Good Ending - Tumblr Posts

heartening saga honestly

My tears they flow like waterfalls, but my heart is so warm from how sweet this is. Yep, I'm just gonna headcanon this as how Toji's story should've went.

Hi. I really love how u write Toji. Squeezes my heart everytime. 🥰 This is my first time asking… I was wondering, on a whole different prompt, it’s late and Toji is bad out of luck this time so he’s currently homeless, in the rain holding his son, Megumi, protectively to keep him dry but then comes reader, (first time meeting) taking them in with a warm welcome and treating them with care. Idk I saw an image about them in the rain and it made my heart hurt and I would want to take care of them. Thank you

A/N: This broke my heart 😭💔 Something about Toji being unable to do anything but wait for things to take a turn hurts. This was on another level of sad too because it's not just him, Megumi's there with him 🥺 I had to take breaks and go work on other incomplete works while writing this because I was literally sobbing. Since Megumi's age wasn't specified, I wrote him between the age of 5-6 years old.

Thank you for sending in this request 💙

Toji and Megumi had been walking around all day, looking for a place they could take shelter in once the downpour of rain got heavier. There were so many things on Toji's mind. What was he going to feed Megumi? What to do if they got fully drenched? What if Megumi got sick? How would he get the medicine to cure him? All these swarming thoughts were making his head pulse, but he held it together for the sake of the boy holding his hand, walking alongside him.

Nightfall came by way too fast, and before Toji knew it, all the bigger stores and supermarkets were closing. He would no longer be able to keep Megumi and himself out of the rain under the guise of just looking around, with no intention of actually buying anything. As they made their way to the store's exit, they neared the monitored aisle of prepackaged pastries and bars of candy. Toji kept his face down and covered Megumi's eyes as he shoved one small, random pouch of bread into the pocket inside his coat and speed walked out along with the dispersed mob of people leaving the store.

He broke small pieces of the bread at a time for Megumi, occasionally having some of it, too. The boy was starving and so was he, but if it were between him and his son lacking energy, he would be the one to push through the tiredness that came with being malnourished. Toji watched as Megumi chowed down, almost entirely dull eyes presenting a soft glimmer at the sight of his most cherished person stuffing his face mercilessly. It broke his heart when he had to tell him that there was no more, displaying the empty, crinkled, plastic wrapper to the boy, and watching in real time as his little face went glum.

Once they got done with their "meal" break, they kept walking towards neon signs. Toji didn't have a cent on him, so whenever him and Megumi walked into smaller and more rare 24/7 convenience stores or liquor stores, they got turned away, all of the lazy, inconsiderate people in charge saying the same thing, like it was a damn script. 'If you're not gonna buy anything, get out.' They were most likely threatened by his duffel bag—which was filled with clothes—possibly thinking he would steal from them. They were all so disrespectful, each and every one of them. Toji's blood boiled as he stared them down. He was really trying his hardest to refrain from getting violent in front of Megumi, not wanting to put him through more than he was already going through. He was trembling with rage, tired of being shooed away like they were freakish monsters. He only let go of the tension when Megumi tugged on his coat and pointed at another distant, colorful sign.

Gaining no sympathy from the store Toji told Megumi would be the last one, he gave up and resorted to just looking for some cover. Megumi got tired after walking for so long. He was teary eyed as he told Toji that his feet really hurt and it felt like there was something in his shoe scratching him, so Toji picked him up. He wrapped the unzipped halves of his coat around Megumi, hoping to shield him from as much of the rain as possible.

Eventually, they found a spot with little coverage. It was the smallest skirt of a roof, but it reduced the heavy cascade of the rainfall a little, allowing him to see more clearly.

"Gonna put you down for a little bit, alright?" Toji says, to the boy pressed against his chest. His joints hurt from the cold, but he withstood the weight of his son until he found somewhere good enough to rest.

Megumi nodded, and was put back down onto his aching little feet. He immediately clung to Toji's leg.

"I'm cold," he mumbled, pressing his cheek into rough, wet denim.

The lump in Toji's throat got worse. His vision was no longer blurry just from the rain falling into his eyes. Life faced him with yet another challenge, and maybe before, when he was on his own, he was better at toughing it out, but he's not alone, anymore. There is an entirely separate human being relying on him for survival.

"I know, Megs," he says, swiping away some of the drenched hair that obscures his son's eyes. Megumi looks a lot more like him with his hair flattened down. "Um..." He tries to steady his voice, but his throat aches. He takes a deep breath before retrying. "The rain should be gone by tomorrow." His voice quiets down a little, threatening to break, again, as warm crystals blend together with icy droplets on his cheeks. "We'll stand in the warm sunlight all day, okay?"

"Okay," Megumi responds, hugging his leg a little tighter. He sees a figure approaching in the distance, and immediately tells Toji about it. "Dad, there's someone coming," he says, pointing at the figure that seems to be getting closer and closer.

Toji clears his throat, forcing his emotions down to focus on keeping his son safe. "Stay behind me, Megumi," he says, voice low. The boy scurries to hide behind him, his rapid footsteps splashing water onto the bottom of Toji's pants. The figure comes closer, what looks to be a blue umbrella coming to light. Toji's heart is beating fast. His protective instincts are through the roof. He swears if it's someone else coming to tell him that they can't stand there, he'll actually put up his fists. He feels irritated, like he wants to shout for this speedily approaching stranger to turn around and get lost.

That is until you speak...

"Hey, are you two alright? It's raining cats and dogs out here. What are you doing outside?"

Megumi giggles behind Toji. He liked your method of saying that it's raining hard.

You tilt your umbrella back and look down, offering a friendly smile to the boy. He's got the cutest eyes, and they make brief eye contact with you before he shifts to hide behind who you assume is his dad.

Your attention goes back to the taller man. You see who the boy gets those beautiful green eyes from, but his features aren't something you would necessarily call cute. He has eyes that naturally hold a darkness to them, a straight and pointed nose, and a scar that mars one side of his lips. He's handsome in a rough and scary kind of way. He looks mean, but not mean enough for you to keep walking after you saw him.

"Please, take my umbrella. This rainfall's been pretty extreme, and you're both soaking wet."

"We can't," Toji instantly responds. "I don't have any money to give you for it. We're camping it out here 'til tomorrow."

"I'm not selling it to you," you respond, with a kind smile. "Please, take the umbrella. Your little boy is shivering. He'll catch a cold if you stay like this any longer."

Toji is hesitant, but he's keeping Megumi in mind, as well. He secretly hopes you keep insisting. "What about you, miss? You'll be walking in the rain if we take your umbrella."

"I dressed for the weather. As you can see, i'm wearing a raincoat with a hood and rain boots. You and your son aren't. So, again, please, for the love of god, take my umbrella." You extend the handle towards him, again, and this time he takes it. The heavy raindrops fall onto your head as you rush to put your hood on. You watch as Toji moves so that the umbrella covers both him and Megumi. He looks up at the water that lands on his more effective coverage, like he's expecting there to be a hole in it.

"I- We really appreciate it."

"Oh, it's no problem at all. I'm happy to help," you respond, cheerfully.

There's a pause of silence that normally would be a cue to leave, but you stay for a few more minutes to ensure that they'll be okay.

"Where are you two going? The rain isn't gonna stop for at least another hour."

Toji felt somewhat embarrassed to say this to you, even though he can positively assume that you've pieced things together by now. You're easy to talk to, and you have a kind look in your eyes. You seem to lack judgement towards him.

"We have nowhere to go. We've been kicked out of every store that's open in the area." His heart starts racing and his anger starts to bubble up again, just remembering the careless expressions and monotonous tones. "Lazy assholes wouldn't even spare us a glance as they kicked us to the curb."

At the sound of the curse word, your eyes darted down to the little boy who had been peeking at you as you spoke to his dad. Your heart ached for them. He seemed like a good man just trying to take care of his son and while normally you would be more careful about approaching strangers in the middle of the night, your mental warning signals weren't blaring.

