#kaveh gifs | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lunargrapejuice · 3 months

Text

what she likes

alhaitham x fem!reader x kaveh | 3.2k+ words

♡ collab fic written with my love @gojipink ♡

warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI, threesome but implied reader is in a relationship with alhaitham, dom!alhaitham, he man handles you both a lil<3 and is for sure in charge here, a little subby kaveh, clit spanking, fingering, oral (m!receiving), praise, the boys bicker, cream pie, cum eating

kaveh was utterly breathless at the sight of beauty in front of him; the kind of vision that left you burning and aching, one he couldn’t have even dreamed of but by the erratic beating of his heart and the hardness of his cock, he knew this was real.

it was no secret that you and alhaitham were beautiful humans, even more so together, but like this, you were both ethereal. your bare skin against alhaithams, having even touched his own as you passed by him as if to remind him he was here to be a part of this too, that you wanted him here.

from his spot at the foot of the bed, kaveh watches with slow breaths as alhaitham guides you between his muscular legs, the two of you sharing a deep kiss before he pressed your back to his chest, letting the architect get a glimpse of your glistening pussy as you arched to reach alhaitham.

he swallows, feeling his cock twitch, as alhaitham spreads your legs wide and you’re splayed out before him like a goddess. your already labored breaths and alhaitham heavy ones were like a melody, the rise and fall of your chest drew him in like the tide, the path of your tummy to between your legs a canvas he wanted to litter with his affections.

and when alhaitham touched you, the well cared for fingers of the scribe coating in your essence after so little touching, one swipe over your folds from your little hole to your clit but not giving either nearly enough attention yet, kaveh swore-

a wet slap fills the room and as if he hadn’t seen it the first time, alhaitham slaps your clit again with four of his fingers, making you jerk against him and choke back a moan, your head falling back on his chest.

“hey!” kaveh exclaims, the sudden roughness with you breaking him from his dreamlike haze. “that’s mean!”

“it’s not mean,” alhaitham answers plainly.

“you don’t need to be so rough with her, you brute.”

“can you not see how much she’s enjoying this?” and is if to emphasize his point, he does it again, just a bit harder this time and even though you whimper alhaithams name, you spread your legs wider. “you wouldn’t be able to make her cum like this, so stop acting like you know what you're talking about.”

“i don’t need to do that,” he says the word like a curse, “to make her cum.”

“oh?”

before either of them can say more, your breathy voice quiets their bickering.

“kaveh~” with a shaky hand you reach out for him and easily he follows.

you’re nearly completely pressed between the two of them as he leans in to kiss you soft and slow, swiping his tongue along your bottom lip before his tongue meets yours. warm calloused fingers brush against his temple, alhaitham tucking a lock of hair behind his ear as he kisses you.

the tender display is short lived when alhaitham opens his mouth, the smirk he wears, as he knows better, laced in every word. “i don’t think you’ll make her cum with your lips alone, senior.”

with a throaty grumble, kaveh pulls away from you panting, a string of silvia connecting your lips that breaks when he says breathlessly, “you’re so beautiful.”

kneeling between yours and alhaithams spread legs, with his cock leaking breads of precum, kaveh touches you like you’re the most delicate thing. the tips of his fingers parting your folds with attention and care before pressing against your clit and rubbing in circling motions that make you mewl softly.

your back arches off of alhaithams broad chest when kaveh slowly eases a finger into your tight hole, biting his bottom lip at this small feeling of you and by the time he’s knuckle deep, curling into you, he doesn’t know how long he’s going to last like this.

after a few pumps, he adds another and finds the perfect spot inside of you that has you seeing stars and you’re lifting your hips with every tender movement, every stroke inside of you that’s somehow not enough and too much, in a way that’s so different from alhaitham.

“see! she likes it soft too!” kaveh glares at alhaitham who was watching his ministrations over your shoulder, giving kaveh a chance even if he knew what the outcome would be.

alhaitham scoffs, “you think i dont know what she likes? that i dont know what makes her cum the hardest? at the pace you're setting, she wont cum for another two hours.” he talks like he knows, like he’s actually calculated the time.

kaveh gives alhaitham a little hmph! before turning his head back towards you, his eyes immediately softening at the sight of your furrowed brows and half-lidded eyes staring back at him. his fingers gently massaging your walls while his thumb traces light barely-there circles on your clit, a dizzying contrast between the bruising pace alhaitham set just minutes before.

nuzzling his cheek against your inner thigh, he presses sweet kisses against your soft skin,

“y/n, you like it like this too, right? he’s being too rough with you,” he pouts. “your pussy’s too perfect and pretty to be treated so harshly.”

before you could even open your mouth to give a reassuring reply, alhaitham grips onto kaveh’s wrist tugging his fingers out of you making you gasp out at the sudden loss of contact. you swear you could cry at the loss of kavehs fingers but your heart races at the loss of patience alhaitham was displaying.

their bickering was cute, you couldn’t find it in yourself to mind.

“alright, that's enough.” alhaitham snaps, moving from behind you. “get up, kaveh.”

“wh-what no! that's not fair, i barely even started!”

“you're not doing it right! go sit behind her, i’ll do it the way she wants, show you how to make her feel good.”

except that really could mean anything because alhaitham had made you feel good in countless ways. despite his protests to kavehs gentleness, alhaitham had loved you plenty like that too.

“she didn't even say anythi-ow!!”

alhaitham roughly grabs at the back of his neck, guiding him from between your legs and giving him a shove onto the bed near you. kaveh lets out a surprised muffled whimper when his face hits the pillow, unwillingly turned on even more due to alhaitham’s manhandling and the friction his aching dick receives when pressed into the plush covers.

kaveh’s about to whip around and cuss alhaitham out when your fingers soothingly comb through his hair. turning his head towards you, his words die down in his throat as he takes in your effortless beauty. cheeks dusted pink, lips puffy and red, your hair slightly tousled- he swears you're the most lovely being he's ever laid eyes on.

you giggle at his staring, sitting up to brush your fingers against his cheek. “c’mere, kaveh,” you tenderly beckon.

he whines your name sweetly while crawling towards you, “he’s being mean, tell him! he’ll only listen to you.”

you only laugh more while making room for him to sit behind you. his hands coming up to caress your arms as you situate yourself comfortably against his chest. you lean into him, sighing when he peppers soft kisses along your cheek, jaw, and shoulder. turning your head to face him with a hand cupping your jaw, he leans his forehead against yours.

