Stolen Book
A/N: @eliankrios Happy Birthday~ I hope you have an especially wonderful day today. I wish you a good start into your new year of life and the upcoming phase you told me about. So, it isn't really a surprise, since it was already discussed, but I hope you will still find a bit of joy while reading this.
Summary: Surprise~
Words: 1,764 words under the cut
Mika had never considered himself particularly fast. Diligent? Yes. Observant? Definitely. Reliable, even under pressure? He prided himself on that. But fast? Not usually.
Which made his current situation all the more frustrating as he hurried across the courtyard of the Knights of Favonius headquarters, boots skidding slightly against the stone as he tried to keep up with the tall figure walking several paces ahead of him - completely unbothered.
āMister Lohen- wait!ā Mika called, breath catching. āGive it back!ā Ahead of him, Lohen didnāt even slow down. If anything, his pace seemed to become just slightly more leisurely, as though he were savoring the moment. āOh?ā Lohen glanced back over his shoulder, a sly curve to his lips. His voice carried easily, smooth and amused. āYou mean this?ā
He lifted Mikaās small field notebook in one hand, holding it just high enough to make a point. Mikaās face flushed instantly. āY-Yes! Thatās- Thatās private!ā āPrivate?ā Lohen echoed, feigning surprise. āYou shouldnāt leave such interesting material unattended then.ā Mikaās heart dropped and his face flushed.
āYou didnāt- You didnāt read it, did you?!ā he stuttered with a shocked expression. Lohen hummed thoughtfully, tapping a finger against the cover. āHmm⦠letās see. Detailed notes on terrain, wind directionā¦ā his smirk deepened, āand a rather meticulous section titled āBehavioral Observations: Vice Captain Lohen.āā Mika let out a small, horrified squeak.
No, that couldnāt be real⦠he saw it⦠āI-Itās for research!ā he blurted, picking up speed despite his lungs protesting. āI needed to understand-ā āTo understand me?ā Lohen interrupted, voice dipping into something softer, more dangerous. He stopped walking altogether. Mika, unable to react in time, nearly ran straight into him.
Lohen turned fully now, his red eyes glinting with interest as he held the notebook up - far above Mikaās reach. āThatās quite bold of you, Mika.ā Mika swallowed, then jumped- or at least, he tried. His fingers barely brushed the air beneath the notebook. The Vice Captain chuckled, lifting it just a bit higher. āYouāll have to do better than that,ā he commented.
Mika jumped again, this time with more determination but still couldnāt reach it, barely able to brush it with his fingertips. Lohenās smile widened, clearly enjoying himself. āIs that all the reconnaissance prodigy of Mondstadt can manage?ā Mikaās cheeks puffed slightly as he landed, frustration bubbling up. āY-Youāre being unfairā¦ā he complained.
āAm I now?ā Lohen tilted his head. āYouāre the one who thought it would be wise to document me.ā āI wasnāt- Itās not like that!ā āThen what is it like?ā Lohen leaned down just slightly, enough for his gaze to meet Mikaās more directly. āCuriosity? Admiration? Or-ā he didnāt finish his sentence - he didnāt need to - and only showed the other a teasing grin.
Mikaās face turned a deeper shade of red. āJ-Just give it back!ā He jumped again - closer this time - but Lohen effortlessly adjusted, arm stretching higher, just out of reach for the blonde. āPersistent,ā Lohen mused, āI like that.ā Mika huffed, landing again. His arms dropped to his sides as he pouted, clearly at a loss.
For a brief moment, the courtyard fell quiet, except for the faint rustle of wind, then Mikaās expression shifted - a flicker of realization suddenly reaching him, as if it had been carried by the wind right into his mind. āā¦Right,ā he murmured to himself. Lohen raised an eyebrow.
The blonde eyed him a bit nervously now, fidgeting with his fingers, as if he were at odds with oneself, considering something. āGiven up already?ā Mika didnāt answer, instead he stepped closer - much closer than before. The mint-green-haired didnāt move, watching him with mild curiosity - and that was his mistake.
Mika quickly reached out - not for the notebook this time, but for Lohenās side. More specifically⦠his exposed armpit. āWha!ā The reaction was immediate. Lohenās composure shattered as a high-pitched, startled giggle slipped out, his raised arm jerking downward on instinct, his hand slightly tightening around the notebook.
The blondeās eyes lit up, a wave of relief washing over him. It had been a dangerous gamble, that lucky turned out to be in his favor. He felt a bit embarrassed about it to be honest, but having a big brother, he learned how to deal with situations like these. āGot you!ā he cheered and wiggled his fingers down his side and over his ribs.
With his other hand, he immediately went on the offensive as well. His fingers fluttered against Lohenās stomach⦠and thank the wind archon, it turned to be just as effective as his side. āHehe! W-WaHahit!ā Lohenās voice hitched, laughter slipping through despite his clear attempt to suppress it. āMiHika!ā
āYou shouldnāt leave such sensitive areas unattended,ā Mika shot back, emboldened now, his fingers scribbling lightly across Lohenās midsection. Lohenās laughter came out in short, restrained bursts, his shoulders tensing as he tried to regain control. āYou- Hnkk! Thatās uHunfair!ā he laughed.
He couldnāt believe that the blonde would actually resort to something childish as this- no, he was even more surprised that he was so damn tic- ahem sensitive to someoneās touch. In any case, it would usually be him to have the upper hand, he always did, but right now, Lohen felt like he fighting a losing battle, and he didnāt like that at all.
Mika grinned. āIs it?ā He continued, alternating between gentle pokes and quick, teasing scribbles along Lohenās stomach and sides. For a moment, it seemed like Mika might actually win. Then Lohen made his move.
