• Jealousy Makes You Blind, But A Brick Can, Too

pt. 1 | pls i had to continue it

word count: 2.2k

cw: angst, so much angst. with a happy ending though

It seemed impossible to just forget. Forget about the warmth you felt when Kuroo would glance over his shoulder to check on you when you were out in a group and he was walking ahead with some of his friends. Forget about the speeding heart rate when he’d put an arm around your shoulders, pulling you close as he teased you or pointed at some building you used to get dinner at in your sophomore year.

You tried to fill your mind with distractions anyway and forced yourself to stop replying to his messages as soon as you saw them. But it hurt. Pushing him away like that, seeing his profile picture pop up less often in your notifications as he seemed to get the hint, understand that you needed space.

Your chest tightened and ached when he asked you how you were holding up, his picture grinning up at you mischievously, which you had always found so damn cute. You were smiling back at it without realizing and chastising yourself when you did notice.

Kuroo changed his profile picture then, his face no longer there and you felt your stomach drop at that. It stung in particular when a new message popped up in your notifications that read, ‘wanna talk to me?’

You knew it had been a matter of time before he wanted answers from you, an explanation for the cold shoulder you were giving him. Thinking your attempt to get over him might’ve been obvious.

“There you are.”

He looked different, worn out somehow. It was the first thing you noticed when you approached him in the cold evening air, his back resting against his car as he pocketed his phone without another glance at it.

Slight dark circles were beginning to show underneath his eyes and the thick, black strands of his hair were pointing at various directions, all messy and disheveled—just like in your freshman year when he didn’t even bother to get rid of his ridiculous bedhead yet. A wave of nostalgia flooded right through you at the sight.

“I was starting to think you hated me.”

Kuroo smiled at you, a little shy and uneasy and you couldn’t blame him. It was you who had started to reach out less, after all. Like you were mad at him. That stupid crush you had was your problem, yet you only hurt him in the process of getting over it.

What a friend you were, best friend no less. You were a fraud.

“No one could ever hate you.” And you meant it. He was a good person, caring and loving, albeit a bit annoying. Yet that ambitious, honest side of him was admirable and attractive, automatically causing you forgive him for teasing you so often.

“Eh,” Kuroo shrugged and a more genuine grin eased into his face. It relaxed you, corner of your lips pulling up as your chest began to feel lighter, warmer.

Gosh, you’d missed him so much.

He seemed to share your thoughts because he reached for you with an arm, nodding you over with that smirk of his that made you want to punch him and kiss him at the same time.

“Get over here then.”

Why wouldn’t you? He was your best friend, after all. The person you were closest to, who you trusted the most.

You let yourself get pulled into an embrace with a choked laugh, and relief and guilt washed over you simultaneously. He held you close, arms wrapped around your shoulders and chin resting atop your head—like he always did when you needed comforting.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on now?” Kuroo tried to seem nonchalant in the way he asked, looking up at the steadily darkening sky, but you knew him well enough to assume he was feeling as nervous as you were. Maybe even scared of the things you’d say. You were, anyway.

You didn’t even know what you could say. Hadn’t you tried to save your friendship by working on getting rid of your feelings for him? Didn’t he already know after what happened last time you were out at night?

“Don’t you already know?” You grumbled out loud then and felt him huff in amusement.

“Dummy,” he grinned and loosened his grip on you, allowing you to step away from him with downcast eyes. “How am I supposed to know what’s going on in that pretty head of yours if you won’t talk to me?”

Oh.

No, don’t say things like that so casually.

Your chest tightened and you began to feel that familiar lump form in your throat.

“I can’t just say it, though,” you breathed, fogging up the air as you crossed your arms, starting to feel the cold creep into your skin. “It’ll change everything.”

Kuroo didn’t respond right away, merely let out a breath and turned to lean against his car again. He folded his arms over the roof, chin rested on the crook of his arm. The erratic throb of your heart made it difficult to meet his hazel eyes that were undoubtedly peering up at you.

“Is change really that bad?”

—hm?

“Yes it is,” you retorted, risking a glance at him with furrowed eyebrows. “It’s scary.”

But he merely shrugged, playful smirk forming on his lips as if to say, ‘so what?’ It felt natural to fight the urge to bump your fist into his side because he was starting to get smart with you.

“Haven’t things changed already?”

You turned around with a huff and mimicked the way he leaned over his car. It was easy to ignore the way your elbows touched in the process and you forced yourself to hold his gaze this time. Careful anticipation evident in it.

Were you able to express the very same thoughts and feelings you had been trying to get rid of the last few weeks? As a sigh eased out of you, you realized that maybe you weren’t and the wild hammering of your heart didn’t help you in any way. But Kuroo just smiled at you, encouraging and gentle. He would never pressure you to just come out with it.

“I’ve been trying to get over someone,” you whispered then, averting your eyes after all. You became hyper aware of the pounding in your chest and felt like hiding your face in your folded arms but he stopped you. His hand reached out to you, fingers grasping your arm and your eyes flitted to his.

“Someone..?”

“You,” you breathed, and there it was. A half-assed confession because you were tired of feeling this way, like your lives had come to a halt because of these dumb feelings. You knew they weren’t reciprocated, not with him continuously trying to set you up with all kinds of people, finding entertainment in the way you’d get flustered around them. ..when it was really him that had made you react like that.

Kuroo didn’t say anything for a while and his gaze had lowered to your arms, to the spot he was grasping you loosely. There was a slight crease between his brows and you felt your blood drain from your face at the sight. You knew it.

“You know,” he began suddenly, as if sensing that you were about to shut off, “I had a feeling that it was something like that.”

Your mind was spinning. Something like that. It was no use, you had to mentally prepare yourself to not seem too bothered when he’d tell you he didn’t see you like that. That you were just a friend to him, however dear.

“And it got me thinking.” Kuroo paused, and you held your breath.

His eyes settled on you once more as a gentle smile rested on his lips and you felt your mouth go dry, heartbeat uncontrollable in your chest.

“I realized that I’d get real sad if you kept pushing me away.”

“But you don’t see me that way,” you finished for him, a bit hastily, eyes lowered on his smile, throat tightening with another lump as you nodded. “Got it.”

Of course he didn’t. He was good to you, caring and attentive, as a good friend should be. But that didn’t mean he owed you anything beyond that. Which is why you didn’t want to pursue it, knowing that it was hopeless either way.

Why ruin a good friendship over some stupid feelings?

“Uh no, that’s.. not true.”

His face was out of focus when you looked up at him, tears clouding your sight as you stared, incomprehension apparent. Because.. what the hell?

Kuroo instinctively moved closer at the sight of your watering eyes and his hand on your arm twitched, wanting to reach up but he held back.

“You’re so damn confusing,” you half laughed, half sniffled, shaking your head. Your fingers felt cold against your skin as you wiped the tears away, still trying to comprehend what he’d said. “If you tell me you feel the same I’m gonna kick you.”

Obviously, you were joking. But then you noticed Kuroo cocking an eyebrow, accompanying the smile that made him just so.. annoyingly irresistible.

He couldn’t possibly..

“What if I showed you, then?”

He couldn’t.. right?

You didn’t move away when he inched closer slowly, your heart thrumming intensely against your rib cage. He raised a hand to brush his knuckles over the skin of your cheek, a delicate touch, fingers grasping and reaching forward to get a gentle hold of the back of your head.

“I often thought about doing this,” he breathed, your foreheads nearly touching, “whenever it was just us and you’d look at me like that.” His gaze was locked onto your lips, trailing the curve of them with the thumb of his other hand, your breath hot against his fingers.

“Why have you never—?”

“Was overthinking,” he tapped your forehead with his index finger, “just like you.”

He was kidding, right?

Though the way he gently tipped your head back to meet him in a soft kiss told you otherwise. It felt unreal, your nerves blanking as you grasped his jacket, fingers clutching the fabric desperately.

There was a small noise at the back of your throat when he moved his lips against yours with purpose, savoring you. You could barely feel your legs, your own weight suddenly too much. Gasps leaving your mouth as his hand guided your face closer to him, feeling his breath hot on your skin when his other arm wrapped around your waist to hold you tight, keep you from just slumping down.

You still couldn’t believe it. Your heart was racing, your mind spinning, your breath hitching. Leaning every emotion you got into the kiss you didn’t feel the tears until your lungs squeezed out a sob, surprising the both of you.

Kuroo separated from you in an instant, confusion and worry clear in his expression, looking like you had actually kicked him. But you threw your arms around his neck before he could say anything.

“Wha—” You hugged him tightly then and buried your face into the crook of his neck with another sob you couldn’t help.

“I’m so happy,” you exhaled. But your inner self was in disarray—happiness, relief, confusion mixing together. His touch was comforting and you felt yourself relax as one arm reached around your form to hug you back, hold you close. It didn’t feel so strange, as if it was always meant to be like this. To simply hold you and wait for you to release all those emotions you had bottled up for who knows how long.

Kuroo had been scared of change as well, truth be told. That tiny voice in his head had warned him from following his instincts whenever he held you close, with you staring up at him like nothing else mattered. No one else. The voice telling him not to ruin this connection he felt with you. It could end so badly, after all. The two of you could end up like his parents, and he would end up losing you—you, sweet you.

When you started to detach yourself from him, it felt scarily real.

He didn’t like not having you around, even if just temporarily. Didn’t like not being part of your life when another difficulty plagued your mind, because he wanted to be there for you, just as you’d always been there for him.

Being with you, really being with you, wasn’t guaranteed to be easy but it’s all he’d subconsciously thought about the last few years with you. Whenever he invited you to go on trips with him or when you tagged along to Kenma’s and he’d watch you interact with him. Making him think that he needed to keep you around.

“Wanna come inside? It’s cold out here.”

You peeked up at him like that again, and he felt his heart swell up at the expression on your face. Teary eyed and sniffling, but smile stretching your lips like he hadn’t seen in weeks. It made him giddy and excited and in order to not grin too much he slipped a hand underneath your shirt, pinching your skin teasingly.

“Yeah.”

@ sakuroo. please do not modify, copy, repost or claim as your own. ꒰ reblogs appreciated! ꒱

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in the secluded land of the immortal shogun, the bakufu rules eternal. but what do mortals see of the eternity chased after by their god?

characters ☆ inazuma, nation of eternity

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Falls First, Falls Harder ✧ All Dorms

Notes: This took so long to finish, goodness... it's pretty long too, but it's really cute IMO.

Also, I would be remiss if I didn't say this--thank you guys so so so much for 500 followers! My heart is melted from all the positive feedback I've received on my posts! You guys are just so sweet; I adore each and every one of you!

I hope this post counts for a good celebration--I included all our beloved NRC boys, that way I could make sure to show a little love to each of your favorites, y'know? Plus this prompt is super self indulgent and cute, I hope you like it.

Much love to all of you, and enjoy! ♡

(Guys, psst! I made a part two! Here it is! It's the opposite scenarios of the ones I've written here--I couldn't help myself. Enjoy! ♡)

Ace:

Falls First: Ace ✧ Falls Harder: You

Ace really has no choice but to fall first--and he's obvious about it too. Did you really think all that flirting was just his personality? Sure, he can be a little flirtatious now and then, but he lays it on real thick for you.

Besides--with the way he insults Deuce and Grim, you have to know that you've gotten special treatment from the start. Heck, the whole reason he started taunting you on the first day of school was because he thought you were cute!

You've just made him fall more and more every day since. Your courage, your determination, your logic in times of fear--in his eyes, you were a warrior. He'd follow you anywhere.

It's only a little while later that you fall harder.

You start to notice this feeling during Riddle's overblot--the way Ace jumps in front of you to protect you, and the way his first instinct after the battle is to make sure you got out safe. The moment was so intense that it wouldn't surprise you if you were entirely forgotten about, but Ace never left your side, even when the battle got rough.

Then you notice how he's the first to defend you in any situation--not just physical fights, but verbal spats as well. If anyone gives you lip you're certain Ace is gonna mouth off right back, and he's practically an expert at making even the most confident people feel ashamed of themselves.

Aside from all of that, he's always there for you, emotionally and otherwise. He notices when you're upset or stressed or furious and he knows just what to do to help you feel better. He doesn't give up on you until he knows you're okay, and you've come to find he's the most reliable person you have.

It was when he told you he'd make sure to find you a way home that you finally gave in--you fell the hardest. Even though he didn't hide the fact that he wanted you to stay--that he wanted to keep you in Twisted Wonderland for as long as possible--he knew you had a life in your other world that you missed. Before his desire to keep you came your happiness, and so even if that meant losing you, you still had his services.

...of course, the situation would never come to that. If you managed to get to Twisted Wonderland once you'd be able to do it again, and there's no way you could completely forget about this world now. Sure, your old home has a place in your heart, but so do your friends here at NRC, and most importantly, so does Ace.

You two have each other's backs, and as far as you're both concerned, that relentless love was there to stay.

Deuce:

Falls First: Deuce ✧ Falls Harder: You

Oh, you know Deuce went through the whole 'I've fallen in love with my best friend!' arc in the most panicked way possible.

He realizes his feelings fast. Remember that chicken conversation? Where you told him even honors kids defended themselves? Where you supported him, even after learning his dark little secret? He's pretty sure that's when he fell... and it's his next conversation with his mom that causes it to dawn on him.

He was only trying to tell her about you--describing the way you've supported him, what you meant to him, and how smart and kind and bold and beautiful you were...

He spends every moment after trying to keep his feelings under wraps, but he just can't.

He looks out for you--he's tries to avoid picking fights, but he can't help it when it's you who's getting picked on.

He confides in you--it's just too easy for him to place his heart in your hands, and no matter what he tells you he knows you'll guard it with your heart.

You were just... perfect.

But oh, when you realize your feelings for Deuce?

His presence becomes a constant in your life before you know it--walking you safely back to Ramshackle every evening, studying for tests together, sharing food in the cafeteria--whether it's a month or a week or even a day, long times without seeing him just become too long.

He's so determined and so full of love. He's fiercely loyal to his friends, he has such a pure love for his mom, and he's always standing up for those in trouble. It doesn't matter if he knows them or not--if someone's getting picked on, he rushes in to save them.

And goodness, his smile? It's a constant in your life. Seeing the way he lights up when you enter the room melts your heart every time.

Of course, the list of reasons to fall in love with him is endless--what matters is that you realize it. It hits you when he left for Winter break, and it strikes again when he comes back, early, having left his time with his family to come check up on your safety. Even then, he never complained--he showed no regret in coming back, even when he knew you were safe.

The love you two share is something reliable, trustworthy and enduring--there's no doubt by you or anyone else that it will forever stand the test of time.

Riddle:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Riddle

It wasn't out of love that Riddle fussed over you, but that was probably the first thing that caused your heart to skip a beat.

Well, that was part of the reason anyways. The part of him that really caught your attention was his growth; after his overblot, he was truly a changed person. He was more understanding, more patient, more playful, and best of all--more open with his feelings.

He learned to open up and experience a world outside of the abusive shell he was raised in. He found joy in friendships with his dorm mates that once held nothing but fear and contempt for him. He learned to take criticism without entirely brushing it aside and claiming he was in the right, but he didn't lose his old self entirely either. He kept the charm.

He kept his diligence. He remained as hardworking as ever, and his academic prowess proved it. He was still a great leader, running a tight ship and bringing the best out of his dorm. He was just... incredible.

You found yourself treasuring every moment with him in your heart, and all those sweet memories shared between the two of you built up into what you could confidently say was love. A part of you knew you'd fallen too quickly for him though, and so while you enjoyed every interaction with him you held your feelings close to your heart and kept them there.

That is... until Riddle had fallen as well.

The first signs were through his actions. He had a tendency to fuss over you before, but now it was like you had your own personal spotlight--and not necessarily in a nagging way. Sure, he'd smooth out the tie of your uniform now and again, but what really caught everyone's attention was the way he'd fume if you visited Heartslabyul without being served tea, or the way he'd insist on walking you to dorms and classes incase someone tried to mess with you. He was just... doting, and protective, and all those other sweet things that caught his dormmates by surprise.

The next signs came after he realized his feelings--it just dawned on him one day, with the help of Trey and Cater spelling it out for him. After that, he could hardly look you in the eye and his face was always--always--red.

Still, the doting habits never left, so while he would blush and stutter he still always walked you to class, looked out for you and made you feel as welcome as possible whenever you'd drop by.

Once you two got together, it only got sweeter from there. Riddle and you have a supportive kind of love--you bring out the best in each other and encourage each other. You share dreams and aspirations and believe in each other's worth, and are always there to remind the other if they ever forget.

More concrete than any rule or law is the foundation of love the two of you share together--with Riddle, it was perfect.

Cater:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Cater

When you first met Cater, you got butterflies.

He was just so... charming. Charismatic. Brilliant. Even in a world you barely knew with disaster around every corner, you could have a single conversation with him and feel safe.

Of course, most of it's a ruse. Cater is not as chill as he seems--he hides his opinions and keeps his cards close to his chest, though with the way he acts you'd never know unless you bother to observe him.

Still... even if it's an act, you find it admirable. He's kind and funny and sensitive to the feelings of those around him, and so in your opinion it doesn't matter how 'fake' he probably thought it all is; he's a good guy, a guy with a good heart and great skill and an insane amount of charm. He would invite you to hang out with him, pull you closer for spontaneous selfies and always hype you up when you were at your lowest.

You wanted to get to know him more, so you did. You showed him the hidden parts of yourself in hopes that he would do the same, but even if he didn't, you still saw through the mask once in a while.

You loved every new thing you learned about him and, well, you loved him in general. He was your person, you were certain of it.

Initially Cater wasn't uneasy about your vulnerability, but he did feel guilty over it.

It was natural for people to open up to him--it was a side effect of his personality, he supposes. Being so extroverted and cheerful all the time caused him to accidentally lead people on, and make them think he was more fond of them than he genuinely felt.

Of course, he wished he could be that guy! He tries, but he just can't bring himself to feel the same way. He had people around every corner claiming him as their true love, their best friend, their partner in crime--and yet amongst dozens of supposed 'best friends', there wasn't a single one who seemed to care about the real him.

Well... except you.

You stuck around longer. You asked questions no one else bothered to. You complimented the parts of his personality that even he forgot about, the parts that weren't all about his charisma and enthusiasm--and despite how much he tried to keep up his usual self around you, he felt it start to crumble.

You were a really sweet person--that was his first thought, and at first he wished it would remain that way. You were just sweet--that was all there was too it. But then you became a friend. You became a person who could read when he wasn't feeling like his usual self. You became someone who could catch onto even the littlest hints he dropped, like the way Trey found out he doesn't like sweets. You became that person who--when he was uncomfortable, when he felt awful for leading people on, when he didn't have the energy to be so jovial--you would always slyly make excuses for him and help him escape those awful things.

Then you became his person.

You fell first, but Cater fell harder. Whoever said you can't love someone until you love yourself is wrong, because Cater was head-over-heels for you even before you helped him learn to love himself.

His behavior isn't so different--he still takes photos with you, drags you everywhere, and hypes you up any minute of the day. This time though, it's not an act--it's pure, smitten love.

Trey:

Falls First: Trey ✧ Falls Harder: You

At first, Trey admires your friendship.

He sees it every day: the way you care for Ace and Deuce, the way you care for Grim, the way you always seem to go the extra mile for them even when it seems unnecessary. He finds your crew to be incredibly lucky, because it doesn't take a genius to tell that you're full of love and loyalty for those lucky few you consider friends.

At first, Trey wants that friendship for himself.

He starts by inviting you to bake with him. He invites you to Unbirthday parties as well. He'll walk you through Heartslabyul traditions and rules, which not only pose as a way to bond with you but also get you in good graces with Riddle--which ultimately leads to you being invited to the Heartslabyul dorm even more.

You befriend him quickly, and Trey loves that you consider him a close friend... but there's still something missing, because when he's with you he still wants more. It takes him a while to identify it, but when he does, it all makes sense.

He fancies you.

No, that's not right--it's grown beyond a crush at this point. He's in love.

You don't fall for Trey because of the way he suddenly dotes on you more and more; it's more like you fell for him because he revealed himself more and more to you.

At first, it's easy to dismiss Trey as a cliche older brother type--too mellow and too well-behaved to catch your eye, which regrettably was your impression for quite a bit there.

After all, compared to the other chaotic students in Heartslabyul, Trey seemed to be the only one who wasn't entirely off his rocker. It made him stick out, but not in an interesting or exciting way.

