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rorowrote · 2 years

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The Darknight Roommate [Ch. 8 + Epilogue]

Synopsis: You move in with Diluc and though he is aloof at first, you soon find out there’s more to this mysterious man than meets the eye…

Fandom: Genshin Impact

Featuring: (Modern AU) Diluc x g/n reader

Warnings: SFW, injury / illness

A/n: aaah we're at the end of the road! this has been such a fun ride i'm getting kinda teary eyed tbh... I hope you liked this little thing!

Diluc always loved Mondstadt’s dandelion fields. Their simplicity brought him peace. That something so delicate, so easily stirred by a light breeze, was regarded as beautiful, made him think that a simple life wouldn’t be so bad. Even now, standing amidst an ocean of dancing blooms, he feels at ease. Wave after wave of strength washes over him.

He can’t seem to recall how long he’d been standing here, or indeed, how he got here. Idly touching his cheek, he’s puzzled as he feels his skin…regenerate? Had he been injured? Where is his usual sense of paranoia… that constant insomniac vigilance? All he feels is calm…

In the distance, he hears indistinct voices, growing clearer with every passing second. How strange… their tones seem agitated, almost violent. Even… familiar? Almost like—

He wakes with a gasp, adrenaline and terror coursing through his veins, pulling him to his feet with shocking agility. Suddenly he remembers everything, and instinctively summons his weapon.

“How kind of you to not die, brother dear,” Kaeya says, flying through the room in a blur of motion.

What…?

“Diluc, please don’t exert yourself.”

He spins around, following the voice.

“Jean?” Of course, the dandelions! “I…” He pauses, catching her worried expression. “Thank you.”

Jean watches as he jumps to his feet, and before she can warn him against it he himself realizes his frailty. Lightheaded, he stumbles slightly, a look of confusion on his battle-worn face.

“I tried my best,” she says, “but you need to sit this out.”

“Like hell–”

“Diluc.” Her insistence is clear as she motions behind him, directing his attention to your groggy form. Immediately his weapon vanishes and he’s at your side.

His arm reaches for you. Your body is still unconscious but your breathing is steady. He pulls back. A quiet battle rages between his conflicting emotions of longing and guilt. This is all my fault.

You stir, but you do not wake. Kaeya's ice bursts across the room at odd intervals and the hairs on your arms stand pin straight. So much damage… Diluc holds his head in his palms as he watches over you, memorizing every bruise and scratch as if they were reprimands for him, for his foolishness. You whimper quietly in your sleep, from the sudden cold and the lasting pain of injury that even Jean could only remedy so much of, and he can't take it any longer.

Slowly, hands trembling slightly, he ungloves a palm. Calling upon his new strength he channels warmth and energy from his core through his arms to the tips of his rough fingers. Carefully, he touches your icy cheeks, and the instant he does, a dam breaks and he embraces you whole. The room is silent but for Kaeya's fighting and in the quiet, Diluc holds you, his face buried in your neck. His shoulders quiver and before he can stop himself, he sobs inaudibly against your skin.

_____________

A week passes by with little change in your condition. Physiologically, you seem fine. Mondstadt’s best minds confirm your physical fitness, and still, you are yet to wake.

“It’s a matter of time, Diluc,” Jean told him, concern clear in her voice. She had only ever seen him this upset once before and she had hoped never to see him this way ever again.

That was a week ago. Diluc sighs as he settles into the chair at your bedside. His hair hasn’t seen a comb for a few days and his naturally deep set eyes look more weary than ever, dark circles forming under them. The early morning light peeks through a gap in the curtains and the mist of dawn gives the scene an almost frozen appearance. The room is quiet; the only sounds are the crackling of the fireplace and the tireless efforts of two pairs of lungs.

Diluc pulls the chair closer to you, a tender hand reaching out to smooth your messy hair.

“Please wake up,” he whispers. There’s no response.

The worst outcomes have already played over and over in his sleep-deprived mind. He knows he should distract himself - occupy his thoughts with optimism, recall happier times - anything, but the thought of you remaining this way… it’s all he can see at the moment.

“Please…”

His voice fades, his head lowering to the mattress from the mounting fatigue. He moves slightly to rest his forehead against your arm. His hair falls around you like ribbons.

“Strawberry…”

They can’t even hear me…

“You asked what my favorite ice cream flavor was,” he says, unsure why, “that night we went out…” He doesn’t raise his head - he cannot bear to; if he looks away long enough, he can pretend you’re awake and attentive, and that this has all been a bad dream, nothing more…

He lets out a faint chuckle, remembering.

“I don’t know what possessed me to offer you ice cream at such an hour, but something about your manner caught me off guard. You were so…free… So unsullied by all the evil I’m constantly battling. I sometimes wonder how you might have reacted had you known that I was, in fact, nursing a bloody wound that night. Would you be horrified? I recall you offering a hand… would that offer have persisted? Would you…” he trails off, the words catching in his throat.

Archons…Barbatos… please, you must hear me…

“Please wake up. Please… I cannot bear a burden this heavy.”

HIs voice is barely a murmur now. He reaches for your palm and grips it tightly in his. Slowly, as if propelled by an external force whose obstinate insistence is more powerful than the prevailing worry, he pushes himself forward, placing his weight on his elbows. His lips, quivering, unsteady, brush your knuckles.

“I love you.”

The words seem to echo in the silence for several moments after. Despite everything, Diluc smiles. Despite everything, those three words feel like a clean breeze, the difference between life and death. Despite all the uncertainty, this quiet confession means the world.

As if uninterested in the trials of his heart, a sudden gust of wind bustles against the window, causing the curtains to billow and a puff of pollen and dust to intrude upon the scene. Diluc, momentarily confused, jumps to his feet to secure the shutters. The last thing he wants is for you to catch a cold. He finds himself nearly sparring with the latch; the unseasonal wind buffeting against the glass panes like a child throwing a tantrum. In a final effort, he presses his back to the closed shutters and with his entire weight against them, they stay closed. He lets out a sigh, and idly moves a hand through his hair, cursing at the knots.

“S-strawberry?” a voice croaks, hoarse and weak. “I guessed right.”

You groan as you open your tired eyes but you only catch a glimpse of your surroundings before you’re swept into a deep embrace and your vision is blissfully obscured by a warm mess of fiery hair. His arms wrap around you, one under your head cradling you and the other against your back. There is some hesitation in his touch, as if he feels undeserving of this.

“I’m sorry,” he says, his breath hot against your neck. “I’m so sorry…”

“Di–”

“I’m sorry, I never meant for this to happen.” He rests his forehead against yours and you can just about make out tears at the corners of his closed eyes. You wish he would just look at you and see that you’re alright.

You squirm a little and bring your arms up from your sides. Timidly, with halting movements from the residual weakness, you cup his face in your palms. The action surprises him and he stares at you. His eyes hold entire tomes, oceans of apologies and explanations just waiting to be spoken. Instead his lips part to utter your name alone and with a surge of nervous strength you rise and catch the word before it can sound. The universe comes to a standstill as you kiss him, tenderly at first but more urgently, more readily, with every breath.

