Hello, I am Heba Al-Anqar, 21 years old, a university student. My university was suspended due to the war. I am writing about my family: my father Bakr (54 years old), my mother Alaa (46 years old), and my sisters Aya (18 years old), Amal (15 years old), Muhammad (13 years old), and Maryam (8 years old). We have faced many challenges in this war, from the destruction of our home to the famine we continue to suffer in northern Gaza.
My father suffers from heart problems. He had open-heart surgery when he was 36 years old. He also suffers from cartilage problems. He had his pelvic joint replaced about two years ago, in addition to other health problems. He cannot work due to his health condition.
My mother also suffers from asthma and shortness of breath, in addition to the difficulty of obtaining treatment due to the conditions and the war.
This is our house, which was destroyed by war
We have become homeless in places of refuge, in addition to the difficulty of obtaining medicine, food, and daily expenses
I created this account to request your help in this difficult ordeal by donating to meet the necessary needs, as we were relying on social assistance before the war.
My goal is to help my family live in safety and provide the necessary necessities for living, as there is a high cost of living and difficulty in obtaining necessities. We ask for your help in leaving the Gaza Strip to save my familyâs life. The cost of travel is $5,000 per adult and $2,500 per child, in addition to travel and accommodation expenses of $500 per month.
Together, we can support Heba and her family through this ordeal. Your donation, no matter how big, can make a difference in my family's life to get life and start a new life
If you are looking to support Heba and her family, please consider providing assistance directly or through relevant charitable organizations.
yandere! fatui harbingers x gn! darling.Â
headcanons on sharing a darling (shared darling au).
âşÂ wc: 8.3k.
âşÂ characters included: pierro, scaramouche, pantalone, childe, arlecchino, columbina, il dottore, il capitano, sandrone.
âşÂ 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).
âşÂ 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 itâs best to read them altogether considering theyâre sharing a darling. i also reposted my columbina headcanons here with several additions for the sake of consistency!
alsoâŚplease pretend scaramouche didnât run away and is here to partake in darling <3
Keep reading
Have you heard or played this game called "The Quarry"? If so what would Ren be like if he was in that game? I've been hyperfixating over both games and I cant get the crossover out of my mind lol
âŚăANSWERED: I actually got to play the game with Mon (my (irl) bestie) a while back, and I've had Kaitlyn brainrot ever since uwu
This ask also got long because I have A LOT to say about The Quarry!AU Ren gksdgbjsdgk. Also!! There's going to be spoilers for the actual game! IK it's been out for a while now, but if you ever plan on playing it, maybe skip this ask and come back another time!! <3
Okay!! So! Ren probably told the other councillors that he went to Hackett's Quarry to gain more experience as a music tutor, when in reality, he only joined the stupid program so that he'd get to spend the summer with you.
Would constantly show up to your camp activities with the kids and ask if you needed any help. Mainly because he was free right now and had nothing better to do. (He had to clean the kitchens...)
They would be insanely overprotective of you even if there was no one else around, and it would only get worse if Ren ever gets bitten (read: infected!Nick).
Realistically speaking, the only way Ren could possibly get bitten is by protecting you. Because if he had the choice, this man would literally lock the both of you up in the security room (that he tooootally had no clue about), and would just wait out the night there instead of walking aimlessly around the camp and getting stalked by hunters and werewolves.
I doubt they'd do anything to help the other councillors, and would instead watch them meet their demise through the security cameras.
If you were to witness them meeting their gory demise though, then Ren might put up an act and pretend to care. Maybe press a few buttons and switches in hopes that it'd somehow help them â when in reality, he's just flicking the audio channels on and off.
If you didn't want to camp out in the security room for the entirety of the night, then Ren would be glued to your side and won't ever let you out of his sight.
He'd let you carry the shotgun if it made you feel safer, but wouldn't mind using it himself if you thought that was the better option. Though... he'd probably forget that it was a gun at first and would try to smack the werewolves with the recoil/stock end before realising that, wait, this isn't a sledgehammer? It doesn't work that way?
Ren has seen enough horror movies to be able to put all the (clichĂŠ) pieces together, and would probably figure out what was happening by the time you (Abi) push Leon (Nick) into the pool.
Ren would 100% be like, "Oh, they don't like water? Alright then. Cool. C'mon Angel, we're stealing a kayak and sleeping in the middle of the lake tonight ^^ We can look at the stars while we confess our feelings for each otherâ" "Oh wow MC, you look hot holding a shotgun." "Shut the FUCK up you buff ass RACCOON, I'm having my moment >:(" "Ren, don't be mean to Teo."
If Ren does get infected, then he's just going to be extra clingy and creepy compared to usual. He'd be sniffing you every chance he gets and would try to rub his scent all over you. They'd probably be extra horny because even without being a werewolf, Ren is still very much addicted to your scent.
