Fable’s Oneshots & Headcanons

by FracturedFables

Chapter 1: INFO PAGE

A collection of my Genshin Impact One-shots and Headcanons

Keys :
♡ — Fluff
☀︎ — Angst
♪ — Dark content
◎ — Slightly spicy.

Requests are open, you can request in my Tumblr (@FracturedF4bles) or in the comments on this chapter.

Chapter 2: Scaramouche x Reader ♪

Notes:

hunger didn’t strike, it slithered. Like a serpent ready to deceive, it slowly crept its way through your throat — making a home for itself in the pain you wielded. You never even noticed, not until the lightning struck too close, not until the smell of roasted lavender melons turned bitter.

The art of starvation is something that’s quiet.

It doesn’t scream. It doesn’t beg. It doesn’t make itself known right away.

It slowly creeps into your life, taking the place of something you once needed.

It worms its way into the marrow of your bones, etches its agony into your mind — it breathes with you, it thrives with you, it dies with you.

You don’t notice it at first, not until the first onsets of deprivation sink in.

It’s slow, it’s unnerving, like it’s trying to remain unnoticed. Like if you notice it, it wouldn’t be able to approach any further.

The first signs of it — they’re small, a subtle ache in your chest. It’s barely noticeable, in a way that you play it off as your mind playing tricks on you. But it’s there, and it’s real.

Then it grows stronger. It turns from small fluctuations of pain to strong bursts of crippling sensations, ones that make your knees buckle.

It slithers its way through your veins, through the very essence of your body, and it crawls into your mind.

It sinks itself into the grooves of your brain, digging into the pinkish flesh and whispering secrets to you, desires.

It tells you to eat. To consume. To devour.

It removes all sense of reason.

Scaramouche is similar in a way.

The first time you meet him — it isn’t outstanding in any sort of way.

The sky is grey, the soft sounds of the waves bashing against the shore of Tatarasuna are repetitive, and the air is cold.

It’s quiet, as if the world is waiting — as if it’s preparing for something, something it wouldn’t be able to undo.

You’ve been here for a couple days — on Tatarasuna — having set up camp not far from the sand bank, just short of the beach.

You were curious, someone who let their ambitions take control.

The history of the uninhabited island intrigued you too much, in a way that had you renting a boat, desperate to uncover its secrets for yourself.

You dug through shacks, checked beneath rusted floor boards and danced between dust particles flying in the air.

A ghost town, where you were alone. Or, that’s what you’d initially thought.

You’d been down on the beach when it happened, the west shore line.

Between the towering rock walls, a crevice filled with electro had drawn your attention. It was glowing, overflowing with the elemental energy that the crack couldn’t contain.

You’d studied it with your eyes, then your hands.

It had bit at you, singed your skin and left angry red imprints that forked across your skin.

He’d been there.

You don’t know when he first appeared, how you hadn’t heard the chimes of his bells in the wind — but he was there, a smile on his face, charming, approachable, displaying every behaviour he wasn’t.

His words tasted sweet, like honey. He made his voice chirpy, pitched it to a frequency that that would let your guard drop without you even noticing.

It was practiced.

He’d stood by you as you soaked your burnt hand in salt water, letting the sting of the ocean wash over the deep seated wounds.

He’d talked, rambling about how you were an idiot, about how ‘mortals’ had no sense of self preservation. You hadn’t understood him at the time.

He’d asked what you were doing there.

‘Investigating’. You’d replied.

He’d hummed, yet he hadn’t said anything else.

You didn’t even know when he vanished, but he did, silently, quietly, where the wind hid his trail.

You didn’t think much of it.

You’d continued investigating.

The next time he found you — you were observing the floating islands that danced above the lake in the middle of the island.

They stood high like pillars, lighting pulsating across the scape of their rocks.

He was reticent, and this time you’d been the one to speak.

You’d asked about him, about his reasoning for being here. He hadn’t said much in return.

He avoided questions like they’d burn him — was vague as if going into depth would let you in on something you weren’t supposed to know.

He didn’t let his tongue slip, instead he wielded it like a blade made to both deflect and cut down.

Instead, he turned the questions back to you, asking back what you had, repeating like a parrot.

You’d told him your name, how you wanted to uncover the secrets behind the island. He had just nodded, those bells ringing again.

That was it, but at the same time — it wasn’t.

On the third meeting, he was less vague, and so were you.

He’d found your campsite, or maybe he’d tracked it down. You didn’t know at this point, but he’d been there.

This time you’d heard the chimes, barely recognised the soft tinkling of bells. He emerged from the crest of a hill, and he hadn’t left.

You’d offered him some lavender melons you were roasting, the charred and blackened outsides a little too bitter for your liking. He hadn’t turned them down.

You discussed with him your findings, slowly growing at ease, his presence becoming normalised.

He’d listened, listened as the conversation shifted from ancient swords — halfway through being crafted — to the Fatui you’d seen building up.

You talked about avoiding them, about your unease with them around. He hadn’t said anything, but his eyes had stared.

They’d stared at you — so deeply you thought he was trying to see right through you.

They observed you, watched the muscles of your mouth move, noted what made you tick. They’d investigated you like you were another target to be evaluated.

He was strange. You’d noticed his staring, but you hadn’t said anything about it, allowing yourself to ramble until he disappeared in the wind again.

He came back the next day.

He was swift, placing himself back in your routine in a way you didn’t pick up on.

Why? You couldn’t tell, you weren’t sure he could either.

He’d helped you investigate, following at your side as you walked back through the village, the previous Fatui camps strangely absent.

Maybe they’d finally moved on.

The two of you had walked through the pathways, making your way through the town, passing bridges and climbing structures — you were enamoured by the sights, he wasn’t.

You’d found letters, scrounges of papers detailing dates, erased rules, letter scribbled out by time.

They were evidence, but you couldn’t tell what they’d said.

You’d continued to search.

That day had ended up a dead end, aside from records, ones stating the slowly declining state of the people in the area.

You’d pocketed the letters before the sun set, keeping them safe.

He hadn’t left this time. He stayed, and you didn’t question it. Why would you? He was good company — he listened, let you ramble, kept you out of trouble.

He was… different, in a way you were drawn to him.

He stuck around longer.

You weren’t even sure when you first noticed time was passing quicker than normal. Was it when the first week finally went by, or the third?

He was still there.

It was raining, the two of you hiding in a small cave that sheltered you both.

He’d grumbled something about the weather not bothering him, you’d chuckled.

The rain didn’t stop for awhile, it poured.

The dirt turned to mud, and your walls broke down. Somehow it had happened, and you’d ended up telling him your past.

Your parents, two people you’d loved dearly — their lives taken by Fatui soldiers. You’d explained your distaste for the fatui, for their methods.

You’d explained yourself.

What you liked, what made you laugh — what you thought of him.

He’d paused, his eyes looking at you, wondering if you were lying.

Thunder had boomed, but you didn’t take back what you said. Maybe you should have.

Nervous, you reaffirmed your statement. You had come to see him as a friend. Even if the time was short, the close capacity with him had shown he wasn’t too bad of a person in your opinion.

