🔥 glass heart.

. @piercingdarke ; cont.

"sure you do, i can see it in your eyes diluc." the grin across the hound's lips fills his voice as he leans closer still, ears twitching atop his head amongst the mess of two-toned hair. it takes every ounce of wriothesley's self restraint to keep his hands to himself - even as the taller of the two presses himself further back against the wall behind him. the brawler isn't quite sure why he chose this moment to make diluc squirm like this. he wishes he could say it was just because he's fond of the expression diluc makes when he's second guessing himself. but... that would be a lie.

"oh, i can stop any time. i just... well, i don't want to, red. not when you make that face every time i get close like this. quite the sight, if you ask me." voice drops a pitch, teeth glinting between wriothesley's lips as he inches closer still with no obvious signs of stopping. maybe this is just petty revenge for diluc's far chillier nature being wriothesley's company day in and day out recently? or maybe he just wants to see what will happen when he pushes the redhead that little bit further than he really should. ten coupons says that the phoenix is going to lash out any second now.

it's been so long since he felt his composure waiver like this, since his heart raced and his spine tingled and he's losing the will to fight it. after all, some deeply buried and achingly lonely part of him says, why shouldn't he let wriothesley in ? though his persistence has made him a nuisance in dawn's plan to stonewall everyone in the fortress and get out unscathed, the more time he's spent with the hound nipping at his heels and ruffling his feathers, the more he's gotten used to his presence. in the long, otherwise agonizing stretch of monotony and stillness and time that stands between him and pursing his objective, wriothesley has been unpredictable. wriothesley takes his mind off the pain and rage that festers inside him, trapped with nowhere to go.

" fuck you, " the dismissal of his comment couldn't have sounded more half-hearted if diluc had tried, faltering through the words as his breath hitches in his throat. his bite is all but gone, prickly demeanor hanging on by a thread--if anything, he's just being petty now. prideful as the phoenix is, he wants to make the brawler work harder. after all, the rush subsides when the chase is over.

wriothesley is close enough now that diluc can feel his breath wash over his skin as he speaks, his vision filled only with the stark contrast of an icy blue that threatens to devour him. he's been giving the hound exactly what he wants this whole time, and it seems he's only gotten bolder right under dawn's nose.

instinct has him flinching away from the ghost of a touch, skittish at only the heat of his hovering fingers. but there's hesitation there, a pull that he isn't sure if he wants wriothesley to feel, and he presses his hands flat against the wall behind him as if he doesn't trust his own appendages.

When  he  said  such  a  thing,  she  sighed  softly  looking  down  at  her  drink.  He  had  done  things,  she  had  done  things  they  were  not  perfect  beings  Navia  stood  to  her  feet,  the  stool  she  sat  on  making  loud  noises  as  she  did  moving  over  to  Diluc  behind  the  bar,   her  hand  gently  taking  a  hold  of  his  own  she  looked  at  it  for  a  few  seconds  gently  rubbing  fingers  over  his  knuckles  before  looking  up  to  him. 

She wasn't there before, but now she wasn't going anywhere sure she should return to fontaine, but she had also discussed prior with her group, that from here Navia will lead the Spina, that way she can mend that emptiness she lost with Diluc.

  '....Diluc  I  want  you  to  know,  that  no  matter  what  happened  in  the  void  while  we  were  apart,  I  am  gonna  try  my  best  to  mend  it...I  want  to  remain  here  for  abit,  to  run  the  spina  from  here,  that  way  I  am  here  to  help  you,  to  protect  you  if  needed,  and  that  no  matter  what  you  have  done,  you  will  always  be  that  adorable boy  who  worshipped  his  father,  who  protected  me  from  bullies,  who  has  always  been  my  best  friend .  '.'' 

she stands, and diluc freezes--he can feel his body tensing up, anticipating something he knows he's not emotionally prepared for. it's been a long time since the phoenix has allowed himself any grace, any tenderness, and navia has always embodied just that. it's not that he doesn't want her close like this, doesn't appreciate her sentiment and the thought she's given to him and his plight in the time they've been apart, but... he can't help but be reluctant to accept it. he doesn't move even as she touches his hand, ruby hues anxiously avoiding her gaze, thankful in the back of his mind that anyone left in the tavern at this time of night aside from them is half asleep in their drink or secluded on the upper level.

he's quiet for an uncomfortable stretch of seconds, swallowing a lump in his throat, curling his hand into a fist against the bar top beneath hers. it's a lot to take in, her dedication to him, a promise he's not sure she really understands the weight of; his chest feels tight and his face is hot. with anyone else, he might lash out. but would anyone but navia be bold enough to approach him like this? even after all this time, after witnessing firsthand how he's changed since his father's death, she still sees the bright-eyed and outgoing boy he used to be. if she stays, will he let her down ? could he bear the pain of disappointing another ghost from his past ?