Then you realized that, no, Trey wasn't just mellow and passive, nor was his head as attached to his body as it seems; he was playful and chaotic in his own way, but he was so smart about it that he could get away with almost anything.

...and when he was fond of you? He'd pretty much help you get away with anything too.

You caused quite a lot of chaos together under Riddle's nose. Trey would use his unique magic to pull subtle pranks, kidnap you from your dorm to bake the sweetest snacks, and teach you how to break rules without getting collared.

He'd make sarcastic or cynical jokes under his breath just for you to hear, propose rebellious ideas to you out of earshot, and teach you how to get revenge on those who mess with you in the sneakiest, funniest way. And, on top of that, he still has his responsible charm--he does well in school, is beloved by teachers and students alike and can solve any problem he's presented with. It's fascinating.

You'd never have predicted it, but you fell for Trey hard. Love with him is safe and trusting, but at the same time, it never loses its spark.

Leona:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Leona

You have no idea why you fell for him. He's arrogant and lazy and crass and... and...

And amazing, at literally everything he puts his mind to.

Your love starts out as admiration. You love his brain, his talent, his magical abilities, his athleticism, his wit, his charm, his audacity. He's confident in himself and he has every skill necessary to back it up. If he actually gave ambition a go, the world wouldn't stand a chance against him.

Eventually, you start to see the reality. He's lazy, insensitive and plays the role of the bitter prince. He acts like he doesn't care and then gets picky over the dumbest things. Your admiration turns into understanding, but the love hadn't developed yet.

You truly fell when he let you in.

Maybe it was the whole overblot thing, or maybe he started to respect you after that whole schtick with Azul, but Leona no longer acted like your presence was a bother--rather than kicking you out of his room, he'd greet you lazily and roll over on his bed, implicitly inviting you to join him for a nap. Whenever he did show up for lunch, he always sat next to you, not saying a word about it and only opening up when you initiated conversation. When he caught you in Savanaclaw--it happens quite a lot nowadays--he'd growl at those other students who harass you and welcome you to 'hang out wherever you want, as long as you don't cause a fuss'.

Romantic, right? Your heart seemed to think so. Leona's actions always spoke louder than his words.

Eventually, you were willing to admit you fell for him. While you didn't flirt outright--you weren't quite ready for him to tease you over your feelings--you started to show you cared for him in more platonic ways.

That was the catalyst to Leona falling for you.

What really won him over was the fact that you saw him. You recognized him as someone worthy of praise, and you saw value in all the qualities that people back at home would criticize.

You cherished his magic, telling him that not only was it powerful but that it had saved you at one point, during that whole thing with Azul. It was a wonderful unique magic, and he should treasure it.

You praised his intellect, his athleticism, his magic, his talents--you even told him you were impressed with how quickly he could fall asleep. His skills often went unrecognized, but you saw them all.

And... let's face it, you were amazing in general. He would have been impressed if you handled all those overblots with magic, but you've made it out of every one of those disasters magicless and still kickin’. Even though you were magicless in a school full of mages, you walked around with your head held high, like you could conquer them all; honestly, you probably could.

Sans Leona of course. He wouldn't be outdone by such a magicless little herbivore.

...but he did genuinely admire and respect you. That only made him love you more--you were his equal, his motivation, someone who gave him reason to try and someone who worked hard right along with him.

You were inspiring, and motivating, and... gosh, he loved you.

He doesn't verbalize it well, but he shows it--the love you two share is the kind of love that you can feel down to your bones, a love no lack of self esteem or anxiety could ever make you question. You could trust in Leona's love like you trusted the sun to shine in the sky each day; it was constant, powerful and simply wonderful.

Ruggie:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Ruggie

You have to fall for Ruggie first. It's the law.

See, Ruggie lets you know who he is right away. He treats himself like a walking resume, and thus every action, every word, every moment is used to show off who he is, what he can do, and how good he is at doing it.

His talents and work ethic aside, he's open about his personality and past too. He talks about the more vulnerable aspects of his life like he's talking about the latest episode of a TV show, and he's even honest about his more sneaky and underhanded nature--what are ya gonna do about it, stop him? He's too capable to be worried about that.

But you know, Ruggie tells you lots of things. He tells you about how he looks after the neighborhood kids back at home, about the struggles he's had to overcome growing up, about how and why he learned all the skills he did--sometimes they're funny stories, and sometimes they're so sad they make you wonder how someone like him can grin so brightly all the time.

You fall for him fast--even when he's pretty verbal about not being interested in anything besides spelldrive, food, and making money. You can't really help it.

...and when he starts to consider you a friend, telling you that you need to be a little more selfish and underhanded for your own sake, you fall more. Being one of those people Ruggie will put his selfishness aside for is a big deal, and it means a lot to you that he'd care for you in such a way.

Ruggie is slower to fall in love, but when it hits him, it hits like a brick.

At first, he thought you were naive--maybe a good person to steal food from, but no one worth bonding with. He'd let you follow him around since you seemed pretty fascinated by him, but he wasn't going to engage too much. You were a little freshman in a world you didn't know--you probably thought he'd help you out or something, but he wasn't going to be doing any favors for free.

You... never really asked him to help you out, though. Sure, you'd talk about your problems to him, but you were mostly making conversation. Your life at NRC was pretty exciting--well, if you consider constant fights, life-or-death situations and drama with nearly every big personality in the school 'exciting'. He didn't know how you could handle it all.

He respected you with the way you took all those challenges head-on. With you being around him so often, he saw the skills you brought with you from your own world and thought they were fantastic--what was even more interesting was how you used your own skillset to take on these situations. You weren't the most underhanded person (at least, compared to him) but you were competent.

He probably fell for you, though, because you weren't just around him for favors or entertainment. In fact, he's received more favors from you than he’s ever considered returning; you wouldn't accept any help he offered (whether it came with a price or not), but you were bossy and insistent when it came to being kind to him.

Take this moment for example--you had come to hang out in the stands during his spelldrive practice, and Ruggie stopped to say hi. You had snacks and Ruggie was hungry, so when he jokingly offered to 'owe you one' in exchange for something to eat you just... handed the food to him?? Like, with nothing in return? You just went, "You’re hungry, so take it. Why wouldn't I just give it to you?"

You were a strange one. A strange, wonderful one that Ruggie found himself treasuring more and more.

Eventually, it wasn't you following him around anymore--it was him that was dragging you into shenanigans, even popping by to spoil you himself. He's been pretty decided about his future since he was little--just himself with some grand job, but now he just couldn't picture it without you, however that would turn out.

Your love, contrary to his nature, is selfless. You look out for each other, spoil each other and don't seem complete without the other nearby; it was a love you didn't expect to find, but one that was always meant to be.

Jack:

Falls First: Jack ✧ Falls Harder: You

Just ask Ace and Deuce--watching a tsundere pine is like watching a house cat try to open a locked door. It's endearing to a degree, but also very hard to watch.

Jack has been pining for a while. No one can really tell for sure when it started--early on during the anemone fiasco perhaps, or maybe even earlier during the Spelldrive incidents.

After all, you didn't go about trying to cheat on your exams--even though you probably had more of an excuse than anyone, not being an actual mage and all. You didn't try to hide or fake any aspects about you--you were just genuine and kind and loyal and oh great seven he was in love.

You suppose you fell for Jack for a similar reason; he was principled and hardworking, talented and genuine, considerate and gosh--just the cutest guy ever, right??

I mean, he doesn't really consider himself the 'cute' type, but he's totally cute. Totally.

You did a lot of bonding during the whole Azul thing--by then Jack knew he was in love with you. You were a little slower, but let's be real--you didn't take too long to fall either. Going through a life-or-death situation like that got you two pretty familiar with each other pretty quickly.

Jack was just a big softie--and he was softest for you, just ask anyone. He’s protective and concerned for you, and no one can threaten you at this point without him glaring daggers over your shoulder. 'Scary dog privilege' isn’t just a joke with him--as soft as he is for you, he’s not above ripping someone's throat out.

For all his track meets, any game of spelldrive he'd play, pretty much any activity he partook in, you were in the stands cheering him on. You'd run up to him immediately afterwards and tell him how well he did, and his tail would wag every time.

You were painfully obvious about how much you loved each other, even before you were together. Ace and Deuce complained constantly because you were the type of people to make goo-goo eyes at lunch, totally unaware of how sappy you looked. Once you did get together, it wasn't just goo-goo eyes--you always ate lunch with Jack, he always tried to walk you to class, and Jack had an unofficial room in the Ramshackle dorm, which he frequented almost as much as you frequented Savanaclaw.

Jack lent you his shirts and hoodies, studied with you for every exam, and texted you goodnight before he went to bed each night; those texts were always sent almost exactly at 9:59pm, just before he goes to bed. He’s so rigid with his schedule—it’s endearing.

It’s the love you’ve always dreamed of having--the kind of love that makes single people cringe, but you know what, who cares? Wolves tend to mate for life, and it was obvious Jack had chosen you.

Azul:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Azul

It was a close call as to who fell first--just like with the contract thing though, you bested Azul by a narrow margin.

He was just so charming.

Sure, he had this suave businessman thing going on--and to be frank, you loved that part of him. You admired his charisma, his hard work, his sharp mind, his schemes. Your favorite part probably had to be his awkwardness though--that was the most charming thing about him.

It was a rare treat to see Azul truly awkward--he almost always had the self-control to present himself composed and competent, but on the rarest occasions he'd slip up and be a frazzled mess until he could flee to his office. Luckily, Jade and Floyd were more than happy to help you reduce Azul to such a state, and every time it happened it made your heart grow fonder.

After his overblot, you knew for certain you had fallen for him. Prior to, he'd been a huge source of anxiety; now that it was over, the way he turned his business around was just so... amazing. He still made deals and used his magic to his advantage, but he was more upfront about it, and the manipulation no longer became a concern.

Learning about why he did what he did made your heart bleed too. You cared for him deeply, and of course, you weren't shy about expressing it--after all, it let you see his cute flustered face even more.

Azul wasn't used to feeling so treasured by someone before.

Even Floyd and Jade were wild cards--they were loyal and good friends (despite acting like they'd ever drop him if they got bored), but you... you were certain about caring about him. You made it no secret that you thought he was smart and talented and charming and valuable and so many other wonderful compliments. At first, it almost felt like you were trying to get some sort of revenge on him, making him addicted to your presence or something.

The worst part? It was working.

Eventually, he gave in to what he wanted and started inviting you around more. He made Jade and Floyd notify him when you came to the Mostro Lounge, and when you did he always emerged from his office to serve you personally. He gave you free drinks and meals (which was not the Octavinelle way, but... don't think about it too much), let you hide out in his office with him, and offered his services whenever you struggled with school.

Jade and Floyd loved how hard Azul fell for you--there wasn't anything more entertaining in the world, because while you were always upfront about how you felt, Azul would dare try to play the denial game. Yes he was fond of you, but the L-word? Already? What... What are you talking about? Of course he wasn't... well....

And yet, his feelings always bled through anyways. He was clingy, but not in an unwelcome way--he just loved having you around and always let you know his door was open. He'd spoil you constantly, like he was trying to both show off his resources and express his lov--his fondness for you.

Eventually the awkward octo learns how to actually say the 'L-word' and when he does--boy, do you hear it often. Yes you fell first and you fell hard, but this once--just this once--Azul has you beat.

You're his heart's favorite. That's all there is to it. You're precious and lovely and great seven does he want a future with you...

...and despite you saying you weren't gonna make a deal with him again, that was one you could agree to.

Jade:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Jade

Jade is... interesting.

You're not the type to fall in love over a little intrigue of course, but it does help. From the moment you met him Jade caught your eye, and he obviously knew he did--for his own amusement, he let you follow him around. He even invited you to, in some cases.

Of course, there was the whole... Azul thing. That was a small rift in your developing affections, but even then, you got to know Jade better. You loved seeing him in the Coral Sea, seeing where he grew up, understanding the life he knew up until going to NRC. That picture Azul had you going after was really adorable too--the little Octo-trio kids were as cute as buttons, but Jade's smiling face had been your favorite amongst them.

Once Jade was no longer obligated to harass you as part of your contract with Azul, he was happy to have you around without implied hostility. When you visited the Mostro Lounge, he'd spend extra minutes at your table, talking with you and making coy remarks. When he went on excursions for his club, he'd invite you along and--hey, how could you refuse him when he was just so charming?

Jade wasn't someone you had to understand to love. He would always have an air of mystery around him--in your opinion, he was even less predictable than Floyd. After all, he posed the perfect gentleman, ever-loyal and ever-helpful, but at the same time he made mischief his right hand man. Every new thing you learned about him made you curiouser, made your heart pound more and--after just a short while--made you fall more in love.

As for Jade... he fell in love slowly. Agonizingly slow. Then again, once he fell, it was less than graceful--it was trademarked Leech chaos, to put it simply.

At first, he thought you were boring. Then, he thought you were interesting and charming, but in a quaint way. He was amused by you, but could've done with or without you for a while.

Then you became friends with him and his twin--that surprised him, because he was certain they'd have scared you away by now.

You weren't like the others. You didn't run from him--you had to be dragged away by your friends, and yet you kept coming back. You'd grown used to his mischief, and you knew how to handle the chaos he and Floyd caused without getting hurt. In fact, you were happy to indulge in chaos with them, much to Azul's chagrin.

Friendship turned into platonic devotion--an agonizing step, because he knew well enough at this point that you were in love with him. At this point, though, he didn't want to lose you, so he handled your feelings delicately and let you remain by his side. He was loyal, and doting, and would go through every effort to make you smile, which wasn't helping you suppress your feelings, not at all.

After all that, though, Jade fell--he realized when he heard you talking about your home world. He wasn't a part of the conversation, but you were talking in the Mostro Lounge and he always kept tabs on you while you were there--he was fond of you after all.

You were talking with Jack, a friend of yours that you'd bonded with because of the distress Jade and Floyd caused. You had been explaining to Jack that things were still so different here--so fascinating and new, and Jade listened as you gush and gush with curiosity and wonder about this new world around you.

That's right--you and Jade weren't so different after all. He'd never really thought about it before, but he had a similar experience coming from the Coral Sea. While he was getting used to the concepts of walking and flying you were getting used to the concepts of magic, which probably blew your mind just as much as having legs blew his.

And for you to be so curious? Well, he related to that part especially well.

His mind was suddenly filled with daydreams of exploring the world with you, and from that moment on his future didn't seem right without you in it. He wanted to keep you at his side, to learn more about you and the world around you and every other world you could travel to... and knowing you loved him in return, there was nothing that was going to stop him from trying to achieve that reality.

Your love was the kind of love that was constant no matter what was around you. In the sea, on land, in the sky, in worlds with magic and worlds without, you were hopelessly in love with each other, and with every challenge that came the two of you would always face it together.

Floyd:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Floyd

Look, you're not an idiot by any means, but... your heart had a little idiotic moment there, falling for Floyd. At least, that's what your brain told you; for the first time ever, your heart and brain were having a feud that they just wouldn't let go.

Loving Floyd wasn't logical--he was dangerous and chaotic, and he took great delight in messing with you. He was much more than that, though, and that's what gave you the courage to not run away and give bonding a shot... and great seven, was that a great decision.

Floyd decided you were friend material almost instantly. On top of his adorable nicknames, he was the type of guy to scream hi to you across the hall despite the dirty looks, the type of guy to invite you to join him for all his impulsive schemes, the type of guy who expressed affection in so many ways it made your head spin: hugs, silly little gifts, affectionate nicknames and greetings, adventuring together...

This guy who was once a source of anxiety for you became your place of peace. Even if his mood swings were sudden and not always easy to deal with, you made the effort to understand and accept him, mood swings and all; it got easier and easier as time went on. Floyd... he was so precious to you, he practically had your heart in his hands.

Floyd didn't like you as more than friends for a while though.

In fact, it took him a while to even realize you were a friend for life--his attention was hard to keep, but after you stuck around long enough he realized he just wasn't going to get bored of you. He could hear you repeat the same stories over and over again and he'd happily listen each time, so it was pretty decided at that point that he wanted you for the long run.

The love came a little bit later, but when it did he fell hard. Even Jade could tell you the moment Floyd knew he was in love, and that's because that precious moment had been in the Mostro Lounge.

"You're so thoughtful."

Imagine that--Floyd Leech and thoughtful, a pairing no one else in school would have even considered. Even Floyd thought it was ridiculous; he almost thought you were messing with him.

Floyd was impulsive... and chaotic, childish, the list goes on. He doesn't give boring people the time of day, lacks all the tact his twin has and wasn't always the most sensitive fish in the sea... so how on earth did you think he was thoughtful?

"You always look out for the people you care about," you continued. "Like the way you you'll bully me into eating enough and getting enough sleep, or the way you bring me little gifts when you think of me."

You lifted your wrist as you said it, showing off a clunky bracelet he'd made you during class out of boredom. It was really nothing more than knotted string with a few makeshift beads, but you had accepted the gift with stars in your eyes anyways.

"It's not just me of course. You do it with Jade and Azul too. Others too, like Riddle and Ace and Jamil... and you know everyone that you care about so well, it's sweet that you make such an effort to understand them the way you do. I just think... I don't know. I just wanted to say that, I guess."

His heart was beating so much he thought he was sick. You thought he was thoughtful? Maybe he was, but... no one really thought of him like that before. You made such an effort to understand him that you could say something like that?

...oh, he's in love.

The love you two share is something no one else seems to understand--they don't get how you could fall for him or how he could fall for you, but neither of you care what others think. Your love is certain and long-lasting, and great seven is it interesting, because with Floyd by your side there's no such thing as a dull moment.

Kalim:

Falls First: Kalim ✧ Falls Harder: You

Duh.

No matter what your opinion on 'love at first sight' is, Kalim is your classic fairy tale exception--you don't need a second interaction for him to know. He's bright and bubbly to even the most prickly of strangers, but he knows a real connection when he sees it. You and him... he could picture so many adventures with you already, and he's already planning several.

He’s just sweet enough that you'll go along with all those plans. Well, most of them. He is a little grand and gratuitous sometimes.

Still—every time you agree, Kalim lights up. He loves seeing you in all sorts of situations—he falls in love with the way you dance, the way you eat, the way you tell stories and the way you listen to them… he’s smitten so quick, and it just grows and grows with each new 'adventure' together.

You fall a little bit later, but you fall hard.

At first, Kalim just seems like a airheaded rich boy--the type oblivious to the feelings of those around him, but that was far from the truth.

You noticed it during one of the many parties he invited you to.

That day, you were feeling homesick--and not just a little ache in your heart, but full-blown devastation at the notion that you may never see your home again. You tried to hide it at the party, and in all honesty, you did it pretty well; No one had been onto you, not even your best friends noticed how you were a little more glum that day.

Kalim did.

He invited you to dance with him, and all it took was your slight hesitation to agree that let him know something was wrong. He pulled you away from the crowd, offered his listening ear, and spent the rest of the evening just the two of you. He let you cry into his shoulder, groan about your plight and get mad at Crowley's negligence, and he stayed through it all, helping you feel better to the best of his ability.

He spoils you rotten--with gifts, with attention, with compliments, with affection, you name it. He's an ever-flowing fountain of love, and the fact that he's given his heart to you makes you feel like the luckiest person alive.

He's someone you can love on as much as you want and never be made to feel unwanted, annoying or ridiculous. Loving him is the type of love where you can use the cheesiest pet names, hold hands wherever you go, write each other the most ooey-gooey love letters and just... be cheesy. It's sweet and silly and romantic, a precious and pure type of love that's as rare as it is beautiful.

Love with Kalim is cliche and deep. The 'I've found my other half' kind of cliche, the type that makes you believe in tales like the red string of fate and soulmates and all those other stories. He's your fairy tale, and to him, you're his happy ending.

Jamil:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Jamil

Jamil makes it a point to conceal several aspects of himself, and so getting to know him on a genuine level is a hard task for anyone.

Although the Scarabia incident was stressful, it did give you an opportunity to see the side of Jamil that he kept so hidden--the good and the bad, the impressive and the disappointing, the best and the worst. You had the opportunity to see Jamil realize he could show off his skill, he should speak up about how he felt and he should let himself be selfish. He traded in his polite smile for a snarky smirk, and even if his words became sharper and his hatred became visible he was still just... lovely.

What it took others a while to see, you saw right away. Jamil wasn't just some bitter servant--he was a beacon of talent, a disciplined worker, a thoughtful soul. He was wise and powerful and tactful and considerate and passionate and witty and clever and so many wonderful, beautiful things, each one a reason for you to fall for him harder and harder.