"That's awful. I'm sorry to hear that." Your brows pinch with sympathy towards them. You look down at the little boy once more, then back at his dad, before making your bold decision. "My house is about three minutes that way. You guys can come along with me and get yourselves cleaned up, as well as sleep in my spare bedroom, if you want. I think it's a pretty good offer, but if that's not something you're interested in, i'm content with having given you my umbrella to cover yourselves." You smile at both of them and continue walking in the direction of your home.

Toji and Megumi watch as you walk off, your rain boots creating ripples in puddles with every step you take.

"What do you say, Megs? Should we follow the pretty girl to her house?" He looks down at Megumi, then glances back up to make sure he doesn't lose you.

"Let's go, dad! She's walking really fast!"

Toji grabs ahold of the back of his soggy sweater, before he starts aimlessly chasing you. "I know where she went, kid. Don't run off without me."

You smiled when you saw two shadows cut off by the dome shape of an umbrella, walking behind you. You opened the front door to turn on the porch light as well as the living room light before standing outside, waiting for them. You properly introduced yourselves once they made it to your doorstep, appreciations and humble responses being tossed back and forth for your generosity.

"Make sure to leave your shoes out here," you say, smiling as they line their soggy footwear along the front of your house. The difference in sizes made you giggle to yourself.

"Alright, bathrooms over there," you point towards the hallway to your left. "It's the second door to the right. Oh, just follow me," you say, leading them in that same direction. "Let me grab some towels for you guys." They both follow along, silently, wet socks leaving footprints on the floor.

"Here you go," you say, handing Toji the towels. "There's shampoo, conditioner and body wash in there, too. I'll grab a bag for you to put your wet clothes in."

You're overly generous and Toji is utterly speechless about it. Who opens their home to strangers, so easily? It's not that he's unappreciative, he's just in shock. He's never been a lucky person. The past months have certainly emphasized it, but this was a total shift. You're a saint for offering them a place to take refuge.

"Well, i'll leave you guys to it," you say, with that same kind smile he's been seeing, before walking back to the living room.

The warm water feels heavenly on his aching body. He's happy to be able to clean himself up with good soap, wash his greasy hair, and clean under his fingernails. The treatment went to Megumi first. The boy basked in the warm water and the clean scent of the shampoo lathered into his hair. He didn't enjoy having his feet cleaned because there were blisters on them. That was the scratchy, stinging feeling he felt earlier. Toji told him he would ask if you have a first aid kit and he calmed down a little. He now sits in a towel on the toilet seat cover, waiting for Toji to finish up. Once Toji comes out of the shower, he fishes through his duffel bag for clothes to dress Megumi and himself into. Most of it is damp, but it's all they have.

Toji opens the bathroom door and is met with the sound of a plastic bag rustling on the floor. It's for the wet clothes, like you said. He throws the bundle of soggy clothes into the bag and ties it up, leaving it on top of his duffel bag, against the wall.

Toji doesn't know what to do when he finds that you're not around. He doesn't want to intrude anywhere he isn't supposed to, but he ends up peeking into rooms with open doors, Megumi trailing right behind him.

He thinks maybe you aren't in one of them until he sees a flash of movement in his peripheral vision. He checks again, a little more carefully this time and catches a glimpse of you changing out of your clothes. He puts a hand over Megumi's eyes, but freezes there, absorbing the sight of you tugging your shirt off and slipping out of your pants. That enormous raincoat really worked to hide your gorgeous body. You're a heavenly sight for incredibly sore eyes. Toji knew it was wrong of him to stand there and watch you undress, so once you unhooked the clasps of your bra and he saw your unrestricted, naked back, he snapped out of his trance and looked away. He was aware of how perverted it was for him to get that far, so he didn't stand there for much longer, especially, since Megumi was there clawing at his hand to get it off his eyes.

He turned Megumi around before uncovering his eyes and pulled him along to wait in the living room for you to come out.

A couple minutes passed and you came out to the living room in a t-shirt and sweatpants.

"Hey, did the shower do you guys any good?" You ask. They're awkwardly standing next to the couch instead of sitting on it.

"Sure did. Thanks for that. Also, any chance you got a first aid kit or just some bandages lying around? The kid's got blisters on his feet."

Your heart sinks. It must have been hell for both of them to walk around and stand in those wet socks and shoes all day.

"Oh god, yes. Give me one moment. Sit, sit," you say ushering them to take a seat on the couch. "Get off your feet. You both must be exhausted. Just- One sec." You put a finger up, quickly making your way to the cabinet where you keep your kit, returning to the pair in seconds.

"Poor baby," you coo, offering a soft look to the boy as you hand the kit to his dad. "There should be all kinds of stuff in there. Alcohol wipes, ointment, bandages- It's a first aid kit, what am I telling you this for?" You laugh, lightheartedly, making the corners of Toji's lips twitch with held back amusement. "You guys hungry?"

Megumi's eyes instantly make contact with Toji's. His wide-eyed expression makes you smile. It's as if he's trying to desperately communicate that he is, to his dad, so he doesn't have to directly tell you.

"I mostly have ingredients for breakfast. I hope you don't mind. As you can see-"

"Ow, ow, ow!" Megumi cries out, abruptly pulling his foot out of Toji's hands.

Toji retracts the alcohol wipe, his other hand still suspended in the air. "I know, Megs, but we gotta get them cleaned up or they'll get worse."

"It h-hurts. No, I don't want to do this," he says, his voice shaky and paired with weary, glossy eyes.

"I know, bud. I'm sorry. I'll try to get it done as fast as I can."

Those words aren't very comforting to the one who's on the receiving end of the pain. Megumi can't see the damage or how quickly Toji is working. All he can feel is the excruciating, merciless burn, of rubbing alcohol on open skin.

"Hey," you call, smiling as you plop down right beside him. Toji lifts his gaze, his protectiveness towards Megumi completely instinctive. "I have some questions that I think only you would know the answers to. Not even your dad would know the answers to these extremely hard questions." You nod at Toji, as if giving him a signal for him to continue on with the cleansing. He grabs the boy's ankle and lifts his foot, revealing the scattered spots of peeled back skin on the sole.

"Do you know the name of the dinosaur with the reallyyy tiny arms and the long tail?"

"Uh... um... it's a-" he cuts himself off with a cry and attempts to pull his foot back again. Toji's grip is a little tighter, this time.

"It's got reallyyy tiny arms and it's tall and it stands on two feet," you say, enthusiastically, ruffling his hair to keep his attention on you.

"T-Tyrannosaurus... Rex," he responds, through quivering lips.

"Yeah! You got it! Alright... I think that was a little too easy for you. Let's see... Oh! What is the name of the planet in our solar system with the really big rings around it?"

You glance over at Toji as he finishes up wrapping the boy's foot. One more foot to go. He grabs Megumi's other ankle, examining the damage and his expression is something of hurt and empathy. He sighs before ripping open another alcohol wipe packet.

"That's Saturn. It comes after Jupiter."

You smile, proudly. "That's right! You're too smart for my questions." Megumi giggles, blushing at your praise. You scramble to think of another question when you see Toji lean in, bringing the alcohol wipe close to the bottom of Megumi's foot, again. You can't focus. You're worried about how he'll react when the wipe meets his broken skin.

"Um..."

"Ow! Stop! Stop it, please!" He throws his arms around you and sobs into your side.

"Megumi." Toji's tone is still gentle, but there's a tinge of warning, like he's trying to convey that it's inappropriate for him to just latch onto you like that.

"Oh, it's okay, sweet boy. It's alright," you coo, as he continues to cry. You look at Toji, your sympathetic expression taking in the stern one he holds on his son. "Can I hug him?" You ask.

Toji's gaze flits to yours and when he sees the sadness in your eyes, he has no other choice but to soften up. You asking for permission to hug his suffering child, is only further proving your saintly status. Who in the world is this good?

"Yeah, that's fine. It only seems fair since he already attached himself to you." A faint smile appears on his lips, before he returns his gaze to the bottom of Megumi's foot.

You sigh in relief and immediately embrace the sniffling boy. "It's almost over. Just a little longer. When it hurts just squeeze me as hard as you can, okay?" You give Toji a tight-lipped smile, and nod like you did before.

He resumes, wiping at the raw skin of his poor son's trembling foot. Megumi continues to howl in pain, the sound of his muffled, shaky breathing, entirely heart shattering. He's holding onto you, tightly, pulling at your shirt as he squirms around.

