║Neige LeBlanche║Behind Closed Doors

Starting the new year with sad news that Ayakashi RR isn't going to bring new events.. That's technically saying that it's dead. I wish that people love the game as much as I do so that it would still continue..

Oh, hello! this is my first time requesting anything- but i’d like to see Lilia Vanrouge x Reader (set in the past) but, Reader is on the opposite side of the war and finds him badly injured And takes care of him.

║Lilia Vanrouge║ Opposites of the War

Reader: No pronouns or description used. Gender neutral.

Warning(s): None

—

No one could imagine what it was like to be caught in between the human-fae war. It was a time of bloodshed. Cries from both elderly and children alike who weren’t spared from death. Many lives were lost and many villages crumbled down that only inhabited ruins would remain today.

“Sir Vanrouge!” A young fae called out towards a slightly taller male from the distance, his voice sounding urgent and panting by the sounds of it. In the distance, the man whom the fae called halts at the name. He was dressed in nothing but a black battle dress head to toe, a colour that came from and praised from the night skies that also matches the colour of his hair. It is also adorned in silver shoulder plates, a few chains that- for the most part- held his uniform and the cape that drapes over his back and of course, badges. Hard earned badges he had been rewarded from the amount of lives he’s taken and overall contribution he had partaken in.

The taller fae remained at a standstill, but it was still very clear that he was listening. The younger one stuttered the first word and had to take a moment to gulp down the nervousness that built up in his voice as well as straighten himself to be a more proper soldier. It was only to be expected. The fae before him had an overwhelming aura. Be it newcomers or long time soldiers of the same ranking as the dark fae, they would all tremble under the presence of his. This was a charm only the Lilia Vanrouge could have and no one else.

“Sir, the Queen would like to speak with you in the throne room..” He says. Despite the moment he had taken to breathe, his voice became softer towards the end.

There was silence once he finished speaking and he became nervous once more, thinking that he had upset the fae. “S-sir..? I-it’s an urgent— Eep!” The older fae turned his head over his shoulders and when he did, the young fae was spooked to be met with two, crimson eyes that glowed faintly.

“I-I’m sorry, sir!” Whatever courage the young fae had for war were all spent upon realizing that the fae was approaching him. He closes his eyes and stood still as a statue with his hands glued to his sides. He’s done for. He has upsetted a high-ranked official. He’ll surely—

A pale hand placed itself on his shoulders which made him flinch. He gulps back a lump and awaits for his impending death.

“General.”

Huh? He looks to his right to face the tall fae, a perplexed look evident on his face. The fae stares back with those alluring eyes and repeats himself but with more detail, “Address me as General.”

“O-oh, yes, Si— Uhm, General..” Satisfied, the general continues his walk to meet the Queen. The clacking of heels on the marble floor was all that could be heard before it stopped momentarily when large, creaking doors opened and then resuming, fading as soon as the doors closed.

“Your Majesty.” Lilia kneeled down on one knee and his right hand was closed into a fist over his heart while the other was fist closed on the ground. “Vanrouge.”

In front of him, the Queen of the Valley sits upon a throne adorned in thorns. If one trembles before the general, then they couldn’t even dare to even dream of being in the same room as the Queen if she ever permits an audience with her, that is. A great magician such as herself requires no more than one strong soldier such as Lilia and thus, would relay her wishes through him and him alone.

“I take it that your troops will be the one to lead the fight tomorrow?” She begins, her voice echoes in the huge room that was basically empty aside for the throne and a few, small items. “Yes, your majesty.”

“Very well. Then, you must take precaution as it seems that a few high-ranked sorcerers are amongst them,” she says and motions towards her familiar— a raven. “They appear to be doing their due diligence to hide them from our informants.”

“Your majesty, are you perhaps concerned for my wellbeing?” He asks, looking up to meet the eyes of the mother of all dark faes. Her face remained stoic and her eyes glowed a vibrant emerald green. “That, I am. I can’t have you dying.”

“Then set aside your worries, your majesty. It brings me shame that I have been held at such a high regard by you, yet is treated with pitiful thoughts,” Lilia confesses. “This can not do as I am merely a servant.”

The Queen remains silent and studies his face. His eyes, the colour of blood.. It almost seemed too perfect to the Queen. A weapon for war, a harbinger of death.. Born within her kingdom at the perfect time.

“.. Forgive my imprudence,” she says, her head still held high with the pride of a monarch. “I believe there is a mistake, your majesty. It is I who should ask for forgiveness for I seem to be lacking somewhere to have you worry. I will correct it.”

Knowing how the general will continue lowering himself, she heaves a sigh of defeat and even closes her eyes for a moment. “Very well.. I will await news once you return. You may leave.”

The door to the throne room opens once more and the sound of heels echoes down the hall once again.

Lilia Vanrouge, the Queen’s right hand man, is a terrifying creature.

—

“There is at least one, capable human sorcerer among them.. Their locations are unknown and they could very well be capable of teleportation.” Around Lilia, soldiers gather and listen in silence to the general’s words. “General, they are merehuman, aren’t they? Why do we need to be concerned?” One fae raises a hand and speaks, drawing the attention of both his comrades and the general.

This one is new, that much is evident by how cocky he presents himself. This, however, was quickly received with the most frightening glare from Lilia. “Eep!” The soldier was immediately humbled down, scared for his life. But, it wasn’t just them, those who saw his face also flinched and avoided looking at him.

There were only two facial expressions the fae would make; one being his usual, blank look and the second one was what this cocky fae received. It is clear that most opts to have the expressionless general.

“You seem rather new..” Lilia says calculatingly and in an eerily calm tone that was a stark difference to his face just a few seconds ago. “You must not have experience on the field or what these men have seen.

“If it were simply mere humans, why do you think that many of our men fell?” He repeats words from the young soldier in a sarcastic tone. The soldier bit the bottom of his lips, embarrassed and scared. “S-sorry, General Vanrouge..”

Lilia resumes talking about strategies and ways to counter attacks from the opposing team and as soon as the sun reached high above in the sky, both made their moves.

Who would have thought that things would go south for the General..

—

Hours went by and soon, his army of hundreds were stretched far and wide, being lured away with war. He is very much capable by himself so he ordered that if things should go as unplanned, that they were to leave him.

However, this would be critical when he finds himself facing off six human sorcerers whose faces were shadowed by their cloak. How clever, he thinks. He could tell that this was planned from the very beginning; to stretch his army thin and to take the head of their commander first. They did not care whether other of their soldiers died for they saw his head as a good reward for it.

Humans can be such a two-faced creature.. Boosting morale of their men without telling the real reason for the plan. He presumes that it was the doing of those higher than them.