As hard as you fell for him, though, it was nothing compared to how hard he fell for you.

You were different--not by being some sort of golden-heart or eternal optimist, nor were you a renowned academic or athlete, but you caught his attention through the casual means through which you showed your support.

You offered your help with some of his responsibilities. You gave him casual compliments on his many talents--talents he had, at one point, done his best to hide. You didn't just give him space when he needed it, you created space for him as well--you offered up Ramshackle to him if he ever needed a place to get away, you would entertain Kalim for awhile so Jamil could rest easy, and you'd always find ways of directing the conversation so he could escape. He wasn't an idiot--you never did any of this outright, it was just subtle acts of kindness that filled his stomach with butterflies every time.

Jamil never lost his composure, never--at least, that's how it was before he fell for you. Something changed with his feelings for you, and suddenly he felt shaky and flustered and nervous whenever you came around. At the same time though, he was addicted to your presence; it was no longer Kalim who invited you to parties or welcomed you into their dorm, but Jamil.

Jamil, who brought you leftovers from meals and parties, just for an excuse to see you. Jamil, who would keep his eye out for clear skies and starry nights so he could invite you for sight-seeing. Jamil, who would shyly tell you when he had a basketball game coming up, because he knew he would see you in the stands every single time.

You were his weakness in the very best way. Love with him was soft and sweet--as sharp as he could be with others, you were his exception. Even in moments where he nagged you or teased you, there was a certain softness to his words that he reserved just for you.

You made him feel valuable--like he was the only person in the world, first place, a wonder, a treasure, a winner. He, of course, made you feel the very same; there was something precious about what the two of you had, a love you could trust would last forever.

Vil:

Falls First: Vil ✧ Falls Harder: You

A critical eye is still an admiring eye, just an eye that is more selective with where it finds beauty.

Vil was very critical, but that didn't mean he wasn't paying attention. He searched for beauty, polished or not, and he was not so haughty that he wouldn't recognize it when it was right in front of him. In fact, when he saw the potential for beauty, he seized it.

You were one of those beautiful things that caught his eye--not just physically, but everything about you: your determination, your hard work, your humor and wit and charm...

It frustrated him to know end that you didn't apply that hard work in the same way he did. You'd pour all your effort into your responsibilities and hobbies, and your appearance took a back seat to the things that you deemed more important. You became his personal mission--he'd lure you in with his own charm and wit, spoil you with products and clothes, and try to get you to follow in his footsteps, but another beautiful thing about you was that you weren't so easily influenced.

You did your own thing and didn't conform no matter what kind of pressure was on your shoulders.

It drove him crazy, but at the same time, he was falling for you more and more.

At first, Vil was annoying to you. You found him conceited and clownish, thinking he took his obsession with beauty way too far. It irritated you when he tried to pull you into his regimen, but you admittedly did understand his charm, and so you gave him a chance.

Vil had to work to soften you up. To the rest of Pomefiore, it was almost unbelievable that he'd become the chaser rather than the one being chased--but he did it, and you started to fall for him.

You saw him not for his makeup and poise, but for his heart. He was a hard worker--disciplined and detailed--and he had such immense amounts of talent. He was good with people, good with kids, good with sciences and arts and the list goes on...

He was also very funny. It wasn't something just anyone got to be privy to, but since he let you close to him, you got to hear it: those comments he'd utter under his breath, some of them about his rival Neige, others about the other dorm leaders, others about teachers and students and anyone else who crossed his path.

You two learned how to bond, and that's when you started to fall.

Vil would woo you with his humor--he'd sacrifice his perfect schedule to hang out with you in childish ways, ways that were whimsical and fun and quite different from the disciplined upbringing he had. You saw him let his guard down and enjoy things from your perspective, and in the same manner you'd lower your walls and try things out his way.

You guys were the definition of 'opposites attract'. You didn't have to share goals and interests for you to be in love--if anything, your differences made you better together. Once together, you guys became the epitome of a 'power couple', in school and elsewhere.

Your love was confident, and inspirational, and openly adoring. Vil Schoenheit didn't give praise where it wasn't due, but he had no shame in telling the world about his amazing partner... and of course, as the partner of Vil Schoenheit, how could you not brag yourself? You two were so proud of each other, so encouraging and supportive, that you'd never feel unloved for the rest of your life.

Rook:

Falls First: Rook ✧ Falls Harder: You

There's no question--Rook was quick to be smitten with you.

Imagine Rook the way he treats literally everyone, and then multiply that by thousands. He was everywhere--inviting you to spend time with him, complimenting everything from your test scores to your outfits to the shape of your nose, gifting you wildflowers and love letters and just about any sort of trinket you could think of.

He comes on strong--his restraint comes from not wanting to scare you away, but he's not the type to remain quiet when he likes something.

You know he's fallen for you long before you started to fall, because he keeps it no secret. When you don't return his feelings, he's respectful, but he doesn't change his tune or go back on his feelings--he loves you. That's how things were.

He comes on so strong you're a little wary of him at first. It takes some serious bonding--you start by adventuring with him in a crowd, often hanging out with him whilst Vil and perhaps even Epel were around. Then, you go on small excursions together--trips to the Mostro Lounge, watching the games and competitions your friends partook in, things like that.

Rook was sweet--he didn't care just for you, but for those people and things that were important to you as well. He tried to bond with Grim (who wasn't keen on bonding with a hunter), made efforts to get to know your friends and was willing to try out all your hobbies and traditions.

You severely misjudged him. He wasn't some flamboyant creep--he was a lover of beauty, and someone who wasn't scared into hiding his thoughts or feelings on the matter.

You spent even more time with him, falling for his humor, his wit, his beautiful words and the way he saw the world. All the while he treated you as someone precious to him, happy to spend time with you no matter how idle or strange the activities seemed. He was... peaceful, in a way.

He did have his moments, though--you suppose it was these less peaceful moments that really made you fall.

See, as a magicless student in a school of mages, you automatically get a target on your head for harassment. Your personality, quirks and involvement with drama wasn't helping the situation. Rook never struck you as the protective type (heck, you might've assumed he'd find some sort of 'beauty' in the situation), but he proved you wrong yet again.

He was fiercely loyal to you, and that included protecting you when he had the ability. Sure, you could handle yourself--even he acknowledged it, but he got a silly little joy out of playing knight for you once in a while. Besides, it gave him an excuse to show off in front of you, so why wouldn't he protect you?

He made you feel so, so loved, and you ended up loving him just as much. Your love was timeless and youthful, adventurous and freeing. As far as you were concerned, there was no one in both wide worlds that was a better match for you than Rook Hunt.

Epel:

Falls First: Epel ✧ Falls Harder: You

At first, Epel loves you as a friend--that's where all the best relationships start out.

You share food at lunch, gossip about dorm leaders and other drama-causers, slander your teachers and get into all sorts of shenanigans together. You'd pass notes in any classes you shared together, tease each other to bits and pieces, and basically live every moment with each other to its fullest.

You were already so close that Epel couldn't tell you when he fell in love with you, but once he recognized it, there was no denying it.

He was the type to be determined to win you over. He'd invite you to his spelldrive games just to show off, offer to carry your things to your classes, disrespectfully tell anyone who messed with you to back off, and basically tried to fulfill this image of 'prince charming' he concocted in his head.

You didn't want prince charming, though. You wanted someone else--someone you learned to be Epel all along.

You also had a hard time recognizing when exactly you fell for him--he was just such an important person to you already, to the point where everyone else around you just assumed you were together.

You started to hold hands more and more, convincing yourself that this was things friends did and there was no romance budding, none at all. Hugs became common too. Eventually, you two braved kissing each other on the cheek or forehead now and again, telling yourselves it was all for platonic affection, that you weren't craving anything more.

You obviously were, though.

Confessing your feelings was more like realizing your feelings out loud. Epel was delighted--he immediately insisted on being your official partner, talking excitedly about all the things he wanted to do with you now that you were together. Oh, and the best part? He's got a partner before Vil. Ha!

Together, you guys are very affectionate. Dates with each other are more about being with each other than about what you were doing, because whether you were on a walk together or curled up for a movie night, the world around you always seemed to disappear.

Epel's convinced you're his soulmate. He writes home about you, brags about you to anyone who will listen and automatically offers his home up to you after graduation, if that's something you would like. You're in this together, as far as he's concerned--even if that means going back to your world with you, a world without magic (as lame as he thought that sounded, he'd do it).

Congratulations! You had your very own 'friends to lovers' arc with Epel, a sweet and endearing love story that was worth bragging about. Love with Epel was strong, fiery, and exciting--there would never be a dull moment with your best friend at your side.

Idia:

Falls First: Idia ✧ Falls Harder: You

He knows immediately when he falls for you and he hates it.

He's such a huge grouch about it--and even though he won't tell you why, he gets cranky around you too. You're just too cute for your own good, you know that? At least, he thinks so.

Like, what is he supposed to do when you're sitting there all lovely and whatnot, and he wants to kiss you, but doesn't have half the courage he needs to make that sort of mood?

He doubts you'd ever fall for someone like him anyways, so while he still invites you to his room for games and movies and other fanboy things it grinds his gears that he just can't seem to level up your relationship.

Unbeknownst to him, you weren't far behind in falling for him.

Knowing Idia as well as you did was a rare luxury--almost no one could claim to have that same level of friendship as you had with him, and as a result you got to see many sides of him beyond his shut-in reputation. You loved seeing him get animated about something--whether it be an idol group, an anime, a game, cats, anything he might be interested in.

What was even more fun was spoiling him with affection. You were convinced this guy's never been properly hugged in his life, so of course you we're going to offer him that kind of affection on the daily. He flusters easily, but he also lets you know he's grateful for it, in his own grouchy way.

Your heart knew you were in love with him before your mind caught up, because realization came when you were on a call with him and ended it by saying "Love you". You weren't sure who ended the call then, because as far as you knew both of you we're wildly flustered at the admission.

Even though he fell, it took him a while to say it back--partially because he thought it was too good to be true, but partially because, well, it's his nature. He's just not used to the 'ooey-gooey normie nonsense' yet.

He's working on it.

Literally no one understands the two of you together; you're one of the school's biggest personalities, having dealt with overblots and Crowley's impulses time and time again, whereas Idia won't even bother to show up in person for classes. He's grouchy and catlike and doesn't seem like the type to ever warm up to you, and you're not the type to beg someone for the time of day, so in the minds of others the fact that you're together is frankly unbelievable.

Still, who cares what the normies think, right?

Love with Idia is different--it's refreshing, because neither of you go by the book. Every gesture comes from the heart, and every expression of love is in a language the two of you understand, regardless of how the rest of the world perceives it. Cosplaying characters together or staying up for gaming marathons might not be everyone's ideal date, but to Idia, it's further proof you're the one for him.

You both love each other dearly, and neither of you ever want to let the other go ♡

Malleus:

Falls First: Malleus ✧ Falls Harder: You

You know good and well when he's fallen for you. If your time at NRC was a TV show, he'd be in love within the first few episodes.

He's not the type to fall in love on a whim, though. He gives it very serious consideration, and so once he attaches the word 'love' to his feelings for you, he's certain about it.

He gets his dating advice from Lilia, so he's... old-fashioned, to say the least. Love letters are a personal favorite of his, and he always signs his letters with a playful 'Tsunotarou'. Flower bouquets and nighttime walks together are other tactics he frequently tries to bring to fruition.

You... you're a little to wrapped up in overblots and drama to give love any serious thought, but every time you get a break Malleus is there, waiting.

He always seems to be there when you need him. He's wise and doting, and it's hard not to fall for him too. He's so romantic it would make even the most straight-faced fellow blush, and he gives you such a sense of peace that you hate when you have to leave his side. It's like you belong together, physically and otherwise.

Sebek's protests in the matter almost make your love story more romantic. Forbidden love, anyone? Faes and humans, falling in love despite the wishes and opinions of those around them. How dreamy!

In fact, you two embrace each other's differences. Malleus tells you tales and tales of the fae world, wooing you with the most incredible traditions and stories. In return, you tell him stories from your own world, anything he might be curious about--the history, the culture, stories from your childhood, the list goes on.

You're his treasure. Malleus is protective of you and supportive of you, and if he were being honest, he never wants you to leave Twisted Wonderland--after all, as a prince, he can't easily follow after you to your own world, as much as he would like to. Still, he loves you so much that he'd never stop you; either way, you'll have his heart in your hands, and he's willing to try to make any situation work. He adores you that much.

Competitively, you tell him you love him more. He doesn't believe it, but that doesn't stop you from trying to prove it. In fact, with the stunning romantic gestures you two do, it wouldn't surprise anyone if it did turn out to be a competition. You're always one-upping each other, and as a result, your love never loses it's spark.

It's a love that makes you feel like you can conquer the world. Then again, what's the point of conquering the world when your world is standing by your side, talking about gargoyles?

Lilia:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Lilia

You fall first, and he knows right away. It's frustrating.

He doesn't tease you about it though--some part of him compels him to treat your feelings gently, and so even though you know he knows your feelings, he never brings it up. He teases you about the drama you get wrapped up in and the silly shenanigans you get up to with your friends, but never your feelings.

And that stupid consideration just makes you fall more.

You confront him about it too--he knows about your feelings anyways, so why not make a joke out of it? Coping mechanisms, everyone. Humor is your default.

So you complain to him sometimes, about him being "too cute" or "too witty" or "too beautiful". He'll snicker at the compliments, agreeing with you and telling you it comes with the job description. He's so freaking playful, how are you supposed to un-fall in love with this man?

Luckily, you don't have to. Instead, Lilia ends up falling for you.

Like Malleus, Lilia takes romance seriously, so he's not going to fall for you without caution. He can't help it, though--you're just so perfect, perfect for him anyways.

In the end, he starts to be the one complaining about his love for you.

"You're just gonna steal my heart like that, huh?"

Once you're together, the complaining continues. Well, it's beyond complaining at this point. Now it's just blatant flirting, the kind that's so cheesy that Ace and Deuce will make faces when they're in earshot.

"Can't believe you're gonna make me fall in love with you and then not come kiss me right now."

Lilia genuinely does not care about PDA. Dude makes it a point to gross other people out at this point. He's going to love you to the ends of the earth and he's gonna be a menace about it too.

In between moments of cheesy movie moments, though, he has his times of genuine, thoughtful romance. He's still quite old fashioned, and so he walks you to your dorm every evening and says goodbye with a kiss and makes sure to text you a 'good morning' or 'I love you' whenever he can.

Still, Lilia has both serious and playful moments, and so while one moment he's wooing you with love letters he could very well joke about you falling for a 'single dad' or 'batty old man' the next. As mentioned above--he's a menace.

Such a lovely menace though.

Congratulations, Shrimpy--you've wooed the mysterious fae-dad of the Diasomnia dorm. I hope you're willing to deal with the consequences ♡

Silver:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Silver

✨Silver✨

He's just so, so lovely, isn't he?

He doesn't hide his personality--he's pretty open to you from the start, in fact it's almost instant chemistry between the two of you.

Of course, his ethereal beauty and dreamy, sleepy presence wasn't all that won you over. He's devoted and serious and loyal, and his naivety is unexpectedly charming.

The falling in love part probably started with him becoming your go-to for when you were stressed out. Silver has the capacity to be chaotic if Malleus is threatened, but the majority of the time he exudes an almost sleepy sort of peacefulness from him, and he lets you join him for studying or napping or sometimes even training if you're up for it.

Silver understands you more than others at NRC, in a way--you were a nonmagical human in a world full of mages, and Silver was a human who grew up surrounded by powerful fae, so... there's some bonding to be had there? He sympathizes with your plight and lets you come to him for comfort whenever you need it, and there aren't many at NRC who will handle your feelings as gently as he would.

He became your comfort, your peace, and eventually, the love of your life. You didn't expect Silver to fall for you in return, but time told a different story.

See, Silver sometimes needed comfort too. He stressed himself out about his service to Malleus, constantly questioning whether he was being good enough, if he was too overprotective or underprotective or lazy or anything else. He found that you were a source of comfort for him as well, and being able to have that level of vulnerability around you fostered a fondness for you in his heart.

He likes a lot of things about you, actually--he admires your ability to conquer problems head-on, the way you're loyal and protective of your friends, the way you can bond with nearly anyone at NRC. You're so good at earning respect that even Sebek has learned to acknowledge you, which is a rare occurrence indeed.

It's not until Lilia spells it out that Silver realizes his feelings, and even then, he's a little slow. Love with him is slow and steady, but alluring and healing, like the feeling of laying down for a nap after a long day. You two long for each other like two halves of a whole, and it's only when you're by each other's side that you're complete.

It's a pure love, a gentle and devoted love. Even outsiders can tell that you two would do anything for each other, and best of all, the Diasomnia family has given the two of you their stamp of approval (even Sebek, only after he heard his Waka-Sama talking about how wonderful you were for each other).

In short, loving Silver was a dream come true.

Sebek:

Falls First: You ✧ Falls Harder: Sebek

You and Sebek started off... not so nicely with each other. In fact, it took a while for you to even become friends.

However, after dealing with so many overblots, surviving through so much chaos and showing off a huge range of skills, you seemed to impress him enough for him to stop boxing you in as some sophomoric human and call you by your actual name, or 'Prefect' if he was feeling particularly respectful.

It was a huge step in your relationship, because once he started treating you like you weren't an inferior, you quickly reevaluated your impression of him.

See, Sebek wasn't just some... bratty, screaming fae who only spent his time groveling at Malleus's feet; he was a hard worker, a half-fae of many talents, a rather kind and sweet boy once you got to know him. He was proud of himself and where he came from, he loved his mother and siblings dearly, and he gave great respect not just to Malleus, but anyone who earned it. He was extremely passionate, never cutting corners or slacking off in order to be the best knight he could be. He had hobbies and preferences just like anyone else, it just takes a little longer to learn about them because he loves what he does so much.

It's kind of... endearing.

Okay, it's a lot endearing. Not to mention, Sebek eventually goes out of his way to look out for you. If he sees you struggling he'll volunteer his services, arrogantly proclaiming his wide skillset and assuring you he was more than capable. Every time you thanked him or praised him, he'd get a stupid grin and puff out his chest and start to shyly agree, though he'd quickly hide his face n his hands so he could keep up is gratuitious self-confidence schtick. Your praise must have meant a lot to him though, because he made it a point to start impressing you. It worked, because you'd fallen for him first, and you fell hard.

Now Sebek... Sebek never saw himself falling for a human. In fact, once he started to question his feelings for you he'd get so worked up that even Lilia couldn't talk to him without him jumping ten feet in the air. It was almost.... scary for him. After all, it would be a complete negligence of duty, right? He shouldn't be chasing after some human anyways....

...and yet, that's what he found himself doing.

Begrudgingly, he gave into his feelings and started off by writing you a curt love letter. He was surprised when you replied, and upon reading all the love you filled your letter with... well, he craved more. It became a common exchange between you two, and as much as he denied it, he was the sentimental and romantic type of guy who kept all the letters you sent him. He remembered the things you wrote even better than you did sometimes.

Once he starts to let you in, he falls harder and harder. You're so different from what he expected; he finds himself admiring you, enough so that he starts studying and training with you, if you're open to it. He thinks your own passion and determination is admirable, not to mention how amicable you are with so much of the student body. He doesn't blame everyone else for being soft for you--after all, he's the softest.

Sebek is very romantic, and even the smallest gestures leave him a flustered mess. He's the type to write home about little things like hand-holding and pet names, so any grand gesture is sure to leave him stunned and stuttering. Still, he absolutely won't be outdone by you in the world of romance; every gesture from you is a challenge for him, and he constantly tries to one-up you, as if it's the only way to prove his love and devotion.

He's sworn loyalty to Malleus, so an insecure part of you tells you to not expect much--still, Sebek doesn't just settle for you being a side-part of his life. He wants you in it for the long haul, so if he has to constantly assure you he has every ability to protect you and look out for you and love on you while serving Lord Malleus, so be it.

Love with him is passionate and romantic and very loud, because he's not going to be with someone he'd ever be ashamed of. He's proud of you despite his initial prejudice against humans; he supposes his mom was onto something after all, falling for one.

With Sebek, all the world will know about your love. It's the kind of love they write stories about, and you two just so happen to make the best story of all.

