Having A S/O That Is A Marching Band Student (ft. Diluc, Childe, Zhongli, And Kaeya)

WAKING UP TO THEIR EMBRACE !

synopis: waking up to their embrace after staying at their place last night.

characters: childe, diluc, itto, kaeya, kazuha, xiao, zhongli

content warnings: suggestive + gn!reader

childe: when you wake up with sleepy eyes after coming home, to childe’s apartment you feel a loose arm around your waist. already noticing that the dull eyes have been staring at you before you had awaken. you cannot help but get flustered, as he presses a kiss to your head.

diluc: your back would be to his chest while he holds you by your waist, sleeping and nuzzled deep into your hair. he loved your aroma and scent and adored it so much. waking up to him is nice and cozy because he hardly snores and he usually wakes up after you do to say good morning.

itto: waking up to him is basically like being held by a huge teddy bear. he does snore a bit in the morning but perhaps it’s a sound you can get accustomed too. though if you wake up before him, he’ll just encourage you to go back to sleep.

kaeya: waking up to him feels like a short blessing, because he is so warm and hearing him praise and flirt with you at dawn is like the cherry on top. though a majority of the time his flirty comments makes you nervous so you end up burying your head into his shoulder.

kazuha: he always holds you upon his chest carefully, stroking the strands of your hair and saying good morning once your eyes meet the sun peaking through the windows. he’ll ask simple questions and always asking if you wanted to catch breakfast with him.

xiao: he generally likes to watch you fall asleep but the temptation and the urge to hold you, is way too strong which is why you awake in the morning to him pressing your head upon his chest while he tells you to go back to bed and kisses your forehead.

zhongli: oh archons, he is so gentle. he holds you very carefully and softly, making sure that you are safe in his warmth and embrace. he either has your head placed on his chest or shoulder to guarantee you comfort.

The Phone Call

Pairing : Bakugou x Reader

You were staring at your TV. There was nothing anymore. You couldn't believe it.

- It seems like we're having a problem with our drone.

You had been in front of the TV since your friend texted you, asking you to do it. You saw the headline.

"Dynamight fighting with an unknown threat"

You were horrified. You saw a huge explosion and even heard it from the room you were in. The drone stopped functioning and the TV went dark. You remembered this morning. You woke up earlier than usual because you wanted to see him before he left for work. You were barely awake while he was already ready to go.

- Can I have a kiss before you go ? you asked sleepily.

He only scoffed and said :

- Just sleep, I'll see you tonight.

You were almost asleep when he kissed your forehead before leaving.

You didn't tell him you loved him this morning. There was a lot of things you had yet to tell him. You remembered a conversation you had months ago.

- Do you wanna move in with me ? he casually asked you while you two were eating at his place.

You froze. He must had seen the panic you felt in your eyes because he quickly added :

- It's fine, pretend I didn't say anything.

You were scared. Waking up next to him, eating with him, playing with him, laughing with him in this place you could call home, just thinking about it would make your heart beat faster. But you were so scared to give up on your comfort. He never bought it up again, probably patiently waiting for you to make the first move. It was weird to see your boyfriend being patient, with a personality that explosive, but he always seemed to be careful not to hurt or scare you because of it. You loved him so much, and you were ready to try. So you slowly brought all your important stuff one by one. And today was finally the day you gave back the key of your apartment. Today was officially the day you were moving in. Today was supposed to be a good day.

You remembered the first time he apologized to you. His quirk suddenly activated and it startled you. He quickly apologized even though it didn't hurt you. You remembered how surprised you were. He wasn't the kind to apologize. You quickly reassured him, telling him you weren't hurt.

You remembered your first kiss. It was sudden and you didn't even think before initiating it. It was the first time you saw him blush that hard. But he initiated your second kiss right after.

You remembered everytime you laughed, everytime he smiled, every single moment of happiness you had.

- It's now been 15 minutes and there is no sign of Dynamight. It seems like the threat has been neutralized but we haven't heard from the hero yet. Witnesses say that the buildings surrounding the area collapsed but they were all already evacuated.

You couldn't breathe. You barely ever thought about this situation. You only ever talked about it once. It was one night, right before going to bed. He didn't tell you much about his work but you could see it had been a hard day.

- I put a new contact number on your phone in case something happen.

Your grip tightenend on his waist.

- Nothing is gonna happen, Katsuki.

- If it does and this number calls you, consider it's me breaking up with you.

Your hand started shaking and you moved away from him.

- Why are you talking about breaking up ?

Your voice was shaking too, unable to hide your emotions.

- If it's because I'm dead, then I'm letting you go. If I'm not dead... I don't wanna put you through this.

- Katsuki, we're a couple, I don't wanna leave you. I can handle it.

- I know you can, Y/N. I just don't want you to.

He didn't let you object.

- I put a different ringtone, he said. So you know.

You hadn't been able to sleep that day. With time, you understood why he did that, why he said that.

- We sent another drone and it seems like the paramedics are in the zone of the explosion now.

You couldn't stop saying :

- Please be ok.

Maybe he had already been evacuated. Maybe he was just fine, but the drone was destroyed by accident. Maybe he was already at the hospital. Maybe...

You heard a ringtone you never heard before and you felt your phone vibrating in your hand. You looked at it. The contact was only called "Emergency". You remembered your conversation with him. You remembered how he talked about his own death. You remembered what this call meant.

You took a deep breath.

And you picked up the phone.

Before you could hear anything, you asked :

- Is he alive ?

In Life and Death / 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄

♡ read the prologue here :D

♡ When everything you know is shrouded in light, it’s often hard to remember to peek into the darkness. Your family has long since been a part of those who avoid it, choosing to hide comfortably amongst the high ranks of Mondstadt’s nobility. Your father, the King, has fought hard to keep it that way, especially following the Queen's unfortunate death. However, with a sudden push from the Fatui, certain old wounds are quickly reopened.

It's why upon tragedy striking, you aren’t alone in the assumption that the foreign nation is to blame. But when unseen circumstances quickly push the question of the culprit's identity over to you, you find that the situation is much deeper than meets the eye. Between the mysterious nature of an unknown killer, familial doubts, and the 11th Harbinger launching himself into the scene by making an attempt on your life, you think you're completely in over your head.

Even if Childe claims you have the picture all wrong.

And so, in a gruesome twist of events, you're faced with a choice -- trust Childe's convenient involvement and get to the bottom of everything together, or risk becoming victims yourselves.

♡ warnings: violence, mentions of choking, blood, and knives.

♡ word count: 7.3k

You had long learned to never trust a man who is no more than his glare, because even the most innocent of dogs will still bear their teeth. And inside the walls of Mondstadt’s gates, this ideology very well may be known to many -- because from the darkened alleyways to busy courtrooms, there will always be those who show more than they are ready to give.

Unfortunately, the same can often be said of the king. 

You are as much of a stranger to his dealings as he is, though the difference in you lies in your capability of being disappointed. The King is extremely lucrative when he can be, handling his power in a way where those around him are left in a constant state of wondering, when will he strike next, and how? The answers are often underwhelming.

Of course, you know better than them. Each side-eyed glance and nuance of a threat is always held, but sometimes you suspect that behind your father's guarded eyes, there's nothing more than a man paralysed with fear. It's why your first reaction is to write him off when you get to thinking about the person you'd lost -- however much you want to blame him for it. His inherent innocence is the entire reason that the concept of a murder on the royal grounds terrifies you so much. 

You hadn't ever been extremely close to the Chamberlain, but news of her death shook you like it would anyone. Because she had been a pleasant young woman, certainly no one that deserved to meet their end in such a way.

This does not mean Mondstadt is crime-free, of course. Pickpockets and murderers alike dwell in the deepest corners and behind closed doors, but none have ever dared to show themselves in such a fashion. Though, a sizable bit of the population in these parts do tend to include fatui agents from outside the nation, perhaps entrenched in the only ways they know how. 

Someone other than the king had dealt a life-ending blow to someone of no consequence -- bearing their teeth, so to say. It was done as if they had known they could get away with it. The offence was haughty, too confident to be considered a crime of the usual degree. Hence, in your opinion, the large possibility of a fatui agent testing the waters.

But with nothing being confirmed, the question of the sudden nature of events remains. And despite the warning bells in your head, despite any disapproval the king may have, you would be better suited trying to uncover the mystery with everyone else than just sitting around. In fact, that's exactly how you managed to see the effects of the situation in the first place.

It was more difficult than usual to sneak around, but upon arriving at the ugly leftover scene under the guise of a maid, you almost change your mind. 

There was no major evidence left behind, no trace of a second person besides a ring of purple around her neck, the indentation of thick fingers settled heavy in her skin. Apparently mere choking had not been enough to subdue the woman, too — the main offender is much more striking.

