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[ichikaisflowers]

MC: *smiling* I can handle any problem life throws at me.

MC: But upset my child, and YOU'RE ON.

The low-tier demons: *who were planning to bully Luke*

The low-tier demons: Tch! Let's get out of here! *immediately left*

Simeon, Barbatos, and Luke: ...

Barbatos: Everyone, that is my spouse.

Simeon: 'Our' spouse.

Luke: ...

Luke: Me - their only child.

[ichikaisflowers]

𝐢 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 . . .

“you’re never a bother, sweetheart. never. you’re the love of my life, my beloved wife. i want you to come to me, to lean on me. i want to help you, to support you through anything you’re going through. that’s my job as your lover. as your husband.”

diluc ragnvindr x fem. reader — sfw. ♡ hurt/comfort ノ established relationship ノ reader has depression & anxiety ノ insecurities ノ fear of abandonment ノ implied trauma ノ implied sh ノ suicidal ideation ノ mention of meds (unspecified) ノ reader has long nails & scars (unspecified) ノ non-sexual intimacy (tender body worship) ノ lots of reassurance ノ endearments: love, sweetheart, darling, wife, good/pretty girl ノ very self indulgent selfship coded vent fic. wc: 12.4k

a/n: reposting from my old blog. slightly rewrote and added some bits. not very proud of this... this fic is based off of me so please be kind, thank you. /ᐠ◞⸝⸝◟ ྀིマ

"love?" diluc's voice called out softly, cutting through the evening stillness.

it was eight o'clock when diluc finally returned home, weary from a long day of managing the tavern and negotiating with business partners. he had looked forward to this moment all day, for the chance to unwind in your presence, to wrap you in his arms and hear the soothing melody of your voice.

you had occupied his thoughts all day. no matter how busy he was, his mind would always drift back to you. he found himself counting down the minutes until he could see you again, constantly wondering what you were doing or if you had eaten.

though he would never admit it, diluc had been caught an embarrassing number of times smiling to himself while at work while lost in thoughts of you. his stoic mask would slip, revealing the tenderness that only you alone had the power to evoke. 

unfortunately for him, kaeya was usually the one to catch him in these moments, never missing an opportunity to tease his brother mercilessly about the evident lovestruck look on his face. but despite the playful jabs, there was no hiding the truth — diluc is completely and utterly in love with you. 

ever since you had come into his life, the citizens of mondstadt couldn’t help but notice the changes in the once aloof winery owner. diluc seemed to soften around the edges, his grumpy demeanor melting away, especially in your presence. anyone could see that you were his soft spot, the one person who could make him truly happy.

his heart would flutter with a warmth that was once unfamiliar long ago, yet welcome; a feeling he had grown addicted to. you were the one who brought light to his life, a beacon that guided him out of the shadows of his past. 

and even though he still maintained his stern exterior with others, when it came to you, there was no denying the way his gaze would soften, how his voice would lose its edge, becoming tender, almost reverent.

there was something incredibly endearing about the way he would steal glances at you during the most mundane moments, or how he’d unconsciously gravitate toward you, seeking your presence like a moth drawn to a flame. 

you had become his anchor, the one who grounded him and made him truly feel alive. though he tried to keep his composure in public, he knew deep down that his heart had been irrevocably claimed by you, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

he’d imagine you curled up with a new novel, giggling in delight at some romantic passage, your darling laughter like music to his ears. or perhaps you were in the kitchen, trying out a new recipe, looking utterly adorable in your apron with flour dusting your cheeks. 

the mundane concerns of his day began to melt away, replaced by the simple, profound desire to be with his beloved wife. stepping through the threshold of the house you had made a home, he sought you out with eager eyes, longing to be with you once more.

but from the moment diluc pushed open the large oak door of the manor, he could immediately sense that something was off. it was eerily silent and the main floor lacked the warmth of your presence that he had grown so comfortable with. 

the crackling fire in the hearth seemed dimmer, the rich hues of the decor duller. the grandeur of the place felt hollow, as if the very soul of the home was missing. 

every evening, you would wait by the door, ready to welcome him home with a smile and a sweet kiss. but tonight, the echo of his footsteps was the only sound that accompanied him as he walked through the entrance. his heartbeat quickened with worry, his mind racing with concerns for your safety.

where were you? did something happen?

it felt strange to proceed with his usual routine when such a vital part of it — your presence — was missing. diluc moved through the familiar motions almost mechanically, taking off his boots, removing his coat and hanging it up, all without the eager assistance of your gentle hands.

with a heavy sigh, he surveyed the first floor once more, his gaze searching for any trace of you amidst the empty rooms and silent corridors, half-expecting to find you waiting on the couch in front of the fireplace. however, his search proved fruitless as the feeling of emptiness in the manor remained.

he made his way upstairs, the wood of the stairs quietly creaking under his weight as his feet carried him to find the person his heart longed to be with most.

it was too early for you to have gone to sleep, he thought, so he headed to the manor’s library first, knowing it was one of your favorite spots to wind down, especially in the evenings. upon looking inside the room and finding your usual spot empty, a sense of urgency led him towards the bedroom.

opening the bedroom door, his heart clenched at the sight of you sitting in bed, exactly where he had left you that morning.

the memory of pressing a kiss to your forehead before he left for work flashed through his mind; when you had feigned sleep, not wanting to burden him with the truth of your restless nights and the exhaustion that clung to you.

his concern grew ever more profound as he stood in the doorway, observing you as the soft light from the lamp on the nightstand cast a gentle glow over your form. you looked fragile, like a delicate porcelain doll against the pillows, your eyes distant and clouded with fatigue.

he crossed the room in a few swift strides, his heart aching with the need to comfort you, to banish any weariness that plagued you.

while diluc was out working, the day had slipped by in a haze. you had only managed to leave the bed a few times in order to use the bathroom or to fetch more tissues to quell the tears that had flowed uncontrollably throughout the day. the hours had blurred together and at this point, you didn’t even know what time it was.

you hadn't eaten, nor had you even taken a sip of water since waking in the wee hours of the night, plagued by the belief that you didn't deserve such basic comforts.

the idea of satisfying your hunger — which had long since faded into nothingness — or quenching your thirst were easy to ignore compared to the ache in your heart. each pang of hunger, each parched breath, felt like a penance, a way to validate the guilt and despair that clouded your mind.

nothing seemed to serve as an adequate distraction. the hobbies that once brought you joy now felt like burdensome chores, draining what little energy you had left. your favorite books, once what you considered a magical escape, now lay untouched on the bookshelf. motivation eluded you, slipping through your fingers like grains of sand.

everything felt empty and meaningless.

just as crows strip a carcass down to the bone, guilt persistently gnawed at your mind, picking apart every thought and memory, leaving no peace unscathed. you felt terrible thinking about how, while your husband was out working hard to provide for you, you were just sitting at home, doing practically nothing as you awaited his return.

you truly were useless, weren’t you?

diluc had always told you that he wanted to spoil you, to provide a life filled with comfort and joy. the man who held your heart in his hands did so much for you, more than you felt you could ever repay.

every time you looked around the bedroom and your gaze landed on the tokens of his affection, the thoughtful gifts, and the remnants of his care, a pang of unworthiness pierced your heart. 

he showered you with more love, care, and devotion than you felt you could ever deserve.

of course, you appreciated it all — the way he looked at you with those eyes full of love, the gentle touch of his hand on yours, the thoughtful surprises that brightened your days.

but beneath the surface, a constant current of doubt whispered that it was all a waste, that someone else could better appreciate his efforts, someone more deserving of his unwavering affection. even despite his assurances, you couldn't shake the feeling that you were undeserving of such adoration.

for the longest time, you felt like a waste of space, a waste of time, of air, of life. why were you even here? it was a question that had plagued you for what felt like forever, and you failed to come up with an answer no matter how many days or years you spent contemplating the thought.

you didn’t have a purpose, you didn't contribute anything significant to the world, nothing you ever did was meaningful.

what contribution could you possibly make, you mused bitterly, when every endeavor felt futile and every achievement seemed insignificant?

you felt like a mere bystander in the grand scheme of things, an annoying fly that was to be swatted away, an insignificant speck in the vast expanse of existence. your presence felt like an imposition, a burden on those around you, and the thought weighed heavily on your heart.

you felt utterly useless, worthless, and the sense of insignificance had grown unbearably strong — a relentless tide threatening to engulf you in its murky depths.

the only thing you found yourself looking forward to was the escape a deep sleep could offer. you longed for the bliss of unconsciousness, where the pain of existence could no longer reach you. to fall asleep and never wake up seemed like the only reprieve from the relentless storm raging within.

lost in your own head, you hadn’t even noticed when diluc called your name or approached you until you felt the dip of the bed beside you, accompanied by the comforting warmth of his hand atop yours.

your gaze was absent as it was fixed on the same page of the book that had held your attention for the past hour, though you hadn’t absorbed a single word.

it was only when diluc called your name again that you reluctantly tore your gaze away from the book. carefully taking the book out of your hands, he made sure to mark the page you were on before placing it on the nightstand.

"my love?" he reached out, his touch tender as he brushed a stray strand of hair from your face, his fingers lingering against your cheek.

when diluc first entered the bedroom and his keen gaze fell upon you, he had immediately sensed that something was amiss; but the dim look in your eyes as you looked up at him now only confirmed his suspicions. 

it was a look he knew all too well, one that spoke of inner turmoil and pain that no words could adequately express.

being the patient man he was, diluc waited. he waited to hear your sweet greeting that never failed to warm his heart, for the soft press of your lips against his cheek that always left him yearning for more. he waited to see the sparkle in your eyes, to spot the adorable dimple that appeared when you smiled at him, a sight that never failed to bring him joy.

but as you kept silent, he knew that none of it would come.

part of him had expected you to move, if not to hug him, then at least to intertwine your fingers with has as you would do practically every time his large hand engulfed yours.

but your body remained motionless, save for the subtle tremble of your fingers. other than that, you had been still. too still, as if the slightest movement could scare him away.

(what a silly thought, considering that the very thing diluc, the man whose unwavering love and devotion knew no bounds, feared most was the prospect of being separated from you.)

after a brief, almost agonizing silence, you finally found your voice, though it sounded foreign even to your own ears. 

with deliberate effort, you strained your vocal cords, attempting to infuse your words with a hint of what you hoped would sound like cheeriness to mask the sadness you had been feeling.

“you’re back…”

the choice of words were borne from the depths of your subconscious, as if manifested by the fear that he would one day leave you and never come back.

"i'm back," diluc replied softly. he lifted your hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles. 

“how are you, my love?”

you forced yourself to give him a smile, to appear happy because you truly were glad to see him despite the heaviness that weighed on your heart. though your lips curved upwards, your smile didn't quite reach your eyes, and he could easily see through your façade.

“’m fine,” was all you could offer, but he knew you were anything but. of course he knew. he knew you too well, knew the depths of your soul better than anyone else.

he didn’t need to ask to know that you weren’t feeling well; the man had a sixth sense for you. he had memorized every nuance of your being, every subtle shift in your demeanor, every little micro expression. he could sense the tension in your shoulders, the restless fidgeting of your fingers, the barely perceptible furrow of your brows.

before he could say anything to inquire about your mood, a knock at the door interrupted the moment. it was elzer, informing the young master that there was important paperwork that required his immediate attention.

diluc hesitated, his face contorting into a conflicted expression as he prepared to tell his butler that he would get to it later, wanting to prioritize you above all else. but before he could voice his decision, you spoke up.

"it's okay. go, luc. i have to take a shower anyways."

your words were meant to reassure him, but you both knew they were a lie. you had bathed together just last night; there was no real need for you to bathe again so soon. 

still, you forced a smile and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, urging him to go even though every part of you wanted him to stay.

