2cmtall - Tumblr blog

[2cmtall]

raise y_our glass.

sypnosis. despite kaeya's whole... everything, blue is not the first colour that comes to mind when you think of him. in fact, it's quite the opposite.

. . .word count. 608

. . .warnings ⸝⸝ tags. gn!reader, fluff, use of one nickname: "dear", angst, major character death, hurt/no comfort, swearing, descriptive grief, lack of capital letters and correct grammar perhaps ahaha :(

blue is not the colour you think of when you think of kaeya.

you'd think you would (since he's a literal replica of berry & mint burst) but you don't. though, if you were to, you'd think of starsilver moons — the mark of your first kiss.

it's near the end of one of your many dates with the so-called charming and mysterious cavalry captain, you're both at windrise with a perfect view of cerulean, huddled under vanessa's tree only an angel's kiss apart.

you're dating but you're not dating, you know?

he's sent you countless letters wrapped in soft ribbon and calla lilies from starfell lake (you can tell because they smell fresher, lovelier and not like vomit — unlike calla lilies from springvale. ref: draff) that leave you giddy with clenched fists, flushed cheeks and a journal of newly pressed flora. AND you've treated him to enough after-rounds lunches at good hunter to make them routine!

…but you're not dating

… yet

fucking archons, you're absolutely infatuated with him.

regardless, after months of childish pining, he reaches for your hand, caressing it warmly (like it's natural to him???) creating goosebumps that tickle your skin. curse him for being so sly.

"i can hear your heart racing, you know?" he whispers, tracing hearts into your skin. it's one of his favourite hobbies nowadays, he says. you recall him shortening his nails.

"ha!" you bluff, "you're hearing things, captain. it's probably the wind"

"maybe. but they do say i have quite the hearing skills, dear." he replies, a smirk adorning his face. "and if my hearing serves me right - and i'd say it does - i'd deduce that you're in love with me."

lighthearted jesting is typical between you two but you can't stop the way your chest tightens, nerves heighten like a criminal caught red handed with bright red evidence smeared across your face.

"no- captain…" you lie unconvincingly, "i'm most certainly not-"

"well that's a shame then. because i'm most certainly in love with you"

chaos rumbles in your chest, threatening to spill, "…you're joking. kaeya alberich don't you dare joke with me, it's not funny-"

"i'm not." there's sincerity in the stars of his eyes that bleeds with the love in his chest. "i love you, name."

your heart rate increases. his hand drifts from your knuckles… to your arm… and finally-

"more than your favourite wine?"

you feel a mix of cool leather and rough skin on your cheek.

"more than my favourite wine."

and you don't doubt him. not when his lips prevent you from doing so and not when a blue moon means so much more to you now.

but blue is not the colour you think of when you think of kaeya.

you want to so, so bad. because sapphire is the colour of the gem on your finger and the sky on his days off but when you think of kaeya you think of stinging bloodshot eyes and salty tears.

his uniform is no longer blue: it's marred and mangled, tainted with disgusting maroon — a polar opposite to the mocking ivory snow that surrounds him. and you feel vile. angry. fucking pathetic, like a blade that's been sheathed and twisted in your gut to make its stay permanent while you...just let it happen.

your nose is filled with iron, instead of wood and dragonspine has never felt any colder.

so you can't think of blue when you think of kaeya…not when a bloody crimson was the colour of the setting sun that day.

and not when it was the colour of his favourite wine — the same wine you raise a glass of behind mondstadt's cathedral.

notes. . . get it? cuz his favourite wine is death after noon ahahaha... n e wayz, first written post yipeee!!! blame huh yunjin, keshi and thai life insurance ads for this post :)

[2cmtall]

Diluc x y/n: a game of chess

Context: diluc works up the courage to invite you to a game if chess in his most favored room, and it's all well and good. . . With a little extra spice at the end.

A/n: this was written a while back that I've just never posted because I'm lazy, so here we go, I guess 😅. Also this was supposed to be a continuation of the voice line scenario writing but it sort of escalated into its own thing.

=================================================================

Diluc looked up from his desk, having just finished his stack of urgent mail and papers that needed reviewing. He noticed that you were nose deep in that book of yours that you've been interested in reading lately. Something about pirates, he thought as he searched within himself for what to do next. Usually he would take a quick break before moving on to his next task, but in this case, he feels a great need to spend more time with you. He tapped his gloved finger on the deep mahogany of his desk, racking his brain for something to do, but he grew more and more impatient the longer he gazed upon you reading.

It wasn't long before you decided to look up tentively from your book, having felt his intense eyes on you for what felt like forever. You couldn't even focus on the exciting scene playing out in your book, your mind racing as you stared hopelessly at the words. Was there an issue with me bring here? You thought. "Hey, Diluc, is there something wrong?"

With hearing your voice, he startled out of his trance and felt the full force of your questioning eyes on him. He really did enjoy looking into your eyes, loved seeing the multitude of shades when sunlight hits your irises, liked seeing how your facial expressions molded how your eyes looked to him, how your eyes-- "ummmmm. . Diluc. . I asked if you're okay . ?"

Shit. He was so enamoured by those--EYES of yours he didnt even reply to your question. He tried to compose himself and answer you. "No, everything's fine." He said with an awkward grimace to what you could only assume is a smile.

Feeling how the air around them suddenly became awkward, he attempted to right itself by blurting out the first thing that came to mind, "ahem. . say, y/n, It's been a long while since I played chess with anyone but my butler, and I just so happened to have a moment." A hesitant beat. "Care to play a round?"

You didnt answer in the beats that followed, scrunching your eyebrows and gazing this way and that in contemplation. You aren't very good at chess, and strategy based games really aren't your thing. But looking at diluc's eager expression made you consider saying yes. Ah, but you dont want to waste his time with your lack of skills. . .

Diluc noticed your hesitation but didn't want to pressure you. "Don't worry if you don't know how to play, I can teach you. . . If you're willing, that is," he said with a reassuring smile. You felt a bit of relief wash over you and smiled in agreement (diluc's heart soared a little when he saw your bright smile).

He escorted you to another room, claiming that it was the absolute best place to play chess. Now curious, you raced a little to the door, earning a small chuckle from diluc. He opened the door to the room and you eagerly went in, wanting to know exactly why it made for such a great room.

Seeing the room for yourself, you were not disappointed by its beauty. You gasped, "Wow, Diluc, this room is stunning!" Diluc smiled fondly towards you. "Thank you, y/n. I'm glad you like it."

You took some time to look around the room, taking in the elegant decor and the soft lighting. And the chess board! Sitting on a table stained deep brown to match the rest if the room, you gaze your wide eyes on the marble chess board, its pieces more intricately detailed than some of the statues you had seen. The more you looked at the room, the more you came to find and appreciate. "I 100% agree with what you said earlier now. I dont even play chess, but seeing this masterpiece makes me want to play just so I get the chance to use it- and beat you, of course!" You looked back at him cheekily, a Cheshires grin playing on your lips. Diluc huffed with a smile, "and to think I was willing to go easy on you. . . Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't, after hearing how confident you are. . . " he playfully added, an eyebrow raising in amusement.

You grimaced, instantly regretting your words and tried to backpedal. "Aah! But of course you should teach me! Ya know, it's been a while since I've played chess and I fear I've simply forgotten how to play. . . So! Be a gentleman and teach me your ways, why dont you?" You childishly grinned up at him, your hands on top of the other on the table, awaiting his guidance.

He chuckled, his voice a deep timbre, as he sat down on the chair across from you, his hands working gracefully in a practiced dance to set up the board, its pieces reflecting softly against the candle light. After setting it up, he went on to explain the rules of the game and how each piece moves. He was patient and kind throughout the whole thing, making sure to explain again whenever you were confused or had a question, offering up small compliments whenever you understood something. Diluc was impressed by your eagerness to learn, even though with the first round you lost within a few simple moves. You were slightly discouraged of course, but with a few reassurances and advice, you kept playing. The more rounds you played with him, the more confident you seemed, maybe even a little cocky, and the longer the rounds lasted. You were of course nowhere near as skilled as diluc, but you held your own against him considering your lack of experience.

Throughout the many rounds of chess, diluc has noticed a few things about you. The way you make those absurd faces with every dupe or skilled move he makes (one of his many favourites is of the pure distress that runs through your face everytime its evident that you're in a tight spot. He feels a bit guilty for putting you through it so many times, but it simply fills him with a childish joy everytime you strike a face. Your so expressive! He cant quite remember the last time he's felt such unabashed joy in his life).

Or the way your rash decisions often leave even him surprised, your lack of strategy often helping you come closer to winning a few rounds with how random they are (that is until he caught on and predicted your moves, earning himself a prominent glare from you).

And in an ironic twist, he came to enjoy the nonsensical rounds of chess with you, with each round you had with him becoming more absurd then the last, until the games simply became a speed run of stupid decisions and petty cheating, not caring about rules in the slightest.

It left you winded from laughing, your lungs sore from it. Loud banters ran rampant, and you both tried your hardest to stop the other person from playing, slapping and even grabbing each others arms to do so. It got to a point where you stood up, intending to put your body in front of diluc to stop him from moving his own pieces, but when push came to shove and diluc grabbed your hand wanting to pull you away from the board, you tripped and landed on top of him, one of your legs bent on one side of him while the other is between his legs, your arms braced on either side of his fiery head. 

Instantly, the room became quiet, both of you not daring to speak up or apologize, scared of breaking the heavy atmosphere you both were put under. the only thing diluc could focus on was your lips and the way your back was arching in such a way, his mind racing with illicit images of you. His hands could only hover over your hips, wanting so badly to feel the curve of you but not wanting to scare you away.

You on the other hand, was wishing so badly that he would hold your hips in place, feeling the warmth of his large hands just cm from your hips, your waist, your thighs. . . You couldn't help but inch closer towards his broad chest, grazing it slightly, all the while looking at his face, his lips. You gasped softly when you felt diluc reciprocating by placing his hands firmly on your waist and hips, pulling you forward so that your chest was now pressed against his. You angled your face so that your lips were mere inches apart, lifting one of your hands from behind his head to graze your fingers through his hair, slowly trailing your fingertips to caress his lower lip, begging him silently to make a move with your eyes.

Diluc saw that look in your eyes, those damned eyes that could make him do anything with just a simple gaze. It took only a single expression from you, and now he wanted nothing but to kiss you. Kiss you until your lips are puffy and you're clutching at his shirt and his hair. To wrap your plush legs around his waist, pressing yourself on his body, allowing him to caress every inch of skin on you, over and over. One look from you, and now he wants so desperately to pin you against every surface imaginable, his walls, the door, his bed. . .

The only warning you were given was a whispered "fuck. . ." From his lips before one of his hands was firmly intertwined with the hair on the back of your head, pulling you until his soft lips met with yours. You closed your eyes to savoure the feeling of his lips kissing yours with the smallest pecks, and although your mind soared with joy from these small kisses, your body ached for more, adjusting yourself so that both of your legs were on either side of him, lowering yourself down on his hips, earning yourself a slight groan from diluc. He stopped kissing and gazed upon your eyes with a dazed look, ". . . Y/n. . "

"Please, Diluc. . " your hands caressed his chest under his dark coat, attempting to slide it off his shoulders, your hips pressing down on his in the process. The hand placed in your hips was now digging slightly on the plush of your hips and ass, stopping you from moving any more.

That was all it took for diluc to deepen the kiss, his tongue now exploring the cave of your mouth, springing tears in your eyes. Both of your hands moved feverishly across his body, clutching his clothes in an attempt to keep yourself grounded, but to also pull him in closer.

He couldn't get enough of you and your body, either, his large hands roughly caressing your body. He caressed down your nape to your shoulders and arms, you back, feeling the arch of it. Both of his hands came back up to slide down the sides of your body, his fingertips grazing the sides of your breasts, making you inhale sharply in between kisses. His hands lowered even further down your body to the plush of your ass, to your bent thighs pressing against him. He was obsessed with them, his hands caressing up and down, digging, pulling, molding the fat, loved the way your body responded to his touch by grinding your ass on his crotch, the friction of it making his mind go blank.

The more he touched you, the more feverish your body felt, wanting to touch more of him, your hands worked to get rid of his coat and shirt, but your mind was too dazed to unbutton the shirt right so diluc had to help you remove the articles of clothing. One by one, more clothes were stripped and thrown across the floor. Diluc lifted you up from the chair and carried you across the room, still kissing you, and pinned you against the wall, your bare skin sandwiched between the wall and his toned chest, muscles working in tandom to keep you lifted. His lips worked his way down to your neck, kissing and sucking on the sensitive skin, making you moan in his ears. His assault on your skin didnt stop, hickey's continuing to form on your skin. He kissed your shoulder, your collarbone, and back up to your lips.

"Y/n. . . " he whispered into your ears, causing you to gasp softly. He looked at you with anticipation, in question. Do you want to continue this?

And you did. You did want to continue, you wanted to continue touching him, kissing him, wanted him to drag his hands and lips across your body, to carry you into his bedroom and continue exploring down each others bodies, feeling his chest press against yours above you on his bed. . . . You wanted it all.

You pressed your body more harshly against him and whispered in his ear, "I want to continue diluc. . . Please . . . On your bed?" You dragged a hand slowly down his chest, his abs, feeling each muscle and scar. You could tell he was hooked by the way his breathing stopped, the way his sharp gaze followed your hand's slow drag across his skin. He cupped your chin, forcing you to look back up to him, allow him to angle your face closer to his. . .

