Sunny

Basic Information:

☆》 Name: Sunny || Sunshine

☆》 Pronouns: They/She

☆》 Birthday: June 15th

☆》 Hobbies: Drawing, Writing, Gaming, etc.

☆》 Media: @Sunshine._.Draws (Instagram and TikTok), @Sunshine_Draws (A03)

☆》 Fandoms: Twisted Wonderland, Genshin Impact, Ensemble Stars, Tears of Themis, etc.

☆》 Favorite Characters: Ace Trappola (TWST), Mao Isara (EnStars), Arashi Narukami (EnStars), Koga Oogami (EnStars), Thoma (Genshin), Luke Pearce/Xia Yan (Tears Of Themis), Wilardo Adler (Witch's Heart), Fenrir Godspeed (IkeRev)

Agenda:

HOWEVER! I am planning on posting drabbles and doodles whenever I get the chance ^^ I might get a few oneshots out here and there, but they're going to be inconsistent. I apologize in advance for my wacky schedule :'D

As aforementioned, I am a hobby artist and writer! Unfortunately, I'm in college, so my schedule is a bit packed and I might not be able to post frequently.

Post Content:

Like I said, I'll be posting a variety of things- From headcanons to oneshots to artworks! Most of my content will be for the fandoms I mentioned above, but that list will eventually expand and contract as time progresses.

Will Post:

Oneshots (X Readers, CCxCC, etc)

Drabbles

Headcanons

Character artworks (OC and CC)

Doodles

Fluff

Angst (Occasionally)

Will NOT Post:

NSFW of any sort 🔞

Gore/Horror

Yandere / Non-Con fics

Violence of any sort (If I do, there will be a trigger warning above the actual content)

Any triggering topics

Any controversial topics

My DMs and Requests are always open! If you have any suggestions, then feel free to drop by ^^ I'm always open to more insights!

They were just friends.

That's what Ace wanted to believe, at least. He swore by that saying, reciting it over and over like an oath. A vow.

Vows...

How silly. Ironic, even, that he'd never given much thought about vows until he met them. Hell, he'd never given much thought about commitment in general, until he met them.

Kazu Akamori. An uptight, snobby, rich boy with a stick up his butt just like everyone else at NRC— That's what he'd thought when they'd first met, at least. They were polar opposites; Ace was snarky, playful, and had a boyish charm to him because being casual was so much easier than being pretentious. Kazu was strict, disciplined, and seemed like he'd never let his hair down once in his life.

They were so different... It was surprising how fast they had clicked.

"Just friends," Ace had said, laying down a strict ground rule to never cross that line with their fleeting time in this strange world. Despite being a troublemaker, Ace was convinced this was the one rule he'd follow to a T. No sweat for someone like him, right?

It shouldn't have been as hard as it was.

Days turned into weeks that turned into months. Soon enough, that line began to blur, and they started pushing boundaries to see how far they could go without that line breaking. Seeing Kazu every day became the norm; a simple domestic comfort that weaseled its way into his closed-off heart without him knowing. The decoy painted on his left eye apparently didn't work as well as he thought it would've.

It was dangerous. These feelings were... New. Unfamiliar. Terrifying. Ace started to question how much was platonic and how much was just a cover-up for what he truly felt— What he truly wanted.

They never said "I love you", so it should've been fine, right?

"You should get some more rest, Kaz."

"Have you eaten yet, Ace?"

"Pff- Need some help with history homework again, knighty? I gotcha, don't worry."

"You got in trouble with Riddle again?.. Do you want to stay over tonight?"

...

But never "I love you." Everything but "I love you."

Maybe they were both scared. After all, they both knew Kazu wouldn't stay in this world forever. They couldn't get attached. "Just friends", right..?

... So why did it hurt so much?

Why did it hurt, whenever they brushed hands? Or snuck glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking? Why did it hurt, when Kazu told Ace about his home world so longingly, but looked at him with even more yearning than all of those stories combined? Why did it hurt, when they found a pair of matching rings at Sam's shop and bought them together, just for the hell of it, playing it off as nothing but a joke?

And why did it hurt... When Kazu said that the headmaster had found a way home for him?

It hurt.

It burned.

Ace played it off then, congratulating Kazu and supporting him as he'd always done, but that smile of his felt forced. Unnatural. Stiff.

Time felt like a blur after that. He didn't know how long had passed, but the day for Kazu to go home finally rolled around, the revelation ringing in Ace’s ear like a death toll. He'd said goodbye to Kazu earlier that day, respecting the knight's wishes of not holding a grand parting ceremony, but when the clock struck, so did Ace’s conclusion. He couldn't do this.

He ran.