The real/[REDACTED] side of him would slowly start to surface, and would constantly ask you questions like "who do you love?", "D'you like me?", "No one can protect you like I can.", "You smell s'good. Come closer.", "Need to taste you. Now.", "I want t'be inside you."
Once he fully turns, I'd really like to say that he wouldn't target you simply because his sheer devotion to you would outweigh his animalistic urges. Idk if that's canonically possible in the game, but I'm gonna pretend it is because I can hehe :)
Everyone else is fair game though, especially any of the councillors that got a bit too close to you at the beginning of the season. All the people who tried to be friendly with you? Those who tried to kiss you during that game of Truth or Dare? Yeah, they better start hiding because Ren will be seeking them out.
He probably won't try to interact with you while in his werewolf form because he's afraid of scaring/hurting you, but would instead stalk you around the camp and fend off any other threats that go near your vicinity.
By the time dawn comes, Ren will be seeking you out and ensuring that you're alright. If anyone dared to hurt you while he was occupied with hunting down the other councillors, they'd be dead meat. Especially since they have a shotgun in their possession now :)
jacob custos at hackett's quarry for the final day!~
heart: broken car: destroyed tits, ass, and jacussy: out
really didnât like this drawing so i made it a meme âĄ
Omg hiii! I love seeing your art and this one Caleb art made my day!! As someone who's insecure about her stretchmarks this one made me meltđđi love you and your art so much I wish you all the best in life mwah!
awee thank you so much 𼺠im also insecure about mine but i hope you know that theyre beautiful!! here's an extra doodle and i wish you nothing but love!! đđ
Hi
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
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
Ok gotta talk about it.
As a Jewish historian, I fucking hate Israel in ways most probably will never be able to comprehend. I'm going to try and explain it anyways. The central creation myth of Israel is that it is Jewish, and then consequently, that Israel is a part of Jewishness. Its easy to simply state this is false, but fully comprehending this and putting it into practice in thought and deed seems rare to me.
The evil at the heart of this violence predates the recent acceleration of genocide. Israel is a colony, and more than that, an antisemitic fraud itself. After WW2, when Israel was being founded, the Jews of Europe generally did not wave goodbye to their neighbors and head to the promised land. Many were expelled from their homes. Zionism itself, as an action, was a false choice at the time. A mere excuse to place an ally in the middle east, and an excuse to complete the expulsion and destruction of the European Jew. The Zionist Jew is more than complicit in this, they actively seek the destruction and assimilation of all other Jews.
Many fail to realize, and largely because of Israel, that Jews are not inherently white, Ashkenazi, European-descended people. Our faith and culture has an immense variety that is spread all across the globe. Jewishness, in population and volume of culture, exists more so outside of Israel than within it. Israel is for a very specific kind of Jew. The kind that lets Yiddish die, that attaches themselves to European things, that makes themselves and their practices as white as possible.
And they have the nerve, the fucking belligerent GALL, to frame themselves as the necessary saviors of our people. To the Zionist, questioning Israel is to question Jewishness itself. They bake adoration for the colonial machine into their very prayers, and push them on us even as children. To *not* oppress, to *not* kill, to *not* genocide, is to invite death. This is the core of fascistic thought, of course. "Kill them before they kill us." And they KNOW this too, they really do. The truth of that irony does not matter, because as is true for all fascists, the truth itself does not matter to them. They wanted this, they wanted this even before the British saw it in their best interest to give them the land. Any excuse to RETVRN, as the neo-nazis say of Rome, or the German Empire, or whatever the fuck stupid country they want to poorly animate the corpse of. Some select Zionists even *sided with the fucking Nazis* in agreement they should abandon Europe to colonize Palestine. (Haavara Agreement)
My people have proved time and time and time again you don't need a nation state to have an enduring culture. We have protected ourselves for thousands of years without the help of these spiteful, doom-saying maniacs. I was going to post something like this on Passover, but that would be hypocritical. The state of Israel doesn't actually have shit to do with Jewishness. ׊×Ö°×֡ע ×ִ׊×ְרָ×Öľ× ×Ö°× Vi tsu derleb ikh im shoyn tsu bagrobn. [my best translation] Hear Israel (beginning of a prayer in Hebrew) I should outlive him long enough to bury him. (an old Yiddish curse)
Free Palestine. Donate what you can, they need it right now.
((Contains: Somnophilia, or something akin to it, while no sex ensues, the reader is marked while in the middle of sleeping. Anyway enjoy!))
