Seafoamfelly - Trash Compacter

The Visit

✂ Pairing: Yandere! Pantalone x Female! Reader

✂ Word Count: 1,6k+

✂ Warnings: -

[Edited]

Do not re-upload my writing to another website or use it without my permission. Please reblog so other people can see my stories!

***

I thought Pantalone would be a beardy old man, and… well, I’m not really wrong thankfully. He is old, probably ancient too. His smile reminds me of both Azul from twst and Ayato, but at least he’s the hottest among them imo.

Keep reading

Dear people with compassionate hearts

I write to you with a heavy heart from inside besieged Gaza,

which suffers from the scourge of war and endless famine Once upon a time, my family knew warmth, happiness, and safety within the walls of our home, but now we suffer from the ravages of war,

with no solutions in sight. I am a father of two young children, less than 10 years old They used to live their lives with happiness, play, and fun, but now they live in an endless nightmare Their innocent laughter was replaced by looks of fear and terror as the indiscriminate bombing continued next to us Since there is no safe place, every day we lose our dear ones and relatives

I lost 3 members of my family, my brothers and my father I am now living in a real nightmare where I am afraid of losing someone else I hope you will contribute even a little to save what remains so that we can live in safety and lasting peace You have all the love and respect for your noble .

This is where my children appear as they are relaxing in the water to relieve themselves of the extreme heat, as there is no shelter for them. We live in a tent that does not protect us from the intense heat or biting insects There are no necessities of life here

@sayruq @fairuzfan @stil-lindigo @nabulsi @el-shab-hussein @godgavemenoname @90-ghost @northgazaupdates @sar-soor @appsa @feluka @vakariaan @plomegranate

gofundme.com

Donate to SAVE my family from the war in Gaza - Rafah, organised by Amjad Sido

Hello my friends, I am Amjad from Gaza. I live with my family consisting … Amjad Sido needs your support for SAVE my family from the w

So Arizona launched an “education hotline” that allows “concerned parents” to report “””critical race theory””” and other things like ~gender identity~ being taught in the classroom

It would be a shame if the number and email were spread to bad actors looking to prank call the AZ Department of Education

602-771-3500 or empower @ azed .gov 🤡

How do you get to wonderland?

Summary: You had thought that being hit by a truck was the prerequisite for getting isekai'd. So what the hell were you suddenly doing in the 80's in the middle of some hick-ass country town you couldn't find on a map. More importantly, where the fuck was your vape?

Part 1: you are here

Pairing: Steve Harrington x reader

Your legs burn, calf muscles shaking under the prolonged strain of running. Your lungs struggle to continue providing the oxygen you so desperately need but you refuse to stop, you can’t stop running. Those things had found you once more, and even as your back aches from skin split open and your vision blurs with the heavy flow of blood from an open forehead wound. Things are only worsened by the torrential stream of tears that you can’t manage to stop. Your pain, exhaustion and fear all compounding into a lethal cocktail that makes a big part of you just want to lay down and die. If you just gave up, then maybe your death would be quick. Undoubtedly painful and terrifying but still quick.

Would your family ever stop looking for you? Would they ever find out what had happened, find where you had been dragged to? A choked sob that you failed to push down escapes your throat at the thought, because not even you had any idea where you were. Wherever it was, you were in hell and you couldn’t stop moving for fear of dying. For fear of those creatures ripping you apart.  A branch snaps across your face, and you let out a curse as you try to ignore what feels like even more blood suddenly sliding down your numb and abused face.

In your sudden painful blindness, you completely miss the sloping hill ahead and in your desperate dash you come close to breaking your neck as you tumble down. Rocks and fleshy vines digging into your skin, as you spin like an out-of-control cheese wheel.

You reach the bottom a near broken pile of flesh and bone, sobbing in pain and frustration. Lying in the mud, you let the rain pour down on your skin as you awaited your death. The monsters would be catching up soon and you couldn’t say you cared to run anymore, not that you thought you physically could.

You waited and waited and yet, silence. Straining your ears, you waited to for the tell tale screeches to reach you. Nothing. Cautiously you pushed yourself up, forearms buckling under the weight of your muddy form as your eyes slowly scanned your surroundings, widening as you realised you weren’t in that awful place anymore. Gone were the horrific roots and dusty air, gone were the red skies and flashes of lighting, and most importantly gone were the monsters that had been hunting you down relentlessly.

Fingers clenching in the mud beneath you, you hunched in on yourself the tears streaming down your face changing in nature to that of relief.  A hysterical laughter built up and bubbled out of your throat as you flopped back down against the ground. So there you lay, laughing and crying until your sides protested. You aren’t sure how long you lie there, letting the cool rain splatter against your skin, washing off the mud and soothing the various cuts and injuries littering your skin.

Eventually, logic wins out as you force your shaky and lactic acid filled muscles to work, managing to force yourself into a wobbly walk. Along the way you manage to find a sturdy enough stick to use as a walking aid for your pathetically weak body. You have no clue where exactly you are but what you do know is that if you ever see another tree after escaping this goddamn forest then it will be far too soon.

Just as you are about to give up you spot a flicker of what appears to be car headlights cruising along ahead of you. Filled with a sudden mix of desperate hope and adrenaline you launch yourself into the fastest run you can, which is to say not very fast. But there seems to be at least one god somewhat on your side as you stumble like a baby deer out onto the road. The sound of brakes squealing furiously fills the air as the driver of the car attempts to prevent you from becoming roadkill. You don’t pay it much mind however, hands coming to thump down on the hood of the car as you make eye contact with a surprised teenager with some of the most ridiculously puffy hair you’d seen. His mouth moving in what you thought might be an alarmed shout was the last thing you saw before everything went black and you were hitting the ground like a sack of bricks.

get isekai’d into your gacha hell but every time you meet someone who has a soul-crushing heart-wrenching tear-inducing punch in the throat backstory you give them a non contextual hug (ft. 6reeze)

Helloooo~

Can I request a oneshot with Xiao who turned his back against Rex Lapis and Liyue for God Reader who was deemed a fake by everybody except him because he can feel the pain from his karmic debt lessening when he approaches the reader and recognized them the moment he laid eyes on them? So now Xiao becomes a fugitive and runs away with reader to protect them. I also would really appreciate it if you can put Qiqi into the mix? The little zombie becomes Xiao's and readers intel in liyue.

I hope that wasn't too confusing and if you don't want to do it, it's 100% alright.

OHHH I LOVE THIS IDEA!!! Xiao love forever i love him so much pls i need a rerun of his banner pls mihoyo

Xiao being on the reader's side in the imposter sagau is just. chefs kiss

Length: 4. 7 k

cw: injury, reader being hunted by people, blood

Genre: uhhh a bit of angst but also some fluff

Of gentle breezes and tough hearts

The Vigilant Yaksha, as he had been dubbed, was nothing id not dedicated to his duty of protecting Liyue. His duty of serving under the command of Rex Lapis.

Perhaps the years had not been kind to him, wearing and tearing at him until he was frayed at the edges - but he was forged into a fighter, and that was the burden he had to bear.

The burden of his suffering under his previous master - his acts as a Yaksha - all of it had added up over the years to forge an armor of callousness around him.