Out of the six, only 3 seem to be high-ranked magic users. No worries, he’ll just take care of these—

“Guhk—!” He let his guard down and realized that there was one more hiding somewhere who made sure to mask their presence. He stumbles forward but still held his ground. “The General got hit!” One of them shouts and now before him, reveals six more other sorcerers including the one earlier.

These ones were weaker and used the bloodlust of the stronger ones to hide theirs, initially hiding from Lilia.

“Bind!” One of the three stronger ones, casts a spell and chains sprouts front the ground and binds his ankles to the soils.

He tilts his head to the ever darkening sky and slowly closes his eyes. Your majesty, do forgive me for overlooking your concerns.

“It’s over for you, monster!” One charges at him with a longsword with the intent to cleanly detach his head from his body.

—

Trekking through the now dark forest in silence, Lilia was obviously injured. Those humans were truly something. He was badly wounded with a hand over his stomach and was exhausted.

I must return to the camp..

But how could he at this rate when he is limping and his magic spent? He dares not try to push himself further in fear of an overblot. It’s alright. He has given orders to the lieutenant on what to do and practically lead the army in his absence.

That being said.. A rest wouldn’t hurt, right?

After looking at his surroundings to make sure there was no one in sight, he sits and leans against a tree. He only needs half a day— no, less than that— to be able to heal a bit of himself. However, the blow to his right shoulder by a spear— from the first ambusher— is bleeding a lot.

Whatever.. He’ll fix— Crack.

His eyebrows perks up and his ears sharpened. There was someone here. But where?

That was soon answered when he felt a slight tremble on the Earth’s surface. This thing.. It must have been at least ten feet. Could it be a giant? What would it be doing in this territory? Perhaps a monster has wandered in.. That’s no good.

Cautiously, he stands up and looks around. Thankfully, his kind allowed him to see better in the dark by ten folds than that of a human’s. He walks towards the booming sound and as soon as he was merely metres away, his eyes widen in disbelief and surprise. In front of him was—

“Alrighty!”

A voice could be heard just a few steps away and in the distance, he sees a house.. Walking. This wasn’t a sight he got to see everyday.. Nor had he seen such a thing in his entire life for that matter.

“Slow it down, you buffoon!” The same voice shouts from inside the house. “Okay, just stop. Stop, stop, stop!”

On command, the house lowers itself to the ground with the legs being tucked away underneath just as a cat would when it’s getting comfortable.

He watches on in silence as a short figure exits through the front door of the house. “Waah! Finally, a breath of fresh air!” The person stretches their arms above their head and bends backwards slightly.

This person.. What are they doing here? Wait.. Upon closer inspection, he could very well see that they were not a fae. In fact, they had human ears and their aura alone could verify that.

His jaw clenches at the dreaded thought of confronting yet another enemy. He must erase them or—

“Hm?” Before he could realize that he wasn’t even hiding, the human is now staring at him with curiosity in their eyes. “Hey, what are you doing out there?” They shout from their house. The light from the house emits a warm glow that faintly traces their outline.

“Why don’t you come here? It’s scary when it’s dark, you know?” They cup a hand over their mouth and wave the other, signaling for him to come. However, instead of doing just that, Lilia thinks it’s wise to just spare them for now and flee the field so he turns back around.

This does not slip past them as footsteps hurried to catch up to him. “Hey, hey! What are you doing?” They say and reach out to grab ahold of his shoulder, his bloodied shoulder. “You’re welcome in my house. And I promise I won't bite— oh!”

Lilia roughly shoves them out of instinct from the pain upon contact. He watches as realization hits them— that their hands are covered in blood. “Oh dear..! This is a call for concern..” Their brows furrow at the sight. They remain like that for a while then looks at him with focused eyes. “Please, come inside and let me treat you.”

—

“It’s not the strongest magic.. But this is my unique magic.” Before Lilia could realize, he was now sitting on a bed and being tended to. At first, he didn’t understand why he obeyed, but upon confession, it all made sense. “It can make people obey me, but it’s only limited to coming inside the house and— oh! I probably shouldn’t be telling you that, am I?” They laugh but that quickly dies down as he was not indulging in conversation.

They sat on a wooden stool that faces him and diligently wraps his right arm that connects to the first wound. Their eyelashes were long and from his perspective, it looked very alluring how it hides bits of their eyes.

“Ah! I haven’t introduced myself, have I?” They stop their movements and look at him with a beaming smile. “I’m [Name].”

***

You introduce yourself and hope that he, too, would do the same. But, he remains unfocused as something else brought his mind somewhere else. “Uhm.. Could I get your name?” You ask, careful of your words. This brought his attention back to you. A name exchange between two people on opposite sides of the war? Now that was something dangerous.

“Do you not know who I am?” Were the words he answered with, his crimson eyes boring into you. “U-Uhm.. Sorry, I don’t believe I do..” You sweatdrop. Was this guy important? You lived in isolation majority of the time and travel a lot so you couldn’t sit down and read the recent newspaper.

At the lack of an answer, he sighs and closes his eyes and rephrased his words, “Do you know what I am?” This made you actually look at him carefully. He is dressed— well, was, since you asked him to remove his clothing earlier— in all black and adorned in silver and badges. “Are you a soldier?” You ask.

He squinted his eyes and raised a brow. Were you this.. Oblivious? “I see you are not afraid of faes,” he says in a matter-of-fact tone. This time, you look at his ears since those were a very obvious trait for a fae. “O-oh.. I guess you are..” However, you still remain dumb to the situation and wonder where this is going.

“Well anyway, let me go get more bandages and after that, I’ll cook you something to eat.” You stood up from your seat and mumbled to yourself that was still very audible, “I didn’t think that your wounds would run all over..

“I’m sorry that I can’t heal you faster and properly.. I don’t often use magic..”

—

As promised, after you bandaged him up, you gave him food. He thought that would be it and he would be forced outside, but you surprised him by insisting he stays inside until he was well. Otherwise, you would just follow him.

Based on your appearance and behaviour, you were a normal civilian and had not a clue about the war that surrounded you. He rather not bring an innocent into this matter so he couldn’t have you following him into war. This was fine with him since he needed to rest and your house a perfect resting stop.

However, it was very much out in the open.. What if someone were to come? Be it fae or human, it would not end well.

He believes that he has gained a bit of his strength back so he sets up a barrier. It wasn’t so strong that it’ll prevent anyone from getting in if they so wish it— it just alters an outsider’s thoughts and makes them turn around. They also can’t see the house until they’re inside.

“You can sleep here.” You motioned to the recently changed sheets that he previously sat on and then moved towards a closet to take out a blanket. “I’ll go sleep on the couch and no refusing; you are my guest and an injured one at that.”