You were both going to make out again, your lips mere cm away from his when a sharp knock on the door scared the both of you. You both stared at each other in horror upon realizing what position the two of you were in, chests bare and pressed against each other, your clothes strewn all over, your hair and faces a mess, and your hickey's! And all while one of his maids was just outside his door, too.

"Master diluc, are you alright? I heard noises coming from inside. . . "

Diluc attempted to clear his throat but his voice still came off hoarse, "ahem, I'm fine, no need to worry."

"Oh, I see. Well in any case, I have your coffee and a letter with me? Shall I come in?"

You shook you head immediately at that, but of course diluc didnt want that either. "No, thank you, just leave it on the table outside beside the door." It wasn't until you both heard the maid set the platter down with an audible clink and walk away completely that you heaved a sigh of relief. But now that the hot atmosphere was interrupted. . .

"Here, something to cover that up with. . . " you looked behind you to face diluc, holding up a woman's scarf. "Surely you know its rude to give a lady another woman's scarf, right? Perhaps a secret lover of yours?" You teased him with a conspiratorial grin, the awkward atmosphere already dissipating upon your words. He stared at you with incredulous shock before huffing a hoarse laugh, his deep voice turned scratchy from your previous. . . Activities. You tried your best not to let your face show your thoughts.

He stepped closer towards you, gently wrapping the soft cloth around your neck, "I assure you, y/n, that i do not have a secret lover hiding in these walls. . . It wouldn't reflect me well as a gentleman if I that were true."

You laughed in that sweet song of yours, your voice hitching up an octave, and your eyes positively glittering, "oh? And ravishing me against a wall until I have hickeys and swollen lips does?" He stared down on your giddy face, shocked for the second time. He opened and closed his mouth in an effort to retort back, to defend himself, but found he could not, resorting in defeat to rest his head on your shoulder with his hands clutching your arms, feeling the shudders of your bountiful laughter.

Your face burned from embarrassed at what you did with diluc, and it seemed that diluc was bearing the same burning fate. He settled you back down gently and allowed you to retrieve your clothes from the floor, saying thank you when you chucked him his own clothes as well. You both redressed in silence, not knowing what to do next or how the other person is feeling. Upon looking at the mirror to fix up your hair, you realized another apparent problem. Your hickeys are proudly peppered on your neck and collarbone, spots of purple and red trailing all the way up to your swollen lips.

You both ended up staying in that room for a few hours more, laying down together on the couch with dilucs coat blanketing you both, his strong arms enveloping your body in warmth.

[2cmtall]

I love these kinds of aus! Even better when it's with your favourite characters! ❤

A Sense of Duty

Dainsleif, Kaeya, Xiao x Reader

A/N: This is like a bodyguard (or knight/heir) au, there is no other way to explain it!!! I keep reading too many mangas like this… i love pining and yearning, i hope you all do too!

Dainsleif spoilers (from 2.6 chasm archon quest)

