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[theendisneat]

Patterns

Pairing: Tighnari x gn!reader

Warnings: None

It stretched from the tip of your right middle finger to your left ear. Across your arm and chest and neck, a dark swirling tattoo of intricate patterns that indicated you your fated one was to be. When you were little, you’d like to imagine them, the person attached to the matching pattern. You’d think of the hair they’d have or how they dressed. You’d think of how they smiled or how they fidget.

Truly, you were a romantic child. Imagining eyes and nose and wispy bangs, staring off into space with what your parents had told was the most intense look they’d ever seen.

Soon though, you had to grow out of your fantasies and accept your patterns as simply part of your body. Rigorous studying did not leave time for daydreaming, working did not give you enough of a break to sleep let alone dream (it was a luxury at this point). You figured the time would come.

Soulmates always meet. If they didn’t, what was the point of two people being perfect matches if they never collided? It’s never confirmed when you and your soulmate would meet. Some meet when they’re children and others have met on their last day alive. It was a worrying prospect, but the fact that you’d get to meet them at all comforted you as you put your mark out of sight and out of mind.

And after hours and hours of hard work over the years, you finally made it to the Akademiya in Sumeru.

It was a struggle to get in, with your family not being particularly wealthy, well known, or even from Sumeru, so you had to overcompensate greatly purely through your academic prowess. You spent days writing till your hand felt like it would fall off, detailing your research and studies of the fauna of your country. Not simply limiting yourself to the animals, you studied the monsters as well. It was those studies that pushed you through, that willingness to put yourself on the line for important research.

Perhaps it wasn’t the healthiest mindset to have, forcing yourself into such dangerous situations, but you did genuinely love your studies, loved the creatures you followed and learned about, and now you could learn more, have access to more. It was a shining opportunity that had you burying your face in your hands to cover the blinding grin.

-

The years at the Akademiya were hard, harder than you were expecting. The classes on top of your personal studies were ruthless and oftentimes you went without sleeping for a couple nights in a row.

But you made it. You passed your classes, your work was recognized, you were a contender for funding. It was that funding that brought you to the Avidiya Forest.

Lush and green and beautiful, the forest surrounded you. The towering trees protected you from the sun, their branches and vibrant leaves stretching so far and so long shadows danced across the ground, only slivers of light shining through. The air was thick with heat, dirt, and a light, sweet ting of Sumeru’s natural flora.

You were crouched behind a bush, dirt staining your clothes and face. Tracking this particular monster was not the easiest. It liked to move, and prowl close to the ground, climb to the highest tree and soak in the sun.

You hand darted across the page, writing down every molecule of information about the beast in front of you. Its body was covered in shimmering, silver scales, giving in the appearance of an automaton. Its claw scratched deeply into the soft dirt of the forest.

You were so entranced by the being you didn’t hear the loud ‘move!’ before you were being pushed to the dirt. Your head was held down, and from the corner of your eye you could only just see the skittish creature skitter away.

With all your strength, you pushed the person off of you, hearing a faint ‘oomph’ as you sat up, glaring. “What the hell?!”

Anything else you had to say died immediately in your throat. Sitting in front of you, with hard, not cold, eyes and an almost pout to his lips, was a man your age. Choppy black and green hair framed his sharp face, a complicated outfit littered with bottles and what looked like first aid. Ears like that of a fennec fox stood straight up on his head, only slightly tilted back to signal growing aggression. But the thing that drew your eye the most, was the twirling, complicated tattoo that peaked out just by his neck.

The man couldn’t see the shock that captured your mind. “I’m sorry, did you just want me to let you get yourself decapitated by a carnivorous plant?”

“A what?” You murmured absentmindedly. Turning your head up you saw a wiggling vine connected to a head similar to that of a venus fly trap, a head whose teeth were now buried into the bark of the tree it rammed into when you had been moved out of the way. “Woah.”

“Woah.” The man mocked, his face set in an unimpressed frown. “Have you no awareness?”

“I was focused.” You defend hotly, an embarrassed heat on your cheeks.

He rolls his eyes and you feel your own twitch. “Really, you couldn't have been more unprepared.”

“I’m sorry.” You ground out. “I was unaware that this area was infested by people eating plants.”

“Perhaps you should look into that.”

You shot up, brushing the dirt from your clothes. “I’ll be on my way then, I have research to conduct and if I have to deal with your insufferable attitude, I might just pop a blood vessel.”

“My insufferable attitude? At least I’m not so ignorant as to not notice a giant plant about to strike!”

You were about to yell at him some more when your eyes once again caught the patterns peeking from his shirt. You knew it was your pattern. With the days you spent sitting in front of the mirror, gliding your fingers over the swirls and tangles and dots, how could you not recognize that which you knew so intimately?

You stepped closer to him and caught his suspicious gaze. You noticed his ears flick, for irritation, anxiety, you didn’t know, and chuckled, which only made his eyes narrow.

“Hey, I didn’t think to mention it because you were so irritating-” a scoff, “-but we have matching patterns.”

“What?” His ears when stock still, pointed straight up, and the tail you just saw froze, the fur bristling.

“Your pattern.” You repeat. “I know it like the back of my hand. We match.” You moved your hair and the scarf tucked tightly around your neck to reveal your own whorls over your skin.

Emotions you couldn’t name flashed through his eyes like bolts, his ears twitching only slightly.

You waved your hand in front of his face. “Hey, you in there? I know this isn’t how soulmate meetings typically go but you could try and look like this isn’t the end of the world.”

His blank face had snapped back to awareness, lips turning down. “I hope you don’t expect this to develop into some kind of romantic-”

“Excuse me?” You raised your eyebrow. “When did I ever imply-”

“It has been said that on multiple occasions that soulmates are expected to be romantic-”

“How long have you been in this forest?”

His ears bristled and puffed. He frowned further. “I don’t think my assumption is wrong, and the forest is much more welcome company than any ‘intelligence’ back in the academy.”

“Hey, at least we agree on one thing. Though I prefer the creatures of the forest to the forest itself.”

He scoffs again but this time it sounds more like a laugh, something that brings a bit of a smile to your face.

“Hey,” you stuck your hand out. “Acquaintances? Tenuous colleagues? Hate to break it to you, but I’m staying in Avidiya Forest for a while for research purposes.”

The man sighed but stuck his hand out, grasping yours. “Tenuous colleagues it is then. I’m Tighnari.”

“[Y/n].” You responded.

-

The months passed by quickly.

Soon after that conversation with Tighnari, you had bought a small little hut in Gandharva Ville. It became an immediate mess, covered from floor to ceiling in pages, diagrams of creature anatomy from all across Teyvat, paragraphs upon paragraphs of analysis and theorizing. The only place that was safe was your bed, but even with that the blankets were crumpled, the pillow nearly falling off the side.

Despite your mess, your research was going along perfectly. The opportunity to stalk so many gorgeous creatures, to communicate with them and study them was like a dream come true to you. Long days were spent out in the wild, more often than not, you came home covered in dirt.

During these months, you and Tighnari had grown closer. You ran into each other on multiple occasions, him sometimes following you out on your excursions when he had the time to make sure you didn’t get your head bit off by another carnivorous plant (you didn’t want to count how many close calls there had been already), and you sometimes crashing into him while running from a particularly aggressive creature you accidently startled.

Sometimes those encounters ended with you getting scratched and Tighnari pulling you back to your home, where he would then berate you for your horrible living state, and sit you down on the edge of your bed. He’d manhandle you, though you noticed he was never violent. His ears would go down with worry, pupils contracting every time he caught sight of a cut.

-

It was a bad cut. A truly terrible cut that went from the left side of your hip to your right shoulder. It was deep, flowing red so quickly your white shirt couldn’t even be called white any more. It came from an animal you weren’t expecting, one that had been stalking you as you quietly followed another.

The slash had left you disoriented, stumbling as you ran. You were lucky to find that the creature didn’t care to follow you, seeming to like the idea of playing with you. The blood gushed, sticking uncomfortable to your skin as you trudged back to Gandharva Ville, doing your best not to pass out.

In your delirium, you could only be glad that the slash missed the majority of your pattern, only getting the part on your chest. You held a worthless hand to the wound, pressing down with the fleeting thoughts of ‘pressure, pressure’.

You didn’t even notice when the sun caught your eye as you finally broke through the dense foliage of the forest. Screams went in one ear and out the other, sweat pouring from your forehead and into your eyes, the heat making your shirt stick horribly to your aching body.

Hands gripped your shoulders. Hands were the only thing you could think of, them wrapping around your waist and legs, pulling you into a bridal carry. Your head resting against a shoulder, the scent of earth and berries and blood invading your nostrils. Your head felt fuzzy and your breathing shallow.

It wasn’t long before you passed out.

-

You woke up in bed, aching, torso tightly wound with itchy gauze turning pink. A groan was caught in the back of your dry throat and your limbs flopped uselessly when you tried to sit up.

A door slammed open. “Honestly, this is why I track them. Can’t keep themselves safe and want to prance around a deadly forest. All this gauze…” You hear the muttering and couldn't stop a fond sigh.

“You complain,” your voice is rough, ugly in every sense of the word. “But I’m still alive now.”

“Yes, because of my expertise.” There was no ‘you’re awake’ no ‘thank goodness you’re alright’ no ‘don’t sass me while you’re at my mercy’. There was just a quiet relief in his sigh, the fond quirk of his lips, the with which he shot back at your words. It was comfortable and comfortable must’ve felt good after such a scare.

He sat on the edge of the bed, gently pulling you up so you’re sitting straight. “Come on, let me change your bandages.”

“Can I have some water afterwards?”

“So high maintenance,” he grumbled, and with the serious look on his face, it took you a moment to realize he was teasing. “First I use all this gauze, then I have to spare my water?”

“Oh please ‘humble one’. Let me have just a sip?” The back of your hand delicately touched your forehead in a dramatic swoon and you would’ve fallen back onto the bed for a little extra if Tighnari’s hands weren’t keeping you upright.

He huffed. “Alright, alright. I’ll get you some water, just be still.”

The rest of his care was spent in silence. Sometimes his hands would brush your skin and you would shiver, or his eyes would linger on your shared pattern and you felt this primal instinct to puff out your chest, to show it off with pride.

When he made to leave, probably to get the water you were oh so desperate for, you caught his risk. Looking up at him through your eyelashes, you smiled nervously at his inquisitive gaze. “After all these months, can we finally upgrade from tenuous colleagues to friendly acquaintances?”

His hand grasped your own wrist, squeezing gently. He rolled his eyes. “Friendly acquaintances then.”

-

Two years had passed from the time you and Tighnari first laid eyes on each other, a year and a half from when you became acquaintances, and now it had been two days since you’d upgraded to friends.

Just thinking about it, as you lie in the crumpled sheets of your messy bed, makes your heart thump wildly.