You watch Toji finish up tending to his wounds by bandaging his foot, like he did to the one before. As soon as he lets go of Megumi's ankle, the boy is quick to bring his legs up to curl up entirely into you. "See? It's all over, honey. All done."

Toji has the most guilt-ridden expression you've ever seen. He closes up the kit and sets it aside on the arm of the couch, his hands folded as he watches his son search for comfort in the most comfortable stranger they've met in so long. "Why don't you go give papa a hug?"

The boy loosens his hold on you and looks at you with his puffy, green eyes, nodding before he crawls over to his dad. He's careful to not put pressure on the bottoms of his feet and the second he's in his dad's familiar embrace, he starts crying again. Toji smiles, tenderly, a soft laugh sounding out as he cradles his son's head with one hand, while the other keeps him close. You see his eyes shine a little more, like he's holding back strong emotions. It's an entire sight of clear adoration.

"You're so strong, buddy. I'm proud of you." He presses a kiss to the top of his head, shutting his eyes as he holds him for a couple minutes.

"Can we have food?" Megumi asks, his voice meek when he wiggles out of Toji's arms. He looks up at him with brilliant, pleading eyes. Toji's gaze flits to you, then back to Megumi with uncertainty.

"Right, food. Like I was saying before." You laugh, nervously. You're somewhat embarrassed about what you're going to reveal. "Most of what I have is for breakfast. I work in the morning and as you know now, I stay out pretty late. I don't have time to come home and make dinner, but, I always have time for pancakes."

A small voice chimes in. "I like pancakes."

You gasp. "You do?"

The boy smiles, still slightly reddened eyes looking back at you as he nods. He sniffs before elaborating. "Yeah, my dad took me for my birthday one time."

Your heart ached so much throughout the short amount of time that you've known them. You've wanted to cry so many times now, but you haven't for the sake of them not seeing it as pity. You are offering your utmost support and that's all.

"Your dad took you to get pancakes for your birthday?" You receive another enthusiastic nod from the boy. "That's awesome! I bet they were sooo good, huh?"

"Uh-huh! Can I have some pancakes?"

"Please," Toji whispers, correcting his manners.

"Please?"

You look at Toji and laugh, luring another soft smile from him. "Sure. How many?"

"Six, please."

"Megs, that's a lot," Toji says, running his fingers through his damp hair.

"No, no. Six pancakes coming up. What about you?" You ask Toji.

"Uh... Actually, that's alright. I don't wanna inconvenience you anymore than we already have."

"Shush, it's not an inconvenience. I'm cooking for both of you. How many pancakes do you want, Toji?"

His name should not have sounded so soft. It sounded like you were talking to someone you really care about, like someone you've known forever.

"Four, please."

"Six as well? Coming right up."

-

They both sat at the table, waiting for you to finish cooking. Toji had already asked if you needed any help, and you told him that you could handle it, but as he watched you move around the kitchen, the guilt started biting at him again. He told Megumi to stay in his seat and that he would be back.

"Anything I can help you with?" He asks, again, leaning against the frame of your kitchen's entryway.

"You already asked me this. Go sit with your son. I've got this all under control."

He doesn't move an inch and instead decides to stick around and make you nervous by watching your every move.

You sigh, defeated. "You really wanna help me with something?"

"Of course. Let me earn all of this, sweetheart."

You know he means nothing by the word. It's probably just the way he talks, but it's got your heart racing just a little bit. You compose yourself and push down these flustered feelings and turn off the stove.

"Can you bring down the plates and utensils?" You point at their respective locations and he moves immediately.

"Mhm. What else?" He asks, bringing down three plates.

"Does your son like chocolate milk?" You ask, taking the plates from him to begin serving the portions of food.

Toji looks over at Megumi who's swinging his feet and tapping his fingers against the table, patiently waiting for his meal. "He loves it."

"Well, I have chocolate syrup and milk in the fridge if you wanna make some for him." He freezes, just standing there while mumbling out a couple placeholder words. His awkwardness is cute. "You can open the fridge, Toji." There's no bite to your tone, more like underlying encouragement.

"Sorry. Don't wanna be disrespectful and touch things without your permission," he says, opening the fridge and grabbing the half gallon of milk and the bottle of chocolate syrup.

"Don't worry about it. Cups are up there," you say, pointing to the cabinet next to the fridge. "You can open the cabinets, too," you joke.

His lips twitch with amusement at your teasing. Your sense of humor is refreshing. There hasn't been much for him to smile about, lately, but you fit right into that very short list. You're just so easy going and warm and completely inviting. You must be loved by everyone.

"Food's served. Help me with the last plate, please?" You grab the bottle of maple syrup and hold it against your side so you can pick up the two full plates on the counter, unable to carry the third one. He finishes mixing up the chocolate milk and puts the ingredients away, before joining you and Megumi at the table. You're setting down Megumi's plate, smiling at the way he stares hungrily at the food before him. His visible excitement is heartwarming yet saddening.

You know they both have to be starving... Which is why you don't say a thing when they start scarfing down their food. They're devouring the eggs and pancakes. The bacon is already gone. Megumi took a huge gulp of his chocolate milk and immediately started stuffing his face with food again. You focus on your own meal and pay no mind to the lack of conversation. Neither of them are looking at you, too busy filling the almost bottomless pit of their stomachs. Occasionally, you look over at Toji. It goes without saying, but there's no judgment for his manners, either. You excuse his impatience for wanting to eat more, just as you excuse Megumi's. You hold nothing but respect for him, as a single father raising his son through such a difficult time.

They had the same mannerisms. Pushing their plates forward when they finished their seconds, wiping their faces of anything that littered them, and groaning with their bellies full of food.

"Sorry you had to witness that," Toji finally says. The tips of his ears are red and he's finding it hard to look at you without feeling ashamed for the way he ravaged his meal.

You smile. "Don't worry about it. I'm just happy you liked the food."

"Oh, yeah. Best breakfast i've ever had."

You laugh at his compliment. "You're exaggerating. There's no way."

"Why would I lie to you?" He asks, smirking at the color blooming on your cheeks and the huge smile stretched on your face.

"To be polite? I don't know," you say, through remnants of your laughter.

"Nah, I see no reason to lie to a sweet girl like you." He's pushing it on purpose. Your smile is as sweet as the syrup used on the pancakes. He likes it a lot. "I stand by what I said."

Megumi doesn't understand what's going on. All he sees is his dad and the really nice woman who let them stay in her house, going back and forth over something, laughing. He looks up at Toji and wonders why his cheeks are so red and why his eyes are so shiny, and then he looks up at you and wonders why you're smiling so big and laughing so much. He doesn't get it, at all, but then his name is mentioned.

"Megumi can back me up. He even licked the plate," Toji says, bringing attention to the boy. "The food was great, huh, Megs?"

He's silent, for a few seconds—shy, due to the two pairs of eyes on him. "I really liked it," he says, quietly. "More than the... birthday... pancakes..." he trails off at the end, scared of how Toji might react. Toji just pats his head, as if insinuating that it's okay for him to feel that way.

"See? Kids are harsh with criticism, too. You know he's telling the truth when he admits that this was better than his birthday pancakes. After I took him to the restaurant, he wouldn't stop asking if we could go again for his next birthday."

You smile and look down at your own empty plate, feeling bashful over all their love towards your strange breakfast at midnight. "Well, thank you. Now that you've eaten, you must be pretty tired, huh?" You can see it clear on their faces. Toji has the eye bags of a father with a newborn child and Megumi doesn't even attempt to hide his tiredness, his chin resting in his palm. "I'll take care of the dishes once I show you your room," you say, standing from your chair. They stand up in tandem, and follow you through the living room. Toji swoops up his duffel bag and the plastic bag of wet clothes from where he left them against the wall, taking the minimal belongings he and his son have to this temporary placement.

"Don't mind how boring it looks," you say, standing against the door as they walk in. "It's mostly just me sleeping in here. It's weird because I have the master bedroom, yet I change the room I sleep in almost every night."