You gave him one last smile over your shoulder and prepared to turn the knob but he stops you, “Are you really unaware of the war?” He was vague unless you were informed of the current news. This peaks your interest and you turn your body to properly face him. “The war?”

“One with your kind and mine,” he answers and crosses his arms. You were now very much confused and it was clear to him as well with how your face warps to that of hard pondering. “Wasn’t that over seven years ago?”

He shook his head. “Your kind had taken advantage of the peace to attack the kingdom.” You bit your bottom lip and look down. You weren’t aware, but you were hugging the folded blanket a little too tightly.

“You really know nothing?” He asks once more. You closed your eyes and let out a deep sigh that you didn’t know you had been holding in and carefully put your thoughts into words, “I do not care what is happening.

“I am merely a travelling merchant but because of that, I rarely receive news.” You opened your eyes after speaking and smiled. “Frankly, I find that war is pointless and that it unnecessarily costs hundreds of lives.”

To you, you were just voicing your honest thoughts but to Lilia, it cause something in him to stir. He didn’t think that there was a human out there that had thought the things you do.

“A-anyway, I should let you rest..” Once again, you turn to open the door.

“Lilia..” Your ears barely heard it yet you glanced at him. “My name is Lilia Vanrouge.” This made you smile and turn to face him again.

“Nice to meet you, Lilia Vanrouge.”

~♡~

Should I make a part 2?

I'm so happy you tagged me, Eli! I thought you forgot about me. I started to panic and became sad, but I didn't know what to say. •×•

Anyways, I'm actually asexual and I've never really liked the thought of engaging myself into a relationship. I don't like the.. Adult part of a relationship just something less than that?? I really like the thought of a soft relationship?? I've recently realized that I am touch starved and just having someone to hug is all I really need. I need someone who can understand me and not easily snap back at me when I have my moments because I'm pretty hard-headed, if you ask me. I need someone who will listen and comfort me and give me silent hugs when I go through another one of my episodes. I would also like someone who can answer all of my questions, even something simple as 'why trucks have so many wheels?'. But if they can't, I hope they can come up with an answer with me! ^^ I just have so many questions on how the world works. :3 And it would be nice if they share information they wish to share since it will most likely open my mind to new things. I don't care how long they drag their conversation. I'm always happy to listen. I also find the thought of long, quiet moments with someone lovely. Also, I hope they can cook because certain things in the kitchen trigger me and I sadly can't cook.

Looking at this, maybe I can find a friend like this and not be in a relationship. And this kinda reminds me of Zhongli's personality--

Tagging: @ellitx @lightblueexorcist @/anyone else who wants to do this! ^♡^ I'm really curious to everyone's ideal type.

I just saw this picrew tag game going on in astro blr so I wanna do it on this side of tumblr ksksks

Use this picrew to make your ideal type

Mine is this!

((I generally like smart looking men, elegant, mischievous and probably rich, also plus points for megane lmaoo

I like open-minded, mature guys, I mean those who can talk about anything and everything and widely knowledgeable about the world. I talk a lot and what i talk about are usually deep stuff so I like it if they can catch up ksksks i want to grow and learn together with them!

someone who knows how to enjoy life, travel, who's also ambitious and knows what they want in life/// sagittarius/gemini/aquarius energy if ur into astro ))

Tagging: @victor-mare, @love-impact, @mrpenguinpants, @zhongli-cafe, @albehoe, @stargazer-balladeer, @starfell-traveler

...i just realized this is a male picrew....and i dont think it has a female version sorry,,,, if u dont want to do it it's ok!!

✩̣̣̣̣̣ͯ┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄✩ͯ•͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ✩̣̣̣̣̣ͯ┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄✩ͯ•͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ┄•͙✩̣̣̣̣̣ͯ┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄✩ͯ•͙͙

✦❘༻𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝙼𝚢 𝙷𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝༺❘✦

Ch. 4 - Here Comes the Red Prince

Malleus Draconia x fem! reader

Chapter list + Summary [Previous] [Next]

Do not steal/copy + paste my works and upload it anywhere else.

⊰♤⊱⊰◇⊱⊰♡⊱⊰☆⊱⊰♧⊱⊰♤⊱⊰◇⊱⊰♡⊱⊰☆⊱⊰♧⊱

“Wife, do you want the garnet or sapphire?” It was a peaceful afternoon where you indulge yourself in embroidery moments before Malleus had decided to join you in the drawing room. After the birthday banquet of Marquis Hagen’s wife, Malleus could be found everywhere you looked. He had even started to join you for dinner. It was as if he’d been glued to your side and could not separate from you. It was honestly terrifying to have the fae’s looming build stare at you all day every day, watching every step you took and every air you breathe in. ‘His eyes are terrifying..’

You have also come to learn that he has indeed found a.. Nickname, you guess. It is just a title but it’s a bit better than the last.   

He wanted to do some bonding time with you, you assume, but when you try to initiate conversation at times to keep him entertained, the words would die on your tongue as soon as you make eye contact with him. 

He inspects the gems that are lined up neatly in rows on the table with the jeweller having stood at the side for some time and turned his head slightly to look at you. So far, you haven't shown any reactions to any, probably because you’re mainly caught up in the swirl of anxiety simply being near Malleus, too scared to move your arms that are laid stiffly on your lap. But you had to say something, otherwise nobody could leave this room. “Hm.. Oh!” A particular gem’s gleam caught the attention of your eyes amongst many of the other shiny accessories. Your hand reaches out for the small box containing the jewellery which was a necklace made of gold with two small ruby gems and a single, slightly larger one in the middle all carved to look like roses. If you had to choose a necklace, you guessed that this one would be most fitting. 

“Ah, Princess! You have quite the discerning eyes for true beauty!” The jeweller’s eyes lit up and began rubbing his hands together. “The gem has been the highest rarity ever seen of its own kind; it has been recently mined and brought to our craftsman!” 

Malleus, seeing the satisfied look you had on your face whilst staring at the necklace, nodded towards the jeweller. No words weren’t needed to be exchanged and the jeweller started packing the rest of the jewellery, readying himself to leave soon afterwards. “Are you sure that that is the only one you want, chil— ahem— wife?” He asks, taking a sip of his drink and looking at your form from the corner of his eyes to which you hummed in reassurance that you were indeed satisfied with just having one necklace at the moment. He had assumed that all ladies liked jewellery so he had made sure to have the fae bring in all of their best stocks, no matter the price. “Thank you, Your Highness.” Still, you had agreed to his idea to have the jeweller come in. Surely, he thinks, that this will satisfy the old fae who he knows isn’t too far that had been pestering him to not leave a “weeping princess alone,” or so he said. 