An injection had ultimately done her in, the pin-prick small but only noticeable thanks to the crystallised blood surrounding the wound. Much like the odd suit of frost covering her skin, it was unusually cold to the touch.

But, you had been discovered and ushered out of the room before you could unearth much more. As much as you’d like to do something with the information you’d snuck by, other clues are not so readily available. You'd expected as much, but to be shunned so quickly? It was almost too odd to overlook the convenience of it.

Left with nothing to process, you are steadfast in your blaming of the foreign Snezhnayan officers. But whether any truly useful information exists or not, you hadn't been allowed around long enough to find out. 

Grave events such as this one are debilitating, they shake normal life in a way usual events do not. But just as the king is well aware of the fear that envelops the royal court, he is also in tune with the mechanics of the city he rules. He will take all means necessary to confine the circumstances, to avoid pressure from Snezhnayan diplomats if nothing else. 

 So, you know well that the lack of information provided is entirely intentional.

The Chamberlain's death had occurred three whole days ago, and you still haven't heard a thing. Not even the town gossips are aware of the turmoil that drenches the castle, and the maids are equally tight-lipped. 

Tapping a pen against the mahogany of the wooden desk, you sigh. The writer’s callus on your dominant hand is tinged with blue ink, darker in the low light of the library only you populate. The usually bustling halls have been noticeably empty within the past few days. However, it is a good side effect -- with less to see your actions, the more freedom to investigate you are given. 

Though, any so-called ‘investigations’ you’ve completed thus far have been nothing more than quick brainstorming sessions, wherein the same vague points are turned over and over again in your head. Sighing at the blank sheet of paper in front of you, you slump in your seat. 

It frustrates you to know that in these moments, you are often royalty in title alone. You are a woman of title, a person of royal blood, are you not? Yet, because of a single wave of the king’s hand, you are kept in the dark just as every courtier and servant is, inevitably leaving one amongst you vulnerable to repeat the same unfortunate mistakes the chamberlain had. 

However, you are not a courtier. Not a servant. So, why dangle such information above your head, why withhold any greater power your status holds? The reason, your father will likely never share, but your lack of knowledge in any event is undoubtedly purposeful

It may just be for your protection, though his intentions are never so simple; he thinks like a king, not a father. 

But, albeit his strange tendencies, bits and pieces of the father you want to see remain in every stroke of his lacquered pen. He is the puppet behind only your menial troubles, and it would be unfair to pin much more than a daughter’s bitterness on him. Perhaps this is just his out of touch way of protecting you -- like you need it.

“My lady,”

A soft yet firm voice bids for your attention. There is an immediate regret that blooms in your chest as you stand up abruptly, feet pushing you out of your chair only to meet the patient eyes of a maid. You offer her an apologetic smile as you will your heart to slow.

It’s not your place to be jumpy, not when there are those who work soundlessly to ensure your protection.

Perhaps they’re a bit too soundless, though. 

“My apologies.” The old woman bows her head slightly, leaning a careful hand on your shoulder. “You startle very easily lately, are you feeling well?”

You nod, gaze anywhere but her as you search for an escape. “Yes, yes, of course. Just nervous, is all.”

The maid watches you as you gather your things, eyes lingering a moment too long on the shaking hands you fail to conceal. You clutch the notebook and pen to your chest, offering her an awkward smile.

“Everything will be alright,” She assures you, gesturing to the rest of the empty library. “Extreme measures are being taken to protect anyone else in the castle from succumbing to a similar fate.”

As you nod wordlessly, the calmness in her voice does not dissipate. You feel almost scrutinised under her polished gaze — it is gentle, but concerned nonetheless. Your fears are merely surface level affairs to the familiar woman, despite how deeply you attempt to hide them. 

Offering her a nod as you duck past her, you mumble a quiet goodbye. The maid’s eyes remain stuck to your back as you begin to walk away, patient.

“I had tea prepared not long ago.” You stop at the doorway, hand coming up to ghost over the wooden frame as your head turns back. The same unwavering smile adorns your sight. “Enjoy your night, my lady.”

You respond with a quick smile, fastening your grip on your belongings as you hurry from the room. The particular woman’s kindness truly runs deep, though you can’t help the discomfort you experience under her weighted gaze -- she studies you as if you are translucent, hungry eyes searching for fears to quell.

As your shoes click on the hard floor, you grimace. Of course, her intentions are nothing more than those of a dedicated caretaker, and guilt pokes at your inside unnervingly for pushing her innocent concern off. There is a part of you that wants to confide in someone, whether it is a maid or someone entirely different -- but, for reasons unknown to even you, it’s not something you’re willing to do. 

On your worst days, you fear someone will attempt to face your emotions head-on, regardless of your wishes. And while such a person is bound to appear, it’s instances like these that you learn to stave off those indulgent enough to get too close. It is only practical, after all, as a member of the royal family to keep your troubles close.

Your mother had been a wonderful example of what compassion could do to someone of your status. Evident in every generation, in every string of events, there will always be someone looking to take advantage of such raw trust. So, while cowardly, it is a caution that no one can fault you for.

It is a truly vile way of thinking, yet in this walk of life, it is unfortunately necessary.

You have long stopped wondering what others think of your fears, though simultaneously, you have recently found it harder to maintain a cooler composure. No action seems just right, no demeanour enough to please everyone. Your honest desperation is heartbreakingly truthful, and you can only hope it's enough to excuse the way you act. 

The low evening sun passes over your face through the windows of the hall, decorating your body in an array of warmth. And whether the world sees fit to tease you or not, you don’t mistake the oddly timed shiver that runs through your body. Shaking your head, you wish tiredly for nothing more than everything to be over. 

The crystalline doorknob to your personal chambers is slippery beneath your clammy grip, exhaustion seeping through your veins as you stand there without luck. The tiny inconvenience tests your patience extremely closely. Luckily, the halls are empty around you, void of anything but yourself and guards stationed some ways away. 

Offhandedly, you wonder if you could get away with sneaking off. Perhaps it’s an action you may need to take eventually, but with the steady droop of your eyelids, you surmise it can wait. Even your tired mind can discern that there is little you can do in your state.

Moments later, you find yourself sitting on your bed, the tricky doorknob locked shut behind you. You have little desire to do anything but to crawl under your covers and move on to the next day. But, the commentary-scribbled notebook still weighs lightly in your hand. 

With a narrowed gaze, you consider stuffing it into your pillow case -- what could be a better hiding place than directly beneath you? Your eyes are heavy as you carry out the action. The process isn’t meticulous by any means, but you decide it will work well enough for now. 

Still in your day clothes, you let your body fall on top of the comforter. You’re briefly freed of your anxieties as you will your mind to go blank. You forget about the murder, about your deathly curiosity, even about the mug of tea that continues to go cold on your nightside table.  

Your worries may encompass dire things, they may not. But at the end of the day, they can only be worries.

“I don’t understand.”

The spring air is sweet in your nose, but for all that it’s worth, it’s easily outshined by the distinctly rotten taste that grows in your mouth. Mornings in the castle are usually filled by the former; golden sunlight within the deserted halls, the chirping of bluebirds heard from beyond the cracked windows, bowls of fresh fruit carried by passing servants -- but today, you find these peaceful things to be stifled.

You’d been called on during the early hours of the morning, long before you normally even rise. Perhaps it was a precautionary action, perhaps the particular subject just made your father restless, yet in any case, the first hour of your day is spent moderately.

“This is by no means a complicated thing to ask of you.” Your father says this, and while he may be right, he should be one of the last to consider giving you such an order.

You shake your head slowly, trying not to let your distress shine through. “No, it’s not, but it’s not necessary, is it? Someone is dead. I’m only expressing discomfort in my own way.”

“...Your coping mechanisms seem awfully dangerous.”

Avoiding his eye, you yawn into the back of your hand. Call it what you like, but coping mechanism be damned if it’s the one thing that makes you feel secure living as you do. 

“I don’t see how trying to figure out what happened is dangerous,” You say, taking in your father’s demeanour. It’s an early morning for him as well, but you know better than to push his limits on purpose. “Please. It’s only a personal reassurement. I’ll be sure not to take it too far.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not concerned about you taking things too far, because I know you’ll do that regardless of what we agree on today.”

You’re silent at that.

“I just don’t need you getting hurt because someone chooses to see you as a threat, not when there are more capable people to be assessing this situation.”

Your lips and patience both simultaneously thin. “If there are more capable people available, then where are they? I would be more than happy to hand things over to them.”

Your father’s head tilts slightly, voice raising an octave or so. “I'm in the process of gathering help. Are you questioning me?"