Ace ran, as fast as his legs would take him. His lungs took in sharp, icy cold air with every gasp. Ace ran through the halls, corridors, whatever else blocked his path just so he could get to Kazu.

"KAZ!" Ace all but yelled, slamming the doors open and making a beeline for his knight. Before Kazu could respond, Ace was in his arms, clinging onto him desperately. His ring felt like it was burning into his skin, but Ace didn't care.

"Don't leave," he whispered. Begged.

"Ace, I..."

"Don't leave me..."

Ace squeezed his eyes shut. He felt Kazu squeezing him back as a strong gust of wind billowed through the chamber. When he opened his eyes again, Kazu was gone.

Just friends, he had said. What a lie. A cruel, twisted lie.

...

"I love you," Ace choked out, his voice lost in the echo of the empty chamber.

Heartslabyul

Riddle: He has cold hands. Dainty, cold hands. They're really pretty, don't get me wrong! He just chooses to cover them most of the time due to the poor blood circulation in them, making them forever cold. He wears mittens in the winter but gloves in public. Riddle doesn't like to admit he has cold hands, and if someone brings it up, they're in for a decapitation /hj. His hands are an overall 5/10 for holding, but 10/10 appearance-wise because it's cute when he wears mittens that have hedgehog patterns on them

Trey: This man has VERY warm hands. For some reason, they always smell like freshly baked goods and FEEL like something that just came out of an oven. His hands are relatively large, too! During the winter, just go up to him, grab his hands, and put them on your face. Just- Plop them on the sides of your face. Give it five minutes and your whole head will feel nice and warm. 100/10 would love to hold

Cater: Cater has warm hands, and are very fun to hold under normal circumstances. He'll take your hand in his, twirl you around, take a few selfies with you, and move on, but nothing extremely notable. However! All of his clones have REALLY cold hands. If Cater tries to tease you by surrounding you with clones, you can tell who the real one is by asking to hold hands with them. Cater is cute, I like him. His hands are 7/10 overall but are very comfy

Deuce: Also has cold hands, wears gloves to hide the fact. They're not as bad as Riddle, but they're significantly colder than Trey's. During the winter, I feel like he also wears fuzzy gloves and Ace pokes fun at him for it, but it's cute overall. His hands are very holdable otherwise, I rate them an 8/10

Ace: I am a simp. He automatically gets a 10/10.

JKJK— Ace has fairly warm hands! They're kinda calloused from his club, but his hands are super pretty! They're warm and comfy most of the time, but it depends on the weather since they could be really nice to hold at one moment, and then he would be trying to stick them on your back while you scream at how cold they are in the next. I love him, but he's a jerk.

... 7/10, but it's a 1000/10 for me because I'm down bad /hj

Savanaclaw

Leona: Leona has warm hands, that's all. Heavens knows if you're even able to get close enough to hold them to begin with, but his hands are TOASTY. Very large, warm hands. Am I biased? Yes. Absolutely. I want to hold Leona's hands very badly. 10/10. Chef's kiss. He would probably choke me if I tried holding his hands but it's okay /hj

Ruggie: His hands could be either-or. Most of the time they're warm, other times, they're just freezing and he's sticking them in his pockets to keep them warm. Ruggie also does the thing where he rubs his hands together when they get really cold, and I think it's cute because he tries to hide it when someone catches him. 7/10, but he gets a few bonus points because I'm biased and he's adorable

Jack: WARM HANDS!!! VERY BIG!!! COZY!!! AUGHH I WANNA HOLD THEM!!! Jack also has calloused hands, but they're SO comfy to hold. His hands are also MASSIVE, so he could just- Cover yours completely. Who needs mittens? You have Jack. I love Jack. Very good boy, 100/10. I am a simple woman. I want to hold Jack's hands and just keep them there.

Octavinelle

Azul: He has cold hands. Like Riddle, he doesn't like to admit it and tends to hide his hands in gloves. He claims that he wears them because it makes him look professional, but no. His hands are just VERY cold, and the Monstro Lounge has the AC going at full blast all the time, so he's shivering in the frickin lounge. Octopi live in warm waters. They can't handle the cold. Azul is trying his hardest, but his hands are a solid 3/10 at best, I'm sorry.

Jade: Jade also has cold hands, but they're not as bad as Azul's. It really depends on where he is, since they're usually warm when he goes out hiking, but their default state is most definitely cold. Jade's rather polite about it most of the time! He makes sure that he doesn't startle you by accidentally touching you with his... Bare, cold hands. I'm not sure what else I should say here, but I'm giving Jade a 5/10 overall, possibly a 6/10 because he's nice about it... Most of the time.