WC - 1,651

~~~

Keep reading

[2cmtall]

May I request some fluff involving Kaeya's S/O tending to Kaeya's hair? Washing it, brushing it, braiding it or just playing with it in general. Kaeya's hair is long and undoubtedly soft and NEEDS to be touched and caressed so much (much like Kaeya himself).

Bonus points: S/O is very good at braiding and, when they're feeling playful, they do up Kaeya's hair in incredibly elaborate braided styles that get all the people of Mondstadt staring in awe at Kaeya for the rest of the day, and he basks in the attention like the peacock he is while making it no secret it's his S/O's handiwork, and when S/O undoes said elaborate hairstyle at the end of the day, it's a slow & sensual & tender experience, lots of gently running fingers through Kaeya's locks & sneaking kisses on his face & shoulders

cries screams and **** i love that shit so much i fucking grrrr

Kaeya's used to doing his hair by himself now. He's been doing it alone for a while now, so it's not like it's something weird to him.

However, once you started to play with his hair he realised just how much he liked it. It not only kept you so close to him, but it also was such a soothing sensation to him, making him melt into you with happy sighs.

He trusts you enough to not really think much about any potential consequences that could come up from you being given free rein of his hair. Honestly, as far as he's concerned, you're probably going to do amazing, and if you don't it's all water under the bridge because he spent time with you as you did it.

He can hear you shuffling around behind him almost nervously, taking a sip of his drink and reading his book with a hidden amused smile.

"Sweetheart? Is something wrong?" he asks, finally turning to look at you.

"No, nothing. I just..." he can tell you want to ask him something, gesturing for you to crawl into his lap. You do so, maybe less gracefully than he thought but he easily catches you, kissing your cheek.

"What is it? What do you want?"

"Can I do your hair?"

The look you give him melts his heart, your puppy dog eyes are totally unneeded but definitely useful if he was considering saying no. Instead of replying, he just turns his back to you, letting his hair out and chuckling to himself at the happy noise you make as you run off to get your things.

Your touch is warm and lingering, pressing soft kisses against his scalp and resting your hands on his shoulders as you plan your next move, hmming and haahing from behind him.

He laughs whenever he feels you getting distracted, tangling your fingers through his locks and messing with them. It's quiet and you can barely hear him, but he is so happy to know you're having such a good time combing through his hair.

When you're done he can't help but whistle lowly at the sight of himself in the mirror. He preens a little, facing this way and that way to admire the braids and loose curls that perfectly frame his face. He's glad he's got some errands to run now, happily showing off his hair. Every time someone comments on it he tells them how you put so much effort into it, flaunting just how much you love him.

"It was such a long day. I felt like a walking advertisement for you," he teases when he's finally able to relax, sitting between your legs and leaning against the mattress.

"So? Is that a bad thing?" you scold, pulling on his scalp as you undo his hair to mess with him.

"Yes. It was awful telling everyone just how in love I am with you," he laughs, tilting his face up for a kiss.

You take your time taking his hair down, eventually ending up on the floor behind him. You're leaning against him, massaging his scalp as you press kisses against his neck. He hums happily, leaning back against you as well as you brush out his hair, pulling you around so you can work on his bangs.

"Any longer and I might fall asleep," he yawns, putting his arms around your waist.

"You can sleep. That's fine."

You pull him into your chest, cupping his hands in your face and peppering him with kisses. He falls into you, sighing in contentment and letting you spoil him with attention, practically crawling into your lap as you continue to lavish him with kisses until you decide to persuade him into the bed. You finish up as he burrows into the sheets, continuing to mess with his locks until the two of you fall asleep together.

[2cmtall]

such a nice read! Just what I was looking for at this moment

happy 500 followers 💐

can i please request kaeya with a secluded gazebo and mutual pining maybe suggestive with khaenri'ahn prince kaeya and a royal reader from a neighbouring kingdom. thank you <3

the abandoned gazebo

summary: you and prince kaeya sneak out of his party after discovering that your pining was, in fact, mutual. shenanigans and make outs ensue.

masterlist | event

pairing: khaenri'ahn prince!kaeya x reader

reader info: uses gender neutral pronouns (they/them), reader is a royal from a neighboring kingdom, and reader is not traveler

word count: 655 words (2 mins~)

genre: royal AU, romance, mutual pining, suggestive

format: one shot

warnings: suggestive, reader and kaeya almost get caught, and making out

a/n: anon, imma be honest with ya: as soon as i saw this request i GASPED. literally, such a good idea. i have MANY headcanons on khaenri'ahn prince kaeya, so look forward to those in the near(ish) future💖

I shouldn’t be doing this, Kaeya thinks as he holds your hand. I should be at the party, ogling at some other member of nobility that my parents want me to like. Not running off with them.

But then he glanced back at you. Your pupils had swallowed up most of the color of your eyes, desire consuming you. Kaeya’s throat tightened as your eyes met, but he relaxed slightly when you gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. He exchanged a smile with you, and the young Khaenri’ahn prince was absolutely delighted in seeing you return one back to him.

“Do you think your parents saw us slip out?” you whispered, peering back at the still bustling party Kaeya’s parents had thrown.

He shrugged. “Probably, but who cares? They’ve known I’ve had a thing for you for ages— they knew what they were doing when they invited you.”

You turned to him in shock, mouth slightly agape. “You’ve liked me for that long?” your expression briefly turned angry and you punched him in the arm. To humor you, and also because it hurt, slightly, Kaeya let out a small cry. “You jerk!”

“Hey, what was that for!?”

“You should’ve told me sooner!”

He rolled his eyes. “I was gonna tell you sooner anyway. And besides, you could have said something too.” Kaeya sighed, but looked at you and smiled. He brought your intertwined hands to his lips and murmured, “But we have each other now. That’s all that really matters, right?”

But Kaeya snapped out of his love-sick filled reality when he heard the chattering of some guards nearby. 

He quickly swung you both around a corner. He caged you into it, both of his hands bracketing your head as he breathed shallowly. Kaeya glanced over his shoulder, trying to ignore the way he could feel your chest so close to his own, and tried to look out for the guards. 

A moment passed, and Kaeya looked back at you and smiled in relief. You both giggled as he pressed his lips onto yours, his relief transforming into boldness. He began to kiss your face, falling deeper in love with each sound you let out.

“Kaeya, stop,” you breathed out between giggles, “that tickles.”

He made a low grunting noise and descended to your neck. “Then you’re going to hate me for this.”

You pushed him away, and Kaeya froze. “Not here,” you whispered, looking over his shoulder cautiously. “People could see us,” you then added in a harsher tone, “like this.”

“So what?” he chuckled. Kaeya interviewed his hands with yours. “Maybe I want them to see us ‘like this’.”

“Kaeya.”

“Right, right, of course,” Kaeya nodded. He looked over his shoulder once more, deemed it to be clear, and turned back to you. “Alright, let’s get some privacy.”

The Khaenri’ahn prince took your hand and led you away from his castle’s darkest corners. You two giggled and snickered as you tip-toed across the lawn, hugging the edge of the shadows as you crept. Though, even in the shadows, you could see the toothy grin he flashed when he looked back at you, a mixture of glee and excitement present behind his eyes.

Kaeya ended up leading you to a secluded gazebo. He told you that no one was stationed here, nor was the place ever maintained by the castle’s groundskeepers. You eyed the overgrown ivy that curled itself around the gazebo, which served as evidence to Kaeya’s claim. That, and the fact that the pathway to this gazebo was so secret it was barely there.

He caressed your cheek and made you look at him, a blissful smile on his face. “You look stunning in the moonlight. Has anyone ever told you that?”

“No,” you replied.

“Good,” Kaeya murmured, his lips now hovering over your lips. “Because I would hate to not be your first in everything. Now, shall we continue, my sweet?”

taglist:

@x-zho  @cxlrosii @i23kazu @tiredsleep @ireallylikehamsters​

(send an ask to be added or removed)

thank you for reading 💖 all forms of interaction to my posts are appreciated 💖

[2cmtall]

voices lines

Context: using different voice lines and adding a small scenario/context to it.

A/N: aah, it's been a long while since I've posted! Not much to say other then the fact my consistency to write and stay motivated is non existent. My apologies 😅

Characters: Diluc, Kaeya

______________________________________________________________

Chat: relax The sun was beating down on you both, the heatwaves rippling near the ground as clammy sweat stuck to all parts of your bodies, though it seems the heat is affecting you more than Diluc. You've been trekking for about an hour and it's only in the last few minutes that he finally took his dark coat off, hanging it over his arm. But even with all the layers of his clothes, his thick red hair, and his fiery vision, his strong legs were still moving at a consistent pace, only ever faltering when he notices you slowing down significantly. He was so focused on getting to your destination, he almost forgot that you werent as adept to extreme weather.

"Y/n, it's in your best interest to try to keep up. We are almost there."

"gasp diluc. . . .doncha think . . . . W'should take uh break?" You could barely even get those measly words out, your head hanging low as you slurred your words together, your mannerisms that of a drunkard if not for the obvious fact that you were in the sweltering heat. Not taking the pressure anymore, you strayed off course and plopped down near a tree, muterring something along the lines of "screw this." You started instantly feeling better as the rustling tree provided much needed air and shade. Looking back at you, he sighed, ashamed he didnt see how bad you were handling the weather, and came to you offering his water as an apology.

"Guess we can rest for a bit."

For the next few minutes of the rest, he spent fanning your flushed face, which put you to sleep, causing you both to delay your trek further. This time though, when walking, he made sure to keep to a more shady area, and making sure that you take your necessary breaks and drink lots of water.

When it rains: umbrellas You and diluc were getting ready to leave Angel's share, it was closing time and you just got finished with cleaning the last table, putting all the supplies away. You couldnt hear the rain, as you were inside and too busy chatting with diluc, talking about everything and nothing at all, but when you opened the door for the both you, that's when the telltale cacophony of rain drops filled your ears momentarily halting your speech. You looked up at diluc in question, "should we go find some umbrellas?"

"I don't need an umbrella, but you could use one if you need." He said it as if it was simple fact that he didn't need one, but you felt bad, not wanting him to get wet just to be polite. "You know, if we only find one umbrella, we could maybe share it? I just dont want you to get wet."

You meant it sincerely, but your words and expression made him momentarily taken aback, though he recovered swiftly with an amused huff. Going to the back, he grabbed an umbrella for you, and shocked, you watched as he stepped out into the rain, steam starting to billow from where the raindrops touched him. They evaporated before your eyes, not being able to get him wet. It was an astonishing sight, one that made you burst out laughing.

"Ha! I guess you really dont need one after all, huh, diluc?" You smiled wide at him, making a small smirk emerge from diluc's lips.

"I'm afraid not, y/n. Care to join me in the rain?" His red eyes twinkled like a ruby in the night.

"Of course, diluc. Can't have you out in the rain all alone, now can I?" And with that, you joined him in the rain, still offering your umbrella toward him, your eyebrow arched toward him with a cheeky smile. At least now, he won't be steaming like a dish on a hot stove.

______________________________________________________________

When it snows- anecdote You and kaeya were sent on a small mission to investigate on some suspicious activity in dragonspine, to your utmost displeasure. No matter if you're used to the cold or not, dragonspine is a different kind of hell, as if the place of eternal fire froze over. Even now, when you and kaeya were well within a cave you found in shrieking excitement, with a blazing fire that crackled in front of you both, you were still shivering. The only thing you could hear besides the blessed fire is the chattering of your teeth and the howl from outside, the thought of going back outside making you curl in on yourself further. It was honestly quite pathetic how weak you were to the cold. Through the shaking of your jaw you mustered out, "this is so stupid. I dont know why anyone thought sending me here was a good idea." Your brow furrowed even further, deep lines of displeasure marking your face.

The sight made Kaeya lightly chuckle as he stretched his sore muscles, obviously making a show of how he wasnt affected by the biting cold. But underneath his teasing, his face grimaced at seeing your sorry state, wondering if you'll really be ok. Hes already given you his fur coat, to which you were vehemently gripping around your body, your knuckles white. So how about he distract you from your problems, he thought?

"Hey, how about a ghost story to go with the snow?" He marched his brow and smiled with his hand outstretched to you, as if offering you this suggestion in his palm. You blankly stared at him through the deep furrow of your eyebrows, "ghost stories? In the snow? Arent these stories usually reserved for camping out in the woods?"

Kaeya smiled, "well, we are technically camping, are we not? And it seems you need a bit of distracting. . . And who's to say we cant tell ghost stories in the frigid cold?" You pondered this for a moment, understanding that kaeya may have a point. A few points actually. You gave a small nod to his direction, giving kaeya permission to continue. "There's an abundance of eery tales surrounding dragonspine, would you like to listen? Though if you're interested, I suggest holding someone close to you. Wouldn't want to scare you too bad~" this made you squint your eyes in confusion. Kaeya was the only other person here? And how scary can these tales possibly be? You were about to call him out on this, your mouth opening in an inhale, but you choked the words before they could form, suddenly understanding. Kaeya wasnt looking at you anymore, your prolonged silence his rash suggestion making him look almost. . . Shy? You couldnt believe what you were seeing. And when you think about it this way, what kaeya said made odd sense given how you were practically rattling in the biting cold, and cuddling-no- being close to kaeya would allow for a bit of protection. And the part where he said you needed a distraction. He already gave you his coat and sparked a fire, and he couldnt so much as use his vision on you, so distracting my mind is the next best thing. Finally understanding his motives, you smiled cheekily as you stood up and plopped down snuggly between his long legs, his chest to your back. He made a noise and stayed frozen, as if processing what just happened. And for a while it was positively silent, with you shivering against him, and him not moving an inch, his breath fanning the top of your head. And then all at once, his arms wrapped around you and his head rested against the top of your head. Curious about the sudden change in him, you discreeting tilted your head up to try to meet his eyes, but could only see the underside of his chin. . . And his smile. A very simple smile, but it was the very reason that made your eyes widen in astonishment. You felt as though you were intruding on a private fact, so you tilted your head back down slightly, and disturbed the silence with a question.

"So, are you going to tell me your ghost stories or not? I'm holding someone close, just like you said." You heard him chuckle, his chest quaking slightly with telltale laughter, which made you smile broadly.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting. As the legends are told, dragonspine was. . . . "

When it snows- cold "What's wrong? Can't handle the cold?"

You gave him a cold side eye that even he shivered at. 'Y/n is quite the menacing one when provoked.' Kaeya thought to himself. You continued to glare at him, despite your immense shivering.

"Hahaha, I suppose not. . ." He gave a weak laugh, trying to look for anything that might dissolve your anger, but for a while all he could see was snow, bare trees, more snow. . . Aha!

"Lucky for you, y/n, there's a cave just a few steps ahead of us! Try not to turn into an icicle in the mean time~" you still looked cross with him, your eyebrows still furrowed, but you've lost some of the hard edge in your frown and your features were less drawn down. Now you looked at him expectantly.

"Carry me, please." Just with the mention of carry, his eyes widened back to you, only momentarily, before he got his composure back and coughed. "My, how very forthright of you! But. . . If you insist, y/n. I suppose Dragonspine has treated you too harshly. You can't help but have assistance from me, can you~?" He treated you with a teasing grin. A Cheshire cat, through and through. At his comment, you made a sort of impatient huff, to which he chuckled at. It's quite a delight seeing you act so childish, though he supposed he should help you, seeing as how you've been struggling to keep up for a while now.

Lowering himself down in front of you, he allowed you to climb on his back. You held on tight around his neck as he raised himself to his full height. He really did feel bad, ya know. Feeling you shiver violently on his back made him hold onto you tighter, lest you fall out of his grip. He told himself that next time he will use everything in his power to help you avoid traversing through the unforgiving nature that is dragonspine. Maybe after this he could take you to the beach, a much more pleasant place to be, he hopes.

