Kaz The Tenno

zhongli, ever the gentleman, frowns at seeing you sit on the hard cold flooring and caresses your cheek gently, his other hand settling on your shoulder.

“that must be uncomfortable, dear. come rest on-”

he blinks, brows furrowing when you tell him that you want to stay down there by his feet. the protests die in his throat at the reverent gaze you give him, and something stirs in his chest. a nostalgic feeling that takes him millennia back; to the olden times when he was a feared deity of a more… disagreeable temperament.

“…. very well. but at least sit on a cushion, please,” a flutter of his long eyelashes, and for a moment you catch the shadow of his former self behind his amber eyes, “if you are so intent to worship me, who am i to refuse, little one? you already do look the part of a devoted worshipper….. hm... why don’t i teach you how to do this properly.”

al haitham glances away from his book to raise his eyebrows in amusement toward you.

“what are you doing?” he asks plainly; several possibilities pop up in his sharp-witted brain, but he would rather hear your intention from your own lips rather than blindly guess what your unexpectedly unique mind has concocted this time.

you hum nonchalantly and grab the free hand that isn’t holding his book, insistently tugging on it when he doesn’t budge. with a sigh, he lets you maneuver the appendage so it rests against the top of your head. with a roll of his eyes and a slight redness to his ears, he starts to tend to your hair, blunt nails scratching against your scalp every now and then in a way that you always praise him for doing.

“you’re a strange one, [name].”

hey, they do say birds of a feather flock together, right?

tighnari gives you a look. you know. that sassy side eye and a crooked smile threatening to lift one corner of his lips?

“am i not the one who’s supposed to be given headpats and pampering?” he asks teasingly, slightly moving his feet to nudge on your sides.

your boyfriend laughs at the playful glare you give him, and he releases the pen from his fingers to give you your much-needed pats. his eyes soften at the way you lean onto his touch, and he slumps backward onto his seat, exhaustion starting to settle in after hours of working on those reports and manuals.

“ten more minutes, and then it’s my turn.”

childe blinks owlishly at first, lips parted in surprise when you just decide to do this while he was just chilling on the sofa after a long day at work. his expression quickly turns into a teasing boyish grin, however, and he opts to squish your cheeks with his fingers.

“awww, seems like someone really missed me, hmm?” he leans down to place a quick kiss on your puckered lips, “why don’t you climb onto my lap, bunny? i can give you all the attention you’ve missed~”

he frowns when you refuse, and his clear blue eyes darken when you insistently hug one of his legs, your cheek pressing onto his thigh.

“be careful there, babe. you might start something if you keep that up.”

“what…. is the meaning of this, if i may ask?” cyno asks, flustered, the cards in his hands forgotten.

just seconds ago, you had pushed away the album containing his tcg cards from his lap and replaced it with your pretty head. while he doesn’t mind the sudden change at all - he can always sort out his cards later, you always come first, of course - he’s both befuddled and unsure of what you wish for him to do when you give him those pair of puppy eyes with this unfamiliar arrangement.

he follows your gaze that is locked onto his hand, which prompts him to discard his cards on top of the album and place them on your cheek, calloused thumb slowly drawing circles as he gives you a silent questioning gaze.

when you close your eyes in bliss, he chuckles, and he moves his other hand to settle on your other cheek before leaning down to kiss you on your forehead.

“how is it that you get more and more adorable the more we spend time with each other?”

kaeya raises his eyebrows, the hand swirling the glass of wine stopping its movements completely as he feels you hug his leg and place your head on his lap. instinctively, his free hand brushes against your cheek.

mischief colors the tone of his voice as you lovingly kiss his knuckles and give him those doe eyes he adores.

“my, a free leg warmer? how kind of you.”

he laughs in response to the playful slap you delivered to his thigh.

“so, are you planning to climb onto my lap anytime soon, or?”

another slap, another laugh, and kaeya leans down to place a kiss on the crown of your head.

“i have to ask - does this leg warmer come with the service of a wine glass holder? hmm? how about a-” [lines redacted to keep this sfw]

“wha- g-get up! you shouldn’t-” xiao splutters in embarrassment, trying to grab onto your shoulders to pull you into a standing position.

his shock is quickly overwritten by utter confusion when you protest and insist on staying where you are. he ceases trying to move you from the spot, but he decides to ask, “-i… don’t understand. isn’t it uncomfortable? what are you hoping to gain from this?”

the yaksha is still at a loss even after you answer. it’s illogical, he thinks. if his attention is what he wants, why would you choose to have this discomfort when you can just sit beside him and achieve the same thing? does this position have a special meaning to mortals? he’s only seen it on the illustration of that silly romance novel written by an apparently famous mortal from inazuma that you were reading about a week ago, telling a story about a deity and his favored subject- oh.

“…. you’re so weird,” he grumbles, suddenly avoiding your eyes as redness begins to creep onto his cheeks. he is most definitely not a being worthy of worship….. but he supposes if it’s you… he can indulge, right? just for a little….

“oh dear, it seems like someone’s bored,” ayato chuckles, not even looking down from his paperwork as he repositions his legs on his plush armchair, “unfortunately, puppy, i am currently working and unable to tend to your whims.”

his smile only gets wider when he hears you whine and tug on the sleeves of his kimono. what a greedy little thing; your adorableness truly knows no bounds, he muses in amusement. but it is true that he might have been quite neglectful of your needs the past few days…

but it’s no fun to just give in that easily.

ayato gives you a glance and two short pats that are far too brief to your liking, before he returns his attention to his papers, but not before saying with a teasing edge to his tone, “stay like that for an hour while i finish my work, and i’ll give you all my attention after, alright?”

wanderer smirks and crosses his arms before leaning back on his chair, clearly amused and pleased at the sight. he attempts to move his leg away, and when you whine and chase after the limb, the puppet barks out an amused laugh, mirth dancing like electric sparks within his eyes.

“look at you, so needy and desperate for my attention,” he rolls his eyes in fake exasperation, though he doesn’t bother hiding the pleased toothy grin on his expression, “what? what do you want?”

he parries your hand away when you reach out for him, a disbelieving huff of breath escaping the ex-harbinger. the flick on your forehead is playful, and the same tone carries to his next words, like a fleeting wisp of breeze cheekily grazing your skin.

“you think you can order me around as you please? think again,” his voice lowers into a darker and softer drawl, “aren’t you already in the correct position? beg, and then, maybe i’ll consider fulfilling your request.”

© zhongrin | 2022 ◆ no repost. reblogs much appreciated. feel free to reach out to submit suggestions, feedback, comments, or if you just want to talk!

Burning:

The moment was more than magical, the cool breeze of Monstatd bringing the sweet scent of flowers. But the only scent you cared about was his. His secure grip on your neck and waist. His chapped lips on yours. His perfectly flawed kiss. He had wanted to be gentle with you, to keep you away from him. His dangerous lifestyle and his unperishable flame within. But it seemed fate decided for you to both be here in this moment, on a tepid night made warmer by this burning passion.

You pull yourself away just enough that your lips separate, puffing out hot air.

“I don’t want this moment to end, or this feeling to slip away,” you whisper, eyes still stuck on his mouth. Diluc tilts your chin up so your eyes meet his, and the life within them almost startles you.

“It doesn’t have to,” he presses another quick kiss against you, and you feel your heart swell, “this doesn’t need to end today, or tomorrow.” His hand on your neck moves to the top of your head, and he runs it down your cheek and to jaw. Featherlight but searing. You are so brilliant and gentle, and everything that defines stunning, to him.

You lean more into his touch, letting his palm overheat your already flushed skin. The feeling flows all throughout your body, setting you alight, but you’ve never felt so alive, so in love.

A week has passed since that night, and many more memorable nights were spent. He would often show up on your doorstep, wounded or exhausted from his nightly affairs, usually both. Everytime you would nurse him back to health, and the next morning he would leave better than new.

“It must be your dendro vision,” he would say, “that makes you have such an invigorating and healing touch.” You poured all your heart and soul into everything you do for him, so he can carry parts of you with him wherever he goes. You had never fallen so hard or fast before.

And now he’s back again on your carpet, wound glimmering in the dark. He has fire in his eyes, and danger in his presence. It entices you, but it also breaks your heart.

“Sit right there, I’ll be right back.” You leave him on your floor while you fetch some medical supplies. To your dismay, you catch your reflection in the bathroom mirror, and what you see is not someone in love. You see a star, already long burned out. And Diluc sees it too, when you return with some bandages. In silence you mend him, and when it’s done you can’t find the words to fill it. You long for his touch, the one that set your heart on fire. He reaches out.

