This Was My First Milestone Event N I Changed It Into A M.list For This Troupe + Will Add New Characters

this was my first milestone event n i changed it into a m.list for this troupe + will add new characters to this every now and then.

ex!husband ayato

ex!husband kaeya

ex!husband diluc

ex!husband zhongli

ex!husband childe

ex!husband pantalone

ex!husband dottore

do not! share, copy or repost my work. ✎ ©ANANTARU 2022

Please go out with me for tax benefits!

— When you randomly pointed to a handsome man and declared him to be your boyfriend, you didn't think it would get this out of hand. You just wanted a couples discount!

— Alhaitham, Ayato, and Kazuha

-> Part 2: Overdue Bills [Masterlist]

This was originally written for my upcoming "Help me break my engagement by marrying me instead." fic but I got carried away and it became too plot-heavy. So I made a new one. Most of these have nothing to do with money, I just thought the title was funny.

Alhaitham

You blame Kaveh for this. This is entirely his fault and you will not be convinced otherwise. If he hadn't opened his big mouth to Alhaitham about the fact you've been spouting that he was your boyfriend, then you wouldn't be in this mess. It wasn't even that serious, it's not like you were actually emotionally invested with the man and this was all a delusional dream. You barely knew the guy aside from the multiple rumors about him in the first place. You just needed to access some limited-edition books for your thesis and his name happened to be the easiest way to get ahold of them. Sure, you may be lying to authority for the better half of a year about your relationship with the scribe, but it's not your fault they didn't ask questions. If you happened to threaten to tell your very scary and very influential "boyfriend" about this "mistreatment", that's just a byproduct if anything. But now you have a very irritated silver-haired man crowding into your personal space asking why the hell you're announcing to the world that you're both in a relationship. It's creepy. He called you creepy. Is this where you roll over and die in shame?

You swear you didn't think it would get this out of hand. You just happened to spot him in the background while the librarian was giving you a hard time and your dumb brain-to-mouth filter was taking a break that day. So you just blurted that you were Alhaitham's partner and that he would be very upset to hear that you were being treated this way. It's not completely far-fetched, Alhaitham seems like a very, very, private person and on the off chance you were telling the truth? Well, the poor librarian didn't want to lose her job. Besides, it's not like you were planning on doing anything illegal and you don't think you're the absolute worst person to be fake-dating.

By some stroke of luck, or maybe he felt too much pity for you, Alhaitham decides to cut you a deal rather than get you kicked out of the Akademiya. He gets multiple love letters, confessions, and heart-eyed individuals trailing after him all the time. Frankly, he's getting tired of it and since you've already taken the liberty, he won't say anything if you don't say anything. Though he makes it clear that if you ever do anything embarrassing, you're taking the fall and he's going to pretend he doesn't know you. A bit harsh but that's only a safety net. Plus it's not like you actually want to date him so he wouldn't have any commitments. The added bonus is that since he's well-known for having a...rough personality, you don't need to act affectionately with the man or go the extra mile. As long as you have each other's backing, you'll get to check out any textbook you want for free and he gets to be left alone. So for both your benefits, to the rest of the Akademiya you and him are a couple.

You should have known this deal was way too good to be true. As soon as people hear that Alhaitham acknowledges that you're his partner, they're on you like rabid fungi. In comparison to the scribe, you're far easier to prod and poke for any gossip and your quiet day-to-day life is suddenly thrown into the wind. Multiple people a day come to bother you about what it's like to date the moody man. It gets to a point where you have to actually dress incognito just to go and get some coffee. Seriously, didn't people have deadlines and exams to prepare for then to hound you down to talk about your fake love life? Alhaitham is no help either, only shrugging off your complaints and telling you that this is what you agreed to.

He's a horrible partner, fake or not. This isn't your storybook romance where he suddenly falls in love with you, he straight up ignores you sometimes! If anything, this entire situation has stopped you from feeling intimidated by him. Before you wouldn't dare approach him, his appearance and body were enough for you to shy away. You're impulsive, not blind. Alhaitham is drop-dead gorgeous but now that you've reached such an absurd situation it stops intimidating you. You begin to regularly pester the man because you know that even though you're both not actually dating, it would look really bad if he shunned you constantly.

He actually doesn't mind you. Unlike Kaveh or anyone else who interacts with him, you know how to be quiet and independent. Most of the time you both sit in silence, the only noise between the two of you being the flipping of pages and the scratching of ink against paper. If you ever do speak, it's always with a purpose. It's just a bonus that while everyone stares at your table, no one ever approaches. If they need to speak with him, they see your body right next to him and they decide to come back at a later time when he's alone.

Over time, he finds himself seeking you out instead of the other way around. He's come to find your presence comforting and it's the only time when he can actually sit down and read. Being an observant person, he starts to notice your little habits. For one, touch seems to be how you interact with others. You always bump elbows whenever you greet him, pinching his half coat whenever you want to drag him to see whatever captured your attention, and nudging his arm with your hand whenever you need him to bend down so you can whisper something into his ear. He's honestly surprised and concerned that he doesn't push you away with your skinship. If it were anyone else, he would have sent them a sharp glare and pushed him off but he doesn't for you.

