snee affinity!

When Aether entered the Dawn Winery, per the request of Diluc's message (which had been urgently sent via bird), the first thing he saw was Kaeya standing in the foyer.

"...Shouldn't you be upstairs helping out?" Aether asked. Kaeya avoided his eyes for a moment, then fixed him with an award winning smile that Aether was not the least bit fooled by.

"I got kicked out. ...For reasons." Kaeya said- and it was at this point that Aether belatedly noticed the layer of frost slowly melting off of the cavalry captain's hands.

"For reasons, huh?" Aether deadpanned, reaching into his pocket dimension and rummaging around for a moment. Eventually he seemed to find what he was looking for, as he pulled out a small bag. "Well- I guess you can do this then- I got some leaves from the Windrise tree and some other... tea stuff. At the very least adding the Windrise leaves to it should help Venti a little. ...I think."

"Ah, reduced to the job of boiling water." Kaeya took the offered bag and started walking in the direction of the kitchen.

"Don't burn it!" Aether called after him.

"Is it even possible to burn water?"

"I'm sure there are ways." A vivid memory of the last time the Raiden Shogun had tried cooking sprung to mind. Aether shook the thought out of his head, and turned and headed upstairs to the bedrooms. As soon as he got up there, he could make out the sound of voices coming from the guest room.

"Bard, get back in that bed right now or so help me-"

"I didn't take you as the type to infringe on other's freedoms, Master Diluc-"

"Alright, that's it-"

Aether opened the door at just the right time to witness Diluc grab Venti by the waist and lift him up and away from the window the anemo archon had clearly been trying to get to. Venti barely even struggled, although he did kick his legs a little bit, clearly trying half-heartedly to hit Diluc and not at all succeeding.

A quick glance to the side revealed that Jean was also in the room, her hand against her forehead in barely restrained frustration.

"Diluc, please be gentle with him." She said, quietly acknowledging the Traveler's presence with a small nod. Diluc didn't verbally respond to her, but Aether could've sworn he saw him roll his eyes.

Venti was practically pouting as he was placed back down onto the bed, crossing his arms and glaring at Diluc, which the other pointedly ignored. Aether finally got a chance to take in Venti's appearance- his hair was all mussed up, and one of his braids was coming undone. The ends of his hair were glowing with the teal of anemo, and that, combined with the flush on his face, was all the information Aether needed to know that Venti was most likely running a fever.

It was only once Aether was standing directly beside the bed that Venti finally took notice of him.

"Oh, hey Traveler!" Venti sniffled a little, rubbing his nose against his sleeve. "Would you mind telling these two that I am perfectly fine enough to make a lil trip to Old Mondstadt?"

"Ha, nice try." Aether said, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside Venti. "Diluc specifically called me in as reinforcement."

"Oh c'mon, I'm clearly fi-ihh...hIH-" The teal glow in Venti's hair flared brighter as his eyes slipped shut. Jean and Diluc hurriedly stepped back away from the bed-

Aether didn't quite get the memo in time.

"Hh'NGkT-chiew!!" Venti doubled over with a stifled sneeze, his wings appearing and unfolding- smacking Aether in the face and knocking him off the bed. The Traveler remained on the floor for a moment, stunned. After a second, he pushed himself up, catching the moment Venti's wings drooped down with exhaustion- and a bit of guilt.

"...Sorry, Traveler." He muttered, retracting his wings with a visible grimace, his body shuddering. Aether frowned, re-taking his position of sitting on the bed- albeit in a spot he was less likely to get smacked by a wing.

"It's fine." Aether said, "Wouldn't it be easier if you just left your wings out, though?"

"Uhh..." Venti rubbed at his nose again, tilting his head to the side a little and avoiding eye contact. Off to the side, Jean and Diluc let out near identical sighs.

"We've been trying to tell him that for the past two hours." Jean said, "He hasn't listened."

Venti fully looked away from them, muttering something about the possibilities of maids walking in at any time. Diluc opened his mouth, clearly about to say something about how he'd sent all the Dawn Winery staff home for the day-

There was a loud crash from the kitchen, startling everyone, followed by a curse that was surprisingly loud enough to reach up to the second floor.

"...I gave Kaeya the job of making tea." Aether said, "How could you possibly mess up at making tea?"