"really, it's fine."

(you didn’t want to hold him back. you already felt like you were doing that far too much.)

diluc's hand lingered on yours, his thumb brushing over your knuckles, hesitant to leave you alone. he wanted nothing more than to keep you company, to be there for you when you were clearly feeling down, but if there was one thing he knew about you after knowing you as intimately as he did after all these years, it was your fiercely independent nature.

you had never been one to lean on others, having navigated life's hardships mostly on your own. help was a foreign concept to you, something you had rarely received and thus, struggled to accept.

diluc understood that sometimes, you needed space and some time alone to process your emotions, and the last thing he wanted was to add more pressure to the weight already bearing down on your shoulders.

with a heavy heart, he reluctantly let go of your hand and rose from the bed. he bent down, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering for a moment longer than usual.

"i’m sorry, love. i'll try to make it quick. when i'm done, we can cuddle, and if you’d like, i can read to you before bed as well, okay?" he whispered, gently caressing your hair.

after giving him a nod, diluc made his way to the door, turning back to look at you one last time before heading to his study to tend to the urgent paperwork elzer had mentioned.

you appreciated his understanding, his respect for your need for solitude, grateful that he never held it against you. it was one of the many reasons you loved him so deeply.

as he closed the door behind him, every fiber of your being desired to call out to him, to beg him to stay and hold you through the storm that raged inside you. 

but you remained silent, watching him go with a brave face, even as your soul cried out for him.

as diluc sat in his study, he could hardly focus on the paperwork before him. his mind was clouded with worry, every thought consumed by you.  

the quill in his hand felt heavy, the ink on the parchment blurring as his eyes kept drifting towards the door. every fiber of his being yearned to return to the bedroom, to hold you in his arms and soothe your troubled heart. 

but he knew you needed time — time to process, to gather your thoughts, and to feel ready to share what weighed so heavily on your mind.

the study, which was ordinarily a haven of tranquil concentration, seemed suffocating on this particular night. the flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the bookshelves that lined the walls, filled with your favourite novels, as well as his own. 

but even the familiar comforts of his surroundings could do little to alleviate the anxiety that gnawed at him. he ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts returning again and again to the pained look in your eyes, the way your body had seemed to shrink, as though you sought to vanish from sight entirely. the memory tore at his heart, and he had never felt so helpless before.

with a sigh, he pushed the papers on his desk aside, leaning back in his chair. his gaze fell upon a small, framed photograph on his desk — one of the two of you, taken on a blissful day when your smiles were radiant and your laughter filled the air. 

he traced the outline of your face with his fingertip, longing to see that beautiful smile of yours once again.

you missed him terribly. it had only been ten minutes since he left, but your heart ached with a longing for his presence that felt almost unbearable.

but wouldn't it be selfish to disturb him while he was immersed in his important work, just because you wanted to see him? to feel his strong arms wrap around you, offering the comfort and warmth you craved?

doubts gnawed at you. what right did you have to crave his affection after greeting him so gloomily when he returned home, weary from a long day of work?

your body ached from staying in place for so long, the stillness casting a heavy weight upon your limbs until they seemed to lose all sensation. 

you forced yourself to get up and a wave of dizziness engulfed you, disorienting your senses and causing your legs to quiver beneath the weight of your body.

you took a moment to find your balance before leaving the sanctuary of your bedroom, venturing into the dimly lit hallway as each tentative step brought you closer to diluc’s study.

when you finally reached the door, you paused, your knuckles reluctantly hovering above the polished wood, poised to knock but not daring to quite yet. 

for what felt like an eternity, you stood frozen in place, chained down like a hostage to your own doubt and regret.

perhaps you should just turn back, you thought. the last thing you wanted to do was disturb him. he was likely deeply immersed in paperwork and didn't need the distraction of your presence. 

a small, cruel voice in your head whispered that he probably didn't want to see you anyway; that your melancholic mood would only burden him and waste his time.

without even realizing, you had knocked on the door. it was as though your body had a will of its own, begging to bridge the distance between you and your beloved husband.

you stood there, heart pounding in anticipation before you were startled out of your stupor by the sound of diluc's deep voice resonating from behind the door.

"come in," he beckoned, his voice like a siren's song drawing you closer, a beacon of warmth and reassurance in the midst of your turmoil.

hesitantly, you grasped the doorknob with a shaky hand and pushed the door open, stepping into the study where the air was thick with the scent of parchment and wax, the only illumination coming from the flickering candles and soft flames dancing in the hearth.

you couldn’t go back now, not after making your presence known. it would only worry diluc even more if you had seeked him out and then left without a word.

the door felt as heavy as your heart as you held it open, quietly stepping inside. as you slipped through, the soft click of the door closing behind you echoed in the room, breaking the peaceful silence that enveloped diluc's study.

his gaze lifted from his desk, locking onto you with a softness that threatened to make you crumble on the spot.

“i told you that you don’t need to knock, my love. you’re welcome to come in whenever you wish.”

your head hung low as you nodded meekly, inwardly berating yourself for causing him even the slightest inconvenience. 

“r-right, sorry…”

a furrow etched itself onto diluc's brow upon hearing you apologize for something so inconsequential. 

in one fluid motion, he pushed his chair back and rose from his seat. he made his way over to you, realizing you wouldn't approach him given that you were still standing hesitantly by the door, as if unsure of whether you were welcome or not.

"you have nothing to apologize for, my dear."

there he stood in front of you, so close yet seemingly so far away, his presence casting a magnetic pull that both drew you in and pushed you back.

you couldn't help but question why he bothered, especially after the dismal greeting you had offered him upon his return from a hard day of work.

a pang of guilt twisted in your chest as you recalled the dullness of your own voice, the weariness etched into your features when he first entered the bedroom. 

surely, he must have sensed the burden you carried, the weight of your troubles hanging heavy in the air like a storm on the horizon. you had wanted to get up, to smile and to give him a kiss, but your body just wouldn’t cooperate.

despite it all, he was here, standing in front of you, his eyes attentively searching yours for answers. 

in that moment, you questioned what it was that kept him tethered to you, when you felt so undeserving of his love and attention.

you didn't dare to meet his gaze, your focus consumed by the desperate urge to distract yourself from the panic rising within. 

your sharp nails dug into your arms with an intensity that could draw blood; it was an anxious habit you developed to push away the mental turmoil by bringing forth a distraction of physical pain — and a bad one, if the scars littered across your body had anything to say about it — a habit you had been berated for time and time again.

as diluc drew nearer, you braced yourself to be reprimanded, for harsh words to be thrown at you, but he never yelled. 

instead, his hands, strong yet infinitely tender, gently took hold of your arms to prevent you from further hurting yourself.

his fingers trailed a delicate path along your skin until he reached your hands, his thumb brushing over your knuckles in a gesture of quiet reassurance. 

his hands were steady, a stark contrast to the tremors that had seized your own, his touch a grounding force that pulled you back from the brink of your self-imposed isolation.

"my love?" his voice was a whisper, laced with concern and unwavering devotion as he gently lifted your chin up to cup your cheek with his large hand. "what troubles you so?"

when you finally met his gaze, you wanted to claw your heart out, to get rid of all the awful feelings you were experiencing, but the flesh and bone protecting it rivaled the strength of diluc's love.

speak. just say something. tell him that you're okay.

all your life, you had been called mature and strong, so why, in this moment, did those traits elude you?

his concerned gaze rendered you vulnerable, boring into your soul and stripping away the façade you so meticulously crafted, leaving you exposed and raw.

you had always hated being vulnerable in front of others, but with diluc, it was different. he was the exception, the one person you felt comfortable enough to let your guard down around, to reveal the raw depths of your emotions without fear of judgment or rejection.

but despite your unwavering trust in him, you couldn't bring yourself to hold his gaze as tears welled up in your eyes, threatening to spill over onto your cheeks. you dropped your head, trying to blink away the tears that clung to your lashes, not wanting him to see you in such a pathetic state.

you felt your throat tighten as you fought to find the words to reassure him, to ease the worry etched into the lines of his face. but try as you might, your voice failed you, lost amidst the tangled web of emotions that threatened to consume you.

just why was it so hard for you to do something as simple as speaking?

the frustration gnawed at you, a relentless reminder of your inadequacy.

why could others so effortlessly express their feelings while you remained trapped in silence, struggling to find your voice?

you longed to be normal, to communicate without the heavy weight of anxiety holding you back.

was that really too much to ask for? it wasn’t fair.

you had always struggled to connect with others, to make friends. you spent most of your days on the sidelines, watching others interact with ease in a vibrant world that seemed unattainable to you. 

it’s as if you were an animal locked in a zoo, a ghost in its cage laid prisoner to its thoughts, barely hanging on while everyone else around you laughed and smiled — a stark contrast to the loneliness that haunted your every waking moment.

you didn't possess a heart of gold like others. instead, your heart felt tainted and clouded with self-loathing, convincing you that you truly were the most horrible person to ever exist. 

you despised the fact that you didn't possess the ability to always be kind and sweet. you loathed the coldness and bitterness that sometimes seeped through your words and actions, even when you longed to be warm and tender.

gods, you were inadequate in every sense of the word.

you had always been uninteresting, the person no one cared to pay attention to, the invisible soul that blended into the background, the one who faded into the periphery while others shone brightly. conversations seemed to flow around you, never including you, and you couldn't remember the last time you felt like you truly belonged.

could you really blame them when you were so boring, so utterly unremarkable?

still, there was one person who saw through the masks you wore in order to fit in. diluc, with his unwavering love and deep understanding, saw the true you, the person hidden beneath layers of insecurity and doubt.

he saw the woman who had the sweetest giggle and the most endearing smile lines. he saw the little girl inside you, the one always eager to help others and ramble about her interests, the one who had so much love to give. he saw the little girl who loved to dress up and pretend to be a princess, but to diluc, it wasn’t pretend.

to diluc, you were always a princess, and he treated you as such, cherishing you like a precious gem. he was your knight in shining armour, always there to protect you, to lift you up when you felt low, and to remind you of your worth when you doubted it the most.

he was perfect. he was all that you could ever wish for and more. 

every time you looked at diluc, you marveled at how someone so extraordinary could be yours. you truly felt you didn’t deserve him.

the ragnvindr was so strong despite all he had been through, so kind despite all the hardships he had faced. his strength was not just in his muscles, but in his spirit, in his capacity to love and to endure. he was so selfless, never expecting anything in return for his care and hard work, even when he would go so far as to put his life on the line to protect his city and loved ones.

why did such a wonderful man choose you of all people? what did he see in you, a girl who felt so ordinary and flawed? he could have had anyone, yet his heart had somehow found its home in yours.

why, why, why? the question had repeated over and over in your head like a broken record with its needle stuck in a groove.

you have never felt yourself to be adequate, even on the most superficial level.

you have never been fond of your appearance, finding it a daily struggle to even glance into a mirror. this discontent has sown the seeds of numerous insecurities within you, taking root deep within your heart. 

what exacerbates these feelings is the relentless habit of comparing yourself to others. every woman around you appears to be so much better — more beautiful, with captivating personalities. they moved and spoke with an ease and elegance that you felt you could never emulate.

you always experienced a gut-wrenching envy when you observed other women. seeing them speak with such ease and confidence, their words flowing effortlessly without a single stumble or stutter, made you feel incompetent and foolish.

you wished you could be like them, to have that natural poise and eloquence. instead, every time you opened your mouth, you felt a tightening in your chest, your words tangled and unsure. 

it was as if the very act of speaking was a battleground, where you fought a losing war against your own anxiety. it made even the simplest conversation feel like a daunting task.

but what hurt the most was not just the envy, but the belief that these women possessed something inherently better, something you lacked. their assurance and attractiveness seemed unattainable, and each comparison chipped away at your self-esteem.

not to mention that you weren't even a noble like your husband. well, technically, you now were by virtue of your marriage to diluc, but you couldn't help but feel like an imposter among the graceful and refined noblewomen who graced mondstadt's high society. you felt like a misfit in their world, an outsider looking in.

you were nobody, really. you were nothing of importance. all your life you had been invisible, so why was it that he had noticed you? why had this remarkable man chosen you out of all the women he could have had? you couldn’t understand.

for god's sake, you needed to take eight pills every day just to function; each one a bitter reminder of your weakness and shortcomings.

you constantly found yourself staring at the various pill bottles on your nightstand multiple times throughout the day. you had enough to last you months. 

the sight of them, with their labels and neatly arranged rows, seemed to beckon to you with a promise of escape.

they were there, always there, waiting patiently like old friends who knew your deepest secrets and darkest thoughts. you would trace your fingers over the lids, thinking that perhaps it was time you’d try again, perhaps you would not fail this time and that you’d get the eternal sleep you so desperately longed for.

you were just so tired. tired of questioning your existence and everything about yourself, tired of feeling everything and nothing all at once, tired of feeling so inadequate.

surely, diluc was starting to get tired too, right? surely, dealing with your dismal states and constantly having to reassure you had become an annoyance to him. surely, he would be better off without you.

you couldn't find the strength to pretend like you were okay any longer. it was all too much to bear. you felt overwhelmed, suffocated by the weight of your own misery and ashamed of your inability to keep it all together.

and just like that, as diluc held your hands and looked at you with eyes full of the love you didn't know if you deserved, the dam finally broke and you burst into tears.