“What must I do to witness your affections again?” He whispers. You’re not even sure if he’s really asking you. Suddenly, he pulls his hand away from its delicate graze. It was cold. You don’t even notice how you shake your head at the thought, how you crack a sad smile. It’s not cold, Diluc was never cold. If the sun died out he would still be warm.

“I’m worn out, I’m sorry,” you say, never meeting his eyes. It was your skin that had lost sensation, nerves burned out. He gets up abruptly, but pauses at the door. You finally look at him. The fire is still in his eyes, and you realize now that he had always been too ardent, burning anything that gets close.

»»————-　♡　-————««

Bloom:

“Come, take my hand.” His smile is gentler than the lick of waves on the shore. Ayato waits for your hand to be placed upon his, and you take it, gladly. In the warm tint of dusk his hair and eyes become a palette of pastels. Together you appear like a watercolour, striding across the beach below the Kamisato Estate.

“I’m so fond of you, you know that right?” He asks, voice ever mild but strong.

“Of course I do. And I’m rather fond of you as well.” You glance up at him, and are met with a genuine smile. He stops walking and twirls you around, letting his playful side show freely. You laugh and fall into his embrace. And he holds you.

“My dear gardener…” he coos, earning more giggles from you. It had all been so fast. Fast enough to make you believe in love at first sight. You weren’t really employed to him, but as a stray traveler, and a dendro user, Thoma had managed to pick you up. He really did have a thing for strays. Ayato didn’t need a reason for you to stay, it was all his pleasure, but the way you so tenderly cared for his garden to make it up made his heart grow even more.

It was the worst possible thing he could do, really. Since he found himself wandering the estate while you garden more often than not. He witnessed in wonder the way you used your vision to nurture and encourage the fauna, and it truly livened the whole place up. Instead of working he would indulge himself in your presence, with the excuse that if you were caring for the plants with your vision, he too wanted to try watering them with his. But he would never regret the way his time was spent.

Not even a month later and he had you in his arms, exactly where he wanted you. It felt glorious. The golden brilliance fading into blue dark, while the waves teeter ever closer on the sand. The lullaby of their rhythmic cascade and the choir of crickets made a peaceful harmony.

I love you, his eyes seemed to say, as he gazed into yours. I love you, you replied, with a perfectly sweet kiss. And perhaps, the garden was not the only thing that bloomed when you were together.

»»————-　♡　-————««

Catalyze:

“Darling?” Ei’s brash voice calls out, and you turn your head immediately. She always appreciated your attentiveness to her, even when she often requires patience from you. “Would you like to go try that restaurant you’ve been talking about?”

“I would love to!” You reply enthusiastically, joining hands with her. Whenever you two touch it feels electric, and it still makes you giddy each time. She smiles at your devotion, your open-mind and your open-heart, just some of the things she fell in love with. How the electro archon fell for just some dendro user is a mystery, even to her. But she’s found herself doing more and more things with you. Trying new experiences and indulging in feelings she had never thought much about before.

“You’re so adventurous these days!” You remark as the two of you walk down the brightly-lit streets of Inazuma City.

“Only because you embolden me my dear. With you I feel such vigor and curiosity I never have before. There is so much more I want to do, with you.” Her blunt statenents makes you flush, and you swear you can feel tingles surge from your intertwined hands.

“Ei!” She turns, but gives a lighthearted laugh upon seeing your flustered expression. She pulls you even closer, wrapping one arm around your middle and leaning her head slightly on top of yours.

“Ei!” You cry out again, ready to melt away from embarrassment.

You were an adventurer, ever playful, sweet and chaotic, and the Cyno, well… he was intimidating. Terrifying to most, in fact. The fact that Cyno would prepare your bag whenever you were going on a longer expedition, even going as far as to prepare a joke book for you, one joke per day of the journey, was enough to make the people of Sumeru that knew of Cyno’s nature to start questioning, how the hell did you do it?

You were the outlier, the one who could easily calm down Cyno from nearly beating people half to death (HACK COUGH, the academia, HACK COUGH).

You were the person who made the General Mahamatra with his imposing stature love you too much to admit publicly. That’s how important you were to him, and this… this is the story of your very last day with your lover, the General Mahamantra Cyno, and the day you died to a certain expelled academia member-- and fatui harbinger.

----

It was a starry night, and you were in the desert for a job. Cyno had work in the area as well, so you two decided to travel with each other for the time being. Grasping his warm hand in yours, your other hand gently lay on the sand beside you. Cyno looked at the sky, marveling at how beautiful you looked. He pointed to a single shooting star, and told you to make a wish.

I wish that [ name ] will always, always be safe by my side, you heard him murmur as you thought to yourself, as long as Cyno is happy, I’m happy.

As you drifted off to sleep, Cyno smiled and kissed your forehead.

-----

It was the morning now, and the rising sun illuminated your face in a beautiful way, making Cyno not wanting to leave you, but alas, you must. Your missions for today didn’t cross. You were going to clear out some robots left behind from the desert king, and Cyno was tracking down some academia members who’d stepped out of line. Journeying away from each other, Cyno had a nagging sensation at the back of his head, telling him to follow you and keep you safe, but he pushed that thought to the back of his mind. You could protect yourself perfectly fine, especially after all those sparring matches you had together to hone your skills.

You looked at your map, and saw the robots deactivated in front of you-- which was obviously normal. But when you went up close and got ready for combat-- they didn’t activate. Odd… you pondered to yourself. Meanwhile, a certain fatui harbinger was staring at you, his eyes boring into the back of your head.

“What an interesting test subject!” you heard a voice exclaim behind you, and you turned around to see Dottore with a grin on his face, his mask concealing most of his face. “I’ve heard of you! Although you don’t seem like much, you’re known as the General Mahamatra’s lover… with astounding fighting capabilities rumored to surpass his.”

You scowled at him, as he continued his dialog. “I just happened to finish tinkering with those robots near you. Now wouldn’t someone of your level be a great test subject for them?” your eyes widened as you now understood the meaning behind his appearance. “I do hope you put up a strong fight. After all, there’s quite a few different variations I want to test out~!” Dottore said as he sauntered off. Hearing a familiar mechanical roar, you drew your weapon and cautiously watched as the altered robots came to life.

-----

When was this going to end?

This was perhaps your 8th or 9th robot you took down, and all the ones that you did take down, well. Those all had… moderations to them. Perhaps they would be bigger, have more HP or defense, and some even had similar attacks to the robot guarding the desert king’s tomb!

You were getting worn down, your left arm bleeding and right ankle twisted. Another attack grazed your cheek as you realized you weren’t going to last much longer. The good thing was, though, that there were only two more left! If you just pushed yourself a little further, you’d be able to defeat them (and see Cyno again). You landed one more attack on the closest robot, killing it, before everything faded to black, the last thing you heard was a familiar cackle from a certain fatui harbinger, laughing at you as you

Slowly

Lost

Consciousness 

-----

CLANG! Cyno quickly got rid of the final ruin robot that was remaining.

“[ Name ]?” Cyno’s voice cracked as he saw you. He knew something had felt wrong… and now it was too late. Your body was still warm, fresh blood gurgling from your wounds. “You’re… bleeding… what happened?”

He felt your neck for a pulse, and felt a soft- very faint, mind you- pulse. He immediately began to treat your wounds, but without any proper equipment, it was hard. When you cracked open your eyes, he breathed out a sigh of relief, before refocusing himself on treating your wounds.

“Cyno…” you exhaled, barely able to squeeze out the words. “Cyno… please stop.”

“No. I can’t. Not until you’re okay,” he responded, nearly finished with the wound on your stomach - when did you get that? - and moving onto the one on your shoulder. There were clumps of your blood on the sand, and Cyno couldn’t bear to look at your face.

“… I’m going to die anyway, Cyno. I’ve lost too much blood already. Don’t- just don’t waste your energy on-” you coughed, another glob of blood splattering in the sand.

“Stop talking. Please- please just focus on getting better and not dying on me.” Cyno forced out, panicking as your pulse lightened.

You grabbed Cyno’s wrist with the last of your strength, forcing out the words at this point. “I… l-love you, Cyno…”

Cyno felt your heartbeat slow to a stop as your body grew cold even as the scorching desert sun beat down unrelentlessly on its citizens, a single tear making it past his mental defenses.

That night, even the desert shed tears for how much Cyno mourned, although he did not cry. The harsh desert winds blowing hard and cold and unstoppable as the General Mahamatra mourned the loss of his first- and only- lover.

REBLOGS HELP MORE THAN LIKES!