“just wanna be good for you, y/n…” he mumbles quietly, brushing the tip of his nose against yours in tender sweeps. “just wanna worship you, hm? you want that too, right? too beautiful to be thrown around by that brute.” emphasizing the word by turning his head slightly to glare at alhaitham who was settling himself between your parted legs, rolling his eyes at kaveh’s attempted insult.

you only smile at their antics before reaching a hand up to tangle in kavehs hair, free from its normal clips, guiding his lips to press against yours. sighing into the kiss, kaveh’s hands gently slide up your sides before finding their way to your chest. kaveh lightly squeezes at the same time alhaitham slides two thick fingers inside you making you gasp out in surprise, your fingers in kavehs hair roughly tugging at silky strands.

letting out a choked moan against your lips, he can't help but press his leaky cock against your back searching for any kind of relief and it doesn’t go unnoticed by the scribe who looks as though he’s won something.

“c’mon, kaveh.” alhaitham warns, “you said you wanted to make her feel good, right? do something for her.”

he does but not because alhaitham told him to. you look so perfect laying against him like this, holding the back of his skull as he kisses along your lips, cheeks and neck, savoring the taste of your sweet skin and squeezing handfuls of your breasts.

“‘haitham!” you suddenly cry out at the pace he starts to set with his digits stuffed inside of you and the thumb he has pressed to your clit to only add to this near drugging pleasure.

you’re so wet the lewd sounds echo throughout the room and when kaveh pulls away from your supple skin, your whimpers of protest join the sound alhaitham is making with his fingers that pump in and out of you, pressing into your g spot like he’s memorized it’s place, and you know he has.

“please ‘haitham more..” you beg oh so sweetly.

“see? i told you,” alhaitham remarks, both of them watching you writhe around his fingers, your chest bouncing lightly with every movement, your hand in kavehs hair trembling and tugging tight every time he’s knuckles deep and giving you exactly what you asked for.

a mumble of “yeah.. but still,” falls from kavehs lips, wanting nothing more than to worship you with every gentle caress you deserved but unable to deny the way he feels watching you now, taking alhaitham so well.

ruby eyes roll to the back of kavehs head at the feeling of your hand in his hair at a partially hard tug when alhaitham turned relentless but when they come back to you, he’s in such awe watching your jaw slacken and your eyes flutter shut, your hands reaching for any part of him you could.

not taking his eyes off of you for another moment, kavehs hands travels down your arching sides and over your heaving breasts as your orgasm washes over you, gushing and throbbing around alhaithams fingers, rippling throughout your body and making you shake. kaveh didn’t think you could get any more beautiful but he had never seen you like this.

you collapse against kavehs chest but he’s there to gently bring you down from your high. rubbing your arms and sides in soothing motions that made you melt while praises of good girl and did so well spilled from his lips in between wet kisses pressed down your neck, all the while alhaitham kneads the plush of your thighs, laying sweet kisses along your knees and calves.

you were basking in euphoric love, tingling with every kiss they gave you and heard the thumping of heart beats following after each other, not knowing which belonged to who.

“okay, love,” alhaithams coos with one last kiss to your leg, “turn around, come on,” he pats your thigh signaling you to start moving, his other hand trying to help you turn around with ease.

“give her a second, you ass!” kaveh snaps at him, wrapping a protective arm around your shoulders to keep your still trembling figure in place.

alhaitham rolls his eyes before giving your thigh a rougher smack, smirking at kaveh when you moan out.

kaveh turns his focus towards you, a warm hand caressing your face, always speaking to you so much softer than he did to alhaitham. “angel, don't listen to him. you wanna take a break?”

his concern is so sweet it actually makes you laugh, breathless and happy, a sound that makes kaveh’s chest feel fuzzy and head a little dizzy. it affects alhaitham too, making his chest warm and his cock even harder, glad to know you’re enjoying yourself too.

“i’m okay, kaveh,” you try to sooth him with a kiss to his palm that still held your face. “i can handle him, i promise.” with a giggle, you hope he’ll believe you while beginning to twist around in his hold.

“but-!” kaveh starts but is quickly silenced when you press your lips to his, slow and passionate.

breaking the kiss, you whisper to him, like a secret shared just between the two of you, not meant for alhaitham to hear. “just follow his lead, kaveh. it'll feel so good when you do, i promise.” you kiss him again, your words melting into his lips. “let alhaitham take care of us, okay?”

his cock involuntarily twitches at the thought of letting alhaitham have complete control over the situation. he wants to be defiant, wants to yell out no! but he can't help the way it makes his stomach twist in the most delicious way.

and even if he didn’t want to voice it, he trusted you, trusted alhaitham.

swallowing thickly, cheeks blushing furiously, a color that looked so pretty on him, kaveh gives you a small nod.

behind you, alhaitham grabs at your hips leading you to shift further down on the bed and effortlessly you follow. he brings a palm to your cheek and turns your head to the side before capturing your lips in a dizzying kiss. sliding his tongue past your lips, he opens his eyes slightly to look down at kaveh to make sure he’s watching, all the while all you can focus on is alhaitham.

the amber of his eyes seem to glow and kaveh’s hands tremble slightly as he balls the bedsheets up in his fist, biting his cheek to hold in a snarky remark or to steel himself to not flinch away at alhaitham’s condescending glance.

taking a shaking breath in, kaveh starts to shift his weight to join the two of you until alhaitham speaks, breathing away from you but keeping you close to him, leaving you panting in his hold. “kaveh, stay.”

im not a dog! kaveh wants to yell out but his body betrays him by reacting immediately and staying put. he huffs out a breath in frustration but his throbbing cock tells alhaitham everything he needs to know.

he hadn’t expected kaveh to listen to him so easily but alhaitham was quite enjoying the fact that he had.