Dragonfly

zhongli/f.reader

genre: morax/zhongi, immortal!cursed!reader, miko/shrinemaiden!reader, angst, hurt/comfort(?), slow burn, reunion, traveler is NOT y/n, implied xiao/traveler,

warning(s)!!: mentions of: death/repetitive deaths, war, past suicides, the suffering of immortality in a mortal body, for the sake of this fic dragonflies are semi-common in teyvat/liyue lol, xiao considers zhongli/reader parental figures, things will definitely not follow canon timelines, Xiao is a frequent/important character, characters may be ooc (im sorry)

w.count: 15.6k (i am so sorry)

SYNOPSIS: fate and time are cruel kings ruling over even gods. morax is no exception. the only human he ever fell in love with was twisted by fate to battle him in a brewing war. the image of the burning temple that she resided in rested behind his eyelids and not a day goes by that he does not still mourn and yearn. time had cruelly taken you away from him. or... had it?

“Hello Traveler!” The soft yet chipper voice of the ever-pranking funeral director calls out from behind the blond Outworlder. The day in Liyue was still young and bright as the umber-clad young lady walks up to both them and Paimon who had floated herself bouncily from the Traveler’s right shoulder to the left. 

“Oh,” Paimon begrudgingly acknowledges, form bobbing in the air comfortably. “It's Hu Tao.” 

“Paimon,” Traveler scolds, crossing their arms over their chest. Paimon just sighs as the blond looks to the funeral director who had come close enough for conversion and unfolds their arms, bringing them down to their sides relaxingly. “Good to see you, Hu Tao,” they greet with a small nod.

“Indeed,” Hu Tao nods back, closing her eyes briefly in glee before reopening them. “It is lovely to see you. Are you here to visit Liyue? Or, perhaps another pressing matter brought you back to this nation once again.” 

“It’s nothing drastic,” Traveler dismisses. “We just.... had some time on our hands. So, we’re just visiting.” Partially, that was the truth. However, the full truth was that there was most definitely something the pair could be doing instead of wandering around Liyue. But it was important to take time for yourself sometimes, right? 

“Well, feel free to stop by the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor if you’re interested! I’d be happy to host the both of you for a meal.” 

“You mean, Zhongli would host us?” Paimon quips up knowing that, as Hu Tao’s consultant, Zhongli’s job descriptions can vary in terms of tasks. However, when Paimon spoke Hu Tao lifted her arms up towards herself. One wrapped around her chest and rested the elbow of her other, resting her curled fingers against her chin in thought. 

“Perhaps, not this time. Zhongli has had something on his mind these days.” The woman brought her curled hand and arms back down, now gesturing them softly in front of her as she spoke more. “It would feel distasteful to ask him to host guests at the moment.” 

The mention of Zhongli being mentally occupied made the Traveler and Paimon look at each other. They were privy to a lot of information the consultant kept tucked away from public knowledge- for good reason. The staged death of Morax for one. Although Hu Tao had once speculated that Zhongli could possibly be an Adeptus, she surely didn’t know that she wasn’t exactly far off from a bullseye. 

Still, the fact that Zhongli, the former Lord of Geo, was distracted so much that Hu Tao had essentially dismissed him of some of his duties was a concerning thought. He never seemed the type to dwell so much on something that it obstructed his work.

“I’ve tried asking him about it before,” Hu Tao continues, “since he gets like this around the same time every year. All he’s ever spoken to me about it is that someone he knew from his past had died around this time. It felt… wrong to pry into his past more for some reason.” It wasn’t an odd statement coming from her. She often took her work very seriously, even if she herself was a spitfire of a young lady. 

“Someone from his past died?” Paimon asked, already knowing about his past with the Adepti and The Seven. Perhaps, it had something to do with them? Either way, the concern was planted in the Traveler’s chest, so it felt only natural to find the ex-Archon and try and get some answers out of him. Maybe, since the pair had already known about his identity it would be easier to talk about. Or, that was the hope at least. 

Hu Tao and the Traveler spoke briefly for a moment longer with the usual snarky comment from Paimon before going their separate ways. Hu Tao had apparently been on her way out to fulfil a clients few specific requests and her stop for a chat was pushing to make her behind on her work. Paimon didn’t mind if she went on her way sooner rather than later, the dealing with the dead had always been creepy to the floating companion. 

Regardless, Hu Tao was a nice lady. Traveler would make sure to stop by and see her more, maybe indulge her hobby of poetry a bit. 

The two had walked around the busy streets of Liyue for a while trying to find Zhongli. He wasn’t at the funeral parlor, much to their dismay at making it an easy search, so they just starting wandering hoping to catch him somewhere along the way. Soon enough, they had wandered just far enough to catch a glimpse of his long brown tailcoat at Liyue Harbor. 

In retrospect, they should have started their search here if the funeral parlor was a bust. 

Zhonglig stood with his hands tucked neatly into each other behind his back, shoulders slack as he looked out over the landscape. He was basking in the solitude at the top arch of the harbor’s bridge when he hear the approaching sounds of footsteps. Turning his chin, he unclasped his hands and let his arms fall from his back before turning to greet the approaching Traveler. 

“Ah,” his deep voice reverberates and only the closest to him can detect the faux sound of a choked strain in it. “Greetings, Traveler.” 

“Hello, Zhongli!” Paimon greets floating just a fraction ahead of Traveler. “What were you doing?” She already begins to pry with a suspiciously high-strained voice. It just makes Traveler silently sigh and shake their head. She really needed to work on being more conspicuous. 

It’s quiet for a moment before Zhongli already catches on. Perhaps he can be a bit dense about certain aspects of the mortal realm, but he was by no means a fool. A smile finds its way on his lips in a moment of mild amusement at Paimon’s grace, or rather lack thereof. 

“I was merely lost in thought. Reminiscing about the past, you could say.” 

“The past?” She pressed again.

“Paimon,” the Traveler hisses for the second time that day. The floating girl just opened her jaw in mock offense before floating closer to them. 

“What? What did Paimon say now!” 

Zhongli’s low chuckle was a soft tune that at least showed he wasn’t offended by the blatant attempt at coaxing his thoughts out of his lips. 

“Did the Director send you to find me perhaps?” The fact that he was trying to slowly steer the conversation away wasn’t lost to the Traveler. Paimon and them both looked back to Zhongli shaking their heads. 

“Not exactly,” Traveler starts. 

“We did run into her though,” Paimon tacks on. “She told us you had been down in the dumps, so we came to check on you!” Paimon’s small hands came to her hips and her chest puffed out as if proud of her actions of checking in with a friend. 

Zhongli chuckles once again at the way Traveler places their hands on their hips as well,. Though, they were instead sending a playful scowl at the back of Paimon’s head.

“It is quite refreshing to see the two of you bicker,” he chides. “It certainly helps in easing the mind.” Once more, the two’s attention was drawn back to the former god. 

“So,” Traveler starts before Paimon could interject with something else, “there is something on your mind?” There was a growing fit of silence between the group of three, no one speaking in fear of shattering something they couldn’t exactly describe. Zhongli seemingly caved with a minuscule sigh kept more to himself than the harbor’s breeze. 

“The assumption that I’ve been a bit… preoccupied is correct. Lately, it seems I cannot focus on certain tasks for too long. My mind has a bit of a tendency to wander around this time of year.” Zhongli can already see the look of curiously mixed with concern written into the eyes of both Paimon and Traveler. His own eyes flick around the bridge and beyond the harbor’s main port before returning back to his visitors. “If you’re very interested to know, then I would not mind trying to explain it all over some tea. Though, it would be best if we took the topic of conversation elsewhere.” 

The sudden shift in his demeanor was almost palpable. It was like a cloak of grey mist started to waft around his very being at the mention of speaking his mind. Now that the two outsiders got the confirmation that whatever it was that was plaguing him was of the past he doesn’t let others know of, they were ready for a lengthy story. 

Zhongli had graciously invited the Traveler and Paimon to his personal abode, a place they had never even set eyes on. Of course, they knew he had to have had a place to stay and sleep, but for some reason it felt like all he ever did was walk around Liyue, do his work at the funeral parlor, or listen to stories at the Third-Round Knockout. It shouldn’t have been a shock to know he had his own home, but all the same, it was. 

It was simplistic inside, with the shelves being the only things of high value because of all the collected items he had bought and stored on them. Gesturing them both to a set of chairs between a table, he began brewing tea to serve as promised. 

Traveler sat awkwardly at first. Shuffling around in their chair while Paimon floated around the open space of the house being nosier than she should’ve been truthfully. Still, Zhongli didn’t say anything about her snooping so she continued to do so until the homeowner returned with a tray in his hands. 

A decorative teapot sat in the middle of the dark, wooden tray atop a plain towel; the steam of the hot, freshly brewed tea wisped out gracefully from its spout. Beside it were three small teacups placed upside down that clattered with the smallest sounds of finely made clay as he set the tray in the center of the table. Along with them was a small dish of cubes of sugar and a small creamer that held milk inside it. 

Zhongli skillfully took the teacups and flipped them over, setting them all upright and easily pouring the exact same amount of tea into each. The brew was dark and the steam wafted around the tabletop before dissipating into the air only to be replaced immediately with more. He slid two cups toward Traveler and the other to Paimon once she stopped her floating around and settled once again as the third member of the current party. He offered the milk and sugar to the two of them as well. 

“I prefer my tea black, but please help yourselves.” Zhongli settled into his own seat easily. One arm resting on the arm of his perch and the other on the table top to curl his fingers around the cup he had prepared for himself. His legs crossed out of habit and it was then that the Traveler realized he had taken off his tailcoat. It was purely out of habit to take it off when he had arrived to the privacy of his own home, and he didn’t even realize it himself- not that it mattered. It was simply a different look than they were used to. 

Paimon began dropping sugar cubes into her cup a bit too clumsily as small droplets splashed on her hand from the objects breaching the liquid causing her to yelp. In turn, the two seated companions offered her chuckles of amusement as she blew on her hand. Of course, it was hardly an injury- it was more a fright than a burn. 

“It’s hot,” Zhongli chided. 

“Gee, you think!” She then started dropping in cube after cube much more delicately. Or, rather she would drop them from the same height as before but immediately fly away when she let go so the upcoming splash wouldn’t touch her again. The Traveler made their own additions to their tea as well, but much less messily. 

The three settle into a comfortable silence filled with small sips of tea and clicks of returning cup to wooden table top. That is, until Zhongli broke it by placing a small wooden box on the table in front of him to join in with the teatray and it’s accessories. 

It was an elegant box the size of his fist. Golden edges wrapped in angular designs and a locked latch in the front of it. On the top of the lid was the symbol of a Geo Vision. At first, the two travelers thought that maybe this box is what he stored his fake Vision in when it wasn’t on his person. Pulling a small key from under his long-collared shirt, he unlocked the box and opened the lid. From where the Traveler sat with the lid facing them, they still couldn’t get a peek inside. 

The last thing they expected Zhongli to pull out of the cushioned, plush lined box was a hair ornament. 

Modeled in the shape of a dragonfly, the piece was carefully handled by the ex-archon and placed so very delicately on the table. The wings of the dragon fly were filled with a crystal that shone green and teal, the colors shifting with the light and angle as which it was gazed upon. The piece itself was designed as a hairstick, acting as an elegant means to pen up locks of hair- the metal rod of the stick seemed well suited for such a job. Matching teal-green crystal beads hung from the bottom tips of each wing as decorative tails. 

It was a beautiful piece to gaze at. 

Zhongli kept his hand on the table right next to it, his fingertips just a breath away from touching it again. When Paimon got a bit too close while gazing at it, Traveler could see the slightest twitch run through his fingers. As if the ex-Archon was anxious about Paimon getting too close to it. Still, to not be rude he said nothing as she continued to narrowing gawk. 

“Paimon, back up a little,” Traveler said, sitting forward a bit to try and act like they were trying to get a better look while simultaneously trying to get Paimon to back off a bit. When Paimon floated back to her place by her teacup, Zhongli’s shoulders loosened like he was relieved at the distance between the reckless floating fairy and this clearly important item. 

“You were curious on what has been on my mind, yes? This is a one reason I’ve been rather… absent as of late.” 

“You’ve been spacing out over a hairstick?” Paimon asked astonishingly. Zhongli shook his head. 

“Not quite.” His fingers uncurled and genly brushed over one of the beaded tails, letting the crystals bump over his fingertips. His eyes softened, yet that cloak of grey melancholy came back to him. “It’s more about who this was going to belong to.” 

Traveler and Paimon both had questions, but remained silent. They both settled into their respective places ready to listen to the story he was surely about to unweave. They knew that the tea would grow cold and kettle drank empty by the time it was all finished. Though, the look in his eyes and the way his voice grew softer in a way that pulled at the heart made the eternity of sitting in one place much easier to bare. 

“This ornament was going to be a gift to someone I knew a very long time ago. I never had the chance to give it too her, however; so, I keep it here with me where it is safe. I cannot bare to throw it out, even after all this time.” 

It seemed crazy, how the two swore his eyes had grown misty just saying those few sentences. How this story is going to start all because of a crystal dragonfly from millenia past.

There were many places that had been tainted and driven to ruin due to the war raging by the Archons. Gods were battling each other for power, others trying to flee from another’s unjustly wrath. Some even tried defending their people instead of taking place in battles or retreating. It was chaos and there were few corners of the old world of Teyvat that wasn’t splattered in a thick muck of bloodshed. 

Still, that didn’t mean everywhere had been tainted. No. This fact rang true as Morax had discovered one fateful day a small territory cleansed of blood and impurity. 

Hidden behind a barrier he had stumbled upon in the middle of a half dead forest, the invisible viel hid everything beyond it from sight. In fact, if he hadn’t happened to be near it, the Archon probably wouldn't have noticed it in the first place. The barrier itself easily gave and allowed him passage inside which led him to believe it was more of a mask than a shield. 

Walking through it led him to a forest of lush floral and trees that thrived surrounding a small section of land that housed no more than 500 people perhaps. A small village with huts scattered around plots of farmland and a rather luxurious palace atop it all. It was a farcry from the near-deathly state of the outside world and the whiplash of it made him momentarily wonder if he was somehow succumbing to some sort of hallucination. 

Morax walked through the dirt paths all the way until the thick wall that cut off the eastern styled palace from the rest of the people. Walls tall and made of a stone the God of Geo had to have created at somepoint. The craftsmanshift of it was marvelous he had to admit as there was not the slightest crack between the stacked stone. Easily vaulting himself onto the tall wall, he gazes beyond it’s perimeter. 

Inside of the sturdy walls, he could see six different buildings. Along the two side walls of stone stood two houses each. Two west and two east, separate yet built so similar he could easily mistake the four as clones of each other if not for his experienced eyes that had seen such fine details over his life. Connecting these four abodes from west to east were grey, stone paths. The same cobblestone led beyond the front gate he had forwent as he perched atop the wall and led straight forward to a single building that was larger than the rest. Morax assumed that was the main estate just from the grandeur of it compared to the lacking other four. 

Though, the final building is harder for the curious immortal to see. It was built directly behind the main estate, no doubt also connected with the same clean stone paths that weaved through the courtyards. All Morax could see of this building was it’s roof, the same tiled and burned color as the high status homes around it. 

Morax straightened his body from it’s crouched position and began to gracefully walk along the stone wall. Getting new angles of the buildings inside, he soon grew close enough to the main estate that he easily lept to it’s roof. Landing as if the air lessened his weight, he could now view that one single building he hadn’t yet more clearly. 

Immediately, the Archon recognized it as a temple that without a doubt housed priests and priestess alike. Some may be masters at their craft and others may be but small, inexperienced fledgings beyond those sacred walls. 

The idea of a temple like that in an uncharted and untainted territory flared his curiosity. So much so, he was hardly in control of his instincts as he once more lept gracefully from the estate’s rooftop onto the stone paths. His barefeet made a sound of collision when his heels touched the man-made path, and continued to make the same shuffling sounds as he walked straight into the temple. 

Morax did not run into a single person in the temple, though he could hear matras and practices from around different open training fields. Even the soft plunks of arrows being driven into targets for archery precision and the chiming of bells for cleansing. The open halls of the temple and the roof over his head that kept the sun’s heated glare from his figure felt comforting. 

Being in a place so filled with peace and sounds of anything but war was outlandish to the otherwise warrior-type god. Morax had contracts to fulfill and his own principals to protect while fending off other gods trying to level his unnamed throne. Taking out a few of his own violation never did any harm to strengthen his gag between himself and others.

The god had walked so freely that he soon found himself under the sun again. Instead of in the open halls of marble floors and burgundy columns, Morax was standing amidst a field of wild grass, flowers, trees, and bushes. It was like the lush forest outside the stone perimeter allowed a single bit of it’s ecosystem inside the temple just for the mortals to bask in. 

A small humming of wings quickly caught Morax’s attention amidst the sounds of the wind’s breeze and dancing leaves. His chin led his head in the direction before coming to see a small dragonfly hovering around him before landing on his shoulder. The view of the insect was neary cut off by the hood he always wore over his head, but the bug itself was peaceful just resting it’s wings on the god’s shoulder for respite. 

For a moment, the warrior of countless battles felt relief. For just that moment, the weight of such responsibility with his temperament lifted all because a small insect decided to rest on him. 

The dragonfly’s respite did not last. The little critter’s wings began to hum again and soon began to hover off and before Morax could stop his feet, he found himself following it. Bare feet stepping over well worn paths of flattened grass and dirt patches. Not long from where had previously stood, he stopped at seeing where the small insect had flown to in lieu of himself. 

The eyes of the archon landed on the first person Morax had seen since entering this temple- although uninvited, presence unknown and undetected. Reaching out a delicate hand with her index finger extended, the dragonfly landed easily on the appendage. 

A priestess knelt elegantly in the tall grass, previously inspecting herbs when she heard the familiar buzz of wings. The hakama pants that folded at her legs were neatly pleaded without a crease out of place and her kosode tucked perfectly into the trousers- not a wrinkle to critque. Her hair had been loosing tied back with a red hair ribbon that fluttered in the breeze that kept the tall grass swaying like waves of spring. 

The wind picked up when the dragonfly lifted off her fingers and off back towards Morax. It was like the little creature had led him straight to her and was now directing her vision back so they could meet each other’s gaze. 

It was all thanks to that one, small bug that Morax and first made eye contact with you.

“Oh,” your small voice of surprise- at seeing such an odd looking man in the overgrown, private gardens of the temple- carried on the same wind that the dragonfly danced in. You stood and dusted off your knees, knocking any sticking dirt off your bottoms before standing up properly. You inspected the man in front of you.

Arms dark as earth with cracks of glowing gold. Clad in a white cloak that split five ways down  and encompassed with a golden belt at his waist with a hood pulled over his head. The hair you could see whipping lightly in the wind behind his back was dark in color matching his arms. His trousers were wide open and baggy around his legs, only encasing snuggly around his ankles. His impressive stature gained your attention easily and you could tell he wasn’t exactly something mortal. It would be ridiculous to think just at the sight of his arms alone, not to mention the air around him seemed so… powerful. 

“My apologies, I wasn’t aware we were expecting a guest today,” the courteous smile you sent him made him wonder if you weren’t at least a little apprehensive of his unexpected presence. 

“You weren’t made aware because no one aside from yourself is aware of my being here.” 

“I see,” you muse. “I hope you are aware that qualifies you as a trespasser.” 

“Trespasser?” Morax gapped, losing his composure for a moment. His brows dipped in offense under his hood, his pride kicking into his throat through his words. “I am no such being.” 

“Ah, but aren’t you just? You said yourself, no one knows you’re here. Yet, you end up in the presence of this temple’s Miko. If that does not mean you’re trespassing, what does?” Morax’s eyes hidden under his hair and flick from your head to your feet and back up again. You were the head shrine maiden? You seemed so young and yet you held such an important position? It planted a pebble of doubt in him.

Then again, if he focused on you properly, he could barely see a small circular arua around your frame. It was like a barrier was placed around you, one protected you from the outside and anything that could taint you. Exactly like the barrier surrounding the territory he had more or less invaded. Honing your spiritual power like that so young, he would’ve perhaps tutted in impressiveness if you hadn’t challenged his very being moments ago. 

Still, Miko or not, he still outranked you. Crossing his arms over his chest, their golden geo pulsed with a soft light. 

“With such a rank you possess, are you still so unaware when a God stands before you? A pity.” 

“On the contrary,” you smile to him and his brow again twitches at your nonchalance. “I’m being quite respectful if you think on it. If you were simply a noble who lives among the palace homes, I would’ve quickly dealt with you since only a select few from outside are allowed entry into the temple. Much less this garden which is private and limited to my attendance only.” 

“Are you implying you could force me away at any moment should you please?” His voice grew tight in challenge. His sense of traquilty from before discovering you was dimming and the frigid air of his battle sense were returning even as the wind continued to caress you both. 

