#Royal guard dainsleif

[dreamsofminnie]

“500 years... And not once did I forget you.”

{Dainsleif x Reader} Part 1

Part 2 <(Link will be open once its posted

Summary-> These centuries, these years apart. Khaenri’ah was cold but your heart felt much colder. The forgivable sin Dainsleif left had left imprinted deeply into your flesh. Then why do you feel this overbearing longing for his pressence once again? Years of therapy, self-reflection, and vividly horrid night terrors; couldn’t stop this ache when you lay eyes upon him once more.

Notes-> This took several months to write and plan </3 Originally for my bestie for her birthday but I thinks it’s too well written to not share. I hope you like this lighthearted, horror+mystery, a lil comfort, then hurt & angst—in that order <3 @wraitingyou

Taglist Open to anyone✨

Tags-> DainsleifxReader, Angst, Slow burn, We die in vain, mystery, genocide, Tighnari, Alhaitham, Reader is from Khaenri’ah, Khaenri’ah lore, reader is from Khaenri’ah, repressed memory, the cataclysm | fall of Khaenri’ah, pre-cataclysm Khaenri’ah, mutual pining, childhood friends, hurt no comfort, pain and suffering, angst and humour, slight gore, horror, body horror, decimation, the abyss, abyss order, reader is not traveler, betrayal, Rhinedottir, mentions of alternate universe, comfort, pining, fluff to angst, implied/referenced character death, genshin plot, Royal guard Dainsleif, reader was a royal guard, nostalgia, suffering, harsh language, heartbreak, no love, delusional dreams real, memory lost, regaining memories

Word Count-> 5.6k

✨

“See you later! Have a safe trip, except for you Wanderer. I hope you trip on your way out and get buried under.” Running farther away from your friend and the pest, you had really prayed for your dear friend’s safety with that gremlin of a puppet.

The inn you all were staying at was starting to get less packed with the huge rainstorm passing. Sumeru surely was a rainforest of region, much more comforting out of all the places you have traveled so far.

Faint drips of rain plopped onto the windows. Soothing yet setting for a melancholy atmosphere. Not that it’s needed, you don’t ever get sappy for anything.

“Therapy session for this month check. Controlled anger issues check. Resistance in making crude jokes.. hnn, check i guess.” I should be good for another few months…”

“I must prepare to leave early tomorrow morning.” Diving into bed is the best parts of the day. No need to waste energy on minuscule thoughts.

Except, innsomnia is a tired person's worst literal nightmare.

“Agh, the kitchen would be closed at this time of the night. Snacks are a nope. Fresh air then, stars are always mesmerizing, maybe they can hypnotize me to sleep.” Irritation laced your words, not thinking much of them.

Curse the devil for allowing innsomnia.

Slipping into a coat you walk out your room and onto the large public balcony.

The inn you were staying at was in the main Sumeru city. Twisted into the tree trunk, the rooms carved into the tree while the balcony stuck out with marble flooring. The usual white spiral ramps gave the inn exits either going up or down.

Though to you, Sumeru is one of the nicest places to enjoy scenery. Aesthetic in all ways. The stars this night didn't fall flat of this statement.

Truly

Something to admire

Or

Something forgotten

Leaning on the balcony railings the gentle breeze took some leaves for flight and your eyes followed suit.

Till they landed on a silhouette standing ten feet away looking in the opposite direction. His back was broad and he stood tall. His hair paled much more in the moonlight and clothes rustled with each growing breeze. The breeze acted like it was setting a mood as it grew a bit harsher.

A twinge in your nerves caused you to walk towards him.

Strange emotion pileing up for this unknown man.

Then it dropped.

You couldn’t believe you thought that was someone who would stir such emotions. Your head thought it was a person your heart has longed for. But a person you have no idea of. Who? Who did you think it was?

Thinking now, the breeze wouldn’t be able to set a mood even if someone were to sober it. Not that there needs to be mood setting.

“Don’t you have a home and a broke man to accommodate to.” Snarky remarks at 4am is exactly what a man needs to hear to crawl back home. Except it doen’t work on pricks.

“And what pleasantries do we have here.” He taunted and turned around his face cold as ever.

“I don’t understand your feeble scholar upgraded language. Shut the fuck up. My insomnia can’t handle pricks.” Alhaitham closed his thick study books and used it to tilt your chin up.

You were standing two steps apart. Well, one step for him since long legs and all.

“Tighnari has smelling herbs for insomnia. Did your puny brain not tell you of that prick either.” You huff and push his book straight back into his chest. “Unlike you. He is much more welcome in my bubble of friendship. Dried up cactuses don’t get a say in my life.”

Alhaitham tucks the book under his arms and turns towards the ramp going down. “Then I guess this dried up cactus will fuck off as you said.” He took five steps before slightly turning back at you.

“Insomnia herb. Get it tommorrow.”

Then he disappeared from view.

“What the fuck. He sounded like he ordered one for me already?! I’ll make sure he didn’t tomorrow morning. Hhuu. That exchange made me exhausted.” With groggy eyes you drag your feet back into the inn.

Upon entering your room once again, you hit the sack faster than you took off your bulky coat.

✨

“AAUUCK!! fak.” You bolted up. These Sumeru bed’s are truly something. Though there were sheets and blankets for comfort, the main part of the bed has grass and leaves atop the wooden base inside. They leave you pretty sore for people who have never slept on a hard surface like these.

You groaned and rubbed your eyes.

“Time to get that medicine i guess. And check out of the Inn.”

“Archons bless you Tighnari. Lifesaverr, your the bestt!!” You placed all the stuff he gave you into your travel bag securely.

“No problem. Those should be able to last you for a month or more. Just as you don’t overdo your state.” He crossed his arms in a knowing stare.

You avoid his eyes, then recalled an annoying swirling voice in your head. “When did you prepare this for me..?”

“I really hope it’s not…-”

“He put in the order.”

“HOW THE FUCK! When did that bastard get the time to message you in that short time I talked to him yesterday night?! What is he watching my every move or something. creepy.”

“Creep sent a messenger bird late at night.” Your bewildered and irritated sigh battled your disgust to fight him right now. So you settled with another direction. Slapping a piece of paper on the floor you scribbled a rushed “thank you” letter.

“Please send this to Alhaitham the creep, as my condolences to his creepy ways.” You mocked his formal speech and handed Tighnari the piece of paper with a drawing.

“What the fuck.” Tighnari stared at the drawing in dumfoundedness and a slight tinge of amusement if this was sent.

“It counts as two things, see? One could represent a middle finger then the other…well, those two spherical structures are the things he doesn't have. He doesn't have those to fight me" (balls to fight me)

“I wish I could see his reaction to this then. I guess I’ll send it to him for you.” You smiled to Tighnari in gratitude. You could always count on your sassy gay friend.

“But anyways, don’t you have to get going, it’s reaching noon soon.” Tighnari looked in the sky and back towards you.

“Ah! Of course of course… Hiking is the most terrible sport…can’t believe people do this for fun.”

Tighnari crosses his arms and moved along with his wight shift, deadpanned. “I do that for a job. Get used to it, hiker.” Pointed his thumb towards the hills.

“Sheesh. Well then I’m heading off. Thank you for the weed, bye bye.”

You could hear a loud bewildered huff merged with a laugh, while you ran off.

✨

By the time you reached the edge of Fontaine the sky grew dark. Good thing Tighnari suggested you take one of his makeshift tents. Inns won't be available on the outskirts of the city so it will take a while to hike further.

Light rain hit the tent in pitter patters. Soothing.

You take the paper package of the medicinal herbs out. “Ah. How did he tell me to make this again? Where’s the ball.” Rummaging through your bag you took out an incense ball. A similar one to what Tighnari has but yours was darker in tone and in dull blue and black.

You hung the ball from a short wire off the ground. Opened the top and sprinkled in half a handful of the herb. It closed shut and you shook it around a few times. A bit of water from your bottle was tossed in this concoction. The incense ball’s scent soon filled the tent.

“So fast and effective..” A yawn already erupted from your mouth.

Droplets of rain. Therapeutic.

✨

The tent folded back and incense packed you headed off once again.

To the heart of Fontaine.

You really were getting tired of inns. The amount of money you have was starting to lack. You pondered if you should just take some simple requests from small villages along the way. You gain money, and they gain help.

You nodded to yourself and paraded to nearby villages.

You followed a pathway toward the houses keeping your eyes aware of anyone that seemed in need of help.

A man standing a few feet away seemed distressed while he paced back and forth anxiously.

Your curiosity peeked as you came closer. “Hello sir. Are you okay? You seemed terribly stressed” You heard that Fontaine was a place of formalities so speaking the part was no problem.

The man hurriedly looked up expectantly. “Are you perhaps a mercenary?! You’ve got to help! Oh, it’s a hell of a mess!! He’s-he might die. Surely will pass away! Theft, murder, moronic fool!!”

You lower his arms from flailing around in erratic movements in his panicked stupor. “Uh. I’m not quite catching up sir..” You would have thought it would take much more just to get a request.

The middle-aged man gulped in large breaths to smooth his emotional turmoil.

“My cousin, Guillaume, has been recently been in debt as a treasure horder. He is quite skilled but truly reckless. He fought a bunch of Abyss mages that seemed to be in a middle of a ritual... Treasure of course was engraved in his skull. So when he picked up a heavy object from the scene, it made him crazed. He became hostile to every person who comes near him. Injured many. Not only that, but the occurrence enraged the abyss and he is getting hunted by the Fontaine police as well as the Abyss. From that, he started kidnapping people into his hideout and they too become crazed… I know I should trust the officials but.. their pride is too high to even adknowledge my input.”

He wasn't fidgety anymore and remained calm. This series of events seemed bothersome to you now. Too much work for you who just wanted some quick task. Intriguing of course, but eh.

“As well as the fact that the Fontaine officials were here moments ago and left as quickly. I was merely aggravated when a gentleman came by to ask questions about this incident. He hurried when I gave all my information on the location. I worry for the gentleman. I can’t help to stress. As well as…I know that Guillaume is deeply in dispair. He has this small window where he is sane and…He sent me a few letters..”

You took some time to ponder all the information. The abyss is after the man who stole something, the thing has changed him and everyone around it. They seem like they became, monstrous—ugh!

Your hand was deeply clenched at your scalp head throbbing so loudly and throat dry.

“Dear me! Are you alright!! Apologizes to the hefty load!” He hurriedly sat you down on a short stone fence and fetched water from the well a few feet away.