Just outside the door, hurried footsteps could be heard coming towards the room before stopping short right outside and then knocking on the door with composure so as to not offend the person on the other side. Once Malleus beckons them in, an air of urgency filled the room that both of you could sense. “Speak.” Malleus crosses both his legs and his arms and looks on with a serious look— and possibly with a pout, if your eyes aren’t deceiving you. “Your Highness, a human whom calls himself the prince of the Rose Kingdom is asking for your attendance..” Your two eyebrows shot up at the mention of the prince. A hand makes a loose fist on your chest as your heartbeat increases slightly. There was a moment of pause as Malleus stood up, readying to see the prince, and the messenger quickly took a glance past his shoulders and made direct eye contact at you. “Err, and the princess as well.” Both of your curiosity were piqued now. Hearing that the prince of your homeland was here is surprising enough, but to want to see you..? You were curious to why a royal would come all this way unannounced and to see you who has no power in this kingdom but title. If he’s here for something, then surely it is something that you cannot grant.

Nevertheless, you both went to the entrance of the castle. There, a boy with hair red as roses stood, tapping his foot impatiently and idly, careful eyes inspecting what he could and the servant faes who stood quietly on both sides. There was an air of distrust and it laid thickly in the air. “Rosehearts,” Malleus speaks as the both of you entered the scene. You walked behind him but the moment you entered, the red-head had averted his full attention to you. He was silent for a while, grey eyes just staring intently into your own.

Malleus noticed how his eyes weren’t focused on him and looked to where the prince was looking. His eyes narrow for a brief moment and this is not taken to notice by the fellow royal blood. “Tell me, Crown Prince of the Rose Kingdom, what reason did you come here rather unannounced?” Malleus got straight to the point, snapping the prince out of his daze and diverting his attention away. “I heard that you came alone on horseback.” 

The red-head covers his mouth with a fist and clears his throat before facing the fae who stood at a stark difference in height compared to himself. “If I were to bring them along, they’d only slow me down. Besides, it’s nearly impossible for magicless carriages to traverse these lands.” He puts into careful words to which you could agree. When you came here, it took the entire day on normal carriages that took the long— yet safe— route to get to the castle. “Hm. Then I apologize for the arduous journey,” Malleus says with a rather bored tone and crosses his arm. “I would have offered you tea by now and a rest, but I presume that you did not come here for idle chat.” For an unknown reason, he was becoming more restless, his foot tapping just how the rose prince in front of him once did before they entered. There was a tone in his voice that was rather telling; telling the short male to spit it out already and get out of here. 

“.. I will be in charge of the peace treaty from henceforth and wish to discuss certain agreements listed that could be misunderstood.. ” He explains. His eyes wander to you for a brief moment before returning them to stare at Malleus with a certain look as if asking him to a challenge. “Afterwards, I would like to have a conversation with [Name].. Alone.” At his words, Malleus’ pupils retracted into two, thin slits, though this went unnoticed by the both of you. The draconic fae glances at you, wondering how exactly close you were to him. To know of the prince is nothing to boast about since you were once a citizen of the kingdom but the look either of you gave and how you reacted earlier to when that servant said that the prince wanted to see you too suggests that you knew each other on a more intimate level. 

“I’m afraid I can’t allow that.” Malleus does not have any personal grudges against him, don’t get it wrong. In fact, he venerated the prince; he is a human with great prowess and strong affinity towards magic and whilst he has all this, he shows all the best qualities found in man. He is a perfect example of a leader— a future king. However, he will not allow another man to have a conversation with you in private. Who knows what could happen without his supervision? You were naive compared to anybody in the room, this he believes, so there is no doubt in his mind that you do not know the consequences.. A consequence from the rumours that’ll spread. An unmarried man and a married woman, alone in a room. No husband, no servants.. 

“I believe I have the right to see how my people are faring in an unfamiliar place,” Riddle shoots back. Malleus’ jaws tighten and you are sweating buckets at the stiff air that continues to build up. “I sincerely apologize for my rather.. Blunt correction, but she isn’t a person belonging to the Rose Kingdom anymore; she is now the princess of the Valley of Thorns and the creatures here are her future subjects,” Malleus corrected facts in an eerily calm paced tone, his right palm raised in the air while doing so in an open gesture saying to understand where he is coming from. Riddle’s hands turned into fists and his face warped into an ugly look, his eyebrows furrowing as low as it could. 

You have heard of this infamous look the red prince would have whenever something does not go his way and it greatly upsets him. When you look around, the faes in the vicinity— that included the servants as well— could sense hostility and were ready to attack should anything happen to their prince. If this continues, another long war might break out and you definitely do not want that.. “A-ah.. Your Highness..” You look towards the dark prince with a nervous gaze. Malleus turns his head at your call. “It would really make me happy to talk to somebody from my homeland..

“If we can’t have a private conversation, then would one at the garden be alright with you?” You spill out each word rather slowly and softly in hopes he’d relax a bit. You have secretly wanted to also have a chat with the prince so maybe if you persist, he’ll relent. 

His eyes look thoughtful and take your words into careful suggestions. “I’ll allow it..” He sighs and you couldn’t help but smile excitedly. He raises an eyebrow, his silent question is now bubbling up into many more unanswered questions. The look you have really does suggest that there is something more than meets the eye with the two. “But on one condition.” Ah. You should have seen it coming. But surely, it can’t be that bad so you nodded. “One of the guards will be on standby..

“Is that alright with you, Rosehearts?” He looks again towards the short male. “You must understand, it is not that I do not trust you; in the case something happens to my wife, another century of discord might ignite, and let’s not even begin to think of a future between the kingdoms should anything happen to the Rose Kingdom’s only prince..” 

Silver eyes bore deeply into luminescent green ones. He was thinking, but not about his words; rather, he was seeing if he could form more words that would allow the situation to go his way. The prince sighs, knowing that this may be the better condition and probably the only chance to speak with you. 

—

You have always felt that time was a lot slower in the Valley. Even back home, if you just stare outside the window of any of the higher floors, you’d see many citizens walking about and soldiers under the command of the resident baron doing their best to ensure the safety of the people whilst on the land he governs. In the Valley, the faes had all the time a human could ever want and more than not everything needs to be done by a certain date. It makes you feel as if you were the only one in a state of frantic of the little time you have left.

“Are you alright, [Name]?” A voice softly brings you back from your thoughts; you had been staring at your tea this whole time. “Oh, yes! Sorry, I was just thinking of some stuff..” You raise your chin up to meet grey orbs staring into your own. They weren’t any sort of warm colour such as brown, but you nevertheless found tranquillity when staring into them. As of this moment, you feel as if the time you chase so much while being in this place isn’t so important; that you did not mind how faes had time begging for them and were just happy to be there especially now that a familiar face has come to join you. 