He hadn’t accepted your answer, but he hadn’t rejected it either.

Finally, he said something about himself.

He told you he like tea.

That was all he told you.

A month went by, and your passion for the island dwindled.

You sat by the campfire, shielded from the cold, your voice whispered.

“I think I’m going to go home…”

He stilled, eyes trained on the flickering flame.

“Hm?” His eyes didn’t move, but the hum was one gesturing for you to go on, to continue, so you did.

“I just—don’t… feel like investigating anymore,” you’d explained , continuing to ramble.

You hadn’t gotten anywhere with your answers, with your curiosity. It had been dead ends, proof lost to time. You still had to go home too, to return back — to begin your life again.

Simply put, the cat killed the curiosity this time.

He hadn’t moved after you said those few words, but he watched you, closer.

This time, he didn’t watch your mannerisms, didn’t pick you apart and seek out your flaws — he simply… watched. He looked at you as a whole, as a person, and something within his chest felt hollow at your declaration of leaving.

He didn’t know what it was.

He didn’t have a heart… but — he felt something he hadn’t felt in years.

At first, he’d only talked to you to see what someone was doing on this island, wondering if maybe you were one of those pesky Fontainian researchers, here to tinker with the Mikage Furnace, but you weren’t.

The second time, he didn’t know what pulled him to approach you, but after that, he kept doing it.

It was like a hunger almost. Not a hunger for flesh, for the organs that lay inside your body — but for your soul. The way you acted, your voice. He wanted to drink it in.

He hated that. You made him feel something that wasn’t anger. You made him feel again.

You made him vulnerable.

Vulnerability was a weakness — weaknesses were things to be exploited, things to twist and distort.

He didn’t like feeling weak. He didn’t like the way his breath was stolen when you’d shift too close. He didn’t like the way he’d listen to your rambles. He didn’t like the way his temper seemed to lessen, and most of all — he didn’t like the way his skin buzzed the moment he saw you.

It was addicting. You were his poison, but you were his remedy at the very same time.

You were the first thing he realised he’d loved in years.

But… Scaramouche didn’t do love. He didn’t do those kinds of things — love was weak, intolerable… yet, you made him want to tolerate it.

It made him want to claw at his own skin, to sink his fingers beneath his synthetic flesh and tear it away, revealing the implanted blood and absence of organs that lay inside of him.

He was a puppet.

He was porcelain.

He shouldn’t feel. He shouldn’t think. But he does.

He hated how you made him think more.

He hated how when you’d fall asleep, he’d pretend to sleep beside you, only to stay up the entire night watching you — keeping track of your breaths to make sure they wouldn’t stop.

It was wrong, but so was he.

Everything about his existence was wrong.

He shouldn’t exist. He shouldn’t be here, but he was.

He shouldn’t love… should desire, but he did… and, Scaramouche was a selfish man.

Already his mind had begun to roll, ideas formulating on instinct, ways to stop you from betraying him like the others had.

It was pathetic, how he was already connected — but this was love, wasn’t it? Love was a magnificent thing, and he was just another creature that had been starved of it.

The days following, he let himself slowly slip, in ways you would surely notice.

He dropped hints of himself, let bitter insults tear from his lips. You simply chuckled along, as if he weren’t detailing his plans to you.

You were stupid, but you were stupid in a way that made him dangerously love your naivety.

You opened your heart to the world, and he would steal it for himself. He’d lock it, and then throw away the key.

His mood soured the night you began packing, but he didn’t stop you.

He let you sort your things, let you pack belongings into organisation, he noted down the exact way you stored everything.

He had sat and watched, his hands carefully clasped around the cusp of his tea cup he’d brought along for himself, the liquid bitter.

He was half way through it when he offered you a sip.

You’d hesitated, but you’d taken it, claiming there was no harm to it.

You were so… idiotic, it charmed him.

You fell asleep by his side again that night, but you hadn’t woke up until the next afternoon.

He’d been there when you opened your eyes, watching, like he always did.

You were so — panicked. Your surroundings, wood, a boat.

Of course, you’d gone through the rounds of panic everyone did. Confusion, anger, questioning, fear… betrayal.

His expression didn’t change as he watched you flicker through each and every emotion, almost like an animal realising it was about to be hunted — but he wasn’t going to kill you.

He could never hurt you, not in his mind, at least.

He was saving you, but he was also being selfish.

Though, he was selfish, and when a selfish person is starved — then spoon fed love, they turn it into agony.

Scaramouche was someone who crept his way into your life without you even knowing, and you did the same to him, only, he was the one who never let go.

He sunk his nails into your skin, and he promised you everything.

It didn’t matter if right now you were confused, he’d show you how much he cared, even if you claimed he was crazy, that he’d completely lied.

He hadn’t lied, but he hadn’t told the truth either. Yet — now, he had no reason to lie.

Finally he could explain everything. Finally he could show you the empty cavity where his heart was supposed to lay.

Finally he’d put his trust into a human again, and this time, he’d make sure that it wasn’t broken.

Chapter 3: Xiao x Reader ♡/☀︎

Notes:

Xiao isn’t someone who indulges in comforting actions — but this time, he might just make an exception.

In a thicket of rotten flesh, lies remain free.
They drift around the air, wondering what they will be.
Written in woes and dried with tears, the one you behold shall erase your fears.

“You’re feeling guilty again.”

Your eyes flitted to Xiao for a moment, his voice sharp against the winter of the air.

“It didn’t deserve to die…” your whispers caressed the air, the frost surrounding both you, him and the fresh carcass of a deer, an arrow embedded into the crust of its skull.

The air stung of blood, the metallic liquid flowing from the fresh wound in small sputters, drenching the fresh canvas of white in a red.

“…It didn’t, but it’s dead now. Fretting over the past is frivolous,” he grunted, stepping past you to kneel before the creature.

Its eyes remained shiny even in the aftermath of death, its jaw hung open and its tongue lax. The poor thing didn’t even know what was coming until the arrow had hit it.

…

At least its death was painless.

Xiao raised a gloved hand, fingertips carefully grazing over the fur of the deer in a soft motion, petting the animal a small few times as if to calm its spirit.

“Be grateful it wasn’t an infected that killed it,” he shot you a glance, you swallowed.

His words held a heavy weight.

You’d both seen what the infected would do to anything that moved. They didn’t care if it would feed them or if they were just killed for fun, the infected killed anyway. They used their jaws — rotten teeth and chipped nails — to tear into skin.

You remember on the first few days of this all, you’d been too terrified to even step out of your bordered up apartment, hearing the mocking cries of infected mimicking the people they used to be.

So… perhaps this fate was a kinder one. While the deer could have lived, the stakes of it being torn apart limb from limb were much higher. This quick death was the better option.

“Come on, the blood will draw attention — we need to get to work,” Xiao placed down his gun, letting it settle amongst the snow as he swapped it for a knife.

The small dagger cut through the air, and soon it did the creatures flesh too.

You grimaced, stomach churning at the sounds of flesh being sliced.

How could he always do that so easily…?