His burden of Karmic debt was something painful, weighing him down each day as he fulfilled his duties - on the worst of days he wondered, if that would be the day he'd succumb to it and cease to be - torn apart from the inside out in the throes of it.

Not that he'd ever voice his concerns or pains. He was above that. He was a powerful Yaksha and he had earned his lot in life, after all. And, he had you.

Your gentle light, distant guiding presence, you who would lift his debt and ease his pain - it was all he could ask for. It was more than he deserved, even.

The winds swayed angrily as news of an imposter spread through Teyvat like wildfire - igniting all along its path with a sense of burning vengeance and desire to avenge their Creator. To put an end to the sinner's sacrilegious crimes.

Of course, Rex Lapis, one of your oldest and most devout followers and acolytes, was bound to hear of this. And hear of it he did. His eyes burned with the flames Xiao had not seen since the Archon wars of times long gone - bringing forth the god of war that Rex Lapis had once been regarded as.

His orders were absolute - to find and slay the imposter on sight. To honor the Creator by offering this imposter's blood to you, to fertilize the earth with it and snuff out any flicker of life.

He, as one of, if not the strongest of the adepti under his command - and certainly the fastest - flew through the airs like a whirlpool of vengeance. He owed all he was, to you - and lately, his Karmic debt had grown in its panful, overbearing weight - you being nowhere to be found to lessen it.

Was it your fury at the gall of this imposter that made you stray from him and the people of Teyvat?

He would assure your return - he would become a weapon once more, all to honor you.

Perhaps it was his dedication to you - or maybe the force of anemo cursing through him, but he was quick to pick up the trail of the imposter. They weren't exactly great at hiding their tracks, or even if they were, they certainly couldn't deceive the Vigilant Yaksha.

Strangely enough, as he neared the location of the imposter, he found the painful pressure threatening to crush him every waking moment easing away. He took it as a sign. A sign from you - that he was heading the right direction. That he was doing the right thing.

But how could he bring down his spear to pierce the line tethering your life to this world when you looked up at him with the face of his beloved Creator? With tears unshed still lining the corners of your eyes as you stared at him in frozen fear, quietly accepting your doom as you closed your eyes.

His spear slipped from his grasp as he staggered backwards, feeling like any burdens his shoulders carried - any fragment of his Karmic debt - it was all lifted when he neared you - the lightness and sudden reprieve from his pain was enough to make him see stars.

He stared down at you once more, fear now in his eyes as he came to a sobering, horrifying realization.

He felt tears spring in his eyes - a foreign sensation to him that burned.

"You'r grace...it's you..." he whispered.

You shook, your arms still up defensively.

"Xiao..?" you whispered.

He fell to his knees before you.

"I'm so sorry," he mumbled.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.I'm sorry.

The words kept falling from his lips in a prayer as he allowed the tears to slip down his face in turmoil, washing away the layers of armor and walls he had built up over millennia.

You watched his stone façade crumble, the fragments being crushed to dust and flowing away - leaving behind what looked like a lost, confused boy.

Slowly, you rose to your feet, quiet as a mouse. The Yaksha made no move to stop you, his lips moving wordlessly as his mind raced with the thoughts of what he had almost done. He could already picture it - you being gone - Teyvat would be in more pain than it has ever been - no archon wars, no vengeful gods could compare to it.

You bent down and picked up the polearm he had discarded, holding it in your unsteady hand as you attempted to balance it in your hand. The green jade glowed faintly as your fingers danced across it, emitting a soft warmth. The weapon you had worked so hard to attain and build up in strength.

Finally, Xiao seemed to snap out of his daze, staring up at your form - positions now reversed as you towered before him, holding a glowing weapon in your shaky hand, still unable to find the proper balance.

He attempted to push himself up, filled with the need to apologize.

"Don't come any closer," you warned, attempting to threateningly jab the weapon at him, only for the tip of it to crash into the ground as it wobbled in your hand.

So much for being intimidating.

"Your grace, I have no intention to hurt you," he attempted to soothe your worries, but the sharp and aggressive edge to his voice that always seemed to linger lent no credibility to his words.

"That's not what I saw just a few minutes ago."

His teeth dug into his lower lip.

"I know. But I was mistaken."

Your eyes bore into his and he could not help but allow his heart to soar - light and floating without the insufferable pain of his Karmic debt. Yet, he clutched the organ tight and pulled it back down to the depths of his core when he saw the mistrust painted over your face - the letters in the form of dark bruises and scrapes, dirt and exhaustion.

Still. He thought you looked divine.

"Well," you stammered, still attempting to aim his own weapon at him, "if you claim to mean me no harm - then let me go."

His eyes met yours, and he was ready to serve - ready to agree to any wish you voiced. He deserved not to enjoy your soothing presence when he dared to raise the very weapon you gifted him at you.

But he recalled he was not the only one in pursuit of you.

"Your grace, you are in danger. I cannot accept the possibility of you getting hurt while I'm not here," his words were pleas, his hands shaking ever so slightly as he spoke.

You could not help but believe him. There was something so earnest about his concern.

"Why is everyone after me?" you demanded, brows furrowing as you lowered the spear. "And what's with the sudden 'your grace' this and 'your grace' that?"

He blinked up at you in surprise.

"Well - you are our divine God. The Creator. As to answer your first question..." he trailed off.

"There's been a misunderstanding about your identity. Everyone is convinced you're an imposter."

A shocked, desperate bark of a laugh escaped your lips.

"Right. That's just perfect." You ran a dirty hand through your messy hair.

"Any other life-changing news you wanna drop on me while you're at it?"

He stared up at you in silence.

You sighed.

"Okay, well get up, Xiao. This whole kneeling thing is weird," you said, your voice rising in pitch as your exasperation cracked through it. The adeptus was quick to obey, keeping his back straight as he stood before you dutifully.

"Well, how do we fix this whole 'misunderstanding', then?"

Apparently, you don't.

Xiao had eagerly rushed to Liyue - to end this foolish hunt for your head, with you in tow. All caution had been thrown to the wind as you wandered into the city - the one Xiao had sworn to protect but rarely ever dared to enter - mortals were much too complicated and exhausting for the ancient adeptus, after all.

Xiao could feel any semblance of respect and loyalty towards the Lord of Geo smash into smithereens as the ancient archon refused to believe the truth right before his eyes - refused to acknowledge he had been wrong.

What use was there in serving a god who was so blind in his devotion that he'd willingly send the true Creator to their death?

What use was there in protecting a city that was willing to hunt down their God, each eager to claim their life with their bare hands barbarically?

Rex Lapis was no better than the god he had been enslaved under, forced to perform the cruelest acts of violence.

"We have a contact, Xiao."

"My contract does not involve allowing you to order me to kill the Creator."

"You are blind, and a fool, Xiao."

"It is you who is a fool."

No matter the contracts he needed to break - none of it mattered in the face of the one divine being that held power the entirety of the universe. Held that power and still clung onto their kindness stubbornly.

He stood watch over the little camp he'd set up for you, his polearm clutched tight in his hand as his golden eyes scoured the darkness surrounding him with the precision of a panther ready to pounce. He felt his muscles tense at every noise, the familiar feeling of doom that he though he had escaped so long ago with the help of Rex Lapis washing over him.

"Hungry?" you asked from your seat by the modest fire - where you had been preparing a meal to soothe your aches.

He glanced at you, his sharp features softening for a moment.