[2cmtall]

On my own

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Music to go along with the story.

Warning:

Angst no comfort

Hs event spoiler

Kaeya spoiler

I haven't read his character story yet.

Might be ooc

As per usual written on phone

Short and oneshot

Setting's probably not during the hs event.

Wonky writting.

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Kaeya was young when his nation fell.

Kaeya was young when he was planted as a spy.

Kaeya was young when he was abandoned by his father.

Kaeya was young when he became a part of diluc's family.

Kaeya Alberich.

Kaeya.

Was just a child.

Children are often thought that they could forget things easily.

So why?

Why does he...

Why do he remember everything like it all happened just yesterday? kaeya believed that Diluc missed him just as how much he missed him by his letters. That was probably a dumb way to believe that his brother still harbors affection for him despite how the tension surrounds them everytime they'd see each other face to face.

He was confused by those gestures

He was lost wether to believed himself or not.

He would always walk mondstadt with confidence every day, that even he, believed it himself; in reality kaeya knew just who he is.

A Traitor

A Liar

And a back stabber.

He didn't have any place to stay apart from the office at the headquarters, but sometimes he'd like a time off by himself. Kaeya would always find himself at the roof of the knight of favonious sitting right by the corner, opening a compartment and seeing the very things he treasures. Sometimes, his touch would linger just long enough for him to be in a drinking mood.

It's funny how liquor can make you momentarily forget and then hurt you as your senses come back.

It's funny....

he actually find that comforting.

Sometimes, kaeya would see diluc work alone and he'd remember just how much he love working by his side and now that the traveller is here, being his aide, he was reminded of their time together.

The time where they....

Where they were the one side by side in a battlefield.

He looked at the traveller and diluc fighting off their enemies from a distance. Suddenly a bittersweet smile graced his lip.

That used to be him.

That was supposed to be him.

That was his place.

Kaeya walked back to mondstadt content to see his brother fighting along side someone.

Content that his brother found a replacement.

Content that his brother is not alone anymore.

He was happy for diluc.

He truly was.

Yet...

He wished that was him.

He wished that they could go look for seashell by the seashores again.

He wished for a place.

He whished for a warm embrace.

Yet, he only has his cryo vision embracing him.

It was cold.

But perhaps he had learned to love the frosted feeling that surrounded him.

[2cmtall]

ガイア : power outage ft. kaeya modern au for yae publishing house event

"please, have mercy on me." you let out a sob when the dark-haired guy in front of you hits you with yet another +2 card, his smirk making the humiliation of losing a two-people game of uno even worse.

"oh? but i'm having so much fun, and we only just started the second round. you're tired of losing already?" he tilted his head to appear baffled, the permanently printed smirk on his face ruining his whole theatrics. of course, he would like to go around making fun of you just for the hell of it. it's like he feeds from your reactions, he eats them up for breakfast, lunch and dinner and always tries to get even more of them. "besides, you've insisted so much on playing with me these last few days. don't tell me you're giving up so easily, darling."

"you're always so mean to me. what have i ever done to you?" you pouted while giving it a last try to counterstrike his attacks but soon realizing your whole fifteen (15!!!) cards were useless, he put down a blue. the only colour you didn't have.

you cursed under your breath and picked up as many cards as necessary to continue your turn, it all felt like life had smiled at you one last time when your vision caught on the colour of the card you were just picking up though. the characteristic colour of a special card with white details lining a beautiful, gorgeously made +4 card. you decided to save it, with an uncontrollable wicked smile forming on your face that made him shiver.

picking up your next, you couldn't help the malicious giggle slipping from your lips rather loudly. oh, you thought you might've found out the significance of life right there at the moment a second +4 card found its way to your hand.

kaeya could see the gears turning in your head, calculating your next move with a newfound motive, your sinister expression made him move uncomfortably in his position. if you started rubbing your hands together in delight at your evil plan he wouldn't have been surprised.

"now. what's so amusing about your never-ending hand of cards?" he asked, a single drop of sweat running down his forehead. meanwhile you let out small giggles like a maniac.

"patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." you quote in the middle of throwing your arm up in the air, his unknown demise dancing on your fingertips. you felt a rush of confidence run through your body like the blood in your veins, you were too worked up for an uno game but your game buddy appreciated the enthusiasm nonetheless.

you would savour that moment of pure and blissful fulfillment when watching your opponent fall into a disaster of your creation again if you could, watch those pretty white jewels adorning his sly stunning smile that would be replaced with the face of stupefaction in the most satisfactory way possible. and you were just about to see every second of it.

until you weren't.

darkness covered the room and it took a while for your eyes to get accustomed to the change of lighting, your one-way ticket to success fell out of your hands onto the table with no spectator to witness your triumph, thus the game was over. everything fell silent.

it wouldn't last long though for kaeya let out the biggest laugh you've ever heard coming from him in all your months being roommates. you plopped yourself down to your spot on the floor, defeated, and watched your companion cry of happiness at your misery.

"you're adorable, really. patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles perish." he kept on stupidly giggling for another five minutes after that, you were nothing short of annoyed.

not just that you lost so ridiculously, but the moonlight slipped through your window so perfectly that it smacked kaeya on his good side, if he was aware of that fact you would never hear the end of it. you made sure he never knew it coming directly out of your mouth, but sometimes the way you would stare at him told him more than what he needed to hear. the ridiculous crush you've had on him ever since you guys moved in together was painfully obvious.

"alright, alright. let's clean the floor up, shall we?" you tried reasoning with him while getting up and picking up some of what was left of your dignity with you. "help me find some candles too, handsome"

with that, kaeya finally stopped laughing his ass off and pretended to wipe a non-existent tear off under his eye. "aw, you're making me blush! and here i thought i was the charming one." he tried to contain himself back from letting stray giggles out "it appears you can still be lovely after losing both a game and your dignity."

the innocent sweet smile he gave you while saying that made your chest feel all weird, was it the lack of good lighting that made it seem like his eyes had stars in them?

"stop trying to be cute."

"what do you mean trying? i am cute."

"you definitely are lying to yourself."

"well you literally called me handsome just a second ago."

"i think you're delusional-"

next thing kaeya knows, a loud thud and an "ouch" were heard, indicating you got so distracted by your bickering with him that you walked onto a wall. once again, you could almost see his shining bright smile in the darkness of your shared apartment and you couldn't even get mad at someone as pretty as him. instead, you chose to lazily push him away from you causing him to crash into a doorframe.

"what is wrong with you?" kaeya huffed out a laugh albeit porting pain in his features, he caressed his arm.

"i can't see, genius." sarcastically, you moved before him and entered the kitchen. when your face was concealed from his view you finally let yourself smile.

"i believe it was actually intentional on your part." you heard his footsteps behind you, each step taken would increase your heartbeat to the point that you had to put your hand on your chest. still, you tried your best to look for a candle, directing yourself by your other senses. were did you put them last time?

undoubtedly, there was something about being alone with kaeya in the dark night with the moon as the only witness that'd make your head feel dizzy and your hands go numb. god, how could someone be so mesmerising? you're not even mad about losing the uno game to him anymore, you'd let him win everytime as long as you can see him unabashedly smile like that again: eyes crinkling, cheeks flushed, messy hair brushing his face, soft hearty laugh and the absolute light in his eyes that would follow your movements after laughing too hard.

you found the candle and lit it up, just to see kaeya inches away from your face. "you do know we have our phone's flashlights, right?" is what he said, barely above a whisper. his gaze seemed to be fixated on something on your face, or maybe just on you. you let out a nervous laugh trying to brush it off, but he saw right through you, or more like right at you, directly in your eyes.

"again, i believe that was also intentional on your part." he lifted his hand to your cheek and caressed it oh so tenderly as if fearing you might break. you felt your breath shudder and embarrassingly stared at your roommate's lips, his smile growing bigger by the second while your mind clouded in a fog of thoughts about how much you wanted to kiss him, just to feel what is like to have his soft-looking plump lips on yours. "it makes this even more romantic, don't you think?"

yet as he got closer and closer all you could do was melt in the hands that held you so gently. you hoped for more dark nights loosing uno games if this was the result of them every time.

a/n: notice how i got uninspired near the end, it all comes down to the curse, ended up hating it ;-; but it's finally done, i'm free.

[2cmtall]

Not this video making me giggle and kick in the air 😳🤭

“Uh-ah! You should watch what you say, Honorary Knight.”

[2cmtall]

Relationships with Kaeya

-> Kaeya Alberich x GN!reader

CW: Not fully proofread, it’s past midnight and I’m almost sleeping on the spot 😬

Note: As a Kaeya main, I know all the truths about this man (this is a joke-). No but 99% of the time I rely on the way I feel about the characters to write for them, I absolutely love Kaeya but he is a character that makes my mind go brr in all the possible ways.

-Acquaintances-

Kaeya as your acquaintance will act very much like we know from the game: flirty, extremely smart, “trying to get you in his bed” kinda behavior (?)

You will never really know how he feels about you because he acts the same way with everyone, keeping the charming act at all time

He’ll most likely keep you around for his own needs, such as getting information out of you that he could benefit from for whatever reason he has

ESPECIALLY if you aren’t part of the Knights of Favonius but of some other organization (think Liyue’s Millelith, Inazuma’s Shogun’s Army or part of any of the Commissions, Sumeru’s Akademiya, etc)

He could always use some extra pieces of information, intel in current issues that are outside of his earshot as a “simple Cavalry Captain” so he can plan accordingly in case anything stumbles upon Mondstadt

As time passes, he would start to enjoy your company outside of work, inviting you to take a drink at Angel’s Share so he can ridicule his brother during his shifts there (count on Diluc to roll his eyes and send you glares if you laugh at his brother’s antics)

So Kaeya as an acquaintance is going to be really confusing, you’ll never really know where you stand with him unless you really push to lodge yourself in his life on more personal terms

-Friendship-

Now being friends with Kaeya includes seeing him a bit more vulnerable. He’ll be more open about his feelings and his current worries

He won’t be fully open though, he still has his guards up because of his past and his impending future

But he will drop the act quite a few times, letting you see him being himself: a man with insecurities, regrets, and someone who’s emotionally constipated

Kaeya will always be by your side to back you up when needed, if someone talks down on you or if you happen to cross with a rather tough Hilichurl’s camp you can count on him to jump in and defend you! He’ll tease you about your lack of strength in private though (this little shit-)

He will be happy to lend you a shoulder to cry on or ears to vent to but he has a hard time processing emotions so he’ll have a hard time helping you to find balance in your reactions

What I mean: if you’re bawling your eyes out, he’ll very likely cringe a little. Nothing against you, it’s just he feels terrible for not knowing how to handle it and it’s a very awkward situation for him. He’ll gladly give you a hug or a pat on the shoulder but don’t expect him to give you a lengthy speech filled with solutions to your issues

Kaeya as a friend overall is a way better experience than being simple acquaintances, but he’s still a bit stiff and reserved around you. It might lead you to questioning the friendship as the line between his behaviors with others and you can be very thin and tangible

-Partner-

Kaeya asking you out was… something. You didn’t expect him to reciprocate your feelings because of his personality so you thought it was a very bad joke. When he realized how confused you were with him, his heart dropped a little because he realized the signs he was sending your way weren’t obvious and clear enough :(

As your boyfriend, Kaeya will lay himself bare for you. He won’t act like he does with the others, it becomes a day and night comparison. He’ll always be very transparent and honest about his intentions and feelings (to the best of his abilities). He will be super open about saying how much he loves and admires you because why wouldn’t he want to?

Boyfriend!Kaeya is an absolute sweetheart in general. He’ll take care of you like royalty! Physical affection, words of affirmation, and gifts will always be available for you when you need it

I still picture him as someone who can’t handle emotions very well, even after years with you. He’ll know how to soothe you through experience though, whether it’s giving you space or cuddling you in front of your comfort movie with your favorite takeout

No one is allowed to even breathe wrong your way. One single step out of place towards you and he’s ready to roast the person to filth. Kaeya is amazing with words and he knows how to pick someone apart with a simple glance

Arguments would be fairly rare. I feel like Kaeya is someone who is very responsible and knows how to balance work and personal life when needed. Once he gets with you he won’t be overworking himself or spending hours on end at the bar to drink his sorrows away. He’ll finish his workday and 6 out of 7 days come straight home to you

You become his absolute top priority. Whatever you need, please ask him. Kaeya loves feeling useful and even more if it’s towards you! He will never judge you or what you’re asking of him, no matter how stupid or little it seems he’ll be happy to provide!

Kaeya is a very high 9.5/10 boyfriend, if you can manage to get yourself nice and comfy in his heart, you will be very lucky, always well treated, highly respected, and loved beyond anything else in his life

[2cmtall]

“ a moment of quiet ”

✧ kaeya ; comfort ; being nervous to speak to him & being reassured

✧ so sorry for how long this took!! i haven’t written kaeya in a while D:

  kaeya alberich is many things. that, he prides himself upon; he is cool, calm and collected, mysterious and enchanting; popular, friendly, and a smooth talker. for you, the person he loves, he would bring you the moon without hesitation, and he could probably charm it down from the sky with only a few words. so why are you … almost refusing to talk to him?

  he is not cruel, unless he wants to be, and the only beings in teyvat he saves that side of himself for are creatures of the abyss; he has never been anything but kind, and sweet, and gentle to you. anything less than that seems unthinkable. he could not imagine speaking to you in any other tone but a soft one. and yet … you don’t ever initiate conversations, or ask him to have a conversation alone with you; every discussion is started and ended by him, unwilling to put up with the quiet for too long but having to because you just don’t speak.

  he does his best to combat this, of course. whether positive or negative, another thing he fails to be is short of words. the uncomfortable silence that you seem unwilling to breach is oftentimes filled by his voice, silky and smooth at first, but it strains into tense chatter after a while of only receiving nods and short answers from you. he doesn’t know what to do, which is rare; doesn’t know what to say, which never happens.

  it just – builds up, and it has been for a while, and he can’t tell if he was letting it happen because he was unsure what to do or whether he simply didn’t notice. but now it’s definitely noticeable; the two of you are sitting at the same table, eating dinner, and it has been completely silent in the room for the last half hour.

  he looks over at you, and you’re chewing a bite of your salad placidly, eyes downward. he racks his brain for an idea of a conversation starter. “so, how was your latest assignment? the one where you had to work together with that eccentric alchemist?”

  you look like a deer caught in headlights at the sound of his voice, almost jarring through the quiet. you swallow your salad and keep your mouth closed for a moment, and he wonders if you’re just going to not say anything. it quirks his mouth into a small smile with awkwardness and amusement.

  “it was okay,” you say finally, “he was nicer than i expected, still pretty weird though. i swear i never saw his expression change in the slightest. he would be talking, and his face was completely still. it was kind of scary.”

  kaeya laughs, with a mix of relief and actual delight, and your lips curve upwards.

  “shall i arrange to meet him?” he asks. “he sounds … delightful, in a way. you could introduce us, maybe? perhaps next week, after work we could all meet up.”

