How You Grew Up

How you grew up

➳ Childe x gn!reader

➳ Oneshot ; 2.4k

➳ Angst without comfort ; Use of Childe's real name

You never expected to see your best friend again after he disappeared from your life years ago, but was your reunion really a blessing? [1O.O7.2O21]

Zep's Note ; I never really write angst nor did I ever write anything like this before. So uh, I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this?

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It was over a decade ago that your best friend had disappeared without leaving a trace. Over a decade since you had last seen his ocean blue eyes that sparkled when the boy smiled, since he had last brought you pretty flowers he found in the neighbors' gardens, since he had last taken your hand in his as you ran through the Snezhnayan snow together. On a day of misery over a decade ago, Ajax had vanished from your life, and not even his family knew a thing.

That's what they said, at least, and no one in town questioned anything. Neither did you, but what was there for you to question when you were only ten years old?

You were in love with Ajax back then, and he was in love with you – for as far as two ten-years olds were able to comprehend the true, in-depth meaning of love. As if it were meant to be a tragedy, you had promised each other to be forever together, to get married when you were old enough, just a few days before the boy disappeared.

Years passed, the promise slipped from your memory and ended up forgotten, and the small necklace Ajax had given you to seal the promise had lost its significance.

Until he was in front of you again.

April 17

Upon barely reaching the top of the stairs that led you to the Northland Bank in Liyue Harbor, a sudden appearance in your vision had you gasping for air frantically and you almost toppled down again in sheer and utmost shock.

The purpose of your visit was long forgotten, so was everything else on your mind; all was washed away now that you almost collided with the person who had been about to descend the same stairs you had climbed, but he now stood frozen as much as you did.

It was over a decade that your best friend had disappeared without leaving a trace, and now he was in front of you, all grown up into a tall and handsome young man but still so much like the Ajax you knew.

"Y/N..." he whispered, and just when your name fell off his lips, you leaped forward and threw your arms around him with a sob.

He too had teared up, eyes watery as he held you so so so close, as if he was afraid of another decade of separation if he would let go of you again. With great effort you peeled away from his embrace after a while, let your eyes wander to meet his, cupped his face and called his name with a shaky voice.

There were so many questions, so many things you wanted to say, but your voice had forgotten its sole purpose and you could only utter out his name over and over and you felt like crying for real when a smile washed over Ajax's face.

You weren't stupid. Of course you recognized a member of the Fatui when you saw one. It was quite clear to you that Ajax had joined the Tsaritsa's delegation of diplomats, but in your moment of bliss you chose to ignore it.

You had found Ajax again, the boy you had lost for more than ten years. The hows and whys were the least of your concerns now. All that mattered was the fact that you were reunited, and you were utterly overwhelmed by the fact that he was right in front of you.

He took you to where he was staying in the harbor city that night, and though he avoided the topic of what happened during his long absence, you two happily reminiscensed about all the good memories you had of growing up together.

And the promise? He never forgot.

It made you wonder. What if maybe, just maybe, the bond you once had could be restored again? What if you two could still find the together you had promised each other all those years ago? If fate reunited you again, who knew what else fate had in store for you?

June 24

Ajax wasn't Ajax anymore.

Though you initially thought your friend was still the boy from all those years ago, it was a statement you quickly dismissed. Ajax had changed, and drastically so. What happened to him when he disappeared? And how did he end up with the Fatui?

He was a Vision bearer now, aided by an additional Delusion. Why did he need the strength of two elements? You were a bit worried about it. Did his Vision relate to his disappearance? It wasn't a rarity for Archons to bestow their elemental power onto people in a situation dire or tragic. And then there was his Delusion. Not much was known about these artificial Visions, but they were rumored to be harmful for their bearers.

What was he doing?

"Good morning, Ajax," you greeted the male, smiling softly as you woke up next to him in the morning.

"Can you stop calling me that?" he asked, averting his gaze as if he was ashamed. "I- Please call me Childe from now on."

"Childe?" you echoed, your smile rapidly faltering.

He had asked you to be his the day before, and the sweet moment had you forgetting about all your worries and doubts regarding the male, but they all came back now.

You wanted to ask him why, but Ajax, or Childe, slipped out of the bed and started to prepare for another day of work. He got dressed, fixed his hair, gave you a quick kiss, and then he was gone, leaving you behind in a confused daze.

It was summer in Liyue Harbor, so why was it so cold all of a sudden? You curled up into a little ball under the blankets in the empty bed and heaved out a sigh. Maybe the red flags you blissfully ignored shouldn't have been ignored.

The fact that he worked for the Fatui, the double elements he wielded, and above all, the fact that his ocean eyes had lost their sparkle, and his gaze had become empty and dull and his sweet and boyish smile never reached his eyes anymore.

You fell in love with the guy who was merely a ghost of the person he used to be. He was no longer your Ajax. Who was Childe?

July 10

He was a Harbinger.

Childe was one of the Fatui Harbingers, the elite that led the military detachment along with the Tsaritsa herself.

Was that why he had become so cold? There were weeks where you hardly saw him, when the Fatui required his full focus and attention and he had no time left for you.

He came back tired that night, mood sour and grumpy, but he still forced out a smile when he walked past you. You could see he tried to show his heart, his warmth, to tell you he loved you despite everything. That night, he fell asleep in your arms, and it felt truly okay.

But Childe was still a Harbinger.

You weren't too sure what it meant to be one, but it seemed to implement a fair deal of stress on the male in your arms. That must be why he often acted the way he did. Yet, it didn't make it less tough on you.

You missed Ajax.

