Childe X Reader - Tumblr Posts

(Sfw) How you spend time with each other in the winter

Characters: Aether, Ayato, Childe, Diluc, Xiao x GN!Reader

Warnings: Ayato is strong enough to catch you (canon tbh), Childe and you kiss but it doesn't get steamy, Xiao is strong enough to carry you (extremely canon tbh)

Notes: For aether's part, let's pretend that you can make it snow in a teapot 🫣 , милая means "darling"

WC: 1.8k words total

"Here you go love," Aether says, handing you a cup of hot cocoa. You smile at him and make room on the couch for him, opening up the giant fuzzy blanket for him to get under.

Aether had done a lot of commissions in the past week, leaving you two unable to spend a lot of time together. It made for some lonely nights, with you having to entertain yourself in the teapot. Today was different-- he had cleared all commissions early and let Jean know that any requests for him were to either be redirected to someone else or have to wait until another day. Today was focused on you, his lover. And he intended to keep it that way.

Once he got comfortable, you adjust so you can lean on him, resting your head on his shoulder. He gives you a kiss on your forehead and rubs your side, causing you to melt as you feel his calloused hands through your shirt. The fireplace was ablaze, warming the entire room up as you watch the snow fall outside.

"I missed this," you sigh, closing your eyes. He nods, taking a sip of his own mug.

"I did too."

In preparation for Christmas, you took it upon yourself as the Lady of the Estate to hang up decorations. Ayato and many of the other servants insisted it wasn't necessary, but you refused to sit by.

"I've decorated my house for years with my family. This will be no different," you explained a few days ago. He wanted to push back, but he figured that there was no harm. Besides, he couldn't deny that seeing the childlike wonder in your eyes from gathering Christmas decorations made him happy for you. This brings you to where you are today.

You were currently decorating the hallways of the estate with wreaths and garlands. Servants would come in throughout the process to drop off more decorations for you to use, or to offer snacks for both you and Ayato. With you on the ladder, everyone was slightly on edge about you falling down. With Ayato there to catch you though, they said nothing.

"Babe, can you pass me a wreath?" He looks up at you and nods, reaching down to grab a wreath from a crate and hand it to you. You thank him and shuffle around on the ladder step to hang it on the pillar, connecting it to some garland. You lean back a bit to admire your work, glancing down the hallway. It's nice to see it all come to fruition slowly. At this rate, it'd be decorated right before Christmas and before families would come over.

As you move to get down, you misstep, tripping on your own feet and falling off. You yelp in surprise and attempt to grab a ladder step, but your fingers just barely brush against it before you're out of reach. Ayato doesn't miss a beat and immediately rushes forward to catch you, gathering you in his arms. You immediately cling to his body, breathing heavily as the quick adrenaline rush you got from falling runs through your body.

Ayato shakes his head and carefully sets you down on the ground, making sure you're able to stand steadily.

"Why don't we take a break?" He suggests, carefully dusting off your clothes. You nod in agreement-- now was a good time for a break.

You and Childe decided to throw a holiday party back at his family house in Sneznyha. Many of the younger kids were running around, laughing, and sneaking cookies off of various trays. The adults were milling around, catching up, and enjoying the drinks all the while gossiping with each other. The energy was high and everyone was having a good time.

You take out the Coulibiac pie you were baking-- Childe's mother had given you the recipe and you wanted to attempt to make it. The smell of spices and baked meat floods the kitchen. It was enough to drag Childe away from wherever he was.

"It smells good, милая (darling)," he comments. You jump a bit in surprise, not expecting to hear anyone, but immediately relax as you feel his warm arms wrap around your waist. You can tell he's already had a bit to drink-- alcohol clings to his clothes like cologne. You wiggle out of his hold, earning a quiet whine.

"I'm glad you think so, but it's hot. I don't want to drop it or burn myself," you gently chide him, walking over to set down the pie on a cooling rack.

"But I miss you," he continues to whine. "You've been cooped up in here all night while the rest of us are out there."

You roll your eyes and flash him a cheeky grin, taking off your apron and setting it aside. You check your reflection in a nearby kitchen, making sure you still looked presentable as you dusted off any food that may have gotten on you.

"Alright, I'll get out there then," you decide, and he cheers, walking up to take your hand. You smile and cross the doorway to enter the living room. However, you don't get far before you feel a tug on your arm and you're pulled slightly back. Confused, you look at Childe.

"What's wrong, baby?" He points up, and you follow your gaze. There was mistletoe hanging over the doorway arch. Your cheeks warm up and you sputter, trying to get words out. Childe's grin widens as he gets closer and gently cups your face between his hands.

"Cat got your tongue, милая?"

You don't get a moment to respond as he leans down and brushes his lips against yours. Instincts take over and you're wrapping your arms around his neck.

When you told Diluc you wanted to bake, he was more than happy to encourage you to do so. Adelinde was surprised but was willing to take a break and have you work on Christmas desserts. You invited Diluc to join you and he agreed, assuming that the process would be calm and straightforward-- your confidence had him believe you had done this enough times to be neat.

He was quickly proven wrong when he stopped to take a look around the kitchen after you both had been baking for the past two hours. The dough was spilled on the counters, the icing was everywhere, and raw eggs and milk were spilled on the counters and in the sinks. It was truly a nightmare.

"You know, when you said you wanted to bake, I assumed that it would be a neater process," he confessed, turning to you. You look up from the cookies you were haphazardly decorating, smearing red icing on what Diluc can only assume was supposed to be a stocking.

"I never said I was the best baker, darling. I said I love baking," you explain. He sighs, nodding.

"I suppose that's right. Adelinde will kill us both and never let us back in the kitchen after this, I'm afraid.'

You giggle, shrugging your shoulders.

"That's alright. I wanted to just do this once, for Christmas. And I'm glad I got to do it with you."

Diluc's chest swells and his face reddens, matching his firey locks. You laugh at this and wave him over, holding up a cookie for him to try.

"C'mon, let's eat some of these before Adelinde gets on our cases."

Xiao didn't often go out and about the city-- he kept to himself mostly. He only appeared to those who called out his name, or when he was at Wangshu Inn to get some almond tofu and recuperate. So when you asked him to take a wall through Liyue Harbor, he hesitated.

"I don't want to cause a commotion for you. I'm an Adeptus, Y/N," he explains. You shrug and turn to grab your winter coat.

"Many of the people of Liyue remember when you and the other Adepti helped save the country from Osial. I can't blame them for getting excited at the prospect of seeing you in person," you counter. As you adjust your coat you look over at Xiao who gives you a pensive look. "If you don't want to come that's fine. I just wanted to ask because I thought it'd be fun!"

He stands there for a bit, watching you finish getting dressed. Just as you grab the door handle to open, he grabs your hand. Surprised, you look back at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes?" He's quiet, almost hesitating to speak.

"I'll come with," he decides. It's quiet for a bit, but slowly a smile breaks out across your face. You open the door and tug him out of your house, laughing.

"Then let's go!"

The day is spent walking around the harbor, talking to various shop owners, and trying out the hot and fresh street food various merchants were selling. You offer Xiao to try a steamed meat bun. He denies the offer at first but at your insistence, he takes a bite. The way his eyes light up as he eats was something you'll never forget. He had gotten excited and ended up devouring half of the bun before realizing you and the merchant were staring at him in amusement. He's quick to compose himself and shove the other half of the bun in your hands.

Xiao was hounded a bit, what with people recognizing him as one of the saviors of the harbor, but it didn't lessen your fun going out and about. It was fun to see him get embarrassed by all the well-deserved praise. By the end of your journey around the harbor, you had gotten tired and passed out on a bench while waiting for Xiao to finish talking with some kids. Noticing your slumped-over figure on the bench, he scoops you up into his arms and begins his journey back to your house. He easily could've teleported back, but he found that he enjoyed holding you like this.

"I want to enjoy this feeling a little longer."

The length of the sections does not indicate favoritism-- it's just how I ended up writing the scenarios.

If you want me to do other characters, you can ask ❤️

Requests are open~!

𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓑𝓮𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓭.... 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈’𝐒 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓..

© uvuyai 2024

This event will go on for the rest of February even if I'm not finished.

Side note [02/24/24] ~ this has been cancelled due to me being busy. If you'd like, you can request which ones you wanna see.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 ~ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑭𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒂 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 ) 𝐿𝒾𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇𝒾𝑒

–tw. girl cock, description of furina's cock, breeding, slight perv furina, sub x dom trope, overstimulation, MINORS DNI, creampie, riding, teasing, groping, reader is the same height as her, blow job, ooc furina, tit play, im sorry if you uncomfy with this,

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐 ~ 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 ) 𝒢𝒾𝒻𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐻𝓊𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 + 𝒯𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒰𝓅(not viewed as bondage)

–tw. Blood, skin carving, humiliation, skin writing, non-con, creampie, sadist!blade, spanking, porn with plot(maybe), size difference, stomach bulge, choking, overstimulation, possessive behaviors, blade is called ren, mentions of the hard R in the beginning, neglect, degradation, reader is blades reincarnated lover, prone bone, MINORS DNI, non consensual touching, nipple play, SW and Kafka is helping blade, headlocking, dub-con, blood,

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟑 ~ 𝒔𝒖𝒃!𝑵𝒆𝒖𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 ) 𝐹𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟒 ~ 𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆! 𝑾𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝐻𝒶𝓃𝒹𝒸𝓊𝒻𝒻𝓈

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟓 ~ 𝑫𝒂𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒏𝒈 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝐹𝑜𝓇𝒸𝒾𝓃𝑔

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟔 ~ 𝑱𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒀𝒖𝒂𝒏 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝐵𝑜𝓃𝒹𝒶𝑔𝑒

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟕 ~ 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝐹𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒫𝓁𝒶𝓎

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟖 ~ 𝒀𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆! 𝒁𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 ) 𝒩𝑜𝓃-𝒞𝑜𝓃

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟗 ~ 𝑺𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒚! 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 ) 𝒞𝑜𝓃𝒻𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟎 ~ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝒮𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓅 𝒪𝓃

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟏 ~ 𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒐 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝒟𝓊𝒷-𝒞𝑜𝓃

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟐 ~ 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝒲𝑜𝓂𝒷 𝐹𝓊𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟑 ~ 𝑲𝒂𝒛𝒖𝒉𝒂 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑺𝒊𝒄𝒌!𝒇𝒆𝒎!𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝐹𝑒𝒆𝓁 𝐵𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒩𝑜𝓉𝑒𝓈

–tw.

𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟒 ~ 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒙 𝒇𝒆𝒎! 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓) 𝑅𝒾𝒷𝒷𝑜𝓃 𝒲𝓇𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝒹

–tw.

Guarding your sleep

Okay, English is not my first language but i tried... So, if you’ll find any mistakes, please know that I’m sorry.

Summary: some sketches with genshin men in which the reader is very sleepy.

Albedo

He called you three times but you didn't answer. Albedo even got a little worried about why you weren't answering although that was quite understandable: it was already 2 a.m. when he finally freed himself and left the office. All this time you have been patiently waiting for him so that you can spend a little time together but the guy got too carried away. And now he found you sleeping in a chair. Judging by the not most comfortable position you fought sleepiness to the last but gave up.

Albedo grabbed you in his arms heading to the bed. You instinctively wrapped your arms around him and buried your face in his neck.

“The frogs' eyes glow if the wind aster pollen is dispelled above them.” He could hardly restrain himself from laughing at your sleepy delusions.  “You knew?”

“Yeah.” Albedo answered quietly.  “But for one frog it's time to sleep and not to glow with its eyes.”

“The eyes... are glowing. Can you imagine?” You yawned several times not paying any attention to his answer.

Albedo gently lowered your body onto a soft bed carefully covering it with a blanket.

“Good night, wind frog.” He left a soft kiss on your cheek.

Childe/Tartaglia

“I’m done, Childe, enough for today.” You exhaled sharply tossing your sword aside.

Lately you've been feeling disgusting. Your head was constantly spinning and body was so unpleasantly weak so it was hard even just to stand not to mention training.

“Give up so quickly?” Tartaglia was sincerely surprised at your behavior because usually you used to fight until both fell off your feet.

“Perhaps.” You squeezed out and went to the nearest tree to rest a little in its shade.

The rest of the Fatui recruits continued their training watching the Eleventh Harbinger follow his protégé. Rumors about your too close relations as for a student and a mentor have long been in the air but these were nothing more than the guesses of people poking their noses into other people's affairs.

“You've been looking bad lately.” Harbinger noticed sitting down next to you.

“Thanks a lot.” You barely grinned and closed your eyes. “The best compliment I have ever received.”

“Oh probably you don't hear them too often if this one’s the best.”

“That was sarcasm, Childe. I was kidding.” You said calmly.

Tartaglia said nothing only turned in your direction not hiding a smile when your head sank onto his shoulder. The silence that enveloped you was interrupted only by the sound of the blades of the recruits fighting nearby and the singing birds. How quickly will they spread the little news of the Harbinger and his ward sleeping peacefully in each other's arms?

Diluc

You’ve been sitting for the third hour over the report which was supposed to be on the Jean's table tomorrow. With all this turmoil around the Windblume festival you completely forgot about this report and now desperately sorted dozens of papers, checking numbers, dates and other things.

“I told you a long time ago that with this overtime work you’re going to take yourself to the grave.” Diluc stood in the doorway watching your indiscriminate searches for the necessary document with reproach.

“I know but I can't leave it all to Jean and Lisa.”

Noticing that you are yawning for the third time in a row, Diluc went to you in an attempt to persuade you to go to bed.

“Don’t you even try.” You have foreseen his intentions. “There’s a little left.”

“Do you understand that in such a state your attentiveness is so low, you will make a huge amount of mistakes and  tomorrow you’ll have to correct them whole morning?” He sat down next to you resting his head on yours and sighed heavily.

You winced at the realization that he was right. Biting your lips nervously you still wondered if you should follow his advice and go to sleep.

“But if so, I’ll have to get up much earlier tomorrow…”

“Instead you won’t die of overwork.”

“A worthy argument.” You smiled faintly stifling another yawn. “Perhaps you’re right.”

After kissing Diluc and wishing him good night you went to the bedroom wanting to be in bed as soon as possible. In the morning you will find a perfect report on the table along with neatly folded documents next to it as well as Diluc soundly asleep in an armchair.

Kaeya

“You are a fool, Kaeya-a-a.” You muttered in the captain’s ear as he carried your drunken body on his back. “So-o-o many girls are drying up for you but you don’t even care!”

He was silent all the way from "Cat's Tail" wondering who gave you such a drunk.

“Here’s for exam... example Gwendolyn. Pre… pretty, smart, she called you for tea more than once, right? So why don't you agr... agree?” Your exclamations, accompanied by incessant hiccups, seemed to be heard throughout Mondstadt. “Or maybe our captain is already in love with someone?” You sang slyly.

“Yeah. With a girl who’s not very good at drinking and whom I as a true gentleman have to drag home.”

“Ooh! Are you talking about me or what?” The drunken surprise on your face was sweet in its own way.

Kaeya just nodded his head in confirmation of your guess. Seeing this you leaned even closer to his ear whispering softly: “So why don’t you ask me out, Captain?” The way your voice sounded languid made embarrassed even such a heartbreaker as Kaeya.

But he quickly came to his senses, “Then tomorrow night I would like to walk around the city with you.” Your sleepy sniff was the answer to his proposal. Kaeya let out a dull laugh. “Well, we'll try again a little later.”

Venti

You came to Dwalin's Lair in search of silence. As beautiful as Mondstadt was but Venti and you needed a break from the bustle of the city. The time was approaching midnight when you were sitting on one of the ledges of the dilapidated tower.

“The sky is so beautiful today.”  Your whisper was very quiet as if you were afraid to destroy the pleasant atmosphere of silence.

“Yes.” Agreed Venti, weaving flowers of cecilia in your hair.  “And it’s cloudless so you can look at the stars as long as you want.”

“Lumine told me she collects the constellations of every person who is dear to her. She recently showed me mine.” You stretched out your hand to the sky as if trying to reach it and pointed to a small cluster of celestial bodies. “See? It's next to yours.”

The bard smiled, staring at the stars shining in the darkness of the night. He was incredibly pleased with such a detail as the neighborhood of your constellations. He wanted to say something but when he saw you already were sleeping peacefully, he just bent down and kissed a lock of your hair.

“Sweet dreams, Y / N. Let the winds guard your sleep.”

Xiao

“I'm tired.” You have reported.  “How long we have to go?”

Xiao didn't even turn in your direction throwing a displeased: “The less you whine the faster we'll get there.”

You just puffed out something unintelligible under your breath. Well, if he thinks he can reproach you, then this is a very deep delusion. You rallied your strength and strode forward sharply crossing the border of the Jueyun Karst. It was deceivingly easy to breathe here so much so you didn't even notice how drunk you were from the mountain air. But even so, you were confident in your power so you silently continued on your way.

“Y/N, wait! You’ll be worn out even faster this way.” Adepti worried.

“Yourself said me to talk less.” You snorted in displeasure. “So fewer words and more-e,” a yawn, “deeds...”

You didn't even notice how it darkened in your eyes and you fell asleep. Strong hands at the last moment grabbed your body.

“Such a stubborn...” Xiao rebuked you with feigned indignation and then allowed himself a warm smile staring at your slightly quivering eyelashes. He still wondered how weak but determined some people were. Especially you.

Zhongli

You’ve tried your best to focus on the history of the Sal Terrae that Zhongli so kindly agreed to tell. But in spite of your efforts you did not even manage to grasp the essence.

“... the followers of the Salt Archon realized that their goddes was unable to protect them. It is not surprising that in such conditions there were desperate ones who were ready to sacrifice her.” Zhongli stopped and looked at you with undisguised concern. “Y/N, are you okay? You haven't blinked for a minute.”

“What?” Jumping sharply in place you finally focused on the man. “Yes, everything is fine, just a hard day. I’m a little sleepy but I'm listening carefully!” You tried to assure him.

“I do not think so.” The Archon smiled indulgently as he ruffled your hair. “Enough for today, we can continue tomorrow. You should rest now.”

“But...”

“No “but”, Y/N. There is no point in wasting your and my time on something that you cannot even understand now.” Despite the severity of his words there was clearly a concern in Zhongli's voice.

You sighed doom, finished your tea and trudged off to sleep yawning several times along the way to your bed under a short laugh from Geo Archon.

Request page!!!

Hi, I'm new here and I thought why not start writing ff. So if you want something from these fandoms:

Genshin Impact

Honkai star rail

Dr Stone

Trigun Stampede

Mars Red

Spiderverse ( if there's nothing then I have to take one for the team and my own content)

Fairy tail

Transformers (Prime, RotB)

More to add

Feel free to request from other shows too because these are just my most recent hyperfocuses!

Rules when requesting:

Specify what you want. The more details the better.

I won't do anything gore related or any dead dove type of stuff. No out of pocket kinky stuff please. I am a woman of Christianity (as if)

I do both female and male characters

I don't do ocs but I can add on descriptors so you can feel more seen. (I will ask for specifis to better write the portrayal and actions)

Be kind when requesting =D

you complete my heart, literally.

you make half a heart with your fingers and ask them to complete it.

cast: diluc, kaeya, itto, childe, xiao, and childe.

warnings: none, i thought i should mention.

// DiLUC RAGViNDR! was confused by what you were doing in front of him. he bit his glove off and copied your actions, when he realized what it made. his red face looked away, as your fingers gently touched, much to your own excitement.

// KAEYA ALBERiCH! chuckled to himself and lazily lifted his hand. instead of completing your heart he gave you a thumbs up. you frowned, to his amusement before he finally copied your action. pls give him the thumbs up back.

// iTTO ARATAKi! became giddy at the sight of you incomplete heart. he rushed to your side to place his half to complete yours and insisted on taking a picture, one he’d show off to every poor soul he saw.

// XiAO! genuinely did not understand. he stared at your hand with his usual stoic expression, wait for an explanation. when you explained he refused, face red, and insisted it was a demon thing.

// CHILDE! pretended to not understand what you were doing. he blinked and shrugged going back to his papers. if you don’t stop he’ll look up at you and study your expression, mainly to embarrass you so you’d stop and when you do he’d say, “hey, i didn’t get to finish it yet.”

when your shirt gets wet (afab reader)

zhongli

super respectful, like the gentleman he is

offers his jacket immediately and if you decline it, he’ll shield your body with his until your shirt dries off or you can change

assures you that he saw nothing (even though he totally did) and makes sure the cost is clear so you can escape and fix yourself up

diluc

gets flustered easily and this is no exception

the second your bra starts showing through your wet shirt, he’s a mess

he’s offering you his jacket or a nearby blanket or even his own shirt and when he realizes he’s being too extra, he’s becomes even more flustered

eventually pulls himself together and throws his coat around your shoulders, holding it tight until you make the next move

kaeya

he’s so cheeky about it

instead of covering you, he definitely teases you about it

he points out of the color of your bra and tells you that you should have reconsidered that with your white shirt

he doesn’t press your boundaries, though, and immediately stops with the teasing if you’re clearly uncomfortable

shields your body from anyone so you can make it through mondstadt to change

thoma

turns completely red but makes it his goal to cover you completely

he’s trying to be respectful by not looking but trying to be protective by looking and he’s torn between the two

he, somehow, tries to take the blame because he should have brought an umbrella or an extra change of clothes

eventually settles on covering his eyes with his hands but peeks every now and then to make sure you’re okay

childe

let’s be honest, it’s his fault

whether it was an accident or on purpose (it was probably on purpose), it’s childe’s fault

and all he does it tease you

“come on, y/n, we’re in public” with a smirk

and as long as you two are alone, he keeps teasing you to make you flustered, but if someone comes along, you’re behind childe in a minute because that view is for him only

itto

your shirt is wet? what’s the problem?

he doesn’t see the problem with your shirt being wet, despite your bra now being in full view for everyone to see

but itto’s clothes barely cover his body so he really doesn’t see a problem until you tell him

and then he finally starts to panic to get you back home

albedo

he doesn’t think it’s a big deal

if anything, albedo is curious of the science behind water making your shirt see-through

and while you would never diss his research, you’re now exposed and he keeps staring at your chest

eventually, albedo will snap out of it and hand you a nearby blanket or his jacket to wear

ayato

very amused, smirks, makes a single joke about how you’re teasing him

and then when you shoot back, ayato laughs and changes his demeanor

he hands you his jacket, trying to play off the situation to make you more comfortable

he brings it up a couple times in the future

Things they did that made you question your entire relationship

Warning: reader has no pronounce mentioned, crack, burping, demon, barking, breathing fire, plebians, making out in kazuha's part, highzuha, weed, childe, reading erotic books(no description), cockroach, not proofread either.

Part 2 because this was very popular and bc im on my crack thing again.

Characters: Itto, Yoimiya, Gorou, Xiao, Zhongli, Shenhe, Ayato, Ningguang, Kazuha, highzuha, Childe, Albedo, Yae Miko, Raiden Shogun/Ei.

Itto: Burped in your face and then laughed so loudly that it blew up your eardrums.

Yoimiya: Accidently lit your ass on fire with her fireworks.

Gorou: You said you loved dogs and he started barking, his subordinates couldnt take him seriously for weeks after that.