The sounds of splashing water seemed much more distant than 5 feet away.

‘It's so dizzy..’

Red fizzled and flashed in your head. Red flags that encouraged you forward. A terrible way to go but who knows. Maybe, just maybe, solving this can make those nightmares that lead to your insomnia go away. Bloodshed. The cause of why you see bloodshed in these nightmares has always bothered you so bad.

“…iel, Iel! Hello?! Are you well?! Drink drink, water” You release your tight hold on your head to take the large cup. The water was cool and slide down as a semblance of relief. The reflection mirrored your pained expression, your frowned. It was not a good look for you. But cracking jokes at this time, wasen’t wise.

“..thank you for the water. I don’t know what happened just now. But. I will help with this, for the gentleman and for your cousin. If he still can be helped…” The man relaxed at your conscious state and nodded.

“I will provide you more details.”

✨

Rest was not an option in this tight knit issue. Anything could formulate in the span of a whole minute. And your dread never faded the whole time you thought about this.

Let’s see, the man said Guillaume would take the villagers at midnight when the stars are high up. In the daytime, he isn’t crazed and sits in solitude in despair. He is responsible for dozens of people he has dragged.

You feel sickened. The letters you got to read by Guillaume were heart-wrenching and explicit. However, it could only be judged on the rule of the scene.

Some crucial details in the letters were his descriptions.

“The crystal shines so luminescently venomous.

It burns as well as attracts……

I can’t take it.

Please please. Hel 𝓹

Your leetrs that say you will save me from this hell is false!

The feel of gasoline ignites my fingers to my core.

Though I feel it welcome me……

The ghastly scars leave residue atop my skin. Horrific.

Black.

All ash

My vision has been narrowly obscured.

How I am able to pick up a pen is beyond my imagination.

Is my brain really intact?

Hah.

I think someone is comi. g into the room. Annoyance……

I think— I shut up their cries……

Do I-know them?

Haha…she is trying to plead with me……

She remi nd.s me of m. y wife..

FUCK. WHA T HAVE I DO Ne. SHE- *incomprehensible scribbles and a slight dried dampness*

The human has given in to the crystal how astounding……

Haha. Her screams have filled the room……

The stars are approaching. It will be time again…….

How thrilling……

A feast is due……

Ps. [___] power lets us fly too. Did you really think I used a carrier pigeon…….

Stars stay alight in farewell…….delight……”

The letter gave you the shivers. This was the third one that was sent. And out of all the three letters, this contained the most insanity inducing mentality. You highly doubt Guillaume will live a normal life after this concludes. Poor guy. Debt changes a person.

On the contrary, this bloodbath piques my interest. It’s not every day you get to investigate manslaughter. You feel like detective Heizou. No wonder he likes to run off towards danger.

Information about the gentleman assisting was only brief since I was to hurry to the site before the next day. “He was tall and built more alike a soldier. He also wore blue and black clothing. He never gave me his name…” Your thoughts had fiddled when he had told you, but a numbing pain seized your brain functions into hyper-focus.

You rub your temples, eyes focused on the route he marked on your map. Leg day has really been your everyday. Super exhausting.

Blood and skin drew ice as your breath hitched. Strangled cry, sharp inhale of breath, hands clawing at your neck and chin. Despair induced your vein. The scream intensified something inside you. Airways in the throat barely letting a breath passby. Water pools your eyes in distraught and pain. Glued to your spot, the ominous descending cave gurgled back shouts and thumps. Muttered curses escape as you try and hold your ground. Saliva formed in the clogged airways and raining down by your feet. This all felt like you were strangled, punched, and overall scoured all over, in charcoal.

If you had regretted anything in your sad life, it was this. Taking this commission. Talking to the distressed man. Stranger danger real. Regret for ever stopping by that village…and the regrets have only started.

The next thing you saw was pitch black.

************************

The weather these past few days has been horrid. Snow storm after the other piled the streets with 1 foot of snow. The roads and streets are accessible to your relief. How else would you be able to see your sweet boyfriend.

The chime of a café door rang as you entered hurriedly from the biting winds outdoors. You cupped your hands together and attempted to heat them up with your breath. The shop was quiet besides the old love songs and occasional emo rock songs playing from the speakers. Owl city was one of his most liked songs.

You perched on the counter ringing the small bell near the card scanner.

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding—

“Okay. Okay, I hear every one of your calls Y/n.” He came out from the break room and leaned in from across the counter where you sat.

You smiled at Dainsleif. “How are you Dain! Was shoveling the snow all by your lonesome hard this morning?~”

He huffed. “It was fine. But next time you're accompanying me.” He grabbed your waist and dragged you over to the worker's side of the counter, swinging your legs around as well so you're still sitting.

“It’s still midday so let me make you a cup of something warm.”

You watch him, your elbow on your knee and chin in your palm. Dainsleif manages this café and is the best drink maker there is. He unintentionally shows off some skills when making them, that’s why many girls come here for the show. Not that he pays attention to.

“Kaeya has told me to indulge you in more romantic lines. Would you like to be humored?” Dainsleif brought the mixing bottle up to the side of his head and shook it thoroughly as a bartender would, while glancing up at you.

When he does that every time it makes you swoon on the inside just a little.

“Kaeya is a terrible influence. Which makes life more bearable.” You shoot Dain a small finger heart in which he stops for a while in confusion but recovers a few seconds after.

“What does it feel like to be the most gorgeous person in this room?” Dainsleif plops toppings into the drink, adding more of your favorite ones.

“Bleh, I’m the ONLY person in this whole building, try again.” You kick your legs a bit, secretly enjoying these terribly cheesy pickup lines he always stores for you.

“Hm. If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put U and I together.” He achieved a faint breathy laugh from you, you argued that it was just because it was so so old and overused.

He snapped the lid onto the steaming cup and walked back to you handing it over.

He hesitated on his next line as you blew on the liquid through the hole and took a nice warm sip. It melted your insides in warmth.

So did the pickup line.

“Just wondering if your lips taste as good as they look.” Dainsleif’s eyes were awkwardly averted, wondering how you would react.

But you sat there, mouth agape, ears flushed from the pickup line. “Didn’t expect that one.” You mumbled into the cup, eyes unfocused staring at your favorite toppings floating to the top.

Dain carefully placed both hands on either side of your thighs. “...it wasn’t answered.”

Your eyes tilt up from the drink sitting on your lips. “It wasn’t a question.”

Your rebuttal made Dain purse his lip, which you intensely stared at. “Then….may I kiss you?”

Your inner thoughts were racing, the reflex of wanting to push him away was itching, but the thought of a kiss sent you into a spiral. It’s not like you haven't kissed before, you have…a rare few times.

“Aha ha, ah uhm. Get out of that ugly sweater first then we’ll talk.” You jab one finger into his chest only pushing him away by a few inches.

Both of you are terrible at this romance thing that's why it's so awkward to initiate. You back out of close contact, and only stick to flirting, and he spews pickup lines he learns from Kaeya because he’s confused about love but also respects your boundaries. All your friends suffer seeing this awkward couple at group gatherings.

“What’s wrong with my sweater?” He pulls the sweater and looks down. He wore a black shirt and over that was a black-green-brown button-up sweater, adorned with pictures of owls, bears, acorns, trees, and bushes. Very nature-y for your star-loving boyfriend. But honestly, it looked like it was made for a grandpa on a chilly evening stroll.

“The nature documentary show would like its background back.” You wheeze at Dain’s blank-faced reaction, so done with you, but he’s never over you.

Dain gently sneaked a kiss on your cheek to satisfy himself with your stunned silence cutting off any jokes lining up your defense.

He backed away from the counter and took his jacket off a hook ready to depart with you. “Our friends are waiting. Let’s head out now, I bet they are frozen solid outside since I was supposed to supply the hot drinks.”

That caused you to snap back as you cackled at Hutao, Yelan, Heizou, Tighnari, and the rest, chilled to the bone buried in the deep snow. You latch onto Dainsleif’s sleeve slipping your hand into his warm pocket and holding his curled-up thumb and pointer finger. “Let’s go wifey! Onwards to the ice sculptures!!”

*********************

The darkness had enraptured you at every turn, you didn’t know if you were sitting down, laying down or even face down digging into the dark ground. Your senses were so hazed and really failed you more than normal today.

“I always knew this is what hell was like. Dark cold and numbing on my ass.” Your voice was meek and raspy but they held the same sharp tongue you brought.

A breath hitched when you spoke. So you weren’t alone, in relief your body sunk from its tension. “This place would most likely be a hell. But it's all been cleaned up now..” The voice gave you a tingling feel, almost familiar if not for your impaired and dazed hearing.

“Whoes,” Your words have slurred with the throbbing of your head, a light pressure stroking it, not sure if it was your hand or the other persons. “I didn’t want you to see this mess. Also because that thing on your head is a protection of sorts.” Your mind was too out of it to immediately process his information.

“Was I drugged and potato sacked. I still can’t feel my ass.” The voice had an airy chuckle which echoed through the space. It must be a cave, orrr the internal abyss of the hell he called.

“Well that’s because you fell on a large sharp rock when I first saw you near the cave entrance.” Ah. made sense. “Once your senses are back and you start wiggling around, will I free you.” That made you suspect you were tied down somewhere. You just hoped it was spacious and clean enough so you could indeed roll around.

A sound of shuffled occured after a while and the footsteps faded, assuming that the person beside you had left the area. Once he came back it would be war against his, oddly pretty voiced most likely pretty man. How dare he potato sack you.

Fingers twitching to life, you didn’t know how many hours were spent on body recovery. The crackles of your bones that were stiff the entire night bounced off the walls. You could now feel that your body was in fact laying down, fabric carpeting you.

Footfalls came steadily back in your direction. “I knew you’d come back to me mysterious man” The tugging of the fabric around your head lead to pangs of sense recovery. You hear much more sensitively after being blocked for so long. The fabric finally coming around to uncover your eyes. Vision still impaired as the lights and darkness desperately tried to balance out. The haze in your eyes remains an issue even when the smell of the fabric was soothing.

A blur of a hand reached out to you, which you took graciously, limp as they were. You were hauled up to him as he held you close to steady your shaky body. “Get used to walking. Then we will scour the rest of the cave.” his voice sent a chill covering your spine, it was very nice.

Head limp on his chest you could see his black and blue fitted outfit. Even knowing you were short, his shoulder was still higher than your whole height. Plus the glimpse of a sword by their belt drew you to a hazy conclusion. He was the gentleman you were looking for.

