figured you forgot about me or wanted to forget about me because of what I did to you.”

“Oh.” You wanted to say that he didn’t affect you that much. Life goes on; you meet new people and lose them every day, and all that. But Scaramouche was affecting you that much, especially when he’s only a few feet away from you, looking like he wanted you to pounce him.

Scaramouche grinned lopsidedly. “But I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

What the hell does that mean? Your heart skipped a beat. Did he figure it out? Were you that obvious with your thoughts about pouncing?

Scaramouche stood up from his bed, moving towards yours slowly. “Are you seeing anyone right now?”

You tried to avoid getting too close by leaning back, but he kept drawing his face closer, bending towards you. You’re one last tilt away from him pinning you down on the bed.

“No,” you blurted before you could even think about it. It was a little difficult to think about anyone else when you were a breath away from kissing. “Why?”

Scaramouche’s eyes narrowed, electric indigo. “Do you still have a crush on me?”

“You’re asking too many questions.”

“We’re catching up. This is how it works, doesn’t it?”

No, it was definitely not how this worked. Your neck was starting to ache with this awkward angle, and he hadn’t even answered your question.

“Do you?” he repeated, hovering above you.

You gave up on the painful angle and laid flat on the bed, frowning up at him. You crossed your arms to achieve the stance of someone who will not back down easily. “How are you so sure I even had a crush on you?”

“You’re telling me I’m wrong?”

What was this? Some fucked up game of 21 questions, but Scaramouche was too high and mighty to follow the rules? You didn’t know what to say to that. You wisely decided to stay silent, glaring up at him.

You probably didn’t look intimidating at all. Scaramouche smiled, much less sharper. Almost fond as his eyes flicked down to somewhere below your nose. “Am I still the only one for you?”

Okay. You would back down easily if he kept looking at you like that.

“You didn’t hurt me, Kuni.” You sighed. “You never could.”

Scaramouche straightened, his face carefully blank. It was much harder to read him like this. You sat up, wanting to ask if it was the wrong thing to say. You couldn’t get the words out because he lunged for a kiss.

You might have gasped. You might have made some embarrassing noise while a laugh rumbled from the back of Scaramouche’s throat. But that was all thrown out the window the moment your eyes fluttered shut and you lost yourself in the sensation of his warm mouth on yours.

He pushed closer, and you were pulled back on the mattress, his arms on either side of your head. Your eyes flew open when Scaramouche nipped at your lip. As if suddenly remembering where and who you were, you forced his chest back and gaped.

“What?” He looked irritated you interrupted him.

“At least say it back!”

“You didn’t even say it,” Scaramouche said, one eyebrow raised.

“I like you, Kunikuzushi.”

Scaramouche turned red and then looked humbled that you saw it. “I still like you, too.”

You looked at him up and down. You asked, but you didn’t want to hear the answer. “And you didn’t have anyone while you were in Sumeru?”

“Of course not,” Scaramouche scoffed. “You think anyone there was worth my time? You think I’d settle for less than you?” He scowled. “How about you? Nevermind, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know. I’d do it better than any of them.”

You laughed, tugging him close with your arms around his neck. If anyone were to come in, they would assume the worst. Then again, maybe Scaramouche had plans to indulge in the worst.

wake up! let’s eat breakfast at the restaurant we saw yesterday!

ask scaramouche. so he can pay for us

Despite the freedom and space of lying on separate queen beds, you and Scaramouche were huddled and pressed close. And despite books in your bag, you were occupied with huddling and pressing close against Scaramouche. You were lying on his chest while he had an arm resting on your stomach.

As soon as Heizou’s texts appeared on the top banner of your screen, you looked up, and Scaramouche looked like he was going to murder someone.

“It’s a joke, probably,” you said. “They don’t see you as a wallet.”

“It’s not a joke,” Scaramouche said. “I don’t really care about that. You and Heizou close?”

“He’s the one who introduced me to Kazuha and the others.” You sat up from the comfortable position and stretched.

“So you’re close.”

“Oh, very much so.” Then you laughed at Scaramouche’s thunderous expression. “Idiot. Why are you jealous? He’s not the one I’m sharing a room with and was making out with last night.”

Scaramouche’s gaze cut down to your neck. He looked extremely pleased.

You and Scaramouche took the elevator down, holding hands throughout. You felt a little giddy. What must this look like to everyone else? They’d all assume you were out with your boyfriend. As you reached your friends, Aether had just started the car. Kazuha slipped into the passenger seat, and Heizou waved at the both of you.

Then Heizou gasped. Aether turned to you and gasped as well.

“What happened to you? You look like you were mauled by a tiger,” Aether asked, scandalized.

“If the tiger had a short hime cut and a thick wallet, maybe,” Heizou mused. You flipped him off and climbed inside the car. Heizou laughed and sat beside you.

Aether frowned. “What kind of tiger would that be?”

You groaned, burying your face in your palms and wishing that lightning would strike you down. You needed coffee. Or a beer. Maybe if you bat your eyelashes and kissed him on the lips, Scaramouche would buy you bottles of wine.

As if summoned by your thoughts, a figure forced himself in between you and Heizou. Scaramouche worked fast. He glared at Heizou and tugged you away from him.

Heizou’s eyes went wide. “What’d I do?”

“Know your place, Shikanoin,” Scaramouche said. You just wanted to at least not be half-sitting on his lap, but he was proving a point and didn’t let you budge.

Kazuha smiled. “I warned you, Heizou.”

“Damn,” Heizou said. He looked exhausted. He was the one who suggested you and Scaramouche hook up in the first place—did he not expect his intuition to be right this time? “Didn’t take you for the clingy type. Two more days of this?”

“This is not some fling,” Scaramouche hissed. “You think I don’t take this seriously?”

You smiled as your heart fluttered. Scaramouche could be so unintentionally sweet sometimes, not that you’d tell it to his face, because he would grumble and hide his face. You rather liked his face. It was pretty, and you knew that if you tugged his hood down, you’d see a bruise on his neck as well.

“Didn’t take him for a romantic as well,” Kazuha said, thoroughly entertained.

“Wait, are you actually a thing now?” Aether made a face. “What the hell happened in that room?”

Scaramouche smirked. “You sure you wanna know?”

a/n it was already so hard for me to not turn it into a heizou fic dude. That entire first part was so unnecessary i was just hopelessly infatuated. BUT ANYWAY!!1 thank you so much for reading i hope u liked it <3 if u do, leave a comment or a reblog so i can see your thoughts :DD

also, another note: on the day i wrote this fic the insta acc of scara didnt exist. so if it does by the time youve read this fic, its pure coincidence and i have nothing to do w it. or maybe i did, because i came up w the name HAHA

[daosies]

how they love you

xavier, rafayel ♡ gn!reader

warnings: major xavier and rafayel story spoilers, reader is the protagonist from the game (but gender neutral), rafayel is his own warning (hes a bit of a freak)

notes: im writing this like i understand xavier and rafayels lore (i dont. all i did was read up on reddit and the wiki before going straight off the dome.)

"xavier," jeremiah calls incredulously, "you're staring."

"no, i'm not," xavier lies straight through his teeth. his periwinkle eyes trail after you like they're bound to you, held together by a red string that knots at his irises.

(maybe they are.)

xavier blinks, resting for but a moment before his gaze returns. it'll always return—xavier thinks he does a lot of that. return.

"at least try to pretend," jeremiah remarks, tender expression betraying his incredulous tone. despite the fact that xavier is loitering in philo, posing a hazard to the nearby flora with his intense aura, jeremiah can't bring himself to say anything more.

xavier is in love—but that's not right, jeremiah thinks. xavier has always been in love. he loved you back in philos, in all your incarnations and the ones thereafter. xavier loved you when you sparred against him, when you rose to the throne, and even when you suffered and while everyone was against you, he loved you then, too.

jeremiah supposes that it's only right that xavier loves you now. because xavier loves with his whole being, it's not just his eyes that follow after you, but rather, his existence.

xavier follows you despite the era, traveling centuries back and staying just to catch a glimpse of you, to glimmer, ever so slightly, in your incomparable radiance.

we could go back, jeremiah thinks, conjuring up the possibility despite his nerves telling him not to. we could go back to philos. the core within your heart holds infinite possibilities.

if xavier wanted to, he could obtain your aether core, and that would be enough to return to the future—where you still exist, sure, but more importantly (to jeremiah, at least), where philos exists.

("we will not kill them," xavier muttered darkly, "do not bring this topic up again. i will find another solution.")

(and that was where jeremiah went wrong. because to xavier, philos is nothing. you have always been the whole, vast universe. you are the most important thing in this life, and the many more thereafter; and to xavier, no future matters except the one you exist in now.)

so, he did. he tried, at least. xavier scoured the ruined earth for protocores that could mimic the same capabilities of yours. he lived through centuries on earth, fighting for existence despite knowing that the answer lied, as it always has been, in you.

when your incarnation appeared, jeremiah never once doubted xavier's judgement. while the other backtrackers under xavier's command went mad, trying to harvest your aether core to return to philos, xavier fought—but more than that, actually. xavier loved.

xavier loved, no, loves, so fervently, so profoundly, that he killed the backtrackers who had tried to harm you. you are not the same incarnation that he loved back in philos, but the fact that it's you is enough for xavier to rid all doubts.

and jeremiah thinks that, despite xavier's desperate intent to return back to philos, he wouldn't mind living here on earth with you now. jeremiah has noticed that the fervent expression his captain once wore has dwindled into something more mellow, into something tender.

something like the looks he'd send to you from afar, chasing you across school rooftops and coexisting in between the clashing of blades—xavier loves.

and love has made him content. and love has made him present, when he never was before. when all he could do, prior to your incarnation's existence, was think of returning to philos.

(how could he return to philos when you're right here?)

"[name]," jeremiah calls, feigning ignorance to the way xavier glares at him, the captain's tender expression suddenly dissipating into nothingness. ouch, jeremiah thinks, mouthing to xavier, "you don't have to make it that obvious you don't like me."

"yeah?" you reply, glancing up from the foliage. xavier reaches over the many shelves of flora—much to jeremiah's dismay—before parting them to get a good look at your face. xavier smiles. jeremiah's jaw drops.

"did you find something you liked? you said you had to get a bouquet for a friend, right?" jeremiah asks, egging xavier on.

"a friend?" xavier echoes, not even bothering to look at the florista behind him.

"oh, yeah! i'm choosing a bouquet for this one guy—" jeremiah sees the way xavier's expression goes blank, lips thinning into a line whilst his periwinkle eyes, somehow, manage to retain their enamored look.

ah, jeremiah realizes, it's 'cause captain is still looking at them. of course it is—why did he expect any other reason?

although xavier remains silent, jeremiah knows that the only thing running through the captain's mind is: guy, guy, guy?!

"a guy?" jeremiah queries, deciding to put xavier out of his misery.

"yeah. he worked with my grandma when she was younger, but i have to deliver it through one of my friends because he lives in the arctic..."

"that means he's old," jeremiah whispers, loud enough for only xavier to hear. the captain glances away.

at least try to hide that look of relief, jeremiah thinks incredulously. still, it's fun to see xavier like this: with his tense brows easing up, his thinned lips turning slightly upwards. when xavier loves, he does it with his whole being.

it's in the way he slips in between the aisles of flora in order to be next to you. in the way he carries the vases of flowers for you despite knowing you're perfectly capable of doing so yourself.

when xavier loves, it's evident in the way his cold, indigo eyes melt into hues made of periwinkle. it's in the way his touch, hardened by years of training, melts into something as light as a feather. it grazes past your face, brushing a stray leaf away.

"how much will it be, jeremiah?" you ask, preparing your coin pouch. jeremiah feels xavier's glare piercing his skin.

i know, i know! is all jeremiah thinks. "for free. don't worry about it!"

"huh? that can't be right... these are a lot of flowers, jeremiah."

"it's okay, [name]," xavier interjects, resting a hand over yours to prevent you from getting your money. "he owes me a favor, and i never buy flowers. so it's best used for your bouquet."

again, xavier lies fluidly through his teeth.

"are you sure...? you could buy a couple flowers, xavier! you know, to decorate your room?"

xavier shakes his head. "i'd forget to water them, probably."

liar, jeremiah thinks. for his own safety, he opts to keep his mouth shut, observing the situation with a suppressed smile.

xavier can't even be bothered to hide his infatuation—when he does so much as look at you, his world comes to a halt, his attention fixated wholly on you when usually it drifts off into wonderland.

when he does so much as hear you, or perceive you, or exist with you, xavier shrinks into nothing, permeating wholly into your skin, melting into your bones and becoming a part of you.

forget his title as captain, or lumiere, or crown prince—xavier becomes yours. and that's all he needs to be.

somehow, jeremiah thinks that xavier is more than just a lover.

he's love itself.

rafayel taps his foot impatiently. with his arms crossed, his gaze darts back and forth between the clock and the door, brows furrowing once he realizes you're nowhere to be seen.

"ugh, that bodyguard!" he cries to no one. "always making me wait for this and that.... puh-lease, like i care!"

rafayel turns around and starts heading into the art museum, lips curled into a pout whilst he glances occasionally over his shoulder. eventually, he stops, still trying to discreetly scope out the premises.

they're still not here?! is all he thinks, reaching for his phone with newfound passion. rafayel tries calling you a couple times, somehow getting more and more offended when you don't pick up.

he then resorts to spamming your texts, his phone flailing around in his hands from the onslaught of his madness.

"you think this is just a game, huh?!" rafayel texts. "fine, it is! whatever! not like i care!!!!"

when you don't respond, he blinks owlishly in disbelief, staring at the screen with his mouth hanging agape.

no way they ignored me! rafayel thinks, somehow even more offended than before.

but the irritation nestled in his stomach morphs into worry, and the worry contorts into yearning. oh, rafayel thinks, staring at your contact name for far longer than he'd like to admit. what if something happened to them?

rafayel's imagination eggs his yearning further. what if you're waiting for him somewhere—with nothing but him on your mind, of course—tears spilling from your eyes while crying his name? what if you're injured, clutching your wound whilst thinking of him—and his killer looks—wishing you could see him right now?

oh. rafayel's imagination eggs his yearning further. oh, what if they're injured? he thinks, his fingers beginning to glide all across his phone's keyboard, spamming you like a madman whose lost all sense of reason.