"i-i’m sorry..."

(i'm sorry for the way that i am. i’m sorry for being hard to love. i’m sorry for burdening you. i’m sorry that you have to deal with me when i’m like this. i’m sorry it’s hard for me to express myself. i’m sorry i’m not good enough. i’m sorry that i’m holding you back because you deserve better. i’m sorry i hide parts of myself from you. i don’t want you to see how ugly i truly am.)

bringing your hands up to cover your mouth, you choked out trembling words between sobs. "’m so sorry, diluc…"

“sweetheart…” diluc’s heart broke at the sight of you trying to suppress your sobs. he immediately wrapped his arms around you, bringing you close to him and allowing you to rest your head against his chest as he pressed a kiss to your hair.

“come here. it’s okay, it’s alright.”

he was gentle with you, holding you carefully in his arms as if you were a delicate piece of glass that might shatter if he held on too tight. the two of you just stood there for a while as you cried into his chest, your tears soaking through his shirt. each and every one of your choked apologies were met with soft shushes and reassuring whispers.

he opted for running his fingers through your hair, the tender motion meant to calm your racing heart. he caressed your head gently, his touch familiar and comforting. the gesture, one you often used to soothe him during his own moments of turmoil, was now his way of trying to bring you the same peace.

he didn’t push for an answer, nor did he demand an explanation as to why you were behaving this way. instead, he held you close, offering you the space and safety to all the stress that had been building within you for god knows how long.

when your sobs gradually faded into quiet hiccups and sniffles, he decided to test the waters, his voice gentle as he broke the silence.

"how about we go to bed, sweetheart?" he murmured. "we can change into something comfortable and then we can talk about whatever you want, hm? how does that sound?"

all you could manage in response was a slight nod, still struggling to find your voice. it seemed you weren’t ready to talk yet, and that was okay. he would wait for you, for as long as it took. he would always wait for you.

he moved his hand to your hips, his touch gentle as he sensed the trembles that still coursed through your body. it was evident that you were struggling to find the strength to stand on your own as you leaned your weight against him, your legs shaking beneath you as they threatened to give in.

before your legs could give out completely, diluc acted swiftly, hooking an arm under your knees while supporting your back. he effortlessly lifted you up into his arms and carried you bridal style, causing a soft yelp of surprise to escape your lips.

“w-wait! your work-”

“i cannot focus on work when you are so upset, love. you matter more than my work ever could. i would drop everything just to make sure you are okay, and that is what i will do now.” 

the man was determined to make you feel better and was not going to let you belittle your own needs. you didn’t have the strength to keep protesting, to insist that you were fine and that you could walk on your own, so you gave in and let yourself go limp in his embrace, nestling into his chest and surrendering to the security of his strong arms as he carried you to your shared bedroom.

pushing the door open with his hip and shutting it behind him with a soft click, he made his way inside, his steps silent on the plush carpet. gently, he placed you down on the edge of the bed, ensuring you were comfortable before heading to the closet. 

his fingers traced over the familiar fabrics until he found it — your favorite nightgown, black and made of pure silk, decorated with lace embellishments.

as he retrieved the nightgown from its place, he thought back to the countless times you had worn it, the way it hugged your body and made you look ethereal in the moonlight. draping the nightgown over his arm, he returned to your side and settled beside you on the bed.

he placed the nightgown on the side, turning his attention back to you. “would you like to talk about it now, sweetheart?”

as much as he didn’t want to push you, diluc knew that you needed a gentle nudge when it came to opening up about what was bothering you. his concern had been growing over the past few weeks, each subtle shift in your demeanor deepening his worry.

he noticed it all. of course he noticed.

he noticed how your gaze lingered on the hilt of the knife for far too long when you were preparing dinner. he noticed how you’d place pans of cake batter in the oven without wearing your oven mitts, not caring if you risked getting burned. he noticed how you’d distantly stare over the edge of starsnatch cliff, not to look at the birds and clouds above, but down at the drop below.

every little thing you did, every time you dissociated, every sigh, he noticed it all. and more than anything, he wanted to help.

“come now, tell me what’s going on in that pretty head of yours.”

diluc had cracked the code when it came to your feelings, an ability that both amazed and frustrated you. you appreciated his insight and understanding, the way he could unravel the complexities of your emotions with just a glance. 

but at the same time, you hated it. you cursed how effortlessly he could decipher the turmoil within you, how he could see through your façade of strength and know that something was amiss.

deep down though, you knew that he only wanted to help. you knew that his ability to see through your defenses was a testament to the depth of his love. he cared enough to pay attention, to notice the subtle shifts in your mood, and to offer his unwavering support when you needed it most.

with a deep breath, you attempted to relax your tense muscles as you shifted on the bed. panic surged within you, the dread of having to confront your problems threatening to overwhelm you, but your nerves began to calm as you felt diluc place a hand on your thigh, letting you know that he was there for you.

unable to summon the courage to meet his gaze, you kept your eyes trained on your lap, your fingers fidgeting nervously as you struggled to find the right words. sensing your anxiety, diluc gently nudged you once more, giving your thigh a soft squeeze.

“what’s bothering you, dear? you know you can tell me anything.”

you let out a heavy sigh, biting your lip. “it’s silly-”

“it’s not silly if it’s bothering you so much, my love,” diluc countered, his tone firm but gentle. “i don’t care if it might seem silly or pointless. i want to know what’s on my wife’s mind.”

his words were like a lifeline, a reminder that your feelings were valid and worthy of being heard. with a shaky breath, you summoned the courage to speak.

"i just… i feel so worthless," you confessed, your voice barely a whisper. "you do so much for me, and i can't help but feel like i don't deserve it. all the gifts, the care, the love… it feels wasted on me."

diluc's heart ached at your words, at the fact that you’ve been keeping these thoughts bottled to yourself for so long. he placed his hand atop your own, stilling your fidgeting fingers. as he began to speak, he kept his voice low yet filled with conviction, knowing that you were sensitive at the moment.

"my love, you are anything but worthless,” he started. “you are the light that brightens my darkest days, the warmth that fills my coldest nights. your presence in my life is a gift beyond measure, and i cherish every moment we share." 

"and you are never a waste. everything i do, i do because i love you. i want to see you happy, to give you the life you deserve."

tears began to well in your eyes as you scrambled to find your next words, wanting to get rid of the heavy load in your heart.

“i don’t deserve you. you’re too good to me, diluc, i…” your voice wavered, and a tightness gripped your throat as memories of the harsh words fed to you when you were just a girl came rushing back. 

“i-i’m horrible. i’m not sweet or kind or lovely. it feels as though… as though there’s something inherently wrong with me. my mother was right, wasn’t she? i’m not a good person. i’m rude, insensitive, selfish…”

stop. stop bothering him. you’re just going to chase him away with your negativity.

you could almost hear your mother’s voice echoing in your mind, taunting you with those painful memories.

“no one will ever want to stay with you because of the way you are.”

the words clouded your thoughts, leaving you a desperate mess. tears streamed down your face, mingling with the shame and fear that had taken root in your heart.

you couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, the one person who made you feel truly seen and loved and understood. you clung to diluc’s hand like a scared child, your voice breaking as you pleaded with him.

"i-i’m sorry, please don’t leave me. i’ll be better, i promise…"

it felt as if diluc’s heart was being torn apart as he watched you crumble, your insecurities laid bare before him. he could see the little girl inside you once more, the torment in your eyes, the fear that his love for you was conditional, that he would abandon you as others had.

his expression softened, his eyes filled with an overwhelming tenderness. he gently cupped your face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away your tears with a care that made your heart ache. “my love, look at me.”

“i need you to understand something,” he began, his voice steady and soothing. “your mother’s words were cruel and undeserved. they do not define you. you are more than the pain she inflicted upon you.”

“you are kind, thoughtful, and incredibly strong. you have been through so much, yet you still find it within yourself to love and care for others. that is not the mark of a bad person. that is the mark of a beautiful soul.”

you shook your head, the tears flowing freely now. how could he consider your soul to be beautiful when it was so tainted? your lower lip trembled as you listened, every word sinking into your heart and fighting against the old wounds that had festered for so long.

“but i-”

“no buts.” diluc interrupted you, firmly yet gently. seeing your tears, his gaze softened even further as he tilted your head up so you could look up at him.

“you are not rude or insensitive. you are not selfish. and you are definitely not horrible. you have been hurt, many times, by many people, but i'm here for you now, my love. i’m here, and i’ll do everything in my power to take care of your wounds, to take care of you.”

“b-but i feel so selfish–”

“then be selfish,” he interrupted gently.

“be selfish with me. you deserve to feel cherished, to know that you are the center of my universe. i would do anything for you. it is a privilege to care for you and spoil you. you should know that, love.”

“but i take so much from you,” you whispered, your voice cracking. “i’m always needing something — your time, your patience, your love. how can that be fair to you? i don't want to burden you. i want to be better for you."

diluc leaned in, pressing a kiss to your forehead tenderly. “you are not a burden. you are my wife, my love, my everything. i vowed to be with you in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow. your struggles don’t make me love you any less, they make me love you more because they show me how strong you truly are. you are perfect just the way you are, i promise you.”

“but what about your needs? what about what you want?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper, filled with uncertainty.

“my needs are fulfilled when i see you happy, when i can hold you and shower you with love. you are my most precious treasure, and i want to give you the world. please, let me love you without reservations. let me love you as you deserve.”

his eyes, filled with love and a determination that melted your defenses, bore into yours, grounding you in the moment.

“you think it’s selfish to need me? to want me? your husband? let me tell you something, darling. it’s not selfish to rely on the person who loves you. it’s human.”

sensing the flash of doubt in your eyes, he continued. “you give me more than you realize. your love, your presence, the way you look at me as if i’m your entire world —that’s everything to me. every smile, every touch, every moment i get to spend in your presence… it’s worth more than anything else.”

“i don’t want you to hide your feelings from me,” he spoke steadily. “let me be your strength when you feel weak, your solace when you feel lost. we’re in this together. you are mine, and it’s my honor to be here for you, to cherish and love you.”

your hands clutched at his shirt, holding on as if he were the only thing keeping you from drowning. and in many ways, he was. his love had the ability to pull you back from the brink of despair.