Xiao: He called you a demon and tried to lament your ass after you made him blush.

Zhongli: Patted you on the head and said "Wel done kid", the two of you were already in a relationship for months.

Shenhe: Always gives you the stink eye when you approach her in public, she doesnt do it on purpose tho.

Ayato: He put a basket of chili peppers into your desert, you started breathing fire and he just laughed at you.

Nignguang: Called you a plebian in public.

Kazuha: He is perfect but sometimes when the two of you are making out he suddenly stops out of the blue because he's been struck with ✨INSPIRATION✨ for a poem for you and wants to write it down so he doesn't forget.

Highzuha: Sometimes when he is high from nakuweed he tells you the cheesiest things with a debby ryan smirk.

Child(e): He pushed you of those long staircases when you enter Liyue harbor (i think its called Feiyun Slope??) and started howling from laughter, it all happened in public.

Albedo: He was singing the lyrics of cpr while washing your hair for you also made you eat a spider.

Yae Miko: Made you narrate an erotic book in public.

Ei: Gave you a cockroach as a present because Yae told her that every mortal did that for their lover. She went out of her way to catch one for you and almost cried when you gave the cockroach the stink stink eye.

Taglist: @devizakura

"...Help me zip up"

Pairings: Characters x f!reader

Characters: Diluc, Zhongli, Thoma, Xiao, Albedo, Itto, Childe, Kaeya, Ayato, Kazuha

Synopsis: You ask your husband for help, what does he do?

Tags: Suggestive

Scenario: Hair styled nicely without a single stray strand in place, face looking smooth and glowing, neck and ears adorned with elegant accessories, everything seems to be in place except for your dress. You wear the black dress that was prepared earlier and slip your body in it. The dress hugs your figure perfectly, you insert your arms around the holes and place the straps on your shoulders. You attempt to zip up the back of the dress but it really is testing your flexibility. Still, you manage to get it halfway done but you can't continue it anymore up to the nape. Struggling for a good few minutes; you can't help but call for your helper husband.

"Babe! Help me!" You call for him and he immediately opens the door and freezes at the sight of your bare back and nape showed to him.

He strides over to you and you turn to look at the mirror, his fingers touch the zipper, and you shiver. Can you trust your husband to zip it up? After all, he's a horndog so...

He zips it up:

— Diluc, Zhongli, Thoma, Xiao, Albedo, Kazuha —

He zips up the zipper and presses a kiss on the side of your head. His warmth embraces you as you both look lovingly at each other in the mirror. He then buries his head on your hair and comments. "You smell so good, I wanna stay with you here and do nothing." He whispers and bites your ear playfully while you whine and laugh.

"Stop it! I prepared so much for this, we'll be late." You squish his cheeks and reason with him. Fingers are entwined as he takes it off his face and kisses the back of your palm. Your heart jumps at the sweet gesture; years married and still acting like a high school couple.

"You're so old-fashioned, I wonder why I even married you." You playfully roll your eyes at him and he laughs. He abruptly pulls you to your surprise and holds your waist tightly. His breath tickles your ear making you bite your lip from suppressing the excitement.

"I guess I made a mistake of zipping it up." His voice sexily enchants you as you feel the dress getting looser.

He unzips it:

— Itto, Childe, Kaeya, Ayato —

"Oh my-" You couldn't even finish your sentence as your husband aggressively pulls down the zipper. making you wonder if his horny ass broke the dress. Your bodies are pressed against each other and hungry kisses initiate as he forces his tongue down to you. His hand moves from your cheek to the straps of your dress and pulls it down, revealing you in your lingerie that was supposed to be saved for tonight.

He stops kissing you, giving you a moment to catch your breath; he takes a few steps back and squints his eye, jokingly moving his upper body from place to place as if inspecting you. Who could blame him? His lovely wife was in a sexy lingerie with an annoyed expression reserved for his playfulness.

"Are you done checking me out now?" You ask smugly and move towards him, tugging his tie. In turn, he grips your chin upwards and puts on an expression that he knows makes you weak at the knees.

He smirks and predator-like eyes look down at you as if you were a feast he would devour.

"Can you put on a show for me? I mean you're already dressed for the part." He shrugs and spanks your ass making you yelp.

a/n: this is not full blown smut but I think suggestive themes generally belong in the smut category soooo.

Can I get more volleyball au? Anything goes.

I have neglected the Volleyball AU for a while hahahaha!!! I can tell cause so many of you are asking for a Volleyball AU update oh gosh XD

This is a response to the 3-4 anons who requested a Volleyball AU update. One of you said something about the Olympics but I wasn’t quite sure if I read your ask correctly but anyway, here it is.

Scenarios: Olympic Genshin Volleyball team getting asked interview questions about you, their S/O, after winning a game + chaotic commentary of the teammates

Warning: some of the questions might be a little personal but journalists always try to get a good story anyway, so, it’s still in the realm of possibility. Not proofread. Please tell me if there are any pronoun slips.

Characters: Zhongli, Diluc, Kaeya, Albedo, Tartaglia, Kazuha, Xiao, Thoma, Ayato and gn!reader

#1 Zhongli (Captain/Wing Spiker/Ace)

Tries to keep his relationship with you private. He knows the media is super daunting at times. 

Interviewer: “Did your S/O fly in to support you today?”

Zhongli: “No, they’re at home. Though, I’m sure Y/N’s supporting me, even from home,”

Interviewer: “There’s talks on the forum that your performance is better when your S/O is watching on the stands, and that your spikes are stellar.”

*Tartaglia and Kaeya starts cackling. Thoma laughs behind his hand. Ayato is grinning ear to ear. They’re aware of that rumor.*

Zhongli: *clears his throat* “Well... I... suppose it gives a little energy boost, seeing my significant other attend...”

Kaeya: *leans in forward to his mic and butts in* “Our strict captain just likes to show off in front of Y/N,”

Tartaglia: *also butts in* “Our coach and managers have joked that we should have a cardboard cutout of Y/N and just get it up there on the stands for every game,”

Ayato: “Our captain might seem serious on court but he’s the type to have a picture of his S/O as his phone screen. Isn’t that right, captain?” Passes the question along to Zhongli again

Zhongli: *incredibly embarrassed and has covered his loopy, embarrassed smile with his hand. Plotting the demise of Ayato, Kaeya and Tartaglia. Reporters are having a field day that his teammates are ratting him out* “...Let’s move on to the next question please,”

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Zhongli: *hesitates, but thinks that you might watch this so answers* “I’ll be home soon. Take care of yourself for me while I’m away,” *gives a small smile and a wave*

#2 Diluc (Vice Captain/Wing Spiker/Defense Specialist)

Does not like personal questions. But will still answer them just so he doesn’t come off as too rude. 

He doesn’t want his team’s reputation to be tarnished because of him.

Gives straightforward answers. Doesn’t give any chance for reporters to brew up a rumor or gossip that would hurt his relationship with you.

Interviewer: “How are you and your S/O doing?”

Diluc: “Good, nothing to complain about. Everything’s perfectly great with Y/N,”

Interviewer: “I heard that your S/O has been supporting your volleyball career ever since high school. That’s a long time!”

Diluc: *smiles the slightest bit* “It is, isn’t it? It wasn’t an easy road...and I owe a lot to Y/N for staying through all of it,”

Interviewer: “What do you miss most about your S/O when you two are apart?”

Diluc: *thinks that it’s too personal of a question and isn’t related to volleyball at all, so he answers awkwardly* “Err... Well... Everything, really,”

Kaeya: “So, funny thing,” *all the cameras turn to him and Diluc kind of heaves a sigh of relief but he does that too early* “I share a room with my brother while we’re out here and he does these nightly calls with Y/N,”

Diluc: “Kaeya--”

Kaeya: “I can list aaaaallllll the things he misses about 'em cause he says it every damn night. I miss your smi--”

Diluc: *completely talks over Kaeya* “NEXT QUESTION!”

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Diluc: *sort of bashful, small smile* “Thanks for everything.” *and just to spite Kaeya and make light of the situation earlier* “I’ll make sure Kaeya’s asleep before I call you tonight,”

#3 Kaeya (Middle Blocker)

Thriving during an interview.

Probably all the interviewer’s favourite cause he doesn’t have much of a filter yet manages to be charming all the same. 

Will show you off but not too much, just enough so that it isn’t too tacky.

Interviewer: “In the last interview you shared an interesting tidbit about your love life. You shared the story of how you met your S/O.”

Kaeya: “Oh you wanna hear that story again? Good story right? It was in high school! I was practicing my serves and accidentally hit the back of Y/N’s head. I walked ‘em to the clinic like the gentleman I was and it started from there,”

Interviewer: “So would you say that you made the first move?”

Kaeya: “No, Y/N was head over heels for me the moment I offered to walk them to the clinic! Totally their idea to get together,” *laughs* “I kid, I’ll admit I was the one smitten from the get go,” 

Interviewer: “Does having Y/N’s support change anything?”

Kaeya: *totally joking but not joking* “It does! I don’t say it often or too much cause I’m usually confident in myself but there’s always going to be a time where you don’t feel good enough, and it’s great to have someone there to say and shout *tries to imitate your voice* “Kaeya you’re the best!!!””

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Kaeya: “Miss you snowflake! Keep cheering for me there, I promise my heart can hear you!” *winks*

#4 Albedo (Setter)

The quiet, thinks for too long type

Kind of blunt

Does not mind any question, he’s mostly just thinking too much about his answer and wants to give an accurate one.

Interviewer: “Did your S/O fly in to support you today?”

Albedo: “No, but they’ll fly in for the last game...We’ll spend a few days looking around here then fly back together...Thankfully the schedule allows for that,”

Interviewer: “What places do you plan to visit?”

Albedo: “...It wouldn’t be too smart of me to reveal that. If I tell you, then everyone will know where we’re going...”

Interviewer: “We heard that your jersey number has a significant meaning. Can you talk about that a little?”

Albedo: “...Oh, yes...back when we were in high school...#4 was Y/N’s class number. That’s all there is to it really...”

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Albedo: “...Thanks for believing in me and for pushing me to try volleyball. I still think everything I have right now is because of you,”

#5 Tartaglia (Middle Blocker/Wing Spiker)

Thriving number 2

Loves interviews, so the interviewers love him too.

Tends to go off track and talks too much.

Interviewer: “Last time you went off on a tangent talking about your S/O’s cooking,”

Tartaglia: “Yeah! I can’t help it. Your food here is really great guys, but it’s just nothing compared to home food, you know? It’s been nearly a month of not having a home-cooked meal. You gotta understand!”

Interviewer: “If you could, would you fly home right now just to have some of your S/O’s food?”

Tartaglia: “Hell yeah! That’s not even a question! Course I would. Then I can get some much needed hugs and kisses too,”

Kaeya and Ayato at the same time:

Ayato: “Little too much information there,” 

Kaeya “TMI, TMI,”

Tartaglia: “Jealousssss?”

Interviewer: “If you could fly back now, but you could only get ONE thing from your S/O, would it be a home-cooked meal or a hug?”

Tartaglia: “Oh man, why d’you have to do this?” *seriously thinks about it* “Oh gosh, I’ll definitely go for a hug though. Hugs are more important than food,”

Kaeya: “On which planet?”

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Tartaglia: “Hey you! Can’t wait to be back home! Need my hugs ASAP!”

#6 Kazuha (Decoy/Middle Blocker/Wing Spiker)

Polite, quiet but will decline to answer if it goes over his personal threshold.

Still very polite though

Interviewer: “So you and S/O were childhood friends?”

Kazuha: “We were indeed.” *laughs at the memories* “I’ve known Y/N for a long time. Our parents were acquainted with each other,”

Interviewer: “What made you guys cross over to a relationship, after being friends for so long?”

Kazuha: “Mm, that’s a good question...I find that I don’t quite know the answer myself, sometimes. But ultimately it’s because I’d rather not see Y/N with someone else. I suppose that’s how I knew my feelings was past friendship,”

Interviewer: “Did S/O play a significant part in your volleyball career?”

Kazuha: “Absolutely. Training takes up a lot of time. I’m lucky that Y/N understands that, and I’m slightly apologetic because of that too.”

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Kazuha: “Thank you for being my pillar. I really am fortunate that it’s you by my side,”

#7 Xiao (Libero)

Tries really hard to answer but is the type to stutter over his words out of nervousness. Probably just not used to the media yet. 

The type to practice interview questions with Tartaglia and Kaeya (the two are really just giving him a hard time, but Xiao thinks that’s great practice)

Interviewer: “Your S/O posted on their social media today about supporting you and it was a photo of you during your high school libero days! *shows the picture*”

*Everyone in the team shares a smile knowing that Xiao will be flustered*

Xiao: “O-Oh, uh... Hm, that’s a really old picture... What were they thinking posting that...? I-I mean! Y/N...has always been supportive!”

Interviewer: “High school was a really long time ago, any secret to keeping the romance alive?”

Xiao: *thinks why in the hell are these kinds of questions asked in press conferences about volleyball????*

Xiao: “Just...be yourself. I guess. Or at least be with someone who doesn’t mind and understands all of you... The good and the bad...” *gets too engrossed in his feelings*

Tartaglia: “Aweeee our little Xiao’s all grown up,”

Kaeya: “He used to be a real bumbling fool in high school. Took him forever to ask Y/N out,”

Xiao: *threatening glare* “You guys...”

Zhongli: “He’s grown a lot,”

Xiao: “Captain, you too?!”

Interviewer: “When you say the good and the bad... Do you mean that S/O has seen the bad sides of you? What do you think are the “bad sides”?”

Xiao: “Of course...! What are the bad sides...?” *hesitates to answer*

Kaeya: “Stubborn,”

Tartaglia: “Too hardworking,”

Thoma: “Blames himself too much for a bad play,”

Ayato: “Tsunde--”

Xiao: “Three examples is enough!!”

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Xiao: *thinks for a moment* “Thank you... I don’t have to say much right? Cause I know you know what I mean already,” *small smile*

#8 Thoma (Pinch Server/Middle Blocker)

Polite number 2

Super pleasant and wholesome answers. 

The type to never take all the credit for himself and will tell reporters that “It’s all thanks to my team,”

Interviewer: “You’re voted as “best husband material” on the poll today. Any words about that?”

Thoma: “Oh really? *laughs* It’s an honour! Well, I suppose I do like to take care of the house chores. I feel really sorry Y/N has to handle everything on their own right now,”

Interviewer: “Do you think you’re the better cook or your S/O?”

Thoma: “Gosh that’s a tough one! *waves at camera* Sorry honey, I’m gunna have to take this one. *laughs* You are better at organizing things though!”

Interviewer: “The team voted that you’re “most likely to be married first”. Any plans?”

Thoma: “Oh wow! And I thought the previous question was hard! Haha! Ah well... it’s no secret. Y/N knows that I cherish my relationship with them. We’ve casually talked about it for a bit, but we aren’t in a hurry at the moment. Just having each other is a real blessing already,”

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Thoma: “Hey sweetie! I love you, be back soon!”

#9 Ayato (Middle Blocker/Wing Spiker)

Is he the interviewee or the interviewer? Sometimes you can’t really tell.

Is great at explaining himself but doesn’t actually like interviews.

Reporters try not to cross him cause he’s known to bite back if the question is about a rumor/gossip that isn’t true.

Interviewer: “We heard that you met your S/O in your last year of high school. Did you only notice each other in your senior year?”

Ayato: *chuckles* “Not exactly. I was a transfer student. Y/N was tasked to make sure my transition into the new school was seamless. They did a great job, so great, that I couldn’t let them slip away,”

Interviewer: “Your sister and your S/O are quite close to each other, your S/O even used a picture of the two of them as their profile picture instead of a picture with you. Are you ok with that?”

Ayato: “Why wouldn’t I be?” *half-grin, half-smile* I rest easy knowing that the two of them get along well. Y/N will be a constant part of my life, after all, and they treat my sister just as their own sibling,”

Interviewer: “Does your S/O play a big part in your volleyball career?”

Ayato: “Y/N is part of the reason I’m able to enjoy volleyball as a professional player. There were certain situations which made it difficult for me to go into professional volleyball, but Y/N managed to push me through it,”

Interviewer: “Any message for your S/O back home?”

Ayato: “I’m certain that being without me is starting to be unbearable, hm? Not to worry, I promise I’ll be back soon,”

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genshin boys in a fantasy otome game

diluc: the stuck-up duke you're engaged to. incredibly rich and you're basically sold to be his wife by your parents who claim “they only want the best for you.” which, apparently, equals to this seemingly perfect man with handsome features and an endless amount of mora. however, as flawless he may be on the surface, you find out he's just a very negligent fiance who thinks buying you all the dresses and jewels in the kingdom is enough to make you happy. he's stiff and cold, shutting you out of his life; telling you his problems didn't concern you. but maybe... maybe he did that because he didn't want to trouble you. maybe he cares about you to an extent. he makes an effort to join you for dinner, no matter how busy he is, and his gifts are sometimes thoughtful, not just expensive. he's clumsy at flattery, but you appreciate the sentiment. (and maybe — just maybe — you could find happiness with him.)

kaeya: the step-brother of your fiance. you've always thought he was strange. his gaze on you lingered, and he stares at you far too often to be considered appropriate for a mere (soon to be) brother-in-law. his smiles are suggestive, and quite unsettling. but you find out he's kind, just a bit mysterious. he keeps you company when diluc can't make it into dinner, and he accompanies you around town in his brother's stead if he was too busy to come with you himself. he's nothing but a gentleman, friendly and approachable, but you both know there's a distance he can't cross. (and yet he longs to.)

childe: a smug thief you caught stealing one of diluc's treasures. before you can scream or call for help, he shushes you, and he slips away from the manor without managing to steal anything. it's a victory on your part, but he's a sneaky rat — he begins to visit you occasionally, just to rile you up for fun. you don't know how he does it, but he climbs through the balcony in your room, hiding in the shadows of the night to not let any of the servants see him. you're unamused by the blatant trespassing, but you can't deny he's entertaining to talk to. for a scummy thief, he sure does seem to love his family a lot. you can tell that much, from the voice he uses when he speaks of his siblings. (he sounds like that when he talks about you too, you know. you just never notice.) he gives you a ring one day — something he didn't steal for once. it's from his mother, he says. she told him to give it to the person he wanted to marry. he confesses he doesn't care about any of the treasure lurking within diluc's home anymore. because out of everything, he only wants to steal you away.

zhongli: your first love. he's an unassuming baron with not a lot of influence, but there's something powerful residing in his eyes, glowing amber even in the dimmest of light. he's kingly, his elegant nature befitting of an emperor sitting on a golden throne, and yet he's as humble as a commoner, with no regards to his overflowing wealth. there's something special about the way he snakes his hand around your waist when you take the chance to dance with him at a ball, supposedly for obligatory purposes, but you lose yourself in his gaze, the color of honey staring deeply into you lighting your cheeks red. when he takes your hand in his, you feel his warmth through his glove (and idly, you wonder what it would be like if his gloves weren't in the way). he led you to the floor, twirling and spinning, and he's the perfect partner; he's as gentle as a passing wind, but his searing touch lingers, when the song comes to a close and he releases you. then your eyes travel to his left hand, an engagement ring adorning his finger, and your heart crumbles into a million pieces.

albedo: a renowned mage known for his genius in the entire continent. magical powers aren't very common, thus mages are normally held in high regard, but he's even idolized by fellow mages. he was adept with his powers from a young age, but he doesn't see himself as anyone special. you meet him as a child when you both attended a boring ball, and since you were both children seeking some entertainment in this formal arrangement mainly utilized by adults, you both ditched the ballroom and went off somewhere quiet so albedo could show you some “party tricks”. he became your usual playmate from there on, and he's essentially your childhood friend. he does the meanest pranks (since he's a mage, he can easily turn your hair color into a bright green or temporarily turn you into a frog), but he's very nice when it counts. he gives you healing potions when you fall ill, and he casts a protection charm in every accessory he gifts you on your birthday. he's particularly interested in the study of dragons, despite dragons basically being a myth in your continent's fairy tales, and everyone thinks he's delusional for believing in them but you support him in his studies. you're naturally curious in what he does as a mage, and he's happy about that, however he is unamused when you jokingly ask him to make you a love potion to give to zhongli. (in retaliation, the very next day, he shows up in your room as a frog, claiming he had an “accident” while he was making a potion, thus turning himself into an amphibian. apparently, the only cure for it was... a kiss? what? didn't he make you an actual remedy when you were the one turned into a frog five years ago?)

venti: a whimsical bard you happened to come across with when you snuck out of your home as a rebellious teenager. you were immature then, and a bit adventurous, and you wanted to see how commoners lived their life. you went out with simple clothes, with a cloak covering your facial features to hide your true identity, but some brute thieves noticed your expensive-looking wallet despite your efforts and immediately took the chance to rob you. then suddenly, a lithe boy jumps from a roof, distracts the men, and grabs your hand to lead you away from the chaos. he's light on his feet, full of bubbly energy, and although you were ready to compensate him for his help with whatever amount of money he could possibly ask for, he only requested for a single drink in a nearby tavern. he is... rather odd. he successfully identified your real title, but he didn't hand you off to palace guards right away to have you escorted back to your estate. no doubt having done so would earn him a great sum, because your parents had put a bounty over your head. instead, he offers to show you around town, plays you a song with his lyre, and introduces you to his friends. yes, he's certainly a strange fellow... but it's not just his behavior that's weird. his way of speaking is too eloquent for a commonner, and he knows too much about the officials governing the kingdom. his songs are always cryptic, insinuating a deeper meaning to his lyrics, and his eyes, though holding a childish twinkle, had a knowing gleam. and to top it all off, he introduced you to his “best friend” — the mythical dragon dvalin himself?! (it's somewhat underwhelming to find out he's the long lost prince of the kingdom right after you saw such a large creature hiding among the mountains.)

xiao: your ever so loyal knight. as a child, he lived in the slums; a part of the kingdom everyone tended to avoid from fear. your father took pity on xiao when he found him struggling to survive and brought him back home to take care of him, planning to assign him as your personal knight once he was given proper training. xiao was surely worth pitying when you first laid your eyes on him — downcast eyes, sooty face, torn clothing with muddy shoes, and lacking any personal belongings. however, after he'd taken a nice bath, you learned he was quite pretty, with youthful features certain to turn handsome as he grew up. his eyes were an enchanting gold, skin as soft as velvet, and his hair was shiny and silky, though it was unfortunate he shied away whenever you tried to take a closer look. he was surprisingly meek, but you knew better than that. (after all, if he survived in the slums all by himself, you didn't doubt his capability to murder a man with his bare hands.) he was incredibly distant with you, but you didn't give up your attempts to befriend him. you invite him to go to the library to read storybooks together, just to see a twinkle of innocence light up his lifeless eyes. you dismiss his panicked refusal when you set up garden picnics especially for him, because he may pretend like he doesn't want to eat anything, but you can clearly see him eyeing that plate of almond tofu. soon enough, he grows fond of you, and he protects you not only because of his job, but also because you're someone precious to him.

as your knight, and by extension, your dearest friend, he is tasked to watch over you.