However, a sense of dread and conflicting longing rang off in your ears from never ever wanting to look up into his face. So you did just that.

Your head stayed pressed against his chest as you figured out how to move the limbs helplessly called legs. Every time your legs wobbled too much, he would grab onto your waist to steady you. And every time you clutch onto his shirt too tightly in nerves rattling, he would pat your shoulder and let you put your feet on his so he could walk for you. Hours have passed and you got the hang of your body, with a little shake you managed to walk from one wall to the other.

“Pardon me for asking but, why am I so disabled like this in the first place?” Your voice was quiet but steady, unlike the time you talked when just waking up to potential hell.

“And in all fairness, you could’ve left me to disintegrate and die. Would’ve been better. Instead of nursing me.” You forcefully mumbled that out in a murmur. And you ready didn’t have to look up at the man’s face to feel the intensity of a sharp glare for a reason unknown.

Pacing in large circles and looking down to watch your feet, the man stood at the doorway. “It was close the time to midnight. The smell radiating off the cave entrance bewitched you and destroyed you. It closed off your nerves. I had prepared something beforehand to help elevate this phenomenon, which was the fabric I wrapped around you, acting as a cocoon. I then brought you inside, took care of the dangers lurking, and...secured the premise.” He failed to mask his hesitation on hidden information, due to what he knows about this situation than you do. You slowly nodded as you stare at his shoes, intimidatingly facing you.

“This cave is enormously large. Would you like to venture through the tunnels. If your legs are up for it. I won’t leave your side, case you fall and never get back up.” His words couldn’t help but put a sting in your heart while chasing it faster. And you who inadvertently let his attempted joke pass your head.

You nodded again which you could only do with a swift tilt up to not disclose your obvious hiding.

The gentleman luckily leads you, tailing behind clutching a corner of his cloak. It gave you more leverage to see more since he covered his own face from you since he’s tall.

As you both moved around the dirt-painted halls, the tunneling seemed handmade instead of natural. Claw marks etched into the surfaces, the ones on the wall grow even deeper and bigger the more your trembling legs take you down the hall. Some openings that led to other rooms littered the narrow tunnels, they were all empty and vacant. The only signs of life once in the rooms were the many elemental traces and or scratches from either weapons or nails. A dark murkiness painted the walls and floor—not wanting to ever know what it really is—but the stench that followed was hazy and metallic. The winding tunnels seemed endless. No wonder people came to be insane down here.

As your thoughts subsided, so did the unending tunnel.

A much broader room greeted you ahead. It must have been Guillaume’s place of residence. Half the room was bookshelves, scrawled-up papers, and scrunched-up scrolls, a large desk faced the other side, ink spilled from the table to the opposing wall. The vacant space looked more than inhabited, save for the etchings on every inch of the wall, ceiling, and floor surfaces. Many drew blanks, symbols, and incomprehensible languages. Stars were the most repeated shape. You didn’t know when you had let go of the man’s cloak, since you were too drawn to the walls of Guillaume’s self-asylum.

Your digits brushed some of the symbols, they curved neatly and were well-written. And familiar. One symbol you could read was—Cataclysm.

The jolt of electricity from touching those words provoked you to snap your neck to…

The man who stood in the same spot you left him before you let go. Him who watched you mindlessly draw your finger against the carved wall trying to work your brain. Him who—walking through the hallway—peered behind when you weren’t noticing, gauging your reactions. Him who, had to do a double take when he first saw you on the outskirts of the cave.

Dainsleif who,

missed you dearly.

Who always speculated if you were alive or not.

. . .

Traveling to Fontaine was genuinely; the WORST choice you could have ever done.

“Fuck.”

.

.

.

You really didn’t want to do this ontop of every other terrible occurrence this night. Your brain couldn't, hence the deep crease in your brow following your pained expression too well. All your senses weakened from your mentally solely. You knew him. You recognize him. You liked him.

.

But you hate him.

Many years of your continuous mental and physical health checkups, insomnia plaguing your attempted sleep, unresolved hatred. All to shield yourself against this man. To conceal the centuries with him.

Now all in vain. Crumbling beneath your feet at this very dreaded moment. The way your vision blurs, the shakiness in your foothold, your clammy hands, throat strained, all in response to a simple unimaginable presence.

The one presence your heart missed dearly. Your legs told you to run. To a remote place. But he blocked that path. As he did before, once again stuck in this in-between.

One step. Another.

A predicament you had placed yourself in. The wall that soothed your back has never felt as cold as it did now. How you would rather it envelop you into those eerie symbols. Engraving you to the mystery of the universe.

He was one step away now. Galaxy eyes bore into your evading ones. “Y/n…”

You refused his beckoning. But that wouldn’t make him leave. It wouldn’t get him to disappear from your existence. It only hurts more now that you know he is alive and healthy.

“umh. If we’re done here, then I have things to do somewhere else.” You burned your eyes anywhere else but near him. He couldn’t escape the slight view you had of him at the corners of your sight. His fingers twitched as if he wanted to reach out to you, to find that once solace you gave him.

“Avoiding me won’t get you anywhere. I thought you weren’t one for not returning favors. I saved your life. Don’t you owe me something?” You scoff. It repulsed you on how observant he is of you.

“I had a dream with you in it. It was in a different world where we were… Happy together. I wish I was in that world currently instead of this shit.” The words you spewed were venomous, if not for the slightly fond tone you laced in. Dainsleif’s face contorted, he was now glad you refused his eye contact, for his eyes downturned in remorse.

Remorse; that's all he ever felt towards you for many centuries when you were apart. And the times when remorse wasn't present, he was deeply coated in affection for you. Those, however, were in the early childhood days. Too far gone in the past.

“I’m sorry I can’t live up to those expectations.”

“But now you have to repay me. …And forgive me.” His firm but gentle hold on your chin forced eye contact. His blue eyes shone with the diamond in them; just like how your eyes sparked with that diamond. His words however gave you the will to slap his hand away.

“You think apologies will reconnect us? After all those fucking centuries? Those actions were effectuated by you!! You festered this effect upon me! How could I ever, ever!! forgive your inapt causes?! You’re VILE!” You ended up hitting his chest and shoving him away which sent him 6 feet apart. He took every physical contact from you, the sting was apparent and long-lasting.

Your unquenched fury bubbled to the brim. And you now approached the silent man. Your hand was now tight against his collar, the obvious trembling of his dismantled your voice in cracks. “What was the reason?! You should’ve kept me in that sword. After you fucking decimated everyone with me. Why the fuck would I ever want to live after all that. Everything and everybody was a mess. You the most.” The intensity of your diamond-shaped eyes never faltered.

You stepped back as the grip on his collar loosened. “Khaenri’ah’s downfall… Couldn’t even be saved by any form of guard..” Your mumble cast your gaze away from his unnerving eyes.

Silence blanketed the room, no thoughts were presented or conjured. You both just allowed the atmosphere to sink in, head empty beside the presence that would have normally set your heart racing. Not this time; nor ever.

“It’s past midnight right? I’ll take a nearby room to rest in.” You didn’t require his answer, so you left just as quickly. Leaving behind the downcasted remorse filled Dainsleif stiff in his spot where you left him.

*********************

Author notes-> Reshare’s and likes appreciated <3 I hope it was heart wrenching—so i can collect tears to my jar >:D

[hidden-akasha]

This work is a part of our Valentine collection ♥️

Summary:

Although Dainsleif has opposed the Abyss for five hundred long years, all of those hard feelings seem to vanish and be replaced the moment he lays eyes upon Lumine

Words: 4,379

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

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[dawndelion-winery]

Dumb Ways To Fall in Love

The silly things they do to impress you when they're in love

Ft. Childe, Diluc, Kaeya, Dainsleif, Scaramouche

Childe:

He's always liked to think he was charming in his own odd way

And he does fully expect said "charm" to work on you

Which is why he's pretty confused as to why you don't seem smitten by his obvious attention

He cooks for you a lot! But they're normally,,,,unique dishes with whatever he fishes himself

Because he wants to impress you with how he can whip something up from scratch

Which doesn't really work out well because...well we've seen his signature dish

More often than not, the dessert is far more appetising

Please use that as motivation to finish the main course, he tried his best and it would hurt his feelings if you didn't even try it

Diluc:

He knows him being a rich, gentlemanly bachelor is a very big seeking point of his to most of the Mondstadt population

Which is why he not so subtly tries to subtly flex his wealth in front of you

Now he's already normally generous, which is what makes it so jarring when he does it with you

Because mentally he's just "Yeah, I'd do this for the average Mondstadt citizen, which means I have to one up that now"

But of course who's to determine what "one" is?

Hence the huge leap of obvious favouritism

Not even a hint of hesitation when you seem to want something from him

The number of times he's just agreed to whatever favour you've asked for before you've even specified the favour should give you an idea of what he's like

Kaeya:

He once heard you mention how you feel he's too cool and unapproachable for you, as nice as he was

So he makes an effort to slip up in front of you

Internally he thinks you'll appreciate it - "Notice me being a dumbass and find it endearing please"

Surely that should change your mind about him, right?

Until he overhears another of your opinions on him and how you (affectionately) called him a goofball playing a suave captain

Which he couldn't quite refute but he wasn't entirely sure if that was positive

Leading him back to his initial bravado, once again creating that rift because the dork you thought you noticed had disappeared

And then he panics again because you seem distant again

And the cycle repeats itself until he gets some sense slapped into him or you take a chance and ask him out

Dainsleif:

It wasn't easy being captain of the royal guard

But it was somehow easier than baring his heart to you

Brings you fruits and flowers as he travels with you

Definitely the type to silently bring you cut and peeled fruit as a nonverbal "I love you"

He's gotten really good at food presentation because of it, and adds little edible flowers as decoration

If you ever decide to take a break and read, he offers to feed you the fruit

Honestly at some point it's more like you would naturally assume y'all are dating?? But he doesn't really get the memo and keeps wondering why you never bring it up like is he not being obvious enough for you?

In pain whenever you snuggle up to him assuming you think it's platonic but accepts it nonetheless because it's nice to be able to hold you and be held

Scaramouche:

All people do is disappoint so why put in the effort to woo you?