All was good now that he was peacefully asleep in your arms and you held him close now that he let you do so for once. Sadly, it was but a momentary burst. Tomorrow he'd be the cold Fatui elite again, and you weren't looking forward to it.

This wasn't what you signed up for. You had cancelled your return to Snezhnaya so you could stay with the man you loved but it felt as if you were only drifting apart more. For Celestia's sake, Childe was a tapestry of secrets who hid his true self even from his lover, and he got upset at you whenever you gingerly brought up the subject while all you wanted was to understand him.

He refused to open up to you, no matter how hard you tried. Childe was at peace when he slept in your arms, but that was as far as the moments of love you shared went. This was no good, and you were reaching the limit of how much more you could take.

You felt homesick, and the feeling of home you had hoped to find at Ajax's side wasn't there. You yearned for Snezhnaya, because next to Childe, you felt lonely.

You knew he tried, but was it enough?

It was a game of push and pull, and the male seemed to be at war with himself, with his feelings and his desires. Was it even fair for you to expect him to love you properly while he was struggling with his own problems?

But he was the one who asked you...

September 15

He came home, his clothes covered in stains of crimson blood. You didn't want to believe it, you refused to acknowledge it, but your attempts failed when he greeted you with a cheerful grin. So when acts of violence were still freshly engraved in his memory, he was able to find some mirth within himself? He needed to spill blood in order to look happy?

This wasn't right.

"Childe, why?" you quietly asked.

"I got stronger again," came the reply, and the hand that had just held a bloodied sword now ruffled your hair playfully.

You had enough. It was getting too much, it started to scare you. You had to get away, leave Liyue and distance yourself from the man you loved – did he even love you? You didn't know, nor did it matter. You had tried to tell yourself that you were happy here in the beginning, but time had taught you that you weren't happy at all.

That evening, you cooked him dinner – his favorite meal, because you knew it would be the last time you ever cooked something for him. The smile he gave you pulled on your heartstrings, made you doubt your decision to leave, but what was one small moment of joy worth against the emptiness you felt around him perpetually?

For months you had desperately clung onto the sorry excuse of your relationship with Childe. You refused to believe Ajax was gone for real, hoping that he would come back if you held on tightly enough. You tried to love Childe, you really did.

Your heart was at war. Next to you was the boy you spent your gleeful years of youth with, the boy who was your first love, yet at the same time he wasn't. You knew your heart wouldn't find peace if you stayed here.

You knew you had to end it, so you did.

"This isn't working, Childe," you said, your voice shaky. "I'm... I'm breaking up with you."

You were on the brink of tears when you forced out those words, but you started truly crying when the Fatui in front of you teared up as well, hurt and disbelief falling over his features.

"You grew up, Childe. I love Ajax, but I can't find him in you anymore. It's unfair for us both if this illusion lasts any longer."

You saw his heart shatter when the meaning of your words dawned upon him, and yours did the same. It fell apart in a thousand tiny pieces, shards of a broken heart that would take ages to be mended again – if it could be mended, you weren't too sure about that.

It hurt, it hurt so damn much. But it had been hurting you for months, and living in a lie had tarnished your spirit. Old wounds resurfaced, torn open so they could heal again and properly this time.

There was a boat leaving for Snezhnaya that night, and you got your hands on a ticket in the very last minute before its departure.

Childe held you close for the last time ever. His arms were around you and yours were around him in an embrace that held naught but pain. He was crying, you were too, and you both struggled to breathe as you knew all between you was over for good now.

For the last time, his teary eyes sought yours, and he hoarsely whispered your name, tellong you to take care of yourself. You told him the same, and those were the last words you ever exchanged as the boat carried you far, far away from him.

December 21

You found a small silver necklace with a tiny gemstone as blue as the shimmering ocean in a small box in your wardrobe, back in your house in your Snezhnayan hometown.

Suddenly, you recognized it.

Your heart was hollow as you stepped into the cold winter that fell over the country. It was icy, the frostbiting wind howling over the streets. In your apathetic daze, it meant nothing to you. Your feet dragged you to a certain spot just outside of the village you both grew up in, only one goal in mind;

Finding closure.

You arrived at the lake, a place that appeared in so many of your memories. You glanced around the frozen scenery, and the sight pulled on your heartstrings. You suddenly remembered all the snowmen you and your first love used to make here, the adventures, the thrill of running into a hilichurl for the very first time and how he had protected you. Oh, was that a treehouse you and Ajax had build together?

You had to get out of here.

The silver necklace rested in your tight fist as you stared at the surface of the half frozen over lake, taking deep breaths to calm yourself. Then you started running towards the edge of the lake, and with a strangled cry you threw the necklace with all the force you could muster.

By the time it got swallowed by the icy water, you were crying, tears streaking your face as you watched the ripples on the surface until they ceased. Your lungs were burning, your heart ached, but you did it.

You had said goodbye to Ajax for good.

More Posts from Xevrq and Others

xevrq

3 years ago

Im gonna have a math exam tmmrw, instead of studying im writing a scenario w childe and scara, hopefully it will finish tmmrw hshhshhs.