so he watches from the sidelines as you befriend another young boy — a mage known as albedo — and gazes in envy as albedo converses with you casually, able to stand on even ground with you. how he wished he could do the same.

he watches as you sneak out from your window to wander around the kingdom without permission, panic settling his nerves when you nearly injured yourself in doing so, but he doesn't stop you from escaping home, because he wanted you to have a taste of freedom. he regrets his decision when you come back home telling about your newest friend, venti.

he watches the exact moment when you fall in love with zhongli, putty in the older man's hands as he twirls you around the ballroom, and xiao could only look at you from a distance, sourness rising from the back of his throat. your heart wasn't the only one that shattered that day.

he watches as you sit across from diluc in the dinner table every night, eyeing the engagement ring on your finger illuminated by the chandelier hanging overhead, and remains silent even when your chatter starts to fill the air. he longs to take it off of you.

he watches, with a sense of empathy, when kaeya glances at you with a gaze too fond, in times you can't notice. you overlook it, as always, because that's how you've always been, unaware of the effect you have on other people. he's glad you were oblivious, sometimes.

he watches as you interact with that good-for-nothing thief every late evening, standing guard by the door in case childe tried to do anything. if he ever did, xiao wouldn't hesitate to slit his throat, because anyone who'd ever dare to hurt you will die by his hand. but childe doesn't do anything, so he stays put, with gritted teeth while that rascal is shamelessly flirting with you again.

xiao watches. he only watches. because he has no right to interfere. he's only a lowly knight, at most, your friend, but it's okay. it's okay because you can smile, even if it's not because of him. that's all that matters.

right?

part ii / part iii / secret route 01

✧-How Genshin Men Say "I Love You"-✧

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Zhongli⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•Would definitely take you tea tasting all throughout Liyue and occasionally with the Adepti

•Gives you lots of little trinkets he finds at stores (Childe usually pays)

•Monologues about old stories and tales with you simply because he enjoys your presence and wants you to be a part of his life as much as you are in his

•Not big on physical affection, but is more than happy to hold your hand in public

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Tartaglia⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•Would take you out to lots of dinners and pay for everything all of the time

•Big time princess treatment

•Likes to give you piggyback rides and lots of physical affection all the time because he likes to know you're right there with him

•Would absolutely let you meet his family if you two got more serious throughout the relationship

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Diluc⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•You would normally stay with him at Dawn Winery, essentially living with him because he likes to know you're where he can protect you

•Haves you help him with some of the wine production but makes sure you're happy the entire time

•Keeps you as far away from Kaeya as possible because he would tease the living shit out of him for it, but makes sure you're always comfortable and happy

•Likes to help you cook and typically goes for more personal dates and activities rather than the typical going to the bar or dinner

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Kaeya⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•Takes you out drinking from time to time with him, but makes sure neither of you get too drunk because he wants to keep the both of you safe

•Helps you out with random things on his lunch break, but not without a flirtatious remark and teasing commentary

•He still flirts with people, but draws the line when they touch him because he would only allow you to do that

•Likes to wrap his arm around you or keep in close contact with you at all times, silently letting you know that he's there for you at all times

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Neuvillette⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•Yeah, no, you're not leaving till he's done hugging you, this man needs it

•Walks with you through Fontaine while a bunch of little Melusines watch you, giggling happily

•Takes recommendations from Furina on what sweets you might like or date ideas because he still has no idea what to do when it comes to relationships

•Tries to keep you out of the trials because he doesn't want you to see anything that might frighten you, but in no way holds you back from anything you want to do

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Wriothesley⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•You normally come visit him at the Fortress of Meropide when you can, and he always has a fresh cup of tea waiting for you

•Absolutely rants to Sigewinne about you

•Takes you out to cafes often because he likes to spend time with you and destress after long work hours in the Fortress

•Very big on public affection and tends to keep and arm wrapped around your waist at all times

✧Thank you for reading! Feel free to request something and I hope you have an absolutely marvelous day ♡

✧-How Genshin Men Say "I Love You"-✧

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Zhongli⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•Would definitely take you tea tasting all throughout Liyue and occasionally with the Adepti

•Gives you lots of little trinkets he finds at stores (Childe usually pays)

•Monologues about old stories and tales with you simply because he enjoys your presence and wants you to be a part of his life as much as you are in his

•Not big on physical affection, but is more than happy to hold your hand in public

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Tartaglia⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•Would take you out to lots of dinners and pay for everything all of the time

•Big time princess treatment

•Likes to give you piggyback rides and lots of physical affection all the time because he likes to know you're right there with him

•Would absolutely let you meet his family if you two got more serious throughout the relationship

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Diluc⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•You would normally stay with him at Dawn Winery, essentially living with him because he likes to know you're where he can protect you

•Haves you help him with some of the wine production but makes sure you're happy the entire time

•Keeps you as far away from Kaeya as possible because he would tease the living shit out of him for it, but makes sure you're always comfortable and happy

•Likes to help you cook and typically goes for more personal dates and activities rather than the typical going to the bar or dinner

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Kaeya⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•Takes you out drinking from time to time with him, but makes sure neither of you get too drunk because he wants to keep the both of you safe

•Helps you out with random things on his lunch break, but not without a flirtatious remark and teasing commentary

•He still flirts with people, but draws the line when they touch him because he would only allow you to do that

•Likes to wrap his arm around you or keep in close contact with you at all times, silently letting you know that he's there for you at all times

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Neuvillette⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•Yeah, no, you're not leaving till he's done hugging you, this man needs it

•Walks with you through Fontaine while a bunch of little Melusines watch you, giggling happily

•Takes recommendations from Furina on what sweets you might like or date ideas because he still has no idea what to do when it comes to relationships

•Tries to keep you out of the trials because he doesn't want you to see anything that might frighten you, but in no way holds you back from anything you want to do

⋆⋅☆⋅⋆Wriothesley⋆⋅☆⋅⋆

•You normally come visit him at the Fortress of Meropide when you can, and he always has a fresh cup of tea waiting for you

•Absolutely rants to Sigewinne about you

•Takes you out to cafes often because he likes to spend time with you and destress after long work hours in the Fortress

•Very big on public affection and tends to keep and arm wrapped around your waist at all times

✧Thank you for reading! Feel free to request something and I hope you have an absolutely marvelous day ♡

𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐉𝐎𝐁! 𝐋𝐄𝐓’𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍 𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐓!!!

𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 : childe-zhongli-Tighnari-Aether-Thoma-ayato-Kazuha-Gorou-Albedo-Scraramouche-Al haitham-Kaeya-Venti-Heizou

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 : nsfw, mention of blowjob and all that goes with it, Dub-con? ( venti ) exhibitionism? ( heizou - Aether - thoma)

𝐚/𝐧 : repost from my old blog. childe part has been lengthened !

༊*·˚ ﾟ𓂃⋆｡

—CHILDE :: ohhhh man. He loves loves loves loves that!!! But he is childe. He'll tease you about this, Sometimes he will pull out his cock and masturbate in front of you without you being allowed to touch it, from start to the end. Look at your eyes that are filled with envy is a whole new kind of excitement for him. Ah but he is also the kind of person who fucks your mouth properly. Grabbing you by the back of the head and making you swallow his cock until it is completely in your mouth. What often makes you pass out. But who can blame him ? Having his dick fully in your warm mouth while your eyes are filled with tears but also with pleasure is a view that him and only him can have.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

— ZHONGLI :: Hear me out. I think Zhongli is an ass lover. When he's lying in bed and a little head slips between his legs to be able to suck him, he stops what he was doing and admires this pretty little ass that rises in front of him. Isn't that wonderful ? Just by looking in front of him, he has a beautiful view and if he looks down he can have another beautiful view of you taking his cock in your mouth. I also think that zhongli is the kind of person who instead of taking by the hair, takes by the ass. He will grab your ass and knead it while going down to caress your thighs. Sometimes he will spank you, not too hard but just enough to leave a red mark.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—TIGHNARI :: Even though making love is good, Tighnari is sometimes just too tired for it. Does that bother you? No. Is it a chance for him? Probably. Because what's better than coming home from a hard day's work and finding your girlfriend ready to give you nothing but pleasure? Absolutely nothing. He doesn't even have to worry about having to clean up after because you swallow everything leaving nothing but your boyfriend's clean cock and empty balls.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—AETHER :: It is quite difficult to find a time where you can have a good time without being disturbed or having to do it in the middle of a forest full of insects. But…for sucking a cock it's much easier. Going under the table whenever you are in a restaurant has become a habit for you. Aether often says that you should eat instead but for you its between his legs that is your meal. Or when he is resting in the infirmary after a fight. He'd like to tell you that you can't do this anywhere or sometimes he feels a little bad that he can't give you as much pleasure as you do. But you're just too good at it and his dick missed you.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—THOMA :: He's such a sweetheart. When you suck him he can't help but be flustered and let out moans. So it's hard to stay calm when with a meal with Lord Ayato while searching a spoon that you dropped, you started kissing his clothed cock . Of course Ayato can see that something is going on and he is not stupid, he knows very well that picking up a spoon does not take that long. But it amuses him that Thoma tries to keep his image in front of him, so he lets it go. Of course, after a while, he will use an excuse to slip away and leave you two alone. Like Aether, Thoma would like to tell you something about it but it's so good so he figures he'll have to practice to keep his calm. (You received a raise when you thought you were going to be fired for not being able to hold back from sucking your boyfriend's cock.)

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—AYATO :: Is a very busy person, but that doesn't stop him from wanting you. So, of course, when he sees you come in, he already knows he's going to have a good time. He manages to concentrate on his work while his fiancée takes his cock in her mouth like an ice cream. If he ever gets frustrated with his work, he can just grab your hair and fuck your mouth until all his frustration is released.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—KAZUHA :: He is a person who moves around a lot, yet he always finds time for this kind of thing. No matter how long you were together, you never found the right time to do it. And of course, it was too embarrassing to tell him. But one day, you got your period just as he came home. At the beginning, kazuha seemed to be understanding and he even took care of you. But he was much stickier than usual and his kisses were more passionate. You finally understood. Kazuha was needy. Isn't that perfect ? Now you have an excuse to do so and you're not going to let it go. Your boyfriend was making your bath when you entered the room. He didn't have time to understand, that you were already on your knees. As soon as you started touching and kissing his cock, he got hard. The moment your lips touched his cock seemed unreal. You could do whatever you want with this pretty cock and you intend to enjoy it. Kazuha, your boyfriend was desperately trying to hold on to the edge of the bathtub. He couldn't help but moan, how could you be so good ? It didn't take long for him to cum under your repetitive licks. The moment you felt his cum in your mouth was like a reward for you. You wanted more...but you had to hold back ! You were taken by surprise, when some time later, he asked you if you could do it again. Awww, how cute he is !

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—GOROU :: You became addicted to it because it was with him. Ears that move while you suck his cock. Or his moans that he couldn't hold back, was like a melody to you. His reaction when you swallow it all or when his semen ends up on you. You loved them all. But your favorite was when you took his cock back into your mouth, now sensitive after cumming. Ahhh…You just couldn't stop. Which was a shame for him, who was really embarrassed.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—ALBEDO :: Albedo is Albedo. He always wants to examine everything even your embarrassing desire to suck his cock. You think you could suck him anywhere and everywhere ? Absolutely not. It wants to see all the reactions of your body while you are doing it. Albedo lying on the bed, you, riding on him, each can see well the intimate part of the other…It's just too embarrassing. Of course, every time you do, you can't help but feel flustered but as soon as you have his dick in your mouth, you forget about it.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—SCARAMOUCHE :: He is full of himself but it is only a facade to hide his sadness of his past. Even if he reveals himself to you a little, it is impossible for him to reveal how good it feels when you suck him. Then you go under the desk. Literally. Thanks to this, your view is blocked and 'scara doesn't need to retain his facial expressions. But maybe he should hold back his moaning, because from below you can't see anything, but you can hear everything. Then you know very well how much he enjoys it.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

—AL HAITHAM :: He is the kind of person who only needs one thing after coming home from a long day. He wants to empty his balls. And what could be better than a partner who loves it ? Nothing. When you walk through the bedroom door in your underwear, it makes him shiver a little. And the moment you get on your knees, his cock can't help but get hard. Ah but don't get it wrong. He will grab you by the hair and fuck your mouth properly. Perhaps a little too much so…. Well… What he likes the most is when you take his entire cock in your mouth. So sometimes you pass out. This bastard has no regrets.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

— KAEYA :: He likes the same position as albedo. It happened that he wondered why you like to suck his cock so much. And he quickly understood. Having your pussy on top of him, that smell that came out of it. It's so intoxicating…He wants to lick it, he wants to lick every corner, he wants to devour it—he wants to eat you. Mmhh, Aren't the two of you a good match ? I think it is. Ah but don't worry, Kaeya also loves it when you are on your knees in front of him taking his big cock in your mouth. Well, in fact in any case it excites him so you can be sure that you will spend a long night.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

— VENTI :: He often comes home drunk. It doesn't bother you more than that. But sometimes it is really naughty, he kisses you with passion, intertwining your tongues, bites your neck and licks your ears. But of course if that wasn't enough, perhaps because of the alcohol, he sometimes rubs his hard cock against you. What can you do ? He needed it, he wanted it, it was almost like he was asking you to do it. So here you are, sucking your drunken boyfriend's cock. Again probably because of the alcohol, he was very sensitive and very frank about how good you made him feel. In the morning, you find yourself apologizing to him when normally he should be the one apologizing for coming home drunk. Venti never understood why, but the day he woke up with his memories of the night before, he sulkily asked you why you only did it when he was drunk and he said that he might as well praise you when he has all his senses.

ʚ━━━━━━ミ♡ ミ━━━━━━ɞ

— HEIZOU :: As a good detective, it didn't take him long to notice how much you liked it. And it is not to his displeasure. As soon as he has free time, or rather decides that he has some, he comes to you to let you enjoy his cock. What a gentleman…Well, not exactly. By dint of doing it there are a few things you discovered that you wouldn't have wanted. For example, when you feel a vein forming on his dick it means that someone is watching you. Yes, he knows it and it excites him. When you look up in panic you see a heizou with a smirk on his face. All you can do is to go back to your seat with tears in your eyes due to the embarrassment.

persistent [tartaglia x hydro!reader]

cw: childe is a warning himself, violence, slight suggestive themes, not beta-read we die like Guizhong

notes: I love this skrunkly fucker. Also Alexa, play Obsessed by Mariah Carey.

“How are you today, comrade?” Childe asks, a bright smile on his face as he strolls up to you with a few quick steps. You have to resist the urge to roll your eyes. It’s not even midday and you can already feel a headache approaching. Archons, all you wanted to do was run a few errands today in peace.

You choose to nod in acknowledgement of his presence. From past experiences with the ginger haired man, you knew that ignoring him all together would prove more of an annoyance than engaging in conversation with him. If there was anything that got under his skin, it was you ignoring him. As tempting as it seemed, you had little patience to deal with his shenanigans.

“Ah, well, you’re probably wondering what I’m doing here, huh?” He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as you glanced at him out of the corner of your eye before continuing your walk around the docks. You knew exactly what he was doing and exactly why he was there. The same reason he’s been following you for the past few weeks; your damn vision.

“I just wanted to remind you that the invitation to join me and the rest of the Harbingers is still on the table.”

And there it is. If you had a mora for every time Childe brought up joining the Harbingers to serve the Tsaritsa, you would have enough mora to leave Liyue and flee to Inazuma of Sumeru to get away from Childe and his incessant proposition. Sighing, you stop walking, the Harbinger quick to follow your lead.

“Look, Tartaglia,” You start, your hands inching to grasp the hydro vision that rested comfortably on your hip. A nervous habit of yours, but it never failed to ease your anxiety. “I have told you a hundred times that I am not interested in joining the Fatui. I am not going to leave Liyue for Snezhnaya, and I am not going to serve the Tsaritsa. I do not care how many times you ask, my answer will always remain the same.” Somehow, you manage to keep your voice even and calm, despite your growing agitation and desire to physically make him leave you alone.

For once, Childe was at a loss for words. For as long as he’s known you (which to your dismay has been quite some time) he has never seen you become this annoyed with anyone. Not even Bolai whenever he tries to up-charge you on his goods which are never nearly as good as he makes them out to be. Maybe his plan to convince you to join the Harbingers was a little too plain. He’s tried to charm you through gifts and stories, with promises of being able to see the world as a Harbinger. Any of these approaches surely would have won any regular person over within a heartbeat. But, Childe knew better than anyone that you weren’t a regular person.

Given his lack of response and far off look, you roll your eyes before walking away to continue with your errands. Archons, how did this mess even begin with?

As a child, you were blessed with a vision. It was no surprise to you or your parents, as the both of them are respected vision holders themselves. You were never a rowdy or reckless child, so your family never thought you would use your vision to fight. With a hydro vision, you would probably go on to work with Baizhu at Bubu Pharmacy to help heal the people of Liyue. A noble purpose, you suppose, but not very exciting. You heard stories, tales from Madam Ping about vision holders of all kinds hailing from all seven nations in Teyvat. Her stories sparked something in you, and one day you decided that you too would be like the vision holders from Madam Ping’s stories. Strong and adventurous. You too would save people.

Oh if only things were that simple.

One night, years after your received your vision, you found yourself among the brilliant pools of water of Luhua Pool. It was quite a travel from your home, but you heard from others that vision holders would travel days to sacred spots in order to connect with their vision. People blessed with pyro visions traveling to active volcanos or people with cryo visions traveling to the heart of Dragonspine. The closest thing you could think of was the crystalline water in Luhua Pool. So, you meditated. You prayed to the Hydro Archon, Focalors, to grant you the strength and wisdom to accomplish something great with your vision. You spent hours, praying, meditating, and even mimicking movements of other vision holders you’ve seen within the pools. The best you were able to achieve was a few waves and accidentally shooting yourself in the face with a stream of water.

As you continued to practice training with your vision, a stray treasure hoarder appeared. He saw your vision strapped to your side and made an attempt to take it from you by force. Everything happened in such a blur. You faintly remember screaming and then all of a sudden the treasure hoarder was no longer charging at you, but instead was on the ground, his limbs dislocated and mangled, bent at horrifying angles that would take a miracle to put back into place. He thoroughly looked like he had been attacked by a wild boar, and the mere sight made you want to pass out. You looked around, trying to figure out what had happened, until you saw it; your vision, it was glowing. It didn’t take a genius to put it all together, and the horrifying thought of you hurting this man to this extent made your heart threaten to beat out of your chest.

You didn’t know what to do or who to talk to so you did the first thing you could think of; you ran.

You ran all the way from Luhua Pool to Liyue Harbor in one night. You just prayed to Rex Lapis that the adepti did not see that it was you that hurt that man, even if it was in self defense. You shivered at the thought of being stared down and judged by one of the adepti.

Madam Ping was the first person you talked to after the incident. You omitted some of the details, such as maiming the man and leaving him for dead, but you were able to find out more information about what it is that happened.

Hemokinesis, or blood manipulation. That was the basis of what happened. According to Madam Ping and many of the books she gave you regarding hydro vision users, it is a very rare skill amongst hydro vision holders, with only 2 recorded vision holders in history. Madam Ping told you that not even the Hydro Archon is capable of such an ability, and that this subversion of the hydro vision was gifted by Celestia in order to protect the innocent when the Archons cannot.

You sat in Madam Ping’s home, staring silently into the cup of ginseng tea she poured to ease your troubles. As you sat there, you made a silent vow to use your new abilities to keep Liyue Harbor safe. Celestia blessed you with such a skill for a reason, and Madam Ping assured you that even if it wasn’t clear now, it will be in the future. Archons, why did she have to be so cryptic?

The Gods do not make mistakes, she insisted. Your young mind had believed her then, and you prayed to the Archons that she was right.

Ever since that day, you never hid the fact that you had a hydro vision. In fact, you were proud of it despite your initial apprehension. You were one of the few blessed with a vision in Liyue, which was a high honor. But, you still could not figure out why Childe was so insistent on you joining the Fatui. It had nothing to do with your natural Liyue citizenship, as the Fatui have deep connections within the harbor through the Northland Bank. You weren’t a high ranking official or someone with status and influence like Lady Ningguang and you weren’t a leader in the Millelith. To the average Liyue citizen, you were just you; someone from a well respected family that had a long line of vision holders. That was it, and only one person knew the extent of your true power, and she would never divulge such a secret to anyone else, especially not to someone like Childe.

Whatever the reason was, you tried not to think too much of it. Even if Childe miraculously knew of your talents, it wasn’t as if the Tsaritsa herself could force you to join. The Fatui had no diplomatic leverage over you, so you would just have to deal with Childe’s constant proposals, as annoying as they were.

“Hello there, comrade!”

You inhaled sharply at the sound of the annoyingly familiar voice. Archons, didn’t he have anything better to do?

“Don’t you have people to intimidate and corrupt, Childe?” You ask, your face scrunching up in distaste as you continued to walk towards your home.

“There’s nothing more important to me than seeing your beautiful face, [Y/N].” Tartaglia chuckles, offering you a boyish smile. You could feel your blood start to boil, your hands clenching into fists at your side.

“Childe, what the hell will it take for you to leave me alone, huh? I’ve told you for months now that I will not join the Fatui, and you are so persistent on pursuing me and I don’t understand why!” You seethe, your eyes narrowing at the man in frustration.

Unfazed by your anger, Tartaglia looks at you with a gleam in his eyes that is almost unsettling. If not for your pent up anger, you would have been cautious of the look of excitement that flickered across his face.

“Fight me.”

Two simple words made your body tense and your mind spin. He wanted you to fight? What for?

Sensing your confusion, Tartaglia smiled. “If you beat me, then I will leave you alone. Even if I win, I won’t even ask you to join the Fatui, I’ll just take you out for dinner!”

“Childe, I’m not going to fight you.” You roll your eyes. It’s not that you couldn’t fight him, Madam Ping trained you throughout your life. Even if he was a Fatui Harbinger, you knew that your vision would protect you. No, if things went south, you knew that it would end up with Childe finding out about your abilities, and you didn’t want to think about the headache that would cause you in the long run.

“[Y/N], c’mon!” He whines, giving you a pouty look. At his grown age? How ridiculous.

“Childe, I’ve already said no! What’s so hard to understand?”

“But why not?”

“Because I don’t want to!”

“Why not?”

“I already told you!”

“It’s not-“

Before Tartaglia can speak, you feel something inside you snap. Your patience long gone and by the Archons all you wanted him to do was shut up. You feel the basket of produce you purchased earlier slip from your fingers, and all you can hear is the blood rushing through your ears as suddenly Tartaglia is thrown backwards, body smacking straight into a sunsettia tree.

“I said no.”

Tartaglia had no idea what happened, but suddenly he’s pinned to a tree, vision blurry, the familiar taste of blood in his mouth as he tries to gather his bearings. Through his blurry vision, he makes out your form, your body positioned in a stance he vaguely recognizes as a form of Liyue martial arts, your vision that rested on your hip now glowing. Tartaglia wants to speak, to say anything, but he feels as if a Mitachurl is sitting on his chest and finds it hard to even breathe at the moment.

