When You Died, His World Collapsed, It Felt Like It Lost Color And His Life Suddenly Held No Meaning,

[10:00 PM] + assassins/gang!au + "i want to go home."

a/n: for the person that wanted "yeosangst" i love you hope you like this, based off the song bellyache, warnings for angst, death, and some descriptions of blood/violence, the narration switches between past and present tense, 6k

-

you've got a bellyache.

your stomach curls in on itself, a sharp pain that crawls up your limbs, creeps up to the crevice of your heart and stays there. heavy. it's heavy. suffocating.

a dull thud resounds over the dull hum of the car engine and you sit up straight.

you're just hungry, you decide. you're fine. it's fine. everything is fine. you're fine.

you take a breath. another. the dark house in front of you looms, like a parent, bent at the hips as they chastise you with narrowed eyes and a skeptical turn of the lips. you barely remember your parents after so many years of this. you barely remember a home like this. another -

"open the door." the familiar voice and the knock at the window makes you jump, hands over your heart, your steady breathing gone ragged.

"jesus fucking christ."

"no, just yeosang." kang yeosang rolls his eyes from beyond the drivers side window, his skin flushed pink from the cold and his scarf slipping past his nose, revealing his lips. his sharp features remain on you, though, narrowing especially when you still haven't moved. he knocks a knuckle against the window, "now open the fucking door, y/n."

and you do.

your fingers are trembling (when had they started doing that?), but you unlock the door. yeosang ducks into the driver's seat, tossing you the backpack without so much as a second glance. he is quick to back out of the driveway, and as you watch the dark house slip away the ache in your belly, your chest, returns.

it's a terrible fate, the consequences you two will face, whether that is by the hands of the law or by the hands of whatever supposedly awaits you both after death.

you met yeosang fresh out of college, struggling to pay off your loans and get past your first round of interviews. at the time, he was merely a friend of a friend. mingi's roommate's friend. you barely knew mingi, really, so yeosang was nothing more than an acquaintance.

until he found you with blood dripping from your hands.

he convinced you that night that the police would never believe it was self defense. he looked at you that night with clear eyes and a serious face, and you could tell he didn't believe you either. maybe that was the start of everything. maybe that explained how you both were now. yeosang had stared at you, unwavering, and pointed at the dead man at your feet as if he were discarded trash, and he said, "why would they believe you? look at his suit. his watch. his shoes. his fucking handkerchief."

you didn't know the brands, just that they looked like they were worth more than you could afford in a lifetime.

yeosang murmured, "now look at you."

and he was right. you'd always hated that - how rich people were favored, how you were judged for what you wore and how you looked - but he was right. you knew it just as much as he did.

you found out a lot about yeosang that night, sat on an old couch in an abandoned warehouse with his friends (more friends of your friends) discussing your fate as if you were not even there. wooyoung from your accounting classes and the only person willing to help you during group projects. choi san, your third year roommate's plug she occasionally hooked up with for free weed, who you believed to be absolutely harmless. kim hongjoong, your lab teaching assistant from your last year that you'd always argue your grades with. your friend who was barely a friend, mingi, and his roommate yunho who you met yeosang through. there were a few more familiar faces you may have seen at parties or at the bar.

you'd stared down the barrel of a gun that night, with your most annoying lab TA from college at the other end of it, and, looking back, you think that was when you'd lost your mind, right alongside that man you and yeosang left in the gutter.

"technically they did kill the target." mingi was the one that spoke up first. you'd been surprised - though you both were friends, he only ever reached out to you for parties or to go out to bars.

hongjoong had turned his hard stare from you to mingi, asked, "yes, but it was messy. they've only caused us more problems. if we accept them, are you going to take responsibility?"

mingi shook his head. you couldn't even be bothered to feel disappointment.

"thought so." hongjoong said, turning to you with a lopsided grin. you wondered, briefly, if he'd wanted to do this to you every time you visited office hours and pointed out mistakes in his test questions. it was certainly the same smile he'd give you back then.

"i will."

yeosang said it so casually, so easily. you looked up at him, the dried blood making your hands feel tight as you fisted the hem of your shirt.

"will you now?" hongjoong tilted his head, and the dangerous glimmer in his eye stuck with you even to this day.

wooyoung frowned at yeosang, "why would you do that?"

"they have potential. no matter how you look at it, the target should have overpowered them, yet they managed to kill him in one blow. we can use that."

you remembered it all to be so clinical. the way they all nodded, the way they looked over you. you almost couldn't believe they were the same people you'd interacted with so casually over the years.

when hongjoong dropped the gun and nodded, you'd realized you had no choice in the matter.

he still asked, "so what do you say, y/n. want to clean up the mess you made?"

it was either death or joining them. the gun glinted in his hand, a mocking thing.

so you'd joined them.

and yeosang held it over your head from the moment you said okay.

~.~.~.~.~

"it's done?" you ask, now, watching as he rolls to a stop at red light.

"you think i'd be here if it wasn't?"

"i don't know. you've done it before."

yeosang finally looks at you, fingers tight around the wheel. "what's got you so worked up?"

you shrug. and he leaves it at that. he was never a man of words. that was more wooyoung's thing.

~.~.~.~.~

responsibility meant vouching for you at training and training meant pushing you to brink of death on so many occasions, you'd lost count. the trainees were separated from the main gang, in a warehouse at the edge of town that hongjoong only visited once a year and yeosang apparently never visited until you were brought in. even then, you only saw him once a month. the facility was run by a stoic man with debilitating punches. jongho. he woke you all up at the crack of dawn and worked you until dusk. then there were chores, most of which you were made to do because you were the newest trainee.

mingi had been kind enough to explain it to you, three weeks into your indoctrination as he stood leaning against the bathroom door, watching you attempt to staunch your bleeding nose, flinching at the pain. you'd snapped at jongho earlier and he made you spar him as punishment. the broken nose could be healed, but the broken ego could not be.

"yunho is coming," he said.

"then why are you here? shouldn't yeosang be here? since he's responsible for me?"

you'd spit out the word responsible with all the vehemence you could manage.

mingi snorted and it reminded you of the few times you both were getting air during a party. those conversations were insignificant at the time, but they made you wonder if you and mingi could have been better friends in another life.

"yeosang doesn't want to show favoritism. neither of us do."

"trust me," you'd said, "no one thinks he favors me. or any of you favor me for that matter. jongho just rocked the shit out of me in front of everyone an hour ago."

"it's apart of the job."

"kindness isn't?" you'd frowned at mingi.

"no," mingi shook his head, stepping back out of the bathroom, "it never will be."

and yeosang proved that during every monthly visit. he rolled up the cuffs of his dress shirt and gestured to the ring, fists at the ready.

he spoke quiet instructions at you. fix your stance, hands up, too heavy on the heels, and when his visit was over, he'd just toss you a water bottle, wave, and disappear.

sometimes, he'd knock you over the head long enough that you saw stars. he'd sit with you after those days, with ice.

many many months in, you'd gotten the guts to speak up on one of those days. with black dots in your vision and a possible bruised rib, you sat and asked, "why me?"

you didn't expect yeosang to answer.

but after a long moment, he said, "i don't know. maybe i see something in you i want to protect."

"what could that possibly be?"

he shrugged.

you'd spoken into the silence, "maybe you just felt guilty."

yeosang blinked at you for a long moment before he rolled his eyes and said, "maybe i like to have people indebted to me. it makes it easier when i need to call in favors."

"that's weird," you'd said, "and manipulative."

yeosang tossed your hand wraps into your lap, "i think you're ready to keep going."

"i think i have a concussion."

"too bad. get up."

and you did.

two years later and you stood amongst of a pile of groaning bodies, barely able to stay standing, and you looked hongjoong in the eyes and declared, "i won."

hongjoong looked you dead in the eyes, his dark eyes filled with a dreadful sort of amusement, and he did not bother to answer you, looking instead over his shoulder at yeosang. he raised a brow and waved a hand.

yeosang spoke, voice quiet and musical, casual as always, "kill the last man you hit."

he tossed you a knife, the one he always keeps strapped to his thigh.

you met his unwavering gaze, your belly aching. yeosang looked very much like an angel, even as he ordered you to kill. it makes sense. they were assassins, made to do the bidding of whoever hongjoong decides. training isn't over until you kill. on purpose.

so, you did, turning on the other trainee, a boy you'd spent day after day alongside, who you laughed with during dinners and you watched the terror in his eyes grow with each step you took and you cleaned the dishes with him and sparred with him and he shook his head, small pleading whimper left his lips and on his birthday you got together with the other trainees and bought a small cake and champagne and -

hongjoong laughed, "now you've won, y/n."

~.~.~.~.~

the hotel is quiet, likely empty. yeosang tosses the burner phone on the table, beside the backpack. you watch from your position sprawled out on the hotel bed. he glances over at you, wrinkling his nose.

"at least take off your shoes."

you roll your eyes before you kick your shoes off in his direction. one of them hits him in the shin. he glares at you before he slips into the bathroom. he doesn't slam the door shut behind him, though, so you know he's not really mad.

~.~.~.~.~

"you couldn't have warned me?"

you'd pulled yeosang out of the bar when you'd finally found him, after bowing your head at a million and one people congratulating you for your ascent into official ranks. he was standing beside san and wooyoung and you'd promptly grabbed his elbow and dragged him away, earning a snort from wooyoung and giggle from san. hongjoong shook his head at you in warning, but you ignored him. the consequences for that might bite you in the ass later, but you'd only been able to focus on yeosang.

yeosang had stared down at you with an insolent brow raise and it made you want to punch him.

"that would have made it unfair."

"i had to kill someone."

"you've already killed someone."

"i - that was different."

"is it really?" yeosang tilted his head and you deflated under his gaze, letting the brick wall behind you carry your weight as he said, "murder is murder, y/n."

"intentions matter."

"no, they don't."

"yes, they do. the first time was an accident!" you couldn't help the way you shouted at him, your voice echoing in the ensuing silence around you.

"i didn't want to be here. i didn't want this," you couldn't help the tears in your eyes. you hadn't been allowed to be upset about your circumstances since that fateful night. this was the one person you never wanted to show your vulnerability to, but you know, he's the only one you should be showing it to. he's responsible for you. no one else here was.

"then why did you listen to me? why did you kill him yesterday?"

"i - i don't know."

"it's because you wanted to live," yeosang pressed a hand to your shoulder, featherlight, barely there, "that's the same reason why you killed the first time. that's how you should operate here. everything you do, from here on out, is for survival. it should have been this whole time, but now it's your number one priority."

"that's not -"

"you owe me that much, y/n. from the moment you agreed to hongjoong's request, you've become my responsibility. your survival is my survival."

you'd blinked at him, frowning, and said, "it almost sounds like you care."

yeosang had scoffed, his hand on your shoulder suddenly much heavier, his eyes narrowed, clearly unappreciative of your comment, "one way or another, i always collect my debts, y/n."

you'd shrugged him off, but he wasn't lying. when yeosang did speak, his words were meant to be heard.

~.~.~.~.~

"what did joong say?"

yeosang ignores you, opting to towel dry his hair. he tosses the wet towel on the hotel couch. you wrinkle nose at his actions. he plops down on the bed opposite yours.

"he said, 'good job'," yeosang says, staring at you with his unwavering eyes and a small, pretty smile on his face.

you don't respond, nodding as you turn to stare at the popcorn ceiling above you.

~.~.~.~.~

the only time you've heard hongjoong praise any of you was when he praised one of your fellow trainees for his wonderful work before he turned the gun he'd had pointed on the dying target on your colleague and lay his brains out all over the floor right in front of you.