“good boy,” alhaitham viciously teases and kaveh can't help but bite his lip hard. trying to stop the whimper threatening to escape him, trying to ignore how his cock bounces from the strength of its twitches, precum pooling onto the sheets.

with one last kiss, deep and full of tongue, alhaitham has you moving back to face kaveh and grabbing your hips with the totally normal strength of a ‘feeble scholar’, folding you over ass up so his hips are flush with yours and with one hand alhaitham grabs the base of his cock, guiding it up and down your sensitive pussy over and over again.

you take kaveh’s aching dick into your hands, pumping him slowly, mouth watering at the thought of having his pretty cock in your mouth. “see, isn't it better?” you tease and kaveh sighs, bringing his hands up to delicately move your hair out of your face.

“i…im not answering that,” he grumbles, cheeks burning bright red but gods he can’t look away from you.

you giggle poking out your tongue to kitten lick at his swollen pink tip, kaveh drawing in a shuddering breath at the feeling of your warm breath and hot tongue on him.

“y-y/n, you really d-dont have to do th- mmph! w-wait! mmmh!”

kaveh’s hips buck and flinch, the stimulation all too much for his aching dick that hasn't been touched in what feels like hours, feeling harder than it ever had before tonight with both you and alhaitham here.

your sultry hums around his dick have him throwing his head back into the pillow, blonde hair cascading down the shoulders and over the plush pillows with a golden waterfall, relishing the way the vibrations mixed with your languid bobs, taking him into your mouth deep and deeper, have his head spinning.

both of you are so enraptured by each other, your head only filled with the way kaveh’s cock feels so good dragging across your tongue and the way his hands are so gentle pulling back your hair you're nowhere near prepared for alhaitham to shove his heavy cock into your tight hole. the force of his thrust causing you to surge forward in surprise, taking kaveh all the way deep in your throat.

he yells out in shocked and ecstasy, hitting the back of your throat and feeling it contract around him.

“a-ah! mmph-! alhaitham,wait! f-fuck!!” kaveh chokes out struggling to stabilize you to keep you from repeatedly surging forward, swallowing his cock whole.

“ ‘s fine,” alhaitham pants out, hips thrusting powerfully against you, his hands on your hips helping you fuck yourself back on him, silvery bangs sticking to his forehead but even through his messy hair he can see you both beneath him.

kaveh struggles to wrap his mind around the pace alhaitham’s set for all of you, deep and rough and fast than he can keep up with. tears dot his lashes as he tries to stop his fast coming orgasm at the feeling of your mouth taking him so perfectly, there’s no way he’ll last long like this.

“kaveh,” alhaitham said lowly, “don’t cum.”

looking up at him in shock, gasping for air while your still deep throating him, little chokes and moans around his length that barely fit all the way in your throat but his eyes nearly cross at the feeling of alhaitham bullying his thick cock into your cervix and kaveh’s twitching length slides all the way back in your throat, the deepest you’d taken him.

alhaitham feels your velvety walls tighten around his cock, squeezing him so tightly he had to force himself to hold back for just a little longer.

“‘haitham-” kaveh grits out through clenched teeth, trying to listen regardless.

“not until she does,” alhaitham breaths out, his thrusts slowly going off rhythm and kaveh feels it too. “gonna cum for me, pretty girl?” alhaitham coos at you, his tone so different from the way his cock is thrusting in and out of your cunt.

as if you could answer with your mouth full of kaveh but he knew you were close and brought you over the edge of bliss, reaching between your legs to rub at your clit as he pounds into you and feels you clench and squeeze around his cock so tightly he could hardly breath as he spills into you.

kaveh follows right after, not meaning to cum down your throat without asking but he hadn’t a moment to pull away or stop himself when you gagged and sucked him so sweetly and he didn’t know whos orgasm he was feeling the most, his own generously being swallowed by your pretty mouth, your own throbbing in your throat around him, alhaithams heavy lidded eyes looking down at him as he took deep heaving breaths.

gojiipink fics

genshin impact masterlist | main masterlist

#alhaitham #alhaitham smut #alhaitham x reader #genshin impact #genshin impact smut #genshin impact x reader #al haitham #al haitham x reader #al haitham smut #🌙moonlight.stories #kaveh #kaveh x reader #genshin x reader #kaveh smut

1K notes · View notes

throwaway-yandere · 4 months

Text

His Version Of You [Yan!Kaveh & Yan!Veritas Ratio/Reader]

a/n: tis another solid “twas a crack idea but I made it too serious” fic. kavetham rivalry is overrated af, KaTio is the way to go /j. when you finish it, can you answer the poll at the bottom on who you would pick between these two? bless you.

unreliable synopsis: When one grieves, sometimes it is best not to be reminded of who you're grieving for. Especially not by fighting over a recreation of their heart and soul. [based on @2broschlininahotub & @meimeimeirin's request]

content warnings/tags: [light yandere vs yandere]/[implied poly!yandere/reader] fic, geniuses who can't take a W, au shenanigans, the girlies love to bicker it’s their love native language

"What were you thinking, you idiot?! Thank my reflexes that I caught the statue beforehand or else I would have to explain what a monumental mistake that is. Just use your common sense for once, will you?!"

"Please— I don't want to hear that from YOU of all people! This is MY stone. Stop acting like you actually care. You took us away from my world! You're the one who's too obsessed with researching it! It's like a damn test subject and not a companion to you!"

"That's because it is, you fucking oaf!"

"YOU'RE THE ONE GIVING ME FALSE HOPE THAT IT'S A LIVING BEING!!!"

Veritas stood with his arms crossed, eyebrows scrunched and his frown the deepest Kaveh had ever seen. The architect, absolutely baffled at his experiment partner's harsh evaluation, felt his eyes dampening. His bumping of the sculpture was pure accident, but Veritas' sharp tongue cut deep into Kaveh's pride. Even the most understanding of men would find his tone abrasive.

Getting riled up…Over a damn statue.