Two days ago, you and Tighnari had run into a researcher from the Akademiya. Haughty and aggravating, the two of you listened as he leveled thinly veiled insults at Gandharva Ville’s less than elite beauty, at Tighnari’s work ethic (because how can the forest still be so over run with withering zones if he was doing his job correctly?), and sneered at your choice of research, not so subtly referring to you as ‘one who likes to walk among their own kind’.

It was a hit to the heart, one you hadn’t heard in a while, but nothing new. Insults towards you have always followed a certain path. You were beastly as you like to roll in the mud just like the very beasts you followed. You were just so disoriented with the world of the elite Akademiya because you couldn’t possibly fathom such glamor from the hick town you grew up in. You didn’t belong in Sumeru itself, not even among the common folk, because did you really know how things worked over here? After all, you were from so far away.

But Tighnari had never treated you as anyone lesser. Not less knowledgeable or intelligent. Not less adaptable or sincere. Through working with him, you grew to respect him, not only his work ethics, but his aloof compassion and charm, something that made your heart sting every day, and you knew he felt that same respect for you.

Now, you couldn’t be more happy. The scowl that pulled back Tighnari’s lips was so fierce, the researcher had taken a step back, a thin sheen of sweat lining his forehead. “Are you always so obvious with your insinuations?”

“Mr. Tighnari-”

“Actually, with how obvious they are, I’d say they’re blatant insults.”

“Mr. Tighnari, please!” The researcher chuckled nervously. “It's not like it's personal, only jokes. Everyone made them back in our Akademiya days.”

The ease with which these statements against you were brushed off had Tighnari bristling. “Everyone? Who is everyone?”

“Sir,” you say, finally deciding to step in. “While I don't appreciate the familiar words, I do enjoy the fact that because you're so disgustingly arrogant and rude, you will never find yourself free to stay in Gandharva Ville.”

The researcher's face had gone from blanched to colored an angry, splotchy red that was particularly unattractive if you said so yourself. “What?! That can't be! I've got permission from the Akademiya to conduct my research here!”

“But I have final say if you stay here.” Tighnari’s smile was sharp and uncomfortable to look at. “So please, find your way back out of the Avidiya Forest. Your stench is creating more withering zones than I can handle.”

The researcher had run, tail between his legs and face that ugly crimson. You couldn't stop yourself from laughing and in all honesty, you didn't try to. From the corner of your eye, you saw the self-satisfied smirk on Tighnari’s face.

“What a minx you are. Did you have fun watching the blood drain from his face?” You teased.

He scoffed, ears twitching. “Of course I did.”

You hummed, smiling softly. After a moment’s hesitation, you wrapped your arms around his neck, hugging him close and resting your head on his shoulder. “Thank you for being such a good friend.”

Tighnari was stiff in your hold, at first, but he soon relaxed, returning your embrace with a little smile you could see as he buried his face in your hair. “We’re friends now?”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m not asking for this upgrade. We’re friends.”

With those words it seemed Tighnari hugged you tighter. “Alright.”

-

When you and Tighnari became lovers, it was a year later.

There was nothing special about the morning it happened. The sun rose the way it did everyday, shimmering through your too thin curtains to shine directly on your face, you groaning in defeat as you failed to fall back asleep, and the not so quiet slam of the door as Tighnari let himself in, as you told him he could.

While you loved your job and did the work you had to, needed to, you also enjoyed being horrifically lazy. Laying in bed and sleeping the day away every once in a while sounded like a dream (no pun intended), and like every morning before, you lounged for far longer than you should’ve just to think if today could be one of those days. But alas, it was not, and Tighnari entered your bedroom unceremoniously, his lips pressed into a fine line.

“Get up. I let you sleep longer today because you stayed up late last night, but you have work to do today.” He pulled the covers from your sleepy form and you let out a petulant whine.

“Tighnariiiiiii nooooo,” you groaned into your pillow, not moving from your spot.

He grabbed your hands and tried to pull you out, rolling his eyes at your stubbornness while you rag-dolled. “Come on.”

He yelped when your hands shot out to catch his own. “Tighnari, cuddle with me.”

“No.” He deadpanned.

“Tighnari-”

“No.”

“Please-”

“You have to get out of bed.”

“Pleeeease-”

“No.”

“Pleasepleasepleaseplease-”

“Fine!” He ground out, much to your delight. “Five minutes.”

He moved a blanket so he wasn’t directly on the covers and laid down, letting out a small grunt when you flopped on top of him.

“You're always so warm. It's very nice.” You mumbled, nuzzling into the crook of his neck.

Tighnari’s breath hitched and you pulled back, confused. “Tighnari?” His eyes were wide, lips pressed tight. The one arm that had been around your shoulder, holding you close now laid limp on the bed, his other hand clenched over his stomach. “Hey, Tighnari, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I'm fine.” But some part of him looked far away, eyes glazed. His limp hand went to cup the side of his neck and it was then you realized you had nuzzled into your shared pattern.

“Oh, Tighnari, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I know you don't… really… we’ve never brought up the whole soulmates thing… I shouldn't have done that… I know touching your soulmate's pattern is really intimate… I'm sorry.” The more you spoke the quieter you got, overcome with embarrassment. You sat up and turned away from him, pulling your knees close to your chest and hiding your face.

The truth was that the past three years had hit your romanticism hard. Tighnari was wonderful. A strong and caring person, passionate in everything he does, snarky is just the way that made you laugh. Every little thing he did endeared you, from the way the fur of his ears stood up when he was annoyed to the way his nose scrunched when he tried not to laugh at something you did that truly amused him (he never wanted to give you the satisfaction).

You fell fast and hard. Really, how could anyone blame you? Your heart burned every time you thought about the day the two of you met, remembering the words he spoke.

“I hope you don't expect this to develop into some kind of romantic-”

He never wanted romance. It was just your traitorous heart that couldn't help loving him. So you didn't mention it. Your friendship was wonderful enough for you. And sometimes soulmates stayed friends! You reasoned. You were lucky enough to see him so young, now your friendship can last the rest of your life!

But now you messed it all up.

While it wasn't taboo to show off your pattern, it was taboo to touch other's patterns or let people who are not family or your soulmate touch yours. Some of the most conservative families don't even allow family members to touch the pattern after the child is a certain age.

Now, it wasn't uncommon or anything for soulmates who remained platonic to touch each other's patterns, as really the idea was more to show the depth of the bond, how much the other means to you. It wasn't inherently romantic or platonic or familial, though some could definitely make it that way, but you had always known of Tighnari’s prickly nature so you avoided doing anything too much. Occasionally your arms would brush the pattern with hugs and whatnot, but nothing ever so intimate as cuddling and nuzzling, laying in your bed like you were more than what you were.

A large part of you wanted this, this casual domesticity with him. Tender brushes of his fingers against your skin, tracing the loops and swirls, little kisses from your ear to your neck to your chest, down your arm until he reached your right middle finger. The whole thought brought tears to your eyes, and now your knees were pressed into your sockets, trying desperately to stop any of those tears from falling.

Skin, bare skin, shocked you from your sadness. The back of Tighnari’s right hand was brushing against the left side of your neck. Ever so gently, his hand twisted and cold fingertips were gliding across your skin. The fingers followed the pattern down your arm till they intertwined with your own.

A little tug had you looking into Tighnari’s eyes, wide and hazel and worried. “[Y/n]... I know we have not discussed the soulmate… thing, but I was not unaccepting of your affection. Just surprised.”

You sniffle. “Really?”

He nods, a small smile on his thin lips. “Would you like to touch patterns again?”

You were about to say yes before biting your lip and shaking your head. It was different for you and you didn’t want to indulge your little romantic fantasies or take advantage of the intimacy Tighnari was granting you.

He tried to brush his hand along your neck once again but you leaned back. The hurt in his eyes stabbed into your heart.

“It’s different for me ‘Nari. I just don’t feel the same way about this as you do.” You mutter.

Tighnari’s eyebrow raised in question, a challenging look in his eyes. “How do I feel then?”

“What?”

“Tell me how I feel, that's so different from you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous ‘Nari! We’re friends and that’s all we are!” Your voice breaks as you cry and a heat crawls over your cheeks. “This is too much, it’s…” You took a deep breath. “You said when we first met, you did want me to think of this relationship ever turning romantic, but I just can’t help it! I love you, I love you so much and the thought of doing this with you with us thinking different things… it hurts.”

“I said that three years ago.” He deadpanned.

You only shrugged.

“Don’t you think, in the past few years we’ve known one another, my feelings could have changed?”

You stared at him till he sighed with annoyance.

“Stupid…” He rolled his eyes and practically fell on top of you in a hug, his face pressed directly into the junction of your neck where he nuzzled a beautiful little loop in your pattern.

Your whole body shuddered at such a display of affection, but as much as you wanted to lean into it, you stayed stiff in his arms. “What is this?” You whispered tearfully.

“Reciprocation of romantic affection.”

Was it really so simple?

“You love me… the way I love you?” You were almost scared to ask, terrified that this was some kind of joke, his sarcasm taken too far.

Tighnari pulled back and cupped your face within his chilly hands. His eyes were the most intense you’ve ever seen them, wide and dilated, bright and covered in a soft sheen of tears that made them shine. “Yes.”

You finally smiled, leaning into his hands. “Then, can we upgrade again?”

“To?”

You hummed in thought. “Soulmates?”

“We’ve been soulmates since we were born.” He denied.

“Lovers?”

“Too cliche.”

“Partners?”

“Clinical.”

“Bedfellows?”

“Are we four hundred?”

“I don’t know then.”

Tighnari was quiet for a moment. “Life companions.”

You perked up. “Life and death companions!”

“Why death?”

You leaned over so you were draped over his body. “Do you really think when we die, I’m going to let you go? We’ll reincarnate together and be soulmates all over again!”

“Oh great, I can have you for multiple lifetimes. Yayyyyy…” His voice petered out slowly as he looked at you with dead eyes.

“Don’t sound so enthused ‘Nari, maybe we’ll be reincarnated as flowers right next to each other, or maybe as lovebirds, or or we could be giant trees that reach the sun, but below the dirt our roots are intertwined so we’re forever holding hands!” You giggled.

“I cannot believe we are still so young and you are already thinking about our deaths.” He chuckles fondly. “Besides that fact, why do you think we’ll die with so little good karma that we won’t become human again?”

“It’s not that, but don’t you think being a big tree, basking in the sunlight, entangled with me and me with you is such a more romantic concept?”

“Your mind runs away from you sometimes.”

“Then I hope you’ll always be there to ground me, hm?” You meant it to be only teasing but you noticed Tighnari’s eyes darken, the way his sight flickered down to your lips. “Tighnari?”

His hands led you to lay back on the bed and he hovered over you. His gaze was heavy, never drifting from your eyes, you were locked into his heated stare. “May I kiss you?”