Diluc glanced upwards as though he was praying for a miracle- though he likely wasn't actually praying, considering his god was sitting sick directly in front of him. He turned and marched out of the room, Jean hurriedly moving to follow him- briefly glancing back and silently asking with her expression if Aether could handle Venti on his own. The Traveler gave her a nod in return, and she quickly followed Diluc down the stairs.

Venti stared at Aether.

Aether stared at Venti.

Slowly, as though Aether wasn't staring directly at him, Venti got off of the bed, and on somewhat shaky legs, started making his way towards the window.

Aether patiently waited until Venti was right in front of the window before he launched off of the bed, quickly grabbing onto Venti's shoulders, pulling him back away from the window.

"Aw, c'mon!" Venti whined as Aether started gently pushing him back towards the bed. "Just a tiny trip to Ol-hH-.... Old MondstahH-"

Venti's hands started moving up to his face-

Aether spun Venti around so that he was facing him, grabbing hold of one of Venti's wrist with one hand, and placing his other hand against the back of Venti's head, gently bringing Venti closer to him. Venti squirmed, shaking his head and trying to choke back hitching breaths.

"Hey, it's okay." Aether said, "Trust me."

Even if Venti wanted to protest to that, he didn't really get much choice in the matter.

"Hihh-hH'ISsH-iew!! Hh...hEH'EtSHchiew!!" Venti had no choice but to sneeze into Aether's shoulder, his wings unfurling, one of them smacking into the wall of the room. Aether winced a little at that, figuring it was definitely bruised at least. Venti's wings twitched, and then he was surging forwards with three more sneezes. "Heh- hEH'Tt-shiew! Hh'EtSHiew!! Hh- hihH- hH'ITsHhiew!!"

Aether barely held back a shiver at the sensation of anemo energy that now filled his veins, smirking a little as Venti pulled back, clear surprise on his face.

"...Um." Venti blinked slowly, seemingly processing, and Aether used the opportunity to guide him back to the bed, carefully maneuvering around Venti's wings.

"There we go." Aether said once Venti was sitting down, "You don't have to go to Old Mondstadt anymore, right?"

"....I... guess not?" Venti said, just the slightest bit dazed. A thought seemed to cross his mind, clearing some of the haze from his eyes. "Ah- but, you'll get sick if I keep-"

"Oh, please." Aether scoffed, "I don't get sick."

Venti stared at him with something in between disbelief and being completely and utterly unimpressed.

"No, seriously, I've never been sick in my life." Aether continued, "Never."

Venti opened his mouth, ready to question him-

Another crash, much louder than before, rang out from the kitchen, followed by three different panicked shouts, along with what Aether was certain was the sound of Diluc summoning his claymore. Aether threw his hands up in frustration.

"It is not that hard to make tea! They've literally all done it before!" He said, making his way to the door. He paused in the doorframe, turned around, and pointed at Venti.

"Stay there. I'll be back in a second." He said, and then vanished down the hall. Venti stared unblinkingly at the door for a solid minute, and then sighed, laying down on his side, his wing folding overtop of him like a blanket. If he was going to have to stay here, he might as well get comfortable...

He must've fallen asleep at some point, cause when he next opened his eyes, there was a cup of tea on the nightstand beside him, and Aether was sitting there, looking slightly singed.

Venti had been keeping close today. 

It was a little bit odd, considering. Mondstadt seemed to be having some sort of festival (though Aether had yet to stumble into someone who could stay around long enough to explain what exactly was going on, and Venti himself had offered no answers outside of it being something that “the children of Mondstadt had come up with themselves”, which totally narrowed things down), and usually during any kind of festival season, Venti would be running around, talking to as many people as he could, and generally making the most of it. 

But instead, ever since the Traveler had arrived in the city, he’d been keeping close to Aether’s side. If anything, he seemed slightly subdued, in a way that was almost outright suspicious. 

Aether had tried to ask him if something was wrong, but had only gotten brushed off as Venti insisted that he just wanted to “bask in the Traveler’s presence for the day!”. It was clear that Venti wasn’t going to give him a straight answer any time soon. 

So Aether chose to do his own investigating, subtly keeping a close eye on Venti as the other walked ever so slightly behind him. 

Neither Venti nor Paimon noticed the small smirk that crossed the Traveler’s face when he finally figured it out. 

.After a few more minutes of walking around, they finally, finally, stumbled upon someone who wasn't in a rush. Paimon wasted no time in getting up in their face and asking what was going on- Aether having to grab her by the foot and pull her back so that she was no longer invading the person's personal space. 