Floyd: Unlike Jade, Floyd has warm hands! They're calloused and rough, but significantly warmer than Azul's and Jade's combined. He sometimes gets pouty that he can't sneak up on people and shock them with freezing hands like Jade does (for troublemakers btw), so he occasionally just sticks them in a bucket of ice water to get the same effect. Floyd is a loose cannon. His hands are nice to hold when they're normal, but heaven forbid you fall victim to his ice bucket hands. 8/10 normally, 2/10 for the bucket hands.

Also! When the Leech twins pretend to be each other, you can figure out who is who by asking to hold their hands. Normally, the one with warmer hands is Floyd, unless they're super freezing. Otherwise... Yeah, that's still Floyd. Jade is the normal cold, Floyd turns into Elsa and laughs about it /hj

Scarabia

Kalim: WARM HANDS FOR THE SUNSHINE BOY. His hands are lovely. I love Kalim, and his hands are just the softest things you could ever imagine. Toasty marshmallows are what they are. I feel like Kalim ADORES taking your hand in his, keeping it nice and warm as you two walk. He definitely squeezes them whenever he gets excited too! Very sweet boy. He probably swings your arms while holding your hand and walking. 11/10 and like- A million points more for the enthusiasm

Jamil: Cold hands. Jamil has relatively cold hands. They’re usually warm because of the place he lives (both the Scalding Sands and Scarabia), but put him anywhere with air conditioning and his hands are as cold as ice. He is VERY temperature sensitive, and his hands can go from toasty to freezing after a few minutes. I have no idea what to rate them, so I'm giving him a 5/10

Pomefiore

Vil: Vil's hands are beautiful, but they're frigid most of the time. His hands are dainty and slender, but because of that, he has very little meat on there and the blood doesn't flow like a normal person's hands. They’re taken care of, his nails are gorgeous, and his palms are soft! The only issue is that he looks and feels like a corpse when he's sleeping— 9/10 only because they're freezing

Rook: I,,, Don’t know about him tbh 🧍 Rook's hands could be either-or. I think they're warm??? They seem like they're warm??? However, due to being a skilled huntsman, I feel like Rook can change his body temperature at will. You could either get nice warm hands to hold, or freezing hands that go along with his eerie smirk when he's trying to sneak up on you. ???/10, he kinda scares me- /hj

Epel: Warm hands! Epel's hands are definitely calloused and are a little red at the knuckles/palms. His hands are calming to hold, and even though they're smaller than most, he takes great pride when you hold his hand! Epel thinks that he can use this as an excuse to protect you while holding your hand, but in reality, they're just fun to squish and really pretty to look at. 9/10

Ignihyde

Idia: He has cold hands. Idia has very long, bony fingers, with little meat on them. His hands get cold easily, as does the rest of his body, so he just hides them in his hoodie. Idia's room is usually cold too, so that doesn't really help. The only part of him that's actually warm is... His hair. His hair feels like regular hair that was just blow-dried. I headcanon it just looks like it'll burn your hand off, but it just looks like that because of magic. Anyways, his hands are a 4.5/10 for me— They may look neat, but they're cold as heck.

Ortho: He is... A robot 🧍

OKOK IN ALL SERIOUSNESS! Ortho is made of metal, yes, but I feel like he has a function in there somewhere what lets him heat up and immitate body heat? Obviously he has sensors so that he doesn't overheat himself, but he can be warm when he wants to be! Ask to hold his hand and he'll warm it up for you! A very sweet boy, my son, I love him he's so precious. 10/10

Diasomnia

Lilia: Cold hands. He has freezing cold hands. Occasionally he just lays down in the middle of the most random places and pretends to be a corpse. Sebek has cried over him at least once, Malleus almost panicked at some point, Silver... Heck, Silver probably joins him idk- Lilia would ALSO stick his hands on your back, and giggle when you tense up at his ice blocks of fingers. 3/10 I'm sorry Lilia

Malleus: Malleus has large, pretty hands, but they're mostly cold unless he purposely heats them up himself with magic. His hands are beautiful and pale, with a slight blueish undertone? You can see some of his veins due to how blue they are and because of how pale his skin is. His hands are pretty, and if you want to hold them, he'll heat them up for you. 100/10 for you, but I doubt anyone else would be able to get close enough and would rate them a -5/10 because they just look freezing.

Silver: His are either-or. I feel like he normally has warm hands, but when he falls into a deep sleep, his body temperature drops SO low that he's also like a corpse. Like father like son, I guess? Anyways, Silver has big, pretty hands with both callouses and scars scattered on them. You would definitely feel safe if he held yours in his. 10/10 I want to hold onto his hands and never let go.

When you accepted the commission to handle a region plaguing the Avidya Forest, you never expected Tighnari himself to join you. Simply put, you had just assumed that he was too busy with other matters already at hand. Too busy to help you investigate a contaminated region that you could very much handle on your own, at least. The life of a Forest Watcher was a hectic one, you knew that much, so you didn't want to bother Tighnari if he had more pressing issues to tend to.