Kazuha wasn't quite sure what to expect from today. A sweet and delicate scent greeted him this morning. Nothing at all like the typical scent of the ocean. It was unlike anything he had smelled before. It was almost overwhelming, though not sickly sweet like rot. It was incredibly pleasant, and almost lulled him back into a gentle doze. Were Kazuha less aware, he may even have started humming a little tune his father hummed to him frequently as a child. He smiled fondly at the memory, playfully thanking the scent for digging it up

Not one to be weary of something so promising, Kazuha spent quite a lot of time drafting poems. Many of them brought him satisfaction in their completion, but somehow something was missing. Though he counted this as very fortunate and productive, Kazuha didn't feel like he had completed his tasks for the day. Perhaps something in the Harbor would bring him what he sought. As the Alcor came to dock, Kazuha was unusually antsy to get onto solid ground. Quickly leaving the ship to it's crew, Kazuha promised to return swiftly, though he felt that promise might be empty.

Looking for nothing in particular was an easy task in Liyue. Endless shops, carts, and stalls provided endless enrichment for a casual stroll. Kazuha saw several items that caught his eye for one reason or another. A robe marbled in different colors, each one complementing the others perfectly and accented with a metallic thread closing all the seams. Kazuha bought it, though it was the last the merchant had and it wasn't quite his size. A goblet decorated with gems that peaked through the metal just enough to be seen, but not to be too flashy. That too, Kazuha felt oddly compelled to buy. And the final thing, well it just made him smile.

A plush rabbit holding a flower. The embroidered pink nose was boopable and the fur was soft to the touch. Kazuha understood why anyone would want to buy those. He was no exception, he held the toy close to him. It was oddly comforting

In his ambling, Kazuha caught onto a clearer trail of the scent. Coming from somewhere deeper into the lands of Liyue. A little more towards the Chasm. And with that, a gnawing feeling in his chest spurred him forward. With the patience of a saint, Kazuha returned to tell Beidou where he was going.

"Something's been eating at you all day, huh Kazuha?" Beidou asked him, not bothering to question why he had decided to buy such odd things.

"I'm not sure what I'll find there, but somehow I think it can only be beneficial." Kazuha didn't quite have the words to describe the feeling. Somewhere between fear and longing. He left the goblet with her, but decided to carry the robe and plush with him. Kazuha couldn't explain why, however.

His journey brought him eventually to a beautiful tree. Late afternoon sun drifting through the leaves and a few flowers thriving the the partial shade just underneath. The perfect place for some meditation, and then perhaps a nap.

Kazuha was weighing the pros and cons of taking a nap so late in the day when suddenly the scent he had been chasing became even stronger. Whatever was giving off that smell had to be nearby.

Padding forward carefully, Kazuha inspected the area around the tree. None of those flowers seemed to be wafting the aroma... No, not the tree either.

Perhaps not the tree itself, but something within quivered and Kazuha craned his neck to try and get a glimpse.

"H-hello?"

The voice was sweet, oddly familiar, and like music to the ronin's ear. Kazuha leaned from side to side to try and see who was speaking.

"Hello," Kazuha started gently, not wanting to startle them. "I am Kaedehara Kazuha, I mean no harm."

Kazuha circled the tree slowly as he spoke, it was a bit too tall for him to really want to climb, but if this person needed help he would gladly do so.

"Are you stuck? I can help you down if you would like." Kazuha offered.

"Ah... Yes please..." The voice trailed of, Kazuha smiled somewhat. They sounded embarrassed. They must have climbed up and become too frightened to climb back down.

With a little effort, and help from his vision, Kazuha swooped up towards the higher branches, grabbing ahold and pulling himself in, ready to greet the stranded person with understanding...

But when faced not with an average person, but The Divine Creator.... Well it wasn't an everyday occurrence.

"Y-your Grace?" Kazuha did not often stutter, but then again he wasn't often this stunned.

Your perfect form sat in a tree, among the leaves you were shaded from the afternoon heat. Your clothes were odd, but undoubtedly the vestments of a divine being. You seemed embarrassed to be stuck in a tree, though Kazuha wondered how much of that was an act. This must have just been a test of his character.

"You have finally descended! Your Grace, it is an honor to finally meet you."

Kazuha had not been one of the allogenes blessed with your presence before, but he realizes now that your scent had been radiating from the Traveler when he had first met them. Though not as powerful as it was now.

You gave Kazuha a lopsided smile and greeted him warmly.

"Uhm... Before we unpack all of that you just said..."

"..."

"..."

"Can you please get me down?

Your fingers tenderly reach over, pulling a stray strand of hair behind his ear. Your nails brush against his mastoid, softly scratching, eliciting a soft gasp.

Half-lidded eyes stare through long, russet eyelashes as Zhongli struggles to focus on his hands, on the desk in front of him, anything to keep himself grounded— but instead, he grasps only the sound of his heartbeat. It slowly sings in his ears, then drums loudly when your fingers move even the slightest amount.

Zhongli leans into your hands as they move to the base of his neck. Your nails scrape against his nape hard enough for goosebumps to line his flesh.

A shiver rushes through Zhongli's body like a surging wave. His breath hitches in his throat as you suddenly grip his hair in your hands, tugging his scalp with just enough pressure to reduce him to nothing more than putty in your hands. His amber eyes glow for a brief moment as euphoria overtakes him, before he shuts them tight enough to see stars in the black of his vision.

"Did that feel good?" You ask, voice gentle and kind. It's as if you're taunting him with the way your breath beats against his ears. "Do you want me to do it again?"

You ask it so innocently he wonders if you're toying with him. Even if you were, he finds himself thinking that he wouldn't mind.

He nods weakly, a deep rumble beginning to sound from his chest.

Mondstadt was different after midnight.

Every time the sun said goodbye and made way for the moon and its countless starry companions, it was as if a new atmosphere dawned upon the city. One would think the absence of daylight would wrap the streets in a threatening darkness with looming shadows, but they couldn't have been further away from the truth.

Where Mondstadt was a lively town during the sunlit hours of the day, a blanket of serenity and peace fell over it once the moon had risen. It was quiet; no bards playing cheerful tunes, no people talking and children laughing, no salesmen promoting their goods. It was just the soft clattering of the fountain in the distance, the soft summer breeze traversing the homely mazes of alleys and bystreets, and you.

There was something soothing about the way Mondstadt greeted those who couldn't sleep during the forgotten hours of the day. The pale moonlight hid most of the usual bustling decor with vibrant colors from view, leaving the city in a tranquil state with quiescent streets that made you experience a hint of comfort you hadn't been able to find in your own room tonight.

Smiling softly, you breathed in the sweet scent of flowers that lingered in the air perpetually. On nights like this, where you couldn't find it in you to sleep, you could always rely on Mondstadt to calm you down. Midnight strolls in the sultry summer evenings Teyvat had to offer you might not have been able to cure your insomnia, but they made it bearable when sleep once more had decided to cheat on you.

Sleep.

Not your best friend, you could say. Insomnia crashed down on you in waves; sometimes you had a few weeks of peaceful sleep and you almost fell for the illusion of your problems being solved, but it was never long before you found yourself tossing and turning and staring at the ceiling again, unable to sleep night after night after damn night.

Sometimes your mind was running wild, sometimes it was completely utterly empty. Sometimes your body was rigid with tension, sometimes you were so dead tired that you felt nothing. Not that it mattered much anyway. Sleep had a will on its own when it came to you, and its decision to betray or please you didn't derive from how you felt or the state you were in.

Not many people knew about your trouble. Whenever they commented on how tired you appeared, or pointed out the bags underneath your eyes, you brushed it off as just a quite unfortunate night, the ones that occur to most people once in a while. You made sure to act as fruity and energetic as possible, not wanting anyone to find out and have them worry about you.

You had managed to fool most of the people of Mondstadt, but one man in particular saw right through you right off the bat. It was the same man who ended your nights filled with frustration, giving you the advice to go on a walk to clear your mind instead of staying in bed and let emotions get the best of you when you were once again faced with a sleepless night. With that, he also reassured you that the streets of Mondstadt were safe under his nightly watch.

Roaming the town didn't help you sleep, but it was better than frantically trying to find the embrace of slumber when it wasn't there, and end up frustrated with panic gripping at your chest.

With solitude being your only companion, you found yourself arriving at the main plaza of town. Given how it was surrounded by multiple shops and a popular restaurant, this place was buzzing with Mondstadt’s citizens during the sunlit hours. Right now it was empty and quiet, as one would expect at this moment in time. Here too carried the gentle summer breeze the scent of flowers, and only the soft clattering of the daintily decorated fountain in the center of the paved plaza provided a steady interruption to the silence. You decided to approach the fountain, eager to sit down for a bit. You might have been unable to sleep, but that didn’t mean you weren’t close to the point of exhaustion.

