Friends with the Right Ankle

--

When the Knights of Favonius arrived, Varka had managed to get a contract with Lauma, your mentor and superior.

Basically, whenever they were short in healers, he would ask Lauma if any of her colleagues could support him. Of course, he knew not to ask for her help specifically unless it was urgent and nobody else was available, or it was serious enough that only she could efficiently help.

Being the most recent hire, you were volunteered a few times. The first two times, you counted the minutes until you could clock off and go away. The injuries you were healing were scratches - damn scratches that could heal by themselves within a few days. You found people would make moves on you, something you found disgusting as that would cross the line between healer and patient. You turn them down politely at first, but their continuous attempts led to you walking over to Varka, not caring about his superiority to you by title, and give him a piece of his mind regarding his subordinates treating you like a potential love interest. Being a Mondstadter, you thought Varka would have just told you to not take it personally.

To your surprise, you hear him rounding up his troops and telling them off like an angry parent that is usually relaxed. Honestly, you were a bit scared for the poor men - until you remember why he was shouting at them, about wasting your materials, time and on top of all that disrespecting your boundaries.

At that point, they would only approach you about serious wounds. It was good for your training, but after that time, you didn't get another assignment for the next few times they requested.

-

One assignment was different - it was a few months since you went on your last request, and you happened to hear about some maniac who was severely wounded, a knight of favonius.

You head to the medical tent set up, thinking it was going to be some knight who was going to flirt with you.

Nope. It was a mischievous looking man, someone who actually looked like he wanted to get hurt from the battle. Like he had a thrill for going into battle, going all out and potentially dying.

You work on him, and he actually gives you a helping hand when you operate on him. The man even apologises when his leg flies out to kick your abdomen when you're working on a wound on his thigh. After the operation is finished, he thanks you and waves at you maniacly before sprinting out, Varka running after him to try and force him to rest.

You watch with a 'love a first sight' look in your eye, and you don't realise Lauma was watching.

--

You take the next mission where Lohen - the mischievous man - was injured again, and it's not long until you know each other personally enough to give each other nicknames. He calls you angel, you call him a menace (lovingly - somehow he's into it). You aren't put off by his fighting tendencies, quite the opposite. He was the first man who consistently put your healing to the test, and he was a bit of a teacher himself in terms of weak points he discovered in opponents that were not as well known as average.

The more commissions you take, the more Lauma thinks you have a thing for Varka. She couldn't blame you, he was basically like a golden retriever in the form of a bulky, handsome man. It made sense to her that you would catch feelings for him once he ran after Lohen in an attempt to stop him from injuring himself further.

So, she sets you up for a dinner date with him. Candle lights, warm food, wine, you name it she gets it arranged.

She wants you to find love, and she thought you would have been a good pairing.

Varka is already sitting at the table, waiting for a blind date set up by Lauma, only to act shocked when he notices you. You were a good healer, sure, but he saw you more like his younger sibling than a potential love interest.

"Oh, uh, this is awkward." Varka starts, gesturing for you to sit.

"...Hello, Grandmaster Varka." you bow, before sitting down. you've taken a bag with you, a bag with details on the operations you've carried out and were perfecting with the usage of both your dendro vision, and Lohen's cryo vision.

"So, you're my secret admirer?" Varka asks, trying to make things less awkward.

You look up and grimace when he states that, the idea of dating the man across from you being gross. He was like your father figure you never had, why the hell did Lauma think you wanted this man?

"Yuck - no offence!" You exclaim.

"Well, is there anyone you do like?" Varka asks. "If you give me your wine, I can get you set up with them."

"There is someone, but you'll judge me when I tell you." You protest.

"It's Lohen, isn't it?" Varka smirks when you look away bashfully. "Someone's gotta take the hit of loving that deviant, might as well be a healer that likes seeing difficult wounds."

"But I don't know-" You begin, only to hear a twig snap, followed by footsteps running towards you. You go to turn around, only to see a set of arms wrap around you, pulling you to the ground.

"You're mine, Angel." Lohen chuckles menacingly, nuzzling into your neck.

"Let me go, Menace." You protest. "I need to show you my work on the operations we've been doing together."

Varka excuses himself, rather not wanting to hear about whatever you two have been doing when it was just yourselves. You knew it would only be about the medical care you gave Lohen, but Varka didn't know that...

...Nor did he want to. He could tell when the spark took place between you and Lohen. It was impressive how quick it was. The thing that surprised him was the fact your visions would not have any reaction if you were fighting as a team.

--

Albedo had been approached by Grandmaster Varka to take a new trainee under his wing - an alchemist wannabe he met from Nod Krai. Varka had seen potential in you, and who was Albedo to tell Varka he was wrong?

Still, he was initially put off by the idea of having to train you to his preferences. Sucrose was an outlier - someone who kept to herself, and was curious enough herself to just explore experiments she found interesting. After a while, they both found things they both wanted to look further into.

So you coming along from Nod Krai was going to be an experience for him. You would either be another Sucrose, or another Timaeus.