But pls wish me gl for tmmrw👉👈

Im so close to give up the scara part, how am i supposed to write it damn

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xevrq

2 years ago

Istg im seriously trying to finish this childe fic

the scar you left behind

featuring — hanemiya kazutora

genre — hurt to comfort

author's note — this one had been screaming at me for attention for the past few weeks ever since @qtsickchiq mentioned the idea to me, and kazutora had been haunting my mind help-

kazutora thought that he could die from the pressure. outside of the pet shop he's working in with chifuyu who had called sick that day, the rain was pouring down like there's no tomorrow. the heater was working fine, he's sure, but he felt his hands freezing. as he worked in silent, desperately trying to focus on restocking the items in front of him, he cant deny the screaming need to talk to you.

unfortunately, he didnt have the courage. not enough at least. you used to be his best friend, you probably would have been more than that if kazutora didnt abandon you one day without any explanation. you've been through a lot together, being there when life left sickeningly unfair for him. to this day, he regretted for breaking his promise to be with your forever. through its a little too late for that.

a few months ago, you had reappeared in his life when chifuyu had asked him to pass a pre-ordered items to a customer for him, not knowing its you. when he first laid his eyes on you, the evening sunlight had given you such an ethereal glow that he cant help but be mesmerised by your beauty. though he couldnt miss your eyes that used to radiate so much love for him gone cold as the warmth diminished.

kazutora's heart broke to the memory. he must have opened up old wound for the both of you for not being thoughtful enough to actually check who the customer his friend was talking about was. he wished he had treated you better, in the past and present, but as he heard you winced when the thunder boomed outside, he hesitated. he didnt want to cross the boundary and make you feel uncomfortable when all you wished for was a temporary shelter from the weather before you could continue on your way home.

a particularly loud one exploded outside and you let out a muffled scream. before kazutora realised, his body had moved towards you. suddenly, he's kneeling in front of you, his face contoured with concern. 'it's fine, i'm here', he assured you, though regretted it as he saw you looked sadder than before. 'tor-', you covered your mouth before you could complete what you're saying.

kazutora was taken aback. not by the gesture, but by the fact that you almost called him with the nickname you had given him long ago when you were still together. 'yes?', he responded out of adrenaline before he could stop himself. the deafening silence that followed, along with the tension of finally confronting his past for closure was almost unbearable for him, but he brazened himself.

'its nothing. i'm sorry to bother you with your work', you said after collecting your wit. without looking at him, you reluctantly stood up to leave. but kazutora held your wrist, not letting you go just yet, 'wait, please tell me what you wanted to say earlier'. he saw you balled your fist, your hand trembling in his grip. 'selfish, arent you now?', your voice was so low that he would have missed it if he didnt pay full attention towards you.

panicking, kazutora let go of your hand and apologised, 'i didnt mean it that way-', something snapped in you that you turned and faced him with the anger, sadness and regret you've bottled up for so long, cutting him off, 'why'd you care what i think now? you never care to know when you left before'. kazutora was speechless. he had never seen you this furious.

his adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. he knew he's the cause of your pain, 'y/n, i know what i did was unforgiveable, and you deserve to feel all this, but please hear me out-', once again, you didnt allow him to finish because of your tangled up emotion. 'yes, i do! you left without even explaining yourself, expecting me to accept it. do you ever stop and consider how hopeless you made me feel? i waited for you for years. i thought you trusted me', your voice broke so much that it became hard to utter any more words at all.

instantly, you're a mess of tears. as you hide your crying face with the sleeves of your hoodie, you felt yourself being embraced. kazutora was hesitant at first, but seeing that you're not pushing him away, he tightened his arms around your shoulders, pulling you close to him. 'confine in me, tora. you dont have to be alone,' you said in between hiccups, and his eyes became misty with emotion.

kazutora kept you close to him the whole time you cried your eyes out. he didnt even try to stop his own tears from spilling as he swayed you gently to calm you down while patting your head the way he knew you like it. when you've quieted down to a sniffle, he said to your ear with the most soothing voice he could muster in his own emotional state, 'i'm sorry. even after all this time, i still couldnt do anything right'.

he fell you shaking your head and buried your face deeper into his chest, 'dont leave again, please. i dont care if you mess up. i want to be there with you'. kazutora felt a familiar fuzzy feeling deep in him because of your heartfelt request. looking at your glassy eyes, he saw the love that he thought had lost returning. as his forehead touched yours, he let the three words he had always wanted to say to you leave his lips before yours met his halfway, 'i love you'.

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xevrq

2 years ago

Tian: You fainted. Do you remember anything?

Mo: Just the ambulance ride to the hospital.

Tian: There was no ambulance. I drove you.

Mo: But I heard a siren?

Tian: That was Jian.

Jian: Sorry. I got nervous.

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xevrq

2 years ago

cat of war part ii

3K notes View Post

xevrq

3 years ago

CHAPTER THREE // GOLD RUSH

SYPNOSIS (of chapter). in which you decided to spend your day reuniting with old friends and encounter an old flame.

SYPNOSIS (of series). breaking up with your first love was heartbreaking, but not as heartbreaking as getting invited to his wedding after years of not seeing him. that is, until things seem to be easier when you encounter a certain guest, who could end up being more than just a blooming friend to you.

CHARACTERS. kamisato ayato, (later) diluc ragnvindr

CONTENT. fluff/angst, modern!au, mentions of death (minor), mentions of break-ups, mentions of car accident

TAGLIST. @scaraslover @dawgimsohot @kazu-topia @aqualesha @mrkamisato @serami00 @serenareiss @hiqhkey @emperatris-rinaka @bystander36 @irisxiel @coleluuviida @034ven @dear-dairiess @luv3rxcha @hadesaedes @chiro-chiro-kun @hersscherofyatta @mariusvonhangme @yuzuricebun @nejibot @hoshikistarlette @solaaresque @crowbird @lordbugs @estelwrld @giyusimpsassemble @irethepotatosblog @elychee @rion-s @denkineptune @franini @sophisticatedleslie @thedivinepriestess @smashsubs @httpmitsuya @cottonkendi @uchihaeirin @abvolat @kokushiboswife @kyomihann @jiyujinsstuff @durptwit @elegantcecile @crowbird @mnemosyneechan @s-adidass @belovedxiao @deimmortales99 @veyu002

WORD COUNT. 5.1K words

NOTE. please make sure to check the end of the post for extra notes by the time you’re done reading (just to clear certain things up !!)