"i just want to be worthy of you, diluc…"

pulling you close to his chest and settling you gently on his lap, he whispered against your ear. "you already are. you always have been. just let me love you, all of you. let me be there for you.”

he caressed your hair, his fingers moving with a tender determination, as if each stroke could erase the pain etched into your heart. 

“can you tell me something, sweetheart?” he asked, his voice as soft as velvet, coaxing you to open up. you nodded in response, sniffling.

“what made you start thinking this way? did someone say something to you?”

your husband’s touch was reassuring, his presence making you feel so safe that the words came tumbling out before you could even think to stop yourself

“’m just scared…” you whispered, your voice trembling. “i’m so scared that– that one day you and everyone else will see me the way i see myself and realize that i’m not worth anything.”

his eyes softened even more, if that was possible, and he held you tighter, his embrace a fortress against your fears. 

“oh, my love,” he murmured, his breath warm against your temple. “you have nothing to be scared of. i see you, all of you, and i love you more than words can express. you are worth everything to me.”

“but i feel so… broken,” you admitted, “like i’m never going to be enough.”

he pulled back just enough to look into your eyes, his gaze steady and unwavering. “you are more than enough. you are my heart, my soul, my everything. do you know what i see when i look at you?”

you gave him a shake of your head.

“i see the woman who makes my life worth living. the woman who gives me strength when i’m weak, who loves me unconditionally. i see the woman i want to spend the rest of my life with.”

no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't understand how he could love someone as flawed as you. "b-but i can hardly talk normally. i stutter. i'm no good. and i'm so bad at expressing my feelings…"

he gently caressed your cheek, guiding you to look up at him, wanting you to see how sincere he was. “well, isn’t that what i’m here for, love? to help fill in the spaces when you need me to? besides, i find it absolutely adorable when you get excited to tell me about something or get shy and stutter.”

to him, your shy stammers and hesitant speech were endearing, reflections of the depth and complexity of your character. he loved the way your cheeks flushed when you were nervous, the way your eyes flickered with determination as you fought to express yourself. to him, you were perfect in your imperfection.

“when you get excited and your words tumble out in a rush, or when you blush and stumble over your sentences, it makes my heart swell. it shows me just how deeply you feel, how passionate and genuine you are. you don’t need to be eloquent or poised to convey your feelings to me. i understand you, every part of you, even the words that are left unspoken.” he smiled sincerely, his thumb tracing soothing circles on your cheek.

tears welled up in your eyes again, but this time they were tears of a different kind — tears of relief, of hope, of the fragile beginnings of belief. your tears began to fall in earnest now, not from sadness but from the overwhelming rush of love and gratitude you felt for this man who saw you so clearly, who loved you so completely despite your insecurities.

“why?” you whispered, your voice trembling. “why do you love me?”

he smiled, a tender, loving smile that lit up his face. “because you are everything i could ever wish for and more. you are my heart and soul, the one who completes me. loving you is the easiest thing in the world because you are the most incredible person i’ve ever known.”

“i don’t see any flaws when i look at you,” he whispered, brushing away your tears. “i see a woman with a heart full of love, a spirit that’s stronger than she knows. you don’t have to be perfect, my love. just be you, because that’s the person i fell in love with.”

for so long, you had stifled your tears, burying your sorrows deep within your heart, afraid of revealing the vulnerability that lurked beneath your façade of strength and being reprimanded for it.

you had become adept at hiding your tears, mastering the art of silent suffering in the dead of night, but tonight was different. tonight, the weight of your emotions were too heavy to bear alone.

the weight threatened to crush you, and you found yourself unable to contain the torrent of feelings surging through your veins. the walls you had painstakingly built around your heart began to crumble, and with each shattered fragment, a raw, unfiltered cry tore from your lips.

as your body trembled with pent up emotion and your throat constricted with unshed tears, you found yourself unable to contain the overwhelming despair that threatened to consume you.

with a choked sob, you freed yourself from the chains of silence that bound you, allowing the floodgates of your emotions to burst open. for the first time in what felt like an eternity, you wailed and wept without restraint, the sound of your cries echoing in the silent bedroom. it was a sound born of anguish, a lamentation of pain and sorrow.

you no longer cared who heard your cries, for in that moment, you knew that diluc would be there to catch you, to hold you close and soothe your shattered soul. in his arms, you found solace, a sanctuary where judgment held no sway and love reigned supreme.

"you don’t have to hide or pretend with me," he whispered, his lips brushing against your temple. "i love you just as you are. in your messiness, in your moments of doubt, in your quiet strength."

once your sobs subsided into soft sniffles, diluc gently pulled back, his lips tenderly kissing away the remnants of your tears. "you must be exhausted, my love. let's get you changed into something more comfortable."

with practiced ease, he helped you out of your clothes, leaving you in nothing but your undergarments. as he sat before you, he paused, his eyes drinking in the sight of you, his precious wife.

"you're so beautiful. my pretty girl." he smiled softly and leaned down to press a tender kiss to your forehead.

you frowned, imagining how disheveled you must look right now with swollen eyes and lips, disheveled hair and red nose. "i'm a mess."

"mess?" he chuckled softly, his fingers gently brushing a stray lock of hair from your face. "more like a work of art. you're gorgeous. i couldn't look away even if i wanted to."

you tried to protest, to shake your head and deny his words, but the sincerity in his eyes silenced you.

"i mean it," he continued, his thumb gently brushing away a stray tear from your cheek. "every part of you is beautiful to me. you think i don't love the sight of you in my arms, so vulnerable and emotional in front of me? you think i don't cherish the trust you show me when you cry in my arms?"

"you are beautiful in every moment," he continued, his gaze never wavering from yours. "when you laugh, when you smile, and yes, even when you cry. it shows me that you trust me enough to let me see your pain, your fears, your deepest emotions. that trust is the most precious thing you could ever give me. when you let me in, when you allow me to hold you and comfort you, it's the greatest gift you could ever give me. it means more than anything else in the world."

you looked into his eyes, seeing the depth of his understanding and the unwavering devotion that lay within them. his words made your heart ache with a bittersweet mixture of love and disbelief.

how could he see beauty in your tears, in your brokenness?

you had been bare before your husband countless times, but that familiarity did little to soothe your insecurities in this moment of vulnerability. you wanted so badly to object, to insist he was mistaken and that you were far from beautiful. you let your head hang low as your arms instinctively moved to wrap around yourself in a futile attempt to cover your body and hide, fearing he might take notice of all your flaws.

he sensed your distress, and with a gentleness no one but you would believe a man of his demeanor could possess, he moved your arms away, intertwining his fingers with yours.

“look at me, love. don’t hide from me, please. let me admire you. let me love you. let me show you how much i cherish you.”

you hesitated, but his voice held such sincerity, such unwavering adoration, that you couldn’t help but slowly lift your head to meet his gaze.

“good girl,” he praised softly, his words sending a flutter of warmth through you as he ran a gentle hand down your arm.

you were so bare, so vulnerable before him with your scars on full display. some had healed, leaving behind only faint, painful reminders of past sorrows. though barely visible, they never escaped your husband’s perceptive gaze, nor did they evade the tenderness of his touch. some were newer, bearing a reddish hue, akin to the color of the eyes that gazed at you with such profound love.

you wanted so badly to hide, to pull your arms behind your back so that diluc wouldn’t see how you had failed to keep your promise to him when you gave in to your urges and punished yourself in moments of deep loneliness.

he would never forget the fear that gripped him that day — the way his heart froze, then plummeted to the depths of his stomach when he arrived home later than usual and found you curled up in the corner of the bathroom. the sight of you shaking, drenched in tears with the floor and the fabric of your nightgown stained by dried blood — your blood — was enough to bring him to his knees. the memory was seared into his mind, a reminder of how fragile you could be. 

he had promised to always be there for you, to protect you, even from the demons within yourself, and yet, in that moment, he felt like he had failed. no matter how much time passed, he would always scold himself for not being there sooner, for letting you fall into that dark place alone. it haunted him, the image of you broken and hurting while he was helpless to stop it.

but now wasn’t the time to dwell on that day. he was here now, and he’d do anything, anything within his power to take away your pain, to make sure you never feel like you have to suffer alone and in silence again.

as diluc held your arm, you wished fervently for the sheets to engulf you, to conceal the shame that gnawed at your heart. he felt the tenseness in your body, the slight pull of your arm as you tried to escape his observant eyes, but diluc’s grip was unwavering, his fingers firm yet tender as they held your wrist, drawing you nearer.

your voice came out in a broken whisper as he surveyed your scars, silently begging him to look away. “they’re ugly…”

diluc shook his head, his voice resolute. “no, they’re not.”

he lifted your forearm to his lips, tracing a delicate path of kisses along the lines of your scars. “every scar, every mark, they are a part of you, and i love them because i love you. they are a sign of your resilience and strength. they are nothing to be ashamed of.”

tears welled up in your eyes as you watched him shower your scars in love. “how can you not be disgusted when you look at them? when you look at me?”

he looked at you intently, his expression completely sincere. “if only you could see yourself the way i see you, my love. how could i ever be disgusted when i gaze upon you? i adore every single inch of you.”

he shifted closer, his fingers trailing lightly over your skin as if memorizing the landscape of you. “i see every part of you, and i cherish it all.” 

his voice was low, reverent, his thumb brushing along the edge of a scar, not in pity but in admiration. “you’ve come so far, endured so much, and you’re still here. that, my love, is a beauty beyond measure. you are beautiful to me, and i love you, scars and all.”

his words wrapped around your heart, soft and warm, causing it to stutter in your chest. for a moment, you couldn’t breathe, your breath catching as the weight of his love settled over you. the way he said it, with such conviction, such unwavering love that is reserved only for you, made you want to burst into tears once more.

tears blurred your vision, but they were no longer heavy with sorrow. instead, they were tears of relief, of being seen, truly seen, and loved despite it all.

“y-you’re not mad at me? for… for this?” the timid question escaped your lips, barely audible. it was so quiet that diluc might have second-guessed whether you had spoken at all if it weren’t for the fact that he knew you so well.

he shook his head once again. “no, i’m not mad, sweetheart. i could never be mad at you. i’m just concerned and worried about you. i understand that you were struggling, but i just wish you had come to me if you were in so much pain. you don’t have to suffer alone.”

a wave of guilt and shame washed over you, and you lowered your gaze. it was a habit you had since childhood, a way to make yourself small, to will yourself not to exist. “i-i didn’t want to bother you…”

“you’re never a bother, sweetheart. never. you’re the love of my life, my beloved wife. i want you to come to me, to lean on me. i want to help you, to support you through anything you’re going through. that’s my job as your lover. as your husband.”

his words caused your lips to quiver.. “i-i’m sorry, i’m really sorry…”

he gently shushes you, each one of your apologies feeling like a dagger to his heart. “my sweet love, don't apologize. i’m not upset with you. you don’t need to be sorry, okay?”

“i’m here now,” he whispered, voice thick with emotion as he pressed a tender kiss to your forehead. "i’m not leaving your side. ever. i’ll protect you — always." 

he couldn't change the past, but he could be here now. and he would never let you feel that kind of hurt again, not as long as he lived.

diluc continued his journey, trailing kisses down your forearms to your wrist, stopping to press a kiss to your pulse before threaded his fingers with yours.