"what did he do wrong?" hongjoong asked, turning on you. the glint in his eyes told you he didn't expect to hear the right answer from you, and the gun in his hands already found the point between your eyes.

you'd tried to swallow the lump in your throat, "i -"

"he let the kid and wife go," yeosang interrupted from behind you.

hongjoong scoffed, dropping the gun, "of course you won't let me have my fun."

"new recruits aren't endless, joong, one dead is enough tonight," seonghwa said, shaking his head at the mess before him as he shouldered past you, "i'll go find the kid and wife."

and you stayed quiet, even as wooyoung took a look at the bullet wound in your thigh, even as yeosang held out a hand for you to hold while wooyoung pulled the bullet from your wound and stitched you up. you stayed quiet until only you and yeosang sat alone in his car in front of your apartment building, the heater and light hum of the engine the only sounds between you.

"do you need help going in?"

you'd nodded.

yeosang tucked his hand around your waist and allowed you to lean your weight on him, half carrying you to the door. the ride up was quiet, and he'd punched in your apartment code without hesitation. he barely visited, so you were unsure if he'd remember it. he helped you into bed, placed a water glass at your nightstand along with painkillers, and finally you broke the silence.

"if i fuck up, will hongjoong kill you? is that what you meant when you said my survival is your survival?"

yeosang stood over you, his dark hair falling into his eyes. your bedside lamp illuminated his delicate features, and somehow he looked less dangerous, kind even.

yeosang met your gaze before looking away, gaze flicking over the wall art adorning your walls. "he didn't like the way i undermined him that night."

"by taking responsibility for me?"

yeosang nodded, "he didn't like that you don't listen to him."

"i listen to him."

"the night you passed the exam? at the bar?"

"can he blame me for wanting to yell at you?" you'd sighed, "i didn't think he was that offended. maybe he just doesn't like me. i did spend an awful lot of time undermining him in class."

"he mentioned that too."

"that isn't fair."

yeosang shrugged, "it isn't supposed to be fair."

you'd watched as he flicked the bedside lamp off.

"he'd kill you because of me?"

"he loves his punishments," yeosang said, melodic voice soft as the pillow under your head. he crouched beside your bed, until he was at eye level with you. "nobody ever survives his punishments in one piece."

"sorry," you said, unable to help the sarcasm. "i would have been nicer in class if i'd known i'd be in this situation."

yeosang let out a soft laugh, an admittedly pretty, calming sound.

"maybe next time."

this time you'd laughed and yeosang just pat your leg before slipping out your room.

~.~.~.~.~

"want to talk about what had you so worked up?"

the hotel room isn't dark enough for you to sleep properly. the curtains are thin and the bustling city below never sleeps, so the lights streak through the room.

yeosang never speaks at night, even when he knows you're awake. you're supposed to be the annoying one. your stomach churns, the remnants of the bellyache, but you ignore it. you blame it on having a small dinner.

"it's nothing. i'm fine."

yeosang should drop it. he usually does.

but you hear his bed creaking and rustling, then you feel a weight on your bed. you pull your head out from under the covers, blinking at him. he's wrapped in his blanket, his dark hair messy, and he's looking at you with a determined expression. he raises a brow. your heart skips a beat, especially when he gives you a gentle smile, the kind he usually bestows on you when you're both alone, the kind he gives wooyoung often.

"not moving from here until you talk."

you glare.

he just plops down beside you, his arm warm against yours, even with the blankets between you.

you crane your neck to look sideways at him. you find him staring at you, a soft look in his dark eyes.

you breathe, "why hasn't hongjoong punished me yet?"

~.~.~.~.~

"what the fuck did you do?"

seonghwa's voice was sharp and it cut through like a knife.

"he was going to kill yeosang."

"so you think you can kill him?" seonghwa shouted, "we needed him back alive."

"i know, but i -"

"y/n, shut up," wooyoung said, stepping between you and seonghwa's seething form. "check on yeosang. seonghwa, we need to damage control."

"that was -" yeosang gasped, clutching his stomach, "that was fucking stupid."

"and you're bleeding out."

"yunho can fix it."

"let me see -"

"i said yunho will fix it."

you'd froze, eyes on yeosang, and his angry expression, the clench of his jaw, and you'd stepped back.

"fine." you'd said.

"go home, y/n."

and you sat on yeosang's couch in his empty apartment and tried to understand how home translated to yeosang's apartment in your head.

you came over often, if not to meet up with him before jobs, then to bang pots and pans and doors until he woke up and bought you breakfast. you'd memorized his code and he threatened to change it but never did.

you had a home, an apartment of your own, but it wasn't this. it wasn't here. you never accidentally fell asleep on your couch in your apartment. you could barely sleep when you were there, body always on high alert. maybe that's the side effect of being an assassin, knowing damn well someone could slip in while you're sleeping and slit your throat.

you woke up to a series of beeps.

wooyoung met your eyes first, with yeosang on his back, dragging him down. san was behind him, keeping yeosang from sliding off wooyoung's back. wooyoung bit his lip, his eyes full of something akin to pity as he looked at you.

"what is it?" san called.

yeosang looked up, met your gaze, and held it as he asked, "i thought i told you to go home."

"i - i'm - sorry."

"you never fucking listen, do you?" yeosang's voice was sharp, angry, loud. he'd never raised his voice at you, no matter how annoyed he got with you.

you watched as he stepped closer, his eyes unwavering. wooyoung hovered, attempting to steady yeosang, but yeosang just pushed his arm off. san merely stood at the doorway, watching, eyes wide.

"i told you to stand the fuck back, y/n. why don't you listen?"

he shouted the last word and you stared. wooyoung stepped up, said, "yeosang, don't."

"this is not your home, y/n. so leave."

his words weren't even untrue, but it hit a nerve you could never have explained until years later. it hit that lonely part of you, the part of you that forgot you should not have made a home somewhere without permission first. because, he's right, this is not your home, no matter how much it felt like it.

"i saved your life." you snapped, ignoring the urge to cry, fingers curled into fists at your side.

"i didn't ask you to."

"i didn't ask you to either, yet you fucking did it anyway." you stepped closer, until your face was inches from his, and watched him glance over your face. you pressed a finger to his chest, "but what i want doesn't matter right?"

"no," yeosang bit out, "it never mattered."

and you shoved past him, past wooyoung calling your name. san let you through the front door, only to follow after you.

you'd stomped through the building and all the way to your car. you fumbled with your keys through the tears in your eyes and only when san grabbed the keys from your hands and opened the door for you did you realize you were crying. san sighed, shutting the door behind you, before he slipped into the passenger's side.

that night, he said, "yeosang didn't mean any of it. he's just scared."

"of what?"

"what hongjoong will do to you."

you'd barely even thought of that, of the consequences to your impulsive actions.

"he shouldn't take it out on me. he shouldn't - he shouldn't tell me to leave like that."

"i'm sure wooyoung's yelling at him about that right this instant."

you'd let out a small laugh and san squeezed your hand and you pretended, for a moment, that you were living a normal life.

please come home, y/n.

the text from yeosang lit up your phone screen. san snickered as he read it over your shoulder, dodging your attempt to shove him into the door.

~.~.~.~.~

"is that all you're worried about?"

"isn't that serious?"

yeosang shrugs, his arm moving against yours. "it's not serious enough for you to lose sleep over."

you flip over onto your side, so you're facing yeosang full on. he startles, coughing loudly to hide the way he chokes on his own spit.

"i want to go home, yeosang," you say, resting your head on the side of your arm. "how long do we need to stay out here?"

yeosang looks sideways at you before he turns his gaze to the ceiling. "we need to drop off the backpack to the rendezvous and then we can head home."

you nod.

he says, "is there anything you want to do? before we head home?"

you study his expression, especially when he turns to face you, copying your position.

"maybe visit the ocean?"

"okay," he nods, "let's do that."

"seonghwa hates when any of takes detours, though."

"he won't mind."

you raise a brow at him, skeptical. yeosang just rolls his eyes and presses his hand to your cheek, pinching lightly, "stop questioning me."

"fine," you mumble.

he makes a move then, to get up, and that dreadful feeling at the pit of your stomach returns. you tug at his arm before he can slip away and you say, "can you sleep here?"

yeosang looks at you then as if you are asking the world of him, and maybe you are. you've always had lines between you two, lines the both of you spent every day toeing with the smallest of gestures.

you fully expect him to say no.

but he does not.

~.~.~.~.~

"we're headed home, joong."

hongjoong looked up from the documents he and seonghwa were pouring over. even mingi glanced their way at yeosang's words, brows furrowed.

"home?" hongjoong asked, a small lilt to his tone you couldn't quite place.

yeosang blinked, frozen to his spot for just the smallest of moments, before he said, "my apartment."

"both of you?"

hongjoong directed the question to both of you, but he only looked at you.

you spoke slowly, "we came in the same car, so i need to get dropped off at my place. i live close to yeosang though."

hongjoong only nodded, but the silence in the room seemed to be more heavy than usual.

"y/n."

you looked up at hongjoong, "yes?"

"how is the clean up work going?"

he'd assigned you grunt work as punishment for killing the target to save yeosang. it wasn't hard work, but it was tedious and disgusting and you'd come home extremely late to complete it. you thought he was letting you off easy, but you hadn't voiced it in fear that you would jinx it.

"it's going well."

"good," hongjoong said, though this time his eyes were on yeosang, "great work."

~.~.~.~.~

you wake up to yeosang packing your stuff, the spot next to you still warm.

you roll out of bed and yeosang presses your coat to your hands. you yawn at him, holding your arms out. he sighs, helping you into your coat without another word. he only rolls his eyes when you laugh.

the morning is colder than usual and you can see your breath. yeosang cranks up the heat. despite the cold, the sun shines bright, the last of the sunrise painting the clouds soft oranges and golds.

yeosang drives southbound, away from any rendezvous points you been told of.

the ocean, you remember.

you look over at yeosang, at the way the morning sun hits the planes of his face in ways you think someone could write lines and lines of poetry about. you expect content, but his brows are furrowed. there are bags under his eyes. you slept well beside yeosang, warm and content, and you realize he did not. his lips are downturned into a tight frown.

you can see the shoreline from all the way up here, even as yeosang turns into an empty road lines by tall, tall trees.

that dreadful bellyache returns, coupled by the tight ache in your chest you'd ignored all this time. you've been an assassin long enough to understand that something is wrong. maybe you would have realized something was wrong a long while ago if this wasn't yeosang.

"we're going to the ocean first?"

yeosang nods.

~.~.~.~.~

long ago, you used to dread training.

yeosang would say, in his calm, unwavering way, "get up."

then you'd raise your fists and go another round.

every time he knocked you down, he'd say so calmly, "get up."

"get up."

the pain would bloom all over and he would toss you a hard look and say, "get up. you should always get up and keep fighting."

the punch you landed on his pretty face and the accompanying crunch was utterly satisfying.

~.~.~.~.~

"i want to go home," you whisper, fingers pressed to your thighs, your eyes on his sharp profile.

"home?"

"to your apartment. to bed. you look tired."

"i asked you once what you considered home. is it really our apartment? do you trust me that much?"

our. it sits on your shoulders, a heavy burden and a relief all at once. your fingers tremble against your thigh. the trees loom over you, this time as onlookers, as witnesses to a moment that would be lost forever otherwise, now held onto by centuries old sentries who will whisper of this moment through the wind and birds and insects. perhaps even to the ocean you will not be able to see.

"i don't know anything else. i don't think that's a bad thing."