“I don’t know why you have been so annoyingly persistent, but it ends now.” He hears you speak, but the ringing in his ears makes it difficult. He feels the blood that has been pooling in his mouth suddenly vanish, and in return feels jagged spikes pressed against his face and neck. Tartaglia considers that he has a severe concussion, and that his mind is playing tricks on him, but another part of him knows that this is real. That it’s you doing this. It sends a chill down his spine, knowing that you could end his life with a simple flick of your wrist. How invigorating.

“Consider this my final warning, Childe. If you cross my path ever again, I will not be as kind.” With that being said, you reach down and grab the basket that fell from your hands and continue your journey back home, praying to the Archons that this was the last you’d see of the Harbinger.

But oh, if only you knew that this merely spurred Tartaglia’s desire to have you by his side. To make you his. This was merely the beginning.

my archon

— you sit on the floor by his leg and lay your head on his lap; how does he react?

◇ characters ◇ zhongli, al haitham, cyno, tighnari, xiao, ayato, childe, wanderer

◇ tags ◇ mostly fluff, slightly suggestive on some, petnames (dear, little one - zhongli | bunny, babe - childe | puppy - ayato)

◇ a/n ◇ is this an excuse for me to imagine getting into a position to worship zhongli? yes. yes it is-

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 ⬙ 𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡

zhongli, ever the gentleman, frowns at seeing you sit on the hard cold flooring and caresses your cheek gently, his other hand settling on your shoulder.

“that must be uncomfortable, dear. come rest on-”

he blinks, brows furrowing when you tell him that you want to stay down there by his feet. the protests die in his throat at the reverent gaze you give him, and something stirs in his chest. a nostalgic feeling that takes him millennia back; to the olden times when he was a feared deity of a more… disagreeable temperament.

“…. very well. but at least sit on a cushion, please,” a flutter of his long eyelashes, and for a moment you catch the shadow of his former self behind his amber eyes, “if you are so intent to worship me, who am i to refuse, little one? you already do look the part of a devoted worshipper….. hm... why don’t i teach you how to do this properly.”

al haitham glances away from his book to raise his eyebrows in amusement toward you.

“what are you doing?” he asks plainly; several possibilities pop up in his sharp-witted brain, but he would rather hear your intention from your own lips rather than blindly guess what your unexpectedly unique mind has concocted this time.

you hum nonchalantly and grab the free hand that isn’t holding his book, insistently tugging on it when he doesn’t budge. with a sigh, he lets you maneuver the appendage so it rests against the top of your head. with a roll of his eyes and a slight redness to his ears, he starts to tend to your hair, blunt nails scratching against your scalp every now and then in a way that you always praise him for doing.

“you’re a strange one, [name].”

hey, they do say birds of a feather flock together, right?

tighnari gives you a look. you know. that sassy side eye and a crooked smile threatening to lift one corner of his lips?

“am i not the one who’s supposed to be given headpats and pampering?” he asks teasingly, slightly moving his feet to nudge on your sides.

your boyfriend laughs at the playful glare you give him, and he releases the pen from his fingers to give you your much-needed pats. his eyes soften at the way you lean onto his touch, and he slumps backward onto his seat, exhaustion starting to settle in after hours of working on those reports and manuals.

“ten more minutes, and then it’s my turn.”

childe blinks owlishly at first, lips parted in surprise when you just decide to do this while he was just chilling on the sofa after a long day at work. his expression quickly turns into a teasing boyish grin, however, and he opts to squish your cheeks with his fingers.

“awww, seems like someone really missed me, hmm?” he leans down to place a quick kiss on your puckered lips, “why don’t you climb onto my lap, bunny? i can give you all the attention you’ve missed~”

he frowns when you refuse, and his clear blue eyes darken when you insistently hug one of his legs, your cheek pressing onto his thigh.

“be careful there, babe. you might start something if you keep that up.”

“what…. is the meaning of this, if i may ask?” cyno asks, flustered, the cards in his hands forgotten.

just seconds ago, you had pushed away the album containing his tcg cards from his lap and replaced it with your pretty head. while he doesn’t mind the sudden change at all - he can always sort out his cards later, you always come first, of course - he’s both befuddled and unsure of what you wish for him to do when you give him those pair of puppy eyes with this unfamiliar arrangement.

he follows your gaze that is locked onto his hand, which prompts him to discard his cards on top of the album and place them on your cheek, calloused thumb slowly drawing circles as he gives you a silent questioning gaze.

when you close your eyes in bliss, he chuckles, and he moves his other hand to settle on your other cheek before leaning down to kiss you on your forehead.

“how is it that you get more and more adorable the more we spend time with each other?”

kaeya raises his eyebrows, the hand swirling the glass of wine stopping its movements completely as he feels you hug his leg and place your head on his lap. instinctively, his free hand brushes against your cheek.

mischief colors the tone of his voice as you lovingly kiss his knuckles and give him those doe eyes he adores.

“my, a free leg warmer? how kind of you.”

he laughs in response to the playful slap you delivered to his thigh.

“so, are you planning to climb onto my lap anytime soon, or?”

another slap, another laugh, and kaeya leans down to place a kiss on the crown of your head.

“i have to ask - does this leg warmer come with the service of a wine glass holder? hmm? how about a-” [lines redacted to keep this sfw]

“wha- g-get up! you shouldn’t-” xiao splutters in embarrassment, trying to grab onto your shoulders to pull you into a standing position.

his shock is quickly overwritten by utter confusion when you protest and insist on staying where you are. he ceases trying to move you from the spot, but he decides to ask, “-i… don’t understand. isn’t it uncomfortable? what are you hoping to gain from this?”

the yaksha is still at a loss even after you answer. it’s illogical, he thinks. if his attention is what he wants, why would you choose to have this discomfort when you can just sit beside him and achieve the same thing? does this position have a special meaning to mortals? he’s only seen it on the illustration of that silly romance novel written by an apparently famous mortal from inazuma that you were reading about a week ago, telling a story about a deity and his favored subject- oh.

“…. you’re so weird,” he grumbles, suddenly avoiding your eyes as redness begins to creep onto his cheeks. he is most definitely not a being worthy of worship….. but he supposes if it’s you… he can indulge, right? just for a little….

“oh dear, it seems like someone’s bored,” ayato chuckles, not even looking down from his paperwork as he repositions his legs on his plush armchair, “unfortunately, puppy, i am currently working and unable to tend to your whims.”

his smile only gets wider when he hears you whine and tug on the sleeves of his kimono. what a greedy little thing; your adorableness truly knows no bounds, he muses in amusement. but it is true that he might have been quite neglectful of your needs the past few days…

but it’s no fun to just give in that easily.

ayato gives you a glance and two short pats that are far too brief to your liking, before he returns his attention to his papers, but not before saying with a teasing edge to his tone, “stay like that for an hour while i finish my work, and i’ll give you all my attention after, alright?”

wanderer smirks and crosses his arms before leaning back on his chair, clearly amused and pleased at the sight. he attempts to move his leg away, and when you whine and chase after the limb, the puppet barks out an amused laugh, mirth dancing like electric sparks within his eyes.

“look at you, so needy and desperate for my attention,” he rolls his eyes in fake exasperation, though he doesn’t bother hiding the pleased toothy grin on his expression, “what? what do you want?”

he parries your hand away when you reach out for him, a disbelieving huff of breath escaping the ex-harbinger. the flick on your forehead is playful, and the same tone carries to his next words, like a fleeting wisp of breeze cheekily grazing your skin.

“you think you can order me around as you please? think again,” his voice lowers into a darker and softer drawl, “aren’t you already in the correct position? beg, and then, maybe i’ll consider fulfilling your request.”

© zhongrin | 2022 ◆ no repost. reblogs much appreciated. feel free to reach out to submit suggestions, feedback, comments, or if you just want to talk!

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.𖥔 ݁ ˖꩜ Wasted youth.

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Platonic!Ajax x GN!Reader

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐜: 11k

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!!: violence, blood, death.

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐀/𝐍: IT'S FINALLY HERE! I hope everyone can enjoy this <3

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩. 𝐛𝐲 Tempo Perdido - Legião Urbana

✦⸼࣪⸳ likes, reblogs and comments are appreciated!! <3

Snezhnaya is not exactly a friendly nation. The cold that seems to run from the veins to the depths of people's innermost being brings with it a certain hostility towards those who don't know the heart of the land. But within Ajax's distorted childhood perception, Snezhnaya was like a gentle mother, protecting its children under icy embrace.

But then, why did such a loving land allow its own child to fall into the deepest depths of the Abyss? Like drowning in freezing water, a child who survived Teyvat's darkest and loneliest place would certainly not come out of it the same as he went in.

"Ajax" was still Ajax, wasn't he? The same child, named after a hero from ancient tales, full of compassion and empathy, now carried with him a gaze that was deader than the fish he caught on ice.

Joining the Fatui wasn't in his plans for the future; being one of them wasn't so bad, although he wasn't expecting much for the future. But what he didn't like was being the youngest in the unit, it was a complete humiliation.

Not that the seniors were a challenge for him, but being constantly underestimated was... infuriating, to say the least. While his strength was admirable — thanks to Skirk, he would thank her someday — Ajax felt constantly bored, with no meaningful challenge ahead of him.

"Redhead!" The call was accompanied by a snowball, which hit him square in the face; his moment of peace was interrupted, though it didn't really matter.

Ajax could only sigh before letting out a soundless laugh, knowing exactly who had hit him: [Name], a recruit not much older than him, maybe a year or so. Being under the same division, it wasn't unusual to bump into them. "Here it comes..."

They weren't exactly friends, more like acquaintances. However, they also kept in touch enough to be just "acquaintances". Never friends, perhaps not at all.

As if he had some kind of radar, [Name] always appeared whenever Ajax had his rare moment of philosophical thought of questionable quality. Usually to disrupt the whole process.

" Damn, looks like you really found me," he laughed, turning to look at them.

"That's the third time I've had to look for you this week," they complained, carefully preparing another snowball to throw at him. "I always get scolded because of you, you know that?"

They weren't exactly wrong. Whenever Ajax wandered off the map, it was [Name] who had to look for him in the frozen woods. Not that they really bothered to do it, but it was tiring going around in circles until they found him.

"Look at it as part of your job."

"Babysitting...?"

"No, looking after your companions."

"... How idiotic."

"How heroic. It's very noble to look after your friends, you know?" Ajax corrected. His eyes returned to scanning the surrounding trees in a relaxed manner.

"Not when said 'friends' get into trouble all the time," they retorted.

"I always come back, it's not like you need to hunt me down like I'm some criminal on the loose." He shook his head briskly, brushing the snow off the top of his hair. However, he was greeted with another sharp shot right to the scalp.

"Look... So, all due respect, but you're not far off being one, you know?" they shyly replied. Not in a rude way, but still a little offensive to whoever it was directed at.

He didn't know whether to laugh or feel offended by what they said. Maybe both? Well, they weren't exactly wrong... Ajax was already considered a marginal project, or at least it seemed that way.

"Why did you do that?"

"What? You have to specify or I won't know,” his smile fell, replaced by a neutral expression. He tried to feign ignorance, but it didn't work very well.

"Don't be cynical. You beat up an older soldier. Aren't you a little ashamed?”

Which soldier were they talking about? It didn't matter to him anyway, as he'd lost count of how many he'd challenged and won — it wasn't a difficult task, they were never a match for him.

All too often they were weak, and [Name] was the worst of them all. That's why Ajax didn't even bother trying when inviting them to a duel, because the result was obvious from the start. The last time they sparred, it was be boring, easy and not worth the effort.

"Should I be? If a soldier almost two meters tall can't beat up a 14—year—old, then that means he's a weakling, doesn't it?" Ajax crossed his arms. "Besides, he called me names before, so we're even."

"Seriously..." they sighed, "Seriously, try not to make such a fuss. The Fifth can get you out of most trouble, only until you do something, let's say, really catastrophic."

"Something catastrophic like...?" he asked curiously, his gaze fixed on them.

"Like... burning down the Zapolyarny palace?"

His jaw dropped in shock, and a touch of offense showed on his cold—pink face. That was the most absurd thing he had heard in recent times. "What?! Why do you think I would do something like that?"

"Because it's you we're talking about, redhead."

"What's with the nickname?"

"I think it's funny, don't you?"

"You know... whatever." Ajax put his hands on his waist, shaking his head slightly. "I'll take that as an excuse to put a nickname on you too."

"So you're going to stop with the ' comrade' thing and come up with something even worse? Really?"

"Maybe so... maybe not. Who knows?"

The boy gave a relaxed smile, patting them on the shoulder before moving on. His heavy footsteps in the snow served as a background noise to the uneasy silence around them.

"I found it."

"Hm? Found what?" Ajax raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

[Name] pulled out a red scarf, so familiar to Ajax, from inside their backpack, carefully tying it around his neck. The fabric was warm, or perhaps it was the feeling of zeal, or also the nostalgia it brought.

Ajax hadn't realized he had left it behind. And when he realized it, the difference between the cold air and the protection of the scarf was remarkable — was he so distracted that he didn't notice?

The boy's gloved hands touched the soft fabric of the scarf, bringing it closer to his face and snuggling into the warmth. "Where did you find it, comrade?"

" Somewhere, it doesn't matter." They put their hands in the pockets, looking around at the landscape around them. "Aren't you afraid of getting lost in the forest?"

Ajax let out a genuine laugh when he heard their question, as if it were something ridiculous. "Getting lost? I know my way around pretty well."

[Name] narrowed their eyes, firmly disbelieving Ajax's words. For them, the scenery remained the same, no matter how far they went — well, they didn't go very far at all.

"What? It's all the same, like... just trees and snow everywhere."

Ajax held back a laugh, as if what they'd said was completely dumb. "You're not from Snezhnaya, right?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Were you trying to hide it at all?" He couldn't help but laugh at the redness that appeared on [Name]'s face.

They were almost the scarlet color of their vision, which they proudly carried on a chain attached to their jacket. Pyro and Hydro, it was yet another thing that made them so opposite from each other.

"You know what, never mind! Just follow me." They extended a hand towards him, an almost forced offer.

Ajax hesitated, staring at the hand in front of him for a few long seconds before accepting it. He held it with some hesitation, not wanting to apply more force than he should have. He didn't mean to hurt, but he also had moments when he couldn't control his own strength.

They walked together through the snow, their steps in perfect sync. He noticed these small details as he looked down at the ground, thinking over and over again about an endless cycle. Sometimes, he just let that little silence take over his head, alone without direction, lost in the image of his own breath coming in the form of fog.

[Name] mumbled something, Ajax nodded, but forgot all about it soon after. They knew he wasn't paying attention, but didn't care, increasing the strength with which they held his hand.

"You don't like it here? Is that why you keep running away?"

"It's not running away if you come back.”

[Name] genuinely felt like punching Ajax in the face every time he opened his mouth and let out some stupid reason like this, but they would obviously leave it to imagination. The willingness wasn't lacking, but the courage was.

Perhaps if they were stronger, braver, they could say what they really wanted. But they weren't, and that kept them behind a fine line between the two, where Ajax always seemed to be in the front.

Everything in Snezhnaya, absolutely everything, filled them with an internal revolt. The cold that seemed to freeze them inside, the infinitely same path that seemed to lead nowhere, not being taken seriously — but for now, they would do anything to please those on top, especially since they were the ones in control of everything anyway.

"Don't ignore my question, go on. I know you heard me."

As soon as they arrived at the camp, they were greeted by an angry soldier with a large purple eye. That was the man Ajax had hit, and clearly he didn't look happy.

"Look, the bastard's really back," he said sarcastically, snapping his fingers. "Are you going to come at me for no reason like a savage again, like you did earlier?"

"Liar," they retorted, shaking their heads in denial and pointing a finger at the soldier, "you previously morally attacked Ajax, an exemplary boy..."

Ajax nodded, crossing his arms. Exemplary was by far what he was, but he had to agree with those who defended him. What he didn't expect was that they would retract their words soon after.

"...sort of."

"A... gentle boy?" They gave him a sideways glance, as if for confirmation; all he got back was a slight shake of the head.

"sort of..."

There was a lack of good adjectives to describe what he was — what he had become.

It would be less work if they just called him strong, but they didn't. They didn't want to reduce him to something. They didn't seem to want to reduce him to something the soldier in front of them already knew. Or rather, they didn't want to reduce Ajax to a simple strong boy.

They cleared their throats with a smile, grabbing Ajax by the collar, "Give us a second!"

Honestly, he was expecting a beating, not a strategy meeting behind a bush — not that he was going to complain, but at least he was hoping for a fight or something. His clenched fists contained the real desire to punch that soldier right in the face, but unfortunately he couldn't do that.

"'Sort of', really?" Ajax mimicked with a playful tone.

They rolled their eyes, fidgeting. "One of two ways: either I lie by calling you dumb, or I lie by calling you stupid!"

His jaw dropped for a moment. Was Ajax that stupid in their eyes? Not that he was the most self—controlled or straightforward person, but that dumb was an insult. "Oh, but I'm not dumb!"

"Perfect! Then you're stupid!"

The two of them stared at each other for what seemed like hours. Just as they didn't understand him, Ajax didn't understand them one bit.

"Seriously, I'm trying to help you... but then you have to help me help you."

"I think you've got it wrong. I appreciate the attempt, not to be rude... but I don't think I asked you to help me in the first place." He tried to smooth it over somehow, with that annoying little smile of his.

They felt their eyes ticking just hearing him, but soon pulled themselves together and returned the smile with a sarcastic tone intertwined with the words, "Really?”

"Mhm!" Ajax smiled. "Then I'm going for it, you said!"

Ajax ran off, abandoning them behind the bush to do whatever he wanted. Training, fighting, getting into another fight... it was all very unpredictable when it came to someone as peculiar as Ajax.

[Name] stood there, letting out a sigh as he thought about how weird this boy was. But there was no denying that Ajax was truly exceptional at getting out of trouble, and that made them more and more curious about him.

Sometimes, before going to sleep, Ajax would close his eyes and think about the day he'd had. He would ponder how small details were so easily erased — he couldn't remember who accompanied him on the march, or the name of the guy he had hit. But it was okay, it was fine not to remember.

The important thing was to keep going, without wasting time, and to move on. Ajax didn't need anything else, or anyone else, just himself to become very strong.

"Here you go, redhead." He was called by [Name], who threw a pillow right in his face.

" Man, you really like throwing things at me, don't you?" complained, pulling the pillow away from his face, "Have I become a punching bag now?"

"You forgot your pillow. If you wake up with a stiff neck, you'll be complaining in my ear all day tomorrow."

"I don't complain—"

"You think you don't, but you nag like an old man!"

Ajax threw himself backwards, lying on the mattress hugging the pillow close to his face. He muttered irritably to himself something almost inaudible, something that [Name] could only wish weren't curses in their direction.

"Look, I don't know what kind of problem you have," Ajax began, rolling his eyes in frustration, but soon changed his tone to something more playful, "if you want to settle something with me, come fight. Unless you're too much of a chicken not to fight someone younger and stronger than you."

"Whatever" [name] grumbled as they adjusted the flame of the lamp with their vision, "I already know I have zero percent chance against someone like... you."

"Why, comrade? It's not like I'm going to kill anyone in sight or anything like that." He smiled, giving a slight chuckle.

"Yes, of course, and I'm a slime" [name] sarcastically answered.

"Honestly, I don't mean to offend you or anything..." Ajax sat up, running a light hand through his hair to remove it from his face. "But I really wonder how someone so coward got into Fatui. I mean, you're afraid to even hold your own bow."

[Name] listened attentively to his words, but kept their gaze fixed on the lamp in her hands. It was the only source of warmth between them at the moment, and they couldn't let it go out so soon.

"The reason I'm in Fatui..." Their eyes did not leave the flame in hand, carefully observing the orange color that reflected on everything around him. [Name] avoided this question whenever it was asked, because they knew they weren't strong, and didn't force themselves to be, but the truth was too shameful.

"I believe I am indebted to Her Royal Highness the Tsaritsa. I must render my services for her generosity, and also... for this little thing here, which has guaranteed me everything I have now."

They picked it up and swung it around, the vibrant red gemstone seeming to emanate heat in a veritable mirage. Even though the temperature was almost below zero, it still retained its tiny hints of flame.

"Well, I guess that's it. I was born like anyone else, subject to mistakes and defects. But I don't think I'm worthless, after all..." they paused for a single second, letting out a sigh before continuing, "even doormats have their uses."

Ajax's face softened as he listened to them. He was speechless, sincerely mute without an answer to their words. No silly comment came to mind, just nothing. He waited a while in silence before finally asking: "Wow, that was something..."

"I think we've talked enough about me, what about you?" They asked with a little smile, and Ajax relaxed a little.

"About me? Hm... I think I have several stories! Like today when I punched that guy!" he cheered, throwing a fake punch in the air to represent his fight.

[Name] let out a simple laugh, amused by his actions. They thought the boy was a piece of work, silly but very funny; also very intriguing in every respect. At fourteen, joining the Fatui and doing well was something out of this world from everyone else's perspective.

"No, silly! I don't care about that sort of thing." They shook their heads in denial.

Ajax blinked twice, confusion clear on his face. "What...? So what do you want to know, anyway?"

They patted his head lightly, making Ajax turn as red as a tomato. It was unexpected, and he didn't know how to react to it, he wasn't prepared, but it wasn't that bad either. For the first time in a long time, Ajax allowed himself to receive a bit of care.

"Tell me, redhead," they called him by that silly nickname again, getting a funny look from him, "do you miss home at all?"

"Homesick? Hm... I don't know, I don't think so."

"Lying to yourself is always the worst kind of lie, so don't do this."

"If I really miss home..."

Home. Did Ajax really miss home? It was very hard for them to guess what was going through his head when all he did was fight and cause trouble. Although he had his ridiculous faults, there was still a gentle child inside, deep down.

Ajax was about to answer when it finally hit. It was the kind of question that nobody really asked in the Fatui. Everyone usually acted in accordance with their situation, there was no room in the Camp for whining.

The only tears were those that were left on the pillow, turned upside down as soon as the first rays of sun appeared in the morning. Hidden, sealed away from the gaze of others, while everything continued in the shadows.

He remembered perfectly the day he left home, beginning his career as a soldier.

Ajax checked his appearance one last time in the mirror. He didn't mind the state he was in, with a few scars on his hands and small scratches on his face from the mess that had occurred before he was enlisted — but he couldn't look relaxed either, Ajax needed to look presentable for some reason.

He could hear some whispering, not so quiet, of children behind him. He could see their reflections, curious as ever, but pretended not to have noticed, not wanting to end their failed attempt at spying.

When the clock finally struck a certain time, he knew it was time to go. Ajax had been preparing since the day before, when he received the news. It hadn't been easy to accept, but Ajax had no voice after everything he had done.

It was easy to feel the blood on his hands, even though he had washed them over and over again. While his combat skills were fascinating, it was frightening to see how easy it was to seriously hurt someone.

But at the same time, he felt the adrenaline of fighting pulsing through his veins, bringing with it an insatiable desire for battle. He didn't have a strong enemy, he didn't have anyone who could challenge his skills in this little corner of the world he lived in. Being the strongest shouldn't be so boring, at least not for him.

