to you, 500 years from now.
" i wonder if you remember me as i was. sometimes, i think of those days. do you? " —dishonored
prompt: he wishes to see you again one day, in a world that is kinder for a soul as beautiful as yours.
pairing: neuvillette x gn!reader
cw: reincarnation alternate universe, heavy themes and depictions of death, neuvillette story quest spoilers, fontaine archon quest spoilers, a light-hearted scene sprinkled in, reader is an oceanid in their past life, reader is a geoscientist in their current life
as a part of @seraphiism's 2023 writing event 🤍 merry christmas!
500 years ago.
seldom did visitors grace the presence of the hydro dragon.
adorned with shimmering scales that reflected the hues of the deepest ocean, piercing violet eyes that sparkled like the shiniest amethysts, and hailed as one of the strongest sovereigns of the world– his reputation preceded him. thus, the hydro dragon chose to live in seclusion in the salacia plains.
time worked differently for a being such as him. in a momentary lapse, the hydro dragon had shut his eyes for what he thought was a brief respite, only to be roused by the gentle murmur of bubbling water. as his eyes fluttered open, he remained unaware that several years had slipped away during his tranquil slumber.
with seemingly no fear at being in the presence of the hydro dragon, a beautiful oceanid floated before him, blowing bubbles in his direction. twirling around him, the oceanid radiated a warmth that the hydro dragon could not resist. drawn by the mesmerizing glow of his scales, the oceanid came closer.
the hydro dragon sat up in his full form, extending his wings and towering over the oceanid, gauging its reaction. he knew he was terrifying like this. the oceanid did not flee in fear, rather, gazed up at him in amazement and wonder.
"what is your name?" the hydro dragon asks.
you offer it to him, easily.
days turned into nights into years as the hydro dragon finally had someone to call his companion. you followed him everywhere he went, offering him countless condessence crystals on your trips, "because it resembles your eyes."
with time, the hydro dragon had discovered a love that transcended ordinary within you.
fate, as cruel as it could be, had other plans. the heavenly principles had descended to wage war against the seven sovereigns. the hydro dragon urged you to stay away, to not get involved. yet, you refused, promising that you would never leave his side.
the heavenly principles, having sensed the unconventional bond between the hydro dragon and his oceanid, instantly killed you before the hydro dragon could even think to intervene. dying in his hands, you apologized.
"hydro dragon, hydro dragon, don't cry," you murmur, placing one last condessence crystal in his palm.
filled with agony and rage, the hydro dragon unleashed his elemental fury upon the heavenly principles.
still, it wasn't enough. he couldn't save you, he couldn't avenge you, and now, he was to also perish by the hands of fate.
as he lay dying with the condessence crystal in his hand, he wishes to see you again one day. in a world that is kinder, and more forgiving for a soul as beautiful as yours.
500 years later.
the stars are keeping you up tonight.
ever since furina had given up her position as the hydro archon and the prophecy was deemed to be untrue, you had felt a shift within yourself that you could not really explain. when you had been enveloped by the water of the primordial sea, you had felt... at home. tranquil, even.
fontaine's winter festivities were in full swing, and the city's lights twinkle slow as children zip past you through the streets. red and green decorations are adorned on every wall and lamp post. you raise a hand to catch a delicate snowflake– rarely did snow ever reach fontaine, but it was a welcomed change for the season.
you shiver, pulling your coat closer to your neck. it was probably reckless to be out this late when the night was this chilly, but you just couldn't shake the feeling of having to be out here. something was pulling you here, but you didn't know what.
"good evening," a voice calls your name and you startle, hand over your heart. you turn to meet piercing violet eyes and an easygoing smile, one that you meet sheepishly.
"good evening, monsieur neuvillette," you answer, inadvertently straightening your posture.
"i thought it was you i saw..." neuvillette trails off, clearing his throat. he gestures up to the palais mermonia, quite a ways away. you tilt your head in bewilderment.
"you could see me from there?"
"well, not at first," he answers, lightly tapping his cane on the floor. "you could say it was instinct, perhaps. i cannot find the words to really explain it, but it had to be you."
you would be lying if you said that one of the reasons as to why you had felt so on edge since the flooding didn't have anything to do with neuvillette.
as a geoscientist investigator for the marechaussee phantom, most of your interactions in the past had been strictly professional in solving cases and exonerating or indicting those on stand. after the failed prophecy, neuvillette had begun to seek you out for casual conversation. of course, you welcomed it. you were easily drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.
something about the way he had interacted with you since then with a longing gaze in his eyes had you feeling as if he knew something that you didn't.
it did not do any favors to your heart. he was a gorgeous man with a kind and respectful personality to boot.
you shouldn't get this excited about him finding you, but your blood thumping in your ears betrays you.
"ah- i see... it's funny you say that, because, well- likewise," you manage to say, flustered and feeling the urge to bolt on the spot.
neuvillette smiles at you, nodding toward the brightly lit street. "would you take a walk with me?"
speechless, you nod. what would fontaine think seeing you strolling around town with neuvillette this late at night, shoulders so close?