“Um, you didn’t say anything important just now, did you, Riddle?” You felt a cold sweat run down the back of your neck and an awkward, lopsided smile was aimed towards him. “Hm..” He narrows his eyes just a bit, carefully taking note of the weird look on your face, an eyebrow raised higher than the other. 

Seeing as he just continues to stare at you in silence, you begin to get nervous and look everywhere else but his eyes and squirm in your seat. It wasn’t long until you heard the soft exhale of a breath and you lifted your head back up carefully. He is leaning back on his seat and crosses his legs over the other. You watch as his complexion relaxes. He closed his eyes and kept quiet for a bit. 

You sat there with a tight-lipped smile, clearly it was forced. “Did.. Did you say something important..?” You say softly and carefully. It really only takes one wrong step before you’d be ensuring his wrath.  His eyelashes flutter slowly like a feather when he opens his eyes to reveal those grey orbs once more. 

“Riddle?” He repeats, crossing his arm and looks at you judgmentally. It took you a while until it clicked. “Ah.. S-sorry! I meant Your Highness!” Your eyes become wide as you correct yourself quickly; your hands flail in front of you. You had started to miss the life you had before deeply. So, when you saw a familiar face from that not-so distant past, it made you think that even for a brief second, you could return to that dream where you’ll be allowed to let down formalities. But, you did not take into account that Riddle would always be someone of higher status than you and that even then, you addressed him with respect.

 He shakes his head, a small smile on his lips that you could not catch. Despite being in a foreign country, Riddle sees that you do not seem to be stricken with the look of fatigue and longing for home and that alone makes him feel much more at ease, knowing that you are okay. “Please, continue to call me Riddle,” his eyes speak of words, but unfortunately, it could not be read. “We have been intimate friends since our youth so I believe it is only right that you address me intimately, [Name].” He had always said your name without adding any title while you couldn’t, so having the opportunity to.. You feel your heart squeeze and a smile of your own comes to form and open your mouth to speak, “I.. Oh, but..” There then comes a realization that another, different rule now stops you. “I can’t..

“I am now a princess of another kingdom.. They will find it suspicious if I address you too casually and rumours might start..” You look over your shoulder to the guard stationed nearby, just as agreed with between him and Malleus.  

Riddle’s eyes directs to the same direction you were looking at. And, with a stern look on his face when your eyes meet, he speaks, “Isn’t the purpose to unite the two kingdoms is for the people to become friends? As friends, I don’t believe formalities are needed.” He made a really good point and you found no fault in that. You nod and smile again. “You’re right, Riddle.” 

His eyes widened. Even though this was something he asked for, he did not quite think of the consequences it would have on him. “Oh..! Did I make you angry?” You panicked, seeing his face turn the colour of red (the same colour when he gets angry). 

No, he isn’t angry. Quite the opposite, but he couldn’t say. The prince was never one to hide his wrath so it is no surprise to see his face also reflecting his flustered mind; a hand flies to his face as if it could hide the ever deepening red colour. 

Seeing you panicking and regretting ever being born, he quickly calms his raising heart. “No..” He coughs into his fist. “Sorry, I was just.. Nevermind.” He dissuades from continuing the topic. His posture corrected itself once more, but his face was still hiding behind his hand and his eyes looked off to the side.

“Anyway, I’m sorry if I have made you wait long.. I’ve been meaning to end the talks with Malleus quickly.” He explains. “No, it’s alright. I hope the meeting went well,” you shook your head, holding your cup between your hands. 

“Oh, right, what did you want to talk to me about?” You asked. He did say that he wanted to speak to you alone. He hums and looks at you dumbfounded briefly but caught up with you in the end. “Ah, I.. When I got back from the academy, I was told that the peace talks were over and then came the agreement, but it wasn’t until later in the castle that I was informed that a baron’s daughter was to be married to..” His eyes tried hard to continue staring at you, but failed; there felt a suffocating feeling in his chest which dried his throat. The thought that he couldn’t be there to stop you from going to the Valley of Thorns was unbearable for him. “That you were the one who..”

The air suddenly became too thick for him and although it did not feel like that for you, the pitiful look on his face made you feel regretful that you did not tell him. You were about to comfort him when a hand slams down on the table along the screeching sound of a chair being pulled back. “Tell me!” Riddle looks at you with eyes that could only say so much about how hurt he is. “You.. Why did you accept? Why didn’t you reject the Queen? Why did you get married to him!?” At every word he says out loud, the louder his voice becomes and all you could do was stare in trepidation. 

However, you know you could not allow this to escalate. You look at the guard stationed nearby and see he was ready to subdue Riddle the moment he crosses that invisible line between you two. 

“Riddle, please calm down..!” You raise your own voice (something that you believe you have never done before) and look crossed at him. He has to calm down otherwise, at this rate, you might never be allowed to talk to him like this again. Luckily, he was quick to see his wrongdoings and the colour on his face returned to normal. He sits down yet does not look at you; he looks at his hands that are laid on his lap. “I’m.. I’m sorry, [Name].” 

You huff a breath. “It’s oka—“ “No, it’s not okay!” His head shots up to look at you and realize once again that he is acting out again. “Please.. Let me apologize sincerely before you say anything.

“I’m sorry for raising my voice at you. It wasn’t right and I take full responsibility for my actions,” he words out carefully. 

The wind was slightly cooler than what it was this morning. You look up to stare at the clouds. Now that you think about it, the skies are a lot darker than it was before Riddle came. It looked like the sky itself was having internal conflict. It appears that it was battling itself to not have a downpour right at this moment. It’s funny, you think, the clouds at that moment seem alive and having split thoughts about what weather they’ll cast. It made you almost chuckle at a made-up thought that a sorcerer could be doing this because they were in a similar state as well.. Maybe it was Riddles’ doing, but he does not have the ability to freely change the weather and you knew that well. 

Tearing your eyes away from the sky, you return to reality at hand and speak with a gentle voice like a mother speaking to her child, “Riddle, look at me.” You would not continue speaking until he looks at you. There was a brief look of hesitation that you could see under the darkness of his bangs. He gulps down a growing lump in his throat before looking at you properly. “There was no other choice; I had to get married—“ “No choice?” He sounded broken when he repeated your words. You bit the bottom of your lips. It’s a long story and you are honestly too tired to tell it.. That fae.. The Queen.. What happened in that throne room finalized your fate. 