All things must come to an end eventually and you've finally finished writing the last sentences for your thesis. Your pat on the back is the firm shut of a book as a deep sigh escapes your lips. Tired but relieved. The goodbye is uneventful, you simply tell him that you don't need him to pretend to be your boyfriend and he's free to live out the single life. He just nods and with that, you're gone.

No one says anything when they notice that Alhaithem sits at a table alone for the nth time that week. There are a few whispers back and forth about how you either got fed up with this attitude or he realized that he was way out of your league. Either way, everyone assumes you and Alhaithem are no longer together and his routine before you arrived settles back in. Yet, he feels off. He refuses to call it longing, you both were hardly affectionate in the first place, but he feels a bit lonely without your presence beside him. it's been plaguing his mind ever since you packed your things and left. He's hardly been able to concentrate on his book, rereading the same sentence for the fourth time before snapping it shut. Letting out a deep sigh, he runs a hand through his hair before setting it against his closed eyes. What's gotten into him?

"Is this seat taken?"

His eyes shoot open, turning around to see you with an armful of books looking expectantly at him. You look nervous and he can't lie to himself that he doesn't find that just the slightest bit endearing. He can tell that you're struggling to carry all of them from the slight shake in your hands.

"I thought our deal was over?" he says this but he gets up anyways to take the books out of your hands and places them on the table. You just roll your eyes at him because of course that's what he would say first and push forward. You're probably the only one who would act so brazenly in front of him besides Kaveh but he doesn't find it irritating when you do it.

"What? So I need to be in a relationship with you just to sit at a table? I know your ego is big but not thattt big," you stretch your words as you settle comfortably into your seat.

He wonders when he started thinking of that specific chair as yours.

"No. I suppose not," he says with an exasperated smile as he sits back down. You beam back at him as you shuffle your chair closer to him as you open your textbook, your fingertips gave that familiar tug for him to lean in closer.

"Good, because I need some help with this section. I have no idea what the hell "bloom" is."

Ayato

Although Valentine's day was mostly celebrated in Mondstadt and Sumeru, Inazuma still liked to dabble in the festivities during the day of love. Various couples' discounts on tricolored Dango or limited edition books from the Yae Publishing House. There was one popular series in particular that was having a huge discount to celebrate the holiday and even though you weren't in the market for a partner, you weren't going to pass up on such a steal. Only for your excitement to fall flat when the lady informed you that the discount was for couples only.

You can't believe this. You just stood in line for hours only for them to tell you this now? What kind of shady place was this? Of course, they didn't advertise the specifics of this sale, they knew this book was popular. People waiting in line wouldn't just walk away once they found out and they would end up paying full price! Well, two can play this game. You randomly gesture off to the side, saying that your boyfriend was just standing off to the side because he wanted to grab some refreshments. You aren't really looking where you're pointing, too busy digging through your pouch and counting your coins of mora before a sharp gasp stops you. The lady quickly bows and beams at you with a mega-watt customer service smile. She hands the book to you free of charge while profusely thanking you for your patronage. You look off to the side but you don't see anyone, but you weren't going to say no, so you shrug and take it. A free book is a free book.

To be fair, you were making it really easy for the Archons to mess with you. You hear whispers around you that you can't make out, anytime you glance at passing people, they quickly bow and shuffle along. You have a horrible sinking feeling forming in the pit of your stomach and you quickly rush home so you can avoid whatever the hell you just caused. Unfortunately, word travels fast in Inazuma, and every shop you pass by you're being confronted left and right with sales pitches and gifts of appreciation for your partner's hard work. All of which you decline, half of it because you're not actually in a relationship and the other half because you have no interest in their gifts. But you've already dug yourself this far in your grave so you just give a hasty no thank you as you try and dodge everyone who looks at you with that glimmer in their eyes. Who did you point at to receive this much praise?

Ayato is greatly confused when people approach him to congratulate him on his engagement. He wasn't planning on getting married any time soon, his duties as the Yashiro Commissioner taking up most of this time. Did the elders set someone up for him without informing him first? He's curious about who his mystery person is but everyone he asks doesn't seem to know where they went. Apparently, his fiancee is shy but humble, declining gifts from various shopkeepers no matter how expensive they are.

That's until one of the children points in your direction and his eyes slide over to you who looks just as confused as him. He's never seen you in his life and you don't look like anyone from a significant clan. He gets clued in that you boldly announced your relationship with him when you were checking out a specific book meant for couples only. Ah, he's starting to understand now. He offers a piece of candy for the helpful information as he makes his way over to you. His mysterious fiancee.

As soon as the man in front of you says Lord Kamisato's name, the uneasy weight in your stomach drops. You quickly spin on your heel to see the pale blue hair and amused light purple eyes. Oh. Oh, Archon's above, please, out of everyone you could have pointed to, please don't make it be the Yashiro Commissioner. You're about to burn this book into ashes and do a ceremony to banish whatever youkai were stored within the pages if you manage to make it out of this alive.