So he says as he proceeds to try impress you anyway

Subtly flexes quite literally every strength he has in front of you

For no apparent reason he'll cook over a campfire he started out of nowhere just because

Yeah, y'know, just to show he can work with what he's got, he's very resourceful

You're not entirely sure what his intentions are though, since he's more of proving his usefulness instead of showing you he cares about you

And you'd probably only pick up on that if you knew his past

He does pick up on what makes you feel loved and enjoy his presence over time though, so give him a little adjustment time to work out how to best express himself to you

Taglist[send an ask to be added/removed]: @myluvkeiji @pluvioseprince @aqui-soba @favonius-captain @tiredsleep @raincxtter @gensimping-for-all @irethepotato @almond-adeptus @mx-kamisato @yuzuricebun @chaosinanutshell @heizours @haliyamori @callmemeelah @sadlonelybagel @plinkuro @thevictoriousmoon @mastering-procrastinating @lovers-on-the-eiffel @cxlrosii @miss-fantazmagoria @lychme @kokomist @lemonswriting @eowinthetraveller @ajaxstar @boundedbyfate

[versadies]

imagine royal!au in genshin but with ruler x knight trope 😍😍😍 (cw // minor character deaths, violence, threats, and grammar errors)

you were recently crowned as the ruler of your land after the tragic deaths of your parents. altho you have personally dealt with those foolish nobles who dared to kill your parents with poison by executing them, you still couldn’t help but be extra cautious of your surroundings and the people around you.

you refuse to eat unless the food is served by your most trustworthy butler, who made sure it wasn’t poison. you refuse to take strolls around the garden you dearly loved without being escorted with the captain of the imperial knights. you refuse to attend balls that’s thrown for your coronation in fear of the worst case scenarios happening to you. you even refuse to sleep without checking if your windows are locked and guarded for the nth time.

it was very very severe, and your royal advisor couldn’t take it anymore after overhearing a conversation between your servants about how you’re always so frightened whenever they try to wake you up.

so your royal advisor as well as the royal court together advised you to have a personal knight who could protect you from getting killed by only the gods above know who.

you agreed of course, but on one condition.

“instead of just one knight, i would like to have a group of them.” you said without hesitation.

the people from the royal court was shocked. were you really that cautious to want not just one knight, but more?

your royal advisor on the other hand, remained as calm as they can be. if it is what you want, then you shall have it.

“we will agree to your condition, your imperial highness,” they said with a bow. “we will provide you the best of the best.”

and so, you got yourself a group of warriors — the strongest ones from all over the kingdom, rather — who all have named themselves your knights and sworn with their lives to protect you from harm and danger for as long as they live.

not one person outside of your palace knew of your knights, they only knew that you have a personal knight who’s by your side.

you’ve learned their names as soon as you’ve met them: zhongli, beidou, alhaitham, kaeya, itto, dainsleif, and kazuha.

they’re a weird bunch, you’ll admit, but they’re no doubt the best of the best as what your royal advisor promised with you.

zhongli, who is known for being a member of liyue’s most powerful noble family, is the leader among your knights and the one who everyone outside the palace knew as your personal knight. not only does he have grace and politeness, but also has the experience of many wars, capable of protecting you from even a mighty dragon.

he’s the same knight who makes you tea that helps you sleep every night, telling you stories that seems too real to be fictional as you drink. sometimes, you couldn’t help but notice a sense of nostalgia from him whenever he tells you said stories.

you didn’t want to admit it, but he looks familiar as well, as if you’ve met him before despite the fact that you never once saw him whenever his family comes to your palace.

beidou, who is known for being the strongest pirate in the seven seas and is retired, is the knight who’s always by your side for when you travel around the seas. not only does she have a strong liver for being able to drink so many alcohol, but also has the experience of a pirate who had slaughtered the most feared sea monster, capable of protecting you from those who dare to try and infiltrate your ship.

she’s the same knight who takes you out from your palace and explore around town to help you feel relax from your duties as a ruler, letting you try out street foods and even made you try fishing for the first time by the docks. she sometimes tells you of what it was like back when she had her crew, her eyes full of longing.

you wondered what happened that led her to retire and have her crew split up.

alhaitham, who is known for being the most skilled and intelligent scholar in the infamous land of sumeru, is the brains of your group. not only does he have the intelligence of the grand sage of sumeru, but also has the experience of fighting off many fighters in a swordsman competition and won from it, capable of protecting you from those who dare to point their swords towards you.

he’s the same knight whose as sarcastic as he can be but helps you with your paperwork if you need extra help and is quite an amazing tactician as well whenever you need it. you didn’t mind his attitude and rationality, not when you sometimes find yourself waking up with a blanket on top of you every time you accidentally fall asleep from dealing with documents as alhaitham reads a book on one of the seats of your office.

you wondered how your royal advisor managed to persuade someone like him to be your knight.

kaeya, who is known for being the brother of the current grand duke of mondstadt, is the stealthiest of the group. not only does he have the best connections to get information about nobles who plot to kill you, but also has the access to come to every events you’re invited in as a member of the ragnvindr family and not as your knight, capable of protecting you from assassins and nobles alike in royal balls and events.

he’s the same knight who’s your drinking buddy besides beidou, listening to your rants and woes if you drank more than you can handle. he never tells you what you said to him, only commenting that “you’re one heavy sack of potato to carry whenever it’s time for you to head back to bed”. honestly, you’re kinda glad he never tells you about your drunk shenanigans.

though, sometimes you notice a flash of regret and sadness in his eyes whenever his brother is mentioned around him, staying more silent than usual.

itto, who is known for being…. itto, is the tank of the group. not only does he have the most intimidating image with marks all over his body and with the horns on his head, but also has super strength that could carry many heavy things such as a carriage, capable of carrying you and running away from the scene of a fight while protecting you.

he’s the same knight who gives you jokes and cheers you up whenever you feel drained and sad. he’s honestly quite funny and endearing, even more so when you play card games with him when you feel bored. you could never forget the time when he rapped for you as a birthday present, not minding how all the other knights look as if they’re dying inside at the sight.

you just wish that everyone sees him the same way you do and not see him as the scariest oni in the land who is rumored to have committed many unforgivable acts despite the fact that it is already proven that he didn’t do such things.

dainsleif, who is known for being the descendant of the most powerful captain of the knights back when your ancestors ruled over the land, is a mysterious one. not only does he have the training to be just as strong as his ancestor, but also has the experience of a traveler who has come far and wide around the world, capable of protecting you from those who came to kill you should you travel around other lands to meet up with other rulers.

he’s the same knight who tells you his travels and what it was like to be in such places whenever you ask him to, mentioning people he’d met and places that he could never forget. he’s quite hard to read, you’ll admit.

it’s safe to say you’re curious about this particular blonde traveler he mentioned sometimes, especially when he completely stops explaining for a moment.

kazuha, who is known for being the last living member of his family who died, is different from everyone among the group for his heightened senses. not only does he have the most ancient and powerful sword crafted by his family years ago, but also has the experience of standing against a ruler who uses magic with just his sword, capable of protecting you from those who try to hurt you with magic.

with his senses, he tells you if it’s going to rain today, if the food has poison in it, if a person is dangerous or not, and so on and so forth. however, due to his senses, he prefers to not stay in one place, leading you to make him explore around the palace everyday if he wishes to and see if he finds anything dangerous around your home.

he’s the same knight who escorts you whenever you take a stroll around the palace grounds, being as gentle and kind as he can be as he listens to you intently. sometimes he’d recite haikus he made just for you as you feel at peace with what you have with your knight.

seeing how he looks peaceful and contented with himself, you never questioned him about why he decided to become a wanderer after everything he went through.

overall, you’ve come to know your knights and grew close, finally trusting them as much as you trust your butler and royal advisor after seeing how dedicated and loyal they are to you.

you even find yourself catching feelings with one of them, but who?

bonus

kamisato ayato is one of the three rulers of inazuma, who was supposed to be your husband from an arranged marriage that your families agreed on. however, after your parents’ death as well as his, the both of you mutually agreed to not get married for the sake of prioritizing your people first (and also because marriage is not something you’re interested in).

ningguang is one of the nobles who you trust most and the one you talk to often in events. she’s quite intelligent and is never afraid to tell her opinions. she hides half of her face with her fan whenever you say something flattering about her success as she praises you for your hardwork in return, something that happens once in a lifetime for most people. you admit that she’s also one amazing dancer as well after dancing with her whenever you have the chance to (though, you feel a bit flustered from the fact that you almost step on her shoes sometimes).

diluc ragnvindr is also considered as one of the nobles who you trust most. when your parents died, he was the one who reached out to you first and helped you with your troubles before your early coronation. not only is he your penpal, but also the person who can understand your pain since he too lost his father and was forced to take the title of the grand duke too early. (he’s also the one who defended you when nobles gathered around to discuss about the future of the land after your parents’ death, angry that those pesky nobles have the audacity to say you’re not worthy to rule)

capitano is the current captain of the knights who was by your side when you were super cautious and scared of your surroundings after your coronation. he comforted you and reassured you that no matter what, you’re very well protected with him and with all of the knights of the palace. despite his cold demeanor, you have always appreciated his efforts in protecting you and easing your worries, never hesitating to thank him for what he has done. (you didn’t know the disappointment he felt underneath his mask when he knew he no longer has to be by your side anymore, but he was happy that you now feel even more safe with the new knights).

tartaglia is one of the princes from snezhnaya and is never afraid to tell you his undying love for you with every chance he gets ever since you won from your duel with him. you truly admire his unwavering determination for your hand in marriage, and you honestly didn’t have the heart to harshly tell him to stop. instead, you simply just say no whenever he asks you to marry him. besides, he knows his boundaries unlike some of your suitors and even killed one of the strongest beasts of snezhnaya on his own for your birthday gift: a long fur-coat that matches you very well. (if only you knew how he keeps asking your fellow knights to spar with him after finding out that you caught feelings for one of them, wanting to know just how strong the person who won your heart is).

scaramouche was once a person you’ve known since childhood. he was your dear companion who’s by your side until the announcement of your engagement with kamisato ayato. when you came to visit him after the announcement, it was as if he disappeared without a trace. you didn’t know what you did wrong, did you say something that made him run away? it was something you couldn’t find an answer to, and you silently gave him a farewell before going back to your palace defeatedly. it was only a few months after having your new knights when you suddenly have a visitor by your window, he looks far different than the scaramouche you knew back then. he looks more… evil and—

just as you were about to say something to him, you find yourself falling to the ground before everything went black, the last thing you heard was the sound of evil laughter.