—

The air was colder at night. Sharper, thinner. It stung the back of your throat, not even the fire Xiao had lit in the furnace could warm you with this torrential cold.

Inside an abandoned house, located far into the countryside — the two of you hid.

Infected still roamed the cities, their legs not taking them far. It was better out here. Quieter.

Xiao sat a little in front of you, his body closer to the fire as he watched the slabs of meat that he’d strung over the flames roast, their marinated reds slowly toasting to crisp browns.

Your eyes watched his figure, the soft outline of the leather jacket he wore — slightly bigger than what he needed, yet still fitting all the same — the ragged edges of his hair that he hadn’t had time to cut in a few months.

It curled around his neck, the wispy edges a faded teal, a reminder of the dye be used to put underneath the top layers before this all began.

It was quiet, but it was nice.

The wind howled, not like the infected did, but like the wolves would in movies. The sound was soft, a draft breaking through the cracks that had surely began to expand overtime.

Xiao sat up straighter, his head tilting slightly.

The venison wouldn’t be done for a while.

You watched as his neck craned, his head slowly turning to look back at you.

Golden eyes — highlighted by the flames of the fire — looked back at you. They were sharp, piercing in a natural way, but soft in how he looked at you.

He watched you, and you watched him. Neither of you said anything.

He simply shifted, his hand subtly moving to the space beside him. The movement wasn’t obvious, it wasn’t big and loud — it didn’t scream for attention, it just was.

You understood the small signal; one he was too shy to exert to its full potential. Scooting closer, you joined his side by the fire, eyes moving to instead stare intently at the blaze.

“If you’re cold, you should sit closer to the fire…” his voice echoed softly, mingling with the crackled fanning of the flames.

You huffed through your nose, a small smile cracking on your face. You still didn’t say anything, arms coming to hug yourself.

He went silent again, the air held its breath.

A subtle shift of clothing — brushing as he moved. A subtle graze of his gloves against yours, and that was all you needed.

You let your body lean to the side, to his side. Your shoulder met his, and the warmth that radiated from his body was a comfort that no fire could match.

He tensed, as if he hadn’t expected you to accept his invitation, but he slowly relaxed again, muscles coming to soften under the comfort of your presence.

In a world where gore could no longer be defined as a grim experience, the quiet nights were things you cherished.

You could still remember the first night he’d let you get close — months after the two of you had met, months after you tagged after him, too scared to survive on your own — it had also been a winters night, just last year.

You hadn’t had any proper shelter, holing up in a small cave that was buried in the mountains the both of you were passing by.

The first snow of the year had been that night, and the temperatures dropped to frigid.

You’d been shivering, struggling to fall asleep with the chattering of your own teeth — then you’d felt it. Xiao had moved closer, his body just barely touching yours, but it was enough to make you look up.

He wasn’t looking at you, eyes locked onto the saved entrance as if behaving like a sentinel, but you had taken it as an invitation, just like you continued to after.

He’d let you curl up to his side, as much as he seemed awkward about it, he had willingly let you. From there it was like a major break through had happened, and while Xiao never verbally voiced his need for physical affection, he would show it subtly.

A hand on your shoulder when he sensed something you couldn’t. A brush of your arms when he passed by you. Fingers interlacing with yours when he needed to guide you somewhere.

He was quiet, but he was slowly getting less shy.

Just like tonight, progress had been made — and he let you curl into his side once again, one hand cautiously coming up to wrap around you.

It had been over a year since he got bolder, but he still held you like you were glass. Not because he thought you were weak, but because he thought he couldn’t hold anything without destroying it. He didn’t think his hands were capable of being gentle, and so he held you with a fondness that nobody else had expressed, his head eventually coming to rest against yours.

The fire continued to crackle as you both sat there, waiting for the venison to cook. It was silent, but it wasn’t bad. It was comforting, it was delicate, it was nice.

—

For once, Xiao’s hands around you felt like some kind of chain.

Your skin fuzzy, body beginning to radiate with agony, you quivered in his hold, breath stolen from your throat.

Above you he hovered, eyes panicked, stricken with a heavy worry that even his naturally stoic expression couldn’t hide. You could see the clench of his jaw — the bristle of his entire body, he was terrified, and it showed.

The claw mark dug into your arm was already blackening, rotting, eroding away within minutes after the wound was first inflicted. It was agony.

“Xiao, you have to do it,” you croaked, your uninjured arm coming to grab at his shoulder, eyes pleading, tears from something tumultuous welling within the line of your lashes.

His lips twisted into a grimace at your words, his hands tightening around you.

“No—“

“Xiao.”

He bit his lip, his Adam’s apple bobbing with a thick swallow.

You could see the hesitance in his eyes, the denial, the want to believe that this wasn’t real. It was just a scratch — it wasn’t a bite like all the stories pre-apocalypse had told, you’d be fine! Except, the slash was already showing the signs, your body already beginning to fail yourself.

The infection moved fast.

“You have to,” you whispered, voice breathy and weak.

“I—I can’t,” Xiao lowered his head, hair falling over his eyes.

Kneeled on the ground, cradling you to him like it would save you, he held you there, a repeat all over again.

“Xiao, I don’t want to turn into one of them…” your voice cracked alongside your composure. “I don’t—I don’t want to risk you…” you continued.

“I can’t do it,” he looked away, hiding the war of emotions in his expression.

“Please… please Xiao. I don’t want to become one of them,” you pleaded, throat constricting with a singeing burn.

Xiao trembled, pressing his lips into a thin line.

He didn’t look back at you, didn’t say anything — the silence was heavy and thick with blood and decay — He knew he should just get it over with, but he couldn’t.

One too many had he seen fall. Too many friends, too many people that had held some kind of value in his eyes. He’d seen them wither away. He didn’t want to risk that with you — but you were already fading, the tears being one of the last things you could show.

“Please don’t feel guilty about this…” you uttered beneath your breath, words soft against the still air of the room.

“I’d rather be killed by you than an infected—“

“Don’t,” he flinched, cutting you off.

“I’ll find something. Some way—I’ll… I’ll find something just—just hold on,” he turned back to face you, hands still clasped tight and voice full of a steeled conviction.

It was useless.

“Don’t say another word…” he ended with a mutter, his voice breaking in something dangerously close to a sob.

One hand shifted from your arm, slowly wrapping around your back and bringing you close to himself—feeling the cold detachment of your own skin.

It only further solidified the reality of your fading life. He missed relishing in the feeling of your body heat against his. This—cold version of you…? He didn’t like it, it made his saliva too thick to swallow.

You leaned your head into the crook of his neck, your own free arm coming to embrace him back. You bit your lip, tears free falling and dropping onto the leather of that damn jacket that was still slightly too big for him.

You had so many words to say, so many things you wanted to tell him — but you knew if you said them, he’d hesitate. You knew if you spilled your heart out here and now, he wouldn’t be able to do it. So, you kept your lips sealed, staying quiet as a cold metal pressed against the back of your head.

You clutched him tighter, hands beginning to quiver not from the cold, but from the impending future that lay ahead of you.

Xiao didn’t say anything.

You didn’t say anything.