Dread begins to ferment in your stomach as you shake your head, words heavy in your mouth. “No. I only urge you to take this more seriously. I think it would be the better choice, knowing what has happened when we let our guard down in the past.”

His eyes narrow as you turn your head away, avoiding his eye as casually as possible even while your heart thumps loudly in your chest. There is not a day that goes by wherein your father does not honour your late mother in some way. But, you do not understand the reason he chooses to push aside an event so similar to the one that has affected him so greatly now.

“I recommend that you visit the tavern this afternoon.” If your jab has ignited anything in him, it’s lost in the moment he turns to take a thin binder into his hand. You accept it warily as he continues. “The sister celebrations are quickly approaching. Despite the unfortunate events that have taken place recently, we must prepare as if on a normal schedule."

You quirk a curious brow. “Aren’t we on one already?”

“Yes, as of now.” Your father sizes up your expression before hesitantly continuing. “But, if things do get worse, I’m afraid we might have to postpone the events.”

Eyes widening, you stand up.

“There’s such a thing on the line, and still no one is investigating anything yet?!”

He says your name in a tone of warning, voice stern. “I'm handling it, but you must understand that there is not much to work with. I’m sure you know this as well.”

You try to meet his eyes, but they never quite meet yours; they follow his actions behind his desk, your fidgeting, but never anything else. You do not take it as a truthful promise, yet under his attention, all you can do is nod and believe that he will do as he says -- hope that he will listen to the concerns of the only family he has left. 

You move to leave, keeping careful note of the binder in your hand as you grumble a muffled goodbye. You can only guess its contents, but aren’t too keen on stopping to read it under the stifling atmosphere you’ve created. At the door, you pause as he calls your name. 

“Do not mention your mother to me again.”

His words settle with you as you disappear into the morning haze, the inkling of a frown pushing at your lips. The King had said that he was in the process of gathering help, but given his past, you aren't too inclined to believe him.

The conversation gets you thinking -- in the reality that he does end up finding someone to handle the situation, would you give up so easily? You aren't quite sure you know the answer. Especially not if the sister celebrations are in jeopardy.

It's why, when the afternoon comes, you are more than willing to pay the tavern a visit. As you’d discovered on your meandering walk back to your chambers, the binder your father had handed you is composed of nothing but numbers -- all necessary information for the numerous courses set to be available at the day of Ludi Harpastum and its most beloved partner, titled Dies Luctus.

A commemorative event by title alone, Dies Luctus is a masquerade that takes place yearly that exists to pay respects to those who have passed -- though in recent years, it has become more of a prologue for later festivities to the unseasoned eye.

Small details here and there exist to remind you of its history, in the dark masks that are given to attending patrons, or the waves of silence that occasionally pass over the crowd, even the single flowers provided as offerings to those who have lost someone. The most menacing of these signs, however, remains to be the empty throne at the king’s side. 

Your hands are clammy as you trek to the tavern. Be it a masquerade or a way to respect the dead, you will sooner be a part of those honoured than let a petty murder be the reason the world is not reminded of your mother’s existence once again. 

Angel’s Share’s bell chimes from high above as you enter, but no one looks in your direction even as the door slams shut behind you -- at least, save for the bartender. Trained vermillion eyes find yours in an instant, surprise melting through the depths as he beckons you over with the rag in his hand.

You can’t help your smile as you slip onto the stool in front of him.

The bar is polished finely, though maybe even more so than usual due to the presence of Master Diluc. His appearance at the bar is rare these days because of the looming dates of Dies Luctus and Ludi Harpastum -- but since the unfortunate passing of his father five years ago, the responsibility of coordinating the technicalities of the two events has since been passed to him. 

You know firsthand that it’s a lot of work, but there is no one you feel safer leaving the job to than the man in front of you. He has proved time and time again that he is steadfast in all he does. 

“Look who’s finally decided to show themselves.” Diluc nearly puts down the glass that he’s cleaning to ridicule you, a sure sign of his irritation. “I’d almost forgotten what you look like.”

Exhaling a light laugh, you shrug. “You know it’s busy up there. I barely have time for myself anymore, much less to come here.”

He shakes his head as if the explanation is so-so.

“You were never bad at sneaking out here before.” He quirks a brow, trading in the dry glass for another. 

“That was before someone was murdered in the place I’m sneaking out from.” You point out, taking gratification in the way Diluc lets out a resigned sigh. “Of course, it hindered me a bit.”

You place the notebook on the counter as you speak, not missing the way Diluc’s eyes land on it briefly.

“Right.” He nods thoughtfully, lips thinning. “I hope you’re doing well. In that case, it’s better to stay where you can’t be hurt.”

“Glad I have your approval.” You nod, eyes trailing back to the menu board behind him. There is a good reason why the Dawn Winery is widely regarded as the finest winery in Teyvat -- Angel’s Share’s menu has remained consistent with classic favourites that have served multiple generations well. 

“Here,” He nudges your usual order to you, and in a haze, you realise you must have spaced out. Mumbling a soft apology, you take the cold glass in your hands. 

Diluc releases a quiet sigh, nudging the notebook with his knuckle. “Is something wrong? Do you need my help?”

“Kind of.” You admit, shrugging. He opens the binder with a curious hand. “It’s the catering needed for the sister celebrations coming up. It was given to me this morning.”

Diluc skims the pages silently, but you get the feeling he’d finished doing so long beforehand. He has always been so reserved, so thoughtful, even when you were children. His perseverance after the death of his father was something that you could never accomplish on your side of things, not even with time. Even as you stumbled behind, he grew capable -- capable of returning to see that you went in step with him, to the end. 

“I… had assumed the festivities would be postponed at the very least, concerning the recent events.” He admits, eyes flickering up to meet yours. “Is that not the case?”

“What?” You scoff, gesturing to the book. “Of course not. The king probably gave me that to deliver because he’s sure to have a solution by the time it comes around. He wouldn’t dare miss it.”

“Do you believe that?”

It’s a harmless question with a simple answer, but it stops you short. To see Diluc, such a powerful man, so unsure sometimes leaves your hopes exceedingly low. You train your eyes on the wall of alcohol behind him in hopes that he will not notice your hesitance. 

“...Fine. I don’t know what you’ve been told,” Continuing quietly, you’re suddenly acutely aware of the patrons near you. “I know that the longer it’s covered up, the worse it will get. But the issue will be gone by the time Dies Luctus starts, even if I have to make sure of it myself.”

“We’ve had problems before, but we’ve never missed it. And we won’t this time either.”

Diluc nods silently, your unspoken message reaching him clearly. Since your mother, the queen’s, murder almost six years ago, you have not once missed Dies Luctus -- the event is a memorial for the dead, but it is much more to you. Out of the three hundred and sixty five days a year, it is the only one your father will ever acknowledge that the queen is gone. 

“Then I’ll do what I can to help.” Diluc leans down on the counter on one elbow, all so that he can come closer to your face. It’s as if he believes your distance will affect how clearly you remember his threatening concern. “You need to tell me if anything else happens, okay?”

You can’t help a smile, leaning back. “So you will accept my request this time, Master Diluc?”

He shakes his head, fighting a smile. The jab of sudden formality is something that you will never let go of, even if he refuses to use your own title in return.

“I hope I won’t have to.”

You fear many things. darkness, the unspeakable acts spoken of in rumours that reach the castle’s halls, occasionally you even let your imagination fill in the blanks -- but not even the stormiest nights can compare to the dread that ferments deep in your bones in this moment. 

A cold sweat breaks out over your neck as you lay still, waiting, praying for the movement outside your door to still. There are two guards stationed outside your door on a typical night, and you have learned their schedules and how to recognise their gaits gradually over the hours of sleepless nights. Such an abundance of interruption is definitely rare. 

They are ordered to stay still so as not to disturb you, but the sounds that reach your ear are distinctly unnatural, and unnervingly close. Surely, you're just paranoid. You can only hope.

The curtains are drawn halfway shut across the room, letting the only source of light in through tiny gaps and slivers. It paints a suspenseful image as muffled noises come to a stuttering stop outside your door. Your breath catches as you’re shocked back into attention by a large thump against the wood. Abruptly, you sit up, clutching the sheets in a grip that has your knuckles turning white. Something is wrong.

Suddenly, someone steps carefully into your room. You eye the man warily. Because your guards rotate in shifts that change in the early morning, you cannot recall ever seeing the faces of the men who guard you while you rest. 

Breath stumbling, you ask, “…What’s going on?”

The guard shakes his head silently, face hidden beneath the haze of the night that blankets the room. You swallow thickly.

“You aren’t my guard, are you?” You say quietly.

A thousand thoughts run through your head. Is this perhaps your karma for pursuing the killer? It may only be your luck that has brought them to you, a harbinger of death is certainly a disposition that would find you eventually. But no amount of self pity or regret could overtake the fear that seizes you. 