"i'm sorry," yeosang grips the steering wheel, even as the car comes to a rolling stop. the birds no longer sing. the sun does not shine as bright. it's a dreary morning really.

you had an inkling the moment you left the looming house of your target. the inkling only grew to certainty as you listened to yeosang tell you hongjoong believed you did a good job. years have passed since that night he killed a new recruit before you, and you've quickly learned that hongjoong only praises people before he kills them.

that's the thing. you expected hongjoong to appear with a gun and an amused smile. maybe even seonghwa.

you didn't even consider that it would be yeosang, but you should have known.

you'd asked him once if hongjoong would kill him because of you, and yeosang only said hongjoong would punish him.

you stare at the way yeosang grits his teeth, and you realize this is the punishment.

"you don't have to do it."

"joong took me in when i was starving. he saved my life. i have to do it."

"my survival is your survival," your voice shakes, "you said that to me yourself. does that not matter to you?"

"do you think," yeosang grips the steering wheel so tight, his knuckles turn white, "i'm going to survive this?"

you meet his glistening eyes, the furrow in his brow, the clench to his jaw, the way his hands tremble. you think of the way he slept beside you, his warmth, the way he shows you kindness, not in words, but in actions that you've always just thought was yeosang, and nothing else. at least you told yourself it was nothing, because feelings were not something you were allowed. they'd be used against you.

"oh."

"yeah." yeosang lets out a breathy, broken, bitter laugh, "hongjoong knows me like the back of his hand. he knows how i've felt about you since the first day and he used it to his advantage. he just didn't think you..."

"he didn't think i felt the same way until i killed the target for you."

yeosang takes a ragged breath and closes his eyes.

"until i admitted to san and wooyoung that you are my home."

yeosang opens his eyes, and the sadness there breaks your heart. he drops his hands from the steering wheel and presses the heels of his hands to his eyes.

"you shouldn't make homes out of people, y/n. especially not people like me."

"it's too late for that."

"i wish it wasn't."

"i know."

~.~.~.~.~

long ago, you were drunk out of your mind and trying to process your first real assignment. it was the excuse you told yourself the next morning when you woke up with a raging headache and the terrifying memories of the way your heart fluttered at yeosang's touch.

yeosang had pressed his hand to your chin, tilted your head back, and held your gaze. he murmured, "you're going to be the death of me."

you laughed, "i think it'll be the other way around with the way you kick my ass during training."

yeosang's thumb traced along your jaw, right beneath your lip, and he merely smiled. your heart pumped in your chest, even as he dropped his hand from your face.

he leaned close, murmured, "stop getting your ass kicked then."

you'd blinked after him, only to watch as looked over his shoulder and held out an arm for you to hold as he walked you back to his car.

you'd dared to slip your hand into his as he helped you out the car and back up the stairs. he did not brush you away, merely allowed you to entangle your fingers in his as he drew little circles along the back of your hand with his thumb.

~.~.~.~.~

yeosang takes a deep breath, "so that's it? you won't fight back?"

you shake your head. "i'm tired of fighting."

he presses a hand to your cheek, brushes at the tears there, and he says once more, "i'm sorry."

he takes out the gun, and holds jury amongst the trees as they bear witness to your long overdue last moments.

my girl yanfei serves only the LAW in the court of JUSTICE 🏐🔥

Title: 13 Stepbrothers; Your new home

Character(s): Zhongli, Diluc, Kaeya, Ayato, Albedo, Childe/Tartaglia, Thoma, Venti, Xiao, Kazuha, Arataki Itto, Chongyun, Bennett

Summary: Modern au; You were young when your father was planning on remarrying again. Your father is always busy always outside the country for work that his fiance said that you could stay at the teyvat residence, and live with 13 of your future stepbrothers!

Note: Inspired by the anime Brother's conflict (kinda?), but I just wanted to write for something platonic really so this happened.

Warnings/tags: Fem!reader, the reader is around 6 years old here, this is purely platonic, this is also a crack story and not to be taken seriously. not the best relationship between daughter and father hinted, but other than that it is pure fluff! Over 8k

How It Happened

You clung to your father as he pushed you to the people he trusts to take care of you while he would be gone with his fiance abroad overseas. You were a small child, 6 years old and scared as you were in the center of strangers who will soon be your stepbrothers. You weren't sure what to do but hold on to your father's hand refusing to let go as your soon to be stepmother laughed at how adorable you were.

You looked down, a bit scared but at the same time a bit excited that you will now have a bigger family.

You have always been alone ever since you were probably born, your mother and father both had you at a late age and when your mother gave birth to you she passed away a few hours later. Your father loved you, truly he did! But he can't look at you in the face as you only reminded him of your mother so he started to pour everything into his work leaving only a little time with you. He would leave you to a nanny almost every day and when he had to leave the country for a few days or months for work he would give you to his relatives.

He was a rich man and he gave you almost everything, you never really lacked most things. If you told him that you wanted a toy it would be in your hands the next day, yet the only thing that he could never give was his time. Too busy, instead he would just apologize to you kissing the crown of your head as he tells you that he could next time, and yet when you asked again it was the same thing.

You finally understood that he didn't really have time for you, instead, you would just hug that pink bunny that he has gifted to you a long time ago. One that he picked by himself one that you didn't ask for, but cherished because it was proof to you that he loves you.

You would watch other kids talk to their parents, as they spent time together. Cartoons and animations that showed hugs that the main character and their parents would have, you would crave it. But there was also another thing that you wanted, a sibling…

Someone to be around, right by your side. It didn't matter if they were younger or older than you. You would prefer if you could have multiple siblings so you would be less alone so when you asked your father for a sibling, you didn't get an answer and that was the end of that...

So it was a surprise when he suddenly asked you if you were okay with him getting married again? Were you supposed to yell at him telling him how he betrayed mom or how he is going to abandon you? You watched a few dramas and movies where a child would react that way when they heard the news that one of their parents where marrying again.

But you don't remember your mom, having no memories of her. You wondered if he would abandon you but when he suddenly told you how the person he wishes to marry has 13 sons, your eyes immediately glittered. You wanted a family of more than two, you wanted siblings, people with who you could be with and not feel the gap when you were with a nanny or babysitter or how you would at your cousins enviously when they talk to their parents.

So hesitantly you nodded watching your father sigh in relief that you were okay with him marrying again. And after two or three months your father told you to pack up cause you are moving from the flat you lived in.

You asked him in the car after you and he packed your necessities, clothes, your favorite toys and such where you guys were going did he tell you that you are gonna now live with your soon to be stepbrother. Your father had finally confessed to the person he wished to marry and now the both of them were wearing their engagement rings you noticed the thin piece of metal on your father's ring finger as he drove making a turn.

He told you that when she heard that you were living almost practically alone she grew mad at him and burst into anger and told him that you should at least then stay with her son in the teyvat residence where it was a big modern mansion like flat with a connected living room and kitchen. Four floors where the first and second floor is used for rent while the upper floors were for the family.

You would have your own room and bathroom. But you will also get 13 brothers who you care about you more than a nanny would or so your father's fiance said. Your father's fiance expressed feelings feeling of concern that it would be awkward between you and her sons as not only was everything sudden, some of them were actually old enough to be your father. So really what she also wanted was time for you to get used to your new and very big family.

Your father has met her sons a few times in the past and thought that it would not be a bad idea and agreed to bring you to the residence.

So here you are now. In front of your future stepbrothers, not all of them were here only a few but it was scary as you continued to cling to your pink bunny rabbit...

Zhongli

Lawyer | Age: 30

The oldest in the family, he is the leader as his mother would always be out of the country for some business and now more on travels. Zhongli is the one who gathers the family when their an event and keeps them up to date. The brother all trust their brother except when something is needed to be paid. That one, they would handle as they all know that he always forgets to bring his wallet with him.

He was used to his family, the ruckus and their personalities. He was the one who watched most of them grow up and become adults, he is always busy but he always makes time for his family. But still, it was rather sudden for him when he was told that he would have a young sister soon, as the family has been all men for the longest time. He wasn't sure if he could take care of you at first as he only took care of boys and all, but when his mother told him how you were almost always alone at home he was a bit reluctant to say no.

Zhongli was told to ready a room on the 3rd floor near the living room before you arrived so he wasn't surprised when he saw you with your father and with a few pieces of luggage right beside your dad that seemed to belong to you as your dad told him that he would be leaving you in his care.

“Hello, my name is Zhongli.”

Zhongli was a busy man but when he couldn't take care of you he would make sure to ask a brother to watch over you. But when he could, he would work at home in the living room as you stayed beside him doing your homework, drawing or watching tv. He liked you, but he wasn't really attached to you unlike his other brother, Zhongli just chalked it up to time. He needed to spend time with you to actually look at you as a little sister.

So one day when he had time to pick you up and not ask his other brother to pick you up due to his usually busy schedule, he was surprised when you handed him a paper with a drawing of him and his brothers. It was badly drawn, with just circles and squares for a body and with uneven eyes and red smiles. But it was warm and he knew that you spent a lot of time on the drawing. Thanking you he noticed that you didn't draw yourself on the drawing and when he asked you you just awkwardly looked away.

Unable to ignore this, that day when the two of you got back to the residence he sat you down in the living room on the table with crayons and color pencils. Giving you a blank paper he told you to draw on it and that was your homework from him. You were reluctant at first but you did what he said and when you were done he took the drawing inspecting it. It felt almost like a test when he finally nodded at your work but it took you by surprise when he started cutting around your drawing.

So when you saw him gluing the picture of you and pasting it right in the middle of your drawing of him and his brothers, you didn't know how to react. But that day you were in his arms as you cried on his shoulders. You don't know why you cried, but that day was the day Zhongli finally thought of you as family.

It is still hanging on the fridge.

__________

Diluc

Has his own wine company | Age: 28

Second oldest, he lives outside the residence in his own house. He would occasionally visit, home. But he isn't really the closest to his siblings compared to the other brothers. He was probably the last to know that you moved in… by bumping into you in a corner of the corridor.

Why was a small girl here, how did she come in… Diluc was sure that Chongyun and Bennett are both middle school students and not kindergarten students that they would bring a small kid like you as a friend… He would not put it past some of his siblings to joke about getting or even stealing a sister but never in a million years did he think that they would actually do it!

When he found out who you were, he was furious as to why he was never told about the fact that you are his mother's fiances daughter and that you now live here!! He glared at Kaeya who Zhongli asked to tell him and comfortably forgot.

He didn't like that you now live here, taking the room that was also once his as he moved out around 3 years ago which is fine… but like why did your father decide it was the best idea to leave you with them who were practically strangers? He didn't like the situation but you misunderstood and thought he hated you. (Kaeya later told you that he didn't hate you and that you don't have to return the room to him.)

He didn't really think that he would interact with you much after all he didn't live in the mansion, and that was the case for months till Zhongli called him asking him if he was free to pick you up from the kindergarten on the way as Diluc had to grab some things from the house. He wasn't sure at first but reluctantly searched your kindergarten up on his phone’s map.

After awkwardly talking to the teachers of your school, you finally hopped into his car… silent. Diluc found it a bit awkward so he started asking questions (mostly about your father), but you would only answer with one word and grunts. He glanced at you and finally saw your rather gloomy face, he sighed and parked his car.

Diluc asked what was the matter but he didn't get a proper reply, mostly you just avoiding his eyes. When he asked did something happened at school you shook your head, but hesitantly took out a piece of paper and showed it to him. Reading he finally understood what was going on.

