Straight to the point

Alhaitham asked you randomly while sitting on the couch. You were barely paying attention until you heard the word “kid.” He just casually says “I think it’s about time we started having kids. We should be financially ready and I don’t want to be old parents.” Despite his casualty he’s been thinking about this for a few months now. He’s already got everything planned out. This is the optimal time, he even planned to ask on a day you’d be ovulating. If you say yes he’ll ask if you can start tonight like it’s the most casual thing in the world. If you say not right now he will ask why. If you need reassurance he will comfort you but won’t push. He doesn’t mention it again until years later. He wants you guys to have kids before it starts to become dangerous for you to be pregnant.

Tighnari got tired of his baby fever and asked you when you’d be ready. He tells you he is ready as gently as he can. You noticed something was off since he had gone an extra mile for you that day to get you in good spirits. If you say you don’t want kids yet you’ll watch his ears drop. He won’t ask why. You’re the one who will carry the kid and he respects that. If you say yes however his whole face will light up. He will start planning for the kid before you’re even pregnant. He gets extra attentive and reads all up on herbs and fertility rates. Expect gross green drinks that are supposed to help regulate your hormones.

Chongyun also got tired of his baby fever. He took a deep breath and straight up told you he wanted to have a baby. He held his breath as he waited for your answer. If you say no you’ll watch his heart break. He’ll blurt out a “Why not?” to which you’d respond with your reasons. He will eagerly reassure you about everything but if you stay firm in your answer he will sulk. It’s not intentional but you notice him get sad whenever you walk past kids playing in Liyue. He’ll randomly buy them gifts if your answer is no for years. If you agree to have kids he will ask you to repeat your answer. He didn’t think you’d say yes. He starts talking about how he’ll take care of you during your pregnancy. As soon as he finds out you’re pregnant he will vow to keep you and your kid safe.

Wriothesley asks on impulse. He’ll be sipping his tea while staring at you, before casually asking. In his eyes you guys have always been ready for kids. If you say no he’ll be slightly disappointed but will quickly get over it. You’re only delaying when you guys have kids so he doesn’t care too much. If you say yes then that’s that. It was an impulsive question anyway so the answer doesn’t matter too much.

Cyno saw a kid that looked a little like you and thought that having a kid or two would be nice. When he came back from his mission it’s one of the first things he said to you which completely threw you off guard. “I want to play Genius Invocation TCG with them.” Cyno exclaimed. If you say no he will cross his arms and ask “Why not?” You better give him a logical reason because he won’t accept a you just don’t want to as a good response. He will continue to pester you about it until you at least say you’ll consider it. If you say yes he will smirk and tell you to “get ready to create the world’s second best TCG player. He or…she can’t be the best because that’s my spot.” You’re going into this with zero plan. The fact that guys are having a kid doesn’t become real until you’re two months pregnant and he can begin to see a baby bump. When the realization finally does hit him it hits him hard. He becomes much softer with the way he treats you. He starts practicing his dad jokes against your belly. Cyno will also tease you a lot less as to give you some grace during this emotional time.

Kazuha has been thinking about it for months but would have preferred if you brought it up. He knows he’s gone a lot so he wants to make sure you also want to have the kid since you’ll be their primary caretaker. He’s been saving up so that you guys would be ready. When it’s time to ask he gets straight to the point. If you say no he’ll be okay with it. He will keep the money saved until you are ready. If you say yes you will have a long conversation about it. He wants to be completely transparent about how that’ll look like. When he’s in the region he will be very attentive. He will try his best to financially support you guys and keep you as happy as possible.

Kinich already had the idea that you guys would start having kids that year in the back of his mind. The fact that you guys have spoke about this makes it easy for him to talk to you. He’ll casually ask if you’re ready since he thinks it’s a good time. If you say no he will be fine with it as long as you don’t repeatedly brush him off every time he asks every couple of months. If you say yes he will be satisfied. You don’t need to worry about planning since he takes over most of it. All you need to worry about is getting pregnant.