When he stepped out of his room, the first thing he saw were his little siblings. Their faces were full of questions, asking for an answer as to where he was going, why he was leaving and other questions that Ajax wasn't allowed to answer, nor was he in the mood to answer them.

This was what he really dreaded, the farewell.

He hugged each sibling as if it was the last time seeing them, his eyes filled with anguish disguised as emotion and tears that weren't exactly shed. He felt a knot down his throat — how hard it was to try and keep a smile, with such a conflicted feeling in his chest.

Perhaps that was the hardest part, because the younger ones had no idea where their older brother would end up. They didn't know that he was going where no other child should go. The only excuse he could come up with was something about a fantastic toy factory, and they bought it.

He swallowed it all, keeping his typical charisma in a comforting smile. Blindly lying to himself that all that was to come was just a distraction where he could meet stronger people, bigger obstacles and climb them without hesitation.

He ran down the stairs as if it was the last time, and it would be, because long gone was the boy who once smiled here. Hearing the children's voices saying casual goodbyes, as if it were just another ordinary day and that he would be back soon. Touching the banister, sliding along and feeling the texture of the wood, brought a little sadness. It was full of scratches and loose splinters, just the way he would remember it.

Taking a deep breath, he let the smell of wax invade his lungs for one last time. Little did he know, but this would become another moment for nostalgia in just a few days.

He hesitated to leave that warm place, so precious and cozy that it was the only thing capable of bringing a tear to his eyes after leaving the abyss. Not all things in life work out the way we want them to, and he needed to learn that, if only in the harshest way possible.

"Discipline" was what it was supposed to be, a form of punishment for all the trouble he had made. Like a staircase, Ajax climbed step by step in his acts of violence until he reached the irreversible point of his insatiable hunger for battle

But life always takes its toll. And for Ajax, life decided to give, demand and take away almost instantly.

Saying goodbye to his mother, who wrapped a red wool scarf around his neck, Ajax could only keep smiling. If it hadn't been for the hesitation and worry in her eyes, distressed that her young son would end up in a place like the Fatui, everything would have been so much easier.

"My little warrior," she called him, a cheesy nickname that suited the wild boy perfectly. While it was ironic in the past, given that Ajax was a big scaredy—cat, today it was just dumb, "Don't cause too much trouble... please."

The last sentence came in the form of a very faint whisper, which went almost unnoticed by Ajax. A real plea, almost desperate because of the lack of credibility he had at that moment. She didn't believe in him, evident in the exacerbated concern she showed in her mannerisms.

And if to comfort her, then Ajax was willing to put on his best and most convincing cheerful mask. He had always been a boy who loved his family, and that was something that not even the claws of the Abyss could take away from him.

"Yes, Mom."

Ajax did his best not to sound the least bit false when lying to his mother — He was, he couldn't deny that — But at least Ajax did it convincingly until he could gently slip away from her gentle touch.

"I'll take care of myself. Brush my teeth, comb my hair..."

"And eat well," she added, brushing the dirt off his clothes, making him more presentable.

"...And eat well, leave it to me!"

The woman sighed, letting go of the boy. With her watery eyes turned to the side, she shook her head as if to pretend that everything was fine — an attempt to make it clear that everything was all right, that Ajax shouldn't worry. But in the end, it was to comfort herself.

"Go..." she murmured with a sad smile, shaking her face slightly to let the tears go where they shouldn't, "go with your father before you're late, and don't stir up trouble, see? Your poor mother's heart wouldn't be able to handle it."

"I'll do my best, stay super strong and—"

He was interrupted by a small smack on the head from his father; it wasn't painful, not in the slightest... but it hurt for some reason, somewhere deep inside. All he did was look up, shrug and smile as usual.

"Let's go." That was the call Ajax had been waiting for to.

This was a moment of farewell, but he remembered that it wasn't eternal. Someday, he would return home with his chest puffed out and a huge, proud smile on his face — well, that's what he hoped for.

And so, the troublemaker set foot outside his home to become what no one, not even he, expected him to be one day. Looking back at his past, his younger self, fearful and innocent, disappointed but admiring, came to mind.

An icy breeze was the first thing that greeted Ajax when he opened the door and encountered the standard whiteness of the outside scenery. It was sudden, as if to extract any remnants of warmth he felt. People would say it was a good omen coming from the Tsaritsa, a sign of good fortune on his new path.

And it's what Ajax would like to believe.

"Ajax?"

Their voice woke him from his memories, bringing him back to reality. And then suddenly, he was back in that tiny tent, the one he had never left.

"Sorry. I spaced out, didn't I?" He covered his eyes with his forearm, tiredness was starting to set in.

"Just a little bit." [Name] decided to lie down too, covering themselves with their own blanket. Their hands then went to the lamp, offering it to him, "Can you use your vision to put it out?"

"Can't we just... not put out the fire?" Ajax asked weakly.

[Name] blinked twice in surprise, then cracked a smile to tease him. "What's the matter, are you afraid—"

"No, I'm not afraid of the dark..." he cut them off in mid—sentence, turning around so that he wasn't facing them. With his face covered by the pillow, Ajax lowered his voice. "But leave the fire burning, just for now... please."

It was the first time [Name] had seen him so vulnerable, with his guard down. With such a sincere request, they were at a loss for words — even though they really wanted to understand.

"Right..." They hesitated slightly as they released the lamp. "Sweet dreams, Ajax."

Without replying, they sighed. [Name] then put their head on the pillow, looking at him with a certain empathy. But then again, it was none of their business; he would tell them when he felt comfortable.

That night would be a long one, with the two of them lying awake without exchanging a single word.

Sometimes [Name] questioned their own common sense, especially when they followed Ajax's foolish ideas. Normally, the two of them would get into trouble and be forced to do the daily tasks because of it.

But after days of insistence on his part, they had finally agreed to go ice fishing in the middle of the night because it was the only free time the both had. Did they know how to fish? No, and certainly not on ice, but there's a first time for everything.

"Hm... I don't see anyone," Ajax whispered as he looked through a gap in the tent, making sure no one was awake at this hour.

"Hang on, I can't put these on!" [Name] tried to put their boots on, but couldn't make a decent knot. They were already frustrated, tying them any way and untying them when they realized it didn't lead anywhere.

Ajax let out a chuckle, their desperation to put on simple boots was utterly comical, "Let me help you."

"I can do it myself!" [Name] stared at the tangled shoelace with a certain determination, trying to undo what they had tied.

"You said that last week, yet you couldn't do it and we lost the training—"

[Name]'s face heated up in embarrassment. What he said was true, the two of them had missed it, all because they didn't know how to put on the boots offered with the new uniform, and had to clean the weapons as punishment — not that Ajax cared, it seemed he had only focused on admiring the swords and guns rather than cleaning them.

"Shh! That's in the past!" they tried to shut him up.

Ajax shook his head slightly. He knelt down and stared at the blind knot they had tied, taking his hands to the shoelaces to straighten out the mess. "I'll teach you, check it out."

He carefully tied their shoes, making a firm loop. It was just like at home, when he helped his younger siblings put on their boots to play outside. When recalling this, an unconscious smile appeared on Ajax's lips, followed by a giggle.

"Are you laughing at me?" [name] asked, offended.

"No—" Ajax looked up, and then laughed, seeing the funny look they were making. "Yes, I am now!"

[Name] grabbed him by the cheek, hurrying him out of the tent with them. "Stop laughing, they'll wake up and it'll be our doom!"

"All right, all right!" Ajax exclaimed, removing their hand from his sore cheek. "You talk just like my mother when she scolds me..."

[Name] looked at him, smiling before teasing him. "No way, I mean, I pity your mother for having to put up with a son like you."

Ajax's frowned, he really did look offended by what they had said. "I have no idea what you're talking about, I've always been a very well—behaved child!"

"Oh, sure... if you say so, who am I to doubt it?" they agreed sarcastically. There wasn't a shred of confidence in his word.

There were endless minutes of walking and exchanging small insults. Under the moonlight, the two made their way calmly, getting further and further away from the camp. If they were lucky, no one would find out that they had run away.

They would be fishing in a frozen lake, a large mirror that reflected the light of an aurora. It was a breathtaking sight, as if they could touch the sky, and they took a cautious first step onto the it.

"Damn!" They slipped, having only the instinct to hold on to something.

"Whoa! Watch it there, comrade!" Ajax helped them regain their balance, holding them up by the arms. He took slow steps backwards so that [Name] wouldn't slip again.

[Name] smiled a little awkwardly, embarrassed. "Thanks but... This ice won't break with us on it, right?"

Ajax shook his head and firmly tapped his foot on the frozen surface, which remained intact. "It's pretty sturdy, see?"

"I see." [Name] turned their attention upwards and admired the greenish glow again. " Snezhnaya's night sky is a fascinating sight, isn't it? Even though I've seen it several times, I'm always amazed by its beauty..."

Ajax had already seen the real starry sky, the true and uncovered light of the celestial bodies. To refer to this gloomy canvas as a "fascinating sight" is an absurd statement, for it is only an empty imitation of what lies beneath the veil of the Abyss.

"You're really satisfied with anything, huh?" Ajax scoffed, with a hint of a smile on his face, "It's just floating lights, it gets boring after a while."

"Is there anything that doesn't get boring for you?" [Name] watched as Ajax started to cut the ice in a circular pattern, which appeared to be a not too difficult job for him. "Are you sure this works? I mean, it's just ice... I don't know if there's anything alive down there."

Ajax sat, eyes fixed on the hole in front of them. He hugged his knees and remained there, staring at the immensity and waiting for what would happen next. "Don't worry, we'll catch one in... a few minutes, I think."

"In about how many minutes, exactly?"

Ajax looked up thoughtfully. "A few."

"I swear to the archons, if you made us come here for nothing..." [Name] grumbled, watching the boy next to them. The way he insisted on his ideas impressed them, at the same time as it irritates; but seeing that serene face made them let out a little laugh, "Never mind, I'm the idiot one for following you."

[Name] sat down next to him, resting their face in one hand as Ajax and them waited patiently. Those moments of serenity were the complete opposite from the battles that took place everyday.

They had already seen several "comrades" fall, their lives taken while protecting the Fatui's interests. Interests that were unknown and hidden from the vast majority, concealed by individuals whose faces were unknown to many.

The Harbingers themselves were a kind of urban legends who, while everyone knew of their existence, were enigmatic and symbolic figures within the organization.

"What exactly are we fighting for?" [name] asked. There wasn't exactly a reason, because no one ever said the real purpose of the blood shed on the snowy battlefield.

Everyone's admiration and fear of the Harbingers was obvious. But just as they were feared, the kind of people whose presence is everywhere, there were more questions than answers as to their real motivation.

The closest they had seen was the Fifth, Pulcinella. [Name] didn't understand why they had been placed in his division, being a complete fool who couldn't hold a weapon without getting nervous. Even more so when, in the same division, there was Ajax.

A confused expression appeared on Ajax's face when he heard the question. Wasn't the answer obvious? At least, it was logical. "For Her Royal Highness, the Tsaritsa—"

"No, I know that. I'm talking about why we need to fight, the purpose of it all... We have a mission in a few days, and we don't even know what they want from us."

"I fight because I'm strong, isn't that enough?" Ajax seemed genuine in his response, with no hidden ambitions behind the battles he fought against his opponents. At the end of the day, it seemed to be all about the will to get stronger and better.

"No, it's not." [Name]'s gaze was serious, demanding an answer that would satisfy their curiosity. For them, Ajax was an extremely difficult puzzle to solve — a young boy who possessed the strength of a monster. But at the same time, had a heart as pure as gold. "Your name... was inspired by a hero, right? Do you want to be like them, the hero of the story?"

Ajax nodded, giving them a smirk. He remembered the old days, when he wasn't the least bit brave or powerful, just a fearful boy with a sword and a dream. "I think I'd rather be myself. It's much more fun when you do things your own way, don't you agree?"

"Well... it is, it really is." [Name]'s firm gaze softened. "Ajax, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

The boy froze in place. His mouth opened to speak, but the words he wanted to say didn't come out. He had no answer, even if he thought about it — Ajax simply didn't know.

"When I grow up..." he repeated to himself, looking for an answer, any answer. "I honestly don't know... I think I'll end up having to stay in Fatui."

"Idiot..." [name] grumbled, "I'm not saying you can't do what you want, but let's be honest with ourselves for a moment. Who would willingly stay in this hellhole?"

"Me," Ajax answered immediately, without a hint of hesitation in his speech, "If I go back home, I'll only make more trouble. Just the fact that I'm here makes life easier for everyone, and I can improve my skills."

"Of course you'd say that." They shook their heads, completely disapproving of his choice. They got up from where they sat, offering him a glance. "I envy you, you know that?"

"Hm? You..." Ajax looked up and pointed at them, then at himself. "...envy someone like me?"

"How can I not? You're strong, hopeful, stubborn and very proud," [name] listed, raising a finger for each adjective they found to describe him. "How can I not envy someone like you? You're like..."

"Everything I've always dreamed of being like."

They both uttered the same sentence at the same time, their voices becoming a unison sound that gave way to an awkward silence between them. Their eyes seemed to pierce each other, staring into the depths of the souls in search of some understanding.

"Trust me, I know what it's like," Ajax sighed, "to want to be braver, but at the same time to be too afraid of doing so."

Ajax turned his gaze back to the freezing water. Its darkness brought back vague memories of the abyss. The simple act of fishing was enough to push Ajax's mind back to the past, when he listened to his father's stories — maybe, just maybe, he really wanted to be as great as the heroes in them.

Ajax had once been a poor, fearful boy, terrified of the world outside, but with a spirit hungry for adventure. He had only a shortsword and a bag of bread — anyone could say that it was at that moment, before his fall into the confines of Teyvat, that Ajax began his transformation into what he's now.

"It's not a story I tell anyone, but I used to be a real coward," he admitted, letting out a sigh. "If one day you get stronger... like I did, would you duel with me?"

"Of course..." they smiled, making an x with their arms. "Not!"

Ajax's expression fell, replaced by that of an abandoned puppy. "But why?"

[Name] laughed at his face, crossing their arms. "Don't you remember when we first met?"

For them, the events that led to their current situation were clear as day. From before their enlistment, to the first day in the division.

They were born into a humble family, without any kind of comfort or privilege. [Name] grew up hearing all the stories about the archons and their extraordinary feats, about how lucky those who gained visions were. However, they never understood why their family admired such deities when all they received was misery.

Their parents, in a desperate act, borrowed a large amount of money, which they couldn't pay back. Disaster would be the appropriate word to describe what happened when the deadline for repaying these debts passed. As they were unable to pay, the two were killed by the debt collectors.

But [Name] always had somewhat of a way with their words, and that was the weapon they used to survive in a world like this. Somehow, they managed to negotiate their lives, in exchange for serving in the Fatui army instead of paying off an endless quantity of mora.

And shortly afterwards, [Name] were taken to the Cryo nation, landing in the middle of a terrible blizzard. If it hadn't been for the pyro vision they carried in their hands, [Name] wouldn't be alive to tell the tale, having become an ice statue.

And it was in an old and spacious office where [Name] took their first step towards their new reality. Quite nervously, their hands firmly held a document with all the information about their new career, leaving crumpled marks on its edges. [Name] had never thought they'd be offered to properly work, especially when the job was with none other than Fatui.

They were facing a short, stoic Fatui agent with a big nose and glasses. He seemed like a friendly fellow, but [Name] knew better than to trust someone who worked for those who had killed their family.

"What's your name, child?" asked the man in front of them, as he typed on a typewriter.

They had never seen anything like this, a machine that wrote for people? Unthinkable, it seemed magical, even. [Name] was so glued to it that, for a second, they forgot to answer.

"It's... [Name], that's all. I don't have a last name..."

The agent stopped his notes, giving [Name] a skeptical look. It was enough to make them nervous, unconsciously taking a small step backwards, lowering their head.

"Answer me..." The man went back to typing. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"No, sir. I'm from far away..." they sighed, murmuring, "very, very far...."

"Are you sure you'd like to join Fatui? You're still too young, don't you think it's a big responsibility?"

The agent gave them a gentle smile, different from the look he had given them before. It was as if he was truly giving [Name] a choice — but the truth was, if they didn't accept it, they would probably end up in the same shallow grave as their parents.

"Forgive me, sir, but it's not a question of wanting, it's a question of needing," they replied calmly, "someone has to pay these debts, right? Mora doesn't grow on trees."

[Name] wondered if they had said something wrong, since their tone hadn't exactly been friendly, mentally scolding themselves. But to their surprise, instead of getting scolded, [Name] heard a faint but present chuckle coming from the other person.

"You should thank Her Majesty the Tsaritsa for your kindness," he said, handing them the piece of paper he had been typing on, "how many people do you think have had an opportunity like this, to have their debts absolved and a job guaranteed?"

"Absolved?"

"Exactly, absolved. All we need from you, child, is your loyalty. I can see the potential, but it all depends solely on you." He pointed at their vision, hanging from their waist with a faint shine. "Surely, you're lucky enough to possess one of these."

For anyone else, receiving a vision is a blessing. However, being in possession of one is like having an eternal debt to the world. To be chosen is to be special, and to be special enough to receive a vision is to be distinct from the rest.

Sometimes it became a curse. One can no longer live like a normal person, because there will always be something that sets them apart from the rest. All those who are given one struggle in some way — Has there ever been a vision holder who truly lived an entire life peacefully, without any conflict whatsoever? At least in Snezhnaya, it seemed not.

"I... I accept..." Their eyes filled with hope, looking at their own name perfectly typed on the document. There was the real identity of the gentleman in front of them, revealed in a fancy signature, the Fifth of the Fatui Harbingers, Pulcinella.

[Name] signed their names in the blank space, sealing their fate within the organization. From that moment on, they would be part of the Fatui, just one more in the crowd — But if that was what it took to ensure their survival, [Name] would do it without hesitation.

The real issue, however, was on the first day of duty, and it had a name: Ajax.

[Name] had just put on their uniform, which was a little big for their size. But then again, there were none designed for a fifteen-year-old to wear, so they'd have to be content with what they had on hand.

At least the jacket they were given was comfortable, warm enough to block out some of the bitter cold that surrounded them each second. [Name] even looked like a proper person in it, which made them let out a little laugh.

However, it wasn't until they were standing in line in a meaningful formation that [Name] noticed a boy of a similar age to them. Red curls that stood out against the white backdrop, with a red scarf that was too long for his neck — perhaps they weren't completely alone in that place.

[Name] waited patiently until the time came for them to start training, watching him with eagle eyes, following Ajax wherever he went. When they finally mustered up the courage, they approached him and extended a hand towards him.

"Hello, I'm [Name],"

"Hey!" The boy grinned and shook their hands firmly. "I'm Ajax!"

"Well... looks like we're the same age, huh? How about we train together?" they suggested, thinking it was the best option.

"Sure!" Ajax nodded, putting the sword he was holding aside. "That would be, like... an invitation to battle, right?"

Technically, it was, so they just followed the his reasoning and confirmed it. "Mhm!"

"Then get ready!" he announced, preparing to throw a full punch.

[Name] didn't react immediately, surprised at the speed of the boy who had already set up his punch. "W-WAIT—"

Thud.

Complete darkness was how the first and last friendly match between the two ended, with Ajax knocking them out with a single punch. That's how [Name] would learn that fighting Ajax was a trap. However, [Name] wouldn't lie that at least it had been the best sleep they'd had in months — and the worst black eye they'd ever gotten, too.

"Teyvat to [Name]?" They awoke from their thoughts to see Ajax's hand moving in front of their face. He then tapped them on the forehead. "Is anyone there?"

"Oh, sorry, I got distracted. I was just remembering the punch you gave me." They laughed. "Speaking of which, you also punched that guy the other day too... what's with punching people, redhead?"

"I've already apologized!" His face heated up with embarrassment. "And punching is way more practical. You'd be shocked if you knew how strong a punch from me can really be, when I throw one for real!"

"Hm, sure, no doubt about it—"

"I got one!" Ajax exclaimed, trying to pull the line back on the rod with great difficulty. "A little help would be nice, you know!"

[Name] hurried, wrapping their arms around him and pulling back to bring the fish to the surface. But the animal wouldn't cooperate, even with the effort they made take it out of the water.

Ajax took a step back. "That was fast!"

"Fast? We've been waiting for almost an hour—" They slipped on the ice, pulling him and the fish along with them. In the end, Ajax and [Name] both fell flat, like two idiots.

[Name] looked at him, who was holding the fish in his hands while the animal struggled in them. It was a funny sight, which was enough to get a genuine laugh out of them.

"Haha..." they laughed weakly, then raised their tone, "Hahaha!"

Ajax, hearing the sound of their giggles, bursted into laughter. He laughed so hard that small tears formed in his eyes, "Hahaha... What are we laughing at?"

[Name] pointed at him, "At you, you fool!"

"Oh, really?!" Ajax stood up, bringing the fish in his hands near them. "Let's see who gets the last laugh!"

[Name] got up and ran across the ice, running away from him. They slipped and balanced, with an infectious smile on their faces accompanied by the sweet sound of their laughter, while Ajax chased after them with the animal.

It was moments like this that reminded them that they weren't adults, but two true children at heart.

At least once a week, Ajax and [Name] were sent on missions. They weren't often in charge of the more complicated ones, as they were still too young. However, for the first time, the two of them were allowed to take part in a more risky operation.

The two were supposed to stay with the older ones, but [Name] found themselves alone, having gotten separated from the rest by accident. In the middle of such a large forest, they could only hope that a blizzard wouldn't strike right away.

[Name] analyzed their surroundings, trying to retrace the steps that led them to nowhere and return to where the division had planned to reunite. However, they seemed to go round in circles, never reaching their destination.

That's when they noticed a coat lying in the snow. It was brown, very different from the Fatui soldiers' uniform, with a shabby finishing and a gross smell of blood.

Pow.

That's what they heard, a loud, familiar sound that sent shivers down their spines. Looking up, they saw a bullet hole in the tree, well above their heads — by perhaps two centimeters, they would no longer be alive.

"...!" [Name] instinctively looked for the source of the sound, quickly finding it.

Their desperate eyes met another's, which held no pity. Yet another soldier, wounded, carrying a gun and a tremendous amount of hatred — not everyone liked the Fatui, and not everyone had sympathy just because they were a child.

Frightened, [Name] ran desperately, followed by fierce gunfire that almost hit them. [Name] hid behind a tree and drew out their bow, but couldn't hold it properly no matter how much they tried, since it always slipped from their hands.

The enemy was indeed wounded, but armed and apparently experienced. The look in his face had been enough to send shivers down their spine, because when compared to them, who couldn't even use their vision properly, it was like facing a real monster.

"It'll be all right..." they whispered to themselves. "I just need to—"

[Name] heard more gunshots, too close to where they were. Something told them to run, but also to stay, accept the invitation and have a proper fight. If it was to survive, then [Name] would fight, they needed to.

[Name] couldn't hide forever, it wouldn't be right.

"Come on, you bastard!" [name] shouted, their voice echoing through the woods, as they aimed their bows in the direction of the enemy.