"i love the feeling of holding your hand," he murmured, "it fits perfectly in mine. like you were made for me."

he lifted your hand to his lips, pressing tender kisses to each of your knuckles. "these hands… they've given me so much. so many wonderful things."

he gently pried your hand open, pressing a kiss to each of your fingertips. "they've braided my hair, held my heart," he continued, his lips lingering on your skin, "and touched me in ways no one else has ever had the privilege of."

his eyes met yours, filled with a depth of emotion that made your breath catch. "they've caressed me, comforted me, tending to my wounds in the late hours of the night with the utmost care and precision."

"not to mention they've made the sweetest pastries and most delicious meals for me," he added with a soft chuckle, his lips curving into a tender smile.

he continued to hold your hand as he brought it to his chest, right over his heart. "these hands," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "are the hands of the woman i love. they are strong, gentle, and endlessly giving. and i will spend every day showing you just how much they mean to me."

his gaze drifted to the ruby ring adorning your finger, its deep crimson hue catching the light of the room. "and this ring…"

his thumb traced the delicate curve of the gem, admiring the craftsmanship of the custom made wedding ring he had the honour of slipping on your finger years ago.

"it's a symbol of my love and commitment to you. a declaration to the world that you're mine and only mine, and i am yours."

he rested his forehead against yours and couldn’t help but melt as he gazed into your big, doe-like eyes.

“your eyes could put the stars to shame,” he murmured, his voice filled with awe. “i could never get tired of looking into them. i want to get lost in them. they are absolutely captivating.”

as he admired you, his fingers absentmindedly took hold of a strand of your hair, twirling it around his finger.

"when you lie beside me, your hair tickling my face, and your soft breaths against my skin, i feel complete. your hair is so fluffy, perfect for me to run my fingers through, especially when you lay on my chest.”

his hands moved to cup your cheeks, his thumbs tenderly tracing the contours of your face.

"your cheeks are so soft, so kissable. i adore watching them turn rosy whenever i tell you sweet things.”

his eyes continued to roam your features, drinking in every detail.

“and have i told you that you have the cutest nose, my love? the little mole on the tip is simply adorable. it makes me want to lean in and press a kiss to it whenever i see it. in fact—”

he leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to the tip of your nose, making you giggle softly.

“see?” he whispered, his lips lingering just above yours. “even your laughter is a melody i could listen to forever.”

at the sight of the shy smile that spread across your face, he closed the distance between the two of you, his movements slow and deliberate. with the gentlest of touches, he pressed his lips against yours in a soft, tender kiss.

“how can someone have a smile so captivating, a kiss so sweet?” he whispered against your lips, his voice a mere caress. “i could kiss you all day and never tire of it, my love.”

he deepened the kiss, his hands finding their way to your waist, pulling you closer, as if to merge your very souls. each touch was a promise, a vow to cherish every moment, to revel in the warmth and tenderness that only you could evoke.

pulling back, he rested his forehead against yours, relishing the feeling of holding you in his arms, where you belonged. he rubbed your back soothingly, adjusting himself to rest his chin atop your head so that he could hold you even closer.

“your skin is so soft, like velvet rose petals,” he murmured into your hair. if it were up to him, he would spend hours just caressing every inch of your skin, exploring your body and mapping it out, every dip and curve, every crevice, memorizing every last bit.

his fingertips glided gently along your spin, tracing invisible patterns. “i could lose myself in you,” he whispered, his voice filled with awe and reverence. “every inch of you is a masterpiece. i want to memorize every scar, every beautiful imperfection.”

his hands moved with a reverence that made your heart ache, tracing patterns along your back, your shoulders, your waist. “you’re like a work of art. every time i touch you, i discover something new, something that makes me fall in love with you all over again.”

he pulled back slightly to gaze into your eyes, his own filled with a fierce yet tender longing. “you are my sanctuary, my haven. when i hold you, the world fades away, and all that remains is us. your beauty, your warmth, they are imprinted in my very soul.”

his hands continued their tender exploration, lingering on each delicate curve as if he were committing it to memory.

“i want to know every part of you, every secret your body holds,” he murmured, his lips brushing against your ear. “i want to learn the language of your sighs, the melody of your heartbeat. you are my everything, and i will spend every day of my life proving it to you if i must.”

he pressed a soft kiss to the nape of your neck, his lips lingering as if reluctant to part.

“let me love you endlessly,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “let me show you just how precious you are, how deeply you are adored.”

and with that, he let his actions speak where words fell short. his lips found yours in another tender kiss, a soft, lingering touch that conveyed more than any words ever could.

his lips then trailed a path of gentle kisses down your neck, each touch soft and reverent, as if worshipping the very essence of you.

"you are so beautiful," he breathed, his voice filled with awe and adoration. "so incredibly beautiful."

his hands, strong yet oh so gentle, roamed over your body with a reverence that made your heart ache with love. his touch was soft, as if he was afraid you might break, but it was filled with a passion that spoke of his deep, undying love for you.

he kissed your shoulders, your collarbone, his lips lingering over every inch of your skin, mapping out your body with a devotion that made you feel cherished, adored, and most importantly, loved.

he pulled you closer, his arms enveloping you in a cocoon of warmth and safety. every kiss, every touch, was a testament to his love, his need to show you just how much you meant to him.

your fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, needing to feel him, to lose yourself in the depth of his love. he responded with a soft, hushed murmur of your name, his voice thick with emotion.

"you're mine, body and soul," he whispered against your lips, his breath mingling with yours, "and i love you more than i could ever express."

with his arms wrapped around you as you clung to him, you allowed yourself to believe, if only for that moment, that maybe — just maybe — you were worthy of the love and adoration he so freely gave.

once diluc deemed you thoroughly showered in his love and saw the spark return to your eyes, he gently helped you into your silk nightgown, the smooth fabric cool and comforting against your skin.

his hands lingered on your shoulders for a moment, his touch reassuring and tender, before he stood from the bed, stepping back to admire you. he smiled at you before breaking the comfortable silence, reaching for something he had left on the dresser.

“now, i got you something.”

you looked up at him, a mixture of shock and surprise flooding your features. just moments ago, you had been crying over how this man spoiled you too much, and here he was, ready to do it again.

“w-what? diluc, you didn’t have to-”

“shh,” he shushed you gently, a soft smile playing on his lips. “i wanted to. plus, don’t think i can’t tell that you haven’t eaten all day, love.”

he placed a small box in front of you, and you immediately recognized it to be from the bakery that you both loved to visit.

he opened the box, revealing the fresh slice of red velvet cake inside. “your favourite. i would’ve given it to you earlier, but i know you don't like eating when you’re upset.”

you couldn’t stop the tears from welling up again at his endless thoughtfulness. “you remembered?”

he chuckled softly, “of course i remember your favourite cake, sweetheart. i remember every little thing about you.”

taking a piece of the red velvet cake on a fork, he held it up to your mouth to feed you, his eyes warm and encouraging. "please eat, love. for me?"

without hesitation, you leaned in and opened your mouth, accepting the bite of cake he offered. a tear slipped down your cheek as you chewed on the fluffy treat, savoring the rich, velvety taste. "’s good…"

diluc's free hand reached up to wipe away the tear with a tenderness that made your heart ache with love. "i'm glad you like it, love," he murmured, his thumb brushing your cheek.

he continued to feed you, taking a few bites of his own as you insisted he share with you. you savored the sweetness of the cake, but even more so, you cherished the man before you, whose love seemed boundless.

as the evening wound down, diluc made quick work of tidying up and changing out of his work clothes. before he could join you in bed, he stopped by your nightstand, glancing down at your book that he had put aside earlier.

“would you like me to read to you, love?”

your heart fluttered at his thoughtful gesture. although you adored hearing his voice weave through the pages of your favorite stories, sleep was beginning to tug at you. you shook your head slightly, extending your arm toward him with a weary smile.

“no, it's okay… can we just cuddle?”

he smiled fondly before settling beside you, the mattress dipping under his weight. “of course we can cuddle, sweetheart. come here.”

he pulled you into his embrace, your bodies fitting perfectly against each other. you sighed contentedly, snuggling into his bare chest and listening to his steady heartbeat. the warmth of his skin against yours and the gentle rise and fall of his chest were the epitome of comfort.

“rest, my love,” diluc murmured against your hair, his voice a soothing whisper. “you’re safe in my arms.”

with a sleepy murmur, you whispered back, “thank you, diluc. for everything…”

(thank you for loving me.)

he pressed a gentle kiss to the crown of your head, pulling you even closer. “always, my heart,” he replied softly. “always.”

(there’s nothing i wouldn’t do for you.)

your eyes fluttered shut, and just before the veil of dreams enveloped you, you heard diluc’s voice once more, gentle and filled with tender affection.

"sweet dreams, my love. i love you."

thank you for reading ♡

[ichikaisflowers]

Beel: MC please

Beel: your the love of my life

Beel: I love you so much MC

Beel: please I’m so sorry

MC: Sorry doesn’t bring back my M&Ms.

[ichikaisflowers]

Satan hated when people disrupted him while he was reading, it was just his nature. It was his time to relax, his peace and quiet during the chaos that naturally happens.

He’d snap at anyone who did something to distract him. It really didn’t matter who it was, everyone knew not to distract Satan while he was reading.

He would yell at anyone and everyone… except you. You could grab the book out of his hands and throw it out a window and he’d still keep himself calm, just because he loves you.

And although he might act annoyed when you came into the library and curl up next to him while he reads, he really enjoys spending that time with you.

He especially loves when you crawl into his lap and ask him to read out loud to you. You both know that you’re just gonna fall asleep in 10 minutes, but he doesn’t mind. Because you’re MC, and you have the avatar of wrath wrapped around your finger.

[ichikaisflowers]

Coming Home (MC reunites with the demons post-Nightbringer)

Satan x Reader

warnings: one use of MC, hurt/comfort, anger toward reader for a moment, disordered eating mentioned?

notes: I'm gonna be doing a series of these for the brothers! I have one for mammon half-written and ideas for beel and lucifer. i still need to think over belphie, levi, and asmo so they might come later!

Reentering the House of Lamentation was a strange feeling. You hadn't really left it, as you were in the building constantly throughout your stay in the past. But it wasn't the same place you knew. Most of the aspects that gave the building its charm were missing in the past, and it just felt a lot less like home.

You made your way up the stairs as quietly as possible. When you imagined coming back to your time, you didn't think you would be sneaking in, rather loudly announcing your presence to the brothers. But as you spent time with the past versions of the brothers, you knew that one of them would definitely need your presence as soon as possible.

Satan.

You couldn't imagine the thoughts he must have been thinking. Back when he was newly created, he was so angry and unpredictable and violent. But you saw through the facade the whole time. He was just scared and confused and you knew that. However present-day Satan is convinced you are never coming back because he did something to you in the past.

He had hardly talked to any of his brothers since you vanished. He spent hours going through every single book in his collection, desperately searching for any information that could bring you back to him. When his search didn't lead to any breakthroughs, he tore the library apart in a rage. Lucifer tried to be supportive but ended up causing one of the worst fights the two had ever had. He had been holed up in his room since, over two weeks alone to ruminate and loathe himself for how he likely treated you in the past. He only ate when Beel and Belphie brought something up from dinner, although on nights when Lucifer cooked, he didn't make Satan a serving out of spite about their confrontation.

You needed to see him. You had to prove him wrong and show him that he was wrong about himself. He needed to know you were okay and that you still loved him with every fiber of your being.

The metal doorknob was cold in your hands. The house was still and quiet except for your heart racing. You twisted it slowly, trying not to make much noise to alert the other 6 brothers.

You entered the room with confidence that you knew how to navigate the room. You had been living in the past for so long that you had a good sense of where Satan's piles of books were placed even in the dark.

After your foot made contact with the spine of a hardcover book, you came to the sudden realization that the layout of piles in the room had likely changed within the many, many years since the time you were accustomed to. A stack of books came crashing down to the floor with a thud.