The gunshot was loud, but you never heard it.

Xiao felt you go limp in his arms. Cold. Lifeless.

He held you there, hands trembling for the first time in years.

The world held its breath, and yours stopped.

The gun clattered to the floor.

He embraced your corpse tighter — yet your arms had fallen, unable to return the favour.

He held you close to himself, shoulders tense and eyes finally letting the tears flow silently.

You were gone.

The one person who he thought would stay with him — gone.

Chapter 4: Kaveh and Lyney HCs || Request || ♡

KAVEH & LYNEY RELATIONSHIP HCs

Requested on Ao3 |

❝ Life dating them is different, but not bad. ❞

KAVEH

General Behaviour

Kaveh is someone who’s complicated when it comes to love. Torn between work and wanting to show you with affection, he often finds himself struggling to find the time to spend with you. Though, in the rare moments when roommate isn’t plaguing the area and it’s just the two of you alone, he lets go of both the alcohol and complaints, basking in the artistry of your relationship together.

How affectionate are they?

Kaveh is decently affectionate. He’s not overly clingy, as in wanting to breathe the same air as you 24/7, but he’s not closed off either. He gives you the occasional peck when he greets you, lingers by your side and grasps your hands with his own, the very hands that have crafted palaces, and he overall is very level in the affection department.

What’s their love language?

Kaveh’s love language is gift giving. Despite not being able to afford many things, he stills does his best to get you what you want. That’s what makes it special. If you mention a jacket you like? On your birthday it might just show up as a present. You mention wanting a specific item? It might just show up later that week, carefully placed in his hands as he offers it to you. He loves the smile on your face whenever you receive the results of his constant overworking, and he may just never stop.

Domestic Moments

When the nights are quieter and it gets a little more domestic, Kaveh enjoys the atmosphere of your home, the smell of the specially made food that you crafted yourself, your own form of art, wafting through the air. He enjoys the dinners with you, the ends of the day where he gets to relax and bask in your presence like a lizard beneath the summer sun. Chatting about work, listening to you over the sounds of food scraping the bowl, either or, he doesn’t mind, as long as you’re with him.

What are dates like?

Dates with Kaveh are quaint yet perfect in their own way. In the back of a tavern he frequents, he pulls you to a booth that lingers in the quiet, laughing between sips of wine and the smell of perfectly cooked spices. He makes sure to pay every time. You sometimes offer to pay, not wanting him to spend anymore towards you, but he declines, assuring you it’s fine. He wasn’t to treat you — he wants to treat you like this, because you’re special. Special to him.

How jealous are they?

Sadly, despite all these positives, Kaveh does have a small negative to him. Insecurity plagues him like a disease. His jealously is easily triggered, especially when his hunk of a roommate greets you like the two of you are old friends. He doesn’t know whether Alhaitham knows how much it pisses him off or not, but it doesn’t matter, not when he’s grabbing you by the wrist and dragging you out of the house, taking you with him for a walk and consequentially forgetting his keys in the process.

LYNEY

General Behaviour

Lyney is a total tease when you’re dating him. He flirts even when the moment calls for silence, pulling rainbow roses out of thin air and breathing a flutter of compliments from his lips to your ears, maybe even throwing in a wink or two. He’s playful, and that’s painfully obvious when you finally get into an established relationship with him.

How affectionate are they?

Lyney is affectionate. He’s not too bad, similarly to Kaveh, but he’s definitely on the higher end of things. He’ll squeeze in kisses when he can, take you by the hand and plant affectionate brushes of his lips against your knuckles like it’s natural. His hand is always in yours, gloved fingers threading through yours, even in public. He’s not afraid, and perhaps he never will be. He’s shameless, but he’s not overbearing.

What’s their love language?

Lyney’s love language is all around the board. He doesn’t have a singular preference. He loves to compliment how you look, your smile, the crease of your eyes when you do grin. He loves to gift you with roses, chocolates, anything you like. He loves quality time with you, even putting on a small magic show just for your eyes, using tricks that even the public had never before seen. He just loves anything to do with you, that’s just Lyney.

Domestic Moments

The quiet domestic moments with Lyney come when he finally takes you to the house of the hearth. He makes sure to reassure you, to affirm that his family isn’t all that bad, and you place your trust in him. Despite the Fatui’s strong reputation, you find yourself enjoying the time you have surrounded by his siblings and him. It’s more peaceful than you imagined, and it feels somewhat like a home… if only the Fatui’s reputation didn’t linger above.

What are dates like?

Dates with Lyney are picnics. He takes you out to a beautiful flower field in some hidden corner of Fontaine, away from the public eye and places down a cute little blanket with all kinds of prepared sweets and pastries. He lets the scent of pollen from the flowers around waft through the air as the warm sun grazes over you both, and maybe after you’re done with the food, he’ll take you down to the shore to admire the graceful blue of Fontaine’s waters together.

How jealous are they?

Lyney isn’t a jealous person. Someone flirts with you? He’s already one-upped them just by making a dove fly from his hat. Someone tried to ask you out? Sorry, you’re out on a date with him already. He knows he’s got you, and you’ve got him. He has no reason to be jealous, though, if someone does get a little too pushy, he may just pop in to scare them off before things escalate a little too far.

Chapter 5: HOW THEY HUG ♡

‘HOW THEY HUG’

Ft. The Anemo boys + Itto, Kinich & Scaramouche

Content : How they prefer to embrace you!

AETHER

Tight embraces with his arms around your waist. Aether pulls you tight against himself, head resting on your shoulder as if your very presence itself is the only thing tethering to this world.

In a reality where he’s been left behind by the only family he had, he keeps you close to him, not only because he loves you, but because he doesn’t think he can afford to let you go.

VENTI

Lazy side hugs. Venti slings his arms around either your shoulders or waist from the side, tugging you closer so that he could feel your body heat through the fabric of his sleeves.

Venti likes having one arm secured around you while the other toasts a bottle of wine in the air, it’s his way of keeping you tethered to him while not being completely obstructed. Though, maybe on nights where the booze gets too strong, you’ll find him toppling over into your lap. Just maybe.

XIAO

Hesitant cuddles. Xiao isn’t quite sure how to be gentle, it’s not something he’s used to being — but the day you offer him a hug, he can’t exactly say no to you. Xiao hugs you like you’re fragile, like you’ll break if his fingers squeeze too hard.

He’s tense, unsure of what to do once he’s in your embrace, but he finds himself liking the stillness of it all. No words need to be said, and when your head eventually rests in the crook of his neck, he finds himself relaxing, hands snaking tighter around your waist.

KAZUHA

Kazuha is fairly affectionate. Embraces and hugs aren’t uncommon, and each one is purposefully delicate, like the caress of wind against your skin.

Kazuha mostly approaches from behind, head slotting next to yours as he presses his cheek against your own, his hands coming to intertwine with his own around the circumference of your waist.

He’s soft, and the soft hums he lets out beneath his breath as he embraces you only adds to the fuzziness of the atmosphere.

HEIZOU

On his knees. It’s just how it is. Heizou doesn’t hug normally, instead he loves to get down on his knees and embrace you from a lower level, as if you’re something to be praised.