“If you kiss me, I won’t be able to stay on the ground.” Your voice was breathy, you felt like you couldn’t breathe, stifled by his earthy scent. “My head will go up to the clouds.”

“I’ll pull you back down, just as I always have.” He was resolute, his tone rough and husky. He leaned closer, his lips brushing against yours in the slightest touch. “May I kiss you?”

How could you say anything but- “Yes.”

His smile was tender as he finally caught your lips in a gentle dance. He was warm, warmth that you felt creeped from your head to your toes. A hand to the back of your neck, a thumb brushing your shared pattern as his insistent lips kissed fervently.

The love you never thought you’d get was here, in your arms, sucking your soul out and pressing you to your mattress. It couldn’t have been any better.

[theendisneat]

Arranged Marriage [pt.1.3 (The In-Between)]

Pairing: Zhongli x gn!reader

Warnings: Mild blood, mild sexual content, injury, semi-graphic depiction of illness

“Why is it so difficult for you to dodge?” You muttered, stitching another of your husband’s wounds. “I mean, you’re a martial god, your prowess is second to none, yet you couldn’t dodge the very visible spear heading your way?”

The stab wound on Morax’s side was already beginning to heal, you could tell, but your hands needed something to do to cover their shaking. You settled for cleaning and disinfecting the wound, stitching it up and slathering it in salve before wrapping gauze tightly around his abdomen.

“The spear was not entirely visible-”

At the sight of your unimpressed stare, Morax fell silent.

You sigh, finishing the bandages. You move to stand in front of him, tenderly cupping his face, bringing his forehead to your own. “Honestly, it’s almost like you go looking for fights that present a struggle. With how little you care about your own well-being you’d better be happy that I learned the medicinal arts. Just because you’re a powerful being does not mean you should be tanking damage!”

His hands fall to your waist. You felt his clawed fingernails dig into your sides. “I will abstain from being so careless next time-”

“Next time?!”

“And I will train proficiently in dodging to avoid this scenario from repeating.” He said it with such determined assurance you couldn’t help but sigh, your eye twitching from stress.

“I suppose that’s the best I can ask for. I’m not even going to bother with ‘be more careful’.” You poked his nose, his eyes crossing to focus on your finger. “But you’re not going into another battle until that wound is completely healed, and you better not try to speed it up! I’ll know.”

“That is acceptable.” His hands circle your waist bringing you into a hug, his head resting on your shoulder, nuzzling the crook of your neck.

You stood between his legs, arms crossed as you refused to hug him back. “I am still mildly annoyed at your recklessness, why do you think you get cuddles?”

“Because no matter how angry they are, my spouse always relents to cuddles.” Morax muttered, almost petulantly.

“You are very lucky this situation was not worse.” You grumble but relent, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and bringing him closer. With his chest squished to your own, your necklace tapped between, you could feel the slow thumps of his heartbeat.

-

It’s a quiet morning. The surrounding gardens of you and your husband’s abode sway with a pleasant, cool breeze. Flowers tremble, leaves dance. The water rustles ever so slightly, the little fish swimming in slow loops, playfully chasing after each other.

A blanket is spread beneath you, soft and thick, padding your knees and you kneel behind your sitting husband. Your fingers brush through his hair, detangling it from the top of his head to where it falls to his waist. Your hand goes to the pile of little flowers by your side, carefully, you chose one and braided it into Morax’s hair.

He sat still as you continued, flower after flower, until his head looked like an avant-garde mess of petals and intricately woven braids. Thin strands of hair you couldn’t tie back fell to frame his face, softening his sharp, draconic features.

“Very pretty.” You murmur absentmindedly from behind him, and he felt something swell within his chest. A light dust of pink coated his cheeks and didn’t restrain the smile on his lips.

-

“Stay away from me!” His voice was low, a shaking, snarling, timber. His lips were pulled back over his sharpened teeth, eyes slitted and bright gold. The small horns that normally rested on his head had branched out like antlers, the tips as pointed and deadly as a dagger.

He was crouched over, his hands pressed against the ground and legs behind him in a distinctly inhuman, animalistic position. Brown scales with a gold shimmer came in patches along his bare torso, a whipping tail of similar color with a puff of gold fur at the end sprouting from just over the waistband of his pants.

Something had happened out in the field, what, you didn’t know, but it left your husband stumbling home, unable to keep his cool, practically exploding with rage as he walked through the threshold. At first you were thoroughly startled, flinching when a bang echoed throughout the house and Morax fell to the ground in your living room, writing as if in pain.

Now you stood a few feet away from him, a tight curl in your chest. “Morax, just tell me what’s wrong, let me help you.”

“Get away!” He growled. “It’s an enhancer! It aggravates all my primal instincts as a dragon.” He groaned, his forehead falling to rest against the cool floor. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Oh don’t be ridiculous Morax! If your primal instincts are being enhanced, don’t you think that as your spouse you’d feel protective towards me instead of angry? The fear of hurting me and the irritation towards the situation are clouding your mind. You need to calm down.” You sit on the ground, your legs crossed, and wave your hands. “Come on.”

He hesitates for a moment, his eyes gleaming unsurely, but relents and crawls over, his claws making little indents in the floors. You hold your arms out and he slots himself in your lap. His head goes over your shoulder, something you’re glad about as it keeps the antlers out of your face, his arms around your waist, and his legs hanging over your thighs.

His breath is heavy, hands shaking, and you know he’s trying to keep any lingering anger under control, trying to funnel the emotion into protectiveness, joy, anything that would keep him from harming you.

You buried one hand in his hair, gently scratching his scalp, and the other went around his waist so you could hold him close. His chest rumbled with aggravated growls and his hands were tense from trying not to dig them into your delicate flesh. “I’ve got you.” You whispered soothingly. “I’ve got you.”

“Sing… for me.” He managed to choke out, his heavy breath hitting your neck. “Your voice… it helps.”

“Morax, you know I’m not a good singer.”

“Please.” You looked down to see his head resting limply against your shoulder, nose pressed to your neck, with wide, blown out eyes. He looked miserable, uncomfortable, and almost… scared.

“Alright, alright.” You tilted your head so it was leaning on his. “My love, my love, my fearless love…”

-

The dark night sky contrasted greatly with the warmth of your bedroom. Surrounded by dark browns and golds, the warm glow of the candles bouncing off the walls. You and your husbands were wrapped in the heavy blankets of your bed, winter chilling you to the bone.

You snuggled close to Morax, constricting yourself around him like a boa as you attempted to soak up his warmth. But his body was lukewarm at best and it seemed that any warmth that existed between the two of you was being given to him.

“Why are you not warm?” You groan. “You are a dragon.”

“I am a reptile, my love. That’s not how my body works.” Your husband mumbles. His eyes drooping and hair splayed across the pillows haphazardly was a wonderful sight and yet you couldn’t enjoy it as a shiver wracked your body.

Finally, having had enough you got out of bed. Going to the kitchen, you filled several cylindrical glass bottles full of warm water and wrapped each bottle of a thick towel. Carrying them all back to bed, you swiftly yanked all the pillows off. Your husband stayed perfectly still, his breath shallow but even, as you secured the bottles around the bed and then covered them in blankets. After tucking the blankets around the bottles and Morax, you shimmied into the bed yourself, sighing contently when you could feel the warmth from the bottles near your feet begin to sink into the sheets.

Snuggling into Morax, you brought one of the many fur blankets up to his shoulder. “Better?”

“Much.” He breathed out.

With that, the both of you were able to fall into a restful sleep.

-

A flash of green and black smoke interrupted your reading. Looking up from your book, you saw a man you knew wasn’t as young as he appeared. Green hair falling in feathered cuts, golden eyes sharp and attentive, and the stance of someone ready to fight at all times.

He was at your wedding, looking particularly indifferent about the circumstances, but you had never spoken to him directly. Now he stood in front of you.

“Where is Rex Lapis?” Despite being so small and young looking, his voice was fairly raspy.

“Ask nicely.” You closed your book and set it to the side, placing your hands in your lap and looking at him expectantly.

His cheeks fluttered as he clenched his teeth and his eyes narrowed. He gave a shallow bow and spoke, his tone more agreeable. “I’m looking for Rex Lapis, have you seen him?”

You smile. “He’s not here.” Seeing the Adeptus’ eyes flash you chuckled. “But he will be soon, so sit down. I’ll get you something nice.”

Not wanting to disobey orders from his master’s spouse, he kneeled down in front of the low table, his back stiff and face blank.

You went to the kitchen and grabbed a treat you had been saving for yourself, but didn’t mind sharing. You placed it in front of the Adeptus. “Here, it’s not too sweet. Very pleasant. My mother taught me how to make it when she was still alive.”

Hesitantly, he began to eat, his face still blank. “It is good.”

“Thank you. It’s called almond tofu. You can enjoy it while we wait for my husband to get here.” You kneeled down on the opposite side of the table and once again, picked up your book. The atmosphere was quiet, yet not oppressively silent. The both of you enjoyed the quiet time together until Morax came home and looked upon the scene with confusion.

-

You cried as your coughed up blood, the thick liquid plopping into the bucket that had been placed by the bed. Your body shook, covered in a thin sheen of sweat as your breath rattled horribly in your chest. You flopped back down on the bed, arms too weak to hold you up and the fuzz around your eyes only growing.

Morax was by your side. His fingers threaded through your hair in an attempt to comfort you. He could only watch as his lover fell apart, watch as their body slowly grew thinner, as they stopped eating or moving or smiling. It pained him greatly to see the state they had been brought to because of this illness. He was only lucky that his Adeptus body was not affected by human illnesses and thus could stay by your side with no fear of contracting it himself.

You rolled over, and even though it felt like it had taken too much energy, and draped yourself over Morax. Despite being sweaty, and at risk of coughing up blood again, your husband didn’t push you away, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you close for you to soak up the coolness of his body.

“Morax… Morax… the medicine, when will it be ready?” Your muttering sounded almost delirious, breathy and disconnected. A glaze settled in your eyes.

“Soon, my love. The doctor is saying that this illness is rather difficult to deal with and has to create a new medicinal formula to aid you, but he’s positive that he’ll be able to do it. You’ll be just fine soon enough.”

-

Clawed hands slid up your trembling legs, slightly digging into the plump flesh. A long, slitted tongue infiltrated your mouth, filling your head with cotton as it explored from behind your teeth to the back of your throat.

Your gasps between kisses were heady and your hands were clingy, nails sinking into the hard contours of his back, his hips grinding against yours. His touch was intoxicating, filling your mind till all you could think of was him.

Even in his neediness, he was gentle, his claws not daring to rip off clothing as he slowly peeled you bare, until you laid before him like a newly bloomed flower. Your face was red, chest heaving with gasping breaths after you had just been kissed senseless. With no time to think, hot kisses, more akin to bites, trailed down your neck, sharp canines teasing you, and you couldn’t but wish they would clamp down and give you a pretty bruise to admire later.