The paper was about a parent-teacher’s meeting and if he was not mistaken which he rarely is, your father and his mother are in another country on a date or something. When he asked you when your father was coming back home, you told him that it was after a month. He looked at the schedule and noticed it was next week.

He didn't say much after that, he took you home and such but he didn't give you back the paper only to suddenly tell you that he would be the one attending this and that you don't really have to tell Zhongli and that he would. But really it was a huge surprise to you when you saw him the next week wearing a suit as he talked to the teacher.

Other kids asked if he was your dad as they have never seen your dad ever, even the teacher in the next class asked you if he was your dad.

“Please don't worry, her father isn't available right so I am the one replacing him for the parent teacher’s meeting.”

Diluc didn't know why he was so inclined to go to this meeting for you, but seeing you so sad that your father could not come to the meeting he impulsive decided that he would be the one who would go. The smile that you gave him when the two of you went to get ice cream made all his coming regrets leave him.

He would start to take candy anywhere with him, and when he sees you he would place candy on your hands after a short talk. Kaeya would tease him for it as he was one of the few brothers who vehemently refused you moving to the teyvat residence.

Which he choose to ignore.

__________

Kaeya

Adopted son, Famous Model | Age: 28

Kaeya was abandoned at a young age by his father and was later adopted into the family. Watching you he understood your hesitation and the hopeful look that you had in your eyes about the prospect of having a family. When he found out that his mother was dating he did a bit of background research on your dad to see what the man was like. He found out that he had a daughter you.

After a few questions he asked his mom, he found out how you lived. While you had most things, it wasn't hard for him to guess that you didn't really have the best father and daughter relationship with your dad. Too apart, disconnected, envious of others yet unable to do anything, you were a family yet at the same time apart. So when it was his turn to greet you he smiled kindly, with a little mischievous in his eyes as you looked at him curiously yet shy.

“Hello, my name is Kaeya. It is nice to meet you, my future little sister.”

It was a surprise to many when Kaeya took his time to talk to you, not that he did anything weird he always took care of his little siblings when he could and it wasn't like he was bad with kids! Yet his brother would always look at him in shock when they saw you and him chatting, when you are so awkward and shy around the other brothers but looked completely comfortable with him. They were bound to think that something was wrong!!!

When Ayato and Childe glare at him, he would just grin at them teasing them that he was one of the few that got close to you than them first. There were a few times he held you in his arms, as you looked sleepy taking you to your room as Venti whines that he could also do that, why do you have to be more comfortable with him?! Kaeya always listens to you, he was always kind but not pushy. He would tease you often but never too far.

There was one time when you finished school did Kaeya picked you up as all your siblings were busy. He had a modeling appointment that day, so instead of going back home you and he headed to his work. The people all cooed at you, surprised as they teased Kaeya on the fact that he never told him that he has such a cute sister.

That day there was a surprise model shoot where Kaeya and you modeled together. It did go on the magazines or anything but Kaeya was able to get copies of it to flaunt to his siblings.

__________

Albedo

Scientist | Age: 27

Albedo didn't give a huge reaction, as if he didn't care... almost. Sure he was glad that his old mother has gotten married again and would not be alone once again but what he thinks of you coming to the house... nothing really. Too focused on his research and all to dislike or like the idea and all.

Albedo wasn't there when you first arrived at the residence, meeting you at the kitchen late at night

The first thing that went through his mind right then was that you were less troublesome than his senior coworker Alice's daughter, Klee. As he hands you a glass of water that you where struggling to get as the cups were too high for you to reach.

A mental note to make a place for cups where you could comfortably grab.

Albedo was rather good with kids, no that many of his family knew. So that one time when he found you alone in the living room he took the role of watching over you. He had time and all so it didn't really matter. Small talk leads to you asking what he does for work, science then led to him telling you many facts he knows about birds and butterflies.

Albedo didn't mind having a sister, in fact, he adored you when he could. While not as out there as say Childe and Ayato he would let you play with his art supplies and you would start going to him when you had an art homework you needed to do.

There was that one time he took you to the science lab as Rhinedottir found out that he now had a sister and had ordered him to bring you here so that she could meet you. Both Rhinedottir and Alice noticed you come into the lab holding Albedo's hand all the while looking excitedly at everything and while it is not really noticeable they did notice a tint of pride in Albedo's walk and the shine in his eyes as he teaches you what he does here.

Really it is just too cute. How he would blow the hot chocolate so that you won't burn your tongue when you drink it before giving it to you. As he watch you and Klee talk with each other, playing with dodoco which he looked at them as if to ask if it was really alright for you to play with bombs. He trusts Klee but my, it is just adorable that they could watch the usually quiet and stoic boy fret over somebody.

__________

Ayato

Model | Age: 26

A rather popular actor, he is famous for the many roles that he got. Currently, he is for a series called ‘Genshin’ where a traveler lost his sibling, Ayato is working as one of the many side characters but because of how many people like him he is probably coming back.

When Ayato heard that he would be getting a sister he was delighted really. Ever since he was little he always wanted to have a little sister and kept asking his mother if he could have a little sister… but in reality was always awkward when he told his mother that he wants a sister that look just like him when she already broke up with her husband, his dad.

Ayato didn't ask anymore when he understood the situation of his family.

After he heard that his mother was going to marry again after so many failed marriages he started to lose a lot of hope in his mother’s love life.... till he heard that her fiance has a little daughter but he choose to ignore it as he has grown up and out of that phase of wanting a little sister for the longest time…. Till he heard that you were coming to stay with them…

Wait what??

Sure Ayato wants a sister and all but not like this…? You were so young he wasn't sure if it was alright to separate you from your father. Was what he thought till your father told him that it was alright and that the two of you were used to it… Ayato started to deeply dislike your father, out of everything Ayato always valued family and to see you alone, your father countries away as if you don't mind him.. looking as if you were used to it... made his blood boil.

But it wasn't his place to say anything so instead, he choose to watch over you, be that person who your father cant be and become someone who you could look up to. Ayato tried to get to know you… but…. Why are you running away from him??

After trying to talk to you multiple times Ayato found out from Zhongli that you were scared of him. Which surprised him actually, like why? Why were you scared of him, he doesn't look scary, does he? He didn't understand…

He tried to get close to you with gifts and presents even food as it seemed to work for Thoma. But you continued to avoid him when he smiles at you, almost in tears. Kaeya and Childe made so much fun of him.

One day you wanted to go to the playground, you asked Albedo if he could take you to the playground but unfortunately, he was too busy to do so. So instead Albedo asked Ayato to take you to the playground. Ayato took this as an opportunity to get close to you and said yes.

That the walk to the playground was one of the most awkward trips that he had ever had. You were quick to head to the swings when you finally got the chance. Ayato sighed as he watched you play on the swings he planned on reading a book but he was rather thirsty so when he spotted a boba shop he choose to make a quick trip there.

When he came back with two boba drinks in his hands he noticed you yelling at a group of boys. They told you that the park was theirs and that you should just scram if you didn't want to get hurt. Ayato could see your fear but you stayed where you were glaring at them, it wasn't until one of the boys suddenly choose to pull your hair did he intervene stepping right behind you as he looked at the boy who was pulling your hair and the other kids.

When the kids saw him they all froze, Ayato even noticed the “leader” peed themselves on their pants. He didn't threaten them, he said nothing horrible really but maybe it was because of his angry tone that they ran off scared... probably.

Ayato sighed suddenly feeling rather tired, till he suddenly heard a small “thank you” and saw that it was you who said it, not avoiding him but instead looking at him in the eyes.

After that, he just tried to spoil you every day. Dear! if only he had taken a video that time.

__________

Childe / Tartaglia

Works at a toy company | Age: 25

Childe was a son when their father married a woman for like around 5 years or something, things didn't work and it just got worst and worst that they choose to have a divorce. They wanted nothing from each other and when it came to their children they decided to she would take the oldest with her while the ex-husband would take the 3 other kids with him.

When Childe caught wind that his mother is remarrying and that her fiance has a small daughter. He was absolutely ecstatic!! A younger sister? Of course, he would love to meet her! And the fact that she might stay here is even better! He does have a blood related younger sister but his father who took his three blood related younger siblings choose to leave the country and while Childe could talk to his sibling by call or video chat in the end they are not together and it is difficult when he had to watch his sibling grow farther and farther from him it is just... disappointing.

Childe loves children, he adores his younger siblings... apart of the triplets… They make his blood boil. Thoma is cute but too mature sometimes but Childe spoils Itto, Bennett and Chongyun a lot. But in the end, they are all boys nobody was really able to fill the empty role of his young sister. Childe genuinely wanted to coo at how adorable you were when he first saw you but held himself.

“Hey, my name is Ajax but you can call me Childe! Nice to meet you, little sis.”

If he only could, he wants to grab you and go shopping, buying you everything that you were interested in and touched. Give you a pretty tiara and pinks gowns, play with you and all so to see you actively run away from him as if scared of him he started to pout.

Childe started to whine when he would see you grow close to other siblings even more than him even tho he was trying his best to get close to you unlike them! Diluc had to yell at him telling his brother that he is a grown man and that he shouldn't be mopping and whining, glaring murder at his other brothers when he sees them with you, like a child.

It is just not fair, he is willing to buy you everything! Let him play with his future little sister!! Childe pouted when he watched you interact with Zhongli for once he was jealous of the oldest brother...

It was when your little bunny's right ear ripped, and you were crying did he finally have the chance to interact with you. While you were in tears, trying your best to control your sobs Childe heard your small cries from behind your door did he worry and knocked on the door asking if you were okay.

When you told him about your pink bunny rabbit, he told you to wait, heading to his room he brought a sewing kit that he had and started sewing your bunny’s ear back. You were surprised, looking at your bunny it was a bit wonky but not bad. That was Childe’s first hug he got from you.

__________

Venti

University Student | Age: 20

Venti, Xiao and Kazuha are triplets. As kids, they grew up together yet much to their mother's surprise all have vastly different personalities. When Venti found out that he was gonna have a little sister he was absolutely delighted! He saw a picture of you that your father sent to his mother and cooed at adorable you looked.

He pouted when everyonde suddenly decided that they would definitely never let you near him when he is seen with a bottle of alcohol he could handle himself!

When he finally get to meet you his eyes sparkled as waved smiling cheerfully at you. When you returned his smile tho a bit hesitantly at first he just wanted to hug and tell you over and over how adorable you are.

"Hi, my name is Venti! So you are my little sister now? You are so cute, ehe~"

While he says that would take care of you often, it is not really that… often. As the boy was always out with friends till late at night partying and on the weekdays he was at university.

But when he does have the time he would teach you how to play the harp, help you do your music homework or play games with him. The two of you would pull small pranks here and there with the siblings and most of the time in the end he would be the one scolded.

One time when he came back home very late, drunk after a party. As the living rooms and the elevators are connected he wondered why the lights on the kitchen that was right beside the living room were on and headed there thinking that he would be seeing one of his brothers as he plan to annoy them or something but then he saw you.

You were placing your cup on the table when you noticed him and jump in surprised, Venti understood that you were here just to get a glass of water and was about to ask you something- He didn't remember what happened after but he woke up on the floor, with a blanket on covering him, a pillow under his head and a killer hangover.

He thought that it was one of his brothers that gave him the blanket and while thankful was quick to forget about it as this wasn't really the first time. So whenever he would come back home the next few days drunk and wake up with a blanket around him the next day. He always thought that it was his brother placing a blanket around him till Kazuha told him that, no it ain't that.