âIzuku! Seriously, it isn't a big deal!â you try and calm the wasp breed down, hands up in defense for the person behind you who was almost sobbing in fear. The green haired hybrid was almost snarling, his wings batting angrily in a show of intimidation as he tried to lunge at the poor soul.Â
âIZUKU! CALM DOWN!â you shout, shoving him back to give the person time to run, listening to the scurrying footsteps being drowned out by the fervent beating of his wings. Once you believed the coast was clear, you stepped back, hand placed on the still heated hybrid's chest.Â
âWhat has gotten into you?! I would expect this kind of behavior from the others, but you?â
Izuku chuffs, turning his head away in shame at your scolding. His wings fold back down, and his eyes return to their softer, more welcoming presence. âIâmâŚIâm sorry. I honestly donât know what came over me. When I saw them touch your hand- and how they got their scent on you, I justâŚMy feet moved before I could thinkâ.Â
His voice was sincere, his eyes having a look similar to a scolded puppy as he gently took your hand from his chest, letting it drop reluctantly.Â
You take a breath, eyes focused on the ground for a moment as you gather your thoughts. âOk. Ok I can see you thinking of me as a hive like sibling possibly, maybe thatâs what caused you to lash out. But itâs no excuse for threatening them!â
Izuku wanted to correct you, that no- you werenât seen as a hive relative. You were seen as a MATE. One only he was allowed to be around. But, seeing as you were still distraught over the incident, he decided to work on how he would drop that information on you. Perhaps back home, maybe in your room?
No, no your room is nice, but izukuâs is better. Youâll be more protected there, covered in his scent so other insect breeds donât get any funny ideas and have to face the evil side of his species.Â
He shakes his head, eyes widening slightly as he soaks in what just crossed his mind. What was he thinking?! Keeping you nested in his room- thatâs never come to light before. Sure, heâs always been protective of you, but this was becoming more worrisome by the second.Â
You give a sigh, and decide to finish this little walk so you donât possibly give a heart attack to an innocent citizen. âItâs something we can look into later. I know your species is still new to this side of earth and all, so maybe we should brush up on some customs and such to avoid any more death threatsâ.Â
-----------
Izuku sat down as he read through some files, humming in thought every now and again as the screen scrolled on his phone. âNoâŚThatâs outdatedâŚthat one's true butâŚno, no. none of these are helping!â he groaned in frustration, wanting to toss the device as he slammed his head back in annoyance.Â
He clicked out of the page and tried looking through the other categories and sub folders, eyebrows pinching in confusion as he searched. Finally, after about an hour, he decided to check the mating behaviors folder, taking in a short breath.Â
âPossessive, mates for life, territorial andâŚâ he continues reading on, seeing that his age range is about the time where he starts to need a mate to bond with if he hasnât already chosen one. Tilting his head in thought, he supposed it made sense that he was so protective of you these past few months. Maybe he just subconsciously chose you, delegating you as his forever mate without a second thought.Â
He continues reading, not wanting to get too lost in thought about you- despite loving every image of you he had popping into his head. He came across a few paragraphs explaining how mates are bonded, and frowns as he scrolls through.Â
âMates have to be bonded through a claiming bite while-â he blushes, swallowing slowly as he reads the process it takes to make someone yours completely in his species lifestyle. Could he really do that to you? Sink his teeth into you and breed you so full youâll never leave his home again? Make you his and his alone?
âHey! You find anything?â you ask while flopping next to him, turning your phone off as you turn to face him. âI could only find some sibling bonds and what not.Maybe youâre just having a bad day? Or, maybe that scorpion Bakugo finally rubbed off on youâ you joke.Â
Izuku nods, hiding his phone in his lap nervously as his wings slowly unfurl from his back. You smell so sweet. It makes his muscles relax, and for a moment he gets so lost in the warmth he forgets to answer you. âOh! I uh, I'm still scrolling! You know me, I have to get every detailâ he lied.Â
He canât tell you what he found. Thereâs no way youâd let him, love and bonding for your kind is so much more different, so much less brutal and intense. No, he plans to mark you, make you give in and take him as yours forever, but he has to hide that beast within.Â
For now, anyway.Â
âHey, how about we take a break and I cook you something? Consider it an apology dinner for earlierâ he half jokes, beginning to stand. His eyes turn angry when you begin to deny him, about to insist that you arenât hungry. Before you can turn him down, he cages you in, his face mere centimeters from yours.Â
âI wonât let you go hungryâŚHeh, what kind of friend would I be if I couldnât provide for you and feed you? â he bit out, barely hiding it behind a smile. You just nod slowly, not sure what to say about the odd display, clutching your phone tightly until he backs away.Â
âGood! Just stay right there, ok? If you need something let me get it for you! Got it?â.Â