"you don't have to show up," he starts texting, but quickly deletes that sentence. "text me when you see this," he manages to send, hand coming up to fiddle with some stray strands of his wisteria hair.

he feels his heart thrash against his chest like a fish out of water, his skin beginning to feel stuffy while he grasps at his shirt, crumpling the pearl fabric under his hands. what if you're hurt? what if something happened to you? what if you're leaving, and he isn't able to catch up?

rafayel hates waiting. he turns around, heading toward the exit of the museum, ignoring the looks of confusion from the people who just watched him enter and clutch his head manically.

again, rafayel's imagination runs wild, feeding him delusions and convincing him that he's your knight in shining armor, saving you from the clutches of despair. obviously, after he saves you—with his killer looks and killer moves—you're going to grovel at his feet and beg for forgiveness, hoping that he'll spare you so much as a glance for your impudence.

he tries to ignore the way his ribs begin to constrict, the way his chest begins to ignite with agonizing pain. not again, is all he thinks, rushing out of the museum. not again.

rafayel loves you. sometimes, he hates to admit it. sometimes, he knows it's fact. rafayel loves you—how could he not? you are bound to him, no, rather, he is bound to you.

rafayel is bound to you, yet even then, he struggles to keep up. he follows you hopelessly into every incarnation, trailing after your existence like a drowning man at sea, gasping for air and a wisp of your presence. he had you, once. and what a twisted thing love is, to give him so much hope and radiance, that he can't possibly fathom to live without it now.

rafayel is hooked on you, drinking you in greedily with his eyes, searching for you desperately amidst the tides. rafayel is hooked on you, he's left in a constant state of wanting more, more, more, even though you don't feel the same. even though you're perfectly okay with leaving him, oblivious to the effect you have.

you have carved rafayel's being, forcing his hands to be a perfect fit with yours, forcing his eyes to only ever hold you. you've dismembered rafayel's bones, taking apart the shafts and forcing yourself in, your existence running through his marrow, your existence running through his veins.

sometimes, rafayel hates what you've done to him. he hates how he's reduced to a spectator in your presence, the way he's destined to love you despite all you've done to him.

rafayel hates the way you go around, saving everyone, saving everything, even though he was the first. he was your first victim, your first lover, your first everything.

and you've forgotten. and you've forgotten. how could you? sometimes, rafayel envies you. he wishes he could be as blissfully ignorant as you, he wishes he could rendezvous around the world, unaware of what he's done before.

(how could he? how could he ever forget you? how could rafayel ever be anything more than what you've made him?)

he laughs bitterly to himself, running a hand through his hair when your caller id shows up on his phone. rafayel half-considers letting you go to his voicemail, but oh, the way his heart constricts, the way his hands instinctively move to answer.

rafayel isn't like you—he has a heart, first of all—he's made of memories, made of century-old pacts and vows that have haunted him across lifetimes.

rafayel isn't like you, because, first and foremost, he loves. he loves you. he loves you! and oh, how could he not? how could he ever forget what you've done for him? how could he ever forget what you've done to him?

(and yet, he loves you anyway. rafayel loves you, despite the way you betrayed him, despite the way you forgot. rafayel loves you, not only because he was made to love you, but because it's you. does he need any other reason?)

just before your call gets forwarded to voicemail, rafayel picks up. he swallows thickly, letting his yearning drip down his throat, permeating into his organs whilst he says, dreading the way his voice cracks, ever so slightly, "ahem. what took you so long, huh?!"

your voice glitches on the other end. rafayel feels heat rush to the tips of his ears, feeling the way you sound so close to him. he presses the phone closer to his head.

"sorry, rafayel! i was busy,"—rafayel scoffs at this, so is he, you're not special—"but i'm coming right now! just wait for me, okay?"

"ugh! no, i don't wanna! i'm leaving! did you hear that? i'm," rafayel trails off, pausing for extra emphasis (hoping that you'd care enough to interrupt him), "i'm leaaavvii—"

you hang up. rafayel gasps, staring at the end screen with a flabbergasted look.

"no way! ugh! nobody respects me around here! making me wait... who do they think i am? a waiter? the waiter?" rafayel mutters incredulously to himself, sending glares towards anyone who eyes him weirdly.

still, he remains put, crossing his arms with a pronounced frown whilst sunset eyes scan the area, looking for your familiar motorbike.

rafayel waits. begrudgingly.

then again, he supposes he does a lot of that when it comes to you.

he opens your contact one more time. "some bodyguard you are!!!" he texts. "i could be dying right now and you still wouldn't pull up, huh?!?!"

"i'm dying! i'm dying! heeeelllooo?! i'm dying!" he spams. the familiar whirring of a motorbike appears, and rafayel glances up from his phone, horizon eyes growing wide.

rafayel hates the effect you have on him, the way your sudden appearance can bring tsunamis to a lull, the way your sudden appearance makes an utter fool of him.

still, rafayel lets you get away with it.

(you've gotten away with a lot of things.)

"raf!" you call. "quit spamming me!"

when you take your helmet off, rafayel's breath hitches. you steal the oxygen from his lungs, a mere wisp of your existence making the world tumble.

"hmph!" he crosses his arms, hoping you don't see the way his ears bloom a violent red. "don't tell me what to do! do you know how long it's been?!"

"ten minutes?" you reply, unamused. rafayel glares at you.

too long, he thinks, eyes tracing over the bridge of your nose and the curl of your lips. the artist instinct with him begins to flare—he wants to paint, he wants to devote himself to you all over again, drawing tirelessly into the night.

"no. eight-hundred years, you idiot!"

you roll your eyes. "what an exaggeration."

rafayel huffs. "puh-lease! i just say it as it is!"

you start heading towards the museum, and rafayel scrambles to catch up, his throat beginning to close. his heart—whatever's left of it, at least—lurching forward.

it chases you. it chases you! it always, always chases you.

into every life, into every eon. rafayel chases you, desperate and made of memories, hanging onto the depths of your soul, forfeiting the ocean and the tide and all that ever mattered.

then again, rafayel supposes that none of it matters now. you're here.

and even if you don't remember, rafayel will love you anyway.

(how could he not?)

[zolass]

ᅠᅠᅠTHE GOLD AND THE BLUE

ᅠ···─THE GOLD AND THE BLUE with AETHER

Summary: You were simply a traveler living in Teyvat, one day news spread about two stars falling from the sky. Before the news of a new hero rising in Mondstadt came around, Aether.

This one is simply thought of as a series, where I slowly just try to write about Male Reader with each male character of Genshin Impact, this one is all about Aether. Other's will follow probably (hopefully) soon, none of them have a connection there will be a definitely a story or multiple w Male Reader x All M Genshin Characters, just because it seems fun and we all know we have more house husbands in Genshin (and probably other games) than only one.

But the series will probably have more story errors as I'm mostly just a collector, but I'll try to make some sense w the og game plot and events. There will also be mostly fluff, probably lime and smut and if angst then only hurt comfort, and probably some possessive stuff going on w some characters. MALE READER IS TOP IN THE SERIES. Also this one is short I'll try to make them longer. Obv it will take a while for me to write all of these, hope y'all are patient enough w lil ol' me and stick around for a bit. Hope y'all enjoy and I hope y'all are doing well <3 All credits of the art used as banners go to the original creators!

It has been a rather long day since you traveled from Liyue back to Mondstadt. The backpack that you carried was a heavy baggage that slowed you down and made you sweat buckets underneath the blazing sun.

But well you can't help it, even after many times of seeing the same scenery and going through the long and painful journey, you always found yourself traveling from Mondstadt to Liyue.

With a heavy sigh, you slung the backpack from your back, placing it on the ground, before wiping the sweat off of your forehead. Glancing up at the clear blue sky, you couldn’t help but just rest on a rock and simply look up. You deserve a break from traveling. 

Suddenly a high pitched voice in the distance caught your attention. As you glanced over you could see the slightly familiar flying silhouette of a small being, Paimon. Slowly another figure emerged, long blonde hair neatly tied to a braid and the all too familiar outfit.

Obviously Paimon wouldn’t be here, if it wasn’t for Aether.

Just as you wanted to look away from the approaching duo, you were stopped by the simple lift of the hand from Aether. You quickly gave a small wave back, before trying to find something to busy yourself with, as it was suddenly so awkward. 

You never met Aether really before, but you knew him. How couldn’t you, when almost everyone in Teyvat knew about him? The glorious hero, looking for his sister.  As you looked through your back, a slight shadow fell onto your legs and a pair of feet were in front of yours.

As you looked up you came face to face with Aether and a smiling Paimon. “Hello there!” she said while waving her small hand at you, which you returned with a small smile.

“Hello,” was your short response.

There was a certain awkward silence between the three of you, as the two stared at you, while your eyes jumped between the two, not trying to basically stare at the blonde. Which was hard– the reason simply being you never quite got a closer look at the other. Just a few glances at the back, when the other visited Mondstadt or Liyue.

“Uhh– I’m Aether, nice to meet you,” the blonde spoke up, while reaching his hand out to you. Surprised you looked at it, before slowly taking it and shaking his hand, “Y/n– call me Y/n.” 

You watched as a sweet smile started to blossom on the others lips, before the voice of Paimon chirped up, “Are you a traveller, Y/n?” she asked, while pointing at your stuffed bag. 

Grabbing both of yours and Aether’s attention, your eyes landed on your bag as well, “Yes, it wasn't hard to guess, was it?” you chuckled. “So Paimon is right! Where do you travel to? Did you see a lot of places in Teyvat? Any food–” suddenly a hand clasped over Paimon’s mouth. 

“I think that’s enough questions for the span of twenty seconds..” Aether mumbled, while Paimon glared at him. You couldn’t help but chuckle at the display in front of you, lifting a hand up to cover your mouth as two pairs of eyes focused on you.

“No problem.. To answer your questions, I only travel from Mondstadt to Liyue and back– which would also answer your second question too,” you sheepishly said. Paimon stared at you with her big eyes, before glancing at her companion, and then back to you.

“Paimon thinks– you should travel with us someday–” Paimon blurted out, only to get her mouth covered again, you looked surprised but it was quickly replaced with a smile, “one day sure.”

There was a small moment of silence, before it was interrupted by another person, “Hey!” a man yelled as he jogged closer, distress and relief on his face as his eyes fell onto Aether, “We need your help,” the man said out of breath. 

Aether threw a glance at you, as you smiled. “Seems like the knight in shining armor has more people to help,” you teased before grabbing onto your bag and swinging it onto your back again, “Wish you the best of luck–” you said while walking a few steps away before turning around, “Hope we see each other again, maybe for a nice dinner on me.”

There was a short moment where Aether seemed surprised at the invitation, but gave you a smile back and a nod, “Stay safe out there,” were the last words from Aether’s side, before he was led away by the frantic man. You watched his back for a while, it felt like all the times before where you were only able to see his back from afar.

With a shake of your head, you turned your back as well as you continued to walk towards Mondstadt.

A few days passed since your encounter with Aether, surprisingly you did see the blonde male a few times in Mondstadt and had a small chat with him, before he was dragged away to help the people in need.

Now you are making your way to the Dawn Winery, as it is the fastest way to Liyue. Yes, you were traveling towards Liyue yet again, maybe with a small stop at the Winery hoping to see a specific redhead, delivering some goods.

With a sigh you couldn’t help but replay the little chats you had with Aether, the other did leave quite an impression on you. The conversation wasn’t as awkward as the first time, as the two of you chatted about travels and a few personal things, which surprised you.

A pair of approaching footsteps brought you out of your thoughts, just as you turned around you spotted the person occupying your mind running towards you. Aether came to a scittering stop before you, his knees bent and his arms holding his body up, while he tried to catch his breath.

You waited for a second watching with slight amusement and curiosity, “Everything alright?” You finally asked, only to get a nod and a heavy sigh. Aether looked at you, after standing back up straight, a small smile formed on his lips. “I asked around where you went, only to hear you want to go back to Liyue again,” he finally explained his sudden appearance. 

A small chuckle left your lips, as you looked at him. “Is that so? You wanted to say goodbye?” You asked genuinely curious about why he came after you. At your words, Aether seemed to slightly falter as he smiled sheepishly. “I wanted to see if you– might want some company– and I thought I would get out of some requests..” Aether said while scratching the back of his head.

You couldn’t help but laugh at the second, slightly quieter reason. Shaking your head, you slightly patted the smaller male on his shoulder, “I wouldn’t mind some company.”

[fuji-sen]

the 'evil imposter' just wants to be a baker!

Prologue: The Foodie turned Imposter?!

Part 5: Burning Pinecones

[ part 4.5 ] || [ masterlist ] || [ part 6 ]

divider is made by @/saradika-graphics

warnings: the usual violence/blood for sagau fics.

"Traveller, would you like to accept a personal quest from me?"

Aether stared dubiously at the man in front of him, which the Cavalry captain noticed "Come on, aren't we friends?" The blond and Paimon stared at him incredulously, then the two travelling partners stared at each other, engaging in a mental conversation.

'Do they not trust me that much?' Kaeya felt a bit hurt but brushed it off when the duo turned to him once more. "You're not going to ask us to hunt down this 'imposter' are you?"

It was the blue haired man's turn to stare at them flabbergasted "My, you think so little of me. Haven't you heard the saying Innocent until proven guilty?" "We know that!" Paimon huffed "it's just. . you're still in the knights of Favonius, We're surprised you haven't gone all. ."

"Murderous" Aether offered.

"Yeah! It's a surprised you aren't as murderous as Jean and Lisa were with this lookalike." Paimon pointed out. "That's fair, but I would prefer knowing all the details before acting."

Aether sighed, "all right, then I'm guessing you want us to track down the lookalike and gather information to help decide whether they are the imposter or not. . right?"

"Astute as ever dear Traveler" Kaeya clapped with a Cheshire like grin. "Why can't you do it though?" The traveler questioned "You're more familiar with the region as a resident of Mondstadt."

"Be that as it may, I am a member of the Knights. I expect Jean will be ordering all of us in a mandatory man-hunt for the 'Imposter.' You two on the other hand have a chance of not partaking in it in the guise of already being on a separate quest."

Aether and Paimon frowned, "are they really set on killing them?" He asked, he did not like this, he did not like how they were acting. Upon first meeting them, they seemed reliable and level-headed, now they seemed like. .