Before you could say a word, you heard the bed creak loudly and saw the faint silhouette of Satan's demon form rise from his bed. His voice boomed through the room as he charged closer to your location: "I swear to Diavolo whoever is in here I'm going to fucking rip you to pieces if y-"

Unlike most individuals in the devildom, you didn't even flinch as one of the most powerful demons moved to attack. Instead you interrupted him by flicking the light switch in the room with your magic. This stopped Satan in his tracks as he instinctively closed his eyes due to the sudden brightness. Once he opened his eyes again, his eyes landed on you. Looking at you with a gaze only the present-day Satan, your Satan, would have toward you. Not a glare of hatred and anger and disgust but rather his green eyes full of concern and love.

Before he even thought about checking you for any injuries, he rushed forward and pulled you into his arms. He buried his face into your neck as he let out a strangled sob. You felt your heart break into a million pieces at the sound of his sorrow. One hand rubbed circles on his back while the other found its way into his hair.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm okay. I'm right here, " you said softly. You continued murmuring similar sentiments to him until you heard the door swing open behind you.

"What the hell is going on in here-" You hear Lucifer's voice, cutting himself off once he recognized that it was you.

You felt Satan tense up in your arms, breath quickening as he felt his rage growing once again. You could already assume that something happened between the two of them. Regretfully, he pulled away from you and turned away from Lucifer to allow you to talk to him. You grabbed Satan's hand before turning around, rubbing your thumb along his.

You opened your mouth to say something until you saw Mammon behind his elder brother. The second you made eye contact, he bolted down the hall yelling "GUYS MC IS BACK!!" to alert the others. You winced slightly, knowing it was going to be hard to turn away the others to have a moment alone with Satan.

"You aren't hurt at all, are you? I was worried sick that someone would have-" Lucifer asked, with a slightly accusatory tone. It seemed like he was referring to a prior conversation, but you didn't entertain his attempt at starting a fight.

"I'm fine. Can you give me a second alone with him?" You cut him off. He was clearly taken aback by your comment and thought about snapping at you, but he left the room and swung the door shut. He would lecture you about it later.

Once the door shut, you turned around to face Satan, pulling him back into your arms for a quick hug. You took in the moment, finally realizing that it's really him now. You were finally back with your cat-loving bookworm once again.

When you pulled back, you noticed Satan scanning your form, probably looking for any injuries you were hiding from him.

"Satan, I'm fine." You said. He met your eyes, still seeming slightly suspicious.

He began to ramble nervously. "I must have hurt you. If not physically than emotionally because back then I was a mon-"

You interrupted him by pressing your lips onto his. He was surprised for a moment but eventually kissed back.

When you pulled away, you reached for one of his hands. "I promise, you did nothing to hurt me." You said with a gentle yet stern voice.

"I had to. I was so volatile and wrathful and-"

"Scared." You interrupted him once again. You squeezed his hand lightly. "You were just created and learning how to live in an extremely chaotic environment with emotions that were hardly your own."

He looked away from you to the floor as you spoke, and you gingerly guided his gaze back to meet yours. "You always seem to forget that I can read you like a book." You said, earning a light chuckle from him.

Satan took a deep breath, taking a moment to think before asking his next question. "If I hadn't done anything to you, why were you so insistent on getting to talk to me alone?"

You sighed softly. "Because I knew you would have been spiraling thinking that I was never coming back because you killed me."

He doesn't obviously react to your statement at first, but he then pulls you into a hug with a shuddering breath. He murmurs a soft "I love you" which you reciprocate. You'd never tell his brothers, but you feel a tear hit your shoulder.

After a moment he pulls away, covertly wiping his eyes of any remaining evidence of crying. You see a slight smirk on his face, a sight you were grateful to see. "Of course you would want to come see me first. I am your favorite, after all," He said jokingly.

You laughed, a sound he had been wishing to hear for weeks now. "Of course you are." You said, leaning forward to give him a soft kiss on the cheek.

"I know you were in a rush to see me, but did you have to go wrecking my organization?" He said, referring to the collapsed pile of books across the floor.

You lightheartedly rolled your eyes. "Listen okay, I was so used to living in this house but hundreds of year ago, and your room's layout has changed a lot since then."

He chuckled at your comment, a sound you too had been waiting to hear for weeks.

"I know you would love to have my company all to yourself, but I think we should stop torturing your brothers and let them have a proper reunion too." You said softly.

He was obviously displeased with the comment, sighing in annoyance, but you gave him a disapproving look. "Fine, you can reunite with everyone except Lucifer." he said in a tone where he was only partially joking.

You rolled your eyes slightly, giving him a kiss on the cheek before moving to open the door. Once you did, you were instantly surrounded by the other six most powerful demons in the devildom, but the most important to you stood aside for the moment.

[ichikaisflowers]

imagine if you were crying over a bully at rad and you tell the brothers and the next day they just. go missing.

and diavolo and barbatos just brush over it and simeon doesn’t say a word about it and solomon just gives you a wordless high five because hell yeah MC use your family to your advantage.

MC has some of the most powerful demons alive willing to maim and kill for them and they don’t even realize it.

[ichikaisflowers]

Custom Plushies!

Requested By: @space-dragon-ace

Headcannons

Summary: The brothers find out that MC got a custom plushie of them to cuddle while they're away and when they act smugly about it, the brothers reactions to MC telling them that the plushie is their replacement. The Seven Demon Brothers x Reader Word Count: 2,856

Pride was the only thing Lucifer felt when he found the plushie of himself in your room.

He came to visit you and as the two of you were talking his eyes couldn’t help but drift around your room. 

He wanted to admire the way you had decorated it. You had a good taste when it came to interior decorating.

But the small item had caught his attention and he couldn’t help the smirk that appeared on his face as he realized it was made to look just like him.

You saw Lucifer staring at something in your bedroom and your eyes followed to where his gaze had landed.

A light pink dusted your cheeks as you realized what had captured Lucifer’s focus. 

A hundred excuses overwhelmed you as you desperately tried to talk your way out of this situation.

But you knew that no matter what you said, Lucifer would be able to see right through you.

You had been caught with a plushie of him and there was no turning back. But, that didn’t mean you couldn’t make a joke, right?

 “Are you looking at this? It’s your replacement for my cuddles,” you teased him with a small smile as you sat down on your bed.

Lucifer kept his composure at your words, knowing that you had only been messing with him.

But, he could not accept the words you had just uttered.

In light of the fact that this was the first time in a while the two of you had seen each other, Lucifer was going to be nice and not tease you.

Darling, he was irreplaceable.

But, you just had to say that.

Lucifer had decided that he wouldn’t be holding anything back from you tonight.

He was going to take you in his arms and keep you there until you realized just how irreplaceable he was.

He doesn’t mind if you keep the plushie afterward. After all, it would only serve as a reminder of himself. 

But, the plushie would have to stay on your dresser. It was no longer allowed on the bed.

You were up in the human world and Mammon had come up to visit you. 

It was almost embarrassing how much he had missed you while the two of you were separated.

He nearly fainted when he finally saw you again, pulling you into his embrace and refusing to let you go.

The two of you could only stay like that for so long though until you started to get hungry.

You asked Mammon to wait in your room while you grabbed a snack for both of you from the kitchen.

While he waited, he took it upon himself to take a look around your bedroom, wondering how it differed from your bedroom at the House of Lamentation.

That’s when he found a plushie that looked familiar sitting on your bed.

Mammon picked up the small item and immediately started blushing as he realized it was a plushie of himself.

His blush only deepened when you entered the room and caught him holding the plushie.

Your own blush coated your cheeks as you realized he had found the plushie you had gotten of him.

Mammon was really happy to find the plushie because he hoped it meant that you missed him as much as he had missed you.

But, of course, he couldn’t say that. Instead, he turned to you and stated, “Of course, you would miss the Great Mammon soo much that you got a plushie of him.”

And the teasing did not stop there. 

You let out a small sigh as you set the snacks that you had brought back down somewhere nearby as Mammon continued to say things along the lines of, “You must have really missed me.”

After you finally had enough of his teasing, you turned to Mammon and snatched the plushie out of his hands, giving him a small pout.

Mammon started to feel a bit bad for his teasing, but before he could apologize, you told him, “I only got it so that I could cuddle it instead of you.”

Mammon’s face immediately fell into a pout of his own as he looked between you and the plushie, having a newfound hatred for the small item.

“Wha? Come on. You’re not serious, right?!” Mammon asked, his eyes sad as he questioned whether or not he lost you to a stuffed animal.

He won’t calm down until you promise him that you prefer to cuddle him over the plushie and even still you’ll most likely find the plushie thrown into the trash when you aren’t looking.

Levi was so excited to see you again.

Since the last time you saw each other, he had been making a list of all of the anime, manga, and video games that he wanted to experience with you.

The list was incredibly long and Levi knew that there would be no way to get through everything on this one trip.

But that didn’t stop him from telling you all about each one, too excited for his own good.

You were sitting in your bedroom, listening to him talk about all of them, doing your best to keep up with everything he was saying. 

“And that’s why we should play-,” Levi began but stopped mid-sentence, his body freezing and his eyes widening as he caught a glimpse of something on your bed.

“That’s why we should play?” you asked, wanting him to finish his thought. But, all words left his mind as he began malfunctioning.

“Levi?” you questioned, not understanding why he had stopped speaking until you finally looked where his gaze was focused and saw your plushie of him.

You had about two seconds to remedy this situation before Levi freaked out and ran out of the bedroom. 

His cheeks were getting more red by the second and you said the first thing that came to your mind. 

“Don’t freak out,” you stated and you could see Levi visibly trying to calm down.

“I’m not freaking out. It makes that you would want a small and cute version of me to cuddle with at night instead of the real otaku who is probably yucky and sweaty to sleep next to,” he stated.

You hadn’t expected Levi to find a way to use the plushie as a reason to self-deprecate.

You could see the flash of orange in his eyes and it was only then that you realized he was jealous…of the plushie.

If you made a joke about using it as your new cuddle buddy it would most certainly push him over the edge. 

So, instead, you explained to him that you got the plushie so that you would have something to remind you of him while you were in the human world - because you missed him so much.

That answer calms him down a bit but he still gets jealous at the thought of you cuddling it every night instead of him.

When Satan first reached the human world, there were a million things he wanted to do with you.

He had read about so many interesting places in your area that he wished to see with you and now that he had the opportunity, he wasn’t going to waste it.

The two of you spent the majority of the day out and about so you didn’t get back to your place until it was later that night. 

Living in the human world was a lot harder than living in the Devildom and as such you could only afford a one-bedroom place.

So, naturally, you invited Satan to spend the night in your room.

That was the worst mistake you could have made.

With how observant he was, Satan was able to find the plush of himself in record time. 

And while his cheeks turned light pink, he couldn’t help the smile that broke out across his face.

You immediately tried to hide the plushie, but you knew it was too late.

“What is that?” Satan questioned, a knowing look in his eyes as he walked closer and closer to you, your heart speeding up at every step he took.

You kept the plushie hidden behind your back until Satan was right in front of you, only a couple of inches away.

You knew that you would have to come clean sooner or later so you decided to sheepishly pull the plushie out from behind your back and hold it between the two of you.

As Satan saw the plushie in all of its glory, his smile only grew and so did your embarrassment. 

And that embarrassment took precedence over your logical thinking and caused you to state, “I got it so that I could cuddle it at night instead of you.”

Now you’ve done it.

Whatever amusement Satan had in his eyes was quickly replaced with a green glow of his sin as the words processed through his mind.

“I’m sorry?” he asked, which translated to - what did you just have the audacity to say?

That plushie will most likely be torn to shreds and Satan will spend the entire night making sure you knew that a plushie would never amount to the real thing.