SPECIAL NOTE. was gone for a few days and came back to life. i will be gone again after posting this probably. have fun with this meal <33333

EVERMORE MASTERLIST \ MAIN MASTERLIST

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You felt sick to your stomach.

Yesterday, as soon as you and Zhongli returned to the Grand Goth Hotel after buying the wedding gift, you suddenly came across Ei and Yae Miko, who were about to leave the hotel for an unexpected reason.

“...You guys were looking for me?” You asked with furrowed eyebrows. “You guys should’ve texted me instead, I was busy finding a wedding gift.”

“We wanted to tell you in person rather than messages since it’s important. Besides, we wanted to spend our dinner somewhere outside since the food in this hotel’s not to our taste, or Ei’s specifically.” Yae explains casually, her mouth curving up. “Do you mind if we could talk in the lounge area? We want to talk about something related to tomorrow.”

Hence how you found out that you’ll be meeting with your old college friends today.

“Are you still uncomfortable, ( Name )?” Zhongli asks with a concerned look as he watches you staring at your food down in deep thought.

Right now, the both of you decided to try and eat in Goth Grand Hotel’s finest restaurant area for breakfast. Although you’ve enjoyed the foods the hotel provided, the thoughts of what will transpire in your reunion has never faded away.

“I wouldn’t say I’m uncomfortable,” You spoke up. “Just… nervous, that’s all.”

Don’t get yourself wrong, you’re truly happy that you’ll get to reunite with your dearest friends after being away from them for so long, but you couldn’t help but feel nervous due to the fact that you haven’t talked to them ever since you went to Liyue after one year of graduating.

Maybe you should just pretend to be sick and try not to go to this meeting–

“You’ll be okay,” Zhongli assures you, cutting your thoughts off with his calm voice. In all honesty, his smooth voice never fails to soothe you no matter what he’s saying. “I’m sure your friends would be delighted to reunite with you after being away for so long. Besides, you have your boss and your colleague with you, am I correct?”

You nodded slowly, your shoulders slowly relaxed. “Yeah.. you’re right…”

He then moves one of the meals forward with a cheeky smile. The food contains plenty of seafood. “Now go eat your breakfast before it runs cold, a good meal can heal one’s mood after all.”

You laughed at his attempts in finding a way to not eat the food – that was offered by some ginger-haired man who was for some reason interested(1) in your friend – and grabbed your eating utensils to take a few bites.

It’s delicious, you admit. The ginger-haired man made a good choice, but it’s too bad that Zhongli despises seafood.

“It’s good,” You hummed in a content tone. “You should try it, that strange man just offered you free food, you know?”

He continues to smile. “Have you decided what to wear? Or will you be going shopping?”

He really just changed the topic, huh. You mused.

“I have decided. What will you be doing while I'm gone, if I may ask?”

“Perhaps it’s not too bad if I explore around the hotel, and maybe stroll around the city if I have the time to do so.” Zhongli answers, patting his mouth with a napkin gently. “Do you need me to escort you? The restaurant sounds pretty far from what Venti told me.”

You shook your head with a reassuring smile. “No worries, I have Ei and Yae who rented a car, we’ll be meeting by the lobby later at 11:00.”

The man frowns. “Do you think they’ll be late?”

You shook your head once more. “I’m sure they won’t. This is a special occasion, after all.” You said confidently.

If only you knew how you were wrong.

“...Fools.” You mumbled with an irritated look, looking around the lobby to look for the two women. “Why on earth are they late?”

Then again, you know they always have tardiness, but did they seriously have to be late and keep a person waiting for them?!

You huffed before pulling out your phone to contact them.

As you continue texting them, you suddenly hear someone clearing their throat, causing you to flinch slightly and look up at the person in front of you, only for your eyes to widen at the sight of the stranger.

The stranger turns out to be Ayato.

“Hello, ( Name ).” He spoke in a gentle tone.

And somehow, the tardiness of your two friends suddenly became your least of your worries.

You shifted uncomfortably, now realizing that there are people eyeing at your direction in curiosity due to the fact that you’re in front of a successor of an infamous company that everyone knows of. “Hel.. Hello, Mr. Kamisato.”

It was clear that the awkward atmosphere between the two of you is strong, but you knew the very reason why it’s like that in comparison to college.

It was because of how this is your first time having a proper conversation with Ayato after years of not seeing each other.

Everything went downhill ever since you broke up with Ayato.

For the past few weeks, you had never seen your ex at all. When you went to the area that connects all the dormitories where you’d walk to the university with your lover, he was no longer there anymore. Whenever you visit the Student Council, he’s either unavailable or usually takes his leave to buy boba tea. Whenever you tried to come up to him in the cafeteria or some areas around the school, he pretended to not know someone was calling him and continued his day. You hated how he even avoided the places you go to daily, something that you thought was once admirable from your ex, who knows you more than any other person in your life.

It was obvious he was avoiding you.

And it hurts.

“I don’t know what I did wrong..” You spoke solemnly as your friends tried their best to comfort you in your dorm room. “Was I not that good enough for him? Was it because his parents hate me?”

“Nonsense, ( Name). You’re being too harsh on yourself!” Yae told you, trying to soothe your fragile state as Ei continues to offer you food. While the two women comforted you, your other friends went out to buy something you didn’t manage to understand due to your breakdown. “That foolish brute had no right to suddenly break things off like that.. I’m sure the both of you can talk it out-”

“How can I…?” You whispered. “How can I talk to him when he’s been avoiding me like I’m some.. Some plague!”