“Clever.” When the fake finally responds, his voice is deeper than you had expected it to be. “I was told that you weren’t able to recognise your guards. Though, I presume that isn’t completely true, am I right, Your Highness?”

The man is quick and virtually soundless as he crosses the floor, all but for the way his boots occasionally clink together. Your heart sinks as his supposed plan comes together in your head.

“Don’t.” You order him sternly, putting out a shaking palm that betrays your voice. “How- how close do you think my other guards are?  I presume you weren’t told how quick their rounds are?”

It’s a complete and utter lie — no matter how close any patrolling guards are, the ones you mention are hours away from arriving. But you notice it when his body stills for a moment anyway. In slight panic, you throw your covers back and stand in a helpless attempt to gain leverage. 

“Don’t move.” He warns, putting out an empty hand. “You have the choice to make this a lot easier for the both of us.”

You scoff quietly, the sound broken. “...And let you kill me?”

You frown, trembling hand reaching for the abandoned cup of tea on the nightstand with a vengeance. But the man follows your movements too quickly, coming close and tearing the ceramic from your grip. The cold liquid splashes harmlessly back onto him.

He is faster than you in every sense. The late hour muddles more than just your mind, leaving ample opportunity for his hand to wrap around your collar and bring you closer. You half expect to see a creature of nightmares -- a mangled face, soulless eyes, but instead you’re met with the blank canvas of a black masquerade mask. Not even his eyes are visible through the tiny gaps. 

The cold edge of his knife presses into the skin of your neck, the same wide hand pulling your back to his chest. Your eyes grow wide at what little patience the man seems to have. 

“...Who are you?” You breathe, grimacing as the blade presses farther into your skin. It’s cleverly positioned, deep enough to draw blood yet still shallow enough to lift most of the pressure from your voice. No words pass between you as he looks over you from the depths of his mask, silent and patient. 

“Did you take the chamberlain’s life like this, too?” You choke, gasping for air as you begin to feel the gash on your neck slide open further with each word. “Or were you kinder to her?”

A small groan of pain leaves your mouth hanging open as he jolts the metal -- it’s not enough to hurt you a large amount, but it quiets you nonetheless. You wince when he says, 

 “I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’ve killed no one yet.” He says, breath hot against your ear. “You should worry about yourself.”

Unwelcome shock ripples through your chest. Of course, he must be bluffing, but you can’t quiet your mind long enough to focus on the implications of his words. It’s fairly obvious due to the burlesque way he holds onto you, but you suspect if the man put any amount of his normal strength forward, you would stand no chance. 

Brashly, you hiss, “Are you dragging this out on purpose?”

You can hear the smile in his voice as he speaks. “Only if you’d like me to, Princess.”

“…You say pointless things.” You grumble, trembling hand shooting up to latch onto his clothed wrist. Most of your willpower goes into keeping your voice still, but any semblance of control you attempt to fake is lost on your body. Though, he pays no mind to you. 

You’re even almost certain he mirrors your look of irritation as he finally dares to make a calculated slash across your neck. Gasping in pain, your legs falter. It is exceedingly thin, barely noticeable for all but the way you bleed. The wound that opens across your neck meets the cold air all too fast, hot blood ghosting across the mess of hands at your collar.

He seems to think his warning will convince you to secede. 

Hesitantly, you speak, nearly gagging at the sensation of blood that drags down your throat. “Do you enjoy holding my life in your hands?”

Your captor doesn’t respond, circling you to your front cautiously. He keeps the knife to your throat as a precaution before finally allowing the mask he wears to slip over the bridge of his nose. Chilling blue eyes stare back at you, clean and free of emotion. For a moment, these eyes seem hauntingly familiar -- but you force yourself to quit dwelling on the man that holds a knife to your throat. 

“And if I do?”

The challenging words ignite a sense of desperation in you. You have little ability to fight back, fearing your delicate wound opening into something more; your blood already makes a mess of anything it can reach, and you doubt you can withstand it for much longer. 

“Then,” You’re breathing heavily as his eyes narrow. “Try your best.”

You had first learned how to hold a dagger beneath the shade of a grapevine on your thirteenth birthday -- it had been a drab thing, metal worn and rusted from years of disuse. Yet, Diluc had sworn to you that it was as good as any. With his skills, maybe that was true, but as you took the handle like you would a kitchen knife, you knew immediately that you would have a different experience. 

The concept was at first no more than a way to have fun, intended for an impossibly different future. Though, you’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that Diluc took his role as a teacher seriously -- he almost embodied the position as he guided you, solidifying your once meagre skills.

Then Diluc received a vision. 

Pyro and matching his once upbeat personality, the fifteen year old that had received it was delighted. Quickly, he lost the need to know how to throw a knife, and how to utelise it as an effective weapon. He had many other things at his disposal that were much more interesting, after all. 

And yet, he stayed with you. He continued to teach you everything he knew, even as he began to forget it himself. You make a mental note to never admit that you’re the same, that most of his words from back then are lost to time. But, as frustrated tears well up in your eyes, you’re suddenly unsure if you’ll ever get the opportunity to see him again. 

Because in truth, you are more human than you give yourself credit for. You pale in the face of danger just as anyone else would, losing your reason just as fast as you may lose your blood -- but the difference in you, is that you will seldom let people say they have bested you. 

With a staggering breath, you back away suddenly, wincing at the slight grit of metal releasing skin as you move. There are no easy countermeasures to take, no hidden weapons tucked away for situations like these. The man points his weapon at you easily, threats materialising in his gaze as he takes a step forward. You take a step back in return.

“If you come quietly, I’ll make it hurt less”

The same dreaded pattern continues until the back of your knees hit the bed.

“And if I don’t? You’ve had ample opportunity to take my life, and yet you haven’t.” You say bitterly, hiding the way your hands shake behind your back. The knife he holds still shines red with the tint of your blood. “If you’re trying to hold me for ransom, I’d save your breath.”

He seems amused, but there’s a flicker of genuine interest over his face. Thumbing the knife in his grip, he asks quietly,

“And why is that, Your Highness?”

You don’t respond. Turning quickly to slip the notebook from beneath your pillow, the weighted canvas is heavy in your hand. His eyes widen as you swing it over him directly, and though it misses the target you had intended, you’re able to knock the dagger from his unsuspecting hands. 

But, you’re too sloppy as you dive for it. The man catches up to you easily, taking the window you struggle to pull you back into his chest as the knife clatters to the floor. You cry out as he forces your neck upwards, tears rushing to your eyes.

“Not so fast.'' He clenches his jaw, grip tightening over your throat as tears rush to your eyes. “I’ve heard how good you are with a knife.”

Fighting the darkness that threatens to invade your vision, you croak and claw at his arms. “If- if you didn’t kill the chamberlain, why are you here?”

“Cooperate, then I'll tell you.” The man grits. You let out a desperate groan.

In a hopeless attempt to gain leverage, you jump – he’d made the easy mistake of letting your feet touch the ground, giving your flailing limbs enough time to push into him. The nauseating sound of bone hitting bone suddenly resounds in the quiet room, though it’s moderately covered by the obstinate curses of the man behind you. He releases his grip on you reflexively. Coughing furiously, you shove your weight back into him with all of your might.

When he staggers, you take the opportunity to tackle him down, forcing your weight on top of him before he can counter. Now, as your legs straddle him, you hold the knife to his throat with one hand, the other holding one of his arms above his head.

Your captor’s body is completely relaxed, and though you know it’s a plot to get under your skin, it still scares you. 

“Name your price,” You rasp, voice still weak from being briefly cut off. “Or I’ll kill you myself.”

The man says nothing, hair mussed and breathing heavy. His reason for breaking in must be so clouded that it blinds his own reasoning. In your mutual struggle, his mask has started to slip further beneath his eyes, though it saddens you slightly to know you have no free hand to reveal the man’s identity completely.

Your jaw locks as you push the blade into his skin. It catches you off guard when you notice his face shifting into an incredulous smile.

“I would never take the money of a fake King."

You push him into the ground, taking note of the way he grunts in response. “Be quiet.”

The man’s short laugh splits the air, the beginning of a bruise blooming on the underside of his chin. 

A beat of uncomfortable silence passes between you. But, before the man can goad you any further, a shaking hand brings the knife away from his throat. In the most simple way, your thoughts are a jumble of wires – the shells of countless new plans that will never be anything more than inklings. 

Consequently, you barely think anything of it when you decide to turn away, nothing more guiding your panicked aim than your wildly beating heart. 