When at last you break apart, his gaze is impossibly warm. You smile, your fingers lost in his wild locks.

“I love you, too.”

_____________

EPILOGUE

Diluc pauses, his bare feet awkward on the pebbled shore. He watches you shuffle slowly towards him as the surf crashes behind him.

“Are you sure this is necessary?” you ask, your excitement at the outing slightly dampened by your lethargic movements.

“Absolutely,” he answers, “we’re celebrating your recovery.” Even as he says it you can hear the guilt in his voice. You make a mental note to work on that.

You finally reach his side and out of what is now habit, reach for his arm to steady yourself. The receding tides leave a bed of slippery rocks under your feet and sure enough, you slip, but he anticipates the fall and holds you firmly around the waist.

“This should be far enough.” You nod.

He helps you onto a large rock and once you’re safely seated, he rummages through his coat pockets as you watch, curious.

“It’s silly, I know…” he mumbles. Finally he produces a large bar of chocolate, which he promptly splits in two. Then, with a triumphant grin, he hands you a sparkler, identical to one he also holds. Your eyes widen in surprise and he laughs. With a flourish he lights them and in the pitch dark of the night they burst into life, sparks glittering against the water, mirroring the blazing colors of his features. In this moment there is nowhere you’d rather be, no one who could better set this darkness alight or warm your very soul like he can.

#darknight roommate #diluc #diluc ragnvindr #genshin impact diluc #genshin diluc #genshin impact #genshin fanfic #diluc fanfic #diluc imagines #diluc x reader #diluc headcanons #genshin impact imagines #genshin x reader

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rorowrote · 2 years

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Thank you for holding a Valentine's event! Idk how many dates I can request but may I please request:

Slow dancing at home with Diluc (whichever one would like slow dancing at home the most modern or canon)

Going out to eat at a fancy restaurant with modern Childe

Going on an amusement park with modern Childe (if you can only do one date for childe, I would really appreciate it if you did this one)

I would totally regret not asking you about getting dressed up to go see a play at a fancy opera house or theater with modern zhongli.

hello! these are lovely dates indeed I hope you like these lines!

take part in my valentine's event!

Diluc

There are times when I become distant, caught up with my work and my… duties. At times like that she has a way of slowing the whole world down so I can take a breath. We’ll be dancing at the Winery to tunes I’ve long forgotten and in those moments the evils of the world are conquered. She is… like the dawn itself.

Childe I

Haha! I'll never forget the look on her face when I surprised her with those exclusive table reservations. I tell her often - I’d take her to the stars and beyond if it made her happy; a fine dinner is hardly shocking.

Childe II

A true warrior faces their fears and she’s truly up to the challenge. A few days ago we spent the day at an amusement park and while others might run from some of those death-defying rides, she grabbed me by the hand and pulled me along without a moment’s hesitation. A thrilling day indeed!

Zhongli

Ah, she’s a refined soul. She possesses a discerning taste for opera and few evening outings are so enjoyable as ones I spend with her by my side, resplendent and lively. In the millennia I have traversed this land I find that she captivates those around her - particularly myself - with such charisma…a truly rare gem.

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rorowrote · 2 years

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Imagine...

Shopping for formal outfits with Diluc but every cummerbund is too big for his tiny little waist...

#what is it so tiny for #diluc's waist #genshin impact #diluc ragnvindr #diluc headcanons #diluc imagines #rororamble

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rorowrote · 2 years

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for your valentines day event! includes modern + canon <3

ZHONGLI ﹔ museum tour ( modern ), visiting Wanwen Bookhouse to read books to each other ( canon )

DILUC ﹔ a lazy day at home with snuggles and cuddles he craves with TV playing as background noise ( modern ), horseback riding ( canon )

KAEYA ﹔ making fun of romcom / overrated movies with an impromptu ‘fancy’ at-home dinner ( modern ), ‘sneakily’ stealing a kiss and making a date out of you running after him ( canon )

‘m indecisive so i gave you many options to work with because i can’t do just one thing 🧍 i’d love to see how you work with these because your writing is just *chef’s kiss*

Hehe I'm only too happy to do them all!! Hope you like them 🤲

Take part in my valentine's event!

Zhongli

Modern:

When they asked me to accompany them on a museum visit, I was happy to join them. I was happier still watching their eyes fill with wonder at every masterpiece… I had much to share about the history of the exhibits but… I found myself content to simply spend time with one so enchanting as them. Ah, such an enjoyable day…

Canon:

They have such spirit! It is not often that I am taken up on offers to visit Wanwen Bookhouse, yet they seemed truly excited at the idea. I do not recall how much time passed; we recited countless passages to each other, only pausing to watch the moon rise. They… are really quite special…

Diluc

Modern:

I… don’t often let my guard down but around them… I feel at ease. Adelinde sometimes remarks that she’s surprised to see me “doing nothing”, simply sharing a quiet moment with them close to me, but I find myself craving their company. Ahem… I- I simply mean they are… important to me.

Canon:

In the little free time I allow myself, I like to go horseback riding with them. They're a bit of a novice and in the early days they were even a bit skittish around the horses so I offered to share a horse with them… I...can't recall the last time I laughed quite so heartily… Hm, I look forward to these rides.

Kaeya

Modern:

You want to know if I was with them last night? Aren't you a nosy one… Haha, I was indeed, but it was simply a quiet night featuring my excellent cooking and some good-natured movie roasting. They always know how to make me laugh…

Canon:

Heh, that look… priceless. Oh don't make that face- I thought it was quite fun to sneak a kiss with my beloved and leave them… wanting more.

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rorowrote · 2 years

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rorowrote valentine's event!

ever wonder what a character would say about you after a date? well...

send in an ask with one or more characters and your idea of a perfect date, and your preferred pronouns! I'll whip up a voice line 💫

#roro's asks #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin #genshin writing #roro's valentine's #genshin impact imagines

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rorowrote · 2 years

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AHHHHH THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD FROM MY REQUEST!! I LOVE ME NERDING OUT WITH ALBEDO😍😍😍 AND YOUR WRITING IS JUST *MUAH MUAH* 💯💯 sorry for the delay for giving my gratitude back to you but Tumblr may have eaten yet another ask smh 😔 ily and I just wanna keyboard smash all my kudos to you and have a nice day to you!!❤️❤️ /p

aaauughaahhuauha UR THE SWEETEST ILL CRY WAAAAA

#roro's asks #screaming crying throwing up #sobs

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rorowrote · 2 years

Text

Darknight Roommate deleted scenes?

Wake up sleepy head 🙄

#darknight roommate #diluc #genshin impact

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rorowrote · 2 years

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AAAAHHHHHHH!! Best new year gift ever!!

I really love the latest chapter of dark knight roommate!! Had me at the edge of my seat!

WOOOO THANK UUUUUU IM GLAD!!!! 🫂

#roro's asks #darknight roommate

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rorowrote · 2 years

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The Darknight Roommate [Ch. 7]

Synopsis: You move in with Diluc and though he is aloof at first, you soon find out there’s more to this mysterious man than meets the eye…

Fandom: Genshin Impact

Featuring: (Modern AU) Diluc x g/n reader, Kaeya, Scaramouche

Warnings: SFW, blood, injury, death (no MCD), violence

A/n: sorry this is so late! we live in... interesting... times again so motivation is at an all time low. stay safe and healthy! thanks for reading! <3

“Please…”

Their voice was so broken, so unlike them. If anyone else heard it they might have mistaken it for a stranger.