"Just because it's alive, doesn't mean it's a companion. And just because it is a test subject, doesn't mean you can just near-topple it as you damn please."

The arguments subsided. They exchanged long looks as they tried to figure out how the "little dispute" had come dangerously close to abusive. With his anger gradually fading, Kaveh was the one to take the first initiative. Kaveh steeled himself. The architect's shoulders dropped, and his expression softened. Jaded.

"Veritas... I'm sorry. As much as this statue… means… to me, I shouldn't have yelled at you. I-I was just upset, you're aware that I've been working all afternoon polishing the statue and I took that anger out on you. I'm sorry." Kaveh said.

"Right." Veritas closed his eyes. "Apology accepted. I understand that you're visibly distressed, but I will not tolerate low-quality work."

As Kaveh was about to get defensive, Veritas placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Which is to say, take a rest, Kaveh. Work when you can guarantee peak performance." Veritas sighed. "Rest. Pompom has already prepared your bed for you."

Kaveh cast his gaze down on the floor, wearing a feeble smile. Though their list of grievances from the past days was enough to fill two pages, Veritas is steeped in cunning. He knew exactly how to plaster Kaveh's impulse.

"Right… I'm just tired."

"Precisely. The faster the progress, the greater the chance of errors." Veritas smiled back, although looking less sincere as Kaveh's. "Take a rest, Kaveh."

With a murmur, Kaveh got up and dusted off his pants from the metamorphic rock that had been sandpapered. People aren't made to stay cooped up inside all the time. He took one last look at the project before heading out for the night, noting that while the foundation was in place, work still needed to be done before they could decide on the final look. If he could just make the hands softer-looking…

"Kaveh…" Veritas chimed, warning with his arms crossed.

"Right, right!" Kaveh laughed nervously, still slightly vexed by the reproach. "Maybe I'm getting too brave at night, I don't know why I'm boldly thinking of trying my hand at smoothening the statue again."

"I'd consider you more weak-hearted than stouthearted," Veritas dusted Kaveh's shoulders off. "And do try to keep yourself clean."

"I'm too tired to run a shower…"

Veritas sighed loudly.

The both of them had decided to leave the studio with a degree of finality. Hunched over, the kidnapped architect left to take his well-deserved slumber while the doctor decided that a warm bath would benefit him more. The night "concludes", or so Kaveh thought.

Looking back, these two are the most unlikely friends to exist, are they not? A professor slash doctor of the Intelligentsia Guild and the architect "Light of the Kshahwerar" collaborating over a glorified arts and crafts project. To truly understand this bizarreness, it is wise to look back to its beginning.

In his quest to rid the galaxy of a disease he dubbed "ignorance", Dr. Veritas Ratio sallied forth to practice his preachings. Even joined the Astral Express at some point, but it was only in this instance did he found companionship with an extremely empathetic individual.

And their first meeting was not a decent starting point.

Veritas set out on his umpteenth assignment handed out by the Express. He was sent to explore the dangerous land formations of Sumeru with the trailblazer. Every extended curve revealed pyramids and sand, and Veritas kept Stelle close by using her straps as a leash. Nevertheless, when they accidentally entered an unstable domain, his disgruntled complaints ceased. Deciding it would be best for only one to investigate further, Veritas volunteered.

There was just one discernible light path inside the mostly collapsing structure. Yet, every step he took was curiously inaudible, and when he reached the Apex, he met the sight of blonde hair.

Enter: Kaveh.

"You get what I mean right? It feels like my problems just keep piling up and up, like an impossible mountain. There's never anyone who would listen to me complain, but you…" The words that fell from the stranger's lips were sweeter than honey as he waxed poetic. "You're always here to listen. And it makes me feel so much less alone. Thank you…"

The blonde man had his cheek against a large rectangular rock, caressing it appreciatingly. His eyelids were lowered and his cheeks were puffy. Whether he cried beforehand or was merely exhausted cannot be assessed from Veritas' distance from him.

February 5, ████.

Kaveh had recently lost his lover that day. They died due to an unforeseen heart attack, which pains him more since his darling had always been healthy. Since his "delam" has passed away, he has been inconsolable. He refused to part with any possessions they left. No matter how many of their fellow archeologists begged for (Y/n)'s notes, he barked with gritted teeth that his mind would not change.

… How ironic that he used to call his lover "my heart" when the very same organ was the cause of death.

Neither wine nor friends can get a reaction out of him. The best he could do to continue living was to focus on his work and his young mentees. (Y/n) always wanted to be a teacher but couldn't because of their daytime job, so Kaveh fulfilled their dreams instead.

That includes continuing their research on the strange rock they had found in the desert.

Kaveh remained hotly bent on preserving everything they loved. Despite its unconventional and jagged appearance, the rock struck him as the most beautiful thing he had seen in a long while. Its lack of clear patterns didn't matter; it stood tall, capturing his fascination. It had ended his slump and had become an integral part of him. This hyperfixation had not gone unnoticed by Lesser Lord Kusanali, but when she visited him, she… strangely endorsed of his newfound lunacy. She knew something he did not.

Something about the rock… felt so similar to his deceased "delam".

The doctor, lacking any context for the sight before him, raised an eyebrow. His duty may be to educate others, but this was beyond help. A pell-mell of incoherent ramblings filled the room with the hither and thither of blonde hair to match. But this was the first person he encountered in Teyvat. And he was determined to get any info out of him.

"Excuse me."

The blonde man blinked repeatedly, eyes going wide at the sight of Veritas approaching.

"I'm Dr. Veri—"

"T-This isn't what it looks like!!!" The blonde freaked out. "This is– It's just! This rock, it has sentimental value and–"

"…" Veritas drawled. "Riiiight. I'm… Dr. Veritas Ratio. I'm not of this world— I believe my companions and I are what you refer to as Descenders. We wish to collect petrology info for databank purposes. May you offer assistance?"

Kaveh did not know what to say. But by instincts, he knew something was not entirely right with this man.

He'd be right. Veritas wasn't there specifically for rocks. He's just, crudely put, nosy.

