Hey.. hope youāre doing okayšannnywho, if it isnāt any trouble, I would like to request a teen!reader (platonic ofc) with Welt, Jing yuan, Gallagher and Mydei where reader is like their right hand (assistant) or something similar to that and reader has been working hard to try and impress them and show them that they are capable of helping them, and in the process ends up overworking themselves to the point where they faintš«¢thought of this request because I mightāve almost fainted while marching today but itās all goodšanyways make sure youāre hydrating and taking care of yourselfšš
āUntil the Morning Finds Usā
Tags: Welt x Reader, Gallagher x Reader, Mydei x Reader, Jing Yuan x Reader, Teen!Reader, Found Family, Hurt/Comfort, Overwork, Exhaustion, Fainting, Recovery, Mentor & Apprentice Dynamic, Gentle Scolding, Protective Mentors, Wholesome, Soft Angst, Fluff, Reassurance, Emotional Support.
Warnings: Mentions of Exhaustion and Fainting (non-graphic), Brief Overwork Themes, Mild Emotional Distress, Protective/Comfort Scenes.
A/N: I hope you are alright!! šš
The stars outside the Astral Express always seemed to move slower when you were awake at night.
Welt had once told you that wasnāt true ā that time didnāt bend for sleepless minds, only perception did. Yet even as his calm, instructive voice replayed in your head, you sat at the observation deck again, eyes bleary, hands trembling over a stack of reports. Youād volunteered to take care of the logistical summaries, the maintenance requests, even the passenger inventory from the last jump. It wasnāt glamorous, but it mattered. And if you did well, maybe Welt would finally see that you could be relied on ā that you were more than just a āyoung helper tagging along.ā
So, you pushed through the drowsiness. The pen slipped from your fingers more than once, your handwriting faltering into a blur.
āStill awake?ā
The voice came quietly, like the shift of space itself. Welt stood behind you, cane in hand, glasses glinting with faint light from the viewport. He looked tired ā not from lack of sleep, but from that kind of old weariness that came from knowing too much.
āOh, umāā you startled upright, nearly knocking over the tablet. āIām just⦠finishing up. You said we needed to compile the data before morning.ā
āI said weād work on it together,ā Welt corrected softly, stepping closer. āItās three in the morning, [Name]. You should be asleep.ā
You smiled nervously, rubbing your wrist. āI just wanted to⦠take some of the load off you, Mr. Yang. You always do so much.ā
That earned a quiet chuckle. āI appreciate that. But overworking yourself wonāt help anyone ā least of all me.ā
You opened your mouth to respond, but your vision tilted. The world seemed to lose its balance, the gravity that kept you steady suddenly turning unreliable. You gripped the edge of the table, blinking hard, but the stars blurred. Weltās voice sounded distant.
ā[Name]?ā
You collapsed before you could answer.
When you woke, the light was soft ā not from the deck, but from the warm glow of a lamp. You were in Weltās quarters, a blanket pulled over you. Your head rested on something cool and steady; it took a moment to realize it was Weltās arm, as he sat reading beside you.
āAh. Youāre awake.ā He adjusted his glasses, voice gentle.
You tried to sit up, but he placed a hand on your shoulder. āEasy. You fainted. March found us just in time.ā
You felt the flush of embarrassment rush up your neck. āIāIām sorry, Mr. Yang. I didnāt mean to cause trouble.ā
āYou didnāt,ā he said, setting aside the book. āBut you did remind me that even the youngest explorers can forget they are human.ā
His words were warm, laced with quiet fondness that didnāt need to be loud to be real. āDo you know what the hardest lesson I ever learned was?ā he asked. You shook your head. āIt wasnāt how to bear responsibility. It was learning to rest. To stop seeing myself as a machine of duty.ā
You blinked at him, unsure what to say.
He smiled faintly. āYouāre already capable, [Name]. You donāt have to exhaust yourself to prove that.ā
āā¦I just didnāt want you to think I was useless.ā
Welt sighed softly, his tone almost amused. āDo you think I wouldāve brought you aboard if I thought that?ā
You hesitated ā then laughed quietly. āGuess not.ā
āGood.ā He stood, motioning toward the small table nearby where a cup of tea waited. āNow. Drink something warm. Then sleep. Iāll handle the rest.ā
āTogether?ā you asked, still sleepy.