Too kind.

He stared a moment longer, a brief rest from his lookout duties.

"No thank you, your grace. Adepti have no need for food."

You frowned.

"But you can enjoy it."

How could you say something like that to him? He who had done so many unspeakable things over the thousands of years he had spent in this world?

He simply looked away, wishing to tear his gaze from the flame lest they ignite his heart on fire, engulfing it in its painful embrace. Lest it burn away the last of what was good inside of him to nothing but cinders to be scattered in the wind.

Despite being declared a criminal - despite severing ties with the god to whom he owed his freedom - despite all that...

Living life on the run was far from unpleasant.

He took his duty as your guard seriously, never venturing out into areas he deemed too dangerous, never letting his focus falter.

Still, he was acutely aware that it was not only mere mortals that were chasing after him and the Creator.

"Xiao, are you alright?" you asked, tenderly approaching him despite his orders for you to stay in your small tent. He turned to face you, his weapon tight in his hand by his side, ready to attack at any moment's notice.

"Of course, your Grace. There's no need to concern yourself with my wellbeing," he lowered himself to one knee and lowered his head.

"I am but a weapon to you, your grace."

As soon as those words slipped out of his mouth, he was yanked to his feet by you, gripping onto his shirt, a frustrated, yet melancholy expression upon your divine face.

"Absolutely not, Xiao."

His body tensed and he lowered his eyes to his ground.

Had he disrespected you?

"You are not just some weapon, Xiao! You're not even just a guard, either!" your hands clenched the white fabric of his clothing tighter as you stared into his eyes with a determined glint in yours.

"You are a person and to be frank, the only person in Teyvat I could even call a friend."

His hands shook, and for the second time in your divine presence, his weapon escaped his grip as he felt something heavy - not his Karmic debt. Something more emotional than that, being lifted from his shoulders.

He stared at his shaking hand and the discarded weapon in shame, not saying anything in return.

You sighed and picked up his weapon for him, only to snatch his wrist when he went to retrieve it.

Your eyes met once more, yours burning with a determined flame.

"You are not just a weapon. And you are not just your past." You released his arm and allowed him to take the polearm.

"You better remember that," you called over your shoulder as you headed back towards your shabby tent to attempt to get some shut eye.

Your words left Xiao lost in a void of swirling emotions he had no idea how to even begin to address.

Perhaps, for now - all he could do was fulfil his duty to you and...try to sort out his confusion at a later, safer time.

He put out the last remains of your campfire and began his vigilant watch. It was all he could do.

Sometimes, you would simply stop to gather plants - flowers you found pretty, or berries you recalled from recipes. Xiao watched in bewitched silence as you recognized every tree, plant and animal you came across - the way the world bloomed around you. He could not help feeling like one of those wilted flowers you touched - his petals suddenly coming to life and straining towards you.

"Hmm. This should work for the mint salad," you muttered to yourself as you plucked jueyun chilies off of the small bush, gathering them upon the palm of your hand - not caring if it would stain them. After all, a life on the run had lead to your standards of appearance dropping significantly.

Xiao glimpsed at you, a fulfilled sigh escaping his lips as he saw you smiling gently while gathering supplies. Honestly, seeing you do anything was fulfilling for the Yaksha.

Suddenly, his head snapped towards a faint rustle nearby, his serenity ebbing away as he readied his weapon to pounce upon whatever danger may be near.

Noticing Xiao's sudden change in demeanor, you frowned.

"Stay here, your grace. I will deal with whatever it is."

You simply rolled your eyes and followed him quietly as he approached the sounds. He was tense, eyes narrowed as he scoured the area.

Suddenly, seeing movement, he raised his spear to strike down whoever the figure was. His arm shot up as he prepared to launch himself, only to be stopped hi your hand gripping his arm.

Confused, his eyes flickered to yours.

"Stop," you whispered - and all he could do was obey, lowering his weapon.

You smiled as you watched a pale, familiar girl quietly gathering herbs, her movements a little stiff as she immersed herself in her work.

"Qiqi," you spoke, unable to restrain yourself as the recognition washed over you.

The girl, upon hearing her own name, froze, looking around aimlessly for the source of the noise.

You gently pushed past Xiao, who was still gripping his weapon tight, cheeks tinged a delicate pink from your touch. Approaching Qiqi with a concerned expression, you caught the little zombie's attention.

"Hello, Qiqi - what are you doing so far out from Liyue?" you asked carefully, crouching before her.

She stared vacantly at you, before looking around hesitantly, as though finally taking in her surroundings. Slowly, she reached for her little bag and pulled out a small notebook, flipping the pages until something akin to realization flickered in her eyes.

"I am looking for herbs," she replied, voice flat and quiet as she looked up at you with an unreadable expression.

"Oh? What herbs?" you asked, your voice perking up as you spoke to the girl - the one upside of her foggy memory would most likely be that she probably wasn't even aware of your status as a wanted criminal.

She slowly listed off a couple, and you listened patiently, paying no mind to Xiao who was stood nearby, watching the interaction awkwardly.

"Well, I think I should have some of these," you told her, plucking them out of your little makeshift bag and holding them out for you.

"Thank you...but I ordered myself to gather them..." she mumbled, lowering her gaze.

Right. She worked on orders.

Still...

Your gaze landed on the setting sun. Zombie or not - capable in combat or not - you felt uncomfortable allowing the young girl to be out that late all by herself.

Then, you recalled your knowledge of the girl.

Hesitantly, you reached your arms out and pulled the girl closer. She stumbled into your embrace, making a surprised noise.

"I love you the most, Qiqi," you said softly, closing your eyes and meaning every word you said.

The girl slowly placed her hands on your cheeks, and you opened your eyes, a smile still upon your lips.

"Thank you...kind traveler," she spoke softly.

You chuckled and offered her the herbs once more. This time, she accepted them with a gentle thank you.

"How about we get you back to Liyue, Qiqi?"The

The Yaksha followed quietly, still on his guard, as you gently held the undead girl's hand in yours despite the coldness of it. She occasionally gazed up at you with a strange expression - one that could almost be read as fondness. Xiao supposed he shouldn't be too surprised - you were the Creator, after all. Of course your warmth would call forth love for you.

You escorted the small girl to the edge of Liyue, before coming to a halt.

"I think you can find your way home from here," you ruffled her hair gently and she stared up at you.

"Why are you not coming to the city?"

"Well..." you glanced at Xiao. "We aren't welcome in Liyue."

She lowered her gaze, seeming a little befuddled.

"I see...But how will I be able to meet you again, then?" she asked, her voice earnest despite its flatness.

You all but melted at her words, tears brimming in your eyes.

"You want to meet us again?"

She nodded.

"Well..." you bit your lip. You were constantly on the move, after all.

"Just call my name, whenever you wish to see us," Xiao spoke up, breaking the silence. Your eyes widened as you stared at the adeptus.

Qiqi allowed him to take her notebook and write simple instructions for her, his brows furrowed, but you could tell he was trying his best to not come off as intimidating.

Soon, you bid Qiqi farewell and were on your way again. You couldn't help the smile stretched upon your lips as you walked beside the Yaksha.

"That was sweet of you, Xiao."

He glanced at you from the corner of his eyes, and despite the darkness falling upon the earth and hiding his features, you could tell his cheeks were burning up.