Ei pats your head, unsure what to do to help you. “Whatever his reason is, it must’ve been a bad one if he’s willing to go all out in avoid–”

The pink-haired woman nudges the blunt woman for her words. “What Ei meant to say is… Whatever his reason is, it’s not worth it. Don’t let him see you being so desperate to come to him, just avoid him too and see if he’ll actually be affected by it.” Yae clarified, shooting the purple-haired woman a warning glance.

“I don’t see how this helps..” Ei mumbled, to which Yae managed to hear but didn't bother retort back.

“If he’s affected by it.. Then he’ll eventually come to you himself.”

You gulped, looking down with a hesitant look on your face. It wouldn’t… hurt to try, right?

Thanks to your friend’s words, you started avoiding Ayato as well.

It was already obvious to everyone in the university that something happened between the two of you, I mean, who wouldn’t notice how the so-called high school sweethearts who are joined at the hip are avoiding each other?

This was a good thing for those who had admired Ayato romantically. Everywhere Ayato went, there’s always one or more people trailing behind trying to make a chat with him in hopes of being close with him, but as always, he made sure to cut the conversation short and run away.

Of course, you felt jealous, but who are you to be jealous of now that he’s no longer yours?

It wasn’t fact that the university knows about your break-up and the fact that Ayato now has admirers didn’t phase you,

What phased you is the fact that your ex did not look affected by your ignorance at all.

It only took a couple of months for you to understand why.

“...What…” You mumbled to yourself, staring down at Ayato – who’s in the area that connects all the dormitories for the first time in months – with a disbelieved look on your face.

It didn’t matter to you that your ex has finally shown up at the place where the both of you always meet.

What mattered to you was the fact that he’s with an unfamiliar woman.

You felt chills run down your spine from how he’s looking at her with a gentle and genuine smile on his face, something that he only showed to you and only you. You despised the fact that envy started to grow in your body.

You weren’t envious of the woman who managed to win his heart. You weren’t envious of the couple who obviously look happier than you and Ayato. You weren’t envious of how they have each other now.

You were envious of how Ayato moved on.

He continued to avoid you since then.

“What brings you here in the lobby, if I may ask?” Ayato wondered. “Are you perhaps waiting for someone?”

You nodded slowly. “Ye… Yeah. I’m waiting for Ei and Yae to come back down from their room to have lunch together outside the hotel.” You explained. You didn’t bother adding the fact that you’re reuniting with old friends, since him tagging along will only make things awkward. “And you?”

“I’m waiting for a photographer who’ll be taking pictures for the wedding.” He answers.

The two of you then fell silent afterwards.

Despite the fact that you “moved on”, you can’t even manage to have a proper conversation with the man who ruined your heart years ago. Just being near him made you feel uneasy, as if something bad will happen.

“...How’s… Miss Chisato?” You questioned.

“She’s fine. She’s currently shopping for her wedding dress with her bridesmaids and father.”

Before the conversation started to get longer, you felt someone tapping your shoulder lightly.

“We’re here~” Yae spoke up, smiling at you as soon as you looked at the person who tapped your shoulder. “We apologize for being late, Ei just couldn’t decide what to buy.” She explains apologetically.

You looked at Ei's direction, who holds a paper bag that contains what you assume is her dessert and sigh. "It's alright, I'm just glad you guys made it already."

The two women suddenly noticed another person’s presence, if you looked closely, you would’ve noticed how their eyes slightly darkened. “Oh, hello Mr. Kamisato.” Ei spoke up in a nonchalant tone.

Ayato continued to smile, but it no longer reached his eyes like before. “Miss Shogun… Pleasure to see you after all this time. How has your business fared?”

“It’s as smooth as always,” She answered. “I would like to congratulate you once more for your wedding.”

He hums, placing his hand on his chest as a sign of gratitude. “You have my thanks, Miss Shogun.”

While the atmosphere with you and Ayato was tense and awkward, the atmosphere with him and Ei and Yae was always intimidating and far from awkward.

In fear of having the situation go longer than to your liking, you immediately intervened in the “polite” conversation. “We should take our leave before we’re late for our reservation. I heard we won’t be able to apply for another reservation for the next few months due to the overwhelming number of customers if we were to miss it.”

The purple-haired woman clears her throat, her face brightens up quickly. “Ah, right. We shall take our leave then, Mr. Kamisato. I wouldn’t want to let ( Name ) be hungry.”

“( Name ) must be proud to have a friend like you then.” The blue-haired man commented with a small laugh. “I shall see you three again next time.”

You gave him an acknowledged nod before the three of you left towards the exit, your smile immediately drops the moment you’re no longer seen by the groom.

“You guys should’ve been early.” You grumbled.

Yae laughs. “Yes, yes, we apologize again for being so late. You can tell us all the details on our way.”

As the three of you entered the car, you couldn’t help but glance at where Ayato walked away with a frown.

Since when did Ayato stop avoiding you?

It felt like you guys had been driving around for an hour.

“...So how was it?” Yae asks as she focuses on the road while driving. It was the first time one of you spoke up ever since you left the hotel, if it weren’t for the music Ei was handling, the car would’ve fallen to an awkward silence.

You knew what the woman was referring to and answered, “He acted as if he hadn't avoided me.”

“How pathetic,” Ei mumbled with a tsk. “Not even a single apology?”

“It’s fine, I didn’t expect him to do it anyway.” You said, leaning against the window. “Besides, he’s the last thing on my mind right now.”