If Ayato was upset about this situation he's found himself in, it would be immediately wiped away because you look like you're about to collapse. He's trying his best to not laugh at your torment right in front of you, but the mix of emotions that's so openly displayed on your face is making it hard. It's obvious that you didn't mean for this to happen, you've just tripped and fallen into a web of misunderstandings. Too entangled to explain yourself without making a fool out of yourself.

If looks could kill, this storekeeper would be dead on the floor twice over. This man calls out to the Yashiro Commissioner, and just to add salt to the wound, proudly congratulates him on his engagement with you. You said nothing about an engagement, you're far too young to be thinking about that thank you very much. But Ayato just nods along with that ever-pleasant smile without bothering to correct the situation. You're not sure if you should be thankful or not. He might be planning your murder in his mind so you stay silent as well.

When Ayato's gaze shifts to you, you do what any creature does when they're in danger and there's nowhere to run. You hide. You automatically raise your book to cover your face so you don't need to look at the source of your embarrassment. Although it does nothing to hide just how red your face is, you don't see him and that's good enough for you. But this also means you don't see the questioning glance the storekeeper shoots Ayato about your behavior, to which Ayato gives a pleasant smile and waves a hand to dismiss the situation.

"Please excuse my fiancee, we didn't mean to announce our engagement so early," Ayato muses, and the storekeeper nods in understanding while you bring your book down low enough to peer over the edges of the pages. Is...is he covering for you? He looks down expectantly at you but when you don't move, he awkwardly coughs into his fist and tilts his head toward the shopkeeper.

"A-Ah yes, that's right! It was a slip of the tongue and I hadn't realized I said it out loud. Please excuse my behavior," you bow and you can hear Ayato turning his head to snort into his hand. This is awful. You think you would prefer if he just outted you so you didn't need to show the world how awful your acting skills are. This is why you read plays, not star in them. But the shopkeeper nods in understanding, apologizing for saying your engagement so loud for others to hear before you're leaving with Ayato's arm wrapped around your waist.

"I'm deeply sorry. There was a discount for couples only and I just pointed in a random direction and it just happened to land on you. I swear I didn't mean to start any of this," you quickly rush out as you bow before Ayato as soon as you're out of sight from the public eye. He still has that annoying look in his eyes but you're completely at his mercy right now. The smug bastard definitely knows that.

"It's no trouble at all. I found the situation quite entertaining," he chuckles before looking you up and down. Okay...a tiny bit weird but you suppose your actions are worse. There's a long silence between the two of you as if he's pondering something and you've had enough of today's events.

"Um...well if that's everything I'll be getting out of your hair. Please enjoy the rest of your day Lord Kamisato," you mumble as you turn to leave but his hand hooks onto the back of your kimono and drags you right back.

"Ah, ah. It would make a bad impression if my fiancee suddenly left me on Valentine's Day. Oh and please, call me Ayato," he smiles that same polite smile but his eyes tell a different story entirely. His smile even widens at how hard you're biting your lip as you match his with a strained one. For Archon's sake, you just wanted to buy a book, how did you get into this mess?!

Kazuha

As soon as Inazuma's borders reopened, you were jumping on the fastest ship back to Liyue. You even got extra lucky that your good friend Beidou happened to be on the pier and offered you a well-deserved ride back to your home free of charge. You've been so homesick but unable to leave due to the regulation the Electro Archon placed, so to say that you were excited to finally go back was an understatement. Although the Crux Fleet was mainly an armed carrier delivering goods between places separated by sea, it did occasionally transport passengers if they paid enough. It only made sense that others would be like you and wish to return home as soon as possible. It's too bad that one of them happened to take one look at you and decide that you were born to be his.

It's an incredibly awkward affair. This wealthy businessman doesn't appear to mean any harm but he's incredibly dense with no sense of social awareness. Although you've politely declined his advances, he doesn't seem to stop. Even when Beidou herself threatens to throw the man overboard, he just keeps his distance and makes heart eyes at you. Unfortunately for you, Beidou can't actually throw him into the cruel watery depths no matter how much you plead with her. The man seems to be an important figure from Snezhnaya so she can't exactly treat him badly. Thus you spend most of your time ducking away and running away from your creepy admirer.

You're usually not so bold but the mix of overwhelming homesickness and just wanting to get this journey over and done with, all of it compels you to act rashly. If your new admirer can't take a simple no then you'll find a different way and show him you're off limits. You've seen the man who sits on the crow's nest, you believe Beidou said his name was Kazuha, whose been a part of her crew for a while now. You've only made passing small talk with each other and he seems like a nice person, at least you hope so. Because as soon as his feet touch the ship's deck, you're throwing yourself at him. You have to give him credit, he has lightning-fast reflexes and is a lot stronger than his demeanor expresses since he manages to catch you and stop you both from sprawling across the floor.

You make a show of throwing your arms around him and whining about how he doesn't spend enough time with poor dear you. You can tell he's infinitely confused so you lean in and whisper into his ear about your creepy stalker who can't take a no. Your eyes desperately plead with him to play along with you, just until the ship reaches Liyue Harbour. It only takes Kazuha to look over your shoulder and lock gazes with said "stalker" before he's turning to you with the most tender smile on his lips and a soft apology for being neglectful. A promise to spend more quality time to make up for his behavior. You swear that should have been an omen because you feel your heart stop for a second right then and there.