  your expression shutters. “ah, um … i only met him for a little bit, so i couldn’t really take that into my own hands … sorry.”

  kaeya’s heart drops a bit, but he nods, waving his hand. “oh, of course! don’t worry about it, i suppose it could be some kind of intrusion to force my way into his affairs. maybe i could engineer some kind of situation that forces him to meet me?” he laughs. you try to smile again, but it looks decidedly more forced this time.

  you make some more small talk, not entirely awful but absolutely not what would be expected from a couple that has been together for a decent time now. it leaves him biting his thumbnail with frustration and confusion; he really doesn’t know what to do, and in the small moment when you raise your eyes from where they’re glued to your plate you look torn and more than a little worried. but those worries go unsaid.

  he consults rosaria at the tavern one night, over spiced cider. he checks to make sure there isn’t any person in the tavern who would possibly tell you about what his discussion; it’s empty besides rosaria. well, that strange green bard is in the corner, waving his tankard drunkenly and giggling to himself, but kaeya thinks there’s no reason to worry about him.

  “i mean, i’ve been trying to engage with them,” he laments, taking a sip of cider, “i swear they just don’t want to talk to me. they might not even like me. except they stick around, so i don’t understand what they want at all!” he heaves a sigh.

  “have you considered that maybe they do want to talk to you?” rosaria points out, her voice as cold as usual but sounding a bit more gentle this time. she has a small fondness of you; you’ve met a few times when you’ve had to work with barbara, and she’s heard quite a few stories from kaeya of how wonderful you are.

  “what do you mean?”

  “if they’re just afraid, maybe,” rosaria says, testing the sharpness of her knife on her pointer finger and wiping the small bead of blood on a napkin, “they think you could react badly to their conversational topics? or something. i don’t really know anything about romance.”

  “but i always start the conversations!” kaeya complains.

  “well, you could give them time to talk, but don’t force the burden of an opening statement on them,” she suggests. “just … stop making it an expectation. i get that you want to talk to them, but it’ll just cause them to clam up more if you make it obvious that you want them to carry the discussion. you’re a big talker, you do that.”

  “big talker? yeah, okay,” he grumbles. “sounds fine. but, to start, should i just expect them to begin this whole conversation about it, or – ”

  “did you miss the whole point of what we were just saying? barbatos!” rosaria cuffs kaeya on the arm. the bard in the corner utters a loud whoop excitedly, sloshing cider over himself at her exasperated exclamation of the name (correctly spoken for once in her life). rosaria looks over her shoulder at the bard with confusion and a bit of disgust. “well, it’s getting late; i think we ought to turn in.”

  “okay,” kaeya repeats, downing the last of his drink. “i … suppose i’ll speak to them soon, then report back?”

  rosaria nods, standing and walking to the door. she pushes it open, then turns to face kaeya again. a darkness passes over her face, casting her gaunt features in a terrifying shadow; a dangerous glint appears in her garnet colored eyes. “if you say or do anything wrong … i’ll make you regret it.”

  kaeya smiles cheerfully, waving. “thank you, rosie, truly, i enjoy our talks,” he chuckles. rosaria smiles back slightly and shuts the door, leaving kaeya to ponder the idea for the last couple minutes of cleaning up his drink.

  a few days pass, and he works up the courage gradually, being kinder to you in ways that aren’t quite noticeable to help put you more at ease … or something like that. truthfully, he also loves to see the way your face lights up when he presents you with a bouquet of windwheel asters and cecilias, showing you how the light from the ceiling fixtures filters through the papery veins of the flower petals. your smile reminds him why he wants to speak to you. it’s helpful in a way; you really are a person he’d do anything for.

  it’s a calm afternoon when the time finally comes, he’s waiting in the living room, fidgeting with his hands. he doesn’t often feel nervous, but then again there’s a lot of emotions he doesn’t often feel except with you.

  finally, he hears your voice through the walls along with your footsteps up the front porch. “i’m back,” you call, opening the front door and placing your bag on the hook as you take your shoes off. “i have a few papers i need to process, so i’ll be alone for a – ”

  kaeya intercepts, appearing in the hallway. “actually, could you put those on hold until later? and … can we talk for a moment?” he asks, dragging a hand through his hair. you swallow slightly and nod, following him into the living room.

  the two of you sit quietly for a moment beside each other. he is searching for something to say and your gaze is fixed determinedly on the floor. he doubts you’ll ever start the conversation if he doesn’t say something first. but … this feels insurmountable, in some ways. he’s almost scared of the result of his asking the question he doesn’t know how to say.

  he opens his mouth, then closes it. “[name], if i ever – ” he isn’t sure how to finish it. how does he even put this into words? the idea that he … scared you? that he intimidated you into silence? you, whose voice he loves more than any other sound in the world? “if i ever said anything, or did anything that made you think i didn’t want to hear you talk, i – ”

  “no, never!” your head shoots up, and you have a strong emotion of distress and just wrongness on your face. he can’t describe the relief that pours through him at your words, the unspoken and unrecognized fear that he would chase you away somehow without even knowing he was doing it. that he’d lose you, just like that. “you … haven’t done anything wrong, it’s me.”

  the miserable shadow that passes over your face tugs on something inside kaeya’s chest. “what do you mean, sweetheart?” the name sounds like warm, silky honey on his tongue, and a bit of tension goes out of the draw of your shoulders. you lean backwards against the chair, hugging a pillow to your chest.

  “i’m afraid,” you admit in halting, staccato bits. “that you won’t want to hear what i’m going to say, and … if i’m bothering you, it could be awkward, or you’ll be angry, and – if i’m annoying it might cause an argument, and i don’t know what i’d do … ” you press a hand to your forehead, looking down at the floor. “ … and i guess i’d rather not find out, do you … do you know what i mean?”

  the searching, hopeful quality in your voice makes him so sad. he barely knows why, but maybe it’s the way you seem to want his acceptance, a nod of affirmation that he doesn’t blame you for this, this worry that is consuming your desire and ability to talk to him, that he should have seen a long time ago.

  “i’d never be angry or annoyed by you,” he admits. “i love hearing your thoughts. that could never cause an argument, and … i like to just hear the sound of your voice.” he cringes a bit inwardly at this immature admission. you bring out such interesting sides of him. he would be embarrassed to say these words to anyone else, but somehow he feels like no part of you judges him for it. he hopes you can feel the same way about him.

  you blush slightly. “well, i – i just mean, i can’t really control it. i do get worried about this, maybe too much, but … i guess i’ll try and talk more.” you smile slightly. “i like the sound of your voice too.”

  “of course you do,” he smirks, signature flirtatiousness entering his deep blue eyes, and you sigh a little bit. “don’t get ahead of yourself. it’ll take some time.”

  “don’t worry your pretty head,” he says, and this time his gaze is fully earnest, though still containing that charming, charismatic edge; “i’ll be here the whole time. i just want to be here for you if you need it.”

  you kiss him on the cheek suddenly, and a bloom of heat spreads through his face. he turns his head away to hide the almost flustered look in his eye. “thank you, kaeya.” your voice is as tender and affectionate as he’s ever heard it, with barely a bit of doubt and full of warmth, and for once it’s he who’s silent in your presence.

  it’s not yet night when you return home, but as soon as you enter the room where kaeya is lounging, reading a letter sent by the traveler from liyue, he sees the tired lines on your forehead and moves aside to create a spot for you.

  you cross to where he’s resting and sit down on the couch beside him, lips pressed together in silence as you knead a throw pillow anxiously in your hands. the velvety fabric raises in mountainous lines between your tense fingers, almost clutching it in a white knuckled grip. kaeya slips his hand into yours, gently moving the pillow away, and the draw of your eyebrows relaxes slightly.

  “what’s going on?” he asks, his voice low as to not disturb the tranquility too much.

  you take a moment to speak, tightening your grip on his hand. “today was a nightmare.”

  “ah,” he says, the word containing, somehow, a multitude of understanding and sympathy. he pulls you into the crook of his arm, leaning against the back of the couch, and you let out a relaxing breath. “what happened?”

  “just – it was overwhelming, so much to do,” you say, the words suddenly coming out in a rush. “way too many things and i couldn’t prioritize properly, and there wasn’t enough time, and … i barely got any sleep last night, trying to finish my work that was due today. i didn’t get it done, so i ended up having to rush tomorrow’s, and it’s all building up, and … ” you bite your lip. “sorry, i shouldn’t be complaining, it’s just … ” 

  a tiny bit of worry flares through kaeya’s mind at your words, but he keeps his face even. “don’t apologize,” he says easily, wrapping his arm tighter around your shoulders. “keep going, unless you don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

  you sigh, looking at him with a mix of exhaustion and gratefulness. “can i just … get some rest for a second? maybe you could read the traveler’s letter out loud?”

  “yes, of course,” he says, unfolding the letter and letting his eyes settle back onto the heading line in the traveler’s scrawl. “it might take a while, their handwriting truly is awful.” you laugh, and it’s such a pretty sound he wonders for the millionth time how you could ever mistake your voice and presence to be annoying. “don’t worry, i just want to hear.”

  he begins with the first line (“dear kaeya, i’ve arrived back in liyue after a long period of travel via captain beidou’s boat; she also wears an eye patch, maybe you can start a club …”) and lets his voice remain in a soft tone as he continues through the different paragraphs. he marks the passing of time, a slow development only identifiable by looking out the window to see where the sun is in the sky, every few minutes at the beginning, but then finds himself so distracted by the letter as well as your presence that he forgets to check for longer and longer periods.

 you doze off slowly; it takes the rest of the letter, an almost comically extensive thing with multiple pages, for your breathing to fully even out. kaeya folds it into its envelope and puts it on the arm of the couch, then settles into a more comfortable position, careful not to move.

  it is quiet in the room, but the quiet is welcome; a brief, soft rest from the endless noise of mondstadt’s city. warm amber light of the afternoon’s golden hour filters through the ornately carved window, casting shimmering patterns on the floor, but your eyes are closed against the radiance. kaeya is silent perhaps for once in his life.

  he tilts up the flap of his eye patch just for a moment to take in the sight of his love cast in such a pretty glow, before settling his arms in a crossed position against his chest and closing his eyes, the only sound left in the room your soft breathing that lulls him to sleep.

© lumiconic ; please reblog and follow if enjoyed

[2cmtall]

hi is it alright if i request kaeya, diluc and thoma (separate) with a reader who feels very insignificant next to them and their achievements, hurt to comfort pls <333

i see you, i cherish you

contents: hurt/comfort, fluff, established relationships, gn!reader, monologues in each part so have fun with that haha

cw: negative thoughts, overall sadness and insecurites, feelings of emptiness, crying, food

a/n: first of all, ty anon for being incredibly patient! i'm so so sorry this took so long to fulfill, but i really hope you enjoy it nonetheless!

kaeya– pavo ocellus

Even with one eye, you consider Kaeya to have achieved and gone through so much you couldn’t even imagine happening to yourself. From losing his parents to another parent, and on top of that, his rather- for lack of better words- rocky relationship with his brother, he’s gone through so much and emerged so strong. This comes to the problem at hand. You. Even though he may not have such a clean and honest reputation, people still respect him, evident through their affirming glances and the straightening of their backs whenever he walks by. You, on the other hand, are merely thought of as an accessory, an addition to his ever-growing collection of precious items, tagging along for the sake of it. 

It’s draining to keep thinking like this, you know, but you can’t help the thoughts that constantly invade your mind, constantly reminding you of how insignificant you are compared to Kaeya. You’ve done nothing of value; you’ve done nothing to help the people of Mondstadt, and you’ve done nothing for yourself at this point! He seems like such a respected figure, and you seem so little compared to him, you might as well just live your life inside forever and no one would notice you were gone. 

Tears start escaping from your eyes, and you don’t bother to try and catch them with your mouth like you did when you were younger, because what’s the point? You’re going to eventually start crying again, and again and again. You’re just not important enough and you haven’t done enough and you just feel so small, and so empty. Curling up into the foetal position, you let the sadness wash over you.

—

Kaeya hurries back to your shared home. He’s been looking forward to this, the thought of holding you in your arms and being able to kiss your delightful mouth is enough motivation for him to be tying up any loose ends his (interrogations) job may bring and finishing up the stacks of paperwork his other colleagues have piled up out of laziness. Honestly, some people these days have no moral integrity!

Unlocking the door, and walking in, he immediately notices how quiet it is. That’s strange, considering how he can usually find you either in the kitchen, preparing some form of dinner whenever he comes back home late, or in the hallway right in front of him, welcoming him back home instead. There’s no one in either of those rooms, and when he calls out your name and no one calls back, he begins to get worried. He can’t lose you, not ever, so when a fresh wave of panic tries to take over, he tries his hardest to stay calm and think about things logically. The next thing to do would be to check upstairs. He’s bounding up them, two at a time, his strides revealing how much he’s actually worrying about your welfare, but he doesn’t even reach the top when he hears your cries. 

Not even caring anymore, he bursts inside your bedroom to find you curled up on your bed, body wracking with tears, shaking periodically. A myriad of emotions swirl through him. Anger, at whoever made you feel like this- he stores a mental note to free up some time later that week- relief- well, at least you aren’t missing or gone, but most of all, sorrow. Sorrow at your sorry state, sorrow at the fact you feel like this, sorrow that echoes deep in his bones; a sorrow that makes his heart twinge in uncomfortable ways. He walks over to the bed, and lies next to you, facing your body. 

Gently wrapping his arms around you, he whispers sweet nothings as you cry into his chest, each one making his eyes soften, and grip tighten.

“Please tell me what’s troubling you. I can’t have my darling all wound up, can I? It’s my duty as a knight to make sure all the citizens of Mondstadt are happy and healthy, wouldn’t you say?”

You don’t respond to his questions, like he thought you would anyway, so he changes tact.

“Darling, I beg. I don’t like seeing you upset, and know I’ll deal with anyone who tries to harm you, so please tell me what’s wrong. Whatever you say, I’ll make it right, you don’t have to lift a single finger, I promise.”

You sniffle a bit at this, tears coming slower, and you can feel his warm stare on your head, hands stroking your waist in a way that’s always made you feel relaxed. Or maybe that’s just his arms. Voice cracking up from all the crying, you respond, albeit with a wobble.

“I-I just haven’t done enough, Kaeya. I haven’t done enough!”

Bursting into a fresh set of tears, you wail into his chest once more, and once more, Kaeya shushes you. He kisses the top of your head, one that he hopes conveys his patience for you, and your words. He lets it linger for a couple of seconds before speaking again.

“To me, you’ve always been enough. Why else would you have stolen my heart, and why else would I have allowed it to happen?”

“But, you’ve just done so much and I’ve done so little!”

Kaeya frowns. He now knows what the problem is, but he feels clueless as to how you could ever feel this way. To him, you’ve done so much both for the people of Mondstadt and himself, helping out whenever you can, and always with a smile on your face.

“I’m going to stop you there, darling. Know that nobody thinks lowly of you. I may be the Cavalry Captain, but I have no horses; you may be my partner, but you are also a person. You may not see this, but everyone else can. You have done, and helped so many people that they come up to me- even when I’m out in the tavern- to talk about how you had helped them that same day. Apart from seeing your face, those little conversations are the highlight of my night, and they should be yours, too. So don’t worry, darling, from now on, I’ll tell you those messages and we’ll see how truly significant you actually are. I love you, wholly, and I never want you to feel like that ever again.”

His arms tighten around your waist as he presses a lingering kiss on your head. You squeeze back with the pressure of a feather, and a soft smile breaks through his face. 

diluc– noctua