They used their vision and set the arrow ablaze, burning their own fingertips in the process. They didn't know how to control the force with which the arrow burned, but they knew it would hurt anyone who was struck.

[Name] clumsily launched the first arrow, dodging a shower of bullets headed their way. They hoped it was enough, that they had been able to send it flying at his face. But instead, the projectile pierced through his shoulder.

"Damn!" the soldier shouted, trying to reload his weapon while wincing in pain, but his ammunition had run out.

He came up and pistol—whipped them, causing [Name] to cry out in pain for a few seconds. The impact was so intense that they dropped their weapon and fell into the snow.

[Name] then felt the real despair of being weak. They could hear their hearts pounding in their ears and their eyes watering from the pain of the blows they received to the head, while blood trickled down their faces.

They grabbed his foot, applying pyro to their hands to make his boot burn along with it. When he fell, it was then that they saw their chance to stay alive handed to them on a platter.

They reached for the bow that lay on the ground next to them, firmly holding it anyway. Nothing mattered, only survival and that was all — they only needed to survive, to live long enough to prove that they were capable.

It didn't take much for one person to kill another, just despair. That feeling of helplessness and genuine dread, which would move mountains if necessary, was all it took to pull the trigger.

They violently hit the enemy in the face with their own bow, as if it were a bat. It was only when the return attacks stopped that they realized what they had done. The body below had an expression of terror, eyes wide as blood dripped onto the white snow, staining its purity with a crimson shade.

"I—I didn't... I did this...?" They stared at their bloodied hands, feeling their heart beating wildly against their chest. That's when, suddenly, an incessant urge to cough overtook them, but only blood came from their mouth.

[Name] looked down and realized that they had been shot in the chest. The bullet had gone through what seemed to be their lung, they didn't know, the adrenaline was hiding the pain for as long as it took. However, the spot hit was clearly a lethal wound.

They took two clumsy steps backwards, shaking their heads in denial. [Name] was too afraid to do anything like that, taking a life itself was too cruel an act for them, but it was done.

However, they didn't want to die as murderers, not really. So, with determination, [Name] decided they wouldn't die there.

They turned around and ran that time like there was no tomorrow, using every drop of adrenaline they still had in their bodies. [Name] couldn't see the sun shining, only the same gray clouds that covered the sky, which seemed to mock the fact that there was no light at the end.

Their only way out was to get to the camp, where there should be healers waiting for the wounded. However, it was difficult for [Name] to distinguish the landscape around them, especially in such a nervous state.

[Name] tripped over their own foot, losing their balance and rolling painfully down the mountain. They watched life pass before their eyes, each moment painful with the intention of just surviving, not living. Then they closed their eyes tightly, already bracing themselves for a more abrupt impact and accepting certain death.

They hit a tree, before rolling one last time to the bottom of the hill. Fortunately, or not, it was low enough for them not to die on impact — they did wish it had been stronger, ending it all quickly.

[Name] felt like a bird, floating in the sky with their eyes closed. They thought they had died because of the serenity felt for a few seconds, only to be crushed by the cruel reality. Their fall had been gently cushioned by the snow, but even with all this effort, they couldn't see the camp — which meant it had all been in vain.

Finally, the pain returned to their body as if it had never left. Breathing was difficult, with each breath being painful in the extreme, as if their organs were punishing them for still being alive.

"N—No," they sobbed through words, hot tears contrasting with the coldness that cruelly coursed through their veins. "I—I hate it... I wanted to die in peace, not like this... Not like this..."

Their trembling hands squeezed the wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. [Name] didn't know how much time they had left, they didn't want to know either, all left to do was pray to Tsaritsa and beg for a little mercy, for a quick death if possible.

[Name] still hadn't paid their debt to Her Majesty, for the life they had been offered. For the bread to eat every day, for the tent they had over their heads, for letting them breathe, for letting them remain in existence, they had to do their utmost to repay all the favors with whatever they could.

For the gratuitously heavy insults that they had to swallow in silence because they were weak; for the mountains and snowstorms that brought them down along the way; for the disgraceful defective vision of theirs — or rather, they were the defective ones.

"P—Please..." [Name] begged the nothing, while holding their vision close to their chest, "if miracles really do exist…”

How many things had [Name] thrown away, when what they wanted most was to prove to everyone that, even if they were weak, they didn't need to prove anything to anyone? [Name] didn't know, only the bitterness of a wasted time remained in their hearts.

They let their tears fall over the flaming orb, whose glow no longer seemed the same. With one last kiss to the gem, a silent thank you, they began to weep for a life they were about to lose.

There would be no one to mourn their death, to lament the defeat of someone who had never once won. They probably wouldn't even have a funeral, but would just be buried somewhere like an animal. How terrible would it be to be completely forgotten, with no soul to remember their existence?

And Ajax, their only friend... finally acknowledged this fact. Would the boy be desolate? Grieve? Or would he carry on as he always seemed to do?

They regretted not having told him things in life that only they could say. They could only hope for the best, that he wouldn't take the news that badly — but at the same time, there was a small, selfish desire for him to feel their death. Not because [Name] wanted him to suffer, but because that way they would know that they mattered to someone.

[Name] recalled the memories they had made with him, like when they first met, when they went ice fishing a few days ago. The image of how they ran and laughed with him that night, as if they weren't the next ones to die, was fresh.

At last, their body felt light, receiving a moment of tranquillity reserved for the end of endings, when [Name] felt nothing but the slow rhythm of their heartbeats, fighting for a lost cause, as if they didn't have two holes in their chests.

"I was truly... useless until the end, wasn't I...?" [Name] murmured what they knew would be their last words, a vent to themselves and to the world. With the last beat of their hearts and the cessation of their breathing, snowflakes touched the now freezing skin. "I hope I have served you well... Your Majesty..."

They died in silence, without disturbing anyone.

Meanwhile, with the mission over, Ajax found himself extremely bored. Contemplating the pure white snow stained with blood as he returned to camp had already become a habit of his.

He could not care less that his face had a few small scratches on it. Though, he had to admit, that any kind of mission made him tired. But before he could rest, he found a place to rest. So Ajax began to look for them throughout the camp, without any success in his search.

'They must be receiving medical care...' He thought, as he made his way towards the tent where the doctors were staying.

It was a small space that was often crowded with the number of people wounded during missions. Finding any specific person was difficult, even more so when he was being pestered to be treated right away because he was younger.

"Are you sure you don't want to go first?" one of the doctors asked, placing a hand on his bruised face.

"No, I'm fine!" Ajax smiled. "I'm just looking for..."

For some reason, his eyes fixed on a particular corner of the tent. Away from the rest, it was where they put the bodies of those who had perished in combat; but Ajax had never taken much notice of it, so why now?

He approached slowly, in silence. Ajax felt an uncharacteristic nervousness come over him, running through his veins. The chills he felt seemed to swallow him up from the inside out, it had been a long time since Ajax had felt like this, as if something was screaming "don't go there, stay here" and attempting to keep him from discovering the truth, as he approached a particular cloth.

He stopped in front of the covered figure, noticing something sticking out of the cloth. An object, a... vision. But the only ones in the entire division who possessed one were him and... [Name].

Terror was too little to describe what overtook Ajax, who hesitated to lift the cloth covering the individual's face. He wished he wouldn't hear his head and believe that they weren't the dead man in front of him.

With trembling hands, which he tried to stop, Ajax lifted the fabric slightly. And that's when the ground really seemed to crumble beneath him — they were dead, [Name] was truly dead.

Their skin was so pale and cold that it scared him a bit. But what particularly caught Ajax's eye was the sheer amount of blood they had lost, as their face and hair were completely stained a deep crimson red; and no one had bothered to close their eyes, devoid of life and its particular glow. Now, they were just a pit of darkness that matched his own.

"..." Ajax just stared, unable to say anything. Everything was trapped inside, without him being able to express it.

Ajax tried to tell himself that he didn't care, that they weren't really friends, just work colleagues. But the sadness in his heart betrayed the stoicism he tried so hard to maintain.

Ajax closed their eyes gently and kissed [Name]'s forehead gently before covering their face with the cloth again. It was an action that any mother would take on seeing her child dead, but they didn't have one to weep over their death — and if there wasn't one, then Ajax would play his part in showing respect for them.

Ajax may even have changed when he fell into the abyss, becoming a maniac for fighting and confusion. But at the end of the day, he was human just like everyone else.

Two days later, the tent they shared was cold, without the heat of the lamp to warm Ajax up, as it had already gone out with the icy wind coming through the gap in the entrance.

It was [Name] who kept them warm in the middle of the night, using their vision to keep the fire burning. And that was just a bitter reminder that they were no longer there.

The others had taken away everything that was theirs, accommodating what would be the belongings of a new tentmate, who would be arriving in a few days. It was as if they had ceased to exist altogether.

Ajax wouldn't mind being hit in the face with a pillow if they were the ones to hit him, with that smile, with that irritating tone of voice of theirs that Ajax recognized from afar. He wouldn't mind being called "redhead" again, if it was them calling him that.

"Ajax?" The voice that called him from outside was familiar to Ajax. It was the Fifth.

Ajax promptly got to his feet, walking outside the tent and greeting him politely, a treatment he reserved only for The Rooster. "I'm here, sir."

"I heard that one of your companions fell in battle... a shame," the Harbinger said, as he searched for something in his pocket. "Well, here it is..."

The man handed him a gray envelope, a letter. In the corner was written in almost illegible handwriting the names of the sender and recipient, respectively: [Name] and Ajax.

"Thank you, sir," he nodded, holding the envelope tightly in his hands.

"You were both very similar ages, you and..." the Rooster paused, having forgotten their name.

"[Name]." It was the first time Ajax had said their names, having called them "comrade" all the time since they'd met. Honestly, it hurt a little, how difficult it was to utter a simple phoneme.

A few minutes later, Ajax said goodbye to the Harbinger and entered the darkness of the tent again. He left out a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever was written inside that envelope.

Ajax could no longer remember what The Rooster had talked about, only that the exchange of words had been short, like all the others before. He didn't even have the mind to think about it now, he could apologize later if he forgot some important information.

But right now, the only thing that mattered to Ajax was [Name]'s letter. He opened the envelope, trying to be careful not to tear it, but in the end he did. Ajax strained his eyes to read what was written there, in a handwriting as bad as theirs.

Dear Ajax,

Should I start a letter with "dear"? I don't know, honestly, I have never written one. Well, if this letter found you, then that means I must be dead by now. I'm sure you're glad I did, as you'll now have the whole tent to yourself.

I've written this because I know that, in life, I might not be able to say what I think. I believe we're already friends, don't you too? That's how I feel about you, I think you're my only friend, and I've been very happy about that. Thank you, thank you very much, for the joyful and humorous moments you've provided me with in this little end of the world that is Snezhnaya.

I asked you the other day if you felt homesick; you may deny it, but I can understand how you feel, away from everyone you love in a place like this. Know that whatever may happen, I believe that the same people you miss feel the same way you do.

Don't listen to that little voice in your head that whispers "you're nothing but trouble", it's stupid. When I look at you, I don't see a troubled boy, but a boy with the heart of another. That day we were late for training, you could just as well have walked away and let me be punished for being late, but you didn't. We cleaned all the weapons by ourselves. We polished all the weapons alone, for hours, and you never complained. Why was that?

I don't know, but I'd like it to stay that way, so keep going! I'll be cheering you on from wherever I am, because you're the best warrior I've ever had the honor of meeting.

I end this letter with my admiration and gratitude to you; and never forget: we have our own time!

With much care,

[Name].

A single tear fell onto the paper, right below their name, accompanied by others that would soon form a hot waterfall in his eyes. Ajax didn't know how to respond to this, covering his face with the paper, as if he was embarrassed to end up being seen like this

Perhaps it was for the better, a reminder that life really wasn't fair, and that Ajax had strayed from the path he was on. He didn't want to care so much, but at the same time he did.

Ajax wanted someone to comfort him, to tell and reassure him that it was all right, that this sort of thing did happen, but at the same time, it didn't. It was hard, very hard, to face it. It was difficult, very difficult, to face the loneliness that he tried so hard to hide behind brute strength.

Anyone who saw him like that would doubt that he was the same person who ravaged the battlefield with his bloodlust, the boy who seemed like an uncontrollable monster with an indomitable spirit, causing trouble wherever he went.

But for one last time, in the darkness of that tent, he allowed himself to be... Vulnerable.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖꩜ Wasted youth.

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Platonic!Ajax x GN!Reader

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐜: 11k

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆!!: violence, blood, death.

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐀/𝐍: IT'S FINALLY HERE! I hope everyone can enjoy this <3

✦⸼࣪⸳ 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩. 𝐛𝐲 Tempo Perdido - Legião Urbana

✦⸼࣪⸳ likes, reblogs and comments are appreciated!! <3

Snezhnaya is not exactly a friendly nation. The cold that seems to run from the veins to the depths of people's innermost being brings with it a certain hostility towards those who don't know the heart of the land. But within Ajax's distorted childhood perception, Snezhnaya was like a gentle mother, protecting its children under icy embrace.

But then, why did such a loving land allow its own child to fall into the deepest depths of the Abyss? Like drowning in freezing water, a child who survived Teyvat's darkest and loneliest place would certainly not come out of it the same as he went in.

"Ajax" was still Ajax, wasn't he? The same child, named after a hero from ancient tales, full of compassion and empathy, now carried with him a gaze that was deader than the fish he caught on ice.

Joining the Fatui wasn't in his plans for the future; being one of them wasn't so bad, although he wasn't expecting much for the future. But what he didn't like was being the youngest in the unit, it was a complete humiliation.

Not that the seniors were a challenge for him, but being constantly underestimated was... infuriating, to say the least. While his strength was admirable — thanks to Skirk, he would thank her someday — Ajax felt constantly bored, with no meaningful challenge ahead of him.

"Redhead!" The call was accompanied by a snowball, which hit him square in the face; his moment of peace was interrupted, though it didn't really matter.

Ajax could only sigh before letting out a soundless laugh, knowing exactly who had hit him: [Name], a recruit not much older than him, maybe a year or so. Being under the same division, it wasn't unusual to bump into them. "Here it comes..."

They weren't exactly friends, more like acquaintances. However, they also kept in touch enough to be just "acquaintances". Never friends, perhaps not at all.

As if he had some kind of radar, [Name] always appeared whenever Ajax had his rare moment of philosophical thought of questionable quality. Usually to disrupt the whole process.

" Damn, looks like you really found me," he laughed, turning to look at them.

"That's the third time I've had to look for you this week," they complained, carefully preparing another snowball to throw at him. "I always get scolded because of you, you know that?"

They weren't exactly wrong. Whenever Ajax wandered off the map, it was [Name] who had to look for him in the frozen woods. Not that they really bothered to do it, but it was tiring going around in circles until they found him.

"Look at it as part of your job."

"Babysitting...?"

"No, looking after your companions."

"... How idiotic."

"How heroic. It's very noble to look after your friends, you know?" Ajax corrected. His eyes returned to scanning the surrounding trees in a relaxed manner.

"Not when said 'friends' get into trouble all the time," they retorted.

"I always come back, it's not like you need to hunt me down like I'm some criminal on the loose." He shook his head briskly, brushing the snow off the top of his hair. However, he was greeted with another sharp shot right to the scalp.

"Look... So, all due respect, but you're not far off being one, you know?" they shyly replied. Not in a rude way, but still a little offensive to whoever it was directed at.

He didn't know whether to laugh or feel offended by what they said. Maybe both? Well, they weren't exactly wrong... Ajax was already considered a marginal project, or at least it seemed that way.

"Why did you do that?"

"What? You have to specify or I won't know,” his smile fell, replaced by a neutral expression. He tried to feign ignorance, but it didn't work very well.

"Don't be cynical. You beat up an older soldier. Aren't you a little ashamed?”

Which soldier were they talking about? It didn't matter to him anyway, as he'd lost count of how many he'd challenged and won — it wasn't a difficult task, they were never a match for him.

All too often they were weak, and [Name] was the worst of them all. That's why Ajax didn't even bother trying when inviting them to a duel, because the result was obvious from the start. The last time they sparred, it was be boring, easy and not worth the effort.

"Should I be? If a soldier almost two meters tall can't beat up a 14—year—old, then that means he's a weakling, doesn't it?" Ajax crossed his arms. "Besides, he called me names before, so we're even."

"Seriously..." they sighed, "Seriously, try not to make such a fuss. The Fifth can get you out of most trouble, only until you do something, let's say, really catastrophic."

"Something catastrophic like...?" he asked curiously, his gaze fixed on them.

"Like... burning down the Zapolyarny palace?"

His jaw dropped in shock, and a touch of offense showed on his cold—pink face. That was the most absurd thing he had heard in recent times. "What?! Why do you think I would do something like that?"

"Because it's you we're talking about, redhead."

"What's with the nickname?"

"I think it's funny, don't you?"

"You know... whatever." Ajax put his hands on his waist, shaking his head slightly. "I'll take that as an excuse to put a nickname on you too."

"So you're going to stop with the ' comrade' thing and come up with something even worse? Really?"

"Maybe so... maybe not. Who knows?"

The boy gave a relaxed smile, patting them on the shoulder before moving on. His heavy footsteps in the snow served as a background noise to the uneasy silence around them.

"I found it."

"Hm? Found what?" Ajax raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

[Name] pulled out a red scarf, so familiar to Ajax, from inside their backpack, carefully tying it around his neck. The fabric was warm, or perhaps it was the feeling of zeal, or also the nostalgia it brought.

Ajax hadn't realized he had left it behind. And when he realized it, the difference between the cold air and the protection of the scarf was remarkable — was he so distracted that he didn't notice?

The boy's gloved hands touched the soft fabric of the scarf, bringing it closer to his face and snuggling into the warmth. "Where did you find it, comrade?"

" Somewhere, it doesn't matter." They put their hands in the pockets, looking around at the landscape around them. "Aren't you afraid of getting lost in the forest?"

Ajax let out a genuine laugh when he heard their question, as if it were something ridiculous. "Getting lost? I know my way around pretty well."

[Name] narrowed their eyes, firmly disbelieving Ajax's words. For them, the scenery remained the same, no matter how far they went — well, they didn't go very far at all.

"What? It's all the same, like... just trees and snow everywhere."

Ajax held back a laugh, as if what they'd said was completely dumb. "You're not from Snezhnaya, right?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Were you trying to hide it at all?" He couldn't help but laugh at the redness that appeared on [Name]'s face.

They were almost the scarlet color of their vision, which they proudly carried on a chain attached to their jacket. Pyro and Hydro, it was yet another thing that made them so opposite from each other.

"You know what, never mind! Just follow me." They extended a hand towards him, an almost forced offer.

Ajax hesitated, staring at the hand in front of him for a few long seconds before accepting it. He held it with some hesitation, not wanting to apply more force than he should have. He didn't mean to hurt, but he also had moments when he couldn't control his own strength.

They walked together through the snow, their steps in perfect sync. He noticed these small details as he looked down at the ground, thinking over and over again about an endless cycle. Sometimes, he just let that little silence take over his head, alone without direction, lost in the image of his own breath coming in the form of fog.

[Name] mumbled something, Ajax nodded, but forgot all about it soon after. They knew he wasn't paying attention, but didn't care, increasing the strength with which they held his hand.

"You don't like it here? Is that why you keep running away?"

"It's not running away if you come back.”

[Name] genuinely felt like punching Ajax in the face every time he opened his mouth and let out some stupid reason like this, but they would obviously leave it to imagination. The willingness wasn't lacking, but the courage was.

Perhaps if they were stronger, braver, they could say what they really wanted. But they weren't, and that kept them behind a fine line between the two, where Ajax always seemed to be in the front.

Everything in Snezhnaya, absolutely everything, filled them with an internal revolt. The cold that seemed to freeze them inside, the infinitely same path that seemed to lead nowhere, not being taken seriously — but for now, they would do anything to please those on top, especially since they were the ones in control of everything anyway.

"Don't ignore my question, go on. I know you heard me."

As soon as they arrived at the camp, they were greeted by an angry soldier with a large purple eye. That was the man Ajax had hit, and clearly he didn't look happy.

"Look, the bastard's really back," he said sarcastically, snapping his fingers. "Are you going to come at me for no reason like a savage again, like you did earlier?"

"Liar," they retorted, shaking their heads in denial and pointing a finger at the soldier, "you previously morally attacked Ajax, an exemplary boy..."

Ajax nodded, crossing his arms. Exemplary was by far what he was, but he had to agree with those who defended him. What he didn't expect was that they would retract their words soon after.

"...sort of."

"A... gentle boy?" They gave him a sideways glance, as if for confirmation; all he got back was a slight shake of the head.

"sort of..."

There was a lack of good adjectives to describe what he was — what he had become.

It would be less work if they just called him strong, but they didn't. They didn't want to reduce him to something. They didn't seem to want to reduce him to something the soldier in front of them already knew. Or rather, they didn't want to reduce Ajax to a simple strong boy.

They cleared their throats with a smile, grabbing Ajax by the collar, "Give us a second!"

Honestly, he was expecting a beating, not a strategy meeting behind a bush — not that he was going to complain, but at least he was hoping for a fight or something. His clenched fists contained the real desire to punch that soldier right in the face, but unfortunately he couldn't do that.

"'Sort of', really?" Ajax mimicked with a playful tone.

They rolled their eyes, fidgeting. "One of two ways: either I lie by calling you dumb, or I lie by calling you stupid!"

His jaw dropped for a moment. Was Ajax that stupid in their eyes? Not that he was the most self—controlled or straightforward person, but that dumb was an insult. "Oh, but I'm not dumb!"

"Perfect! Then you're stupid!"

The two of them stared at each other for what seemed like hours. Just as they didn't understand him, Ajax didn't understand them one bit.

"Seriously, I'm trying to help you... but then you have to help me help you."

"I think you've got it wrong. I appreciate the attempt, not to be rude... but I don't think I asked you to help me in the first place." He tried to smooth it over somehow, with that annoying little smile of his.

They felt their eyes ticking just hearing him, but soon pulled themselves together and returned the smile with a sarcastic tone intertwined with the words, "Really?”

"Mhm!" Ajax smiled. "Then I'm going for it, you said!"

Ajax ran off, abandoning them behind the bush to do whatever he wanted. Training, fighting, getting into another fight... it was all very unpredictable when it came to someone as peculiar as Ajax.

[Name] stood there, letting out a sigh as he thought about how weird this boy was. But there was no denying that Ajax was truly exceptional at getting out of trouble, and that made them more and more curious about him.

Sometimes, before going to sleep, Ajax would close his eyes and think about the day he'd had. He would ponder how small details were so easily erased — he couldn't remember who accompanied him on the march, or the name of the guy he had hit. But it was okay, it was fine not to remember.

The important thing was to keep going, without wasting time, and to move on. Ajax didn't need anything else, or anyone else, just himself to become very strong.

"Here you go, redhead." He was called by [Name], who threw a pillow right in his face.

" Man, you really like throwing things at me, don't you?" complained, pulling the pillow away from his face, "Have I become a punching bag now?"

"You forgot your pillow. If you wake up with a stiff neck, you'll be complaining in my ear all day tomorrow."