[heaven-s-black-box]

Notes- They Teach you to Dance Furina & More

Return to File

Recovery date: April 3rd, 2024

Description: Your partner teaches you to dance. Includes Furina, Ganyu, Dainsleif, Zhongli, Traveler Twins

Notes: N/a

Back to directory

Furina

The reason for these headcanons, one of her teapot voice lines is her offering to teach you how to dance

She definitely forgets to instruct you at first, she just starts leading you in a dance as she hums a tune

If you have some dancing experience, that probably won’t be a problem, if you’ve never danced before…

She definitely takes it slow, she’s just been dancing for so long she forgets to explain

She will step on your toes just as much as you’ll step on her’s because of this

She will twirl you to teach you how to twirl her, once you’ve got that down she won’t twirl you anymore

She will also throw herself into a dip, if you let her drop she will pout and sulk

The best fix for this is to pull her up and into another waltz with a twirl

Once you’ve learned how to dance she expects you to lead, even if she initiates

Loves big dances, both in number of attendees and flourish of the dance

Overall 8/10 teacher and 10/10 dance partner

Ganyu

She can definitely dance, Cloud Retainer taught her, she just doesn’t dance often

Teaching wise I think she’s a great instructor, at least verbally

In the beginning she gets so fixed on explaining and watching your movements that she trips up

Please reassure her that you’re following okay, she’s not used to being in charge

You’ll definitely learn faster with her then Furina because in teaching you she’s also reminding herself

She won’t teach you anything fancy, but if you go and learn a twirl or dip she will break

You will have to initiate any dances, unless someone has told her she should dance in which case she will ask you

Also preference dancing alone and not in a large group, sweep her away to a balcony during a Qixing event and you can dance all you’d like

Preferes swaying to music over an actual waltz

In the end, 8/10 instructor and 10/10 dance partner

Dainsleif

He can dance, he was the captain of a royal guard, but it has been awhile

Seriously, you’re basically learning together

You also definitely have to ask him to teach you, Furina and Ganyu might offer but Dain won’t

Once you start dancing muscle memory kicks in and it sort of ends up like Furina teaching you

He can’t really explain what to do, so he kind of just drags you with him

By the time he figures out how to explain you’re halfway to figuring it out yourself

If he’s teaching you to dance before the fall of Khaenri’ah disregard everything before this, he is the best teacher on this list

Prior to the fall he will always initiate dances, if he’s attending and event and not on duty, after the fall you’ll have to initiate and he’ll be a bit reluctant

Chances are you aren’t at a formal event, so he sees no point in dancing, so if you want to dance you have to ask

Before the fall it is a point of honor to ask you to dance

Will always lead, another silly point of honor

Before the fall, 10s across the board, after the fall, 4/10 teacher and 9/10 dance partner

Zhongli

Can dance, not very fluidly and it is definitely a rusty skill now but he can

During his prime he was a good teacher, just a little stiff

Now he’s kind of like Dain, the muscle memory is there but very rusty

He will, however, ask Madam Ping to re-teach him how to dance so that he can teach you

So, you might step on each other's feet a few times but he will actually teach you

He prefers to initiate dances, like Dain it’s a point of pride, but he’s always happy when you do too

Will lead or follow your lead

Hu Tao as, on occasion, meddled to get him to ask you to dance

Like Ganyu he doesn’t really like big sweeping dances, he prefers being able to sway together to the music

Definitely a 9/10 teacher and partner only because he’s a bit stiff

Traveler

They can dance, definitely, they’re usually eachother’s partner

They’re also definitely smooth, you cannot convince me they would start stomping wars when they stepped on eachother’s feet

Both twins will ask you to dance, and if they ask you to dance they’ll lead– unless you ask to lead

I mentioned the twins are usually each others partner, it worked the same way between them– Lumine has been smacked in the face by Aether’s braid while twirling him and they’ve both definitely dropped each other in a dip on purpose

The twins don’t mind waltzes that travel, but they aren’t big fans of partner swapping dances

Aether likes dipping his partner, and Lumine likes twirling hers, but they both like being twirled

Sharing a rating, the twins are 10/10 teachers and 10/10 partners

[jinkicake]

A Sense of Duty

Dainsleif, Kaeya, Xiao x Reader

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

Dainsleif spoilers (from 2.6 chasm archon quest)