To make an altogether too long story short, today was apparently the birthday of Barbatos, and since Barbatos himself wasn't around to blow out his own birthday candles, the people of Mondstadt did it for him, blowing out candles to send messages to him. 

(Apparently, some children had started the tradition a few centuries ago when they'd gotten upset at the idea of Barbatos not getting to celebrate his birthday in the way that they did, so they'd thrown him a birthday party themselves, the idea had spread, and then it had stuck). 

Both Aether and Paimon turned to look at Venti, knowing full well that his birthday, or at the very least, the day that he had told them was his birthday, had been over a week ago. Venti turned to the side and started pretending to tune his lyre like he hadn't been listening to the conversation and had no clue who any of them were. 

Aether rolled his eyes, and accepted the lit candle that the person handed to him. Keeping his eyes on Venti, he carefully blew it out. 

Just get it over with and sneeze already. 

Venti visibly startled, his fingers pulling a little bit too harshly on his lyre’s strings, creating a discordant twang that had everyone flinching. 

“Ehe, sorry!” His lyre vanished in a flash of anemo, “The strings on that one are getting a little… old.” 

Everyone else seemed to accept this explanation at face value, Paimon muttering something about “tone deaf bards” as she accepted the candle handed out to her. 

Aether took her moment of brief distraction to grab Venti’s wrist and drag him into a nearby alleyway. Venti allowed him to do so without complaint, which really spoke volumes in and of itself. 

“Alright.” Aether said, letting go of Venti’s wrist, “Go ahead.” 

“Go ahead? Go ahead with what?” Venti asked, innocently tilting his head to the side. Aether gave him the most deadpan expression he could muster. 

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” 

“I really don’t, though?” 

Aether slowly raised one eyebrow. Venti met the Traveler’s unimpressed stare head on, though Aether couldn’t help but notice that one of Venti’s eyes was twitching just a little. After another moment had passed, Aether let out a sigh, turning to leave the alley. 

“Well, if you don’t need my help then-” 

“No, wait, Trahh- Traveler, I may need your ahH-ssistance-” 

Venti’s hand clasped onto the edge of Aether’s scarf, and Aether paused mid-step, looking at the other over his shoulder. In the mere seconds that Aether had turned away, Venti’s expression had changed, to something very different… and much more desperate. 

“Alright, now we’re getting somewhere.” Aether said, turning back around and watching as Venti lifted a hand up to his face, breath hitching. Aether got ready to reach out and help- 

Only for the hitching breaths to accumulate to nothing, Venti quietly letting out a slightly frustrated noise as he rubbed at his nose. 

“...Stuck?” Aether asked. 

“....Stuck.” Venti repeated, sounding just a little bit defeated, “Ugh, it’s been like this almost all day. I can’t sing when this keeps ha-happening… hiHh-”  

Venti’s breath hitched again, and he reached out for the Traveler- 

Aether stepped just out of reach, smirking just a little bit as Venti’s breathing hitched a few more times before slowly stabilizing again. 

“You know,” Aether said, “You could have just asked me for help when I first got here, instead of just hovering around me all day.” 

Venti let out a long sigh. 

“...It wouldn’t have really changed anything…” He muttered, continuing to rub at his nose. “I would’ve just ended up stuck again anyways, so there was no point in troubling the hero of Mondstadt with my plight.” 

“Ah, so it is the candles setting you off then.” Aether said, “Good to know… A little funny though, since they’re dedicated to you-” 

“Yes, yes, I’m well aware of the ironies at play.” Venti interrupted him, waving him off. “Still, not much I can do about it other than allow the children of Mondstadt their holiday.” 

“The one that’s meant to be your birthday? Which was, y’know, a week ago?” 

“Ah, right, well, a few centuries is all it takes for the dates to get a little…. a little…” Venti trailed off, his eyes going ever so slightly hazy as his nose twitched. 

“Alright, come here, let me help you.” Aether pulled Venti a little closer to him, “Now, how to go about this…” 

After a moment’s hesitation, Aether started lightly running his finger up and down the bridge of Venti’s nose. The ends of Venti’s braids flared with the light of anemo as his hitching breaths slightly increased in pitch and frequency, and- 

Seemingly on pure instinct, Venti pulled himself away from the Traveler, turning his head to the side and- “Hh’NGkT-chiew…” -stifling it. 

Aether crossed his arms and stared at him, unimpressed, as Venti slowly turned back towards him with a somewhat sheepish laugh. 