Megumi instantly makes himself comfortable, letting out a big sigh as he spreads his limbs over the bed. He lies right on top of the covers instead of getting under them, scared of grazing his feet against the blanket and hurting them.

"We're sharing the bed, Megs. Turn down the starfish act."

You press your lips together, stifling a laugh when Megumi doesn't move an inch. Toji just shakes his head and fishes out a plastic bag with their hygiene products. "Your teeth are gonna fall out if you don't brush them," he says, earning an irritated whine from the boy, before he flutters his eyes open and sits up, ready to do as he's told.

"I'm gonna go get those dishes washed and the kitchen organized," you say, with a polite smile. "I'll be awake for a while, so if you need anything, let me know."

"We really appreciate it," Toji says, taking in the soft smile and nod you give him before leaving them.

He doesn't intend to let you think he's lazy by letting you clean up after both him and Megumi, alone. No, you don't deserve to be repaid that way after everything you've given them, so he tiptoes out of the room when Megumi falls asleep, hoping you're still out there and not in one of the rooms again. To his relief, you're wiping down the table and pushing in the chairs that were once occupied.

"Hey." Your body jolts at the sound of Toji's voice, your hand coming up to clutch your chest. "Shit, my bad," he says, grinning at your reaction.

"No, I just thought you both were asleep already. Is everything okay? Need another blanket?"

He shakes his head. "Nah, it's surprisingly warm in that room. I let the kid ball up in the blanket and I opened a window. Hope you don't mind."

You shake your head, permissibly, and continue on wiping down the table.

"So... what's the deal with you coming home to no one? Is your partner out of town or something?" He stands behind the chair he sat in before, hands resting on the top of it.

"No." You laugh. "I'm living the solitary life. I go out with friends, but it's usually just to catch up with them, not to meet someone new."

He hums, then clicks his tongue. "That's a real shame."

"How come?" You ask, folding up the damp cloth in your hands. You make eye contact with him, as you await his response, and your heart is suddenly beating so fast. He's attractive. It's a fact you haven't refuted since you first saw him, but you can't let yourself be outwardly nervous because of it. You're supposed to be creating a hospitable environment for him and his son. So far, so good, but now it's just you and him talking. Two adults, now able to discuss adult matters without censorship. It's a lot more real.

"You're damn good at caring for people. Guess I thought it would be fair to assume that you had someone to practice on."

"No, it's just in my nature," you say, pushing in the final chair. You move to the kitchen and set the cloth down on the countertop next to the stove. "Can I ask you something? Feel free to change the subject if it's too personal."

He knows exactly what you're going to ask, and he's ready to respond. He hasn't been asked about this in a while, but he hasn't been thinking about it, either. There's too much about survival and Megumi going on in his mind.

"Shoot," he says, watching as you wipe down the counter.

"Where is Megumi's mom?"

Plain and simple. No assumptions or guesses added so that there is no inflicted damage accompanied by your curiosity.

"She's dead."

Plain and simple. No need to dramatize or tread around the fact. It's just a statement to those he tells.

You feel your stomach twist and your blood runs cold. You stop what you're doing and look at him, attempting to keep your expression neutral, despite the fact that he just dropped something so heavy. You flinch when he laughs.

"You're pale as a ghost. That's the best reaction i've gotten so far."

"Sorry," you manage, through a barely there smile. You've never met a widower. It's strange how nonchalantly he let you know about it. "How did Megumi handle it?" You ask, hesitantly, resuming your cleaning of the countertop.

"He didn't know her. This probably sounds dickish for me to say, but i'm glad he still hadn't gotten attached to her, when she passed."

"No. What you said... it's justified," you say, disagreeing with his personal offense. "You're doing a great job with Megumi. He's such a sweet little boy. I don't know your story, but please know that I will never judge you for what's led you to this point. All I will say is that your efforts are visible, and that says a lot about you. More than you may think."

He goes quiet. Not to intentionally make you uncomfortable, he just hasn't felt this good about himself in a very long time. This seems like some sort of illusion. What if he's actually on the ground, passed out from the lack of nutrients in his body and this is his dream? It's such a sweet dream and he selfishly doesn't want to wake up, but Megumi. There's only one way to find out.

He steps closer to you, slowly, while admiring the focus you have on the counter that you returned to a pristine state. When he's directly next to you, he just stands there, silently, until you turn your attention to him. You leave the towel on the counter and look up into his tired eyes.

"Can I give you a hug?" You ask, not moving your hand from where it rests on the surface, until he responds.

He nods and steps into your embrace, and though you're smaller in frame than him, your warmth envelops his entire being at the speed of a lightning strike. He feels the way Megumi must have felt earlier, drawn by your comforting presence. A minute goes by and he still hasn't retracted his arms. He feels a lump in his throat—his emotions are beginning to overpower him. He can't hold them back the way he did before, when he was trying to protect Megumi from you— the person who turned out to be their savior.

He holds you tight against him, uncaring of the vulnerability that rushes him as he lets you surround him. He's crying into the shoulder of a stranger, and in that moment, there's nothing wrong with it. There will never be anything wrong with it. The thought of possibly never seeing you again induces more tears and makes him hold onto you even tighter. He doesn't want to leave. He doesn't want to take Megumi back outside, where people are rude for simply wanting temporary shelter. You showed them a tenderness that he will never be able to get out of his head. He's sure that even if you never reappear in their lives, Megumi will ask about you over and over again, the same way he relentlessly asked for those birthday pancakes.

"I'm sorry," he croaks, muffled by your shoulder. You respond by simply hugging him tighter. He still isn't letting go, and you've decided that you won't be the first to pull away. It doesn't cost you a thing to be his confidant for a moment. Who knows how long he's had this all pent up? He can't exactly break down in front of the person who relies on him. Especially, when it's a child who could easily be frightened by the sight of an adult crying.

He squeezes you once more, before loosening his hold on you. His arms still cling to your sides and he's still really close, but now he's looking into your eyes, the blurriness subsiding as he blinks. You offer him a warm smile, hoping it brings the slightest bit of comfort to him, but he doesn't say a thing. He just keeps looking into your eyes. Your enticing, welcoming, entirely dreamlike eyes.

"You're gonna be okay, Toji." You pull his hands into yours. His hands are manly and rough, his knuckles dry as you brush them with your thumbs. "I promise, both you and Megumi will be fine."

"You promise?" He says, the volume of his voice reduced to almost a whisper. His gaze is softened entirely as he looks at you.

"Yes, I promise," you respond. "I've never done this before— picking a stranger up off the street, much less a package deal—but I don't regret meeting you and Megumi." You squeeze his hands, before letting them go. "I'd like to help you."

Toji's heart pangs. He's trying not to get his hopes up, but it really sounds like you're about to rescue them.

"It would be heartless of me to house you for only a night, just to release you both into the same struggle you went through before. Megumi's feet need to heal and i'm sure you need to heal, as well. You both just really need to rest," you say.

"What?" He immediately feels stupid. He heard everything you said, but the astonishment he felt, spoke before he could think of what to say.

"You guys wanna be my roommates?" You simplify. "I know you barely know me and I barely know you, but people find roommates on websites all the time. It's not really so different this way, is it?"

He laughs, the sound somewhat congested from his previous wave of emotions. "Guess not."

You chuckle. "There's not much to watch out for with me. I go to sleep late so you might hear me laugh at something stupid on my phone, but that's about it."

His heart is racing. He already proved that this isn't a dream, but it's all so much. It's so sudden. Of course he's not gonna say no. Him and Megumi are finally somewhere safe, with someone who cares and isn't asking for anything in return. You want their company. You interacted with them, you tried to get to know them. You tried to get to know him. You let him get close enough to hold you and cry on you, and through it all, there wasn't a single ounce of judgement from you. Of course he's not going to say no. Who would pass up an opportunity like this?

"No...? Yes...? I swear i'm not that bad," you say, laughing.

"I would be real stupid to say no, and that's something I can't afford to be."

You smile. "Perfect." You pick up the towel and throw it into the used pile. "You should probably go to bed. You haven't rested properly in a while. Some sleep would do you good."

He nods. "Yeah, but are you done out here? You need help with anything? I know me and the kid were pigs for leaving our plates unwashed like that. I swear it won't be like that all the time with us."