Razor wants a kid. He won’t beat around the bush. Many of the wolves in his pack have been having babies lately and it’s common for wolves to raise their kids together. Yeah he will be a little late but still, he wants kids. If you say no he’ll be confused. Why wouldn’t you want kids? He’s unsure how to react to what you said when you explain. Animals in the wild don’t refuse having kids. If you say yes you’ll get straight into it. Once you’re pregnant he will be surprised by how long it takes for humans to give birth. Wolves are only pregnant for two months. You learn a lot about pregnancies together. He’s in awe when he feels the first kick. Once you get one kid he’ll be asking for more a year later. I think Razor would be the type who’s always willing to expand his family. He’ll be forward with you every time. After 3 or 4 if you want to stop he won’t bother you with asking anymore but will make it clear he’s always willing to have more kids if you’re ready.

Gently Approaches the Subject

Flins has found himself smiling extra fondly whenever he see families. Sometimes when you see animals with their kids he likes to make little comments. It wasn’t until Illuga pointed out how much more he has been talking about kids that he realized he had baby fever. He’ll ask right after a good date. His voice will be very gentle as he talks about how much he’d want you to be the mother of his kids. If you say no he will be disappointed but will try not to let his disappointment be evident on his face. To calm himself down he will tell you he’s going on a walk. He will be somewhat back to normal when he gets back. From then on he will yearn deeply for a family. If you say yes he will be very happy and will give you a sweet gentle kiss. You’ll begin planning right away. Knowing that you guys plan to start a family will cause him to be more cautious on the battlefield. He wants to be there for you and your future children. He can’t afford to lose his life.

Baizhu is nervous but he’s been planning this for a while. He’s always wanted to be a dad before he dies. Telling how you both are getting older this is the perfect time for you guys to have a kid. He’ll ask, then immediately go through all the reasons why right now is the best time for you guys to have kids. If you say no he will just sigh. Your body, your choice. If you say yes he will almost immediately start to put you on supplements. He’s doing daily checks to see how your health is doing. If you don’t get pregnant within the first two months he stresses a little even though he knows it often happens within the first year. He knows you’re pregnant before you know you’re pregnant. He’ll cry when he realizes you’re pregnant. You’ll be confused until he breaks the news to you that you’re pregnant. He’s a preparation boss. He has everything ready long in advance. He knows better than to buy clothes before the baby is born but will still buy some every once in a while. He hides his illness from you more when you’re pregnant since he doesn’t want you worrying. He’s terrified of not being able to watch the kid grow up. He feels so close to achieving his dreams, yet he can still feel his nightmares creeping up on him.

Neuvillette didn’t think it was possible for you two to have kids until he stumbled upon a text about a half-dragon in history. He didn’t think about having kids until that point. He asks you about it but his want directly depends on you. If you want kids so does he. If you don’t then he’s fine with that. Some of the melusines act like kids which is more than enough for him.

Thoma has been collecting off-days so that he could spend time with you after you got pregnant. He thinks now is a good time so he’ll ask you right after a good date. He reassures you without needing to be asked. If you say no he’ll be a little disappointed but will be over it in a day or two. If you say yes he will be quite pleased. Once you’re pregnant he will be taking care of your needs every second he’s home.

Xinqui might not be the heir to his family but that doesn’t mean he isn’t expected to have a son. He wasn’t originally going to ask but his parents started to pressure him with the topic. After a few months of this he began to think about how it’d feel to have a kid or two with you. Xinqui came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t be that bad so he decided to ask. If you say no he will be disappointed. He’ll be more annoyed over having to deal with his parents than your answer though. If you say yes he’ll quickly begin flirting with you.

Nervous

Diluc saw you babysitting a family member’s kid and now he can’t stop thinking about it. It’s been on his mind none stop. Every time he looks at you doing something even remotely mother-ish he pictures you with a kid in your arms. At dinner you’ll notice him not eating to which you’d ask him what’s on his mind. He will be cutting his steak as he ask, “How do you feel about us having our first kid soon?” He doesn’t see it the way others see it. He sees it as him asking you to make a lifelong sacrifice. He’s asking you to go through a terrors pregnancy knowing he can’t do anything to help your pain. He’s asking you to go through permanent body changes. He’s asking you to spend the rest of your life being a mother to his kids. He’s asking you to start a family with him. He still can’t believe that someone as amazing as you wants to be his wife. He’s asking you to do something that will change your lives forever and that guts him. He ask with his usual deadpan expression accompanied by a tone only Diluc’s wife would be able to discern. He asks with worry. If you say no he will go silent. He understands your decision. He takes your delay as a firm answer. He excuses himself wanting to deal with his emotions alone. If you say yes he will keep eating. It takes him a few minutes before he says anything else. His mind was too busy racing with the prospect of you guys starting a family. He’ll tell you he’s ready to start whenever you’re ready. 