Diluc stands stiff, silently processing it. It's definitely their voice, he insists to himself. There's no doubt in his mind that underneath the terror and fatigue, that voice is the very same one that drones on about exams and greets him sleepily at unnatural hours of wakefulness, the same voice that brings so much life into this otherwise dull house.

A faint ache grows in his chest. He's convinced it's them, but experience can be a trickster - the Fatui are not known to be helpful even by accident, and the possibility of a trap is undeniable.

"Diluc," Kaeya breaks the silence, his tone soft but urgent, "the Knights can handle this."

Even as he says it he knows the response will be fiery. Part of him says it out of duty but there is also a part of him that hopes Diluc will, for once in his life, let someone help him.

"The Knights have done enough," he spits instead.

Kaeya opens his mouth to protest but before he can utter a syllable, Diluc is out the door, his sudden haste a shocking contrast to his mental state only minutes earlier.

Patting his coat pocket and feeling the shape of his car keys, he hurries. Time, which moved like molasses before, flies past him now. His movements occur all on their own; his focus is resolute and terrifying to behold. He can only hope he’s not too late.

_____________

“P-please…”

Your lips, bluish now by the cryo cicin mage’s doing, barely part enough to utter the feeble plea. The torment is endless and you’re pretty sure you no longer have sensation in your limbs.

The word falls on deaf ears and you wince as another cicin settles on your arm, its frigid insect-like body sapping you of warmth even more. If you had the energy you might have comforted yourself by recalling familiar flames wielded by the man you had come to love, but in this condition you could barely stay conscious, let alone think.

“Now my pretty,” the mage trilled, “answer me!”

Your dim eyes still meet her with defiance.

Her ice weaves its way along your sides, snaking along your ribs and embracing you almost tenderly. You feel it sink through your skin to your heart and the terror sends it racing. There is nothing you can do.

“Comrade, be cautious,” a pyro agent warns, entering the room, “No. 6 is here and he expressly stated that our hostage is to be alive and well so he can have his way.”

This news clearly takes the mage by surprise and her ice thaws. You feel the blood flow more freely through your veins. Who…?

Just as the thought enters your head, a figure follows after the pyro agent, cackling maniacally like a cartoon villain. He is small in stature but his menacing aura towers over all present and despite his laughs, his features are clenched with a terrifying seriousness. Suddenly quiet, he eyes you, sprawled on the floor and pathetic as you are, and clicks his tongue in disgust.

“Sir I– Mr. Scaram–” the cryo mage squeaks weakly.

“Shut up.”

The room is silent. He steps towards you, dusting his palms as he approaches. When he’s mere centimeters from you he stops, then in a quick motion grabs your face by the chin, studying you.

“I’m going to have fun with you.”

_____________

Please.

Please Barbatos let them be unharmed.

Diluc spots his destination a few meters ahead of him on the left. The road turned into rubble several turns earlier and he now finds himself speeding precariously through narrow streets littered with ruins as far as the eye can see.

Identifying the headless remains of a statue the instructions mentioned, he brings the car to a graceful halt, not wanting haste to announce his arrival. The building is squat, round, barely one storey, and entirely stone. Diluc surmises from experience that there is more to it than he presently sees - it’s likely the structure expands below ground as Fatui hideouts tend to.

The surroundings look lifeless; a handful of dying dandelions is all the life Diluc can see around him. Swirls of dust dance at his feet and he takes a moment to pause, readying himself for the probable battles ahead of him. They’re alright, they’re here, I’ll see them soon.

He moves forward.

The building appears to have only one entrance - a poorly crafted heavy wooden door whose hinges have rusted over time but show signs of recent movement. Scuff marks peeking out from under the door also confirm that this is the right entrance. Heaving slightly, Diluc pushes the door inward. Light from outside floods in and he surveys the room, one hand ready to materialize a weapon. The vast space appears to be a foyer with cobweb shrouded remains of seats against the walls and a large fallen brazier at the center that likely hung from the ceiling. The room reeks of mold and dust, and infrequent skittering noises give away resident rodents. Overall, the place looks deserted, and Diluc can’t help but wonder if it’s too quiet.

Tentatively he walks further into the space, then pauses suddenly near the center. A cool draft of air seeps out from the particular spot on the floor where he stands. This must be it.

He crouches. Sure enough, upon closer inspection, the cracks between the stone tiling are in fact the edges of a trapdoor. He takes off a glove and hovers his bare hand over the edges, feeling for any stillness in the air. He senses it twice, and deduces that there are not one but two associated latches. There are no keyholes, nor any sliding parts on the face of the tile. One corner, however, appears to be a separate square piece, and when touched lightly it has some spring to it. Grumbling and enrobing his hand once more, he looks up and around the room, searching for a similar pressure-sensitive mechanism.

The walls are bare and constructed from uneven stone bricks of varying sizes. Any one of them could be the key. Likewise with the rest of the floor tiles. Uncharacteristic impatience gnaws at Diluc’s mind, furiously pushing it to divine some miraculous solution. A different angle… Stooping lower, his face scarcely an inch from the ground, he tilts his head to study the tiles, searching keenly for the slightest anomaly. At last, straining his eyes, he notices footprints that disturb the otherwise uniform dust of the floor. He follows their path; they stop at a far end of the room where the wall is made of notably smaller bricks.

There is no time for refinement. Exerting himself, he summons his claymore and flings it at the wall, timing it so the handle hits the smallest brick exactly as he presses down on the stone on the trapdoor. The weapon clatters to the ground and a faint click confirms success.

Diluc wastes no time descending beneath the door. Expecting darkness, he holds a small flame in his palm but extinguishes it when he is met with the cold illumination of long tube lights running the length of the ceiling, casting a faintly blue aura around the narrow corridor. He can hear indistinct voices ahead of him, though their specific source is unclear.

They know I’m coming. No point being stealthy…

Having made up his mind, he sprints forward and in a flash of flame that vanishes in seconds, mows down half a dozen minor Fatui.

Time is precious.

Two Fatui grunts standing a little further down the corridor spin around alarmed and quickly taking stock of the situation, they run out of sight, yelling wildly as they go. In minutes the corridor is swarming with Skirmishers and Diluc grits his teeth, bracing himself for projectiles and elemental attacks. A Geochanter near him sneers and slams his staff into the ground, sending shockwaves and sharp rocks flying towards him. The disturbance is too light to move him, however and he dodges the rocks with ease. A flying blow from his claymore soon disposes of the pest and he instead searches knowingly for Hydrogunners who will undoubtedly be healing their comrades. The last thing he needs is a prolonged fight. I can’t waste more time. He rips through more small crowds, making sure to take down Pyromancers first lest his lack of a hydro vision slow him down.

His fury is evident, arguably more than he is prone to show. He has a goal, and anyone in his way is a hindrance.