“Are you still nervous about meeting the others?” Ei asks.

“Of course. I haven’t seen them for so long.”

“Cheer up, I’m sure things will go well. They miss you more than you think.” Just as Yae said that, the car suddenly stopped, and you realized that you finally arrived at the restaurant.

Unlike most restaurants you’ve seen, this one had a more home-y feeling and has the kitchen being in the same room as the customers with the chefs being seen cooking. Not to mention how it’s all decorated nicely and suits the atmosphere outside.

Your eyes then land on a certain group whose table is by the window, and you wipe your sweaty hands on your lap with a gulp. Here goes nothing..

“Welcome to Good Hunter.” The guard stationed in front of the entrance spoke as he opened the doors for you and your friends to enter. You quietly thanked the guard in response, and decided to let Yae and Ei walk in front of you first.

It didn’t take long before the others noticed your presence, and they instantly stood up from their seats and walked towards you three with excitement.

“Took you guys long enough to get here!” Yoimiya(2) exclaims, giving a hug to the two women first before hugging you next. “I missed you three so much! I apologize that our conversation was so short yesterday, ( Name ).”

You hugged your friend back. “It’s alright, I’m just happy I got to see you again.”

Suddenly, you felt huge arms wrapped around you and Yoimiya, causing you to yelp in surprise and look at the person, only for your face to beam at the sight of Itto. “Don’t tell me you forgot about me, ( Name )! Why didn’t you hug me first?” He whines.

“I hugged them first, big guy!” Yoimiya retorted with her tongue out.

Before the two of them could banter, they were instantly smacked in the heads by a certain woman. “Cut it off, you two. We just met ( Name ) after so long and this is how you’re acting in front of them?” Kujou Sara scolded.

You laugh in response. “It’s alright, Sara.” You said reassuringly, your shoulders no longer tensed. What was I even nervous about? You thought as you mentally facepalm yourself.

“If you say so, it’s nice to see you again, by the way.” Sara replied.

“I agree with Sara, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, ( Name ).” Kokomi spoke up with a warm smile as Gorou waves at you. “...And Ei and Yae as well, we’re glad you guys had time to come here.”

Yae hums, copying Kokomi’s facial expression. “We are happy enough to come here even if we’re busy. I must say, you’ve grown taller than before.” She teases, glancing at the brown-haired man’s direction with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

You notice how Gorou flinches from the tall woman’s stare before avoiding eye contact, causing Yae to giggle. “And it’s nice to see you again, Gorou. You’ve grown more handsome than before. If you still remember what I told you, are you still up for cosplaying as a certain writer for my dearest readers?”

“Wh-What?! No way!” He stumbled.

Before Yae could continue to tease him more, you heard a familiar voice calling your name, causing you to look at the person by the table and see Thoma waving at you.

“Ah ( Name ), come sit here! I saved a seat for you.” Thoma said with a smile as he pulled back the chair that’s beside his. “You should come and order your food as well, I’m sure you must’ve been starving the whole time on your way here.”

Hearing the word food instantly caught Itto’s attention, and he immediately let go of you and Yoimiya before he rushed back to his seat to grab his menu. “Aw man, I forgot what I was supposed to order!”

Yoimiya lets go of you as well, following Itto in a panic. “I forgot what I was supposed to order too! Was it the Barbatos Ratatouille or Sweet Madames?”

Your eyes brighten when you see Thoma, remembering that he’s in the reunion as well. You followed Itto and Yoimiya in excitement to talk with your friend once more after seeing him yesterday.

“Thanks for saving me a seat, if it weren’t for you I would’ve been unsure which seat I should sit on.” You spoke as you sat down on your seat next to him. “How have you been? Isn’t it great that you’re back in your hometown?”

The blonde-haired man nods happily. “Yeah, it’s just the same as I remembered! I visited my mother’s side of the family and they’ve all been well thankfully.”

His smile is quite infectious, you thought, finding yourself smiling as well. “That’s good.”

“What about you? How’s Liyue?” He asks.

“Surprisingly well,” You replied fondly. “I made a few friends here and there, and the prices are certainly not as absurd as our home.”

“I’m guessing that brown-haired man with you yesterday is a friend from Liyue?” Thoma questions, and you nodded in response.

“Yes, he and I are neighbors. He helped me a lot with Liyue’s culture and traditions whenever we hung out in his home. I’m glad I have him as my plus one.” You explained, wondering to yourself what Zhongli is doing back in the hotel. “He’s quite a gentleman too, just like you.”

Thoma felt flattered. “Y-You think I’m a gentleman–?”

“Hey ( Name ), what did you order?” Itto interrupts. “If your order sounds tasty I’ll order the same!”

You chuckled in response, opening the menu as well to check the available meals. “I’m not sure, to be honest. There’s a lot of good food here.” Your eyes scan through the numerous names.

Unnoticed by you, Thoma stayed quiet, still thinking of your compliment.

By the time the server has received your orders, all of you have started talking to one another. Whether it’d be college memories, struggles in certain subjects and topics, and love lives–

Ah, how you despise love lives so much.

The moment someone brought up love life, you could instantly tell what the others are thinking thanks to how they’re glancing at your way with a hint of sympathy in their eyes, especially Itto, who’s easier to read than a children’s book.

“So, ( Name )...” Yae spoke, trying to think of a way to lighten up the conversation. “That plus one of yours seems very interesting, don’t you think so?” She giggles.

You rolled your eyes with a smile, knowing where the woman is going with this conversation. “He is, but we’re only just friends.” You explained. “Don’t tell me you’re interested in an older man, are you?”