There are many ways you can say the name Diluc Ragnvindr. The Darkight Hero, saving grace of Mondstadt, free from the shackles of the Knights of Favonius, or perhaps, Master of the Dawn Winery, filthy rich, yet hard-working, producing possibly the best wine in the whole of Teyvat. No matter what name people utter, it always comes along with bucket loads of respect and admiration, constantly failing to hide the fact that they hold him in extremely high regard, much higher than what you could ever hope for. People speak of his courage, perseverance, and determination (well, maybe apart from Kaeya) when all they say to you is to ask how Diluc is. 

It’s frustrating, no- it’s angering and belittling, and it’s as if you don’t have anything to stand for other than being his partner! He gets all of this respect and you just have to stand by his side! It’s as if they don’t even see you as a person with achievements, which- well, what have you done that’s worthy of praise? Nothing, you guess, maybe becoming Diluc’s partner was the peak of your life; it’s only going to go downhill from here, you’ve done nothing good, you’ve done nothing worthy; maybe you don’t deserve him at all. And- oh there the tears come, hot and salty, droplets dripping down your face. 

–

There are many ways Diluc says your name. He says it gently, with hushed undertones and comforting hugs; he says it passionately, with longing in his eyes and a bold thump in his heart. But most of all, he says it so full of love, as if you had hung all the stars in the sky, full of unending, fulfilling, admiring adoration. Whenever your name leaves his mouth, people can’t help but stop and stare; it’s just so obvious how much the Master of the Dawn Winery cares for his special someone. Whenever your name leaves his mouth, there’s an ever-present look in his eye, one that reveals everything he feels about you, a look that proclaims out his devotion. 

So when Diluc finds you- alone, sobbing violently into your pillows- he doesn’t hesitate to place you on his lap, arms cradling your fragile figure, as he utters your name again. He says it again and again, stroking your hair softly, waiting patiently (as if he wouldn’t wait an eternity) while he lets you cry into his shoulder, eyebrows slightly furrowing at the sight of seeing you so upset to get to a point like this. It’s not fair, he thinks, for you to feel like this when you deserve nothing but the opposite, and- he shouldn’t blame himself for this- but what if it has to do with him? You know he’s busy, and he knows he’s busy, but what if you’re feeling as if he doesn’t love you anymore?

Oh, what a lie, as if he could never love you, what a lie, as if he could never look forward to seeing you, as if he could never touch and kiss you as if it were his last. Those people weren’t lying when they said that he was truly in deep, too deep to ever get out of the hole he had dug for himself. Diluc doesn’t mind, though, if he’s in there with you, he would stay like that forever. 

This doesn’t fix the situation at hand, however, and as much as Diluc would like to be able to fix all of your problems, the world doesn’t work like that, and so the next best thing is to help you try and feel better.

You’re still crying, and with every sob that you let out, a piece of his heart seemingly shatters into the void, and he thinks the only way to repair it would be to see your smile again. However, you’ve changed positions to where you’re both hugging each other. You on his lap, arms around his shoulders, and his arms around your waist, sporadically kissing your cheek every once in a while. He sighs, though not at you- never at you, eyes heavy with sadness at your state, and whispers gentle words, cradling your head with his hand.

“Look at me, darling. I love you eternally. I love you with my whole heart, and I can’t even fathom how much it beats for you. I do not know why you’re crying so, but I hate it. You do not deserve whatever this is you are feeling, and I know you as much as I know the back of my own hand. To me, you are the greatest person I have ever known. You have the ability to make me feel things I didn’t know I could, and you made me love, the most important thing of all. I have slain and destroyed, but at what cost? You have healed, and perhaps that is what I love about you so. So please do not cry, darling. You have done so much for me, and you have done so much for others. I know that much, so please, can I see you smile again?

You gaze up at him, eyes widening, as they fill up with tears once more. But not sad tears this time, happy ones instead. You kiss him, salty and passionate and thankful. It’s rather amazing how he manages to find the exact words to comfort you. 

Diluc may be considered stoic, and quiet to most, but for you, he’d recite the longest scripture he could just to wipe your tears away. 

thoma- rubeum scutum

The past few days for Thoma have been particularly busy. Both the Kamisato siblings required some type of assistance that had needed to be by their side for an extended amount of time, often just accompanying them with daily tasks around Inazuma that they may need to be called to. He doesn’t mind though, because at the end of each day, even though he may arrive late, even though he may find you asleep on the couch once he finally arrives back home, he gets to see your face, and gets to carry you gently off to bed, pressing some kisses to your forehead as he does so. 

However, what Thoma doesn’t get to see, is the constant emotion of insignificance you feel next to him. You’re truly proud of him, you really are, and you’re glad he’s so busy and looked after all the time, but sometimes you wish that you could feel that way too. Sometimes you wished that you could receive the same workload as him- just to be able to say that your superiors trust you to be able to deal with larger things, like him. But you don’t and now you feel useless. Especially now, since he’s been kept working late for the Kamisato Clan, you’ve been chased by negativity for the days that he’s arrived late home, and it’s catching up to you.

It’s suffocating, you just want to be recognised by someone, for someone to be proud of you and to be able to say that they respect and admire your ethics and hardworking nature. But instead, you do mundane tasks everyday, get home, wait for Thoma, then go to sleep. You want something more; you yearn for some sort of sign in your life that you’ve achieved something, that you’ve created meaning for someone else. You just feel so tired of it all, you just want to go to sleep.

Staring at the wall blankly, you don’t even notice Thoma creeping in with a smile on his face, only to be replaced by a concerned frown. It’s the end of his gruelling week of assisting and accompanying, and there’s nothing more he wants than to be able to lay in bed with you, the one he loves with all his heart. He even prepared a cake for you to share, your favourite flavour! But when he sees you, devoid of emotion, a grim expression on your face unlike your usual self, he doesn’t hesitate to place the cake aside- all but forgotten- and rush over to where you’re sitting. 

“Baby…?” 

He whispers, almost scared to raise his voice, as if he would upset you even further. When you don’t respond, he gently raises you up to your feet, so tenderly, you know he’s done this before. He tilts your head up to look at him, and he gets scared. He gets scared at the empty look on your face, and he musters up all the love he can get (which- to be frank- is a lot) to smile at you. Even though he’s scared, the eyes are the window to the soul, and his truly reveal how much he cares for you. He searches for feeling in yours, and when he spots just a glimmer, he leans down to give you a gentle peck on the lips. 

“Do you want to tell me what’s troubling you? I’ll do my very best to sort it out, you know I’d do anything for you.”

Comforted by the sound of his voice and affirmations, you regain some feeling in your body, and you feel less exhausted. 

“Sorry, Thoma. I just- I’m not feeling too good.”

“Oh, would you like anything then? I have a really good soup recipe that I can make for you, just get some rest, and it’ll be ready in just a few minutes! I would prefer for you to feel better sooner rather than later.”

You sigh. 

“No. That’s not what I meant. I mean- well- you’ve just been so busy and I’ve been… here, doing nothing. You’ve done so much already, and I haven’t done anything at all, I just want to feel as if I’ve done something… significant like you, that’s all.”

Tears start pooling at the corners of your eyes, and Thoma hurries to wipe them away with his hands. His heart clenches at your confession, worry evident in his eyes. If only you knew how much you mean to him, how much he thinks that you’re the significant one in the grand scheme of things, and how much he values your existence. 

“No, don’t say that kind of stuff, it hurts. You know I love you so, so, so much and that I think you’ve done so much- too much- that I can’t possibly repay you. You don’t know how much you’ve impacted my life, and that I’m so grateful you came into it. I think others would agree too. I look forward to seeing you every day, y’know? You’re the highlight every single time, so don’t think of yourself as worthless, or insignificant, because I think if you weren’t here, my heart would have a massive gap right down the middle! I love you so much, baby, and it pains me to see you hurt like this, but I want you to believe that compared to me, you’re the one who shines bright. You’re the star here, not me.”

He pauses when you don’t respond. Maybe you need some time for yourself, sometimes that’s just the case. 

“I’ll make the soup now, okay? I love you.”

Turning around to head out, a pair of arms from behind him encase his waist. 

He laughs, turning around again to face you. Stroking your hair gently, he presses a kiss to your forehead, and wonders whether you can tell how much he truly loves you. How much he would do for you, and sacrifice for you. Thoma mutters a quiet ‘thank you’, and you look up at him, confused, tears still in your eyes. 

“Surely I should be the thankful one, Thoma? Thank you, though.”

Your voice goes quiet at the last part. 

He smiles softly, eyes drooping ever so slightly in admiration, in patience and in understanding. 

“My pleasure.”

a/n: tysm for reading to the end! likes, reblogs and comments are highly appreciated! ❤️

[2cmtall]

what they admire about you

Context: as the title suggests, this is about one aspect that the characters admire about you.

A/n: I made a goal for myself this month at school to write a certain amount by the end of January and this is one of a few that I have completed. Thank you to those that have reblogged and liked my last post. Although it wasn't genshin related, it was well received by those who did like that other fandom.

Characters: Kaeya, Diluc ( I might have made Diluc's a bit longer than Kaeya's by accident but I hope people enjoy either way)

================================================

Kaeya:

Your sense of empathy and non-judgment.

▪ For someone who is considered shady and non-trusting by some, even by fellow colleagues, it's refreshing to know that you don't hold those same misconceptions.

▪ he was skeptical of you at first. You being a newcomer in mondstadt, kaeya naturally wanted to know if you were a friend or foe, but after a few chats and hidden observations, he concluded that although you withheld some info about yourself, you seemed far from a possible threat and he soon forgot about you.

▪ that was until he happened to see you near good hunter, and decided he would come to chat with you for a while to see what you were up to these days. He greeted you in his charismatic nature, and you answered politely, laughing quietly at his slight antics. As he kept chatting with you, he couldn't help but notice the difference in how you speak to him. No matter the teasing comments he made to you, you seemed to laugh genuinely and sometimes even answer back with a quick remark, your eyes full of mirth. Your smile seemed to get wider the more he asked about you, and you were especially interested to ask him about his day. He didn't realize it at the moment, but the way you talk to him always seemed kind and genuine.

▪ eventually he had to say goodbye and he turned to leave, but he suddenly stopped crept back to a corner at which he turned when he caught the voice of Amber, one of his dear colleagues. He already knew for sure what Amber could possibly want to talk to you about, especially right after he left, and usually he would let her little rumors slide, but this time he seemed intrigued despite himself to hear your response. Will your views about him change? Will you start looking at him with scepticism and maybe even despise from here on out? No matter what, he wanted to know.

▪ despite his worries, when Amber started berating you with warnings about kaeya, whom you just had a pleasant conversation with, that seemed to irk you and you felt the need to defend him.

▪ "y/n, I don't know why he keeps talking to you but you got to be careful. Kaeya can be somewhat. . . Shady. It's best if you avoid talking to him, for your safety of course." This is the part where Kaeya loses a potential ally. A friendly acquaintance. But when he peeked around the corner just slightly, what he saw pleasantly surprised him. Your brows were now furrowed and he can see that your mood has substantially shifted by the way your eyes settle in a silent rbf. And in a monotone manner you replied, "I understand that you have good intentions in warning me about potential dangers, but I'll have to ask you to stop. I agree that Kaeya may be something other then what he shows in public, and I'm confident he has secrets he keeps secrets under lock and key, but I don't believe you should look at him that way. From my perspective and interactions with him, Kaeya is someone I genuinely enjoy talking to, and will continue to talk with him if he so wishes as well. Thank you again for the warnings, outrider amber, but I dont believe I'll need it." By the end of your grand speech, you were smiling, your face filled with polite kindness. Amber seemed to pause for a good moment, stuck staring at you as she scrambled for a parting response. Seeing the whole ordeal and witnessing your proud face as his fellow colleague scrambles away, he could feel the curve of his lips as it formed into a smile. A smile that stayed on even after he returned to his office, passing by knights, not caring for their questioning glances. Maybe you were someone worth chatting with more. . .

▪ some other traits he finds he admires about you later on is your acts of service and honesty.

Diluc:

Your plentiful rants about your passions

▪ most of us know by now that Diluc is not one to enjoy an idle chat, preferring to get straight to the point. You can't blame him, he is a rather busy man. For some reason though, people can sometimes see you yapping away (or talking in general) while diluc will quietly listen, sometimes also focused on his work (bartending, reviewing papers, etc), but he would also voice small comments to encourage you more and show that he's listening. There are even special moments where the both of you would be having the conversation because it's something you are both interested in. I believe some good topics to have with him are the art of mixing drinks and different tastes you like, chess, etc. Maybe talking about his business is something he would rather not have often because he wants to learn more about you (unless you were generally interested in business and the inner workings).

▪ I believe the reason you first met was because you happened upon him near the dawn winery when you first visited mondstadt. When you noticed the grand building and picturesque atmosphere, with the grape vines and crystal flies and the grand mansion at the very top (not to mention it was around sunset, the perfect splash of warm colors) you couldn't help but stay and be amazed. Eventually, when diluc had to leave his home to take care of something, he noticed you with an impressed sparkle in your eyes. Upon introducing each other and seeing how you looked genuinely interested, he offered to give you a special tour around the place after he was done with his duties. You thanked him and agreed to meet with him later. Even now, even if you were shy (unless you're not), he can already tell you had a friendly personality and appreciated how you held yourself.

▪ while giving you the tour, you couldn't help but ask him questions and with those answers, your rants would transform. You were always switching topics and giving comments about the things that spoke to you. You liked to speak of the existing knowledge you had and ask him for confirmation or further explanation. At first, he felt a bit. . . Apprehensive of the constant talking. He was used to short and quick answers, and usually upon introduction, he would say that he quite disliked chatter, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to say that to you. It's something in the way that your smile widens at every little thing that excites you, the giggles that escape when you're in the middle of telling a story, and the way that your eyes positively sparkle. Even if you're the type of person to be more reserved, he can still see your general excitement. And he enjoys that. Maybe he doesn't like idle chatter, but for you, he believes he can make an exception, especially when you give interesting stories, insights, and/or questions that reach a deeper level of interest than what he is commonly used to.

▪ for you, you continued to talk to him, updating on everything and nothing at once, ranting about the things you have seen or heard while diluc tended to his work. It took you a while to understand that he was listening you as you might be the type of person that enjoys the full attention from the recipient, unsure if diluc was even listening to you, but when you stop suddenly that's when diluc would ask "why'd you stop? What happened after. . . " and then you would happily continue on. This whole time you never knew about his general dislike for idle chit chat until one day you overhear a conversation between two strangers, their topic being about you and how you were seemingly the only one who can have full conversations with the stoic businessman. Curious you listened on. "Its crazy how y/n can rant on for HOURS with diluc, and he hasn't once told them to shut up." The other stranger pitched, "yeah! Especially when everyone here knows he hates that sort of thing. It's a wonder how he tolerates them for even a second. Honestly I'm quite jealous. . ." By then you zoned out of their conversation because of what they said. Diluc hates chatting? How come he never told you about it? Ugh and the fact that you were just ranting on and on. . . You were convinced he must secretly despise you were for always coming in the tavern or his study and talked. Inside you were in total turmoil mentally hating your past selves for not being considerate. Form now on you decided to be more mindful, and you wouldn't bother him when he was working (which was admittedly alt he time) and to only greet him in passing.