In no time, his path is free. Reflexively stretching, he dismisses his weapon and surveys the space, ignoring the bodies at his feet. The corridor opens into a larger area from which several other corridors and doorways branch off. Some are clearly unused, even barricaded. No time… I have to choose.

His senses heightened by adrenaline, he notices one of the corridors is significantly darker than the others, and that the floor seems to disappear. Descending lower? It is the only one that does. That has to be it. Cautiously, a small flame floating ahead of him, he follows the path. The further along he walks, the less industrial and manicured his surroundings become. The walls and floors become rough with natural rock formations jutting out at dangerous intervals. Barely escaping a collision with one, Diluc steadies himself and strengthens the light of his flame.

To his surprise, the corridor returns to neat construction a few steps further. At the end, a single door. Huh.

He reaches for the knob and as he does, inexplicable dread grips him. The air is different…somehow. The silence is unnatural, even for such a clandestine den. Something awaits him beyond, he is sure of it. Slowing his breathing, he turns the knob.

The door swings open with a long creak. Before him is a truly enormous room, its ceiling so high it almost vanishes if not for the light of the few lamps that hang from it. The dread from before is palpable now. Claymore in hand, Diluc enters. The air is dense and unpleasant, a smell like rotting flesh emanating from somewhere. Something’s off.

A weak groan echoes ahead of him. Gripping the hilt of his weapon, he follows the sound and to his shock, traces it to a cryo cicin mage, sprawled grotesquely on the floor, the last specks of energy in her mangled body used for that feeble sound. He looks past her and sees, even more shockingly, a pyro agent, his throat slit rashly. The dread grows into something far worse; he can feel his throat dry and his breathing stagger. Leaning for a moment on his weapon, he scans the room again, slightly frantic now. There - at the far end of the room, slumped against boxes is—

Please, no—

“Well, well, well,” a maniacal voice booms from the shadows, “look who’s finally here!”

Diluc snaps his head around, disoriented. He sees no one. Breathing heavily, terror robbing him of composure, he dashes forward to the unmoving body ahead. The voice snickers.

The body- the person he sees at last, is you.

All the strength from before seems to vanish from Diluc’s body, and with a weak sound, he collapses to his knees next to you.

“You left me a fine plaything,” the voice says.

It barely registers. Diluc reaches for you, his hand shaky.

Please, please…

“What do you think you’re doing?” the voice yells, suddenly furious. Then, out of the darkness of the room’s edges, more Fatui agents spring forward. Diluc thrusts himself forward, in front of your unconscious body, shielding you from a volley of elemental attacks. They’re everywhere, jumping out of corners he cannot see. The unfamiliarity of the room is maddening; just when he identifies one cluster of enemies, another seems to form elsewhere.

Wincing as a rock grazes his cheek, he risks a glance back at you, his worry eating him alive. This is my fault, all my fault. Self-loathing tears at his mind, grappling violently with self preservation. It takes every ounce of his energy to fend off the endless attacks.

A volley of pyro bullets hurtles towards you. Diluc lunges over you, catching the flames on the flat of his claymore. How much more could he take? How much did you endure? Shielding himself with his weapon, he looks at you again, immense guilt lending him a pained expression. The attacks continue.

Enough. A chaotic, despondent rage brews in his chest and as the strange voice continues to yell orders in twisted delight, and you lie beside him motionless, something in him snaps and with a visceral cry, he conjures a colossal phoenix of flame, its reach vast and blistering. It sets everything ablaze with fire so wild even the walls burn. Nothing could survive this, and the room falls silent but for the crackling of embers.

Diluc lets himself fall to the floor, his chest heaving, lungs screaming for air. Part of him wishes the exhaustion would consume him completely. It would be deserved. Turning himself to you, he moves to your side. The air is heavier than before, growing denser by the minute, but he cannot perceive any of it, not with you like this. He looks at your face, almost peaceful, if battered. He should have told you how beautiful you were when he could, he should have held you, he should have bared his very soul to you. He should have protected you.

Instead he failed you.

Reaching out, hesitant, unsure if he should, he touches an ungloved palm to your cheek. He expects to feel nothing but grief. But wait— Not cold.

Just as he registers the realization, the air - now a putrid fog - wraps around him. Caught off guard, he immediately moves to shield you, but the effort is futile. His muscles seem to fail him and he collapses completely. Groaning, desperate to keep you from harm, he musters the strength to wrap you in his tired arms. No matter what happens, he refuses to let you go. No matter what… The thought drifts idly out of coherence and as the last of his consciousness fades, all he sees is a short figure leave the room, tipping its wide-brimmed hat in mock farewell.

Chapter 8 + Epilogue

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rorowrote · 2 years

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The Darknight Roommate [Ch. 6]

Chapters: One | Two | Three | Four | Five

Synopsis: You move in with Diluc and though he is aloof at first, you soon find out there’s more to this mysterious man than meets the eye…

Fandom: Genshin Impact

Featuring: (Modern AU) Diluc x g/n reader

Warnings: SFW, blood, injury

A/n: better late than never! sorry this took centuries,,, ya girl finally has time so expect the next chapter soon too! thanks for your patience love y'all <3

A deafening silence and a throbbing ache. A tug on your left arm - interrupted by shouting voices - you're being dragged off somewhere.

The blindfold slips for a second and you take in everything, commit it all to memory, just in case. Grey walls, grey metal floors rough as sandpaper. A smell- what is it? Smoke? Something burning for sure. That's all you get before a burly Fatui man in purple notices your newfound sight.

"Well, well," he sneers, "we better fix that." And you're blind once again. You feel your hairs stand up as he tightens the cloth, a faint tingling sensation flowing from his hands and a jabbing sting moments later telling you just how much he enjoys the power of electro.

You wince. Your mind is still hazy, trying its best to recall the day. One moment you were walking between Mondstadt University buildings humming a tune, the next you were being stuffed into a vehicle. You could have sworn there were people around you - the usual crowds of students, but the Fatui in their shrewd calculations chose the perfect time to strike, and no one saw a thing.

An elbow shoved into your back pushing you forward brings your attention back to the present. Your feet ache from the seemingly endless walk. Where am I? Where are they taking me? You’ve no one to ask. Minutes later, you bump into something - a door from the sound and feel of it - and the electro man grips your shoulder, bringing the walking to an end. You hear a latch unlock and tripping over the threshold, you stumble into a room. Before you can orient yourself in any way, you’re thrown to the floor and the door behind you slams shut, plunging the room into darkness. You can hear through the door but your bound hands and covered eyes overwhelm any information your ears might give you. Still, you press your ear against the door.

“We’ll be back,” your captor says, as if knowing you’re listening so close, “until then, rot.”

_____________

The weight of reality pulls Diluc lower and lower to the floor until it feels like there never was a floor, only a dark abyss, into which he is endlessly falling.

They’re gone. It’s my fault.

The words repeat in his head like a lament. If he could only turn back time, all the way to a point in the past before he ever met them, before he ever sought a housemate… But the thought of never knowing them stings.