“I assure you I would do no such thing. I’m simply proving that even in the presence of a God, I will not yield since I do not even know which is in front of me. Not to mention, this land has no God to speak of or for. So, if you think about it that way, I am where one would hypothetically stand.” 

Oh. 

Morax felt something stir in his chest at the teasing tilt in your voice that spilled over your lips that curled into a smile. Your eyes were so clean and clear, it was like staring into crystals and he had the urge to create a new form of geo just to replicate them. The feeling was foreign to him, but it shocked him greatly when he realized it wasn’t an unwelcome stir. 

He finally dropped his crossed arms and began to decrease the distance between you both. Morax came to stand in front of you so he could get an even better look at your features. As such, you could now look easily under his hood as he stood above you. His eyes seemed to glow a lovely shade of amber that complemented his glowing, golden skin and dark hair. 

“Address me as, Morax,” he instructed. Your taunting smile turned soft and wide as your eyes closed in the most pleased expression he had seen in years. His amber eyes widened at the innocence and the small bells of laughter that left your throat towards him shook his unshakeable core. 

“That’s much better,” you said, now obviously pleased. “I’m, y/n. It’s an honor to meet you, Morax.” 

It was his name rolling off your tongue- spreading into the wind that had blown harshly for but a moment- that sent an earthquake that started at his chest and spread through his whole body. It was the sound of his own death sentence and he was once again shocked at how he easily accepted that he would definitely be back to this temple. Be back to this garden of overgrown grass and floral. 

Morax would definitely be back to you. 

As promised, Morax had been back to that temple several times since the first time he met you. When the weight of the archon war was- ironically- too heavy, or if he needed a place to escape just for a moment he would seek you out. It was quiet ridiculous how you had somehow wormed your way into his very soul and wrapped him around your finger. 

The Lord of Geo had come to learn much about you in the time he spent by your side. Your favorite flowers and scents, when you had started your priestess training, when you had progressed to the skill level you possess now and how long you had been the acting miko of the temple. Your favorite type of weather, or time of day, or season. In turn, he had confessed things about himself as well. 

How he had been around for as long as the world- or so it sometimes felt that way. How he’s in the middle of a grand and merciless war with other gods presumably because of issues to do with celestia. How he had taken many lives of both mortals and gods alike all for the sake of his own land and people. The very feeling of battle is engraved in his bones like names on a tombstone, yet it didn’t seem to push you away. 

It was laughable. The very Being of war and battle was utterly infautated with you, a mortal being of purity and values. Of course, you were alway assure him that what he did was just his own values, especially his strictness with any contract he made. You neved judged him for his sins and the weight they carried, but you never outwardly agreed with him either. You told him what he needed to hear, not what he wanted and he cherished those words so dearly. If he had any less self-restraint, Morax could easily let himself take your very words as law itself.

Yet again, it was another day he had left his duties behind him as he found you kneeling in the fields of grass once again. Leaping from the outerwalls, to the rooftops of the estate, to the roof of the temple, he easily lands like a pebble hitting sand next to you. It was the rush of air beside you that alerted you of his attendance rather than any sound he made- or didn’t make. 

“Hello again, Morax,” you greet as you thumb through the herbs and check the petals of nearby wildflowers. Morax kneels at your side before sitting fully in the grass, one of his knees bent up to prop his arm on with the other stretched out in front of him. A rather relaxed position you had insisted he use instead of kneeling for however long he visits would last. 

“Good afternoon,” he replies. It’s silent for a while after that. The atmosphere of simply being with you was good enough for Morax. That was until the urge to speak and hear you speak in return hit his throat. “Your people seem more rowdy than usual.” He didn’t need super-enhanced senses to tell that the noise had increased since his last visit. 

“You can tell that even though you’ve never properly been inside?” 

“I have been inside.”

“No one knew that thought,” you tease with a finger that flicked back and forth a few times. “So, it isn’t a proper stroll in my temple.” Morax playfully chuckles at your antics. “You are correct though.” 

“Is there a reason?” He had noticed it since he arrived, but the air around you seemed heavy. “Something seems to be weighing on you.” 

“You’re perceptive. I suppose I shouldn’t be shocked about that considering-” 

“Y/n.” 

You sigh before the hand that had been thumbing at flower petals falls back into the tresses of wild grass and to the ground at your side. 

“The monks are gathering in a rush under Master Jiang’s orders.” Morax’s brow furrows at the information. You had mentioned this Master Jiang before. He was apparently a traveling monk that had previously been nomadic. Though, since the archon war had only gotten worse over the course of time, he had settled in the safety of your barrier and subsequently in your temple. 

On the rare occasions you let your irritations get the best of you, you spilled your guts to Morax about how he was constantly chanllenging your power and position in the temple. Thinking he was better because he was older with more experience beyond the protective walls of your home. Along with the misguided misogyny of being a man. It was one thing after another, spouting off about anything that irked you until you got all your curses off your lips in the privacy of the archon. 

Morax had not met this Jiang- not to mention anyone else outside of you inside the temple sense his visits weren’t exactly documented- but he already strongly disliked him. Now, he was trying to taking charge of your temple?

“For what purpose.” You do no respond to him right away and it sends a jolt through his nervous system. “Y/n. For what purpose,” he repeats with a heavier tone. You let out a sigh that feels as heavy as your aura as you sit in the field of wildgrass and flowers with the closest being to your heart. 

“He’s afraid that we’re going to soon be effected by the war as well.” You didn’t need to specify which war, he was more than well aware which you were referring to. 

Among the other things he had learned about you, he had come to understand why your people were save from the archon’s destruction so far. It was because of you and your power. 

Inside the temple was a specific place for you to practice your skills and keep the barrier around your precious home. That didn’t showcase all you could do, however and Morax knew it. Keeping the living things inside safe and keeping all the taint out. If something did happen to get inside your barrier, you were quickly dispatched to purify it. You could tell the moment something breached your safe haven, all the proof he needed as his first appearance to you. 

You had admitted ot him once that the reason you didn’t immediately cast him out was simply because you didn’t feel any hostility from his presence. He had no intention on hurting your people or home, so you allowed him access in. That barrier was an extension of your power; constant proof you were so much stronger than that stupid old monk was trying to plat down. 

Morax had only heard the sound of your birch tree bowstring plucked once before, and the air instantly felt cleaner. He’d heard bells in the distant halls while he waited for you in the treetops of your private garden to avoid the chance of being seen. While with you, he had picked up on a masking you placed over him so he couldn’t be detected by others and kept safe from prying eyes. Your power still astonished him even after all this time. 

“That’s asinine,” he growled. The whole ordeal of it all just set the message that they didn’t trust you and your abilities. After all you had done since you were a child to protect these people, after everything you’ve sacrificed, and they’re doubting you now? When your powers were in their prime? It was insulting. 

“Morax-”

“Do not try and save their value but udnermining your own.” 

“I’m not!” You cry in exasperation. You let out another sigh before letting your body lean into his shoulder and against his propped up leg. Morax froze up as your body softly collided with his own. While you had him attached to your very being, hook line and sinker, he had never once touched you. Not a single brush of his fingertips to your body or even allowing your legs to touch as you sat side by side. 

The side of his body you rested on felt like a volcano on his geo-ingraved skin. 

“Sorry,” you whisper. “Could I stay like this just for a moment longer?” 

His arm that you leaned against came to wrap around your shoulder and push your head further against him. The archon lowered his leg to join the other on the ground just so he could have you closer to him. His chin rested by your forehead and he closed his eyes letting you invade every one of his senses. Squeezing your form as he felt the trembles you tried to conceal and force to stay inside, not letting yourself break as much as he wanted you to. Morax wanted you to feel safe and open with him, but he understood all too well how difficult a task that was as someone of your strict upbringing. 

“Stay here as long as you need. I will not move.” Morax was geo, the land itself. He created mountains and stone and they all know his name. He was a god of contracts and his words were just as serious as those that he holds so strictly to them. The Lord of Geo would stay your unyielding pillar for as long as you needed him. That he promised to himself as he felt your small drops of tears silently fall onto his chest that he dare not mention. The urge to wipe them away and treasure you like a fragile bell ached within him, but he dare not act on those either.

For but a brief moment, Morax- the Geo Archon- wished for a single second he was mortal. That he was like you.  

Morax had no idea how this happened. What had gone wrong? Was it him? Did his sudden intrusion into your life of purity ruin everything? As a god, did his divine hands finally touch something he was never meant to?

Weeks ago you had urgently awaited his normal time of arrival but as soon as he showed, you urgently told him to leave. To leave the temple, the palace, the barrier- all of it- and never come back. You had demanded he return to the world he knew, the one filled with smoke and war and ongoing conquests. His chest filled with thick, black tar as you screamed at him and he did what any sane being would do. Morax screamed back, unable to understand and he was losing his patience bit by bit.  

The Archon wanted answers, none of which he demanded for were satisfing. The monks had finally discovered that you had been meeting with an outsider from beyond the barrier; to make matters worse, they knew it was Morax who had been active in the outside war since it begun. They were focring you to make a decision and the best course of action was to push him away before things got too out of hand and would be to a point where you could do nothing. 

It made no sense to Morax. He could help, he was certain of it. He’d let you direct him, use him how you like and pull his actions like a puppet on willing strings. He’d follow your every order to the letter if you just wouldn’t force him out and shun him like you were desperately trying to do. 

You wouldn’t yield. 

Morax hated your stubbornness now more than ever. You finally forced him away with a bracellet you had made yourself that was nothing but clear-ringing, golden bells threaded with red string. The sound they made amplified your power and he knew at just the meresight of them you were trying to make him leave. 

With one flick of your wrist, he could feel invisible threads of nothing wrap around his limbs and begin to tug. Once more he tried to reason something- anything- out of you, but was met with nothing but a second ring of bells that yanked his whole being out of your barrier. Forced out and finding himself outside, he was furiously frustated. Summoning his polearm, he let out a cry before thrusting it into and then subsequently through the neearst tree effectively slicing it down.  

Your final words to him stay in his ears like a parasite- pounding against his eardrums so violently he was afraid they'd burst if they continued to torment him. 

“If you ever return, I will have no choice but to take further actions, Morax.” 

Morax had to stay away from you. It’s what you wanted; or maybe it wasn’t your wish- but it’s what you said. What you demanded he do. Still, he didn’t know when this happened. Morax didn’t know when he decided that the last thing he would ever do is stay away. 

Therefore, Morax still returned into your barrier and through your territory. Just as you had said, you were true to your words. 

The moment you felt his presence trespass inside your barrier, you evacuated the palace and with the same bells you sent him away with, you summoned him back. It was like he was teleported with magic, the same invisble strings that had yanked him out now drew him in. The ringing of your bells reverated in his ears before he was standing in that same overgrown field. 

Morax stood in the one spot he first saw you and you took presence in the spot he had found you kneeling. This time, there were no dragonflies humming in the air and something in him knew there never would be again. 

“I told you,” you choked. 

“I refuse to listen to a moral’s orders,” he bit back. It was a lie. He said he’d listen to your every word, and he meant it. Even when his desperate pleas to stay by you landed him nowhere by alone. 

Morax knew there was only one option left as he eyed the staff in your hand. Your grip was so tight around it your hand trembled with the sheer force of it. Your head shook with micro-swivels on your neck as you kept your eyes on the ground. 

“You should have.” Morax’s polearm materialized at his side in a moment before he took it’s familiar grip into his palm. He had only ever told you of his weapon, never wanting to show you in case it tainted you somehow. All that silly precaution seemed so pointless now. 

The gentle breeze he was accustomed to had become bone chilling as you lifted your chin to finally look at him. Morax almost caved seeing your angry tears, but as you moved to engage in battle, he let his body move on it’s own. The god who was so accustomed to battle just wanted to shut his brain off for this one. 

Morax didn’t want to do this. 

The battle between you both was a long one. You screamed at each other. Sometimes words, sometimes just sounds of angusih and pain. You knew Morax was holding back on you, you didn’t have the power to fully stop a god and you knew it. Morax knew it. Whether he was holding back because of his affections for you or because he was toying with you, you couldn’t figure it out. The power of your barrier did limit his abilities some, but it was hardly enough to be considered a handicap.

Still, somehow, you had knocked his polearms from his hand before you forced him onto his back into the grass. 

His cloack was torn and his arms of geo-glowing beauty seemed dim and dark like the shadow cast over his eyes. His hood had been knocked back while his hair was tosseled and battleworn. Your body and his were covered in cuts and burns and scrapes. Everything hurt from inside your body to the outside. 

You had him on his back as you climbed over him. Your legs pinned his arms down and your weight sat on his chest, the bottom of your staff pushing into his throat as your labored breaths shook throughout your whole body. All you had to do with lift your staff just a fraction and slam it back down and you could do some major purifying damage to his body. It probably wouldn’t kill him… but what if it did? Did you have it in your to purify a god? Maybe if you tried, it would take all your strength and you could die together. You almost scoff at yourself- 

-wouldn’t that be just poetic.

You could feel his own chest heaving under your weight and you knew he could easily throw you off him if he wanted to. Just like before though, he did nothing. He just lay in the grass beaten and battered as he glared beyond the staff’s pole into your face. You hated the look in his eyes.

“Will you not follow through?” He chastised with so much venom you wanted to vomit. The staff shook once with both of trembling hands holding it above his neck. You had to- it was your duty. You would be betraying your people if you let him live. For your people, for the cowardice monks who forced you here, for your ignorance for thinking you could keep Morax by your side without consequence. For everything you had trained for until now, you had to get rid of him. You had to!

Morax sucked in a breath as he readied his neck to be pulverized. Your staff came away from his throat… and soon your weight was being pushed off his body entirely. Raising to your shaking, exposed legs from your torn trousers, you took staggering steps backward from him. Morax’s glare morphed into shock as he raised to his elbows to watch you retreat. 

“What-” 

He watched  your chest heave with frustrated tears. Choked, uneven sobs tore at your throat as you screamed before throwing your staff far from your grip. You heard it clank against Morax’s discarded polearm and thought for a moment how ironic it was. Your weapon reuinited with his in your moment of weakness- your lowest point of failure. The moment you threw duty away and chose yourself for once. 

“I can’t,” you cry, falling to your knees into the singed and destroyed field that once flourished so wonderuflly. “Please, go,” you beg. Morax climbs to his feet, wincing at the wounds on his body before calling for his polearm again. Once it was again in his grip, he looked at the dried blood of yours that litered the blade. The Lord of Geo immedately dismissed it, watching it disapate into the air from whence he summoned it. He simply stood there, looking down at your crumbling frame. 

What were you doing? You were going against your practices and willingly letting a supposed threat escape. He took one step in your diection, still so woefully attached to you. Watching you tear at the seams and keep unraveling in front of his very eyes. He was at a loss; what could he do to even begin to ease your suffering when he himself was part of it?  

“No.” You could feel his eyes on you and his want to approach you burnt the top of your head at which he gazed. “Be gone.” You demand once again like the first day you chased him off. You didn’t hear him move and in a fit of nothing left, you tore off your bell bracellet and threw it in his direction. “Go back to where you belong!”  And in a mere moment, his presence vanished and you broke completely. The eyes of the monks watched as you sobbed in the gardens, the battle they made you wage concluding with no victor. 

“Zhongli…” the story behind the hairpiece and his grief was heavier than either Paimon or Traveler was expecting. 

“I had planned to gift this to y/n during one of our meetings. I knew she wouldn’t be allowed to wear it of course,” he chuckled bitterly to himself. “For a great many of reasons. Still,” it would’ve proven to myself she was mine. Zhongli cleared his throat. “Regardless, I think I’ve spoken enough for once. The tea has run out and you both surely have other arrangements as the day is waning.” 

“Paimon doesn’t think-” 

“Then, we’ll be off,” Traveler interjects. Zhongli was just being polite but what he was really saying was that he wanted to be alone. “Thank you for telling us. Y/n sounded like a wonderful person.” 

“Tis but a story.” The way he replied made it sound like he was trying to convince himself more than them. The two left his home, leaving him still sitting at the table with an empty teacup and still holding that crystal winged dragonfly like it was Teyvat’s most precious treasure. 

It was quiet between Paimon and the Traveler as they walked aimlessly around Liyue. The Traveler’s mind boggled at the information they had been told and grew curious to any they hadn’t. They were almost certain that there was more to your story, but Zhongli couldn’t bare to say anymore. 

“Wait,” Traveler stopped in the middle of the path, bringing their hand to cup around their mouth in thought. “That all happened during the Archon War, right?” 

“Paimon thinks she remembers him mentioning that. Why?” 

“Do you think Xiao would know anything about it?” Traveler thought about it, but if memory served Morax was the one who granted Xiao his name. As Paimon looked at the blond with wonder, a voice spoke behind them. 

“You called?” 

Paimon’s screech echoed into the air as the Traveler spun around, not expecting the very apedtus to show up. Xiao sure took the calling of his name seriously. 

“Paimon never-” the floating companion looked to the blonde. “Oh, yeah. I guess we kinda did.” Xiao crosses his arms as he stands expectantly. The daytime hours were few in remaints and the streets began to slowly thin in populous, so he was less reserved about being around people, Though, he still didn’t want to linger either. Regardless of his wants, he noticed the air of tensity around you both. 

“Did something happen.” It wasn’t a question, it hardly was when Xiao was involved. 

“Do you know anything about a woman named y/n?” Xiao’s body when frigid as he dropped his arms and quickly stepped up to the both of you. Coming nearly toe to toe as the Traveler squeaked and took a half step back. 

“How do you know that name.” Once again, Xiao wasn’t asking. Traveler looked around and decided that standing in the middle of the road wasn’t the best place for this conversation. 

“Let’s go somewhere else.” 

The newly formed trio had migrated outside the city and out into the wilderness by a river.  Xiao and Traveler took to sitting among stones, Xiao crossing his legs and Traveler letting their’s dangle. Paimon’s ever floating presence never going too far from the two. They sat and listened to the sound of the bable of running water, trying to find a way to reopen the previously halted conversation. 

“Did Rex Lapis tell you about y/n?” Xiao ripped the bandage off first, something Traveler was almost thankful for. “That’s the only possible conclusion I can think of if you know her name since she wasn’t memorialized during her lifetime.” 

“Yeah, he did. I’m pretty sure he chased us out before he could tell us everything though.” Xiao nodded. Earnest understanding shone in his eyes but there was something else behind those irises of his, but the Traveler couldn’t figure out what it was. “Did you knew her too, Xiao?” He nodded again. 

“Not long after Morax found me and gave me my name, I found out that he was frequently paying visitation to a mortal woman. I thought he was being reckless, so he took me to meet her one day.” 

“He took you himself?” Paimon questioned. 

“Yes. He wanted to prove a point.” 

Xiao could still remember his first impression of you.  You had scolded Morax as soon as he landed in the familiar garden, arms crossed and mouth opening in reprimands. Calling him foolish for bringing a highly detectable entity beyond your barrier- one he didn’t even realize he had breached with his archon- and that if you hadn’t masked his spiritual signal just like how you did with his own, he’d be in a world of trouble. 

Seeing Morax take your scolding as he stood there bemused, Xiao’s first thought was that he did not like you. He distrusted you. What kind of mortal argues with a god on what they can and cannot do like you did? It was ludicrous. Still, the moment Morax introduced him as his newest comrade named Xiao, you smiled at him. You sent along with that smile a warm welcome and he suddenly felt awkward. 

“Xiao,” you called to his back before he was to leave with Morax at the need to return back outside your walls. He did not turn around to face you, but he did not move until you spoke again. “Feel free to come back and visit anytime. I’ll keep you covered.” 

“Rex Lapis- Morax- was the one who saved me and gave me the name Xiao. I respect him and owe him a great deal- a debt I may not truly be able to ever repay in full. In mortal terms, some may say he’s like a father to me.” Xiao’s chin lifted up to the darkening sky. The day had felt so long, the Traveler hadn’t realized just how late it was beginning to get. “If Morax was a father, then y/n was my mother."

The yaksha can still remember the first time he had sought you out for himself without Morax with him he was recoiling from karmic debt. It didn’t take a genius to know that he felt lighter in your presence- your purifying light helping ease his burdensn whether you did so purposely or not. 

It was late into the night when you had awoken abruptly from your sleep to the sensation of Xiao passing through the barrier. You sprung up from your futon, quickly focusing on his approach and cloaking him the best you could. His energy was rough, dark and pulsing and it worried you. You quickly made your way out to the garden where you knew he’d be and unshockingly enough was when you arrived. 