You couldn’t take the slowness. Hooking your knee around his waist, you used all your body weight to flip the two of you over. Now, sitting on his stomach, hands pressing down on his chest, you got a good look at how debauched your husband was. Eyes blown so wide there was only a ring of amber around the pupil. His hair was messy, knotted from your tight grip, and there was a dark blush high on his cheeks.

Your hands trailed all over his body. From his face down to his neck, chest, arms, and pelvis. He was sensitive, you realized, as he shivered pleasantly with each graze of your fingertips, head tilted back, leaving his neck free.

Unlike Morax, you had no reservations about how much your husband could take. While he was constantly worried about harming you with his draconic features, you couldn’t share the same concerns. You sucked harsh kisses to his neck and left your husband mottled with red bruises slowly darkening and little indents from your teeth. A particular bite behind his ear had him moaning, his hands clenched around your waist.

Overcome with adoration, you nibbled on his ear, whispering praises and various forms of ‘I love you’ that had him melting into a pile of goo, a lovestruck smile on his face.

[theendisneat]

Soulmates

Characters: Zhongli, Diluc Warnings: Fluff, angst, descriptions of burn injuries/treatment Word Count: 1292

Zhongli - (Matching Soulmarks)

Laying in bed, you snuggled deep under the covers, consciousness drifting closer as you felt warmth crawl over you bare back. As you woke up, you became aware of the roughened fingertip tracing nonsense lines over the dips and curves of your muscles.

You groaned pleasantly as a gentle fire trailed after the fingertips, causing you to shiver. “Stop it.” You mumbled sleepily. “Let me go back to sleep.”

A deep chuckle reverberated through the chest behind you, arms moving to wrap around your waist and pull you close, lips pressing to the bottom of your nape. “I apologize for waking you, my dear.”

“No you're not.” You scoff playfully, rolling over to face the one behind you.

You were greeted with sharp, amber eyes that glowed like Cor Lapis roving over your form. Long, brown hair, tipped a shining gold, was spread across shoulders and pillows like a halo, strung messily around thin, branched antlers. Broad arms kept you close and thin lips were pulled into a handsome smile that crickled those keen eyes.

“No.” He simply said, leaning down to brush a kiss against your forehead.

While he did so, your own fingers found themselves tracing. Across the plains of his chest, your fingers followed the lines of a beautiful, lithe, dragon of gold and brown scales with a wild, yet regal, mane, intertwined with a Pixiu. Curved antlers and small, feathery wings complemented its tough body and strong, deadly teeth.

Wrapped in ribbons of gold and red, red gauze and mora surrounding them, they danced with each other, and instinctively you knew that yours and your husband’s beast forms were gazing at each other with eyes of love.

It was such a shame that your mark was on your back while Zhongli’s got to be on his chest, where he could gaze at it so easily.

“You’re ridiculous.” You murmured, kissing the head of the dragon and watching with softened eyes as it glowed with subtle warmth, a sign of acceptance of affection.

Zhongli only rumbled with agreement, nuzzling the top of your head and playfully biting one of your thicker antlers. You huffed, trying to shake him off, but when he stubbornly stayed on, you flopped into his chest, closing your eyes once more.

“The sunlight is only beginning to rise. Let me sleep for just a bit longer?” 

Zhongli let go of your antler, looking down at you with incredulousness mixed with mirth. “How can you be a Pixiu when you act so much like a house cat?”

“What have I to do all day but laze around? Let me sleep.” You chuckle softly.

“That is by your own choice.”

“And it is yours that Liyue should no longer require help from its reigning god or his spouse, therefore, I have not much to do.” 

Zhongli sighed, but even then you felt, even heard, the smile in his voice. “Then you may stay in bed, and I will go make us breakfast.” 

You hummed happily. “What a wonderful husband you are.”

"Do not tease me so early in the morning." Zhongli said, sliding from under the silk covers of your bed.

You gasp. "I was not! I was being honest!"

Zhongli only smiled and with a brush of his palm against your back, and yours along his chest, he left to go prepare your morning meal as you burrowed into a nest of blankets and early morning sun rays.

Diluc - (Matching Scars)

You sat on the edge of the tub, your hands rhythmically kneading the shampoo into his fiery, curly hair. Your pants were curled up to your knees, your legs to either side of him as he sat between your knees, his back to you. 

“Arms out.” You instructed gently. Diluc obediently held his arms, which had been resting on the sides of the tub out further as you grabbed the small bucket of water, dumping it over his head. 

You squeezed out the rest of the shampoo before lathering his hair with a sweet smelling conditioner. Diluc’s head was pointed down, and with him facing away from you, you couldn’t gauge his expression. You paused, your fingers tangled in his silky strands.

“You're rather quiet today.” You commented casually. “Are you alright?”

Diluc was quiet for a moment, so still you would have mistaken him for being asleep. “I hate this.”  He grumbled.

You knew what he was talking about, of course. The red, flaking scars that ravaged his fingers all the way to his elbows. The scars that yours matched, in visual alone. 

When they first appeared on your arms, you panicked. Scars had shown up on you before, and the first one you ever got was a momentous occasion, but never to the degree that the violent red had crawled up your skin, though they didn’t hurt. You thought something severe had happened, you thought more damage would come, you thought your soulmate - one you hadn’t even had the pleasure of meeting yet - would soon perish.

But scars kept coming. Along your legs and arms and stomach and in a strange way, it assured you. It at least let you know that they were still alive.

You never bothered to hide your scars, not seeing them as something shameful or disgusting. And because you had no need to care for them, you wore whatever you’d like.

That was how you stumbled into the Angel’s Share on a sweltering afternoon, scars uncovered in a loose short sleeved shirt. The wide eyed look on the poor bartender had left you deeply confused and soon anxious when his breathing picked up.

Everything spiraled from there.

And now you sat at the edge of the tub, sighing with sorrow. “I know you hate it.”

Gently coaxing Diluc from the tub, you dried him off and quickly dressed him in his soft clothes to spare him the humiliation he always felt despite doing this every night since you had married. His eyes were downcast as you led him from the bathroom to the bedroom, pushing his shoulders so he sat on the bed.

After collecting what you needed, you held your hands out for his arms. After a moment of silent deliberation, he placed his hands in yours. Taking some moisturizer, you slowly massaged it into the burns, taking care not to hurt him.

He hated it. Hated being coddled. Hated being unable to take care of himself. Hated being damaged. Hated that his damage infected you. It was a sight that curled in his heart every time he saw it. 

As you slid on his pressure garments, he scowled. “I hate it.” 

“I know Diluc. I know you do.” You smiled and it melted him, filled him with warmth that only appeared with you. 

You always knew what to say, how to help him. You didn’t give faux sweet words of hollow encouragement and you didn’t scold him for feeling down, telling him to just buck up and think positive.. You were just there. A comfort. A rock. You knew how his mood dipped and raised. You knew that right now, when he’s like this, he just wants you to tell him you understand.

He was brought from his thoughts when he felt a sweet kiss to his reddened cheek, still flushed from the warm bath. He looked at you, slowly getting sucked in your soft eyes as his own dropped from exhaustion.

“Let’s go to bed, hm?” You whispered as you guided him under the covers, sliding him beside and nuzzling into his neck. “Maybe you’ll feel better in the morning.”

Diluc finally allowed the tenseness in his shoulders to drop. Curled around you, cared for, not coddled, healing, not damaged, he sighed and soon fell asleep.

[theendisneat]

Set in Stone [Pt.2 (Arranged Marriage Series)]

Pairing: Zhongli x gn!reader

Word Count: 759

Warnings: None

Two years have passed since the joining of you and your husband. It was… blissful, to say the least. Morax was an admirable husband, always vying to take care of you and shower you with meaningful gifts and silent gestures of love.

You couldn’t help but reciprocate.

Falling for your husband was a breeze once you gave up your useless grudge. The way he held you so softly, how he told stories with articulate and imaginative descriptions, or how he would press a beautiful set of intricately carved jade earrings to the palm of your hand saying he saw them in the market and they reminded him of you.

You cooked him meals, needled out what he liked and didn’t, trying to give him what he loved. You rubbed his hands when he got home, listened to him complain about the stressful duties of being an archon, and on days he was particularly moody, you would sunbathe with him in the garden, leaning against the slender, scaly dragon body.

You had your disputes, sure. But as it turns out, neither of you were ill-tempered or irrational and were able to work it out perfectly well (if not a little rocky at times).

It was an easy afternoon, the Liyuen sun shining brightly through the windows of your home when your husband came back from work. You had been reading a short fantasy novel, lounging across the couch when the door opened.

Your eyes lifted to find your husband standing in front of you with a small smile on his pretty, thin lips, arms hiding something behind his back.

“Husband, welcome home.” You offered him a nice smile in return.

“I have a gift for you.” His smile widened and you couldn’t help your heart melting..

“So I see. What is it?” Morax motioned for you to hold your hands out. You followed his instructions and he placed a thin, dark wood box in your palms.

You sighed with exasperated fondness. “Another necklace? Husband-”

“This one is special.” Morax took a seat next to you, his hands on your thighs, watching you. You didn’t think you’d ever seen your husband this excitable.

You opened up the box to reveal a glowing cor lapis on a silver chain. The cor lapis was carved like a precious stone, held in delicate silver prongs as emitted a soft orange glow; a glow that reminded you of the warmth in a sunset. The chain was the perfect length so it would rest at the top of your sternum.

“It’s gorgeous, but why is it glowing?” You dangled the necklace in front of you as you looked at him with confusion in your eyes.

“I never asked you to marry me.” Morax began. You were about to speak but he raised a hand, requesting your silence. “It is the one thing in our marriage that I regret. Over these past few weeks, I have been speaking to my fellow adepti about the creation of a special object.”

You back went ramrod straight as Morax slid to his knees in front of you, cupping your hands. “Morax-”

“I love you. Deeply. And now, I wanted to ask you properly if you wished to spend the years with me.” He took a breath, eyes fluttering as he attempted to gain his bearings. “This necklace, should you choose to wear it, will make you immortal. Not to say that if you do not wish to wear it that I will decide you do not love me nor will I try to force it on you-”

“Morax-”

“I merely mean to ask… would you spend forever with me?”

You gasped and that was when you noticed the tears falling down your cheeks. You gently placed the necklace in your lap, leaning forward to cup your husband’s face, pulling him into a deep kiss. You smiled into his lips and you could feel him doing the same.

“This is how your first proposal should’ve gone.”

You heard his shaky breath. “Is that a yes?”

You pressed your forehead to his. “Yes.”

-

The necklace sat cool against your skin and you couldn’t help but unconsciously smile at the feeling.

“What is it, my love?” Zhongli asked from the dining table, a cup of cooling tea by his paperwork from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

“Nothing.” You said softly, cutting some sunsettia in neat pieces, dropping them in a bowl. You set it down next to the tea and Zhongli thanked you with pretty amber eyes full of years of adoration. “Just reminiscing.”

