Screams

✷ our only hope

valeriy x gn!reader ; wherein you’ve fallen for a fatui major after the loss of the love of your life, thrain.

“i—“ you start when valeriy leans in, lips parted.

fuck.

even his icy stare that softens when it falls on you reminds you of the captain that once held your heart—no. he’s still alive. you know he is…

thrain was still alive.

right?

though it had been years since the archon came to you personally to deliver her condolences for the death of your husband, it was not easy to accept that thrain was just gone—it never will be—that his warmth was no longer within your grasp. that he was never coming home. that you would never be able to hear him say that he loved you.

your eyes tear away from valeriy’s scrutiny—watching him remain by you, waiting for you to pull away or close the gap between your erratic hearts.

“i can leave.” valeriy says lowly, enough to anchor you. “just say the word, my dearest. you’ll never have to see me again.”

his love was just as warm as capitano’s.

he even holds and treasures you the same, if not more—stop. you shouldn’t compare him with your first love.

you almost glare at valeriy for how easy it is to love him.

snezhnaya’s cold is unforgiving, harsh, even cruel—its winds bite down to the bone, admonishing any warmth that dares to blossom. even with that hardened and cold persona he bore to the fatui and the world, valeriy’s love was safe. warm. you almost dared to call it home.

you could almost call valeriy your home.

slowly, your hands find rest over his heart—you find that it would seem he was just as shaken as you are. “stay.” you finally look up at him. “please.”

he takes your words as invitation to close the proximity between you as his fingers come up to cradle the back of your head—enough to make you melt and give you room to pull away…

but you don’t.

you couldn’t find it in yourself to.

his kisses start slowly over your brow, then your temples, over your nose, your cheeks, the beauty marks on your face…

“is it too much?” the major nervously chuckles—a sound you’ve never heard from him, “am i overstepping?” he schools his expression immediately to hide his nerves. (he’s warmer than usual too. especially by his cheeks. you could almost say he was adorable.)

“not at all.” you reassure with a smile, equally jittery as he was.

then he continues, pressing his chapped lips over your jaw, your neck, your shoulder… then he stills himself, gripping the fabric of your clothes with restraint. “stop me now, please.” valeriy begs with his mouth against your pulse as his weight presses against yours. “i suggest—no, i need you to push me away. right now. tell me to stop. you might regret allowing me to act so freely with you.”

but your arms wind around his shoulders, pulling him even closer. not minding how his heat now enveloped you, easily clouding your senses.

valeriy presses his forehead against yours—eyes closed as to not dare tempt himself with you, “y/n, please—“ his voice remains low while his fingers move to steady himself by your waist, a mistake it would seem to his psyche.

but all you could think about was how your name sounded so pretty coming from his lips and how easily you have come to love major valeriy.

Who hurt you?