Curled into himself on his knees, his arms wrapped around his torso as black smoke engulfed him like vines. Gasping and sweating, he weakly stay collapsed in the grass as you ran to his side. 

“Xiao!” You whispered in anxiety as you knelt next to him, your eyes teary in fright. “What’s happening to you?” He didn’t answer, just shook his head with heavy, labored breaths. The moment, your hand came to rest on his back, his eyes rolled back with a fraction of his burden easing off his shoulders. Xiao slumped into you, his shoulder and neck pushing into your legs as his head rested partially on your stomach. His sudden collison knocked you back into the grass, your previously kneeling form now firmly planted on the ground. 

“Please,” he gasped as your other hand had come to his shoulder that wasn’t pushing into your lap. “Please, could you… sing.” In truth, he wasn’t sure why he asked that of you. He didn’t know what possessed him to request something so odd, but regardless of the oddity, you did. Your mouth had opened and you slowly and softly began to sing him a lullaby he had never heard before that night. 

It was like a blanket of early morning mist started to coat his burning, heavy body. His aching came to a slow stop as his mind became clearer. You sang the lullaby over and over again until the effects of his karmic debt had disappeared into the evening air. Even when he went completely lax on your lap and your hands had moved to run through his hair and across his back, you kept singing until early that next morning Morax had come to retrieve his missing Adeptus. 

As Xiao in the present looked at the stars, tracing constellations, he once again was reminded of your lullaby. You sang that to him many times after that and he remembered every single instance. It wasn’t far-fetched to say that the reason Barbarto’s song’s calmed him so is because he’s reminded of you in those moments and tunes. 

Yes, Xiao came to revere you just as much as his Archon- even though you were just a mere mortal. 

“So,” Traveler spoke up softly, trying to gently pull him from his obvious reminiscing. “What happened to y/n? Zhongli mentioned that he had fought her, but what happened then? Did they ever see each other again?” 

“No,” Xiao’s face contorted into a grimmance as his fist’s balled in his lap. “Y/n was executed before Morax could ever see her again.” His fists were so tightly balled they shook, clearly he still resented the fate you had been subjected to. 

“Executed?!” Paimon exclaimed. “But- but why?!” 

“Because she let Morax live.” The yaksha’s eyes narrowed as he gnashed his teeth. “Those filthy monks that poisoned her temple confined her to a dungeon cell where they starved and deprived her of anything. Letting her suffer for days before placinig a curse and executing her all because she refused kill an Archon.” 

“Did those people really not like Archons that much?” Paimon asked. 

“They were monsters!” He exclaimed. “Y/n had been raised to choose the people over her own desires, but the moment she wanted something for herself they-” 

“Xiao,” Traveler interrupted, reaching out their hand to place it on his folded knee. 

“She didn’t deserve the fate they gave her.” Traveler only nodded at his solemn tone. “When her execution was carried out, Morax… he reacted to an extreme.” 

“An extreme?” Paimon inquires. Xiao nodded, lifting his head back up from where it had been tucked towards his chest in anger. 

“The moment y/n’s barrier disappeared Morax stormed inside. He destroyed everything he could get his hands on. I… I was with him.” Xiao was enraged at the news of your demise, but he knew as he watched the back of his Archon as took the lives of the lowly monks who dared try to outrank you that the grief and emotions Morax felt course through him far outweighed his own. 

By day's end, the entire palace, surrounding village, and temple were all up in flames or crushed into rubble. Standing among the burning wreckage that stunk of ash, blood and death Morax plunged his polearm into the earth and screamed with no one left to witness him aside from Xiao. Instead of trying to approach his archon, he instead kept his eyes on the remains of buildings going up in flames like a personal pyre in remembrance of you. 

“After that, Morax stopped talking about her to anyone. It was like he pushed her into the recesses of his mind and tried to erase her altogether. With the meeting of other Archons and the assembly of Liyue, it seemed like he was trying to move forward.” 

“Poor Zhongli,” Paimon whined. “Star crossed lovers sure are sad to think about.” 

“To this day, there’s no one y/n has cared for as deeply as Morax.” At Xiao’s confession, Traveler’s ears perked. Did they hear that right? 

“Hold on,” they started, “what do you mean ‘to this day’?” Xiao’s body stiffened. He cleared his throat before he looked away, hoping that silence would push past his slip up. “Xiao!” 

“It meant nothing.” 

“Liar.” 

“I am not.” 

“Paimon thinks so too!” 

“Your input does not encourage much.” 

“Hey!” 

“Xiao,” Traveler tries again, arms crossing over their chest as they straighten their sitting posture on the stone they still sat on. Xiao cursed himself at deflating so easily in the face of the blond’s pressure. 

The Adeptus took after his Archon in that sense it would seem. 

“If you can keep it a secret,” he hesitated, “then I have somewhere to take you.” Xiao’s face turned back and looked the Traveler into the eyes.  They could see just house uneasy his gaze was, yet still under it was a stern ‘this is important’ before everything else. They nodded deeply towards him and force another sigh from his lips. The two of them jump from their stone seats as Xiao points in a direction. “Then follow me.” 

“Paimon can keep a secret too!” 

“Somehow, I doubt that.” Still, Xiao let her follow him too. The more the merrier you’d say- or at least he hopes. 

“I had no idea there was a place like this in Liyue!” Paimon exclaims after Xiao had taken both her and the Traveler along a path through the forests and into a clearing. After approaching what appeared to be nothing, his figured seemed to pass through something. The two who accompanied him both gawked at his sudden disappearance into thin air before he was reappearing from nowhere. ‘Hurry up,’ he had told them as they cautiously followed his once again disappearing back. 

Beyond the boundary of nothingness was a fairly large home that was longer than the clearing thy where previously in. The path forward was lined with trees and during the daytime they provided comfortable shade for any who walked under them. Now though, they just casted nighttime shadows of moonlight. The air felt different from the forest’s air as well. As if it had been filtered through something and made even cleaner than normal. 

Xiao walked with confidence through the path of trees and up the steps of the elongated home like he had done it a million times before. He didn’t even stop to check and make sure that both Traveler and Paimon were still behind him and hadn’t instead wandered off. The lanterns that lit the halls cast moving shadows along the walls and they danced off Xiao’s back as they continued to trail after his heels. 

Soon, he came to a stop outside a set of doors before looking at Traveler briefly then back again. He knocked twice around the hardened sides of the doorframe and didn’t wait for any signs of noise before taking further action. Sliding them open, he stepped inside and the Traveler and Paimon naturally followed.  

It was a large room, a small floor desk tucked away on one side littered with papers, books and ink. Another set of doors opposite from the ones he had just walked through led out to an open terrace that further pushed out into a stone garden. On the opposite side of the room was an unfurled, messy futon that lacked a body to rest inside it. 

Xiao sighed at seeing the empty futon and made his way out the doors to the wooden terrace. Apparently he had found who he was looking for since he began to speak and it wasn’t to the Traveler. 

“Why are you not resting?” 

“How could I when I have visitors?” A voice answered him and it made the skin on the Traveler’s face flush. It sounded clear like bells and was as soft as a gentle stream. Holding such composure- it reminded them of Zhongli’s voice and how aged it was. Xiao backed up into the room again as someone had came inside. 

The dark hour left the woman mostly unseen, but Xiao was quick to start lighting a lantern for light. 

“Thank you, Xiao,” she commented as the wick began to burn with a flickering flame. Traveler’s face remained flush at the woman in front of them. She didn’t just sound wise, she looked it. Like she had seen many years and experienced many things- but still looked so young. Xiao moved to her side and Traveler didn’t need to ask if the woman in front of them was who they thought she was. “Are you friends of Xiao’s?” 

“Yes,” Traveler whispered before they cleared their throat and answered again. “Yes, we are.”

“I see.” Xiao cleared his own throat, turning his head away at the gaze the woman sent him. Luckily the lantern didn’t light the room the greatest so his tinted cheeks stayed between the duo and didn’t reach the Traveler’s eyes. Looking back, she smiled warmly and it seemed exactly like how Zhongli explained. “It’s lovely to meet you both. My name is y/n.” 

“WHAT?!” Paimon exclaimed before slapping her hands over her mouth. Both at the discourtesy and the late hour she had yelled into. 

“I assume you have a great deal of questions,” you tell them, “but, for now I think we should table all that for tomorrow. You’re both more than welcome to stay here for the night. Xiao can lead the way for you.” 

With that, somehow the two travel companions ended up in a guest room with two futons and Xiao telling them to get some rest before leaving and presumably going back to your side. 

You had once again left your room to sit on the terrace and Xiao joined you. Sitting beside you, his head coming up to your shoulder in height as you both looked and focused on nothing. 

“Are you upset with me?” He asked. 

“Not particularly, no. Shocked, maybe. I wasn’t expecting someone else to follow in behind you from the forest.” 

“I apologize.” 

“There’s no need.” You slowly bring your hand up to rest on the back of Xiao’s head, a comfort to both him and you. Just like how Xiao described you as a mother, you didn’t ever think of him as anything less than what you assumed a son would be like. “It’s actually helped me with something that’s been on my mind lately.” 

Xiao just grabbed onto the sleeve of the robe you wore, not saying anything but conveying enough for you to understand. 

“I’ll explain it tomorrow. For now, how about a lullaby?” Even from the guest room and with Paimon already asleep, the Traveler could hear a faint song in the air before drifting to sleep. 

“Sooo, how old are you?” 

“Paimon!” Traveler yelled. “That’s rude!” 

“I was just asking a question!” 

“Ask a different one!”

The small squabble that earned a sigh from Xiao the next morning led you into a small laughing fit. The group of you were gathered in a drawing room used for when Xiao would visit you during your days. You’d spend time listening to things Xiao would encounter outside, and while it was a good way to pass the time you would otherwise spend alone, it felt better with more lively guests like this. 

“Xiao’s older than I am, so please rest assured I’m younger than you think.” 

“Xiao’s older?!” 

“Ahem,” the Yaksha interrupts by clearing his throat, “age matters aside, don’t you think now would be a good time for an explanation. If we’re gone from Liyue too long, Zhon- er- Rex Lapis could get suspicious.” 

“Why’d you correct yourself like that Xiao?” Paimon asks before you answer for him. 

“He feels like Morax’s mortal name makes me uncomfortable. I’ve told him time and time again that it doesn’t bother me, but he insists on using his other titles. Feel free to keep referring to him as you’re used to, I won’t get confused.” 

“How considerate of him,” Paimon dryly says, pulling another chuckle from you. 

“In any case, Xiao is right. I assume he told you about me, seeing as he brought you here himself.” 

“Sort of,” Traveler starts. “Zhongli is actually the one who told us about you. Xiao just told us more.” A shocked look passes over your features when you hear that the former Archon had opened up about you at all. “He said that someone from his past died around this time and we were worried about him. We kind of… pressured him into telling us.” 

“I don’t think that’s true,” Xiao said as he crossed his arms. “If Rex Lapis truly didn’t wish to speak about it, he wouldn't have. Believe me. He’s too stubborn.” 

“Be nice,” you lightly chide him. “Still, it’s a shock. I thought he would’ve buried his memories of me long ago.” 

“I’ve told you,” Xiao spoke up again, “Rex Lapis- he still-” 

“Xiao.” Your voice was stern for a moment before he clammed up. 

“Sorry,” he spoke defeatedly. Instead of staying quiet and letting the awkward air cloud up the room, he started up the discussion of why he had brought outsiders here in the first place. “Traveler, do you remember when I told you that Lady y/n had been executed?” Traveler nodded and was shocked at his use of a title. He didn’t use one at all when he was talking about you yesterday? Did he always address you personally like that? “Do you also recall how I mentioned how before she was killed, she was cursed.” 

“Oh yeah,” Paimon acknowledges. “Paimon remembers you saying something like that.” 

“It’s because of that curse that she’s still alive.” 

“They cursed her not to die? Doesn’t that seem kinda dumb since they apparently executed her for not defeating Zhongli?” Paimon’s face scrunched before her entire being deflated. “Paimon doesn’t get it.” 

“That isn’t quite correct. I can die,” you inform them. Xiao’s fist twitched as his gently grasped the fabric of his pants in his palms. “In fact, I have died several times. The curse i bare is that I cannot stay dead.” 

“Isn’t that still contradictory to what the monk’s were trying to accomplish?” Traveler asks. 

“Not necessarily. Back in my original life, I had broken a vow I had been raised on: placing my people above myself and never being selfish. That one sacred vow being broken was enough for Jiang to label me a treasonous traitor. This eternal life of mine is punishment for that crime.” 

“That’s so dumb!” Paimon exclaims. You continue to explain after she’s finished huffing. Her puffy face was quite amusing to look at as she crossed her small arms like she was offended on your behalf. 

“My curse resets my life to the point in time I was killed. Therefore, any injuries or illnesses I received in previous lives have all but vanished. I can still starve and freeze to death. I can become ill and contract diseases just like a normal mortal. I’ll die if I'm stabbed and I’ll scar if I’m burned. Still, even after all that, I’ll simply wake up again like none of it happened. This prolonged suffering is what Jiang and his acolytes were after.” 

“That’s terrible,” Traveler whispers. “Have you died many times?” 

“I’ve lost count.” You raise your hand to look at your palm that has been the same as the first time you woke up from death. In the ruins of your destroyed temple you were foggy minded and confused before your entire being filled with dread. “I’ve lived so many lives I cannot remember them all, but I know I’ve touched on every type. I’ve gone mad, harming people around me and myself. I’ve given in to every sin in hopes that they would allow me to die and not come back. I’ve even tried ending the cycle myself, but all to no avail.” 

You took a deep breath before dropping your hand back to your lap. 

“As stained as I am now, I’m hardly the priestess I used to be. I can never be that pure original version of me, but I’ve long accepted that. I’m quite… content with my life right now.” 

“Content my foot,” Xiao huffed. “You were planning to stay alone for a lot longer if I hadn’t found you.” 

“Wait,” Paimon piques, “found you?” 

“It was purely by chance,” you explain. “Sometimes, I’ll venture into Liyue but under a cloaked disguise so I’m not recognized or detected. Some years ago, I accidentally ran into Xiao near Wangshuu Inn and spoke his name purely out of reflex. He heard me and well, it was safe to say he wasn’t exactly pleased as he tracked me down.” 

“I was frustrated,” he corrected. “I came to find out you were alive and hiding for eons after thinking you were long dead.” 

“I know.” 

“Imagine how Morax would feel if he knew!” 

“I know, Xiao,” you repeat. “That’s something I actually want to talk to you about.” Xiao stills in his rampage before his arms slowly uncurl and his posture takes on something uncomfortable. “You’ve kept my life a secret for some time now, omnienting the truth from the Archon you respect so much. I’m sorry for asking such a selfish request.” You turn to look at the slack faced boy before bringing your hand to cup his chin affectionately. Traveler felt like they were impeding on a parental moment as they tried to look anywhere but you both. “If you want to, you can tell him the truth now.” 

Xiao’s hand comes to quickly clasp around your wirst that started to fall away from his face. His mouth opens before it closes again. He was torn between what he’s been wanting to do for so long and the open permission to actually do it. 

“Are you… for certain?” 

“Yes,” you swallow a lump in your throat. “I’m certain.” Xiao quickly takes your wrist out of his grip before he’s rushing to stand up. He stands with such a force he teeters on his feet before going to the door. He didn’t want to wait a single moment longer. “Xiao!” He stops momentarily and he’s reminded just for a brief moment how you spoke his name like that to his back the first day he ever met you milinia ago. This time though, he spun to look you in the eyes. “Take this with you,” you had gotten up from your place and placed your hand out of a nearby window. Bringing it back in not longer after, an insect of glimmering colors hummed through the space and landed on his shoulder. 

“A dragonfly!” Paimon exclaims as Traveler also rose to their feet ready to follow Xiao out. Xiao just nods before dashing out of the door. Being inside your barrier always made it hard for him to teleport between locations, so he had to get outside first. “Traveler, lets catch up with Xiao!” Paimon says, pointing after him. 

“Yeah,” they agree before looking back to you as you stay by at the window. 

“Get going now,” you urge before Traveler was awkwardly bowing to you and running out, calling Xiao’s name to try and get him to ‘slow down and wait up!’ 

Once alone again, you felt a coil settle in your chest. It was the same tightness you felt when Xiao had found you. Found out you were alive as you confessed everything to his insistent pleading after following you into your barrier. You braced your hands on the window pane before swallowing a lump in your throat. 

You never got the proper chance to tell Morax how you felt about him in your original life. It was wrong for a mortal like you to fall in love with a god- much less in the middle of a world altering war. You would’ve been far more foolish to confess your feelings than you were when you let him go. 

The tight coil only grows barbed spikes as you remember the last time you ever saw him. Laying beneath you as you pinned him down. Standing before you as you demanded him away. Feeling the empty air as he vanished right before you eyes. 

Xiao had told you that he was the one responsible for destroying your home. Burning it all down and destroying everything in his sight all because you had died. He was so filled with anguish and you didn’t know if you fully believed it. Xiao insisted that Morax hasn’t cared for a single soul as much as he cared for you. Even know as he lived as Zhongli you still hadn’t been replaced. You didn’t know if you believed that either. 

“I won’t regret this… will I?” You ask no one as you feel yourself start to pathetically cry. “Weak,” you call yourself as you stand alone in the empty home you constructed for yourself long ago. 

“Did you find him yet?” Traveler asks Xiao as they met back up in the middle of Liyue. Zhongli wasn’t at the funeral parlor and Hu Tao didn’t know where he had meandered off to before they came looking for him. He wasn’t at his home nor was he listening to that storyteller at Three-Round Knockout like usual. “Last place is the harbor. He was at the bridge when we found him, so let’s go look.” 

They made haste to the bridge, but with crestfallen faces it was devoid of any kind of descended Archon. They were about to recollect their thoughts and try and figure out if there was any other place he frequented they could try when someone spoke up behind them. 

“You all seem troubled,” the familiar voice of Zhongli startled all three of them as they all whipped around to look at him. He looked as composed as usual, maybe even a bit better than yesterday. Maybe airing some of his grievances helped him out a bit after all. Still, who knows how the news Xiao had for him would effect his mental well being. 

“Rex- ahem- Zhongli, I need to speak with you.” In the heat of the moment, Xiao almost addressed him as Rex Lapis. Calling him that in the middle of the busy day would be a mistake, so it was good he caught himself. Zhongli looked at Xiao’s steadfast gaze and let it travel over to the blond and their companion who’s always had an issue keeping quiet. 

“You all look stiff, like something has happened.” 

“That’s Zhongli for you,” Paimon remarks. “Always perceptive.” 

“So, it’s as I surmised.” 

“I’ll explain everything, but it can’t be here.” Xiao stepped in. 

“I understand,” Zhongli sighs. “Come with me. We can talk outside the city away from any possible prying ears. I would prefer to not be cooped up indoors.” 

Just like the day before, Zhongli took the group out to the same river Xiao did; it was far from the people and now he stood cross-armed and ready for any sort of explanation. Traveler stayed quiet, knowing it was Xiao’s wish to say something first and made sure Paimon stayed quiet too. If anything, they were there to make sure nothing got out of hand- this was truly between them. 

“On behalf of someone else’s word, I’ve been keeping something from you. It’s about… It’s about, y/n.” 

“Xiao,” Zhongli bit and Xiao felt the words get stuck in his throat the moment your name left his mouth. Zhongli’s tone was already on edge. Just the mention of your name was enough to make the Archon nearly growl. The former divine being had been feeling the blanket of grief hold him down more this year than previous ones, the fact that he opened up about you just the day prior to the Traveler made old wounds throb. The last thing he wanted was to talk about you and make everything hurt all over again for another time. 

“I understand you don’t want to talk about her, but please hear me out.” 

“I will not entertain whatever thoughts you think you need to say. Y/n died a long time ago, you should leave her in the past.” His words were ironic since he himself couldn’t even do that. 

“You don’t understand.” 

“Xiao.” 

“Please, she-” 

“Enough!” 

“She’s still alive!” Xiao, fed up with his god not letting him get a word in, blurted it out. He inwardly recoiled, not wanting to just say it like that. He wanted to ease into it, try and slowly explain it so Zhongli would accept it easier. “Y/n, she’s… she’s alive.” 

There was silence so heavy it kept Xiao’s head down with an invisible force. His eyes stayed locked onto the boots of the one person who he respected the most. If he had never felt fear before this very moment, now would be the perfect introduction to it as he felt the burning gaze of Zhongli on his skull. 