[theendisneat]

"I love you, I love you, I love you." [Dying in their arms, pt.2]

Characters - Zhongli, Tighnari

Warnings - Blood, injury, death, angst

Word Count - 748

Zhongli

After the many years spent by his side, young you no longer were.

While once upon a time you danced for him, silk fabrics floating around you like waves as you moved your body to the traditional songs of Liyue, now the joints of your knees creaked and groaned as you shuffled from the bedroom to the kitchen. Once your lungs were strong and loud, allowing you to sing beautiful melodies that filtered through the walls of the shared home, and now it was hard to breathe.

Though you would never change a day of your long, fulfilling life, a small, sorrowful part of Zhongli wishes there was a way for him to make you immortal as seeing you now destroys him. 

You laid in bed, breath labored with a gentle smile. Your spindly hand was wrapped around his seemingly young one while he sat by your bedside, an unbelievingly heartbroken expression on his face.

“What’s got you so down?” Your squeeze to his hand was so light it might not have existed.

Zhongli was silent for a moment. “You’ll be gone soon.”

“I will, but don’t be so sad. I’ve had such a wonderful life with you. I’m happy.”

Hearing those words finally broke something and small tears trickled down the geo archon’s cheeks, though he refused to break down completely. “I’ll lose you.”

“Oh no. No no no.” You reach out, your shaking hand landing on his cheek to wipe away those overflowing tears. “I’ll be waiting for you, and when it’s your time, I’ll be there to hold your hand.”

Zhongli shakes his head. “But I don’t know if I can keep going without you.”

“Of course you can, my dear. I know you can. You are so strong and powerful. I know that, despite how you feel, you would never lay down and die.” You sighed heavily. “But if you need a little more motivation, if I find you on the other side too soon, I will be very mad at you.” You finished jokingly.

Zhongli seemed to understand your intentions and managed to huff out a small chuckle. “I understand, dearest.”

The rest of the day was spent with Zhongli by your side. He told you your favorite stories and brewed your favorite tea. He sat beside you and brushed his fingers through your stark white hair, caressing your cheek as the sun finally set and your breath slowed to a stop.

Tighnari

“Stop moving!” Tighnari practically growled. His small fangs were bared, not in anger but in fear, and his ears were flat against his head. 

You choked when your fennec fox doctor pushed down a little too hard on the hole clean through your middle.

An easy expedition with Tighnari and a few other researchers took a harsh turn when the rock under your feet had crumbled and you fell down a steep cliff. That cliff unfortunately led to a bottom of spikes, one of which you were impaled on.

Tighnari had stumbled after you, an unconscious whimper leaving him when he saw what had happened. Gently, he lifted you from the spike you were impaled on and laid you down against the grass, which was quickly being stained red. 

Tighnari knew you were a goner the moment he moved you. Your organs had been impaled and so much blood was spilling from your body it could fill a fountain. He scrunched his nose as he tried not to cry, pressing your wound harder than he should’ve despite knowing you would die in only a few minutes.

In your hazy state you reached up to grab Tighnari’s neck, your fingers tangling in the baby hairs of his nape. You weakly push his head down till his forehead touches your shoulder, gently kissing his cheek as you hear him whine sadly in your ear.

“Calm down Nari, just stay with me?” You mumble, your breath getting shallower.

“No, we- we have to get you to a- to a doctor. You’re bleeding.” Tighnari’s hands scramble for his backpack only to let out some mix between a growl and a whine when he found insufficient medical supplies.

“Nari-” You grabbed his bloodied hand, your fingertips rubbing against his palm.

“Stop talking!” He snapped, but his eyes widened with shock when he saw your still figure. “No…nonononono.”

His fingers slid along your neck, smearing your blood as he tried desperately to find your pulse. His tears finally fell when his attempts came up fruitless.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

@blueeweeb

[theendisneat]

Left Behind [When Immortals Die]

Characters: Zhongli, Venti, Xiao, Scaramouche

Warnings: Hurt/no comfort, angst, death, self destructive tendencies

Word Count: 984

Zhongli

His mind was growing unstable, you knew. Though you were in the prime of your life, he was ending.

It was painful to watch. Sometimes you would get home to see his head resting against the table, his hands cupping his face as he breathed heavily. You would come up behind him and rest your hands on his shoulders, coaxing him to lift his head, but when he did, his eyes would be glazed, a more robotic tilt to his movement.

Sometimes it was more violent. Sometimes his draconic side couldn't decipher who you were and would lash out at you. It was never enough to warrant anything more than a band-aid, but Zhongli would have silent tears run down his face as he leaned his head on your shoulder, whispering exhausted apologies.

It was when he was little more than a shell that he told you he wouldn't see past today's sunrise. You cried over him, whispering desperately for him to stay, to tell you stories of the archon days and of Liyue's prospering; To help you make tea because you were so terrible, and to hold you against his chest.

A strange sight it was to see your once proud lover turn to something finer than sand, something so fine it fell through your fingers. The wind carried it out the open window, perhaps a last act from an old friend.

You were left sobbing on the bed, a gaping hole that your lover left behind, clutching the bed sheets as you tried to hold in your screams.

Venti

His voice faded out, never singing, never waxing purple prose poetry, never loudly cheering as he drank copious amounts of wine. It was disheartened to serve Venti do downtrodden, so silent and waiting.

His body went slower than his words, but soon, he could no longer fly. He never danced among the clouds, or played in small whirlwinds that curled around him like a comforting breeze. In fact, wind rarely blew around him at all, the air often stagnant throughout the lands now.

Many days were spent with Venti resting against your chest, his head laying limply on your shoulder, under the shade of Vanessa’s tree. His scratched voice would mutter out a simple request, a request for you to sing to him as he laid with little strength in his limbs.

It was this day that, under your very palms, you could feel Venti’s body slowly dissolve into pure wind. You cried as you sang, doing your best not to let the tears and choked voice inhibit what would be his final song with you.

As you finished the song, your arms fell limply in your lap, no longer holding the person you loved more than anything. You took gasping breaths, a fuzzy feeling invading your head as a part of you wished you could forget this ever happened.

Xiao

"Xiao, please. Can't you rest for just a moment?"

You held the crook of his elbow gently, stopping him from disappearing off onto the night once more, a worried gleam in your eyes. Your gaze raked his body, seeing the dark red spots that invaded his skin like a disease. They were growing rapidly as Xiao took on more and more duty, especially after Rex Lapis' passing, and acquired ridiculous amounts of karma.

It was staining his body with its accumulation, poisoning him from the inside-out, and it hurt you to witness it. Despite your warnings and wishes, Xiao never took any breaks, never rested for even a second. It destroyed your relationship just as it destroyed his body.

But you were determined to stay by him, loving him, caring for him. In this moment, he looked back into your scared, yet loving eyes with uncertainty and determination.

"I'll only be gone for a few hours." He murmured, in what he hoped was a comforting tone. "I'll even… join you in bed tonight, okay?"

Hesitantly you released his arm, your gut screaming against it, but you didn't want to push him too far. "Okay."

He vanished in a cloud of green and black, and it was the last you ever saw him.

Scaramouche

Cracks were littered across his body, you could see them in the early morning glow on the rare occasion you woke up before him. They traveled along his neck, and arms, and legs, and there were a few, impossible to see if you weren't looking, on his supple cheeks.

He didn't like to talk about them, didn't like the idea that something as crude as his body was holding him back from the greatness he knew he could achieve.

You tried to push him away from his pursuit of the gnosis, not in malicious, believing that he couldn't do it, but out of fear that he would finally destroy the past of his physical self.

He showed it to you in private, the small chess piece that gave the status of an archon, the tiny object that would give your lover his ascension to godhood. It was beautiful no doubt, but the manic look in Scaramouche's eyes terrified you. It was a hunger and yearning that you couldn't understand, but as he held it, a piece of his skin cracked and fell.

You gasped but he was too enthralled to notice and he asked you to watch him place his prize within his chest. You begged him not to, but it seemed you were just a spectator now, as Scaramouche placed the gnosis in the spot where his heart should be.

For a moment, everything was quiet. For a moment, you fooled yourself into thinking everything was okay. But those cracks moved rapidly, crawling across Scaramouche's skin like thin, all encompassing vines.

You screamed but it didn't shake the content smile on Scaramouche's face as he broke to pieces, each one shattering on the wooden floors like glass.

[theendisneat]

"I love you, I love you, I love you." [Dying in their arms]

Warings - Death, mentions of illness and injury, hurt/no comfort

Characters - Xiao, Childe, Kamisato Ayaka, Venti, Scaramouche/Wanderer

Word Count - 1410

Xiao

He held you in his arms. If he wasn’t so concerned with hurting you, even now when blood slid from your lips and down your throat, he would be crushing you against his chest. But his hands cradled your body tenderly, so softly he was practically hovering them around you, not wanting to taint your already dying body with his karma.

Tears gathered in his eyes, but he forced himself not to cry when you two made eye contact. He wanted to, archons he wanted to ball when he saw the light slowly dim from your pretty eyes, the eyes he was admiring not so long ago.

“Why?” He couldn’t help but whisper. “I could’ve protected myself.”

You opened your mouth, only for no sounds to come out on the first try. You swallowed harshly, the taste of blood making you want to vomit, but you didn’t even have the energy for that. “It was instinct.”

It was then Xiao finally let those tears fall. It was instinct? The instinct to protect him? You loved him that much? He hugged you closer, pressing his forehead against your own so he could hear your breaths, your shallow, dying breaths. You protected him, you loved him, and he loved you.

Slowly he kissed your cheek. “I love you.”

Your forehead. “I love you.”

Eyelids. “I love you. I love you.”

And finally, the lips that had taken their last breath. “I love you, so, so, much.”

Childe

Fighting beside you was a dream for him. Both of you engaged in the thrill of battle, taking out enemies side by side with equal grace and power. He loved it, loved seeing you in his domain, loved seeing you kickass. It put a smile on his face knowing his lover was like him, powerful.

But everything powerful eventually falls, and you did it for him. So caught up in the heat of the battle, a rush going throughout his whole body, he didn’t notice the one enemy that was creeping up behind to stab him through the heart, but you did.

You had pushed him out of the way, the sword piercing you like a hot knife through butter, right in the heart where Childe was meant to get hit. The sword was pulled back with a metallic whine as Childe saw red. He doesn’t remember what he did, or what was happening until his body hands were holding your head and pressing down on your heart.

He was mumbling reassurances, desperate pleas to stay by his side and do everything you’ve ever dreamed of doing. Hysterical nonsense was the only thing to be heard besides your quiet breaths and the drip of blood as it painted the field alongside the bodies of the other enemies.