It's not completely out there. As the lookout, he would have to stay up in the crow's nest most of the day, and given how soft spoken Kazuha normally is, he doesn't look like the confrontational type. But he does make good on his fake promise and you find yourself spending most of your time in the crow's nest with Kazuha rather than ducking into the shadows of the lower deck. Kazuha is a relaxing presence and you can understand why he stays up here rather than with the rest of the crew. The gentle sea breeze brushes through your hair and it's so peaceful all the way up in the sky. You're almost jealous that he has an anemo vision because you think you'd love to stay in the winds forever.

He's also a gentleman through and through. You're not entirely sure if he's just pretending alongside you or if that's just how he normally acts. You think both options are equally plausible and endearing. At some point, you forget that you're supposed to be doing this for show to keep a creepy man away from you and you genuinely start to seek him out. It's during one night when you watch Kazuha whistle a tune through a leaf that you realize just how deep you're in. Now your position is reversed and you start to feel like the creepy heart-eyed stalker. It's something that you must absolutely not let happen, not on your watch.

Your sudden distance from Kazuha leaves him a bit hurt. He knows that this originally started as an act but he felt that you and him were getting close to each other without any ulterior motives. That all your talks of your dreams and aspiration were real and meaningful. But now that you've suddenly pulled back, he question's if everything was made up in his head. It's not like you owe him anything, he decided to help you out from of his own volition. Beidou can only look at this scene painfully at her two idiotic friends pushing themselves away from each other because they can't sit down and talk it out.

She drags the two of you into a private room, her only warning to fix your emotional angst or she really will throw you both overboard. You both know she's entirely serious so you both obediently nod as she slams the door closed.

Beidou leans against the wooden crates with her head propped up with her arm. She should probably stop watching, she's being far too nosy with her friend's love life, but what kind of friend would she be if she wasn't? She hopes you both managed to talk it out and realize that you're both crushing hard on each other. She had been far too busy with Liyue fastly approaching to check in on your progress but from the looks of things, she thinks everything went well. With the red cheeks and your fingertips linked together, it's so cute that she wants to gag on her wine. Don't get her wrong, she's happy for you and Kazuha, but any more of this puppy love is going to send her into an early grave.

"You're not going to stay in Liyue?" she overhears you say. Huh? She honestly thought that Kazuha might pitch a tent and finally settle down with you but the small shake of his head and your fallen expression says otherwise. Damn, talk about a heartbreaker. But he gives you a soft expression, something really vulnerable, and his hand comes up to caress your cheek- and that's her cue to turn away. That's something that even she knows she shouldn't be watching. She instead takes another swig of her cup.

"Captain."

She looks up to see Kazuha standing beside her, the air of nature and sea breeze clinging to him wherever he goes. She politely doesn't bring up the charm clutched tightly in his hands.

"You sure about this kid?" Beidou asks, her eyes still trained on her empty cup of booze. She doesn't need to look to know that he's watching your back disappear into the crowd longingly.

"If I try to force something I know I'm not ready to finish, it would only lead to disaster. Right now isn't the right time. But I'm sure in the future, our paths will cross again," Kazuha nods to himself solemnly. This time Beidou does look at him before she shows a fond smile herself before she brings her arm back and slaps it against Kazuha's back. It's loud and hard enough to jolt him out of his temporary sadness.

"If you ever need a ride back to Liyue, just let me know. We'll get you there in no time lover boy," Beidou grins cheekily as Kazuha flushes a bright red. How cute, he can't even be honest with himself huh?

Genshin Impact Masterlist

♥WHO YOU PRETEND I AM (Zhongli x fellow god! reader) (cw:  mentions of violence and blood, character death (not reader) and self-deprecating feelings)

SAGAU

♥TEYVAT’S WEILDER

(series, Rejected! God! Darling who has a strong connection with Teyvat)

Part 1 

Part 2 

Part 3

Part 4 

Part 5 

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

♥ THE CARESS OF FREEDOM (Venti x reader)

♥FREEDOM'S WINGS (Venti x reader part 2)

♥ THE FATED THREE (Consort! Zhongli, Ayaka and Diluc x reader)

♥ETERNALLY YOURS (Ei x reader)

♥THE BLAZE OF KINDNESS (Thoma x reader)

♥WHISPERS OF THE WIND (Kaedehara Kazuha x reader)

♥THE FIRSTBORN (imposter! albedo x reader)

♥SUBJECT 2 SAVING YOU  (imposter! albedo x reader) (cw: mention of injuries)

♥BEGGING FOR UNATTAINABLE FOTGIVENESS (Archons x reader) (cw: angst, slight mention of injuries)

♥TEYVAT’S WORSHIP HEADCANONS (+ KLEE HCS)

♥WARM AS THE ICE AND SNOW (Fatui villain au) (cw mention of injury, trauma)

♥The archons (+ Travelers) when someone insults their Creator

♥ MESSENGER OF THE STARS (word vomit exploring the relationship between Celestia and the Creator a bit)

♥ More about envoy of clestia

(+amazing art of the envoy)