He looked back at you, eyes soft with a rare tenderness. āTogether ā after you rest.ā
You smiled, finally letting your eyes close. For once, you didnāt feel like gravity was pulling you down. It felt⦠grounding instead.
The Cloud Knightsā Hall shimmered with evening light, golden beams dancing across banners and marble floors. The scent of sandalwood drifted faintly through the air. You had spent the past two weeks shadowing Jing Yuan ā the Divine Foresight himself ā as his assistant, aide, and, in his teasing words, ācoffee-fetcher-in-chief.ā
In truth, you didnāt mind. Serving under the Arbiter-General was an honor beyond compare. But that honor came with responsibility ā and you had taken it upon yourself to perfect every detail. Reports filed. Scrolls cataloged. Messages delivered. You barely paused to eat.
That evening, the Generalās office was quiet except for the scratch of your brush as you copied down orders for troop rotations. Jing Yuan sat at his desk, one hand propping up his chin, his eyes half-lidded as if he were lost between thought and dream.
āYour handwritingās improved,ā he commented lazily. āYouāve been practicing.ā
You grinned. āI just want to make sure itās readable for you, sir.ā
He chuckled. āMm. Admirable. But tell me ā have you eaten?ā
āUm⦠I had something earlier.ā
āEarlier, as in today? Or yesterday?ā His tone remained calm, but there was a glint of amusement ā and concern.
You waved it off. āIām fine, General. Really.ā
Jing Yuan sighed softly, rising to his feet. āYou remind me of someone,ā he said, looking out the window. āSomeone who used to push themselves past exhaustion, thinking diligence alone could change the world.ā
āDid it?ā
He smiled wistfully. āNo. It only made them sleep for three days straight.ā
You laughed, setting your pen down ā and then the world swayed. The floor tilted. The ink blurred.
āGeneral, Iāā you began, before your knees buckled.
The last thing you heard was his voice, calm but suddenly sharp with worry: āEasy, little one.ā
You awoke in a soft bed, the sound of rain pattering against the roof of the palace. The scent of herbal medicine hung in the air.
āAh, so the valiant aide awakens.ā Jing Yuanās voice came from nearby, half-mocking, half-warm. He was lounging in a chair, hair loose, holding a teacup. āYou gave the healers quite the scare.ā
You groaned softly. āSorry⦠I didnāt mean toāā
He raised a hand, silencing you. āNo apologies. Only promises ā that youāll not skip meals or sleep for the sake of paperwork again.ā
You frowned. āBut I wanted to show I could keep up. Youāre the General. You never rest.ā
āAh,ā he said, leaning forward, his eyes meeting yours. āAnd yet here I am, watching over a stubborn child instead of working. Perhaps rest has its uses after all?ā
You flushed, looking away. āYouāre making fun of me.ā
āOnly because I care.ā His tone softened. āYouāve done well, [Name]. Your diligence is noticed. But a true knight knows when to lay down their sword ā and brush ā to live another day.ā
He handed you a bowl of porridge. āEat. The war reports can wait. You, however, cannot.ā
You smiled faintly. āYes, General.ā
As you ate, Jing Yuan leaned back, closing his eyes with that same serene expression that always made him seem half-asleep, half-smiling. āNext time, if you wish to impress me,ā he murmured, ātry staying conscious first.ā
You laughed softly. āDeal.ā
The Dreamscape's night glowed like stained glass ā fractured, beautiful, and heavy with secrets.
You stood behind the Sweet Dream bar, wiping glasses beside Gallagher. The Bloodhound Familyās security chief had been uncharacteristically quiet tonight. Then again, he always was. His silence wasnāt cold, though ā more like a steady heartbeat you learned to listen for.
Youād taken your assistant duties seriously ā organizing patrol schedules, handling guest requests, even mixing a few drinks under Gallagherās distant but watchful gaze. He never praised you openly, but his small hums of approval were worth every effort.
Still, fatigue clawed at your edges. Youād been on your feet since dawn. Your eyes stung from the barās soft, hazy lights.
āSlow down,ā Gallagher muttered suddenly. His deep voice carried a subtle rasp. āYouāll drop that glass.ā
āIām fine,ā you said quickly, forcing a grin. āI can handle it.ā
āMm.ā He eyed you sidelong, his eyes catching the dim light. āYou sound like I used to.ā
You chuckled softly, trying to polish another glass ā and the next moment, the world spun. A sudden rush of heat, then cold. The glass slipped from your fingers, shattering across the counter. Gallagherās hand shot out, catching you before you could hit the floor.