You used the last of your strength to cradle his cheek, accidentally smearing your blood on his pale, flushed face, but neither of you cared. You mumbled out a returning ‘I love you’ as you body went limp and Childe screamed.

Kamisato Ayaka

You didn’t know the woman in front of you, but she obviously knew you with the way she flittered about your room. Was it your room? You couldn’t recall. The memories were hazy, and your limbs were heavy. 

Ayaka had never been more scared out of her mind when Thoma had dragged you home one day saying you had gotten in an altercation with the Tenryou Commision protecting an immigrant merchant and had lost your vision. You had been beaten, that was obvious enough, but what she was really worried about was the lack of vision, with only bad things to say about the condition of those who had lost theirs.

Ayaka was right in her worry as you began to deteriorate before her eyes. You stopped knowing how to get around the house, you lost recognition of some of the house’s staff members, you would wander around, eyes glazed and thoughts foggy. It was only about time when the memories of Thoma, and Ayato, and her started to fade.

You would lean away from her kisses, struggling to remember her name, and stayed in your room when moving became too difficult. Your body was going along with your mind, becoming a corpse right in front of your forgotten lover’s eyes.

When you took your last breath, you were too weak to lean away from Ayaka’s hands. They cupped your face gently, her delicate finger wiping away tears you didn’t know the origin of. The last thing you remember was the sound of her crying, her tears dripping on your face as she hovered over you, desperate to see some last spark in your eyes before they finally went out.

She whispered to your still body. Pleas of adoration for you to come back, to open your eyes and look at her with recognition and love once more, but you couldn’t, and she knew that, and it only made her cry harder.

Venti

Your head was in his lap, hair spread across his thighs haphazardly as he caressed your face with such gentleness it felt like a morning breeze. You could feel the pain anymore, the one that had traveled through your abdomen to your heart. It had been stabbing in tune with the beat of your heart, but now, laying here, it didn’t hurt so bad.

The feeling was leaving from your feet, limbs becoming numb. You tried to twitch your fingers to reach up to your beloved’s face. Tears had begun to slide down his cheeks, but a stoic, empty smile was on his face. Why was he crying?

“Are you alright, love?” You had no idea why it took so much effort simply to speak. Your mind had begun to fog, eyes, unknowing to you, had glazed over slightly, making you look like a doll.

“Yeah.” Venti murmured, trying to make his smile more joyful, but you could hear the lingering brokenness in his voice. “Everything’s alright darling.”

“Why’re you cryin’ then?” Venti heard the slurring of your voice and had to bite down a new wave of tears. He thumbed the skin under your eye, rubbing away any lasting tears of pain.

“I’m just so happy to see you again. You’ve been off on your adventures. It’s nice to see you back home ya know?”

Venti leaned down and kissed your forehead. “Why don’t you go to sleep darling? We can do something fun in the morning.”

“Okay.” You felt exhaustion settling in your bones, going limp entirely now. Black spots entered your vision as you felt your consciousness fade. “I love you.”

Venti let out a wet laugh. “I love you too.” And with one final kiss on the cheek, you were gone.

Scaramouche/Wanderer

“You can’t do this to me!” His grip was tight, almost too tight, but you had lost feeling in a lot of your body a long time ago and now a previously bruising grip became a comforting pressure. “You can’t fucking do this to me! Are you going to betray me too? HUH?!”

He couldn’t control himself as you simply sat there, wrapped in your blankets with a content smile on your face. You were leaving him. Didn’t you understand how much it would hurt, living everyday for the rest of eternity wishing you were there?

You had been sick your whole life. No doctor had ever lied to give you hope that you would live past twenty five and so you made the most of your time before you had to move on. Content with death since the moment of your birth, you strayed away from many relationships as they would benefit nobody but misery in the long run. 

But something about Scaramouche just pulled you in.

You gravitated towards him, and he to you. Caught in each other’s orbit you danced for however long you had left. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough time. Cradling Scaramouche’s cheeks with your weak hands, you swiped away the ugly tears that marred his beautiful face. Pulling him to your chest, you immediately felt his arms circle your waist.

He tucked his face to the crook of your neck as he cried, pleaded. “Please don’t leave me too. Please, please, please. I love you. I love you so fucking much.”

Scaramouche heard as your heart stopped beating, your chest staying still. Your arms fell limp from where they had wrapped around his shoulders in a loose hug.

[theendisneat]

Kisses

Characters - Diluc, Childe, Kaeya, Scaramouche/Wanderer

Warnings - Suggestive themes

Diluc

Morning flooded through the heavy curtains, staining your eyes red till you were forced to open them. Sighing at the thought of having to get up, you snuggled back to the hard chest behind you, smiling softly when the arm around your waist tightened.

Turning over to bury your face in your husband's neck, you noticed his eyes half lidded and filled with impeccable fondness. Your face burned with the intense adoration he was showering you with, with his eyes alone, and leaned up to peck his lips to cover your abashedness.

He chuckled, flaming hair spilling over his shoulders and tickling your bare waist. He let his lips trail from your own, to the corner of your lips, to the apples of your cheeks, to your forehead, until every inch of your face is covered with soft morning kisses from your husband.

You giggled, nuzzling into the crook of his neck to hide your burning cheeks. You always loved the early mornings.

Childe

Reading a book in the late afternoon, you were set in a bubble of tranquility. The easy clicking of a clock was the only thing to fill the empty air, but left behind a comfortable presence.

The door slamming shocked your system but you couldn't help the fond smile that crept over your lips. Putting your book down, you rose to the call of "Babe I'm home!" from your husband in the hallway, no doubt struggling to rid himself of his boots with his tired legs.

Coming to find exactly as you thought made you laugh and Ajax snapped his head up at the sound. Finally maneuvering out of his boots he padded over to you with a cheeky grin.

You grinned back, pulling him down by the lapels of his coat to smash your lips on his. He responded right away, enthusiastically reciprocating your passionate kiss.

You pulled back and pecked his cheek. "Welcome home."

Kaeya

You shivered as Kaeya lips traveled down your body, mapping out every dip and curve of your skin. You swore his kisses left icicles behind but it didn't matter so much as the heat of your body would melt them straight away.

A languid kiss against your inner thigh had you shuddering violently, something that amused your lover greatly as he gave a small kiss in the same spot as an apology.

Your legs tightened around his head as a response. He trailed his equally cold fingers along the previous track of his kisses, chuckling at your breathy moans and continuing to lavish your thighs in chilly adoration.

Scaramouche/Wanderer

It wasn't so much kissing as it was soft biting. With you straddling his thighs he made perfect access to your delectable lips and he took full advantage of it. Sucking and licking and biting till your lips were bright red and slicked with shared saliva.

The sight of you so debauched from a simple make out session had him squeezing the meat of your hips, holding you too himself in a no doubt bruising grip.

He trailed those kisses down your neck, sucking pink bruises to places you couldn't hide them, and one especially behind your ear that had you moaning loudly. You felt his curling smirk in the crook of your shoulder, his hands sliding your shirt to the side.

[theendisneat]

Set in Stone [Arranged Marriage Series]

Pairing: Zhongli x gn!Reader

Word Count: 1063

Warnings: Forced marriage

The ceremony between you and him was quick and surprisingly uneventful. Draped in golden robes to match his own regality, you stood with hands clenched as the two of you were officially wedded. Tears pricked your eyes but you made sure they never fell as your husband’s draconic gaze landed on your painted face.

Rex Lapis, your god, had desired a mate for reasons unknown to you, but it wasn't long before the adepti swept you away to the predicament you were in now. It hadn’t been the worst, you supposed, as they had all treated you kindly, but the lack of control with the situation had you gnashing your teeth.

Arranged marriages were not uncommon, and if your Lord had simply asked for your hand traditionally, you most likely would not have a problem with it, after all, there was no one else you loved.

But now you refused to look him in the eye and shook the hand that tried to lead you by the small of your back off. You heard a small sigh, of what emotion you couldn’t determine, but you didn’t care to look back, still upset with him, and you’d do anything in your power to show that.

You entered his domain of full, bright, white clouds painted orange and red hues from a nonexistent sunset. You couldn’t deny that it was breath-taking and you had to stop yourself from simply gazing in wonder, not wanting to give him a sliver of something to be proud about.

There was a home in the domain, swirling, carved wood with ancient designs you couldn’t understand and a large red door that you swung open without care, your husband trailing behind you without a word. The inside was warmer than you expected, not just in temperature, but in design as well. The browns and burnt oranges gave off a ‘homey’ feel and the large couches with blankets thrown over the edge had you wanting to throw yourself on them.

In your looking around, your husband had managed to sneak up behind you. “Is it to your liking?”

If you didn’t know any better you’d have thought he sounded nervous. “Yes.” You said simply, face set in stone. You turned to him. “Will we have to consummate the marriage immediately?”

His face fell slightly. “No. We do not have to consummate the marriage ever, should you not want to.”

“Do you?”

“I-” he paused, and by the look on his face you could tell he was going through every possible answer, finding the best one to please you. “It is up to you.”

You hummed and began to peel off your wedding garments till you got to the undermost robe. Rex Lapis had quickly looked away from your ‘naked’ form as you tossed the garments over the arm of the couch and flopped on a pile of throw pillows, sinking into the feeling as your feet were given a rest.

You rested your eyes half-open, just enough to see your husband, standing there looking foolish. “Are you simply going to stand there?”

“I did not know what you wished me to do.”

You sighed, sitting up from your mini throne of pillows and motioned him to come forward. He was hesitant, and you didn’t blame him given how you’ve made your displeasure with this arrangement obvious, but you felt bad for him when he stood there looking like a dejected puppy.

He stood in front of you and you got up on your knees to press his shoulders down. He eventually got the memo and sat next to you on the couch, posture rigid. You sighed again and grabbed his hand, running circles through the tense muscles. As mad as you were, this was your situation now, and holding onto a grudge against him would only make this whole thing more unbearable.

“You need to relax, husband. You’re so tense.”

He looked at you in shock, one of the fingers of the hand you were kneading twitched.

“What?” You raised your eyebrow at him.

“I never thought you’d say such a thing to me.”

“Why?”

He turned his head from you, hiding whatever expression he was making. “You were upset with the wedding, and you made that fairly clear. I didn’t think you’d call me such a name, when you so obviously despise me.”

“I do not despise you husband, I am simply angry.”

“I apologize.”

You shook your head. “If you had simply asked me, I would’ve said yes.”

He whipped his head towards you. “Truly?”

“Yes. Now can we go to bed? I’m tired.”

“Of course.” But you missed the small smile on his face as you walked to what you assumed was the bedroom door.

-

You woke up to the faux sun shining in your face. Bright rays lighting up the room through thin curtains that did nothing to hide the light. There was a rising feeling in your stomach when you felt an arm curl around your waist when you shuffled. You snuggled deeper into your pillow to hide whatever face you were making (you didn’t know) as the arm tightened even more, pulling you back to a hard chest.