"Just doing my duty."

You chuckled and shook your head.

"If you say so."

Over time, you grew used to life on the run. Every now and then, you would meet up with Qiqi, who you pampered with affection she clearly wasn't receiving from Baizhu. She began writing more about her days in Liyue - something you and Xiao found most useful when avoiding the milileth and other forces of Liyue sent to hunt you down. You felt a sense of ease around Xiao - and he had to admit that during all his years upon this land, he had never felt quite as free and even...happy as he did when you.

However, all good things must come to an end.

The ground below you erupted - pillars of stone bursting out and cornering you and Xiao as the Geo archon glowered down at you in distaste.

"Any final words?" he spoke, his low voice rumbling with an anger akin to earthquakes. Xiao pushed you behind him as he clutched his weapon, glaring back with a fiery fury of his own.

"I will not allow you to harm the creator!" he spat, any loyalty to Morax long gone with the winds that carried him to his journey with you.

Zhongli simply scoffed.

"You have been led stray, Xiao. Led astray by the deception of this imposter." He aimed his weapon at you, causing you to flinch. It only made Xiao shake with anger as he did his best to shield you from Zhongli's view.

"You're wrong, Morax."

"I will admit, the disguise is quite convincing. If I wasn't as knowledgeable and loyal to the true Cretor - I may have fallen under their spell too, Xiao." He smirked coldly.

"Xiao. Step aside and allow me to end this preposterous farce, and you will earn forgiveness. I am sure the Creator will be kind enough to forgive you your sins."

Xiao bared his teeth.

"Over my dead body," he spat.

Zhongli sighed, a glimmer of regret flashing across his face as he stared down at the two.

"Very well, Xiao."

His polearm came down with the swiftness of a rolling stone, gaining momentum as it plummeted downhill.

Your lips parted in a soundless scream of agony as you watched it mercilessly pierce Xiao.

You could barely see his limp form slump onto the ground through your tears as you sank to your knees beside him.

"How could you?!" you spat angrily, tears flowing across your face in angry rivers as you cradled Xiao's bleeding body.

The blood.

So much blood.

"He used to look up to you! Worship you for saving him!" your voice was raw and filled with emotion that ricocheted off of the pillars surrounding you, sending wide cracks through them.

Zhongli - no, Morax, stared at you, stared at the weapon in his gloved hand, and said nothing.

What could he say, when the Creator themselves was before him, crying shimmering tears brimming over with the stars of the galaxy?

He had been blind, after all.

Your shimmering tears fell in raging fury, never-ending as the rain that took over the clear blue skies of Liye. Your heart heavy, and cracked as the earth below you when you held Xiao's limp form close.

"Xiao, please..." you whispered, shaky fingers attempting to stop the bleeding - attempting to ease the pain he was undoubtedly in without bringing any more to him.

You ran a bloody hand through his hair, brushing aside the strands as you gazed at his face - growing paler by the minute as blood seeped from his wound.

You choked back a sob and gently laid him down. You could see the way his chest was rising and falling - but it was growing slower and more strained with each passing moment.

"You idiot," you muttered, voice hoarse from your emotional outburst. You tore at your clothes, barely able to rip off pieces to attempt to bandage him up.

Your furious eyes burned at Zhongli, who was frozen in place, drenched from the sudden onslaught of rain.

"Do something!" you shouted, cut off by your own sob. "Get a healer - do something useful!" you clenched your fists as you received no answer and simply stared at the unconscious man before you, tears unceremoniously dropping onto his form - not that you cared to pay it any mind as your own wet hair clung to your face. It was cold. It was all so cold and lifeless as your heart raced but left your mind empty of nothing but pain.

You watched Xiao take one more shaky breath, before his chest stopped moving.

You screamed. At Zhongli. At Teyvat. At everything that had lead to this injustice being allowed to occur. Screamed until your voice was raw and you could taste blood in your throat - and then some more.

Finally, you clung to the bloody and damp shirt clinging to Xiao's form, burying your face in it - allowing the coppery scent of blood to wade into your nostrils as you choked out wails.

It was all so cold.

And then, suddenly - it was warm.

You looked up in surprise - only to see the wound soaked in crimson blood just moments earlier - starting to close rapidly. You slammed a hand in front of your mouth as you watched it close up and leave behind only a golden mark in the shape of a diamond where it had been.

Your hands, still soaked with the red blood, move to cup his face, staining it - not that you cared at the moment. Your eyes stared at his face in desperation.

For any sign of life.

"Your...grace?" he mumbled, slowly opening his golden eyes. Eyes that shone much brighter and more golden than ever before.

You choked out another sob and pulled him closer, pressing your forehead against his - not caring that your drenched hair clung to your face and that your hands were still dirty. You stroked his cheeks, shedding tears of joy as he stared up at you.

"Have I finally reached the afterlife?" Xiao murmured, his own hand weakly brushing against yours.

"No, you idiot!" you tried to scold, but the smile on your cracked lips gave away your true feelings.

Slowly and gently, still unaware of how healed he truly was, you aided him to his feet, allowing him to lean on you. You could see Zhongli on his knees, a horrified expression etched onto his features.

Good.

You'd deal with him later.

"How could you say something so stupid?" you whimpered, holding the adeptus close. "I thought you were dead!"

"I was fulfilling my duty to protect you, your grace."

You stared up at him in exasperation.

"What about your duty not to break my heart?!" You clutched his shirt, glaring up at him.

"What do you mean, your grace?" he looked confused and ashamed nonetheless, for upsetting you.

"If you had died - then how could I have gone on? I love you, you stupid, stubborn, edgy Yaksha!"

He stared at you in awe, tears shimmering in his own eyes.

Your hands crept into his hair - crunching under your fingers from the dried blood within it - and you gently pulled his face closer, your eyes clashing as both of you stared into the other's soul.

"I love you too, your grace," ha managed to say, voice barely above a whisper.

You laughed, before giving his lips a gentle peck.

"I'm glad that we see eyes to eye on that."

You allowed yourself that moment of peace, embracing Xiao, before turning back to Zhongli.

He was still on his knees, his eyes staring up at you in shame.

"You are...god. Such an asshole!' you sputtered, your anger resurfacing.

Zhongli lowered his gaze without daring to say a word.

"I expect you to...call off your minions from chasing us. And to leave us the fuck alone after that!"

He nodded quietly, his shoulders tensing.

You paid him no further mind.

You held Xiao close, allowing his weakened form to lean on you as you carried his weapon for him.

"Would you like to see Wangshu Inn again?" you asked gently. "We could get some almond tofu...and some rest.."

He sighed.

"Adepti need no-"

You cut him off.

"No. You will have a nice long bath. Have Almond tofu. And get some damned sleep, you stubborn Yaksha."

He sighed.

"Yes, your grace."

You simply smiled and pecked his cheek.

Perhaps life would become a little easier now - for both you and Xiao.