"Faith does a lot of things to a person traveler, Paimon. You will find that once word spreads across Teyvat that person will no know peace, even if they end up really being the Creator. So hopefully you find them first."

Golden eyes stared into periwinkle eyes. "Should I warn them about everything?"

Kaeya combed his locks "I'll leave that decision to your judgement in character. I should go now, I have a feeling that Jean will have someone call for me soon."

"Then me and Paimon will head out now, but. . have you any idea where they might be?"

ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

Thanks to the effort of the Samuchurl and the other hilichurls you had recovered quickly. All though the scars remained littering your body, still the pain that lingered was gone, you were no longer bothered by the lingering effects of electro from Lisa's attacks.

Your stomach was no longer empty and you were no longer in tattered clothes. The Pajamas although salvaged was now in a rucksack, you debated on whether throwing it away but seeing as it is your last memento of a life so far away from your grasps. . you decided to keep it in the end.

Now however, what draped your body was clothes that you could only describe as traditional or ethic, the type of clothes you'd see hilichurls wear. Luckily it fitted you and covered you properly considering hilichurl clothings usually cover the lower half of the body if you compared it to the in-game models. It reminded you of Claude's first attire in 'who made me a princess'*.

However the Hilichurls did not wear shoes so you had were still going to be walking barefoot. Dvalin or rather in the current timeline, Stormterror, had not returned to the area, you assumed he would be with the abyss mages or terrorizing mondstadt so you weren't scared for your safety (not like Dvalin would ever hurt you but you don't know that-) and you could stay with the hilichurls and your pyro buddy who were the best company right now!

Still. . you can't help but let your eyes linger away from the hilichurl camp. Despite the trauma that would no doubt haunt you for a long time, you still wanted to just. . explore Teyvat and everything it had to offer, well except for the people, you wanted to try the cuisine, wear there clothes and if it seemed like you'd be stuck here till you die. . maybe open up a shop or find a permanent home.

Inazuma would be nice as it would be based on Japan, but Liyue's culture also caught your eye. . but then Mondstadt's scenery, Fontaine's architecture and fashion. . .

"So while the hilichurls were busy you decided to take a walk, of course, some inkling inside you knew to avoid any humans and since your choices were either the brightcrown canyon teeming with enemy mobs or go south and find your way to dawn winery and then wolvendom. .

Brightcrown canyon was your choice of course.

"What-" you stare at the pyro slime that was angrily bouncing in front of you, as if stopping your escape. "I'm just going to take a walk."

It's stare was unnerving, clearly not wanting you to go anywhere else but the hilichurl camp. "I'm not going near any mondstadters if that helps my case!"

It stopped, blinking and then began happily prancing around you in circles.

You chuckled at the cute pyro slime as you scoped him in your hands, you didn't question how you weren't harmed by its flames, you were afraid to know what that means for you after all. Would that be considered proof of being an imposter?

ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

"Okay so last that anybody has heard of this creator lookalike, is that they fell off the cliff behind the headquarters of the knights and landed in Cider Lake" Paimon repeated as she and Aether were just outside of the city, across the bridge and in front of a fork in the road.

The left road would lead back to the whispering woods then to the lake, then the beach where they came from when Aether first came to Mondstadt. The middle one would lead to Wind rise and farther off would be cape oath. Then the path that led to the right of them would lead to a small village named Springvale, then to dawn winery and Wolvendom and the farthest place there would be Stormterror's lair.

They stared at the map that Kaeya had kindly given them, marked with numerous locations that were well known in Mondstadt. "Okay then what happened after is that Stormterror came during the commotion which led to a chance for the person to escape. . then when they fell into the lake, followed by soldiers trying to catch them. . Stormterror took a sip or rather bite out of the lake and ate the people there?"

Aether continued with a distraught looking expression as he tried to imagine it, well he didn't have to imagine it for long because due to a commotion near the lakeside he turned, finding Amber and a few knights pulling a net which contained fish, clothes and . . dismembered limbs.

Paimon paled, floating behind him as she covered her eyes.

Despite the nauseating feeling he approached to inquire about the bodies, it would be bad if the creator lookalike had been eaten by Stormterror. "Oh Traveler come here!" Amber waved over as he gulped but nonetheless reluctantly got closer. The smell of iron filled their noses, nauseating them.

"A-are you finding the 'lookalike' I heard they fell into the lake?" Aether offered, trying to ignore the close up looks of the bodies in his peripheral vision. "Yes, we are looking for the 'imposter' we need to make sure they're dead." The outrider corrected, with a disturbing look the travelling duo could not quite place for a lack of better terms.

The blond haired boy scrutinized the outrider in front of him, sure they had a rough first meeting when Amber was very suspicious of him but he got past that because she was doing her job, this however. . hunting down a person just because of the face they were born with, was this her job as well as an outrider? as a knight of Favonius? This was not the person he respected, and that made it all the more disappointing.

This entire situation flabbergasted him, perhaps it was because he was not of this world but. . was it common sense to hunt someone down and kill them on sight for having the face of a God? would there be no trial? no interrogation or due process? He understood the appeal to devote ones self to the Creator, for he felt their lingering warmth and love even from an inanimate statue in their image.

He also understood that there was a prophecy of an imitator, a devil disguising themselves as the creator and being a sign of chaos, and sure Mondstadt was in a chaotic state but what if the prophecy wasn't real? prophecies weren't exactly reliable anyways and was it worth risking the chance of harming and offending their Creator if that person wasn't an imposter??

"What got you so quiet?" Amber noticed as the boy flinched, "nothing, it's just the smell is bothering me."

"Oh- that's fair, Sorry for making you come closer I should have approached you instead" she at least had the nerve to be sheepish about it "This is the first time Stormterror killed someone. Mostly they have been causing disturbances with the storms and some injuries here and there, but this would be the first recorded casualties."

"Does that mean, Stormterror's gotten ticked off by something?"

"Probably, it's probably because of the Imposter" the brown haired girl's lips had thinned considerably "I guess Stormterror has a bit more common sense to attack the Imposter as well. That's nice at least, if only he had finished the job."

Aether forced himself to laugh awkwardly, "well, I uh see. . anyways I need to go. I have a quest to fulfill."

Not really noticing his behavior, Amber offered something with a smile "Oh where are you headed? I'll be going on a search and exterminate party with a small group of knights maybe we could join together and help each other."

"Maybe some other time-" Paimon finally spoke, cutting Aether off "Sure! Where are you headed?" Amber who brushed off what Aether was originally going to say "We're going to comb the areas around the lake, if Stormterror didn't managed to kill the imposter then it's likely that they were able to swim to the shores."

"Wait-" Paimon quickly elbowed her friend before turning to Amber "then uhh, we'll pick the farthest one, it's more important that we find the Imposter after all, right Aether?"

"I- oh yeah, I guess." he quickly said after realizing why Paimon was agreeing to the suggestion.

Paimon's eyebrows had ticked in annoyance at the subpar acting Aether possessed. Honestly, could he not be so obviously weird about the imposter-lookalike situation!

Amber meanwhile smiled "That's great!" she was none the wiser "It's nice to see you prioritizing the more important things in life!"

She unrolled the map as she let them take their first pick, Paimon and Aether glanced at each other, wondering which place should they take.

Their outrider friend(?) was called away by a knight so they spoke in hush whispers. "where do you think they'd go. ." aether hummed as paimon whacked him in the head, "hey!" he hissed "what was that for!"

"For you terrible acting, could you be anymore obvious?? You know we have to find them first!" Paimon complained tugging at his ear, "right look sorry!" he swatter her much smaller hand away "but we have to choose now."

Paimon bit her lip "but what if we picked the wrong location and Amber and the others find her first. ." The traveler sighed "It's a risk we have to take, hopefully. . her luck doesn't run out."

ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

"I need some herbs and spices, oh and some more sweet flowers and berries. . It'd be nice if I could catch some meat too." You absentmindedly said, as your pyro slime friend stared at you curiously, you love food after all so it's not entirely weird to be collecting ingredients.

The rucksack on your shoulder was already filled with mint, mushrooms, matsutakes, pinecones, sweet flowers and a few carrots. It was getting fairly heavy but still, you were excited to begin cooking with the ingredients and food that Teyvat had to offer. Would the mushrooms taste even slightly different from the ones in real life? is sweet flower sugar a better type of sugar than the one in real life as well? what about pinecones? how do they taste? she actually tried biting it but it wasn't any good, since the description of the item in-game was about having oil-rich seeds you assume it was either a substitute for cooking oil or the seeds are actually eaten or could add a taste to the few recipes that used them in the game like the hash browns.

"Want one?" you offered an apple to the pyro slime who shook in your hold, "so that's a no. Do you prefer sticks and coal? or what about pine cones?"

The pyro elemental being stared at the pinecone you handed him, and proceeded to eat it, simply by burning it inside of him. "Oh. ."

Luckily he seemed to like it enough when he jiggled like a happy jello. "We really need a name for you!**" you smile, petting him. There was a couple that went to your mind however before you could decide you stop by the coast or shores of the lake, you could see Mondstadt in the distance where the city was under dark gloomy skies.

'serves them right'

your eyes widened, surprised at your own bitter thoughts, one part of you loathed the city that traumatized you and rejected you but a part of you couldn't help but think of the poor people. .

"it's going to be okay, the traveler will save Dvalin and everything will be fine."

You basked in the sounds of the water and the chirping of the birds, as the smell of burning pine cones and freshwater filled your nostrils. You felt a sense of calm despite seeing the city under a blanket of darkness, from the looming dark clouds above it.

*snap!* body freezing up as you hear footsteps and the shaking of bushes. Your pyro slime friend jumped out of your hands, wiggling threateningly at the direction of the noise.

Turning slightly, you see two people getting out of the bushes. A boy with long blond hair, braided neatly and another, much smaller, floating near the other with silver hair.

Aether and Paimon. .

*this is claude, of course the clothes are not that open so your chest is covered (tho depending on you there may be a side-boob view (based on the shirt cut meme)) ** I will be posting a poll for the pyro slime's name, you are free to recommend names here, and if a name has been chosen, the person who gave the idea can request for a special chapter from this series (that can happen canonically, or not, or in a diff region.) however if a name I have suggested for has been chosen then I'll give a list of ideas for special chapters you can vote on that will be written.

ONE ACCOUNT IS ONLY ALLOWED TO SUGGEST AT MOST 2 NAMES (this applies to me)!

Current compiled suggestions: Fuji_Sen has suggested! Lava Cake or "Java" based on the food / coffee" Fuji_Sen has suggested! Monsieur Creme Brulee or "Creme" based on the food. @Fantasyhopperhea has suggested! Soleil or "Sol" @Cactus4226 has suggested! Ruru (Py-ro, ro -> ru -> ruru)

taglist: @fantasyhopperhea @rhoswen-drake @cchiiwinkle @aman3kkun @coffee-or-hot-cocoa

[aestherin]

KEEP MY HEART

goal 20: home

“What the —“ Heizou stopped in his tracks as soon as he got to the field. “Did I get the time wrong? I could’ve sworn the practice was scheduled after lunch.”

Underneath the scorching sun, there Scaramouche was, alone on the field. Heizou did not know what he was supposed to feel — should he be proud or worried that his captain was still playing his best despite not having any opponents? Not teammates, even. On that soccer field, it was just Scaramouche, the ball, and the goal.

He merely sighed.

“Scara!” Heizou called out as he approached the bleachers. The indigo-haired boy then looked at his direction, only acknowledging the other’s presence with a nod before going back to his practice. “What a snob,” he teased loudly.

“Shut up, Shikanoin.”

Heizou sat down as he starts preparing to join Scaramouche. While putting on his cleats, he looked around.

One of the large water containers meant for the soccer team was almost empty, even though they just refilled it to the brim after the previous practice they had. Scaramouche’s towel hang on one of the seats’ back, drenched in sweat. His sharp eyes then trailed back to the lone man playing on the field, whose shirt was almost made see-through due to being wet.

‘Just how long has he been playing here?’ Heizou thought.

As soon as the whole team, together with their coach and her good friend (a certain literature professor) arrived, the real practice commenced. From warm-ups, to drills, even up to practice games — Scaramouche was always there with them. He did every single thing that the whole team did. Even though he already did them more than a hundred times earlier.

Around dusk, Scaramouche was already reaching his limit. His plays were still impeccable, but his own body could not keep up with his own thoughts. He was panting, his legs almost at the brink of failing. His whole being was shaky and unstable. And for a second he stayed idle, crouching and bending his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"Kunikuzushi," Ei called.

"Coach?"

"You're already tired?" The woman's voice was laced with disappointment. Despite being the star player's mother, she could not spare her one and only son the humiliation. Scaramouche scoffed inwardly. 'She really had to tell me off within earshot of the whole team.'

Scaramouche was about to retort, but shortness of breath stopped him. Instead, it was Heizou who responded to their coach. "Coach Ei, maybe we can let him take a break. Scara's been here practicing since early morning. He must be fatig —"

"I'm not tired," Scaramouche stood up straight. "I can still play."

"Dude." Aether uttered.

Ei merely stared at him before blowing the whistle once again, signaling that the game resumed. Scaramouche however, no matter how hard he tried, failed to last much longer.

"Scara!"

"Captain!"

Every player in the field stopped what they were doing as their captain fell and laid flat on the grass. He was desperately gasping for air while clenching the fabric of his shirt tightly. All of them thought it was because he was catching his breath, but no.

It was primarily because he was frustrated with himself.

His mother stood near them, her friend beside her. "You're clearly overfatigued, Kunikuzushi," Ei remarked. "You're still lacking stamina and endurance."

Scaramouche, still on the ground and short of breath, put his right arm over his eyes. He could not help smiling bitterly. 'When did I ever not lack anything, mom?'

He chose not to say anything.

"Practice for today is now over."

Scaramouche's teammates expressed concern for their captain, while his two bestfriends helped him up. The whole time, they could not read the man at all. He did not say anything, nor was his face expressing anything.

All they knew was that he took what his mother said to heart.

Meanwhile, Ei and her friend Yae remained on the soccer grounds. The purple-haired woman was looking after everything, making sure that the team did not forget anything or did not leave a mess. Her friend merely seated on the benches with her legs crossed.

"You know, Ei," Yae said as she was boredly checking her nails. "You're a little too harsh to your boy."

"You know that I have to be."