Even the man below you seems confused at your thought process. But as soon as the decorative vase sitting by the door shatters over the hard tile, he is competent enough to know that despite your compromising position, you are the only one of you who believes that you are fighting for your life. 

You half expect the noise to set him off. But, the incoming danger does nothing more than make him attempt to break away from you. 

You shout for anyone nearby before mustering the courage necessary to push him further into the tiled floor, cementing your palm into the nook of his wrists until he grimaces. A glimmer of something close to understanding rushes through his eyes.

“If you wanted to be close to me so bad, you could’ve said so.” He teases, though the fear in his voice is raw. It almost manages to catch you off guard.

“I wouldn’t move if I were you.” You spit, voice shaking as he attempts to fight back. Though you want to pride yourself in your ability to keep him down, something seems suspicious about it --  he had no problem overpowering you before, so a simple change in position shouldn’t be as important.

By now, you’ve certainly noticed the cerulean vision strapped to his hip, signifying his power threshold. Though, you’re unsure of whether his disuse of it frightens or relieves you more – he has certainly only been delaying the inevitable, but why?

It’s as if something had flipped in his mind. He’d certainly thought of something in his time since entering the room, but whether it was previous plans or an entirely new one, you don’t know.

Swallowing your doubts, you push more of your weight onto his arms. The man grunts.

“I don’t know what you want,” You breathe, force evident in your voice. “But you won’t get it.”

He conveniently manages to break out of your grip just as the door to your chambers slams open, a group of masked guards rushing in unhindered. You fall back onto the ground hard. But, as the man searches for a viable route of escape, one of the braver guards rushes forward to your side and yanks you out of harm’s way.

In their grip, you’re nothing but a bag of bones being strung along, stunned into silence. 

The criminal’s mask has since been adjusted back to its normal position, and yet, you still feel the depths of his sheathed gaze when it finds yours. A frown is evident on his face. 

“You’re going to regret this.” He speaks to you as if you’re still the only two in the room, focus inconveniently centred even as the guards in front of you begin to crowd him. A heavy hand comes up to ghost over the afflictions on your neck. The pain is fresh, blood adorning the shallow slit as well as a tightness that rests in the skin he had grabbed you. It will likely bruise. 

But, you can’t find it in you to take pleasure in the way that he fends off the guards – he seems a decent match for them, an excellent fighter in his own right, but he plays the same wretched game and only you are aware of it. The man’s punches are too sloppy to be natural, his footwork too elementary to belong to someone who had quietly replaced a guard without issue. 

Much to your chagrin, he’s soon placed in handcuffs. A jumble of threats courses through the room on the account of both parties. Though, you have to admit: however fake they may be, the man’s promises are certainly creative. 

But most of all, you take great pleasure in seeing the guards at last pull back his mask, revealing his face to the full extent.

You gut twists as stunning sapphire eyes meet yours in full capacity for the first time. You can’t help but shudder at the sense of familiarity his appearance lends you, despite his plain clothes and foul mouth. Even more surprising, though, is the way he immediately seems to recognise your train of thought – his gaze cuts deep into you even without the handicap of a physical blade.

However, the words he attempts to convey are lost on you. And rather than feel dejected, you find comfort in your inability to understand. Because when you see the scratches up his arms, and the bruise that blooms dark on his chin, you don’t let yourself forget that in the end, he has lost. 

He merely lets himself be pulled upright. Even if his eyes allude to pain, the man makes no effort to resist, nor to even elaborate as his form disappears beyond the doorway. He leaves almost entirely unscathed as you stand rigid in the scrapping he’d left behind.

You release a throaty cough, finally allowing yourself to sit up straighter from your tense position on the floor. There is very little you can do beyond touch the skin on your neck gingerly as the silence of the night begins to fade in. 

It’s only now that you notice the guard that had originally caught you has hung back, silently waiting for the right moment to act -- a patient approach, but unfortunately, not a helpful one. Your lips thin in a strained frown as tears finally begin to spill over your cheeks. 

The knight reaches out an armoured hand, concerned but mechanical -- this is merely his duty, not his want. You turn it down shakily, reeling back from his worry even if you want nothing more than for someone to be brave enough to look past your fear. 

“My lady--”

“Find Master Diluc. Now.” You choke out, gaze turning on him as you stand shakily. “I- I will make my way to the infirmary--”

They reach out a hand once again, but this time, when you see it coming, you freeze. 

The floor is hard against your body, and so, so unbearably real. You are not the farthest from death that you’ve ever been, but remembering the feeling of cool steel against your skin, you can’t help but wonder if it was closest. The gravity of the situation hits you all at once as the adrenaline drains from your blood.

The guard’s voice is distant as a mindful hand finally makes the jump to support you. Yet, as you choke on blood that you can’t touch, as desperation rises to your eyes, you realise you don’t have it in you to respond. You can do nothing but turn your painful gaze on them before you come so close to losing everything once again.

© tartaglicious 2022, please do not repost 

jean bf headcanons [p2]

hehe jean brain rot time + some more general headcanons mixed in :]

warnings: a little bit of fem! implied reader

- despite you both having your own designated spaces in the bed, the entire thing might as well be yours. You lay sprawled out on any side and Jean either lazily adjusts you or just squeezes into whatever space beside you

- movie nights at least once a week. Contrary to what his manly man behavior suggests, no, Jean does not want to watch this super scary horror movie

- He has a fear of clowns and dolls so when you pull out the Annabelle movies he's already sweating.

-"You sure you wanna watch this movie, baby?" "Je~ean, you're not scared, are you?" "Well, I-, no, of course not, I- I just- I don't want you to be scared."

- You see right through his façade but pick another movie anyway. If you both still watch the horror movie, you're holding and rubbing his hand the entire time, his face partially hidden in your neck as he tries to disguise his fear as cuddling.

- He tenses up when something scares him and tries to hold in any scream or cry, but if one does slip out he obviously disguises it as a cough. Yeah sure, Jean, a popcorn kernel totally got stuck in your throat conveniently at every jumpscare.

- summertime with Jean!! He loves seeing you in any swimsuit whether it's a one-piece or a bikini, even if you're wearing one of those little sheer cover-ups the entire time

- you both suck at making sand castles and they end up lopsided and looking like they've melted.

- definitely collects seashells for you. He hides the prettiest ones from you to get them made into necklaces/gifts and it's always a pleasant surprise. You keep them all tucked away in a cute little jewelry box and wear them out on dates.

- Jean has this sort of mundane superpower where's he really good at telling what things you really want. You don't even have to say anything. You pick up a pair of pants and only look at it for ten seconds, but Jean can somehow tell if you actually really like them or not. He claims you have a tell but won't let you know what it is.

- He will try out any game you tell him about at least once. Doesn't matter if it's a girly dress up game or a first person shooter, he'll try it anyway.

- LOVES running his fingers through your hair (or over your scalp if you have super short hair). Loves having his hands on or near your head/face in general. Gives you head pats and calls you a good girl/boy

- Sings while he cooks but only when you're not home/he thinks you can't hear him because it makes him a little shy.

- Loves to dress you up because he loves seeing you in clothes that he picked out for you. You're both be lazing around the house and he gets this urge to spoil you so grab your bag, ya'll are going shopping.

- He tells you to pick a colour or a style(and maybe the store) and while you're looking at stuff in the shop, he's using the criteria you gave him to pick an outfit for you, it's like a game for him.

𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 — 𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐢

Pairing: Dabi x genderneutral!reader

Warnings: Fluff, this is so domestic and sweet, you might need some tissues in case you start crying.

Summary: After staying over at your place and waking up earlier than you, Dabi decides to make you breakfast.

A/N: This started as a short drabble and evolved into a whole fic because I couldn’t contain myself. Domestic!Dabi just hits different and I just really liked the idea with Dabi attempting to cook for you as a sign of his love. I’m still not really satisfied with it, but I didn’t want to keep this in my drafts any longer.

Word count: 1.584 words

MASTERLIST

Dabi doesn’t remember the last time he stood in a clean kitchen and made breakfast for someone. It leaves him with a strange sense of domesticity as he rummages through endless cabinets and drawers to find a frying pan for some stupid eggs, pushing pots and other kitchen utensils aside with loud clanging to reach what he needs for his experimental cooking.

Keep reading

#WITH CUPID’S HELP

CHARACTERS: ALBEDO, BENNETT, CHONGYUN, DILUC, KAEYA, KAZUHA, THOMA, ZHONGLI

PAIRING: CHARACTER X GN!READER

GENRE: FLUFF!~ （＾ω＾）

“HOW SOMEONE GETS YOU TWO TOGETHER.”