You could hope for nothing more.

ok i really rushed the end cus i was. REALLY STRETCHING IT OUT. but anyway as an afterthought...imagine reader and xiao adopting qiqi basically <3

Dendro NA: 101 (Yandere!Alhaitham/Reader)

a/n: “ansy weren’t you going to write faceless!ayato and music composer!tighnari” well yes but things happened so now here we are. I’m dedicating this fic to crying anon since they’re the person that gave me an idea of an "what if Alhaitham had an elf!darling?" after this fic. The beginning reads like an enemies-to-lovers fic with a slice of crack where nothing goes wrong but trust me it’s not lmao

unreliable synopsis: After Alhaitham forged your signature, you're now forced to become the Acting Grand Sage’s assistant. It's even more annoying when he nearly visited your house all drugged up. Seriously, when will he learn to respect his seniors?

CW: yandere themes, noncon touching, aphrodisiacs, possessiveness, so much bickering, and the reader slanders dendro for plot reasons. 

Pulcinella, The Rooster, came to visit early in the morning.

“Pups, please… Stop turning my apartment upside down and just tell me what you want.”

It was unexpected how the old man barged into your “unconquerable mess of an apartment” with the intent to celebrate your newfound job at the Haravatat. Mayor Pulcinella isn’t your direct grandfather, but he is your grandfather’s brother. The fact that you are connected to him is a well-known secret (as absurd an oxymoron as that may sound) in the College of Engineering and Technology at the Akademiya. Because of the collectivist mentality that characterized your family, every last pointy-eared relative you are aware of is blatantly nosy and annoying. The "mayor" is much more so.

Pulcinella did come to extend his congratulations, with a generous batch of cookies even, but he had an objective in mind. His way of showing that he cares is usually in the form of letters but he stands right in front of you now. You can only imagine how difficult it is for someone in his position to take a leave of absence this far since Port Ormos is so far away from home and it takes days for mail to arrive here.

Your grandfather is obstinate. Terrifying so since you recognize that expression on his face all too well. Although you are unsure of what he needs from you, you do know that you want him out. Immediately.

“Don’t talk to me in that tone, child.” He scowled, jabbing your briefcases with his wooden cane. “I’m not leaving until I find it.”

That "Rooster" moniker belongs to him without a doubt. Your belongings were seized by the elf-like a bird's beak. He prodded the dreadful equation-filled sheets hanging on your wall and snatched a few trinkets on your work table. Good lord. Pulcinella made so much noise that if you weren’t already planning on starting your day, you would’ve been incredibly cranky when he knocked on your door.

“For Her Majesty’s sake– just what are you trying to find, grandpups?”

He turned to look at you.

Not mad, but disappointed– sad, even.

“An engagement ring. Evidence that you’re dating that fool, Alhaitham.”

You groaned.

“Him again?! Motherf—”

Pulcinella quirked his eyebrow at your outburst, “hmm?”

You chuckled nervously, “ah, sorry, I just… It’s nothing.”

No, it was not “nothing.” That bastard ruined a lot of things for you, including your vision. You didn’t want a dendro vision. You were praying for Rex Lapis every night even after his death but somehow being involved with Alhaitham strayed your path to gaining the “grass fertilizer tool” as you loved to call it. Sure, there’s little evidence that he’s the reason behind the fact that you got a dendro vision instead of geo but that doesn’t change the fact that you want to crush him between your palms like a writhe scarab. Especially after he enlisted you as his scribe-disciple without your consent. What a complete scumbag.

Oh, to quit the Akademiya only to be forced to go back again…

But of course, your grandpups don’t know anything about this and you have ZERO intentions of letting him in on your business. If he knows, then ALL of Snezhnayan elves know.

“I’ve heard from your mother that you’ve gone lovesick and left the Akademiya,” Pulcinella spoke in a slow somber tone. “And falling recklessly in love and gaining a dendro vision does not sound like you at all.”

Eww. Lovesick? Hell no.

If it weren’t for this man, you would’ve graduated as a fully pledged civil engineer next year. If he wasn’t such a great scribe, no, forger, your signature wouldn’t be on that damn contract.

That man seriously has no respect for his seniors.

Nevertheless, it was too late to do anything. You just have to accept the consequences of your inaction. Additionally, if you're going to take this "new job," you might as well act as if you adore it.

Hooray! Don’t you love working for Alhaitham? Isn’t it fun to discard your 4 years of studying? Oh, what joy! You definitely did not burn your eyebrows out trying to ace FIFTY Kshahrewar mock tests!!!–

“Talk to me, poppet.” He continued, eyebrows knitted. His wrinkly hands reached to gently hold yours. Suddenly, you remembered that he is still family. That this was the same old major that your young self boasted their miniature construction toys to.

“I’m worried that something might’ve happened. And my dear, health is not the absence of disease or infirmity, it is also–”

“The complete state of physical, mental, AND social wellbeing. Yes. I know, Pups. You nearly forced me to study medicine.” You groaned and palmed your forehead, weak but playful.

He chuckled heartily.

The old man’s rather soft with you compared to his other grandchildren. If he wasn’t, you’d likely find yourself as Il Dottore’s new assistant.

Although most people would find working for a harbinger, especially The Doctor, to be a complete nightmare, you concluded that being Alhaitham's slave was the epitome of "overrated garbage," and you despise the scribe so much you can't even remember his appearance. Sure, Layla’s jealous that you’re essentially set for life by being a scribe assistant but at least Dottore gives his assistants a hefty pay discounting his crimes against humanity…

You’re not proud to call Alhaitham your boss. That stupid #093c0d face doesn’t make your 2 million mora salary worth the trouble. He needs to pay for your mental health insurance–

“Are you alright, poppet? You’re looking at me like you would with one of your test slimes.”

You exhaled deeply, “sorry, I suddenly thought of a hex code #093c0d person.”

Pulcinella closed his eyes.

“A dark green shade?”

“That’s right.”

“...”

With an unreadable yet deliberate face, Pulcinella fixed his gaze on you. Your unique perspective on others didn't seem to disturb your grandpups the way it did your parents. He is one of the select few who is aware of how you assign people's personalities through colors. Pulcinella raised his glasses further up before giving a sage-like nod. The moment he crossed his arms, you knew he understood what you were trying to express.

“So it’s a lover’s quarrel.”

“Yes, exactly.”

…

“Wait, what– NO!!! Pups, please stop assuming shit– things!!!”

Never mind— he is SO far off.

Why is he convinced that you’re dating that prick? What the hell did your mom tell him?!

“I heard that, poppet. And do not misunderstand, I think this is a good thing.”

Your uncle-grandfather cupped your cheeks and squished them between his fingers. Perhaps this is what people consider a wholesome grandpa-grandchild dynamic– but social norms should’ve also labeled this as domestic violence. His pinching hurts. Your clipped groans made him grin wider.

“After all, this means that you have seen his flaws and true character. What better way to break a couple up than a genuine argument?”

“PWUUUPS!!!”

Pulcinella pulled his hands away.

“I felt distraught when I heard you have given up your pursuit of civil engineering and chose a career in the Haravatat,” he sighed and took off his hat, holding it against his chest. “I was rooting for you, dear. I had faith in your aspirations. Even Lord Capitano found it upsetting to learn that the future engineer I frequently boasted about had become a lesser Lord Kusanali underling.”

You squirmed and rubbed your cheeks, staring at the ground.

Lord Capitano was not someone you often interacted with, but you knew that he had an eye for talent– and he sought after yours. Perhaps this is your ego talking, but it felt like even he believed you’re best suited for an engineering course too. Other than your grandpups and subsequently his recruit, Ajax, Lord Capitano was one of the Fatuis you respected.