"Of course, of course. I do remember what happened to your sister, and believe me, I understand where you're coming from. I know you just want to protect your son."

Yae stood up and headed towards her friend. "But you know, the way you are doing it, I don't like your approach."

"I am doing this for his own good," Ei insisted.

"If you say so."

KEEP MY HEART — scara x reader smau

previous . masterlist . next

SUMMARY — you find plenty of guys around you attractive, but there is only one you’re willing to make the first move on: the guy you first saw during your older brother’s soccer game. spoiler: he's a player from your rival university.

TAGLIST I (closed)

@kararisa @krnzysh @syriiina @your-kuya-pogi @xiaosonlybeloved @xiaomainlmao @cindywasneverhere @coquettemaiden @sunsethw4 @lunavixia @calickoh @arealistonao3 @youthingazi @zyilas @mondaymelon @yukiipc @heartswonder @st0pthatsgay @ozzierenato @astreaa-express @shewolfmiko @lovelyycherries @myaaones @countessqin @aloveablechaos @letthewindlead @lunaavity @local-blueberry-boy @luminestars @layla240 @useless-potatho @atlaszi @alatusorrow @lahsram2201 @sakiimeo @user11918163805279 @vqazx @neigesprincess @kunicrush @yoursockstinks @hotgirlshit5 @mikctp @crucnhice @apotatouwu @yuaenri @sammybeefangirls @miko1ly @deffenferofjustice @etherisy @sagegreenthinks

[delusionalandferal]

i had a little too much fun with the silly little idea of phantom being dewther's kit soo....this is what came of it??

--

"Okay, look at him and tell me he doesn't look like the cutest little bat."

"Aeth, he looks more like a bug in that thing, it's way too big on him!"

Aether huffed and held the little kit, dressed in a bat onesie, close to him, bouncing him. "Don't listen to your daddy, Phantom, you're not a little bug." He cooed, kissing between Phantom's little horns that were just starting to grow, earning a noise from the kit. Roughly the age of a toddler, Phantom was still quite small and only knew how to shriek and make noises. The closest he got to speaking was when he screeched, "Da" when reached for either Dew or Aether.

It'd been an effort, Dewdrop and Aether raising a kit topside, but oh, they wouldn't trade Phantom for the world. Aether had done the hardwork of carrying their kit and bringing him to term, and after hours of labor, Phantom entered the world, all tiny and very loud as he wailed. Dew's runt genes had carried over, but he had Quintessence energy. He really was a combination of both his parents.

Balancing tour life and a kit was tricky as well, although Papa had been more than generous in letting little Phantom tag along with them. Ifrit was already deemed a "bad" influence by Dewdrop ever since he was found trying to get Phantom's first word to be "Fritter" but Zephyr and Mountain were more than respectable and it balanced out. Aether was simply happy that his small pack were so fond of his and his mate's kit.

"Here, we should put him in this." Dew grinned as he held up a toddler sized Black Sabbath shirt. Most of the clothes they had for Phantom were a little too big, in the hopes he'd grow into it. "Gotta start them young, you know."

Aether rolled his eyes. "Yes because we should totally be introducing our kit to rock and metal bands." He teased. He and Dew had been sorting through new and old things belonging to Phantom. It didn't help having an entire pack and Papa that spoiled their little one. Kits were a rarity topside afterall.

"Actually music is proven to be scientifically good for babies." Dewdrop spoke up as Phantom cooed and wiggled in Aether's lap.

"On human babies, droplet. That study is on human babies, it hasn't been proven for kits." Aether replied, but Dew wasn't listening and he was already picking up a pair of soft black pants from the pile of Phantom's old clothes.

"Okay but how cute would he look? All he needs is one of those small leather jackets." The Water Ghoul hummed.

The Quint smiled. "He's gonna be a guitarist just like this dad, huh?" He looked down at Phantom, who was now chewing on his all too big onesie sleeve. He chuckled and lifted the kit into the air. "Gonna take over my position, yeah? When you're all grown up and big." His smile grew and Phantom giggled and waved his arms in the air, shrieking and cooing at the attention.

Dewdrop crawled over to sit next to Aether, his clothing choiced abandoned as he smiled at the sight. "He might be better than you one day." He added as Aether slowly handed Phantom over to him.

"Of course, he will. I'll teach him everything he has to know and he'll have you to support him."

Dew held the little one close in his arms and smiled all wide, letting Phantom reach up and place his little hands on his gills. "Our little Phantom." He held him a bit closer, nuzzling the kit's hair and closing his eyes as he started to purr. His tail intertwined with Aether's and he felt the Quint pull him closer. He wouldn't trade any of this for the world

--

The blaring of Dewdrop's alarm went off and he groaned, peeling himself from the bed and rolled onto his side to turn the alarm off. He flopped back onto the bed with a sigh, staring at the ceiling for a moment. He looked to the other side of his bed. Empty. Aether was likely called for an early morning shift in the infirmary, leaving Dew alone in their bed.

His hands went to his neck, feeling the scarring where his gills had once been. It had been so real. Phantom, in his arms. Here with them. But that era came and went. Ifrit and Zephyr were no longer here. Terzo was disposed. And now a new Papa, a former Cardinal, was in his place. He wasn't even a Water Ghoul anymore.

A pit formed in his stomach. He tried to recall that dream, wanting to cling to it a bit longer but it disappated.

Phantom was nothing more than a dream. He wanted to believe he was still alive but he had been so young when he and Aether were summoned. A kit, a runt kit nonetheless didn't stand a chance on his own. He had to be dead and that's why he haunted Dewdrop's dreams.

With a shaky breath, the Fire Ghoul climbed out of bed and started to get ready for the day. One day he and Aether would forget him, he knew that. He knew that one day they'd never even remember what he looked like. Dew could only pray that day never came. He looked himself over in the mirror before leaving the room. Phantom wouldn't even recognize him.

Selfishly and silently, he prayed that Phantom would remember him and Aether if he was alive. Even if it was only ever a foolish dream.

[delusionalbitchinthehouse]

Fizz fizz fizz fizz FIZZ

I need ifrit to finger aether I need ifrits thick fingers splitting aethers cunt open k think he can take 3. No 4. Stretch that quint out ITS WHAT HE DESERVES

Jdjsdkjshdhsjdh uh-uh, yeah. You are absolutely correct and now I won't get it out of my brain if I don't write it, so. Yeah. This is the direct following part of this, btw. I made it very mushy because aw my boys. Sorry it took so long T-T

Ifrit is nearly vibrating from excitement in the elevator, bouncing on the ball of his feet, and Aether just cannot help how endearing he finds it to be. The quint lays a hand on the back of Ifrit's neck with a huff.

"Settle down, you're going to be exhausted by the time we reach the room."

All he gets for his troubles is a cheeky grin from the fire ghoul, who leans into the touch like a giant cat.

The second they stumble out into the long hallway lined with numbered doors, nearly tripping over each other's feet with how close they insist on staying, Ifrit is rummaging through Aether's pockets, not-so-unintentionally brushing his crotch or groping his ass.

"Ifrit-" the quint warns, letting out a long-suffering sigh when the fire ghoul waves the magnetic card he finally retrieved in front of his face, reading the number on it again for confirmation.

"66. Race you there ?"

Aether tightens his hold on the back of Ifrit's neck with a hiss, scruffing him like a kitten.

"Absolutely not, we're not getting kicked out because of noise complaint."

"Yet," Ifrit grins, winking with all the audacity he knows he can get away with.

"Yet," the quint concedes, bedrugingly admitting to himself that he walked right into this one.

The hotel room's door barely closed behind them that Aether's being bullied into the bed, Ifrit crawling on top of him with unwavering enthusiasm. For a beat, they just stare at each other like lovesick fools.

"Hi," Ifrit ends up giggling, stealing a kiss, the another, like he can't help it. Something fond warms Aether's chest as he smiles up at him.

"Hey, handsome."

Ifrit chirps happily, but it turns into a breathy whine halfway through when he shuffles down and accidentally grinds his hips against Aether's. The low hum of arousal the quint had endured during the whole ride to the hotel is suddenly put back into focus, growing into something a little more urgent. Ifrit thankfully catches on and wastes no time tugging on the sweatpants Aether changed into for the bus.

The fire ghoul makes a little punched noise when he sees the stain on his boxers, looks up with hungry eyes.

"That what jerking me off does to you ?"

Aether chuckles, tussles Ifrit's hair.

"What did you think, that you moaning like a whore left me stone-faced and dry ?"

Ifrit snorts and busies himself with freeing Aether from his boxers, reaching for his bag once he's done to grab a well-used bottle of lube.

"We'll have to buy a new one," Aether hums as Ifrit pops the cap open and pours a generous amount on his fingers, warming it a bit between them.

"Or we can just steal some from Mount. You know he has more than is reasonable."

Aether rolls his eyes.

"His dick is the size of Dew's leg, I think it's perfectly resonable of him to keep some extra stock with him."

Ifrit hums, lips twitching up as he brushes a finger just above Aether's clit, making him suck a deep breath in.

"Fair. Comfy ?"

Aether nods, relaxing into the sheets with a hum that catches in his throat when Ifrit runs two fingers through his folds, thumb coming up to rub slow circles on his dick. The quint sighs, pleased to find the touch as for from dry as can be - not that he expected anything else from Ifrit ; the fire ghoul knows him inside and out, knows how much dry touch makes Aether uncomfortable.

Ifrit doesn't waste much time, just waits for Aether to be fully relaxed before he dips the tip of his middle finger in him, testing the water. The quint's hips flex up, encouraging, so the fire ghoul pushes deeper, eyes searching for every expressions of pleasure on Aether's face. It doesn't take long for him to get impatient though, nipping at Ifrit's jaw.

"C'mon, I can take more, you know I can."

Thankfully, Ifrit is nothing of not eager to please, so he doesn't make him wait any longer, adding a second finger that has Aether purring. The squelching sound it makes has both of them chuckling, Ifrit's fangs catching onto his lip. He's good at this, always is, moving with purpose, already finding the rythm that has Aether's breath coming out in short pants, warmth spreading in his guts.

"Want another ?" Ifrit grunts, lazer focused on getting the best reactions out of him. Aether hums in consideration, rolls his hips a few time to meet Ifrit's ministrations. One crook of the fire ghoul's fingers suddenly has him jerking, small noise escaping him as his eyes flutter shut for a second. The prospect of feeling fuller, of the stretch, has Aether groaning and nodding enthusiastically.

The third finger burns, makes the quint grunt and tense slightly. Ifrit shushes him softly, pressing his forehead to Aether's, pupils so wide the irises are nothing more than thin orange rings around them. It never gets old, how much feeling Aether stretched around his fingers drives Ifrit wild. Slowly, the fire ghoul starts moving again, once he's sure Aether had time to adjust.

"Fuuuuck, Aeth, look so good like this- so, so good," Ifrit pants, his free hand coming up to cup the quint's cheek. Warmth, bleeding in every possible ways from the fire ghoul, seeping in his words, his touch, his eyes. Aether take a hold of the back of his neck, keeping him close, forehead to forehead, as he moans softly, clenching around Ifrit's fingers. The fire ghoul shifts so he can press the heel of his hand to Aether's clit, which has the instant effect of nearly making him arche off the bed, stars exploding in front of his eyes.

"F- shit, Ifrit-"

The ghoul in question kisses the moan right off his lips, looking as frantic as Aether's staring to feel. It's so much, his fingers, the wet sounds bouncing off the walls, the look of wonder in Ifrit's eyes ; overwhelmingly good, in a way Aether revels in, thoughts slow and foggy.

"D'you think-" Ifrit sighs, so close his nose knocks into Aether's, lips brushing his, "d'you think y'can take another one ? 'nother one for me, Aeth ?"

The quints' breath catches in his lungs. The words take a few seconds to register, but in his defense, Ifrit's fingers found a sweet spot they're mercilessly abusing and- what was the question again ? Ah, yes, one more- one more ?

Can he ? Well, he has, in the past, and he feels so light, loose-limbed and relaxed under Ifrit's loving touch, that it feels well in the realm of feasibility. Besides, Aether will probably agree to anything if Ifrit keeps looking at him like he's something to be worshipped. So he nods, chasing Ifrit's lips when the fire ghoul drops a quick kiss to his mouth.

They both keen when the fire ghoul adds a fourth finger, watching in awe as Aether's chest stutter, as his thighs tremble.

"Taking me so well, so beautiful love-"

Aether swears, lightheaded with the sensation as he let Ifrit stretch him out for all he's worth. He can feel drool pooling in his mouth, distantly hear the noises he let out, but nothing really matters except for the careful way Ifrit keeps bringing Aether closer and closer to the edge. The quint's eyes roll back when the fire ghoul changes his angle, something coiling in his stomach.

"Frit-"

"Yeah, I know, I know. Doing so good, good for me, c'mon, c'mon," Ifrit rambles on, peppering Aether's face with kisses, like he can't help himself.

In the end, Aether comes quietly, all sounds he might've made stuck in his throat. One last slow, intent drag of Ifrit's fingers, and the quint nearly bites through his own lip, eyelids fluttering shut as he gushes all over the fire ghoul's hand.

When he comes back to is senses, Aether's being carefully cleaned by a glowing Ifrit - literally. Orange light spreads under his skin from his chest, contentment made unmistakeable. Aether smiles, clears his throat.

"Hi."

"Hey," Ifrit purrs, lifting the quint's limp hand to his lips to make him chuckle. "we're definitely getting banned from this hotel."

Aether huffs, drags Ifrit toward him until he can wrap himself around him like a giant koala.

"This isn't the worst that's been done in this room, I'd bet."

Ifrit hums in agreement, nuzzles his neck.

"All good ?"

With a sleepy grin, Aether presses a kiss to the fire ghoul's head.

"Yeah. All good, Fritter."

[coffeeghoulie]

Mushy May Day 24: By the Fire

Mushy May put together by the lovely @forlorn-crows <3

Dew teaches Aurora how to roast marshmallows. No warnings, 900 words.

divider by @ghuleh-recs <3

“You ever have a s’more, ladybug?” Dew asks, knelt by the firepit out by the lake. The rest of his pack, barring Aurora, is out on the water. Normally, she and Dew would be more than happy to enjoy the water with them, but Dew’d rather soak in the summer sun like a lizard, and Aurora wanted to keep him company.