“Ehe… sorry. A millenia old habit is a little hard to brehH-” Without warning, Aether had pulled a feather out of his pocket space, and started running it against Venti’s nose. 

Now, normally, on most days, Venti wouldn’t be all that sensitive to that sort of thing. (It would make having his own feathers rather difficult after all). 

However, today his nose had had quite enough, thank you, of being itchy, and was willing to accept any stimuli as a way to get the tickle out. 

“Hehh…. hH-” Venti’s braids lit up again, and this time Aether caught him before he could turn away, pulling him close yet again. Venti’s hands sort of awkwardly flailed for a moment, clearly unprepared for this, before he gripped onto the back of Aether’s clothes. “Hh- hH’ISsH-iiew!!” 

A faint breeze swirled in the alley, and Aether pulled Venti slightly tighter against him to make sure that the anemo energy was absorbed completely as Venti’s breath hitched again. 

“HhEH’ETSHchiew!! Hh- hiH- hEH’Tt-shieww!! hH’ITsHhiiew!!! Hh… hH- hEH- hH’EISHhiew!!” 

“Wow, this was really affecting you, huh?” Aether said, gently running a hand up and down Venti’s back to prevent the other’s wings from appearing, as they’d certainly smack into the wall in a very painful way if they did. “I think this nearly beats the cat allergy. Nearly.” 

“HhiH’EtSHh-iew!! Snf… ugh… it’s nowhere near as bad as the cahH… cat allergy.” Venti muttered, sniffling as he did so. “At least with this I can kind of- kind of hold… back- hH’ISsHh-iew!!!” 

“Maybe we should test it…” 

“Why, if it isn’t Mondstadt’s greatest bard.”

“I seem to recall you owing me one last drink to cover your tuition fee,” Venti tells him.

Kaeya laughs. “I was hoping you’d have forgotten.”

“Haha! I assure you, my memory is excellent when it comes to wine.”

Next to Kaeya is Jean, the Acting Grand-Master, which is unexpected—Venti has always seen her as someone too respectable to drink—but closer inspection tells him that she’s nursing a cup of Windblume Apple Cider, which makes marginally more sense. Then, behind the bar, is Diluc.

“It’s quite the occasion, isn’t it?” Venti says, taking a seat next to Kaeya, though something about a sudden change in temperature in the tavern makes him shiver. “Even Master Diluc is here tonight.”

Jean nods. “He wanted Charles to take the day off so he could properly celebrate.”

“It’s nothing like that. I just happened to be free,” Diluc denies—though, Venti knows that Diluc’s schedule is much less rigid than the Knights’—he gets the sense that Diluc is only here when he actually wants to be here.

“Quite the gentleman, isn’t he?” Kaeya says, giving Diluc a significant look, which Diluc pointedly ignores. “So, what do I owe you? A Windblume-exclusive Apple Cider?”

Venti suppresses another shiver. Really, the tavern feels unusually chilly. Perhaps it’s been set like this in expectation for the abundance of customers—he supposes they’d be less enthusiastic about drinking for hours in a tavern that’s stiflingly warm—but isn’t this overdoing it a bit?

“Actually, I think I’m in the mood for Dandelion Wine,” he says, clearing his throat when his voice comes out uncharacteristically scratchy. “It’ll save you a couple hundred mora.”

Kaeya nods. “Another order of Dandelion Wine, then?”

Venti leans forward on his stool, propping his arms up on the countertop, and listens as Kaeya and Jean discuss the most efficient way for the Knights to investigate some strange movements from the Fatui agents lately. They’re both excellent strategists, though where Jean is reserved, well-acquainted with the terrain and its shortcuts, Kaeya is reckless, pushing for efficiency over certainty. Diluc is listening too, even though he doesn’t offer any interjections.

It’s an enjoyable conversation to sit in on, but Venti really wishes it weren’t so cold here. His nose is running, and there’s a tickle in his nose, so sharp and so pressing that he has to—

“hiih’NKTch-uu!” He sniffles, wiping his nose absently on one wrist.

“Bless you,” Kaeya says offhandedly, then resumes speaking.

It’s only a few seconds later that he finds his breath hitching again. Such a sustained reaction must be—

“hiih… hiiIH’KScHuu!”

—the result of something he’s well acquainted with. This time, it’s Jean that blesses him. 

“Ugh, Master Diluc,” Venti laments. “Since when have you allowed cats in the tavern?”