WC - 1,651

~~~

Dainsleif

“You don’t have to follow me any longer,” Your soft-spoken words sound crueler than any sword Dainsleif has met in his long life. From where you stand a few meters away from him, the guard is able to pick up on how your form has begun to shake. “your duties have been completed many years ago.”

There’s a shakey exhale that releases from your lips, you’re unable to look the royal guard in the eyes as you finally let him go.

It’s taken you over a hundred years to convince yourself of this, deeming anything else unfair to the knight. Your shared home is gone, up into flames, and crumbled into ruins. He has no duty left to you anymore, no reason to be protecting you with his life. Recently, you’ve come to the realization that he must be still fiercely guarding you out of his own sense of duty. 

You know deep down that you have to relieve him of this, this guilt that still holds him hostage. 

Just as you were punished with immortality, so was he. His dedication to the crowned heir has not faltered once throughout the years. You simply cannot comprehend it. After lifetimes of wandering Teyvat together and now finally picking a place to rest, you can’t see why his assistance would be required any longer. 

“I relieve you of your royal duties. I no longer have a home to return to or a nation to rule, I’m as average as an immortal gets.” When you finally look at him, you can’t help the bitter expression that takes up your face. Your eyebrows furrow slightly as you harshly bite the inside of your cheek. 

Dainsleif’s lack of response only serves to make you more anxious. The pleasure that comes from grinding your teeth into your soft skin is painful but, dulls the existential ache in your soul. 

The royal guard stands from where he was seated at your round table before making his way over to you. You pretend to ignore his footsteps and act indifferent as he closes in on you. 

The outside world now seems so much farther away. 

“Your highness,” Dainsleif begins, and you fully expect him to give you one last bow and be on his way out. Instead, he places his large hands on either side of your waist as he tightly grips the wooden sill of your window. “regardless of your title, I will always protect you.” 

The low vibrations of his raspy voice make goosebumps appear on your skin, and you nearly miss his claims of utter devotion because of it. 

“Why?” You whisper, timidly letting your eyes fall to the floor. Dainsleif softly cups your cheek with his gloved hand, the warmth is something you immediately lean into. As his thumb strokes over your cheeks then underneath your eyes and against your lashes, you pitifully whimper. He quietly murmurs your name and it gently pulls you from your own self-sabotaging thoughts. Once you finally look him back in the eyes, into the pools of stars, your guard slightly tilts his head. His words come out quietly, sternly, as his lips brush against your forehead. 

“My loyalty has always been to you, my grace. Only you.”

Kaeya A.

“Kaeya,”

“Kaeya…”

“Kaeya!” At your hushed whisper, your knight reluctantly pulls himself away from you. However, the separation is only slight. Instead of having his lips pressed against your own, he’s now hiding his face into the crook of your neck as his body further entangles between your legs. “We can’t be doing this here,” You lightly strum your fingers along his shoulders, barely covered by his light dress shirt. Every step that you hear outside of your door causes you to tighten your fingers into his broad muscles. “there are people outside!” 

Your knight could care less about the other knights stationed outside your bedroom. It’s seen in the way he drags his hands up your hips, rubbing your sides over your flimsy nightgown. Kaeya continues to kiss your skin without a care in the world, unleashing his full desire and adoration for you. 

“They don’t know I am in here,” He murmurs and the sound instantly makes you shiver. The deep, rich vibrations from his voice cause your belly to flutter. “it’s the middle of the night, relax your highness.” 

Reluctantly, you listen. 

You allow Kaeya to gently push you back against your large bed, accented with the fluffiest duvet and decorated with a number of plush pillows. His body follows as his define arms move to wrap around your shoulders. He squeezes gently you as if you’re made out of glass, as if he is afraid to break you. 

Still, the protective feel in his hold makes you feel utterly content. 

As he starts to kiss your temple, sprinkling pecks all over your face. Your eyes flutter shut. You practically melt into his touch as one of his hands comes up to hold your jaw, delicately brushing his thumb against your lip. 

For as long as you’ve known him, Kaeya has been obsessed with touching you. You’re not sure the reason or the way behind his thinking but, with such a soft hand, you never have been able to refuse him. 

“(Y/N),” He lowly croons into your ear, tilting his head so that he can press more kisses against your cheek and jaw. “don’t fall asleep yet,” The request is almost laughable. With his touch lighting your heart on fire, the organ rapidly beating in your chest, you could not possibly fall asleep. 

The only time sleep finds you is when Kaeya settles down and merely holds you. 

It’s not as if you want to go to sleep right away either. 

“We didn’t get to see each other much today,” You whisper, blindly reaching for his wrist. It’s easy to find the slim limb and you gently start to rub the pads of your fingers against his skin. Kaeya wants to kiss the soft pout on your face, he places his lips at the corner of your mouth. 

“Did you miss me?” He mutters against your lips and you pitifully whimper, slightly nodding as you tilt your head so that his mouth slots over your own. Kaeya groans quietly into your mouth and tries to keep the kiss as clean as possible. 

However, at the brief jut of your legs as your thigh presses between his own, his restraint starts to dissolve. 

As he holds your jaw protectively and presses his fingers into your sensitive skin, his tongue peaks out past his lips. 

Through his touch, he shows his true and utter devotion to you, not as your knight, but as a man. 

Xiao

“Thank you for accompanying me today,” After nearly fifteen minutes of silence while trailing behind your personal guard, you try to break the tense atmosphere. Each step that you take is hesitant and beside you, Xiao slows his pace to match your own. 

He offers you a silent nod in acknowledgment. 

You’re aware that the esteemed adeptus has never been a fan of many words, not with you anyway, but you’re grateful nonetheless when you can get him to at least look in your direction. 

Being hopelessly in love with him is not easy for your weak heart. 

The two of you continue to walk in silence until you reach the end of your destination. Xiao stops as he nears the seaside cliff and wordlessly points at the flowers you requested to pick. 

You always try to cherish the time that you get with the adeptus, seeing as your family usually assigns female guards to you at all times. However, more recently, he has become the only one strictly assigned to you. 

Slowly, you walk past him and nod your head as you head up the trail. Xiao stands a considerable amount of distance away, his eyes elsewhere as he stares back at the mountains. You take the time to place your wooden basket down, to focus on his frame rather than the blooming flowers in front of you. Your eyes run over the spear in his hand and the mask attached to his loose pants. He has a sturdy build, one that you appreciate time and time again as your eyes hopelessly wander. You wish he would look at you, just once. 

Reluctantly, you tear your eyes away and reach for one of the flowers. Your focus is now elsewhere. 

The moment he feels your eyes off of him, Xiao looks over his shoulder. He watches carefully as you crouch and inspect each blooming flower. Your dress pools around your lap as you lower yourself onto your knees, the sight makes him tightly swallow. How could cruel hands such as his own ever think of touching something so delicate? 

Xiao tries to keep his distance from you and continuously sets boundaries that his heart will understand. He fears the day that you stop restraining yourself, when you finally unleash your desires onto him, he will have no way to hold himself back. 

It’s the duty of a guard to protect his subject, his majesty, is loving you not a different way of doing that? 

The word love still makes the adeptus flinch but, given how his heart and soul react whenever you are near, he is sure that this is what this feeling is. Over time, he became more accustomed to the uncomfortable ache. Xiao even began to understand the yearning in his heart and the longing in his soul. From the beginning, he was forbidden to allow this to happen. He was given the order by Rex Lapis himself but, the adeptus (for as strong as he is) was not able to fight it. 

It’s a shame. 

He is hopelessly in love with a mortal who is close enough to touch but, still out of his reach. 

[hiraya-rawr]

Dainsleif bodyguard AU x Khaenri'ah Royalty Reader (brainrot)

Being the royal prince/ss of Khaenri'ah and after the most recent assassination attempt, Dain (a captain candidate for the royal guards) is assigned to solo guard your chambers at night.

He doesn't get flustered at the intimate task of guarding the inner chambers. He's like a rock, even when you'd change into your nightwear by the maids.

"A man dedicated to duty," is what they described him as when you asked what your new guard would be like.

One bored night, you tried throwing a pillow at his face, wondering if he was spacing out, but he merely caught the item, walking towards you almost robotically and placing the pillow back on your bed, before bowing and returning to his station.

He's not all that robotic, of course. Some nights you'd try to make conversations, to which he'd answer everything bluntly and as short as possible.

There was one night when you stood in front of him, just eyeing his beautiful star shaped pupil, when he gave you a weird look.

"Your highness. . . what are you doing?"

You'd pout and turn away, saying "nothing" and cuddling back into your warm bed. You wonder if he feels cold standing there sometimes.

You gave him a blanket the next night, to which he was hesitant to use until you "ordered" him to simply wrap it around his shoulders.

"This would hinder me from fighting and protecting you." He said.

"I'm sure a prodigy such as yourself is capable of fighting with a blanket."

And there was one night when the pressure of royalty felt too much for you; when days were dragging on and you felt exhausted yet unable to sleep. Turning side to side in bed before glancing up at your stoic guard. He's still standing there. Doing his "duty".

With a blanket over your shoulders, you opened the doors to the large balcony, enjoying the fresh air while eyeing the view from high up. Khaenri'ah is beautiful, but dark forces you didn't understand were brewing, putting pressure on everyone.

These nights in your chambers were a comfort away from the stress.

"Your highness, it's dangerous," Dain says, not moving from his station. You might fall or an assassin could be waiting, yet you ignore his warning as you sit over the railings.

"Then come over here and protect me."

Like an invite, he approaches you, reaching out to hold onto you in case you drop, unsure of where to place his hands but you guided them to settle on your hips.

You gesture for him to sit with you on the railings (he refused) as you both look on at the view that is Khaenri'ah.

You talked a lot more that night; about nations beyond and what life would be like beyond duty. He was charming yet awkward, you understand why he was well loved by the people.

"If I ever leave Khaenri'ah, would you guard me to journey the rest of Teyvat as well?" You ask and he hums, a promise in his eyes.

"Of course."

You never did leave Khaenri'ah.

// not proofread, just word barf bc guard dainsleif makes me so soooft 🥺💞

[silkjade]

[pre-cataclysm] thinking about fooling around with captain of the royal guard dainsleif, secretly tying your handkerchief around his wrist, or pinning your brooch on his sleeve, as a symbol of your favor. slipping out of hidden corners with your hair and dress slightly disheveled from a heated makeout session. midnight visits to your chambers where your corset is ripped off in an act of desperation, and come the morn, he so tenderly kisses you farewell, slipping out in the early dawn hours before any of your ladies-in-waiting arrive to prepare you for the day ♡

[yaeggravate]

nah sorry but HOW is dainsleif/kaeya STILL so slept on, even after they finally interacted? to the uninitiated, dainsleif is named after the sword of the legendary king hogni, also known as hagen, the son of alberich, a character from wagner's ring cycle, who kaeya is based on. in other words, dainsleif is literally named after kaeya's sword. whatever that means for their future relationship, and whether this is metaphorical or literal is unclear for now but hello that's crazy why are you as a man another man's sword

adding to that, in the previous patch we learned that dainsleif was carrying a ring with him, which is a reference to THEE ring of nibelung, which hagen (yes that guy again) was instructed to steal back by his father. and did you know that in order to use the ring the wearer must forsake love? i think you should know

not to mention the foreshadowing of a tumultuous and potentially tragic relationship based on their constellations. kaeya's a peacock and dain's ouroboros (snek). in hindu culture peacocks are often depicted killing snakes so you could say it's not looking good for mr dainsleif.

so basically you have two ways their relationship can go: either dainsleif is going to become loyal to kaeya, (which I can see happening because kaeya is the only khaenriahn we know of who isn't cursed or evil, and dainsleif would want to keep it that way. dain was also the royal guard of khaenri'ah and kaeya's ancestor is anfortas who briefly took over as regent when the king went awol, so there might be some kind of debt he wants to repay by protecting his descendent.) or kaeya is going to kill him <-obviously the story isn't THAT dark and they'd never permanently kill off a playable character lmao so if he does die i think it would be because he's freed from the curse, which according to zurvan is the reason why he's alive, implying that he died once. ouroboros does symbolize eternity so maybe kaeya is actually the key to breaking the curse of immortality, but what happens if you remove the only thing keeping him alive?

oh, and fun fact, the quest in which they meet is named 'destined encounter'. connect this to mona's prophecy of kaeya's fate catching up to him and you literally have him meeting his destiny. we're also told dainsleif loves alcohol and even mixes his own drinks, it's like they deliberately created him as the man of kaeya's dreams

with all this in mind, it's really strange to not see more people excited about the potential of their relationship, because they are in a unique position of being two characters with no pre-established relationship becoming closer throughout the story, where both of their fates remain a mystery, as opposed to so many of the other characters who remain stagnant and whose stories are already told.