You nod your head and outstretch your hand to hold his. You had never held his hands before until today and to no one’s surprise, they were warm. “I had no choice but listen, if it’s to make two kingdoms stop fighting a pointless battle, then I’m happy being the beginning of that newly established peace.”

Riddle looks long at both of your hands. With a look of resolve, he squeezes your hands and meets your eyes with seriousness. “I’ll find a way..” He says and you thought he’d continue on from there but he didn’t. Instead, he lets go of your hands and starts looking for something inside his welted chest pockets. “I have a letter from my mother meant for you; it’s an invitation.” 

Invitation? That’s surely a surprise, you think, taking the closed envelope into your hands and looking at the fancy markings alongside the single red seal of a rose. You open in and read its contents carefully. “Is there anything else mentioned in there..?” Riddle asks curiously. You shook your head. “She just wants to invite me back to join her for tea someday.” 

He hums agreeingly with the letter. “I think you should accept. Think of it as a meeting between a queen and a future queen; I believe it’ll benefit you.” 

Seeing it that way, you nod agreeingly and look at the letter, finding no faults inside it. “Then, I’ll ask His Highness..” You say almost subconsciously. Riddle raises his eyebrows. “His Highness? Is that how you address him?” He crosses his arms over his chest. You nod, “Mhm.. I mean, I don’t think it’d be appropriate to address him as anything but.” 

Unbeknownst to you, a smile was threatening to let slip but he fought it back. “I see.. Then I’ll definitely come for you..” He mutters cryptically. Before you could ask since he had said something similar twice now, he stood up from his seat. “I’m sorry, but I should leave now. I promised my mother I will be back in the castle before the moon rises,” he said. You smiled understandingly and entered back inside the castle to see him off.

“Thank you for allowing me to speak with you, [Name].” He puts a hand over his heart, his back facing the door to the castle. You shook your head and said, “No, I should be thanking you.. It was so good to see you again. I really missed talking to you, Riddle.” 

During you twos parting chatter while waiting for Malleus to see him off, the draconic-fae enters the room. His first sight was you hardly trying to cover a wide smile. He had thought you weren’t capable of a radiant smile like that and a look of perplexity crossed his face as he approached you two. There was no point in trying to be sneaky when his shoes sounded with every step he took. 

“Rosehearts.” You two stopped talking and looked behind you. He was still upset from earlier but he does not show it on his stoic face. You scooted away from Riddle and took your place beside Malleus. “I hope your stay here was alright,” he continues speaking. 

Riddle hums. “It was. [Name] here has been a wonderful host.” He looks at you and you couldn’t help but smile, albeit a small one from trying to hide it. Malleus gives a low, prolonged hum; eyes darting to and fro between you two. “I see.. Then, I'm at ease.” 

The words exchanged between the two were very short and before you knew it, Riddle had gone home. It was thought that it would be that and Malleus was already on his heels to leave the hall. You look off to the direction Riddle took off on his horse just for a second and leave as well. You thought it best to bring up the invitation to Malleus later over dinner.

In the meantime, as you let out a soft sigh, you let your muscle relax. Most of the mornings and part of the afternoon were spent entertaining Malleus and Riddle for the rest; you are determined to have some time for yourself just until dinner. 

Still.. It was the most wonderful visit that you’ve ever received. Seeing Riddle again made you feel as if you’ve gained the strength to continue on with this duty of being wedded to the Valley’s prince.

✩̣̣̣̣̣ͯ┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄✩ͯ•͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ✩̣̣̣̣̣ͯ┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄✩ͯ•͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ┄•͙✩̣̣̣̣̣ͯ┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄✩ͯ•͙͙

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Those who are highlighted green, please check if I spelt your name right and/or your settings since I can't tag you.

Do you write for Neige Leblanche?

Yes, of course! ^^

I was playing Genshin a few minutes ago (I'm in bed now since it's nearly 5 AM-- I need to sleep) because I am procrastinating on homework. I took this picture because I was crying and happy that I found a chest-- and the last chest needed for 100% Starfell Valley.

Now that I'm looking at this, I suddenly have been struck with inspiration with the two combos.. Xiao and this song might actually be a good angst.

Tagging : @belovedtartaglia @lightblueexorcist (I made two new friends so I'm really happy! ^♡^) + anyone who wants to join (please join. I beg of you)

starting a new thread since the other was getting quite long hehe

thank you for the tag @sugawara-sweetheart

NO CHEATING: you’re starring in a movie with the last person saved in your camera roll and the last song you listened to is the title. Who/what is it?

hmmm...interesting 🤔 but Hirooooo 💕

tagging @kiyoo-omi @mintmatcha @saetyrn9 @myelocin and whoever else who wants to play!

Congratulations! I'm happy for you!! ^♡^

I GOT HIM!!!!!!! I CANT BELIEVE I GOT HIM, MY DEBIT CARD WAS SACRIFICED BUT IT WAS WORTH IT

OMG!!! I FINALLY UPDATED THE GAME AND I GOT HIM!! MALLEUS, WELCOME HOME!! ❤️❤️

I AM DOWN ON MY KNEES FOR THIS CARD. My hands are literally shaking, what the heck--

I love seeing your guys' requests in my inbox. They're all so good that I really don't want to close requests just in case more brilliant minds show up. :))

Wondering if I've taken your request? Check the master list and see if there is something for the character with "coming soon" + "request"! :) Yours is most likely one of them. <3

You have to do some deduction to figure out which one is yours though. ;-;

║Venti║Rest of Time

Requested from Wattpad.

Female reader as requested.

Fluff. Slight maturity?

Word count: 3.5k

---

It is common knowledge that even if a star wishes to move within its own galaxy, it would take light years for it just to do so. But, it didn't apply to when two peculiar stars that had lived long suddenly collided in mere seconds, causing them to be one.

When you have awoken, you found yourself lying down in a midst of grass for miles and a blue sky that you had never seen before with strange creatures flying past it, flapping its wings as it makes strange noises. Where were you? You sat up, suddenly feeling a pain shot through your ears. It was ringing and giving you a headache.

"Nngh..!" You covered an eye with a hand out of reflex of the pain while trying to recall how you ended up where you were and what happened. "Ah, that's right.. My home.." You stop your sentence and snap your head upwards to the unnatural green and blue around you and come to a realization that the place..

Was not your home.

The place you knew and loved for many years was crumbling down at your feet, but the place you had awoken to was the opposite and free from the havoc that had suddenly raised. You felt the flow of time change and that's when you recalled your travel- no, your escape through time and space. You remembered how you then came to a stop by an unknown force and suddenly being pulled by it and fighting against it didn't make a difference in your weakest point.