It was you who kept on covering him with a blanket, somedays Kazuha would find you waiting for Venti, when you notice that he hasn't come home. The next moment Venti was right next to you and basically asked you if what Kazuha is true which you nodded, wondering why he was asking as if him being drunk was normal or something…

Venti swore that day never to drink to the point that he would come home and end up sleeping on the floor. But he also started to try and put more effort to spending time with you.

__________

Xiao

University student | Age: 20

Xiao when he first found out that you would be coming to the teyvat residence absolutely hated it. He is too busy and a child in the house noisy as most of them are would only be annoying for him really. But he had no choice really not when most of his brothers were okay with it and his mother asked him with puppy dog eyes.

Xiao narrowed his eye at you, when he noticed you staring at his tattoos when he finally reached home after school, Venti went somewhere with his friends probably to a party while Kazuha choose to disappear for a while now. Not that he cares, it has nothing to do with him.

You flinched at his glare and looked down intimidated by his gaze, and Xiao decided to play his video games in his room instead of the living room big tv.

"Hmph."

It was a surprise to everyone when Xiao was the first brother you actually grew close with and bonded with. Childe and Ayato both were shocked when they realized this and since it was not like they could really do anything about it they became super passive-aggressive towards Xiao.

You would also be surprised if you didn't forget how scary his glare was when you first meet him. But unlike the other brothers, he was at home pretty much most of the time apart from university. Zhongli would always ask him to look after you and since Xiao had always had so much respect for his older brother he had no choice but to follow.

At first, you were given a cold shoulder as he tells you to head to the living room since he can't trust you not to break anything in his room, he would play a game on his phone or console in the living room while you would do something else.

But it was thought time did the two of you got close. One day he noticed that you were bored and in a roundabout way offered to play a game with him as he had nothing to do back then too, finding no interest in most of his regular games that day. You guys played multiple games together that day. Zhongli took many pictures of the two of you together both focused on the game you were playing at that time.

At one point he let you in his room to show you the games and all he had around. The two of you grew close and he would often give you head pats as a sign of care while acting tough and a little mean even tho know you know that Xiao actually cared about you, he would always go out of his way to help you while playing off as if he didn't want to do so. Be it grabbing a cup from the shelf you cant reach, teaching you your homework when you were confused or unsure of what to do.

Xiao would deny it whenever asked if he helped with something.

__________

Kazuha

University Student | Age: 20

Kazuha just smiled at you when you finally arrived, he didn't express any dislike maybe a bit of concern at first when he found out that your father would just leave you with them and go on to have an early honeymoon with their mother disguised as a business work.

but in the end, he didn't care as much as others.

When Kazuha first meet you was when you were trying to help Thoma clean the garden in front of the mansion. He was resting on a bench as he played with a leaf with his fingers when you looked at him curiously. Kazuha smiled at you suddenly and when he got your attention he started to play a small tune with the leaf he was holding.

He wanted to smile but couldn't when he heard a gasp and then small pit pats of steps growing closer and closer. You were quiet as you watch him in awe of how he made sounds with a leaf only when he was done did you speak telling him that was so cool and how did he do that?

“Well, that is a secret. You must be ____… I am Kazuha.”

When you found out that he was your brother, you were surprised. But maybe because of the leaf tune that he made when you two first meet he won a few points as, unlike other brothers you weren't really awkward around him. Sometimes you would bring a leaf when you see him hold a leaf in his hand as if you were going to sneakingly copy him or something. It is cute really and Kazuha was more amused than annoyed by everything.

You and he would meet up in the garden when you had the time or weren't already hanging with another brother. It wasn't really decided that you would meet him at around this time or where to meet but since you always see him in the garden at a certain time you would always try to follow it.

It was nice to have a company, unknowingly as time went on Kazuha had grown used to seeing you right beside him sometimes watching him. He was delighted when you finally made a sound with the leaf that sounded more like a PIII- than anything bit it was progress. Kazuha thought that he would be able to spend more time with you when the summer vacation starts… So imagine his surprise when he heard that you were sleeping all morning almost every day when summer vacation finally started, what he thought was the time he would spend with his little sister.

You guys don't talk often outside the garden but when he asked why you were waking up so later and when you vaguely respond that you were waiting for someone and that you didn't want them to get cold he connected the dots when Venti suddenly whined about his hangover.

Kazuha then just smiles at you and told you that nobody is going to be sleeping on the floor tonight and even after you should sleep early tonight and not sneak out past your bedtime.

You hesitantly nodded…

__________

Thoma

Highschool student | Age: 18

When Thoma heard that he might get a younger sister soon and that she was coming to live in the teyvat residence, instead of excited he was a bit worried. Worried about how others would react to meeting you, would they scare you away or will you cry since you were in a new place and outside your comfort zone and with some of his brothers right in front of your face.

His worries were proven true when he saw the excitement in his older brother Childe, Venti and his younger brother Itto, how they keep on saying that they would be the best brothers! Thoma looked at Ayato who was chuckling aright beside him as if this wasn't a problem at all, but when he saw his brother Ayato’s eye, Thoma knew there would be competition…

Thoma wasn't really able to talk to you the first time when he saw you in the living room with your dad as your father talked with the others. As he had to calm Itto down before the teen could charge into the group and probably scoop you in his arms. It was only later when you were exploring the kitchen did you meet Thoma who looked at you surprised but ended up smiling at you asking if you want to eat anything.

“Hey my name is Thoma, I am one of your brothers. Uhhh, want anything to eat?”

You quietly ate the Dango that Thoma gave you that day, and was later found by your father and Thoma’s mom who laughed as they asked if you already bonded with one of the brothers. After that when you started living in the residence it was always to Thoma did you go for snacks, as if silently labeling him as the snack keeper.

You weren't necessarily close with Thoma at first as you were with Xiao, but Thoma absolutely loves to watch you eat the food he prepared or made. Your chubby cheeks as you chew on the cake or whatever dessert or sweet he brought that day. It is a secret from the other brother but Thoma probably is the one who poked your cheeks the most, which is a surprise considering that Childe also pokes your cheeks often and surprisingly Diluc too.

Maybe because of that, you started to grow close with him too faster than other siblings Thoma is the one who you would unconsciously look for when Xiao isn't there. Maybe because of how he was always in the living room watching him clean, while you eat the fruits that he cut for you or you attempt to try and help him.

Or maybe it was that time when you actually got so sick, a high fever you stayed in bed as you unconsciously called your dad. Thoma was the one who looked after you, changing your towel when needed, giving you medicine on time and just staying right beside you watching over you.

The other brothers would have helped but it seems that day all of them apart from Thoma were all very busy and unable to cancel their appointments when they heard that you were really sick. Thoma stayed by you telling you that it was okay and that he will be by your side and when you ask if you will be alone he told you, you will never be alone.

The next day it was Thoma with the high fever.

__________

Itto

Highschool student | Age: 17

Aside from Childe and Ayato, Itto's reaction to having a baby sister was just as big. Jumping up and down asking Zhongli when he would get to meet her. Zhongli told him it won't be after a month or two depending on your father and everyday Itto would nag the oldest brother in the family asking him when you would come to visit family and when he could see you.

Although he has two brothers younger than him Itto always dreamed of having an even younger sibling where he could act like his older siblings where they could look for him when they need help and care. And sure he helps his two younger brothers but he wishes that he has a sibling where he could carry them on his shoulders and show them how awesome he is! Chongyun and Bennett do look up to him but Itto still wants a younger sibling where he could read storybooks too and carry them with one arm just as how his older siblings has done for him when he was a kid.

So when he finally saw you Itto almost threw himself at you if not for the fact that Thoma was holding him back telling Itto that he might scare you.

"You may call the Awesome Me, Big brother Itto!"

Itto at first tried to get close to you, but maybe because of how pushy he was you started to actively avoid him that he became almost like a sad puppy as he watched you interact with Albedo, Kaeya and even Xiao just fine. He wanted to be that awesome brother too!!

So when you saw him almost mopping around as Kaeya told you that he is surprised that Itto was like this as he never saw the boy this sad before you knew it was your fault.

So "carefully" you approached him, and Itto could not be anymore happier! Following what Thoma said he tried his best not to scare you away, which most of the time failed really badly. But the more you got used to Itto's personality the more you open up in the end, so it didn't hugely matter. Just Itto being Itto

Itto would go around almost yelling at his school how he got the best younger sister in the whole wide world. And would flaunt all the pictures the two of you had taken together. One time when Zhongli took you to Itto’s school to pick him up, Itto yelled when he saw you. Grabbing you and placing you on his shoulders he ran back to his school yelling that his little sister is here and how you are so adorable. See! See!! He has the best sister!!

From the beginning, he is the one who always yelled out loudly that you were his sister and that you and he were family! When you felt so lonely there was a high chance he could be in a corner just waiting to scare you by saying family or little sis! Always telling you that you belong to the family even tho your father and their mother weren't even married yet. It made it easier for you to open up, otherwise, it would probably take even more time for you to come out of your shell.

__________

Chongyun

Middle school student | Age: 14

Chongyun thought you were a ghost the first time he meet you, late at night when you were looking for something to eat when it was difficult to leave your room as you were still shy back then. Chongyun had heard that a little girl moved to the residence, he didn't have time to meet you as he was busy with studies and training martial arts.

So in a dark living room, the only light coming from the fridge is kind of freaky most children would think. Chongyun spotted you, almost glowing from the light of the fridge and screamed. He didn't know what he was thinking when he moved to hit you thinking that he must exorcise you, he wasn't thinking and moved on instinct thinking that if he hit you once you would be gone.

The poor boy was topped by Albedo, who was watching over you that day as he was worried that you didn't eat much that day. He didn't want to scare you by appearing so suddenly in this dark place so he hid, only to have to come out of his hiding when he saw Chongyun about to hit you.

He woke up the whole building, all the brothers woke up when they heard Chongyun’s shout (Thinking that Chongyun was probably seeing things as it wasn't the first time) and bolted out of their rooms when they heard the cries of a small girl. DID CHONGYUN HIT YOU?? The boy was furiously apologizing to you as you cling to Zhongli’s arms, frightened and crying.

After that you avoided him, whenever you see him you would retreat to your room which broke the small kid's heart really, some of his brothers chuckled the first time but grew to pity their little brother when it became constant.

Chongyun tried to talk to you at dinner, but half of the time you ignored him or just hesitantly answered him avoiding eye contact. At this point, Kaeya stepped in and took you to another room and explained the misunderstanding, while Zhongli and the other brothers did try to explain they didn't do exactly well and still left the awkwardness in the air.

Kaeya told you that Chongyun was really sorry and that it was all a misunderstanding, the man added a small joker two telling you that even he would be scared of the fridge ghost. You laughed and finally listened, planning on giving Chongyun another chance. So when you opened your door, in front of you was Chongyun holding two popsicles in his hands.

“Ummm… I wanted to give you a popsicle… Do you… want one?”

After that the two of you started talking again, it was awkward at first but Chongyun felt a bit of pride when he showed you all the gymnastics he could do, he had to be careful not to show you too much fighting worried that you might be scared again but the giggles and wows that he got from you when he does a handstand or something similar fills him with pride.

He didn't remember what he thought when he heard that you will be living here at the teyvat residence. He probably didn't care much, but not that you are here and will become his little sister he didn't mind and really like it and when you ask if you could do the same as him he promised you that he would teach you how to do it.

Of course with another brother present and a lot of soft mats if case you get hurt while you try to jump… Chongyun might have become a wee bit protective

__________

Bennett

Middle school student | Age: 14

When Bennett heard that he was gonna get a little sister when his mother is going to remarry, Bennet grew excited. He wasn't as loud with it as Itto and Childe, but he was skipping when he went back to his room… not before tripping on a wire cable. Bennet was actually adopted into the family similar like Kaeya as his parents died in a car crash. Their friend then took pity on Bennett and adopted him, so here he was now.