Diluc raises an eyebrow. “I don’t. Has someone brought a cat in?”

“I didn’t see one. But something here seems to be setting off… my.... hiih!!” His nose is actually running now, and he shivers—a lost sneeze is much less unsatisfying than one seen to conclusion. “...my allergies, snf-!”

“Are you sure you want to order wine?” Jean says. “It’s a histamine, so I’m afraid it might make you feel worse, if you’re allergic.”

“It’s no big deal, hehe, just… annoying… hahh… hAHH…” Venti raises a hand to his face, his eyes snapping shut— “hAH’KTCHh-yuu!”

“Bless you,” Jean and Kaeya say simultaneously.

“snf…! Thanks, I’m not sure what’s gotten into me.” Somehow, the next breath he takes in comes in all wrong, and before he knows it he’s muffling coughs into the same hand—harsher, perhaps, than the situation justifies.

“Are you feeling alright?” Jean asks.

Venti smiles, trying for reassuring. “Don’t worry about me! I’m as well as always, snf! Perhaps someone came in with their shirt covered in cat hairs…”

“Or it could be a cold,” Kaeya offers, with a shrug. “Your face is a little red.”

“It is?” Venti asks, though he doesn’t consider the possibility seriously. “I hope it’s flattering.”

Diluc hands him his Dandelion Wine, which Venti takes from him gratefully. On days like this, he’s glad Diluc knows his identity as Barbatos—evenings like this are much more pleasant when the town’s bartenders are willing to indulge him. The burn of the alcohol is pleasant as he sips, but strangely…

...it’s not enough.

Everything’s too cold, still—frigid in a way he feels shivery and tired, even though he thinks he might actually be sweating. He takes another long sip—half out of desperation—and finds that his throat is sore.

“...Venti?”

Before he knows it, Jean is leaning forward to press the back of her hand to his forehead. Jean has always been gentle, and Venti almost protests as she lowers her hand.

“I think you have a fever,” she says.

That can’t be right, can it? “You must be mistaken. I don’t get... hiIh… hiiIH’K-sShu!... sick, snf-!”

Kaeya sighs. “You sound just like Diluc. Really, maybe hot apple cider would’ve been a better choice.”

“No,” Venti insists, shaking his head. “That’s not what I meant. I... can’t get sick.” He rubs his nose, sniffling into the back of one hand. Diluc passes him a generous stack of napkins. “I’m not supposed to be able to.”

Jean seems to catch on. “Because of your godhood?” Kaeya doesn’t seem surprised at her statement, which implies that Jean has probably told him already.

“I think so. I can’t remember the last time I’ve caught something, and it hasn’t… haHH… snf! It hasn’t ever been something I’ve had to worry about… hIIIh…” Suddenly he’s scrambling for another napkin from the stack, barely managing to unfold it before he’s holding it shakily up to his face. “hiIIHK’SCHhhew! snf-! Ugh, excuse me...”

His head protests. He blinks, his vision swimming, and shuts his eyes.

“Well, there’s a first time for everything, isn’t there?” Kaeya says, sounding more sympathetic than Venti thinks he’s ever heard him sound. He doesn’t realize Diluc’s taken his coat off until he feels the weight of it around his shoulders.

Perhaps it’s because his gnosis isn’t with him, he realizes, with a jolt. He’s always kept it on him—more inseparable, less tangible than his Vision is, but now that it’s in the hands of the eighth of the Tsaritsa’s Harbingers, maybe it means that some of the perks of godhood are gone with it, too.

“I guess so,” he admits. The tickle in his nose is back—not as incessant as it is when he’s petting a cat, but it’s there nonetheless, present and vicious enough to make him shiver in anticipation as his breath snags on an inhale. “hiiH… hiIIH... hIIHKTChh’yuu!” His shoulders shutter forward with the release, forceful enough to jostle the cups on the countertop.

“Bless—”

“HIiih…. IKKSSch’uu!”

“—you.” From Diluc, this time.

Venti blows his nose softly into the napkin and reaches for another. Will this never end? How long are colds supposed to last? Allergies, while annoying, are tolerable enough accompanied by the knowledge that a shower will get rid of them—he’s not looking forward to feeling like this for a week.

“I have to admit,” he concedes, “I’m quite lost when it comes to dealing with things like this.”

“It’s alright. That’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?” Jean says softly, setting a hand on his shoulder.

“It’s okay! I don’t need...”