He wasn't entirely sure he could take a third person he had to watch for differing reasons. Archons, he could barely look after himself!

But he found you were like a sponge - you took in information, you'd take notes, and you would follow his precise orders. You had the confidence from working by your lonesome, learning via textbooks and your expertise leading to people coming to you as their go-to back in Nod Krai for potions.

So when you were starting in Mondstadt, you were happy with taking a rest and just taking orders from what is considered your manager - Albedo.

A very chill manager, who respected your limits.

After a few days, you meet a peculiar man. A man covered in blood, who didn't look alarmed at the fact he was covered in blood.

He asked for a green potion - which could have referred to a dendro enhancement potion, a dendro defence potion, maybe anemo?

"That'll be a healing potion." Albedo chimes in as he notices you look at Dandelion seeds and Sumeru roses - clearly debating what it was he would be looking for himself.

"I've got the batch ready for you, Lohen." Albedo states calmly, Lohen smirking and winking at your boss.

"Thanks, boss-man!" He cheers. "Can't wait to make good use of this - Oh, and I've heard good things about you from Grandmaster Varka, _. Name's Lohen." He takes a glove off, shaking your hand with a clean hand before putting the bloody glove back on.

"You should have cleaned off before coming here, Lohen. Our customers will be put off by your stench." Albedo sighs, handing the potion to Lohen.

It's a noticeably vibrant green - somehow even more so than the dendro potions you had learned to make from Albedo's courses.

"Well _ isn't put off by it, so I mustn't stink that bad right?" He flashes you a menacing grin before running towards the front gate of Mondstadt, Albedo shaking his head in annoyance before turning to you.

"If Lohen bothers you, let me know and I'll ask Varka to collect his potions for him."

--

The next few days, Lohen brings you nicely cooked meals - ones with meat from his hunts. He would call them mystery meat to try and scare you, only to be taken aback when you shrug and eat the stew. It was always bird, boar or fox meat. Sometimes he threw in frog legs to ick you as well, but your curious mind gave them a shot.

He would come along with a clean set of clothes, earning approval from Albedo just because of how many people were put off from approaching Timaeus because of the presence of a heavily bloodied captain who clearly wasn't the owner of said blood. He would also bring along materials you had mentioned needing the conversation before, laughing when you thank him for thinking of you.

It was going very well, and you found a friend in him. A friend that you couldn't easily find in Mondstadt, partially because people were freaked out when you would talk about your experiences in Nod Krai.

Until one day, when you had made a mistake.

-

Lohen had divulged with you how he used his healing potions he would get from Albedo. It was during a battle, when he would use it during the fight. You ask him why, and he says it's to help his blade during battle.

Now, you had known a few people in Nod Krai would heal themselves by harming themselves, but you knew Lohen would not be using the blade on himself, but on his enemies.

You didn't understand the rationale behind him stabbing his victims with a healing knife, and you knew of a poison that was as green as his healing potion. You made up a batch of the poison after Lohen left, thinking he would appreciate you making his job easier so he could relax.

He returned to get the potion from you, and he didn't notice the potion was different at first glance. He thanks you, running past Albedo who looked over at Lohen make a beeline for his first hilichurl victim.

He asked you to check the dates on all of the stock, and replenish anything that needed it, and he would man the front desk while you sort the back.

You hear an angry set of footsteps approaching Albedo, and you were just about to wrap up your count of the crystalflies before hearing the rage in Lohen's voice.

"You find that stupid bitch who gave me a poison, and you send them back to Nod Krai!" Lohen screeches at Albedo.

"Please correct your tone, sir, and I will do what I can to fix the situation." Albedo politely chastises Lohen, only to flinch when Lohen throws the glass bottle on the ground.

"I won't do that, that idiot doesn't understand to deliver what the customer wants." Lohen growls, growing a group of onlookers who were concerned at the situation unfolding.

"Lohen, I switched the bottles on accident." Albedo lies. "That potion was meant for someone else, which I was meaning to explain to you before you flew off the rails. I had forgotten to inform my assistant of this, and I'm sorry you couldn't stay quiet to hear me."

"Yeah, yeah. You know you're lying." Lohen tuts, only to hear Varka approach form behind.

"Ah, so that's what happened with my order. Thanks, Albedo." Varka shakes his head. "I'll pay for any damages."

"...You tell that incompetent trainee of yours that I'll fucking kill them if they do that again." Lohen warns, walking away while Albedo apologises to the public about the freakout.

Albedo finds you in the back, staring holes into the poor crystalfies you had finished counting before forgetting how many were in the jar. It was clear you had heard Lohen, and you had seen a side of him you had not seen before.

"_, I'm sorry." Albedo lets out. You think he's going to tell you that you have to leave, that this mistake was serious, but she continues. "You're allowed to make mistakes, and I can understand you didn't understand the psychotic thoughts that Lohen thinks up."

"But you had to lie to make him go away, Master Albedo. You had to sully your name for my sake." You whimper, feeling a stool pulled up behind you as Albedo gets you to sit down.