" navia... " he can barely even say her name, finding suddenly that he's inexplicably out of breath. finally, diluc brings himself to look at her, raising his opposite hand to rest it over top the one that touches his shoulder. " you can't stay. i... i won't have you uproot your entire life for me. "

he doesn't want to be cold. he doesn't want to shut her out. but she deserves so much better, especially after all she's been through. he's afraid to let her in again.

'  Oh  yes  how  can  I  forget  such  a  thing?  perhaps  it  was  all  this  work  and  whatnot  that  made  me  forget.'  Navia  smiled  towards  Diluc,  giving  a  small  laugh  about  his  answer  to  her  question  regarding.  '  Perhaps  you  should  go  for  it,  she  seems  like  the  type  of  woman  who'd  do  anything  for  her  'master'  Diluc.'

She  watched  as  he  ducked  down  behind  the  bar,  humming  softly  as  he  mixed  in  a  drink  for  her,  leave  it  to  Diluc  to  make  something  rather  interesting  when  it  came  to  mixtures.  '  I  don't  know  if  I  should  though....If  I  eat  I  might  end  up  falling  asleep  here  again,  but  since  your  offering  how  can  I  refuse?  sure  I'll  take  some  hash  browns.'

Navia  yawned  grabbing  some  coins  for  the  meal  and  the  drink, placing  it  onto  the  counter  she  once  more  leaned  into  her  hands,  her  eyes  looking  over  Diluc.  '  You  may  act  tough,  but  you  are  such  a  softie  underneath  all  the  tough  skin.' 

Navia  complimented,  not  minding  BOTH  of  Diluc's  side  she  has  gotten  use  to  it,  the  on  she  hasn't  in  though  for  a  LONG  time,  was  that  sad  Diluc  she  had  to  wonder  how  his  life  has  been  since  It  happened,  she'll  always  blame  herself  for  not  staying  and  helping  him  through  it.  '  I  miss  it  here....we  use  to  have  so  much  fun,  but  now  lately  it  just  feels  like  WORK,  or  sleep.' 

Navia  looked  towards  the  freshly  prepared  drink,  picking  it  up  in  her  hands  she  hummed  softly  in  curiosity  before  tilting  it  to  her  painted  lips  and  taking  a  swig,  her  eyes  sparkling  just  abit  at  how  GOOD  the  mixture  was.  '  Wow....that  is  incredible.' 

his nose crinkles slightly at the suggestion, red tresses falling into his eyes with a slight shake of his head. surely she was joking, but even the brief moment that he entertains the thought is... daunting. " i'm not interested in being worshipped. too many people have their own ideas about the kind of person i am... i don't think the reality would be quite as rosy as her imagination. "

she agrees to eat something, and that pleases him; her follow up comment, however, gives the former knight some pause. it's fortunate that he'd already turned his back to her with intent to step back into the kitchen--otherwise, navia might catch sight of the slight flush that colors his features. coming from just about anyone else, an observation like that might have prompted a more prickly response from the redhead, but it's likely that she's well aware she can get away with it. instead, he just scoffs gently as if he's actually annoyed at all, disappearing into the back room for a brief moment to request her snack from the cook.

when he returns to the bar opposite her, the flustered look on his face has subsided, hidden once again beneath his perpetual neutral expression. diluc maintains it through her reminiscence, ember eyes cast downward as he recalls the much more carefree days of their youth, quietly lamenting alongside her. as loathe as he is to admit it even to himself, he's hesitant to reconnect with her--diluc is far from the boy he was back then, and she had witnessed that much during his visit to fontaine. even now, reuniting for the second time years later, he's changed again. she's not so naive that navia would expect him to remain the same after so long, but the stark contrast is still something he's coming to terms with after everything he's been through.

would she still look at him like that if she knew of all the horrible things he's done ? he feels shame just thinking about it.