After a soft sigh, you stood up and looked at your surrounding. With a gentle breeze blowing past, you notice more of the winged things on the ground and not too far from it, a small, four-legged creature that was running around the field. Beside you was a large tree that was helping you adjust to the blinding light from above by stretching its large and long branches outwards. Its leaves rustled when another breeze was blowing past.

You looked at your clothing and see that your once celestial clothing is now basically a rag and without your shoes. Your skin was covered by scratches and blood of the war you faced, but surprisingly, the pain wasn't there-- maybe it's because it was numbing your body that you felt as if the pain were one with you.

Left leg forward then the right.. You repeated it until you could fully well walk with your aching feet without hissing at the pain. Just beyond the horizon, you see walls and windmills within it. You were happy that there was a place not too far from where you awoke. When you arrived in front of the gates, the two knights who were usually on guard had a look of questioning.

And since that moment, Mondstadt came to be your forever home.

-

"Venti, slow down!" you say, grabbing his arm and reaching for the glass in his hand- which he did not let go of. "I think it would be best to give up, (Y/N)," Diluc says behind the counter, his arms crossed as he stares in disbelief and annoyance at the bard. "You better have money to pay for that."

The boy had chugged his 28th drink for the day and he doesn't seem to be stopping any time soon. "I, I'll pay for his drink," you say defeatedly, knowing that your dear ol' friend don't even have a single mora on him. "I don't care who pays for it as long as it is paid." The fiery-haired male sighs irritatingly and turned around to do his job, leaving the two of you to chat alone.

"Venti, you should really stop now. You'll have a headache in the morning," you said, putting a hand on hi shoulder and watch him gulped down yet another glass before setting it down. "Hehe, this isn't even much," the boy states. "Rest assured, (Y/N), that I will be fine tomorrow so.. Another glass for me, Master Diluc!" He waves his empty glass which earned the taller male to grunt before making another drink for the bard.

You weren't worried about the ombre-haired boy being sick in the morning- what you really were trying to do was to make him stop drinking any more and making you pay for it. You cried internally, feeling the pain of the huge hole in your wallet already by the time you two head out and it turned out just as you feared. Diluc had asked you to leave and to drag the now drunken bard along since it was time to close the tavern, but not before reminding you of the payment.

"One more, please!" the drunk bard says, raising a hand in the air as if he was holding a glass. How many glasses he took, you did not know as you lost count. However, you can say that your dear friend really knows how to hold his drinks. You sighed and fix his arm around your shoulders lock.

In the dead of night- where there is no one but the two of you- the sky above was calling for you, glimmering away so proudly as it does so. You looked at the brightly lit things that dusted the dark sky and felt sudden sadness in your heart, knowing that the stars don't hold your home anymore. In the many years that you were in Teyvat, not once was there a day where you did not think about your home. The colour red dusted your home's sky along with smoke, shouting, cries of agony from both young and old.. You remembered how the place you happily walked upon turned to calamity and feeling the guilt, again, that you couldn't do anything when you had the power. You stood in the centre of the chaos, stupified and unable to think.

"Hehe, hey, (Y/N)-- Woah!" You were drawn back to your new reality when Venti leaned all of his weight onto your smaller body when he was trying to balance himself and causing both of you to fall over. You hissed at the pain of your skin scraping the ground, but the drunk male was laughing on the other hand- because he landed on you. "Venti..!" You looked at the giggling male. "Shh, (Y/N)." He boops your nose and giggling even more. You sighed. Now you were going to have a hard time removing him from your body.

Your house was not too far away and decided it would be best to let him sleep on the couch, rather than leave him unattended on his own. Your house was small, yet comfortable and cosy. When you got inside, you went for the couch and flopped his body on it, repositioning his body so that he sits upright. "I'll get you a glass of water, okay? I'll be right back," you said, knowing that he won't listen to you in his state. You returned just as fast as your left, but see that he was passed out.

"Venti, wake up. Please, drink some water before going to sleep!" You shook him awake and get him to drink before letting him go to sleep. You then went and look for an extra blanket and a pillow for him in your room and return to the dimly lit living room. Slowly, you lifted his head and place the pillow underneath and lay his head back down and covered his body with the blanket.

You look at the sleeping male and feel your heart race the more you stared. When you first came to Mondstadt, he was one of the first few people that you've talked to. You remembered the first time you two met- how he suddenly clasped your hands and smiled, saying how you looked like a goddess that wasn't from anywhere in Teyvat. The rest after that was a blur and you don't even know how you two ended up being as friends.

You were about to walk away when you heard him shuffle and moaned in his sleep, then holding onto your hand closest to him. You turned around and see that he was awake. Awake, but still not in the right mind. "Where are.. You going, (Y/N)?" he asks. "I'm going to my room," you answered.

He sat up and groaned, not letting go of your hand. "Venti, you should go to sleep," you urged. Then, without knowing he would, he tugged on your hand with force, bringing you close to him and being cradled between the arms that he soon wrapped around your waist. "U, uh, Venti..!" You put your arms on his shoulders to balance and keep the two of you at a distance. However, your frail arms weren't strong against him when he leans in and put his head between the crook of your neck and shoulder.

His breath on your skin was enough to send tingles all the way down to your toes and made you unable to think. Your heart raced faster than it did before and it felt as if it was about to pop out of your chest. "Ven-- nngh!" You were interrupted when he nibbles on your ears, earning himself a moan from you. "(Y/N), you shouldn't make noises like that.." he says underneath his breath, making a circle notion on your back. "It's dangerous."

"I, I--.. Venti, you should--" Again, you were interrupted, but this time, when he pushes you on the couch. He hovers above you, staring down at you with eyes that you couldn't comprehend. His breathing was becoming unstable and you were scared of what will happen if you can't escape from under him.

His head lowers down to your shoulders and left a couple of kisses, sending fear throughout your body. This was not something you were down for, even if you like him. There was just a difference between him liking you in his drunk state and in his normal state; you don't know if it would be the drunken mind that takes over his body or his heart. You wish it was the latter, but you wouldn't know since he wasn't in the right mind, to begin with. "Venti, please! Stop!" You tried to push him off, but to your fear, he did not budge one bit.

His head was on your chest and tears started to blur your vision as you pleaded. He stops when he heard your sobs and look up at you, sadness hitting his heart, but for a completely different reason. He decided that it would be best to stop and rested his head on your chest, ears resting where your heart was and hearing the irregular heartbeat that lulled him to drowsiness. Truth be told, he wasn't drunk just yet. Tipsy, but not drunk.