"You're okay. I'll give you a pass this time because you just got here." You give him a teasing smile. "And yeah, i'm all finished here. I'll head to bed in a few minutes."

You said that you were done and then you continued to organize more things in the kitchen, so Toji stayed to keep you company. You turned down his help multiple times, so he ended up getting comfortable by leaning back on the kitchen counter. He watched you walk back and forth, putting the dishes you washed back in their place.

One day you won't lie about things being done so that he can run off to relax while you continue to do things alone. You'll get better at asking him for help and if you don't, he'll have to be more insistent, but for now, he's content with lingering so that you aren't alone.

She forced you to drink poison

Put you under a spell

Unknowingly, unwittingly

Put you though hell.

He attempted to kill you

For no reason at all

And your final resort

Just might have doomed you all.

Soon the spell wore off, yet she was still there

She still smiled, she still spoke

As if love were in the air

So you broke her heart with the truth, that there was none there.

Your heart in peices, since the one you loved

Had lost three feeling that you had once shared

Yet still you smiled hoping that would put all back in place

Because you couldnt forget the love that used to shine on his face.

She still smiled, despite all that been done.

And slowly, slowly your heart came undone

But she still preferred that bewitched version of you

So, you smiled, just as she'd done

For you

Slowly she fell in love with your eyes

With your smile

With your heart

And all the mushy stuff inside.

Until finally when the you with the sweet words came knocking,

She stopped him, for this time

She would do the talking

She cried out and said

"I dont want pretty words, give me the real thing instead."

So you did, since you loved her, what else could you do.

It wasn't happily ever after

But it was more than enough for the both of you.

ILLEGALLY UNDERRATED

MWA ❤️

Dragonfly

zhongli/f.reader

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The past?” She pressed again.

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

“What? What did Paimon say now!” 

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

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

“Not exactly,” Traveler starts. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It’s hot,” Zhongli chided. 

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

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

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

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

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

It was a beautiful piece to gaze at. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh. 

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

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

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

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

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

Morax would definitely be back to you. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I have been inside.”

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

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

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

“Y/n.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Morax-”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You wouldn’t yield. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I told you,” you choked. 

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

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

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

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

Morax didn’t want to do this. 

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

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

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

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

-wouldn’t that be just poetic.

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

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

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

“What-” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Paimon doesn’t think-” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You called?” 

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

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

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

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

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

“Let’s go somewhere else.” 

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

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

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

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

“He took you himself?” Paimon questioned. 

“Yes. He wanted to prove a point.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“It meant nothing.” 

“Liar.” 

“I am not.” 

“Paimon thinks so too!” 

“Your input does not encourage much.” 

“Hey!” 

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

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

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

“Paimon can keep a secret too!” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Why are you not resting?” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Are you upset with me?” He asked. 

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

“I apologize.” 

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

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

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

“Sooo, how old are you?” 

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

“I was just asking a question!” 

“Ask a different one!”

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

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

“Xiao’s older?!” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Wait,” Paimon piques, “found you?” 

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

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

“I know.” 

“Imagine how Morax would feel if he knew!” 

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

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

“Are you… for certain?” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“So, it’s as I surmised.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You don’t understand.” 

“Xiao.” 

“Please, she-” 

“Enough!” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But did he trust them with your life? 

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

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

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

“This is no lie?” 

“I would never lie to you.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Yes,” you sob. “Yes.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Call me by my name.” 

“What?” 

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

“Morax.” 

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

“Again.” 

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

“Once more.” 

“You’re being spoiled.” 

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

“Morax.” 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

hey. don't cry. I went to Mad At You island and none of your friends were there :)

Habit! Isn't he just so silly (Dr Boris Habit being used as my testing dummy for coloring)

when i have a crush i dont kick my feet or twirl my hair instead i am in my kitchen at 3am pacing in circles with my hands clasped behind my back like a middle-aged divorced detective haunted by a cold case he just cant crack

Heaven Sent Pt. 6 (Cyno x FemReader /AU Brothel)

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Word Count: 1.01 k

Previous parts: Pt.5, Pt.4, pt.3, pt.2, and pt.1.

No beta, we die like my will to fix my sleep schedule (not proofread)

des: Tbh, barely any Cyno in this one. It's just Candace easing reader into the village :>

warnings: None! Just pure comfort: bubble paths, headpats, hugs, all the good stuff.

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“Y/n, I’m glad to see you here,” the same woman from when you arrived greeted you. Her eyes shifted from yours and curiously onto Cyno’s, the corners of her lips turning a little upwards to a smile in surprise.

“-and in company too.” She offered her arm, stifling a giggle at the general’s silent defeat as you took it and unhooked your hold on him. “That will be all for you, Cyno. Thank you for taking her here.”

Hesitantly, Cyno bided you both good night and headed back to the resting quarters for much needed sleep. Now in the care of Candace, you idly followed her through a pillar of corridors. The sound of running water growing louder, and the air becoming denser as you stepped further and further into the building. With the ambient sounds, there was now the awkward silence between you both with the exception of your feet causing echoes in the hall. Her focus was on the path in front of her but sometimes, she took small, tender, glances your way.

“If…you don’t mind me asking, is something troubling you, Miss Candace?”

“Did you notice my staring? I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable and please, you needn’t call me Miss. Though, I do appreciate the manners.” She chuckled, sighing heavily afterwards as she spared some thought to your words.

“To answer your question, Y/n, I’m a bit in shock –is all.” her gaze wanders to the pavement leading into the baths. Once you’ve both reached there, she gently unhooks her arm from yours and moves to feel the waters in the bath, sending ripples into the warm pool.

“Life in the desert is hard as it is,” She started as she sat on the edge of the waters, reaching to the side for a bottle of what you can assume is soap, and poured it into the steaming pool. As soon as it hit the water, the steam blew up and permeated a fragrance so mellow and calming, it served to soothe Candace as she eased the words out of her mouth.

“But to think there would be others who would stoop so low…to cause such suffering and to what end?” Her eyes stared into the rippling reflection in contemplation.

Neither of you fell on an answer, and even if you could, it wouldn't undo any of what you had gone through or make it easier as to why you had to. Baring that silence, she turned her attention to you when she felt it was ready. With a gaze as equally soft as her smile, she reaches her hand to gesture to you to come in and you did. With her back turned, she waited until your body came in, she offered,

"If ever you need somewhere to stay, you can come and shelter here in Aaru Village." She looks back to you, your head above the water and your body immersed in the warmth of the bath, easing your tired muscles and letting your back press against the tiles of the bath.

"I'd be coming here followed by a lot of trouble, Candace…I don't think I can do that to you or anyone here." You voiced your hesitancy, it was more of a precaution for her sake. But Candace kept grace, brushing a few locks of your hair and dipping it into the water,

"Then let it. Within these falling sands, the people who come here are allowed peace under my guard." You couldn’t stop yourself from trembling a little at what she said. Could you really do that? Start your life anew here? A thought like that used to be as real as a pipe dream, but as Candace’s fingers reached your scalp and untangled your locks, the choice of your fate became clearer to you. You could, you really could..

"Don't you worry about what may come beyond this canyon. As a community, we'll share our troubles and bear it together." At her affirmations, she stilled at hearing your tears drip into the pool, and in silent understanding, she resumed to brush and wash your hair. Gingerly rinsing the soap off with the waters, and drowning out the sound of your tears.

"It's okay, you're safe now." She said, reassuring and scaring off any worry that might’ve held you in that moment, and from beneath your palms covering your face, you sniffled and smiled.

Once you were done bathing, she left you momentarily to dry yourself and get dressed in fresh linen clothes that she had prepared you. As the two of you walked, you were beginning to see the neighborhood homes coming into view again. From your peripheral vision, you see Candace's smile changed only for a second as she followed your line of sight,

"I hope you won't hold this against me." She suddenly said in a lighthearted but weary tone. Her brows furrowed slightly as you fully turn to her in confusion,

"Hold what against you?" Without warning, a small pattern of steps repeatedly hitting the pavement was heard, and it was fast approaching. Before you could react, a pair of little arms wrapped around your waist, forcing you a step back at the sudden impact.