"Lohen's a very violent man. You're lucky that I happened to be at the desk instead of you." Albedo replies. "If I see him approaching the desk again, I'll hide you."

--

Turns out, you didn't need to worry about seeing Lohen.

Lohen was so enraged by your mistake that he refused to personally go to collect his healing potions. Albedo personally went along to the Favonious headquarters with Lohen's supply of his medicine, and Lohen didn't bother to visit you again. As sad as you were that he wouldn't visit you - missing his conversations, and being able to shamelessly share your own experiences - part of you was relieved.

He wasn't going to hurt you, at least.

-

Albedo had to leave for Dragonspine for a week, and just your luck you had to collect monster materials. Ruin guards, some Abyss Mages, nothing too serious...

Is what you would think if Lohen would have come along with the materials. You could just ask him to grab the materials, but now you were terrified at the prospect of Lohen still being enraged at your mistake. You knew he wasn't good with controlling his rage, you had heard of his antics with ruin guards and how disappointed he would get if a monster he was told was large and difficult to take down turned out to be easy for him.

It didn't help that of all things you knew how to do, you couldn't fight. Funny, right? You were form Nod Krai, a place littered with monsters, but you were always protected by the lightkeepers. In Mondstadt, you never had a reason to venture out to fight monsters.

Lohen was always there.

Varka had let you know of the location that you could go to, and the nearby knight stationed would be able to fight the thing for you and get you trained up in basic fighting. You thank him, and he looks very proud of himself - he's practically vibrating with pleasure at his plan being put in motion for some reason.

The plan involved Lohen being at the location.

You were about to turn the corner when you heard Lohen clearing his throat, clearly waiting for you to show up.

Eyes widening in fear, the chill going up your spine at the idea of him waiting for you to show up so he could 'sort his problems with you out', so you decide to make a detour to find an abyss mage, thinking they didn't look that scary.

...You hadn't anticipated finding a cyro mage, becoming wet from the rain that had started, and a pyro mage shortly afterwards deciding to make an appearance.

Oh dear.

You had to fight these things, and the only thing within reach was a branch. Grabbing the stick, you ready yourself to fight.

Wait, you had a working pair of legs. You could run, right?

Right?

To your horror, the mages followed you - a lot more further than how far they would normally follow. Usually, they'd stop after a few seconds of gaining a distance, defending some sort of unmarked territory.

The rain had stopped and the pyro mage shoots a flame at you, conveniently catching the branch you were still holding on fire.

Looking at the stick, you only had one option - fight back.

You start hitting at the cryo mage, the shield gradually breaking down before the stick goes cold. Hoping to get the thing ignited again, you hit the pyro mage - but nothing happens.

The stick became wet again.

You realise too late the pyro mage has released it's tri-attack, catching you in the middle. You run, getting caught in the back as the cryo mage releases it's icicle attacks.

What an embarrassing way to die, you think to yourself. If you had been able to find another knight, they would have gotten you to safety at the very minimum.

You feel like your health has hit the red, and that's when you see Lohen sprinting towards you, rage in his eyes.

You think he's hoping to land the final blow on you, but a dry fart could probably kill you at this point. Your vision was growing blurry, and your limbs fail you as your eyes close.

Feeling something poured on you, your brain decides to fall asleep to protect you from the attack you were anticipating from Lohen.

--

Lohen was hoping to apologise to you, having failed to understand you didn't get his thought process for lacing a dagger meant for his foes with a healing property instead of a damaging one. Most people would want to clock off earlier, not having to worry about some fight.

But Lohen was not most people - he lived for the thrill of a fight.

After Lohen had his head chewed off by Varka about not giving you the benefit of the doubt, as you were still relatively new to the job, Lohen goes to fight more monsters, hoping to get his mind to clear of you for a second.

All it results in, is him reflecting on how nice it was of you to think of making his life easier. Sure, it wasn't what he wanted, but he never point blank told you he enjoyed the thrill of continuing to fight something that didn't just keel over - seeing it bounce back to life, getting a second or third wind to only be knocked down again. Of all things Lohen had told you about himself, he didn't tell you why he enjoyed fighting.

He just did - the thrill was what he lived for.

Varka had assigned him to train you to fight, and Lohen thought Varka would explain that he specifically was going to train you.

Clearly, that didn't happen, and you panicked when you saw him. He hadn't seen you at first, but it's difficult to ignore some poor soul being chased by two abyss mages who seemed to really want to end you.

He realises it's you after you turn to the cryo abyss mage with a newfound hope in the burning branch, and that's when he started to run towards you. He watched the fight end quite quickly - something to be expected from someone inexperienced - but he was horrified to see you weren't even putting yourself into a defensive stance.

You were still wanting to win the fight. It's after you look at him, starting to collapse with the fear growing in your eyes upon seeing him that makes him feel something he hasn't felt in a hot minute.

Fear of losing someone else.

He makes quick work of the mages, your hits having done at least a bit of damage to their shields, before he pours his healing potion on you. Watching your eyes close, he abandons the materials dropped by the enemy and he gets you to the cathedral as quickly as he could.

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