Tonight was exceptionally quiet, you thought. Even Anthony had ceased his search for coins in the fountain, a decision he didn’t make often. To say you were disappointed would have been an exaggeration, but you ran into each other so often during your nightly activities that you had become good acquaintances. You were used to him being there, and it was nice to have someone to talk to at this strange hour, or even pass time by helping him gather the coins his sister tossed into the water the day prior –you didn’t have the heart to tell the guy, so you just played along.

It was just you, the moon and the stars tonight. Another night filled with a tired body and blurry thoughts, another night of waiting for the sun to rise so you could pretend everything was fine again until the next evening would come around to pester you again.

Or so you thought.

In your tired daze, you forgot the nights in Mondstadt belonged to a mysterious hero dwelling in the shadows of the night, keeping you and all the other citizens safe from danger. Someone had to conquer the darkness with their light in order for the next dawn to come, and the hero had decided for this to become his duty, choosing a lone path of secrecy and shadow.

On another average sleepless night a few weeks earlier, you had witnessed with your own eyes how peculiar and unpredictable the mysterious strings of fate could be; you had unraveled the secret of the man who had unraveled yours. The rumored Darknight Hero was no one other than the only man who knew of your insomnia, and suddenly the two of you were bound by a mutual secrecy.

Never would you have thought that secrets could elicit such a magnetic force to arise between two people, and it was certainly a strange development to experience, especially when you reminiscenced about how it all began.

You had felt a strange pull on your heartstrings the moment Diluc Ragnvindr regarded you with such kindness and sympathy when he suggested to get some fresh air and a change of pace on difficult nights, back then nothing more than a familiar face linked to a name that coerced respect every time it fell off someone’s lips –aside from one certain member of the Knights of Favonius, that is. You had brushed it off as empty politeness that came with the professionalism of being the owner of the biggest wine tycoon, and deliberately tried not to think anything when he had reassured you that you would be safe outside, even in the darkest hours. But it all made sense the moment you found him in the middle of the night, fending off the threatening shadows that chose to assault Mondstadt.

Using the sapphire darkness as cover might have been plenty to fool most citizens, but it hid nothing from someone who had grown evenly accustomed to the same darkness.

Diluc had made you promise not to tell anyone, just like you had done weeks earlier.

And apparently that was enough for something to grow between you, and suddenly a lot of your lonely sleepless nights weren’t that lonely anymore. While you barely met during the sunny hours of daytime, the hours between dusk and dawn became a time for many rendezvous. You never knew when he would come, for it fully depended on what the night had in store for the city of freedom, but with both your nights being unpredictable, you only deemed it fit for your meetings to be evenly capricious.

Your tired mind failed to register the sound of footsteps properly when they first appeared, bouncing off the stone walls of the surrounding buildings with a soft echo that barely came over the fickle sounds of water clattering behind you. It was only when the moonlight revealed a hooded figure clad in the darkest shade of brown when you perked up, a small smile instantly tugging on your lips when you recognized a few strands of fiery red hair poking from underneath the hood.

"Y/N," he greeted you, his voice merely a whisper to fit the setting.

"Good evening, Darknight Hero," you uttered, your hand flying to your mouth in order to hide a sudden yawn.

"I told you not to call me that." Diluc was quick to flash you a stern look of disapproval, but over time you got to know him well enough that he didn’t mean it like that; you always got away with calling him by his secret alias, no matter how often he told you not to use that name.

"Sorry," you sheepishly said, while in reality, you were far from sorry.

The male took a seat next to you on the concrete parapet around the fountain’s basin, his arm brushing against yours. It made you aware of how the distance between the two of you had diminished rapidly as time flew by, literally and figuratively so. At least the tortuous nights gripped by insomnia had brought you something good.

"I assume it’s one of those nights again?" the pyro wielder spoke after a moment of serene silence, sympathy etched on his handsome features as he looked up at you once more. "You look tired, Y/N."

"I am," you truthfully replied, your eyes darting to the pavement underneath your feet as you pursed your lips. "I’m beyond drained, but as soon as I try to give in to that feeling, it vanishes and I’m wide awake again. Being tired is pointless when it doesn’t even help you sleep, isn’t it?"

Diluc merely hummed in response, clearly unsure of what to say. You couldn’t blame him. It wasn’t hard to imagine how difficult it was for someone without this problem to empathize with you, so you weren’t expecting it either. The fact that he was there, right next to you, was enough.

"Did anything happen tonight?" you asked, not wanting the other to feel awkward after your bitter complaint.

"Nothing that required my attention," came the reply.

Finally, he shrugged off his hood, the pearly light of the moon casting away the last remnants of shadow from his face. The solemn ruby eyes you had found intimidating at some point in the past were now filled with warmth and concern as they met yours. You couldn't help the sudden giddy smile that fell on your lips when you felt a comfortable warmth swelling in your chest.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Diluc inquired, giving you a puzzled look with a hint of confusion. "Did I say or do something funny?"

Diluc Ragnvindr was a kind soul, a person who had it in him to care deeply for the ones close to him, the perfect example of a storybook gentleman who prioritized your safety, comfort and happiness over everything else. Yet he always seemed to willingly hide it behind distant words, a layer of professionalism and an unreadable expression.

No wonder you too used to think of him as an intimidating man who preferred solitude and didn't want anything to do with others outside of business-related contact. But oh how wrong you were about that. You're not sure why he decided to open up to you specifically, but his hard outer shell was cracking and crumbling rapidly. What you found underneath the shattered remains of his mask was a kind man who awakened a blizzard of butterflies in your stomach with his warm little smiles, the way he looked after you and made sure you were okay, how he was there for you in the darkest nights (hah), and the gentle affection he gave you when you were in need of comfort and consolation.

You were knocking down his walls, but he did the same to yours. Before long, you had realized Diluc was more to you than just a man who saved your nights.

"Y/N?"

His quieted voice snapped you from your thoughts, and you blinked a few times, the strain you felt on your cheeks making you aware of the fact that you were still smiling at him like an idiot. It was not like you cared, though. You weren't sure how comfortable Diluc was with receiving affection so you kept yourself from hugging the man, opting to show him how much you appreciated his presence in different ways instead.

For now, beaming at him with a tired yet giddy grin was the best you could do.

"What?" you asked innocently.

"You're still smiling."

But Diluc couldn't fight back a small smile himself. How was he supposed to keep a straight face when you gave him a genuine smile that outshined the countless stars adorning Teyvat's nightly decor?

"Everything is funny when you're sleep deprived," you reasoned, relishing the moment of peace you two were able to share. You weren't going to tell him the true reason behind your smile, not yet. Not only did you want to wait until the right moment showed itself, you also preferred to be a bit less exhausted and more awake.

Some things weren't supposed to become a blur when they elapsed into a memory. Whatever you were going to tell Diluc and whatever the outcome was going to be, you wanted the memories it would engrave in your mind to be clear.

"If you say so," he gave in, averting his gaze and glancing up at the moon. His fiery eyes reflected the tapestry of light the universe showered down upon both of you, and not often did you see the strong man in a state this vulnerable.

"Aren't you tired, 'Luc?" you softly spoke.

So often had the sole hero looked after you in the nightly hours, appearing right by your side when sleep had decided to cheat on you once more. Who looked after him? Did he have someone to worry about his sleep?

"My lack of sleep is bound by duty," the pyro wielder merely replied, placing his hand on your shoulder in a reassuring manner. "Please refrain from worrying about me. Prioritize your own wellbeing, okay?"

"But–" you attempted to counter, only for a finger to gingerly touch your lips to keep you from vocalizing your objection. Diluc didn't want to hear it.

Your breath stilled for a moment, and with eyes widened in mild surprise you looked up to find your companion smiling at you softly.

"I'm fine, Y/N," the man assured you, slowly drawing back his finger and opting to take your hand instead. "Would you like to join me in the Angel's Share?"

You tried your hardest to ignore the frantic way your heart hammered in your chest after his unexpected gesture and you hoped the moonlight was dimmed enough to hide the crimson blush that finally found its way to your cheeks. You definitely didn't see that coming, and boy did it catch you off guard.

"I-Isn't it far after closing hours?" you remarked, hating how your voice had become a few octaves higher and a few beats faster. You prayed that the other didn't notice your moment of distress, but when did Diluc Ragnvindr's keen eyes ever miss something? You didn't have much hope.

"As the owner, I would assume I enjoy the audacity to open it as I please," the man responded, pushing himself off the parapet and tugging you to your feet swiftly. "I don't mind working a little overtime for you, Y/N."