♥OF GENTLE BREEZES AND TOUGH HEARTS (Xiao x reader) (cw: injury, blood)

♥OF WARM BREEZES AND SOFTENED HEARTS (Xiao x reader par 2)

♥ALWAYS FAITHFUL, THE ADEPTI (Xiao and Ganyu x reader)

♥IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE (Yanfei x reader)

Zhongli

series:

♥THE DRAGON, THE KNIGHT, THE LOVER  (Zhongli x reader)

♥REBORN FROM THE ASHES (Zhongli x reader)

♥THE HEART OF A DRAGON (Zhongli x reader)

♥AN UNWELCOME AMBUSH (Zhongli x reader)

♥ TAMING THE DRAGON (Zhongli x reader)

♥ THE DESIRES OF A DRAGON (Zhongli x reader) (NSF/T) (same au as the series)

♥ AFTERGLOW OF THE DRAGON (Zhongli x reader) (suggestive) (AU sidestory)

♥ A DIVINE GIFT (Zhongli x pregnant reader) (AU sidestory)

♥ COMFORT (Zhongli x AFAB reader on their period)

Ok so like first off hello, how are you? And um second, could you do a kazuha oneshot of where he finds God reader first in the Imposter AU? Like he finds them all bruised and like ready to pass out while he was wandering around Liyue and when he finds them, he can hear the wind just whispering “It’s them” or “that’s our creator, help them” (since he’s really in tune with it) and he takes care of them. At some point when we trust him enough, he just brings us to Beidou’s ship and gains the crews trust and belief of being the actual creator over time since a lot of good stuff happens to the crew ever since we/the reader got on the Alcor (ex: the ship barely or hasn’t had any bad encounters at sea or they find lots of treasure easily). Sorry if it was a bit confusing but I hope it’s enough! Take care!

Whispers of the wind

ohhh I love this idea! Kazuha is certainly super in tune with the wind, so he'd definitely be among those that recognizes the creator imo!

And thank you! I've been good! I've caught a little cold I think but nothing that'll knock me down too bad thankfully! I hope you're doing well!

PS: I am not VERY knowledgeable about Kazuha's personality (i read up all there is about him and listened to all his voice lines though) but I tried my best asdfghj I hope you enjoy! <3

Length: 3.7 k

cw: descriptions of injury, self-deprecation

All his life - he'd allowed the world to take him where it pleased. His heart a lone survivor floating in the ocean of the world, the winds tossing him about - always adrift. Always with his gaze on the horizon. Perhaps it was from lack of fertile soil to sink his roots into - he'd been quite young when his clan finally fell apart after years of fighting against the current of wind that was fate.

And he did not mind.

A life of wandering was not a curse in his eyes - nor was it lonely. He'd made many friends along his travels, and he was never alone when the wind and you were with him.

There had been a time, when his outlook was much bleaker - when he had almost given up on the joys of life - Tomo's loss had struck a deep, ever bleeding wound into his heart.

He changed, that day. But still, he carried on.

So, when the winds yet again called to him in an enticing siren-song - calling him away from his journey towards a new destination - he was quick to follow. If there was one thing he could always rely on - it was the winds of Teyvat.

The springtime in Liyue was always beautiful. Even with no roof over his head on most days - and during the times spent on the run from the Vision hunt decree - he always had time to admire it -so very different from his own homeland, yet much alike it too.

Beautiful petals and leaves of red and rose - fluttering adrift in the air, peaceful - floating as freely as he did once his travels first began. The floral scents in the air as he traversed through the wilderness of Liyue. Yaoguang Shoal was much like the islands within the waters of his home. It was peaceful.

Until it wasn't.

The tinge of electro within the air - barely noticeable to the ordinary human, but burning and bitter to him. The calls of the wind became urgent - no longer gently inviting him along - it was pleading for him to hurry where they led.

And he was quick to do so.

The sight was gruesome, to say the least. The shallow waters on the shoreline - sparks flying off it as it acted as a conduit for the electro flowing through it. Shards of rock formations - undoubtedly the remnants of a geo-attack, spiking up from the ground.

Drag marks emerging from the waters - leading towards a hidden away little alcove of a cave. The coppery substance shimmering upon the sand - wetting and darkening it as it clumped together.

The winds were no longer whispering - they were screaming.

And there - barely hidden by the cliffs - he found you, crumpled on the ground - your clothes soaked and torn - the edges of the cuts upon it burnt to a crisp - while the dampness upon you had crystalized away into ice, melting away slowly.

The Cor Lapis cast a gentle, golden glow upon you - he could not even recognize you by sight alone, at first - but the winds around him, desperately edging him towards your insured frame, they were desperate for him to know.

Desperate enough to force him onto his hands and knees - crawling towards you with his weapon long discarded.

When he saw your face - wet sand clumping to it, seeping into fresh cuts painfully - so familiar, yet so wrong, he was startled. The curve of your lips - the arch of your brows - every last detail so much like his god that he did not know what to do with himself.

The Creator needs your help. The winds whispered to him.

Your eyes, tired and scared, stared into his. You were clearly past the point of exhaustion - no longer able to force your broken body to run. You exhaled a dry sob - contrasted by the water flowing out of your lungs as you coughed soon after.