... Like taking care of a sick child practically on his deathbed, for example.

You and Paimon had made your way to Gandharva Ville in pursuit of the Forest Watcher, but sure enough, he was already preoccupied with something- Or rather, someone- Instead. Laying on the bed in front of him was a small boy who was seemingly passing on his... Will? To Tighnari? It was an unusual sight, considering how you were all crowded in and around Tighnari's office, rather than the village's specialized infirmary.

Not wanting to interrupt anything, you urged Paimon to stay quiet for the time being, and just knocked on the doorframe a few times to let Tighnari know of your presence.

Looking up from where he was standing, the Forest Watcher casually nodded in your direction, before turning his attention back to the child in front of him. Taking it as an invitation, Paimon let herself into the office, darting here and there to get a better look at the two Sumeru residents. You, on the other hand, just watched in silence as the others conversed.

"What happened..? Tighnari is he..." Paimon started, looking over the Forest Watcher's shoulder and completely disregarding your warning of 'be quiet'.

"Okay, okay, enough nonsense. Yara, you just have a small fever. Take your medication and rest. You'll be bouncing off the walls in no time," Tighnari sighed and patted the boy, supposedly named Yara, on the head.

It was just as you'd thought: It wasn't anything deadly if they were in Tighnari's office, instead of the medbay with all of the medicinal supplies. As Tighnari chatted with Yara, you simply pulled Paimon outside by her foot and jokingly teased her about being a worrywart over nothing.

"He's fine, Paimon. Kids tend to exaggerate a lot of things, so chill out a bit, would you?"

"Paimon was just concerned, okay?! And let go of Paimon's foot already!"

"Hmm... Nope. I think I'll be holding onto you for a while longer, considering how easily 'concerned' you are. Who knows? Maybe I'll wander off and get sick myself... I wouldn't want to worry my little pet, now would I?"

"HEY! Paimon is NOT your pet!"

"Oh, that's right! You're my mascot, how could I forget?"

"Wh- TRAVELER! That's worse!!! Paimon is Paimon! Your guide!!!"

The little fairy wriggled in place, resulting in you feigning innocence as you let go of her foot- Sending her flying in a certain direction before she looked back at you and pouted again. You had your hands up in surrender and gave a closed-eyed smile in response.

"Well, don't you two seem close?"

Tighnari chimed in, watching as you and Paimon bantered back and forth. Paimon profusely shook her head at that statement, darting behind the fox as if he were some sort of meat shield.

"Tighnariiii! They're being mean to me!" She wailed, shooting an accusing glance at you afterward.

"Whatever do you mean? Our precious Traveler here? Surely you jest, Paimon. They wouldn't hurt a fly." Tighnari rolled his eyes sarcastically, going over to where you were standing.

You two exchanged glances for a bit before both of your composures broke into hearty laughter. Tighnari cut it short by waving his hand, turning towards you with a gentle smile afterward.

"What brings you here today, Traveler?"

"Ah- Right! I almost forgot. You see, the situation is..."

"Hmm, I see... So the contaminated region is the cause of all of these problems, just as I'd predicted..." Tighnari wondered aloud, putting a hand to his chin in a thinking position.

Paimon fluttered around curiously, staring at the fox as he was lost in thought. "You already knew of this, Tighnari?" She asked bluntly, tilting her head to the side. The Forest Watcher just nodded, before speaking up again.

"I've been keeping a close eye on this area for a while. As things are now, it's extremely dangerous for anyone who doesn't possess a vision to just waltz on in there. If a regular person were to get lost in that area, the side effects could be fatal— Possibly deadly, if they aren’t careful." Tighnari let out a low groan, bringing his hand up to massage the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"Over the past few days, several people have been affected by this area and required my immediate attention. As scatterbrained and troublesome as they are, I couldn't just leave those goons on their own, so I never had the chance to investigate the region myself. I've had a few rangers close off the area, but by some miracle, there always seems to be someone who slips past my efforts."

"You mean like Yara..? Didn't he go into the contaminated zone?"

Tighnari sighed, shaking his head at Paimon's question. Crossing his arms over his chest, he tried explaining the situation thoroughly.

"Yes, he did. I just said that he had a small fever to console him, but the recovery process might take longer than I'd like to admit. Luckily, his case wasn't as bad as the others, which was why I was treating him in my office. He'll be fine, but the fastest way to cure him and the others would be to take care of the problem at its source."

Listening to his story, your gaze absent-mindedly went back to the direction of the Forest Watcher's office, where Yara rested. Shifting in place, you mirrored the fox's stance subconsciously- Arms crossed over your chest, completely closed off.