For a moment, you struggled to maintain your balance when a wave of exhaustion crashed over you, but with Diluc's firm hold of your hand you rapidly managed to steady yourself, simultaneously calming your rabid heart.

"Alright, lead the way, Hero," you chimed, making no effort to detach your hand from his. Of course you knew the way to the tavern like the back of your hand, but that didn't really matter.

Diluc shook his head at your words, but it was paired with a small affectionate smile he tried but failed to hide and made your heart swell. Insomnia might have taken away your ability to sleep, but in return you now had an amazing man by your side.

The Angel's Share was probably one of the first places that came to mind if someone were to ask you about your favorite places in Mondstadt. It didn't matter what time you visited; though the days and nights here were as different as something could be, both atmospheres had something that made you feel welcome and at ease. There were bards adapting their repertoire to the time of the day, different people with different vibes showing up at different moments, and the cozy light from the many oil lamps wrapped the interior in a hue contrary to the cool natural daylight when dusk fell. You loved the place, with all the little knick-knacks here and there, each carrying a story of their own.

But never before have you been there after closing hours, and it was as if yet another spell had been cast over the place, one that you saw for the very first time.

No hushed conversations and drunken laughter in the background, no bards serving their finest tunes, no toasts being called and beer jugs meeting each other, and only the parts around the bar being minimally illuminated. The Angel's Share was now a quiescent place that almost had a hint of serenity, and it was beautiful.

And yet you couldn't keep your tired eyes off the handsome man behind the counter.

Diluc was immersed in a special drink he was mixing from you, adding ingredients with full focus and a delicate precision. In the soft glow from the few lights he ignited, his features got enhanced in a way most tender. You were grateful for his efforts to prepare you a drink far after closing hours, but maybe you were more grateful for the ethereal sight it brought before your eyes.

Weeks ago you had made up your mind.

You didn't want a handsome prince on a stunning white horse; you wanted a mysterious hero who wielded a fiery sword in the deepest nights.

Sweet dreams may have been out of reach for you too often, but you had the man of your dreams right in front of you. With every curse came a blessing, right? You certainly started to believe in that, silently thanking the archons for the way things turned out.

"Y/N, should I be alarmed by the way you keep smiling at me?" Diluc asked, placing the drink in front of you. "I'm sorry for handing you this more exquisite drink in a beer jug. Too much of our more fancy glassware has shattered in the hands of drunkards, hence Charles and I decided to store them away."

"No, I just like smiling at you," you yawned, just in time to cover it up with your hand. Both your words and your action caused Diluc to raise a brow in mild amusement.

You gratefully took the drink from the counter, honestly not caring at all about how it was served. The fancier an object was, the more it was surrounded by complicated rules of etiquette, and you had neither the energy nor the motivation for that now. An ordinary beer jug was more than fine, and you shot the man behind the bar a thankful smile.

"It tastes good, what is it?" you questioned, but all you got was a secretive hum and some incoherently muttered words among the lines of secret blend. You didn't pry, and instead enjoyed your drink.

A small silence followed, and Diluc softly placed his hand on top of yours as it rested idly upon the countertop. He didn't look up to meet your surprised gaze, but instead started drawing absentminded patterns on your skin with the pad of his thumb. It were moments like these that made the butterflies soar in your abdomen, yet also brought a blanket of peace over you at the same time.

The last slivers of tension that still resided in your being seemed to melt under his affectionate touch. You felt your shoulders slumb, the whirlwind in your mind slowing down, and another yawn came to stretch your jaw. It was already six in the morning, and finally you could feel the call of sleep looming on the horizon. Would it push through? You had no idea. But you were with Diluc so everything was okay.

"Did I ever tell you about that one night I found a suspicious figure lurking in the shadows?" the male asked, reaching out to take your other hand too now that you had finished your special blend.

You shook your head no, gazing up at Diluc tiredly. He started talking, voice deep, tone hushed, and sentences slow and drawled. You tried your hardest to focus on his words, but you zoned out more and more as the story proceeded. Add to that the soothing circles the man was drawing on the back of your hands, and you were slowly lulled into the world of slumber. Frantically you tried to stay awake every time you nodded off, unaware that this was exactly Diluc's intention, but your efforts were to no avail.

Long hours overdue, the delicate embrace of sleep gently surrounded you.

Diluc never intended to have you listen to a story about his experiences as the hero who watched over Mondstadt after dusk fell. No, he deliberately chose to talk about the boring and uneventful nights that usually made up his weeks, watching you shift in and out of focus as you tried to fend off the grasp of slumber. It was a sight that warmed his heart; your sleepy heavy-lidded eyes looking at him tenderly while he safely held your hands in his, ready to keep you from falling over once you dozed off completely.

You let him near when you were most vulnerable, you had put your full trust in him. Seeing you sleep safe and soundly brought him at ease, and in return he wanted nothing but to bring as much peace to your turmoil as he could.

Letting go of your hands to quickly clean up the supplies he used for your drink had saddened him more than he was ready to admit to himself. Duty was duty, however, and Charles wouldn't be happy if he were to find the supplies on his bar when opening hours rolled around again – which wasn't even that far from now. The man finished as quickly and quietly as he could, the only matter on his mind getting you to a comfortable place to rest properly.

He couldn't help but smile when he found you still asleep, your upper body sprawled over the countertop and your chest rising and falling with every deep breath you took. Ever so gingerly, he picked you up in his strong arms, one hooked under your legs and the other supporting your back. Your head lolled against his shoulder and you sighed in content, shifting a little in your sleep to adjust to your new position. It had Diluc worried for a moment; were you waking up already? He waited a full minute, and only when he was assured enough that you were still asleep, he made his way up the stairs. His movements were careful and calculated, for the last thing he wanted was to wake you up.

The first floor, too, was filled with wooden tables and chairs for the guests to take a seat, much like the ground floor, but here was a locked door that led to what was kind of a multi purpose room. Though it was mostly used as an office and as storage for the more luxury supplies, there was also a small bed and some other furniture that seemed slightly out of place. The initial reason behind the bed's presence was long forgotten, but the little asset had turned out to be a blessing on more than one occasion, such as now.

Slowly Diluc lowered you onto the mattress, letting go with great aversion before kneeling down at the bedside to be on your level, to peek at your peaceful expression with a smile.

"It was just ordinary grape juice with a bit of extra sweet flower extract that I gave you," he muttered to your sleeping form, reaching out to caress your cheek with his gloved hand. "Nothing that helps you sleep better. You really did that on your own."

Of course no reply came, but for once that was exactly what he wanted. For you to find it in you to sleep was all he had hoped, ever since he was your lonely form seated on the fountain's parapet, and his wish got granted.

The Darknight Hero fought for the next dawn to grace the city of Mondstadt.

But now he had another dawn to fight for.

“Good Morning Master Diluc! What flowers would you like to pick today?” You cheered, a bright smile plastering your features as your gaze met the man in front of you.

“Good Morning to you as well, Y/N.” The way he said your name felt like cold water on a hot day, it send tingles down your spine as your eyes locked.

“How have you been? You haven’t come around these past few days.” You started conversation. It was true, he hadn’t appeared at your shop for around three days. Of course, you were worried.

“I have been…busy. You do not need to worry yourself with my dealings. How have you been?” His eyes never left yours and you felt like you were drowning in red.

If you had been anyone else watching your interaction, you’d see a lovesick fool and a man who was too oblivious to realise the very obvious affection being displayed before him.

“Of course, Master Diluc, as mysterious as ever,” You started, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, “I have been lovely, business has been slow but nonetheless fruitful, thank you for asking.” You smiled up at him and your heart almost caved at the slight smile playing on his lips.

“I’m glad to hear you have been well, I’ll take the usual.” He announced before handing you a bag of mora, in which you tucked away before handing him a bouquet of Lamp Grass flowers.

They had a soft glow to them due to the daylight, but they were still beautiful nonetheless. You tied a careful bow around the base to hold them together before handing them to the man before you.

Your hands brushed against one another as you passed it to him, sending a jolt of warmth through your body. You played it off, not wanting to make it obvious that the small action affected you.

“You have my thanks Y/N, they’re as beautiful as ever.” Oh how you wished he had spoke of you like that.

“No need to thank me Master Diluc, I was just-“ You were cut off as your fellow coworker stormed onto the scene, her face bright red with a big smile on her face as she stepped in front of you.

“I actually hand-picked those myself and set them up for you prior to this encounter, Master Diluc. I also ensured that they stayed in great condition for you, I know how much you value quality.” Donna.

The reason for your jealousy and the source of your rage. She made up lies to impress him, took advantage of your hard labour and stole your spotlight.