"I don't complain—"

"You think you don't, but you nag like an old man!"

Ajax threw himself backwards, lying on the mattress hugging the pillow close to his face. He muttered irritably to himself something almost inaudible, something that [Name] could only wish weren't curses in their direction.

"Look, I don't know what kind of problem you have," Ajax began, rolling his eyes in frustration, but soon changed his tone to something more playful, "if you want to settle something with me, come fight. Unless you're too much of a chicken not to fight someone younger and stronger than you."

"Whatever" [name] grumbled as they adjusted the flame of the lamp with their vision, "I already know I have zero percent chance against someone like... you."

"Why, comrade? It's not like I'm going to kill anyone in sight or anything like that." He smiled, giving a slight chuckle.

"Yes, of course, and I'm a slime" [name] sarcastically answered.

"Honestly, I don't mean to offend you or anything..." Ajax sat up, running a light hand through his hair to remove it from his face. "But I really wonder how someone so coward got into Fatui. I mean, you're afraid to even hold your own bow."

[Name] listened attentively to his words, but kept their gaze fixed on the lamp in her hands. It was the only source of warmth between them at the moment, and they couldn't let it go out so soon.

"The reason I'm in Fatui..." Their eyes did not leave the flame in hand, carefully observing the orange color that reflected on everything around him. [Name] avoided this question whenever it was asked, because they knew they weren't strong, and didn't force themselves to be, but the truth was too shameful.

"I believe I am indebted to Her Royal Highness the Tsaritsa. I must render my services for her generosity, and also... for this little thing here, which has guaranteed me everything I have now."

They picked it up and swung it around, the vibrant red gemstone seeming to emanate heat in a veritable mirage. Even though the temperature was almost below zero, it still retained its tiny hints of flame.

"Well, I guess that's it. I was born like anyone else, subject to mistakes and defects. But I don't think I'm worthless, after all..." they paused for a single second, letting out a sigh before continuing, "even doormats have their uses."

Ajax's face softened as he listened to them. He was speechless, sincerely mute without an answer to their words. No silly comment came to mind, just nothing. He waited a while in silence before finally asking: "Wow, that was something..."

"I think we've talked enough about me, what about you?" They asked with a little smile, and Ajax relaxed a little.

"About me? Hm... I think I have several stories! Like today when I punched that guy!" he cheered, throwing a fake punch in the air to represent his fight.

[Name] let out a simple laugh, amused by his actions. They thought the boy was a piece of work, silly but very funny; also very intriguing in every respect. At fourteen, joining the Fatui and doing well was something out of this world from everyone else's perspective.

"No, silly! I don't care about that sort of thing." They shook their heads in denial.

Ajax blinked twice, confusion clear on his face. "What...? So what do you want to know, anyway?"

They patted his head lightly, making Ajax turn as red as a tomato. It was unexpected, and he didn't know how to react to it, he wasn't prepared, but it wasn't that bad either. For the first time in a long time, Ajax allowed himself to receive a bit of care.

"Tell me, redhead," they called him by that silly nickname again, getting a funny look from him, "do you miss home at all?"

"Homesick? Hm... I don't know, I don't think so."

"Lying to yourself is always the worst kind of lie, so don't do this."

"If I really miss home..."

Home. Did Ajax really miss home? It was very hard for them to guess what was going through his head when all he did was fight and cause trouble. Although he had his ridiculous faults, there was still a gentle child inside, deep down.

Ajax was about to answer when it finally hit. It was the kind of question that nobody really asked in the Fatui. Everyone usually acted in accordance with their situation, there was no room in the Camp for whining.

The only tears were those that were left on the pillow, turned upside down as soon as the first rays of sun appeared in the morning. Hidden, sealed away from the gaze of others, while everything continued in the shadows.

He remembered perfectly the day he left home, beginning his career as a soldier.

Ajax checked his appearance one last time in the mirror. He didn't mind the state he was in, with a few scars on his hands and small scratches on his face from the mess that had occurred before he was enlisted — but he couldn't look relaxed either, Ajax needed to look presentable for some reason.

He could hear some whispering, not so quiet, of children behind him. He could see their reflections, curious as ever, but pretended not to have noticed, not wanting to end their failed attempt at spying.

When the clock finally struck a certain time, he knew it was time to go. Ajax had been preparing since the day before, when he received the news. It hadn't been easy to accept, but Ajax had no voice after everything he had done.

It was easy to feel the blood on his hands, even though he had washed them over and over again. While his combat skills were fascinating, it was frightening to see how easy it was to seriously hurt someone.

But at the same time, he felt the adrenaline of fighting pulsing through his veins, bringing with it an insatiable desire for battle. He didn't have a strong enemy, he didn't have anyone who could challenge his skills in this little corner of the world he lived in. Being the strongest shouldn't be so boring, at least not for him.

When he stepped out of his room, the first thing he saw were his little siblings. Their faces were full of questions, asking for an answer as to where he was going, why he was leaving and other questions that Ajax wasn't allowed to answer, nor was he in the mood to answer them.

This was what he really dreaded, the farewell.

He hugged each sibling as if it was the last time seeing them, his eyes filled with anguish disguised as emotion and tears that weren't exactly shed. He felt a knot down his throat — how hard it was to try and keep a smile, with such a conflicted feeling in his chest.

Perhaps that was the hardest part, because the younger ones had no idea where their older brother would end up. They didn't know that he was going where no other child should go. The only excuse he could come up with was something about a fantastic toy factory, and they bought it.

He swallowed it all, keeping his typical charisma in a comforting smile. Blindly lying to himself that all that was to come was just a distraction where he could meet stronger people, bigger obstacles and climb them without hesitation.

He ran down the stairs as if it was the last time, and it would be, because long gone was the boy who once smiled here. Hearing the children's voices saying casual goodbyes, as if it were just another ordinary day and that he would be back soon. Touching the banister, sliding along and feeling the texture of the wood, brought a little sadness. It was full of scratches and loose splinters, just the way he would remember it.

Taking a deep breath, he let the smell of wax invade his lungs for one last time. Little did he know, but this would become another moment for nostalgia in just a few days.

He hesitated to leave that warm place, so precious and cozy that it was the only thing capable of bringing a tear to his eyes after leaving the abyss. Not all things in life work out the way we want them to, and he needed to learn that, if only in the harshest way possible.

"Discipline" was what it was supposed to be, a form of punishment for all the trouble he had made. Like a staircase, Ajax climbed step by step in his acts of violence until he reached the irreversible point of his insatiable hunger for battle

But life always takes its toll. And for Ajax, life decided to give, demand and take away almost instantly.

Saying goodbye to his mother, who wrapped a red wool scarf around his neck, Ajax could only keep smiling. If it hadn't been for the hesitation and worry in her eyes, distressed that her young son would end up in a place like the Fatui, everything would have been so much easier.

"My little warrior," she called him, a cheesy nickname that suited the wild boy perfectly. While it was ironic in the past, given that Ajax was a big scaredy—cat, today it was just dumb, "Don't cause too much trouble... please."

The last sentence came in the form of a very faint whisper, which went almost unnoticed by Ajax. A real plea, almost desperate because of the lack of credibility he had at that moment. She didn't believe in him, evident in the exacerbated concern she showed in her mannerisms.

And if to comfort her, then Ajax was willing to put on his best and most convincing cheerful mask. He had always been a boy who loved his family, and that was something that not even the claws of the Abyss could take away from him.

"Yes, Mom."

Ajax did his best not to sound the least bit false when lying to his mother — He was, he couldn't deny that — But at least Ajax did it convincingly until he could gently slip away from her gentle touch.

"I'll take care of myself. Brush my teeth, comb my hair..."

"And eat well," she added, brushing the dirt off his clothes, making him more presentable.

"...And eat well, leave it to me!"

The woman sighed, letting go of the boy. With her watery eyes turned to the side, she shook her head as if to pretend that everything was fine — an attempt to make it clear that everything was all right, that Ajax shouldn't worry. But in the end, it was to comfort herself.

"Go..." she murmured with a sad smile, shaking her face slightly to let the tears go where they shouldn't, "go with your father before you're late, and don't stir up trouble, see? Your poor mother's heart wouldn't be able to handle it."

"I'll do my best, stay super strong and—"

He was interrupted by a small smack on the head from his father; it wasn't painful, not in the slightest... but it hurt for some reason, somewhere deep inside. All he did was look up, shrug and smile as usual.

"Let's go." That was the call Ajax had been waiting for to.

This was a moment of farewell, but he remembered that it wasn't eternal. Someday, he would return home with his chest puffed out and a huge, proud smile on his face — well, that's what he hoped for.

And so, the troublemaker set foot outside his home to become what no one, not even he, expected him to be one day. Looking back at his past, his younger self, fearful and innocent, disappointed but admiring, came to mind.

An icy breeze was the first thing that greeted Ajax when he opened the door and encountered the standard whiteness of the outside scenery. It was sudden, as if to extract any remnants of warmth he felt. People would say it was a good omen coming from the Tsaritsa, a sign of good fortune on his new path.

And it's what Ajax would like to believe.

"Ajax?"

Their voice woke him from his memories, bringing him back to reality. And then suddenly, he was back in that tiny tent, the one he had never left.

"Sorry. I spaced out, didn't I?" He covered his eyes with his forearm, tiredness was starting to set in.

"Just a little bit." [Name] decided to lie down too, covering themselves with their own blanket. Their hands then went to the lamp, offering it to him, "Can you use your vision to put it out?"

"Can't we just... not put out the fire?" Ajax asked weakly.

[Name] blinked twice in surprise, then cracked a smile to tease him. "What's the matter, are you afraid—"

"No, I'm not afraid of the dark..." he cut them off in mid—sentence, turning around so that he wasn't facing them. With his face covered by the pillow, Ajax lowered his voice. "But leave the fire burning, just for now... please."

It was the first time [Name] had seen him so vulnerable, with his guard down. With such a sincere request, they were at a loss for words — even though they really wanted to understand.

"Right..." They hesitated slightly as they released the lamp. "Sweet dreams, Ajax."

Without replying, they sighed. [Name] then put their head on the pillow, looking at him with a certain empathy. But then again, it was none of their business; he would tell them when he felt comfortable.

That night would be a long one, with the two of them lying awake without exchanging a single word.

Sometimes [Name] questioned their own common sense, especially when they followed Ajax's foolish ideas. Normally, the two of them would get into trouble and be forced to do the daily tasks because of it.

But after days of insistence on his part, they had finally agreed to go ice fishing in the middle of the night because it was the only free time the both had. Did they know how to fish? No, and certainly not on ice, but there's a first time for everything.

"Hm... I don't see anyone," Ajax whispered as he looked through a gap in the tent, making sure no one was awake at this hour.

"Hang on, I can't put these on!" [Name] tried to put their boots on, but couldn't make a decent knot. They were already frustrated, tying them any way and untying them when they realized it didn't lead anywhere.

Ajax let out a chuckle, their desperation to put on simple boots was utterly comical, "Let me help you."

"I can do it myself!" [Name] stared at the tangled shoelace with a certain determination, trying to undo what they had tied.

"You said that last week, yet you couldn't do it and we lost the training—"

[Name]'s face heated up in embarrassment. What he said was true, the two of them had missed it, all because they didn't know how to put on the boots offered with the new uniform, and had to clean the weapons as punishment — not that Ajax cared, it seemed he had only focused on admiring the swords and guns rather than cleaning them.

"Shh! That's in the past!" they tried to shut him up.

Ajax shook his head slightly. He knelt down and stared at the blind knot they had tied, taking his hands to the shoelaces to straighten out the mess. "I'll teach you, check it out."

He carefully tied their shoes, making a firm loop. It was just like at home, when he helped his younger siblings put on their boots to play outside. When recalling this, an unconscious smile appeared on Ajax's lips, followed by a giggle.

"Are you laughing at me?" [name] asked, offended.

"No—" Ajax looked up, and then laughed, seeing the funny look they were making. "Yes, I am now!"

[Name] grabbed him by the cheek, hurrying him out of the tent with them. "Stop laughing, they'll wake up and it'll be our doom!"

"All right, all right!" Ajax exclaimed, removing their hand from his sore cheek. "You talk just like my mother when she scolds me..."

[Name] looked at him, smiling before teasing him. "No way, I mean, I pity your mother for having to put up with a son like you."

Ajax's frowned, he really did look offended by what they had said. "I have no idea what you're talking about, I've always been a very well—behaved child!"

"Oh, sure... if you say so, who am I to doubt it?" they agreed sarcastically. There wasn't a shred of confidence in his word.

There were endless minutes of walking and exchanging small insults. Under the moonlight, the two made their way calmly, getting further and further away from the camp. If they were lucky, no one would find out that they had run away.

They would be fishing in a frozen lake, a large mirror that reflected the light of an aurora. It was a breathtaking sight, as if they could touch the sky, and they took a cautious first step onto the it.

"Damn!" They slipped, having only the instinct to hold on to something.

"Whoa! Watch it there, comrade!" Ajax helped them regain their balance, holding them up by the arms. He took slow steps backwards so that [Name] wouldn't slip again.

[Name] smiled a little awkwardly, embarrassed. "Thanks but... This ice won't break with us on it, right?"

Ajax shook his head and firmly tapped his foot on the frozen surface, which remained intact. "It's pretty sturdy, see?"

"I see." [Name] turned their attention upwards and admired the greenish glow again. " Snezhnaya's night sky is a fascinating sight, isn't it? Even though I've seen it several times, I'm always amazed by its beauty..."

Ajax had already seen the real starry sky, the true and uncovered light of the celestial bodies. To refer to this gloomy canvas as a "fascinating sight" is an absurd statement, for it is only an empty imitation of what lies beneath the veil of the Abyss.

"You're really satisfied with anything, huh?" Ajax scoffed, with a hint of a smile on his face, "It's just floating lights, it gets boring after a while."

"Is there anything that doesn't get boring for you?" [Name] watched as Ajax started to cut the ice in a circular pattern, which appeared to be a not too difficult job for him. "Are you sure this works? I mean, it's just ice... I don't know if there's anything alive down there."

Ajax sat, eyes fixed on the hole in front of them. He hugged his knees and remained there, staring at the immensity and waiting for what would happen next. "Don't worry, we'll catch one in... a few minutes, I think."

"In about how many minutes, exactly?"

Ajax looked up thoughtfully. "A few."

"I swear to the archons, if you made us come here for nothing..." [Name] grumbled, watching the boy next to them. The way he insisted on his ideas impressed them, at the same time as it irritates; but seeing that serene face made them let out a little laugh, "Never mind, I'm the idiot one for following you."

[Name] sat down next to him, resting their face in one hand as Ajax and them waited patiently. Those moments of serenity were the complete opposite from the battles that took place everyday.

They had already seen several "comrades" fall, their lives taken while protecting the Fatui's interests. Interests that were unknown and hidden from the vast majority, concealed by individuals whose faces were unknown to many.

The Harbingers themselves were a kind of urban legends who, while everyone knew of their existence, were enigmatic and symbolic figures within the organization.

"What exactly are we fighting for?" [name] asked. There wasn't exactly a reason, because no one ever said the real purpose of the blood shed on the snowy battlefield.

Everyone's admiration and fear of the Harbingers was obvious. But just as they were feared, the kind of people whose presence is everywhere, there were more questions than answers as to their real motivation.

The closest they had seen was the Fifth, Pulcinella. [Name] didn't understand why they had been placed in his division, being a complete fool who couldn't hold a weapon without getting nervous. Even more so when, in the same division, there was Ajax.

A confused expression appeared on Ajax's face when he heard the question. Wasn't the answer obvious? At least, it was logical. "For Her Royal Highness, the Tsaritsa—"

"No, I know that. I'm talking about why we need to fight, the purpose of it all... We have a mission in a few days, and we don't even know what they want from us."

"I fight because I'm strong, isn't that enough?" Ajax seemed genuine in his response, with no hidden ambitions behind the battles he fought against his opponents. At the end of the day, it seemed to be all about the will to get stronger and better.

"No, it's not." [Name]'s gaze was serious, demanding an answer that would satisfy their curiosity. For them, Ajax was an extremely difficult puzzle to solve — a young boy who possessed the strength of a monster. But at the same time, had a heart as pure as gold. "Your name... was inspired by a hero, right? Do you want to be like them, the hero of the story?"

Ajax nodded, giving them a smirk. He remembered the old days, when he wasn't the least bit brave or powerful, just a fearful boy with a sword and a dream. "I think I'd rather be myself. It's much more fun when you do things your own way, don't you agree?"

"Well... it is, it really is." [Name]'s firm gaze softened. "Ajax, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

The boy froze in place. His mouth opened to speak, but the words he wanted to say didn't come out. He had no answer, even if he thought about it — Ajax simply didn't know.

"When I grow up..." he repeated to himself, looking for an answer, any answer. "I honestly don't know... I think I'll end up having to stay in Fatui."

"Idiot..." [name] grumbled, "I'm not saying you can't do what you want, but let's be honest with ourselves for a moment. Who would willingly stay in this hellhole?"

"Me," Ajax answered immediately, without a hint of hesitation in his speech, "If I go back home, I'll only make more trouble. Just the fact that I'm here makes life easier for everyone, and I can improve my skills."

"Of course you'd say that." They shook their heads, completely disapproving of his choice. They got up from where they sat, offering him a glance. "I envy you, you know that?"

"Hm? You..." Ajax looked up and pointed at them, then at himself. "...envy someone like me?"

"How can I not? You're strong, hopeful, stubborn and very proud," [name] listed, raising a finger for each adjective they found to describe him. "How can I not envy someone like you? You're like..."

"Everything I've always dreamed of being like."

They both uttered the same sentence at the same time, their voices becoming a unison sound that gave way to an awkward silence between them. Their eyes seemed to pierce each other, staring into the depths of the souls in search of some understanding.

"Trust me, I know what it's like," Ajax sighed, "to want to be braver, but at the same time to be too afraid of doing so."

Ajax turned his gaze back to the freezing water. Its darkness brought back vague memories of the abyss. The simple act of fishing was enough to push Ajax's mind back to the past, when he listened to his father's stories — maybe, just maybe, he really wanted to be as great as the heroes in them.

Ajax had once been a poor, fearful boy, terrified of the world outside, but with a spirit hungry for adventure. He had only a shortsword and a bag of bread — anyone could say that it was at that moment, before his fall into the confines of Teyvat, that Ajax began his transformation into what he's now.

"It's not a story I tell anyone, but I used to be a real coward," he admitted, letting out a sigh. "If one day you get stronger... like I did, would you duel with me?"

"Of course..." they smiled, making an x with their arms. "Not!"

Ajax's expression fell, replaced by that of an abandoned puppy. "But why?"

[Name] laughed at his face, crossing their arms. "Don't you remember when we first met?"

For them, the events that led to their current situation were clear as day. From before their enlistment, to the first day in the division.

They were born into a humble family, without any kind of comfort or privilege. [Name] grew up hearing all the stories about the archons and their extraordinary feats, about how lucky those who gained visions were. However, they never understood why their family admired such deities when all they received was misery.

Their parents, in a desperate act, borrowed a large amount of money, which they couldn't pay back. Disaster would be the appropriate word to describe what happened when the deadline for repaying these debts passed. As they were unable to pay, the two were killed by the debt collectors.

But [Name] always had somewhat of a way with their words, and that was the weapon they used to survive in a world like this. Somehow, they managed to negotiate their lives, in exchange for serving in the Fatui army instead of paying off an endless quantity of mora.

And shortly afterwards, [Name] were taken to the Cryo nation, landing in the middle of a terrible blizzard. If it hadn't been for the pyro vision they carried in their hands, [Name] wouldn't be alive to tell the tale, having become an ice statue.

And it was in an old and spacious office where [Name] took their first step towards their new reality. Quite nervously, their hands firmly held a document with all the information about their new career, leaving crumpled marks on its edges. [Name] had never thought they'd be offered to properly work, especially when the job was with none other than Fatui.

They were facing a short, stoic Fatui agent with a big nose and glasses. He seemed like a friendly fellow, but [Name] knew better than to trust someone who worked for those who had killed their family.

"What's your name, child?" asked the man in front of them, as he typed on a typewriter.

They had never seen anything like this, a machine that wrote for people? Unthinkable, it seemed magical, even. [Name] was so glued to it that, for a second, they forgot to answer.

"It's... [Name], that's all. I don't have a last name..."

The agent stopped his notes, giving [Name] a skeptical look. It was enough to make them nervous, unconsciously taking a small step backwards, lowering their head.

"Answer me..." The man went back to typing. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"No, sir. I'm from far away..." they sighed, murmuring, "very, very far...."

"Are you sure you'd like to join Fatui? You're still too young, don't you think it's a big responsibility?"

The agent gave them a gentle smile, different from the look he had given them before. It was as if he was truly giving [Name] a choice — but the truth was, if they didn't accept it, they would probably end up in the same shallow grave as their parents.

"Forgive me, sir, but it's not a question of wanting, it's a question of needing," they replied calmly, "someone has to pay these debts, right? Mora doesn't grow on trees."

[Name] wondered if they had said something wrong, since their tone hadn't exactly been friendly, mentally scolding themselves. But to their surprise, instead of getting scolded, [Name] heard a faint but present chuckle coming from the other person.

"You should thank Her Majesty the Tsaritsa for your kindness," he said, handing them the piece of paper he had been typing on, "how many people do you think have had an opportunity like this, to have their debts absolved and a job guaranteed?"

"Absolved?"

"Exactly, absolved. All we need from you, child, is your loyalty. I can see the potential, but it all depends solely on you." He pointed at their vision, hanging from their waist with a faint shine. "Surely, you're lucky enough to possess one of these."

For anyone else, receiving a vision is a blessing. However, being in possession of one is like having an eternal debt to the world. To be chosen is to be special, and to be special enough to receive a vision is to be distinct from the rest.

Sometimes it became a curse. One can no longer live like a normal person, because there will always be something that sets them apart from the rest. All those who are given one struggle in some way — Has there ever been a vision holder who truly lived an entire life peacefully, without any conflict whatsoever? At least in Snezhnaya, it seemed not.

"I... I accept..." Their eyes filled with hope, looking at their own name perfectly typed on the document. There was the real identity of the gentleman in front of them, revealed in a fancy signature, the Fifth of the Fatui Harbingers, Pulcinella.

[Name] signed their names in the blank space, sealing their fate within the organization. From that moment on, they would be part of the Fatui, just one more in the crowd — But if that was what it took to ensure their survival, [Name] would do it without hesitation.

The real issue, however, was on the first day of duty, and it had a name: Ajax.

[Name] had just put on their uniform, which was a little big for their size. But then again, there were none designed for a fifteen-year-old to wear, so they'd have to be content with what they had on hand.

At least the jacket they were given was comfortable, warm enough to block out some of the bitter cold that surrounded them each second. [Name] even looked like a proper person in it, which made them let out a little laugh.

However, it wasn't until they were standing in line in a meaningful formation that [Name] noticed a boy of a similar age to them. Red curls that stood out against the white backdrop, with a red scarf that was too long for his neck — perhaps they weren't completely alone in that place.