Perhaps it’s his naturally bold nature that allows him to be so shameless while doing this, or it’s your flustered face every time he lets his head rest on your stomach, either way, that’s his favourite way to embrace you. He’ll never stop.

ITTO

This man is picking you up and squeezing the life out of you. It’s simply his way of showing you how much he loves you. Wrapping his arms around you and throwing you up into the air as if you were to weigh nothing is just his style.

He’ll laugh, flash his canines in a joyful grin as you’re tossed into the air multiple times. At first it startled you, but you got used to suddenly being tossed up and into his arms after a while.

WANDERER

He doesn’t hug you, not often at least. He deflects affection, sneers at your offers like they’re the most revolting things he’s heard, but when dusk falls, and it’s just the two of you behind closed doors.

…Well, he might just catch himself falling into your arms, letting his head rest against your chest and listen to the rhythmic thud of your heartbeat, the one organ he wished he had, that was now present within you.

KINICH

Kinich likes to hug you in a tree. Sounds strange but hear me out. Lounging up in the tall branches of Natlan, Kinich enjoys both the shade of the leaves and the cool breeze being up high brings.

The chilled-out atmosphere only amps up when he has you with him, laying against his chest and his arm around your waist, securing you. While Ajaw is in timeout, he enjoys holding you close as the winds wash over the both of you, hidden from both the sun and most prying eyes.

SCARAMOUCHE

Much like Wanderer, Scaramouche doesn’t do hugs. Displays of affection are weaknesses, targets to be exploited — yet admits all of that negative portrayal he has towards any kind of love, he finds himself straying towards you much too often.

Sometimes you’ll just be standing around, and you feel him hovering over your shoulder, a little too close to be normal. Other times he’ll actually make a move and place a hand on your waist, simply keeping you there.

Though, the times he does fully embrace you, again, it’s in full privacy, somewhere where others can’t see his weak points. He holds you tight, keeping you close to him. One of his hands locks tight around your waist, and the other slips to hold one of your own, the heel of his palm secretly pressing against your pulse point, feeling the soft thuds of your pulse.

Scaramouche doesn’t let himself be vulnerable often, cherish this while you can.

divider credits : @222luvr

Chapter 6: HOW THEY CONFESS ♡

‘HOW THEY CONFESS’

ft. Anemo boys + Itto, Kinich & Scaramouche

Content : How these boys confess their love for you!

AETHER | 🌹

“Travelling lover-boy”

When Aether confesses, it’s kind of sloppy. He’s nervous, stumbling over his words and tugging at his own shirt as if the fabric personally assaulted him.

He definitely beats around the bush, taking at least thirty minutes complimenting you, buttering you up, another thirty minutes telling you that it’s okay if you don’t accept him, and by the time he actually confesses, you already knew what he was going to say an hour ago.

Needless to say, he’s very nervous. He hasn’t really cherished anyone this deeply aside from his sister, so if you say yes, he is for sure inviting you on his journey. He’s very affectionate, and on those days when he gets exhausted, he’s falling onto you like you’re his personal pillow.

VENTI | 🕊️

“Lovestruck bard”

He’s drunk when he says it. You can’t change my mind.

It’s a night at the tavern, he’s singing a song about all the people he can see in the bar, hitting it free-style, then when he gets to you, it just spills out. No warning, no filter, in front of everyone.

He’s not embarrassed though. Venti is just that guy. He’ll double down on his confession, somehow pulling a Cecilia bouquet out of nowhere and shoving it into your arms. He’s forward, playful and has at least thirty pickup lines ready in the form of song.

When you say yes, he’s stuck to you like glue. You’re now a front row attendant at his performances and at the tavern you’re the one taking him home and apologising to Diluc. Though, he makes sure to repay you with plenty of quality time and poems about your eyes that it’s like he only ever focused on that.

XIAO | ♥️

“An awkward Adeptus”

Xiao isn’t aware of human customs. He doesn’t exactly know what a boyfriend or girlfriend is, but even so, he’s not completely oblivious. He recognises that he finds a higher comfort in you than anyone else, that the voices are easier to tolerate as long as you’re around.

He fights with himself, torn between distancing himself for your own good or giving into his own greed. In the end, he’s convinced to go through with it by Zhongli. He’s doing his absolute best; in any way he knows how.

You’re pulled high up on a cliff, the sunset cascading over the sky and the faint sound of Liyue Harbours music floating from the distance. Xiao stands there, and it’s where he states his affection in the most eloquent way you’ve heard.

“I never expected myself to develop a bond with a mortal… but you have proved me wrong. I… do not know how to deal with these emotions, but I know that they make me want to be around you.”

It’s not very direct, but it gets the point across. Safe to say that after you say yes, even just the start of his name on your tongue makes him appear, and suddenly every hilichurl and treasure hoarder in your vicinity is gone.

He’s protective yet awkward, but in the moments when you two are alone, he tries to soften himself, for you.

KAZUHA | 🍁

“A poet’s confession”

Kazuha confesses through a quiet moment of solitude. He brings you to the crow’s nest, a calm smile on his face and the wind blowing with the bob of the waves.

He speaks with a gentleness that most can’t even dream of expressing, his hand clasping yours in his and his eyes gazing into your very soul, blessing it with a pure visage of himself.

He bares his soul to you, and who are you to deny?

He’s quiet, yet he cares for you in a way only the wind notices.

HEIZOU | ♠️

“Romantic detective”

Heizou is quite the flirt. At first you thought his constant compliments towards you and hidden innuendos were just things he did to everyone — and they kind of were, only a subtle truth hid behind his own words.

Every threat to take you out on a date was real, every tempt where he’d compliment the way your clothes looked that day was real, and most of all every-time he’d tease you about just moving in with him was real.

When he confessed, you were both surprised but not surprised at the same time. You thought he was just playing around, but now that you thought about it… it was kind of obvious.

Heizou confesses to you with charm, throwing you a wink as he drags you out to a nice place where the two of you can relax and enjoy quality time with one another. He’s bold, and that trait of his only increases when you accept him. Be prepared for constant touches and an even more intense flirt.

ITTO | 💋

“Ecstatic Oni”

You know Itto likes you right off the bat. He’s not subtle. Not one bit. Immediately he’s enamoured with you, unable to hide the way he finds you attractive.

He’s constantly pulling you along with his gang to join the activities and he’s always trying to show off how cool he is. He’s painfully obvious and so straightforward that there never really is a confession, he just kind of gets… comfortable.

Over time, you two sort of just get that close, and nobody really questions it. Soon it’s like everyone who knows Itto knows his partner, and also, Itto has a habit of bringing you beetles he finds pretty. It’s just a little trait of his.

Though don’t be fooled by his affection, he will still try his hardest to beat you in a beetle battle.

WANDERER | 🥀

“A new heart”

He’s nervous. It’s uncharacteristic for him.

The confident and ever so cocky Wanderer, a figure who just popped up in Sumeru one day and never left.