Yet, she was still your coworker and your boss, there was nothing you could do but sit back and watch as she slowly whisks away the man of your dreams.

You had known Diluc as a child, but due to his status as a Ragnvindr, you two never met. Secretly tho, you watched from afar as he play fought with his brother, Kaeya.

You watched him grow up into the man he was today. He had always had a certain charm to him, attracting all kinds of people regardless of their status.

Even tho he came off cold, his aura pulled people in, inviting them into the warmth of his presence for even a mere moment. He was charming, yet clueless of this characteristic of his.

However even through his charm, he was still cold.

“Thank you, Donna, however I believe I was speaking to Y/N before you unkindly interrupted. I would like to resume our conversation.” His words were stern, his eyes glaring like daggers as he tried to be friendly to the brunette before him.

Donna stuttered over her words, spitting out an apology before turning around and glaring at you, walking away to sulk afterwards.

You turned your gaze back to the red head and noticed that his eyes were already trained on you, as if he was waiting for you to speak. You swallowed the nervous lump in your throat.

“Thank you, Master Diluc, but you really shouldn’t have done that. I’m sure she was just trying to make conversation with you, you must be well aware of her feelings towards you.” You tried to reason, sticking up for your boss as much as you could as you didn’t want to be fired.

“I am aware, however I feel the need to clarify her feelings stay unrequited. I appreciate the lengths she goes to, however this affection is no longer required. I do not need such futile things, please inform her for me.” He continued.

His words made you wince.

He didn’t need such futile things…?

“I will, Master Diluc.” You bowed respectfully, handing him his change before sending him another smile.

“Have a lovely day Y/N, and do feel free to drop by the tavern for a bit, your drinks will always be on the house.” You smiled at him and nodded, waving him off as he disappeared around the corner.

Diluc had never once charged you for a drink at his tavern, in fact, not even Charles did. At first, you had found it weird when your hard-earned money had been given back to you at the bar, but you couldn’t complain, as a matter of fact you were grateful.

You still had no idea why he did this act, but you brushed it off as a kind gesture and went on with your life, dropping by the tavern every once in a while for a friendly conversation.

“Good evening Charles!” You chimed brightly, making your way over to the stools at the bar. The bartender turned around and you watched his expression brighten at the sight of you.

“Ah! My favourite customer! I’m glad you’re here, these drunkards are out of control this afternoon, it’s good to have someone who knows how to handle their booze.” You laughed at his words, making yourself comfortable in the stool furthest away from the festivities.

“I can only ‘handle my booze’ because I don’t drink alcohol Charles.” You smiled, watching him pour your usual drink, Wolfhook Juice.

“And I thank the archons everyday for that fact.” He let out a hearty chuckle while handing you the drink before he turned to the other customers.

You smiled to yourself before sipping on your drink. Despite how loud the tavern was from all the loud chatter of the customers, you always managed to find comfort in there.

It put you at ease with how lively it was, it made you feel at home. Ever since you had come to Mondstadt from Liyue, you had always longed for your hometown.

But this was your home now, and you loved it.

“Where is Master Diluc?” You spoke up, your gaze flicking around for the familiar tuft of red hair you had grown to love.

“He’s had some business to attend to so he won’t be joining us tonight, but don’t worry your drink are still on the house.” He sent you a playful wink at the end of his sentence in which you flicked an ice cube at him.

“You make me feel bad for having free drinks all the time Charles. One of these days you’re going to have to allow me to repay you for all of this.” You lifted your glass up to your lips and took a sip, relishing in the coolness of it.

“I’m afraid you may go bankrupt.” You both laughed at his words before you drank the remaining liquid in your glass, placing it down onto the bar.

“Well well if it isn’t the Flower Damsel, what brings you to such a place at such late hours?” Your body tensed before it relaxed at the realisation of who it was.

“Good evening to you too Captain Kaeya.” You turned to send him a smile before patting the stool next to you.

Flower Damsel. A nickname you had adopted after Kaeya had saved you from an abyss mage, and then a group of hilichurls, and then some Fatui agents. Needless to say you always managed to find trouble, or maybe it always found you.

The flower part came from your occupation, working at the flower shop at the front of the city. It also came from how kind you were, or at least that’s what Kaeya said to cover up his terrible nicknaming abilities.

“I’m assuming you’re here for my dearest brother?” The captain teased, watching your face turn bright red as you shot him a sharp glare.

“If you hadn’t gaslit me into telling you about my feelings for him, my life would be a lot easier.” You huffed, accepting another drink from Charles.

“Oh please, it’s not like you’re any good at hiding it.” Kaeya accepted his own drink from Charles and took a big sip, letting out a relaxed sigh after.

“He does have a point, I’m surprised Master Diluc hasn’t caught on yet.” Charles chimed in, polishing a few glasses as he flicked his eyes at you.

“Master Diluc is a smart man, he most definitely knows already…he just probably doesn’t want to have to let me down…” You let out a defeated sigh, your shoulders slumping over the bar.

“You think he would reject you?” Kaeya side-eyed you, his cup held up to his lips as he drank from it once again.

“Of course, what would a man of his class have anything to do with someone as insignificant as me?” You laid your head down onto the cool wooden bar and sighed again.

“Now now don’t get all sappy on me,” Kaeya started, gently patting you on the bag as he downed the rest of his drink, “Say, I’ll walk you home, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you now would I?” You smiled at the captain before finishing your drink and waving to Charles as you both exited the tavern.

It was fairly late into the night, almost 2 weeks after you had last seen Diluc. Naturally, you were worried for the man, what if something had happened?

The sky’s were pouring down rain, people had retreated into their homes and the city was quiet. The sun had long since set, and the people of Mondstadt had tucked in for the night. You included.

That was until the loud banging on your door woke you up, panic instilling through your body as you slowly crept down the stairs and into your living room where the front door was.

The banging had softened now, but it still alarmed you greatly. Who could possibly be visiting at such late hours? And why were they so urgent to enter your home?

With shaky hands, you twisted the doorknob and pulled it open.

“Master Diluc!” You let out a noise of surprise as the red-head looked up at you. He looked disheveled, his hair sticking to his face from the rain, his coat drenched and he was hunched over, cradling something to his side.

His burning eyes locked with yours as he let out loud huffs of exhaustion, no words coming from his mouth at all as he made silent pleas with you.

“Come inside quick, and make yourself comfortable while I go and run you a bath.” You didn’t really know what to do, you had never seen him like this before.

He stepped into your home, his hands still cradling something that was tucked into his coat. You chose not to question it for now, assuming he would tell you once you returned from running his bath.

After you did, you rummaged through your closet and eventually found something that may fit him. You laid it out in the bathroom before returning back downstairs with a towel.

When you got there, you saw him hunched over, sitting up-right on your couch. His hair was a mess, knotty and soaking from the rain.

“Master Diluc? I brought you a towel.” You walked over and gently placed the towel over his shoulders before walking around to face in front of him.

Still, he said nothing.

Instead he pulled back his coat, revealing what he had been hiding since he got here. Your eyes widened at the sight and your hands went up to cup your mouth.

“A puppy?” You said, your eyes meeting his as he nodded at you. The small animal was looking up at you with big doe eyes, it’s fur soaked and it’s entire body shivering from the cold.

“I found him on my way back, I couldn’t just leave him there so I brought him here. I’m sorry for the sudden intrusion.” The first time he had spoken to you that evening.

“No no no it’s absolutely fine, I’m just glad you’re okay-“ You cut yourself off as you realised what you had said. Your face went bright red as you looked anywhere but at him.

“Thank you for your concern, Y/N.” His voice, as soothing as ever.

Your flustered form fumbled around for another towel to wrap the dog in. Diluc handed you the puppy as you wrapped it in a blanket and gently placed it back into the couch, watching it snuggled further into the warmth of the towel.

“Your bath is ready, Master Diluc. it’s just upstairs so feel free to go for one whenever you want.” You smiled up at him as you stepped away from the dog, bowing to him respectfully.

“No need to be so formal Y/N, just call me Diluc for this evening.” Your heart beat quickened at his words as you smiled like an idiot and nodded before shooting off into the kitchen and fetching something for the dog to eat.

You heard Diluc make his way up the stairs before the bathroom door clicked shut. You let out a relieved sigh and felt your shoulders relax.

Diluc had showed up at your door in the middle of the night with a puppy. All things considered, it seemed unusual for him to not only disappear for multiple weeks on end, but also show up looking as disheveled as he did.

There had to be some other reason as to why he was here, and you were going to find it out before he had a chance to disappear again.

“Uhm Master- I mean- Diluc? Could you pass me your clothes so I can start to dry them?” You gently knocked on the bathroom door.