Steeling your nerves, you turned around only to see your husband’s eyes wide open, staring at you like you were covered in some kind of ethereal light. You flinched, not expecting to see his cor lapis irises looking at you with such an intensity you felt the heat rise to your face.

“You look very beautiful.” His voice was coarse and slow, a pleasant sound to your still tired ears.

You scoffed playfully. “How beautiful could I be so early in the morning?”

But it seems your husband took your question seriously and moved to hover over your increasingly warming form. He stayed for only a second until he leaned down, squeezing his arms around your side in a kind of hug and letting his cheek rest against the side of your forehead. “You’re the most gorgeous creature my eyes have ever beheld.”

You were stunned, mouth gaping and the heat spreading down to your chest. “Husband-”

“Morax.”

You blinked. “What?”

“Please call me by my name, just once.”

“Alright, Morax.” You felt his throat rumble against your cheek in a strange, draconic purr. “Shall we start our day?”

Maybe this marriage wouldn’t be so bad.

[theendisneat]

"I can't get enough of you, no matter how much time we spend together."

Word Count - 768

Characters - Venti, Xiao, Kazuha, Zhongli

Warnings - Slight angst (Xiao)

Venti

You brushed your fingers through his hair, your own swaying in the breeze as the two of you sat under Lady Vanessa’s tree, his head in your lap. Just looking as his eyes fluttered shut and the little flyaways brushing against his cheeks had love swell in your chest and you couldn’t help but let a cheesy smile light up your lips.

“I can’t get enough of you.” You murmured. You sounded lovesick, but you couldn’t care less. “No matter how much time we spend together.”

His eyes opened while a grin bloomed on his face, a pink blush littering his cheek. “I could say the same about you, my cecilia. I could never imagine my life without you by my side.”

His eyes gained a far away look, small tears gathering in the corners. You leaned down and brushed his bangs away before placing a chaste kiss on his forehead, then to his cheek, the corner of his mouth, and lastly his lips. When you pulled back he was left giggling, the tears gone and his smile reaching the corners of his eyes.

Xiao

“How could you say such a thing?” His voice trembled as you cupped his face. The cold of your fingers crept to the warmth that had bloomed on the apples of his cheeks.

“How could I not?” You replied. There was a sad tilt to your voice, like you couldn’t believe he would question your unending love for him. But could you blame him for thinking such? His aloofness, his tendency to push you away, to stay quiet when he really needed you. How at first he kept his distance because of the fear his karma would corrupt your wonderful soul and he couldn’t bear to see it?

He looked into your eyes, kind and unconditionally loving, understanding of his oddities and defense mechanisms; Helping when he needed it with no question. He took a step forward, wrapping his arms around your waist in a tentative hug, nuzzling his face to the crook of your neck as you circled your arms around his shoulders.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “For always loving me, and being there for me. I’m forever grateful.” He hesitated once more, but as he said it, he found more conviction in his tone than in anything else he’s said before.

“I love you.”

Kazuha

“I think I’m rubbing off on you my love.” He chuckled as his arms wrapped around you from behind, the two of you leaning over the edge of the crux, gazing out to the wide ocean and feeling the spray on your face. “You’re becoming quite poetic.”

“You think so? I’m just saying what I’m thinking.”

He hummed, pressing a sweet kiss to your forehead. “Please say those thoughts more often then, they are quite wonderful.”

You turned in his hold, tracing your fingertips up his arms and to the back of his neck where you played with the baby hairs. “You wish to hear more of my thoughts?” He nodded with a small hum, eyes closing as he melted to your hold. You leaned in close to him, wrapping him in a tight embrace.

You whispered to the shell of his ear, feeling him shiver when your breath hit him. “I love you more with each passing day.”

Zhongli

He was in the middle of a lecture, something about the proper way to find high quality noctilucous jade, and you just stared with love sick eyes. Everytime he went on these rants, you listened, always intensely fascinated with the great amounts of knowledge he could spout at the drop of a hat, but this time you had zoned out, eyes trailing over his beautiful face and ears being calmed by his rough, soothing voice.

“I can’t get enough of you.” You said with a sappy sigh, unintentionally interrupting the god who paused to listen. “No matter how long we spend together, I don’t think I could ever, truly, get enough of you.”

A small smile was on his lips when you snapped from your thoughts, realizing he wasn’t speaking anymore. You clapped your hands over your mouth. “Did I say that out loud?”

“Yes.” He chuckled, but you could see the pleased blush on his cheeks. “Though I’m appreciative of your interruption, it is not often you share these thoughts with me.”

“That’s because it’s embarrassing!” You covered your face with your hands. His gloved fingers tugged your wrists from your face.

“On the contrary,” he gazed at you, and it was then you noticed the same lovesickness you harbored. “I rather enjoy them.”

[theendisneat]

Nightmares

Word Count - 878

Characters - Xiao, Tighnari, Zhongli

Warnings - None

Xiao

Your eyes snapped open as you rolled over to face the window. Your breathing was heavy and your eyes were hazy from sleep. Absent-mindedly you realized that the spot beside you was cold. Xiao must not have come back yet.

You whimper as the cool breeze from the window caressed your uncovered arms and you shivered, shuffling into the slightly warmer sheets. The horrors of your dreams pounded at the back of your eyes. Every time you tried to fall back asleep, flashes of the dream came and you snapped your eyes back open.

Eventually you couldn’t take it anymore, your muscles tense and sleep continuing to evade you. You never liked calling Xiao’s name. You knew how seriously he took his contract to Liyue and loathed to take him away from that for something so ridiculous.

But you sighed and whispered ‘Xiao’, curling even tighter into the silk sheets. He flashed in, surrounded by black and green, his mask covering the pretty face you love. When he saw you were in no immediate danger he vanished his spear that he had been clutching tightly and strapped his mask to his belt where it hung on his thigh.

He sighed and sat next to you on the bed, running his hands through your hair without a word the way he knows you like it. You sat up after a moment and reached out to him, circling your arms around his neck and nuzzling your cheek against his own. He held you delicately, placing his hands on your waist and resting his cheek on your head.

He stayed like that with you for the rest of the night, cuddling you close until your breaths evened out and he laid you down gently, tucking himself behind you and giving you a small kiss to the back of your neck.

Tighnari

When you sat up gasping, you noticed your lover still scribbling away on what you were sure was what had been keeping him up all week. The bed had been cold without him but you made do with listening to the sound of his frustrations when he wrote something wrong and had to scratch it out, the swish of his tail having lulled you to sleep.

But tonight, it was difficult to rest easy as you were plagued with nightmares. They shocked your system awake, shakes in your fingers making it difficult to clench the sheets. You look over to your guys’ shared desk to, unsurprisingly, see Tighnari working away.

Slipping from the bed you unknowingly creeped up behind the unsuspecting fox, startling him when you wrapped your arms around his waist and pressed your cheek to his shoulder. He jerked under your hold, letting out a breath.

“Nari,” you mumbled, pressing kisses to the crook of his neck. “Come to bed please.”

He sighed. “[Y/n] I-”

“Please Nari?” You whimpered and squeezed him tighter.

He paused, his tail unconsciously wrapping around your waist to pull you even closer. “Is something the matter?”

“I just.. I… I had a nightmare. I want you with me right now, please?”

Tighnari turned around, placing his hands around your waist he brought you into his embrace, running a soothing hand up and down your back. “Alright. My work on Sumeru’s decline in Rukkadevata mushrooms can wait until morning, let’s go to bed.”

Zhongli

You woke you with your chest heaving, tears sliding down your cheeks as you silently sobbed. You didn’t want to wake your lover, who was behind you with an arm curled around your waist holding you protectively to his chest, but it seems that no matter how you try to keep quiet, your still too loud for his Adepti ears.

He stirred at the sound of your cries, immediately blinking awake, wasting no time to look over you to see if you were in any pain. When he deduced that you weren’t, he settled back down beside you to lightly trace his fingers across your hips in easy shapes.

“Are you alright, love?” His voice was heavy with sleep, gruff and inquisitive.

You had calmed your breathing, focusing on the way his fingers traveled your skin. “Yeah.” you croaked out. “I’m fine, just a bad dream.”

You heard him hum and shuffle behind you and you realized he was leaving the bed. You frantically turned over to grab his wrist and stop him from leaving, but he merely smiled at you and cupped your face. He held you like you were china as he reassured you that was only going to leave to make a small cup of tea that would ease your mind.

He knew you wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep but it was still late into the night and you had an early day tomorrow that you needed to be awake for.

You stayed up with Zhongli in the kitchen as he made the tea, filling the silence with mindless chatter that Zhongli indulged you in, understanding that this was your way to get your mind off whatever dream had plagued you.

You managed to fall asleep soon after, the tea doing wonders and Zhongli tucked behind you just like before with a hand around your waist and his face nuzzled into your hair.

[theendisneat]

Valentine's Day

Word Count - 835

Characters - Diluc, Zhongli, Childe, Aether

Warnings - None

Diluc

Diluc was always busy and though you wished he could stay in bed with you for such a day, work never slept and you understood. However, just because he couldn’t be with you for the whole day like he wanted, doesn’t mean he couldn’t give you a little something to make your morning better.

Stretching your limbs from under the sunlit sheets, you fully expected the patch of cold that met your wandering hands. A pang went through your heart but you sighed and got up anyway, despite how much you wanted to laze around with your absent lover.

Wrapping a thin robe around your figure, you made your way down the wooden staircase, running your fingers across the intricate designs carved into the wood that you never quite make out. Adelinde met you at the bottom of the stairs, a gentle smile or her face.

Though confused, you allowed her to lead you to the dining table for breakfast, a plate of your favorite being placed in front of her. You were about to thank her when she stopped you, telling you with a sly voice that this particular dish was made by Master Diluc. She left with a little giggle as the heat rose to your face.

Even though Diluc wasn’t there, warmth spread to your face at the thought that he was always thinking of you.

Zhongli

Quiet time with each other was the go to every year the day of love rolled around. You sighed contently as you melted into his side, a book cradled in your hands and your head resting on his chest. His arm was coiled around your waist, a book of his own propped up like a scholar with his elbow on the arm of the couch.

The day had been tranquil, the most of the noise coming from your occasional conversation or the singing birds that would perch on the open window sills. The breeze wafted through the house, chasing away the Liyuen heat.

Later the two of you would get dinner, a nice restaurant calling the name of both of your refined tastes. Sips of tea for him and wine for you as hands were delicately held across the table while the muffled chatter surrounded the two of you.

Soft smiles and gazes of absolute adoration were shared throughout the night, still there as you both fell into bed, curling up next to each other under the silk covers.

Childe

Gifts bombarded you from every angle the moment you woke up. Jewelry, trinkets, clothes, food, and more you have yet to uncover. The amount of gifts was more like a birthday but with a cheesy heart and roses theme spread throughout.