[sleepless-rants]

Thanks to perinheri we now know three diffrent knight factions that existed in khaenri'ah.

1- the black serpant knights aka the royal guards led by dainsleif. Since we have no record of a royal family whatsoever for now ig we just have to assume the entire fucking army was there to guard irmin and MAYBE abyss twin. Which sounds ridiculous so surely we MUST have a royal family? Does irmin have any children and have we met/ heard of them in game?

2- schwaneritter aka the swan knights. We have a grand total of four names from them out of which only two seem to be relevent: Anfortas (((alberich))) who was supposedly their leader and Hadura aka senitel of the golden hall who due to unknown reasons betrayed the other knights and fought anfortas, a battle in which anfortas lost his RIGHT EYE👀👀👀. (The other two are Hildric and ynghildr. Ynghildr I love you to death and back but you're just not important to the lore.) Now I said all that just to point out the fact that these guys where the ones who fought back the abyssal monsters attacking khaenri'ah AND part of sumeru. Which is intresting cuz what were the black serpant knights doing then? Did they dissapear along with irmin before anfortas became king regent? Or did they stay and join his forces? We know that dain was also in sumeru at this time so the latter seems more likely but idek.

3- our newest addition, the beastmaster knights!! They were briefly namedropped in perinheri and from the name alone Im guessing they handled the monsters and beasts that leaked into khaenri'ah?

These. And perinheri also made it sound like they were no longer around during the eclipse dynasty because they had ruin machines now. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? THE RUIN MACHINES WERE MADE AS A MEANS OF PROTECTION AFTER ALL!!! THEY WERENT PLANNING TO ATTACK THE OTHER NATIONS WITH THEM. or at least that wasnt their primary purpose. W for khaenri'ah sympathisers (me).

[erikatsu]

DANCING AFTER DEATH — dainsleif

✦ SUMMARY: a heathen's holiday is the perfect time to slip away with the man you've been seeing in secret

✧ PAIRING: dainsleif x fem!reader (princess!reader)

✦ WARNINGS: non-explicit [n]sfw. soft & vanilla. more intimate than anything and disgustingly soft. forbidden relationships. royal au. sorta fits bmfd universe but not really. self-ship coded. pet names (elska mín and prinsessa). reader is shorter and has longer hair (as this is catered to myself) otherwise no other physical descriptors.

✧ WC: 2.03k

Music and laughter were muffled by closed doors, a party raging in celebration of Valisblot among other things such as new hope, the ending of the cold season, and remembrance. While Khaenri'ah had no natural light of the sun, the people knew how to build a celebratory bonfire that shined just as bright. 

You hated celebrations. 

There was too much commotion, too many people. You never could quite focus on someone who was talking when there was background noise. It always had you feeling overwhelmed, which would lead to subconsciously tuning out conversations and staring off into space. Sometimes you wondered if people thought you were rude, especially when you would disappear after making your rounds. Maybe they didn't even notice, trying to get the attention of your father– the king. Either way, nobody said anything to you. 

Well, nobody except for your guard, Dainsleif. Then again, that was to be expected. Afterall, he was more than just your guard. He was your best friend, your most trusted confidant, and above all else he was the love of your life. It was why he was always quick to notice when you’d sneak away, coming to find you in the hall that overlooked the city as per usual. 

It was a shame really, that your relationship with him had always been tip toeing and hushed conversations late at night. Being the crown princess of the nation meant you were off limits. Had you been the second born, things would have been different. Instead of spending time with your possible suitors, you spent your time with Dainsleif. 

Surely, those close with both of you knew there was more than what was on the surface– take Halfdan for example. He teased the two of you constantly, even though you always brushed it off by telling him to not speak of such nonsense so openly. Your little brother, who was more interested in fighting than he was into romance, could sense it too. It would come as no surprise if your father also knew. 

“Calling it a night already?” The amusement in his tone brought a small smile to your lips as you stared out towards the villages, hearing cheer and joyous laughter from below.

You let out a sigh as he came up beside you, just barely brushing your shoulder with his own, “You know that I don't do well in group settings like this.”

He turned to look at you, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips while a certain sadness glinted in his eyes, “I'm well aware. However, a princess must gain the favor of her people and keep it when she ascends the throne.”

You frowned, the thought of your future souring your mood. With what was in store for you, the only place for him was within the guard. He wasn't someone you could openly have or hold, and you knew it wasn't fair to him to keep him by your side forever. What you had must end.

“I do not wish to take the throne,” You admitted, refusing to meet his eyes. “I'm weak when it comes to the art of the sword, I am not brave, and I am far from a socialite. Khaenri'ah deserves better than me at its head. It deserves a ruler who can confidently lead the knights into battle and who can soothe unrest as it arises.”

Dainsleif knew you were fairly reserved– not necessarily timid, just anxious about talking to those you didn't know– and it was true you weren't the best at swordsmanship, but he’d never seen a better archer. When push came to shove, you would be a great leader. You just needed a little faith in yourself.

“I'm going to abdicate the title of crown princess,” you decided at that moment, shocking not just him but yourself as well. “I was not made for this path. I was born into it, and continuing this way doesn't lead to a future where I am happy.”

You didn't give him a chance to ask you to  elaborate further, walking away from him without another word. He followed, quickly catching up and falling into step beside you. Dainsleif should’ve known you had something up your sleeve as he caught a glimpse of a devious smile– sighing as you took off running down the open corridor. 

He chased after you, just like he always did when you were in a playful mood. You always avoided emotional topics, evading them through childish antics. Making him chase you through the halls of the palace was nothing new, which is exactly why he should have seen it coming. 

Your soft laughter filled his ears as you came to a stop, pushing open the large wooden door that led to your quarters. You slipped inside, covering your hand with your mouth to muffle your giggles, heart racing from the adrenaline coursing through you. He wasn't too far behind, walking in just moments later. 

He shook his head, slowly approaching and pulling you in by your waist, “You can't run away from everything, elska mín, including your duties.”

“Foregoing my birthright is not me running from anything,” you assured him, reaching up to gently caress his cheek. “It's me choosing my own happiness over a life of misery.”

He leaned into your touch, eyes closing and soaking in your words. You would give up security, riches, and the throne for him? If you were running head first into the unknown instead of staying in a life where you weren't happy, then that made you braver than you even knew. However, a shred of guilt nagged at the back of his mind.

“I can't ask you to do that for me,” He muttered, slowly looking at you. “Not for me.”

You grinned, leaning up to press your lips against his, “I don't recall you ever asking.”

Dainsleif was unsure if you were actually convincing or if his own feelings and selfish desires overcame any apprehension he felt about your decision. Maybe your kiss also held a little power, reeling him in the rest of the way as if sealing a deal. He didn't hesitate to return your affection, moving his mouth against yours. 

He always seemed to melt into you, almost losing his inhibitions as soon as you touched him. You were intoxicating, all his worries about any trouble the two of you could get into if you two were caught faded away and were replaced with the sensation of lightheadedness and spinning. If he didn't know any better, he'd think you'd used some form of magic to drop his guard and have him forgetting that you were a princess and he was a knight. 

All too soon you pulled away, lightly biting down on your lip before stepping back. You held out your hand, waiting for him to take it before walking him over to the bed. 

He could remember the first time as if it were yesterday. He’d been apprehensive– seeing that only the king's bedchambers were completely private– not wanting anyone to walk by and get curious only to discover what you two were doing. It was one thing to fool around with your guard, but it was completely another for the princess to not remain pure until marriage. 

Now, it barely bothered him in that sense. Drawing the curtains on the canopy bed made it harder to see, and blowing out the candles made it nearly impossible. The only time that happened was if it wasn't late enough, as he hated not being able to see you. 

Despite all the walls he'd put up to keep you from weaseling your way into his heart, you'd had them crashing down to reveal a side of him that nobody got to see. The vulnerable side. The side that a knight couldn't show. Feelings lead to weakness, and if he showed his, it would lead his enemies straight to you. 

Instead of an ironclad grip on the hilt of his sword, his hands could finally be used for gentle touches. They way he lightly ran them over your waist before slowly undoing the strings of your corset– just as he was now– raising goosebumps on your arms and nearly causing a shiver to run down your spine. The mouth that directed orders now softly peppering your skin and lips with tender kisses. He showered you with love through his devotion, making up for the times he couldn't openly hold your hand or kiss your cheek. He always took his time, savoring every moment as if it could replace all the time lost between you two, hands gliding over your body to commit it to memory.  

Somehow, Dainsleif managed to leave you dizzy and weak in the knees just from a simple touch. Time would speed up yet simultaneously slow down, blurring everything together until he brought you back to reality with a delicate kiss. There were instances where you swore you could feel the warmth of a sun you never knew through him– comfort and safety with a single look. To him, you were the moon– elegant and a guiding light in the darkness. Both balancing each other yet fated to be kept apart. 

Perhaps that was why it was so easy to fall for him. 

You remembered a time where you thought you'd never be able to have him, and this very moment proved all those doubts wrong. It gave you the hope that one day, you could see the real sun and show it to him so he would know what he's provided for you. Because for you, there was nobody else and there never would be. 

There is nobody else you'd step down for. There is nobody else you'd completely give yourself to. There is nobody else that you would want to love you– no one who would in the same way he did. 

Even though it was a tightly kept secret, and all the possible consequences of being caught weighed down on your shoulders, it was worth the risk.

It was worth every time you lied with him, just like right now. Hiding away in the canopy bed, the low light barely allowed him to see your face while the two of you became one. It was worth every kiss, every roll of his hips, and every “I love you” that fell from his mouth. If absence made the heart grow fonder, it showed when the two of you were together. 

Getting tangled up in the sheets, forgetting the outside world as if you were the only two who existed. It was as freeing as it was enchanting– to be able to lose yourself in someone you loved. Both of you soaked in every chance you had, memorizing every detail of the other. Like the way your fingers dipped into the skin of his shoulders, how he nibbled on your bottom lip to keep from being too loud, or the way he showered you in kisses after the fact before resting his forehead against yours. 

After calming down and cleaning up, he'd pull you into him– one arm wrapped around you, another running a hand through the tresses of your hair all while you laid your head on his bare chest, tracing patterns into his skin. Comfortable silence fills the room, almost lulling you to sleep even though he'd have to make his exit soon. 

But, before he can even think about sitting up, you do. Turning to look at him, giving a playful pout that he already knows he can't say “no”, you say, “Stay with me tonight.”

“If I'm not at–”

You press a finger to his lips to keep him from talking, “We both know Halfdan will cover for you. Besides, a heathen’s holiday means even most of your subordinates will be hungover in the morning. I'm sure they'll think their missing captain was kind enough to let them recover for the day.” 

He could never deny you. The way his soft chuckle was free of concern as he drew you back into him filled you with excitement. He pressed a small kiss against your lips, “I'll make sure they give their thanks to you, prinsessa.”

TAGS: @dottores @dxlucs @no3tis @suyacho @mxnjiros @aroalbedo

[lexsssu]

Cock Warming (Dainsleif)

TAGS: Dainsleif/F!reader, cockwarming, smut, drabble Ao3 ver.

“Settle down, dearest. I still have some work that needs to be dealt with before I can attend to you.”

Despite how unassuming his words and tone of voice were, innocent is the last thing one could use to describe what was currently taking place within Dainsleif’s office. 

The Twilight Sword flipped through a small stack of paperwork with focus, his long fingers leafing through the pages upon pages of text determinedly. Now this wouldn’t be anything less than innocent had you not been sitting on his lap, skirts bunched up to your waist and revealing the undeniably hard cock that plugged up your glistening folds.

Your face is buried in his neck, pressing small kisses and kitten licks upon the patch of skin you could reach without moving too much as a way to get your lover’s attention even for just a small moment. As much as you wanted to immediately start rocking your hips, you knew well enough that if you don’t let the blonde finish his work he’ll simply just have you endure the feeling of his hard cock throbbing and twitching inside you. 

That is why you do your best to stay still despite how absolutely maddening it is feeling your walls involuntarily clamping down on his member, almost as if coaxing it to start moving already and pour his potent seed into your fertile womb like always. Your breaths become more labored as your thoughts turn south, slick dripping from your pussy and making a mess on his lap.

You can’t take Celestia enough when Dainsleif finally places his quill down, gloved hands gently cupping your face to tilt it towards his own. The corner of the royal guard’s lips twitched in a gentle smile that never failed to make your knees weak, especially because you know that you are the only one blessed to see such a sight everyday.