You just nod again, watching as he walked towards the kitchen to begin cooking. Izuku just growls lowly at himself for letting his instincts take over so quickly, making a fool of himself. It seems hiding this beastly side of him will be a tougher fight than he thought.Â
----------------
Itâs hot. Too unbearably hot. He still feels as if heâs asleep as he gets up to walk, maybe cool off outside for a bit before heading back to bed.Â
His eyes are closed as he rolls over, but they snap open when he feels a body next to him. He peers over to see who on earth could be sharing a bed with him, and he becomes overly ecstatic to see that itâs you.Â
Wait. This doesnât seem right, these sheets donât feel like his own and the painting if the room doesnât match the interior of his. Izuku slowly starts piecing together what had occurred, and undoubtedly he sleptwalked into your abode.Â
It seems his instincts have a stronger hold on him when he isnât awake. He should feel upset, frightened that he has no control over himself, but heâs not. Heâs simply content laying next to you, inhaling that intoxicating scent, his wings wanting to unfurl and shudder from the bliss it brings.Â
That heat comes back, and he sees that the unbearable warmth was because his inner primal mind was begging to come out. To take what was rightfully his.Â
He should leave, he shouldnât be here while youâre at your most vulnerable, he needs to try and quietly leave and forget this ever occurred. ButâŚwhat if he just had a little taste? Something to tide him over and to get his shit together.Â
His species marks and claims when mating, theyâre intense and some might even say brutal. So, if he just eased his way into this, stole a simple taste, perhaps he could train himself to be more in control, less instinct controlled.Â
He creeps closer to your sleeping form, mouth watering as he sees the exposed skin of your shoulder, teasing and taunting him. His tongue comes to lap at your warm flesh, and once he gets a taste, his mind goes blank.
He doesnât remember anything, he wakes up feeling a deep satisfaction as he curls tighter around whatever it is between his arms, possessively squeezing. A hiccup causes him to wake up fully, and his stomach sinks when he sees what had happened.Â
Youâre covered in marks, bites and red splotches where he incessantly sucked on your skin. âOh noâ he gasped, seeing the tears in your terrified eyes as you roll away and shove him to the floor.Â
âYou-IzukuâŚAre you back to me?â
âI'm me! I'm me, I'm so sorry oh God-What happened?â he asked hastily, praying he didnât do the unthinkable and hurt you beyond repair. You sniffle and wipe your eyes as you sit up more, taking a moment to breathe.Â
âYou justâŚKept biting and clawing at me, and you looked like you were angry when I tried to get away. I think you wanted me dead or maybe...Maybe you slept-walked and saw me as a predator to fight? Iâm not too torn up it was justâŚYou kept biting and hissing about odd thingsâ
Izuku swallows down the actual reason his lips were on you, knowing itâll only make you hate him even more. He canât have that, he wonât lose you just because he canât control himself. Heâll play along with this story, heâll do whatever it is you think he needs to do.Â
But he wonât let you leave him.Â
âFuck. I'm sorry, I wasnât even awake! I need to get to the bottom of why Iâm like this. The last Thing I want to do is hurt my ma-â he paused, swallowing nervously. âMy most important friendâ.Â
You just nod, looking away as you cover up a bit more. âIâll ask some of the other wasp species what they knowâŚMaybe even a scorpion, seeing as they love to be in everyone's businessâ you half joked, wanting to lighten the mood.Â
Izuku slowly stands back up, feeling guilty he scared you so bad. A good mate wouldnât let you be scared of anything, most importantly themselves. He needs to fix this, find a way to get himself together and keep you beside him.Â
âLet me make this up to you ok?â he starts, suddenly becoming jealous of imagining all the other species and possible mates alike that youâd have to talk to today. No. No heâll take care of this. You should just stay here, rest, and cover yourself in more of his scent.Â
âYou should just rest up here, Iâll do the searching and deep diving ok? I think theyâd be more accepting to talk to me anyway. You know, since they see humans as either mate material to constantly flirt with or a meal to devourâ.Â
You smile a bit, seeing how upset and worried your friend had become âHumans flirt back just as bad, and if I remember correctly, some of us humans eat bugs encased in candyâŚso I suppose weâre more alike than given credit forâ.Â
Fair point. But his decision still stands. âTrue, but this is the least I can do for you. Just let me do the research today, and you rest up, eat good, and maybe beat me with a stick when I get backâ he joked, his chest warming when you smiled at him and laughed.Â
âAlright, I guess. Just be careful and text me every bit of information you get ok? I want to help you out, youâre my best friend Izukuâ.Â
âYeah, same here. I think Iâd go crazy if anything happened to youâ he said softly, beginning to itch from not being able to just wrap around you and smother himself in your scent. He needed to get up and go, before things get worse.Â
Who knows what will happen if he gives in once again?Â
(Hi! I hope you beans enjoy this! It was fun! -Mommabean)Â
they/them, 25 current hyperfixation: Love And Deepspace and Caleb Big Adam Fucker only lord know what'll be posted here if anything at all
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