"Tighnari..."

The man in question relaxed a bit after hearing you say his name, letting his arms fall to his sides. Placing a hand on his hip, Tighnari gave you a sympathetic, reassuring smile in response.

"I don't blame him for it, don't worry. Yara's just a child, after all- He didn't know any better. All he knew was that he wanted to play, and just so happened to wander off into the wrong area of the forest. My top priority is to nurse him back to health, so if you'd let me... May I join you to deal with the contaminated region?"

Tighnari then explained that joining you would be like killing two birds with one stone; he would get to deal with the forest's pestering issue at its heart, and both of you would be able to complete your individual goals as you did so. You had no objections with his reasonings of course, apart from his curt little remark to you, before you all set off.

"This way, I can also spend more time with you, Traveler. It's been a while since you've visited, you know?"

Oh, what a sly fox this man was...

"Oi! Stop flirting and get a move on, you two! The forest isn't going to heal itself!"

Before you could say anything in return, Paimon called from a few meters away- Rather loudly, in fact. She really was acting like a toddler, wasn't she? An attention-hogging, hunger-driven one, at that.

"What is she, your child or your guide?" Tighnari asked out in a light-hearted manner, playfully nudging your arm.

At this point, you didn't know yourself. Exchanging a mutual glance with Tighnari, you just shook your head and smiled, before going after your floating companion. The Forest Watcher chuckled at this, following right behind you.

"If she's my child, then I'm definitely not ready to be a single parent."

"Oh? Is this an invitation, Traveler?"

"Think of it as you wish, Tighnari."

You didn't see it, but as you were walking, his tail was swaying ever-so-slightly.

Before you knew it, a whole day had already come and gone. Throughout the span of a few hours, your little party of three went to Sumeru City, Avidya Forest, back to the city, and then back into the forest again. The sun was already beginning to fall by the time you and Tighnari had figured everything out, with the help of Paimon scouting here and there.

Ley Line anomalies, yet again. Something about inconsistencies within the Ley Lines was causing the forest to act up the way it was. There were no animals present, the plants were either wilting or emitting a strange glow, and most of all... There were ruin machines everywhere.

Your party was lucky enough to run into a very peculiar machine, though; a crab-like robot who was serving as your guide through the forest. It held no human intelligence, but it was eagerly driven by spare parts, so Tighnari brought it along to make venturing through the forest easier. As things stood now, the robot didn't pose a threat to you, plus it even guided you past dangerous areas and helped you find a spot to camp for the night. Tighnari occasionally gave it spare parts, as rewards for its helpfulness.

Speaking of, Paimon and that crab-like robot were already long gone, off to search for food... Which left you and Tighnari to set up the camp alone. Your original task was to start the fire, but with your past adventuring experiences, you got it going within the span of a few minutes. Feeling bad for Tighnari, who was trying to set up a huge tent all by himself, you decided that you might as well lend a helping hand. Right now, you were holding it in place and initiating small talk as the Forest Watcher secured it to the ground.

"You really didn't need to call me a 'lummox' earlier, you know?" You pouted childishly, watching as the fox tinkered away at the tent.

Tighnari's ears twitched at this, and he leaned to the side so he could get a better glimpse of you. Smiling playfully, he went along with your little quip before getting back to work.

"Would you prefer it if I called you a blubbering airhead, instead? Ah- Hold that down for me, would you?"

"I'd prefer it if you didn't call me any of those at all!" You laughed, obeying his order and keeping your grip firm.

Finally finishing the tent, Tighnari stood up and dusted himself off, glancing around the campsite one last time. Nodding to himself, he then walked over to where you were crouching and extended a hand in your direction, urging for you to take it. As you silently thanked him, Tighnari lifted you up carefully, bringing you back to your feet. You stumbled a bit, but managed to regain balance with the help of him holding onto your shoulders.

Watching as you brushed yourself clean, the fox smiled fondly at you, before reaching out and wiping some dirt off of your cheek. Sevens knew how you even got dirt on your face to begin with, but that wasn't important right now. All you could focus on was the Forest Watcher, who was holding you as if you could slip away from his grasp at any fleeting moment.

"Tighnari..? What's up?"

You looked at him in confusion, but Tighnari didn't retract his hand. Instead, he just left it there, cupping your face gently as his own features softened.

"You know I say those things to you endearingly, right?"

"Huh? What do you mean by tha—"

"TRAVELERRRR! TIGHNARI!!!" A voice wailed, interrupting whatever little moment you just had.