"there are a few stands around with festive goods and the likes. there's actually a..." you pause, a sudden memory making you laugh, "a water taste-testing booth made by your fanclub. would you want to check it out?"
neuvillette's eyebrows raise in amusement. "it would be my pleasure. i had not even been aware i harbored a fanclub."
you absentmindedly lean closer to his side, "well, you are quite popular among fontainians, monsieur neuvillette. many of them admire you for everything you have done for fontaine."
"and what about you?" his eyes meet yours expectantly.
you're caught off guard by his teasing. ears burning, you focus your attention on the path. "well, of course, i do too," you mumble. you can't see it, but he smiles.
a brightly lit booth in blue finally comes into view. its banner reads, "water around the world!" with a small, cute drawing of neuvillette's face in the corner.
"surely that's breaking a law in copyright infringement?" you joke.
"the oratrice would surely find them guilty," he nods, and you cannot suppress your laugh.
"hello, and welcome to- monsieur neuvillette?!" the teenager running the stand jumps out of her seat at the sight. she sputters, waving her hands around frantically. "it- it's so nice to see you, monsieur! are you interested in trying out some of the water we've collected?" her outburst spawns members of neuvillette's fanclub whispering excitedly behind her, to your amusement.
"i would be delighted to, along with my companion, if you would be so kind." he gestures to you, and it is only now that the fanclub seems to notice you. a few of them audibly gasp, and you already feel the dread of having your name front and center on the steambird come tomorrow morning. "monsieur neuvillette and the esteemed geoscientist: on a late-night excursion?"
they're quick to place multiple cups of water in front of you. respectively labeled cider lake, samudra coast, dadaupa gorge, sal terrae, and the suigetsu pool. neuvillette takes the one from cider lake, swirling it, and taking a leisurely sip not unlike wine. he hums, encouraging you to take your sip as well.
as you go down the line, truthfully you cannot tell much difference between them all. but, your heart warms seeing neuvillette take this very seriously, to the delight of his fanclub.
"did you like them?" you ask as you both depart from the booth, truly curious.
neuvillette nods, a smile on his face. "they all tasted quite fresh."
you cannot repress your own grin at his honesty. "i'm glad, monsieur neuvillette."
as the snow gets heavier and the night turns darker, booths begin to shut their lights down with people scurrying back to their abodes. you get the occasional double take at being with the chief justice, of course.
you watch neuvillette as he slows to a stop to stare up into the sky. delicate snowflakes fall into his long hair and eyelashes, and yet he seems completely unbothered by the cold. he's beautiful.
you heart suddenly aches in a way that feels like the breath has totally escaped you. the feeling is so unknown that you wonder if this moment is even real at all.
you'd had nightmares about it that you didn't dare tell a soul, of how you had died once. it was impossible- unfathomable.
but if it was, then how could you vividly remember in your last moments the feeling of being held by warm, protective hands?
neuvillette is already looking at you when you come to, like he knows.
"maybe we should call it a night." your voice is thinned.
neuvillette takes a step closer. "may i?"
you can only nod, breath hitching. he's standing closer than how he usually allows himself to be. you move, but one of his hands lift to gently cup your cheeks.
instantly, tears begin to well up in your eyes. his touch feels so familiar. "i'm sorry," you whisper.
with his free hand, neuvillette unclips the brooch at his neck and places it in your hand. seeing it up this close, your eyes widen.
"this is a condessence crystal."
neuvillette's eyes meet your own. he closes both of your hands around the crystal, and you see white.
"what is your name?"
"it resembles your eyes."
"i love you."
"i won't ever leave your side."
"don't leave me by myself."
"hydro dragon, hydro dragon, don't cry."
your knees suddenly grow weak, but neuvillette is quick to catch you.
your mind is running at a thousand miles a minute, swirling with questions that repeat themselves in your head, what is wrong with you, what is wrong with him, what is wrong with fate.
"so it is real," he finally says, eyes so solemn yet relieved. his words, resolute and cutting, make you still.
"i– what is?"
"us."
you didn't realize that you needed to hear it from him to finally understand. his eyes are darting across your face, trying to get a read on your expression.
"ever since i was given my authority back on the day of the prophecy, i remembered everything of our past life together, traversing across the seas of the teyvat," he explains, thumbing a stray tear that escaped your eye.
“for a long time, i wondered why i had this when i was reborn into this form,” he squeezes your hand with the condessence crystal, “and then it all made sense.”
"i remember now too," you say, "neuvillette, i remember."
this world is much kinder for a soul that is as beautiful as yours.
"would you give it a chance?" he asks.
"why, neuvillette?"
"because i know," his beautiful eyes don't falter from your own. "i know of the one life i spent where i lost you."
the chill that runs up your spine is not from the cold.
"and now, i have finally found you again."
you don't know who moves first, but his lips are on yours in the next breath you take. you are anguished, confused, happy, at peace.
even in the snow and the pretty lights, all you can see is him.
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