A feeling of lightheadedness starts to set in; his body shifts idly attempting to find balance. He has little perception of his surroundings - most unlike him - and the tails of his coat sprawled loosely around his broken form merge with the room’s shadows making the entire space an ambiguous mass of black. His hand moves back, and a sharp pain shocks him into short-lived alertness - the accursed Fatui knife that lay on the floor found his palm, cutting through the leather of his glove, meeting skin. The superficial wound creates a small pool of deep red on the hardwood under his hand and though he sees it, he does nothing, instead he watches in a trance as the blood flows.

Time seems to crawl and hasten all at once. Has an hour passed? Maybe two. His chest feels tight, and his senses dulled. Scenes from years long past play in turbulent flashes in his mind’s eye and painfully familiar feelings of loss and grief gnaw at him, threatening to drown him. Events from that fateful day feel fresh as if they happened only seconds ago - the pouring rain, the soft, white satin of his old gloves stained with the crimson of his father’s blood… And Kaeya’s revelations later that day… Kaeya… A swirling mess of thoughts float in Diluc’s head, sounds from memories and the present all merging into a throbbing cacophony. He can almost hear his estranged brother speak, just as he did on that mournful day…

But wait- Diluc’s hearing slowly grows clearer and in the gloomy space he realizes he is not alone. A hand grasps his arm, shaking him into consciousness. A cold voice is yelling…

“--DILUC!”

He glances up in a daze. Standing by his side, leaning down, a mix of alarm and confusion on his face, is Kaeya.

_____________

Your rumbling stomach tells you several hours have passed since you were thrown into this dungeon. You spent that time writhing and tugging and doing everything possible to dislodge the blindfold and when you finally succeeded, you were met by more of the same darkness. Now you sit defeated on the cold floor, listening for signs of life outside this small hell.

You start to hear faint voices outside, perhaps several people conversing, but your hunger is making you dizzy and you wonder if you’re just hallucinating.

The voices stop abruptly, as if too scared to speak as freely as before. A foolish flicker of hope lights up in your heart - what if he came for you? What if—

The door opens slowly and the sight that greets you chills your blood in every sense. A cryo cicin mage, accompanied by a flurry of her little pests, their erratic wing beats a sign of restless hunger. Before you can look past her the door shuts and you are alone, at her mercy. Beads of sweat on your forehead freeze as she lets her power take over the air. In the faint blue light of her ice, she sees your lip quiver.

As she walks towards you, her cold voice teases, "You're going to tell me where to find him."

_____________

"You..."

"'Luc what—"

"YOU!" Diluc growls, a strange kind of fury on his tongue pulling him to his feet. Despite Kaeya being the taller of the two he somehow feels smaller in this moment; Diluc's raging form in front of him fills the space with terrifying tension.

Kaeya stiffens, one hand hovering near his vision, unsure.

"This is YOUR fault," Diluc spits, furious, yet a crack in his voice betrays his grief. "I should never have gone there, I should never have listened to you, trusted you, I—"

"Diluc, calm yourself…'' Irritation shows in Kaeya's suggestion, his voice low. His mind races to make sense of everything, to try and understand what is causing his brother's uncharacteristic volatility. He has only ever seen Diluc this way once before, and the aftermath was not pleasant…

"I could have protected them…" and with that the wild anger in his voice dissipates, replaced by a shaky breath. The crimson of his eyes is soft; pain revealing the youth of his features that is often hidden behind his reserved manner.

The air is mud, thick and suffocating. Words hang on the tips of both tongues, dangerously close to speech. Neither moves. Common memory serves as a warning - a single mistake leads to irreparable damage.

Before either can act, Diluc's phone buzzes in his pocket. Blinking in confusion, the tension of the moment broken, he looks at the screen. A notification for a single voice message from an unknown number pops up. Fingers pale, he taps.

A disembodied voice - their voice - chokes out an address, as if made to read it out under duress. A pause- and then softly, like a secret, "Diluc please..."

Chapter 7

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rorowrote · 2 years

Note

Really loved your dark night roommate series….when is the next one coming up!?

Aaaa literally tomorrow I promise 😭 sorry everyone I've been up to my neck in college work and I've been sick on top of that 🥲 SOON I SWEAR

#roro's asks #roro is sorry #time management skills where #darknight roommate

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rorowrote · 3 years

Note

Anon omg pls lemme hug u with words 🥺🥺🥺💜💜💜

Koiiii

Yesterday was a really good day…

Today isn’t :(

Yesterday night/earlier today, I was feeling a bit insecure of being asexual (still am but not as much D:)

And I didint really find a lot of asexual!reader stuff, so I used my fingers I typed around two fics of asexual comfort to help me feel more valid/better :D

(But all the asexual!reader fics I read were fucking amazing :D)

I swear, I will have a writing blog by December >:D

Hope you enjoyed my small rant/vent :D

Also hope you have a great day/night <3

- tired anon

Ah anon, if you haven't yet, you should check out @rorowrote for their ace reader fics :)) BUT I'm sorry you have to go through that, *bear hugs* I hope you feel better soon ://

And yes tyvm I will be waiting :D and you have a nice day or night as well :))

#omg i will cry #i write genshin x ace reader for the soul #hugs

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rorowrote · 3 years

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Look, I hate doing this cause it feels like rushing the author, so I'm starting this by saying take all the time you need. But, Darknight roommate chapter 6 when?

Hsjagsjdhdj omg an eager reader I'LL CRY 🥺💖 IM WORKING ON IT AAAA I've just started school though and I'm drowning in assignments already but YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT'S IN THE WORKS 🫂

#roro's asks #darknight roommate #genshin impact

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rorowrote · 3 years

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Helloo! Omg I absolutely fell in love with you're writing! If it's alright, may i request reader developing romantic feelings for eula (and reader is very proudly demisexual)? Thank you have a nice day!

Aaaa thank youuu you're too kind! Sorry this is so late ahaha I just started school! Hope you like it~ 💙

Featuring: Eula x g/n reader

Warnings: none! SFW

Pop!

You watch Eula’s eyes light up as the last of her darts hits a balloon, sending confetti flying.

“That’s 14 out of 15, Miss Lawrence,” the stall keeper chirps, thrilled that her sharpshooting is drawing a sizable crowd of onlookers, or in his eyes, customers.

Your lips twitch upwards, a smile forming on its own. She just has that effect on you. The gathered crowd seems equally spellbound, not simply by her skill but by her mere attendance at a simple travelling fare such as this.

Mondstadt, a beacon of freedom and liveliness, attracts no small number of such troupes. You had never imagined Eula to be the sort to go to one, but after being her companion for months, you know there’s far more to her than meets the eye. Freedom suits her well, and she lives for it. You see it in her work, and you see it now as she walks back to you, hands raised proudly.

“Well, try and beat that!” she challenges you, her characteristically icy gaze ablaze.

“And if I win?” you laugh, already knowing her reply.

“Then I shall have vengeance.”

Her voice could have cut steel but you caught the twinkle in her eye as she said it. You’ve grown used to her humor and her way with words. But now, as she looks at you, you feel something… unfamiliar. Warm? Certainly intense. She catches your imperceptible moment of weakness and a smile of amusement dances across her lips.

“First you dare to learn all my secrets, now you cower?” she places a slender finger under your chin and tilts your head upwards, forcing you to meet her piercing eyes, “Am I that dazzling?”