“Is that an attempt at a ill-advised jest,” Zhongli’s voice put on a dangerous tone. It was understandable and justified however. Who would just believe that the one mortal an Archon fell in love with thousands of years ago was alive? It sounded ludacris and Zhongli did not enjoy feeling like a fool. 

“He’s telling the truth!” Paimon defended. Her mental restraint on not talking snapped at seeing Xiao look so meak under Zhongli’s overwhelming stature. Zhongli’s gaze shifted from Xiao to Paimon who squealed at the intensity before flying to hide behind the Traveler’s shoulder. His gaze was hard, stern, and angry. 

“What could you possibly know? You only just learned about who she was through me- without my telling you so, y/n would be only a memory shared between Xiao and myself alone.” 

“We know because we met her,” Traveler tell him. His fists clench and his jaw locks. 

Zhongli couldn't stand lies or liars, and yet he wanted everything the group in front of him said to be bold face lies. Zhongli trusted the Traveler and Xiao the most out of almost anyone he knew presently. He trusted them with his secret and they always tried their best in their own duties and goal to find their sibling. He respected them and trusted them with his life as both Zhongli and Rex Lapis. 

But did he trust them with your life? 

With the promise of you being alive coming from Xiao and backed up by the Traveler, the former Archon was notably torn. He didn’t want to get his hopes up and have this all be some sort of illusion. A trick of the mind that will leave him crumbling just like the day he first lost you. He didn’t thinking he could take that kind of anguish again. 

The Traveler stepped up and took Xiao’s hand in one of theirs and the other took hold of Zhongli’s. Paimon floated out from behind them as the blond made both of the immortal being bring their gazes up to them. 

“Xiao can take you to her just like he did with us. Y/n is waiting.” The curled fist of Zhongli’s lessened enough to wrap around the Traveler’s comforting touch. He looked back at Xiao who had been looking at the blond with such gratefulness for salvaging the situation before calling his attention back. His amber gaze had loosened up, but they weren’t the normal eyes of Zhongli. Morax was peeking around the irises of the tallest among the group. 

“This is no lie?” 

“I would never lie to you.” 

“Yes,” he breathed out, “I know.” He took a breath, feeling so embarrassingly out of character. It was then that he noticed the small insect that had been on Xiao this whole time. The trio had seemed to forget you sent them back with the dragonfly, but Zhongli knew. He sucked in a breath as he looked at it. “Take me to see her at once,” he commanded. Xiao wasted no time in teleporting all three of his companions to the edge of your barrier he had memorized the location of. 

Zhongli’s hand was dropped by the Outworlder as he walked to the edge of it. He could sense the familiar power from years past and reached his hand up to place his palm on it. It bent with his palm like a bubble before it pushed through, rippling the distorted view of cloaked foliage behind it. He hesitated, but a slight push at his back had him walking in- well, stumbling in. 

His face mirrored the Traveler’s when they had first seen the area behind the barrier. He could feel you everywhere and his body started moving before he could stop. Xiao and Traveler called after him as he took off into a sprint towards the house under the tree’s shadows. It felt like a ribbon had tied itself around his wrist and was yanking him forward. The dragonfly that had sat perched and patient on Xiao had taken off with Zhongli, acting as a guide as it flew in front of him. 

“Take me to her,” he pleaded with the buzzing bug. “Like last time,” he remembered how a similar bug had led him to you that first time. He felt so vulnerable as he ran into the house, barging through the doors and dashing through halls with abandon. Zhongli felt mortal with his emotions controlling his actions and his desperation oozing out of his very core. He should be in better control of himself, but he can’t control his body no matter how much he tries. “Take me to her!” 

The dragonfly had flown to a corridor that led into a vast open space. Stairs of three steps led out into an open garden with bushes, flowers, and carefully created paths to walk. It was a far cry from the overgrown, wild garden of the past. A stone canopy held up with four strong pillars covered the peaceful place from the sun and a small stone table sat among the paths intersection. 

His breath was labored, chest heaving as the dragonfly continued out into the garden and his pace slowed down until the insect had taken a turn just outside the cover of the canopy. The dragonfly stopped, perching itself on an outstretched finger and Zhongli almost collapsed. 

“Thank you,” you said to the dragonfly before it lifted off your finger and took off in a random direction, its job fulfilled. The sun bathed you in a golden light Zhongli could remember from eon’s ago and as he stared at you, a tear fell heavily and unstrained from his eye. 

You weren’t sure what to say as you looked at him, but when you saw that tear fall you were ready to immediately apologzie. You never got the chance. Instead you were frozen in surprise when he had somehow appeared directly in front of you and encased you to himself. 

Sealing his body to yours, his arm wrapped around your lower back and one of his hands pushed your head against his neck. His back curled inwards, bending you backward enough so that your back arched and he could form you to him even further. You were so warm and he felt himself choke as his nose took in your scent from atop your head. It was different from before, but he could still smell you in it- altered or not. It proved that you weren’t some fake, you were real.

Zhongli nuzzled into the top of your head, greedily taking in everything of you he could. You had placed your hands on his sides before sliding them up to his back. One of your hands snagged into the fabric of his coat and the other stayed wound around his back. He could feel you start to shake and he felt a bit better than he wasn’t the only one overly-emotional. 

“You’re alive,” he whispers into your hair, voice cracking enough the wind could easily pick it up and take it somewhere far away. You just nodded into his chest as he somehow gripped you to him tighter, closer. “You’re alive,” he repeats like he’s trying to convince himself this isn’t a dream. 

“Yes,” you sob. “Yes.” 

As the two of you stood under the sun in a garden different from the one in his memories, he took no notice of the three other figures who had finally caught up to him after taking off on his own. Xiao felt a weight lift off his chest at seeing you two finally reunited and Traveler gently took his head in comfort. He had no chance to get embarrassed at the action, instead he just squeezed it back as he watched his long-seperated family cling to each other. 

Xiao felt whole again for this one moment and he knew that you both did too. 

“I’ve missed you so,” Zhongli confesses into your locks and you almost laugh if it wasn’t choked up on your dying sobs turned to sad sniffles. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.” 

“I’m sorry,” you sniff as you let your arms slowly start to retract from him. He knew that things needed to be discussed and explanations needed to start somewhere, but he was reluctant to let go. His arms released you, but his palms were quick to gently cup your cheeks instead to tilt your face up to him. Your eyes were swollen and the whites of them irritated due to your tears. He looked no better.

Zhongli ran his gloved thumbs over your cheeks and across your eyes when you closed them when he got too close with his touch. He planted his feet between yours before pushing his forehead on yours and choosing to bask in your sun bathed body before anything close to closure ensues. 

“Um,” you break the silence, but like last time, nothing else gets out before your interrupted. 

“Call me by my name.” 

“What?” 

“My name,” he repeats. “Please.” He didn’t want to hear his mortal name or any of his other countless name and titles he’s collected over the years.  No. His ears yearned for the name you knew him by. After all this time, he just wanted you to call him-

“Morax.” 

Zhongli collapsed at last. His hands that cupped your cheeks dropped as did he. He came to his knees in front of you, his empty hands easily latching onto yours in lieu of your cheeks. His head hung as he sat- kneeled- at your feet. You shuffled in astonishment and shock as he took your hands and pushed them against his forehead pleadingly. 

“Again.” 

“Morax,” you whispered and he could hear the embarrassment in your tone. He chuckled as a shiver ran through his entire being. 

“Once more.” 

“You’re being spoiled.” 

“I think I’m more than qualified.” He hears you chuckle and he could perish right here in this very instant without regret at the sound. It was just as he remembered.

“Morax.” 

“This time,” he starts speaking as he feels you slowly start to join him on the ground. Your hands had twisted in his grasp to hold them back. “This time,” he starts again, “you’ll stay with me, won’t you?” 

You pull both of your encased hands to your lips, kissing his gloves and he wishes he took them off. His wish must’ve been yours as well since you slowly started to remove his gloves and revealed the dark, golden imbedded skin he kept hidden to the public eye. Your eyes remained closed as you worked, like you had dreamed of doing this so many times you didn’t need your sight. Once again, you placed your lips on his knuckles and it was like his skin was alight with lava. 

Reopening your eyes, you adjusted your hands so that your fingers were now interlaced, fingertips resting on top of each other’s hands as your palms were on the warm ground to lean closer to him. You push your forehead back against his, breathing in his air that became tangled with your own. Smiling so softly at him that he released one of your intertwined hands to push his fingers into your hair behind your ear and pull you even closer to him. He wondered if he could meld your very existence into his own and become the earth itself among the garden.  

“I’ll stay until you don’t want me,” you declare.  

“I’ll never not want you, my dear. We have too much time to make up for and many stories to share, should time continue to allow it.”

“Time is nothing but a concept to me now,” you chuckle bitterly. You would tell him about it all later, but now wasn’t the time. It would dampen the mood too bitterly for your tastes.  

A contract was made under the sun behind a barrier that had kept you concealed and hidden from his faze. Your intertwined hands were the signatures finalizing that contract. Zhongli wasn’t ever going to let you slip through his fingers again- he promised himself that as he held tighter onto your warmth and you to his. 

Zhongli couldn’t wait to finally give you the hairstick he had held onto for a millenia in your memory. Even more, he couldn’t wait to see it glimmer under your locks of hair since there was nothing and no one holding you back anymore.  

a/n: pls god like/reblog/tell me your thoughts. this is babies first genshin fic and it's got so many words im so anxious i could throw up. i only edited this like one and a half times bc words became mushy and my eyeballs started melting. pls excuse the shift between past and present tense, my eyeballs - as aforementioned- are melting

if @scara7102 sees this it wouldn't let me tag you uh oh

The arnis stick I never got to use is sobbing-

Sticc ✨

If you’re wondering what those sticks are - they’re basically used in our Filipino martial art called Arnis!

I’ve been binge watching the 80s karate kid movies…

cw: fluff with minimal angst, reader and tsumu had an argument, msby4 is there, food mentions, probably bad writing like i just wrote this but i can't remember what i actually wrote which is a little alarming..., unedited and not proofread :,)

<bokuto3: hi it's atsumu

<bokuto3: WHY DOES BOKKUN HAVE YOUR CONTACT AS '<y/n3'?????? OUTRAGEOUS.

<bokuto3: anyways hi it's atsumu

<bokuto3: i miss u :( pls unblock me asap i'm sorry baby please i really am

<bokuto3: please don't be mad at me i thikn i'm lodsing my mind

<bokuto3: call me back. or text me back. unbloc k my email too thanx

<bokuto3: okay bye i luv u to the moon and back

<bokuto3: i'd do anything for u baby pls jyst talk to me again and i'd even swallow hot coals if you asked pls pls pls

<bokuto3: i love you

<bokuto3: i love you

<bokuto3: i love you

<bokuto3: i love you

you: give bokuto his phone back. get back to practice. bye.

<bokuto3: LOVE OF MY LIFE

<bokuto3: NO Y/N PLEASE I MISS YOU SO MUCH DON'T GO

you pocket your phone with a sigh, ignoring the way it continually buzzes with with messages and spam texts, probably just of atsumu professing his undying love for you and grovelling. pretty standard of him after an argument so intense that you had to walk out on before things escalated to places you would regret.

you can't deny that you miss him too, and it's been less than 24 hours since you saw him last.

in fact, you literally saw him this morning when sending him off to practice with a grumbled 'have a good practice' after he kissed over your forehead with a lightness rivalling a feather. a gentleness typically unseen from him.

really, the blond setter was just terrified of irritating you further.

then when you got up half an hour later, you're not pleased to see how atsumu was spamming you with messages, all conveying the messages he was scared of saying earlier. things like 'i love you', 'can't wait to go home to you', or 'did you see the photo of osamu's cat i sent'.

it's sweet, really; he is, but when you're still a little hurt from the harsh exchange you had last night, you didn't want him blowing up your phone this early in the morning.

so your only solution for a peaceful morning was to block him apparently.

something that clearly did not sit well with him because he then started spamming your socials and your emails with protests. did he not have practice to get to? where was all this time coming from?

you blocked him on those platforms too from the goodness of your heart because you had a feeling that he was skipping warmup in order to text you. if he pulled a muscle during practice, you don't want to begin imagining what a pain he'd be to look after.

glancing around the park you were currently strolling through to clear your mind, you only get a second to breathe when your phone starts buzzing again. this time, with a call notification from bokuto.

picking up, you immediately assume that it's atsumu who is bothering you after suffering the blows of how hard you've been ghosting him.

"atsumu for the love of-"

you're cut off of your own sentence when you hear somewhat muffled voices in the background.

"damn you messed up big time!" comes hinata's bubbly voice. you can indistinctly hear someone agreeing in the background- bokuto?

"stop rubbing it in!" atsumu exclaims, whining. you can picture him in your head right now, slouching against the wall as he deflates with each reminder of his mistake.

bokuto must have pocket-dialed you. you're about to hang up until you hear:

"how about you stop being miserable? your relationship with y/n will be fine as long as you apologise, this isn't the end of the world," lectures sakusa.

"for you maybe! ah already feel like y/n's slipping away from my grasp," cries your boyfriend. "and y/n is my world. so really, it does feel like the end of the world."

"you know what they say. love kills," mutters bokuto.

"literally no one has ever said that," sakusa deadpans.

"someone's probably said it."

"well if love does kill can it hurry up with atsumu?"

the dark-haired's simple statement makes you laugh, one that bursts suddenly before you have to cover your mouth from shame, hoping that it didn't disturb anyone.

"hey!" atsumu huffs before you can hear him groan dramatically again. except something's telling you that this isn't for show. "can't ya show a little sympathy to the guy who is having the worst time of his life? my partner doesn't even want to talk to me! i might as well rot right here and now."

"don't do that!" protests bokuto. "i'm sure y/n isn't as mad as you think. just talk to-"

"-what do you think i've been doing this whole time? i've been grovelling-"

"-no, you've been a bitch. i don't think telling y/n to 'text you back' counts as a proper apology."

the setter 'hmphs' and you can imagine the way he's crossing his arms. atsumu never did lose that immature side of him, but he tries, and you adore him for it. "is proclaiming my love not enough?"

"you can say 'i love you' to everyone, idiot, and you can confess your undying adoration for y/n any time. you do it on a regular basis anyways, atsumu, you don't need to double down on it just because you had an argument-"

"-but i'm scared that y/n will forget!"

the blond's outburst stuns everyone into silence. you hear a sniffle.

"what if i'm not worth the time? sometimes i get really scared that y/n might pack up and leave me because there's someone better out there. someone more patient and less of a hassle?"

it's so painfully silent, but each word that atsumu mutters is like a knife to your heart. how long has he felt this way?

hinata is the first to break the awkwardness. "c'mon man, you're literally high school sweethearts. i don't think you have anything to worry about."

"yeah, you're being silly right now, tsum-tsum!" bokuto agrees. "after all this time together, i think y/n has a reason to stay with you!"

"apart from my dashing good looks?"

"stupidity is temporary. get better soon," sakusa grumbles.

"omi-omi you're so mean!"

you hang up the call when you hear atsumu's chirpy tone again, unable to stop a smile from appearing on your own face. so long as he was happy, you were too.

that's what happens when you're soulmates, you suppose.

it's the same soulmate bond responsible for the fact that you were currently waiting outside the gym where msby practices were held, impatiently leaning against a small pole as you pass time on your phone.

then, just as you look up to check if anyone has left the building, your heart stops at the sight of a familiar faux-blond, animatedly chatting to one of his teammates. but when he meets your gaze, it takes him less than a fraction of a second to charge towards you.

instead of bracing for impact, you open your arms for him to tackle into, an offer he takes immediately.

as you both stumble backwards from the momentum, atsumu revels in your laughter and cherishes the feeling he gets knowing that everything is okay between you two. you chose to greet him after practice, you chose to go the somewhat inconvenient route all the way to his gym, you chose him and he hopes you never consider another option again.

and you won't. atsumu loves too hard and too well, warming you from the inside out to defrost any pain the coldness of life might leave you with. although he sometimes gets insecure about this overbearing trait of his, you get to show him each time just how beautiful it is; to wear your heart on your sleeve and love the world for what it is.

to love you for who you are.

"i'm sorry," he begins. "for what ah said last night, i was a real dick."

you smile. "well if you're really sorry, you'd let me take you out for some food, right?"

"only if it's your favourite."

"okay, sap. let's go then."

you think you hear atsumu whisper a 'thank you for letting me love you' before pulling him away.

— spoils of war

as heir to the throne, you were more than prepared to face the consequences of losing a war. your duty will forever remain for as long as you breathe, and if that meant bearing the weight of countless sacrificed souls and carrying it with you for the rest of your life, or even being forced to watch your land burn before your eyes was the price you had to pay, then so be it.

the last consequence you could have ever expected and were the least prepared for, however, was an offer of marriage from the ruler of the victorious nation.

CONTAINS : gn!reader, 3.5k wc, fluff, slightly suggestive ending, royalty!au, marriage of convenience (kind of), vague mentions of war & blood, mentioned assassination attempt, mentions of having children (very vague and in the "heir to the throne" kind of way), use of "mydeimos" and "mydei", reader is having an existential crisis; mydei is, um, mydei-ing, written pre-3.0

A/N : is this ooc? um... we will find out haha !! (the moment i saw this man i was wondering how i could royal au-ifiy him (outside of him already being a crown prince, that is). i thought of him being a mercenary or personal guard, but @sfznyxio ty for putting the words 'king' and 'mydei' in the same sentence when u showed his drip in the server bc this idea was born and now i am terminally unwell for him 🙏 but also how did this turn into an actual fic when it was literally a 2 para brainrot in discord... where did this plot come from...)

King Mydeimos, present ruler of Kremnos Kingdom, is infamous across the lands. He is a rumoured tyrant thought to have killed his bloodline in order to obtain this position, whose name alone strikes fear into many, and the very same being who just won the war against your own kingdom.

When marching through the capital to reach the steps of the palace after seizing victory and bathed in the lights of glory, his troops following close behind, you thought he would demand for the materialistic spoils such as the kingdom’s trove, maybe choose to seize control over the defeated land and its troops, or perhaps even wreak further havoc within the castle walls. Given the name he has built for himself, it certainly wouldn't surprise you if he decided to forgo all formality and instead brandish his sword like a blood-bathed barbarian.

And so when he appears in the palace entrance, the setting sun giving his rugged appearance a far more... put together look than expected (you refuse to admit the enemy's ruler to be... handsome, of all things), a recitation of prayers hammered into your head throughout the years of etiquette training spring to mind. If you're destined to fall here, you at least wish to perish with thankful thoughts!

...At least, that was the original plan.

So why is it now you're hearing him ask your father and mother, the king and queen of this now defeated kingdom, for your hand in marriage? Where did this sudden formality come from? No, why is he suddenly bowing to his defeated enemies? And— lord almighty above, did he really have to do this here and now? In front of your nation's high council and his own men, no less!

It is safe to assume every jaw except for Mydeimos' dropped into the nether realm, all eyes gawking at his tall, unperturbed figure bowing in respect towards your parents in the centre.

Having probably sensed the rather awkward air bubbling amidst the dumbfounded troops, your parents turn to you in wait for your decision. Despite the apparent pleas in their eyes for you to not agree to such a ludicrous turn of events, what choice do you really have other than to accept? Who knows what this so-called tyrant could do should you refuse this offer when he is being so lenient!

An audible gulp escapes the base of your throat the moment his scalding gaze locks onto you after your hesitant words of approval, searing a trail of where his eyes trails onto your skin.

Seriously, you haven't been on the receiving end of many — if any — wars, but you're almost positive they don't end this... pleasantly, for a lack of better words.

(Who would've thought you would be a spoils of war, as opposed to the national treasure trove...)

Set to depart when the sun rises, there is little time to gather your bearings and your belongings. Servants are bustling while your parents crowd around you, asking if you're really going to go through with this and, “You can say no! If they don't take your rejection well, we can smite them with our army!”

To that, all you have to say is, “...What army? They're all dead.”

They didn't take that very well, if their concerning increase in flowing tears have anything to say about it.

The send-off is nothing too grandiose, save for the entire palace standing at the gates shouting farewells through tear-streaked wails and blowing handkerchiefs. Your parents are at the forefront of it all. Your mother holds your hands as she tells you to return promptly if it gets too much regardless of the consequences (you appreciate the sentiment, but you don't want to burden your family nor your nation because of a dislike), while your father stands before Mydeimos with an order for him to treat you well and respectfully and, “If you damage even a mere hair on my beloved child's head, I will have your head on display!”