His eyes tracked the coppery substance upon the sand. Scooping it up with his fingers -seeing the golden shimmer upon it. The blood of a god - tinging the sands copper with its golden flow.

There was so much of it.

The entire beach had been peppered with pools of it.

He'd heard the rumors of the one pretending to be the Creator - condemned to death by all. Wanted for their crimes - to pay, to suffer.

Yet you were, indeed, the real deal, were you not?

The winds themselves hammered it into his heads - surely, they could not lie?

Not when you bled blood so gold, and were too much like the Creator to be a cheap imitation?

He inched closer, and you closed your eyes - screwed them shut as to not bear witness to whichever means he'd use to end your life.

Kazuha felt his own heart bleed in tandem with your gaping wounds.

He dared not move you - you were fragile enough as you were. But he needed to do something.

So, he built a fire -to keep your shivering form from succumbing to the coldness seeping into you from your dampened clothes. He scrambled up a quick concoction for you to eat - a broth, warm and not too demanding for you to consume. All the while, you watched him with eyes untrusting. Shivered and fought with the aches of your wounds and the fever creeping its way into your body - only managing to weaken your body more.

"Drink, please - you'll need it to recover," were the first words he spoke to you - holding a bowl of steaming broth out to you. You gazed at it, finally feeling the hunger gnawing in your stomach - how long had you gone without food now? Much too long.

With a weak, shaking hand, you took the bowl - your fingers brushing against Kazuha's. Your skin - cold as ice - sent a shiver through him, but he reacted not, allowing you to take the bowl without spilling a droplet.

You shifted slightly, so you could rest your back against the rocks in a somewhat weak imitation of sitting.

"Why aren't you killing me already?" your voice was small, hoarse - and resigned. Your gaze lingered on the sword discarded on the sand - untouched by the wandering Samurai.

"I wouldn't be so foolish as to go against the wishes of the wind itself."

You met his red eyes - a beautiful hue of of wine - of the fluid that flowed through every body - even yours, when you were still in your home world.

"You'd surely be rewarded handsomely for your heroic deed of killing me," you murmured, taking a sip of the broth - feeling its comforting warmth trickle down your throat and heat up your insides. Despite the minimal ingredients, it tasted wonderful.

Perhaps, it was the desperate hunger clawing inside you, that though that, but you cared little, eagerly downing the liquid as though it was your last meal.

It very well could be.

"I care little for monetary rewards or praise sung - if they are gifted to me for the greatest crime against Teyvat." His voice was determined - yet soothing. Finally, something not aimed at you with intent to hurt. Intent to kill.

You smiled bitterly.

"I doubt anyone else would agree. They seem pretty convinced that my existence is a crime against Teyvat. For whatever reason." Your words were bitter and hallow, despite the grimace on your bruised face.

Kazuha frowned.

It was strange, seeing how someone's spirit could be crushed to smithereens. And stranger yet, how familiar of a sight it was to bear witness to.

"Please, allow me to help with your wounds, your Grace," he offered, eyeing the nasty looking bruises and hidden gashes upon your form. The salty waters of the sea - or grinding irritation of the sand seeping into them could not be pleasant, he imagined.

You sighed, but nodded. There was little you could do for yourself in this state - so all you could do was to place yourself upon the wandering samurai's hands - hoping he would not betray you like every other character you had come across.

It seemed too good to be true.

His hands - gently cleansing away your wounds with a shred of cloth from his own robes, dabbing at them with feathery touches to erase away the dirt clogging up within them.

You wondered, bitterly - when he would inevitably snatch up his sword and drive it through your chest with a cruel grin - demeaning you as life bled out of you.

But the sword remained untouched for the rest of the night.

Come morning sun - casting an orange glow upon the glimmering waters - your fever would be slowly, but surely retreating and your wounds would ache a little less.

The hours slipped away, as he spoke in a soft voice - of his travels, tales of the sea and stars - anything that came to mind. You found yourself grateful for it. It kept your mind off of the harsh reality, if only for a short while.

"Your Grace. I have done all I can for you at the moment, but I fear you will need more professional care. A change of clothes and something soft to rest on would be nice too, wouldn't it?"

You were too exhausted and worn out to argue as he supported your weaker frame - pulling you up and into his arms.

You sighed.

Would he deliver you to your doom, now?

It wasn't such a bad way to go, you supposed. He had lent your final hours some comfort, at least, and he hadn't been cruel. You could almost accept death if it was offered to you like this.

So, you allowed him to carry you away, closing your eyes as you rested your head against his chest, breathing in the subtle scent of lavender melons and naku weeds that clung to his robes. It felt nice to relax - to accept death.

Perhaps you should have done this sooner.

Death did not come, as you were to find out once you regained consciousness once more.

The ground beneath you swayed, ever so slightly - making you wonder if you were still out of it - as it certainly should not be doing that.

You found yourself atop a small mattress - thin, but still providing protection from the wooden floors beneath you. You were also quite...surprised to find your dirty clothes discarded on the floor beside you, and your half-bare body covered in gauze and bandages. The whiteness of the materials was tainted by a light shade of bronze, glimmering when the light peeking in through the small window hit it.