At first, he tried to convince himself you’re annoying, that’s why his chest keeps feeling weird, but after a not-so-subtle mind reading from Nahida, she has a small talk to him about his feelings.

Turns out, he likes you. What a surprise, and now the Wanderer is faced with the fact that he has the capacity to love. He’s confused, not to mention wary. What if you betray him like the rest? He’s never been the best with rejection.

Yet… recovering means being okay with that.

His confession is sloppy. He brings you out to a pond covered by a canopy of trees, lets the glowing shrooms light the mood and offers you a singular flower of your favourite choosing.

He’s still snappy, but there’s a softness that now lingers, and when you accept his confession, boy is he overt the moon. You now find him lingering around you more often, watching over you and helping you with problems, even if he scolds you for being stupid while at it.

He cares in his own way, and it shows in how no matter how much he snaps threats at you, he still helps in any way he can.

KINICH | 🍷

“A hunters devotion”

Kinich gets his advice from Mualani.

Seeking out some kind of guidance, seeing as he hasn’t really got any experience on love — he struggles slightly with figuring out how to confess his feelings to you.

Ajaw teases him relentlessly, but Kinich ignores the pixelated dragon lord as he sets up a plan with the help of his surfer friend. Mualani sets up the place, tells Kinich to give you gifts, charm you, and he does just that. She’s the greatest wingman.

On the outside, Kinich seems confident as he expresses his feelings, swatting Ajaw away to give you both peace, but in truth he’s a raging mess inside. Sweating and hoping you don’t notice, he extends you a gift just as instructed, hoping it’ll appease you.

It does, and you accept. Now you have your own personal saurian hunter who somehow manages to find you and hand you whatever trinkets he came across.

SCARAMOUCHE | 💄

“A heartless Harbinger”

There is no confession. Sorta like Itto… only this time the relationship isn’t smooth and natural, it’s jagged and raw.

Scaramouche fears rejection, much like Wanderer, but since this is his Fatui era, that fear is amplified. Finding someone he loves is rare, but the moment he recognises his own feelings and that you might just like him back, suddenly you don’t exist in Teyvat anymore.

All ties of your existence are cut, and you’re now stuck with him. He’s blunt, sometimes harsh, but there is a subtle softness in the way he doesn’t yell at you like he does his agents.

Though, not much to detail here. He doesn’t confess, doesn’t say ‘I love you’, just keeps you around like you’re the only thing that tethers him to reality.

Animated dividers : @cafekitsune

Chapter 7: A BEACH DAY ♡

A BEACH DAY

ft. Anemo boys + Itto, Kinich, Scaramouche

Content : Spending a fun summer day/vacation with them. How would it go?

Words : 2500+

AETHER | 🥥

“The Golden Haired Traveller”

Aether's been busy. Running between doing errands and preparing to hop into the next region — Nod Krai — he finds himself more exhausted than normal, the high summer heat of Natlan doing nothing to brush away his heatstroke he'd managed to acquire. With all this, the moment you and Paimon propose a day trip to the springs to relax, he can't refuse.

In the People of the Springs, you three pass by the upbeat music and boardwalks, making your ways down to where the sand meets water and the waves crashing against the shore is the only sound audible. The salt in the air is potent, but when Aether steps into the ocean, the cold brushing away the prior drainage he felt — he's pumped.

The two of you chase each other around, splashing in the ocean and even dunking beneath a few waves. When swimming grows tiring, you both choose to relax back on towels you laid on the beach, Paimon returning with a delivery of ice cream she managed to track (sniff) down with a local vendor.

For a day of relaxation, he couldn't think of anything better. Spending a day with you and Paimon, his two most trusted companions by the beach and having the entire day to wash off any worries. It eased his nerves, his stress levels not so far into the roof anymore.

VENTI | 🐚

“The Poet Extraordinaire”

To mosts surprise, Venti was actually the one who suggested taking a vacation up in Natlan. He said he was already going to visit the new summer resort with some friends, so he thought he'd ask you to tag along as well. Unable to say no to the bards charming demeanour and offered songs, you accept the deal and off you two go.

Natlan is vibrant and colourful, not at all like you'd expected from a nation of war. Either way, it's beautiful. The morals painted across walls and music that plays in every tribe you two pass through brings the atmosphere all together. The temperature is just right, and the breeze blows at all the right times, saving you from overheating.

When you finally arrive at the resort, an island a little off the mainland, you immediately shove yourself into the festivities. Throwing on your best summer clothes, you drag Venti along to all kinds of attractions, even if he was the one who suggested the trip in the first place. You force him to do challenges with you, visit the vibrant flower fields, and of course have a drink before the night ends, per Venti's request.

Though, your favourite part would've had to of been the beach. Beautiful in a way no other nation could attest to, not even Fontaine, the beaches were a sight to behold. Throwing yourself into the water, you drag Venti after you despite his own protests. A day spent baking in the sun, relaxing out on the waves and bobbing to the slow shift of the water is just what you needed, and you're happy to sit in the ocean all day, even as Venti decided to use you as his personal flotation device.

Xiao | 🦪

“The Imposing Yaksha”

Called along to a hangout, Xiao finds himself in a prickly position when confront with both you and Mo—Zhongli. For what seemed to be a harmless walk, now he finds himself being confronted with the proposal of a 'beach day', a tradition you insisted he join you in. He declines, obviously, stating he has duties to attend to, and he can't spare too much time — yet his excuse is cut away when Zhongli subtly reminds him that his contract may or may not be null, urging the overworked Yaksha to finally take a break.

With the pressure from two of his closest confidants, Xiao caves, and now he finds himself unsure of what to do. There were no monsters down at the beach, with him having cleared them on a prior day, and he finds himself unsure of what to do, even as you insist he have 'fun'. He's confused, standing blankly like a toddler who just learnt how to balance on their own two feet, and you have to actually show him what to do on a beach.

At first, you just bring him alongside you to build a sandcastle, stating that the two of you shall make the greatest palace to ever exist. He doesn't quite understand the notion, building a fortress out of sand was pointless, the material was too feeble, yet you continue with your childish behaviours, making a rather shitty mound of sand with his help, decorating it with shells and proclaiming it the best castle to ever exist. He just hums, satisfied as long as you deem the work good enough.

Later into the day when the sun gets closer to noon, that is when you finally drag Xiao into the ocean. He was very set on declining as much as you offered, but when you pleaded, even reaching out and grabbing his hand with both of yours, the touch causing him to stiffen like a cat raising its hackles — he crumbles. The first sting of water is cold, and you have to gently coax him into the water. He's not scared of water or anything, but the idea of swimming around to have 'fun' is foreign to him.

Once he's submerged, that's when the onslaught begins. You throttle water in his face, and he's caught off guard. An attack? Though, the loud laugh you bark and challenging smile you shoot his way disproves that thought. A 'play' fight then? As some humans would call it. Awkward at first, Xiao throttles water your way, not wanting to hurt you, but your behaviour is infectious, and even the stoic Yaksha can't resist when you jump around the shallow water like a fish.

It's a first for Xiao, relaxing and having 'fun' being something he hadn't participated in in centuries, but even with that thought, the insecurity surrounding it all, Xiao can't bring himself to regret the experience.