Paimon flew over, on the verge of a breakdown, blabbering about how she "couldn't find any food and all the animals were gone and the forest was so dark and scary and she's never had trouble scavenging before and now they wouldn't have dinner and—"

Tighnari let go of you, and made his way to where Paimon wept. He patted her head and ruffled it a bit, attempting to console her and tell her that he wasn't expecting much to begin with. You, on the other hand, were left dumbfounded and holding your cheek where his hand was, just a moment ago. It seemed like Paimon didn't notice what you two were doing, before she came over.

"Alright, enough of that. I came prepared, so just give me a moment, would you?"

Sighing once more, Tighnari let go of Paimon and went over to the tent, momentarily disappearing inside of it before walking back out. In his arms was a large brown bag, one you saw him occasionally opening and closing throughout the day. Kneeling by the campfire, the Forest Watcher proceeded to open the bag once more, just to pull out an assortment of fresh fungi, a skillet, and a small paring knife.

Paimon sulked for a bit longer, sniffled, and then drew her attention to the simmering sounds now coming from in front of her. Noticing that her dinner was not, in fact, ruined, her face lit up once more as if she didn't just have a mental breakdown minutes prior. Wiping her eyes, the little fairy just went over to you and watched as Tighnari made quick work with his blade.

"Tighnari? What are you making?" Paimon asked out, the sweet aroma of grilled mushrooms filling her nose. The fox just hummed in response as he placed a few herbs on the skillet, observing as they turned a crispy golden color.

"A mushroom hodgepodge. I've been foraging and collecting some edible fungi, while we were out and about," Tighnari replied, skillfully flipping the mushrooms with a flick of his wrist.

Controlling the skillet with one hand, the fox rummaged through his bag with the other, pulling out three large leaves. Offering them to Paimon, Tighnari smiled as he watched her grab two of the leaves, giving one to you. You and Paimon exchanged confused glances, before examining the leaves handed to you. They were thick and had a very smooth feel to them. Rubbing your thumb along the edge of the leaf, you noticed that they were rather waxy, too.

"Here, hold it out. The mushrooms are hot, so eat slowly," he instructed, portioning the meal on the three leaves. Both you and Paimon watched in wonder, as the steam floated off of the grilled fungi.

"Woah!!! Even though it's steaming, Paimon can't feel the heat on her hands at all! And the mushrooms are so pretty too hehe!~" Paimon cooed, kicking her feet with a giddy smile on her face.

"These leaves have a thick layer of wax, which helps regulate temperature well. They're easy to find around these parts, and we forest watchers use them as makeshift plates all the time," Tighnari explained, smiling as you and Paimon gawked at the meal. He was mostly smiling at you, though. The expression you had was just priceless, with stars practically in your eyes.

Setting aside the empty skillet, Tighnari sat back with his own leaf in hand, gently blowing on it to cool the food down. Picking up one of the mushrooms, the fox took a bite and motioned for you two to do the same.

"Well? The food isn't going to enjoy itself, now is it?"

"Kulilu?"

"Eh?"

All three of your heads turned towards the mechanical voice at once. Sure enough, the robot was back, with a variety of fruits at that. Stomping on the ground a few times, the crab-like robot made an odd chirping noise in expectance.

"Huh, would you look at that? Did you bring those back for us?" Tighnari asked out, watching the strange robot as it bounced in place.

"Ooh, Paimon gets it! It wants another mechanical part, right?"

"Hmm, I see... Sorry, but no part this time."

"Kulilu?!" The robot made another odd noise, before dramatically collapsing on the ground.

You laughed at this, quietly eating your food as you watched Tighnari banter back and forth with the robot. Was he really bickering with a machine? His ears were pressed flat against his head, and you could see his brows furrow with slight annoyance. If you didn't know any better, you would think that he was genuinely upset with a living being.

"That task wasn't important enough. If every little thing resulted in a reward, you might start taking advantage of the system. You'll get a part when the time comes." The Forest Watcher let out an exasperated sigh, and patted the robot on its 'head' as if he were a parent consoling a child.

"You treat it as if it's your kid, Tighnari. Why don't you give it a name, too?" You chuckled, hiding your smile when he looked at you through tired, half-lidded eyes.

"What, suddenly I'm its guardian? I'm starting to pity you, if this is what you have to deal with on the daily—"

"Oi! Paimon isn't a child! How many times does Paimon have to say it?!"

"Oh, I beg to differ."

"It looks like we both became parents, huh? Pfft- Wh?! Hey, Paimon! Don't steal my food, come on!"

"Too bad! If Paimon really IS your kid, then she deserves to have as much of your food as she wants! Hmph!"

"Goodness, you two certainly are a rowdy bunch, aren't you?"

Happily chatting away, with the robot peacefully "sleeping" in the corner, the three of you finished your meal in contentment. Before you knew it, night had fallen, the fire was burning low, and the quiet atmosphere of the forest was finally settling in. Tighnari had offered to keep watch first, so after you helped clean the area, you bid him goodnight and headed into the tent to sleep.