But there was silence.

“Diluc…?” You knocked again, but you were greeted with silence once again.

You couldn’t even hear the sound of the water sloshing around as he washed himself. No sound of his breathing or anything at all.

Your worries worsened as the seconds went by, continuing to knock on the door and call out his name. However, you received no response each time.

“Lord Barbatos, please forgive me for this.” You prayed before closing your eyes and opening the door slowly, squinting your eyes open before they widened in shock.

“Master Diluc! Are you okay?” You cried out, quickly making your way over to the bathtub and his limp form sitting in the water.

“Oh no- Gods no- Please.” Your breathing was jagged and your eyes were teary as you desperately felt for a pulse. You felt your shoulders relax a bit as you felt the small thumping of his heart.

Thankfully, he had not yet removed his pants yet, so you didn’t have to deal with him being completely nude.

You observed his figure and saw small cuts all over his body, bruises littering his stomach and arms and a large gash on his stomach spilling out blood. The water in the bath had turned red from it, the sight making you lightheaded.

It was an effort, but you managed to pull him out of the bathtub and lay him onto the ground of the bathroom before running off to get medical supplies.

Of course, you would’ve preferred to take him to see Barbara, but the church was so far away and it was so late into the night. You knew no other healers who could help him so you tried your best to stop the bleeding and aid him properly.

After what seemed like forever, you managed to stop the bleeding momentarily and bandage him up. It took even more effort to dry him off and get him into a new change of clothes.

Your face was bright red as you caught yourself staring at his toned body, his muscled stomach, his biceps and even his hands. You were even more flustered as you were changing his clothes, having to do it with your eyes closed for not only his privacy but for the sake of being respectful.

You had laid him down onto your bed, choosing to let him take it as it was far more comfortable than your couch. You had brushed out his hair and braided it carefully before going back down onto the kitchen to get him water for when he wakes up.

Once you returned, you sat down next to him, staring at his exhausted form with worried eyes. You bit your lip to hold back your tears as you reached up to gently tuck his hair behind his ear.

“Oh Diluc…what got you into this mess?”

The next morning you woke before him, choosing to take the day off to aid to his needs. You dried his clothes and made him breakfast.

The puppy he had brought him was much more lively as it was jumping around at your feet as you prepared his meal. You fed it small pieces of chicken before taking Diluc meal upstairs for him.

“Now now, calm down you’re going to wake him up.” You whispered to the dog, shushing it’s loud yaps as you both made it up the stairs and into the bedroom.

You almost jumped out of your skin as you saw him already sitting up and looking around the room. His eyes locked with yours and then the dogs.

“Master Diluc! You’re awake, I’m glad.” You sigh with relief at seeing him conscious as you walk over and carefully place the platter of food onto his lap.

“I thought we already went over the formalities?” You tensed up at his words. You had totally forgotten, you had been too focused on whether he was going to wake up from his slumber.

Feeling uneased by the silence, he clears his throat before continuing.

“Never mind that, I must thank you for not only allowing me to seek refuge in your home but also for aiding me. I should have made you aware of my condition, I apologise if I worried you in any way.” He bows his head in shame and your heart clenched painfully.

“Oh no, don’t apologise. I’m just relieved you’re okay now, I wasn’t sure what to do at first but I managed to patch you up pretty well.” You became flustered as his eyes were trained on you.

His gaze made you melt and made your stomach erupt in butterflies. His eyes were scarlett red and so fierce, yet they had a sense of warmth behind them.

“You did a wonderful job. How could I repay you for aiding me?” He continued to stare up at you, his eyes filled with a new determination that you’d never seen before.

“Think of this as me repaying you for the free drinks at the tavern.” You smile at him before lifting the small dog at your feet up into your arms.

“This little guy managed to make it though the night as well, I guess you both have something in common now.” You let out a happy laugh as the puppy licked your cheek.

Diluc observed the interaction with wide, sparkling eyes. You looked so beautiful. Had you always been this breathtaking?

Diluc never understood why he found himself so enamoured with you. He found himself thinking of you while he worked, found himself purposefully bumping into you around the city and even offered you unlimited free drinks.

Yet he could never understand why.

“Would you like to keep him?” He spoke up, watching your head flick to his direction as a bright smile crossed your features.

“Really? Are you sure?” The smile on your face only for wider as you saw him nod his head. You snuggled the dog closer to your chest as it tapped happily and licked your face all over.

“Oh! We need to name him!” You carefully sat down in front of Diluc on the bed, the dog still cradled in your arms as you looked at the man expectantly.

“I am…not the best with names…why don’t you come up with one and I’ll give my opinion on it?” He says bashfully, his hand reaching up to gently scratch the dog behind the ear.

“Hmm…” You looked around your room, looking for some inspiration before your eyes landed back into Diluc.

Then you got an idea.

“Let’s name him Phoenix.” You smiled at the man before you, watching his eyebrows furrow in confusion.

Before he could ask, you answered.

“You have a pyro vision right? I’ve seen you fight before! The giant Phoenix you make out of fire! It’s so cool, I think it’s a perfect name for our puppy!” You exclaimed.

Diluc felt his face heat up and his palms start to sweat, he felt his heartbeat in his ears and knees. His lips twisted up into a smile before he composed himself and coughed into his closed fist.

Our puppy.

“It’s a wonderful name Y/N, I think it suits him.” You both smile at each other before you shoot ip from the bed with the dog still in your arms.

“I should leave you to eat your breakfast in peace, your clothes are laying just over there on my dresser for whenever you need to leave. I assume you have some duties to attend to, and you should probably go see Barbara…” You smile and wave at him in which he returned, before you slipped out of the bedroom and back downstairs.

It had been about a month since then, and Diluc had now begun to make frequent visits to your home. Phoenix and him got along wonderfully, and you wondered if it was because your puppy knew Diluc was the one who saved him…

Today was another afternoon where Diluc came to visit, however today seemed a bit different.

“Good evening Diluc, come inside quickly before Phoenix tries to make a run for it.” You usher the man inside quickly, the dog already jumping at the sight of him.

“Good evening Y/N, how are you today?” He said as he scooped the puppy into his arms and gently rubbed behind its ears.

It was odd to see the notorious Master Diluc be so gentle with such a small creature, but it warmed your heart nonetheless.

“I’m good! Phoenix has been following me around all day tho and hasn’t kept whining. I think he really misses you.” You giggle when Phoenix lands a big lick on Dilucs cheek, making the man grimace and place the dog back down.

“He is quite lively when I’m around, I’m glad I let you keep him otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to care for him as well as you do.” He says, taking his coat off and hanging it by tens door before taking his shoes off as well.

“He keeps me on my feet is all I’m gonna say. He’s good company too!” You smile down at the dog and watch as he jumps and barks happily.

The evening continued with you and Diluc making conversation as you prepared dinner for you both. Phoenix sat by Dilucs feet as he told you about his day, his dealings and his upcoming goals.

The two of you had grown rather close in such a short amount of time, it almost felt unreal to you that THE Master Diluc was now one of your closest friends.

The man whom you had loved for years…

It was when you both were finished your meals and Phoenix was passed out on the couch that Diluc finally dropped the bomb on you.

“I am going to be leaving for a few months.” He said, taking a sip of the grape juice you had poured for him.

“Oh.” You felt the room go quiet as you stared at the glass of water in your hand. You didn’t know what to say.

He was leaving? Again?

And this time…for months?

“Well uh- when- when are you leaving?” You tried to sound confident, and thankfully it seemed to work as he took another sip of his drink before answering.

“In about 3 days, I have dealings in Snezhnaya that I need to handle. However due to me being banned from the country, it’s going to be a lot more difficult so it will evidently take longer.” He explained, not once looking up to see the absolute distraught on your face.

3 days…

“Ah I see…” You took a sip of your water.

“Well, I do wish you the absolute best on your journey. However this time, could you return without the major injuries and a stray animal?” Your words made him laugh.

He laughed.

Diluc laughed.

You felt a smile pull its way onto your lips as he finally met your eyes.

“I can not promise anything.” The room then filled with a comfortable silence as you both basked in each other’s presence.

“You know…Phoenix is gonna miss you while you’re gone.” You broke the silence, the sadness coming back.

“Are you going to miss me?”

His words made you freeze, and it seemed to have shocked him as well. You both stared at each other for a moment before he coughed and stood up from his chair.

“I should go, I wouldn’t want to trouble you any further.” He said without looking at you once again. He made his way to the door and grabbed his coat.

“I will be leaving for Liyue tomorrow where I will leave for Snezhnaya. Thank you for this evening, it was as pleasant as ever,” He started, finally turning back around to face you, “Take care of yourself Y/N.”