"Y/n–!" The young boy chirped your name with the biggest smile you've seen him have yet.

"A-arman! You really are here," you bent down to hold his face in your palms, checking for any new scratches or anomalies, his grin squished in your hands in the process.

"Aunt Candace fed me lots of yummy food, and we get to share a big warm bed in our room,"

You didn’t spare another moment and lifted him up in a hug, feeling more secure and happy in how he snuggled into your neck and wrapped his arms around you.

“Candace, everyone and the general…I don’t know what to say..” You hated how many times you’ve let your eyes pour like faucets these days, but no one, not even yourself could fault you for it. She sighed in gladness at your smiling face, and kept her usual poise manner, petting Arman’s hair as he’s held in your arms and mumbled with a gladdened heart, “Just get the rest you need, Y/n. We’ll say what needs to be said tomorrow morning.”

Hand in hand, you and Arman followed her into the rooms to retire for the night. Under a new roof from outside of the prison you’ve known for so long, your heart is finally at ease.

=================================

A/N: Updates are gonna be slower than before cause I'm in my senior year in HS, waw,, omg :O

Anyways, the lack of Cyno will be made up for in the next one :))

I hope you guys had an enjoyable summer and as always, thank you for coming back :]

Remind someone you love them and until then, <333

-Kapi

=================================

Thinking of a reverse AU where Narinder is freed with Lamb’s sacrifice but resurrects them and does what we do with him. Instant marriage. As “A reward for serving your God.” (Lamb is his treasure and doesn’t let anyone try to flirt with them ever)

He doesn’t resurrect them immediately… he builds up his temple and following to something grand to fit his image and to let the Lamb live comfortably…. Haha…

I have more thoughts on this but… brained melted and thoughts are rotted. Can’t words.

I want all endings to end well, not badly :_)

Drop out big sis who needs cash so she begs her prodigy little sister for money but she’ll only help if big sis gets dressed down on her knees and sucks her cock and everyone has a turn fucking eachother

Drop out big sis who needs cash so she dresses her prodgy little sister up and pimps her out on the street then fucks her after everyone has had a turn

Undertale Yellow and Undertale ending swap

Look, I’m still on vacation and time is of the essence. I can’t draw anything of quality until I’m NOT drawing in the hotel tub with a pillow.

Anyway I’ve had this comic in mind since JANUARY, it’s finally here, in the most shitty form it could’ve been made in.

Love Hurts (Part 2)

Yandere!Jeanist again except I prefer he didn't hurt or kill people. So he didn't lol. The Erikas are an idea I got from one of the Black Butler musicals that absolutely wrenched me free of every tear I could have possibly shed. Thanks again anon for the ask! :)

The first part has an open ending which I also liked so this isn't necessarily the only possible one :) Angst, positive ending, Yandere

It’s been weeks since Shinya had been taken away by Tsunagu. He was still tied to the bed, his limbs so numb they didn’t even hurt anymore. The blonde had been treating him nothing but well, aside from the involuntary kisses, but even those were kept short and gentle. Shinya thought that if Tsunagu had admitted something sooner, they could have even been a couple. He wouldn’t have suspected anything.

“My little fiber, I brought you rice balls. Please eat something?”

He asked; for a good reason. Shinya hadn’t accepted food in two days and was starting to be really hungry. It wasn’t that Tsunagu had drugged it again since kidnapping the Ninja hero, but it felt so wrong to accept his favorite food now. The Denim Hero sat down by the bed, holding out one of them for the younger one to take a bite. Smiling widely as he did so:

“Oh, I’m so glad. I was beginning to think you were sick. Is it good? I made it as always. Do you want soy sauce?”

“No thank you, Tsu.”

Shinya replied, calmly, as if nothing was wrong. This had worked those past weeks; it was almost scary how normal Tsunagu acted; he wasn’t forceful, wasn’t pushing him at all, always spoke with the same kindness his voice had held since the two of them had met. He seemed content with Shinya just being there, living in his own delusion of being happily married. Shinya wasn’t scared at all which allowed him to think rationally; the other heroes should come soon, probably having a very clear plan ready. Knowing Jeanist’s patterns would give them at least an idea of where the two of them might have disappeared to.

“Tsunagu? Can I ask you something?”

He asked carefully, catching the taller one’s attention:

“Of course, anything.”

“Why didn’t you confess to me? Earlier, I mean. Why did you keep this to yourself?”

It was a question asked in genuine curiosity. Why had the man let himself fall so deep into this pit of obsession and heartache?

“Oh! Oh, that’s easy. You never paid attention to me, the way you did to others.”

Hearing this hurt, but Shinya knew he was right; he had always seen Tsunagu as a friend, and seeing him flirt with others, of any gender no less, must have hurt like hell. Shinya understood that.

“Were you scared to lose me? We could have talked about it. We’ve known each other for so long.”

“I couldn’t live if I lost you, my darling.”

The denim hero replied, his voice sounding full of genuine fear and pain. He stayed silent until Shinya finished eating, then stood up, looking towards the door; like he was waiting. Of course, he knew that somebody would be coming to take away his love. To steal the medicine to a pain he couldn’t handle any longer. Shinya noticed his gaze:

“Tsu. Tsunagu, look at me.”

It was surprising to hear that, but the blonde did; his eyes shining with a strange mix of emotions. The bit of light that was shining in through the pulled-down blinds looked pretty on Shinya’s face, but with each passing day, his tied-up body felt more and more out of place. Tsunagu was trying to push down that feeling but he couldn’t. He went over, laying down, and caressing Shinya’s face, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek, with a sadder expression.

“Are you happy seeing me like this? Unable to move? With no choice?”

Shinya asked, wondering just how deep this delusion Tsunagu had built up was; feeling like it had become more shallow. It was silent for a moment, time ticking by awfully slow, but there was no tension. Just silence and Shinya allowed himself to turn his head after a while:

“Tsu, please answer.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to.”

“Why is that? Because it becomes real when you do? I promise you, we can figure something out.”

The older one’s caresses became more firm, not in a mad way, it wasn’t angry at all, it was desperate. Scared, he was scared:

“I was so happy, having you with me, being able to kiss you. I was happy seeing you all the time but it feels.. wrong now. I want you... I want... I..”

“You are such a clever man, Tsu, you know you will be going to prison right? I can plead for you. If they believe me it’s not Stockholm. I can get you mental help.”

Shinya explained, giving a gentle smile for the first time in weeks, as Tsunagu only listened:

“Wouldn’t you like it if I visited you every day out of my own free will? If I came to see you because I care about you and not because you have me restrained? You haven’t hurt people. You haven’t killed anyone. Tsu, you are not beyond help. You just need to allow yourself to get it.”

“But I kidnapped you. I drugged you and stole you.”

Tsunagu said, and Shinya saw a single tear on the other’s cheek. The atmosphere was weirdly calming, and the gray-haired man continued talking:

“I forgive you for that. You need help, help I can’t give you and I know you’re not going to be happy like this long-term. I will make you a promise if you agree. I promise you will not lose me as a friend. I will not leave you. I will not let you serve more time than the court gives you. But I want you to promise in return to get help. There are good mental facilities, they are not all bad. I will support you.”

“But.. but you won’t love me.”

“Tsu, there are more kinds of love than romantic. I love you as a friend. I care about you so much. I want you to be okay, and I know you are not a bad person. You aren’t, you are a hero. I’ve known you for so long, and you are kind and nice, and talented. I admire you. But you have to prove to everyone that you can be good.”

Tsunagu was about to reply as the door flew open with a crash; seconds before people stormed in; Endeavor and Mirko first, followed by Hawks, all ready to fight and Tsunagu looked at his love with fear in his eyes.

“Don’t attack!!”

Shinya yelled, and the three froze, keeping out anyone still outside the door. One last kiss fell on his lips before Tsunagu got up from the bad, calmly and slowly how he had been taught to in a situation like that. He slowly raised his hands, closing them into fists to signify he wasn’t going to use his quirk on them.