Tighnari watched fondly, as you tucked Paimon into bed and brushed her hair aside, before going to sleep yourself.

"... A parent, huh?"

You weren't sure how many hours had passed, but you awoke when you felt something shift next to you. Turning over, you let out a low hum and opened your eyes slowly, adjusting to the darkness. In front of you was a large figure- At least, larger than Paimon, whom you fell asleep next to.

"Ah- Sorry, did I wake you up?" Tighnari asked out quietly, lifting the blanket and making some room for himself.

You just shook your head and yawned, sitting up and rubbing your groggy eyes. Scooting over, you stayed silent as Tighnari made himself comfortable on the makeshift bed.

"Nnng... It's fine... Where's Paimon?" You questioned, squinting and looking around the tent.

You were completely disoriented, and reality just felt like a huge fever dream right now. As your eyes adjusted, you saw that outside was still pitch black, probably around midnight right now. Tighnari was sitting next to you, moving his tail out of the way so he didn't take up most of the bed. Paimon was nowhere to be found, but the faint tingling noise from outside reassured you.

"She's on watch duty right now. I'm not sure how I feel about her ability to perform, though..." Tighnari responded to your question, nodding towards the general direction Paimon was in.

You hummed out a response, letting another yawn escape your lips as you shifted in place. The Forest Watcher next to you tilted his head curiously, observing you under the faint moonlight that found its way through the tent's fabric.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna go keep her company. That little thing probably fell asleep while floating..." You sighed, stretching a bit before slowly hoisting yourself up.

"Ah, wait-"

"Hmm?"

You felt something warm grab your wrist, just as you were about to head outside. Looking down, you saw Tighnari's hand, gently holding the area between your wrist and your palm. Confused, you turned your head to look at him, only to be met with averted eyes. He cleared his throat, before speaking up again.

"... Stay here. The robot's awake and is currently looking after her, so you can sleep some more."

Easing a little, you sat back down and nodded at his words. Staying still for a bit, the two of you listened to the quiet chirps of the grasshoppers outside in awkward silence. Tighnari's hand was still holding onto you, although now, it was relaxed and currently resting on top of yours. He didn't say anything, like he was anticipating for you to either pull away or to speak up about it.

"Tighnari..?"

"Sorry... This is really uncharacteristic for me, right?"

Retracting his hand, Tighnari cleared his throat, before laying down. Was he too bold? Turning his head away from you, he closed his eyes and went silent again, resting both of his hands over his stomach. You heard him take a few deep breaths, and he opened his eyes slightly, gazing into the distance despite only being able to see the tent's walls.

It seemed like he was trying to look everywhere except for where you were. What's up with that?

Still sitting up, you just watched Tighnari curiously, before mirroring his movements. Laying down next to him, you stared at the tent's roof for a while, and attempted to fall back asleep. However, something just... Didn't seem right. Or rather, it felt like there was something left unspoken, that just didn't sit right with you.

Rolling over, you tucked an arm under your head and faced Tighnari, just staring at him. You didn't say anything, and remained silent as you watched his chest rise up and down in time with his breathing. From this angle, he was really...

"Is something the matter?"

"Ah-!"

Blinking a few times in surprise, you watched as Tighnari rolled over to face you, mirroring your movements this time. He was finally looking at you again. Giving you a small smile, his expression softened, and he reached out with his free hand... Just to poke you on the forehead.

"What? Are you having trouble sleeping?" He asked out, chuckling.

Bringing his hand back, the Forest Watcher gazed into your eyes with complete fondness, that you had to avert your own gaze in embarrassment. Unfortunately for you, in the position you were in, it was extremely difficult for you to hide the growing redness rising from your neck to the tips of your ears. Tighnari had an extremely clear view of you becoming flustered right before his very eyes.

"N-No, it's just... Ah... You looked... Pretty. That's all. You always do, actually. I... I just-" You cleared your throat a little, turning your head away sheepishly.

There was another moment of awkward silence, and you shifted into your original position, laying flat on your back. Tighnari was still facing you, but this time, his eyes were wide and his ears were perked up slightly. Did he hear you correctly? "Pretty"? Is that what you said?

"..."

"..."

Silence. Again.

Goodness, this was just becoming painful, now.

"... Haah, I can't go to sleep like this," Tighnari sighed, sitting up once more. Looking at you, he ran a hand through his hair and spoke up again.

"Traveler, we need to talk. About... Whatever this is."

You gazed up at him, watching as he vaguely gestured towards the both of you. Taking a deep breath, you sat up too, and nodded at his words.

"What is there to talk about? I believe I've made my feelings pretty clear with you just now, haven't I?" You asked, bringing your knees close to your chest and hugging them.