Even with Kaeya, Bennett occasionally felt outcasted from the family so to him when you join the family he felt he won't be alone anymore!- Not that he wants to outcast you from his family, no! He wants to be the one who welcomes you, be beside you like what Kaeya had done for him and this time become a big brother after always being the younger brother! Arge it is hard to explain- but Bennett is definitely happy!!

Bennett's second meeting with you was when he saw you in the living room alone, he wanted to greet you, and halfway to his hello he tripped again on wires and fell on his face. He didn't break anything but he got a small cut on his face from somewhere he wasn't sure.

You looked at him in worry your shyness gone out of concern for him as you run towards him asking Bennett if he was alright? He told you he was alright but you suddenly stood up and ran to your room before he could say anything else and came back with a pink bandaid with bunnies on it, sticking it on his face. All the boy could do was grin and thank you for it.

It wasn't on purpose, really that he started tripping on wire or anything really right in front of you. He wished he didn't show you such an uncool side of him but what happened happened and it is not like he could really do anything about it.

His brothers teased him about how many bandaids he had that was pink and bunny design. But it was cute and instead of him being a big bro you became a nagging and watchful little sis that constantly worried about him and later he would get a kiss from your pink bunny doll on top of the bandaid while you started to sing for the pain to go away.

So imagine his surprise when Ayato called him to pick you up from the kindergarten as he suddenly had work that day only to see you being picked up by the other kids in the kindergarten the teacher was nowhere in sight. He heard them say that you were motherless and that your father would leave soon after and that he didn't want you since he always outside the country, away from you. They said mean things over and over and over... that you don't have a family...

You started to cry when one of the kids try to take your rabbit doll away did Bennett scream at them to leave you alone. Seeing a boy older than them the kids got scared and ran away just not before pushing you to the floor. He picked you up as you cried in your arms telling him what they said was right and that you were alone.

He hugged you tight, telling you that it was alright and the bullies were gone he told you that you had a family and that it was with him your brother! and also that your other brothers were all waiting for you at home, that your family is waiting for you at home.

When you finally collected yourself you told him that you and him weren't family and that this was different. But Bennett stopped you with a smile as he placed a bandaid on your nose where there was a small cut there.

"You are family! It doesn't matter if we are not blood-related or if our parents have yet to marry. I think of you as family and brothers all of them all think of you as family and nothing could change that!"

Some things to take note of~ (or just notes of things I was thinking when I was writing this)

♡ Reader's father should be around his late 40s (early 40s when the reader was born.) While your mother was in her 30s when she gave birth to the reader. They always wanted to have a kid but it never really happened so the reader was a happy surprise that time.

♡ Reader's soon to be stepmother married multiple times excluding your father she married a total of 3 times.

♡ Her first husband she had Zhongli, Diluc, Albedo and Ayato till they got separated. Childe was with her second husband she had another 3 kids with him but he took them when they separated, while with her third husband she gave birth to the triplets Venti, Xiao and Kazuha then Thoma, Itto and Chongyun. Kaeya and Bennett being adopted.

♡ She should be around her 50s right now

♡ Readers father's job had something to do with being a traveler, so that is kinda why he would go out often while his fiance and reader's soon to be step mother is a rich lady with her own business and all but sold it when she choose to retire early. She met your father when the two of them were in a foreign country. And they somehow clicked.

♡ There is a chance where you/reader got close with Kaeya, Albedo, Thoma and Xiao first, and Ayato and Childe absolutely hate it. (Kaeya and Albedo because in canon they took care of Klee and for Xiao’s reason is a bit more elaborate; the reader here has always been alone so brothers like Childe and Itto can be overwhelming for her Xiao is just the opposite which would be nice after the sudden change of atmosphere. Thoma... is obvious.. and not because I adore this boy too much..)

♡ It is kinda hinted that the reader knows a drunkard before coming to the teyvat residence on Venti's part. Reader's father asked many of his relatives to take care of you and while not written here close friends too. Use that info as you wish.

Note: This was not supposed to be this long..... like I was probably thinking around....2k words...? but things keep adding and adding and this happened and now this is the longest post I ever made~

Some characters had more text than others, I know that but I didn't want to spend even more time on this than what I have done already. I hope you understand.

But all in all, I am happy with how it turned out and I hope you like it! comment or reblog this if you do!! I really love reading your thoughts!

Other than that.... it is almost 3 am I thought I would be done with this 3 hours ago, soooooo~ good night guys and have a nice day/night~ zzzzzzz

Karma: Anything you say in the next thirty seconds is free. Starting right now.

Asano: I think you’re cocky. Arrogant. Bossy and pushy. You also have a god complex and don’t think of anybody but your damn self.

Karma: But I-

Asano: But what? I still have 22 seconds and I’m not done.

"hands off! I'm taken!" — diluc .

synopsis !! you pick up your drunk lover from the tavern

note !! I finally posted something! my schedule is still full but things should settle down more by september :> enjoy this fun fic!

contains !! gn reader, ft. kaeya and others! alcohol consumption, not proofread

Your lover rarely drinks. Scratch that, he doesn't drink at all if he could help it.

So whatever encouraged him to drink tonight of all nights was beyond you. It wasn't his shift in the bar, yet he insisted you shouldn't wait for him as he might come home late from the tavern. Apparently, he'll be meeting up with Kaeya, Jean, and a few others.

You're overjoyed, of course! It's not everyday your overworking lover decides to take a break and meet up with his old friends, much less those who are involved with the knights. You practically pushed him on his way to socialize and have fun.

Perhaps he had too much fun.

It was past midnight when you stopped by the tavern, seeing as you lived nearby anyway.

Diluc sat amongst a small crowd. You recognize them to be Kaeya, Jean, Lisa, Venti, and Rosaria, each nursing their own drink in their hands. What surprised you was that Diluc had a glass of his own— emptied, and that Kaeya was pouring him another round.

"Ah, it seems like your ticket home has arrived, D," Kaeya muses upon spotting you. The redhead only huffs in reply.

"What a joyous occasion! Come join us, (Name)!" Venti cheers, swinging around his large mug.

It's only when you approached the group did you notice your lover's unfocused eyes, glazed over as he blinks away at nothing.

"What did you do?" You raise an eyebrow, eyes narrowing suspiciously at Kaeya. The Cavalry Captain raises his hands in defense.

"You're accusing me? I'm hurt," He chuckles, "You and I both know he isn't so easy to trick into drinking."

You glance over at Jean, who gives you a sympathetic laugh, "It's true. Surprisingly, sir decided to drink tonight. It wasn't that much, I assure you."

"Wasn't that much, she says, yet he looks just about ready to pass out," Rosaria mutters, sipping on her own glass. You let out a sigh, seems like you'll be responsible for taking him home tonight. You're not bothered at all, in fact, you're a little glad he decided to let loose and have fun, no matter how unusual it seems.

If anything, it's a little funny to see him look gruff and cold, he doesn't even seem drunk until you notice the flush on his face and the spin in his eyes. Grabbing an empty glass and filling it with water from a pitcher, you gesture for the redhead to drink.

"Come on, 'Luc, drink some water and let's get you home."

He turns his head away to the side. You raise an eyebrow.

"'Luc, drink some water."

"No."

". . . You need to sober up–"

"No."

His head arcs further away from you, arms crossed. You glance at his face, is he. . . is he seriously pouting right now? Kaeya chuckles next to you. You aren't sure what kind of drunk shenanigan is going through his mind, but you decided to let it slide, opting to bring him home instead.

"Alright then, let's get out of here instead." With a hand on his shoulder, you gesture for him to stand but he wacks it away. Diluc? Your Diluc?? Wacked your hand away???

You blink at him before recovering to grab onto his arm, trying to pull him up, "Come on, 'Luc! We got to get you home!"

"No! Hands off!" He sluggishly pushes you, failing but he plops back onto his seat.

"What?"

"Hands off me! I'm taken!"

You freeze. The little group around you pauses as well. There's a loud snort in the air, presumably from Venti.

"Diluc, what?" You bite back your laugh. Laughing at the drunk is bad etiquette, you really shouldn't. You really, really shouldn't.

"I'm–" He slurs, facing you with a pointed look and a loopy glare, "Taken. Go find someone else to mooch."

Archons, help you not to burst out laughing in this situation.

Opting to giggle behind closed lips, you squat next to his chair, reaching out to cup his cheek but he scoots away from your touch.

"Diluc," You laugh, "It's me."

"Not- not interested."

"I'm literally your lover."

He blinks at you. You aren't sure if you got through him but he immediately stands upright, wobbling from the action. You catch him by the waist for support.

"Woah there, are you ready to go?"

"I'm going-" He tests his steps, "Going home to my darling, (Name)." With shaky hands, he pushes you aside, "I told you I have a lover!"

A loud laugh starts from behind you. Kaeya hunches over the table, gripping his stomach as the rest try to hide their chuckles behind their hands.

"Oh dear, my dear brother," The cryo user stands, wiping a tear from his eye, "Seems like you truly had too much tonight. This person here is assigned to take you to (Name)." The sly smile on Kaeya's face tells you to play along.

Diluc rubs at his eyes, everything seems to swirl, "Really?"

"Yes."

". . . Alright then."

Was he really that easy to trick? Your jaw could've dropped open. As expected of Kaeya who naturally dealt with all of Diluc's drunk shenanigans.

"Let's go then. . ." Diluc mumbles, glancing at you, "But no touching."

At his first step, he nearly trips over his feet if it wasn't for you grabbing onto his arm. You wrap it over your shoulder, pulling him upright.

"Surely, it's alright if I hold onto your arm?" You try to reason.

". . . Okay."

With a side glance at Kaeya and the rest, you nod them goodbye as they wave their pleasantries. Now that you're outside the tavern, you decide to take your drunk lover to your home nearby, a place he's frequently visited.

"Honestly, whatever made you drink so much tonight. . ." You huff, grabbing onto him and trying to get him to walk normally.

"My lover, you see. . ." He trails off.

"What about your lover?" You can't help but prod. Surely, you haven't done something wrong, right?

"Everything. . . Everything about them." Diluc mumbles, a sigh escaping him, "Just— amazing."

You can't help the way your lips sorts into a smile.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"That must be nice. Is that why you don't want to go home with me?" You can't help but tease as he glowers, turning his face to get a better look at you. You notice the way his eyes look clearer now.

". . . As mentioned, I–" A groan, "Am devoted to my lover, no matter how charming you look."

"Mhmm, sure, yeah." You laugh, taking in his compliment, "You're devoted, alright."

"It's true–" He pushes away from you to fumble with his coat in an enthusiasm that's only seen when he's drunk, "Would you like to see the ring?"

Ring? What ring? You freeze in your steps as he digs into his pockets, pulling out an enclosed little box with intricate carvings. He opens it to reveal a ring– one you've only ever dreams of having (and receiving from him). The details, a testament to how much he knows what you like, while mixing in his own interests.

Your heart skips a beat.

"'Luc–"

"Archons, I'm nervous," He groans into his hand, carefully closing the box despite his drunken mannerisms, "I can't even– can't even sleep at night thinking about it."

You're still in shock as you gaze up at him. Sure, you've talked about a future together, but it always felt so far away— Diluc was too busy, always with something else to prioritize and it didn't seem like the right time for him no matter how right it was for you.

"Is. . . Is that why you drank?"