KAZUHA | 🦀

“The Wandering Poet”

During a break between cruises, Beidou ends up telling the crew of the Crux to go off and do what they want. It's sudden, but the crew is in no way going to decline the offer, and they all end up splitting into separate directions, off to have their own mini vacations. You and Kazuha end up branching off with one another as he leads you to the beach, claiming he was following the trail of the wind.

He makes small little comments about the weather, the sound of Liyue harbour and the atmosphere it brings, all the while leading you down to a small cove closed off from the rest of the world, drowning you in a private atmosphere where the both of you can make comments freely without prying eyes or orders being barked in your directions.

The air is breezy, and you both end up simply floating in the ocean, no moves made to do anything crazy. You talk, you rant, you stare at the clouds that pass by in the sky, and he watches the soft smile on your face, already curating new words in his mind, stringing together a sentence that he'd mould into a poem about the shimmer of your presence.

HEIZOU | 🐙

“The Genius of Inazuma”

Inazuma isn't particularly known for being a picnic perfect vacation location, specifically for summer. While its festivals are lively and the celebrations are things to remember, the true nature of it all is gloomy, with thunderstorms reigning supreme over every island in the archipelago. So when a day appears when the sun is out and warm and Heizou surprisingly doesn't have a case in need of immediate attention, he's quick to steal an opportunity.

He doesn't even let you reject the idea of heading down to a less public beach to have fun in the sun, dragging you along with supplies where he (nicely) forces the both of you to set up camp on the beach. It's new, it's different, but it's not all that bad. Your skin soaks in the warmth of the sun, and to your own you may or may not have spent more time sun-baking on the sand than venturing into the ocean itself.

When noon hits and you both have eaten the snacks brought along, you and Heizou join each other in the ocean where he makes more than a few comments about how 'the water makes your skin glow' or 'you look extra beautiful under the sun'. He's always been one for compliments, so they don't faze you. You cling to him like he's a floaty tube, and he happily lets you hover against him, his own strength more than enough to hold the both of you up despite his stature.

ITTO | 🦑

“The One and Oni”

Beach days with Itto? They're... interesting.

Itto is always down for something extravagant. Maybe it's parading through the streets while shouting some made up chant, maybe it's going around the neighbour hood to rap battle and beetle battle with kids. Either or, a day is never bland, and when Itto suddenly springs the idea of going to the beach to you and his gang, nobody really flinches at the suddenness of it all.

Shinobu is the one who makes sure all the supplies are intact, and you're the one who keeps Itto in check while he runs around the beach like an absolute lunatic. Him and the rest of the boys spend hours building what was actually a decent sandcastle, equiped with a fully functional moat that may or may not have caught a crab in its reach.

You and Shinobu watch over them all, sitting back and conversing between yourselves before you both end up being dragged by the rest of them to the water. A few more times than not someone almost drowned, and Itto, despite his large size and confidence, surprisingly clung to you as if he didn't know how to swim. Towards the end of the day when spirits were still high, a game of chicken fight even ensued.

Itto hoisted you up onto his shoulders as you fought against another—desperate to win this sudden game that had just occurred. Though, in the end you ended up falling backwards into the ocean, resurfacing with hair drenched and salt clinging to every inch of your skin, which would be a pain to wash out later.

WANDERER | 🐬

“The Enigmatic Scholar”

His immediate response was no. He had no hesitation in disagreeing and the glare he gave you could rival that of an archons. He was set on not going — he wasn't going to submerge himself in water for 'fun'. That was stupid. You were stupid.

Yet... Nahida ended up talking to him alone later that day, talking about how it would be a good bonding experience and that he should explore more. It was only you and him, so he shouldn't be crowded too much either. After considering his options, he went back to you, voice biting as if he loathed the thought of being near you and accepted the request. You were ecstatic, and the next day you woke him up at the but crack of dawn to drag him on a vacation.

He thought this would be one small trip, just going to the beach then going home and brooding by himself again, but he was proved wrong when you showed up with travel supplies and proceeded to drag him through the desert into Natlan. He was baffled by how he even ended up in this situation, muttering jabs to himself about useless necessities that you couldn't decipher.

So, you pulled him along to the summer resort, an island just off the coast of Natlan surrounded by festivities and colours that made him wince. It was like stepping into a room that had highlighter yellow thrown onto the walls. For the first day, he was as ruthless as ever, but by the second he softened up. You dragged him to the rides that were for friends, working together and 'improving your bond' just as Nahida had said.

You offered him ice cream from a stall, which he declined, and by the third day he was enjoying it, as much as he'd never admit it. No scholars tailing him, nobody pestering him about anything needing to be done... just him... and you, and the damn ocean. Why did he let you drag him here again?

Drenched like a wet cat, you'd somehow managed to convince him to go cliff jumping, because there was an event being held. Tugging him with you, you pulled him to plunge into the ocean, the salt water slapping like wet cement against his faux skin. He snapped at you the moment you resurfaced, claiming he was never letting you take him on another 'beach trip' again — yet months after the vacation ended, and you proposed another vacation to Mondstadt... he didn't decline immediately this time.

KINICH | 🐠

“The Elusive Hunter”

Mualani had told him all about the new resort opening up, how the beaches there compared to the ones found in the territory of the people of the springs. He didn't think much of it at first, brushing it away to the back of his mind where Ajaw and other unimportant things sit, continuing with his job.

Though, later that week when you brought up the place, he had an idea.

Standing in the sand, Ajaw finally shutting up and deciding to sun bake like the lizard he was — you running down to the water, Kinich secretly prided himself on the thought of taking you up to the resort. You clearly enjoyed it, if the giant smiles you held from earlier and all the cooing at the Asha's hinted at anything.

He decided he could spare a few moments, and here you both were. Relaxing by the waves, Kinich watched as you went into the ocean yourself. He personally wasn't one for the water, preferring to simply standing where the waves met the shore as he watched you swim about. Though, maybe later in the day when it got hotter, the sun getting a little too hot to stand, you could convince him to join you at least waist deep, relishing in the refreshing ghost of the sea against his skin.

SCARAMOUCHE | 🪸

“The Puppet without a Heart”

Scaramouche said no. He just... didn't accept the idea. Something about frivolities and being busy with far more important things.

So... what did you do in return? You sulked. You gave him the silent treatment, ignoring him until his fuse blew over and he was almost quivering as he demanded to know why you wouldn't speak to him. Only then did you say you were mad because he wouldn't go to the beach with you. So, just to appease you in hopes you wouldn't ignore (leave) him again, he went to the beach.

It was like giving a cat a bath. He refused to change out of his everyday clothes, keeping his obnoxiously large hat. He refused to relax. Refused to sit. Refused to do anything. He just watched you at the beach. The only thing you could get the stubborn man to do was maybe help you collect shells, deeming that you liked pretty ones. (He would then spend a secret portion of his time collecting shells that he thought looked like you and handing them to you).

Overall... don't take Scaramouche to the beach, he really isn't someone who likes the surf vibe. Maybe take him to a picnic...?