You crawled off the mattress and stumbled over to the window - only to be met with planes of blueish green waves meeting a light, clear sky above.

You were on the Alcor.

You staggered back onto your mattress, sitting down on it and staring at your surroundings in shock.

Why were you on the Alcor?

You strained to remember anything that could hint at it, only to draw blanks.

Until, it hit you.

Kazuha.

Just as you managed to connect the dots, the door was quietly opened - and the man himself rushed in as he saw you, up and awake as you were.

"Your Grace!" he rushed to your side, dropping the pile of cloth he'd been holding onto the mattress beside you. His gentle hands checked your injuries as you watched him in a daze. A fog was still upon your mind, clouding your judgement and slowing your actions.

"I'm glad you're awake, at last," he told you, holding your limp hand in between his as he stared into your eyes.

"At...last?" you managed to stammer out.

He nodded.

"The healers kept giving you herbs and teas that prolonged your sleep - to make your recovery easier," he glanced away, noticing your barely clothed form. "And to make sure you weren't in pain," he added, biting his lip. He grabbed the pile of clothing he'd brought with him.

"I figured you'd need something to wear, considering yours aren't in a great state - so I brought you some of mine." He rose to his feet and turned his back towards you as to not look.

"I'll let you get changed. You can meet me and the captain on deck once you're done."

"Okay...thank you," you muttered, and with that, the man was gone.

He seemed to be oddly nervous - perhaps it was embarrassment from seeing you in such a state? Or embarrassment over potentially embarrassing you?

You shrugged it off and dug into the pile. You'd find something to wear, hopefully.

In the end, you had slipped on a light nagagi, a pair of black hakama and a dark haori with crimson embroideries of maple leaves upon it. You slid on the sandals provided to you - and with a bit of stumbling and the grace of a newborn foal - managed to clamber up to the deck.

The gentle breeze wafted a wave of salt into your nostrils, reminding you that you were indeed, now sailing the seas. Scanning your surroundings, you could only barely make out the foggy visage of a city you were getting further and further from.

"Your Grace!" you heard the familiar voice of Kazuha call out to you.

You noticed him stood by the edge of the deck, leaning upon the railing with Captain Beidou stood beside him. You took in a shaky breath before approaching, the limp in your step and occasional flashes of pain within your eyes not going unnoticed by either.

You rest against one of the nearby beams, catching your breath. Walking was still quite straining despite how much better your wounds looked.

Beidou offered you one of her genuine smiles.

"Welcome to the Alcor, (Name)," she greeted you, not addressing you as formally as Kazuha was apparently hellbent on doing. The fair haired shorter man shot her a pointed look - which she ignored.

She had been well aware of the search for this so-called imposter. Ningguang had even asked her to keep an eye out, so that they may be brought to justice.

But there was no justice in what the world was doing to you, not in her eyes.

God or not - you were clearly weaker than your opponents, and very much unaware of what you'd even done wrong. And as Beidou she knew all too well what being prosecuted for something you are unable to change about yourself felt like.

There was no justice in beating an innocent person simply born with the face of the Creator to death. No dignity or justice in that.

So she was quick to offer her assistance, when Kazuha sauntered aboard with you - passed out and injured - in his arms.

"We won't rat you out to anyone, don't worry. I'm sure we can figure out this situation somehow without the use of violence," she told you.

You simply nodded and thanked her, before she was gone once more - off to do her duty as the captain.

Kazuha slid next to you.

"Your Grace? Are you hungry?" he asked, concern upon his usually composed face.

You shrugged.

"I guess. I'm mostly just...dizzy."

He nodded.

"Must be the aftermath of the medicine," he stated, before gently leading you to the lower decks once more to find the kitchen.

There, with access to more ingredients, he managed to whip up a tasty salad for you - something light and fresh for you, to avoid possible nausea.

For a brief moment, as he fed you small bites of the dish, ever so delicate with you, you wondered if you truly had died and ended up in heaven.

Your days onboard the Alcor passed quicker than you would have thought - with the soothing presence of Kazuha beside you, you were often supplied with gentle words - snippets of poetry the man composed at times. At night - he would tell you of the stars above if he caught your gaze upon them, his voice far off and immersed in the tales.

You had feared seasickness, at first - but the waters remained crystal clear and smooth while you were onboard. Not a single storm, or even dark cloud in the sky dared to approach your companions.

The crew was kind - tending to you as you healed, and more than a few of them had taken to Kazuha's tendency to call you by strange titles - especially after yo managed to accidentally slice your finger while helping out on deck - spilling blood as golden as the shimmering treasure they hunted upon the wooden floors.

The crew and their captain were quick to notice the changes your presence brought onboard. The lack of any bad luck or weather - the bountiful treasures they found, easier than ever before. It was as though the world itself cradled you gently, providing for you and those around you.

Sickness was almost vanquished from the crew - no viruses spreading from visiting distant lands - nor had they had to encounter enemies to fight.

Over time, even the ever skeptical Beidou came to accept, that there was no doubt about your identity - leaving you as the only one not truly believing in such a thing.