“I’m sorry if I’ve made you wait too long, darling. Allow me to pay for my transgressions. It’s the least I could do since you’ve been so kind as to allow me to finish my work first”

You almost sob in relief when you feel the first thrust hitting so deeply inside you that the tip seems to bump into the entrance to your womb.

[kkl1nch0r]

title— watch the sky fall.

dainsleif x gender neutral reader 👹🫵

The sky was falling.

Dilapidated pillars that once shaped the nation that once ruled itself without a god collapsed, crumbling to pieces. The dark, crimson sky rumbled distantly, shaking the world itself, hungering for the broken lands of Khaenri’ah, of something once so beautiful, something once so alive. 

The gods seemed to laugh as Khaenri’ah’s lands shook and tore off, and their people trembled in both terror and awe.

Amid disaster, a child cried for help, a shriek piercing through the hellish air. Dainsleif watched as humanity’s pride crumbled like the child, who kneeled before the ominous shadow of Celestia. He made no effort to save the child.

But somebody did; in the dark, a figure darted quickly through the tumbling debris, and deliberately pulled the child to safety. Dainsleif’s expression turned grim.

His call to your name did not reach you, as you covered the child from danger. As the sky roared, Dainsleif stomped to where you were and yanked you to your feet.

You weren’t shaking with fear. Tears were not pouring down your eyes. Your throat didn’t bear the collective howl of denial and petrification most of the citizens of Khaenri’ah did.

Instead, your face shone with a desperate, fleeting hope that Dainsleif himself knew would not come. Nobody was there to save them.

You watched in horror as the child in your arms descended into nothing but dust, having faced the wrath of the Heavenly Principles. The remains sifted through your fingers and were taken far.

“Dainsleif,” you said breathlessly, gesturing at the sky. “What– What’s going on?”

Khaenri’ah’s royal guard did not answer. He was just as hopeless as you were, and as he expected it, tears fell from your face, nurturing the last weeds that would ever grow alive in the nation without a god.

“What’s happening, Dainslief? Dainslief!”

You were yelling and staggered over to the distraught man. Cupping his face into your hands, you stared into his eyes. “Dainsleif, wake up.”

Dainslief remained immobile. “…Gone. All gone.”

Your eyes shook. The last thing you needed was confirmation from the Captain of the Royal Guard that Khaenri’ah was going to hell. You needed him in this difficult time, but he gave nothing.

“No, no, no,” you said, trying for a reassuring tone. “No, you’ll survive, and you’ll save this place. You’ll grant something the people desperately need now: salvation.”

That got Dainsleif. He pushed you away, fury haloing his eyes. His mouth twisted into something you’d never seen before: anger, hopelessness, sorrow, and pain.

“You call this salvation?!” He asked furiously, at the writhing cubes that plagued the sky, sucking the life from something you once called home. “This– this thing–” 

Dainslief gestured wildly to the crashing rocks, wilting weeds, the heads of severed children. He had no words to say.

“You just can’t have a little faith, can’t you?”

The man grits his teeth at your statement. “Faith is just another farce the gods created. Faith created this place, and now this place falls to the hands of Celestia. Don’t you think having more faith might take a toll on you?” Dainsleif turned away, silence answering the last of your dying questions, trampling on your last hopes.

You knew the man had a point, as you watched him walk away, among the withering trees and dying aspirations. Gazing at the sky, you sought mercy, but a dimensional gap opened in the dark sky, and teeth-like projections screeched, sucking in what remained of this broken, broken land.

You wanted to scream. You wanted to ask why, just why? The gods appreciated beautiful things, and Khaenri’ah was so…so beautiful. You were born and raised here, born with the desire to mature and protect this fantasy of a home.

You felt like a mouse staring at its demise, eyes trembling at the claws of a hungry cat. Something so tiny and insignificant. The blade belted at your hip was gripped with fervor, as you chased after Dainsleif.

Dainsleif was treading his last walk upon this earth, glowing with sorrow and his last festering desires. Everything was a waste, until you were there behind him, tightly looping your bloodied arms, clinging to his broad stature, hugging your fractured body close to his.

A breath hitched in the man, and you realized he was weeping, mourning something he knew he couldn’t mourn. People he knew, things he loved.

“It’ll be alright,” you said quietly. Debris fell around you, as you cast a protective spell over the broken man. “It’ll be alright. You and me.”

“Why–” Dainsleif choked on his own words. “Why are you still here?”

You shushed the man, and started to hum the soothing lullabies the young children loved to hear. Dainsleif stopped talking, and stood, having himself lulled to your voice.

Despite all the voice cracks and the tune sung like a broken record, you finished the song, a lasting pitch that seemed to orchestrate death raining itself upon the people. Cries of terror and anguish harmoniously belted across the land as one.

But you held Dainslief close, almost washing out his dreadful thoughts. The man spoke again, loud and clear. “Will I see you ever again?”

It was a stupid question, but Dainsleif let himself be selfish. The world was ending, the sky was falling. What more could he do than wish one last time, for his beloved companion to remain here with you.

“Probably not,” you murmured, nestling in him for comfort. “But you will live on, will you?”

“Probably not,” Dainsleif said, and that made the both of you chuckle. It faded into silence, and you felt dread creep up your spine, ready to send Khaenri’ah to nothing but fiery wrath.

“I’ll use the last of myself to protect you,” you whispered into his ear. The spell was still active, and it seemed to shrink closer, fading from your fingertips, isolating you from the illuminated body of Dainslief. “Live, for the hopes of our people.”

Dainslief sighed, taking your hand in his; he gazed at your eyes, fresh tears welling in his. The sky split into millions of shards, signaling the gods’ last act; they were to give Khaenri’ah a grand finale. You bid your last farewells, and Dainsleif whispered his last goodbyes.

The man hugged you close, and the world split apart.

—

Mondstadt was lively. Well, the inside of one of its finest taverns was. Mumbles of conversation idly drifted towards the knight’s ears as he took another light sip of his wine, half-heartedly swishing it around in his cup.

Dainsleif had survived the destruction of Khaenri’ah, after all. Through every step he took, he was reminded of the promise he had bid to you as you fell to the cruelty of the archons, slipping out of his reach.

How his heart ached. Perhaps the last hope of his people would remain ungranted, after all.

As Dainsleif propped his head on one hand, he’d noticed somebody dozing on the counter of the bar, head down, the bartender grumpily shaking them to wake them up.

A flash of familiar scenes of events whirled around Dainsleif’s mind. Khaenri’ah’s fall, the spell, the promise he’d made…

It can’t be, Dainsleif thought to himself as he slowly stood up. It just cannot be. They said…

“Probably not,” you had said, as you fell towards the depths of what was known as the Abyss. So why were you here, alive, alone?

Dainsleif seemed to trip over himself as he approached your waking figure. There were so many things to say, so many things to talk over…

Dainsleif whispered your name, as you had woken from the effects of dandelion wine, watching as your eyes glistened with tears, the hope rekindled in them.

“I guess a little faith can go far,” you said, gazing up at Dainsleif.

[what-the-dark-has-foretold]

Dainsleif or Poe you choose

With corruption kink for your event plz

Of course 🥰

Dainsleif x fem!reader

Navi

Warnings: mdni implied khaenrian princess/royalty, guard x royal, dain is a bit condescending, hand on neck, implied virgin!reader (+ corruption kink)

Wordcount: 300+

Happy Valentine's Day 💜

"How indecent," he murmured, as he watched your body - fully exposed to his darkened gaze - tremble on the white sheets. Your arms moved to cover your chest, but a simple click of his tongue halted all of your movements. "Now, now. You were getting on my nerves all day, my lady, the least you could do is reward me for my service."

Shakily, you nodded and spread your legs wider for him. He hummed in appreciation, gently gripping your thighs and spreading even them farther so he could settle comfortably between them.

Your breath quickened as you heard him unbuckle his belt, an involuntary whine escaping you. His eyes flitted up to yours, and for a moment he seemed to mull over something in his thoughts. Then, he leaned down - still grabbing your thighs and setting them on his shoulders - to press a searing kiss to your lips. His hand found your neck and he used the hold he had on you to keep you pinned as he slowly let his cock push into your clenching hole.

A satisfied groan escaped him, vibrating in his chest. You forced yourself to keep your eyes open - only gripping his shirt, bunching up the fabric in your hands at the stretch - to see his eyes squeezing shut and mouth fall open as your heat enveloped his cock.

He cussed under his breath as he finally bottomed out, absentmindedly brushing away some tears that escaped you. "I'll do this every night, from now on," he grunted as he started to move. Not waiting for a response as he thrust faster and deeper into you, drawing out sounds of your lips, not even you had heard before.

"My hands will be the only hands to ever touch you. To ever make you feel like this." He punctuated that with a particularly hard thrust that had you gasping for air, your orgasm rapidly approaching and - oh - is that what it could feel like?

[deathbxnny]

Hi there! You asked some HSR angst, well here you go! can i request Jing Yuan and Blade x s/o who was the royal guard and prince/ss of Khaenri’ah.

More context on reader:

They were the second born child of Khaenri’ah’s Royal Family and part of the royal guards. So somehow during the Cataclysm the reader was transported to the HSR universe. They were VERY traumatized of just what happenend and had put up an upbeat and plucky personality as a coping mechanism for what happened. They traveled the universe for sometime before they met Jing Yuan/Blade and ofc learned of Aeons. They dont like the Aeons and any mention of them would get rid of their upbeat facade quickly. They associate the Aeons with the Archons that destroyed their nation, now they know they arent the gods that did it but they cant help it. Basically Dainsleif’s attitude to anthing archon related but much chiller? Bc again they’re not the same ones who destroyed their nation so their willing to give them a very small benefit of the doubt.

How would they react to their s/o revealing their past and immortality to them after they had snapped at someone for something (probably aeon related that hit a bit too to home?) and became distant towards everyone for while. They tearfully revealed their past and then later go on a rant about their hatred toward gods. Also how would their lover react hearing about the curse (The pureblood and the half blood/non blood khaeri’ahns) the people of Khaenri’ah received.

How would they react towards their s/o being suicidal because the erosion that the curse cause them to have is THAT bad they just wanted to die but cant bc they cant die from being murdered as they can self regenarate or from old age. (Think of the demons from kimetsu no yaiba, like when yushiro got his head decapitated, yeah im pretty sure their lover saw their head get regenerated like one time)

Hope you enjoy this angsty request and have a good day/night!

- Flower Anon 🌸

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A/N: I re-read this 5 times, but for some reason my brain refused to process any of it, so I hope this still turns out okay lmao... thank you for the request tho and sorry for the long wait.

Content: Angst, hurt/comfort, established relationships, some rough description of the Khaenri'ah curse thing, small mentions of reader being suicidal

Reader has no set pronouns!

((Not fully proofread))

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》Jing Yuan

Jing Yuan always silently questioned your past and often wondered why you were so secretive about it. However, he also respected your boundaries and therefore never pushed you for any answers, as he knew how sensitive some topics were. But when you one day just snapped at someone for the simple mention of the Aeons and God's, he started slowly piecing together your story on his own. It definitely also helped, that you eventually just spilled everything to him.

He was understanding and supportive, horrified to hear about the curse and it's consequences. He had heard of and seen many evil things, but this still shocked him. Especially after learning what the curse did to you as well. He was deeply upset when he heard about your want to die and despite understanding it, he still made sure you knew how important you were to him.

He tried making you see the bright side of it at least, as the curse gave him the opportunity to spend an endless lifetime with you at his side, something he deeply wished for. And he was glad, that he could, even with it being a horrible curse that allowed him to be.

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》Blade

Blade didn't really care about your past at first, as you never seemed to care about his. It was a mutual understanding between you two to just not mention it and try moving past it together, despite Blade's need for revenge. And at first, he was content with that, until he noticed your strong disdain for God's/Aeons. This confused him, as he didn't understand what it was that bothered you so much, until you eventually broke down and told him about it in a long rant.

He listened to you quietly, as you spoke about your people and their curse. About how you were sick of living and just wanted to finally rest. About how you were just really done with everything. And he understood you perfectly. He really did. Especially as he himself was cursed to immortality and wanted to die more than anything. The fact that you felt the same as him brought him more solace than anything in this world ever could.

But that's exactly why he also was so adamant on you continuing on even through your curse. After meeting you, he realised that immortality may not be as bad as he originally thought, especially when it's just spent with you. He'll help you get your revenge, as long as you promise to stay with him forever too.

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A/N: I'm genuinely praying this is even slightly coherent. Sorry for the wait Flower Anon and thank you again for the request!

[silkjade]

why is it so hot when men have official titles like wat do u mean i’m wet at the thought of dainsleif, captain of the royal guard, twilight sword ……….