"And I am supposed to blindly believe any stranger who wears such a strange getup?" Kaveh stood up and protectively hid the rock behind him. "Sorry, I kindly refuse. And I am not equipped to help either."

Veritas smirked and cracked some knuckles with his left thumb.

There was a damn good reason why Stelle was left behind. On the entrance of the gate laid an inscription that roughly translates to the words "adepti" and "tribute". His intellect in this linguistics may be rusty, but it is not incorrect.

He had an inkling that the rock this peculiar blonde was obsessing over was imbued with a sliver of ambuscade soul who took arms against the worst opponents imaginable.

A "yaksha", if you were a Liyue local.

Veritas was by no means unmindful of Kaveh's obsession. He held his tongue, assessing that to set a quarrel with an unpredictable variable would prolong his journey. There was no profit to be had in angering an unreadable man.

"Well then, if I can't take that rock within reason…"

Dr. Ratio opened his book.

…

"… Long story short, that's why this chick is all wrapped up like a present."

Through brute force, both Stelle and Veritas managed to drop both Kaveh and the rock inside the Express, to the surprise of many. They were initially sent to only survey Teyvat (which meant Veritas positively lied to Kaveh earlier). No one expected an angry Sumeru man to "visit."

"I-I am not a chick! I am a man! I'm Kaveh— an architect!!!" The self-proclaimed man wriggled around the trailblazer's yellow ropes, looking pale as he stared at the unfamiliar faces and scenery before him. "H-Hey!!! Unhand me at once!!!"

"Oh, you're not a girl? You're pretty, though."

"I should've known you would bring something peculiar on board, Dr. Ratio, I just didn't expect it to be a weird human-sized rock..." Said the red-haired lady. "But anyways, you, Sir Kaveh, have quite a remarkable sense of fashion."

"I haven't seen any guy wear earrings that big before…" The grey-haired girl said with grabby hands.

"Please don't try to yank it off him," the brown-haired man sighed and pulled her back with his cane.

Kaveh was a little taken aback by the diversity of tongues in front of him. It was clear based on their accents that they didn't quite come from the same world, yet they communicate as near-family.

"Do all Teyvat people have rocks for friends or is it just you?" A strawberry-haired young lady asked as she approached the rock, which set Kaveh in an even more panicked frenzy when she attempted to poke it.

"N-NO!!! DON'T!!!"

March flinched at his sudden scream and nearly fell had Stelle not caught her.

"Yeah, March, be respectful, you never know if that's the love of his life or something like that," said Stelle.

Kaveh's eyes widened. "You… How did you just understand me better than my friends…?"

The room went quiet. Dan Heng glanced at Veritas, who pretended not to notice him. Mentioning romance near him had always been a dangerous move. Veritas' face crumpled slightly.

There were scars in his own heart he had yet to patch up, and he needed no reminder that he was procrastinating.

Dan Heng cleared his throat.

"It's bad news to have Stelle be the only one who "gets you" if you consider yourself of sane mind." Dan Heng spoke. "But then again, you remind me of Argenti…"

"Where did you find this man, Doctor?" Welt digressed, concerned as he towered above the tied Kaveh. The older man doesn't have objections to his (kidnapped) presence. He can tell by the look on both Kaveh and Veritas' faces that neither was a man with no substance, and the latter saw to exploit the former.

Veritas only shrugged and jabbed his thumb in Stelle's general direction. "Assistant…"

"On it." Stelle saluted solemnly. "We found him in a pyramid. The doctor thought he would be a worthy individual to study if we wish to understand the culture behind one of the seven nations. Since Mister Yang told us to befriend important people–"

"Since when was kidnapping synonymous with befriending?"

"–this is Ratio's candidate."

"That is correct, and he's not just any other person. I have seen him in the Guild's Persons of Interest. He is Kaveh, the light of the Kshahrewar," Veritas claimed. "A certified scholar of the Akademiya and the face for the Darshan he was an alumnus of."

The Express quietly signaled shock over Ratio's interest in the man.

Kaveh slunk back, defeated. When there's little progress, a man naturally turns restive. Kaveh no longer had much to fear in his life. The worst had already come to pass, and the world became mere static noise. He had no hope of escaping soon, not when he saw his homeworld's true "sky". Or at least, back then, he thought it was one. The world he knew was a mere tapestry of ████…

…

"Not that there aren't enough rooms in the Express, but why bring him and the rock here?" Himeko paused to take a sip of her piping hot coffee. "Isn't it a bit, I don't know, overkill?"

"It's because that pyramid is no place to cultivate a living species, and there's no better–... lab assistant... than this man before us." Dr. Ratio looked at the man on the floor.

Dan Heng tried not to comment on how sad his tone was when Veritas referred to Kaveh as a "lab assistant". He knew what had happened to Ratio, but it was not the right time or place.

"What do you mean by living?" Himeko asked.

"That rock has adeptal power within it that we can awaken. That is, if he'd help us make his little rock come to life."

With his words, he moved the unweariable Kaveh to act complacent.

Kaveh felt as though the floor caved beneath him. An unholy mixture of disbelief, awe, and joy swirled within his already jetlagged mind. The fact of the matter was, despite being incredibly unstable, he was lucid enough to know that a miracle was possible.

"What…?"

"It's been a month since that whole debacle," Veritas muttered to himself as he flicked the wrist that held his book away from the bathtub's bubbly waters. "I suppose I was harsh to the poor man. But is that treatment not at all deserved?"

Over time, Veritas grew to like Kaveh, especially after knowing he was tutoring young aspiring architects free of charge. Still, Kaveh's strangely compliant behavior does not deviate from his first impression. His empty eyes were enough sign that Kaveh lived through emotionally draining struggles and came out with few real friends. He lost his raison d'etre, that's why he willingly threw his life in Teyvat away.

… In Kaveh's words, he only wished for a "vacation". If his prize was to go elsewhither with a satisfying result, then he's not opposed to (getting kidnapped) a new "collaboration".

The doctor can't say no to it either.

Deep down, prodigy genius Veritas couldn't deny the harsh truth: witnessing that pitiful man finding solace in an inanimate object was a stark reminder that he harbored the same "illness".