Bennett wasn’t sure how to approach the topic. You just being with him makes him the happiest man in the world, but he really wants to start a family. He talked to his dads about it, but they didn’t give him the best advice. He will find a quiet place in Mondstant to ask you. You will be sitting after a picnic while he’s looking up at the sky when he decides to ask the question. He will give you a smile as warm as his vision as he turns to look at you, suddenly going off into detail. He’ll grab both your hands monologuing about how much of an amazing mother you’d be and all the stuff he’d want to do. He’ll stop himself mid-sentence, “Sorry I got a little ahead of myself there.” If you say no he’ll be a bit disappointed but will comfort himself saying it’s probably not best for him to have kids with his luck anyway and you can always just adopt later. If you so yes he’ll have the biggest smile on his face. Later on when you’re pregnant he will do as much research on kids as he can. He suggests you guys don’t start trying for kids until he can afford you guys both a trip to Natlan. He doesn’t want anything going wrong. From worry he might ask if you’d like to stay in Natlan until after you give birth. He sheds a few tears when you get pregnant because he never thought he could be this lucky.

Durin has been obsessed with the thought of guys having a baby dragon. He’s been reading a lot of stories about families. He wasn’t sure if you guys could have kids until Albedo told him there has been a half-dragon in history. He ended up doing a lot of research until he was confident. He thought he had everything under control until it actually became time to tell you. He started scrambling over his words. If you said no he’d quiver. He isn’t sure what to say if you just don’t want to. If you say yes he will begin to tell you everything he’s learned.

Freminet doesn’t know how to even go about this. He’s way too embarrassed to talk to his siblings about it. It wasn’t something you guys spoke about. Yes, you guys had spoken about it in passing but he basically told you he’d be down when you were down. He tried avoiding these thoughts but he started seeing kids everywhere he went. It doesn’t help that one of his siblings recently had a baby of their own. You notice him going diving more often so you corner him. Why wasn’t he spending that much time with you? Your questioning makes him crack. He’ll tell you what has been on his mind and will whisper that it’s fine if you don’t want to. Except it’s not fine if you don’t want to. If you say no he will act like it’s okay but will be sad about it. If you say yes he’d freeze. You agreed so what now? Despite being the one who suggested you have kids he suddenly feels like everything is going too fast.

Gorou got teased by one of his soldiers about when he was going to start having kids. Gorou brushed it off in the moment but now all he can think about is you two having children. He not so casually asks that same soldier how he knew he was ready for kids. The soldier tells him the comment he made earlier was a joke but the two end up having a heart to heart anyways. Gorou thinks about it for a few days before deciding he does want to start having kids with you. He’ll sit with you nervously one day telling you he had something he wanted to tell you. He’ll ask, then will look up to see your expression. If you say no he will laugh it off saying that that’s fine. He will go back to the soldier and ask for advice over what he can do. He won’t force you to have kids but will try to eliminate all of your worries. If you say yes he’ll hug you and promise to be a good dad.

Kaveh never thought he would want kids, up until he met you. It started off as an intrusive thought that spiralled into an actual want. You get asked the question in the middle of the night on a day of insomnia. His question snaps you awake. His cheeks will be a faint red as he repeats his question. He’ll ask if you think the two of you would make good parents. If you say no to having kids he will blush a little more. “Yeah that was a dumb question anyway. I can’t even keep an organized schedule, yet alone make time to care for a kid.” If you say yes his eyes will soften. You’ll be too tired to do anything so he’ll tell you to go back to sleep. He’ll tell you that you guys could talk the following day. He spends the first 10 minutes overthinking all his new responsibilities but eventually the thought of you having a family together softens his heart enough to allow his brain to stop overthinking, giving him a calm, peaceful sleep.