In a swift motion, he dropped the notebook entirely, letting it fall harmlessly to the ground as his hand shot out, catching Mikaās wrist mid-tickle, as the other had been distracted by the suddenly dropping notebook at their feet.
Mika froze, slowly looking up into the otherās ruby-like eyes. Slowly, Lohen straightened, his breathing uneven but his expression shifting back into something far more dangerous. āā¦Clever,ā he said softly. Mikaās confidence wavered instantly. āM-Mister Lohenā¦?ā Lohenās grip tightened - firm, but not painful - as a smirk spread across his face.
āBut you made one critical mistake.ā Mika barely had time to react before Lohenās free hand darted forward, fingers digging lightly into Mikaās side. āEek!ā The sound that escaped Mika was somewhere between a gasp and a high-pitched squeak as his body jolted. āNever let down your guard,ā Lohen murmured. āN-No! WahaHAahAh!ā
Mikaās laughter burst out instantly, far less restrained than Lohenās had been. His knees buckled slightly as Lohenās fingers worked expertly along his sides. āOh?ā Lohenās tone turned teasing again. āThat sensitive?ā The surveyor shook his head frantically, even as his laughter betrayed him. āI-Iām ehEheh Iām n-noHot-! Ahaha!ā āLiar.ā
Lohen shifted his attack upward, one hand sliding to Mikaās underarm while the other continued along his ribs, paying attention to press into the soft spots in-between. Mikaās reaction was immediate. āNOHO! MIHIHISTER LOHOHOHEN!ā His voice cracked into helpless giggles as his shoulders shot up, trying- and failing to block the tickling. āIHIHIT TIHICKLES!ā
Lohen chuckled, clearly enjoying the way Mika squirmed. āYou really should be more careful, Mika. Recording information about someone like meā¦ā his fingers wiggled deliberately under Mikaās arm, eliciting a loud squeal āā¦comes with consequences.ā Mikaās face was bright red now, his laughter spilling uncontrollably as he tried to twist away.
āS-STAHAHP! I CAHANāT-!ā āCanāt what?ā Lohen teased, leaning closer. āEndure a little⦠interrogation?ā āTHIHIHIS ISNāT FAHAIR! Y-YOHOU MEHENAY!ā āFairness is overrated.ā Lohenās fingers danced mercilessly between Mikaās sides and underarms, never staying in one place long enough for him to recover.
Mikaās laughter turned breathless, his attempts at escape growing weaker by the second. āMiHister L-Lohohen- plehease!ā he managed between giggles, his hands pushing weakly at Lohenās arms. āI- I gi-giHive uhp!ā Lohen tilted his head, watching him with clear amusement. āAlready?ā Mika nodded rapidly, laughter still bubbling out. āY-YeHehes!ā
āHmm,ā Lohen pretended to consider it, though his fingers didnāt stop, but got a bit slower, āI donāt know. You were quite persistent earlierā¦ā Mika let out a helpless, high-pitched laugh. āI-Iām sohorry!ā āAre you?ā āYEHES!ā Lohenās grin softened just slightly but his teasing didnāt. āThen perhaps Iāll-ā Before he could finish, a large shadow loomed over them.
āHaving fun?ā Both of them froze. Lohenās hands stilled instantly. Mika blinked, still catching his breath as he looked up. āC-Captain Varka!ā Varka stood there, arms crossed, with an expression completely unfazed as he took in the scene: Lohen holding a flustered, laughing Mika in place.
āā¦You two done?ā he asked casually, as if head seen something like this countless times already. Lohen released Mika without protest, stepping back with a small sigh. āWe were in the middle of something.ā āI can see that,ā the Grand Master commented, letting out a sigh.
āā¦Itās not nice to tease your juniors too much, Lohen⦠let's have a chat about it, shall we.ā Without another word, Varka reached down, grabbed Lohen by the back of his uniform, and hoisted him over his shoulder like it was nothing. āH-Hey,ā Lohen started, sounding more annoyed than surprised, āput me down.ā āNope.ā
āThis is highly unprofessional,ā Lohen argued. āSo was whatever you were doing just now.ā Mika watched, wide-eyed, as Varka turned and began walking away, Lohen draped over his shoulder, arms crossed and clearly displeased. āā¦This isnāt over, Mika,ā Lohen called back, his smirk returning despite the situation, āweāll continue this later.ā
Mika squeaked at his comment, suddenly feeling his hands on his sides again. Then they were gone. Silence settled over the courtyard once more. Mika stood there for a moment, still slightly breathless, before his gaze dropped to the ground. āā¦My notebook!ā He quickly knelt down, picking it up and checking it over. Thankfully, it was unharmed.
Clutching it to his chest, he let out a small sigh of relief. Then, slowly, a thoughtful expression crossed his face. āā¦Behavioral observation,ā he murmured, flipping it open. He hesitated for only a second before pulling out a quill he always carried along.
Vice Captain Lohen exhibits extreme sensitivity in underarm and side regions. Reaction includes involuntary laughter, loss of composure, and defensive reflexes.
The blonde paused. Then, cheeks faintly pink, he added one more line.
Note: The Vice Captain is highly retaliatory. Exercise caution.
Mika closed the notebook with a small nod, his determination returning. āā¦Iāll be better prepared next time.ā He pricked up his ears when somewhere in the distance, Lohenās voice echoed faintly in protest as Varka carried him off, followed by sudden chortle of laughter. Mika smiled just a little. Yes, next time⦠heād definitely win.




