“You should get some rest,” Diluc adds. “Keep the jacket until you’re feeling well again.”

Venti coughs. “I didn’t mean...”

Their concern is a bit embarrassing, really—as often as he fraternizes with the citizens of Mondstadt, isn’t he supposed to be the one looking after them?—but it’s strangely comforting to have the three of them fuss over him, still.

“Why don’t I order something that will actually make you feel better, instead of worse?” Kaeya suggests.

Between today and the last time they’ve been here, Kaeya has already bought him the three drinks he’s owed. Venti sniffles lightly, adjusting Diluc’s jacket around his shoulders to keep it from slipping off. “You’ve already repaid my lessons in full, so it would be unfair of me to—”

“Consider it a tip.” Kaeya raises his own glass, smirking. “To Mondstadt’s greatest romantic advisor.”

This was bad.. There’s citizens around him. He had to get a hold of himself. Kaeya quickly blinked till he was alert and sat against the fountain railing.

Taking a few deep breaths, he worked to recompose himself. When he took a proper look around again, it seemed everyone had their focuses remained on themselves. This got Kaeya to huff a relieved sigh - but still, he wasn’t out of the woods yet. With a tickle picking up in the back of his nose, his best decision was to get as far away from the public as possible. Staggering to his feet, the Calvary captains eyes darted to the nearest remote space. He spotted a small alleyway within a few metres from where he was stood. With no second thought, Kaeya swiftly avoided the glances sent his way and rushed off.

The male leaned against the cobblestone brick wall, titling his head forward as he tried to control his breathing. Sure he was away from sight, but that didn’t mean he could be loud. He was left with little chance to complain when his nose twitched again. Kaeya was too tired to stifle. He panted unevenly, trying to figure out a way to sneeze without making much noise..

His arm would have to suffice. Blinking away the tears in his eyes the male’s head snapped forward into the crook of his elbow.

“H’STNXXK! Hheh...! H’SHGXX!” He managed to muffle them, but his nose showed no sign of stopping. His nose trembled with urgency, Kaeya knew he was locked into a fit. His chest spasmed with uneven breaths.

His neck tilted back, before helplessly hunching forward again into his sleeve. “H’STNKK! H’SXTGG! HAh...hh’HSHXX!”. The male couldn’t help the congested wince that escaped him. His irritated nose hurt from the pressure of being completely enveloped by material. As if Kaeya wasn’t already exhausted enough by the beginnings of his cold, it seemed sneezing was able to double the fatigue. “HaA’SGHXXT! H’SHXGT!” He sneezed twice more, internally praying that they’d be the last.

But his chest still felt no sign of letting up, almost as if it couldn’t be free with how secretive he was trying to be. His right eye stung with tears, causing discomfort he had no energy to deal with. The male was aware that he wouldn’t be able to relieve himself without being properly open but.. A fit like the one he was experiencing would risk attention. “He’SHGXX! HhE’SHXNN! Hehahh... hhh..”

This was getting frustrating to Kaeya. Now he really had to sneeze, but couldn’t. “Hhnn.. hhehh..” He lifted his head quickly from his elbow to try and inhale fresh air. It left him choking up a cluster of congested coughs. The male grimaced at his own helplessness. His eyes were leaking with tears, causing his right eye to burn with irritation. His face was aching with the urge to be free.

“C-come onhh.. hhAa” the fresh air seemed to trigger his nose more than his sleeve. If he were too confide back into the material now, then his fit won’t let up. Kaeya’s breath continued to hitch as he found himself checking if the alleyway’s opening had unwanted spectators. It was still empty to his utmost delight. His shoulders lifted as his nose continued to tense. The Calvary Captain would have to give in. His hand trembled to his face as he pulled off his eyepatch. Congested tears blinked into his vision, though that seemed far less of an issue than his desperate attempt to sneeze. For something as trivial as sickness, Kaeya didn’t think it’d cost him this much of his regular composure.

Forcing his elbow down to his side, Kaeya’s nose snapped forward with vengeance. “..HHeh..HE’GTSHUU! Snrff.. W-Why herehhh.. H’STGSHUU! Heh, HA’SGSHUU!”