You heard a faint laugh come from Tighnari, and he shifted in place once more. He was now facing you, crisscrossed with his arms draped over his lap.

"Well, yes, but... I want to hear it from you. I don’t want to jump to conclusions or be brazen about any of this. Especially since..."

He trailed off, bringing an arm up to rub the back of his neck. Sighing for the who-knows-how-many-times that night, Tighnari paused for a bit.

"... Since I... Traveler, what... Am I, to you?"

"Huh?"

Looking at Tighnari briefly, you pondered the question, trying to carefully pick your words. When the right words didn't come up, you bit your lower lip and furrowed your brows slightly.

You couldn't. How could you explain the way you felt about him? How every day felt like an adventure, regardless of whether or not you were on the job? How he was the sweetest, most entertaining person you've ever met, despite already traversing through three other nations? How it hurt, knowing that you couldn't remain by his side, no matter what you may feel.

Tighnari took your silence as an answer.

"... I see. If it's too hard to talk about, we can always leave it for later?"

"Ah! No, wait-"

You reached out your hand, but hesitated again, bringing it back to your chest. When you fell silent once more, Tighnari watched carefully, and his ears flattened against his head.

"Am I... Just another face in your adventure? We're both busy people, I understand that. It was a miracle fate brought us together in the first place, even more so that you're in front of me right now. I'm not asking you to stay, but..."

"I like you... Tighnari."

"..!"

Perking up, the Forest Watcher looked at you in surprise, as if he believed his ears were playing tricks on him. You were staring back at him, hand clutching your shirt where your heart was. You could feel it pounding rapidly, and with those large ears of his, you swore that Tighnari could hear it, too.

"I like you. A lot. But... We both know that I can't stay in Sumeru."

"... That's alright with me. Knowing you feel the same is enough."

Tighnari stayed silent, a warm feeling blossoming in his chest. Looking at you, he felt comfort and pure bliss, for what seemed like the first time in an eternity. You, a traveler from beyond the sea of stars, sitting right in front of him with the moonlight caught in your adorable, messy bedhead. You, a traveler who's been through so much, but always persevering and aiding others. You, a mere traveler...

His traveler.

Extending a hand towards you, Tighnari cupped your face gently, looking at you through half-lidded eyes. Caressing your cheek with his thumb, he parted his lips slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but paused again. You just leaned into his palm, looking at him with the warmest gaze imaginable as you urged him to speak.

"... May I..?" He asked out, taking a glance at your lips, before making eye contact.

You responded by giving him a tender smile, to which his expression softened before he drew closer.

The kiss was slow and gentle. Tighnari took his time, and you melted into his embrace almost immediately. When you two finally pulled away, there was a brief moment where you just stared at each other in awe, before you found your lips colliding again. And again. Each time was slightly more passionate than the last.

After it was over, Tighnari held you close, pressing your foreheads together as he breathed out in relief. You heard him chuckle, before he gave the two of you some distance.

"You have... No idea how long I've wanted to do that."

His expression was bittersweet; a mix of relief, guilt, and satisfaction was all visible in his omni-colored eyes. You gazed back at him with the same amount of longing, bringing your hand up to clutch his, which was still holding your face.

"Ahaha~ It’s better late than never, right?"

"Mm... We have a lot of lost time to make up for, then."

Tighnari placed a small kiss on your head, brushing your hair back carefully with his free hand. Pulling away, he smiled and watched as you laid back down on the bed. Perhaps you were finally getting sleepy, now? In the darkness, you extended your arms out toward him, urging for him to join you. Exhaling deeply, the Forest Watcher shook his head, before obliging and making himself comfortable in your arms.

As you stroked his head, you heard a faint swishing sound coming from underneath the covers. Tighnari buried himself in the crook of your neck, with his arms wrapped around your waist.

"Is that your tail wagging..?"

"Ahem! We can... Discuss that tomorrow morning."

"Right... Ah-! How are we going to explain this to Paimon?"

"What, your child of a fairy?"

"No no no, OUR child, now. I told you I wasn't ready to be a single parent."

"Ahaha~ And I suppose I'm actually taking you up on that invitation, huh? Well... Let's just focus on getting some rest, first. We won't be able to do anything, if we oversleep."

"Not so bad if I'm cuddling you, to be honest. Haha... Good night, Tighnari."

"Mmm... Sleep tight, my dear Traveler."

Nestled in the comfort of each other, you and Tighnari drifted off to sleep in a matter of seconds. Needless to say, that was probably the best rest you both had in a while.

Things have been so busy as of recently, so I'm glad I got to finish this sketch in time! I might render it eventually, but it's gonna have to be after my midterms hhh,,,

And!!! As an extra little surprise~

GENDERBENT KAZU 👁👁