A/N: inspired by @kageyuji’s “their friend accidentally confesses for them“ haikyuu post!! mwah go read it and leave him some rb‘s and kisses <33 ♪(´ε｀ )

NAVIGATION

#ALBEDO (KLEE)

listen. klee is convinced the two of you are made for each other!! she saw you two talking and went, ah yes, a couple!! (๑>◡<๑)

in her mind, the two of you looked just like any of the other couples she has seen around mondstadt!! you’re probably married, right? wait…she wasn’t invited to you wedding! how dare mr albedo do that!! >:o

imagine her surprise when albedo told her that, no klee, y/n and i are just friends. where did you get this idea from? - so you’re not married? and i didn’t get not invited to the wedding? - no???

after her “discovery”, albedo’s afternoons with klee consisted of, “mr. albedo, did you ask y/n yet??”, “well i think y/n likes you because you like them too!!” and “can we go visit y/n?? please??”

he’s truly struggling keeping up with her questions about you, especially because she just doesn’t get tired of it?? he’ll tell her that you’re just friends and she’ll be like, no, you’re not and that’s it! checkmate mr smarty pants (๑･̑◡･̑๑)

luckily for him, klee never actually mentioned him or how she thinks you two should be together to you??? well, she didn’t…

…until she did (*⁰▿⁰*)

klee asked you to have lunch with her and albedo, and you obviously agreed because who could say no to that?!

you and klee are on your way to pick up albedo from dragonspine, chatting and having a great time when she suddenly hits you with the, y/n, you have to go out with mr albedo. ok? he never listens when i tell him to ask you! it’s so annoying!!

safe to say, you were stunned. klee, what are you talking about?? albedo and i-

he likes you! and you like him, i know it! so be together! >:( klee’s getting all pouty and stomps her little feet because ugh!! just date already!! it’s so obvious, so please!!

you tried to brush her off and were ready to just pretend nothing happened, to never speak a word about this to albedo…klee on the other hand, didn’t （＾ω＾）

you reached his camp, and even before albedo was able to greet you two, klee excitedly told him, mr. albedo, i did it for you!! i told y/n about it and they’re gonna say yes, so just ask them now, ok? (๑╹ω╹๑ )

seems like now both you and albedo had to face your feelings ♪( ´▽｀) klee walking up to jean like hehe yes i did that thank you

#BENNETT (BARBARA)

barbara found out about benny’s crush on you while patching up some of his wounds, actually! he was still high on adrenaline and kind of just said whatever came to mind? ٩( ᐛ )و

he passed by you on his way to the cathedral and now his mind’s running, both from the adrenaline pumping through his veins as well as from seeing you-

oh and i went to good hunter with them and fischl yesterday! it was so good and pretty! the food was good and y/n was pretty, i mean- and also! did you know that y/n also knows how to fix my wounds? they helped me last time, when you were out and-

he’s just rambling and rambling and rambling and barbara just listens to him gushing about you with a smile, well, did you ask them out if you like them so much?

and he just freezes (*´ー｀*)-

he regains his composure a bit and immediately is like, oh no! i could never!! me and my bad luck would bother them so much and i don’t want them to possibly get hurt, and what if they don’t even like me like that and it could ruin our friendship and make us awkward and-

barbara feels so bad for him?? she knows it’s not her place to do anything but she doesn’t want him to think like that, especially when she knows that you might, possibly, perhaps also like him :((

so she takes it upon herself and writes a little anonymous note to you!! she mentions that a certain member of a certain one man adventure team might be fond of you, and that you definitely should ask him out!! (^з^)

unfortunately, barbara isn’t that good at hiding things? which results in her avoiding you like the plague because she doesn’t trust herself to not expose that she was the one.. ∑(ﾟДﾟ)

but at the same time she always tries to subtly ask bennett if anything…special…happened…if there was something…happening…and poor benny is clueless and is always just like? no? i don’t think so? ( ・∇・)

barbara is frustrated!! she fears you might’ve never actually received the letter? what if you lost it before you could read it?? what if she accidentally put it in someone else’s pocket?? dear barabtos, what if…what if you don’t even like bennett back?! what then?! oh dear archons-

her train of thought is interrupted by the door swinging open, a beet red bennett stumbling in, goofy smile on his face..

and would you look at that!! from now on, benny gets to gush about you to barbara as your boyfriend!! wowie!! ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

#CHONGYUN (XINGQIU)

there’s rarely anything xingqiu enjoys as much as tormenting chongyun - lovingly, of course! but…

…if there’s one thing he absolutely hates, it’s the way chongyun torments himself by not confessing to you,,,heck, he doesn’t even have to confess!! merely talking to you would be a reasonable step to take!! (￣^￣)

xingqiu tried everything. from being very gentle and understanding to giving chongyun rather aggressive love and support- and nothing works!!

xingqiu’s is at the end of his rope while chongyun is the same lovestruck fool he always was 😀👍

xingqiu doesn’t want to confess for him or anything, because that’s a little too far, even for him! (￣^￣)

(also, he’s sure chongyun’s first instinct would be to say that he’s lying and that it’s not true. so, maybe he would, but it would probably backfire.)

sooo…since he can’t be the one to tell you about chongyun’s crush, who could?…well, how about chongyun himself 👀

xingqiu knows that his plan might be a little mean, but he’s truly just looking out for chongyun!! especially because he’s about 97% sure you like him back-

because you see, xingqiu’s plan was to have you ‘accidentally‘ overhear chongyun talking about his feelings for you!!

is it a little mean? yeah, but it’s all in good faith! xingqiu just really, really wants to help chongyun out - and if it means making him a little mad in the process, so be it

they met up to have dinner together, and xingqiu invited you too, unbeknownst to chongyun - and unbeknownst to you, he invited you a little later

that way, he has enough time to ease into the subject and have chongyun ramble about you by the time you arrived!!

say, chongyun, how’s your little crush on y/n going? - w-what? well, it’s going fine. i mean, i haven’t told them yet and i’m not even really thinking about telling them because that would be crazy right? y/n surely doesn’t like me back and-

and what can he say, it worked!! perfectly, actually (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) well, perfectly except for chongyun‘s face that looked like it was about to explode while you stood there like Σ੧(❛□❛✿)

tldr; so while chongyun might got a little mad at first, at the end of the day, xingqiu was the one who got you two together! ha, checkmate! (*´꒳`*)

#DILUC (JEAN)

jean absolutely did not mean to say anything. she would’ve taken the knowledge of diluc’s infatuation with you to the grave if she had to. especially because not even diluc knew that jean knew!! it’s a mess- (*´Д｀*)

the second she accidentally let it slip, she froze and just stared at diluc for a second…who seemed just as shocked as her ( ・∇・)

um, i-…did not mean to say that. i’m sorry, please forget about it. it’s absolutely none of my business, i never would’ve said anything, i-

she’s panicking while diluc is still frozen, his mind racing; how did she know? did he tell her at some point? did someone else tell her? did she figure it out on her own? if she figured it out on her own, dear archons, does that mean he’s that obvious? but if that’s the case, other people would’ve surely noticed as well, right? what if-

the ungodly shrieks both of them let out when you come into the tavern, greeting them- 💀

they both try so hard to pretend like nothing happened and jean tries her darnest to come up with an excuse to leave immediately, she can’t take this anymore ( ´θ｀)ノ

them: ( ・x・) you: (*^ω^*) hey guys!!

jean really doesn’t mean to butt into diluc’s business!! especially not his love life- (ﾟ∀ﾟ)

but she’s also someone who really likes to help people…and she’s seeing how much diluc’s struggling with her own two eyes…

would it really be that bad if she were to just..help out a little..?

now, jean herself also has no idea what she would do in his situation, much less any idea what she’s supposed to do as a bystander!! so she figures that encouragement would be the way to go! (๑>◡<๑)

so, the next time she meets diluc she tries to subtly bring you up, which seems to work well until she looks up at diluc and he stares back at her with the iciest glare she’s ever seen 😀-

i-…i just mean…you know, i think it would benefit you if you told them? i think it’s pretty obvious to anyone that you and y/n have some sort of…special relationship? surely it would be best for you to…, jean trails off, seeing you slowly get up from the floor behind the counter where you had been helping diluc by sorting and refilling some ingredients ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ

very much awkward silence. it takes a solid 10 seconds for anyone to move, and once shock dies down, it’s chaos from there :(；ﾞﾟ'ωﾟ'):

right when jean found the words to say something, anything, to take back what she said and explain, diluc had a ‘ah, screw it’ moment and asked you to follow him outside for a second

the second you two went out the door, jean rushed to the back door of the tavern and hurried back to the knight’s headquarters - there’s no way she’s gonna stay around after the utter embarrassment she felt ヽ(￣д￣;)ノ=3=3=3

she and diluc silently agree to not talk about how you and him got together ( ✌︎'ω')✌︎