The smallest ghoulette furrows her brow, moving around the fire to get out from the plume of smoke, her gills closed tight to her throat. “Don’t know what that is, can’t say that I have.”

There’s shouting out on the water, Swiss yelling as Aether and Cirrus flip his inner tube and he goes in with a splash. Dew grins with a chuckle before turning back to Aurora. “Oh, it’s a fine human creation, typically only made with a fire like this.” He stands with a groan as his knees protest. “I have the stuff for it, for when these chucklefucks get sick of swimming. But they don’t have to know if we make the first couple for ourselves?”

Aurora shakes her head. “I reckon they don’t,” she says, watching curiously as Dew rummages through one of the beat up coolers that he and Mountain had hauled down when they’d come down. Comes back with a big bag of marshmallows, a bar of cheap chocolate, a box of graham crackers. Dew also grabs two long, thin metal forks from where they lean against one of the deck chairs.

“Alright,” he says, setting his bounty down on another chair. He opens the marshmallows, sticking one onto the fork and handing it to Aurora. “We’re gonna toast these over the fire. They’ll go from white to gold and then they’ll burn, it’s a whole sliding scale. I like mine golden brown. Swiss and Aeon are fiends who burn theirs on purpose. It’ll take experience to figure out what you like.”

“Okay,” Aurora hums, turning the wooden handle of the fork over in her hands. “So you just stick it in the fire?”

“If you want it to burn,” Dew shrugs, threading a few marshmallows on his own fork. “And there’s nothing really wrong with that. But if you just want yours toasted, you’re gonna want to find the right spot.”

He takes her up to the fire, both of them feeling the heat roiling off of the flames. They burn bright and hot, and with the sun setting, it’s a relief as the sun’s heat burns off. Dew crouches, and Aurora follows his lead.

“Right in between those two logs, see the coals?” he says, pointing into the flames. They lick over his hand with no reaction. “You’re gonna slip the marshmallow right over there. And rotate the fork, okay? It’ll cook all the sides without it catching fire.”

Aurora nods. Her tongue slips between her teeth as she focuses, staring intently at her marshmallow as it crisps up, starting to brown. “Like this?”

Dew nods as he starts to roast his own. “Just like that. And if it does catch fire, I’ll put it out. Don’t stress it. We’re not performing surgery or actually performing.”

She nods. “Not the end of the world.”

They settle into comfortable silence as the marshmallows toast, the sounds of splashing and shouting from the lake drowned out by the crackle of the fire. When Aurora deems hers done enough, she pulls them from the fire.

Dew’s not much longer, standing with another groan as he heads back to the deck chair. He opens the graham crackers and chocolate one handed, and gestures for Aurora to come over. A square of chocolate goes on top of a graham cracker, and he presses that and a second cracker around one of her marshmallows, using them as handles to pull it free from the fork.

“For you, my ladybug, a s’more,” he presents it to her, over the top and dramatic just to make her laugh. “Careful, it’s gonna be hot.”

“Dork,” she cackles, accepting the treat from him. Dew watches her from the corner of his eye as he makes his own. The cracker crunches as her fangs sink through it, and he watches her eyes get huge like a cat that’s just seen a songbird. “Lucifer fucking Below, Dew,” she says through a mouthful of melted chocolate and marshmallow.

“Yeah,” he laughs, eating his own.

“I want like five more,” she says, eyes still giddy and wide.

“That, my dear, is why they’re called s’mores. You want some more,” he says, already readying the crackers and chocolate.

Aurora takes them from him, making up a second one from her other marshmallow. She freezes, and Dew’s afraid she’s burnt herself on the metal. He’s reaching out for her when she gives him a look he can’t quite place. “Ladybug?”

“I’ve seen you summon fire with your hands,” she says slowly, s’more brought up halfway to her mouth. “Why don’t you roast marshmallows like that?”

Dew laughs, shoulders slumping in relief that she didn’t burn herself. He looks past the fire and out to the lake. “Because I have been banned from doing so because I set off the smoke alarm in the den at two in the morning. Once.”

Aurora cackles, and it’s all worth it. Dew grins and hands her a few more marshmallows.

[dewinabsentia]

shutting down summer solstice

hiii this is my first time writing and posting. please be nice<3 title from garamond by arm's length (yes i'm telling you to listen to them) i saw a post about solaris playing dew's guitar and got wrapped up in the idea of her being overwhelmingly fire in her multi elements. dew is an unreliable narrator and panics. 1.4k

thank you @jimothybarnes for being SO kind and encouraging

gorgeous divider by @wrathofrats

“What do you mean you’re not coming?” Dew nearly drops his fork. The whole pack is seated around their large dinner table in shocked silence, all eyes on Cumulus.

“I- I can’t go. Not without Copi- Frater.” Cumulus’s voice is tight, like it hurts her to say this as much as it hurts the pack to hear it. “I’m sure Papa Perpetua will be great, but I can’t go.”

Dew looks wildly around the table, gauging everyone’s reactions. Cirrus is staring down at her plate, jaw tensed. The lack of fight proving she knew before the rest of the pack. His chest feels tight in a way that triggers his fight or flight response. 

“So you’re not even going to try? You’re just going to quit?” Clearly, fight winning. He hates the way his voice raises. He hates that this is happening. Why would she leave them? The last tour was great, fantastic even. How can she think staying home is better than being with everyone? Why would she leave after seeing how the pack suffered when Aether- 

“Dew,” Cirrus snaps through gritted teeth before Cumulus can respond herself.

“No,” he mirrors her tone. “This isn’t fair to the rest of us. This should’ve been a pack decision, we- we should’ve had a say,” Dew’s voice wavers pathetically the longer he speaks. He feels Mountain’s hand on his thigh, usually a grounding presence, just makes him tense more. He feels like the room is spinning. 

Cirrus deflates empathetically, already experiencing Dew’s same emotions weeks ago when Cumulus first told her. “It– Ultimately it’s Lus’ decision.” She glances at Cumulus who meets her gaze with tearful eyes. 

“I’m,” Cumulus’ voice cracks, she clears her throat, “I’m sorry. It’s not easy, but I need to stay.” 

It’s been a week since Cumulus broke the news to the pack. They’re two months out from tour. They need a new ghoulette. 

Aurora offered to fill Cumulus’ tour role for the time being. Leaning heavily into her Air element, she picked up on Cumulus’ parts surprisingly well. It’s bittersweet, Aurora flourishing in her new role while Cumulus steps further and further back. She isn’t gone, she’s still in the den and in the practice rooms and at dinner and all around the ministry. Really, nothing has changed about Cumulus’ presence. But the knowledge that the majority of the pack will be leaving without her looms over them all. 

The summoning night is more of a peacocking event for Copia, Frater, to show off to the newly appointed Papa. He’s in his full Papa regalia, not his Frater uniform. Scheduled on a full moon, new black candles ordered, all ghouls requested to be present. None of this is actually necessary, Dew thinks. Phantom and Aurora were summoned on a random night, cheap tealight candles, with only the standing band ghouls present. Dew rolls his eyes as Copia directs them to line the walls of the summoning room. 

Leaning heavy against the wall, arms crossed, Dew knows he’s sulking. At least in Aether’s case it was an emergency, called back to the ministry to be a representative of Copia while he was on tour. He still doesn’t understand Cumulus’ decision, can’t comprehend the willingness to just stay. Mountain nudges Dew lightly with the hand hanging down by his thigh. He sighs, shifting away from Mountain. 

“We’re going to be okay, we’ve done this before,” Mountain’s voice comes soft. 

“I don’t-“ the tightness in his chest returns, but before Dew can fully respond, Copia is addressing the room. 

“Thank you all for coming, I, eh, I know this isn’t the normal summoning routine.” Copia is wringing his hands, the leather gloves squeaking standing out in the usually quiet summoning room. 

It’s dark, it’s always dark in the summoning room. And cold. Dew has never liked being here. The memories, the implications, of every time being in this room, meaning something was changing. Someone new coming in to fill the gap of someone old. He tries not to be bitter towards new summons, he really does, but every replacement hits harder than the last.

“It’s not a replacement,” Aether told him earnestly, “I’m still here, no one is replacing me. I’m just a stay-at-home ghoul now.” He gives Dew a lopsided smile, hoping to ease the pain. Dew looks away, can’t stand to look at Aether knowing they’ll be apart for so long.

“I don’t get why Copia can’t have someone else do the job,” Dew huffs. The more they go back and forth about this, the more he feels the tears fighting their way forward.

“Hey,” Aether gently turns Dew to face him, his voice softening, “I’ll always be here. I’m not leaving you. We’ll just be in different places for a bit, but you always have me and I’ll be waiting right here for you to come home.”

Dew lets out a shaky exhale, forcing away the memories of the night before Phantom’s summoning. He loves the little quint now, he really does, but the initial adjustment period of someone new never gets easier. He’s pulled from those thoughts as the sounds of a papal robe billowing through the door announce the entrance of Papa Perpetua.

“Ah, welcome,” Copia forces a smile. Apparently he’s not too thrilled either at the thought of replacements. “Let us begin.”

Dew focuses on cracks in the black stone floor, counting lines and forming images out of soot marks. He doesn’t know how long Copia explains the ritual for, he doesn’t really care either. He’d rather this be over with sooner rather than later. His attention is pulled back to the present when Perpetua begins lighting the black candles set in a circle on the floor. Copia is watching, almost looming, inspecting every movement of Perpetua. Waiting for a moment of subpar performance to jump in and take over for the new Papa’s first ghoul summoning. For a moment, watching the push and pull between Copia and Perpetua, Dew forgets why they’re actually here. 

Perpetua lights the final candle and takes his place at the head of the summoning circle. Under the candlelight, shadowed by his mask, he looks menacing. Dew can’t help but feel unsettled. He straightens his back, sets his jaw, and decidedly focuses on the flickering of a candle. Perpetua begins the incantations from the dusty tome that Dew is far too familiar with by now. He wishes he didn’t know every syllable by memory. 

With each line read, the flames grow a bit larger. A small breeze sweeps the previously stale room. Something smells like it’s burning, Dew ignores the otherworldly essence of it. The room feels alive as some loose rubble falls from the ceiling. The center of the summoning circle sparks a small flame. It grows in brightness, but not in size. Dew feels a pit in his stomach as the room begins to warm. A dark layer of smoke covers the floor surrounding the center flame, concealing the entirety of the summoning inscriptions. The radiance engulfs the small flame. Dew feels like he’s staring directly into the sun. It hurts. There’s a sudden flash from the growing brightness and everyone in the room startles, shielding themselves from the overwhelming light. 

When the flare settles, in the center of the summoning room, stands a ghoulette. Below her, the floor is singed. She radiates warmth. Dew’s blood runs cold.

“Dewdrop!” 

Copia’s voice is distant as he bolts from the summoning room. From his Papa. From his pack. From his replacement. He doesn’t understand, but what else is there to understand? What other use would they have for a freshly summoned fire ghoul? Was this an elaborate plan to send him back to the pit? Corner him in the summoning room for a quick switch? 

He rounds a corner and the dam breaks. Dew stops running when the sobs shake his whole body. He tucks himself in an alcove to try and steady his panicked breathing. He feels sick. He can’t return to the den, can’t find solace in his pack. Hell, they’d probably drag him right back to the summoning room kicking and screaming. He can’t stay, not like this. 

His head thumps against the wall, a humorless laugh leaving his scratchy throat. Of course this would be his way out. Betrayed by his own pack, his own Papa. He should’ve known his time was limited after a run with two Papas. Third time’s the charm, right? He replaced Ifrit and now he’s meeting his own fate the same way. There would be no need to keep a burnt out fire ghoul around the ministry. 

“Dew!” He hears Mountain’s yell echoing the halls. His stomach drops. He does the only thing he knows how to do.

Dew runs.

[hazelfoureyes]

Dear Hazel! I apologize if I'm distracting you from something, but I wanted to ask you. My girlfriend has a birthday on August 4th, and if possible, could you write a short, short smut or fluff snack as a congratulation? She knows about you, and she likes your style of writing. Please forgive me for such a late question, I completely forgot to ask about this earlier. I thought I sent it, but in fact I didn’t.

Good time of the day for you, Hazel!

「warnings/promises; Alastor x GN!Reader, birthday spankings, fingering, spit as lube oh no」

MINORS DNI 👁️💗👁️

You didn’t want to mention your birthday was Sunday, and worried a bit through Saturday Alastor had forgotten.

The worry was entirely expunged when you awoke on the sabbath to find Alastor requesting you in his radio broadcasting tower. He was staring at you from his chair as soon as you entered. Alastor had patted his lap for you, but when you began to sit he grabbed you by the waist and laid you across his thighs.

“One spank for each year is the proper way to celebrate amongst friends, isn’t it?” He asked, pulling down your sleep shorts and underwear to just beneath the curve of your cheeks.

Friends. You let it go, the initial impact taking you by surprise.

He counted out loud, the first few breaking up the grogginess of rolling from sleep into Alastor’s hands. But as he went on, the numbers climbing, the sting began to burn. That heat seemed to run down your skin and to your lap, igniting a different kind of spark. Your yelps and squirms shifted from pained to pleasured, from sincere to show.

His counting slowed, palm lingering to glide over the angry pink of your ass. The bloodrush to the skin left it hot, his hand absorbing it from you.

When he finally got to your newest age, his hand stilled. As your breathing relaxed, he took the opportunity of your distracted mind to let his fingers glide down and press at your entrance. He them pulled away but they quickly returned. Damp and slick.

Your hips bucked up, knees knocking together as he sank one in with ease and without warning.

He twisted the long digit, feeling you clench recklessly around his claw.

“Such a good birthday sinner for me! I believe it’s time for your present.” His laugh echoed off the windows and back at you as another finger pressed in.

Alastor watched your hands scramble to find something to grip, muscles jumping to be used. You grabbed the arm and side tightly, thighs squeezing helplessly as he pumped quickly in and out of you.

“Now, how many times to make you orgasm? Shall we start with one and see how long you last?”