( this is basically just a very self indulgent list of various fluff, angst, and suggestive themed dialogue sentence starters. )

❛ i could keep you safe. they’re all afraid of me. ❜

❛ i’m trying to fix your hair, so hold still. ❜

❛ your heart is beating so fast right now. ❜

❛ promise me you’ll still be here when i wake up. ❜

❛ you’re not as bad as everyone says you are. ❜

❛ i thought you’d like some company. ❜ 

❛ clean yourself up. you're getting blood all over the place. ❜

❛ here, give this a try and tell me what you think. ❜

❛ you can kiss me, you know. ❜

❛ come back to bed. ❜

❛ you look good like this. ❜

❛ working together again, it’s just like old times. ❜

❛ how is it you always know what i need, huh? ❜

❛ you’re lucky you got away with only a scratch. ❜ 

❛ i can’t imagine losing someone like that. i’m sorry. ❜

❛ you know you can always talk to me. ❜

❛ the only one who gets to kill you, is me. ❜

❛ so, what do i owe this pleasure? ❜

❛ ah, so you aren’t heartless after all. ❜

❛ may i have this dance? ❜ 

❛ it’s okay, you can touch me. i won't break. ❜

❛ enemies make the best lovers, you know. ❜

❛ hold still. this might sting a little. ❜

❛ we can't keep doing this. ❜ 

❛ you look like you've got something to say. ❜

❛ just relax and let me take care of you. ❜

❛ thought you’d be lighter without all that blood. ❜

❛ i had it under control. you didn’t need to do that. ❜

❛ everything looks so beautiful from up here. ❜

❛ you treat all your ladies like this? ❜

❛ well? how do i look? ❜

❛ can’t sleep? ❜

❛ do you mind if i smoke? ❜

❛ i’m scared of ending up alone. ❜

❛ i don’t think i’ve ever seen you smile. ❜

❛ how long has it been since you've slept? ❜

❛ you are losing my interest, and that’s very dangerous. ❜

❛ i’d suffer hell if you’d tell me what you’d do to me tonight. ❜

❛ you look really pretty right now. ❜

❛ i’ve never cared for anyone the way i care for you. ❜

❛ i’m not wearing any underwear. thought you’d like to know. ❜

❛ just a few more stitches and you’ll be as good as new. ❜

❛ i’d say we make a pretty good team. ❜

❛ i want you to forget this ever happened. ❜

❛ i'm here for business — not pleasure. ❜

❛ if i didn't know any better, i'd say you were jealous. ❜

❛ you'd look better down on your knees. ❜

❛ fine, keep acting like you hate me. ❜

❛ kiss me again. ❜

❛ are you asking me out on a date? ❜

❛ just sit there and look pretty and let me handle this. ❜

❛ you okay? caught you staring off into space again. ❜

❛ well, i do feel better now that you're here. ❜

❛ i'm not drunk enough for this. ❜ 

❛ why is it whenever we see each other, you’re covered in blood? ❜

❛ i was wrong about you. ❜ 

❛ the first time i met you, i had no idea you'd mean this much. ❜

❛ you gonna be a good girl / boy for me? ❜

❛ i’m not afraid of you. ❜

❛ books mean more to me than people anyway. ❜

❛ i just wanted to say thank you for protecting me. ❜

❛ how about a kiss goodnight? ❜

❛ i don’t have time for distractions right now. ❜

❛ you shouldn’t be out here by yourself. ❜ 

'  oh  no  Diluc,  last  time  I  drank  it  didn't  end  well  you  should  remember.  Just  juice...or  water  I  don't  mind  either.'  Navia  leaned  into  her  hand,  ignoring  her  stomach  growling  softly,  she  closed  her  eyes  giving  a  small  ahem  of  her  throat.  '  Aside  from  my  issues,  how  have  you  been?  I  know  It's  been  awhile  since  I  returned  to  monstadt.'  Navia  said  looking  towards  him,  giving  a  teasing  smile.  '  Is  that  Donna  lady  still  daydreaming  about  you?  It's  so  cute  really.'  She  teased  giving  a  giggle. 

not even dawn's iron-clad will can bite back the amused smile that tugs at his lips as he revisits that particular memory--yet another thing the two of them have in common is their shameful intolerance when it comes to alcohol. a small huff of breath through his nose sounds almost like a laugh, but that's likely the most he has to offer.