She immediately laughs. “Oh my… Don’t make this about me, besides, Mister Zhongli is not my type so you don’t have to worry about me snatching up your man.”

“He’s not my man nor someone I’m interested in that way.” You clarified, crossing your arms. “Besides, I don’t think I’m interested in anyone.”

“Ooh what about Mister Tartaglia?” Yoimiya chimes in. “I saw him walking towards your table during breakfast, and you seemed like you like the food he offered for free!”

Your eyebrows furrowed. “You were there?”

The girl giggles sheepishly. “Sorry I didn’t come up to you, I didn’t want to ruin your conversation with Mister Zhongli since you looked so serious.”

You nodded in understanding. “I see… But Mister Tartaglia gave the food to my plus one, but Zhongli despises seafood a lot so I decided to eat it to not let free food go to waste.” You clarified.

“Hm.. Mister Albedo seems interesting, have you met him?” Kokomi chimes as well as Gorou agrees with the pink-haired woman’s words. “He has great talent with his art skills, maybe you should try to talk to him–”

Your eyes widened when you realized what the others were trying to do. “Woah, woah, woah! I didn’t ask for you guys to be my wingman and try to pair me up with some guys I don’t even know much!”

“( Name )’s right, you guys should let them choose who they want to choose.” Thoma joins in, patting your shoulder in a reassuring gesture that he has your back.

“You guys should mind your business, ( Name ) can choose whoever they want without our help.” Sara interjected, being on your and Thoma’s side as well.

Unfortunately, your comment as well as Thoma and Sara’s went to deaf ears.

“Mister Albedo? Pfft, please, ( Name )’s better off with uhm…” Itto stops for a moment to think. “Uhm.. Ooh! Why not be with my bro, Xiao?”

“Isn’t he younger than ( Name )?” Ei questioned with raised eyebrows. “He’s the same age as Kunikuzushi–”

“Ei, they’re both the same age as our dear ( Name ).” Yae corrected.

“Ah,” Ei clears her throat, looking away from the pink-haired woman. “Then.. How about Mister Diluc? I heard from a friend of mine that he knows ( Name ).”

Everyone suddenly stops talking the moment the purple-haired woman mentions the fact that he knows you, causing your eyes to widen from the mention of the man who paid for your wedding gift.

Ah shi–

“When did you meet? How did you two meet? What is he like? Is he nice? Is he mean? Is he handsome?” Yoimiya immediately asks, eyes sparkling as everyone curiously tries to hear your answer as well. You honestly forgot how nosey your friends can be, to which you don't mind since they know when to mind their own business.

“Uhm…” You hesitated for a moment, unsure if you should really tell them such unnecessary information. “Well, I guess he and I met when we bumped into each other in the lobby.”

“Then what happened?” Yoimiya asks eagerly, urging you to continue talking.

“...Nothing?”

“Really?”

You look away from the girl’s gaze, and she gasps. “You’re lying! Something did happen!”

“I won’t say it!” You said defensively.

“From the way you look, it’s obvious that something did happen to make you look so embarrassed.” Yae comments with a giggle.

You felt your cheeks warming from being exposed so easily. That woman really can bring out your embarrassed self with just her teases, you can understand why Gorou’s always avoiding her.

“Well.. either way… I don’t like him, he’s rude.” That was a lie, and you knew it. However, you knew mentioning the fact that you don’t mind him as well as the wedding gift incident will only give them – especially Yae – more reasons to tease you and not bring the topic down at all.

“That’s just because he looks like it, if anything, I think he’s quite a gentleman like Mister Zhongli based on my first meeting with him for business reasons.” Ei retorted casually as she took a sip of her drink. “You should give him a chance.”

Before you could respond, the waiter suddenly interrupted the conversation with the meals beside him, causing you to sigh in relief. “Your orders have arrived.”

Thank you, waiter! You thought gratefully, watching as he hands out all the food to your friends, who are all eager to eat the delicious Mondstadt meals that they ordered, the conversation they just had with you had all been forgotten.

Unnoticed by you, a certain man whose table is beside yours heard the whole thing with his ears flushed. It was a coincidence that he’s in the same place as you once more, and you and your friends are pretty loud enough for him and nearby customers to hear.

They’re still mad at me? Diluc thought, bringing out his phone before calling someone with a huff.

“Kaeya you liar, you told me buying an item for a person will make them forgive me.”

As you enter your hotel room, you immediately yawn in exhaustion.

Thankfully, your friends decided to talk about something else besides your love life. In all honesty, you really appreciated them for helping you find someone you can date, but you sincerely think you can’t fall in love just as easily as before. Nevertheless, the reunion ended on a good note as a smile never leaves your face.

“How is it? Did it go well, I hope?” Zhongli asks, looking up to your direction from his book as he lies down on his bed.

You nodded happily. “Yeah.. I don’t even know why I was nervous in the first place.” You answered with a laugh, remembering how you didn’t feel well thanks to your nervousness.

He hums. “I’m glad you enjoyed your day, care to tell me all about it over a cup of tea?” He asks, gesturing towards the table nearby that has a teapot and teacups on it.

“...And facial skin care?” You ask with a cheeky grin, imagining Zhongli wearing a face mask with cucumbers on his eyes as he tries to drink his tea.

Besides chatting over a cup of tea and helping Zhongli out with his inconveniences in the apartment, the both of you had also spent the night having a sleepover during occasions when the electricity would go out of nowhere, leaving you to visit Zhongli to have some company and give him a facial skin care routine that he finds himself enjoying a lot.

Your friend laughs. “And facial skin care.”

Your eyes brighten. “Alright, Just give me a moment to change my clothes and get my facial products ready for the both of us.”