You didn’t have the heart to tell your overenthusiastic lover that all of this was unnecessary when he looked at you with teary puppy dog eyes. Eyes that immediately dropped to a wide smile when you resigned to your fate with a fond chuckle.

He took off work to spend an extravagant day out with you, love blossoming in your heart whenever you felt his arm slip around your waist or a peck to your cheek.

You did your best to pay him back, sneaking away for a quick moment to run to a shop where he had been staring at a beautiful earring, but had passed it up in favor of continuing the day with you. Despite it being quite expensive, you bought the earring and the face of adoration he made after unwrapping it, and the oxygen stealing hug he engulfed you in, made every mora worth it.

Aether

A shy one you knew, and because of that, you didn’t expect something so incredibly romantic. Aether had asked a few days ago, when everyone started to get rather excited about the coming day, what the day had even meant. You did your best to explain and he merely nodded.

Thinking it was simple curiosity about a tradition he hadn’t heard about, you put his reaction out of your mind. But come the morning of the holiday Aether was bugging you to get out of bed, gently nudging you whenever you rolled over to get away from his cold hands.

Eventually you resigned and climbed out of bed, getting dressed and following Aether, who carried a large basket. The first thing you noticed was a lack of a certain emergency food and when you inquired, he said she was hanging out with Amber for the day.

Your walk ended up leading to the most beautiful clearing you had ever seen. Vibrant, healthy trees with birdsong on the breeze. A small brook bubbling down the side made it all the more ethereal.

It was a place he found on his travels, he said, a place he wanted to take you to show you how much he loved you. And there you two stayed for the rest of the day, basking in the beauty of the forest and stuffing yourself with Aether’s amazing cooking.

[theendisneat]

First Snowfall

Word Count - 561

Warnings - None

*Artwork does not belong to me

You stood in the kitchen swirling a pot of hot chocolate, the steam warming your face while the rest of your body shivered from the chilly winds from outside. The door was open, and through it, you could see Kazuha waiting on the step of the porch, head tilted to the sky.

His hair was free from its normal ponytail. Cascading down his shoulders in loose curls, no doubt framing his face perfectly. A scarf was hanging from his neck, and his hands were clasped in front of him.

You poured the warm drink into two ceramic mugs, the steam curling in the air around your face. You sat gently next to your lover, handing him on of the mugs and resting your head on his shoulder.

You were right. His delicate face was framed perfectly, his curls coiling around his cheeks, giving him the impression of a porcelain doll. The winter air dusted his face with a pink blush that you couldn't help but kiss.

He looked down at you, finally tearing his eyes away from the setting sky painted in gorgeous shades of red, orange, and purple. His eyes were shining, a calm river staring down at you, a feeling of contentment washing through you.

He smiled, and you were sure his cheeks darkened just a couple of shades. You smiled back at him, turning to the fading sky yourself when white flurries began to descend.

You snuggled into Kazuha's side, letting out a sigh as you took sips of your hot chocolate, shocking warmth being spread through your vein. You felt his arm wrap around your waist, pulling you closer so you could nuzzle your face into his fuzzy scarf and a gentle kiss pressed to the crown of your head.

The flurries fell faster now as the two of you practically melded into each other, your bodies and the drinks being the only things keeping you warm. The snowflakes decorated the grass, covering each blade in their unique crystalline designs.

You don't know how long the two of you sat there, a haze eventually taking over your mind and the hours and the snow bled together. You must've fallen asleep curled into Kazuha's comfortable figure because the next thing you know, your mug was being gently pried from your hands and arms circled behind you knees and back.

Your head thunked against his shoulder as he lifted you, and you thought you heard a breathy chuckle, but your eyes were drooping, and sleep was taking you fast. He tucked you into bed, sheets pulled up to your chin to protect you from the chill now that winter was in full.

Through the drowsy haze, you realized he was not joining you in bed, and you shot your hand out with surprising speed to wrap around his wrist. A mumbled whine of where he was going had him laughing once more, tucking a stray hairs behind your ear as he kissed your cheek he whispered that he was simply going to clean up the mugs before slipping beside you.

You must've pouted because he gave you a playful look and faux stern 'don't give me that look dear' before leaving the room. Though you wanted to stay up, try as you might, you just couldn't help it when your eyes closed involuntary, the last thing you feel being two slim but muscled arms wrapping around your waist and a small kiss to the back of your neck as you drifted off.

[theendisneat]

Flowers Around My Soul

Word Count - 1471

Warnings - Light blood, death

*Artwork does not belong to me

When Barbatos’ friend died in the revolt against Decarabian, he thought a piece of his soul had died with him. A piece of his very core was ripped from his chest when he saw the light dim in the boy’s eyes before it faded completely.

He took on human form that day, and the first sound he ever made was not one of joy. It was not that of a beautiful melody that he had sung alongside his dearest friend or that of a laugh that sounded like bells. It was a scream of pure agony.

Over the body he hovered, in a form so familiar, and he screamed and cried, his tears marring the pale cheeks that had quickly lost their rosy color. His new hands clenched the fabric covered in blood, the squelching of the arrows moving only caused him to scream louder.

And there he was, in the middle of that battlefield, surrounded by hundreds of dead bodies, his soul being chipped away with every tear.

-

The scholars of Sumeru were an ambitious bunch, arrogant in their intelligence but with reason to be. Many of the scholars were unmatched in academics compared to those in other countries, devoting themselves completely to the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.

A scholar with a dendro vision was one such an experimenter who involved himself and a young lady he was fully and undeniably in love with, too deeply in that pursuit. It resulted in a deadly disease, one that ended up spreading across the nations and even to the immortal beings.

It was a cruel disease, one of love that suffocated you in your own desire. Flowers that formed from the powerful emotions would steadily infect the lungs eventually squeezing them till their victim could no longer breathe. The disease was almost completely incurable. No medicine or surgery could slow or kill the monstrous flowers except for one.

Only a requite of the secret love, now confessed, could dissolve the choking plants and allow the victim free breath.

-

Venti, as he called himself now, thought that the part of him that could truly love died long ago, died with him. 

That is what made it such a shock when the silk flower petal fluttered into his palm after the unusual coughing fit. It settled against his pale skin, saliva and blood littering the soft pink. His breath caught in his throat and he didn’t know if he was imagining it, but he thought he could feel other petals lining the back of his mouth.

His hand began to shake when you called his name. His head snapped to you and he was caught in your eyes, enraptured by their concern which sent a flutter in his heart and he felt another cough coming on before he was able to choke it back.

He stuttered out a reassurance, hiding the petal discreetly, praying you didn’t see it. Your concern was still there, he could see it, but you let it go, allowing him that reprieve of a conversation he wasn’t sure how to start. 

He spent the rest of the day with you, under Vanessa’s tree. You sat shoulder to shoulder, your head leaning on him as you fiddled with the ruffles of his sleeves. Eventually conversation dwindled and silence, a nice, quiet and comfortable silence, settled like a blanket. The sunset painted the hills of Mond, but Venti could only see the golds, pinks, and reds highlight all the most beautiful parts of your face.

You looked peaceful, breaths steadying as you slumped against his side, curling your hand around his own in a weak hold. Venti pressed his lips lightly to the crown of your forehead and you let out a sigh of contentment. Warmth spread through his being seeing you like this with him, tranquil and trusting, it made the petals grind uncomfortably against the cuts in his throat.

-

As the fully bloomed silk flower erupted from his throat, Venti finally accepted the reality that he was completely and truly in love with you. That part of him he had thought died oh so long ago was now beating painfully in his chest at the thought of him leaving you because of this ridiculous disease, and his own cowardice.

Ever since he saw you cross the gates of Mond, still decked in your Liyuen clothes, with a silk flower tucked behind your ear, wide-eyed and beautiful, he knew he was done for. He just wasn’t aware how far he would’ve fallen.

Now, the thought of you leaving him, whether it be by rejection or passing, it sent a wave of pain throughout his being. Of course he would never force you to stay, not only because of his ideals as the god of freedom, but because he wouldn’t be able to stand the look of misery on your face. The idea of keeping you with him, like a bird trapped in a cage unable to reach the gorgeous skies, was just, if not even more, as painful a thought.

However, that creeping feeling, that feeling of you looking at him with pity, with rejection, had him swallowing back the same flower that complemented you so well.

-

You had noticed, of course you did. He was getting paler, the flowers strangling every last puff of oxygen from his lungs. He was lightheaded, feet constantly knocking into each other as he walked now and wheezes escaping him instead of the normally beautiful tunes.

You had hugged him one day, arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders and face tucked into his neck, you were trembling, and he felt tears wet the ruffles of his shirt. He asked what was wrong as he circled his arms around your waist, holding you just as tightly as you were him. You sobbed, begging him to tell you what was wrong.

You had seen him get worse over the weeks, health deteriorating to a concerning degree. You had never inquired, getting the idea that he didn’t want to talk about it and respecting that, always making it known that you would be there for him, no matter what. But now he looked on the verge of death, and if he was being honest, he felt like it, and you couldn’t stand it any longer.

Venti felt that piece beating inside of himself once more, threatening to leap out of his chest at the absolute agony in your voice. He couldn’t take it, keeping his feelings away from you only ended up hurting you, something that wanted to make the tears lining his eyes fall free.

He confessed everything. Under the sunlight streaming through the leaves of Vanessa’s tree, he told of everything. Of his friend’s death, of being a god, of the archon war, of Vanessa, and all he had been through. The last thing he had told you was his feelings, the overwhelming love he felt for you scrambled all the thoughts in his head, his explanations coming out like rushed rambles and much less romantic than he would’ve liked.

The more he spoke the more nervous he got, flowers climbing up from his lungs as you only stood there silently through all his words. Your face is impassive, at least not full of pity, and your hands crossed in front of you properly.

When he finally finished, chest heaving and head spinning, you stepped towards him and pulled him in a firm hug. Those tears spilled down his apple cheeks, now devoid of their usual color. He felt weak, limbs limp and lacking the ability to hug you back.

A whispered ‘I love you’ against the shell of his ear had him full on sobbing, abandoning whatever happy go lucky mask he put on around others. His skin was itchy, like it was being pulled back and you saw every nerve alight with happiness now that you had said those words. A sudden rush of air filled his lungs, and vaguely he recognized that he could no longer feel the treacherous silk flowers constricting him from the inside-out.

But his head was too dizzy to care, drunk off the little kisses you were pressing to the crook of his neck and the calming hands running up and down his back.

He didn’t know how long the two of you stood there, trading small, intimate touches and sweet nothings whispered in the empty air, only for the two of you to hear.

A smile rested on his lips. Maybe he once thought that he was unable to love, but you, standing with him, he felt the purest love bloom in his chest, a stark contrast to the cold grip of the flowers. A peace he hadn't known in so long washed over him and he sighed, burying his face in your neck as well.