Alhaitham truly crushed your dreams.

“I know, Pups…”

“You know what to do, right?”

You nodded solemnly, before looking him dead in the eye. Pulcinella can see your determination clear as day.

You breathed in.

“I’m going to commit arson.”

He patted your back, smiling.

“That’s my grandchild!”

Pulcinella tip-toed and ruffled your hair.

“Alright, this old man had given up. Just show grandpups where the ring is.”

“Her majesty the Tsaritsa’s sake– I already told you Pups– ALHAITHAM AND I ARE NOT DATING!!!”

It was an exceptionally hot evening in Sumeru City despite being far from the desert. You should be inside your apartment right now, studying the Dendro Vision book Alhaitham gave you but you’d rather be where you are now. It’s about to get warmer, yet you’d dare argue that both you and master architect Kaveh’s headache can compete with its 38°C average temperature.

“C’mon, please?”

“No, I’m not helping you burn Alhaitham’s house down.”

“What?! Why not?!”

“Damnit, (Y/n)– BECAUSE I LIVE THERE!!!”

“Oh, right.”

You flopped back to your seat, eyes rolling back, deflated.

Kaveh cried out in pain while lowering his head to the table. He somewhat resembled a dried-out raisin. He had a drinking binge the night before, so this isn't because he's not a morning person. Although you expressed regret for knocking on his (Alhaitham's) door, the architect never misses a chance to rant about his housemate. Kaveh's pain wasn't even close to how much he detested Alhaitham. Now here you both are, sitting outside Lambad’s Tavern like morons because you both forgot to bring your wallets.

Not a sight you’d expect from a master-of-all-trades (ex-)engineering student and a genius architect.

“Damn it…” You whined. “What else am I supposed to do now?”

“Await until Focalors passes her judgment,” he answered hoarsely.

In other words: curl up and die, probably.

“Yeah… Yeah, that sounds viable. Let me just go to Fontaine real quick– oh wait, I can’t, because some dumbass scribe paid the corps to keep me from reaching the borders.”

Kaveh chuckled, still caressing his headache, not caring how his messy and unwashed locks covered his eyes. You’d be surprised if he told you he didn’t just get out of bed. He appeared like he was ready to sleep for all eternity, or more accurately, Kaveh’s starting to look eerily similar to Layla. In terms of colors though, he’d still be a #ffda29 and not a #003153.

He sneered, “did the sun always look this bright, powerful, and oh-so hateful?”

“It wouldn’t look like that if you didn’t down the pitcher I left on the table last night, Kaveh.”

You both turned to look at the voice– rather, the abyss. Alhaitham stood behind you. Or at least, you think it’s him.

Okay, here’s the deal: you hate remembering his face.

You handle your memory much like a student would a personal bookshelf– you’ll occasionally take out the information you no longer wish to retain in favor of more useful and relevant ones. As a creature with longevity, an elf should be picky when it comes to memories. You believe your approach is in the same vein as Pulcinella disposing of “less valuable assets’' without hesitation. If there’s no point in having it, why carry the baggage? But there are at least two facts that you can easily recall about Alhaitham: it’s his voice and the color #093c0d.

In other words, he’s just a talking dark green slime in your eyes.

Which he considers a major step up, by the way. You went from ignoring him to recognizing his voice, to associating him with one color. That’s quite a development. A pathetically slow progression, but still a positive one.

“THERE YOU ARE, ALHAITHAM, YOU PRI–”

The man swiftly dodged his slap by crouching down. He honestly didn’t have to put in the effort when Kaveh’s attacks were sluggish.

“–CK! WHY’D YOU LABEL THE ALCOHOL AS WATER?!”

Tons of passersby stared at Kaveh as he flailed around, but they were quick to look away. It’s no longer a secret that he lives with the scribe. Everyone in Sumeru City knows about his tactless antics and none are deaf when it comes to his loud gripes about his housemate. Even so, you went up to him to soothe his worries and restore his reputation because not everyone understands he's not a bad person.

Alhaitham scoffed, glaring.

“I didn’t. The label said "Fire-Water.””

“WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE?!”

“Fire-water? Oh.”

Your hand flew to your mouth as you connected the two dots.

That beverage from Snezhnaya is notorious for having a high alcohol content and is only known in Mondstadt as the drink Master Ragnvindr forbade exports of. As a quote-unquote "wine connoisseur," you were invited to one of his parties. Fortunately, you were able to warn Diluc of how potent it is firsthand– Kaveh? Not so much.

You snorted.

“Yeah, Kaveh, I hate to take Alhaitham’s side on this but this one is on you, friend.”

The blonde’s eyes widened, betrayed.

“HAH?!”

“Need I remind you that fire-water is an alcoholic beverage, Kaveh.” Alhaitham waved his hand, emphasizing his condescending tone. “Maybe if you listened to me instead of ranting about my work ethic, you would’ve known that I received it as a gift from a Fatui Harbinger.”

Your ears perked up. “From a Harbinger?”

Alhaitham smirked but it was gone as quickly as it came.

“Hmm. I’m certain that you know him, assistant (L/n). His name is Pulcinella,” the scribe said. “He left me a note. He said he wishes that I drink to my heart’s content as a thank-you gift for hiring his grandchild. I wasn’t aware you have a kind grandfather.”

You smiled back, crookedly.

No. No, your uncle-grandfather DEFINITELY wanted to see Alhaitham in pain. He didn’t even bother giving him a bottle– he gave him a fucking leftover pitcher.

Alhaitham took your arm. Unfortunately, he’s taller than you with muscle strength you can’t compete with. You squirmed but resistance was futile. Doesn’t mean you can’t bite his arm off–

“Assistant (L/n)–”

You gritted your teeth. “Don’t touch me, sir.”

Alhaitham paused, processing how much emphasis you put into pronouncing the word “sir.”

“–I’ll be taking you away now.” He looked down on your friend and scoffed. “Kaveh, do try your best to not be a burden to Mx. (L/n) again.”

Kaveh clutched his head, still in pain.

Sorry, Kaveh. That drink and beating headache were not meant for you in the slightest. You made a mental note to make it up to him, but not today. You have a lot on your plate right now.

“Idiot. They’re the one that invited me here!”

“True–”

“I quite frankly don’t care,” Alhaitham spat coldly.

“From now on, refrain from having conversations with my assistant. Unless you’re prepared to face the consequences.”

“Do you remember the approximate damage multipliers an aggravate reaction causes?”

“Nope.”

“Tch. I just discussed this, I can’t believe you already forgot.”

“You think I forgot? Haha, hell no. I didn’t forget, I just wasn’t paying any attention.”

Alhaitham dragged you down a secluded area in the rainforests with a sword in hand. Quite frankly, you hoped he brought his weapon to kill you, but you’re well aware of what this is about.

This is a lesson straight out of a page of “Dendro Vision Qualifications 101: Normal Attack Patterns.” The Acting Grand Sage thinks that you should have at least enough fighting proficiency for you to start formally working for him. As for you? You think this whole charade is utterly meaningless.

Sometimes, you truly do wish you were born as a rock instead. Maybe then you would be able to perform the “gray-rock method” whenever Alhaitham starts his drivel about dendro visions. You bet you’d make a pretty good tombstone for your dead childhood friend if you were a rock. Being a rock is probably the nicest thing to be. You get to be something created from the Geo element– the element and vision you desired. And not dendro.