Asmo was in the middle of your closet, going through all of your clothes, wearing a happy smile.

He had been dying to see all the human world outfits you bought, the style vastly differing from what you had to wear in the Devildom.

Your style was very inspiring and it was filling his head with so many ideas for outfits he wanted to design when he got back to the Devildom.

He was so focused on your clothes, in fact, you weren’t even sure if Asmo knew that you were there.

Your clothes were sprawled out all over the room so that Asmo could easily take pictures of them and when he was finally done, he let out a happy sigh while you pouted at him. 

“Don’t give me that look, Y/N! I promise to put it all back,” Asmo told you, beginning to clean up the large mess he had created.

You decided to help him so that it would go quicker, picking up the clothes off the dresser. 

“I’ll get the ones on the bed,” Asmo suggested, already moving in that direction.

Alarm bells started going off in your head all of a sudden as you realized what was on your bed.

“Asmo, wait!” you told him, dropping the clothes in your arms, but Asmo had already picked up the clothes and saw what was on your bed.

Asmo let out a happy squeal as the clothes he had in his arms were long forgotten in favor of picking up the plushie that had now caught his attention.

You mentally face-palmed as you prepared yourself for the teasing you were about to relentlessly get from Asmo. 

“Ooh, what is this?” Asmo asked excitedly, even though he already knew the answer to his question. It was pretty self-explanatory.

“Did you miss me that much?” Asmo asked, a hopeful and excited look in his eyes as he wore a smile that shined brighter than the sun.

And maybe you had been spending a little too much time with Lucifer because you’re pride suddenly felt the need to defend itself.

 “No, I bought it so that I could cuddle it instead of having to cuddle you,” you replied.

You regretted the words as they came out but there was no backing down and the amused look in Asmo’s eyes only made your heart race faster.

“Is that so?” Asmo questioned, his eyes sparking a beautiful pink.

“Well, I’ll just have to show you why I’m so much more fun to cuddle than a plushie,” Asmo added.

You were in it for it now.

Beel was genuinely just so happy to be in your presence.

He had missed you so much and you missed him equally.

When he finally did get to the human world, you had surprised him by ordering as much of the local food as possible.

Beel felt like he was in the Celestial Realm when he entered your place, surrounded by food that he rarely got to eat with you sitting beside him.

He felt like he was having a perfect night and he didn’t want it to end.

But, eventually, the two of you moved to the bedroom to go to sleep for the night. 

Beel had sat down on your bed while you were in the bathroom, and unlike some of his other brothers, he wasn’t keen on snooping around. 

That being said, he couldn’t help it that something sitting on the bed next to him caught his eye.

And, he also couldn’t help the bright blush that coated his cheeks when he looked to see that it was a custom plushie of himself. 

You came out of the bathroom to see Beel flustered as he stared at the plushie and you scolded yourself for forgetting to put the plushie away.

Beel didn’t want to embarrass you in any way so he did his best to keep his thoughts to himself as you approached him. 

You could tell he wanted to say something about it but he was holding himself back and it was causing an awkward tension between the two of you.

You picked up the plushie and in an attempt to lighten the mood, you joked, “I bought it so I could cuddle it at night instead of you.”

You only realized that the joke wasn’t funny after you said the words and saw the look of hurt in Beel’s eyes.

You could see the doubt in his eyes and you immediately moved to fix the situation.

You placed the plushie on a nearby shelf and sat down next to Beel, immediately pulling him into your arms.

“I’m just kidding! You’re the only one I want to cuddle. It’s just to help me not feel so lonely when I’m away from you,” you told him and he instantly relaxed in your embrace, melting into your arms.

“You’re the only one I want to cuddle too,” he replied, the happy feeling once again returning as a smile graced both of your faces.

Note to self: Don’t make those kinds of jokes with Beel.

Out of all the brothers, Belphie would be the worst one by far to find a custom plushie of himself in your bedroom.

Belphie had genuinely missed you while he was away from you.

He missed the way you would laugh and how warm you would make him feel when he was lying in your lap. 

He had every intention of being nice and romantic with you while he had the opportunity to do so.

And he had been doing such a good job. Until the two of you reached your room. 

Belphie wasted absolutely no time making himself at home in your bedroom.

Within the first few seconds of being inside your room, Belphie took it upon himself to jump on your bed, ready to take a nap with you.

But, when he tried to get comfortable on your mattress, he felt an uncomfortable lump under his back.

He let out a small groan of frustration as he reached underneath him to pull out the object that was keeping him from getting comfortable. 

His eyes widened when he looked at the item and saw that it was a custom-made plushie of himself. 

You immediately snatched the plushie from Belphie, hoping that he didn’t see what it was, but you knew he had. 

As soon as he processed the initial shock, Belphie had a coy smile on his face as he propped himself up on his elbows to look at you.

“If you missed me that much you could have just told me. I would have come a lot sooner,” Belphie teased and you turned your back to him to try and hide the blush that was burning brightly on your cheeks.

“So, do you just sleep with it?” Belphie asked, making you impossibly more flustered as you tried to think of a comeback.

“Yes! I got it so that I didn’t have to cuddle you anymore,” you replied, finally turning back to face the Avatar of Sloth.

“What?” he asked, wanting to make sure he heard you correctly though the smirk he had never left his face.

“It’s my new cuddle buddy - your replacement,” you added, cuddling the plushie into your chest.

Belphie’s smirk turned from the coy one to one of satisfaction at hearing your words.

Because he had been on his best behavior but now you had just given him every reason to show his true colors.

And you couldn’t say anything about it because you asked for it by saying that to him.

In a swift motion, Belphie pulled you into his embrace and threw the plushie into an unknown corner of your bedroom.

Belphie was going to make sure you found out who exactly was your one and only “cuddle buddy.”

[ichikaisflowers]

MC gifting the Obey Me! cast the same button-up shirts and asking them to wear it when they go out to dinner.

Mammon is the first to show up. He doesn't like to be away from you for extended periods of time keep you waiting, and he wants to get some use out of that fancy new shirt you gave him.

Leviathan is the next to arrive, wanting to cement himself in a seat before more people show up. He doesn't notice at first, but Mammon certainly does. Mammon is not very happy.

The two start bickering over free breadsticks as the twins walk in. Beelzebub is too distracted by the scent of appetizers to really care, but the situation gets a chuckle out of Belphegor. "You both look stupid," he tells Mammon and Leviathan.

They quip back, "Like you're one to talk!" and "You're wearin' the same thing, moron!"

"Shh, shh. It's funny. Be quiet, I think someone else is coming." At your behest, the table settles down.

Solomon's usual smug self is knocked down a peg when he sees everybody in the same attire. "I don't think this is mere coincidence," he surmises while taking a seat. "Did you give these to everyone?"

You nod, and finally Solomon smiles. "This will be good."

Within seconds of arrival, Satan is able to quickly connect the dots. He's not happy to be matching with Lucifer, but knows the look on the eldest's face will be worth it when he walks in and falls for the prank. Satan readies his phone camera to capture the occasion.

Simeon gets a good laugh when he shows up. Him and Luke are used to matching from time to time, but dressing up like the brothers reminds him of their days in the Celestial Realm. "I like your shirts," he jokes to an audience of eye rolls.

Luke presents you with a thank-you gift, a shirt he specially picked out for you. He understands though that everyone needs to match for this dinner, and eagerly awaits everyone else's reactions. Being included on these kinds of pranks is so much fun.

Asmodeus is temporarily stunned that you've managed to get everyone in matching outfits. They only humor him with such a treat once every handful of centuries. This is genius. After putting his things down he immediately gets to work adjusting buttons, smoothing collars, and demanding selfies. In the scramble to get the first of many group photos, Satan's phone is knocked out of his hand just as Lucifer walks in.

He's not alone though. The surprise was already foiled when Diavolo, Barbatos, and Lucifer decided to come together. "I knew you were up to something," he sighs. Yet, he wore the shirt anyway. The three look like they've walked out of a commercial.

"What a wonderful surprise! This makes my new shirt even more special." Diavolo is clearly thrilled and more than happy to take selfies with Asmodeus while Barbatos asks the waiter for a round of drinks.

"That's cheating," Leviathan says. "You guys figured it out ahead of time."

"Unfair," Belphegor agreed. Satan just seethed quietly while waiting for his entree. He really thought Lucifer would be caught off guard this time.

"Good to know I pull it off best though." Mammon was confident in his looks and winked at his reflection in a spoon. Asmodeus scoffed, adding "in your dreams, maybe."

[ichikaisflowers]

/ 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞 /

\ humans were much more fragile than he thought. \ ft. mammon x gn!mc | careless scars | wc ≈ 1.0K

"What's.. I... how do ya even injure yourself like THIS!?"

"I... don't know...?"

You gave an awkward smile. Eyes shaking from what remained of the adrenaline rush, your hands resting atop your stomach while you lie down on the couch.

"Oh for fuck's sake, treasure," Mammon cursed, removing his sunglasses as he pinches the bridge of his nose. Seriously, you barely even started your day. There you were: bedridden and partly immobile, with every sway of your leg hurting a tad more than the last.

Not that you can say anything, but it was a careless accident.

...

It was more careless than it was accidental. The shelves within the grand library at the House of Lamentation were far beyond your reach. By genius design, you had no choice but to use the dark spook tree ladder that was left isolated to the corner shelves.

You could try to use magic, though you are unfamiliar with the general book's looks, for you only knew the title and the name of the author. 'course you also had the option to ask Satan for guidance, but the blonde had whisked himself away to the barricaded doors of the attic --- who knew what he and the youngest had planned for their measly prank.

And who knew how slippery unattended furniture can get.

You have not a choice: by deduction, the best course of action was to use the ladder and manually look for it yourself.

With the success of finding the book, surely a long, carpentered, intricately designed slab of wood wouldn't betray you. Now would it?

The first step downward was manageable.

The second step caused the old ladder to wobble, near stumbling back to the floor; yet otherwise stood still as you maintained balance.

As the third step came, as if by some imaginary liquid, you missed. You lost your grip.

There you came tumbling down with the sharp wooden edges grazing against your leg. And then you landed on the floor, upright, yes, but your left leg stuck against the fifth to the last step.

Your leg a swollen red, a long scratch from your ankle stretched upward towards the lower knee - where blood dripped down the open scar.

"Shhh...f-" you hissed, taking your leg off the ladder and- oh. You might've misplaced a bone there. You had to drag your leg up to a nearby couch, taking sharp deep breaths to take your mind off the pain.

...

So that was the story. When you told Mammon the first time, he gave you a dumbfounded look. Nonetheless, when he found you, he was worried as hell.

Beyond the grave.

But the golden boy had to rush and rummage through every cabinet to find the human-safe emergency kit. You admit, it was adorable watching him slip from his "superiority" facade.

Ahhhh.. your train of thought came to a halt at the stinging sensation. Causing your leg to jerk up, but Mammon held it down by the knee.

"Aye- Don't move," he said, while he tried to gently disinfect the scar with the isopropyl alcohol. Not a sensation you weren't familiar with, but god it burns.

"I'm sorry, but, could you please go a little faster?"

"Ya sure, human?" he scoffed. His finger traced along the long bump of the scratch, watching the skin scorch crimson before he shook his head. "Nuh uh."

You tilt your head up to get a better look at your golden boy, raising a brow. "What do you mean 'nuh uh'?"

"Ain't no way I'm leavin' ya alone after pullin' that stunt."

"It's just once!" You raised your hands in feigned surrender. "I'll be careful next time."

Mammon huffed his cheeks in a pout, grabbing the wool bandage off the red box. Carefully wrapping it around your calf, careful not to put too much pressure on your shin, lest you kick his face.