The heroes all looked confused, even more so as Tsunagu began to cry more, with heartwrenching sobs, not resisting at all as Mirko pinned him down. Shinya asked her to be gentle, and Jeanist only moved his hands to free Shinya from the threads holding him trapped against the bed; it hurt to move his limbs after so long, but he could stand with Hawks’ help:

“I will keep my promise, I hope you know that Tsu. I want you to get better. I will just need to see when I can visit you. But I promise you I will come. It might hurt until then, and you might feel like I will not, but I promise you so much that I will.”

The days passed, it was a struggle for Shinya to rush through checkups, assuring the doctors and his colleagues he was fine. It was a struggle to get through psychological checkups and to convince people that his care for Tsunagu was genuine and not a result of trauma. It wasn’t Stockholm, because the feelings were the same as before; he wanted to be the blonde’s friend and wanted him to be happy. He couldn’t love him romantically, but he could platonically. And could and wanted to support him. It took a lot of convincing, especially to Endeavor and Mirko, to be allowed to go see Tsunagu again.

And when it was finally time, he brought a single Erika flower to the prison; Tsunagu looked terrible when Shinya saw him; thin, like he hadn’t eaten, and tired. His mind had probably gotten to him and he surely must have wondered if the younger one would really come.

“Hey. I finally made it. I’m sorry it took so long.”

He spoke gently, watching as the other perked up and came to the cell’s door:

“Shi.. I was-“

He started, but the younger one interrupted him; smiling and handing him the flower:

“I know. I had a hard time trying to be allowed to see you. I brought you a flower. Erikas signify friendship, I thought you might like it as a promise.”

“But flowers wilt..”

“I know they do. But our friendship won’t. Not if you get the help you need. If you promise to try your best to get better. And I make another promise; until your heart feels better, I will not start dating. Not Ryukyu and not anyone. I want you to be comfortable. And I don’t want you to feel like I do anything to hurt you on purpose. So I will wait.”

The blonde stared for a moment, then slowly nodded; he wanted to say Shinya didn’t have to do it but he appreciated it too much for that. His heart throbbed so badly already at the knowledge that the younger one would never reciprocate his romantic feelings.

“It hurts so much.”

“I know, Tsu. That’s why I hope that the facility you’ll be brought to will help. If you make an effort, they will shorten your sentence. I pleaded for that. I went through a psychological check-up, one that deemed me in the right state to make such a statement. It hurts me too to see you in pain like that. But I can’t soothe it by making myself unhappy by faking feelings that aren’t there. But a friendship isn’t worth less than a romance. I hope you know that. You won’t lose my attention. Not again.”

He said, taking the other’s hand through the bars; it was warm, and soft, and comfortable. For a moment they just stood there, calmly, and listening to the noises of other people talking:

“If you want to be a hero again, and regain everyone else’s trust, you will have to work really hard for that. I cannot promise it will be a success. I cannot promise you will be okay. I can only promise you that I will be there but only if you try.”

“What if I won’t be better?”

“I am optimistic. I know you. But if not then we will have to see from there. It’s normal that there won’t be instant improvements, and it’s normal for there to be declines from time to time. I want you to know that so you don’t lose hope. You will need that hope and you can’t give up.”

Shinya spoke, his voice still soft and calm. Tsunagu looked at him, being the one to let go of the short one’s hand:

“What if I tried only for you?”

“Then you still try. I’m sure you will be able to do it for yourself, once you start improving. I just want you to know you’re not alone at all. I know your mind will plague you enough.”

For the rest of the allowed visitation time, the two talked; not always about relevant things, some moments were spent entirely on memories, jokes and plans. Shinya promised to take him skating again. To have movie nights and dinners still. Tsunagu even agreed to try and speak with Ryukyu as well about everything. Once her anger died down.

Months flew by like minutes, and the mental facility Tsunagu stayed at permanently now, after his seven-month-long prison sentence, helped him greatly. Therapy was provided and he could speak freely about his feelings. His obsession and the unbearable pain. He was trying different medications, all safely observed by doctors, and Shinya visited him often. After around three months, other heroes had also started seeing him again. Especially scary was the moment of Gang Orca stomping towards him, causing him to flinch thinking he’d hit him only to be pulled into a tight hug.

“Tsunagu how much of an idiot are you?!”

He had said, but with the explanations and Tsunagu’s attempt at redemption, was more worried than angry. Shinya forgave him after all, so he was willing to do the same. It didn’t change what he did and that certainly wouldn’t be forgotten, but there was room for forgiveness nonetheless.

There was improvement, good improvement, only interrupted by days where Tsunagu felt like dying; pain overwhelming him along with despair of having surrendered without a fight. He was upset those days, angry with himself, and the only talking he did with people was when he asked the staff for some time alone. As alone as they let him be at that point. But overall, the worst thing about this facility was that he couldn’t wear his beloved denim fabric; trapped in ugly uncreative clothes he wanted to pimp with literally anything.

After over a year, he was allowed to return to his own apartment; still needing to serve mandatory therapy sessions, but overall free again. He did a lot of social work during this time, soon retaking leadership of his agency. Many of his sidekicks had left, while others stayed loyal to him albeit with cracked trust.

The pain was also a loyal companion, but now it wasn’t as bad. He wasn’t keeping it hidden to himself. Shinya wasn’t unaware of his feelings. Everyone knew now and everyone supported him when he needed time. It wasn’t jealousy now when Shinya was with Ryukyu, it was something else he couldn’t explain. But he got the other’s attention in equal amounts now, and the platonic aura, the different look Shinya gave him began to feel like something special rather than something bad. They were best friends. They could rely on each other. And fight together and even though he would never wake up to kiss Shinya, he could still wake up laughing with him after falling asleep on the couch during a movie.

But what was even stronger than the pain was the pure happiness of not losing Shinya’s light. He would be able to appreciate the friendship fully, one day, he knew that he could, if he just kept on putting effort into accepting the help that had been long overdue.

And that brought him a spark of peace he’d never felt.

thank you for playing dsaf 3.

oooohhhh this art made me cry to be honest. This is why I

barely redraw dsaf scenes but you know.

proof or whatever:

“I told you not to bother me. Didn’t I?”

~.Soft whispers in the dark.~

[Yang Jeongin x Fem!Reader]

summary: Jeongin’s been busy and doesn’t want to talk to you, he tries to ignore you but you’re just so goddamn persistent and annoying

genre: angst with comfort ♡ ۵

warning: swearing (watch your profanity), mentioned drunk jeongin, mentions of abusive ex, reader flinching, suggestive

note: sorry if there are triggers here, please tell me if there are more to add in the warnings. the praying session is just you screaming jesus basically, also hardly used Y/n here

Masterlist

The door to your apartment creaks open and you smile despite the sound of the old door. You turn around, abandoning the chicken you were frying on the pan to greet your boyfriend.

“You should get that fixed. It’s fucking annoying.” Jeongin scoffs, setting his bag down on the coffee table in the living room. He shrugs his shoes off, not bothering to put it where it belongs.

Your mood plummets, smile faltering. “Oh, alright I guess… I’ll have the food ready in a few minutes. Please prepare the plates.” You respond sadly, returning your attention to the chicken where you find that one is slightly burnt and for a moment you’re tempted to give that one to Jeongin.

You shake your head, what are you even thinking? He’s just tired.

Even though ten minutes have passed you don’t hear the clinking of plates being placed on the glass dining table.

“Baby? Are you preparing the-“ You get cut off by the tv turning on, then you hear the familiar voice of Sofia Vergara yelling at Stella.

You sigh, “Yeah babe, I’ll prepare it for you blah blah.”

~•~

A few days have passed since then and you still haven’t forgotten about it. That behavior becoming a daily for both of you.

You getting up early to make breakfast for both of you, leaving for work, coming home to the dishes you used for breakfast, a messy bed, and clothes scattered around the living room. You cleaning everything, making dinner and having to deal with your boyfriend who doesn’t want to talk to you, look at you, or be in the same room as you.

You feel him pulling away and it breaks your heart. He wasn’t always like this. No, he used to treat you to dinner, make fancy picnics, bring you to the beach. You used to have laugh filled conversations with your boyfriend, used to smile at his random flower deliveries to your work.

Now you can only reminisce. All those sweet moments lost in time like a speck of dust in the wind.

You frown, you’ll try to keep your relationship together and fix things tonight. You have to.