On occasion, when the Alcor docked in harbors, you were obviously left onboard - hidden away from prying eyes for your own safety. You didn't mind much at first, but over time, you began to miss the land - the bustling streets you'd wonder as one of the many characters, and the adventure of the wilderness.

It was another such occasion - the crew off to stock up on food and water, you in your lavish cabin - the mattress long replaced with something more comfortable, and many treasures decorating the small space - gifts from the crew.

You gazed out of the small window with a sigh. For the umpteenth tine, you wished you had simply been born with a different face.

Sluggishly, you wondered over to the small mirror hanging up on one of the walls, taking in the sight of your cursed image.

The exhaustion - and injuries, were fading away - but all you could see was the face of the being that had condemned you to a life on the run from your favorite characters from your favorite game - something that used to comfort you as you slipped away from your worries behind a computer screen.

You traced the lines of your face, a frown forming upon your features.

You hated it.

You were too distracted by the darkness enveloping your mind to notice the dark clouds beginning to gather outside - premonitions of an upcoming storm. Too busy to hear the knock upon your door or the commotion beginning to form in Liyue harbor as citizens watched Teyvat's beautiful blue skies bleed into a bitter, angry ash.

Your nails dug into the wretched flesh, ignoring the gold beginning to pool under the pressure of the sharpness.

A gentle hand upon your shoulder shook you out of your thoughts.

"Your Grace?"

Kazuha.

You turned to face him, seeing his shocked expression morph into worry as he examined the golden welts upon your cheeks.

Without thinking, he leaned in closer, his eyes wide with concern.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, using the sleeve of his robes to dab away at the shimmering beads upon your face.

You stared at him in a daze.

"Your Grace?"

You lowered your eyes.

"No."

"Huh?" he frowned, watching crystal teardrops pool within your eyes.

"I'm not...alright, Kazuha," you whispered, placing your hand upon his delicately.

"I hate this cursed face. It's brought me nothing but pain and scorn in this world!" You stepped away from him, whipping around to face the mirror. In a quick, irrational moment, you ripped it off the wall and slammed it onto the floor with a crash - sending shards flying across the room.

You released a quiet sob after a moment of silence, watching gold drip down your leg - from where a shard had nicked you.

Kazuha slowly lowered himself to one knee, gently wiping away the blood from the small scrape.

"How could you say that, your Grace?" he spoke quietly, an uncharacteristic unsteadiness to his voice.

"Because it's true," you answered, bitterness oozing from your words.

Kazuha rose to his feet once more and gently stroked your cheek with his knuckles.

"But your face is divinity itself. Were you even a mere human like me - I would be brought to my knees at the sight of its beauty."

You sniffled pathetically, lips quirking upwards in a tired smile.

"Always a poet, Kazuha."

He chuckled, the sound airy. It was as though the veil of tension had been eased off of the two of you ever so slightly, giving you room to breathe.

"That is my calling, I suppose," he replied, sighing in relief at the smile on your lips, however small it was.

You exhaled, tired. With a moment of hesitation, you stepped closer to him and rested your forehead upon his shoulder, placing your hand on his other.

He gently pushed a strand of your hair away from your face.

"I'm so tired of being on the run, Kazuha," you spoke quietly, voice muffled slightly by his clothing.

"I know. But try to think of it as...wandering, your Grace." He smiled, brows still tilted downwards in a hint of a frown.

You hummed quietly.

"Wandering, like you?"

He nodded.

"A wandering God and their faithful wandering samurai - awaiting the day the world repents for their crimes against them."

You laughed dryly.

"I think I like the sound of that."

He placed his face upon your head, inhaling your familiar, lovely scent.

"I think I do too, your grace."

And at least at that moment - as you held the man who had saved you and given you a new life aboard the Alcor, you felt a flicker of hope within you.

Hope that things would be okay, one day.

If you're interested in the concept of pre-trauma Wanderer/Scaramouche, this might be for you!

Note: This is a found-family series with Scaramouche, who you address as Kuni in this AU! Mostly meant to be interpreted as platonic.

Part 1: Prologue

By which you’re going about your normal day irl, and a certain character from genshin gets isekaied into your world...

Part 2: Assimilation

After meeting Kuni, you both try to settle into a new normal.

Part 3: Everyday Things

A little splash of colour is added to your days, sometimes in the form of flowers, and maybe even a new feline friend.

Part 4: Sick Day

Kuni feels a little downcast when reminded about going back to his world, however any thoughts about that are quickly washed away when you get a fever (reader is sick, but it’s nothing too serious! He gets worried, though.)

Part 5: Finale

Now that you've recovered from your cold, the both of you venture to a village in the outskirts for a weekend trip. (Bittersweet ending, but a sequel will be added in the future!)

tbd.

I just finished an exam this late night, onsite. I failed it. my last hope in passing the subject. I want to cry but I don't want my family to know how much of a disappointment I've been. I studied all night and got only maybe two to three hours of sleep, then during my seven-hour vacant, I studied as well. guess those were not enough.

my head hurts, I wanna rest but my head is full of thoughts. I want a hug. I want to talk to my friends, but I don't want to bother them. am I being overdramatic??? sorry, I guess the stress from last night is getting on me.

I'm so tired tonight.