#KAEYA (ROSARIA)

does rosaria care about kaeya’s little crush on you? absolutely not. the only reason she even knows about it is because kaeya let it slip after a few drinks at the tavern (°▽°)

what she does care about, though, is the fact that he just won’t shut up about you. it’s like a broken faucet, he just keeps rambling on and on and on and on and on and-

she had to do something, okay? something to get him to shut up - so she took it upon herself to get you together (one way or another)! ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

the thing is, though, that rosaria doesn’t…care? not enough to come up with some elaborate plan or give kaeya a pep-talk, at least-

to be fair, she did try to get him to confess to you before - which kaeya just shrugged off and dismissed, telling her, ah, i wish i could

she’s quite literally about to just march up to you and let you know that kaeya likes you and that you should talk to him about it, for her sake if not for anything else (　˙-˙　)

the thought has been swimming around her mind for a while, but she never really felt the need to go through with it…until kaeya refused to talk about anything else but your upcoming birthday, which at that point was still a whole 2 weeks away (*´ー｀*)

surprise gift that, surprise dinner this - for days, all he talked about was putting together an amazing birthday surprise for you while all rosaria wants to do is sit in the tavern, drink and relax…ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ

quite frankly, she had enough 😀🤚

so imagine your surprise when rosaria pulls you aside the second you enter the tavern, brows furrowed

listen, y/n, i need you to do something about that little thing you and kaeya have going on. it’s so painfully obvious, and he won’t ever shut up about you, so for the love of all archons, just get it together. both of you.

you just stood there like Σ('◉ ⌓ ◉’)…and then you locked eyes with kaeya, who was standing behind rosaria- (kaeya and you suddenly locking eye(s) like Σ(‘▇ ⌓ ◉’))

rosaria follows your stare and turns to look at kaeya, shrugs and goes back into the tavern. her mission is done here! ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

it’s safe to say that both of you were a little flustered during the conversation you and kaeya had afterwards (〃ω〃)

it didn’t take long for kaeya to turn all suave again, though! ε-(´∀｀; )

(poor rosaria though, because now that you and kaeya are actually dating, he won’t ever shut up about you ٩( 'ω' )و)

#KAZUHA (BEIDOU)

kazuha regrets ever confessing his feelings for you to beidou about two times a day ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ

he’ll forget to do something and she’ll be like, kazuha, how are you gonna get y/n to date you if you can’t even prepare the rice?!

she’s very direct and definitely wants him to confess to you - but, being the responsible captain she is, she also makes sure to remind him that a romantic relationship means change

he’ll have to figure out if he wants you to come with them, or if he’d like to stay with you - maybe nothing will change and you’ll only see each other every few months? beidou is very supportive of him, though, and always encourages him to be brave and go for it

she just really wants to see him finally be happy darn it!! (＞人＜;)

the crux had a little celebration the day before they were leaving liyue for a few months, and beidou made sure to tell kazuha to invite you!!

at least invite ‘em to the celebration! you don’t have to give ‘em your heart, but at least bid a proper farewell to ‘em. you’re gonna miss y/n either way, whether they know or not

when beidou told him that kazuha kinda just went hm. (。-∀-)

because she’s right!! but the way she said it also made him want to confess really badly,,,

so you’re invited to the little celebration held on the crux!! how fun!! well, it is quite fun, but it would probably be a little more fun if kazuha didn’t look so gloomy the whole time? Σ(-᷅_-᷄๑)

he’s just brooding the whole time, which is so unlike him?? you’re not sure what’s wrong, so you decide to ask beidou about it…she’s had a few drinks, so you had to ask her a few times until she got it ʅ（◞‿◟）ʃ

ahhh, that idiot…you know what, y/n? i’m a great captain. amazing even! so i’m gonna do what’s best for one of my own. listen well, yeah? that poet has the hots for ya. for a while now. won’t stop worryin’ about it. ‘s probably why he’s borodin’, he’s worried you’ll be gone by the time we come back.

while you’re standing there, processing what she just told you, she turns around and beckons kazuha over. she pats his shoulder and gestures towards you, i told ‘em about it. you can get mad at me tonight, but make sure to thank me tomorrow

beidou used to poke fun at the little poems kazuha would come up with when he was still crushing on you, and now she’s poking fun at him for the poems he writes down as your boyfriend. they’ll never change ✌︎('ω')✌︎

#THOMA (YOIMIYA/AYAKA)

thoma struck pure gold in terms of finding the absolute best friends he could ever ask for!! yoimiya is the passion and confidence he needs and ayaka stays rational and talks him out of anything stupid (*´ω｀*)

now, yoimiya has been telling him to confess for months. years. eons. ever since she caught wind of his little infatuation with you, she told him to go for it, thoma!! what could possibly go wrong?

…which was met with ayaka telling him to calm down and go about it slowly, thoma. spending more time with them and getting closer gradually is better than just springing it on them out of nowhere like that

it’s safe to say he’s struggling a little trying to decide what to do |(￣3￣)|

even though yoimiya and ayaka couldn’t exactly agree on the way thoma should go about asking you to be his, they did however agree that this couldn’t go on any longer - poor thoma is all up in his head because of you!! (´；Д；`)

so, they decide to help out! thoma’s birthday was coming up anyways, and what’s a better gift than to finally be able to confess his love to the person he’s been pining after for so long? (๑･̑◡･̑๑)

they had a perfect plan - the two of you would be sent out on your own, you believing you’re the ‘distraction’ that has to buy some time and while you’re walking around (with coincidentally placed flower petals and pretty lights everywhere), yoimiya is going to set off the prettiest fireworks!!

it’s going to be the perfect moment for both of you to come clean about your feelings and arrive to the birthday party as couple!! (๑>◡<๑)

yoimiya is burning with excitement and works on the fireworks with a completely new found fervour while ayaka is organising the surprise party~

they’re both just so excited to see thoma be happy with you :(( <3

and when the day finally comes, it all seemingly goes according to plan - you’re out with thoma ‘distracting’ him and buying time for the people still decorating the kamisato residence, then the fireworks go off - it all went smoothly!! ayaka and yoimiya are both excitedly waiting for you two to walk in (｡･ω･｡)

and you do walk in!! you’re both smiling, thoma very obviously excited, and yoimiya can’t help but blurt out, FINALLY! FINALLY YOU ASKED Y/N OUT!!

…never had anyone see the smile on thoma’s face warp into utter confusion so quickly 😀

w-what? i didn’t- what? - you…you didn’t? but…the plan? the light? the flowers? the ‘distraction’? the fireworks???

seems like they both planned everything to a t, except for letting thoma know what he’s supposed to do (´；ω；`)

in the heat of all the confusion (and embarassment, honestly) you excuse yourself and thoma and drag him outside - and the next time you enter the room, the smile on thoma’s face won’t be dropping so quickly ♪( ´▽｀)~

#ZHONGLI (HU TAO)

not once did zhongli even so much as mention you around hu tao, and still, she somehow figured out that he’s particularly fond of you?? and zhongli hates it!! _:(´ཀ`」 ∠):

she’ll randomly be like, oh! hey y/n!! just to watch zhongli turn around, ready to greet you with a tiny smile on his face, only to be met with no one…(￣ ￣) his smile drops so fast </3

hu tao’s thriving and zhongli’s losing his mind!!

she also always brings you up, no matter what they’re talking about! he’ll mention going to lunch and hu tao’s like, ah yes, lunch, try eating it with y/n, though! i think it’ll taste better!

the amount of times she almost said something in front of you is way too high to count!! and coincidentally, it’s the same amount of times zhongli almost suffered a heart attack (ﾟωﾟ)…

you see, zhongli actually does plan to confess to you - on his own terms, though. he absolutely does not want to rush anything or ruin whatever platonic bond you built over time

he wants to be sure that you also harbour romantic feelings for him!! so, he decides to wait; decides to be patient and let you relationship grow naturally until it feels right

…hu tao doesn’t think that his approach is very fun, to be honest. actually, she thinks it’s ridiculously boring!! why would he wait that long? and what’s that about letting your relationship grow naturally??? pffff- not on her watch!

straight up telling you about it wouldn’t be much fun, so hu tao decided to organise a cute little date, invite you in zhongli’s name via a little note, tell zhongli that you invited him for dinner and then she’ll just see what happens!!

and to even her own surprise…it worked quite well? zhongli was a little suspicious when she told him you invited him to dinner, but nonetheless, he took the chance - because what if it was actually you, and he didn’t show up? the idea of even accidentally standing you up makes his heart hurt (´･Д･)」

the two of you are having a great time and at one point zhongli kind of just decides that this right now is the perfect moment - you’re both smiling from ear to ear, listening to each other’s stories and basking the presence of one another

y/n, pardon me if this is not the right time, but, what would you say if i took the liberty of asking you out on a date? a real, formal date. romantically, of course.