Heizou already knows how you feel about having kids but do you know how he feels about having kids? He’s been hiding the fact that he want kids with you for months. He’s tells himself it’s because you don’t seem ready for kids but in truth he’s scared to imagine that type of future. A future that soft seems too good to be true. If he asks you and you say no, he’ll tease you about it. He already knew that would be your answer. He’ll laugh off any disappointment he feels. He doesn’t want to pressure you into having his kids. If you say yes he’ll also flirt with you. He knew you were ready by how you have been acting lately. He’ll go through the motions but nothing feels real up until the moment you actually have the kid. Heizou will hold the baby in his arms in silence. It’s an expression that you haven’t seen before. He doesn’t seem to look happy, in fact he looks like he’s about to break down. Who knew hope could cause someone’s heart to squeeze this much.

Lyney is terrified by the thought of having children. He was put through a lot as a kid and is scared he will put the kid through the same thing. How can he bring a kid in this world knowing they’ll be destined for the fatui. He tells himself he isn’t selfish enough for that but how he secretly yearns to have a child with you. Something that’s equally yours. He can imagine it. A kid with his hair and your gorgeous eyes. A kid with plump cheeks and an innocent smile. He will randomly ask you about it while playing it off as a joke. If you say no he will flawlessly hide his true feelings. If you say yes he’ll stop smiling to ask you if you would say yes if he asked you for real. He won’t ask you in that moment but will ask you a few days after that. Once you get pregnant expect to see Lyney crying at every pregnancy milestone. He’s crying his eyes out once he feels the first kick. You are pregnant and it is his. That’s all he could ever ask for.

Excited

Lohen is excitingly nervous to ask you. He believes you’ll say yes but there is still a slight nervousness from the chance of you saying no. The thought just randomly hit him one day while slaying hilichurls. He saw a kid hilicurl and imagined a kid version of him fighting alongside him. The thought of kids with you is both an exciting and terrifying thought. Lohen will ask you with his slight stutter. If you say no he will be shocked. He didn’t expect a no. He will make you explain why. Afterwards he will leave but not without making his disappointment clear. If you say yes he’ll give you a weird smile. He’s already imagining a mini Lohen army.

Itto has slowly been watching the kids of Inazuma grow up. Some of them don’t even want to Onikabuto battle him anymore. Now who was he going to be fight? He gazes up at that moment to see a baby in a stroller. Suddenly he gets the bright idea of having a baby of his own. He rushes home calling for you. “Babe let’s have a baby!” You’ll be shocked as he struggles to catch his breath. He’ll explain exactly what just happened while exclaiming about it being a sign. If you say no he’ll pout. Who wouldn’t want to have a kid with him? Yeah you guys have no money and no plan but that’s for later Itto to worry about. If you’re dumb enough to say yes he will lift you in his arms and spin you around. He believes you guys will be the best parents ever. Just don’t let Kuki hear about this.

Gaming finds the very thought of starting a family with you exciting. He’s already thought about how many kids you should have (3) but he’s willing to be lenient with the number. Since you guys already spoke about kids he thought you already said yes. He was so excited when he finally saved up enough for a few years of child expenses. He even saved for twins “just in case.” When he tells you that you guys are ready it isn’t a question. He is a little confused when you’re surprised by his comments. If you say no he will be embarrassed by the fact he assumed such a thing without asking first. If you say yes he will laugh awkwardly. He got ahead of himself but at least it was worth it right? Before you’re even pregnant he convinces himself that you guys are already on your way to children. Unless proven otherwise he knows that one day you two will be the parents to multiple lovely children.

Childe/Tartaglia/Ajax has always talked about kids. He’s always said things in the future tense like, “When we have kids I hope they like fishing.” You know he’s been wanting a family extra lately since the future tense doesn’t feel that far anymore. He doesn’t tell you that he’s ready to have kids. He asks you when you’re ready to have kids because he’s always been ready. If you say no he’ll pout but with no real animosity. After that the future tense will go back to feeling futuristic. If you say yes he’ll be slightly surprised. Had he known that just asking you that question would be enough for you to say yes he would’ve asked ages ago. If you’re okay with it he will ask if you could start that moment.