⋅˚₊‧ ଳ⋆Masterlist.ೃ࿔*:･

Added July 25th Angel Luci x Raphael - Research smut💦

˖ ݁𖥔.Summoning the Horny Little Deer Cult.𖥔 ݁ ˖

@eris-norwega @reath-solia

@cxrsedwxrlds , @nonetheartist , @tsunaki , @janchei , @moonmark98

, @readergirlstuff , @berry-demon , @chirimeimei , @fairyv-ice , @olive-frog ,

@thonethatflies620 , @tiredkiwiii , @ilikemyteawithmilk , @whateverlololo , @psipies

@howabouticallyou , @roxxie-wolf , , @fizzled-phoenix , @whateverlololo

, @a-case-of-attachment , @multifandomfanatic02 @watereddownmilk , @bontensbabygirl

@hoebihoeshi , @pansexual-opera-house , @polytheatrix , @lorddiabigmommymilkers , @backinthefkingbuildingagain

@harley2223-blog , @poinappel , @midnightnoiserose , @spookieroz , @missmidorima a ,

@ivebeenthearchersstuff , @downbadforfictionalppl , @xx-all-purpose-nerd-xx , @sleepylittledemon , @aether-th3-enby

@dontfuckbutimfab , @breathlessaura , @aperfectidiot , @certainlygay , @jth12 ,

@star-kujo-platinum @ivebeenthearchersstuff , @rubyninja1 , @simphornies

[idkfitememate]

can I request a tiger!creator meeting Paimon or Nahida, and just being so cute with them like tiger!creator just stares at them for a minute and is like: “these babies so adorable must feed” basically the tiger momma senses are being tenfold like these are their Cubs alongside Alhaitham and Kaveh 🥺

Aether & Nahida Encounter

૮꒰˶ᵔ ᗜ ᵔ˶꒱ა Pairings : GN! Tiger Reader x Sumeru (with Aether & Paimon!!)

૮꒰ྀི∩´ ᵕ `∩꒱ྀིა W.K. : 527

໒꒰ྀིᵔ ᵕ ᵔ ꒱ྀི১ Tags/CW&TW : fluff

The three men stared at you as you curled around Nahida and Paimon.

“Alhaitham what do?-“

“Nothing Traveler. Just let them have this.”

Kaveh had no shame as he slithered into a crack that wasn’t taken up by your new babies.

Now it was only Traveler and Alhaitham who stood.

Aether could hear the muffled cries of Paimon, screaming at him to get her out, but Nahida was quiet. Taking a harder look at her, the blonde realized she had fallen asleep in your fur.

Just like Kaveh, you had just literally passed out as soon as he hit your backside.

You moved around, making sure not to jostle Nahida or Kaveh, and moved Paimon into your front most paws, before gently licking at her head.

“AHHHHH!! GET IT OFF PAIMON!!!” The floating child screeched.

Aether only chuckled.

“They must think your emergency food as well, Paimon.” He mused. The fairy only looked incredulously at her travel buddy.

Then you huffed and also looked up incredulously. You pressed a paw to your chest and stared with the most offended face a Tiger cold make. Aether flinched while Alhaitham smirked a little. He turned away to hide his smile, however.

“They don’t think Paimon is emergency food.” Paimon said smugly. Alhaitham finally spoke up.

“They’re grooming you.”

“Huh?”

“Grooming. Most commonly Rishboland Tigers only ever groom their cubs or other members of their ambushes as shows of affection and care. To be groomed by an our Rishboland Tiger is them essentially welcoming them to our strike. In common terms, they see you as their child, or someone they wish to care for.” As Alhathim finished his monologue, the duo stared at him before Aether made a noise of discontent.

“How come they don’t want to groom me?” He has a childish frown on his face which made Paimon laugh.

“Perhaps if you go up to them, they will take you in as well?” Alhaitham mused.

“Fine then.” Aether then walked towards you, only to be swatted away by a paw.

“WHAT THE-“

“Ah. It seems they’ve taken offense to your claims of Paimon being “emergency food”, Traveler.” Aether just stood in silence as Paimon’s laughed only grew in volume.

Alhaitham simply shook his head at the sight of you immediately going back to grooming Paimon. He walked over and sat down next to you, resting his head on your shoulder.

You stopped grooming the child to look at him, then you looked at Aether. He flinched before you chuffed. Hesitantly he walked over, but you showed no hostility.

He walked to the other side of you and lied his body next to you, curling into your side. After you heard his breaths slow, you lay you head down next to the passed out and snoring Paimon.

You smiled as you closed your eyes with your little strike surrounding you.

…

… Nahida glanced up at you with a small twinkle in her eyes.

“It seems the Irminsul truly was right. It is an honor to have you back, my Creator.”

And with that, she pushed her face into your plush fur, and fell into a well deserved slumber.

໒꒰ྀི˶˙Ⱉ˙˶꒱ྀིა Author’s note : I feel like Nahida would know almost immediately, because if in every other story we act like the original creator and stuff on top of looking like them, all it’d take is a quick look at the Irminsul and this wack ass “iMpOsTeR” to see who’s who. Anyway Tiger!Creator best mother no cap ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱-

[sixosix]

THAWED | LYNEY X FEM!READER SERIES

THAWED (MASTERLIST) — the lyney childhood-enemies-to-frenemies-to-lovers-kinda series that no one asked for, ft. fluff, a whole lot of bickering, flirting, and everything in between

STATUS. complete.

OTHER INFO.

DISCLAIMER. will contain spoilers. this series will be as dark as genshin lore can be, and this won’t strictly follow genshin’s actual lore—i’ll be making up a lot of stuff for the sake of the fic so there will be inaccuracies, NOT CANON COMPLIANT!! the timeline of events will be vastly different. each chapter will have their own warnings as well, so keep an eye out for that!

NOTES. hello, everyone !!!!!!! welcome to my lyney series inspired by taylor’s reputation album. how it works is each chapter will be titled after each song off of the album as u can see below,,, hope u enjoy reading as excited i am for rep tv!! :D

tysm to naosaki and kruinka for helping me brainstorm w this fic (and also helping me when i was visibly all over the place because of this series)

CHAPTERS.

i — are you ready for it?

The House of the Hearth was perfect. This was where you thrived—where no one else could take this feeling away. But then Lynette became a part of the ‘family’, and with it, she dragged along Lyney.

ii — i don’t wanna hurt you (i just wanna be)

You look more like a soldier than an orphan, Lyney thinks. It’s beautiful in all the wrong ways.

iii — you gotta leave before you get left

Desperately, Lyney melts them away, but your footsteps have already gone out of earshot. It’s an answer in itself: Don’t bother. Take the hint, Lyney; you already messed it up.

iv — for you i would fall from grace

“What now? What do you want me to do? Strut back into their lives and demand all their Fatui secrets as if I never left?”

Aether nestles into his seat. “Prove to me that I can trust them just as much as you do. Who knows, you might get something out of this, too.”

v — you must like me for me

Lyney laughs. It sounds like music that has haunted you for years—and with a new one playing, it’ll torment you for years more. He loosens his grip but keeps you caged in, still. You’re twirled around to face him, and something about his expression has you swallowing thickly.

“You’re even more stunning than I remember, ma chérie.”

vi — look what you made me do

You frown at him, your face upside down in his view. “That was unfair.”

“I have to be if I want to beat you.”

vii — all eyes on you, my magician

He doesn’t take his eyes off you, even once when his fingers reached out to fish out a champagne flute. Lyney still has that stupid smile on his face, the rim of his glass against his lips. You’re hit with the startling realization that you want to kiss him.

Fuck, what?

viii — you’ve ruined my life, by not being mine

“You’re so warm,” you murmur to his skin.

Goosebumps blossom all over his body. Your face brushes against the side of his neck. “Do you hate it?”

“I like it. My hands are cold. Every part of you is warm.”

ix — us traitors never win

Lyney knew that this would happen. He knew well enough to predict what ‘Father’ would make them do, but still—

“We understand,” Lynette says, her eyes darting down to Lyney’s clenched fists.

The Knave stares at Lyney, and the strength of her stare has Lyney lowering his eyes to the floor. “Do you?” she asks. They wisely stay silent: Lynette’s hesitance and Lyney’s frustration. “Then I trust this won’t happen any longer.”

x — king of my heart, body and soul

You bit back the bite of ice and wondered how ironic it was that every time your Vision acted out, it was, more often than not, tied to Lyney.

“What, so you expect me to believe you’d just go against your ‘Father’ like that?”

xi — baby can we dance, through an avalanche?

Lyney supposes he can’t hate Aether that much for that. And selfishly, Lyney supposes he can’t truly hate Aether because he brought you back to him. In a vague sense of camaraderie, Lyney understands.

xii — there is an indentation in the shape of you

And so you two stand face to face with your old home, the House of the Hearth. It still had the same grand doors you remember, the same living room, and the same fireplace, but the emptiness was unfamiliar. It was unsettling, like a bad dream.

This used to be your home.

xiii — he built a fire just to keep me warm

“I think it’s special. We’re twins, Lyney and I, but I think if I were in his body for even a day, I wouldn’t be able to recreate what you two have. He treasures you deeply, more than you know.”

xiv — hold on to the memories, and i will hold onto you

fin.

END NOTE.

thawed related tags you might want to check out:

#thawed fanart <3

#thawed memes i want to hang in a museum

of course, if you want to check out akagi's series of mind boggling fanart:

#akagi0021 carrying the entirety of thawed

FANART COMPILATION

our favorite akagi0021 has been blessing me with THAWED fanart (!!!) and i decided that i need to compile all of them for me and to make YOU see the art as well... BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL SO GOOD (with permission of course)

CH 1 | reader's new outfit reveal

CH 2 | lyney doesn’t know how he looks at reader

lyney and MC height difference before/after IM ON MY KNEES theyre so cute

CH 4 | aether and paimon confronting reader

bonus fanart of lyney and reader after training :(( so cute

CH 5 | lyney seeing reader!!!!!! aahhh his eyes

lyney as a kid and then lyney now (grown up) THIS ONE IS INSANE. little lyney is so adorable but then look at the lyney now

CH 6 | LOOK AT THIS ONE!! scene of lyney saying “she’s hiding something” except akagi made him unnecessarily sexy wtf

CH 7 | drunk reader driving lyney crazy... (i went crazy)

CH 8 | "lyney's not my boyfriend" ; the ending scene with childe, aether, and reader!! they all look so good T__T

CH 10 | lyney's "i would. i would for you" OUGH YESS

++ ADDITIONAL!!!

and look at this so so so adorable collection of doodles of chapter six by sunny @emanami !!! her artstyle is to live for its SO cute (look at the siblings!!!)

more of sunny's cute drawings: thawed!mc biting lyney's cheek like what i want to do

look at @lacrimae-lotos's version of mc!!!! SO CUTE look at her piercings and her eyes aahhhh

akagi's art dump from different chapters | theyre all so cutue im sobbing i love akagis mc and lyney so much T__T (LYNEY BRAIDING MC'S HAIR)

lyney doing the stretch tactic ohh he is so slick modern au with akagi's thawed!mc and lyney at the beach i fainted

++ LOOK AT AKAGI'S VERSION OF MC! shes so lovely

design headcanons (theyre all so precious)

akagi's reader as a genshin char !!

reader's outfit for chapter seven SO PRETTY

thawed!mc's eyepatch lore... aether is so silly

akagi's au where mc never left the house and they're enemies to lovers yes yes yes yesyse

© SIXOSIX 2024. all rights reserved. do not repost or reproduce any part of this work.

[featherlight-touches]

saw that ask abt ticklish backs and now LISTEN TO ME

idk if yk what im talking abt you can probs search it up but there’s this game kids play it’s like the “shiver game” or like “giving you the shiveries” or wtv it’s called and basically they do these nursery rhymes but it’s basically just tickling your back and IMAGINE THIS

xiao knows nothing of stupid childish games, so obvi he had no idea what it meant when aether (or whoever you like as his partner) wanted to “give him the shivers?” so he let him do as he pleased and OH. EM. GEE.

he’s cackling and squealing and squirming and writhing for his LIFE. he CANNOT HANDLE IT AT ALL. and he’s just having the life tickled and teased out of him and RAHHHHH

omg i can’t i love him and i love ticklish backs

oh yes! I think I know what you're talking about, we had a game similar to this back in my school days. It was called "Line, dot, electric shock" which kinda had the same idea?? INSPIRED. had to write a little something with that idea, yoink.

★・・・★・・・★・・・★

“Wanna play a game?”

Aether’s question admittedly caught Xiao off guard, their comfortable silence interrupted. The traveller had come to visit Liyue during Lantern Rite and as always, he managed to save some time to spend with the Conqueror of Demons.

Xiao raised a brow in curiosity. “A game?”

“Yeah! I assume you’re familiar with the concept?” Aether chuckled.

Xiao huffed, his eyes looking away to the landscape in front of them. The balcony of Wangshu Inn always provided a vast and beautiful view of Bishui Plain. “Don’t be ridiculous, of course I am.”

“Is that a yes?”

Xiao looked back to see Aether’s head tilt and couldn’t help but find this annoying action to be endearing to witness.

“What is the game you wish to play?”

“It’s just a little thing I wanted to try. It’s called Line, dot, electric shock!” Aether beamed, but Xiao only stared in complete confusion.

“I’ve never heard of that.”

“Then allow me to demonstrate!” Aether moved himself so that he stood behind Xiao, the adeptus looking over his shoulder and making a small, confused sound at when Aether pushed the long fabric of his clothes out of the way. “Ready?”

“For what?”

“The game! It goes like this; Line,” the sudden contact of Aether’s finger dragging down the bare skin between Xiao’s shoulder blades startled an embarrassing noise from the adeptus, stunning them both into silence. “You good?”

“I didn’t…” Xiao cleared his throat. “I wasn’t aware that you would be touching me. Please be cautious when doing so. My karmi-”

“Yes, yes, I know, Xiao. You don’t have to worry,” Aether gave a reassuring smile over Xiao’s shoulder which didn’t quite put him at ease, but it was a start. “Now, lets try again. Line,” Aether’s finger dragged down Xiao’s back again, he twitched slightly at the unusually ticklish touch, surprised at how much it tickled.

“Dot.” When Aether’s finger reached the small of his back, he poked a single dot right in the centre. Xiao couldn’t help the small huff of laughter that escaped his lips, hoping it went unheard as the ticklish feeling intensified.

“A-Aether, I don’t think this-”

“Electric shock!” Aether unleashed a frenzied tickle attack upon Xiao’s back, his fingers dancing and scribbling all over his skin. Xiao burst out laughing, unable to contain the mirthful sounds as he tried to squirm away from Aether’s fingers.