Your throat goes dry and that feeling from earlier grows into a kind of hunger. You take a deep breath and push it aside for now; you have a contest to win.

Minutes later, you’ve shot as many as she did. You face your last chance. You glance down at the dart in your hand, almost as if to imbue it with your wish for success. Something tells you she wants you to win, and you’re only too happy to oblige.

Thwack!

Your final dart finds its target with ease. You smile, a playful glint in your eye.

“How cunning,” she teases, pocketing prize coupons and taking your hand, leading you away to a quiet tent nearby. You follow, helpless as her hand fits perfectly in yours.

The tent feels bigger on the inside. At first, total darkness envelops you. You hear her chuckle, fully expecting the confusion that shows on your face. As you tread after her; your eyes dart to your sides, trying to make out your surroundings. A fragrance starts to weave through the heavy air, something unnamable and overpowering. You blink slowly, a feeling of entrancement lulling you into a waking sleep. At last, you stop moving - Eula stops at the center of the tent and with a soft breath, your eyes take in the scene.

In front of you, there are a dozen of her. Starry swathes of dark fabric make walls and arranged in an inscrutable maze, are several mirrors. She pulls you closer to her and now your union paints every face of the room.

“Dance with me,” she whispers, her hand already at your waist.

Your lungs gasp, she seems to have pulled your very soul from your body. She has never done this before - on the few occasions you’ve caught her dancing, she quickly stopped and never spoke of it again. You’ve always thought it was a part of her that she kept for herself, and yet here she is now, her hips against yours, leading you. Her hand sits restlessly on your shoulder, fingers idly tapping out a waltz. She looks at you, something mischievous in her eyes, and your face flushes.

She hums a soft melody, each note sending shivers down your spine. With her signature grace, she spins you around, laughing lightly at your giddiness. Time disappears; you could dance with her forever and it wouldn’t be long enough. What spell is she casting on you? As she moves a hand lower along your back, dipping you and twirling you and setting fire to your heart, the realization dawns on you.

With a final flounce, she finishes. Still holding you, she asks, “What did you think?”

Your tongue is lead. One answer enters your hazy mind but you dare not speak it.

I think - she is magnetic, an enigma you have the honor of unriddling - I think I love you.

#roro's asks #genshin eula #eula headcanons #eula fluff #eula x reader #genshin impact eula #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin fluff #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact headcanons #genshin impact fluff

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rorowrote · 3 years

Text

The Darknight Roommate [Ch. 5]

Chapters: One | Two | Three | Four

Synopsis: You move in with Diluc and though he is aloof at first, you soon find out there’s more to this mysterious man than meets the eye…

Fandom: Genshin Impact

Featuring: (Modern AU) Diluc x g/n reader - this chapter from Diluc's POV

Warnings: SFW, death (no characters), violence, guns, anxiety, identity crisis ?

Announcement: my 100 follower event is still on! If you want to request some cute drabble, pick a color from Roro’s Box of Crayons <3

A/n: This chapter is a bit longer than the ones before oops and Oh Boy, looks like shit escalated~ hehe we've taken a darker turn... stay tuned to see how this ends!!! I'm excited!

The setting sun casts long shadows across Diluc’s pale features as he places his phone back into his coat pocket. A text message from his roommate informs him that they’re at a friend’s place over the weekend; they would be safe. He breathes a sigh of relief.

One less worry.

He kneels atop the roof of an abandoned warehouse not far from the ruins of Old Mondstadt. His fiery hair blows past his face as the winds pick up speed. At his feet is a large rucksack, lying open with its contents neatly displayed. He surveys the other buildings that pepper the compound and with a relenting nod, he crouches to the gravelly ground, reaching into the bag. His gloved palms wrap firmly around the cold metal barrel of a rifle, its condition indicating use by practiced hands.

With a grunt, he lowers himself to the ground, lying on his stomach with his legs sprawled out behind him. The absence of a parapet, while certainly vertigo inducing, presents an interesting double edged sword from a tactical standpoint - on the one hand he enjoys an unobstructed line of sight, on the other hand he’s a sitting duck. He grumbles quietly to himself, irked that this is his best option at the moment. He’ll need to be fast and faultless.

A sudden gust of wind sends a flurry of scents from the ruins his way - notably the unmistakable perfume of windwheel asters and dandelions, and he finds himself distracted for a moment. The scent is familiar. A childish wish to throw all this away and return to the comfort of home, and a certain housemate, pokes at his mind, but the thought vanishes as quickly as it appeared. This isn’t the time for a daydream.

Refocusing, he studies the documents Kaeya left by the backdoor when they last spoke. The information is disjointed, some of it annotated with handwritten scribbles that barely qualify as legible. However, Diluc knows his brother’s writing as well as he does his own. On top of that, a detailed diagram from a scout (with points of interest marked with bunny eared circles) makes up for the garbled writing.

The complex he now finds himself in turned out to be a Fatui hideout. The Knights had learned several facts from scouting missions - most importantly, its layout.

The entire compound can be roughly drawn out in the shape of the letter L, with the shorter line facing north, housing the old factory building. The longer end of the plot contains the partly demolished remains of a security complex, office buildings and a raw material storage house. Every structure within the vast compound is in some state of disrepair and the gates are heavily barricaded. To the untrained eye, the place looks like nothing more than a decrepit mess. To Diluc, perched patiently at the corner of the L, the signs of a Fatui presence are clear.

Sure enough, he senses movement to his far left. Slowly turning his head, he glances through a pair of binoculars and confirms the Knights’ findings.

Two figures pace idly around the old office building - a hydro and cryo gunner to be precise. They do not appear to have their shields up, confirming his suspicions that the enemy here have grown complacent, sure that they’ve evaded discovery. To his right, along a walkway leading into the factory, are two more Fatui - one a pyro gunslinger and the other a geochanter bracer. Once again, unshielded.

Diluc takes a deep breath, pauses. His surveillance over the last couple of days revealed that these scant Fatui forces are nothing more than doormen, guarding another facility whose entrance is likely somewhere in the raw material house. The problem lies in the possibility that the fall of one group will alert the other, not only then increasing the duration of the operation, but inviting further reinforcements. And Diluc is alone.

“Damn it, Kaeya,” he mutters.

This will take considerable strength and impeccable timing. While he certainly keeps himself occupied most nights fighting petty criminals, it’s been several years since he’s had to expend the kind of firepower he needs now. He looks down at his hands, scars peeking out from behind the fabric of his dark coat. His body remembers. It has to.

A buzz in his pocket snaps him back to attention. It’s nearly time. In approximately one minute, both teams of Fatui will report to their leaders. In other words, they'll be distracted. It's the slimmest window to launch an attack but it's the best there is.

Time slows. The soft cries of a distant falcon, the rustling of leaves in a far away field, the skittering of small creatures across the concrete around him - none of it exists. There is only him, and his present task. He blinks once, twice, each time more deliberately, as if to sharpen the images in his sight. His crimson eyes almost glow with every surge of blood that courses through his tense veins. Now.