Varka is too old to want kids. That’s what his friends tell him anyway. Still he feels like he missed out since many of his closest friends are fathers. Varka talks about it over and over with his friends until they are exasperated. They’ll tell him that if he wants kids so bad he should talk to you, his wife about it. He’ll smile because for some reason he had never thought of that. He will ask you about it with a smile that makes it hard to say no. If you do say no he will be saddened. He knows it’s now or never. If you say yes he will get a little too happy with the kiss he gives you.

Doesn’t say anything

Xiao doesn’t process the fact he wants kids. He can’t imagine himself doing something as selfish as having children. Xiao will randomly get sweeter with the children of Liyue. You’ll be mid-conversation and you’ll notice him watching children running below. You’ll ask him if he’s interested in having kids with you to which he’d be caught off-guard. He’ll deny it and teleport away. If you ask him again he will be silent. He’ll neither confirm or deny. If you don’t want to you’ll just avoid the conversation. He will never out right ask to have kids with you. If you’re okay with it you need to tell him that you want kids before you guys start trying.

Scaramouche/Wanderer knows he can’t have kids with you even if he wants to. You’ll know because he seems hurt whenever he sees families and tries to avoid places where families like to gather. You need to ask him if he wants a family before he’ll say anything. “What’s the point of talking about it if I know it’ll never happen?” This breaks him a little more than it should. If you don’t want a family yet he will view it for the better. If you do, you can suggest adoption. He doesn’t think much of it at first but he comes to realize an adopted kid is a lot like him.

Didn’t write for

Unsure if I should: Albedo, Venti

Will Mischaracterization: Zhongli, Sethos, Ororon, Ifa, Mika, Kaeya, Illuga, Dahlia, Ayato

Anyone else I forgot about or came out after this post. If I forgot someone feel free to ask.

Of course, the city of Mondstadt, having caught the news of his return, have carefully and excitedly planned for a celebration to happen. Thus, the usual silent and peaceful air turned into something electrified with the rustle of banners and bustling chatter of the citizens, whispering and talking among themselves—oftentimes of the grandmaster, of how long he had been away, of what would happen now that he’s here. Before, the only thing Knights of Favonius, stationed at the mainland, have received are reports of his status and the elite knights, while the citizens could only wonder about the whereabouts of the man himself.

It would be no wonder that some would even speculate whether he’s still alive or not, and even then, what use would he have if he were to return now since they already have the acting grandmaster, Jean, already performing his duties. It was an inevitable thing to have such whispers, though it had never fostered into anything, only remaining as fleeting murmurs carried away by the wind.

Every corner of the city was not spared with silence and just as the citizens have been waiting with bated breath for the day, for the culmination of their efforts, you, too, cannot sit still at the simple thought of Varka, finally, coming back.

It’s been a long time since you have last seen your husband. It’s been three years now and the only kind of communication, interaction, or way you feel his presence is through letters with souvenirs, trinkets, or anything that he thinks you will like. Letters that can never be a page or less than two, letters written with that messy script of his with occasional blobs of ink that have dripped on to the paper, letters that will end with those three words of his affection for you and signed with ‘Your Beloved, Varka’.

It is no understatement to say that you lent a great hand in the preparations for the expedition team’s return. From the hanging banners, the decorations all over the place, the cathedral looking for helpers, literally anything you can get your hands on. If you were even given the opportunity, you would have built a statue of his honor. It was no news to everyone that you were ecstatic no matter how much you try to appear calm and composed in front of them. You cannot sit still at all. 

You were simply everywhere and doing everything all at once, and this is evident by that fact Lisa had to come to you and tell you to take some time to rest or else, you wouldn’t even get to see the day that he will be here. You couldn’t even say no to her, knowing how scary she can get—she even threatened to tell Jean to ban you from helping. The thought of it was ridiculous but it was not impossible, so for the last few days leading to the day of celebration, you sat in your home or outside; you played with the children who each, but all the same, told you of how excited they are to see the grandmaster again and have him train them—by which, they mean chasing him with a sword while he pretends to be scared.