-

You get to decide the rest. x3

First off I just wanna say thank you guys for ur kind words over my last post 🥺 So I think I had some sort of virus but it’s okay now, I kinda disappeared for a few days though so I’m sorry about that! Hopefully this kaeya fanart/fic will make it somewhat better hehe. I’m sorry that I haven’t gotten round to finishing some requests too bc of that!! Unfortunately last week was kinda the week I had planned to complete all that stuff but well.... Life happens. I’ll try to get them done asap but I’m gonna be a little more busy now so it could take awhile.. M super sorry!

Lohen had been standing out in the middle of Knight's of Favonius Nod Krai camp listening to one of the other knights drone on for merely five excruciating minutes, and he was already contemplating actual murder.

He wouldn't go through with it of course. He could patiently wait until he was face to face with monsters from the Abyss who actually deserved it.

He would continue to merrily contemplate it though.

These kinds of meetings were arguably the worst part of being a knight. Normally, he'd skip out or sneak off once he got bored, but unfortunately, Varka had caught him the last time he'd pulled that stunt, and had politely implied (aka, threatened) he would send him off back to Mondstadt if he snuck out of another meeting.

So, for the time being, he was stuck here.

Bored.

Mentally going over various ways to hide a body.

Sniffling- sniffling?

Why was he- oh.

As soon as he became aware of it, Lohen suddenly couldn't put the itch in his nose out of his mind. After checking to see if anyone was watching him, he subtly rubbed at his nose.

Well… it didn't make things worse.

But it didn't make the itch go away either.

Lohen's eye twitched briefly as he resisted the urge to shake his head to get rid of the sensation. He shifted his weight ever so slightly, taking his knife out and slowly running his finger along the side of it in an attempt to distract himself. Anyone who might glance at him would think he was just cleaning a spot off of it or… something, he didn't care what they thought really so long as…

A light breeze blew through the camp.

The itch in his nose flared, and he barely choked back a surprised inhale, nearly dropping his knife.

He hurriedly put it back in his pocket. He really did not need anyone getting on his case about him accidentally injuring himself right now.

He rubbed at his nose again. Again, it didn't help, but didn't make it worse either. He wasn't sure if he was grateful for that or not.

Ugh… and without his knife to focus on now…

He took a slow breath in, ignoring the slight shakyness of it, held it for a second, then slowly let it out.

He could ignore it.

…Fuck, it was starting to burn now-

"Hh-hHh-!" Lohen put a hand over his mouth and nose, quickly glancing around to see if anyone was looking at him.

Thankfully, it seemed like everyone else was somehow enraptured by the knight currently leading the meeting. How, Lohen had no idea. The guy was boring as shit.

Still though, it gave him the chance to slowly move from his usual position, until he had managed to sneak his way to the back of the group. He wasn't willing to risk completely leaving, he was sure at the very least Varka had likely noticed him moving towards the back, but so long as he remained at there, everyone's view of him should be obscured enough for him to-

Lohen practically doubled over from the force of the first sneeze that he stifled into silence. Holy shit, that had been more powerful than he had been expecti-

"HihN'Gtt-sh!!"

Fuck, that one had hurt- it felt like all the force behind it had nowhere to go, like it had absolutely slammed into a brick wall. (It didn't seem like he could really keep them quiet for long, which he hadn't expected to be able to anyways. But, at the very least, it seemed like it was quiet enough for not even the knights standing right in front of him to bother turning around.)

The same sensation repeated for the third stifled sneeze. And the fourth. And the fifth. And the-

Archons damn it, what was wrong with him? He didn't usually sneeze this much. The last time he could remember was-

Wait. Didn't one of the other knights say they'd planted some dandelion seeds around the camp a few weeks ago? Something about a reminder of home? Surely those would be full grown by now, so…

Well, Lohen hadn't thought much about it at the time- he'd gone through desensitization therapy after all, it shouldn't affect him anymore.

Based on how he felt right now though…

"HhNG'SHht! heh-h-heHSH'Ngt-!!"

It had to be his dandelion allergy. Nothing else had ever gotten him as intensely as dandelions had, and he should know, he had tested it. Multiple times in fact. He'd even technically done it accidentally on a stealth mission once, which had been both equally thrilling and frustrating. Was it possible for an allergy to come back? He'd have to send a letter to Sucrose and ask. Hopefully without revealing exactly why he was asking, though she'd probably figure it out anyways.

For now though, he had to bring himself under control. He couldn't afford to have everyone's attention on him at the moment.

"Hih-h-hh-hHNn'TSh! hiH'NG'Tt—!!"

Ow.

….That felt good.