Tonight you make his favorite, even going as far as buying his favorite flowers in the flower shop near your complex to put in a vase so he can smell it while eating. You clean the whole apartment and spray his favorite cologne.

After you’re done you wait patiently, sitting on the couch while scrolling on your phone. You wait hours, which is weird as he usually gets home by 9. It’s way past 9, you’ve called at least 30 times and left a few text messages.

You’re worried, so worried you fall asleep on the couch with all the lights still on.

When you wake up it’s midnight, you see the door open silently and watch as he stumbles into the apartment with the help of two friends, who you know to be Felix and Seungmin.

“Sorry, Y/n noona.” Felix whispers, careful not to disturb your boyfriend. He sends an apologetic smile.

“Chan hyung was trying to get him home before 10 but he didn’t want to go, mumbling about how y-“ Seungmin explains before he gets cut off by Felix nudging him. Seungmin coughs, “Well goodnight noona, sorry for the sudden and late intrusion.”

As they say their goodbyes, after putting your boyfriend on his bed, Seungmin hands you Jeongin’s keys. “Thank you. Oh and take care while driving.” You bid farewell to the boys, shutting the door behind you.

“Well that’s great. I’ll have to reheat this in the morning, I love you too I.n.” You’re body goes on auto pilot as you put away food in containers and place it in the fridge.

You only come to when your hands hit the water, you’re washing the dishes and you don’t even know how you got there. You sigh, finishing up and going back to the couch. You won’t sleep in the same room as a drunk I.n, that’s just silly.

~•~

When morning finally comes you wake up to a shouting Jeongin, you find yourself sitting in the dining room and wonder what lead up to this moment.

“-my cologne was half full when I left yesterday, and when I come back it’s nearly empty?” He yells at you before turning around to leave for practice at the studio. “Are you having another man over who uses my things and just suddenly leaves?” His accusations hit you, slapping you wide awake despite him only murmuring the last part.

“What the actual fuck, Jeongin?” You mutter angrily, words fall on deaf ears though as he slams the door on his way out, the hinges starting to creak again.

The rest of the day you replay that argument, wondering if it’s really your fault. You did go overboard with spraying his cologne all over the apartment yesterday, but you would never cheat on him. That boy was is your first love.

You’re bothered the whole time at work, resulting in your manager, Na-yeon to dismiss you early. “Y/n, I hope you’re okay. I’m letting you go early, you need some rest.” She smiles at you and you return the gesture, although it’s not a very genuine one.

Back at your apartment you rest on your bed, the cushions feeling foreign since you’ve been sleeping on the couch since you and your boyfriend started fighting. When you plop your head down on the pillow you smell alcohol, you cringe, immediately putting new bed sheets and throwing the old ones in the washer.

The rest of the afternoon is spent waiting for your boyfriend to come home, you decide to just say sorry, maybe give him a little kiss, you haven’t touched him in what feels like years.

When the door creaks open you shoot up from the bed, exiting your shared room and immediately hugging him, “Baby, I’m sorry for using your cologne.” Your words are muffled, head on his chest.

“Don’t bother me,” he just shrugs you off and goes straight for his office.

You frown, knocking on the door before entering.

“I told you not to bother me. Didn’t I?” He says, not even looking at you.

You ignore what he said, going to kiss his head when he swivels around on his chair, the action making you stumble to the floor. “Darling-“

“Get the fuck out, Y/n! I don’t want to talk to you so get the fuck out of my face. I’m so tired, so sick of you annoying me with your presence. Get out, for fucks sake.” He shouts at you, your eyes meet and you can’t help but look away flinching.

You look a lot like my ex.

You retreat to your shared room, sobbing quietly when you get there.

You wonder why his eyes don’t hold love anymore, they only resemble those of your ex, he had the same look Jeongin had. The only difference was if your ex had that look, he was going to beat the shit out of you.

~•~

It’s dark outside when you wake to your alarm, you wonder why you even have a 4AM alarm. You shut it off, not bothering to look at the name.

It’s morning yet again, you find yourself (hating mornings) on the floor of your bedroom, and the events from last night come crashing back into your mind, spilling from your eyes. You sniffle.

You come out of the room, trying to be as quiet as possible only to see the apartment empty, your boyfriend isn’t home. It’s a Sunday, where else could he be?

Before you can think about anything else the door opens again, you didn’t even notice the keys on the doorknob. He’s shocked to see you up already and he drops what he was holding to walk closer to you.

“I want to break up.” It slips from your mouth. You look away, not wanting to see the reaction on his face, afraid it’ll be one of relief and joy.

You hear him choke on his words, is he, crying…?

“Baby no, no, no. I’m sorry. I’m so- sorry it’s all my fault.” He stutters through sobs, you feel his arms wrap around your waist but you slap it away.

He falls to the ground. On his knees crying, he looks pretty. “I’m not repeating myself, Yang Jeongin.”

His eyes shift to your hands, he reaches for it but you avoid him. Your boyfriend ex shuffles closer to you, lifting his head to look at your face. He finds your cheeks red, eyes a bit puffy from crying, and your lips pursed.

“Please take me back. Please give me another chance I’ll be better.” He starts begging. “Not on our anniversary please.”

You’re stunned, anniversary? That’s not today… your eyes shift to the calendar to see a heart shape on the date. It is. So that’s why you had an alarm.

Your gaze fall on the things he was carrying earlier, but it’s no use as you can’t quite make it out in the dark.

“-sorry for all the the things I’ve said, I know I can’t take that back. But you aren’t annoying at all, you don’t bother me, I do love you. I’m sorry, sorry. Please, Y/n just, give me one last chance. Let me make things right.” You finally let him touch you and his eyes sparkle, you pull him up. Hugging him.

He hugs back quickly, afraid you’ll change your mind, his arms around your waist squeezing a bit hard but you find it comforting.

“Baby, I’m so sorry. For being such an asshole. I- I never want to leave your side.” He babbles, peppering your forehead with kisses. “Were you, were you really going to break up with me?” He reluctantly asks and you can hear his heartbeat. He’s nervous, afraid you’ll leave him.

You nod meekly and he inhales sharply. “I’m sorry. For pushing you away, I’ll make things right okay-“

You don’t let him finish. You just cup his cheeks and bring him down to kiss him. He squeaks, cheeks reddening, the blush going to his ears.

“I thought I was the problem, Innie.” You whisper before kissing him again.

“No you’re never the problem. I was the dick.” He whispers back, pushing you against the wall gently. He leans down, biting your lower lip then licking your jaw, sucking on your neck and slowly going down to your chest until you stop him.

“Maybe later, right now I just want my sweet baby back.” You murmur, shyly covering your face as you nuzzle into his chest.

He smiles, “so you take me back.” I.n says a bit teary eyed.

You nod again, “yes.”

He sighs in relief, letting you go and rushing to the things he left on the floor. “Just give me 10 minutes okay, I have something for you.” He excitedly arranges things on the dining room table, humming the song he was singing when you first met each other at a college library.

“Alright close your eyes, baby girl.” He goes behind you to cover you eyes and lead you to the table. “I love you so much, happy 2nd anniversary my love.” His voice is soft, he’s whispering it to you like you’re his whole world and it sends shivers down your spine.

When he lets you open your eyes you can’t help but smile, starting to cry again when he worriedly holds you, asking why’s and reassuring you.

“I love you so much, Yang Jeongin. Never push me away again.” You mumble.

“I promise. I love you more, L/n Y/n.” He replies, you hear the sincerity in his voice, it makes you giddy.

“No, Yang Y/n.” You whisper but he catches it, you two blush as if you haven’t been together for two years.

“Hm, I like that.”

“Yeah. You do? How about we take ‘later’ now.” You suggest, grinning into his neck before sucking and biting.

And for the first time in a long time, you ‘sleep’ in the bed with him. Leaving the things he’s prepared for after your ‘praying’ session.

Find all my works under #skzwife-02

I wonder about what Lux herself may look like in the future (both good and bad path/ending)

I decided to do this in the fashion of our lord, Oda-Sensei.

If Gold still had hope

(really old art abt a Mt. Silver pokepasta ending)

So somebody came.