Then he slipped out the front door of your home without another word. You stood frozen, trying to process everything that just happened.

‘Are you going to miss me?’

Your heartbeat picked up as panic set into your system.

He was leaving tomorrow.

Without another thought you ran towards the door and ripped it open, looking down the street to see that he was almost out of the gates of Mondstadt.

“Diluc! Wait!” You screamed out, hoping to grab the attention of the man as you sprinted after him.

He turned to see your figure running towards him, he made slow steps back towards you. His expression was almost unreadable as he stared down at your exhausted form.

“Are you alright Y/N-“ He stopped himself when he saw you hold your finger up to shush him as you caught your breathe.

“What- *breathe* what did you mean- *breathe* when you asked me if I’d miss you?” You looked up at him, still huffing and puffing from your run.

You watched his shoulders tense up as his gaze fell to his shoes, his hands tucked themselves into his sides and his cheeks started to heat up.

“I would like to think you are smart enough to figure that out on your own.” He said, still not looking up at you.

“What-“

“I must go now Y/N.”

You looked up at him in confusion. Why couldn’t he just tell you now before he left? Why?

“I will see you in about 3 months, please, do take care of yourself and Phoenix for me. Stay safe while I’m gone.” He said, finally looking up at you.

His eyes held in unreadable expression that you couldn’t understand at all. He reached his hand up to gently tuck a piece of hair behind your ear.L before it dropped back to his side.

“I’ll see you soon, Y/N.” And with that his back turned and he walked out of the gates on Mondstadt, leaving you with thousands of questions that would remain unanswered for the rest of time.

Three months had managed to pass by in a flash. The first month was hard for both you and Phoenix as you were both used to having him around most of the time, but you both adapted.

You hadn’t even noticed what the day was until you were sitting in the tavern. Charles had served your rightful drink with an expression you couldn’t quite pin.

He had been glancing at you ever since you walked in and it was starting to bug you. Why did he keep looking at you?

“What? Is there something on my face?” You spoke up, chuckling softly as the bartender jumped at your sudden speech.

“No no, sorry- I was just wondering why you were here?” His words confused you.

“What do you mean?” Your brows were furrowed in confusion as you finished the last bit of your drink before placing it back down onto the bar counter.

“Well…Master Diluc is coming home today, I thought you’d have gone to meet him.”

Oh my god.

You had completely forgotten.

“Oh my Archons- Charles why didn’t you tell me earlier?! Fuck!” You stumbled around for your things before bolting out of the tavern.

“I’m not your alarm clock Y/N!!!” Charles yelled after you, but you barely heard him since you had already made it halfway down the street.

Until you were stopped.

“Oh hi Captain Kaeya, sorry to push past you but I’m kinda in a rush-“

“I’m sorry Y/N, but I’m going to need to borrow you for a second.” He sounded so off.

Instead of his usual charm and flair, his expression was blank. No ‘Flower Damsel’. Just Y/N.

What was going on?

Nevertheless you followed Kaeya up into the Knights headquarters, making your way into Grand Master Jeans office.

Although you weren’t entirely familiar with the woman, Diluc had mentioned her a few times, along with the fellow librarian Lisa. They seemed nice, however their expressions were grim.

“You must be Y/N, please take a seat.” Jean spoke up, gesturing her hand towards the sit in front of her. You looked around before nervously taking a seat.

You twiddled with your thumbs and bit the inside of your mouth as you felt 3 pairs of eyes bore into your soul. Their eyes felt like they were trying to carve you out as Jean let out a soft sigh.

“Master Diluc-“ She started, watching you perk up at the name. The sight only making her more distressed.

“Master Diluc, will not be returning to Mondstadt.”

…

…

…

“What?” You suddenly felt small, inferior, fragile.

You felt the world fall silent and the breathe in your lungs disappear. You felt the air around you grow heavy as if someone had placed weights on your shoulders.

You felt the warmth in your body completely vanish as you stared up at the grand master with wide, doe-like eyes.

“I am aware that you were quite close to him, and along with Kaeya, I felt as tho you were to be one of the first ones to know.” She bowed her head so her eyes landed on her desk.

“I apologise for this. All of Mondstadt will grieve his loss tonight.” No.

No.

No.

No.

No.

“Come on Flower, let’s take you home.” Kaeyas touch was gentle, yet it felt like a thousand knives were being shoved through your skin.

You couldn’t remember how you got home, everything was a blur. Kaeya sat with you in your living room as you stared blankly up at the walls. Phoenix tapped away at your feet, yet you couldn’t respond.

“I know how surreal this must be, that the mighty Master Diluc would fall at the hands of Snezhnayas diplomats,” The Captain started, his gaze no longer fixed on you but at the floor, “Trust me, I’m having a hard time accepting it too.”

That’s when you snapped out of your seemingly never-ending daze. You flicked your gaze over to Kaeya and saw that his shoulders had begun to shake.

“Oh Kaeya…” You cooed softly as you pulled the normally ecstatic man into your arms, feeling his shoulders jump with each sob he let out.

His tears stained your clothes as you gently lulled him, rubbing circles on his back and gently combing your fingers through his hair.

And even tho this man was breaking down into your embrace, you still couldn’t accept it.

A week had passed and the news spread to the whole city. Walking out of your home felt like walking into fire as the stares of the citizens bored into your back. The air felt suffocating and your lungs struggled more and more everyday it seemed.

Kaeya had been visiting ever since Grand Master Jean had told you then news, ensuring that you were well and okay in his brothers absence.

Even tho Diluc had never spoken to Kaeya about you or about the red-heads feelings for you, it felt more of like a silent oath between the two brothers.

That if anything were to happen to Diluc, Kaeya would take care of you. Kaeya would be the one to help you heal and protect you when Diluc couldn’t, and the captain planned in taking that oath to his grave for his brother.

However today, Kaeya had gotten caught up in work and couldn’t visit you. Of course, you didn’t mind it. Your brain still hasn’t processed the fact that he was gone.

Phoenix could tell something was wrong with you, as he was constantly by your side when you were home. He would lay at your feet when you sat down, and he would jump up and sleep on the empty side of your bed at night. He never left your side.

The days passed by like a blur and eventually it had been about a month since the news reached Mondstadt. The city hadn’t completely mended from the news, but they were slowly starting to heal. Slowly.

You however, had spoken barely a word to anyone since that day. The day you heard that your Diluc, was never to come home again.

It wasn’t like he was yours, but in a way it felt like he was. He shared information with you he would never dream of telling anyone else. He let you in on his personal life. He told you about his father. Hell he even told you about his work and how he was the Dark Knight Hero.

You were his special little somebody.

And he loved you, till his very last breathe.

And he had hoped that the winds would carry that message to you for the rest of your life, so that you knew that even in his final moments he adored each and every part of you.

Oh how he had wished he had told you what you wanted to hear the day he left.

You found yourself at Windrise, staring up at the Anemo Archons statue with a blank expression. The storm clouds were beginning to role in over the trees, but the rain had not yet started.

Your eyes were trained on the carvings of the statue, tracing every detailed line with great care before you finally reached the statues face.

The Anemo Archon, Mondstadts ruler.

The city of freedom.

How?

How could someone be free without the source of their own freedom?

How could someone be expected to move on, when all they’ve known is the presence of someone who is no longer?

You turned away from the statue, making your way out into the middle of the grass in front of the tree. This time, you stared up into the sky.

The grey clouds blocked out the sun and kept its warmth from grazing your skin.

All of a sudden you felt wetness on your cheeks. You reached up, gently wiping the water from your face. Was it rain? No, it hadn’t started to rain yet.

Tears?

And before you knew it, the tears continued to fall down your face. Your shoulders shook violently and your hands grasped at the fabric over your chest. Your knees felt like they were going to give out as you finally felt the rain start to fall.

Your cries echoed through the valley of Windrise, and were soon blocked out by the rain pouring down on you. You screamed out into the sky, hoping for someone, anyone to answer you.

And then you felt the winds around you pick up.

Your eyes opened slowly and you observed the small glowing object that hovered in front of you. It flew with a soft aqua green colour. There was a white symbol on it and the outside was gold.

A vision.

An Anemo vision.

Your shaky hands grasped the metal object as your eyes traced its appearance. This was real. You had a vision. The Anemo archon had gifted your a vision.

Though many other people would’ve been ecstatic to find out they received a vision, it only made you cry harder. This time, your sobs turned into pained screams as you clutched the vision to your chest. The winds never died down as you cried and cried into the rain.

You were gifted an Anemo vision.

You were gifted proof…

That he was really gone.

….

….

….

✯ This is unedited! ✯