And it wasn't- it wasn't like anyone else was paying him any attention right now, immediately. Somehow, he was getting away with this. Again, his stifles weren't exactly silent, but as long as he kept doing it, he could continue to go unnoticed… And it would continue to…

"Hh-hhn-hNG'tt— hN'Ttt— hH-hh-hiH'NGTtsh!! hhHNn'TtSHh!! hhH- heH-hh-hHSH'NGtt—!!"

Archons, this hurt so good, but why couldn't he slow down a little bit and st-sto-

"hIH'NGttsh!! Hh-hih-hHNn'Tshh-!! Hh'NnTt—!! Hh-hhih-h-hhH! ….guh…"

His nose briefly gave him a sort of reprieve, if one could call a lost sneeze such, though the burning itch remained, his nose twitching and red with irritation. Lohen took the opportunity to quickly wipe the allergic tears off of his face, and glance around just to make sure that nobody had noticed anything-

Mika was staring at him.

Fuck.

As soon as they made eye contact, Mika turned and tugged on Grandmaster Varka's sleeve, pointing in Lohen's direction.

Double fuck.

Okay, this was fine. All he had to do was hold back, and Varka would just think Mika was just seeing- seeing t-things-

"Heh-hhH-h-hngh-" He nearly bit his tongue trying to grind his teeth together in an attempt to prevent his breath from continuing to hitch. It didn't work. "Hih-hh-heH-"

And, evidentally, even if he hadn't actually sneezed, his likely visible struggle with it was enough for Varka to start making his way towards him.

Damnnit.

~

Lohen sat cross legged on top of one of the cots in the healing tent, doing his best to look unimpressed.

He failed the instant his gaze turned hazy again, his breath hitching widly before he snapped forwards with another stifled-

"HhHNG'Ttshh!!"

"You're going to explode your brain doing that." Varka said, re-entering the tent, clearly having finished his talk with the healer outside. "Sounds like it hurts too."

"Snf, nngh, it d-hh-hH-! ….it does." Lohen did not elaborate. It didn't seem like Varka had really expected him to.

"Well, the good news is, you're not sick." Varka pulled over a chair, sitting down beside the cot. Lohen rolled his eyes, he could've told them that, if any of them had listened during the quite frankly humiliating period of time wherein Varka had forcibly lifted him up and carried him to the healer's tent. Not that he minded a lil bit of humiliation of course, but still. This would probably be lorded over his head by some of the other knights for days.

Wait. What could the bad news be-

"However, you're not allowed to patrol until you get some allergy medicine into your system."

Lohen experienced a moment of actual shock before he quickly fixed his expression to give Varka the most offended look possible.

"But-"

"No buts."

"I don't want the allergy medicine."

"Oh? And why's that?"

"…." He couldn't just say it was because he was, well, enjoying this. That wasn't really a conversation he wanted to have with Varka of all people. Plus, based on past experience, the Grandmaster probably wouldn't accept it as an excuse anyways, which only left Lohen with the answer of; "It makes me drowsy, I can't f-focus when I'm o-on i-ihH-hhH-hESH'NGtt—!!"

"And how exactly do you plan to focus when your nose is twitching like a bunny?" Varka asked, and Lohen would've responded with a scathing insult, but-

Well, he was a little preoccupied.

"Hh-hIH'HNG'Ttshh!! Heh-h-hH-hihH-hH'N'Gtt-sh!!" The hand he wasn't using to pinch his nose shut subconsciously reached out and gripped onto the edge of the cot. Fuck, he was starting to get dizzy… "Hh-hHNn'TtSHh!! hNnG'Ttsh!! Hh-hhiH- hHnNT'GShh!! Hh-hhiih-"

Varka reached out and pulled Lohen's hand away from his face. At this point, Lohen couldn't really form any sort of protest to the action.

"Hh-hhih-hEH'NXxSHhtt—" He managed to hands free stifle the next one, but- "HhEH'SHhhu!! Hh'ESHhu!! Hh-hihh-h-hh-hEH'CHhuu!! ngh.. guh…."

After a moment of no further hitching, Varka let go of Lohen's hand. Lohen bent over slightly, holding his head in his hands, taking a deep breath in and letting a slow breath out, trying to get the world to stop spinning. It was in some weird way pleasurable, but he really didn't want Varka to have more reason to bench him for longer.

When he finally felt put together enough to look back up, Varka was holding out a pill and a cup of water to him. Lohen glared at him, but Varka didn't seem like he was going to budge on this.