"Bullshit," he muttered. There were more words said, yet you couldn't seem to make them out. His usual voice in an ever soft tone: slurred words that only he could comprehend.

You did manage to catch a string of words. "not on my fuckin' watch you aren't" while he tries to fix the jumbled up bandage.

Seriously, it looked good but tying it together had always been a challenge. After all, the great avatar of greed was more known for breaking things unloose, not putting them back together.

He tried. Mammon tried. Not the best of the best, but Mammon tried his best.

You can't help but give a soft smile, watching him mumble curses as he finally figured out how to tidy up the loose ends: finding the metallic clip and pinching it on there in hopes that it sticks.

He lifts his gaze one more time to meet yours. This time, Mammon was the one raising his brow. Looking annoyed, but his intrigue was betrayed by the curious glint of his tinted sapphire eyes.

"Whatcha lookin' at me for?"

A small chuckle escaped your lips, tilting your head to the side. "Thank you."

Two words. Mammon scoffed, averting his gaze. "S-shut up. Of course ya should thank me!!" as by virtue it is a great honour to be served by the GREAT Mammon.

Though you lay there, smiling like an idiot in his eyes. How you're transfixed with the cherry red creeping up on his tan cheeks, how he subconsciously purse his lips, puffing his cheeks to not let his words betray him. How despite everything he says, he still works his way to tend to you.

To care for you. To love you.

Or to simply keep you company when no one else could. Honestly, it made the future all the less scary. The uncertainty is all the less terrifying. The possibility of your bones giving up just feels all the more natural than ill-driven.

While selfish, greedy to an extent, you figured worrying in the future might just be a hoax. A fantasy in your head.

They say to get your head out the gutter, yet you couldn't help but examine each worse case scenario.

And if it's with him to your aid? It will all feel right.

note.s : lesson learned, always watch your step when climbing down ladders.

check out my masterlist | divider by adornedwithlight

[ichikaisflowers]

Perfection

Mammon was far from perfect. He struggled with keeping his grades up. He found it near impossible to save the money he earned. He couldn’t control the impulses to pocket things that weren’t his. It was all part of who he was.

He was painfully aware of it too. His brothers would never let him forget about each and everyone one of the flaws. They remind him at minimum once a day about how scummy he was, or how much of a burden he was on the household. His mind became an echo chamber, reflecting back everything he’d been told at any given point during the day. It grew more and more difficult by the day to parade around with a grin plastered on his face.

But with you, it was like all of that went out the window. You made him feel special. Loved. Wanted. He knew his brothers cared, probably, but it was different with you. He never had to worry about you saying something demeaning to him, or talking about him behind his back. With you, he could be himself. He felt like he could admit his mistakes to you without the fear of being verbally assaulted. He knew you’d help him without any backstabbing or insults. All because you loved him.

The phrase you liked to use was “We’re only human after all.” While he’d been essentially everything but a human, he saw the meaning behind it. To be human is to err. He wasn’t, but being immortal meant you were bound to make mistakes once or hundreds of times. He didn’t need to be flawless. It was alright to stumble sometimes. Being himself was enough. You would be there to help pick him back up anyways, no matter what.

You loved him for who he was. Not for what he once was, or what he could be. You saw the real Mammon, and that’s more than he could ask for. But you went beyond that. You treated the real him like gold, and was by his side when he needed it most. To you, he was perfect, and that’s all he could ever hope to be.

So when you barged into his room, demanding cuddles, or when dragged you him out shopping with you, he never once complained. He wore his imperfections and his heart on the same sleeve; the very same one you always tugged on when you wanted his affection. There was a reason he called you his treasure, after all.

[ichikaisflowers]

Solomon, staying up late doing research in Cocytus Hall without a care for how loud he’s being. He knows his apprentice will eventually get fed up and come tuck him into bed.

Solomon, messing around in the kitchen even though he’s been repeatedly told not to. If his apprentice has a problem with it, they can can just come and stop him. Perhaps physically.

Solomon, always excited to discover new things. Especially when these discoveries involve his apprentice.

Solomon, purposefully leaving his living area messy. His apprentice will come to scold him. It's a nice opportunity to show off, making the room spotless in a matter of seconds.

Solomon, for whom times goes so fast. He’s experienced it all before and surely he’ll experience the same things again. Except, when he’s with his apprentice, time flies by in an entirely new way.

[ichikaisflowers]

Mc: *laying in Levi's bathtub* I'd like to see the depths of the ocean.

Levi: *pausing his game* What's that about?

Mc: I was just thinking, the earth is 70% ocean and there sure are a lot of beautiful and breathtaking places.

Levi: That's why?

Mc: I woke up with a mermaid complex, what can I tell you?

Levi: Uuumm *doubtful* maybe I can help?

Mc: ??

Levi: You get the permission and I'll call Lotan…

Mc: *jumping to their feet* Really?!!!!

Levi: *sinking back in his chair as he blushes* Yes...

Mc: *hugging him * Thank you, thank you, thank you! You and me, adventuring, like the Kord of the shadows and Henry!!!!

Levi: Yeah… *smiling* you and me.

.

.

I need more moments of Levi and Mc bonding 🧡

.

.

[ichikaisflowers]

"How do you write such realistic dialogue-" I TALK TO MYSELF. I TALK TO MYSELF AND I PRETEND I AM THE ONE SAYING THE LINE. LIKE SANITY IS SLOWLY SLIPPING FROM BETWEEN MY FINGERS WITH EVERY MEASLY WORD THEY TYPE OUT. THAT IS HOW.

[ichikaisflowers]

“Are you done?” Alhaitham is thoroughly unamused, his arms feeling like they were going stiff from trying to keep themselves still and in place for so long…

Especially when he’s in the middle of reading and you’re too preoccupied with tying ribbons upon the thick biceps of his arms.

“Ribbons are meant to make you prettier, not grumpier.” You pout, fixing the final few loops and tightening it slightly out of spite in efforts to make him wince even the teeniest, tiniest bit—

But he doesn’t even budge.

“Is that so?” He says it without evening sparing a second of a glance towards you, eyes immediately flicking back to his book now that he had enough free reign to turn the page.

“Mhm.” You’re sighing as you hug his free arm to your chest, your head flopping onto his shoulder as you let out a sigh. “But your grumpy face made alllll the prettiness fade away and left behind all these muscles instead.”

Because you wouldn’t even allow him to twitch even the slightest bit whilst in the midst of your handiwork; that being the elegant red ribbon fastened onto his arm, tight and only uncomfortable enough to make the muscles bulge the slightest bit.

“It’s okay, Haitham,” He thinks you’re about to spout something endearingly nonsensical again, as you tuck his non-preoccupied arm around your waist and settle yourself comfortably against his chest. “Even if your muscles stole all your prettiness away, I’ll still love you~”

“I love you too.”

Always so sweet, even if he was still confused as he feels you mess with the prettily tied ribbon, a smug look on your face and a mischievous sparkle in your eye.

“If you love me lots, and lots— You’ll let me do anything, right?”

A furrow of his brow as his head finally tilts down to properly meet your gaze.

“Within reason.”

(That’s a lie. He indulges you too often to deny you anything.)

And he, still has absolutely no idea what you are trying to pull. He can feel your finger trace a line down his arm, can feel your head cuddling itself against his shoulder— And can feel you kiss around the pretty satin and even daringly biting down.

Several times, at that. Not hard enough to draw blood, not hard enough to harm him— But enough for him to feel how badly you wanted to mark him as your own as you kiss over your own bites.

And your administrations causes him to tense, causes him to subconsciously flex and tighten the muscles in his arm all too suddenly, causing the ribbon to break under the tension and eject itself off his arm, off of the bed— And somewhere into the room.

“You…” A sigh of defeat as he hears you giggle, feels you press a kiss to his jaw in an apology of sorts as he meets your playful, satisfied gaze.

It’s cute. Too cute, if he was being honest.

So he really, really just can’t help but to try to fight the blush on the tip of his ears that slowly cascaded onto his cheeks.

“Just what am I going to do with you…?”

“Hehe.”

At least you’re satisfied.

masterlist

[ichikaisflowers]

I can imagine──

─ Diluc, pastry in mouth, still in his bathrobes with his  majestically unruly morning hair as he scrambles about in the kitchen at twice the speed to finish making you your breakfast. Adelinde watches in the corner, her lips pressed into a thin line in disapproval as he knocks a few of the kitchenware from the shelves in the hurried process. Because you seemed to unexpectedly wake up a little earlier than usual, and he simply had to serve you breakfast in bed just like every other sweet mornings.

Only this time, the food seemed to be burning with him panicking profusely, and Adelinde shaking her head at the sight.

[ichikaisflowers]

Modern AU! Diluc who starts making videos on social media to promote the Angel’s Share by showing how he makes drinks- only to take a wrong turn when the comments end up being down bad for him.

This video makes me thirsty, and Im not talking about the drink.

Pls handle me like the cocktail shaker 🙏

Suddenly I have the urge to cook and clean 🛐

In case anyone asks, the drink is blue.

The drink in the video was orange, by the way- he caught on the implication of the commenters distraction very quickly. And worst of all, his brother Kaeya laughing at the whole situation in the comments, not helping at all.

“Listen to this one ‘Luc: ‘Who needs a napkin when I could be cleaning his hands’, drooling emoji.”

Your poor husband, can’t even look you in the eye anymore. His fingers had been pinching the crease between his eyebrows for a while now, a little embarrassed at the totally different response than expected from his audience. He can't believe the viewers are more interested in his forearms than drink making.

“Y-You’re not helping, my love.” He says. He's frustrated at the comments, but can't help the blush when you say something so desperate. You feel a little bad for adding fuel to the fire (secretly giggling along with Kaeya), but it’s tough when you can’t deny the truth in the comments paired with your husband’s cute reaction.

“Perhaps you just need to cover up a little.” You suggest. Yes, he thinks. His next short video has him wearing his long sleeve dress shirt and gloves, instead of rolling up the sleeves. He's got them now, Diluc thinks as he hopes for normal comments.

However, the viewers are quick to find another way to "simp" for your husband (which you had to teach him the meaning of). With his arms covered now, some comments expressed their disappointment. But most focused their attention on the reveal of skin of his neck and the slightest view of his collarbone.

"It's no use." Diluc grumbles after a long day, his head resting on your stomach, defeated. You smile, bringing your hand to comb through his fiery red hair.

"I can't disagree, you do have nice hands." You tease, referring to the previous video's comments. Diluc looks up at you from your stomach with an annoyed expression. "You're too handsome, my love."

Diluc flushes pink when he hears your compliment. You say it quite often, but he'll never get tired of it.

He feels as if there's no solution to this. Wear his wedding ring? People would probably still focus more on his fingers, or create more down bad comments on being married to him. Bring you into the video? He absolutely does not want people to comment on you. Get his father to make the drink instead? No- he remembers the time his father was in two seconds of a past video and caught mortifying comments of the word "Zaddy" being spammed along with a timestamp. It was quickly deleted. He knows the pattern.

"So what will you do, my handsome husband?" You ask, interrupting his train of thought. You calling him handsome twice was enough for him to take a deep breath before composing himself to answer you.

"I'm too tired to handle this anymore." He sighs. "Maybe I'll give this job to Kaeya, offer him free drinks."

"Bold move, but I like it." You reply.

As for the results of Kaeya's efforts, let's just say that free drinks were not enough to help combat the thirsty comments. However, the Angel's Share social media continued to rise in popularity.

[ichikaisflowers]

↳ ❝ [DARK JOKES] ¡! ❞ - TW!!!

↳ Chat: Pt.1,

characters: Aether, Albedo, Al-haitham, Ayato, Baizhu, Capitano Childe, Cyno, Dainsleif and Diluc x F!Reader