Hence, Veritas offered consistent "insults" to the brightest of Kshashrewar, and each time, Kaveh took the opportunity to improve. Veritas considered it a necessary evil. But even after surpassing those challenges, Kaveh was helpless to overcome the deep emptiness that persisted in his soul.

Kaveh never really spoke about who his previous lover was. All everyone knew was that he lovingly called them "delam"– his heart. They didn't want to bring him more pain by even asking a simple question like delam's real name.

A huge mistake later on.

"... Tch," Veritas grunted, his eyebrows furrowing sadly. The thought of his last love affairs had soured his mood.

Veritas stood from his bath, drying himself and wrapping a towel on his lower half.

… He likely won't sleep tonight.

Forgetting his agreement to continue the project tomorrow morning, he unlocked the door to the studio room Himeko lent them. He left trails of his wet footsteps. His wavy hair also remained damp, but he could not care much for it. Veritas will dress himself up later. Just a towel will suffice for now.

"Sculpting…"

Veritas laughed to himself as he took some tools off the table.

"Wasn't this your pastime and not mine—" he closed his eyes, muttering the next words with a teasingly melancholic tilt. "Assistant (L/n)?"

His grip on the chisel tightened, painting his knuckles white.

Professor (Y/n) (L/n).

The person responsible for the Council of Mundanites' existence. Their name rarely escapes his lips, treating their memory like a curse. Just exhaling the thought of them out of his system makes him nauseous. As if the air inside him gets knocked out. His eyes would flutter shut, no different from a dying man who held weakly holds on. Veritas hated this anguish. The doctor hated this vicious seemingly never-ending cycle called "grief".

"(Y/n)…" Ratio muttered. "Your face is still etched in my mind. What more do I need to eradicate these… unnecessary burdens?"

He could practically hear them laugh beside him.

Haha, please. You think about me so much that you consider me burdensome? Oh, you dork! If you loved me so much, you should've written a love letter.

"You absolute ignoramus," Veritas laughed softly. "You cannot discredit my efforts, though, can you?"

"My dearest…" He breathed out in pain once more. "My most wonderful partner. The best teaching assistant I ever had. You…"

… Never loved him back.

Dr. Veritas Ratio was no idiot. He despised any form of delusion. Throughout his life, he had been a tyrannical figure who pursued truth and not stagnant idolatry for every "patient". But when an immovable force meets an unstoppable object, would you consider him a tamed emperor?

Professor (L/n) was the first person he met who brazenly called themselves a "mundanite". A true mediocre. And they were beautiful at their very core.

Not free of sin, but free of hubris.

Molded as a genius since birth, the very foundations of (L/n)'s philosophies dismantled Ratio. (L/n) admired geniuses like Herta, but never romanticized the notion of natural-born wits. They always strived to eradicate their own "ignorance". But even when they are more knowledgeable than they let on, (L/n) never boasts. This behavior provides no benefit in an academically competitive field. Nothing confused the irrefutable prodigy like their longtime academic partner.

Geniuses— Masters— when I achieve great things, I don't want to have silly titles before my name. It's so… rigid, don't you think so, Veritas?

I wouldn't know.

Ha! Of course, you wouldn't. You've lived your entire life as one. But level with me for a second. Wouldn't life be less boring if…

He raised the chisel.

… we never stopped considering ourselves as mere beginners? Isn't there more joy to being a mundane with untapped potential than a stiff jack of all trades? C'mon, Veritas. Doesn't the idea that there's always more to explore make this vast world seem less dull?

Veritas bit his lip. Tears were threatening to spill.

February 5, ████.

It was Dr. Veritas Ratio's fault that they died that day. He thought (L/n) was capable of handling an extremely dangerous laboratory mishap. They were not. Despite his assistant's years of experience, every man is an unsuspecting fledgling in the face of death. It does not discriminate between the mediocre and the brightest.

That's absurd, (L/n). What is the point of learning if not for its mastery?

"Assistant… Let me offer this final tribute so that you can finally s-stop… haunting… me."

But they will never stop. Their last long exchange repeated in his head throughout the night. No matter how many times he hammered, the clanging sound did not drown out the voices in his head. The words mocked him, over and over, and over.

I'm sorry Veritas…

Why are you apologizing?

… I'm afraid I just don't see you that way. I'm just an ordinary person, and I doubt I could ever genuinely return the love of someone as brilliant as you. I'm afraid your affection might be akin to caring for a pet, and I can't find it in myself to figure out how to respond in kind.

… That's not true. You cannot simply decline my confession with a lukewarm excuse—

I'm afraid I'm just an ordinary college professor with no PhDs. I will have to reject your love. I'm so sorry.

But why?!

"(Y/n)… The one person I can never grasp…" Veritas muttered as he looked at the finished piece. "Here you are... Created by my own hands..."

Beautiful. Not a single doubt that it was carved in their likeness. The (Y/n) he knew was a professor who loved their teaching job, but wished they were more of an adventurer. Secretly, (Y/n) wanted to be an archeologist, and perhaps that's one of the reasons why Veritas let the mysterious rock formation inside the Express. Maybe if they continued living, they would've liked this gesture.

Ha… As if.

Veritas—

W-What aspect must I improve on? To dismiss me so impatiently— do I lack the charm? I can always learn to suit your tastes. Don't tell such a bold lie. I highly doubt that it is due to my academic performance. There's another man you've wasted your affections on, is there?!

Veritas, please…

Enough! Enough with these lies and tell me! J-Just… Just tell me, (Y/n)!

He's tired. Veritas just wanted to hold them again. He just wanted to "fix" their hair- tucking his golden hairpin to subconsciously teach their associates and students that Professor (L/n) was his. He missed the way he would hide (L/n)'s lab coat just so he could make them wear his as he left for the day. He missed secretly leaving small love confessions on their class grade spreadsheets, add/drop forms, and even their private online journals so he would read messages about how they must've caught a computer virus. He missed teasing them when they hadn't got a clue that he was unserious. He missed hearing (L/n) whine. He missed the way it made him warm.