He looks at you with a raised brow, "Nervousness is one thing. I needed everyone's advice as well." Your heart flutters, was he ever this thoughtful? The answer is yes. You reach out to him again, hands as shaky as his own, but yours shook in happiness.

"Diluc, I—"

He lurches, a heaving sound down his throat as if threatening to puke. You reach out, holding onto him again with a small laugh, "Alright, alright, let's get you home first, Luc."

He groans in reply, voice wobbly and weak, "I'm. . . taken. . . "

"I know, my love."

•

Sunshine filters into the bedroom and Diluc shuffles under the covers. His head was throbbing, his throat felt dry, he's reminded again why he never drinks.

Grape juice is definitely better. Grape juice is yummy. Why can't he make a grape juice relaxant? He sure as heck can, what's his money for if he can't fund an entire academic foundation focusing on the production of anxiety-calming juice?

Before he could even begin to think about the business prospects and expenses to spare, your footsteps catches his attention as you enter the room.

"Slept well?"

He brushes his hair back, sitting up groggily, "I've had better nights."

"Here, have some water." You gesture to the cup in your hands to which he drinks from obediently.

"Thank you."

"I'm just glad that you're allowing me to offer you water." You bite back a chuckle.

"What?"

Standing up with a hum and a shrug, you turn away from him, "I don't know. Last night, you wouldn't even let me touch you."

His eyebrows furrow together, "That's ridiculous. Why would I do that?"

"Apparently, you have a lover, and I was trying to tempt you away into my home~"

Diluc freezes like a deer in the headlights, heat rushing up his face, turning it a shade as red as his hair, "I. . . said that?"

You laugh, turning towards him as you begin to explain everything that happened in the tavern and how his friends reacted. This only helped to worsen his embarrassment.

"I'm going to kill Kaeya. . ." he mutters under his breath, hiding away his face before peeking at you, "And then I suppose you walked me home? Did I. . . say anything after?"

You spotted the way his eyes glance to his coat, hanging by the door. Your lips twitch into a smile.

"Nope. You were quiet the whole way home."

You can't wait to embarrass him even more after his proposal.

masterlist 02 || commissions via ko-fi

note !! writing this made me all the drunk embarrassing moments 😭

taglist !! @absolut-wildflower @boundedbyfate @sadlonelybagel @eissaaaa @ladycoleigh @nejibot @milkypompon @bloodreaper08 @irethepotato @x-zho @roriver @mich-cola @mxsomn @ackrylik @nicebonescomrade @starforecasts @stygianoir @yuminako @eccedentesiast-sapphic @nebulaera @nuttytani @klutzkat @stygianoir14

idol au xiao x reader

modern 5wirl au !

female reader implication, but mostly gender neutral pronouns

i can’t wait to put the ot5 tag on this one and watch the actual kpop stans ask who 5wirl is 🤭

[ cw // none ! maybe some smut-ish parts but mostly fluff ]

♪ “WAHHH XIAO OPPAR !!!” “XIAO I LOVE YOU” “XIAO MARRY ME” “5WIRL GAY ICONS 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈”

♪ is what xiao often hears pretty frequently from his many adoring (+ somewhat concerning) fans.

♪ he knows damn well none of those mfs have a chance LOL.

♪ 5wirl feels like that type of boy group that had a certain “flower boy” or “cutesy” concept at first but as they grew to be more popular, the stans started demanding them to take their clothes off because “their not children anymore.”

♪ god, I hate kpoppies. 😐 (p.s. I am a kpop stan)

♪ DEFINITELY had personalities created for each member based on visuals + popularity.

♪ xiao is definitely main dancer. argue w/ the wall. 🤨

♪ xiao was the “emo, tough, bully, tsundere guy” because of his piercing glare + handsome visuals.

♪ but he is actually the purest + sweetest person out of all the members !!!

♪ “ah, we should thank the staff for their hard work today… aether, we should go buy some food for them.” ✨

♪ ✨“do you think venti hyung would like this beverage?”✨

♪ “you want me to do aegyo? uhhh, the company said not to— I MEAN ! I-I’m not exactly good at that type of thing…”✨

♪ and oh BOY, did the stans eat that shit up.

♪ and thats how you ended up dating xiao for 2 years until your relationship was EXPOSED by DISPATCH 🤬🤬🤬

♪ that was a very smooth transition shut up.

♪ FR THOUGH LEAVE THE IDOL BITCHES ALONE DISPATCH 🤬🤬

♪ let me start from the beginning:

· · ───────── · 𐀔 · ───────── · ·

Keep reading

different versions for the miya twins & kita! (pt 1)

☆ do not repost w/o permission!

ꜱᴜᴄʜ ᴀɴ ɪᴅɪᴏᴛ…

xiao x gn adeptus ! reader

warnings: crying ? lmao i guess, spoilers for 2.7 interlude quest, reader has a mini breakdown, terribly written probably, no pronouns used, slight angst ?

meilin’ s notes: my first time writing a full (kind of) fic ! hopefully i do gender neutral some justice since i’ve never written gn before, only fem ;v; lmk if theres anything i need to fix !

“why did you let him go?” you asked zhongli, who was gazing into the plains on the balcony of wangshu inn. “surely you know the dangers that lie in the chasm, rex lapis.”

zhongli’s silence irritated you, your heart beating painfully. just the thought of your companion entering unknown and highly dangerous lands made you feel anxious, and sick. of course you knew xiao was capable of holding his own, you knew of his strength. still, he made you worry everyday.

“xiao is more than capable of taking care of himself, [name].” zhongli finally replied.

“thousands of years worth of knowledge does not cancel out the fact that he is still prone to danger, sir” you argued back. “no matter what you tell me, i wont ever stop worrying for that boy-“

“of course you wont,” he said simply. “i wouldnt expect you to. but you must understand this, [name].”

he then turned to face you, amber orbs burning into your [color] irises.

“it all comes down to a matter of trust. have faith in xiao, im sure everything will be fine then.”

and even as he turned to leave, still your heart ached.

·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙

throughout the entire day, you felt an unease in your chest, a terrible ache in your heart. it seemed to be worse than yesterday’s treatment.

your mind was plagued with thoughts of xiao and his safety, the chasm, the lying dangers awaiting him, and the worst possible scenario: his possible death.

the thought still terrified you. although you werent a part of the 5 yakshas, you still harbored a deep fondness for them. bosacius was like the older brother you’d never had, making flower crowns with indarias and menogias, sharing wisdom with menogias, and the peaceful days with xiao.

it was all so simple, but then their karmic debt had gotten the best of them. you’d watched, face screwed with pure terror as your dear friends lost their minds. you watched menogias slaughter bonanus, as indarias succumbed to her debt, xiao suffering screams ringing in your ears.

how useless you were then.

you had sworn to protect xiao after bosacius disappeared, promised to love and care for him. promised to do something because you couldnt before.

useless. useless. useless useless useless useless usele-

you were jerked out of your destructive thoughts when you felt a jerking pain on your hands. looking down, you saw you had bitten your nail down to the skin and hadnt noticed until it split open. you groaned, sticking the finger in your mouth to lick off the blood.

then, your heart lurched painfully. you gasped in pain, clutching your shirt near your heart.

nonononono-

i promised him. i promised to protect him.

another lurch, another gasp of pain. he was in danger. grave danger.

unable to stand idly any longer, you teleported to the chasm. as you did, the pain in your heart grew more intense.

“xiao!” you called out desperately. you could feel him, he was somewhere, why couldnt you see him?

“xiao!” you called again, this time a tear slipped out. then two, three, then a stream. your heart was in so much pain, your lungs felt like they were about to burst.

“XIAO.”

then a flash, and six figures materialized. hope flared in your chest. but as the figures became clearer, you realized none of them was the face of your beloved adeptus.

scrambling to them, you went to the closest person available.

“where is he, tell me now, where is he!?” you cried, more tears streaming down your face.

yelan examined your face, brow furrowed. biting her lip, she gently took your hand. then, shook her head.

the world stopped for a moment.

no…

yelan held your hand still as shinobu, the traveler, paimon and yanfei looked away in pity.

but then, a familiar presence erupted, golden energy started to swirl, and then a figure slowly started to materialize.

‘fret not child…under my watch will alatus remain alive.’

startled, you lifted your head to see if anyone else had heard the voice, but it seemed you were the only one. then, turning your head to the source, you gasped.

there he was.

xiao.

the pain in your heart and lungs finally settled, and you breathed easy again. releasing your hand from yelan’s, you quickly made your way to xiao, who was on his knees taking big gulps of air.

sensing your presence, xiao looked up only to yelp in surprise as you threw your body down on him, arms wrapped around his neck in a tight embrace as you pulled his head to your chest.

“you idiot!” you wailed, tears falling down your face as you held xiao tighter. “you big, stupid idiot! what were you thinking!? you almost- you could have…”

“i know…” he whispered softly, hands ghosting your hips, almost afraid to touch you.

“idiot, idiot idiot idiot-“ you cried, pouding your firsts on his back as you wept in his neck.

“i know. im sorry.” he whispered again, this time embracing you back.

yelan’s eyes softened at the scene. she motioned to the others, leading them away from you both.

“we ought to give them some space. im sure they have a few…things to talk about.

·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙

meilin’ s notes: im well aware that while the travele and co. was trapped underneath the chasm, that the theory that time was at a pause in teyvat was made known but since zhongli broke that rule, i made it broken with the mc too. lemme know what you guys think ! i dont think i did too bad, but the first half was definitely not the best lol

boyfriend!wooyoung - atz video diary au

⤷ the world was always so dull and uninviting...until the day wooyoung came into your life. and maybe, just maybe, your world became just a little bit brighter

—song: blue by keshi

because i will love you until i die, and even longer still

content: angst, learning to move on

character/s: albedo

note: i’m really excited to share this one with you guys!! i have been thinking about this angst prompt for a while now, and it basically centers the concept of grief and loss. i believe it’s a truly difficult journey to wrap your head around the loss of a loved one. sometimes even the smallest of their habits and likes that you’ve picked up still breathes life into them even when they’re gone. i think it’s a beautiful yet sorrowful lesson to experience in life - to learn that love isn’t always about holding on, but letting go - and it’s seriously inspired me to write this albedo story. for now i hope you’ll still enjoy and have a lovely day!!

ALBEDO

Happy birthday, my love.

Albedo jolted up from his sudden slumber, frantically glancing around his empty laboratory.

I thought I heard her…

He blinks, puzzle for a moment, before fully shaking himself awake and running a hand through his unkempt hair in frustration. How did he end up falling asleep in the middle of his work? And a very important project at that.

He glances down at the stacks of scrolls scattered around his desk and the heaps of books dispersed in the room - starting from the area near his feet trailing all the way to the exit of his laboratory.

I was a bit confused on what to give you as a birthday present, so I ended up sticking with a letter instead.

He stands up and stretches his arms, groaning sloppily from exhaustion. Albedo knew he had to clean before doing anything else - you would have reprimanded the life out of him if you saw his mess of a workroom.

It was currently 9:30 in the morning, and his stomach angrily grumbled, urging him to get some food. He ignored the persistent pain, bending down to gather the fallen books and trash disposed all around the room.

I hope you don’t mind this gift - there are also a few things I need to convey to you in my message as well.

A flurry of soft raps echoed throughout the silent laboratory from the entryway. Never batting an eye at the wooden door, Albedo continued to put away a few more items before eventually responding to the knocks. “Come in.”

The door creaks open, a shy and high pitched voice severing the tranquility of the area. “Mister Albedo, it’s me.”