...Perhaps that would have been more threatening if not for the slight tremble of his legs and waver in his voice but, again, you appreciate the sentiment. Mydeimos, if anything, takes it in stride with a calm nod of his head and a promise to take care of you. Really, does anything other than the battlefield phase him...?

Soon you're in the carriage and settled opposite your soon-to-be husband, on your way to your new life with a heavy heart. Is this what all your training to take over the throne has surmounted to? Have all your efforts and dedication spent on being the perfect heir for your kingdom simply come down to being wed to an enemy nation's ruler?

Well, perhaps “enemy” is not the right term anymore; not when both your kingdom's are now in a mutually beneficial alliance, along with the promise for one of your heirs becoming next in line for your kingdom's throne.

Ha! What makes him so sure you will have more than one between you?

...Was what you had asked back when he first made the declaration to your parents, only for him to respond in kind with, “If you'd rather adopt, then we can do so.”

(Bastard. Can't he break composure at least a little?)

As the ride drags on, silence permeates. Whether it is the lingering nerves you hid from your parents or this suffocating intimidation confined within the small carriage space, one question still remains at the forefront of your mind: why did he decide to marry you? Truly, it miffs you. He could have just left you to suffer in the downfall of your nation if he wished to do so, or even let you stay as the heir to the now-allianced kingdom.

Upon questioning his motives for your hand in marriage, his response was merely a slow blink before uttering, "The council wouldn't stop pestering me about getting married."

Oh. Was it really that simple of a reason?

Lips pursed, you press a little more. “Then why did you add benefits, such as an alliance with my kingdom? Even if you, King Mydeimos, were to just—”

“Mydei.”

“—just cut down…” trailing off at the sudden interruption, you blink at his cross-armed figure seated across from you. “Oh, um, what?”

“Mydei,” he repeats once more, attention solely focused on you. “No need to bother with formalities. Just refer to me as such.”

“Oh, well, alright... Mydei?” At your uncertain tone, he nods, as though urging for you to carry on. “Right, well, as I was saying... What was I saying...?”

Without missing a beat, he responds, “You were asking why I offered your kingdom a mutually beneficial alliance when I have the means to cut down the nation with brute force and take what I want through violence.”

“Oh, right…” Huh. Did you say all of that? Well, you certainly were thinking of it, but were you that harsh in your wording? Considering how he recited it all without hesitation, you probably did say all of that, with him being a pretty good listener and you perhaps needing to think over your words before you speak them. “So what is your answer to my curiosity?”

“I simply thought you would be happier if I spared your land and made an offer both of us would benefit from.”

“...I see. Well, thank you for your consideration.”

“Think nothing of it.”

And so the ride continues in silence once more, though this time you find yourself more at ease compared to the prior situation. You, however, still have your doubts about the benefits he gave with the alliance proposal, amongst the absurdity of this entire situation.

...Is the man sitting before you really the feared tyrannical ruler people made him out to be? Surely he is being far too merciful for someone of such reputation. There has been no threats, no coercion (well, if you don’t count the whole marriage fiasco as such, but you did willingly agree to it…), no usage of violence — did people perhaps badmouth the wrong monarch?

Then again, the majority of his prowess and achievements stem from the battlefield. Was all this information just mere hearsay from those jealous of his noteworthy feats, or do their words truly hold some merit in their claim? And really, what do you know about Mydei? From his thoughts, to his motives, to the reasoning behind each action… you know nothing.

Well, considering how he has entertained each of your whims thus far, he has the ability to entertain one more, right?

“Mydei, if I may,” you start, looking to him for approval to continue. When he nods encouragingly, you continue. “You said you made an offer we would both benefit from. While I acknowledge the military and protection we receive from you, what benefit do you reap from us?”

Had you not been eyeing him so intently, perhaps the subtle stiffening of his muscles or twitch of his fingers would have remained unnoticed. 

“Apart from the high quality agricultural and material trade, I have obtained one more thing. Rather than a benefit, however,” he trails off, gaze shifting to the carriage floor. His voice tapers slightly, subtleties of fondness seeping into his tone. When his eyes move to meet your own once more, your mouth runs dry at the undeniable warmth which swirls within his gaze, the rapid pounding of your heart betraying your thoughts. “I consider meeting and having the privilege of marrying you to be the most priceless of rewards I could have obtained.”

(...Who knew a subtle smile could be so beautiful.)

Settling into your new role as the co-ruler of Kremnos was a far easier transition than you’d anticipated. Despite some initial apprehension at your sudden intrusion into the citizen’s lives and you being from another nation, the reactions you were greeted with upon arrival were well-within your expectations.

Apprehension? Sure. Skepticism? Great. Concern over your abilities? Fantastic! Immediate, wholehearted acceptance with preparations already made for your arrival? Um… Come again?

Yes. Compared to the civilian’s very normal, completely expected doubt and uncertainty about you being thrust into the role of their new co-ruler, the same cannot be said about the palace staff. The moment Mydei helped you out of the carriage, a line of servants were at the ready, lined up with the necessary preparations already made to look after you. Your dumbfoundedness must have been quite obvious for Mydei to take note, squeezing your hand with enough pressure and warmth to anchor you down and fill you with comfort before guiding you through the tunnel of awaiting servants ready to receive his orders.

While a little unnerving the palace staff’s ready acceptance and preparation for your arrival may have been, you cannot deny the flicker of warmth which surges when spotting something that reminds you of home.

That particular fruit you enjoy only found in your homeland? An abundance has been procured with the palace gardener equipped with all the necessities used to grow it, alongside a bed of your favourite assortment of flowers already beginning to show signs of blooming.

There was a certain dessert you enjoyed partaking in? Look no further, for the palace patissier has already mastered all the techniques needed to make it the most delicious version you have ever tasted!

Oh, you’re used to having a certain textile in each of your fabrics and certain colours are more to your preference? Don’t worry, the temporary bedroom used until your wedding is made to your liking, and once the wedding is complete your shared bedroom will have all the necessary arrangements!

Truly, the experience of having practically everything needed for your stay to be comfortable already prepared was an… interesting one, to say the least.

It doesn’t escape you, however, the manner in which everyone is rigid in demeanour and stiff with etiquette when in the presence of Mydei. Ducking their heads to avoid eye contact, tensing their bodies as though afraid one subtle movement will trigger his wrath, rushing away as quickly as possible once given their respective orders.

He doesn’t appear bothered; if anything, matters outside of you and battle don’t seem to move him at all. He merely regards everything as a duty to be carried out, an honour to uphold and see through so long as he bears the weight of his title. 

Despite his admitted nonchalance for most matters, you have seen him be expressive on several accounts.

Like that time you were both strolling through the extensive garden holding pleasant conversation about each other’s day, stopping to admire the roses and ready to sing the gardener’s praises, only to catch the smile and unfairly soft expression directed towards you. (Seriously, the difference a smile and relaxed expression can make on his features should be criminal.)

Or the days you choose to visit the training ground and catch the battle-hardened fervour of a warrior which radiate so starkly within his typically stoic demeanour, easily parrying and holding his own against even a large number of his knights rushing to best him, only to hastily avert your eyes when he takes note of your presence and amble his way towards you with a towel in hand. (Well, his torso is practically on full-display all day, but somehow seeing him entirely shirtless after a particularly gruelling training is a little… different.)

Not to mention that one night during your third month in Kremnos wherein an assassin managed to slip through surveillance and sneak into your room, only to be thwarted mere moments before the fatal strike as a sword pierced their torso, their cries of agony quickly silencing and the flecks of warmth clinging to your skin promptly discarded as the deafening hammering of your heart drowned out everything in the vicinity. You weren’t sure how long you were out of it for, but the image of Mydei’s distraught expression and uncharacteristic loss of composure is a sight you’re certain will never leave, much like the rare vulnerability found in his fragile, broken whispers of, “Not again... I thought I’d lost you again. Why must fate be so cruel? Please… Just this once, stay with me until the end.”

(You never really questioned how Mydei caught wind of the attempt or what he meant by his whispered words, too caught up in your near-death experience to properly process anything, but the immeasurable relief upon being embraced within his familiarity was undeniable as you melted into him, allowing him to stay by your side for the night and then the following nights soon after as his attentiveness only grew.)

The time from your first arrival has flown, and now, five months later, the long-awaited wedding is finally being held.

The ceremony itself was nothing too grand. Despite Mydei asking for your thoughts and preferences on how the ceremony should be held, the ideas he’d suggested aligned perfectly with your own preferences: a simple ceremony with the necessary guests in attendance for privacy, a ceremonial carriage ride through the capital to honour the matrimonial bond between you alongside quelling any uncertainties the citizens may have, and to end it all off with a banquet to diminish the doubt brewing from within the nobility of high society.

Thankfully, everything went off without a hitch. Your parents attended the ceremony and greeted you with a tearful embrace upon seeing you in your wedding attire. As it turns out, they will be staying as guests within the palace for about a week, all thanks to Mydei’s preparations. Apparently.

(Upon asking your parents who is taking care of the kingdom’s affairs in their place, you probably should have suspected it to be the trusted, overworked aide who has been by your father’s side since young. Despite his already cushy salary, he should get a raise for having to deal with all this.)

And as you stand here now, chatting idly with some of the knights in attendance who were present in the whole proposal fiasco, you find yourself believing that perhaps your new life here will not be as bad as you feared.

You have to admit, letting loose every now and then is rather rewarding. After all those mental and passive aggressive battles with some of the nobles before eventually gaining their respect and approval (you didn’t have strict heir training just to have nothing to show for it!), you can now relax and let the night pass by. With the knights talking joyfully amongst themselves, you’re sure the night will fly by.

Their topic of conversation shifts constantly, ranging from battle tactics to which is the best amongst savoury, sweet, or spicy to debates about whether that one maid and apprentice chef are secretly dating.

Eventually, the topic of conversation loops back around to your newly sealed marriage; you know, the whole premise for the current celebration. One of the knights, tickled a light pink in the face from the warmth of the venue and the drink half-emptied in hand, turns to you with a jovial grin.

“Y’know, until you came into the picture, I’ve never seen our king so happy and expressive. It’s a nice change.”

Another chimes, “Yeah! I’ve definitely seen him smile a few times when you visit the training grounds! Though he still glares daggers into my soul when we spar…”

“That’s because you suck and His Majesty gets a migraine just from the sight of your sloppy footwork.”

“Wha— hey! You’re the one with a weak swing and can’t even break the training dummy in one strike!”

“I’m telling you the material is tougher on the ones I’m given!”

A breathy laugh escapes you at their back and forth. Sometimes you forget how playful the knights can be outside of their intimidating demeanour, though you suppose their leader is similar in his own right.

Taking a light sip from your drink, the chatter of the knights slowly die down. Just as you’re about to ask if everything is alright, a warmth you have become able to identify looms over your back. It doesn’t take a genius to know why they stopped their bickering.

“What were you all discussing?” Mydei asks, moving to stand beside you with a drink of his own in hand. You weren’t expecting to see him until later, what with how swamped he appeared with greetings and talks of his own.

His knights seemed to have thought the same as you, if their apparent dumbfounded reactions were anything to go by.

“Oh, um, well…”

“We were, uh…”

“We were just chatting like good ole pals, haha…”

Stifling a laugh at their poor attempts, you decide it would be best to give them a helping hand. Mydei’s curious gaze certainly isn’t helping their case.

With an amused sigh you begin, “Nothing much. Just how much they admire and look up to you—”

“We were discussing how your dear spouse thoroughly enjoys the sight of your body at the training grounds!”

A deafening silence.

…You take back every nice thing you said about them. You hope Mydei exchanges all the training dummies except for his own for super-ultra-mega tough ones, just so they can feel the embarrassment you currently do when they are unable to break a mere training dummy.

First off, how did they even know this highly confidential information?! You most certainly were not openly ogling at your now-husband! (At least, you hope you weren’t…)

Second of all, here you were trying to help them save face from all their bickering, and what do you get in return? A loss of your own!

And third of all, that is blatant slander! In front Mydei, their king and commander, and your spouse, no less!

Ha ha. You don't know whether to laugh or cry at this turn of events.

In hopes of salvaging what remains of your thoroughly battered and bruised image, And there it appears, you quickly turn towards Mydei, a myriad of retorts ready to fire on the tip of your tongue. It fizzles out just as quickly as it appears upon what you find yourself gazing at. Though barely noticeable, the lingering remnants of his laughter which spill from that wretched curve of his lips never fails to speed up this traitorous heart of yours. And when his unabashedly amused gaze meets your own mortified one, your mind regains its former desperation.

Before you can think up a retort in a last-ditch effort to save face, he swiftly leans into your ear and whispers, “I would like to hear more about this. Perhaps you can enlighten me when we return to our quarters later.”

…Nevermind. Perhaps it is Mydei who should be getting the super-ultra-mega tough training dummy so he can taste humiliation for the first time in his life.

(However, despite the horrendously dizzying flush you are currently victim to, if it meant seeing his warm gaze and heart-melting smile more often then, perhaps, you wouldn’t mind embarrassing yourself in front of him every now and then.)

(Not too often, of course. That would be too much.)

if you enjoyed this, reblogs and/or comments are greatly appreciated <33

trivia !!

wanted to add this section in case some might be wondering why i went with the timeloop trope yet again (if u did not figure that out from the bits and pieces throughout the fic + mainly the assassination attempt scene then, um, oops. haha.) BUT !! i actually decided to do a spin of his lore for it.

so in his drip market post, it says:

Kremnos, swallowed by mist! City riven between chaos and war! The blood of patricide flows through its royal line, and its god bears the title of calamity.

The undying Mydeimos, the lion apart from the rest. O Chrysos Heir that seeks the Coreflame of Strife, you must suffer a thousand deaths, be bathed in blood on the path home, and bear the madness of fate alone, for one was must slay a god to become one. Iron-hooves pound across the wilderness for the campaign, and must eventually soak in the blood of their homeland.

and mydei is also known by the following aliases "the last prince" and "the undying". now all of this info is more than likely referring to his ability to survive torturous pain, as opposed to dying and and resurrecting a thousand times (or maybe i am right... who knows...), but my first thoughts went to how he had the ability to come back to a certain point in this past after the so-called fate drove him to madness which he alone must bear.

in this context, i wanted for him to be a king who suffered a thousand deaths, but lived through a thousand lives of the same never-ending fate, doomed to watch the fall and bear the madness and watch as you in each and every lifetime suffer at the hands of a fate he cannot save you from. and that is why he marries you because he knows you even if you do not know him and will always choose to lead the same path if it means he has you by his side once more.

...does this make sense? maybe it does, maybe it does not, but what matters is it made sense to me ;w;

oops got a little carried away there with lore and theories um !! haha !! anywho that is enough from me ,,, if u read this trivia then hi !! ty for sitting through and reading my deep dive into the crumbs of lore and how i put my own spin on it :'D

soft boys !!

synopsis: how they go soft for you<3

featuring: iwaizumi hajime, kuroo tetsuro

warning: none! kinda cheesy at kuroo's i apologize ahdjwd

iwaizumi hajime

soft soft boy

hes a very collected man with a few moments where he's angry or frustrated. other than that he's someone who has everything under control

everything but his feelings for you

melts the moment he sees your teary eyes as you watched one of your favorite animated movies.

weren't you a sweetheart

"love," he chuckled when he heard your sob, your face immediately buried in his chest as you wrapped your arms around his torso and sniffled. it was kinda funny how patient hajime was being.

"it's okay, I'm pretty sure they'll find a way to save him," iwaizumi reassured as he stroked your hair, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head as you slowly peeked out of his shirt to stare at the TV, now watching the movie with a frown and tear stained cheeks.

"it was still so unfair," you mumbled almost grumpily, making a chuckle rumble from iwaizumi's chest.

"i know right, I'll fight them for it,"

kuroo tetsuro

you're kind of his favorite person in the whole world and he doesn't even hide it tbh

im talking social media accounts filled with your pics with him

pics of you smiling, a picture of your outfits, pictures of your dates to the last place you visited together

but the moment he sees you post something on your story like "baby" or "love"

he's gone

SO gone

"this picture is so cute," you said from the couch as you scrolled on your phone, staring at the many pictures you took of tetsuro the previous night on your date together.

"you think so?" kuroo replied, clearly not paying attention as he typed away something work related on his computer. he was kind of busy but he always made sure to be around you.

a few moments later, he felt his phone buzz a little and grabbed it, thinking it was gonna be a message or an important email. but it was a notification from Instagram, specifically you.

you mentioned him in a story? clicking on the chat, he felt his heart squeeze when he saw his picture on your story. your story, with a simple caption that said "love" next to his head.

he knew how much you didn't post about him. not because you didn't love him but because you preferred for him to do so. so this was definitely something.

he just reposted your story, quickly typing away before setting his phone down with a smile.

"i love you forever"

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"you have a birth mark on your back, do you know that?"

"no"

Bakugo was sort of proud of that fact. how he seems to know your body better than you do.

he watches you mindlessly scroll through your phone, using a squishy that you won him in a carnival- a grey wolf with a deep scowl, saying something about it looking like him- as an anchor for yourself as you lay flat on your tummy.

he hoist himself up, placing his chin on his palm as he lifts a rough calloused hand to trace over the stretch marks on your hips.

a delicate touch- so gentle. you could swear it felt like he wasn't even there.

all the small dents and crevices, all the birth marks and scars, every little stretch mark that you aren't aware of- he knows them all and he absolutely loves every single one of them and the big question is how could he not? all these "imperfections" are part of things that make you you, they are a part of you and not loving them is accepting to not love a side of you.

like a treasure map he traces the lines as if they'll lead him to the great unknown or even a treasure buried on some island somewhere.

the soft touches makes you giggle a little

"ya' ticklish here huh?"

"uh huh so stop tickling me before I-" you finally turn your back to look at him and he's staring at you in awe, his expression is soft and nothing like his usual scowl that he normally adorns. you guys are left staring at each other for a few slow seconds and you could swear your souls where connected.

he lifts himself up to place a soft kiss on the spot he was previously touching lingering a little before he leaves the spot he kissed missing his warmth but it's quickly replaced when he places his warms hands back on your hip giving it a nice gentle squeeze before he's back to tracing over it.

he's ingrained every part of you that he can into his brain, well atleast the small pieces you let him see and he's proud to say you let him he see quite a bit, even the sensitive parts that you yourself might not even be aware of. he knows how hard it is to show these sides of yourself to another person, to trust someone enough to not only show them your highs but also your lows, to let them know your weaknesses and flaws, he knows how petrifying that is but yet— yet you let him see so much. and he's left wondering how can you trust him this much.

the sudden overwhelm of emotions introduces a little thought in his head.

what if you suddenly decide to leave him.

he's plagued with the idea of waking up to see your side of the bed has run cold, the nick nacks you keep on your bed side table are all gone, the obnoxiously pink plushy you used as a punching bag whenever you got mad from work is no where to be found, it's as if you weren't ever here. perhaps you finally realized that he wasn't worth your time- he wouldn't blame you...

the thought of never being able to experience all these sensations and emotions again; never hear your beautiful voice or smell the cocoa butter lotion you spread on your skin or hear your slightly muffled voice as you sing your heart out in the shower— never be able to see that goofy grin of yours again scares him shitless... almost enough to make him want to cradle himself and hide under a mountain somewhere but he's too hung up on you to push you away now when you've both come so far. so the most he can do is remember, so if you ever decide to finally free yourself from the binds that is him, atleast he'll have just that. memories.

you quickly notice the knot that forms on his eyebrows.

"anything wrong?" worry evident in your voice as you place a finger in between his scrunched up eyebrows. he looks up at you and all the anxiety seemingly washes over him and he is silently scolding himself for ever believing you could ever leave him when you are looking at him like- like THAT.

"na 'verything s'just perfect." nuzzling into your touch.

He's grateful you trust him enough to let him know these things, see these things, experience slow quiet moments like this one. he never thought him off all ppl will be the one to experience something as gooey and mushy as this; a feeling that manages to make his heart turn to warm putty everytime he looks back on it, that manages to keep him grounded but yet make him feel like he's weightless at the same time.

he loves you and though he's never been the best at expressing it, he doesn't have to tell you. your given all the confirmation you need during quiet moments like this from how he's gently caressing your stretch marks to the light in his eyes seemingly glimmering as he stares at you in absolute awe.

Bakugo Katsuki

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♧ authorized reprint for tumblr // artist:    ullpe / ユルペ  /    MHA LOG

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