When your sobs died down, you look at him to see if he fell asleep, but it was difficult since you could only see the top of his head. You were thanking all Archons, but soon know that he wasn't asleep just yet when he spoke. "Hey, (Y/N)?" he calls out, his voice audible in the still night, and you hummed as a response. "Your heartbeat.. It's irregular. If I didn't know any better, I'd think it's beating for me.." He hit the bullseye on the comment, but you didn't say anything that would give him an answer. He sighs sadly. "I kind of wish it was because.." He stops and took a breath, contemplating if he should say it. But since he had made you think that he was drunk, he took that as a chance.

"I like you, (Y/N)."

-

The next day when you awoke, he was no longer on top of you, nor was he in your house. You were kind of relieved that he wasn't around since you couldn't bear to look at him in the eyes- let alone talk to him. Last night, when he said those three words, your heart fluttered and you were sure he knows of it. You wanted to say it as well but decided it wasn't the right time and will wait when he was back to normal.

You're sure he doesn't remember what happened last night so it might make him confused when you suddenly confess, but you wanted to clear this clear wall that stopped the two of you from being together. However, when you went to your usual spot to meet up with him, he wasn't there. It was strange since he left the house long ago.

You walked around the city until you came across the famous, purple witch, Lisa, who had asked for some assistance at the library. You thought about it before hesitantly nodding your head, fearing that Venti might be a bit sad when he sees you're not there waiting. By the time you were done helping out at the library, it was quarter past noon, but when you went to the plaza, he wasn't there. You were a bit disappointed and thought that he was at Angel's Share so you went there first. "Hm? (Y/N), you're not here with that bard?" Diluc greets with his usual, rock expression. Usually, he'd expect you to only show up at the tavern when Venti wanted a drink, but you were alone.

You shook your head. "Actually, I'm looking for him. Did he, perhaps, come here at some point?" you asked. Now it was the redhead's turn to shake his head. "I'm afraid I can't say. I came here 2 hours ago, but he didn't show up." You became disheartened of looking for him and wanted to just go home. However, the sun was still out which means that you still have time. Your legs were already tired from all the walking back and forth that it didn't take long for you to completely give up and just sit on a bench and read a book.

The sun was setting down and you were disappointed that he wasn't in sight anywhere, and you looked everywhere- even making laps around the city and having the same people stare at you weirdly. You got up from your seat and decided that you weren't going to wait any longer and go home. There wasn't a soul in sight anymore. But when you passed the fountain, you see a familiar someone whom you had been looking for coming in from the gates.

"Venti!" You ran up to him, happy that he has shown up. "Where did you go?" you ask, clasping both of his hands, but Venti didn't answer or even look at you which made you worry. "Hey, you okay..?" When you were about to reach and touch his face, he flinches, backing away and removing his hands from yours.

"Oh, uh, yeah.. I was at Starsnatch Cliff to, uh, think about things," he answers, scratching his cheek whilst not once looking at you directly, but you didn't notice it. "What, really? How come you didn't let me join you?" You pout.

"I, I just needed some time to think alone, is all," he answers. His answer made you really curious. The carefree bard who doesn't have a single mora on him, has things that he needs time to think through? It was almost unbelievable if it weren't for the fact that he is human and like any other human, he needs some alone time to think. But for what reason, you don't dare ask.

"Oh, okay, well, um.." There was silence followed after and you were back checking on the decision of confessing to him, now feeling the fear building up. In your many years of life, not once have you felt fear such as the one you have now. It was kind of embarrassing. "Hey, (Y/N), I think you should go home now. I'll see you tomorrow." He was walking away in the opposite direction of your place. You suddenly panicked and without thinking, grab his wrist which stopped the male from going. He looks at you over his shoulder, your face suddenly a deep red while it stares at the ground. "I, I like you, Venti."

Everything in that moment felt as if it was frozen in place and only allowing the flow of time working on the both of you. You were sure that he would return your feelings, but at that moment, you were scared.

"I'm sorry, (Y/N)."

A heart silently broke within one's heart- that heart being yours. It only takes those two words to ruin a friendship and have one coming out of it the most heartbroken. Your heart came crumbling down to ashes like your home many years ago. Was the words you heard last night false? Why hadn't you know of it when you know a person doesn't think straight when their drunk? You felt stupid.

"It won't work out for us," Venti continues, but you were off in your own world, dazed by the rejection. Venti could see your heart squeezing itself to nothingness. In a ruined friendship, one would come out heartbroken, but in this case, two came out of it. Venti wanted nothing more but to like you and spend the rest of time to be with you. But since last night, he decided to go to see Dvalin- his dear friend- whom told him the dangers of an Archon who have lived for many years liking a mere mortal. In the end of Dvalin's words were, "Liking a mortal will only go one way: heartbroken."

He was too mesmerized and caught up with you that he forgot about his eternal life. This, he thought, was a selfish thing. He shouldn't have clung onto you and make you feel something towards him. He should have made sure to keep a distance so that you would use those feelings on someone else. An Archon doesn't deserve to be loved intimately.

".. Why?" It was barely audible, but he still heard it nonetheless. You raise your head and look at him with your saddened eyes that made the bard's heart feel like it was going to be squeezed out. "How do you know if we don't try?" you ask, looking at him with saddened eyes that just made him feel like he wants to hug you-- to make you stop looking at him with those eyes, but he had to do what is best. For the both of you.

He looks away. Should he tell you? If he wanted to build that wall, he should. He opens his mouth. "I am the god, Barbatos.." he says. "You and I can't be together, (Y/N)."

"So, what does that have to do with us not being able to be together?" you ask almost quickly. He looks at you with sad eyes. "I.. Look, I really like you, (Y/N), but this isn't right," his voice slightly cracked, finding it hard to reject you. You look down. Both of you stayed silent, letting what little light there slowly disappears. Then, "If it is eternal life then you and I will be forever together," you whisper and look at the male, eyes not saddened but with fire. He looks at you, confused. Were you not a mortal?

"Do you remember when I first came to Mondstadt?" you asked, but continued, not letting him have an answer. "No one knew where I came from, even when I told them my home's name." You smiled sadly. "I am not from here, Venti. Not from Teyvat or this planet." The god was more confuzzled than he already was. "My home.. Was destroyed.. By my careless hands."

"Just like Teyvat, my home had many gods.. And I'm one of them," you finally confessed. "If you are scared of losing me, then don't worry about it as I have the gift of eternal life." The words that spout out of your mouth was almost unbelievable if it wasn't for the fact that your eyes held the truth. Your eyes were confirmation and Venti took it and hugged you tightly. "A-ah, Venti..?" You were caught by surprise, but soon return it, wrapping your own around his. You felt something wet trickling down to your exposed skin and knew that he was crying. "I, I'm so happy.." he whispers, tightening the hug. "Me too," you say, doing the same, a smile forming on your face.

"We'll be together for the rest of time."

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