Dividers : @cafekitsune

Chapter 8: THEIR BIRTHDAY ♡

THEIR BIRTHDAY || ft. The Anemo Boys

Content : Their birthdays

Characters included : Aether, Venti, Kazuha, Heizou, Wanderer, Ifa, Scaramouche

Aether | ꩜

“The one who’s woes trail him”

Worn from battle and commissions, the permanently embedded voice of Paimon ringing in his ear, Aether returns back to the teapot with bitter disappointment hanging overhead. The reminder of the day was not one he liked — a fervent reminder of his lost sibling. Though, when he steps through the front door, entering into the main room only to find you seated at the dining table, a cake of his favourite flavour seated alongside carefully wrapped gifts, no doubt curated by your own hand, he can’t help but find a bloom of joy warming within him.

“You did this for me…?” His voice is meek, almost as if he can’t believe you took the time out of your day for him. You nod with a smile, and that’s all it takes for him to relax and enjoy the evening. The frosting tastes as sweet as your laugh, and this time, he thinks, maybe it isn’t all that bad as long as you’re here.

Venti | ꩜

“The one who sings of his sorrow through song”

The singsong voice that echoes through the small of the apartment no doubt belongs to the bard. Home late, bottles of wine no doubt added to his tab, he stumbles inside with a drunken grin, not evening noticing the display on the table as he instead turns to embrace you. His arms wrap around you, comforting and tight as he rests his head on your shoulder, babbling something about the songs he strung on his lyre.

Only when he pulls away does Venti see the display on the table, cake — and even more wine, a gift for him.

“Ahah! Is this all for me?” He raises a cheeky eyebrow at you, and when you confirm, he drags you along to the table, sharing the taste of soft cake and sweet wine with you. He retells the symphonies of his day, and deep down, he relishes in the fact you celebrated his birthday. When the night ends, he’s already thinking of next year.

Xiao | ꩜

“The one who refused to let himself falter”

Xiao appears when you call his name, hair swaying in the breeze on the balcony, arms crossed, and gaze wary as if he was expecting danger the moment he appeared. Only, he finds you seated at a table on the secluded pavilion, a large tray of almond tofu stacked high enough to resemble a tower and a few small gifts lined alongside the plate. Xiao stops to stare for a moment, questioning what this is all about. He has duties to attend to.

Yet when you tell him ‘Happy birthday’ with that gracious grin, he finds himself softening. Hesitantly, he indulges, pushing away the guilt of relaxation and letting the familiar fond texture of tofu caress his tastebuds. He sits beside you silently, not saying much, but appreciating the gestures you put towards him. Perhaps for today he could lower his blade and enjoy this close proximity. As much as Xiao berates himself inside for taking a break, he can’t resist the temptation of you and the effort you put into this all. For you. He says.

Kazuha | ꩜

“The one who wields words like a blade”

Hiding plans from the samurai who speaks to the wind is tricky, especially when you have no obvious way to hide them. On the crux, Kazuha rests in the crows nest, eyes watching the distant waves and letting the rustle of their flashes speak whispers of poems to him. He hears the creak of the wood below as you climb up beside him, the smell of something sugary invading his senses.

He looks back at you with a calm smile, his lips already stretching wider when he sees you clamber up beside him, a small cake in hand. By no means was it perfect, but when you handed it to him, wishing him a happy birthday, he thinks it just might be.

“The cake might be sweet, but the wind whispers of the sugar your smile brings,” he mutters, taking a bite with the same gentleness he always held. The two of you sit there, and he lets the world wash away, focusing solely on the presence of you beside him. If he could, he’d forever wander the world by your side, content following the wind in your trail.

Heizou | ꩜

“The one who detects truth in lie.”

Heizou already had a clue what you were up to. The hushed whispers around him and sudden excitement that filled your errands when he wasn’t around, it didn’t take a genius to piece the puzzle together, even if he was one. The anticipation to his birthday was mild, but the day itself was one he might not forget.

Just the two of you, sat in his home — a cake made specifically to his liking with sweets you asked him about beforehand decorating it. Cups of sake sit to the side, and he laughs alongside a stupid joke you just said, the lingering taste of something sweet lasting on his lips. His cheeks are flushed, with your presence, or the wine? Who knows, but the way he speaks so dreamily in your direction does hint at the answer.

“Setting this all up for me… if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to get a favour,” he drawls, throwing you a wink. He snorts at the way you glance away, and then the night blurs, turning into a fond memory of laughter and bonds.

Wanderer | ꩜

“The one who bears an earned heart”

“Those impudent scholars wont stop following me—“ Wanderer pauses his words the moment he looks ahead of him, door knob still in his hand and steps stuttering for once. You, sitting at the small table of the house you both shared, a cheeky grin stretched across your face and a display of presents and a cake that surprisingly didn’t look all too bad sat before you.

He steps inside with suspicion, closing the door and questioning what all of this is. When you tell him about his own birthday, he doesn’t groan in annoyance, nor does he make another witty remark. Instead he sits down, pulling out a chair beside you and taking a reluctant bite of the cake. Surprisingly, the flavour is bitter beneath his tongue, and he can’t help but falter at the attention to detail you took.

Sure, those few scholars he was about to complain about followed him with a cake, begging that he take it in celebration of his own birth, but the way you say here, not forcing him to do anything, but rather making sure it was to his liking for his own special day, he let himself falter. The rest of that day he didn’t insult you, didn’t mock the presents you gave him, nor did he remark the obviously home-made cake, instead you caught him sending gentle glances your way, and inside, he was reminiscing about a similar past.

Ifa | ꩜

“The one who yields benefit”

When Ifa returns, his eyes, tired from a days work longer on the surprise before him. You, awaiting his presence and glancing to him expectantly, the interior of his own house lit by candles that adorned the cake you’d made. He smirks, taking his hat from his head and placing it on the tabletop as he rounds the corner to take a seat next to you.

He’s quick to talk about the surprise, and you answer with enthusiasm. You wish him a happy birthday, arms pulling him into an embrace, and he returns it. After a day of work in the sun — running between posts because either a saurian was sick or someone needed help, coming back to you, where you’d set up gifts just for him, it was all he needed.

Scaramouche | ꩜

“The one who grieves love”

He’s surprised.

When he sees you sitting there, a grin on your face after you managed to figure out the date that he was ‘born’, he doesn’t know what to do. You wish him a happy birthday like he matters, and that makes his biting demeanour drop. He still sneers, still scolds you as if you were shovelling poop wrong, but he approached calmly, accepting what you gave him with the faintest love hidden in his gaze, and that’s all you need.

He doesn’t think birthdays are worth it, doesn’t believe his own is worth it, but seeing you here, celebrating his own birthday as if he truly did matter, as if he was just a field prototype — as if he wasn’t a monster. It made something inside his chest twist, and he can’t help but want to pull you closer, no matter how much his rational mind tells him all humans are liars.

Maybe… just maybe you aren’t — maybe after a few hundred years, he finally came across someone who wasn’t out to get him. Just maybe.

Animated dividers : @cafekitsune