With choreographed mastery, he attacks from two fronts at once. He keeps one eye trained on the pair to his right - whose foolish decision to stand one behind the other spells their doom - and a hand on the trigger of his rifle. Exhaling gently, he shoots. At the exact moment the bullet takes flight, so too does a colossal bird of flame, materializing in a violent storm and speeding towards the gunners to his left. In an instant, it’s over. The curtain falls, the enemy is defeated.

He exhales. A small smile creeps onto his lips and he hates it. Muscle memory takes over and like a robot, he disassembles the rifle and places it back into the bag. He reaches for the closure when, out of the corner of his eye, a tiny slip of paper lying at the bottom of the bag calls to him. He fishes it out and- his breath fails him- it’s this month’s utility bill for the house. In a flood, it all comes back to him, and the fact that he had let himself forget his own reality stuns him. It occurs to him now, that for the past hour, he had indeed transformed into some long forgotten version of himself. A Diluc who lived a different life, knew different people and had different responsibilities. His mind staggers, a low throbbing pain coming into being somewhere deep.

Despite it, he stands up. One foot in front of the other, there is work to be done.

He understands his role in these great fights. He has no love for the Fatui and their machinations. He has seen the extremes they are willing to go to. He knows the anger that drives others to fight, he lives with it. And yet, his once clear vision is clouded over with a red haze.

Get it together.

Gritting his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they threaten to shatter, he glides off the roof towards the raw material storage. A faint violet glow emanates from within. Through the dirty glass windows he sees it - a trapdoor on the floor, no doubt leading further underground into, possibly, a Delusion manufacturing setup.

What happens when you return home? His mind is relentless. What if they find out who you really are? What if they hate you, despise you? They’re going to leave you, too.

“Shut up.”

Rubbing his temples, he leans against the outer wall, his back melting into the structure. Nerves along his forehead tingle in confusion - he’s sweating? Droplets dot his brow.

Get. It. Together.

Flexing and unflexing his fingers - an old habit, he pushes himself off the wall. He slips through a gap and finds himself standing in front of the trapdoor. Exhaling, with one hand ready to summon fire, he lifts it. Nothing greets him.

He catches faint voices travelling upwards through a narrow corridor that he now stands at the entrance to. Carefully, he jumps down and follows the path, the dim fluorescents that light it creating an unsettling atmosphere. The floor is dusty and grey, littered with haphazard tracks of lazy footprints. He stays close to the walls, studying the space before every step forward. After what he guesses must be several dozen feet, the corridor grows dimmer and more claustrophobic, multiple broken lamps along the ceiling plunging the room into darkness. In the shadows, he spots a solitary door.

He pauses to press an ear to its cold metal. Muffled conversation? Two- no, three people? He glances towards the floor, observing the faint light that spills out ever so slightly from underneath the door. Multiple shadows move from time to time. Definitely at least three people.

Quickly formulating a plan, he knocks on the door as if he were an expected guest. Then, not wasting a moment, he places both palms flat against the door, steadying his breathing, eyes shut, focused.

A footstep falls behind the door and its source is met with a white hot burst of concentrated flame. The force devastates the door hinges and in a cacophonous tempest, searing fire fills the room, blinding the inhabitants. The door, now glowing from the heat, falls to the floor with a dramatic clang, and the two Fatui agents that were fortunate to be farther from the door than their third member amble stupidly in aimless circles, dazed. They are quick to recover, however, and fix their furious glower on Diluc, who stands at the doorway, ready.

“You!” one of them hisses, almost in recognition.

“You dare interfere!” the other bellows, “The will of the Tsaritsa shall--”

A flash of red flies past him, grabbing him, and finally pinning him to a wall.

“Silence, Fatui scum,” Diluc spits, his temper boiling. He turns to the first agent, whose stance gives away his now lowered confidence, “You will tell me everything, or this one dies.”

“I’m not saying shit! Who do you think--”

A strangled scream cuts him off; a thorny ring of flame now grips the other agent’s throat, tantalizingly close to skin.

“Alright, alright, I’ll talk! Just let him go!”

Diluc loosens the ring of fire slightly. He maintains one hand on his leverage’s shoulder and stares expectantly at the man who just agreed to divulge the Fatui’s plans.

“As you know, all we do is in the name of her exalted Highness, the Tsaritsa, whose noble and honorable wishes--”

“Quit stalling!”

“Ah- yes, yes,” the man stutters and sweats, eyes wandering. Diluc watches him with a piercing focus. “So you see!--”

The man’s exaggerated speech is deliberately interrupted by a bang and a growing cloud of smoke. Disoriented, Diluc glances at the man he holds captive only to be met by a sneer. The man, displaying great dexterity and stealth, had silently set off a tiny smoke bomb from inside his sleeve.

Immediately realizing the outcome, Diluc turns back to where the first agent was standing and confirms that he has slipped away.

“You’ll never win! The Fatui always--” a short cough and splutter finishes the second man’s vain boast and he falls to the ground, silenced by flame.

Alone once again, Diluc scans the room, his eyes feverish. The soot-stained walls are not very high and are lined with vents at irregular intervals, but they are too small for even a cat. There are no other doors or windows. Frustrated, he walks forward and as he does, he hears a soft click under his feet. Eyes wide, he kneels down and--

“Damn it!”

Yet another trapdoor in the floor. And by the looks of it, this one has a locking mechanism accessible only from the other side. The lid sits completely flush with the floor tiles, giving no purchase to pry it open with.

Groaning, his head spinning from increasing exhaustion, he presses his palms to the trapdoor and with the same force as before, explodes the structure entirely.

To his surprise, beneath him is not another corridor leading archons-knows-where but a sizable panic room of sorts. Its walls look to be industrial grade steel, meant, no doubt, to withstand enormous impact. The room is littered with communication devices, documents and all manner of Fatui paraphernalia, obliterated by freshly fallen rubble. At the center of the chaos, is the agent. He lies spread-eagled on the floor, unmoving, his features distorted by flame and debris. In one fist he grips a phone, whose cracked screen still displays the call log, and in the other he holds a slip of paper with what appears to be the last words of a doomed man: Long live her highness the Tsaritsa!

Diluc sighs. The sense of accomplishment he expected to feel is absent. Instead all he feels is hollow. And unlike himself.

He lets his tired body lean against the wall. His eyes shut, his brow furrows. A warm, kind face appears in his mind’s eye and the deep pain from earlier stabs him once more.

Home. I need to go home.

_____________

Dawn breaks by the time Diluc returns. The walk from the curb to the front door feels like an eternity, and every step he takes is punctuated by a nauseating mix of dread and longing. Questions fill his head, weighing him down.

Do I tell them? What would I even say? They’d be safer not knowing.

The thought of his roommate’s little habits, their laugh, the peace they bring him… a timid flicker of joy pushes his worries aside. He is not one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but for the first time in a while he has begun to care. For now, the truth doesn’t matter. It’s only been a weekend apart from them and yet, he smiles, impatient for a reunion.

At the door at last, he reaches for the knob out of habit, keys in hand. They jingle softly, a merry little tune. The keys hover inches from the lock when he realizes- the door is open.