You simply love and miss your husband, the love of your life, Varka. It was hard not to—only an insane person wouldn’t, or maybe you just adore him a lot. Either way, this ache was strong and this ache was making you lose your mind at each second he’s not here.

The day comes and as early as dawn, people are already coming out of their homes, looking forward to the day ahead. The streets are alive with a palpable energy, the kind that only surfaces during festivals. Albeit, it was still different—this was no ordinary festival, after all. Children dart between the legs of adults, their laughter as bright as the streamers that now adorn every lamp post and awning. The smell of fresh bread and roasting meat wafts from Good Hunter, where Sara is already working twice as fast to accommodate the influx of orders. Even the cats, those independent creatures of the city, seem to sense the shift in the atmosphere, finding sunny spots along the route where the crowds will gather, as if they too wish to witness the grandmaster's return.

“I’ll give you a discount since I’m in a great mood today!”

“Ah, the pigeons!”

“How long until we see them?!”

Today just feels so right and perfect.

There is a sea of familiar faces and excited chatter as soon as you step outside and walk along the streets. People greet you, pat your shoulder, offer kind words and knowing smiles—some have even teased you, pushing you into a flustered state with their words. They understand, perhaps better than anyone, what this moment means for you. You’ve been a part of their community long enough that your yearning has become woven into the fabric of their own anticipation.

Not far away, the gates of Mondstadt stand open, welcoming, waiting. Beyond them lies the path to the rest of Teyvat, the path Varka took so long ago. And then—

“They’re here! They’re coming!”

Immediately afterwards, the people gathered at the sides so as not to block the pathway, and there, on the horizon, you see them—the expedition party emerges from the distance like a dream given form and cheers soon erupt, yelling, shouting. It drowns out the sound of your own heartbeat, your own breath, and your own thoughts.

The procession slows as it reaches the gates. The crowd takes this moment to press closer, voices calling out greetings and blessings.

“Grandmaster Varka!”

“Barbatos bless you all!”

“Look! Do you think one of them is Captain Kaeya’s horse?”

Though you, too, are glad to see the elite knights return, knowing how much of a strong foundation they are to the city’s military prowess, your eyes only seem to look for one and one person only. You watch him, eyes warm with affection, a smile tainting your lips, and your shoulders relax at the utter sight of him, basking in all this glory and celebration.

(Beneath it all, you are relieved—relieved, not just because he’s returned, but because he’s here and that through all your prayers and desperation, he is unharmed. He is alive. The mere thought of it crashes through you like a wave, sudden and overwhelming, and you realize that you had been holding something beneath your ribs all this time—something cold and sharp and terrible, a fear you never allowed yourself to name, a dread that lived in the space between heartbeats, in the silence between letters, in the hours past midnight when the bed felt too large and the world too quiet. You had carried it so long it had become part of your breathing, part of your waking, part of the way you moved through days without him. You had grown so accustomed to its weight that you forgot it was there at all.)

He's dismounted now, his great horse being led away by a young squire who looks absolutely starstruck. Varka pats the boy's shoulder with a laugh you can hear even from here, that booming, infectious sound that has always made your heart swell. He looks around, taking in the banners, the decorations, the crowd of familiar faces, and you watch as recognition dawns on his features, one by one.

Many have approached him already, though you still remain on the sidelines, not wishing to interrupt this tender moment. You know the extent of his longing for his homeland, having to endure the battlefield every single day; his letters have told you so.

"Grandmaster!" A young knight pushes through the crowd, his face flushed with excitement. "Welcome back, sir! Could I—could I possibly ask for your autograph?"

Varka laughs again, clapping the young man on the shoulder hard enough to make him stumble. "Slow down, soldier! I'm not going anywhere. We'll have plenty of time for autographs and training and everything else. But first—"

Through the chaos of celebration, through the sea of bodies and noise and color, his eyes easily find yours. Albeit he tries to approach you, only to be intercepted by one person to another, and you cannot simply help but laugh at the sight, waving him off and telling him to deal with that first. He could only mutter a silent apology while scratching the back of his head, turning his attention back to entertaining everyone who comes to him.

"Grandmaster! The children have been practicing a song for weeks!"

"Sir Varka! My tavern has saved its best cask for tonight!”

"Welcome back, old friend!"