Anything but lame old dendro.

This is so stupid. You wanted a geo vision, damn it. What on earth did you do to make Rex Lapis spite you, and what kinda breakthrough did you accomplish to gain the Lesser Lord Kusanali’s favor instead?!

If only you got something that isn’t the same as Alhaitham’s vision. Maybe if you got an electro vision you’d be learning how to brandish a lance with the General Mahamatra instead. Unlike most people, you enjoy being in his prolonged company and dry jokes. You’ve exchanged letters with Cyno multiple times– but your friend’s on-the-spot puns are 10x funnier than the things he writes down. Of course, that’s only because his earnest delivery sells it.

“In this fighting stance, you can perform up to 4 consecutive attacks, dishing out dendro damage approximately every 2 seconds interval–”

You held up your Eye of Perception.

“Bold of you to assume I’ll use this vision.”

“–charge attacks on the other hand require a hefty amount of stami–”

You yawned, halting Alhaitham in the middle of his “lecture.”

There’s a reason why you chose an Eye of Perception, and that’s because, unlike most catalysts, it procures physical damage as well. With someone as petty as you, it’s only natural that you’d brandish a weapon that doesn’t rely too much on dendro reactions.

“Yeah, I’ll just hit the enemy with my catalyst. Like, aim and shoot, or maybe I’ll just go with blunt force. This eye of perception looks like it’s made of metal, it can probably dish out some physical damage–”

Alhaitham shifted forward. Your gentle yet insouciant voice forced him out of his momentum.

“(Y/n).”

“...Yes, sir?”

His gaze sharpened.

“Pay attention.”

You snorted. Was he trying to intimidate you?

You, an elf who lived longer than him? How arrogant. It was becoming clearer why Alhaitham never once had a girlfriend or boyfriend. Or maybe a genuine friend in general. His senior who happens to also be his housemate does not count.

“No thanks.” You laughed to yourself, barely containing your amusement. “I think I’m doing fine.”

“What do you expect will happen if you don’t listen to my instructions? Your unfailing indifference sickens me.” He sheathed his sword back. “Do I have to spell everything out? You’ll get injured in combat. You won’t be able to defend yourself from fungi, eremites, and other enemies on the prowl. All for what? Useless pride? Grow up. Accept that you got a dendro vision and be done with it.”

“Tch…” You know how you feel, but you do not have the strength to say it out loud.

What an impossible task. He’s telling you– the most stubborn person you know– to give up on your goals? Inconceivable. You bet he sees the mediocre majority as nothing more than defective pawns, and you’re well aware you belong in that lowly category.

To him, grief may as well be easy as breathing. For you, years had gone by and you could still hear their voice. The scribe knows nothing about tributes for the dead. 

Your old childhood friend beckons you back to the chasm. His voice comes once the dark rears in, reverbing his desperate pleas for a fitting grave. It’s a voice that twists around your chest like a knife. You can’t get their faces out of your memetic bookshelf, but it’s not as if you’re willing to dispose of them.

You didn’t want a dendro vision. 

You wanted a geo vision to construct mausoleums for your dead friends.

Alhaitham scowled.

“Fine. We’ll resume our lesson next week.”

He bumped into your shoulder as he walked by. For a split second, you’re reminded that your superior had longer eyelashes than you do. And it made the gesture more annoying.

Strange. 

Alhaitham wouldn’t normally let you off so easily…

Maybe he’s busy?

“If you’re so insistent on only utilizing physical attacks, be my guest. Next time, I will not back down a single step.” Alhaitham walked away with heavy feet, stamping the dirt with his heels.

The consequences of your actions began to sink in. You may have lived longer than Alhaitham, but needless to say, he had more experience in combat.

Admittedly, you may have done yourself a disservice by acting out… You huffed.

No, no way.

“What could possibly go wrong? He’s just a feeble scholar!”

Unsurprisingly, Alhaitham was not, in fact, a feeble scholar.

Thankfully you have the Eye of Perception at your disposal because the moment he found you walking towards Devantaka Mountain the following week, the bastard went for your jugular.

“What the fuck, Alhaitham?!”

You fired a single shot, aimed higher this time knowing that he would attempt to evade. Much like his actions with Kaveh last time, Alhaitham was quick to dodge that projectile. His timing is impeccable as he activated his vision.

#ff0e0e starts blaring in your line of sight. You’ve always trusted these colors— your instincts.

You’re in danger.

“Tch!”

You almost didn’t recognize that it was him. If he wasn’t breathing heavily, you would've mistaken him for an assassin. Alhaitham never made any unnecessary movements. His slashes were not done with the intent of harming you, but shepherding you to an appropriate trap. Your knee scraped against the grass and minuscule rocks. Prioritizing distance over attacks was a wrong move– he’s faster than anticipated. You gasped sharply as the scribe pinned you against a tree trunk–

… His scent caught your attention.

“A cicin mage’s perfume…?” You mumbled, eyes wide.

That didn’t seem right. Their perfume usually doesn’t smell this unpleasant and metallic.

Your ears drooped down as you realized this Alhaitham did not attack because he’s a lunatic, no. That malodorous stench was akin to a grandmother’s bittersweet husk.

This Alhaitham was under the influence of aphrodisiacs, and it is not something you can fault him for.

“What– What on earth happened?”

He twisted your arm slightly, not enough that’ll make you scream but just rough for a tiny yelp–

and that’s how he boldly claimed your lips.

You froze in horror, letting him take advantage of your plight. Alhaitham pulled away, panting slightly.

“F-Fuck…”

Alhaitham moaned as he slipped his tongue back inside. You tried to stop him but you yelped the moment his hand groped your thigh. His breath fanned your flustered skin as he moved to slither his arms around your waist, closing the already small distance between you two.

You weakly pulled back. The rainforest had never felt this humid before.

Something is truly off about his scent.

“L-Let go!!!” You hissed and punched his chest, completely forgetting your catalyst in your panic. “What the hell is wrong with you?!?! Are you out of your fucking mind?!”

He didn’t listen despite your physical protests. Alhaitham disgustingly crooned down and sloppily dabbed wet kisses down your neck. His saliva dripped over his shoulder, coating you in hopes that it would leave his trace.

It felt wrong. You felt dirty– like you were kissing an actual #093c0d slime.

“P-Please…” He whispered, his voice dropping dangerously weak and vulnerable. “H-Help me, (Y/n)…”

Your face flushed as you wiped the saliva that connected you both from your lips.

You’ve never heard Alhaitham beg before.

Is this really him?

His fistful grip on your clothes grew taut as desperation colored his knuckles white. You had never seen Alhaitham lose his cool the way he does now, and the broken sight in his eyes made you uneasy and uncertain.

He looked pathetic.

“Haitham, your…” your hand supported his neck and he hungrily leaned in to feel your touch. “Your heartbeat is loud.”

“I know,” he whimpered.

You bit your lip. You could sense his pulse going faster.

This isn’t the first time you’ve been kissed– or first anything. You’ve had your fair share of “soulmates” and “flings”, but those happened decades ago. Before you were mastering engineering, you were a freelance artist who’d had many affairs with humans and elves alike out of the undiagnosed emptiness that was grief. Up until Faruzan made you start a new leaf, you indulged in numerous vices, including wine and one-night stands. She was the closest a human could hope to understand the loneliness an elf would have.