Color drains from his face. The worry from before leaps into his mind again, louder, more frantic. A thousand drums beat in his ears - his heart pounds harder, his breathing staggers. White as a sheet, he steps through the threshold, through the foyer and into the living room.

There, sticking out from the hardwood floor like an ugly sore, is a dagger emblazoned with the Fatui’s symbol. Pinned underneath is a card.

Hands trembling, he reaches for it. The words swim in his mind as he reads them.

“An eye for an eye - the Fatui pays you back. Come alone, or watch your friend die.”

The floor falls away beneath him. Every doubt, every fear, every sliver of guilt that has plagued him for some time now, comes hurtling towards him like a storm of shrieking ghosts. His limbs forget themselves and he falls, a hand gripping his chest, willing his heart to keep beating. His lips part but no sound emerges, there is no sound that can translate the waves of terror gripping him. His eyes burn, anguish ripping his stricken mind.

They’re gone, too. And it’s all my fault.

Chapter 6

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rorowrote · 3 years

Text

The Darknight Roommate [Ch. 4]

Chapters: One | Two | Three

Synopsis: You move in with Diluc and though he is aloof at first, you soon find out there’s more to this mysterious man than meets the eye…

Fandom: Genshin Impact

Featuring: (Modern AU) Diluc x g/n reader , Kaeya cameo! , Jean mention

Warnings: SFW, Foreshadowing? implied violent past ?

Announcement: my 100 follower event is still on! If you want to request some cute drabble, pick a color from Roro’s Box of Crayons <3

A/n: I’m actually loving this au so look forward to more chapters! Enjoy~

Trust.

That single word flashes in your mind on and off as you shiver underneath your too-thin blanket. With every passing day your room feels colder, your bed warmer. But as snug as you are, you can’t sleep.

With a relenting sigh, you open your tired eyes and greet the ceiling. Is it morning yet? The heavy drawn curtains shroud the room in darkness. For all you know, it’s only midnight and you haven’t lost much rest time.

Your mind, while not sleepy, is not quite awake either. The events of the previous week (that strange man!) and several thoughts swim languidly in your head like mushy vegetables in a broth. For the first time, you wonder if Diluc is harboring some dark secret.

You let out a nervous laugh, “I’m losing it.”

Frustrated, you kick the blanket off. You sit up and reach for the small water bottle you keep by the bed. It’s empty, of course. You groan and lift yourself off the mattress, trudging out of the room.

The winter chill has managed to creep its way into the house despite the insulation. You suppose it’s unavoidable with older houses. Pulling your sweater sleeves lower, you realize it is in fact, very early in the morning. The house is deathly silent and bathed in a foggy bluish light - a most liminal atmosphere that makes you yearn for the warmth of dawn.

As you enter the dining room, the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and there seems to be an inexplicable, unnatural drop in the temperature. The sudden change catches you off guard and you stand stiff, wondering if you’re dreaming. Your confusion is compounded when you see your breath curl in wisps under your nose. You blink slowly and your ears pick up faint voices by the back door.

Disregarding the instincts nagging you to go back to bed and pretend it's all your imagination, you tread lightly towards the kitchen, making sure to keep to the walls where the floorboards make no sound. Your thick woolen socks aid your stealth. You adjust your breathing, taking in shorter, quieter breaths. From your vantage point, you can see part of the back doorway, and the silhouette of a familiar red-haired man.

"...left. You're asking far too much of me," you hear Diluc say, his voice a strained whisper.

"This is serious, 'Luc. This is different," another voice counters, its whisper serpentine. A voice of persuasion, working hard to win Diluc over.

"You know how I feel about this," he replies, almost pleading. You know nothing about this conversation or the other person, but you can sense Diluc's discomfort.

The two are silent for a time. The morning air hangs heavy, weighed down by history and humidity.

"Look, I'm only here because Jean asked," the other man continues flatly, his whisper getting even softer giving you the feeling that ‘Jean’ must be someone important. Wait isn’t the acting grandmaster of the Knights named Jean...

“Kaeya--”

It’s him!

“Don’t pretend you don’t care about her, the two of you practically grew up together.”

Didn’t Diluc say they’re brothers? Why did it sound like Kaeya removed himself from that equation just now…

“Fine. Fine!”

“There’s our reliable Darkni--”

“Shut up,” Diluc’s arm moves upward briefly; your guess is, he physically silenced Kaeya. “And quit messing with your vision, I don’t freeze.”

Kaeya snickers, then with an unmistakable tone of bitterness, mutters “Sorry, old habits.”

The air electrifies, this silence in the first light of dawn is deafening.

“I’ll send you the coordinates. Same old codes. The methods are up to you and it’s probably best,” Kaeya pauses, clearing his throat, “you don’t tell us. Plausible deniability and all that.”

“Right.”

“I won’t take up any more of your time, Master Diluc-” you hear a groan, “-and remember, I was never here.”

The room quickly warms up and it occurs to you that you should never have heard any of this. You take one last look at Diluc, who still stands at the backdoor holding his head in his hands, and make your way back to your room as if nothing happened.

_____________

A mere four hours later, you awake to a splitting headache. The pain is so blinding you look around utterly disoriented, unsure where you are. Then everything comes back to you like a tsunami following receding waves. Your headache worsens.

You drag yourself out of bed and mechanically go through your morning routine. With a final splash of icy water across your face, you shock yourself into alertness, and realize that your lack of sleep combined with some possible dehydration must be the cause of your current misery.

Letting out a long groan, you crawl to the dining room. Like every other morning, with sleep still in your eyes, you reach up into the overhead cupboards and fish out a random cereal. You like to keep several options to add a splash of variety to the day. You’ve grabbed plain cornflakes. Delightful. You slam down a bowl and debate to yourself whether to pour the milk first or last. Deciding to try and improve your mood a little, you act out your deliberations, with several thoughtful “hmm”s and ponderous expressions on your face. You smile to yourself, satisfied with the comedy of the scene.

“That was very entertaining,” a voice says from a corner of the room, making you almost throw the box into the air.

You turn around to see Diluc seated at the far side of the table, a steaming mug in his hand, his face straining to hold back laughter.

“Diluc! Aha, I--” you know instantly that you’ve gone beet red. You did not expect to see him there. He’s never at home in the mornings and you’d grown so complacent that you could act the absolute fool in his absence and now--

“Good morning, did you sleep well?”

I most certainly did not, thanks to you. “Like a baby!”

He tilts his head, seeing the lie, but something else seems to take priority at the moment.

“I…” he starts to say, his cheerful expression from seconds earlier vanishing, replaced by a dour stare, “I might be gone for a few days. On… business.”

You feel your shoulders stiffen. There it is again, that mix of worry and foreboding.

“I see,” you say, as neutrally as you can manage.

“Just some boring meetings,” he adds, his lips curving into a smile that his eyes do not partake in. Is it just your imagination or is he trying to reassure you?

“Oh, piece of cake!” you chuckle, your eyes still on him.

You don’t know how, or indeed whether, he knows that you know something. In any case, there seems to be a second exchange in the subtext of the first. You don’t know what his ‘business’ really is but you hear one singular wish echo in your mind: be safe.

Chapter 5

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