He missed the warmth.

"Stop..."

He missed you.

"Stop this..."

And he continues to miss his (Y/n) so much.

"Please..."

It's unbearable.

There is no one else.

Yes, there is! I refuse to believe it! It's your recent lab partner, isn't it!? The man everyone has fallen for— you have taken a liking to him more than me, the person who has been with you all this time!!! You… You ungrateful!—

Veritas is so, so tired and more chipped than the rock he had worked on… Unlike the statue, he cannot tangibly pick up the pieces (L/n) that broke him in. There's only a hollow void of what could've been.

Why... Why did they have to reject him? If they hadn't rejected him, he wouldn't have coldly assigned (Y/n) to deal with the containment breach alone. He would've thought it through. He would've realized he was plagued with ignorance. He would've changed so many things that February 5th.

But that's all there was to it. Just "would have"s, not "have done"s.

Ngh–?! Why… did you... slap me…?

Veritas, maybe you should stop and look down and listen to us common-minded folks for once in your life! The simple fact is that you're just so out of reach. How can you love me, when you don't even understand me, Genius Ratio? How can you confess when you don't know what it's like to work for the knowledge you have? How can you love a "mundanite" like me?

… (Y/n)… T-That's simply untrue, and you are aware of that...

It's morning, an appropriate time to head back to his guest room.

When he was certain that he was alone, Veritas finally allowed himself to cry.

"There's no mistake that we both are- were idiots. We both failed to see that I'm a mundanite, just like you."

In contrast to his former roommate, Kaveh is an early riser. Not exactly a morning person, but a man of discipline nonetheless. Perhaps the concluded argument last night made his rise more motivating. He had no qualms with getting out of bed, heading straight to take a shower before drinking coffee with Himeko.

The morning was wordless but calm.

Whatever happened after he reentered the studio, however, was the exact opposite.

"Delam…?" Kaveh knelt with both knees down on the floor, shocked.

"Is that you…? Delam… Delam!!!"

You tilted your head.

Delam. That was the first word you've heard upon your birth or "rebirth", depending on whose narrative was at play. You first rose from your slumber much like an earth's crust would give way to a volcano. Warmth seeped from your chest and then throughout your body, filling you with life and newfound nerves. But no one was around. You had been observing the fading trail of wet footsteps, yet lacked the courage to leave the room.

Veritas was right. The rock does have life. And you have been awakened.

You looked human. You move human.

But you do not sound human.

"Delam! I-I can't believe this!"

For words fail.

「… Who are you?」

After all, since when can statues speak?

With unsteady legs, he attempted to approach your nearly nude figure. The sheet they used to keep out dust was the only cover you had. He pulled you in when he got close enough, and you wanted to squeak when he rested his nose on your shoulder. His breath tickled hot. However, his warm tears helped you to accept the melancholic reality.

"Delam! D-Delam, my sweetheart, my (Y-(Y/n)… A-Ah… Ah…"

Kaveh pulled back only to kiss your forehead. He was warm. You are not. Despite the fabrics he wore, you can feel his heat against your "skin". His heart was beating. Such an organ does not exist inside of you.

"(Y/n), my (Y/n)…" He gasped out between peppered kisses on your neck. "Mine… My heart has returned to me. Can you hear it too? It's beating again… It beats… I never thought I'd hear my heart again since you've been gone…"

His words made little sense to you, but you knew he liked your form. Kaveh's fingers traced around you, loving each inch, whether it was curved flesh or bone-like sharpness— he didn't care for he knew it was his (Y/n) (L/n).

He's so colorful. Reds, yellows, oranges, and even hints of blues and greens. It made you silently conscious about how you were a boring dull gray.

Warm, like the sun.

「… Baobei?」

"My (Y/n)… D-Delam…" Kaveh pressed his forehead against yours, your lips nearly touching.

You wiped his tears away.

Was that your name? (Y/n)…?

"Kaveh, what the hell are you doing?!"

The blonde man momentarily stopped cradling you out of shock.

This new man was all purples, blue, gold, and small taints of cyan and red. The expression he wore made you believe he might be covetous beyond mankind. There's a level of gluttonous greed in his anger that makes even the earth like yourself phased.

「… Who is he…?」

Both of them feel familiar to you, but you do not know why.

"Veritas!" Kaveh's eyes widened. "A miracle just happened— delam— they're—!"

"Put (Y/n) down this instant!!!"

Kaveh blinked.

"What… What did you say?"

"I said put them down, damn it! Who the hell are you, touching them so carelessly like they're yours?!"

Kaveh's eyebrows furrowed.

"How do you know that name?!" Kaveh yelled. "How did you know who (Y/n) is!?"

The doctor was equally confused.

Why would the ignorance-prone Kaveh know the name of his deceased love too?

Veritas has not talked about his old assistant to any breathing being for a long time. Talking felt like admitting that they were gone for good. But in this case, it produces a contrary result.

"Why the fuck wouldn't I?!"

"I don't know— maybe because you're not from Teyvat?!"

"What are you on, you imbecile?! Can you stop defiling them with your filthy hands?!" Veritas scowled and summoned his book. "Hands. Off."

The warning only made Kaveh even more possessive. He gently pushed you behind his back, glaring at him.

"No."

"Kaveh, you pestilence ridden—!!!"

"No, not until you tell me why the hell you know the name of my fiance!"

Veritas' heart sank.

… Fiance?

No… No, no way.

What's happening? How would that make sense?!

(Y/n) is his. Why should you belong to Kaveh?

"Are… are you insane?!" Veritas screamed. "I should've—"

"What?! Threw me off the Express?! I dare you!!!" Kaveh glared. "You knew you couldn't win against me alone, that's why your best bet was to knock me out— and you know it."

"Ngh."

Neither of them realized the greater reason as to why they knew the "same" person. The doctor may have jumped through various universes, but he had not done enough to notice a key factor.

There they were, claiming to love the image behind their animated statue— when they didn't know what it was they cried for.

"Just answer the question: who is (Y/n) to you?" Kaveh grumbled.