[Name] waited patiently until the time came for them to start training, watching him with eagle eyes, following Ajax wherever he went. When they finally mustered up the courage, they approached him and extended a hand towards him.

"Hello, I'm [Name],"

"Hey!" The boy grinned and shook their hands firmly. "I'm Ajax!"

"Well... looks like we're the same age, huh? How about we train together?" they suggested, thinking it was the best option.

"Sure!" Ajax nodded, putting the sword he was holding aside. "That would be, like... an invitation to battle, right?"

Technically, it was, so they just followed the his reasoning and confirmed it. "Mhm!"

"Then get ready!" he announced, preparing to throw a full punch.

[Name] didn't react immediately, surprised at the speed of the boy who had already set up his punch. "W-WAIT—"

Thud.

Complete darkness was how the first and last friendly match between the two ended, with Ajax knocking them out with a single punch. That's how [Name] would learn that fighting Ajax was a trap. However, [Name] wouldn't lie that at least it had been the best sleep they'd had in months — and the worst black eye they'd ever gotten, too.

"Teyvat to [Name]?" They awoke from their thoughts to see Ajax's hand moving in front of their face. He then tapped them on the forehead. "Is anyone there?"

"Oh, sorry, I got distracted. I was just remembering the punch you gave me." They laughed. "Speaking of which, you also punched that guy the other day too... what's with punching people, redhead?"

"I've already apologized!" His face heated up with embarrassment. "And punching is way more practical. You'd be shocked if you knew how strong a punch from me can really be, when I throw one for real!"

"Hm, sure, no doubt about it—"

"I got one!" Ajax exclaimed, trying to pull the line back on the rod with great difficulty. "A little help would be nice, you know!"

[Name] hurried, wrapping their arms around him and pulling back to bring the fish to the surface. But the animal wouldn't cooperate, even with the effort they made take it out of the water.

Ajax took a step back. "That was fast!"

"Fast? We've been waiting for almost an hour—" They slipped on the ice, pulling him and the fish along with them. In the end, Ajax and [Name] both fell flat, like two idiots.

[Name] looked at him, who was holding the fish in his hands while the animal struggled in them. It was a funny sight, which was enough to get a genuine laugh out of them.

"Haha..." they laughed weakly, then raised their tone, "Hahaha!"

Ajax, hearing the sound of their giggles, bursted into laughter. He laughed so hard that small tears formed in his eyes, "Hahaha... What are we laughing at?"

[Name] pointed at him, "At you, you fool!"

"Oh, really?!" Ajax stood up, bringing the fish in his hands near them. "Let's see who gets the last laugh!"

[Name] got up and ran across the ice, running away from him. They slipped and balanced, with an infectious smile on their faces accompanied by the sweet sound of their laughter, while Ajax chased after them with the animal.

It was moments like this that reminded them that they weren't adults, but two true children at heart.

At least once a week, Ajax and [Name] were sent on missions. They weren't often in charge of the more complicated ones, as they were still too young. However, for the first time, the two of them were allowed to take part in a more risky operation.

The two were supposed to stay with the older ones, but [Name] found themselves alone, having gotten separated from the rest by accident. In the middle of such a large forest, they could only hope that a blizzard wouldn't strike right away.

[Name] analyzed their surroundings, trying to retrace the steps that led them to nowhere and return to where the division had planned to reunite. However, they seemed to go round in circles, never reaching their destination.

That's when they noticed a coat lying in the snow. It was brown, very different from the Fatui soldiers' uniform, with a shabby finishing and a gross smell of blood.

Pow.

That's what they heard, a loud, familiar sound that sent shivers down their spines. Looking up, they saw a bullet hole in the tree, well above their heads — by perhaps two centimeters, they would no longer be alive.

"...!" [Name] instinctively looked for the source of the sound, quickly finding it.

Their desperate eyes met another's, which held no pity. Yet another soldier, wounded, carrying a gun and a tremendous amount of hatred — not everyone liked the Fatui, and not everyone had sympathy just because they were a child.

Frightened, [Name] ran desperately, followed by fierce gunfire that almost hit them. [Name] hid behind a tree and drew out their bow, but couldn't hold it properly no matter how much they tried, since it always slipped from their hands.

The enemy was indeed wounded, but armed and apparently experienced. The look in his face had been enough to send shivers down their spine, because when compared to them, who couldn't even use their vision properly, it was like facing a real monster.

"It'll be all right..." they whispered to themselves. "I just need to—"

[Name] heard more gunshots, too close to where they were. Something told them to run, but also to stay, accept the invitation and have a proper fight. If it was to survive, then [Name] would fight, they needed to.

[Name] couldn't hide forever, it wouldn't be right.

"Come on, you bastard!" [name] shouted, their voice echoing through the woods, as they aimed their bows in the direction of the enemy.

They used their vision and set the arrow ablaze, burning their own fingertips in the process. They didn't know how to control the force with which the arrow burned, but they knew it would hurt anyone who was struck.

[Name] clumsily launched the first arrow, dodging a shower of bullets headed their way. They hoped it was enough, that they had been able to send it flying at his face. But instead, the projectile pierced through his shoulder.

"Damn!" the soldier shouted, trying to reload his weapon while wincing in pain, but his ammunition had run out.

He came up and pistol—whipped them, causing [Name] to cry out in pain for a few seconds. The impact was so intense that they dropped their weapon and fell into the snow.

[Name] then felt the real despair of being weak. They could hear their hearts pounding in their ears and their eyes watering from the pain of the blows they received to the head, while blood trickled down their faces.

They grabbed his foot, applying pyro to their hands to make his boot burn along with it. When he fell, it was then that they saw their chance to stay alive handed to them on a platter.

They reached for the bow that lay on the ground next to them, firmly holding it anyway. Nothing mattered, only survival and that was all — they only needed to survive, to live long enough to prove that they were capable.

It didn't take much for one person to kill another, just despair. That feeling of helplessness and genuine dread, which would move mountains if necessary, was all it took to pull the trigger.

They violently hit the enemy in the face with their own bow, as if it were a bat. It was only when the return attacks stopped that they realized what they had done. The body below had an expression of terror, eyes wide as blood dripped onto the white snow, staining its purity with a crimson shade.

"I—I didn't... I did this...?" They stared at their bloodied hands, feeling their heart beating wildly against their chest. That's when, suddenly, an incessant urge to cough overtook them, but only blood came from their mouth.

[Name] looked down and realized that they had been shot in the chest. The bullet had gone through what seemed to be their lung, they didn't know, the adrenaline was hiding the pain for as long as it took. However, the spot hit was clearly a lethal wound.

They took two clumsy steps backwards, shaking their heads in denial. [Name] was too afraid to do anything like that, taking a life itself was too cruel an act for them, but it was done.

However, they didn't want to die as murderers, not really. So, with determination, [Name] decided they wouldn't die there.

They turned around and ran that time like there was no tomorrow, using every drop of adrenaline they still had in their bodies. [Name] couldn't see the sun shining, only the same gray clouds that covered the sky, which seemed to mock the fact that there was no light at the end.

Their only way out was to get to the camp, where there should be healers waiting for the wounded. However, it was difficult for [Name] to distinguish the landscape around them, especially in such a nervous state.

[Name] tripped over their own foot, losing their balance and rolling painfully down the mountain. They watched life pass before their eyes, each moment painful with the intention of just surviving, not living. Then they closed their eyes tightly, already bracing themselves for a more abrupt impact and accepting certain death.

They hit a tree, before rolling one last time to the bottom of the hill. Fortunately, or not, it was low enough for them not to die on impact — they did wish it had been stronger, ending it all quickly.

[Name] felt like a bird, floating in the sky with their eyes closed. They thought they had died because of the serenity felt for a few seconds, only to be crushed by the cruel reality. Their fall had been gently cushioned by the snow, but even with all this effort, they couldn't see the camp — which meant it had all been in vain.

Finally, the pain returned to their body as if it had never left. Breathing was difficult, with each breath being painful in the extreme, as if their organs were punishing them for still being alive.

"N—No," they sobbed through words, hot tears contrasting with the coldness that cruelly coursed through their veins. "I—I hate it... I wanted to die in peace, not like this... Not like this..."

Their trembling hands squeezed the wound in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding. [Name] didn't know how much time they had left, they didn't want to know either, all left to do was pray to Tsaritsa and beg for a little mercy, for a quick death if possible.

[Name] still hadn't paid their debt to Her Majesty, for the life they had been offered. For the bread to eat every day, for the tent they had over their heads, for letting them breathe, for letting them remain in existence, they had to do their utmost to repay all the favors with whatever they could.

For the gratuitously heavy insults that they had to swallow in silence because they were weak; for the mountains and snowstorms that brought them down along the way; for the disgraceful defective vision of theirs — or rather, they were the defective ones.

"P—Please..." [Name] begged the nothing, while holding their vision close to their chest, "if miracles really do exist…”

How many things had [Name] thrown away, when what they wanted most was to prove to everyone that, even if they were weak, they didn't need to prove anything to anyone? [Name] didn't know, only the bitterness of a wasted time remained in their hearts.

They let their tears fall over the flaming orb, whose glow no longer seemed the same. With one last kiss to the gem, a silent thank you, they began to weep for a life they were about to lose.

There would be no one to mourn their death, to lament the defeat of someone who had never once won. They probably wouldn't even have a funeral, but would just be buried somewhere like an animal. How terrible would it be to be completely forgotten, with no soul to remember their existence?

And Ajax, their only friend... finally acknowledged this fact. Would the boy be desolate? Grieve? Or would he carry on as he always seemed to do?

They regretted not having told him things in life that only they could say. They could only hope for the best, that he wouldn't take the news that badly — but at the same time, there was a small, selfish desire for him to feel their death. Not because [Name] wanted him to suffer, but because that way they would know that they mattered to someone.

[Name] recalled the memories they had made with him, like when they first met, when they went ice fishing a few days ago. The image of how they ran and laughed with him that night, as if they weren't the next ones to die, was fresh.

At last, their body felt light, receiving a moment of tranquillity reserved for the end of endings, when [Name] felt nothing but the slow rhythm of their heartbeats, fighting for a lost cause, as if they didn't have two holes in their chests.

"I was truly... useless until the end, wasn't I...?" [Name] murmured what they knew would be their last words, a vent to themselves and to the world. With the last beat of their hearts and the cessation of their breathing, snowflakes touched the now freezing skin. "I hope I have served you well... Your Majesty..."

They died in silence, without disturbing anyone.

Meanwhile, with the mission over, Ajax found himself extremely bored. Contemplating the pure white snow stained with blood as he returned to camp had already become a habit of his.

He could not care less that his face had a few small scratches on it. Though, he had to admit, that any kind of mission made him tired. But before he could rest, he found a place to rest. So Ajax began to look for them throughout the camp, without any success in his search.

'They must be receiving medical care...' He thought, as he made his way towards the tent where the doctors were staying.

It was a small space that was often crowded with the number of people wounded during missions. Finding any specific person was difficult, even more so when he was being pestered to be treated right away because he was younger.

"Are you sure you don't want to go first?" one of the doctors asked, placing a hand on his bruised face.

"No, I'm fine!" Ajax smiled. "I'm just looking for..."

For some reason, his eyes fixed on a particular corner of the tent. Away from the rest, it was where they put the bodies of those who had perished in combat; but Ajax had never taken much notice of it, so why now?

He approached slowly, in silence. Ajax felt an uncharacteristic nervousness come over him, running through his veins. The chills he felt seemed to swallow him up from the inside out, it had been a long time since Ajax had felt like this, as if something was screaming "don't go there, stay here" and attempting to keep him from discovering the truth, as he approached a particular cloth.

He stopped in front of the covered figure, noticing something sticking out of the cloth. An object, a... vision. But the only ones in the entire division who possessed one were him and... [Name].

Terror was too little to describe what overtook Ajax, who hesitated to lift the cloth covering the individual's face. He wished he wouldn't hear his head and believe that they weren't the dead man in front of him.

With trembling hands, which he tried to stop, Ajax lifted the fabric slightly. And that's when the ground really seemed to crumble beneath him — they were dead, [Name] was truly dead.

Their skin was so pale and cold that it scared him a bit. But what particularly caught Ajax's eye was the sheer amount of blood they had lost, as their face and hair were completely stained a deep crimson red; and no one had bothered to close their eyes, devoid of life and its particular glow. Now, they were just a pit of darkness that matched his own.

"..." Ajax just stared, unable to say anything. Everything was trapped inside, without him being able to express it.

Ajax tried to tell himself that he didn't care, that they weren't really friends, just work colleagues. But the sadness in his heart betrayed the stoicism he tried so hard to maintain.

Ajax closed their eyes gently and kissed [Name]'s forehead gently before covering their face with the cloth again. It was an action that any mother would take on seeing her child dead, but they didn't have one to weep over their death — and if there wasn't one, then Ajax would play his part in showing respect for them.

Ajax may even have changed when he fell into the abyss, becoming a maniac for fighting and confusion. But at the end of the day, he was human just like everyone else.

Two days later, the tent they shared was cold, without the heat of the lamp to warm Ajax up, as it had already gone out with the icy wind coming through the gap in the entrance.

It was [Name] who kept them warm in the middle of the night, using their vision to keep the fire burning. And that was just a bitter reminder that they were no longer there.

The others had taken away everything that was theirs, accommodating what would be the belongings of a new tentmate, who would be arriving in a few days. It was as if they had ceased to exist altogether.

Ajax wouldn't mind being hit in the face with a pillow if they were the ones to hit him, with that smile, with that irritating tone of voice of theirs that Ajax recognized from afar. He wouldn't mind being called "redhead" again, if it was them calling him that.

"Ajax?" The voice that called him from outside was familiar to Ajax. It was the Fifth.

Ajax promptly got to his feet, walking outside the tent and greeting him politely, a treatment he reserved only for The Rooster. "I'm here, sir."

"I heard that one of your companions fell in battle... a shame," the Harbinger said, as he searched for something in his pocket. "Well, here it is..."

The man handed him a gray envelope, a letter. In the corner was written in almost illegible handwriting the names of the sender and recipient, respectively: [Name] and Ajax.

"Thank you, sir," he nodded, holding the envelope tightly in his hands.

"You were both very similar ages, you and..." the Rooster paused, having forgotten their name.

"[Name]." It was the first time Ajax had said their names, having called them "comrade" all the time since they'd met. Honestly, it hurt a little, how difficult it was to utter a simple phoneme.

A few minutes later, Ajax said goodbye to the Harbinger and entered the darkness of the tent again. He left out a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever was written inside that envelope.

Ajax could no longer remember what The Rooster had talked about, only that the exchange of words had been short, like all the others before. He didn't even have the mind to think about it now, he could apologize later if he forgot some important information.

But right now, the only thing that mattered to Ajax was [Name]'s letter. He opened the envelope, trying to be careful not to tear it, but in the end he did. Ajax strained his eyes to read what was written there, in a handwriting as bad as theirs.

Dear Ajax,

Should I start a letter with "dear"? I don't know, honestly, I have never written one. Well, if this letter found you, then that means I must be dead by now. I'm sure you're glad I did, as you'll now have the whole tent to yourself.

I've written this because I know that, in life, I might not be able to say what I think. I believe we're already friends, don't you too? That's how I feel about you, I think you're my only friend, and I've been very happy about that. Thank you, thank you very much, for the joyful and humorous moments you've provided me with in this little end of the world that is Snezhnaya.

I asked you the other day if you felt homesick; you may deny it, but I can understand how you feel, away from everyone you love in a place like this. Know that whatever may happen, I believe that the same people you miss feel the same way you do.

Don't listen to that little voice in your head that whispers "you're nothing but trouble", it's stupid. When I look at you, I don't see a troubled boy, but a boy with the heart of another. That day we were late for training, you could just as well have walked away and let me be punished for being late, but you didn't. We cleaned all the weapons by ourselves. We polished all the weapons alone, for hours, and you never complained. Why was that?

I don't know, but I'd like it to stay that way, so keep going! I'll be cheering you on from wherever I am, because you're the best warrior I've ever had the honor of meeting.

I end this letter with my admiration and gratitude to you; and never forget: we have our own time!

With much care,

[Name].

A single tear fell onto the paper, right below their name, accompanied by others that would soon form a hot waterfall in his eyes. Ajax didn't know how to respond to this, covering his face with the paper, as if he was embarrassed to end up being seen like this

Perhaps it was for the better, a reminder that life really wasn't fair, and that Ajax had strayed from the path he was on. He didn't want to care so much, but at the same time he did.

Ajax wanted someone to comfort him, to tell and reassure him that it was all right, that this sort of thing did happen, but at the same time, it didn't. It was hard, very hard, to face it. It was difficult, very difficult, to face the loneliness that he tried so hard to hide behind brute strength.

Anyone who saw him like that would doubt that he was the same person who ravaged the battlefield with his bloodlust, the boy who seemed like an uncontrollable monster with an indomitable spirit, causing trouble wherever he went.

But for one last time, in the darkness of that tent, he allowed himself to be... Vulnerable.

He'll eat you out in your sleep and wake you up just like that. Don't blame him, your pussy taste amazing and he's just pussydrunk off of it! He just loves when you squeeze your legs around his head and buck your hips to his tongue. He adores when you pull him closer to your sopping cunt. He'll lap and suck on your cunt until your overstimulated and can't even remember how many times you came. He'll fucking eat you out like a starved man who hasn't eaten in months and grind and thrust his hips onto the fucking mattress so he can also feel some friction. You just taste that good that he can't even pull away from your overstimulated pussy until his face is all covered in your sticky white cum all over his face :((

—— DILUC, Aether, Venti, CHILDE, Kazuha, GOROU, KAVEH, Tighnari, Wanderer, Cyno

One Bed - Two People || Tartaglia x fem!reader

Masterlist

Summary: Sharing a bed isn't always a bad thing, especially if two people adore each other.

Warnings: None

Word count: ~725

Authors: Cass & Fenrir

A/N: today’s prompt: Bed Sharing

Resting during missions is common, but resting in a decent hotel is unusual. You are surprised to discover that there is only one room with one bed available.

You adore Tartaglia, which is why you refuse to consider simply sharing a bed with him! At least not right now! You sigh, rubbing the back of your neck. "Wow, that's unexpected."

Because Childe likes you so much, he only smirks, more to himself. "Is that an issue for you, Y/N? You're always so eager to be challenged, so consider this as a challenge," he says after taking a seat on the bed and petting the open space beside him.

You frown, your cheeks flushed as you stare at him. You're not going to give him this satisfaction, are you? "I'm going to take a bath because you dragged me into an unnecessary fight."

"Sure, I won't stop you," a smug smirk appears on his lips as his gaze follows you until you vanish in the bathroom.

You lock the door and quickly start the bath to calm yourself down.

After bathing, you change into more comfortable and clean clothes before joining him again.

Childe moves a little to provide you with a more spacious place on the bed. "Feeling better?"

"I would if there were two beds," you say and sigh and settle into the bed next to him.

"If this is such a problem for you, I can eventually take the floor," he scoffs.

You chuckle, shaking your head. "No, no, everything is fine. Just… I wasn't expecting such a situation. Whoever got us this room had a great sense of humour."

After you're comfortable by his side, Tartaglia wraps his arm around the curve of your waist. "I like your shower gel scent."

You look at him and blink. Your eyes widen in surprise at the unexpected words. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it."

His hand rubs your shoulder as he holds you close. "You're tired, aren't you?"

"A little, but I'm fine with staying up a little longer," you reply, nuzzling closer to him. "How about you? Aren't you exhausted? Especially after what happened?" You perk up as you look at him, "You're not hurt, are you?"

He rolls his eyes and replies in a casual manner, "No, I am not. You think I would have gotten hurt so easily, Y/N?"

"I don't believe you would, but…" As you nuzzle to him and wrap your arms around him, your voice becomes quiet, "I'm simply concerned about you. Always."

"Oh, really? Is that so?" He asks, poking your nose.

You groan slightly annoyed, rubbing your nose, before saying, "Don't act as if you don't know! You're wondering why I'm always there for you when you're in pain?"

"I have no idea, Y/N? Perhaps you like to take care of people that are in need or the hurt ones?" He teases.

You immediately turn in his arms, huffing angrily. Your back is facing him. "You annoy me a lot today, Childe."

He uses the moment to push your hair from your neck and kiss your nape. "Oh, am I that annoying, little Y/N?"

Your cheeks are bright red right now. "Y-yes, you are! You make me blush so much that I am on the verge of dying!"

"Tell me what do you feel for me, but for real."

"I…" You pause before continuing, licking your lips, "I absolutely adore you. I adore you, and it breaks my heart to see you in pain."

"It's not so often, though," Childe reminds you with a smirk forming on his lips.

"It's not often, indeed, but you have a habit of pushing yourself past your limits, which has a turn on your body," you counter.

Childe likes everything about your bragging, as you can tell by his chuckle. "It's difficult not to agree with you."

You pull his arms up your body, hugging them as you snuggle closer to him. "You are very important to me."

He smiles against your nape and soon closes his eyes. "Sleep tight, Y/N."

You turn around in his arms once more before placing a gentle kiss on his lips. "You, too," you say softly, settling against his chest.

"You see?" He asks, his voice sleepy. "Sharing the bed with me wasn't such a bad idea."

MORNING BLOOM ﹒🌷

childe x gn! reader

waking up with childe will never get old ♡

cw : nothing really, sleeping in the same bed, kissing?, L word😒 (i love you). first fic, cringing so hard😭

waking up, smelling a florescent scent, the scented candle he had bought you not so long ago..

face stuffed into the silk pillow, you raise your head to see him smiling at you, his face all red looking as if he was trying to.. laugh?

“what’re you gonna laugh about?”

“i’m not laughing”

“yeah? ok”

taking the pillow underneath your head you throw it right it is face, cat hair flying off it.. your recently new kitten seems to have taken a liking to your pillow. he spits out the cat hair that landed in his mouth. Grabbing you seconds later, making you lay on top of him.

“acting childish now?”

“oh, like you wouldn’t do the same” looking up at him with a huge grin on your face

he takes his hands and delicately place them on the sides of your face, pulling you in for a small peck.

you can tell he brushed his teeth before you woke up, tasting mint a small hint of what seems to be coffee? maybe tea. doesn’t matter

“how long have you been awake for?”

“mm, around.. 2 hours now”

“oh”

“hm?”

“did you eat breakfast?”

“only coffee”

you rest your head on his chest, hair falling in front of your face. You blow it out of your face, the small wind hitting childes face, his eyes squint. Your cold breath was always going to be something new to childe no matter how many times you blow in his face for whatever reason.

You’re still feeling tired and lazy, you want to sleep again. You can feel your eyelids trying not to shut. you close telling yourself “Just close them you won’t fall asleep”.

You were wrong. Like always, you fell asleep.

Childe notices the faint snoring coming from your mouth, he sighs. Pulling the covers over the both of you, giving you small kiss. He knows you felt it when he sees you smile faintly. Closing the lamp with a small light coming from it.

“I love you”

﹒ . ⊹ ⁺ ₊ 🌷 ₊ ⁺ ⊹ . ﹒