He’d greet them warmly, genuinely, but his attention would keep on drifting, keep wandering, keep settling on you for a few moments as if he was trying to reassure—or remind—himself that you’re still there waiting.

You don’t know how long you’ve been standing there now, underneath the shade and away from the crowd that have gathered and drowned him with their relentless inquiries and excitement. He was not spared a single moment, perhaps even accumulating all their energy, returning it back to them tenfold. Varka, through all of it, was a man who loved his people with the same ferocity he loved anything—wholly, without reservation, with every piece of himself he had to give.

However, this time, his eyes find you again, and you see the silent question there: Can I come to you now? Please?

You nod, laughing warmly, and he starts toward you, and this time, the crowd lets him. People have stepped aside, making way for him and leaving the man alone, understanding that this moment—this reunion—belongs to the two of you first. His boots strike the cobblestones with familiar rhythm, each step bringing him closer, closer, until he stops before you. 

Up close, you see the changes the years have wrought. New lines etched at the corners of his eyes, evidence of harsh sun and harsher conditions. His hair is longer than you remember, but still styled in the same way that he always does. But more than everything, his eyes. 

Archons above, his eyes.

They are the same eyes that looked at you on your wedding day, full of wonder that someone like you could love someone like him. They are the same eyes that crinkled with laughter when you made silly faces to cheer him up after difficult days. They are the same eyes that, even in his hastily scrawled letters, you could feel looking at you across impossible distances.

And now they are looking at you from only a breath away.

“Hello, my love.” He says, and his voice falters on the last note.

The sound breaks something in you. You surge forward, closing the remaining distance between you, and his arms—those strong, warm arms you have dreamed about for so many sleepless nights—wrap around you and pull you tight against his chest. You bury your face in his chest, breathing him in, feeling his heartbeat against your cheek.

"I'm home," he whispers into your hair, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm home."

You can't speak—despite the amount of times you have practiced in front of the mirror on what to say to him, despite the amount of daydreaming you have of this moment, despite having prepared yourself—silence, brought by so much emotions and feelings, has lodged itself in your throat. Words are inadequate, useless things when faced with the enormity of this moment. So instead you cling to him, your fingers gripping the front of his shirt as if he might disappear if you loosen your hold even slightly. He holds you just as tightly, one hand cradling the back of your head, the other wrapped firmly around your waist, anchoring you both to this moment, to each other.

Eventually, reluctantly, you pull back just enough to look at him. Your hands come up to frame his face, your thumbs tracing the new lines, the beloved features that have haunted your dreams. He leans into your touch, his eyes fluttering closed for just a moment, as if he, too, cannot believe this is real.

"I missed you," you manage to say, your voice barely above a whisper. "I missed you so much." And the tears you’ve been holding at bay finally spill over, just a little. You don’t wish to embarrass yourself in front of him and already make a mess. You told yourself repeatedly that you wouldn’t cry or do anything stupid, but it seems like that was thrown out of the window.

Varka immediately panics. This legendary warrior, this grand master who has faced down monsters and braved the harshest conditions Teyvat could throw at him, looks utterly and completely terrified by the sight of your tears. His hands, which have held swords and shields and the weight of an entire expedition, flutter helplessly at your sides as if he has no idea what to do with them.

"Don't—please don't cry," he pleads, his voice cracking in a way that would be comical if you weren't so overwhelmed.

He fumbles for something and ends up pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. He dabs at your cheeks with a gentle clumsiness that only he possesses, his brow furrowed with such intense concentration you'd think he was back in the battlefield rather than wiping away tears.

"Please don't cry, my love," he murmurs, his thumb catching a tear at the corner of your eye. "I can't bear it. I could face any enemy and it would be less terrifying than watching you cry."

From his words, a wet laugh escapes you, and his face lights up like sunrise. Before you can say anything else, he leans in and presses his lips to your forehead—soft, reverent, lingering—as if you are something sacred, something worth crossing entire nations to return to. When he pulls back, his eyes are bright with unshed tears of his own, holding only affection, adoration, love for you and you only; and he smiles at you like you are the answer to every prayer he never spoke aloud.

“Welcome home, Varka.”

he better come home at my first 10 pull (i only have that much)