“Sucrose.” He hums, acknowledging her presence. “What do you need?”

She awkwardly fiddled with her fingers. “You’ve been stuck in here for weeks. I was wondering if you wanted to go out and have breakfast with us. And Klee…insists for your appearance.”

Are you well? Have you been taking breaks like I’ve asked you to?

Albedo shakes his head, dusting his hands off as he stands up. “You know I can’t do that.”

Sucrose sighs. “I knew it.”

“So why bother coming anyway?” He asks, looking around the now tidy room.

She huffed at his stubbornness. “Mister Albedo, you know that isn’t good for your health. If Y/N were here-“

A loud crash echoes throughout the laboratory.

“Don’t say that.”

He seethes through clenched teeth, pent up frustration boiling in the pit of his stomach. In a fit of anger, Albedo’s hands had shoved the previously neat pile of books he arranged, and sent them flying back to the ground.

Even after all these years, hearing your name roll out of anyone’s mouth still sends him into a sensitive and frenzied state.

Sucrose knows that he is slowly dying inside. Anyone could see it in those lifeless pools of teal. Countless days and nights were spent locked up in the tiny room, experiment after experiment only to get his expectations crushed. It had eventually reached a point where even the archons could tell that the great and brilliant Albedo was simply clinging on to the last thin strings of false hope.

“Are you sure this is going to work?”

“I’d voluntarily exhaust the rest of my life making sure it does.” Albedo retorts, eyes fixated at the mess beneath his feet, never daring to meet hers.

Sucrose nods, glancing with pity at the unreadable man with clenched fists standing in front of her.

As I thought. He’s still persistent.

“Alchemy has it’s limits too. That’s all I’m saying.”

Without another word, she quietly slips away through the exit, making sure to shut the door behind her and leave Albedo alone with the voices in his head.

I’ve spent a great deal of time trying to come up with the best way on how to celebrate your birthday.

Not again.

He scoffs, looking away from the scribbled writings on the board down to his chalk - once the length of his index finger, now reduced to a minuscule size. Tossing it behind his shoulder, his fingers dive in to reach for another, before it dawns upon him that he’s finally run out of it.

Archons, this is so damn irritating.

We could pick cecilias and stargaze on Starsnatch Cliff.

Albedo massaged his forehead in frustration, glancing over at the barricaded windows he blocked months ago to obstruct any light from entering the tiny room. It had been weeks since he left the laboratory, and he knew the day would eventually come when he depleted all of his necessary materials and needed to replenish his supplies once more.

Hesitantly reaching for his white dusty coat, he throws it on himself while delving through his pocket for his keys, before carefully approaching the exit of the dark and grimy laboratory.

Or perhaps we could have a nice picnic at Windrise and watch the dandelions flutter in the breeze.

The sun’s harsh glare that peeked through the towering establishments of Mondstadt caused Albedo to wince and squint his eyes at the sight of it.

Today was especially crowded than the usual, or perhaps he simply forgot how the world once looked like before he locked himself out of it. And the longer he stayed with the multitude, the more Albedo felt like he was suffocating as he presently stood amidst the packed jam of bustling citizens.

With one swift motion, he slithered through the crowd, muttering the occasional ‘excuse me’s or incoherent apologies to people who stood in his way.

We could even spend the day cooped up in your camp at Dragonspine. Anywhere is perfect as long as it’s with you.

“Chief Alchemist…?” Flora asks in confusion, blinking once more to check if her vision had betrayed her, upon staring at the man no one had seen for a long period of time.

“I need more flowers.” Albedo hands her a leather bag filled with coins. “Cecilias, if you will.”

“A-ah, right away!” She exclaims and quickly rushes to work, still a bit weirded out to acknowledge his existence back around the streets of Mondstadt.

Albedo tapped his foot in waiting, glancing around the area to make sure no one he knew would notice him.

“I..heard about what happened.” He hears Flora say, and looks back at her, with a bunch of potted Cecilias in a crate on her desk. “I’m sorry for your loss, Albedo.”

He shakes his head rapidly, picking up the crate. “It won’t be a loss soon enough.”

Flora doubtfully nodded as she watched him walk away, wondering if he truly came up with a solution that would eventually fix his problems, or if the alchemist was simply being…delusional.

Anywhere with you…

“Albedo?”

He freezes in his spot at the voice calling from behind him.

“Is that you?”

…Albedo, I have to tell you something.

A hand reaches to clasp his shoulder, and he forcefully comes face to face with familiar purple irises and an eyepatch.

“Wow…I never thought you had it in you to leave your laboratory.” Kaeya grinned at the short man.

Albedo shoved his hand off, beginning to pace away before gathering more unwanted attention. “I’m already headed back anyway.”

“So quickly?” The blue haired man chirpily asks, following right behind him. “You’re very persistent in this new project.”

“I would have greater progress in doing so and in making my way back if you’d just turn around and leave me alone.”

Kaeya clicks his tongue playfully. “Aw come on, at least have a drink with me. We haven’t properly talked together since-“

“Finish that sentence and I’ll make sure you never speak again.”

I’ve been denying it for a while now, because I feared losing a great deal just to admit the bitter truth.

Kaeya pauses upon hearing Albedo’s cold and unfamiliar tone. Everyone had been affected upon hearing the news, but Kaeya knew deep down that the blonde had suffered the worst out of them all.

“I know you’re grieving.” He says calmly, putting his hands in his pockets. “We all are. But you can’t just ignore the truth anymore.”

“You’re wrong.” Albedo counters, a wave of foreign emotions crashing around inside him. “I’ve never ignored the truth. I simply thought beyond it.”

Now that it’s standing right in front of me, I can’t just run away anymore like I did for a long time.

“Not even the archons are capable of doing this.” Kaeya says in a fit of frustration, throwing his hands up in the air. “And you seriously believe you can make it work? What the hell makes you so different, anyway?”

“The only difference between me and all of them is that I still haven’t given up.” He says scornfully, glaring over at the man’s direction.

“Not like the rest of you.”

So this is me being brave. I’m sorry it took so long for me to say to you.

Kaeya scoffs, astounded at his resolve. He was aware Albedo was highly intelligent and completely logical, yet at this rate he was just straying away from his original path.

So this is what he chose.

He looks down with surrender, solemnly nodding at the alchemist’s pitiful answer.

“Or perhaps you just don’t know how to let go.”

I’m dying. I think I have been, for a while now.

Albedo stands alone once more in his laboratory.

Perhaps you just don’t know how to let go.

He gently sets the crate of Cecilias on the ground, and carefully walks over to his desk, rummaging through scrolls and books until he finds what he’s looking for. Albedo reaches out for it, and hesitates for a second, before picking up a picture frame that had been face down for a while now.

They say it’s a rare disease - that I can’t be cured. And that I have two months left.

It was a photograph of you smiling amidst the dandelions, your white dress billowing in the wind. He remembers it like it was yesterday, watching you goofily twirl around barefoot in a bed of grass, while he grinned and held up a camera to capture the memory of your beauty.

The sound of your laughter haunts him until this day, and Albedo can hear it echoing around the empty room, almost as if you were standing right beside him. He shuts his eyes and swallows a bile forming in his throat, feeling tears prickle in the corners of his eyes.

“Albedo.”

That’s on your birthday.

The frame slips in between his hands and crashes onto the floor with a resounding smash.

His eyes flutter open upon realizing what he had done, absentmindedly staring at the broken glass beneath his boots.

Please stop calling me, Y/N.

A little too coincidental, if you ask me.

Perhaps it’s fate reaching out to the both of us, saying that it’s finally time to stop.

Weaving through the shards of glass, he carefully plucks your photo from the mess, with blood-tainted hands. He stands back up and stares at the scattered papers and notebooks spread across his desk - a sign of grueling work he wasted months perfecting, only to realize he hadn’t even reached half of it.

Alchemy has its limits too.

He falls back onto his chair, this time unable to stop the tears from tumbling down his cheeks, and the uncontrollable sob that escaped past his lips.

My love, I know it’s hard. I can’t even imagine my life if I was the one losing you.

The tucked away flashbacks of you start to slip out from the locked part of his mind, swirling around like a tornado that had been waiting to destroy everything around it. His vision blurs and the world spins, and for a moment he swears he can see you standing across his desk, looking down with tears at his vulnerable self.

But we have to remain brave even in the face of danger.

“I love you, Albedo.” You whisper, gripping his chilly hand tightly, smiling up at his teary face.

Even if it kills us.

“Please don’t leave me, Y/N.” He says, with a traitorous crack of his voice at the end of his sentence, unable to bear the sight of you weak and helpless on your deathbed.

Even if it means we end up alone at the end of the road.

“Big Brother Albedo?”

But that will never be the case for you.

Albedo finally looks up from his desk, stunned upon seeing the hazy figure of a little girl in red standing by the entrance of his lonely laboratory.

“…Klee?”

You will never end up alone in this path.

She hesitantly remains rooted in her spot, clutching the doorknob in her little grasp. “I - Sucrose told me I wasn’t allowed to come in…” Klee nods at herself. “But I heard a crash and I ran away, to see if you…were okay.”

Am I okay?

It takes a moment for him to process her words before he nods at her, hastily wiping the tears off his cheeks and sitting up straighter.

“I miss her too.” Klee quietly says with sorrowful eyes.

“But Big Sister Y/N won’t come back anymore.”

I know.

Promise me you won’t try to save me.

It was the simple and blunt truth, yet Albedo couldn’t help but run away at the face of it.

“You can…come in if you want.” He voices hoarsely, making gestures for her to do so.

She nods doubtfully, slowly walking over to his side, carefully stepping over the glass left on the ground.

Let us accept mortality, even if it makes us lonely.

“Is that her?” Klee asks, pointing her little fingers at the slightly crumpled photo lying on his desk.

“It’s the last one I have of her.” He whispers, holding it out to let her get a better view of it.

“She looks happy…” Klee trails off, touching it gently. “I’m sure she’d want us to be happy too.”

And don’t be afraid to be happy without me again.

The sound of footsteps rushing towards the laboratory echoed around the hallways, and perks up Klee and Albedo’s ears upon hearing it.

“Klee!” The two turn to see a figure panting by the door.

“I told you…not to run away.” Sucrose huffs, leaning by the wall to gain support for her body.

“Sorry.” Klee sheepishly apologizes, guiltily rubbing the back of her head. “I just wanted to see Big Brother.”

“I’m surprised…he let you in anyway.” She remarks, raising an eyebrow at the quiet alchemist.

Because I promise I will love you until I die

He looked down, noticing an envelope stuck behind the destroyed frame. Picking it up, he examines it while letting Sucrose and Klee talk for a moment.

Flipping to the back, his eyes widen upon seeing the date and signature scribbled behind the paper.

September 13, Albedo’s birthday gift

“Is your offer…still up?” He asks, eyes flickering back and forth from your picture to the envelope in his grasp.

“What do you mean-“

“Although…perhaps it would be more fitting to have lunch now.” Albedo states, before slowly setting the possession down and glancing over at Sucrose and Klee.

“If you still don’t mind me joining you, that is.”

and even longer still.

“Of course it is!” Klee exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air. “We can make up for breakfast tomorrow, and the day after that, and for the rest of our lives!”

Albedo smiles, standing up from his chair, as Sucrose nods at the little girl’s cheery declaration.

“For the rest of our lives…that sounds lovely.”

Yours always and forever, Y/N.

P.S. I’ve attached a long list of ways on how to celebrate your birthday (and the next ones to come) with everyone else. Have fun - and more than anything, don’t be afraid to try again.