" of course i remember. though, you should know i'm just as knowledgeable about mixing drinks without alcohol. " from beneath the bar, diluc procures a particular bottle containing a bubbly orange drink, pouring a glass and stirring in a few other juices and add-ins as he continues to speak with her, " things are quiet on my end. i'm more than used to warding off potential suitors by now, but i've heard that hasn't stopped her ' daydreaming. ' "

the finished drink he places in front of her looks like some kind of tropical soda, complete with a quick garnish of a piece of pineapple and a cherry. as she'd requested, it's free of alcohol--diluc is more than prepared to accommodate those who would rather avoid it, and familiar enough with navia's palette to put together something he things she'll like.

( this is basically just a very self indulgent list of various fluff, angst, and suggestive themed dialogue sentence starters. )

❛ i could keep you safe. they’re all afraid of me. ❜

❛ i’m trying to fix your hair, so hold still. ❜

❛ your heart is beating so fast right now. ❜

❛ promise me you’ll still be here when i wake up. ❜

❛ you’re not as bad as everyone says you are. ❜

❛ i thought you’d like some company. ❜ 

❛ clean yourself up. you're getting blood all over the place. ❜

❛ here, give this a try and tell me what you think. ❜

❛ you can kiss me, you know. ❜

❛ come back to bed. ❜

❛ you look good like this. ❜

❛ working together again, it’s just like old times. ❜

❛ how is it you always know what i need, huh? ❜

❛ you’re lucky you got away with only a scratch. ❜ 

❛ i can’t imagine losing someone like that. i’m sorry. ❜

❛ you know you can always talk to me. ❜

❛ the only one who gets to kill you, is me. ❜

❛ so, what do i owe this pleasure? ❜

❛ ah, so you aren’t heartless after all. ❜

❛ may i have this dance? ❜ 

❛ it’s okay, you can touch me. i won't break. ❜

❛ enemies make the best lovers, you know. ❜

❛ hold still. this might sting a little. ❜

❛ we can't keep doing this. ❜ 

❛ you look like you've got something to say. ❜

❛ just relax and let me take care of you. ❜

❛ thought you’d be lighter without all that blood. ❜

❛ i had it under control. you didn’t need to do that. ❜

❛ everything looks so beautiful from up here. ❜

❛ you treat all your ladies like this? ❜

❛ well? how do i look? ❜

❛ can’t sleep? ❜

❛ do you mind if i smoke? ❜

❛ i’m scared of ending up alone. ❜

❛ i don’t think i’ve ever seen you smile. ❜

❛ how long has it been since you've slept? ❜

❛ you are losing my interest, and that’s very dangerous. ❜

❛ i’d suffer hell if you’d tell me what you’d do to me tonight. ❜

❛ you look really pretty right now. ❜

❛ i’ve never cared for anyone the way i care for you. ❜

❛ i’m not wearing any underwear. thought you’d like to know. ❜

❛ just a few more stitches and you’ll be as good as new. ❜

❛ i’d say we make a pretty good team. ❜

❛ i want you to forget this ever happened. ❜

❛ i'm here for business — not pleasure. ❜

❛ if i didn't know any better, i'd say you were jealous. ❜

❛ you'd look better down on your knees. ❜

❛ fine, keep acting like you hate me. ❜

❛ kiss me again. ❜

❛ are you asking me out on a date? ❜

❛ just sit there and look pretty and let me handle this. ❜

❛ you okay? caught you staring off into space again. ❜

❛ well, i do feel better now that you're here. ❜

❛ i'm not drunk enough for this. ❜ 

❛ why is it whenever we see each other, you’re covered in blood? ❜

❛ i was wrong about you. ❜ 

❛ the first time i met you, i had no idea you'd mean this much. ❜

❛ you gonna be a good girl / boy for me? ❜

❛ i’m not afraid of you. ❜

❛ books mean more to me than people anyway. ❜

❛ i just wanted to say thank you for protecting me. ❜

❛ how about a kiss goodnight? ❜

❛ i don’t have time for distractions right now. ❜

❛ you shouldn’t be out here by yourself. ❜