Both your appearance give the illusion of youth, but your bones are held together by flesh older than this man. She would undoubtedly be angry with you as soon as she learns that you enabled Alhaitham's small rendezvous.

“Alhaitham, I’m more than a decade years older than you–” you squirmed.

“But I want you,” he groaned.

Those words felt so different when he was the one who said them. Nearly sinister.

“I know,” you said, but your voice doesn’t match the confidence you were meant to exude. “But this isn’t you, this is your hormones doing the talking. Where did the cicin mage attack you?”

“Between Pardis Dhyai and Yashna Monument”

“Between WHAT?!” You gawked. “That’s miles away from here!”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does!!!”

You yanked his shirt. It’s thin, yet surprisingly durable. The strength of the fabric is not what made you unnerved, but his stare.

He gazed at you as if you were his lifeline— as if you were the only thing that allowed him to breathe. Alhaitham’s hot breaths were shallow, fanning your face as you took note of how red his face, neck, and ears were. You noticed how he struggled to gulp— struggled to keep his composure. His bedroom eyes had not once diverted their attention away from you.

“It doesn't matter how far I ran. You were the one I wanted to see. You were the face that came to mind after getting poisoned."

You pretended not to hear that.

“Alhaitham, we need to get you to Tighnari.”

“He can’t help me.”

“The forest watcher can most certainly help you more than me.”

“You don’t know that.”

You don't want to hear him talk anymore, to be honest. You're horrified by how weak and inaudible his voice sounded.

“Why did you come to Avidya Forest all the way from there? Why not head straight to the city?”

“So many questions…” He irritably spat. “Just stop talking and kis–”

“I refuse,” you glared. “Why were you heading towards Port Ormos? Did you think I was going to help you get over this mess out of the goodness of my heart?”

Did he forget how much you loathe him?

“No. No, of course not.”

He chuckled, full of self-loathing.

“I know you hate me, (Y/n). I would hate myself too.”

You raised an eyebrow. Of course, he’s self-aware— you just didn’t expect him to say that out loud.

Alhaitham continued, “but I’m not the one at fault here.”

Defeated, he rested his head on your shoulder. To avoid having you look at his expression, Alhaitham cupped your back, running fingers through your scalp so that you may only look forward. His body pressed against yours firmly. There’s no possible way for you not to be wholly aware of how warm he was and how fast his heart was beating. 

It was distracting to know how much the poison affected someone like Alhaitham, whom you thought was damn near untouchable.

Awkwardly, you returned the favor and played with his hair. Alhaitham gasped softly, making you shiver as you realized how sensitive you are to his breathing from this position.

“And who would that be?” You asked quietly. “If your pride won’t let you seek Tighnari’s aid then since you’re here you might as well tell me everything, starting from the very beginning.”

“T-That won’t be necessary.”

“If we want to rule out who your true assailant is, then yes it is,” you answered. “I think this is what you call the process of elimination.”

Suddenly, he pulled away from you with his arms stretched out. Alhaitham still kept you pinned on the tree, but there’s more space for you now to move and see his face. 

Ah, you’ve nearly forgotten again.

Alhaitham has green-orange eyes.

“No need.”

He clicked his tongue.

“It was Pulcinella. Your grandfather sent a cicin mage in an attempt to seduce and assassinate me.”

… Oh.

You should’ve guessed. You really should’ve guessed that he was behind all this.

Instinctively, you tried to cover your mouth from shock, but he quickly grabbed them and pressed them back to the tree behind you again. He tightened his hold once more, making you wince.

“I didn’t mind at first because your grandfather reminded me of my own grandmother,” Alhaitham gritted his teeth. “Pulcinella—”

He bit his bottom lip, his seafoam eyes looking unstable and royally pissed.

“He’s not after me because of my position as the Acting Grand Sage. H-He was merely looking after you. His expression was one I recognized. It's a grandfather's love. I may not show empathy as frequently as my housemate would like, but at least I am conscious of how important family is. I don’t want you to have to arrange your grandparent’s funeral like I did.”

You’re not unaware of who Alhaitham’s grandmother was. At one point, you had befriended her back when she was out on a mission to acquire 1,000 books. To think that you’ll meet her grandson for the first time in college and that you’ll end up in a situation like this… you’re sure she would’ve never condoned any of this. She wouldn’t appreciate that her grandson was trying to fuck the elf that helped her build her small library.

This is wrong. 

Everything about this is wrong. From the age gap to the work power distance– it’s vile– 

You want to vomit.

“So— s-so what did you do?”

“I didn’t want to kill your grandfather in retaliation.”

“Yes, you’ve established that. You don’t usually beat around the bush— go back to being the Alhaitham I know and just get straight to the point, damn it!”

“I ended up tracking all of his people in Sumeru down.”

He chuckled lowly.

Your heart started racing as well. 

If his heart was beating out of excitement, yours were out of a rational fear that you wouldn’t get out of this unscathed and mentally sound.

“It’s laughable how his lackeys were so incompetent. If they listened to my lectures at all, they would’ve known how to defend themselves.”

“What… What the hell are you talking about?” 

There was nowhere to run. You’re trapped unless Alhaitham lets go of both your wrists. Your dilated eyes surveyed the woodland, but you weren't confident that, should the occasion arise, your shaky knees could put some distance between you and the scribe.

“Didn’t you notice? They were stalking us from the moment I was teaching you how to use your vision last week, and likely even before that.”

His face drew near and you strained your neck to hopefully maintain at least a hair of distance between both of your lips.

Alhaitham closed his eyes.

“Did you honestly think I’d postpone our practice due to your mild complaining? Don’t you understand how excruciating it is to be away from you for a week?”

He pressed his forehead against yours.

“But I had to do it. For us.”

“Where… Where were you when you were gone? What did you do to them?”

You didn’t want to ask.

You already know the answer. 

“When will you start thinking before you speak?”

With fears renewed, your body felt small underneath his gaze. He’s not even looking at you— his piercing green eyes weren’t even looking directly at your soul. You turned away and gazed at his left shoulder— shrieking.

Never in your 100+ years of life did you feel so stupid. Only now did you realize that it wasn’t just a cicin mage’s perfume you smelled earlier.

There was blood all over his coat.

“Stop screaming, (Y/n). I’ve finished the job and it’s high time you reward me, wouldn’t you agree?”

little lover.

yandere! fatui harbingers x gn! darling. 

headcanons on sharing a darling (shared darling au).

› wc: 8.3k.

› characters included: pierro, scaramouche, pantalone, childe, arlecchino, columbina, il dottore, il capitano, sandrone.

› tw: suggestive themes, pseudo-incest and incest (pierro and childe), mention of noncon (pierro), physical punishment (capitano, scaramouche, and sandrone), mention of human trafficking (pantalone), gendered nickname (arlecchino).

› note: ah the length of these headcanons got the best of me… i would have broken this post up into individual pieces, but i think it’s best to read them altogether considering they’re sharing a darling. i also reposted my columbina headcanons here with several additions for the sake of consistency!

also…please pretend scaramouche didn’t run away and is here to partake in darling <3

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Shinsosweet -> Flokali

please reblog if you see this >_<))