He nods in understanding, watching as you grab your clothes from the closet and rush inside the bathroom. It was quite amusing to see you so excited over something such as this, but he didn’t mind. As long as you’re happy, then he’s happy as well.

As soon as you leave, his smile instantly disappears, remembering a certain incident that occurred while you were out with your friends.

“...Good afternoon, Mister Kamisato.” Zhongli greeted, eyes slightly widening in surprise from the sight of Ayato standing in front of the door of his hotel room with an unexplainable look on his face. He doesn’t recall you telling him that Ayato would be visiting. “May I help you?”

“...Is ( Name ) here?” Ayato asks, smiling politely.

The brown-haired man shook his head. “Unfortunately not. They’re outside hanging out with Miss Miko and Miss Shogun.”

He watched as the blue-haired man’s smile slightly dropped at the moment, before regaining his facade once more. “Oh… I see… I was hoping I was going to talk to them about something..”

Zhongli guessed it was about the break-up that you told him, your tear-stained face haunting his mind. “You can visit again tomorrow. From what I remember, ( Name ) won’t be having any plans in mind on that day.”

Ayato nodded slowly. “I understand. Thank you for telling me.”

The man didn’t move at all, still standing in front of Zhongli in silence for a moment. “If… I may be bold to ask, what's your relationship with ( Name )?”

Zhongli tilted his head slightly. Where is he going with this? “...( Name ) and I are neighbors. We’ve been friends ever since they traveled to Liyue.”

“I see,” He murmured, his shoulders slowly relaxed. “...I take it that they’re doing well in Liyue?”

“Why don’t you ask ( Name ) that when you try to talk to them tomorrow?” The brown-haired man retorts with a stiff smile. “I’m sure they’re willing to tell you. That is… If you have good intentions when you come up to them.”

The blue-haired man is taken back for a moment, before he chuckles in response. “You’re a good friend, Mister Zhongli. Rest assured that I don’t have any ill intentions towards ( Name ).” Ayato spoke. “I shall not waste your time any longer, thank you for answering my questions.”

“It’s no problem, Mister Kamisato.” The older man nods. “Have a good day.”

Zhongli lets out a small sigh, hoping that whatever the groom intends to do when he visits your room again will be nothing bad like he claims.

He honestly feels conflicted from how Ayato treated you as if he didn’t break your heart and didn’t even explain himself nor apologize for it. Perhaps it’d be good if apologizing was Ayato’s purpose when visiting your hotel room.

But who’s to say that would be enough to help you officially move on?

The man could recall certain moments when you still had a sad look on your face whenever Ayato was mentioned, and he could tell that you aren’t as happy as you are back in Liyue ever since the both of you had arrived at the hotel for the first time. Not to mention how Zhongli noticed you having a hard time sleeping when he woke up in the middle of the night to pour himself some water, so seeing you so happy after meeting with your old friends is a relief.

For now, the best thing Zhongli can do as a friend is to make you happy and not get sad over that jerk who broke your heart.

“That is what friends do, you know.” Guizhong once told him as he watches her placing her bags by the trunk of her car. “We make each other happy and care for one another.”

“She’s right,” Azhdaha chimes, carrying two more bags towards the car. “That’s why we’ll make sure to video chat with you once we arrive at our universities. Don’t worry about us, Morax!”

The man smiles in sadness from the memory, staring down at the book he’s holding as he fondly remembers how Guizhong used to love reading it.

“I’ll fulfill your promise, my dear friends,” He whispered, trying to forget the image of their corpses inside their car that was hit by a drunk driver as well as the two funerals he had to attend alone.

“I’ll make sure to be a good friend like how you were both to me.”

DAN'S NOTES !

(1) "by some ginger-haired man who was for some reason interested(1) in your friend" - the interest tartaglia has for zhongli depends on how you guys see it, just don't let it boil your blood if you see how some people see it as romantic or however else they see it.

(2) "Yoimiya exclaims" - If you guys wondering why on earth Yoimiya's in the reunion meeting despite being younger and being in the same batch as Ayaka's, it's because of certain circumstances that led Yoimiya and the others to become friends during college.

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xevrq

2 years ago

Oh you give author comment?? You give author little kudos on their fic?? LOVE FOR READER!! LOVE FOR READER FOR ONE MILLION YEARS!!

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xevrq

2 years ago

some sniper and könig ideas because im soft about them 🥺

könig loves playing with your fingers. he holds your hand any chance he gets. but when he’s get fidgety, he’s grabbing your fingers.

you’re opposites in the fact where he’s chatty on the battlefield, you’ll go deathly silent. whistling a little haunting tune as you pull the trigger.

he’s guarded and it takes time to tear down those walls of his, but you do eventually.

it doesn’t take long for him to warm up to you. even if he doesn’t talk much at first. you don’t mind his silence. its comfortable. he comes to expect your shadow falling onto him during lunch breaks and down time.

you never question the sniper veil he wears. he waits for it, waits for you to ask why he wears it when he’s not really a sniper, but you never do. its one of the things he appreciates about you.

once you win his trust, he’s a much more open book. he spills everything to you: stories about his childhood, about his home, his travels, the scars. you treasure you know these little details about him while no one else does.

he blushes so easily. his skin’s pale and littered with freckles and scars.

he reveals his face to you one night, going to lift his hood only for you to catch his wrist. its too big for you to even get your fingers around, but you hold it. his hand trembles in your grasp. you tell him that he doesn’t have to. but he wants to. he wants you to see him. to really see him.

you craft gifts for könig throughout your friendship. simple but thoughtful small presents. he keeps every single one of them.

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xevrq

2 years ago

My exact reaction