āHeyāā his voice cracked through the haze. āHey, kid. Stay with me.ā
When you opened your eyes, the first thing you smelled was alcohol ā the sweet, fruity scent of his special blend. You were lying on one of the lounge sofas, a blanket over you. Gallagher sat nearby, flask in hand, his expression unreadable.
āBack among the living,ā he said softly, not looking up. āThatās good.ā
You groaned, sitting up slowly. āIām⦠sorry, sir. I didnāt mean toāā
He shook his head. āDonāt apologize. I shouldāve noticed sooner.ā
You blinked. āNoticed what?ā
āThat you were burning out.ā His tone was gentle, but heavy. āYou donāt have to prove yourself to me. Hard work doesnāt need to hurt.ā
You fidgeted, staring at your hands. āI just wanted you to think Iām reliable.ā
āI already do.ā His lips twitched into a faint smile. āYou remind me of myself. Young, stubborn, thinking if I just worked harder, the world would make sense again.ā
āDid it?ā you asked quietly.
He swirled the drink in his flask. āNo. But I learned to make peace with it.ā
He reached over, handing you a small cup of warm cocoa instead. āNo spirits for you. You need rest more than ritual.ā
You smiled, taking it. āThanks.ā
As the two of you sat in silence, the lights of the Dreamscape shimmered through the stained glass windows. Gallagher leaned back, sighing softly. āYou did good today, [Name]. Just⦠remember. We donāt need martyrs in this family. Just people who stay standing.ā
You nodded, sipping your drink. āIāll remember.ā
He smiled faintly. āGood. Now sleep. Iāll keep watch.ā
The battlefield of Okhema was quiet at dusk ā the war banners fluttering softly in the dying light. Youād been following Mydei for months now, serving as his aide. To you, he wasnāt just a warrior or prince ā he was legend made flesh.
And you wanted to be worthy of that legend.
Every night, you cataloged supply reports, trained with the soldiers, mended gear, wrote dispatches. You refused to rest until your prince did ā and he rarely did.
Tonight, you were repairing armor by torchlight when his voice broke the silence.
ā[Name],ā Mydei called, stepping into the tent. His eyes glowed faintly in the light. āYouāre still awake.ā
āIām almost done, my lord,ā you said, not looking up. āYou need this ready for tomorrow.ā
āYouāve been working since dawn.ā
āI can handle it.ā
He frowned slightly ā a small furrow, but for him, it spoke volumes. āYou think strength means never stopping?ā
āI just want to help,ā you muttered, stitching another strap. āTo be useful to you.ā
He stepped closer, his presence casting a long shadow across the table. āYou already are.ā
You froze ā and the next second, the needle slipped, your hand trembling. The world seemed to tilt, your breath shallow. The firelight dimmed into nothing.
When you awoke, the sound of the fire filled your ears. You were lying by the campfire outside the tent, wrapped in a cloak far too large for you. Mydei sat nearby, sharpening his blade. His eyes flicked toward you as you stirred.
āFinally awake,ā he said softly. āYou collapsed. Exhaustion.ā
You sat up weakly. āIām sorry, my lord. Iāā
He stopped you with a raised hand. āNo apologies. Only understanding.ā His gaze softened. āDo you know what my curse is, [Name]?ā
You blinked. āYour curse?ā
He looked toward the horizon. āEndurance. I cannot die, even when I wish to. I have carried that burden for centuries. But youā¦ā He looked at you now, his voice quieter. āYou are not meant to carry that curse with me.ā
You stared at him, unsure what to say. āI just didnāt want to fail you.ā
He smiled faintly ā a rare, beautiful expression. āYou did not fail. You fought your own battle ā against exhaustion, against doubt. Now your victory is to rest.ā
He handed you a small cup of warm milk. āDrink. Then sleep.ā
You took it, your fingers brushing his gauntlet. āThank you⦠for not being angry.ā
āI am many things, little one,ā he said, gazing into the fire, ābut never angry at loyalty born of the heart.ā
You smiled faintly, leaning against the cloak. āIāll do better tomorrow.ā
āYou already do enough.ā His voice dropped to a murmur, almost like a prayer. āSleep. The tide will wait for us.ā
As you drifted off, you thought you heard him whisper one last thing to the sea ā a promise, or perhaps a memory:
āMay the young never bear the weight of the old.ā