▪ and that's what you did for a while, deciding not to visit him at his work and only greeting him in passing, always leaving diluc perplexed as to why you were suddenly acting so differently. He tried to ignore it for a time, but he couldnt help but wonder if he did something wrong when  you would look at him with an apologetic face and leave shortly after a quick catch up.

▪ eventually he decided to confront you about it when your actions felt too forced, as if you were trying so hard to not speak to him (in a way you were. You would still say hi, but you were actively not speaking about your day, lest you start going on a tangent). He missed listening about your day and noticing the little nuances of your speech and body language, happy that someone (you) wished to share their day in detail to him. Before meeting you, he was fine with the silence, since he could focus much better with no noise, but now he felt the silence to be too distracting in a way, too different. It constantly creaked at the back of his mind that something was missing, and that something was your voice.

▪ when he confronted you, asking if he'd done something wrong, you were a bit confused. Wasnt the peace and silence what he wanted? And you said as much, "but I overheard from some strangers that you were widely known to dislike idle chatter and that I was the only person that kept ranting on and on to you. I wanted to be more considerate about your preferences and I decided to limit me talking. Dont worry, you didnt do anything wrong and I'm sorry i didnt think how the sudden disappearance would affect you." You felt just as guilty as you felt when you overheard the strangers, and you couldnt help but look away from his eyes sheepishly. That was until he spoke again. "Y/n, did I by any chance say I didnt like chatter directly to you?" You stared blankly at him for a moment, trying to remember a moment where he mentioned it to you but couldn't think of a time, "I. . . I dont believe you did. Why not?"

▪ he simply huffed, a small smile forming as he spoke, "well, because I quite enjoy your 'ranting' as you called them. Admittedly, you're right. I dont usually enjoy the concept of meaningless pleasantries and conversations, but the way you speak with interest and feeling makes me forget about my usual dislike. For you, I would like to listen to your stories more, no matter how silly or irrelevant it is. Promise you wont keep avoiding me?" He chuckled lightly, making a joke to snap you out of the blank daze you seem to be in. Shaking your head, you smiled greatly, "Haha, I promise! And thank you for allowing me to tell you these stories. Speaking of which, would you like to hear this crazy thing I saw someone do yesterday?!?" "Of course, but why dont we go to the dawn winery. I can have the maids prepare us a dinner and you can tell me all about it."

▪ he might also like someone with a sense of justice (even if you dont usually act on standing up for things and making changes, I think he would still appreciate some form of initiative)

[2cmtall]

didnt realize how long this would be (and I usually dont read long fics in general) but WOW! 😯 every word captivated me to want to continue. The style of writing felt fresh and different from the others that I have read and this story tugged at my heart as much as xiao's and the reader's hearts hurt😣. I believe this story deserves even more attention than it already has, it's just that good! 😍

to dream a dream

xiao x gn reader

sometimes, all it takes to push two people together is a stroke of luck, and sometimes, leaving is as easy as taking on the abyss. perhaps you were a fool for choosing misery, but people like you were never meant for a happy ending. or, xiao meets a star-borne traveler who captures his heart and leaves it fractured for the next 500 years.

angst, not a happy ending (can be read as ambiguous ending), non-linear narrative, long fic, reader is the abyss twin (gender neutral), i wrote most of this back in sept 2021 so might not be accurate on a few lore aspects but i tried my best

Here is how it starts: a shooting star and a lone Yaksha.

Perched atop one of the many mountain peaks in Jueyun Karst, Xiao watches the afternoon sky be split by a streak of gold.

A shooting star.

It’s only when it begins to descend that the lone Yaksha realizes the direness of the situation. He’s quick to summon his spear, disappearing in a swirl of anemo and his own tainted aura. He arrives just in time to see a golden figure fall from the sky and into the ground in the middle of Dihua Marsh.

What greets him when he approaches is the sight of a person laying in the middle of a meteor-sized crater, eyes closed and dressed in clothes that look as if they belonged to another world.

After the war that occurred only a few years ago, and with the looming threat of Celestia hanging above the Seven Nations’s heads, he decides it is best to eliminate the threat this sleeping stranger might pose to Liyue.

The tip of the spear was only a few inches away from its destination when a pair of too-bright eyes open. And for the first time in his long life, Xiao falters from the stare of a stranger.

(He doesn’t know yet that this stranger is the person who will shape his life for the next five hundred years and more.)

Keep reading

[2cmtall]

I loved this depiction of Kaeya!

Hi, Ven! I am here politely requesting a Kaeya Drabble, as he is my very favorite fictional person to ever be created, and you are my favorite Kaeya writer in existence! ☺️

im ur favourite kaeya writer? ;-; i am cradling u so very tenderly right now, of course you can have a kaeya drabble my love <3 i am very proud of this one actually hehe - lil hurt/comfort warning tho btw bc i couldn't help myself

Kaeya Alberich tends to get anxious in relationships.

He doesn't let it show externally- he has too much of a reputation to uphold, after all, even to you. But it is impossible to truly mask his emotions. They leak through his facade in other ways, in subtle little actions that you can only notice by the pure virtue of being his lover.

When he begins to take on missions for the Knights that involve specifically patrolling near your home, your work, your favourite places to spend your downtime, you first take notice of these insecurities manifesting.

Greeting you outside your home in the morning with a charming smile and a kiss so dizzying that you're left weightless, a breezy "fancy seeing you here, darling," passes seamlessly through glistening lips. It is accompanied by that soft chuckle of his that rumbles through his chest and tightens your own, seamless and carefree. He has his act down to a fine art, all the airs and graces of a prince as he tries to woo you into forgetting to ask the important question of just why he keeps coming here every few mornings.

And yet the corners of his eyes are not creased.

Not like how you see him on the nights he has spent in your bed. When he makes one too many dirty jokes and the laugh that follows is interrupted with a snort that has him burying his face in your shoulder in embarrassment, as the tables turn and you start to tease him for how utterly adorable he is.

You notice that he tends to show up if you have been apart for a few too many days, if your schedules have conflicted with his lately and you've been unfortunately forced into cancelling a date or two. He passes it off as a romantic gesture, making a way to spend time with you no matter how brief, and you're aware that it isn't a lie.

But it is not something he does on a whim. It is something he does with desperation, as though you are drifting from him when you spend too much time apart. As though he must anchor himself to you, draw you closer lest you detach entirely.

Clingy would be the word most people use.

And you suppose that Kaeya is clingy really, past the nonchalance he exudes.

He clings to you in the dead of night, when all is quiet save for the steady beating of two hearts entwined. He cannot sleep at your side unless he is encompassing you, arms and legs weaved and foreheads touching. Tender kisses pressed once, twice, three times to welcoming lips as he murmurs that he just can't help himself, just needs one more before he can fall asleep peacefully.

In drunken confessions during your nights frequenting taverns with him, you had learned that he is fearful to lose you. He hadn't given you an explanation, the words that had escaped being enough to sober him up to the point of slipping back into himself. But the desperation that had flashed across his features when he told you had been unforgettable, all but burned into your memory.

So, you play along when he shows up like this, opening the door with a smile and running into his arms, squeezing him tight. Peppering him with an assault of kisses all over his cheeks and jaw, excitedly buzzing about how very unexpected it is to see him.

In truth, you have learned to sense whenever he does this. And conveniently you have always just so happened to make a little too much breakfast that morning, an extra cup's worth of coffee left sitting on your countertop.

He preens at the attention and fusses you in return, more often than not handing you a trinket he has collected in the previous days that he simply had to buy for you when he saw it. They're always something wearable- a shimmering necklace inlaid with your birthstone, with his birthstone; various decorative rings and bracelets and earrings and brooches. Sometimes they're larger items, a shirt that you totally didn't see hanging up in his wardrobe a few weeks prior, or a scarf made of the finest Mondstat-harvested wool in the same deep blue shade as his hair.

Kaeya is marking you, you realise, by trying to decorate you in items that so very clearly signify you as his. And you wear every single item each chance that you get.

Because if this is the only way you are able to alleviate his anxieties, then even the archons themselves wouldn't be able to stop you from doing it.

taglist: @x-zho @irethepotato @pochipop @applejuiceistired @falling4fandoms (send an ask/dm or check pinned to join/leave taglists <3)

[2cmtall]

oikawa x y/n scenario

Context: a scenario where oikawa and you help each other with your insecurities and struggles of self-loath.

A/n: a few years back I was really interested in Haikyuu, my favourite character being Oikawa (I almost always like the flirty, egotistical guys idk why 🤷‍♀️) and recently I decided to check out my pinterest board dedicated to this man. And that turned into me reading fanfics on tumblr an looking through pinterest. I'm honestly surprised that there are still people who like this show and there are some that still post about it. Even if you dont like/care for haikyuu or Oikawa, maybe this scenario in general could be interesting to you? 🙃

CW: I suppose themes involving self-loathing and feeling as though you're not pretty. Please excuse any misspellings or grammatical issues.

================================================

For him to have a relationship with somebody who is not conventionally pretty.

You're not ugly by any means but because you have never recieved any confessions or experiences of love by guys in school, this has caused you to question your beauty. You dont necessarily try to be beautiful, opting to get extra sleep and pick out quick outfits rather than take the extra effort, but that doesnt mean you don't care. You just don't know where to start and not much motivation to go beyond your comfort zone.

That is until you met oikawa. Now the romance wasn't sudden, as most love at first sight portrays conventionally beautiful people.

Oikawa is the type to usually receive affection/attention from cute girls so he assumed that look was normal. When both of you meet, you both didnt really care for each other. He was just a popular guy, and you were just a girl.

You became their teams manager because it was recommended by a fellow student, but while you got accepted and was working, you were sometimes reminded of the fact that some if not most guys wanted pretty managers, something that you apparently arent (not true).

Oikawa, despite his previous lack of feelings for you, noticed. He noticed because as the weeks when by, he grew to appreciate your work and had a bare jist of who your were. So when you adorned a deep sadness in big volleyball games or any other event involving other teams and their managers, he took note of it. He was able to find the source of the problem when after the games or as the teams were mingling, he heard comments about how you were the "ugly duckling" among the other managers, saying that they feel bad for the team that has to see you every practice.

This for some reason irked him. He usually ignored comments regarding the managers because he knew what most guys wanted, it wasnt his business to get into he thought. And if he had to be honest, back then and still a bit now (though only to go along with convo with other guys), he makes comments about pretty managers.

But his view has changed ever since he caught glimpses of your true self. What areas you were passionate about, your strengths, even some of your weaknesses he knew. He knew from your actions how you were caring and empathetic, wanting to make sure he didn't overwork himself. There were times where everyone was groaning at his antics (to be expected. no one can blame them), but you were off to the side silently laughing. There were times where hes made comments about Tobio's unending talent, and you reprimanded him lightly, reminding him of his own talents, even if he couldnt quite see it himself. There were moments where he swore you could see through to his true self by the way you look at him in deep thought. You have even joined him in his antics, copying his silly moves and laughing alongside him. And last but not least, hes seen your competence and skill as a manager. You still had a lot to learn as it was your first year, but you had the drive to reflect and be better, which is important in a manager.

So when he heard those rude comments, it irked him because they were discrediting your work and even indirectly insulted his own team! As if! You are one of the reasons why their team does so well. Hes had enough. Done with the blatant insults, he walks towards the nobodies with false politeness, a smile not reaching his eyes. He looks down at them and says "hello! Sorry to disturb your thrilling conversation, but I couldnt help but concern myself over the talk of my dear manager." Their quick shock at seeing the king himself quickly sobered with laughter as they realized his words. One of the guys spoke. "Oh man! Shes Aoba jousai's manager?! What were guys thinking in letting her join? Doesnt your school have tons of cute girls?" Oikawa isn't fazed. "Why of course we do! But unfortunately, not all of them have what it takes to be a competent manager like y/n."

He then leans in closer, his smile wiped from his face, and speaks in low tone causing the two boys to look petrified and angry at the same time, offending by whatever oikawa said and angry by his audacity. It was the type of look that you have seen players make when an opponent is stronger than them and is looking down upon them. It was a sight to see to watch them angrily walk away from a smug oikawa. Even more amusing to see oikawa then get hit by a flying ball, its owner none other than iwaizumi.

You had no idea why he would jump to make such an action, ruling out the possibility that he might have done it for your sake as to not make embarrassing and hasty assumptions (you arent exactly oblivious to signs, more so doubtful the romantic type of motivations apply to you). Your conclusive theory is that he did it to defend aoba jousai, as they did indirectly insult the team (and you saw the way his face twitched at the sneering boys at the mention of the team). But even so, you cant help but feel a little better, especially when oikawa gave you a big smile and a peace sign afterwards.

Eventually one thing leads to another and oikawa decides to help you out by offering to give you makeovers, go over skin routines and do your hair for you in the mornings whenever he gets the chance, reassuring you many times that hes willing to wake up extra early for this. You were still very wary about the idea, not wanting to be a nuisance or a chore for him but after a lot of persuasion and pleading, you hesitantly agreed.

He ended up being very serious about the whole process, going over different products and processes, giving you tips and advice for achieving the confidence and the look that accentuates the beauty that's already there. Of course he is still teasing you and performing his usual antics, but when he gets to the nitty gritty processes and whenever you start to feel down about your self, hes serious, a layer of concern in his features.

For your first treatment, he let you stay put and allow him to do all the work, wanting you get a feel for the products and to also treat you since he could see the worry and self loath in your eyes as his fingers go over the black heads on your nose and the blemishes and scars on your face. But he can also see the genuine interest in your eyes and he smiles to himself whenever you close your eyes and unforrow your brows, completely relaxed when hes lathering products on your face or applying make up. Hes patient with the parts you might be scared of, like curling your eyelashes (hes quick to point out the beauty in them. You might laugh in denial but he saw how you gave yourself another look in the mirror, seeing if what he said was true). The way he goes over hairstyles are amusing, but also therapeutic. He teases at first, messing up your hair and holding your hair in a weird way intentionally to lighten the mood, but when you give him full/semi-full creative freedom (depending on if you have looks you'd prefer or didnt want), he worked to give you one he thought fit your looks and needs well. It would be therapeutic because his fingers would sometimes graze your scalp/skin and he would hum to himself, his fingers working rhythmically. Hes grown to like whenever you close your eyes when hes giving you makeovers cause it means you trust him and found the experience relaxing.

Overall the experiences are calming and hes done, although there are still some doubts, after some reassurment, you look much happier. Hes caught you once or twice looking at yourself in the mirror and he cant help but smile seeing you obsess over his work. Over some weeks, you've grown to experiment and be more confident about your looks, looking much happier at school than previously before, and in those morning sessions, the two of you have talked and bonded over different topics, ranging in all levels of seriousness or lack thereof. Hes grown to like to you for who you are, every side that you show him, and you've grown to understand him at a deeper level as well. You've both helped each other, you with your confidence and him with his tendency to overwork himself, but noth of you have helped each other with the others tendency to self loath.