Aether’s fingers didn’t leave Xiao’s back no matter how much he squirmed, they seemed to be attached, tickling mercilessly all over the yaksha’s sensitive skin. He could hear Aether’s laughter along with his own, which only increased the heat rising to his cheeks.

“I didn’t know you were this ticklish, Xiao,” Aether’s smile was sickly sweet in contrast to the torture he was putting the Yaksha through. “This must be your spot, huh?”

“Stahahap!” Xiao gasped, feeling two index fingers dig into the spots where his wings would be, and a loud laugh was startled from him. “NOHOT THEHERE!”

Xiao’s squirms increased dramatically, to the point where Aether could no longer hold on and before they knew it, both tumbled onto the wooden floor below them. Xiao gasping for breath as Aether lay on top of him, giggling.

“Did you have fun?”

“T-That… was awful.”

“Aw, come on! I think you enjoyed it,” Aether laughed, letting his fingers scribble playfully one last time to steal another giggle from the adeptus before finally relenting. “You definitely laughed a lot.”

“Hmph.”

Xiao would never admit such a thing, but Aether just took that as confirmation that he did enjoy it and leaned down to place a gentle kiss upon the abused shoulder blades, earning another quiet gasp from Xiao.

He kept his face hidden from Aether, not wanting to expose his now blushed face. He had gone through enough embarrassment for one day.  

[forlorn-crows]

@kkaisarion: #it's like they're kissing across someone's cock i mean mic i mean cock i mean m–

how do we feel about sliding copia's cock right in between there?

𝒐𝒔𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒖𝒎 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒎

explicit. 589 words.

⛧

EDIT: @jimothybarnes commissioned @foxybouquet for a companion piece to this and i just CANT! ive added it on AO3 ♡

Read on AO3 here!

Know you’re stressed. Us too. 

Let us take the edge off. 

And that’s how Copia eventually found himself thrust between the lips of his two guitarists; biting into his knuckles to stifle the unbecoming sounds falling from his lips, a haze of weed smoke pleasantly clouding his anxious mind, and sunk deep into a plush (miraculous for a hotel) armchair that the two ghouls unceremoniously plopped him into after they started pawing at him over his clothes. 

What a sight they are together. Poised just like they are sometimes onstage, leaning in close for backup vocals, but instead of a microphone, their lips close the distance to kiss across his cock, messily making out along the shaft. It’s sloppy, full of saliva and tongue. Full of sidelong glances through droopy eyes, lazy smirks shared between the two that make his balls twitch. 

Dew kneads at his thigh. “Could fuck you, if you wanted.” The suggestion sends a zing of dizzy pleasure up Copia’s spine, and he almost draws blood from his fist. The fire ghoul noses into the close cropped hair at the base of his cock, looking up at him with a siren stare of molten copper. Alluring. Striking confidence despite the warmth on his face from the weed. Copia’s also struck with the amusing image of a wide-eyed cat stalking its prey. 

“Or,” Aether pipes up, moving to kiss the slender head of his cock. His hand sneaks out to Dew’s ass, wrapping around the base of his tail and tugging. Copia watches his eyes roll back as he moans into his groin, arching into the quint ghoul’s touch. “Could give you a little show.” He pets down the length of Dew’s ashen hair, pulls at the ends. “If you wanted.” 

“Hah–shit,” he gasps, nearly bucking into the warmth of Aether’s mouth. Dew slides his lips down to his balls, and he has to hide his face in his hands lest he cum just from the sight of him sucking them in. 

“Let us see,” he whines in protest, reaching up to tug weakly at Copia’s elbow. 

Aether hums in agreement. “Don’t hide, Papa.”

He wheezes out a laugh, delirious and wholly out of his mind. “You two will be the fucking death of me,” he groans. 

“Gonna cum like this, huh?”

“Cazzo, ti prego,” he groans. 

“Think that means yes, please, Aether, shove my cock down your throat so I can cum in it,” Dew mumbles into the seam of his balls. Bastard of a ghoul. Copia silently curses his brother posthumously for always picking the pretty, silver-tongued ones. 

“Always so mean to your Papa–ah!” He can’t finish his chiding, because Aether, indeed, swallows down most of his cock in one go, his nose just brushing against Dew’s where they meet at the base. The smaller ghoul trills and rubs the tips of them together, fluttering his lashes up at the anti-pope. All at once he feels like a mouse trapped in a corner by two fanged beasts ready to pounce. Already easy to feel that way with his ghouls in a half-glamoured state, but the way they look at him at this moment makes his stomach burn too deliciously. 

Aether starts to suck, hollowing out his cheeks to take him base to tip, over and over. Snaking his hand into Dew’s hair to press him right into Copia’s taint.

“C’mon, Papa, we’ve got you,” Aether slurs around his tip. Dew moans his agreement, vibrations from his voice causing his thighs to jump. “Just let go.”

please consider reblogging ♡

[floufli]

Your blood on my hands, it warm.

Chapter 1 : Linked (5.3k)

Masterlist

Tagglist: @sniickerdoodles @babygirl-panda19

Summary:

After absorbing the power of the Aether Core and coming back to Sylus's base, you are left with more questions than when you first arrived in the N109. Sylus on the other hand, seems blissfully oblivious to your internal struggle and doesn't give you the answer you crave. But you know, after the vision you had, that the two of you are more than strangers.

He knows things you don't, but if playing along to this little game means finding the answers to your grandmother and Caleb's death, along with the Aether Core secrets, then so be it.

Being forced together for the time being would not bother you if it helped you know him better, and discover who he really was too.

Warnings : a bit of sexual tension, tiny bit of blood mention, but things will get bloody and nasty later MDI

Author note: Finally baby number 1 is here, proofread at 1am so don't hesitate to point out mistakes or weird things. If you wanna be included in the tagglist just tell me I'll add you!

Surrounded by the soft classical melody of the vinyl playing in the background, you sat on the same crimson sofa you had been on for the past hour.

Sitting in front of you was the leader of Onychinus, the man who had kidnapped you, forced you-or tried at least, to resonate with him, and pulled you left and right in a matter of hours into unnecessary danger.

"Do you plan on staring any harder, sweetie?"

His voice was like honey, coating your nerves in a thick layer of soft fluff, calming you fidgeting despite your persisting dislike of the man. You didn't avert your eyes from his relaxed form. Choosing to observe with fake involvement as he lazily polished the gun in his lap.

Your gaze narrowed, a frown quickly taking over your face. If playing violin with your nerves was a form of art, you were sure people all around the world would fight for the chance to witness the scene actually going on. He was so nonchalantly annoying. Nothing seemed to faze him no matter what you had tried before. No smart remarks, no embarrassing gesture or act would even make him blink slightly differently.

Since you had come back to your temporary residence, you had bombarded him with questions. But he systematically refused to answer. “You’re not ready for that Kitten.” “If I told you, your already poor opinion of me that I just managed to up a little bit would sink underground, and I don’t plan on spending whatever time there’s remaining for this to come off with someone treating me like a lunatic.” And when you had kept on insisting despite all his words, he had pulled out the very gun he had made you use on him with the help of his Evol from far across the room, shutting you up immediately.

“Whatever you say, sweetie, I won’t budge. You saw it before on the rooftop, you will see more if we keep resonating.” His eyes, the deepest shade of red you had ever seen, shone in the slightest as they came to rest on you. His face was bare of emotion, but his gaze was intense, leaving no room for lies.

“You will have your answers, but you will have them at your pace and when you are ready for them.”

He ignored you after that. And that’s how the last hour passed by.

Arms tightly crossed on your chest; you felt the lack of the previous adrenaline rush catching up to you. It had been days now since you slept correctly. First because of the excitement of finally going to the N109 zone and possibly finding the answer you craved on your Aether core. Then, because of the stress of finding that damned brooch of his and the apprehension of actually going to the auction.

Your eyes were starting to grow heavier despite the morning being only an hour away. With each blink, you felt your grasp on your consciousness slowly slip away, almost allowing you to fall into a peaceful slumber right here and there.

"Is my kitten so tired that she would fall asleep in front of a starving tiger?"

Well, there goes your sleep. You immediately shot up at the sound of his deep and rich voice, a cold shower on the warmth of your dream that was just seconds away.

Your jolting didn't escape him by the smug look on his face, the smirk you had grown familiar with coming to rest on his lips.

"Oh, did I wake you up?"

The twitch of your eyelid must have been more noticeable than you thought, seeing as his smirk doubled in size and the soft chuckle that escaped him. His crimson, oh-so-vivid eyes met yours for a moment, allowing you to have a glimpse of the teasing warmth hidden behind the layers of red. But just as your eyes met, he broke the contact, going back to admire his handiwork.

"Seems like the tiger lacks intelligence then, raising the guards of its prey when he could have had an easy meal staying silent."

Your voice sounded more venomous than you had intended, but for what it was worth, he did deserve some harsh words for what he had done to you in your short stay.

"Oh..." He examined the now shiny and immaculate gun, giving you that same smug glance before continuing where he left off.

"So you agree you are my prey then?"

Huh?

Your face went through a myriad of states in a matter of seconds- confusion, disgust, anger before finally settling on slight annoyance. You didn't- wouldn't give him the satisfaction of hearing you, for once thankful that his gaze wasn't piercing you, too focused on the weapon in his hands.

"Cat got your tongue?" That tone, the mocking all-knowing way he articulates his every word, pushing your buttons without even trying to. You hated this man, you really did.

Choosing to ignore his pompous behavior, you lifted your hand abruptly, forcing his own to follow your movement. You didn't miss the twitch of his eyelid as the hand holding the cloth let go of the fabric because of the sudden pull. The unknown link between both your hands may have stretched a little between its first appearance and the moment you came back to Sylus' home, but still, you couldn't get more than 2 feet away from each other before the familiar pull stopped you.

"The cat is too busy being bone dry and exhausted to get anything, and with what we went through today, I think following its lead and getting some sleep is more than recommended."

Before I try to murder you again and this time I won't fail. You kept that last part for yourself though, you may be tired, but you were not suicidal yet. And despite him saving you multiple times, when he was the one that put you in danger, you couldn’t forget who you were dealing with.

Onychinus' apparently immortal leader, obsessed with resonating with you and weirdly enough complaining about your demands until now.

You gently turn your head to face the slowly brightening outside, even in the N109 zone, where the sun could barely shine, you could tell when the morning began to show its first rays, along with the clock sitting on one of the many shelves behind Sylus still siting form.

You still couldn’t believe you had managed to resonate with him, thinking back, you had tried to do so by yourself after the shooting at the bar and still, nothing had happened. But on that rooftop, you had been able to see past his usual mask for an instant, and unconsciously…

You had trusted him when taking his hand. Even if just for this moment you had known you could trust him with your life. And you did.

Hands coming down to retrieve the fallen cloth before coming to rest on his lap, yours mimicking his so the link would not activate again, his eyes followed your gaze, seemingly unbothered. The display could have actually fooled you if you didn't already know of his opposite sleep schedule compared to a normal human being.

You were proved right when you witnessed the exhaustion slowing creeping behind his gaze, his blinks slowing at the sight of the beginning of the day. You let him ponder for an instant, your initial energy quickly replaced by your previous fatigue. You only wanted to get a good night of sleep, on a warm bed, oh so far from this man-but ah yes, the link.

Wait, how were you supposed to sleep with that thing?

Your mind raced at the best of its limited capacities at this instant, already dreading the fact that he was probably going to make you sleep on the floor of his gigantic bedroom. The thought alone almost made you regret ever speaking out about going to sleep.

You didn't get the chance to cry on your fate for long before you felt a slight pull on your arm, facing the opposing couch, Sylus was already standing up, waiting for you to do the same. Gently pushing yourself up using your free hand, you approach him calmly. You were too tired to muster any smart remarks right now and you knew he wasn't as energetic as a few minutes before, the events of the day slowly catching up to him too.

The moment you were close enough for the link to start fading away Sylus began walking at a leisurely pace, letting you follow him without needing to sprint to catch up. You thanked him mentally, even if it was certainly because he didn't want to use any more energy before going to rest.

You went quietly through the corridors of the giant manor he, along with the twins, called his home, too tired to really think about where you were heading. Following him blindly.

You should really learn to be more cautious around strangers when tired.

You trailed, half asleep behind Sylus’ dark form. As you take turns you begin noticing some familiarity in the walls, before your brain finally lights up. He is bringing me to his chamber? Your curious gaze focused on his wide back, trying to decipher what he was thinking. Maybe he was really just exhausted and would indeed make you sleep on the floor. You could not remember if he had some kind of cushioning by his bed, it being a bed mat or carpet.

He is way too rich for carpet though, it's probably hardwood or maybe tiles. I should've paid more attention when looking for that damn brooch!

Your half-formed thoughts were once again stopped when Sylus back came dangerously close to your face, causing a small gasp to leave your lips as you quickly corrected yourself to the side to avoid running into him. You almost stumbled down, thanks to your tired muscles and the soreness starting to settle in your bones.

"What are you...oh." Before you could come up with the rest of the sentence you realized you had in fact arrived at the doors of his bedroom, the sense of familiarity now making sense as your eyes came to view the heavy double door leading to his quarters.

"Sleeping while walking Kitten? Is this one of the other hidden talents you have yet to show me?" Sylus right hand was resting on the right door, his palm sitting next to the handle without really making any move to open it. Walking up so you would stand closer to his left, you gave him a glare. The mocking smile he harbored didn't falter though, only growing until his eyes creased in the slightest, making the deep of his eyes dimmer in the barely lit space.

"Are you planning to stay here and mock me in my state of so grand weakness and exhaustion or are you going to open this door so we could get some sleep?" The sound of your voice only helps in the slightest keep you awake, as you were slowly but surely falling asleep while standing.

A scoff.

A scoff? A fucking scoff? You were going to kill him, for real this time.

He opened the entrance to his suite just as your hands became fists, avoiding swiftly the avalanche that was about to unfold on him as he stepped in. You followed a bit behind, enough for the link to reappear more clearly but not so the pull would be noticeable. If he noticed it, which you were convinced he did, he didn't feel the need to speak up about it.

Entering the even dimmer room, the smell of Sylus cologne intensified, and you felt out of place. You had been here before, but it was different, you had a mission: find the brooch no matter where it was even if it meant snicking into his room in the dark of the night while he was taking a shower. Now, however, it was no matter how you saw it, something more intimate, him actually inviting you into his space instead of throwing you out. It was out of convenience but still.