Somehow, he was far more frightening when his voice was calm and low.

The usually diplomatic architect materialized his weapon out of thin air.

"Go on. Tell me."

The doctor stiffened. There was no way Veritas was losing this argument.

It's unethical. Wholly unethical to appeal to pathos in this manner. To weave tales for his benefit.

But the end justifies the means.

Veritas flashed you a guilt-ridden expression…

Before he said the biggest lie known only to himself.

"Professor (Y/n) (L/n) is MY dead lover, and I molded the statue based on their appearance last night!" Veritas yanked a fistful of Kaveh's shirt and brought him closer. "So why are you claiming them as YOURS?!"

…

The sound of a cane hitting the floor stopped all hell from possibly breaking loose.

Welt Yang had one foot inside the room and one out the door. He wore a knowing and empathetic look. The others were behind him, looking particularly shaken up.

This screaming match was the worst the two ever had.

"Kaveh, Dr. Ratio, enough." He calmly spoke up. "I think I understand the confusion."

"Allow me to explain…"

"I'm surprised you have no comments on their flower-bespangled clothes, yet…"

"The aesthetic is... tasteful. I like the headdress."

"Of course, you like the crown of laurel…"

"However–"

"Oh Lord Kusanali, here we go…"

Upon Welt's intervention, every piece started to fit together. The explanation was a frustratingly simple but difficult truth. (Y/n) (L/n) was not just one entity in the vast universe— there are inevitable variations.

The two eventually calmed down as they heard both sides. Veritas' (Y/n), who Kaveh later refers to as an "expy" as a placeholder name, was a professor— while Kaveh's "delam" was an archeologist. Almost the same, but not a complete copy-paste.

You, however, they are unsure of. No one knows yet if you do carry (Y/n)'s soul or if you're a mere replica. Veritas is working on the hypothesis that you were an adeptal tool who aided in freeing the vigilant yaksha from a malevolent Sumeru God.

But those bits of info doesn't matter in the end. Why?

Because they both love "you" deeply.

And these intelligent men can "learn" how to share.

"Are you not tired? Perhaps it is time I take over. Only a fool would work when completely drained." Dr. Ratio then added. "Does it not fall in my skilled hands to weave such clothing for them now? Even better than mere fabric, I'm willing to handle clay and mold it around their bo—"

"Considering how many fools can also calculate and perhaps wear an asbestos mask as a quirky character trait, it is surprising that the fool in front of me thinks he can show proficiency over a tedious task." Kaveh raised an eyebrow, seething at the thought of Veritas' unfair perverted touch lingering on your body, again.

"I think you are experiencing what is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, as Mister Yang calls it." He added.

Veritas scoffed.

They may be revered both as geniuses in their fields, but they're reduced to kindergarten-like rivals when it comes to you. Their first order of business after another truce was to provide your clothes. Fortunately, Stelle's fashion sense was more unisex than anticipated so you borrowed hers in the meantime.

While you sat on the sofa with the bubbly March 7th, the two started planning your wardrobe. Kaveh returned later on the same evening with the most… floral clothes much to Veritas' dismay.

He missed seeing his version of (Y/n) who wore classic academic styles, not— whatever this was.

"It is mere confidence; no other variable is at play. The fool in question is the artisan responsible for the expeditious sculpting of the aforementioned statue within a singular nocturnal interval. A fact that eludes your appreciation, my less-than-appreciative and unskilled interlocutor."

Kaveh momentarily had the face of a man unpracticed in speech. People often forget that he majored in STEM, not HUMSS. Though he had some essay-based minors in his first & second years, he lacked preparation for Veritas' otherworldly vocabulary. Kaveh would whet his greatsword if Veritas said something bluntly deprecating.

Still, he can't deny that it was through Veritas' handiwork that made your hands as soft as Kaveh wanted them to be. And that secretly pisses him off.

You tilted your head.

Somehow, your creators are arguing again.

"Are you threatening to rob me of the joys I have toiled nights for just to sate your shortlived desires, Veritas?" Kaveh rebuked him sternly. "I didn't know you were kind of a brat."

"I am only offering a hand. But it's clear that you are projecting onto me."

「You two–. 」

You tried to cut in, but can't utter a word…

"I'm not projecting! I know that once you prove you can make clothes, you'll kick me out of the Express, that's just the kind of man you are! Manipulative, arrogant—"

"And you're insecure. There is no more loathsome creature than a man who does not acknowledge his own hubris and repeats his mistakes."

「Master Veritas, Master Kaveh—. 」

You loathed to watch them fight for another round of meaningless squabbles. Why weren't you blessed with speech?

"Is that so? Do you seriously subscribe to that belief?"

"Why, of course."

"You should listen to better men than yourself, then."

"Oh c'mon, knock it off!!!" March cut in, giving them both a light smack with Veritas' book. "Can't you get along better? Your little darling looks upset!!!"

The two halted. She was right, you weren't comfortable. Veritas cleared his throat awkwardly while Kaveh looked down, both apologetic.

"See, Kaveh? Your persistence caused this."

"How is it MY fault?"

"I'm merely stating that the lack of options is bound to make them uneasy." Veritas deadpanned and handed you an IPC magazine he had been trying to get you to browse. "Why don't you pick to your liking? Don't worry about expenses. I have it covered."

"What?! Do you want them to wear those un-stylish clothes? Please, you just want to have them wear your brand!"

"Don't project your carnal possessiveness as my own." Veritas scoffed. But Kaveh was right. He missed seeing his (Y/n) wear his lab coat.

"Oh really?! Fine then! Let's ask (Y/n) what they really think!"

March sighed. "Guys, I think you're forgetting that you're fighting over clothes—"

But they didn't hear her. Nothing else mattered to those two except you. And you alone.

Their partner.

Their heart.

Their reason for living.

Hence, they yelled in unison.

"Who do you prefer, assistant? Him or me?!"

"Who do you prefer, delam? Him or me?!"

Taglist: @vennnnn-diagram, @meimeimeirin, @korianne, @prophecy-harmony, @shellofthewell, @sagekun,

671 notes · View notes