Your romance was slow, and it took a while before one of you confessed and for you to accept that oikawa loves you, but since you both had a sense of understanding your relationship was healthy.

Bonus: I think it would be cute if oikawa helped you in subjects/areas you have trouble understanding. Through your study/HW hangouts and oikawas dramatic antics and way of teaching, it helped strength your bond and to give yourself confidence that your capable of understanding any material as long as you have the motivation and the right learning strategies that work for you. You have both also took this time to watch previous volleyball matches where oikawa enthusiastically teaches you all there is to know about volleyball and the specific matches and players. It was very educational and you enjoyed seeing him passionately talking about it. It would also be cute if you two subconsciously watched close together, as if you were a couple.

[2cmtall]

This was such a nice read! I really like your style of writing! 🤗

Hi! It's me again, haha;;;

May I ask a Diluc x Fem!Reader who went on a mission together, where you go to unexplored areas of Stormterror's Lair. Said mission has a mysterious domain. Once you enter the domain, any and all of your desires will be given to you. However, you can only receive it, after relieving a childhood trauma, and not getting triggered.

Let's say reader doesn't really remember too much of her childhood, so she goes for it. I mean, what could go wrong? She goes in the domain, and a lot of shitty things happen in front of her(maybe abuse, kidnapping, death of loved one, traumatizing accidents on the road, you decide. I would prefer abuse, since it hits home, but that might be triggering).

I've thought of this type of domain before, and it's something very interesting.

But anyhow, reader manages to pass, and asked the tree the things she needed. May it be godly artifacts, or primogems, or talent stats. The tree immediately gives it to her.

How would Diluc respond to MC just, having a panic attack, and sobbing really hard after going through that domain?

You don't have to do this if it's really triggering;;; I hope you have a good day!!

no ofc anon! thank you for the request and i hope you're doing well :))

pairing: diluc x female!reader

warnings: triggering topics, unestablished relationship, kind of rushed??, heavy angst with fluff

tw: ab*se, bl**d, d*mestic vi*lence, mentions of injury, trauma, ph*sical ass*lt.

if you are sensitive to any of the following, please do not read this fic.

"{name}, diluc, i'm glad you're both here."

"tch," diluc scoffed. "what could the knights want from me?"

"let's just hear her out," you tried to plead with diluc who was already in a grumpy mood. "it could be important."

"fine. what is it?"

"thank you {name}," jean said gratefully to you. "there's a mysterious domain that some adventurers found in stormterror's lair. apparently, due to some complications, the adventurers weren't able to retrieve anything inside. the guild has reached out to us that even some of their most experienced guild members couldn't do it."

"what could it be? wait," you asked. "have you asked the traveler?"

"the traveler is on leave to sumeru, and i'd rather not ask them for help since they're probably busy."

"can't we ask the adventurers what they saw," diluc asked. "i'm sure they'd have a reasonable explanation."

"they were incoherently crying according to some of the guild leaders," jean said, shaking her head. "they haven't been able to properly formulate what happened."

you and diluc looked at each other, shock evident in the way both of your eyes opened wide. you broke his gaze and looked at jean, "... wow… are they doing okay?"

"they seem to be fine," jean reassured you. "however, i don't think they'll be returning to stormterror's lair anytime soon."

"okay," you said, voice filled with determination. "i'll do it."

"i'm happy you agreed {name}," jean smiled, passing you some of the materials. "diluc, would you mind accompanying her?"

"me? can't she go on her own?"

jean gave him a look that made him agree, "alright. i'll go."

"perfect! lisa assembled some texts that she said might come in handy. please use them as you see fit and bring them back. or else uh…"

"yep yep," you interrupted you and jean's thought of an angry librarian. "i will."

diluc chuckled when he remembered watching lisa practically electrocute and nearly kill kaeya for forgetting to renew his book on time, and you had been there too, horror written on your face while lisa shocked him so many times he looked like he was burnt. diluc's chuckle made you give him a questioning look.

"diluc?"

"nothing. let's go."

both of you walked to stormterror's lair in a comfortable silence. normally on your missions, you enjoyed light conversation with the person you were paired up with – which was usually kaeya – while you traveled. from all the time you spent with diluc, he didn't enjoy small talk, and he made that very clear with everyone he came across. even the traveler learned that very quickly.

"{name}, why are you so quiet?"

"huh? what do you mean?"

"normally you're somewhat talkative, but i see that's no longer the case?"

"well, you say you're not one for small or idle chat," you said, recalling his words. "so, i thought i should just be a little less talkative."

"have i ever said it to you?"

"to me? uhh," you thought back. "come to think of it, not really."

"then it doesn't apply to you," he said flatly. "so, whatever makes you more comfortable."

you made very light chat with him, mostly trying to come up with ideas or theories that could apply to the domain you both were about to walk inside. diluc suggested you both take a break, allowing you both to sit down and relax. 

rather than just eating and relaxing, you flipped through the books that jean gave you, trying to figure out what exactly could have happened. finally, you flipped to a page that made a lightbulb go off.

"diluc!"

"hmm? what is it?"

"i think i found the answer to what we were looking for."

he scooted closer to you, seeing you point at certain words on the page. "it says here that some domains include illusions, and the effects could be extreme emotions, dizziness, nausea, fainting, and abnormal behavior. vision bearing people experience less side effects from these domains."

"you could be right," diluc hummed. "considering the adventurer's guild doesn't have many vision users, that could be why. good find."

you smiled, "thanks."

both of you stood up and continued your trip, eventually arriving at the domain. you pulled out a sketch of the domain and compared it, "this is it."

"shall we go in?"

"wait! diluc, i don't think that's a good idea."

"how so?"

"what if something happens? we should have one person wait in the front."

"good idea," he thought. "would you want to go in or should i?"

"i'll go in since it was my idea. you don't mind waiting right?"

"i brought some paperwork i could do," he said. "don't mind me. actually here."

he gently grabbed your hand, tying a piece of thread on it. "pull on it three times if you need my help. pull once for checkups. i'll tug occasionally, and if i don't get a response from you and it's been more than 15 minutes since my last tug, i'll go get you out."

"got it."

he nodded as you opened the domain door, "be careful."

you turned around and waved at him, a small nervous smile on your face. "i'll be okay, don't worry about me."

he smiled at you gently, "i know."

diluc watched as you walked inside, letting the thread trail after you. thank goodness he kept some on him, for situations like this it was perfect. he made himself comfortable on a nearby rock, making sure to be alert with the thread. a sigh left his throat, watching his closest companion walk into possible danger. not like he could stop you though. 

in truth, he didn't know what you two were. both you and diluc had shared interest in each other, and were very close up until you grew busy with the knight's work. as he detested the knights, he grew a little bitter and distant, and it was also autumn which meant that the winery would grow busy. eventually, even after you both confessed, your relationship fell a little flat.

he ran a hand through his red hair, sighing and remembering all his best moments with you. however, those made him more worried about you, because if there was one thing he couldn't lose, it was you. if you walked in and didn't come out alive, he would never be able to officially ask for your hand once he finally repaired your relationship.

"man," he muttered to himself. "what do i even do."

he tugged on the string, waiting for a response, and he felt a small tug back, making him crack a smile.

you on the other hand wandered deeper in the domain, a coloured fog occasionally rising. as you walked, you noticed certain drawings and text on the walls. luckily, lisa had a whole chapter on ancient text, so you were able to interpret some of it.

finally, you reached a very circular room, a large tablet sitting in the middle of the room. strange… will i have to fight? 

you set down your lantern that you had started to use once it got darker, pulling out the book once more and interpreting the tablet.

"'you can have whatever you so desire, whatever your heart truly yearns for whether you know it or not. however, your trial must be complete.' huh? trial? that's it?"

a small tug, so you tugged back. "so, i can have whatever i want if i just do the trial? wow…"

you touched the tablet, then you felt more grooves in the back. "more letters?" after grabbing your lantern and book, you read the back. "'face your fears and embrace it. only then will you receive what you seek. the reward lies in the roots of life.'"

after standing up and brushing yourself off, you looked around and saw a narrow doorway. you opened it, stepping inside and seeing a beautiful tree. it was glowing, such a beautiful and yet ethereal sight. it glowed golden like mora, the leaves greener than grass and taller than the favonius church. 

"hmm… i don't exactly remember my childhood… eh it's not like i'll really see anything."

you walked to the tree, touching the bark with your hand. suddenly, you felt a warping sensation, knees going weak and feeling your head spin as you slipped into unconsciousness.

when you woke up, you heard crying and screaming. looking around, you found yourself in a dark room, much like a basement. after sitting up and getting used to the brightness, you looked around and saw a cage, holding a child inside of it.

"help! help me please," the child weeped. "please, please help me!"

"hold on," you ran towards the kid. then, you tried holding the cage, but your hands went right through. a small gasp left your throat, looking at your hands which were slightly see-through. "what…? hey! kid! can you hear me?"

the kid didn't turn to look at you, simply crying with hands covering their face. surprisingly, they looked oddly similar to you which made you shudder slightly. "what…"

then, a man came inside the room. the child screamed in terror, face pale and horror-stricken when the man walked inside. they crawled to the other side of the cage, trying somehow to distance themselves from the man but to no avail.

you watched, seeing his face which made a stroke of fear course through your veins. even though he couldn't see you, your blood ran cold. you tried to move, but fear paralyzed you and all you could do was watch as he unlocked the cage and dragged the kid into a more open area of the room.

"what did i say about CRYING?"

he slapped the kid across the face, and only then could you look at the child's face. it was you. a perfect resemblance of you. that was when you truly were paralyzed, tears streaming down your cheeks as you watched the child hold their cheek and cry harder. the man gripped her by the hair, bringing his face close to her, his eyes wild and crazy and his grin like a maniac. she whimpered, crying harder.

"i said i had guests over you BRAT. how dare you interrupt my time with them with your pathetic cries for help? you're gonna get it this time."

he hit her again, she screamed louder and louder, begging for someone to help her. blood splattered all over the room, the girl's cries and screams continuing to persist. "HELP! HELP ME PLEASE! PLEASE!"

"SHUT UP," he yelled back. "how DARE you?"

then, the door to the basement swung open, the knights of favonius coming inside. "HEY! HANDS OFF OF THE CHILD! STAY ON THE GROUND."

the man looked back, fear in his eyes before he grabbed the child and threw her further inside, knocking her unconscious. 2 knights arresting him and dragging him out of the basement while he struggled. a third came to the child's side while the man screamed and kicked, "YOU BRAT! YOU LITTLE BRAT! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU! I SHOULD HAVE!"

then, as if it was a dream, the scene faded. your heart was beating quick, eyes watering with tears. when you tried to stand up, you couldn't. it felt like the wind was knocked out of your lungs, arms and legs shaking and trembling from that horrid memory. tears began to stream down your cheeks, feeling the urge to throw up, breathing erratically to try and quell the bile from spilling from your mouth. faintly, you could register footsteps.

"{name}? {NAME}!"

you felt yourself be taken in a large and warm embrace, a comforting hand rubbing your back. faintly, you could hear diluc asking question after question, getting more and more upset as he took in your state and lack of response.

"who did this? who did this to you?"

"diluc," you whimpered weakly. 

diluc wasn't one for comforting people, in fact people could assume and say he was quite bad at it. when he lived through his traumatic past, barely anyone tried to comfort him, so how was it expected that he knew how to do it? 

however, that wouldn't stop him from trying. he gently caressed your back, then tried to get through to you. you looked like you were in a daze, still dreaming about whatever it was. "{name}? nod if you can hear me and understand me."

you nodded, still in hysterics. diluc continued, "breathe with me, okay?"

he had read in a book that when someone is crying a lot and is in a lot of stress, it's helpful to do breathing exercises. "alright, breathe in. now out. in. out."

diluc watched as you mimic'd his breathing, seemingly getting less worked up and scared. after a few more moments, he watched as tears stopped pouring, then you shook less and less until you were like a baby in his arms. instead of jumping into it, he waited for some time for you to look completely ready, getting you his water flask so you could drink water as well as a handkerchief for your eyes and nose.

"okay. if it's not too painful, what happened?"

"t-there was a trial," you stuttered. "w-we have to live through traumas that we've e-experienced in the p-past. it hurts diluc, the memories hurt-"

"shhh," he gently hushed you as you cried again. "take your time. can you tell me what happened next?"

"i-i thought it wouldn't be that bad, but i was completely wrong," you cried. "i'm scared diluc."

"there's no need to be afraid," he said gently. "i'm here now, right? you're here with me, not in a dream. i'm here, it's going to be okay. i promise."

you sobbed harder, leaning up and hugging him close. he could feel your tears staining his clothing, but he didn't care. you needed him right now, he was your pillar and your crutch after being mentally scarred, the seal that closed off your trauma was gone. although he was slightly curious, now was not the time to ask. 

"you were so brave," he praised you. "you did so well {name}. i'm so proud of you, and i'm so sorry you had to see that."

more crying. "diluc, i'm-"

"it's okay," he said gently, removing the lone thread off your finger. "take all the time you need."

it took some time, and diluc waited with you every step of the way. he couldn't care less about how long that took, no duty can be placed above your wellbeing. he asked if you'd like to leave at some point, but then you faintly said "no", which made him quite confused. you lifted a finger, pointing to the tree that was only a few feet away from you.

"there," you mumbled. "the trial. there's a stone tablet in another room."

"can i go check?" you nodded. "alright. stay here."

he grabbed your book, going to read the little stone tablet before he understood what happened in its entirety. diluc didn't want to leave you alone, but you seemed to be calming down. "okay. so you did the trial, now you're granted one of your desires?"

"y-yes?"

"what's your wish?"

you sniffled, standing up with diluc's assistance, going to the tree. "a set of god artifacts for us both."

the tree glowed, then dropped a set of some of the most strong artifacts you had ever seen. it would be a fine addition to your retinue, and maybe they could replace some of the copious artifacts you had been using. "w-wow."

"why'd you wish for me to get a set?"

"i wanted to thank you."

"there's no need to thank me," he said simply. "i was doing what any good friend would have done."

you smiled at him, then laughed a little, wiping the excess tears, "i must look awful. crying like a baby and whatnot."

he snorted, "is that really what you're worried about?"

"i was just trying to lighten the mood," you defended yourself. "but… man, now we have a long walk home. and we have to seal off this domain."

"get some rest," he said. "i don't want you pushing yourself in this state."

"i'm a grown woman diluc, i should be okay."

"let's not take any risks. it'd hurt me more than you if you get injured." he scooped you up in his arms, one arm under your legs and the other holding your upper body close. "just rest. i'll get us home."

you smiled at him softly, dozing off, "thank you diluc."

when you woke up the next morning, you were inside what you remember to be dawn winery's guest room, eyes puffy from crying. it almost hurt to blink, however because you were so exhausted, you didn't have any nightmares, so you didn't get restless.

you could hear the turning sound of a doorknob, then diluc walked inside. "hey there."

"hi," you said bashfully, subconsciously playing with the sheets. "thank you for bringing me here."

"of course. did you want something to eat?"

"i'm a little hungry," you said, holding your stomach and hearing it growl. 

"haha, alright. i'll have the maids make you something. how did you sleep?"

"i was okay," you said. "i don't remember anything bad, so i'm assuming it's alright."

"that's a relief," he said, letting out a breath that he was subconsciously holding. "i got worried."

"how could you get worried when you take care of me so well?"

"i'm glad you think that way," he said, trying to hide the small tint on his cheeks. "i hope that i can continue to take good care of you in the future too."