You felt awkward now, unsure of what to do with yourself, thankfully Sylus had kept walking so for now following him again would buy you the time to figure out what would happen next.

Coming up to the night table by his king-sized bed with you following closely behind, he put away his gun in the upper drawer before turning around and passing by you returning near the entrance.

Your confused look deepened when you followed him once more. Wasn't he tired of running left, and right? And even if he wasn't, it's getting late for him, what is he doing?

"I thought we were going to sleep Sylus; don't tell me you have some other business to attend because that’s out of the equation for me."

"Oh, don't worry about that sweetie, I won't tire you any more, but I'm not going to bed like that - and neither are you."

"Like what? You mean you can't sleep without your pajamas or-?" With a sway of his hand, a tendril of red smoke appeared, pushing against your mouth - not harshly enough to suffocate you or completely stop you from talking, but combined with the sudden act, it was enough for you to become silent.

Your eyebrows raised as you saw him quickly go through some type of dressing, only sparing you a few glances from time to time. Not even a minute later, the red tendril disappeared back into nothingness as he held out a bunch of items to you.

"What? Whatever things you are into I'm not putting anything on. I’ll just take the couch and put it closer to the bed."

His brows furrowed in irritation, his hands pushing the items into your chest, forcing you to hold on to them before they could fall onto the floor.

"Could you stop being so hardheaded for a moment, you are doing both of us a disfavor acting like that." His eyes don't meet yours as he goes back to scour through the closed for clothing you guessed.

You scoffed at his remarks, looking down to finally examine what had been shoved into your arms. Separating the items as best as you could without losing your grip, you quickly made the list, a t-shirt, along with a pair of new boxers and trousers all of them a deep shade of black and way too big for you.

Except maybe the boxers, looking at the fabric, it seemed to be made to fit closely to the skin. Your eyes poked up through your lashes, looking at Sylus as he finished retrieving his desired clothes for the night. More precisely you quickly scanned his waist, the man was huge, both in height and width, that you had quickly known the very day you two met. But his waist, as if the gods themselves had decided to bless the guy, had been made slim enough to make your eyes catch on it multiple times during your previous escapade. And you knew you weren't the only one who looked at him like this, but at least you did it while his back was turned.

Which meant that the boxers would probably be the only good fit, the t-shirt and trousers? You would float in them but considering their purpose for the night-day, you didn't complain.

Your eyes then rested on the final item, and your eyebrows rose.

"Sylus why the towel we-"

"You seriously don't think I would allow you to dirty my bed after the events of tonight, or did you think being tired would make me forget basic hygiene Sweetie?"

" Well, no but I thought tonight would be an exception. You know considering this." You tugged your hand holding the towel away from him while looking at him expectantly. And surely the orange hue of the link appeared. Sure, sleeping with the vestige of your battle on your skin would feel gross but you could manage for one day. You were a Hunter, long missions where you were forced to sleep on concrete or dirt without showering for days weren't that common but not really rare either. It was something to be prepared for, and the bath when returning home was so heavenly that you almost immediately forgot the pain it was.

You thought you would quickly pat yourself with a wet towel to preserve some intimacy, not a full-on shower.

Guess he disagreed, looking at the way his lips stretched in a judgmental scowl.

"Your view on this, and your surely exhausted mind maybe didn't make you consider that even if we skipped it tonight -tomorrow, and the day after exist." He raised one of his hands to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. You really felt like a toddler who was being taught common sense. It was infuriating.

"Well excuse my poor fucking self-sir," Oh you didn't miss the way he tensed at that. “My stupid brain thought that the link would have loosened up enough by tomorrow so you know, we could shower separately?" Your hands were going wild, swaying up and down to accentuate your mocking tone.

"Because be sure of that one thing Sylus." You paused, pointing at his with hand holding both the towel and the link, the other coming the rest on your hips while holding the rest.

"I'm not putting myself naked in a closed and small room with you, sick bastard. Over my dead body." Your gaze was serious, although embarrassment at the words had made a sweet blush appear on your cheeks.

His smile darkened the moment the words left your lips, his right eye glowing in that sickening red hue that made your mind play tricks on you.

"Stop that." Anger lingered in your tone, accentuated by the exhaustion. You could've gone to bed 10 minutes ago and still, you were there, unclean, tired, and on the brink of snapping Sylus' neck.

"I'm the sick bastard and yet you are the one suggesting perverted acts Kitten, I never said we would shower together, you did that yourself." The glow in his eye subsided and he turned his back to you, closing the distance between the glass door of the shower.

You took a few steps but stopped before the transition into the shower and observed as Sylus put his own clothes on a shelf by the door, close enough to still be in range, but far enough for the shower head to not risk being drenched.

"Sylus how-"

"Easy, just stay by the door right where you are, and I'll stay right here." He said as he positioned himself to be just under the shower head. From where he stood, the link was clearly present, even beginning to pull on your hand, but if he kept his left hand facing you then there would be no problem.

“Okay, you got me on that one.” Sigh, you just hoped he wasn't taking forever when he showered. Giving him a last warning glare yo-

"OH MY! OH, MY-" The door handle slipped in your desperate hands as you struggled to close the door.

"DON'T JUST UNDRESS WHEN SOMEONE IS STILL TALKING TO YOU DAMMIT, PERVERT!"

You heard him chuckle, his deep voice just slightly muffled by the thin layer of glass. Thin enough, you realized, that if you really tried and came close enough with the glass it was almost as if there was nothing separat-

You turned away before you could do or see the irredeemable.

The sound of water hitting the tiles of the shower tensed you as much as it soothed your mind, a very corrupted mind by the way. You kept your linked hand near the entrance, taking the towel with a little bit of struggle into your other almost full one.

Gosh, I must look so stupid right now, standing almost pressed onto the glass while he is having the time of his life in there.

At least you could tell the hot water had made the glass blurry enough for his frame to be just beyond recognizable.

I was envious when he went in there first, but it was maybe for the better. I can't imagine him being able to keep his eyes for himself.

Yet that didn't stop you from taking a few glances, not that you could actually see anything.

Shameless. Truly, where is my self-respect?

You stayed pressed onto the door for a few more minutes, and the fight against sleep was beginning to turn into your disfavor. The warmth of the glass pressing softly into your back combined with the sweet, who would have thought, the scent of his body lotion or shampoo and the trickle of the water began to lull you into a semi-conscious state. Just Awake enough to not slide down the door and fall asleep.  You tried to distract your mind by taking the room more in detail, letting your eyes roam every interesting thing you could find. Surprisingly, they found the perch of Mephisto, you had been so much focused on getting some sleep that you hadn’t noticed the dark pile of feathers silently sitting just a few feet away. The mechanical bird seemed to be in some sort of sleep mode, so you couldn’t even look at it preening itself to keep you awake.

When your blinks began to last a few seconds each, the sound of the shower stopped, pushing you back into full, more or less, consciousness.

You take a look, only to see him approaching the door, your breath itching at the proximity yet how far away he was. You could barely see but by the sound of ruffling and the blackness surrounding his frame, you easily guessed your time waiting was almost up.

The door slid open the next second, and you stepped aside to let Sylus step out of the shower. The moment the door had slid all the way, the scent of his lotions became ever more powerful, completely engulfing you. I'll have to take a picture of whatever he has that smells so good, and it better not cost thousands.

He took a few steps to allow you the space to enter the now warm shower, a towel thrown over his shoulder while the same crimson robe hugged his frame.

"You can use my shampoo and lotion, just don't use all of it I just replaced them, and I don't like wasting that kind of thing."

You only acknowledged him with a small hum, almost jumping into the warmth of the shower the moment you could. You put your clothes where he had just minutes before, before turning to begin unbuttoning your top.

Sylus silhouette by the door frame made you stop your movement, the door still very much wide open. But before words could escape your lips, Sylus' hands had already done you the favor of closing the door, letting you exhale a breath you didn't know you held.

"Now, look at who is the perverted one. Have you truly got no shame little Miss Hunter?"

" Oh, shut it, I forgot now let me shower in peace." He was silent after that, good.

A small thud accompanied the last of your garment off your body, leaving you bear on the tile floor. You didn't lose much time relaxing in the warmth of the water or the sweet notes in the air, the shadow of the man by the entrance wouldn't allow you to. You quickly turned on the water, surprised to see the temperature was in fact perfect for you. You had showered after male colleagues or some of your ex-partners, but men and their lower body temperatures often left you shivering when you tried to shower after them.

Moving quickly before the warmth of the water lured you into the sleep you had been fighting off for hours, you made quick work of the dirt embedded in your skin. The clear water was now tainted with the brownish color of dirt and sand, along with a faint rosy taint from the small cut and dried blood you had accumulated tonight. The sting of the stream helped staying awake though, so you didn't mind it much.

Sitting on shelves embedded in the wall stood a variety of hair and body products for your choosing, but you didn’t waste much time looking at the labels. One at a time, you opened the lid and smelled its content, searching for the delicious scent. It only took you a few tries, the bottle still in front of the others following its recent use.

Seems like I found my new shampoo, and even if it does cost thousands, I'll just borrow this one, I'm sure he'll live.

Taking another bottle of random soap, you cleaned yourself thoroughly, paying extra attention to not tangle your hair in your haste. After rinsing and repeating to make sure all the shampoo and dirt were out of your hair you turned off the water.

Immediately, a chill ran up your spine, and you almost jumped on the towel resting on the track. You patted yourself dry before roughly gathering your hair into the towel and throwing it over your head when you were sure it would hold on its own. Sleep was only a boxer, T-shirt, and a pair of trousers away.

Although, you couldn't stop the blush creeping on your cheeks as you held the boxers. Your hesitation only lasted a moment, and you put the thing on without looking. The rest followed swiftly, along with your watch, even if it was waterproof, you wouldn’t bet your last communication device on your current luck, and the next thing you knew you were standing by the door.

" Careful I'm opening." You let a second pass before sliding the door open, sure enough, Sylus stood exactly where you had, looking at you with half-lidded eyes. His frame leaned gracefully on the glass, his arms crossed over his chest, he looked you over before pushing himself off the wall.

"You're taking the left side I'm taking the right."

Being careful not to slide and fall because of your wet feet, like seriously doesn't he have the budget for a bathmat, you looked at him confused but still mechanically followed him after closing the door.

"Wait," He continued to walk towards the bed. " You mean to say we are going to sleep together?"

" Are you going to say something indecent again?" His ironic tone was letting you know that, yes, this was actually happening.

"Sorry your Highness, I thought a peasant like myself would be forced to sleep on the bare floor."

"Yet look at me, gracious enough to share my bedding with said peasant."

Your mouth moved in unspoken injuries, taking advantage of his back facing you, but you knew he had good ears when he wanted, so you didn't push your luck actually speaking them out loud.

As he came by the frame of the bed, he took a moment to glance at his phone put on the nightstand. I didn't see him put it there, he must have done it when he put the gun away. Seemingly satisfied with whatever he saw, he put the phone back on the stand, and without wasting a moment more, slipped under the covers. With his tall frame, he almost didn't need to reposition himself, only slightly moving away from you.

He laid there, body flushed against what you knew to be the most fluffy and soft mattress you had ever had the luck to try out, his head resting on the pillow you bet was going to make you curse your own tomorrow. His white hair became just the slightest bit wilder against the bed, cupping his face beautifully as his red eyes locked onto yours, almost drowning you in their lazy intensity.

The corner of the cover was still lifted in an unspoken invitation to join him, the gesture too intimate, too banal for your liking. It made your heart ache for something. Something that you had possessed but that was ripped from you, leaving you longing for a familiarity long forgotten.

"Come on now, peasant, you don't want your lord's kindness to run out, do you?" His voice was too soft and lacked the previous taunting and teasing you had played into. Everything seemed like a dream, or maybe he had bashed his head, and this was the result of a concussion left untreated.

"The peasant would want more space, so hop your ass away."

You joined him behind the covers, taking the corners he held into your hand. The feeling of your fingers brushing against each other didn't make you shudder in the slightest. It didn't.

"Greedy."

"Annoying, move."

"You're acting as if I was the one at fault here." He began, his right arm coming to rest on the covers. He moved his body away to give you the space you requested. "But correct me if I'm wrong, I wasn't the one who put the leash on both of us."

"If you're so mad about the thing, cut your hand and just heal it back and stop nagging me." You threw daggers at him despite the sigh escaping you when you found the perfect position to sleep in. The bed truly felt like a cloud.

"Throwing me back my own words? I expected more from you kitten." He looked truly unimpressed, only faintly giving you a glance before closing his eyes. How easily he always cut the discussion short when things didn't go his way or bored him never failed to infuriate you.

Taking the pillow lying in between the two of you, you raised it above the covers to make sure it was big enough, prodding him to look at what you were scheming.

"Are you already going to try and murder me again?"

"You wish. But not today, I'm just making sure nothing happens." You said as the fluffy and plumb pillow came to rest between your body, separating them as best as you could with the means available.

With the barrier in between you and him, you felt the nerves that kept you awake starting to dissolve, finally letting you revel in the softness of the covers and the plushness of the mattress.

“Am I really this untrustworthy in your eyes? I feel offended.” Trust. Your exhaustion had left little room for anything other than short remarks and glares since you returned from the auction, but did you trust him?

You had learned that he wasn’t Grandma and Caleb’s killer, but nonetheless, he still wasn’t a good person. He was the leader of the most dangerous organization you knew of, and there were so many things you didn’t know about him that it honestly scared you. He, on the other side, seemed to know you to your very core, and that simple thing stirred something buried away in your memories.

At least before you could technically try your luck and run away, but now, even if he would let you, it wasn’t even physically possible.

You will have to trust the fact that he hadn’t killed you yet and that it meant he didn’t want to, he must have plans for you. That’s the only answer, that, or he wants to torture you before he gets bored of this cat-and-mouse game. Maybe you pulling the trigger when he told you to bore more consequences than you thought at the time.

Turning your back to him, you bathed in the soft glimmer of the fireplace you had forgotten existed. The soft swaying of the flames and their gentle orange shade reminded you of the sunset you often witnessed back in Lincon City.

Eyes closing on their own accord, you let your body relax, the sound of the fire cracking and Sylus' already soft and regular breathing lulling you to a well-deserved sleep.