hu tao was listening the whole time and she’s both flabbergasted and impressed?? she didn’t expect it to actually work!! 10/10 for herself, 10/10 for you and 7.5/10 for zhongli because the way he asked you out was way too formal for hu tao ψ(｀∇´)ψ

TAGLIST: @whygz @blissmal @zhongchi14 @kageyuji

tags: hybrid au (half animal half human), fem!reader, reader is a child therapist, norwegian forest cat!aizawa, not a/b/o, dubcon, male masturbation, implied past abandonment, transformations (shifting between cat and human), heats, hurt/comfort, biting, scratching, blood, angst and fluff, bed sharing, penetrative sex, oral sex (f!receiving), strangers to friends to lovers, therapy cats, animal instincts, more tags to be added

synopsis: you’d toyed with the idea of adopting a hybrid for a long while, always blaming your hesitance on a lack of finances, time and space. but when your best friend asks for your input in finalising her own adoption, you meet an older cat by the name of Shouta that you simply refuse to leave without.

chapters: one (coming soon) two three

figure skater! oikawa torū that looks like an angel on the ice, practically floating. he has this bright smile that shines brighter than the sun even while indoors. on occasions, he’ll offer you to come on the ice with him. and although it’s a bit intimidating considering he is godly at ice-skating, he takes his time.

if you don’t know how to ice-skate, he holds your hand, having you step on his skates just to get a “feel for the ice.” and reminds you it is “just like learning to dance.” with this saccharine tone. if you become scared or frightened, he’ll place a hand on your back, assuring you there is no one more ready to keep you from falling than him.

there was one night that you became determined you were going to ace ice-skating once and for all. yet that night you ended up in torū’s arms, his lips pressed to yours under the dimmer evening light.

of course, moments like that apparently didn’t come for free. on ice, he just so happens to love taunting you over how pink your face becomes from the cold whilst he’s perfectly adjusted thanks to the thin clothing he wears during competition.

step by step he teaches, teaching you everything there is to know about the world of figure skating. good and bad. you are the first person to attend his shows and the first to get the best tickets in competitions. sometimes, his performances are based on his feelings for you, whether that be subtle or ultimately provocative. you can’t help the crimson dancing on your cheeks when his eyes meet yours on center stage.

however the ice may be one of his favorite places, but you are the home he looks forward to seeing the most.

-maak

plagiarism, repost, and editing is prohibited

toman guys as classmates

Mikey: begs you to say “present” for him during attendance while he knocks out and u do bc he trades it for his taiyaki 🐡

Draken: once witnessed a guy walk in front of u w out holding the door open and used him as a door stop next time he sees him n lets u in first like “after u” 🚪

Mitsuya: gave u his jacket to wrap around ur waist when u stained your pants from ur period 🩸

Chifuyu: you switched earrings w him one day and walked around w his hoop while he wore your diamond stud 💎

Baji: brought a kitten to school and let u pet it in exchange for helping him spell a few words for homework 🐱

Kazutora: gives you the other half of his ear buds and puts u on good music kinda emo and distressing but ur vibing so 😗

Akkun: braids your hair while u ignore the lecture 👧

Takemichi: literally you both sit in class lost as hell wondering if you’re even in the right class 🥴

Smiley: always eating in class and offering you the bigger half of his snacks 🥺

Angry: always has hand sanitizer or a bandaid for you when you get hurt or something 🥲

Sanzu: the type to throw a desk around for a very minor inconvenience but also very kind to u….So…😵‍💫

Ran: gives you one of his hair ties when you need to tie your hair up for gym 🤸‍♀️

Rindou: let’s you draw on his forearms during art and color in his tattoos 🖍

Hanma: lets u take a hit off his vape during lunch 💨

OKAY.

So. In knb you've written pregnant reader, AND reader giving birth. But what you haven't written yet, is the first couple years of their baby's life/milestones (first steps, tooth, word, etc.). And that is my request. If you have the time or you actually want to do this though. ✨Milestones✨

Brooo what if they all had like 2 boys then when their 3rd baby is born it's a daughter...?? That'd be cute af. Oh oh and the brothers/dad are totally in love with that baby girl 😍 !! Speaking from experience there. My triplet boys adore their baby sister. More often than not I'll find them sleeping in her nursery.

I LOVE THIS! i think how i’m gonna go about this is mix it up a bit if that’s okay :)

also have two older brothers IS DEF SO CUTE

baby milestones

warnings: reader is referred as a mom figure

ft. gom + kagami

KISE literally runs to you when you call out his name from the kitchen. “she said her first word!” you squealed, holding your baby daughter in your arms. “come on honey, say what you said earlier!” you cooed at your daughter, who was intensely staring at your husband. with hopeful eyes, she mumbled, “dada.. mama..” kise gasped as tears started to swell in his eyes, “we’re getting old, y/n-cchi! she’s already saying our names!” you rolled your eyes playfully and kissed your daughter’s cheek. “good job honey. he is dada, and i am mama.” “she’s the smartest baby ever.” kise said, pulling out his phone to take videos of your child that can now say both of your names.

MIDORIMA acts like he doesn’t care, but he does when he sees your son pointing at the different shaped blocks and calling them their appropriate names. “sqware! wectangle!” he cheered, distinguishing each block correctly. he pulls out his phone to take a video to show you later, but he plans on buying more complex blocks like rhombuses and diamonds so he can expand his learning. to think his son barley needed assistance to learn each shape makes midorima the most proudest dad ever. he picks up his son and kissed his forehead, “good job, shotaro. you’re growing up well.”

AOMINE pumps his fist into the air when you let go of your son and he starts to walk towards your husband. “go daijo, go! come to dad! come on!” you could tell he was struggling to balance, but nevertheless he was kept on his toes and successfully made it to aomine’s arms. “you’re too good, buddy! you’re gonna be the best basketball player with these steps.” he picked up daijo and lightly threw him in the air, making you admire them with so much love because they’re your two boys. he was like a little copy carbon of aomine, and you had to take a photo discreetly to never forget this moment. “come daijo! give mommy a hug too! you did so well, sweetie!” you smiled, opening up your arms to the both of them.

MURASAKIBARA has been trying to make homemade baby food to not only save money, but it was the ultimate test to validate his cooking skills. blending in spinach, strawberries, bananas, and blueberries along with a bit of oat milk, he put it in a cute minnie mouse bowl for your daughter, who you placed in the high chair and wrapped a bib around her chest. “ready for the ultimate truth, atsushi?” you teased, giving him a peck right underneath his shoulder blade. “i hope aki-chin likes it, i’ll actually be really sad.” he frowned and you giggled, “she’ll love it.” he took a small spoon and scooped a bit of the food and held it up to her lips. “aki-chin, it’s time to eat. here, it’s yummy.” anticipating her reaction, she ate the spoonful and immediately, a smile formed on her face. “yummy! papa, yummy!” he smiled too, reflecting hers and kept feeding her, love filling up his heart just as much as it did to yours.

AKASHI has witnessed all milestones, but his favourite one is when your daughter first smiled. you were reading her a book with akashi when you made a funny sound effect to emphasize the story and gave a big smile because it was funny. “honey! she smiled!” you laughed, softly pinching her cheek. “she’s beautiful,” he said, slowly stroking her head. “like you. she looks beautiful just like you, love.” a blush covered your cheeks and you softly kissed his cheekbone, lingering a little bit before parting. nothing but love filled the atmosphere, and in that moment, both of you guys wanted it to last forever.

KUROKO walks in on your son picking up a book from the ground. his sits himself in the middle of the room, using both of his hands to open the book. just as kuroko was going to step in to read it for him, he started to read the words out loud on his own— it wasn’t perfect and there were a lot of mispronunciations, but kuroko’s eyes lit up at his son reading for the first time. he waited for a while before he knocking on the door and picked him up, pecking his cheek. “you can read now,” you smiled, “good job, kai. let’s go show mommy what you read.”

KAGAMI was cooking dinner until he catches your daughter biting on everything she sees. “hey, karina! why do you keep biting everything!” he sets his utensils down and picks her up until she flashes a singular tooth at him. “oh my gosh you’re teething.. y/n!! karina’s teething!!” hearing ruckus from below, you rushed out of the bathroom and looked at the two. “she’s what?” you asked. “look! teeth!” you walked over to your daughter and gasped at the growing tooth. “kagami babe, we’re getting so old.” and you took so many pictures to look back on in the future.

-

THIS WAS SO FUN TO WRITE! i love the knb domestic series :((( ty for requesting love

*＊✿❀reblogs and likes are appreciated❀✿＊*